Mixed-effects modeling for tree height prediction models of Oriental beech in the Hyrcanian forests

Height–diameter relationships are essential elements of forest assessment and modeling efforts.In this work,two linear and eighteen nonlinear height–diameter equations were evaluated to find a local model for Oriental beech(Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in the Hyrcanian Forest in Iran.The predictive performance of these models was first assessed by different evaluation criteria: adjusted R~2(R~2_(adj)),root mean square error(RMSE),relative RMSE(%RMSE),bias,and relative bias(%bias) criteria.The best model was selected for use as the base mixed-effects model.Random parameters for test plots were estimated with different tree selection options.Results show that the Chapman–Richards model had better predictive ability in terms of adj R~2(0.81),RMSE(3.7 m),%RMSE(12.9),bias(0.8),%Bias(2.79) than the other models.Furthermore,the calibration response,based on a selection of four trees from the sample plots,resulted in a reduction percentage for bias and RMSE of about 1.6–2.7%.Our results indicate that the calibrated model produced the most accurate results.     

Assessing the impacts of species composition, top height and density on individual tree height prediction of quaking aspen in boreal mixedwoods

In this study we developed an individual tree height prediction model for quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) grown in boreal mixedwood forests in Alberta using the nonlinear mixed model (NLMM) approach. We examined the impacts of density, species composition, and top height on aspen height predictions. Statistically significant stand level variables were incorporated into the base height–diameter model to increase the predictive ability and accuracy of the model at both the population and subject-specific levels. Our analyses showed that top height and density impacted height growth, but species composition did not. More importantly, we found that the inclusion of additional variables into the base model, despite improving model fitting statistics on the modelling data, did not improve the model's predictive ability and accuracy when cross-validated and when tested on an independent testing data set. Under the NLMM framework the base model performed as well as or better than the expanded models that contained other stand level variables. This has important theoretical and practical implications because, other than for biological reasons, more accurate local tree height predictions for aspen can be achieved simply by using the base height–diameter model fitted with the NLMM approach without the inclusion of other variables.     

Comparison between TanDEM-X- and ALS-based estimation of aboveground biomass and tree height in boreal forests

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data from TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement (TanDEM-X) were used to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) and tree height with linear regression models. These were compared to models based on airborne laser scanning (ALS) data at two Swedish boreal forest test sites, Krycklan (64°N19°E) and Remningstorp (58°N13°E). The predictions were validated using field data at the stand-level (0.5–26.1 ha) and at the plot-level (10 m radius). Additionally, the ALS metrics percentile 99 (p99) and vegetation ratio, commonly used to estimate AGB and tree height, were estimated in order to investigate the feasibility of replacing ALS data with TanDEM-X InSAR data. Both AGB and tree height could be estimated with about the same accuracy at the stand-level from both TanDEM-X- and ALS-based data. The AGB was estimated with 17.2% and 14.6% root mean square error (RMSE) and the tree height with 7.6% and 4.1% RMSE from TanDEM-X data at the stand-level at the two test sites Krycklan and Remningstorp. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the TanDEM-X height and the ALS height p99 were r?=?.98 and r?=?.95 at the two test sites. The TanDEM-X height contains information related to both tree height and forest density, which was validated from several estimation models.     

树高、胸径、树皮厚对厚朴产量的影响

为研究厚朴树高、胸径和树皮厚度对其产量的影响,从而为厚朴品种选优及丰产栽培提供理论指导。采用系统抽样方法抽取了10~14 a的90个厚朴单株样本,测量其单株树高、胸径、树皮厚和树皮产量,通过建立和分析厚朴产量回归方程可知,胸径、树高和树皮厚与产量均成正相关关系;胸径、树高、树皮厚对产量的直接影响从大到小依次为胸径、树高、树皮厚,其中胸径对产量的影响以直接影响为主,树高对产量的间接影响稍高于直接影响,其间接影响主要是通过胸径对产量产生影响,树皮厚主要通过胸径和树高对产量产生间接影响,直接影响较小。     

Species-specific prediction models to estimate browse production of seven shrub and tree species based on semi-destructive methods in savannah

