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
Segmented taper equation was selected to model stem profile of Dahurian larch （Larix gmelinii Rupr.）. The data were based on stem analysis of 74 trees from Dailing Forest Bureau in Heilongjiang Province, Northeaster...Segmented taper equation was selected to model stem profile of Dahurian larch （Larix gmelinii Rupr.）. The data were based on stem analysis of 74 trees from Dailing Forest Bureau in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. Two taper equations with crown ratio and stand basal area were derived from the Max and Burkhart’s （1976） taper equation. Three taper equations were evaluated： （1） the original equation, （2） the original equation with crown ratio, and （3） the original equation with basal area. SAS NLIN and SYSNLIN procedures were used to fit taper equations. Fit statistics and cross-validation were used to evaluate the accuracy and precision of these models. Parameter estimates showed that the original equation with inclusion of crown ratio and basal area variables provided significantly different parameter estimates with lower standard errors. Overall fit statistics indicated that the root mean square error （RMSE） for diameter outside and inside bark decreased respectively by 10% and 7% in the original model with crown ratio and by 12% and 7.2% in the original model with basal area. Cross-validation further confirmed that the original equation with inclusion of crown ratio and basal area variables provided more accurate predictions at the lower section （relative heights, 10%） and upper section （relative heights, 50%） for both outside and inside bark diameters.展开更多
On the edge of the Tengger Desert in northern China,revegetation has changed the landscape from moving dunes to stabilized dunes covered by shrubs,which further modifies the pattern of rainfall redistribution.To study...On the edge of the Tengger Desert in northern China,revegetation has changed the landscape from moving dunes to stabilized dunes covered by shrubs,which further modifies the pattern of rainfall redistribution.To study rainfall interception loss by shrubs and its relationship to rainfall properties and crown structure,throughfalls passing through crowns of Artemisia ordosica Krash.and Caragana korshinskii Kom.were measured using nine PVC cups under the canopy of each of the two shrubs during 73 rain events over a three-year period,with total rainfall of 260.9 mm.Interception losses of gross rainfall by A.ordosica and C.korshinskii account for 15% and 27% of the total on a crown area basis,and 6% and 11% on a ground area basis,respectively.Individual throughfall(T) and interception(I) were significantly related to rainfall amount(Pg),duration(D),and intensity(R).Ratios of throughfall to rainfall(T/Pg) and interception to rainfall(I/Pg) were not only significantly related to Pg,D,and R,but also to shrub species,and interactions of species with crown volume(CV) and leaf area index(LAI).Under most rain events,interceptions by C.korshinskii with greater CV and LAI were significantly higher than those by A.ordosica,and more rainfall interception occurred at locations closer to the stems of the two shrubs.For C.korshinskii,I/Pg had a significant positive linear relation with CV and LAI,while T/Pg had a significant negative linear relation with them.CV has a greater influence on T/Pg and I/Pg than does LAI.Using a regression method,canopy water storage capacities are estimated to be 0.52 and 0.68 mm,and free throughfall coefficient to be 0.62 and 0.47 for A.ordosica and C.korshinskii,respectively.展开更多
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This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30972363)Special Fund for For-estry-Scientific Research in the Public Interest(201004026)+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(200902362,20100471014)the Fun-damental Research Funds for the Central Universities(DL10CA06)SRF for ROCS,SEM.
文摘Segmented taper equation was selected to model stem profile of Dahurian larch （Larix gmelinii Rupr.）. The data were based on stem analysis of 74 trees from Dailing Forest Bureau in Heilongjiang Province, Northeastern China. Two taper equations with crown ratio and stand basal area were derived from the Max and Burkhart’s （1976） taper equation. Three taper equations were evaluated： （1） the original equation, （2） the original equation with crown ratio, and （3） the original equation with basal area. SAS NLIN and SYSNLIN procedures were used to fit taper equations. Fit statistics and cross-validation were used to evaluate the accuracy and precision of these models. Parameter estimates showed that the original equation with inclusion of crown ratio and basal area variables provided significantly different parameter estimates with lower standard errors. Overall fit statistics indicated that the root mean square error （RMSE） for diameter outside and inside bark decreased respectively by 10% and 7% in the original model with crown ratio and by 12% and 7.2% in the original model with basal area. Cross-validation further confirmed that the original equation with inclusion of crown ratio and basal area variables provided more accurate predictions at the lower section （relative heights, 10%） and upper section （relative heights, 50%） for both outside and inside bark diameters.
基金supported by the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (40825001 and 30870401)
文摘On the edge of the Tengger Desert in northern China,revegetation has changed the landscape from moving dunes to stabilized dunes covered by shrubs,which further modifies the pattern of rainfall redistribution.To study rainfall interception loss by shrubs and its relationship to rainfall properties and crown structure,throughfalls passing through crowns of Artemisia ordosica Krash.and Caragana korshinskii Kom.were measured using nine PVC cups under the canopy of each of the two shrubs during 73 rain events over a three-year period,with total rainfall of 260.9 mm.Interception losses of gross rainfall by A.ordosica and C.korshinskii account for 15% and 27% of the total on a crown area basis,and 6% and 11% on a ground area basis,respectively.Individual throughfall(T) and interception(I) were significantly related to rainfall amount(Pg),duration(D),and intensity(R).Ratios of throughfall to rainfall(T/Pg) and interception to rainfall(I/Pg) were not only significantly related to Pg,D,and R,but also to shrub species,and interactions of species with crown volume(CV) and leaf area index(LAI).Under most rain events,interceptions by C.korshinskii with greater CV and LAI were significantly higher than those by A.ordosica,and more rainfall interception occurred at locations closer to the stems of the two shrubs.For C.korshinskii,I/Pg had a significant positive linear relation with CV and LAI,while T/Pg had a significant negative linear relation with them.CV has a greater influence on T/Pg and I/Pg than does LAI.Using a regression method,canopy water storage capacities are estimated to be 0.52 and 0.68 mm,and free throughfall coefficient to be 0.62 and 0.47 for A.ordosica and C.korshinskii,respectively.
