We recognized the need for a powerful and efficient tool to study insect abundance and richness in forests. So we developed a cutting-edge lidar system. A lidar is similar to radar but uses infrared lasers instead of radio waves. By analyzing the lidar signals, we can efficiently identify different insect groups. With this lidar, we set out to the Taï virgin rain forest in Côte d'Ivoire for a 3-week measurement campaign. There, we explored how insect abundance and species richness vary with the time of day and at different heights in the forest canopy. We verify the system's capabilities by setting up multiple insect traps to compare to our measurements.
Our findings have exciting implications for future research as we continue to uncover the hidden complexities of our planet's insect populations. As a master's student in physics, ecology, or engineering, you can help us advance the understanding of our planet's unique ecosystems.
Hampus Månefjord - portal.research.lu.se
Meng Li - portal.research.lu.se
Lauro Müller
Mikkel Brydegaard - portal.research.lu.se