Browse shrubs and trees, in spite of their significant role in livestock production in arid and semi-arid zones, are often omitted from pasture potential assessments because of the lack of methodology, the difficulty in calculation or method application and because it is usually a long and tedious task. For an accurate estimation of the carrying capacity of rangelands the shrub and tree fodder component has to be taken into account in order to avoid under estimation of the potential phytomass available for browsing. In this study, a semi-destructive method was used to develop fodder prediction equations of seven shrub and tree species based on multiple explanatory variables at four different locations in Burkina Faso (Taffogo, Safané, Nobéré, Dano and Sokouraba). The physical characteristics (explanatory variables) and the leaf weight (response variable) of the plants were measured or calculated and the non collinear explanatory variables correlated with the response variable. More than 50 % of the observed variation in fodder was explained by the basal area and/or the crown cover for all the target species except Ficus sur at Sokouraba and both Acacia seyal and Balanites aegyptiaca at Safané. The prediction equations were species-specific and equations developed for the same species in different sites were different. These results suggest that many local species-specific fodder prediction equations have to be developed to get an accurate fodder prediction in a large scale, and practitioners of rangelands management may be cautious about applying general species-specific prediction equation tables.     

Changes in sapwood permeability and anatomy with tree age and height in the broad-leaved evergreen species Eucalyptus regnans

Increases in plant size and structural complexity with increasing age have important implications for water flow through trees. Water supply to the crown is influenced by both the cross-sectional area and the permeability of sapwood. It has been hypothesized that hydraulic conductivity within sapwood increases with age. We investigated changes in sapwood permeability (k) and anatomy with tree age and height in the broad-leaved evergreen species Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. Sapwood was sampled at breast height from trees ranging from 8 to 240 years old, and at three height positions on the main stem of 8-year-old trees. Variation in k was not significant among sampling height positions in young trees. However, k at breast height increased with tree age. This was related to increases in both vessel frequency and vessel diameter, resulting in a greater proportion of sapwood being occupied by vessel lumina. Sapwood hydraulic conductivity (the product of k and sapwood area) also increased with increasing tree age. However, at the stand level, there was a decrease in forest sapwood hydraulic conductivity with increasing stand age, because of a decrease in the number of trees per hectare. Across all ages, there were significant relationships between k and anatomy, with individual anatomical characteristics explaining 33-62% of the variation in k. There was also strong agreement between measured k and permeability predicted by the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. The results support the hypothesis of an increase in sapwood permeability at breast height with age. Further measurements are required to confirm this result at other height positions in older trees. The significance of tree-level changes in sapwood permeability for stand-level water relations is discussed.     

Detection of individual trees and estimation of tree height using LiDAR data

For estimation of tree parameters at the single-tree level using light detection and ranging (LiDAR), detection and delineation of individual trees is an important starting point. This paper presents an approach for delineating individual trees and estimating tree heights using LiDAR in coniferous (Pinus koraiensis, Larix leptolepis) and deciduous (Quercus spp.) forests in South Korea. To detect tree tops, the extended maxima transformation of morphological image-analysis methods was applied to the digital canopy model (DCM). In order to monitor spurious local maxima in the DCM, which cause false tree tops, different h values in the extended maxima transformation were explored. For delineation of individual trees, watershed segmentation was applied to the distance-transformed image from the detected tree tops. The tree heights were extracted using the maximum value within the segmented crown boundary. Thereafter, individual tree data estimated by LiDAR were compared to the field measurement data under five categories (correct delineation, satisfied delineation, merged tree, split tree, and not found). In our study, P. koraiensis, L. leptolepis, and Quercus spp. had the best detection accuracies of 68.1% at h = 0.18, 86.7% at h = 0.12, and 67.4% at h = 0.02, respectively. The coefficients of determination for tree height estimation were 0.77, 0.80, and 0.74 for P. koraiensis, L. leptolepis, and Quercus spp., respectively.     

