Allometric Models for Estimating Tree Volume and Aboveground Biomass in Lowland Forests of Tanzania

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2016/8076271 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Wilson Ancelm Mugasha ◽

Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa ◽

Emannuel Luoga ◽

Rogers Ernest Malimbwi ◽

Eliakimu Zahabu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Site Specific ◽

Tree Allometry ◽

Allometric Models ◽

Specific Biomass ◽

Lowland Forests ◽

Study Sites ◽

Biased Estimates ◽

Total Tree ◽

Volume Models

Models to assist management of lowland forests in Tanzania are in most cases lacking. Using a sample of 60 trees which were destructively harvested from both dry and wet lowland forests of Dindili in Morogoro Region (30 trees) and Rondo in Lindi Region (30 trees), respectively, this study developed site specific and general models for estimating total tree volume and aboveground biomass. Specifically the study developed (i) height-diameter (ht-dbh) models for trees found in the two sites, (ii) total, merchantable, and branches volume models, and (iii) total and sectional aboveground biomass models of trees found in the two study sites. The findings show that site specific ht-dbh model appears to be suitable in estimating treeheightsince the tree allometry was found to differ significantly between studied forests. The developed general volume models yielded unbiased mean prediction error and hence can adequately be applied to estimate tree volume in dry and wet lowland forests in Tanzania. General aboveground biomass model appears to yield biased estimates; hence, it is not suitable when accurate results are required. In this case, site specific biomass allometric models are recommended. Biomass allometric models which include basic wood density are highly recommended for improved estimates accuracy when such information is available.

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Allometric Biomass Models for European Beech and Silver Fir: Testing Approaches to Minimize the Demand for Site-Specific Biomass Observations

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11111136 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 1136

Author(s):

Ioan Dutcă ◽

Dimitris Zianis ◽

Ion Cătălin Petrițan ◽

Cosmin Ion Bragă ◽

Gheorghe Ștefan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aboveground Biomass ◽

European Beech ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Allometric Model ◽

Site Specific ◽

Biomass Models ◽

Large Trees ◽

Wide Range ◽

Local Sample ◽

Specific Biomass

In this paper, site-specific allometric biomass models were developed for European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) to estimate the aboveground biomass in Șinca virgin forest, Romania. Several approaches to minimize the demand for site-specific observations in allometric biomass model development were also investigated. Developing site-specific allometric biomass models requires new measurements of biomass for a sample of trees from that specific site. Yet, measuring biomass is laborious, time consuming, and requires extensive logistics, especially for very large trees. The allometric biomass models were developed for a wide range of diameters at breast height, D (6–86 cm for European beech and 6–93 cm for silver fir) using a logarithmic transformation approach. Two alternative approaches were applied, i.e., random intercept model (RIM) and a Bayesian model with strong informative priors, to enhance the information of the site-specific sample (of biomass observations) by supplementing with a generic biomass sample. The appropriateness of each model was evaluated based on the aboveground biomass prediction of a 1 ha sample plot in Șinca forest. The results showed that models based on both D and tree height (H) to predict tree aboveground biomass (AGB) were more accurate predictors of AGB and produced plot-level estimates with better precision, than models based on D only. Furthermore, both RIM and Bayesian approach performed similarly well when a small local sample (of seven smallest trees) was used to calibrate the allometric model. Therefore, the generic biomass observations may effectively be combined with a small local sample (of just a few small trees) to calibrate an allometric model to a certain site and to minimize the demand for site-specific biomass measurements. However, special attention should be given to the H-D ratio, since it can affect the allometry and the performance of the reduced local sample approach.

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Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass and carbon stock for Diospyros mespiliformis in West Africa

Silva Fennica ◽

10.14214/sf.10215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Korotimi Ouédraogo ◽

Kangbéni Dimobe ◽

Adjima Thiombiano

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Carbon Content ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Direct Method ◽

