Understanding stand structure and height-diameter relationship of trees provides very useful information to establish appropriate countermeasures for sustainable management of endangered forests. Populus euphratica, a...Understanding stand structure and height-diameter relationship of trees provides very useful information to establish appropriate countermeasures for sustainable management of endangered forests. Populus euphratica, a dominant tree species along the Tarim River watershed, plays an irreplaceable role in the sustainable development of regional ecology, economy and society. However, as the result of climate changes and human activities, the natural riparian ecosystems within the whole river basin were degraded enormously, particularly in the lower reaches of the river where about 320 km of the riparian forests were either highly degraded or dead. In this study, we presented one of the main criteria for the assessment of vitality of P. euphrafica forests by estimating the defoliation level, and analyzed forest structure and determined the height-diameter (height means the height of a tree and diameter means the diameter at breast height (DBH) of a tree) relationship of trees in different vitality classes (i.e. healthy, good, medium, senesced, dying, dead and fallen). Trees classified as healthy and good ac- counted for approximately 40% of all sample trees, while slightly and highly degraded trees took up nearly 60% of total sample trees. The values of TH (tree height) and DBH ranged from 0-19 m and 0-125 cm, respectively. Trees more than 15 m in TH and 60 cm in DBH appeared sporadically. Trees in different vitality classes had different distribution patterns. Healthy trees were mainly composed more of relatively younger trees than of degraded tress. The height-diameter relationships differed greatly among tress in different vitality classes, with the coefficients ranging from 0.1653 to 0.6942. Correlation coefficients of TH and DBH in healthy and good trees were higher than those in trees of other vitality classes. The correlation between TH and DBH decreased with the decline of tree vitality. Our results suggested that it might be able to differentiate degraded P. euphratica trees from healthy trees by determining the height-diameter correlation coefficient, and the coefficient would be a new parameter for detecting degradation and assessing sustainable management of floodplain forests in arid regions. In addition, tree vitality should be taken into account to make an accurate height-diameter model for tree height prediction.展开更多
To enrich knowledge on the growth dynamics of commercial forest species in the Congo Basin, a study was conducted in Cameroon, within a community forest in savannah forest transition zone (Zone 1) and within FMU 10 05...To enrich knowledge on the growth dynamics of commercial forest species in the Congo Basin, a study was conducted in Cameroon, within a community forest in savannah forest transition zone (Zone 1) and within FMU 10 052 in dense semi-deciduous humid forest (Zone 2). It aimed to obtain, in 8 species, the height (H) of the tree from its diameter (D) more accessible: Entandophragma cylindricum (Meliacea), Eribroma oblongum, Sterculia rhinopetala et Triplochiton scleroxylon (Malvaceae);Erythrophleum suaveolens et Piptadeniastrum africanum (Fabaceae), Milicia excelsa (Moraceae) et Terminalia superba (Combretaceae). The destructive method was used. After felling and flushing out a tree, the dendrometric parameters were measured and/or calculated. In Zone 1, 6 species including T. scleroxylon were calibrated using 30 trees of each. In Zone 2, 45 trees of E. cylindricum, 99 of E. suaveolens and 82 of T. scleroxylon constituted the sample. At the 5% threshold (95% confidence interval), the height-diameter relationship is a linear model. In all species, the height of a tree is predicted by measuring its diameter through linear regression. In Zone 1 regression equation is: H(m) = 28.13 + 19.09 * D(m) for T. scleroxylon;H(m) = 12.35 + 30.38 * D(m) for S. rhinopetala;H(m) = 23.09 + 26.42 * D(m) for E. oblongum;H(m) = 14.86 + 20.92 * D(m) for P. africanum;H(m) = 14.98 + 24.78 * D(m) for T. superba and H(m) = 1.55 + 32.37 * D(m) for M. excelsa. In Zone 2, the relationship is: H(m) = 27.40 + 14.21 * D(m) for T. scleroxylon;H(m) = 7.79 + 20.18 * D(m) for E. cylindricum and H(m) = 20.08 + 9.74 * D(m) for E. suaveolens (probability associated with F < 0.0001). The influence of site parameters (biotic and abiotic) on the height-diameter relationship should be more studied in multilayers forests specifically in the Congo Basin.展开更多
The number and composition of species in a community can be quantified withα-diversity indices,including species richness(R),Simpson’s index(D),and the Shannon-Wiener index(H΄).In forest communities,there are large ...The number and composition of species in a community can be quantified withα-diversity indices,including species richness(R),Simpson’s index(D),and the Shannon-Wiener index(H΄).In forest communities,there are large variations in tree size among species and individu-als of the same species,which result in differences in eco-logical processes and ecosystem functions.However,tree size inequality(TSI)has been largely neglected in studies using the available diversity indices.The TSI in the diameter at breast height(DBH)data for each of 99920 m×20 m forest census quadrats was quantified using the Gini index(GI),a measure of the inequality of size distribution.The generalized performance equation was used to describe the rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curve of the cumulative proportion of DBH and the cumulative proportion of number of trees per quadrat.We also examined the relationships ofα-diversity indices with the GI using correlation tests.The generalized performance equation effectively described the rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curve of DBH distributions,with most root-mean-square errors(990 out of 999 quadrats)being<0.0030.There were significant positive correlations between each of threeα-diversity indices(i.e.,R,D,and H’)and the GI.Nevertheless,the total abundance of trees in each quadrat did not significantly influence the GI.This means that the TSI increased with increasing spe-cies diversity.Thus,two new indices are proposed that can balanceα-diversity against the extent of TSI in the com-munity:(1−GI)×D,and(1−GI)×H’.These new indices were significantly correlated with the original D and H΄,and did not increase the extent of variation within each group of indices.This study presents a useful tool for quantifying both species diversity and the variation in tree sizes in forest communities,especially in the face of cumulative species loss under global climate change.展开更多
Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop mode...Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop models to predict longleaf pine tree diameter at breast height (dbh) and merchantable stem volume (V) using data obtained from field measurements. We used longleaf pine tree data from 3,376 planted trees on 127 permanent plots located in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain region to fit equations to predict dbh and V as functions of tree height (H) and crown area (CA). Prediction of dbh as a function of H improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable. Similarly, predic- tions of V based on H improved when CA was included. Incorporation of additional stand variables such as age, site index, dominant height, and stand density were also evaluated but resulted in only small improvements in model performance. For model testing we used data from planted and naturally-regenerated trees located inside and outside the geographic area used for model fitting. Our results suggest that the models are a robust alternative for dbh and V estimations when H and CA are known on planted stands with potential for naturally-regenerated stands, across a wide range of ages. We discuss the importance of these models for use with metrics derived from remote sensing data.展开更多
Little is known of the tree and stand dynamics of varied species of planted Paulownia left unmanaged until harvest in the southeastern United States.We sought to remedy this lack of information needed by land managers...Little is known of the tree and stand dynamics of varied species of planted Paulownia left unmanaged until harvest in the southeastern United States.We sought to remedy this lack of information needed by land managers to make informed decisions by investigating diff erences in survivorship,attained diameter breast height(DBH),diameter at ground level,total height,tree volume and standlevel volume yields of planted P.elongata,P.fortunei,and P.tomentosa in the cool-moist environment of the southern Appalachian Mountains.After 9 years,combined-species survivorship was only 27.3%.Low survivorship was likely related to several inclement weather events.P.fortunei was signifi cantly smaller in DBH and total height.Three combined-species stem(bole)volume models were developed as functions of(1)DBH squared,(2)the product DBH squared and total height,and(3)the product diameter ground line squared and total height.Mean total volume production of unmanaged stands was greatest for P.elongata and P.fortunei 4 years after planting;by the 9th year,total volume of P.elongata was greater than the other two species.Results of our study provide managers information on productivity of three species of Paulownia that can be used for estimating plantation yields.展开更多
Background:Determining the spatial distribution of tree heights at the regional area scale is significant when performing forest above-ground biomass estimates in forest resource management research.The geometric-opti...Background:Determining the spatial distribution of tree heights at the regional area scale is significant when performing forest above-ground biomass estimates in forest resource management research.The geometric-optical mutual shadowing(GOMS)model can be used to invert the forest canopy structural parameters at the regional scale.However,this method can obtain only the ratios among the horizontal canopy diameter(CD),tree height,clear height,and vertical CD.In this paper,we used a semi-variance model to calculate the CD using high spatial resolution images and expanded this method to the regional scale.We then combined the CD results with the forest canopy structural parameter inversion results from the GOMS model to calculate tree heights at the regional scale.Results:The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale that closely matches(mainly with in a range from-1 to 1 m)the CD derived from the canopy height model(CHM)data.The difference between tree heights calculated by the GOMS model and the tree heights derived from the CHM data was small,with a root mean square error(RMSE)of 1.96 for a 500-m area with high fractional vegetation cover(FVC)(i.e.,forest area coverage index values greater than 0.8).Both the inaccuracy of the tree height derived from the CHM data and the unmatched spatial resolution of different datasets will influence the accuracy of the inverted tree height.And the error caused by the unmatched spatial resolution is small in dense forest.Conclusions:The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale,together with the canopy structure parameters inverted by the GOMS model,the mean tree height at the regional scale can be obtained.Our study provides a new approach for calculating tree height and provides further directions for the application of the GOMS model.展开更多
The development of equations to predict tree height, crown diameter, crown depth from stem diameter of a tree species enables arborists, researchers, and urban forest managers to model costs and benefits, analyze alte...The development of equations to predict tree height, crown diameter, crown depth from stem diameter of a tree species enables arborists, researchers, and urban forest managers to model costs and benefits, analyze alternative management scenarios, and determine the best management practices for sustainable forests. The objective of this study was to develop regression prediction models for tree age, tree height, crown diameter, crown ratio and crown depth for A. senegal growing in Ferlo, in the northern Senegal. Four plantations of different years old (ISRA, 10 years old plantations, Ndodj, 8 years old plantations, Boulal, 5 years old plantations and Déali, 4 years old plantations) were selected. The following dendometric variables: crown height, crown diameter, stem diameter at the breast height, stem basal diameter (at 0.30 m) and the height from the tree base to first branch were measured on a total of 489 trees. The results suggested that the ecological structure of the different year old A. Senegal plantation revealed a bell-shaped form with left dissymmetric distribution indicating a predominance of individuals with small diameter at breast height. Allometry study of A. Senegal showed highly significant positive correlations (p = 0.00) between stem diameter at breast height, stem basal diameter, tree height, crown diameter and crown depth. Positive correlations were also found between crown diameter, tree height and crown height. Prediction models derived from these relationships can be used to estimate the tree height, stem diameter at breast height and crown depth from crown diameter with greater precision. As for A. Senegal age estimation, the established model is not strong as it can explain only 49.1% of the age variation.展开更多