Changes in photosynthesis and leaf characteristics with tree height in five dipterocarp species in a tropical rain forest

Variations in leaf photosynthetic, morphological and biochemical properties with increasing plant height from seedlings to emergent trees were investigated in five dipterocarp species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest. Canopy openness increased significantly with tree height. Photosynthetic properties, such as photosynthetic capacity at light saturation, light compensation point, maximum rate of carboxylation and maximum rate of photosynthetic electron transport, all increased significantly with tree height. Leaf morphological and biochemical traits, such as leaf mass per area, palisade layer thickness, nitrogen concentration per unit area, chlorophyll concentration per unit dry mass and chlorophyll to nitrogen ratio, also changed significantly with tree height. Leaf properties had simple and significant relationships with tree height, with few intra- and interspecies differences. Our results therefore suggest that the photosynthetic capacity of dipterocarp trees depends on tree height, and that the trees adapt to the light environment by adjusting their leaf morphological and biochemical properties. These results should aid in developing models that can accurately estimate carbon dioxide flux and biomass production in tropical rain forests.     

抚育间伐对栓皮栎人工林直径和树高分布的影响

[目的]以河南登封林场栓皮栎人工林为研究对象,研究抚育间伐对林分不同生长阶段林木株数、林木直径分布和树高分布的影响,为制定科学合理的抚育经营措施奠定理论和技术基础.[方法]在株数强度为31.55％的间伐林分和条件基本一致的未间伐林分内,分别设置1个1 hm2样地,间伐作业2 a后获取每木检尺数据,分别利用Normal分...     

Eucalypt growth in monoculture and silvopastoral systems with varied tree initial densities and spatial arrangements

Brazil has large stretches of degraded land, mainly occupied by pasture. Recently, the Brazilian government created a program providing financial support to recover these lands throughout the country by establishing agroforestry systems, among others. To select the most appropriate initial spatial arrangements and tree planting density for such systems, the plant growth and leaf area index (LAI) of a Eucalyptus camaldulensis clone were evaluated in five spatial arrangements: 3.6 × 2.5 m, and 3.3 × 3.3 m (monoculture), and (2 × 2) + 10 m, (3 × 3) + 9 m, and 9 × 3 m (silvopastoral systems), with 1,111, 918, 833, 556 and 370 plants per hectare, respectively. The arrangement did not affect plant height growth (p > 0.05) up to 50 months. The average diameter was affected by plant proximity in the planting line, being smaller (p < 0.05) in the arrangements (2 × 2) + 10 m, and 3.6 × 2.5 m, and by the number of lines in the rows, as the plants in the single line arrangement (9 × 3 m) attained the highest diameter. Individual volumes of high initial density stand were lower than in the silvopastoral systems. The arrangements (2 × 2) + 10 m, 3.6 × 2.5 m, and 3.3 × 3.3 m did not differ (p > 0.05) in volume per hectare, which was higher (p < 0.05) than for the other arrangements studied. LAI decreased with age and it was higher (p < 0.01) in the monoculture as compared to the silvopastoral systems. The silvopastoral system can be established in the (2 × 2) + 10 m arrangement for high biomass production besides having the additional benefit of financial returns from the pasture, as compared with the monoculture. The 9 × 3 m arrangement is preferable for large diameter log production.     

Changes in shoot allometry with increasing tree height in a tropical canopy species,Elateriospermum tapos

Allometry of shoot extension units (hereafter termed "current shoots") was analyzed in a Malaysian canopy species, Elateriospermum tapos Bl. (Euphorbiaceae). Changes in current shoot allometry with increasing tree height were related to growth and maintenance of tree crowns. Total biomass, biomass allocation ratio of non-photosynthetic to photosynthetic organs, and wood density of current shoots were unrelated to tree height. However, shoot structure changed with tree height. Compared with short trees, tall trees produced current shoots of the same mass but with thicker and shorter stems. Current shoots with thin and long stems enhanced height growth in short trees, whereas in tall trees, thick and short current shoots may reduce mechanical and hydraulic stresses. Furthermore, compared with short trees, tall trees produced current shoots with more leaves of lower dry mass, smaller area, and smaller specific leaf area (SLA). Short trees adapted to low light flux density by reducing mutual shading with large leaves having a large SLA. In contrast, tall trees reduced mutual shading within a shoot by producing more small leaves in distal than in proximal parts of the shoot stem. The production of a large number of small leaves promoted light penetration into the dense crowns of tall trees. All of these characteristics suggest that the change in current shoot structure with increasing tree height is adaptive in E. tapos, enabling short trees to maximize height growth and tall trees to maximize light capture.     

