Line Intersect Sampling of Forest Canopy Gaps

Abstract Line intersect sampling (LIS) is commonly used to measure the fraction of forest area under canopy gaps (gap fraction) and the size distribution of gaps. The typical application of this technique makes assumptions about the shape of the gaps. Potential errors associated with these assumptions were quantified. To measure the gap regime in an old-growth, subalpine spruce-fir forest, regression equations were used to describe empirically …