Residential greening constitutes a significant portion of the urban environment. Trees, as the largest entities in the tree-shrub-herb greening system, are the best choice for residential afforestation. Hence, tree ar...Residential greening constitutes a significant portion of the urban environment. Trees, as the largest entities in the tree-shrub-herb greening system, are the best choice for residential afforestation. Hence, tree arrangement in green space between buildings is significant, for which may exert negative impact on building sunshine. This study takes He Qingyuan residential area in Beijing as a case study to predict the growth in tree height between buildings to meet good sunshine requirements. The procedures were draw as follows: 1) models including building layout and trees were built using computer-aided design (Auto CAD). Afterwards, according to tree crown shape, tree height limits were determined for the same building layout;2) and after that, the growth in tree height was predicted using the nonlinear height-diameter functions to meet the good sunshine requirements. The results allow us to determine which trees to plant between buildings in that the designers can predict the effects of future tree growth on building sunshine.展开更多
Advancements in airborne LiDAR analysis technology have made it possible to quantify forest resource volumes based on individual trees, and such technology may soon replace field surveys. Unlike individual tree detect...Advancements in airborne LiDAR analysis technology have made it possible to quantify forest resource volumes based on individual trees, and such technology may soon replace field surveys. Unlike individual tree detection or tree height measurements, diameter at breast height (DBH) is difficult to determine directly from measured data and is instead estimated indirectly using the correlation between crown size and DBH. Indicators that represent crown size include crown area, surface area, length, and length ratio, and were utilized with tree height as explanatory variables in ten combinations to determine a regression formula. DBH and tree height calculated from the regression formula were applied to an equation to calculate stem volumes of individual trees. Airborne LiDAR measurements were taken using ALS50-II and ALS60 (Leica) at a density of 4 points/m2. An evaluation of the relationship between the regression formulae and DBH estimates indicated that a combination of crown area, tree height, and crown ratio for Japanese cedar, and a combination of crown area and tree height for Japanese cypress, yielded the highest coefficients of determination. The average error and RMSE were 6.9% and 2.38 cm respectively for Japanese cedar, while the corresponding values for Japanese cypress were 8.35% and 2.51 cm. Once the relationship was extended to the stem volumes of individual trees, the average error was 14.4% and RMSE was 0.10 m3 for Japanese cedar. The corresponding values for Japanese cypress were 18.9% and 0.10 m3. These results demonstrate the potential use of airborne LiDAR as a substitute for field surveys.展开更多
The tree height-diameter at breast height(H-DBH)and crown radius-DBH(CR-DBH)relationships are key for forest carbon/biomass estimation,parameterization in vegetation models and vegetation-atmosphere interactions.Altho...The tree height-diameter at breast height(H-DBH)and crown radius-DBH(CR-DBH)relationships are key for forest carbon/biomass estimation,parameterization in vegetation models and vegetation-atmosphere interactions.Although the H-DBH relationship has been widely investigated on site or regional scales,and a few of studies have involved CR-DBH relationships based on plot-level data,few studies have quantitatively verifed the universality of these two relationships on a global scale.This study evaluated the ability of 29 functions to ft the H-DBH and CR-DBH relationships for six different plant functional types(PFTs)on a global scale,based on a global plant trait database.Results showed that most functions were able to capture the H-DBH relationship for tropical PFTs and boreal needleleaf trees relatively accurately,but slightly less for temperate PFTs and boreal broadleaf trees(BB).For boreal PFTs,the S-shaped Logistic function ftted the H-DBH relationship best,while for temperate PFTs the Chapman-Richards function performed well.For tropical needleleaf trees,the fractional function of DBH satisfactorily captured the H-DBH relationship,while for tropical broadleaf trees,the Weibull function and a composite function of fractions were the best choices.For CR-DBH,the ftting capabilities of all the functions were comparable for all PFTs except BB.The Logistic function performed best for two boreal PFTs and temperate broadleaf trees,but for temperate needleleaf trees and two tropical PFTs,some exponential functions demonstrated higher skill.This work provides valuable information for parameterization improvements in vegetation models and forest feld investigations.展开更多
[Objectives]This study was conducted to provide good basic research data for Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations in southern Anhui,so as to improve local ecological,economic and social benefits.[Methods]A 22-year-old ...[Objectives]This study was conducted to provide good basic research data for Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations in southern Anhui,so as to improve local ecological,economic and social benefits.[Methods]A 22-year-old near-mature C.lanceolata plantation in Lingnan Forest Farm,Xiuning County,Huangshan City,Anhui Province was investigated and analyzed by sample plot survey.