Neutral and accumulator species in determining the spatial structure of tree species at different spatial scales

In 2014, a 40-ha undisturbed plot was established in the Beijing Songshan Nature Reserve. The spatial distribution and spatial associations of five dominant tree species of different height classes were examined using spatial point pattern analysis and the effects of these species on local community diversity assemblages were examined using the ISAR method. The dominant species were characterized by an aggregated distribution at spatial scales of 0–50 m. At smaller spatial scales, trees in larger height classes had significant positive and negative effects on the diversity of the lower height classes. However, at larger spatial scales this effect was diminished. At small scales(0–10 m), accumulator species had positive effects on species diversity, maintained an over-representative proportion of diversity in their proximity, and supported the ecological niche theory. At the larger scale(10–50 m),neutral species were dominant and had positive effects on species diversity, though repeller species, which had negative effects on species diversity, also contributed to diversity. Neutral and accumulator species together determined local species diversity, but the relative importance of the two was closely related to spatial scale. A combination of the ecological niche theory and neutral processes together determines species coexistence and biodiversity of an undisturbed pine forest.     

Modelling joint distribution of tree diameter and height using Frank and Plackett copulas

Bivariate distribution models are veritable tools for improving forest stand volume estimations. Their accuracy depends on the method of construction. To-date,most bivariate distributions in forestry have been constructed either with normal or Plackett copulas. In this study, the accuracy of the Frank copula for constructing bivariate distributions was assessed. The effectiveness of Frank and Plackett copulas were evaluated on seven distribution models using data from temperate and tropical forests. The bivariate distributions include: Burr III, Burr XII, Logit-Logistic, Log-Logistic, generalized Weibull,Weibull and Kumaraswamy. Maximum likelihood was used to fit the models to the joint distribution of diameter and height data of Pinus pinaster(184 plots), Pinus radiata(96 plots), Eucalyptus camaldulensis(85 plots) and Gmelina arborea(60 plots). Models were evaluated based on negative log-likelihood(-■). The result show that Frank-based models were more suitable in describing the joint distribution of diameter and height than most of their Plackett-based counterparts. The bivariate Burr III distributions had the overall best performance. The Frank copula is therefore recommended for the construction of more useful bivariate distributions in forestry.     

辽宁省主要树种组林分树高生长率模型的研究

采用超总体理论编制辽宁省主要树种组林分平均树高生长率通用模型,以2005年森林资源二类调查资料为原始数据,涵盖全省所有地区所有树种(组)在不同地理位置和不同立地条件的生长水平.根据自然条件特点将全省划分为3个区,共划分18个树种组, 建立4种模拟方程,通过拟合与优化及结果精度的检验选出了各树种组的树高生长率模型.     

An approach to modeling the joint distribution of tree diameter and height data

Advantages of the application of bivariate distribution models to forest management cannot be overemphasized. However, there are quite a number of flexible statistical distributions not yet evaluated in their bivariate domains. Therefore, in this article, we evaluated the bivariate forms of some probability distribution models used in quantitative forestry. Six bivariate distributions were assessed: Burr XII (Burr XII-2), Dagum (Dagum-2), Kumaraswamy (Kum-2), the new Logit-Logistic-Dagum (LLD-2) distribution, Logit-Logistic (LL-2), and the much used Johnson’s S_BB. All models were constructed using the Plackett’s method except for the S_BB distribution. Appropriate constraints were imposed on the boundary parameters of the bivariate distributions using fractions derived from the Gumbel distribution. Models were fitted with maximum likelihood to the joint distribution of diameter and height data of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn from 90 sample plots. Model assessment was based on negative log-likelihood (-ΛΛ), Corrected Akaike Information Criterion (AICc), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Hannan-Quinn Criterion (HQC). The result showed that the Johnson’s S_BB had the overall best performance. Their ranking order was: S_BB > LLD-2 > Burr XII-2 > Dagum-2 > LL-2 > Kum-2. These models can be used to simulate timber harvesting regime.     

