Key message
Tree heights in the central Congo Basin are overestimated using best-available height-diameter models. These errors are propagated into the estimation of aboveground biomass and canopy height, causing significant bias when used for calibration of remote sensing products in this region.Context
Tree height-diameter models are important components of estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) and calibrating remote sensing products in tropical forests.Aims
For a data-poor area of the central Congo Basin, we quantified height-diameter model performance of local, regional and pan-tropical models for their use in estimating AGB and canopy height.Methods
At three old-growth forest sites, we assessed the bias introduced in height estimation by regional and pan-tropical height-diameter models. We developed an optimal local model with site-level randomizations accounted for by using a mixed-effects modeling approach. We quantified the error propagation of modeled heights for estimating AGB and canopy height.Results
Regional and pan-tropical height-diameter models produced a significant overestimation in tree height, propagating into significant overestimations of AGB and Lorey’s height. The pan-tropical model accounting for climatic drivers performed better than the regional models. We present a local height-diameter model which produced nonsignificant errors for AGB and canopy height estimations at our study area.Conclusion
The application of general models at our study area introduced bias in tree height estimations and the derived stand-level variables. Improved delimitation of regions in tropical Africa with similar forest structure is needed to produce models fit for calibrating remote sensing products.This study aimed to compare growth and slaughter performance of layer-type slow-growing Rhode Island Red male chickens grown with and without access to an area with vegetation in the tropics. Raised until 115 days of age, a total of 156, 1-day-old birds were randomly allocated to two treatments: total confinement (TC) and partial confinement (PC), with 6 replicates of 13 birds each. Birds grown under TC conditions reached a live weight of 2016.68 g while those raised with access to outdoors attained 1981.07 g, without statistical differences. Feed intake and daily feed intake were higher (P < 0.05) in birds farmed with TC management, during the last 17 days of the trial. Treatments did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect bird’s other productive parameters and carcass traits. Results from this study suggested that slow-growing Rhode Island Red males may be raised with access to outdoors without any adverse effect on productive performance and carcass quality in the Mexican Tropic. Based on the results of this study, a rearing period of 84 days of age is recommended for Rhode Island Red male chickens raised in both TC and PC production systems.
相似文献