Importance of seasonal growth patterns in modelling interactions between radiata pine and some common weed species

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark O Kimberley ◽  
Brian Richardson

Previously described weed competition models that use competition indices based on weed size relative to tree size (e.g., tree height divided by weed height) require models of weed growth and models of weed-free tree growth. A method is presented to model these using standard sigmoidal growth functions and to incorporate regular seasonal patterns of tree growth using Fourier series approximations. The method is tested against data from a field trial at Rotorua, New Zealand, in which Pinus radiata D. Don was grown both on its own and in competition with several common weed species. Weed and tree height were best modelled by a Weibull function, and tree ground line diameter by a Schumacher function. Seasonal fluctuations in both tree and weed growth were adequately modelled by a single-term Fourier series. All weed species showed very similar, strong seasonal fluctuations in height growth, peaking in February. Seasonal fluctuations in tree height growth, and especially diameter growth, were less marked and peaked earlier, in December. Simulations suggested that it is necessary to account for seasonal effects when modelling competition during the first year of growth, but that seasonal effects have less influence in subsequent years.

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 898-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Richardson ◽  
Mark O Kimberley ◽  
John W Ray ◽  
Graham W Coker

Pinus radiata D. Don was grown on its own and with a range of densities of either buddleia (Buddleja davidii Franchet) or broom (Cytisus scoparius L.), two important forest weed species, in a field trial at Rotorua, New Zealand. Tree growth from the time of planting to age 3 was modelled as a function of tree size and a competition modifier. The competition modifier is, in effect, a multiplier that reduces tree growth according to the degree of competition defined by a competition index (CI). A range of CIs, with some sensitivity to both weed and tree growth and development over time, were individually incorporated into the modifier and evaluated. The "best" CI combined measures of weed height relative to tree height, proximity of the weed to the tree, and weed abundance, and was negatively correlated with an index of light availability. For a given value of CI, the effect on tree growth was independent of weed species. For diameter growth, the effect of CI was independent of tree age. However, for height growth the negative effect of a given CI value was much higher in year 3 than in years 1 and 2. This suggest that competition has an immediate effect on diameter but a delayed effect on height growth.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1900-1912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Willoughby ◽  
David V Clay ◽  
Fiona L Dixon ◽  
Geoff W Morgan

The identification of less competitive weed species and infestation rates might allow weeding operations to be better targeted, help conserve local plant biodiversity, and facilitate reductions in the amount of herbicide used to achieve woodland regeneration. Therefore, the effect of competition from pure stands of Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., Epilobium ciliatum Raf., Holcus lanatus L., Poa annua L., and Persicaria maculosa Gray on Betula pendula Roth was investigated over 2 years. All weed species reduced tree growth significantly compared with weed-free plots, but there were no significant differences among species. When Lolium perenne L., Rumex obtusifolius L., and Cirsium vulgare were established at four densities in plots containing newly planted B. pendula over a 1-year period, all weed species reduced tree growth, but Lolium perenne was the most competitive. Weed density had no significant effect, indicating that even sparse weed growth can have a major impact on tree performance. None of the treatments affected B. pendula survival. These results confirm the inhibitory effects of a range of weed species on tree growth, but not survival, and the capacity of B. pendula to recover in the second year after planting from an initial check in growth. Percent cover was a good explanatory variable for models developed to describe the effects of weeds on tree growth, and preliminary competition indices for the different species are presented.


1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.W. Thier ◽  
M.A. Marsden

AbstractIncidence of the western pine shoot borer, Eucosma sonomana Kearfott, and tree growth measurements from 5687 ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., were recorded in the Calf Pen plantation Payette National Forest, ID. The percentage of trees infested by shoot borer generally increased as tree height increased.Infestation of the tree’s leader usually resulted in reduced height growth especially where needle length was shortened in the leader. Height growth of infested leaders was less than uninfested leaders. This difference in height growth increased with the total height of the tree as measured in the previous year.


2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Duchateau ◽  
F. Longuetaud ◽  
F. Mothe ◽  
C. Ung ◽  
D. Auty ◽  
...  

Existing models for describing knot morphology are typically based on polynomial functions with parameters that are often not biologically interpretable. Hence, they are difficult to integrate into tree growth simulators due to the limited possibilities for linking knot shape to external branch and tree characteristics. X-ray computed tomography (CT) images taken along the stems of 16 jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees and 32 black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) trees were used to extract the three-dimensional shape of 3450 and 11 276 knots from each species, respectively. Using a nonlinear approach, we firstly fitted a model of knot geometry adapted from a Weibull function. Separate equations were used to describe both the curvature and the diameter of the knot along its pith. Combining these two equations gave an accurate representation of knot shape using only five parameters. Secondly, to facilitate the integration of the resulting model into a tree growth simulator, we extracted the parameters obtained for each knot and modelled them as functions of external branch and tree characteristics (e.g., branch diameter, insertion angle, position in the stem, tree height, and stem diameter). When fitted to a separate data set, the model residuals of the black spruce knot curvature equation were less than 2.9 mm in any part of the knot profile for 75% of the observations. The corresponding value from the diameter equation was 2.8 mm. In jack pine, these statistics increased to 5.4 mm and 3.2 mm, respectively. Overall, the ability to predict knot attributes from external tree- and branch-level variables has the potential to improve the simulation of internal stem properties.