[Results]The average DBH value of the C.lanceolata plantation at the lower slope was the largest,24.7%and 19.2%higher than those at the upper and middle slopes,respectively.The average single plant wood volume at the lower slope was 47.6%and 49.1%higher than those in the upper and middle slopes,respectively.However,the average tree heights at various slope positions showed little difference.Meanwhile,all the indexes showed the phenomenon of semi-shady slope>sunny slope>shady slope under different slope directions.Among them,the effect of slope position on DBH was extremely significant,but the effect of slope direction on DBH was not significant,and slope position,slope direction and the interaction of slope direction and slope position had no significant effects on the tree height of the C.lanceolata plantation.In addition,slope direction and slope position had extremely significant effects on single plant wood volume.From the overall growth situation of the C.lanceolata plantation in Lingnan Forest Farm,the slope position factor had greater effects on various indexes of forest growth than the slope direction factor,mainly manifested in that the lower slope was better than the middle slope,and the middle slope position was better than the upper slope,while although slope direction had some effect on the growth of the C.lanceolata plantation,the influence degree was not as significant as that of slope position.[Conclusions]This study provides some reference for the adjustment and optimization,development and renewal of C.lanceolata plantation structure in the later period in this area,as well as some data support for other theoretical research on economic forests.展开更多
A study was conducted to detect the effect of water extracts from different parts such as root, bark, branch and leaf, of adult larch, Larix gmelini, trees on growth of Manchurian walnut, Juglans mandshudca, seedlings...A study was conducted to detect the effect of water extracts from different parts such as root, bark, branch and leaf, of adult larch, Larix gmelini, trees on growth of Manchurian walnut, Juglans mandshudca, seedlings and the allelopathy between the two tree species. Four concentrations (100 g. kg i, 50 g. kg^-1, 25 g. kg^-1 and 12.5 g. kg^-1) were prepared for each kind of extracts. Result showed that the water extracts with low and moderate concentrations accelerated the growth of collar diameter and increased biomass and root/shoot ratio of walnut seedlings. The water extracts from branches and barks with low and moderate concentrations accelerated the height growth of the seedlings, while those from leaves and roots slightly decreased the height growth of seedlings. The fact that application of water extracts of larch improved the growth of Manchurian walnut attributes possibly to the allelopathy between the two tree species.展开更多
Background: Modelling aboveground biomass(AGB) in forest and woodland ecosystems is critical for accurate estimation of carbon stocks. However, scarcity of allometric models for predicting AGB remains an issue that ha...Background: Modelling aboveground biomass(AGB) in forest and woodland ecosystems is critical for accurate estimation of carbon stocks. However, scarcity of allometric models for predicting AGB remains an issue that has not been adequately addressed in Africa. In particular, locally developed models for estimating AGB in the tropical woodlands of Ghana have received little attention. In the absence of locally developed allometric models, Ghana will continue to use Tier 1 biomass data through the application of pantropic models. Without local allometric models it is not certain how Ghana would achieve Tier 2 and 3 levels under the United Nations programme for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The objective of this study is to develop a mixedspecies allometric model for use in estimating AGB for the tropical woodlands in Ghana. Destructive sampling was carried out on 745 trees(as part of charcoal production) for the development of allometric equations. Diameter at breast height(dbh, i.e. 1.3 m above ground level), total tree height(H) and wood density(ρ) were used as predictors for the models. Seven models were compared and the best model selected based on model efficiency,bias(%) and corrected Akaike Information Criterion. The best model was validated by comparing its results with those of the pantropic model developed by Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) using equivalence test and conventional paired t-test.Results: The results revealed that the best model for estimating AGB in the tropical woodlands is AGB =0.0580ρ((dbh)2 H)0.999. The equivalence test showed that this model and the pantropic model developed by Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) were equivalent within ±10% of their mean predictions(p-values <0.0001 for one-tailed t-tests for both lower and upper bounds at 5% significant level), while the paired t-test revealed that the mean(181.44 ± 18.25 kg) of the model predictions of the best model of this study was significantly(n = 745, mean diff. = 16.50 ± 2.45 kg;S.E. = 1.25 kg;p < 0.001) greater than that(164.94 ± 15.82 kg) of the pantropic model of Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014).Conclusion: The model developed in this study fills a critical gap in estimating AGB in tropical woodlands in Ghana and other West African countries with similar ecological conditions. Despite the equivalence with the pantropic model it remains superior to the model of Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) for the estimation of AGB in local tropical woodlands. It is a relevant tool for the attainment of Tier 2 and 3 levels for REDD+. The model is recommended for use in the tropical woodlands in Ghana and other West African countries in place of the use of pantropic models.展开更多
Many tree planting programmes have long been initiated to increase forest cover to mitigate the effects of global climate change.Successful planting requires careful planning at the project level,including using suita...Many tree planting programmes have long been initiated to increase forest cover to mitigate the effects of global climate change.Successful planting requires careful planning at the project level,including using suitable species with favourable traits.However,there is a paucity of improvement data for tropical tree species.An experimental common garden of Shorea leprosula was established to study traits related to growth performance which are key factors in planting success.Seedlings of S.leprosula were collected from nine geographical forest reserves.To study the effects of genetic variation,seedlings were planted in a common environment following a randomized complete block design.From performance data collected 2017‒2019,one population showed the highest coefficient for relative height growth,significantly higher than most of the other populations.Interestingly,this population from Beserah also exhibited the lowest coefficient for scale insect infestation.This study provides preliminary results on growth performance and susceptibility to scale insect infestation in S.leprosula and the first common garden experiment site conducted on dipterocarp species.It lays a foundation for future genome-wide studies.展开更多
