Small area estimations of proportion of forest and timber volume combining Lidar data and stereo aerial images with terrestrial data

Abstract

Methods for small area estimations were compared for estimating the proportion of forest and growing stock volume of temperate mixed forests within a district of a member state (canton) in Switzerland. The estimators combine terrestrial data with remotely sensed auxiliary data. By using different model types, different sources of auxiliary data and different methods of processing the auxiliary data, the increase in estimation precision was tested. Using the canopy height derived from remote sensing data, the growing stock volume and the proportion of forest were estimated. The regression models used for the small area estimation provided a coefficient of determination of up to 68% for the timber volume. The proportion of plots correctly classified into forest and non-forest plots ranged between 0.9 and 0.98. Models calibrated over forest area only resulted in a maximal coefficient of determination of 37%. Even though these coefficients indicate a moderate model quality, the use of remote sensing data clearly improved the estimation precision of both the proportion of forest and the growing stock volume. Generally, Lidar data led to slightly higher estimates compared to data from aerial photography. It was possible to reduce the variance of the estimated proportion of forest to nearly one tenth compared with the variance based on the terrestrial measurements alone. Similarly, the variance of the growing stock volume could be reduced to one fourth as compared with the variance based solely on the terrestrial measurements.     

The effects of Douglas-fir on tree-specific arthropod communities in mixed species stands with European beech and Norway spruce

The ecological effects of planting exotic Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] in Central Europe are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to answer the question of whether Douglas-fir affects tree specific arthropod communities in different mature forest types (Douglas-fir, spruce and beech dominated) in Southern Germany. Therefore, arthropod communities of stem and tree crown strata of Douglas-fir and spruce (Picea abies L.) were sampled in the years 1999–2001 using arboreal photo-eclectors and flight interception traps. Statistical analysis was conducted for all species and focused on conifer specialists at three levels: (1) species diversity, (2) guild structure and (3) community structure. Within the stem stratum, species diversity was significantly higher on spruce than on Douglas-fir independent of year and stand composition. This could not be explained by a single feeding guild, rather by species changing strata during the vegetation period. In contrast, species diversity in tree crowns was approximately the same for both conifer species. However, communities in Douglas-fir crowns were conspicuously different from those in spruce crowns, especially in the Douglas-fir dominated stand type. While zoophagous insects exhibited higher activity on Douglas-fir in 2000, xylophagous beetles were more abundant on spruce in 2001. In European beech stands with widely spaced Douglas-fir trees, the site specific and broad-leaved tree related fauna might be maintained. In addition, Douglas-fir with its resource of Adelges cooleyi and crowns that overtop the broad-leaved tree canopy, offer additional resources for several aphidophagous and thermophile species.     

Stand structure and the regeneration ofChamaecyparis pisifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl. on sites with different soil development in an old-growth coniferous forest, central Japan

Stand structure and the regeneration ofChamaecyparis pisifera on sites with and without well-developed soil in an old-growth coniferous forest, Akasawa Forest Reserve, central Japan, were investigated, along with their relationships to other important coniferous species. Of stems ofC. pisifera≥5 cm diameter at breast height, stems with intermediate size were absent in stands on the developed-soil site, while those with smaller size increased in stands on the undeveloped-soil site, which supported a higher density ofC. pisifera. In the stands without recent tree-fall of canopy stems on the developed-soil site, canopy stems ofC. pisifera were distributed uniformly and the understory stems, patchily. On the other hand, both canopy and understory stems ofC. pisifera in stands on the undeveloped-soil site were distributed patchily. In the understory,C. pisifera occurred as clonal patches formed by vegetative reproduction on various types of microsites including bare rocks. However, the clonal patches did not occur in a stand on the developed-soil site with dense saplings of an evergreen conifer,Thujopsis dolabrata, which can expand vegetatively with a well developed soil layer. Gap formation may induceC. pisifera to develop tree-form stems from shrubby clonal patches. On developed-soil sites,C. pisifera stands that survive a long disturbance-free period on this site need catastrophic disturbance for their regeneration, which will eliminateT. dolabrata in the understory and create bare soil for colonization ofC. pisifera from seeds. On undeveloped-soil sites,C. pisifera replaces itself continuously by effective vegetative reproduction. Ground instability and the wet condition of this site may promote the replacement.     