1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willard H. Carmean ◽  
Daniel J. Lenthall

Height-growth patterns for jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) were studied using stem analyses from dominant and codominant trees on 141 plots in north central Ontario. All plots were in natural, well-stocked, even-aged stands 50 years of age or older. Data from 32 of the 141 plots were randomly selected to confirm results, the remaining 109 plots were used for computing the curves. Height-growth curves were developed using a five-parameter Chapman–Richards nonlinear regression that expressed height as a function of age and site index. A site-index prediction equation was also computed using a similar model that expressed site index as a function of age and tree height. Estimated site index using height-growth curves based on the 109 computation plots agreed closely with site index observed from stem analyses on the 32 confirmation plots. Major results were as follows: (i) height-growth curves based on breast-height age were more accurate than curves based on total age; (ii) polymorphic height-growth patterns were related to site index, becoming more curvilinear as site index increased; (iii) average height-growth patterns were similar for jack pine growing on four glacial landforms: shallow and deep moraines, outwashed glacial sands, and lacustrine clays and silts; and (iv) height-growth patterns for ages less than 50 years were very similar to patterns of the commonly used Plonski curves for jack pine site classes in Ontario, but after 50 years, height growth was somewhat better for all sites than predicted by the Plonski curves.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1015
Author(s):  
Xuan Wu ◽  
Liang Jiao ◽  
Dashi Du ◽  
Changliang Qi ◽  
Ruhong Xue

It is important to explore the responses of radial tree growth in different regions to understand growth patterns and to enhance forest management and protection with climate change. We constructed tree ring width chronologies of Picea crassifolia from different regions of the Qilian Mountains of northwest China. We used Pearson correlation and moving correlation to analyze the main climate factors limiting radial growth of trees and the temporal stability of the growth–climate relationship, while spatial correlation is the result of further testing the first two terms in space. The conclusions were as follows: (1) Radial growth had different trends, showing an increasing followed by a decreasing trend in the central region, a continuously increasing trend in the eastern region, and a gradually decreasing trend in the isolated mountain. (2) Radial tree growth in the central region and isolated mountains was constrained by drought stress, and tree growth in the central region was significantly negatively correlated with growing season temperature. Isolated mountains showed a significant negative correlation with mean minimum of growing season and a significant positive correlation with total precipitation. (3) Temporal dynamic responses of radial growth in the central region to the temperatures and SPEI (the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index) in the growing season were unstable, the isolated mountains to total precipitation was unstable, and that to SPEI was stable. The results of this study suggest that scientific management and maintenance plans of the forest ecosystem should be developed according to the response and growth patterns of the Qinghai spruce to climate change in different regions of the Qilian Mountains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Guerra-Hernández ◽  
Adrián Pascual

Abstract Background The NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) satellite mission aims at scanning forest ecosystems on a multi-temporal short-rotation basis. The GEDI data can validate and update statistics from nationwide airborne laser scanning (ALS). We present a case in the Northwest of Spain using GEDI statistics and nationwide ALS surveys to estimate forest dynamics in three fast-growing forest ecosystems comprising 211,346 ha. The objectives were: i) to analyze the potential of GEDI to detect disturbances, ii) to investigate uncertainty source regarding non-positive height increments from the 2015–2017 ALS data to the 2019 GEDI laser shots and iii) to estimate height growth using polygons from the Forest Map of Spain (FMS). A set of 258 National Forest Inventory plots were used to validate the observed height dynamics. Results The spatio-temporal assessment from ALS surveying to GEDI scanning allowed the large-scale detection of harvests. The mean annual height growths were 0.79 (SD = 0.63), 0.60 (SD = 0.42) and 0.94 (SD = 0.75) m for Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp., respectively. The median annual values from the ALS-GEDI positive increments were close to NFI-based growth values computed for Pinus pinaster and Pinus radiata, respectively. The effect of edge border, spatial co-registration of GEDI shots and the influence of forest cover in the observed dynamics were important factors to considering when processing ALS data and GEDI shots. Discussion The use of GEDI laser data provides valuable insights for forest industry operations especially when accounting for fast changes. However, errors derived from positioning, ground finder and canopy structure can introduce uncertainty to understand the detected growth patterns as documented in this study. The analysis of forest growth using ALS and GEDI would benefit from the generalization of common rules and data processing schemes as the GEDI mission is increasingly being utilized in the forest remote sensing community.


Fractals ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 297-301
Author(s):  
B. DUBUC ◽  
S. W. ZUCKER ◽  
M. P. STRYKER

A central issue in characterizing neuronal growth patterns is whether their arbors form clusters. Formal definitions of clusters have been elusive, although intuitively they appear to be related to the complexity of branching. Standard notions of complexity have been developed for point sets, but neurons are specialized "curve-like" objects. Thus we consider the problem of characterizing the local complexity of a "curve-like" measurable set. We propose an index of complexity suitable for defining clusters in such objects, together with an algorithm that produces a complexity map which gives, at each point on the set, precisely this index of complexity. Our index is closely related to the classical notions of fractal dimension, since it consists in determining the rate of growth of the area of a dilated set at a given scale, but it differs in two significant ways. First, the dilation is done normal to the local structure of the set, instead of being done isotropically. Second, the rate of growth of the area of this new set, which we named "normal complexity", is taken at a fixed (given) scale instead instead of around zero. The results will be key in choosing the appropriate representation when integrating local information in low level computer vision. As an application, they lead to the quantification of axonal and dendritic tree growth in neurons.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document