Dear Eco-loggers! I am looking for an instrument that will help me calculate Leaf Area Index [and the associated canopy structure parameters, solar radiation indices, etc] in a forest stand with trees that are about 80 feet tall. There are instruments out there such as the LI 2200, AccuPar-LP 80, SunScan (HEMIv8), etc., that could be used. I know that I can also get good hemispherical canopy photographs using a digital SLR with a good fish-eye lens (perhaps the cheapest of the options since the others mentioned above cost upwards of $6000). My questions are: 1. Is there a software that (can be purchased separately) will analyze photos taken with a digital camera setup? 2. Could someone shed light on which one of the meters (mentioned above) would be the best for use in forest canopies?
Any other suggestions along these lines are welcome. Thank you! Joydeep ************************************ Joydeep Bhattacharjee, PhD Plant and Restoration Ecology Garrett Hall 231 Department of Biology University of Louisiana, Monroe