嘉陵江流域低山丘陵区几种主要森林类型水文特征研究

本文分析了嘉陵江低山丘陵区碗厂沟小流域湿地松林、桤木林、刺槐林以及桤松混交林四种森林类型垂直结构水文特征,得出不同森林类型呈现出不同的水源涵养特征。林冠截流:湿地松>刺槐林>混交林>桤木林;枯枝落叶持水:刺槐林>桤木林>混交林>湿地松林;森林土壤层贮水:桤木林>混交林>刺槐林>湿地松林。     

Salt distribution in response to optical stratification porosity and relative windspeed in a coastal forest in Niigata, Japan

Wind velocity, vertical stand structure and seasalt distribution were measured at various heights inside a plantation of coastal pine forest, with thinning and unthinning, to assess whether any relationships exist between the wind profile, stand structure and seasalt distribution in the coastal pine forest. The vertical stand structure, i.e., optical stratification porosity (OSP), which is defined as vertical distribution of the proportion of sky hemisphere not obscured by tree elements inside a forest stand, was determined for each height by computer analysis of digital images taken with a hemispherical lens. The distribution of OSP in the coastal forest follows the Lambert-Beer's law with absorbency coefficient (). The relative windspeed within canopy can be described using the exponential form with the attenuation coefficient (). The sea-salt was collected using salt gauze (a surgical dressing of loosely woven cotton) both inside and outside the coastal forest, and the distribution of sea-salt within canopy was also in accordance with an exponential function. The relationships among windspeed, OSP and sea-salt indicate that the distributions of both sea-salt and windspeed within canopy were very closely correlated with the distribution of OSP. A linear relationship between OSP and sea-salt has been found. Additionally, linear regression between coefficients and has been obtained as well. Based on these relationships between OSP, wind and sea-salt in the coastal forest, the sea-salt distribution and wind profile within the canopy of the coastal forest can be predicted according to OSP. These results may therefore be useful in analyzing the effects of sea-salt on vegetation and evaluating the filter functions of coastal forests.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Understory plant communities of boreal mixedwood forests in western Canada: Natural patterns and response to variable-retention harvesting

We examined patterns of variation in richness, diversity, and composition of understory vascular plant communities in mixedwood boreal forests of varying composition (broadleaf, mixedwood, conifer) in Alberta, Canada, before and for 2 years following variable-retention harvesting (clearcut, 20 and 75% dispersed green tree retention, control). Broadleaf-dominated forests differed from mixedwood or conifer-dominated forests in that they had greater canopy cover, litter depth, soil nitrogen, warmer soils, as well as greater shrub cover, herb and shrub richness and diversity (plot scale). In contrast, conifer, and to a lesser extent mixedwood, forest had greater β diversity than broadleaf forest. Overall, mixedwood and conifer forests were similar to one another, both differed from broadleaf forest. Several species were found to be significant indicators of broadleaf forest but most of these also occurred in the other forest types. Understory composition was related to canopy composition and edaphic conditions. Variable-retention harvesting had little effect on understory cover, richness, or diversity but resulted in reduced richness and β diversity at a larger scale. The clearcut and 20% treatments affected composition in all forest types. Early successional species and those common in disturbed sites were indicators of harvesting while evergreen, shade-tolerant understory herbs were indicators of the control forest and 75% retention harvest. We conclude that it is important to maintain a range of variation in canopy composition of mixedwood forests in order to conserve the associated understory communities. The presence of conifers in these forests has a particularly important influence on understory communities. The threshold for a lifeboat effect of variable-retention harvesting is between 20 and 75% retention. Examination of richness and β diversity at a variety of scales can provide interesting information on effects of harvesting on spatial reorganization and homogenization of understory plant communities.     