Scientific Information ◽

Leaf Biomass ◽

Basal Diameter ◽

Site Specific ◽

Allometric Models ◽

Biomass Models

Accurate estimates of aboveground biomass (AGB) strongly depend on the suitability and precision of allometric models. Hochst. ex A. DC. is a key component of most sub-Sahara agroforestry systems and, one of the most economically important trees in Africa. Despite its importance, very few scientific information exists regarding its biomass and carbon storage potential. In this study direct method was used to develop site-specific biomass models for tree components in Burkina Faso. Allometric models were developed for stem, branch and leaf biomass using data from 39 tree harvested in Sudanian savannas of Burkina Faso. Diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, crown diameter (CD) and basal diameter (D) were regressed on biomass component using non-linear models with DBH alone, and DBH in combination with height and/or CD as predictor variables. Carbon content was estimated for each tree component using the ash method. Allometric models differed between the experimental sites, except for branch biomass models. Site-specific models developed in this study exhibited good model fit and performance, with explained variance of 81â98%. Using models developed from other areas would have underestimated or overestimated biomass by between â72% and +98%. Carbon content in aboveground components of in Tiogo, Boulon and Tapoa-Boopo was 55.40%âÂ±â1.50, 55.52%âÂ±â1.06 and 55.63%âÂ±â1.00, respectively, and did not vary significantly (-valueâ=â0.909). Site-specific models developed in this study are useful tool for estimating carbon stocks and can be used to accurately estimate tree components biomass in vegetation growing under similar conditions.Diospyros mespiliformisD. mespiliformis20D. mespiliformisP

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Site Specific Stem Volume Models for Pinus patula and Pinus oocarpa

International Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1155/2017/3981647 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Herbert Malata ◽

Elisha S. Ngulube ◽

Edward Missanjo

Keyword(s):

Stem Volume ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Pinus Patula ◽

Volume Data ◽

Site Specific ◽

Pinus Oocarpa ◽

Relative Errors ◽

Total Tree ◽

Volume Models ◽

Modelling Approach

Sustainable management of timber forests requires availability and adequacy of models for accurate estimation of tree volumes. This study was conducted to develop site specific models for estimating individual total tree stem volume of Pinus patula and Pinus oocarpa at Chongoni Timber Plantation in Central Malawi. A total of 32 trees from Pinus patula compartment and 48 trees from Pinus oocarpa compartment were destructively sampled. Various predictors including diameter at breast height (dbh) and height (ht) were run against total stem volume using a nonlinear mixed-effects modelling approach. The results indicate that the developed site specific models showed a significant association between total stem volume and the predictors (dbh and ht). The developed volume models accounted for at least 99% of the total variation in the total stem volume data. This suggests that application of the developed site specific models is highly recommended when accurate results are required. The appropriateness of the developed models was also supported by the fact that the total relative errors (TRE) of these models were lower (range: −0.04% to 0.06%) than the TRE of some previously developed models (range: −12.40% to 41.70%) tested on the present data.

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The Variation Driven by Differences between Species and between Sites in Allometric Biomass Models

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10110976 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 976 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dutcă

Keyword(s):

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Tree Height ◽

Site Specific ◽

Allometric Models ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Biomass Models ◽

Anova Model ◽

Species Specific ◽

Variance Explained

Background and Objectives: It is commonly assumed that allometric biomass models are species-specific and site-specific. However, the magnitude of species and site dependency in these models is not well-known. This study aims to investigate the variation in allometric models (i.e., aboveground biomass predicted by diameter at breast height and tree height) that has originated from the differences between tree species and between sites, thereby contributing to a better understanding of species and site-specificity issue in these models. Materials and Methods: The study is based on two large biomass datasets of 4921 and 5199 trees, from Eurasia and Canada. Using a nested ANOVA model on relative aboveground biomass residuals (with species and site as random effects), the proportion of variance explained by species or site was assessed by means of Variance Partition Coefficient (VPC). Results: The proportion of variance explained by species (VPCspecies = 42.56%, SE = 6.10% for Dataset 1 and VPCspecies = 47.54%, SE = 6.07% for Dataset 2) was larger than that explained by site (VPCsite = 20.08%, SE = 3.35% for Dataset 1 and VPCsite = 8.27%, SE = 1.38% for Dataset 2). The proportion of variance explained by site decreased by 24%–44% and the proportion of variance explained by species changed only slightly, when height is included in the allometric biomass models (i.e., models based on diameter at breast height alone, compared to models based on diameter at breast height and tree height). Conclusions: Allometric biomass models were more species-specific than they were site-specific. Therefore, the species (i.e., differences between species) seems to be a more important driver of variability in allometric models compared to site (i.e., differences between sites). Including height in allometric biomass models helped reduce the dependency of these models, on sites only.

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Using allometric models to estimate aboveground biomass and predict carbon stocks of mango (Mangifera indica L.) parklands in the Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso.

