A new Vegetation-Plot Database for the Coastal Forests of Kenya

Biodiversity data based on standardised sampling designs are key to ecosystem conservation. Data of this sort have been lacking for the Kenyan coastal forests despite being biodiversity hotspots. Here, we introduce the Kenyan Coastal Forests Vegetation-Plot Database (GIVD ID: AF-KE-001), consisting of data from 158 plots, subdivided into 3,160 subplots, across 25 forests. All plots include data on tree identity, diameter and height. Abundance of shrubs is presented for 316 subplots. We recorded 600 taxa belonging to 80 families, 549 of which identified to species and 51 to genus level. Species richness per forest site varied between 43 and 195 species; mean diameter between 13.0 ± 9.8 and 30.7 ± 20.7 cm; and mean tree height between 5.49 ± 3.99 and 12.29 ± 10.61 m. This is the first plot-level database of plant communities across Kenyan coastal forests. It will be highly valuable for analysing biodiversity patterns and assessing future changes in this ecosystem. Taxonomic reference: African Plant Database (African Plant Database version 3.4.0). Abbreviations: DBH = diameter at breast height; GIVD = Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases; KECF-VPD = Kenyan Coastal Forests Vegetation Plot Database.

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Plant Community Structure of Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest of Reiek in Mamit District of Mizoram

Science & Technology Journal ◽

10.22232/stj.2017.05.01.08 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 58-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.T. Lalzarzovi ◽

◽

Lalnun Tluanga

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Structural Analysis ◽

Plant Communities ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Life Form ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Biodiversity Hotspots ◽

Plant Community Structure ◽

Floristic Survey ◽

Normal Spectrum

Ecological study of tropical semi-evergreen forest of Reiek in Mizoram was carried out to determine the stratification of the forest as well as to prepare life form spectrum of the plant communities. Mizoram is a part of Indo- Myanmar region which falls under one of the 35 biodiversity hotspots identified worldwide and therefore has a rich biodiversity. A detailed floristic survey was carried out. Plant species were collected, mounted in herbarium sheets and identified. Structural analysis was carried out and profile diagram was drawn. The forest was found to be composed of three layers in both the disturbed and undisturbed areas of the forest. The life form spectrum has been compared with Raunkiers normal spectrum to find out the phytoclimate of the region. The study area was found to have an abundance of phanerophytes indicating a phanerophytic climate

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Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Wood Yield Selection Index in a Clonal Trial of Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) in Northeastern China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13084167 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 4167

Author(s):

David Kombi Kaviriri ◽

Huan-Zhen Liu ◽

Xi-Yang Zhao

Keyword(s):

Selection Index ◽

Tree Height ◽

Stem Volume ◽

Korean Pine ◽

Branch Number ◽

Basal Diameter ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Stem Straightness ◽

Clonal Trial

In order to determine suitable traits for selecting high-wood-yield Korean pine materials, eleven morphological characteristics (tree height, basal diameter, diameter at breast height, diameter at 3 meter height, stem straightness degree, crown breadth, crown height, branch angle, branch number per node, bark thickness, and stem volume) were investigated in a 38-year-old Korean pine clonal trial at Naozhi orchard. A statistical approach combining variance and regression analysis was used to extract appropriate traits for selecting elite clones. Results of variance analysis showed significant difference in variance sources in most of the traits, except for the stem straightness degree, which had a p-value of 0.94. Moderate to high coefficients of variation and clonal repeatability ranged from 10.73% to 35.45% and from 0.06% to 0.78%, respectively. Strong significant correlations on the phenotypic and genotypic levels were observed between the straightness traits and tree volume, but crown breadth was weakly correlated to the volume. Four principal components retaining up to 80% of the total variation were extracted, and stem volume, basal diameter, diameter at breast height, diameter at 3 meter height, tree height, and crown height displayed high correlation to these components (r ranged from 0.76 to 0.98). Based on the Type III sum of squares, tree height, diameter at breast height, and branch number showed significant information to explain the clonal variability based on stem volume. Using the extracted characteristics as the selection index, six clones (PK105, PK59, PK104, PK36, PK28, and K101) displayed the highest Qi values, with a selection rate of 5% corresponding to the genetic gain of 42.96% in stem volume. This study provides beneficial information for the selection of multiple traits for genetically improved genotypes of Korean pine.

