scholarly journals Allometric Equations for Shrub and Short-Stature Tree Aboveground Biomass within Boreal Ecosystems of Northwestern Canada

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1207
Author(s):  
Linda Flade ◽  
Christopher Hopkinson ◽  
Laura Chasmer
Keyword(s):  
Short Stature ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Stem Length ◽  
Variable Cross ◽  
Boreal Ecosystems ◽  
Small Stature ◽  
Dimensional Variable

Aboveground biomass (AGB) of short-stature shrubs and trees contain a substantial part of the total carbon pool within boreal ecosystems. These ecosystems, however, are changing rapidly due to climate-mediated atmospheric changes, with overall observed decline in woody plant AGB in boreal northwestern Canada. Allometric equations provide a means to quantify woody plant AGB and are useful to understand aboveground carbon stocks as well as changes through time in unmanaged boreal ecosystems. In this paper, we provide allometric equations, regression coefficients, and error statistics to quantify total AGB of shrubs and short-stature trees. We provide species- and genus-specific as well as multispecies allometric models for shrub and tree species commonly found in northwestern boreal forest and peatland ecosystems. We found that the three-dimensional field variable (volume) provided the most accurate prediction of shrub multispecies AGB (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.001), as opposed to the commonly used one-dimensional variable (basal diameter) measured on the longest and thickest stem (R2 = 0.23, p < 0.001). Short-stature tree AGB was most accurately predicted by stem diameter measured at 0.3 m along the stem length (R2 = 0.99, p < 0.001) rather than stem length (R2 = 0.29, p < 0.001). Via the two-dimensional variable cross-sectional area, small-stature shrub AGB was combined with small-stature tree AGB within one single allometric model (R2 = 0.78, p < 0.001). The AGB models provided in this paper will improve our understanding of shrub and tree AGB within rapidly changing boreal environments.

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

Forests ◽  
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.

Effects of grazing intensity on organic carbon stock characteristics in Stipa breviflora desert steppe vegetation soil systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heyun Wang ◽  
Zhi Dong ◽  
Jianying Guo ◽  
Hongli Li ◽  
Jinrong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Light Fraction Organic Carbon ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Organic Carbon Stock

Grassland ecosystems, an important component of the terrestrial environment, play an essential role in the global carbon cycle and balance. We considered four different grazing intensities on a Stipa breviflora desert steppe: heavy grazing (HG), moderate grazing (MG), light grazing (LG), and an area fenced to exclude livestock grazing as the Control (CK). The analyses of the aboveground biomass, litter, belowground biomass, soil organic carbon and soil light fraction organic carbon were utilised to study the organic carbon stock characteristics in the S. breviflora desert steppe under different grazing intensities. This is important to reveal the mechanisms of grazing impact on carbon processes in the desert steppe, and can provide a theoretical basis for conservation and utilisation of grassland resources. Results showed that the carbon stock was 11.98–44.51 g m–2 in aboveground biomass, 10.43–36.12 g m–2 in plant litters, and 502.30–804.31 g m–2 in belowground biomass (0–40 cm). It was significantly higher in CK than in MG and HG. The carbon stock at 0–40-cm soil depth was 7817.43–9694.16 g m–2, and it was significantly higher in LG than in CK and HG. The total carbon stock in the vegetation-soil system was 8342.14–10494.80 g m–2 under different grazing intensities, with the largest value in LG, followed by MG, CK, and HG. About 90.54–93.71% of the total carbon in grassland ecosystem was reserved in soil. The LG and MG intensities were beneficial to the accumulation of soil organic carbon stock. The soil light fraction organic carbon stock was 484.20–654.62 g m–2 and was the highest under LG intensity. The LG and MG intensities were beneficial for soil nutrient accumulation in the desert steppe.

scholarly journals Allometric Equation Development, Biomass, and Aboveground Productivity in Ponderosa Pine Forests, Black Hills, Wyoming

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tinker ◽  
Gail K. Stakes ◽  
Richard M. Arcano
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Storage ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Black Hills ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forests ◽  
Aboveground Productivity

Abstract Temperate forest ecosystems continue to play an important role in the global carbon cycle, and the ability to accurately quantify carbon storage and allocation remains a critical tool for managers and researchers. This study was aimed at developing new allometric equations for predicting above- and belowground biomass of both mature trees and saplings of ponderosa pine trees in the Black Hills region of the western United States and at evaluating thinning effects on biomass pools and aboveground productivity. Study sites included three stands that had been commercially thinned and one unmanaged stand. Nine allometric equations were developed for mature trees, and six equations were developed for saplings; all models exhibited strong predictive power. The unmanaged stand contained more than twice as much total aboveground biomass as any of the thinned stands. Aboveground biomass allocation among tree compartments was similar among the three older stands but quite different from the young, even-aged stand. Stand-level aboveground net primary production was higher in the unmanaged and intensively managed stands, yet tree-level annual productivity was much lower in the unmanaged stands than in any of the managed forests, suggesting that thinning of some forest stands may increase their ability to sequester and store carbon. Our data also suggest that different management approaches did not have the same effect on carbon allocation as they did on total carbon storage capacity, but rather, stand age was the most important factor in predicting carbon allocation within individual trees and stands. Identification of the relationships between stand structure and forest management practices may help identify various management strategies that maximize rates of carbon storage in ponderosa pine forests.