Environmental Challenges ◽

10.1016/j.envc.2021.100051 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100051

Author(s):

Arguita Dao ◽

Babou André Bationo ◽

Salifou Traoré ◽

Fidèle Bognounou ◽

Adjima Thiombiano

Keyword(s):

Burkina Faso ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Mangifera Indica ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Allometric Models ◽

Sudanian Zone

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Aboveground Biomass Allocation of Boreal Shrubs and Short-Stature Trees in Northwestern Canada

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 234

Author(s):

Linda Flade ◽

Christopher Hopkinson ◽

Laura Chasmer

Keyword(s):

Short Stature ◽

Biomass Allocation ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Leaf Biomass ◽

Sectional Area ◽

Plant Component ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Allometric Models ◽

Stem Biomass ◽

Model Fits

In this follow-on study on aboveground biomass of shrubs and short-stature trees, we provide plant component aboveground biomass (herein ‘AGB’) as well as plant component AGB allometric models for five common boreal shrub and four common boreal short-stature tree genera/species. The analyzed plant components consist of stem, branch, and leaf organs. We found similar ratios of component biomass to total AGB for stems, branches, and leaves amongst shrubs and deciduous tree genera/species across the southern Northwest Territories, while the evergreen Picea genus differed in the biomass allocation to aboveground plant organs compared to the deciduous genera/species. Shrub component AGB allometric models were derived using the three-dimensional variable volume as predictor, determined as the sum of line-intercept cover, upper foliage width, and maximum height above ground. Tree component AGB was modeled using the cross-sectional area of the stem diameter as predictor variable, measured at 0.30 m along the stem length. For shrub component AGB, we achieved better model fits for stem biomass (60.33 g ≤ RMSE ≤ 163.59 g; 0.651 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.885) compared to leaf biomass (12.62 g ≤ RMSE ≤ 35.04 g; 0.380 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.735), as has been reported by others. For short-stature trees, leaf biomass predictions resulted in similar model fits (18.21 g ≤ RMSE ≤ 70.0 g; 0.702 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.882) compared to branch biomass (6.88 g ≤ RMSE ≤ 45.08 g; 0.736 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.923) and only slightly better model fits for stem biomass (30.87 g ≤ RMSE ≤ 11.72 g; 0.887 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.960), which suggests that leaf AGB of short-stature trees (<4.5 m) can be more accurately predicted using cross-sectional area as opposed to diameter at breast height for tall-stature trees. Our multi-species shrub and short-stature tree allometric models showed promising results for predicting plant component AGB, which can be utilized for remote sensing applications where plant functional types cannot always be distinguished. This study provides critical information on plant AGB allocation as well as component AGB modeling, required for understanding boreal AGB and aboveground carbon pools within the dynamic and rapidly changing Taiga Plains and Taiga Shield ecozones. In addition, the structural information and component AGB equations are important for integrating shrubs and short-stature tree AGB into carbon accounting strategies in order to improve our understanding of the rapidly changing boreal ecosystem function.

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Integrating climate, soil and stand structure into allometric models: An approach of site-effects on tree allometry in Atlantic Forest

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 127 ◽

pp. 107794

Author(s):

Vinicius Costa Cysneiros ◽

Fernanda Coelho de Souza ◽

Tatiana Dias Gaui ◽

Allan Libanio Pelissari ◽

Gabriel Agostini Orso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Site Effects ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Tree Allometry ◽

Allometric Models

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A method for reconstructing past lake water phosphorus concentrations using sediment geochemical records

Journal of Paleolimnology ◽

10.1007/s10933-021-00174-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Madeleine Moyle ◽

John F. Boyle

Keyword(s):

Lake Water ◽

Water Quality Monitoring ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Site Specific ◽

Burial Rate ◽

Steady State Model ◽

Sediment Records ◽

Current Water ◽

Study Sites

AbstractAn existing steady state model of lake phosphorus (P) budgets has been adapted to allow reconstruction of long-term average historic lake water total phosphorus (TP) concentrations using lake sediment records of P burial. This model can be applied without site-specific parameterisation, thus potentially having universal application. In principle, it is applicable at any site where there is both a sediment P burial record and knowledge of the current water budget, although we advise caution applying it to problematic sediment records. Tested at six published case study sites, modelled lake water TP concentrations agree well with water-quality monitoring data, and limited testing finds good agreement with wholly independent diatom inferred lake water TP. Our findings, together with a review of the literature, suggest that well preserved lake sediments can usefully record a long-term average P burial rate from which the long-term mean lake water TP can be reliably estimated. These lake water TP reconstructions can provide meaningful site-specific reference values to support decision making in lake eutrophication management, including establishing targets for lake restoration.

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