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Development and Performance Evaluation of a Very Low-Cost UAV-Lidar System for Forestry Applications

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13010077 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 77

Author(s):

Tianyu Hu ◽

Xiliang Sun ◽

Yanjun Su ◽

Hongcan Guan ◽

Qianhui Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Inventory ◽

Low Cost ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Tree Height ◽

Flying Height ◽

Tree Level ◽

Forest Site ◽

Lidar System ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Gap Fraction

Accurate and repeated forest inventory data are critical to understand forest ecosystem processes and manage forest resources. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne light detection and ranging (lidar) systems have demonstrated effectiveness at deriving forest inventory attributes. However, their high cost has largely prevented them from being used in large-scale forest applications. Here, we developed a very low-cost UAV lidar system that integrates a recently emerged DJI Livox MID40 laser scanner (~$600 USD) and evaluated its capability in estimating both individual tree-level (i.e., tree height) and plot-level forest inventory attributes (i.e., canopy cover, gap fraction, and leaf area index (LAI)). Moreover, a comprehensive comparison was conducted between the developed DJI Livox system and four other UAV lidar systems equipped with high-end laser scanners (i.e., RIEGL VUX-1 UAV, RIEGL miniVUX-1 UAV, HESAI Pandar40, and Velodyne Puck LITE). Using these instruments, we surveyed a coniferous forest site and a broadleaved forest site, with tree densities ranging from 500 trees/ha to 3000 trees/ha, with 52 UAV flights at different flying height and speed combinations. The developed DJI Livox MID40 system effectively captured the upper canopy structure and terrain surface information at both forest sites. The estimated individual tree height was highly correlated with field measurements (coniferous site: R2 = 0.96, root mean squared error/RMSE = 0.59 m; broadleaved site: R2 = 0.70, RMSE = 1.63 m). The plot-level estimates of canopy cover, gap fraction, and LAI corresponded well with those derived from the high-end RIEGL VUX-1 UAV system but tended to have systematic biases in areas with medium to high canopy densities. Overall, the DJI Livox MID40 system performed comparably to the RIEGL miniVUX-1 UAV, HESAI Pandar40, and Velodyne Puck LITE systems in the coniferous site and to the Velodyne Puck LITE system in the broadleaved forest. Despite its apparent weaknesses of limited sensitivity to low-intensity returns and narrow field of view, we believe that the very low-cost system developed by this study can largely broaden the potential use of UAV lidar in forest inventory applications. This study also provides guidance for the selection of the appropriate UAV lidar system and flight specifications for forest research and management.

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Seemingly Unrelated Mixed-Effects Biomass Models for Black Locust in West Poland

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12030380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 380

Author(s):

Karol Bronisz ◽

Szymon Bijak ◽

Rafał Wojtan ◽

Robert Tomusiak ◽

Agnieszka Bronisz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Black Locust ◽

Random Effect ◽

Tree Height ◽

Cross Model ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Dependent Variables ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Biomass Components ◽

Independent Variable

Information about tree biomass is important not only in the assessment of wood resources but also in the process of preparing forest management plans, as well as for estimating carbon stocks and their flow in forest ecosystems. The study aimed to develop empirical models for determining the dry mass of the aboveground parts of black locust trees and their components (stem, branches, and leaves). The research was carried out based on data collected in 13 stands (a total of 38 sample trees) of black locust located in western Poland. The model system was developed based on multivariate mixed-effect models using two approaches. In the first approach, biomass components and tree height were defined as dependent variables, while diameter at breast height was used as an independent variable. In the second approach, biomass components and diameter at breast height were dependent variables and tree height was defined as the independent variable. Both approaches enable the fixed-effect and cross-model random-effect prediction of aboveground dry biomass components of black locust. Cross-model random-effect prediction was obtained using additional measurements of two extreme trees, defined as trees characterized by the smallest and largest diameter at breast height in sample plot. This type of prediction is more precise (root mean square error for stem dry biomass for both approaches equals 77.603 and 188.139, respectively) than that of fixed-effects prediction (root mean square error for stem dry biomass for both approaches equals 238.716 and 206.933, respectively). The use of height as an independent variable increases the possibility of the practical application of the proposed solutions using remote data sources.