基金supported by International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China (2010DFA92720-12)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31360200)+1 种基金the German Volkswagen Foundation Eco CAR Project (Az88497)the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the framework of the Su Ma Ri O Project (01LL0918D)
文摘Understanding stand structure and height-diameter relationship of trees provides very useful information to establish appropriate countermeasures for sustainable management of endangered forests. Populus euphratica, a dominant tree species along the Tarim River watershed, plays an irreplaceable role in the sustainable development of regional ecology, economy and society. However, as the result of climate changes and human activities, the natural riparian ecosystems within the whole river basin were degraded enormously, particularly in the lower reaches of the river where about 320 km of the riparian forests were either highly degraded or dead. In this study, we presented one of the main criteria for the assessment of vitality of P. euphrafica forests by estimating the defoliation level, and analyzed forest structure and determined the height-diameter (height means the height of a tree and diameter means the diameter at breast height (DBH) of a tree) relationship of trees in different vitality classes (i.e. healthy, good, medium, senesced, dying, dead and fallen). Trees classified as healthy and good ac- counted for approximately 40% of all sample trees, while slightly and highly degraded trees took up nearly 60% of total sample trees. The values of TH (tree height) and DBH ranged from 0-19 m and 0-125 cm, respectively. Trees more than 15 m in TH and 60 cm in DBH appeared sporadically. Trees in different vitality classes had different distribution patterns. Healthy trees were mainly composed more of relatively younger trees than of degraded tress. The height-diameter relationships differed greatly among tress in different vitality classes, with the coefficients ranging from 0.1653 to 0.6942. Correlation coefficients of TH and DBH in healthy and good trees were higher than those in trees of other vitality classes. The correlation between TH and DBH decreased with the decline of tree vitality. Our results suggested that it might be able to differentiate degraded P. euphratica trees from healthy trees by determining the height-diameter correlation coefficient, and the coefficient would be a new parameter for detecting degradation and assessing sustainable management of floodplain forests in arid regions. In addition, tree vitality should be taken into account to make an accurate height-diameter model for tree height prediction.
文摘To enrich knowledge on the growth dynamics of commercial forest species in the Congo Basin, a study was conducted in Cameroon, within a community forest in savannah forest transition zone (Zone 1) and within FMU 10 052 in dense semi-deciduous humid forest (Zone 2). It aimed to obtain, in 8 species, the height (H) of the tree from its diameter (D) more accessible: Entandophragma cylindricum (Meliacea), Eribroma oblongum, Sterculia rhinopetala et Triplochiton scleroxylon (Malvaceae);Erythrophleum suaveolens et Piptadeniastrum africanum (Fabaceae), Milicia excelsa (Moraceae) et Terminalia superba (Combretaceae). The destructive method was used. After felling and flushing out a tree, the dendrometric parameters were measured and/or calculated. In Zone 1, 6 species including T. scleroxylon were calibrated using 30 trees of each. In Zone 2, 45 trees of E. cylindricum, 99 of E. suaveolens and 82 of T. scleroxylon constituted the sample. At the 5% threshold (95% confidence interval), the height-diameter relationship is a linear model. In all species, the height of a tree is predicted by measuring its diameter through linear regression. In Zone 1 regression equation is: H(m) = 28.13 + 19.09 * D(m) for T. scleroxylon;H(m) = 12.35 + 30.38 * D(m) for S. rhinopetala;H(m) = 23.09 + 26.42 * D(m) for E. oblongum;H(m) = 14.86 + 20.92 * D(m) for P. africanum;H(m) = 14.98 + 24.78 * D(m) for T. superba and H(m) = 1.55 + 32.37 * D(m) for M. excelsa. In Zone 2, the relationship is: H(m) = 27.40 + 14.21 * D(m) for T. scleroxylon;H(m) = 7.79 + 20.18 * D(m) for E. cylindricum and H(m) = 20.08 + 9.74 * D(m) for E. suaveolens (probability associated with F < 0.0001). The influence of site parameters (biotic and abiotic) on the height-diameter relationship should be more studied in multilayers forests specifically in the Congo Basin.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32101260).
文摘The number and composition of species in a community can be quantified withα-diversity indices,including species richness(R),Simpson’s index(D),and the Shannon-Wiener index(H΄).In forest communities,there are large variations in tree size among species and individu-als of the same species,which result in differences in eco-logical processes and ecosystem functions.However,tree size inequality(TSI)has been largely neglected in studies using the available diversity indices.The TSI in the diameter at breast height(DBH)data for each of 99920 m×20 m forest census quadrats was quantified using the Gini index(GI),a measure of the inequality of size distribution.The generalized performance equation was used to describe the rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curve of the cumulative proportion of DBH and the cumulative proportion of number of trees per quadrat.We also examined the relationships ofα-diversity indices with the GI using correlation tests.The generalized performance equation effectively described the rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curve of DBH distributions,with most root-mean-square errors(990 out of 999 quadrats)being<0.0030.There were significant positive correlations between each of threeα-diversity indices(i.e.,R,D,and H’)and the GI.Nevertheless,the total abundance of trees in each quadrat did not significantly influence the GI.This means that the TSI increased with increasing spe-cies diversity.Thus,two new indices are proposed that can balanceα-diversity against the extent of TSI in the com-munity:(1−GI)×D,and(1−GI)×H’.These new indices were significantly correlated with the original D and H΄,and did not increase the extent of variation within each group of indices.This study presents a useful tool for quantifying both species diversity and the variation in tree sizes in forest communities,especially in the face of cumulative species loss under global climate change.
