scholarly journals Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Selection of Superior Genotypes in a 12-Year-Old Clonal Norway Spruce Field Trial after Phenotypic Assessment Using a UAV

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 992
Author(s):  
Mateusz Liziniewicz ◽  
Liviu Theodor Ene ◽  
Johan Malm ◽  
Jens Lindberg ◽  
Andreas Helmersson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Breeding ◽  
Breeding Program ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Additive Regression

Height is a key trait in the indices applied when selecting genotypes for use in both tree breeding populations and production populations in seed orchards. Thus, measurement of tree height is an important activity in the Swedish Norway spruce breeding program. However, traditional measurement techniques are time-consuming, expensive, and often involve work in bad weather, so automatization of the data acquisition would be beneficial. Possibilities for such automatization have been opened by advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. Therefore, to test its applicability in breeding programs, images acquired by a consumer-level UAV (DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0) system were used to predict the height and breast height diameter of Norway spruce trees in a 12-year-old genetic field trial established with 2.0 × 2.0 m initial spacing. The tree heights were also measured in the field using an ultrasonic system. Three additive regression models with different numbers of predictor variables were used to estimate heights of individual trees. On stand level, the average height estimate derived from UAV data was 2% higher than the field-measured average. The estimation of family means was very accurate, but the genotype-level accuracy, which is crucial for selection in the Norway spruce breeding program, was not high enough. There was just ca. 60% matching of genotypes in groups selected using actual and estimated heights. In addition, heritability values calculated from the predicted values were underestimated and overestimated for height and diameter, respectively, with deviations from measurement-based estimates ranging between −19% and +12%. However, the use of more sophisticated UAV and camera equipment could significantly improve the results and enable automatic individual tree detection.

Modeling individual tree height to diameter ratio for Norway spruce and European beech in Czech Republic

Trees ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1969-1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram P. Sharma ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Stanislav Vacek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Individual Tree

scholarly journals The Effect of Crown Social Class on Bark Thickness and Sapwood Moisture Content in Norway Spruce

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1316
Author(s):  
Luka Krajnc ◽  
Jožica Gričar
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Social Classes ◽  
Bark Thickness ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
The Relationship

The research study examined the effect of tree properties (crown social class, diameter at breast height (DBH), and tree height) on bark thickness (BT) and sapwood moisture content (SMC) in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.). Both examined variables were shown to be positively affected by DBH and tree height. The relationship between DBH and SMC varied among crown social classes, while the relationship between DBH and BT was relatively constant across crown social classes. Crown social class had a relatively small effect on BT and SMC, having a more pronounced effect on SMC than on BT. The relationship between tree height and BT did not vary across crown social classes, while the relationship between SMC and tree height was found to change slightly across crown social classes. Measurements of BT and SMC in the field are affordable, fast, and easy to use. Both variables could potentially be used to improve predictions of bark beetle attacks, as they reflect the physiological state of an individual tree.

The accuracy of estimating individual tree variables with airborne laser scanning in a boreal nature reserve

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1791-1801 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Maltamo ◽  
K Mustonen ◽  
J Hyyppä ◽  
J Pitkänen ◽  
X Yu
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Heterogeneous Structure ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Tree Layer ◽  
Pine Trees

This study examines the ability of high-density laser scanning to produce single-tree estimates in mixed stands of heterogeneous structure. Individual trees were detected from a constructed digital canopy height model by locating local maxima of the height values. The reference material comprised accurately measured field data for 10 mapped sample plots containing Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and different birches. To verify the accuracy of height measurements of single trees in more detail, the height of 29 Scots pine trees and their annual shoots of the last few years was carefully measured with a tacheometer and a glass fibre rod. The considered variables were the proportion of detected trees and tree height. As more than 80% of the dominant trees were detected, the results indicated that laser scanning can accurately describe the trees of the dominant tree layer. Because of the dense understorey tree layer in most of the sample plots, about 40% of all trees were detected. On the plot level, the stand structure affected the accuracy of the results considerably. The scanning-based tree height was most accurate for Norway spruce and least accurate for birches. The height of the separately measured 29 Scots pine trees was obtained with an accuracy of ±50 cm or better.

scholarly journals Modelling individual tree height to crown base of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. e0186394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram P. Sharma ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Stanislav Vacek ◽  
Vilém Podrázský ◽  
Václav Jansa
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L

scholarly journals Genetic Variation and Tree Improvement of Konishii fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. var. konishii) in Taiwan

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 196-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeng-Der Chung ◽  
Gordon Nigh ◽  
Ching-Te Chien ◽  
Cheng C. Ying
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameters ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Improvement ◽  
Cunninghamia Lanceolata ◽  
Tree Plantations ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Candidate Species ◽  
Variable Species ◽  
Selection For