杉木人工林树上宿存枯死枝、叶在冠层与在枯枝落叶层分解的比较研究

杉木枯死枝、叶有在树上宿存多年的特性。江西分宜大岗山地区一立地指数 14 ,林龄 13a ,保留密度 2 60 0株·hm- 2 的 1代林 ,树上宿存枯死枝、叶总量达 4 10 8 0kg·hm- 2 ,相当枯枝落叶层生物量的 3 5 4 %。树上宿存枯死枝、叶在冠层的分解速度 ,与置于枯枝落叶层的分解速度的测定结果表明 ,后者比前者快得多。说明在杉木林生长急需养分的速生期和杆材期 ,将树上宿存枯死枝、叶适时地打落于地表 ,使其在枯枝落叶层分解 ,与挂在冠层上的分解相比 ,对林木营养作用不同 ,前者比后者能及时、更多地提供养分。树上宿存枯死枝、叶在林冠下部由低到高呈 4层分布。鉴于各层死亡时间不同 ,经受的分解时间和雨水淋溶的强度也相异 ,其在树冠上的分解速度是分层测定的 ,上下层差异较大。在枯枝落叶层的分解速度也分层测定 ,上下层的差异较小。在枯枝落叶层分解时 ,本实验 1年间枝的各层分解量之和是树冠上分解时的近 2 3倍 ,叶为 5 4倍。在枯枝落叶层分解时 ,1年间各层枝、叶 ,营养元素归还量之和是树冠上分解时的 3 5倍。速生、杆材期 ,适时地将树上宿存枯死枝、叶打落于地表 ,对连栽杉木林长期生产力的保持更是有积极作用     

Vertical profiles of environmental factors within tropical rainforest, Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia

Environmental factors, such as global solar radiation, wind speed, air temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration, were measured above and within the canopy of a tropical rainforest in Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. Few data concerning the environment of this forest have been reported. Intensive observations were carried out in 1998, 1999, and 2000 with the following results: (1) The fraction of global solar radiation reaching the upper layer of the canopy varied with global solar radiation above the canopy. Even though the global solar radiation above the canopy fluctuated, the fraction of that reaching the lower canopy and the ground was constantly approximately 5%. (2) The fraction of wind speed reaching each layer of the canopy increased with wind speed above the canopy. Little wind was usually present at the lower canopy. (3) The daytime air temperature at the canopy top was higher than that near the ground. The maximum difference between the air temperature at the canopy top and that at the ground was about 5°C, and the diurnal temperature ranges at the canopy top and those at the ground were about 8°C and about 5°C, respectively. The highest daytime water vapor pressure occurred within the canopy and particularly near the ground. Vertical gradients of water vapor pressure during the day were steep, probably because of high transpiration. (4) In the 1998 observation the minimum and the maximum CO₂ concentrations were 360 ppm in the day and 450 ppm at night, while in the 2000 observation the minimum and the maximum CO₂ concentrations were 350 ppm in the day and 540 ppm at night. The higher CO₂ concentration in the daytime and the lower concentration at night observed during the 1998 observation period were probably due to reduced photosynthesis and soil respiration caused by exceptional dry conditions during the observation period.     

Species composition of Modellidae and Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) in a coppice woodland

A continuous sampling of canopy beetles was carried out to determine variations in the abundance, species diversity, richness, and composition of the Mordellidae and Cerambycidae in a coppice woodland. Changes in the abundance and the species richness were monitored at three heights in the forest throughout the season in 1999, using yellow and blue water pan traps. The results showed significant variations in the abundance of Mordellidae among the canopy layers, while little variation was found for Cerambycidae. The abundance, species diversity, and richness were generally greater in summer. The results showed distinct species compositions in both families among layers.     

海岸带沙荒风口木麻黄无性系造林效果的综合评价

以木麻黄无性系的防护效能和速生丰产性能为基础,运用多目标决策方法,对沿海沙荒风口6种木麻黄无性系造林效果进行综合评价,结果表明:在沙荒风口造林的6种木麻黄无性系中,粤501最抗风,其防护效能最高,平18次之;平18最速生丰产,粤501其次;莆20在6种无性系中无论抗风性还是速生丰产性能均最低。综合评价指标以平18最高,粤501次之,莆20最小。平18和粤501是沿海沙荒风口造林理想的木麻黄无性系。