Canopy structure modulates the availability of light and nutrient cycling below the canopy, thus having a key role in driving forest diversity. However, very few studies have used digital photography to link estimated canopy attributes with forest biodiversity. Amongst, these studies are often focused on linking canopy overstory to understory plant diversity (e.g., Sercu et al. 2017), given the expected mutual role between these two components (e.g, Hederovà et al. 2023).
Beside plants, many other organisms are affected by canopy structure, for at least two reasons. Firstly, sessile organisms are likely influenced by light and micro-climate conditions below the canopy, which are strongly modulated by canopy structure; example include lichens (Benìtez et al. 2019) and mosses (Niinemets and Tobias 2013). But canopy, and its complementary gap structure, are also key attributes for mobile (and particularly flying) organism. A recent study showed that below-canopy structure influence mobility of moths, and thus their functional community structure (La Cava et al. 2024).
Another recent study relating canopy opening due to forest management and moths has been described by Vangansbeke et al. 2025
Canopy structure influence on mobility-traits of moths (image from La Cava et al. 2024).
In 2023, I have collaborated with an Italian group in Northern Alps, which used fisheye photography to relate canopy openness with bat and bird diversity in Italian Alps. The study (Rigo et al. 2024) demonstrated that forest structure strongly affect the diversity of these taxa. Canopy openness, in particular, influences bird nesting behaviour.
This was one of the first studies extending the use of canopy photography to explore the taxonomic diversity of mobile animals. Future studies are planned to evaluate different canopy photographic methods, and their relevance for different taxon, while future studies are expected to expand the application of canopy photography and its links with multi-taxon diversity.
The article reference is: Rigo, F., Paniccia, C., Anderle, M., Chianucci, F., Obojes, N., Tappeiner, U., Hilpold, A. and Mina, M., 2024. Relating forest structural characteristics to bat and bird diversity in the Italian Alps. Forest Ecology and Management, 554, p.121673. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121673