基金supported by the U.S.Department of Defense,through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program(SERDP)
文摘Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop models to predict longleaf pine tree diameter at breast height (dbh) and merchantable stem volume (V) using data obtained from field measurements. We used longleaf pine tree data from 3,376 planted trees on 127 permanent plots located in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain region to fit equations to predict dbh and V as functions of tree height (H) and crown area (CA). Prediction of dbh as a function of H improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable. Similarly, predic- tions of V based on H improved when CA was included. Incorporation of additional stand variables such as age, site index, dominant height, and stand density were also evaluated but resulted in only small improvements in model performance. For model testing we used data from planted and naturally-regenerated trees located inside and outside the geographic area used for model fitting. Our results suggest that the models are a robust alternative for dbh and V estimations when H and CA are known on planted stands with potential for naturally-regenerated stands, across a wide range of ages. We discuss the importance of these models for use with metrics derived from remote sensing data.
基金The authors appreciate the diligent eff orts of Virginia Gibbs,Tracy Roof,Julia Kirschman and Jacqui Adams during fi eld measurements.We thank Dr.David Loftis for his thoughtful advice during study establishment.Soil properties were from an associated study by Anne Suratt while she was a research intern at Bent Creek Experimental Forest.
文摘Little is known of the tree and stand dynamics of varied species of planted Paulownia left unmanaged until harvest in the southeastern United States.We sought to remedy this lack of information needed by land managers to make informed decisions by investigating diff erences in survivorship,attained diameter breast height(DBH),diameter at ground level,total height,tree volume and standlevel volume yields of planted P.elongata,P.fortunei,and P.tomentosa in the cool-moist environment of the southern Appalachian Mountains.After 9 years,combined-species survivorship was only 27.3%.Low survivorship was likely related to several inclement weather events.P.fortunei was signifi cantly smaller in DBH and total height.Three combined-species stem(bole)volume models were developed as functions of(1)DBH squared,(2)the product DBH squared and total height,and(3)the product diameter ground line squared and total height.Mean total volume production of unmanaged stands was greatest for P.elongata and P.fortunei 4 years after planting;by the 9th year,total volume of P.elongata was greater than the other two species.Results of our study provide managers information on productivity of three species of Paulownia that can be used for estimating plantation yields.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41871231)partially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFB0501502)the Special Funds for Major State Basic Research Project(No.2013CB733403)。
文摘Background:Determining the spatial distribution of tree heights at the regional area scale is significant when performing forest above-ground biomass estimates in forest resource management research.The geometric-optical mutual shadowing(GOMS)model can be used to invert the forest canopy structural parameters at the regional scale.However,this method can obtain only the ratios among the horizontal canopy diameter(CD),tree height,clear height,and vertical CD.In this paper,we used a semi-variance model to calculate the CD using high spatial resolution images and expanded this method to the regional scale.We then combined the CD results with the forest canopy structural parameter inversion results from the GOMS model to calculate tree heights at the regional scale.Results:The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale that closely matches(mainly with in a range from-1 to 1 m)the CD derived from the canopy height model(CHM)data.The difference between tree heights calculated by the GOMS model and the tree heights derived from the CHM data was small,with a root mean square error(RMSE)of 1.96 for a 500-m area with high fractional vegetation cover(FVC)(i.e.,forest area coverage index values greater than 0.8).Both the inaccuracy of the tree height derived from the CHM data and the unmatched spatial resolution of different datasets will influence the accuracy of the inverted tree height.And the error caused by the unmatched spatial resolution is small in dense forest.Conclusions:The semi-variance model can be used to calculate the CD at the regional scale,together with the canopy structure parameters inverted by the GOMS model,the mean tree height at the regional scale can be obtained.Our study provides a new approach for calculating tree height and provides further directions for the application of the GOMS model.
文摘The development of equations to predict tree height, crown diameter, crown depth from stem diameter of a tree species enables arborists, researchers, and urban forest managers to model costs and benefits, analyze alternative management scenarios, and determine the best management practices for sustainable forests. The objective of this study was to develop regression prediction models for tree age, tree height, crown diameter, crown ratio and crown depth for A. senegal growing in Ferlo, in the northern Senegal. Four plantations of different years old (ISRA, 10 years old plantations, Ndodj, 8 years old plantations, Boulal, 5 years old plantations and Déali, 4 years old plantations) were selected. The following dendometric variables: crown height, crown diameter, stem diameter at the breast height, stem basal diameter (at 0.30 m) and the height from the tree base to first branch were measured on a total of 489 trees. The results suggested that the ecological structure of the different year old A. Senegal plantation revealed a bell-shaped form with left dissymmetric distribution indicating a predominance of individuals with small diameter at breast height. Allometry study of A. Senegal showed highly significant positive correlations (p = 0.00) between stem diameter at breast height, stem basal diameter, tree height, crown diameter and crown depth. Positive correlations were also found between crown diameter, tree height and crown height. Prediction models derived from these relationships can be used to estimate the tree height, stem diameter at breast height and crown depth from crown diameter with greater precision. As for A. Senegal age estimation, the established model is not strong as it can explain only 49.1% of the age variation.
