Davies Lab

LiDAR Sensors

Welcome to the Davies Lab!

Our research examines how animals interact with the environment and each other to affect ecosystem processes at landscape scales. We draw on the fields of community and ecosystem ecology, animal behavior, and remote sensing to explore multiple facets of animal-ecosystem interactions in a spatially explicit manner. 

A key component of our work investigates how global change, including climate and land-use change, alter animal-driven processes and influence the direction of their effects. We integrate field measurements, GPS telemetry, and remote sensing products (including LiDAR, hyperspectral, and satellite data) to answer questions ranging from the role of animals in shaping vegetation and modifying nutrient cycles, to how land-use changes that alter habitat heterogeneity affect animal behavior and subsequent ecosystem impact. 

Please use the tabs above to learn more about who we are and what we do, and feel free to contact us if you have questions or want to get involved. 

Image courtesy of Evan Hockridge.

Recent Publications

2026

Rolf E, Gordon L, Tambe M, and Davies AB. 2026. “Contrasting Local and Global Modeling With Machine Learning and Satellite Data: A Case Study Estimating Tree Canopy Height in African Savannas”. Journal of Machine Learning Research, 27
Rolf E, Gordon L, Tambe M, and Davies AB. 2026. “Contrasting Local and Global Modeling With Machine Learning and Satellite Data: A Case Study Estimating Tree Canopy Height in African Savannas”. Journal of Machine Learning Research, 27
Allin P, Seydou F, Frans R, Davies AB, and Leslie A. 2026. “Evaluating Machine Learning Models for Multi‐species Wildlife Detection and Identification on Remote Sensed Nadir Imagery in South African Savanna”. Wildlife Biology
Allin P, Seydou F, Frans R, Davies AB, and Leslie A. 2026. “Evaluating Machine Learning Models for Multi‐species Wildlife Detection and Identification on Remote Sensed Nadir Imagery in South African Savanna”. Wildlife Biology
Coverdale TC, Sankaran M, Davies AB, Ratnam J, Wigley BJ, and Augustine DJ. 2026. “Responses of African Savanna Trees to Large Herbivore Extinction and Rewilding”. Ecology Letters
Coverdale TC, Sankaran M, Davies AB, Ratnam J, Wigley BJ, and Augustine DJ. 2026. “Responses of African Savanna Trees to Large Herbivore Extinction and Rewilding”. Ecology Letters
Hockridge EG and Davies AB. 2026. “ Resolving Issues of Space and Time for Ecological Applications of Airborne LiDAR”. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 293. doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1095
Hockridge EG and Davies AB. 2026. “ Resolving Issues of Space and Time for Ecological Applications of Airborne LiDAR”. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, 293. doi:https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1095
Gominski D, Brandt M, Tong X, Liu S, Mugabowindekwe M, Li S, Reiner F, Davies AB, and Fensholt R. 2026. “Trees As Gaussians: Large-Scale Individual Tree Mapping”. Journal of Remote Sensing, 6
Gominski D, Brandt M, Tong X, Liu S, Mugabowindekwe M, Li S, Reiner F, Davies AB, and Fensholt R. 2026. “Trees As Gaussians: Large-Scale Individual Tree Mapping”. Journal of Remote Sensing, 6
Chin AY, Ressijac CA, Goodman PS, Adler H, and Davies AB. 2026. “Limited Elephant Impacts on Baobabs Despite Increasing Elephant Densities in a Newly Established Protected Area”. Conservation Science and Practice
Chin AY, Ressijac CA, Goodman PS, Adler H, and Davies AB. 2026. “Limited Elephant Impacts on Baobabs Despite Increasing Elephant Densities in a Newly Established Protected Area”. Conservation Science and Practice