scholarly journals Oceanic and climatic drivers of mangrove changes in the Gulf of Urabá, Colombian Caribbean

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 972-985
Author(s):  
July A. Suárez ◽  
Ligia E. Urrego ◽  
Andrés Osorio ◽  
Hiara Y. Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Avicennia Germinans ◽  
Water Salinity ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Mangrove Species

The Gulf of Uraba is the largest estuary on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The aim of this research was to analyse the oceanic, climatic and environmental variables that influence mangrove structure and composition in the gulf. Based on the availability of remote sensing, the study area was divided into western and eastern zones. The spatial pattern of environmental variables (water salinity, pH and percentage of organic matter, sand, silt and clay in the soils) and oceanic and climatic variables (winds, wave height and wave period) was analysed. The relationship of these variables with variables of vegetation structure (basal area, diameter at breast height, tree height, and abundance of seedlings of mangrove species in 1 m2 subplots) was analysed in 27 plots of 500 m2 containing fringe mangroves and 5 plots containing basin mangroves. Mangroves of the western zone showed a higher structural development and were dominated by Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove). This zone is supplied by fresh water and sediments, and the soils have a high content of organic matter and clay and a low degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The eastern zone was characterized by higher pore water salinity due to lower freshwater input from rivers. In this area there is a smaller impact of waves and winds, higher sedimentation rates, high anthropogenic disturbance and mangroves are dominated by Avicennia germinans (black mangrove). Although Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove) did not show a particular spatial pattern, due to its tolerance to open canopy conditions it was commonly found in anthropogenically disturbed areas.

Termite Foraging on Plants of a Brazilian Savanna: the Effects of Tree Height

Sociobiology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldo Wilson Fernandes ◽  
Samuel L Murcia ◽  
Jean Carlos Santos ◽  
Og DeSouza ◽  
Reginaldo Constantino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Vegetation Structure ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tropical Environments ◽  
Cerrado Savanna

Termites play an important role as ecosystem engineers in many tropical environments, acting as herbivore-detritivore organisms and strongly influencing vegetation structure and composition by modifying soil properties, providing nutrients by recycling the organic matter, and direct feeding on plants, notably in the Cerrado (Savanna) of Brazil. To evaluate the intensity of termite foraging on Cerrado plants, we recorded plants higher than 25 cm, which exhibited termite activity along nine transects (2 x 50m), at the Estação Ecológica de Pirapitinga (EEP), in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We recorded the height, basal area, and identified the species of each plant. Simultaneously, we used cellulose baits disposed at each 10 m along six transects of 100 m to sample termites in this area, which was protected from fire for at least 40 years. Twelve species of termites were recorded. Termite foraging on Cerrado plant species varied considerably and it was influenced by several factors including plant height and host species. Taller plants presented more termites than smaller plants, probably due to the amount of available resources (for nesting and feeding) for the termites.

scholarly journals ESTRUCTURA DEL MANGLAR EN EN EL DELTA EXTERIOR DEL RIO MAGDALENA-CIENAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA , UNA ZONA TENSIONADA POR ALTERACIONES DEL EQUILIBRIO HIDRICO

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Adriana Serrano Díaz ◽  
Leonor Botero ◽  
Pablo Cardona ◽  
José Ernesto Mancera Pineda
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Redox Potentials ◽  
Mangrove Species ◽  
Magdalena River ◽  
Del Rio ◽  
Individual Trees ◽  
Almost All

With the main purpose of providing a baseline for future evaluations of ecosystem changes as a consequence of the reopening of freshwater canals from the Magdalena River, the structure of mangrove forests of the Exterior Delta of the Magdalena River-Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (DERM-CGSM land several soil properties were quantified. Mangrove forests surrounding the lagoonal complex exhibit from low and almost null structural development (completely dead) to complex structures. Best structural development was found on Caño El Jobo (JOB) and Ciénaga de la Aguja (AGU) in the southwestern part of the study area. JOB showed only two mangrove species but individual trees exhibited large sizes. In ARA, on the eastern side of Ciénaga Grande, the three species were present and structural development can be considered intermediate with several individuals of large size. These three stations (JOB, AGU, ARA) still receive fresh water flow from either the Magdalena River or from rivers of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The areas most isolated from freshwater flow (stations on Ciénaga de Pajaral and on the western end of Caño Clarín) showed the lowest structural development of the vegetation and a large part of it completely dead. It is concluded \Y\a\ Avicenniagerminans is the dominant species in the study area. In general, Rhizophoramangle was only found on the edges of canals or lagoons and towards the western side this species was almost all dead. An inverse relationship was demonstrated between soil salinity and basal area, height and foliar area and a direct one between redox potentials and the same attributes. The low foliar area values of A. germinans in the stations with highest soil salinities reflect in part the "aggressiveness"of the environment in which the species lives and specially its response to the stress imposed by the difficulty of obtaining water from the soil.

scholarly journals Spatial patterns of a tropical tree species growing under an eucalyptus plantation in South-East Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Higuchi ◽  
AC Silva ◽  
JNC Louzada ◽  
ELM Machado
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantation ◽  
Source Distance ◽  
Se Brazil ◽  
Population Competition ◽  
Linear Regressions