文摘Residential greening constitutes a significant portion of the urban environment. Trees, as the largest entities in the tree-shrub-herb greening system, are the best choice for residential afforestation. Hence, tree arrangement in green space between buildings is significant, for which may exert negative impact on building sunshine. This study takes He Qingyuan residential area in Beijing as a case study to predict the growth in tree height between buildings to meet good sunshine requirements. The procedures were draw as follows: 1) models including building layout and trees were built using computer-aided design (Auto CAD). Afterwards, according to tree crown shape, tree height limits were determined for the same building layout;2) and after that, the growth in tree height was predicted using the nonlinear height-diameter functions to meet the good sunshine requirements. The results allow us to determine which trees to plant between buildings in that the designers can predict the effects of future tree growth on building sunshine.
文摘Advancements in airborne LiDAR analysis technology have made it possible to quantify forest resource volumes based on individual trees, and such technology may soon replace field surveys. Unlike individual tree detection or tree height measurements, diameter at breast height (DBH) is difficult to determine directly from measured data and is instead estimated indirectly using the correlation between crown size and DBH. Indicators that represent crown size include crown area, surface area, length, and length ratio, and were utilized with tree height as explanatory variables in ten combinations to determine a regression formula. DBH and tree height calculated from the regression formula were applied to an equation to calculate stem volumes of individual trees. Airborne LiDAR measurements were taken using ALS50-II and ALS60 (Leica) at a density of 4 points/m2. An evaluation of the relationship between the regression formulae and DBH estimates indicated that a combination of crown area, tree height, and crown ratio for Japanese cedar, and a combination of crown area and tree height for Japanese cypress, yielded the highest coefficients of determination. The average error and RMSE were 6.9% and 2.38 cm respectively for Japanese cedar, while the corresponding values for Japanese cypress were 8.35% and 2.51 cm. Once the relationship was extended to the stem volumes of individual trees, the average error was 14.4% and RMSE was 0.10 m3 for Japanese cedar. The corresponding values for Japanese cypress were 18.9% and 0.10 m3. These results demonstrate the potential use of airborne LiDAR as a substitute for field surveys.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42275177)the National Key Scientifc and Technological Infrastructure project‘Earth System Science Numerical Simulator Facility’(EarthLab).
文摘The tree height-diameter at breast height(H-DBH)and crown radius-DBH(CR-DBH)relationships are key for forest carbon/biomass estimation,parameterization in vegetation models and vegetation-atmosphere interactions.Although the H-DBH relationship has been widely investigated on site or regional scales,and a few of studies have involved CR-DBH relationships based on plot-level data,few studies have quantitatively verifed the universality of these two relationships on a global scale.This study evaluated the ability of 29 functions to ft the H-DBH and CR-DBH relationships for six different plant functional types(PFTs)on a global scale,based on a global plant trait database.Results showed that most functions were able to capture the H-DBH relationship for tropical PFTs and boreal needleleaf trees relatively accurately,but slightly less for temperate PFTs and boreal broadleaf trees(BB).For boreal PFTs,the S-shaped Logistic function ftted the H-DBH relationship best,while for temperate PFTs the Chapman-Richards function performed well.For tropical needleleaf trees,the fractional function of DBH satisfactorily captured the H-DBH relationship,while for tropical broadleaf trees,the Weibull function and a composite function of fractions were the best choices.For CR-DBH,the ftting capabilities of all the functions were comparable for all PFTs except BB.The Logistic function performed best for two boreal PFTs and temperate broadleaf trees,but for temperate needleleaf trees and two tropical PFTs,some exponential functions demonstrated higher skill.This work provides valuable information for parameterization improvements in vegetation models and forest feld investigations.
基金Supported by General Project of Natural Science Research in Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province(KJHS2019B13)School-level Talents Start-up Project of Huangshan University(2019xkjq012)+1 种基金Horizontal Topic of Huangshan University(hxkt2020023)Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program of Anhui Province(S202110375082).