Estimation of forest stem volume using multispectral optical satellite and tree height data in combination

Abstract

The accuracy of forest stem volume estimation at stand level was investigated using multispectral optical satellite and tree height data in combination. The stem volumes for the investigated coniferous stands, located in southern Sweden, were in the range of 15–585 m³ ha^?1 with an average stem volume of 266 m³ ha^?1. The results from regression analysis showed a substantial improvement for the combined stem volume estimates compared with using satellite data only. The accuracy in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated to 11.2% of the average stem volume using SPOT-4 data and tree height data in combination compared with 23.9% using SPOT-4 data only. By replacing SPOT-4 data with Landsat TM data the RMSE was improved from 25.2% to 12.2%. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the combined stem volume estimates by adding random errors, normally distributed with zero expectations, with standard deviations of 1, 1.5 and 2 m to tree height data. The results showed that the RMSE increased with increasing random tree height error to 15.4%, 18.0% and 19.9% using SPOT-4 data and 16.3%, 19.2% and 21.2% using Landsat TM data. The results imply that multispectral optical satellite data in combination with accurate tree height data could be used for standwise stem volume estimation in forestry applications.     

Comparison of spatial prediction techniques for developing Pinus radiata productivity surfaces across New Zealand

Spatial interpolation is frequently used to predict values across a landscape enabling the spatial variation and patterns of a property to be quantified. Inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), regression kriging (RK), and partial least squares (PLS) regression are interpolation techniques typically used where the region of interest's spatial extent is relatively small and observations are numerous and regularly spaced. In the current era of data ‘mining’ and utilisation of sparse data, the above criteria are not always fully met, increasing model uncertainties. Furthermore, regression modelling and kriging techniques require good judgement, experience, and expertise by the practitioner compared with IDW with its more rudimentary approach. In this study we compared spatial predictions derived from IDW, PLS, RK, and OK for Pinus radiata volume mean annual increment (referred to as 300 Index) and mean top height at age twenty (referred to as Site Index) across New Zealand using cross-validation techniques. Validation statistics (RMSE, ME, and R²) show that RK, OK, and IDW provided predictions that were less biased and of greater accuracy than PLS predictions. Standard deviation of rank (SDR) and mean rank (MR) validation statistics showed similar results with OK the most consistent (SDR) predictor, whereas RK had the lowest mean rank (MR), closely followed by IDW. However, the mean performance rankings for validation observations classified according to their distance to the nearest model data point indicate that although PLS provided the poorest predictions at relatively close separation distances (<2 km), in the medium range (∼4–8 km) performance was of similar ranking to that of the other techniques, and at greater separation distances PLS outperformed the other techniques. Maps illustrating the spatial variation of P. radiata forest productivity are provided.     

Farmer-led approaches to increasing tree diversity in fields and farmed landscapes in Ethiopia

Agroforestry Systems - Increasing tree cover and managing trees better on farms in Ethiopia supports livelihoods and the environment but most tree-planting schemes promote only a few species. This...     

Comparing model-based approaches with bucking simulation-based approach in the prediction of timber assortment recovery

The aim of the study was to compare model-based approaches inthe prediction of timber assortment recovery with bucking simulationbased on detailed stem data. A correction function for the totallength of saw log fragments and two optional saw log reductionmodels, that is, the MELA96 version and MELA05 version, wereapplied. In the bucking simulation, the volumes by timber assortmentswere calculated using a bucking-to-value simulator. The predictionof saw log recoveries varied between the bucking simulationand different versions of saw log reduction models. The levelof the reduction from the MELA96 version was at the same levelas from the bucking simulation where defects were taken intoaccount, but the saw log reduction had a very low variance dueto a small amount of independent variables. The saw log reductionof the MELA05 version included more variation although the levelof the reductions was higher and the variation did not meetwith the bucking simulation. As a conclusion, the model-basedapproaches seem applicable at least for the prediction of sawlog recovery in the large area forest inventories where thevariance of the standwise timber assortment recoveries neednot be predicted.     

Formulae of Tree Height Curve and Volume Curve Derived from Theory of Column Buckling

InttoductionIn~al,thecuverofrelahonshipbetWeenthetreehaighandthediameteratbreastheight(dbh)isconSderedasheightdbhcurveorastreeheightcurve(h-d).Therearebomethodstosetuptheformulaeoftrpeheightcurvfoneisgraphjcmethod,theotherismathemahcalequahonbyselechngapp…