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of propagules source and the implication of tree size class on the spatial pattern of Xylopia brasiliensis Spreng. individuals growing under the canopy of an experimental plantation of eucalyptus. To this end, all individuals of Xylopia brasiliensis with diameter at soil height (dsh) > 1 cm were mapped in the understory of a 3.16 ha Eucalyptus spp. and Corymbia spp. plantation, located in the municipality of Lavras, SE Brazil. The largest nearby mature tree of X. brasiliensis was considered as the propagules source. Linear regressions were used to assess the influence of the distance of propagules source on the population parameters (density, basal area and height). The spatial pattern of trees was assessed through the Ripley K function. The overall pattern showed that the propagules source distance had strong influence over spatial distribution of trees, mainly the small ones, indicating that the closer the distance from the propagules source, the higher the tree density and the lower the mean tree height. The population showed different spatial distribution patterns according to the spatial scale and diameter class considered. While small trees tended to be aggregated up to around 80 m, the largest individuals were randomly distributed in the area. A plausible explanation for observed patterns might be limited seed rain and intra-population competition.

scholarly journals Forest Structure and Projections of Avicennia germinans (L.) L. at Three Levels of Perturbation in a Southwestern Gulf of Mexico Mangrove

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 989
Author(s):  
Basáñez-Muñoz Agustín de Jesús ◽  
Jordán-Garza Adán Guillermo ◽  
Serrano Arturo
Keyword(s):  
Size Structure ◽  
Transition Probabilities ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Avicennia Germinans ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Mangrove Species ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Mangrove Dynamics ◽  
Projection Matrices ◽  
Partial Tree

Mangrove forests have declined worldwide and understanding the key drivers of regeneration at different perturbation levels can help manage and preserve these critical ecosystems. For example, the Ramsar site # 1602, located at the Tampamachoco lagoon, Veracruz, México, consists of a dense forest of medium-sized trees composed of three mangrove species. Due to several human activities, including the construction of a power plant around the 1990s, an area of approximately 2.3 km2 has suffered differential levels of perturbation: complete mortality, partial tree loss (divided into two sections: main and isolated patch), and apparently undisturbed sites. The number and size of trees, from seedlings to adults, were measured using transects and quadrats. With a matrix of the abundance of trees by size categories and species, an ordination (nMDS) showed three distinct groups corresponding to the degree of perturbation. Projection matrices based on the size structure of Avicennia germinans showed transition probabilities that varied according to perturbation levels. Lambda showed growing populations except on the zone that showed partial tree loss; a relatively high abundance of seedlings is not enough to ensure stable mangrove dynamics or start regeneration; and the survival of young trees and adult trees showed high sensitivity.

scholarly journals Deriving Tree Size Distributions of Tropical Forests from Lidar

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 131
Author(s):  
Franziska Taubert ◽  
Rico Fischer ◽  
Nikolai Knapp ◽  
Andreas Huth
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Diameter Distribution ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Allometric Relations ◽  
Lidar Measurements ◽  
Derived Data

Remote sensing is an important tool to monitor forests to rapidly detect changes due to global change and other threats. Here, we present a novel methodology to infer the tree size distribution from light detection and ranging (lidar) measurements. Our approach is based on a theoretical leaf–tree matrix derived from allometric relations of trees. Using the leaf–tree matrix, we compute the tree size distribution that fit to the observed leaf area density profile via lidar. To validate our approach, we analyzed the stem diameter distribution of a tropical forest in Panama and compared lidar-derived data with data from forest inventories at different spatial scales (0.04 ha to 50 ha). Our estimates had a high accuracy at scales above 1 ha (1 ha: root mean square error (RMSE) 67.6 trees ha−1/normalized RMSE 18.8%/R² 0.76; 50 ha: 22.8 trees ha−1/6.2%/0.89). Estimates for smaller scales (1-ha to 0.04-ha) were reliably for forests with low height, dense canopy or low tree height heterogeneity. Estimates for the basal area were accurate at the 1-ha scale (RMSE 4.7 tree ha−1, bias 0.8 m² ha−1) but less accurate at smaller scales. Our methodology, further tested at additional sites, provides a useful approach to determine the tree size distribution of forests by integrating information on tree allometries.

scholarly journals Adjudicating Perspectives on Forest Structure: How Do Airborne, Terrestrial, and Mobile Lidar-Derived Estimates Compare?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2297
Author(s):  
Jonathon J. Donager ◽  
Andrew J. Sánchez Meador ◽  
Ryan C. Blackburn
Keyword(s):  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Absolute Error ◽  
Forest Monitoring ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Structural Configurations ◽  
Individual Trees