AbstractWe analyzed a 21-year old progeny test of Konishii fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.) Hook. var.konishii) involving 75 families. Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were periodically recorded. At age 21, average height, DBH, and volume were 15.2 m, 20.2 cm, and 278 dm3, respectively. At this age, family accounted for 9, 12, and 11% of the total variance in height, DBH and volume, respectively. Also at age 21, individual tree heritability was 0.35, 0.49, and 0.45 for height, DBH and volume, respectively, and family heritability was 0.53, 0.69, and 0.66 for the three respective characteristics. The age trend for all genetic parameters was more stable for DBH than for height and volume. Family (backward) selection for DBH at age 21 resulted in a 9.6% gain and indirectly 5.1 and 21.0% gains for height and volume, respectively, compared to 5.2 and 20.1% gains for height and volume, respectively, when selection for these characteristics is done directly. DBH is an effective proxy trait for selection in growth. DBH is also less susceptible than height to typhoon damage, which frequently afflicts tree plantations in Taiwan. Therefore, DBH should be considered as the primary trait for selection for Konishii fir in Taiwan. Konishii fir is a genetically variable species despite its limited geographic range, and is fast growing which makes it a viable candidate species for tree improvement.

Individual Tree Basal Area Increment and Total Height Equations for Appalachian Mixed Hardwoods After Thinning

1986 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade C. Harrison ◽  
Thomas E. Burk ◽  
Donald E. Beck
Keyword(s):  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Basal Area Increment ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
White Oak ◽  
Annual Increment ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Total Height ◽  
Stand Basal Area

Abstract Growth response of various species to thinning in even-aged stands of Appalachian mixed hardwoods was predicted with species-specific regression equations. Periodic annual increment over a five-year period was expressed as a linear function of original tree basal area divided by breast height age and a thinning or competition index based on stand basal area. For most species, a combination of stand basal area before and after thinning served as the thinning index; for the five oak species studied, the index was simply stand basal area after thinning. Nonlinear regression equations were formulated to express total tree height as a function of dbh and average height of dominant and codominant white oak. The equations for tree basal area increment and total height may be applied to predict growth after thinning in Appalachian mixed hardwood stands. South J. Appl. For. 10:99-104, May 1986

Determining Site Index and Estimating Timber Volumes Without Measuring Heights

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Bailey ◽  
John R. Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Tree Height ◽  
Pinus Elliottii ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Slash Pine ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Dominant Height

Abstract We present a time-saving method for predicting average dominant height, and thus site index, and predicting yield of a slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantation without measuring any tree heights. We identify a segment in the upper end of the diameter distribution where the average height of all trees is equal to average dominant height. The arithmetic mean diameter of these trees, called dominant height diameter (DHD), is used in a regression to predict average dominant height. With individual tree height prediction equations that use average dominant height and tree volume or weight equations that use tree height and dbh, plot volumes or weights can then be predicted. For 922 plots in slash pine plantations, total-stem volume per acre was predicted with an R2 of 0.978 with this method. South. J. Appl. For. 18(1):15-18.

scholarly journals Development and Performance Evaluation of a Very Low-Cost UAV-Lidar System for Forestry Applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Tianyu Hu ◽  
Xiliang Sun ◽  
Yanjun Su ◽  
Hongcan Guan ◽  
Qianhui Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Inventory ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Flying Height ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Lidar System ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Gap Fraction

Accurate and repeated forest inventory data are critical to understand forest ecosystem processes and manage forest resources. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne light detection and ranging (lidar) systems have demonstrated effectiveness at deriving forest inventory attributes. However, their high cost has largely prevented them from being used in large-scale forest applications. Here, we developed a very low-cost UAV lidar system that integrates a recently emerged DJI Livox MID40 laser scanner (~$600 USD) and evaluated its capability in estimating both individual tree-level (i.e., tree height) and plot-level forest inventory attributes (i.e., canopy cover, gap fraction, and leaf area index (LAI)). Moreover, a comprehensive comparison was conducted between the developed DJI Livox system and four other UAV lidar systems equipped with high-end laser scanners (i.e., RIEGL VUX-1 UAV, RIEGL miniVUX-1 UAV, HESAI Pandar40, and Velodyne Puck LITE). Using these instruments, we surveyed a coniferous forest site and a broadleaved forest site, with tree densities ranging from 500 trees/ha to 3000 trees/ha, with 52 UAV flights at different flying height and speed combinations. The developed DJI Livox MID40 system effectively captured the upper canopy structure and terrain surface information at both forest sites. The estimated individual tree height was highly correlated with field measurements (coniferous site: R2 = 0.96, root mean squared error/RMSE = 0.59 m; broadleaved site: R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 1.63 m). The plot-level estimates of canopy cover, gap fraction, and LAI corresponded well with those derived from the high-end RIEGL VUX-1 UAV system but tended to have systematic biases in areas with medium to high canopy densities. Overall, the DJI Livox MID40 system performed comparably to the RIEGL miniVUX-1 UAV, HESAI Pandar40, and Velodyne Puck LITE systems in the coniferous site and to the Velodyne Puck LITE system in the broadleaved forest. Despite its apparent weaknesses of limited sensitivity to low-intensity returns and narrow field of view, we believe that the very low-cost system developed by this study can largely broaden the potential use of UAV lidar in forest inventory applications. This study also provides guidance for the selection of the appropriate UAV lidar system and flight specifications for forest research and management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document