文摘[Objectives]This study was conducted to provide good basic research data for Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations in southern Anhui,so as to improve local ecological,economic and social benefits.[Methods]A 22-year-old near-mature C.lanceolata plantation in Lingnan Forest Farm,Xiuning County,Huangshan City,Anhui Province was investigated and analyzed by sample plot survey.[Results]The average DBH value of the C.lanceolata plantation at the lower slope was the largest,24.7%and 19.2%higher than those at the upper and middle slopes,respectively.The average single plant wood volume at the lower slope was 47.6%and 49.1%higher than those in the upper and middle slopes,respectively.However,the average tree heights at various slope positions showed little difference.Meanwhile,all the indexes showed the phenomenon of semi-shady slope>sunny slope>shady slope under different slope directions.Among them,the effect of slope position on DBH was extremely significant,but the effect of slope direction on DBH was not significant,and slope position,slope direction and the interaction of slope direction and slope position had no significant effects on the tree height of the C.lanceolata plantation.In addition,slope direction and slope position had extremely significant effects on single plant wood volume.From the overall growth situation of the C.lanceolata plantation in Lingnan Forest Farm,the slope position factor had greater effects on various indexes of forest growth than the slope direction factor,mainly manifested in that the lower slope was better than the middle slope,and the middle slope position was better than the upper slope,while although slope direction had some effect on the growth of the C.lanceolata plantation,the influence degree was not as significant as that of slope position.[Conclusions]This study provides some reference for the adjustment and optimization,development and renewal of C.lanceolata plantation structure in the later period in this area,as well as some data support for other theoretical research on economic forests.
基金This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30400341) and Heilongjiang Provincial Science Foundation (No. C0320)Acknowledgement I thank Dr. YAN Xiu-feng for his help and guidance.
文摘A study was conducted to detect the effect of water extracts from different parts such as root, bark, branch and leaf, of adult larch, Larix gmelini, trees on growth of Manchurian walnut, Juglans mandshudca, seedlings and the allelopathy between the two tree species. Four concentrations (100 g. kg i, 50 g. kg^-1, 25 g. kg^-1 and 12.5 g. kg^-1) were prepared for each kind of extracts. Result showed that the water extracts with low and moderate concentrations accelerated the growth of collar diameter and increased biomass and root/shoot ratio of walnut seedlings. The water extracts from branches and barks with low and moderate concentrations accelerated the height growth of the seedlings, while those from leaves and roots slightly decreased the height growth of seedlings. The fact that application of water extracts of larch improved the growth of Manchurian walnut attributes possibly to the allelopathy between the two tree species.
基金Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) of Germany,funded the PhD programme of the lead author through the West African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adapted Land use (WASCAL)。
文摘Background: Modelling aboveground biomass(AGB) in forest and woodland ecosystems is critical for accurate estimation of carbon stocks. However, scarcity of allometric models for predicting AGB remains an issue that has not been adequately addressed in Africa. In particular, locally developed models for estimating AGB in the tropical woodlands of Ghana have received little attention. In the absence of locally developed allometric models, Ghana will continue to use Tier 1 biomass data through the application of pantropic models. Without local allometric models it is not certain how Ghana would achieve Tier 2 and 3 levels under the United Nations programme for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The objective of this study is to develop a mixedspecies allometric model for use in estimating AGB for the tropical woodlands in Ghana. Destructive sampling was carried out on 745 trees(as part of charcoal production) for the development of allometric equations. Diameter at breast height(dbh, i.e. 1.3 m above ground level), total tree height(H) and wood density(ρ) were used as predictors for the models. Seven models were compared and the best model selected based on model efficiency,bias(%) and corrected Akaike Information Criterion. The best model was validated by comparing its results with those of the pantropic model developed by Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) using equivalence test and conventional paired t-test.Results: The results revealed that the best model for estimating AGB in the tropical woodlands is AGB =0.0580ρ((dbh)2 H)0.999. The equivalence test showed that this model and the pantropic model developed by Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) were equivalent within ±10% of their mean predictions(p-values <0.0001 for one-tailed t-tests for both lower and upper bounds at 5% significant level), while the paired t-test revealed that the mean(181.44 ± 18.25 kg) of the model predictions of the best model of this study was significantly(n = 745, mean diff. = 16.50 ± 2.45 kg;S.E. = 1.25 kg;p < 0.001) greater than that(164.94 ± 15.82 kg) of the pantropic model of Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014).Conclusion: The model developed in this study fills a critical gap in estimating AGB in tropical woodlands in Ghana and other West African countries with similar ecological conditions. Despite the equivalence with the pantropic model it remains superior to the model of Chave et al.(Glob Chang Biol 20:3177–3190, 2014) for the estimation of AGB in local tropical woodlands. It is a relevant tool for the attainment of Tier 2 and 3 levels for REDD+. The model is recommended for use in the tropical woodlands in Ghana and other West African countries in place of the use of pantropic models.
基金supported by the Government of Malaysia under the 10th and 11th Malaysia Plan.
文摘Many tree planting programmes have long been initiated to increase forest cover to mitigate the effects of global climate change.Successful planting requires careful planning at the project level,including using suitable species with favourable traits.However,there is a paucity of improvement data for tropical tree species.An experimental common garden of Shorea leprosula was established to study traits related to growth performance which are key factors in planting success.Seedlings of S.leprosula were collected from nine geographical forest reserves.To study the effects of genetic variation,seedlings were planted in a common environment following a randomized complete block design.From performance data collected 2017‒2019,one population showed the highest coefficient for relative height growth,significantly higher than most of the other populations.Interestingly,this population from Beserah also exhibited the lowest coefficient for scale insect infestation.This study provides preliminary results on growth performance and susceptibility to scale insect infestation in S.leprosula and the first common garden experiment site conducted on dipterocarp species.It lays a foundation for future genome-wide studies.