Applications of lidar in ecosystem conservation and management continue to expand as technology has rapidly evolved. An accounting of relative accuracy and errors among lidar platforms within a range of forest types and structural configurations was needed. Within a ponderosa pine forest in northern Arizona, we compare vegetation attributes at the tree-, plot-, and stand-scales derived from three lidar platforms: fixed-wing airborne (ALS), fixed-location terrestrial (TLS), and hand-held mobile laser scanning (MLS). We present a methodology to segment individual trees from TLS and MLS datasets, incorporating eigen-value and density metrics to locate trees, then assigning point returns to trees using a graph-theory shortest-path approach. Overall, we found MLS consistently provided more accurate structural metrics at the tree- (e.g., mean absolute error for DBH in cm was 4.8, 5.0, and 9.1 for MLS, TLS and ALS, respectively) and plot-scale (e.g., R2 for field observed and lidar-derived basal area, m2 ha−1, was 0.986, 0.974, and 0.851 for MLS, TLS, and ALS, respectively) as compared to ALS and TLS. While TLS data produced estimates similar to MLS, attributes derived from TLS often underpredicted structural values due to occlusion. Additionally, ALS data provided accurate estimates of tree height for larger trees, yet consistently missed and underpredicted small trees (≤35 cm). MLS produced accurate estimates of canopy cover and landscape metrics up to 50 m from plot center. TLS tended to underpredict both canopy cover and patch metrics with constant bias due to occlusion. Taking full advantage of minimal occlusion effects, MLS data consistently provided the best individual tree and plot-based metrics, with ALS providing the best estimates for volume, biomass, and canopy cover. Overall, we found MLS data logistically simple, quickly acquirable, and accurate for small area inventories, assessments, and monitoring activities. We suggest further work exploring the active use of MLS for forest monitoring and inventory.

scholarly journals Growth and yield of teak stands at different spacing

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1109-1118
Author(s):  
Reginaldo Antonio Medeiros ◽  
Haroldo Nogueira de Paiva ◽  
Flávio Siqueira D’Ávila ◽  
Helio Garcia Leite
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Tectona Grandis ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Completely Randomized Design ◽  
Total Tree

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and yield of teak (Tectona grandis) stands at different spacing and in different soil classes. Twelve spacing were evaluated in an Inceptisol and Oxisol, in plots with an area of 1,505 or 1,548 m2, arranged in a completely randomized design with nine replicates. The teak trees were measured at 26, 42, 50, and 78 months of age. Total tree height was less affected by spacing. Mean square diameter was greater in wider spacing, whereas basal area and total volume with bark were greater in closer spacing. An increase in volume with bark per tree was observed with the increase of useful area per plant. For teak trees, growth stagnation happens earlier, the growth rate is higher in closer spacing, and the plants grow more in the Inceptisol than in the Oxisol.

scholarly journals Predicting Growing Stock Volume of Eucalyptus Plantations Using 3-D Point Clouds Derived from UAV Imagery and ALS Data

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guerra-Hernández ◽  
Cosenza ◽  
Cardil ◽  
Silva ◽  
Botequim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Volume Estimation ◽  
P Value ◽  
Test Statistic ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Significant Difference

Estimating forest inventory variables is important in monitoring forest resources and mitigating climate change. In this respect, forest managers require flexible, non-destructive methods for estimating volume and biomass. High-resolution and low-cost remote sensing data are increasingly available to measure three-dimensional (3D) canopy structure and to model forest structural attributes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the individual tree volume estimates derived from high-density point clouds obtained from airborne laser scanning (ALS) and digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) in Eucalyptus spp. plantations. Object-based image analysis (OBIA) techniques were applied for individual tree crown (ITC) delineation. The ITC algorithm applied correctly detected and delineated 199 trees from ALS-derived data, while 192 trees were correctly identified using DAP-based point clouds acquired from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), representing accuracy levels of respectively 62% and 60%. Addressing volume modelling, non-linear regression fit based on individual tree height and individual crown area derived from the ITC provided the following results: Model Efficiency (Mef) = 0.43 and 0.46, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.030 m3 and 0.026 m3, rRMSE = 20.31% and 19.97%, and an approximately unbiased results (0.025 m3 and 0.0004 m3) using DAP and ALS-based estimations, respectively. No significant difference was found between the observed value (field data) and volume estimation from ALS and DAP (p-value from t-test statistic = 0.99 and 0.98, respectively). The proposed approaches could also be used to estimate basal area or biomass stocks in Eucalyptus spp. plantations.

scholarly journals Breeding value of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.)

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Rożkowski KR
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Breeding Value ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Qualitative Traits ◽  
Crown Density

This is the first report on measurements and observations of an experimental plot of 35-year-old Norway spruce, established in 1970 by the Institute of Dendrology at K&oacute;rnik, where progenies of 22 plustrees from the Kłodzko Forest District were planted. The experiment was established in an incomplete block design of 20 families with 3 replications. Survival rate and growth traits determining productivity (plant height or basal area &ndash; stem cross-sectional area at breast height per 1&nbsp;ha) were assessed in several years, and qualitative traits (trunk straightness; degree of natural pruning; thickness, length and angle of branches; crown density; presence of galls caused by the aphids Adelges laricis Vall. and Sacchiphantes viridis Ratz.) were evaluated once in 2001. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the half-sib families in survival rate and productivity but no significant differences in qualitative traits. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between trunk straightness at the age of<br />&nbsp;36 years and height of 2-year-old seedlings in the nursery, and between the degree of natural pruning at the age of 36 years and both tree height at the age of 9 years and basal area at the age of 13 years.

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