scholarly journals Allometric Equations for the Aboveground Biomass of Selected Common Eastern Hardwood Understory Species

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvette L. Dickinson ◽  
Eric K. Zenner
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Rosa Multiflora ◽  
Basal Diameter ◽  
Understory Species ◽  
Elaeagnus Umbellata ◽  
Fit Index

Abstract Allometric equations were formulated for predicting the aboveground biomass of six groups of forest understory species (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.], blueberry [Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, Vaccinium corymbosum L., and Vaccinium pallidum Aiton], hawthorn [Crataegus spp.], honeysuckle [Lonicera spp.], multiflora rose [Rosa multiflora Thunb.], and viburnum [Viburnum acerifolium L. and Viburnum dentatum L.]) common to Eastern hardwoods using basal diameter and/or height. As measured by fit index, basal diameter or height alone explained between 51 and 93% of the variation in oven-dry weight; this increased to 75‐96% when both basal diameter and height were used as predictors. Data were collected at four sites throughout Pennsylvania, but an evaluation of the importance of site as a blocking factor found site not to be statistically significant; therefore, the equations presented here may be used in a variety of forested sites within the greater mid-Atlantic region.

scholarly journals Aboveground biomass allometric equations and distribution of carbon stocks of the African oak (Afzelia africana Sm.) in Burkina Faso

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1699-1711
Author(s):  
Larba Hubert Balima ◽  
Blandine Marie Ivette Nacoulma ◽  
Philippe Bayen ◽  
Kangbéni Dimobe ◽  
François N’Guessan Kouamé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Carbon Stocks ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Afzelia Africana

Species-specific allometric equations for improving aboveground biomass estimates of dry deciduous woodland ecosystems

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1619-1632
Author(s):  
Amsalu Abich ◽  
Tadesse Mucheye ◽  
Mequanent Tebikew ◽  
Yohanns Gebremariam ◽  
Asmamaw Alemu
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Deciduous Woodland ◽  
Species Specific

Allometric equations for estimating the aboveground biomass of bamboos in northern Laos

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Singkone Xayalath ◽  
Isao Hirota ◽  
Shinsuke Tomita ◽  
Michiko Nakagawa
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Allometric Equations

scholarly journals Estimating Aboveground Biomass for Broadleaf Woody Plants and Young Conifers in Sierra Nevada, California, Forests

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W. McGinnis ◽  
Christine D. Shook ◽  
Jon E. Keeley
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Allometric Equations ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Crown Diameter

Abstract Quantification of biomass is fundamental to a wide range of research and natural resource management goals. An accurate estimation of plant biomass is essential to predict potential fire behavior, calculate carbon sequestration for global climate change research, assess critical wildlife habitat, and so forth. Reliable allometric equations from simple field measurements are necessary for efficient evaluation of plant biomass. However, allometric equations are not available for many common woody plant taxa in the Sierra Nevada. In this report, we present more than 200 regression equations for the Sierra Nevada western slope that relate crown diameter, plant height, crown volume, stem diameter, and both crown diameter and height to the dry weight of foliage, branches, and entire aboveground biomass. Destructive sampling methods resulted in regression equations that accurately predict biomass from one or two simple, nondestructive field measurements. The tables presented here will allow researchers and natural resource managers to easily choose the best equations to fit their biomass assessment needs.

Alternative models for estimating woody plant biomass

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Crow ◽  
P. R. Laidly
Keyword(s):  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Nonlinear Models ◽  
Allometric Equation ◽  
Biomass Models ◽  
Homogeneity Of Variance ◽  
Tall Shrub

A number of untransformed regression models were compared to the log-log form of the allometric function for estimating biomass. Models were evaluated using two tree species, Betulapapyrifera Marsh, and Pinusresinosa Ait., and one tall shrub, Ilexverticillata (L.) Gray, with total aboveground biomass as the dependent variable. Using goodness of fit as the criterion, both weighted linear and weighted nonlinear models proved to be acceptable alternatives to the transformed allometric equation. Weighted models retain the advantage of the log-log form, i.e., compatibility with the homogeneity of variance assumption, but avoid the transformational bias.

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