Using LiDAR to understand nest selection of the great spotted woodpecker

By Jan Wolf

Abstract
This thesis explores the potential of using LiDAR to understand the nest selection of the great spotted woodpecker. While LiDAR is commonly used in forestry, its use in ecological research to conserve biodiversity and to determine important microhabitat characteristics remains underexplored. By voxelisation and slicing of the point cloud, a variety of vegetation structure characteristics around the great spotted woodpecker nest were analyzed. Although no statistically significant relationships were identified, the potential of LiDAR is still demonstrated. Especially a denser canopy between 6-11 m above the nest tends to be from particular relevance for the nest selection of the GSW.