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Field Evaluation of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. at Two Sites in Indo-gangetic Plains of India

Silvae Genetica ◽

10.1515/sg-2010-0001 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 59 (1-6) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. P. S. Dhillon ◽

Avtar Singh ◽

Pritpal Singh ◽

D. S. Sidhu

Keyword(s):

Populus Deltoides ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Tree Height ◽

Field Evaluation ◽

Site Conditions ◽

Genetic Advance ◽

Gangetic Plains ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Northwestern India

Abstract Results from clonal trials of Populus deltoides conducted in two distinct agroclimatic regions of Punjab in northwestern India are reported and discussed. Sixteen clones were evaluated at Hambran and Bathinda where commonly grown clone ‘G-48’ was considered as control. Significant differences among clones (P < 0.001) were observed for diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and volume at the age of four and six years under both the site conditions. Clone ‘L-48’ ranked first for volume at six year age at both sites and was followed by clone ‘Ranikhet’. The respective superiority for volume of these clones over control was 44.8 and 23.2 per cent at Hambran and 72.5 and 30.7 per cent at Bathinda. All growth traits registered significantly higher values at Hambran in comparison to those at Bathinda. Clone x site interaction was also significant (P < 0.001). The clones ‘L-168’, ‘154/86’, ‘Solan-z’ and ‘170/88’ experienced huge fluctuation in ranking between sites for volume at 6-year age. The DBH and height showed significant and positive correlation with each other and with tree volume at all the age combinations. The clonal mean heritability was quite high both at Hambran (0.73-0.86) and Bathinda (0.80-0.95). The genetic advance were the highest for volume (33.34-64.26%) and the lowest (10.65-22.79%) in case of height.

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Contribution of some Acacia Species on Carbon Sequestration in Blue Nile State, Sudan

10.51527/v2i1.13me ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 97-105

Keyword(s):

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Wood Density ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

Tree Height ◽

Biomass Estimation ◽

Expansion Factor ◽

Wood Volume ◽

Crown Diameter ◽

Breast Height ◽

Acacia Seyal

Background: The current challenge is to reduce the uncertainties in obtaining accurate and reliable data of carbon stock changes and emission factors essential for reporting national inventories. Improvements in above ground biomass estimation can also help account for changes in carbon stock in forest areas that may potentially participate in the Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and other initiatives. Current objectives for such estimates need a unified approach which can be measurable, reportable, and verifiable. This might result to a geographically referenced biomass density database for Sudanese forests that would reduce uncertainties in estimating forest aboveground biomass. The main objective: of this study is to assess potential of some selected forest variables for modeling carbon sequestration for Acacia seyal, vr. Seyal, Acacia seyal, vr. fistula, Acacia Senegal. The specific objectives include development of empirical allometric models for forest biomass estimation, estimation of carbon sequestration for these tree species, estimation of carbon sequestration per hectare and comparing the amount with that reported to the region. A total of 10 sample trees for biomass and carbon determination were selected for each of the three species from El Nour Natural Forest Reserve of the Blue Nile State, Sudan. Data of diameter at breast height, total tree height, tree crown diameter, crown height, and upper stem diameters were measured. Then sample trees were felled and sectioned to their components, and weighed. Subsamples were selected from each component for oven drying at 105 ˚C. Finally allometric models were developed and the aboveground dry weight (dwt) and carbon sequestered per hector were calculated. The results: presents biomass equations, biomass expansion factor and wood density that developed for the trees. In case of inventoried wood volume, corrections for biomass expansion factor and wood density value were done, and new values are suggested for use to convert wood volume to biomass estimates. The results also, indicate that diameter at breast height, crown diameter and tree height are good predictors for estimation of tree dwt and carbon stock. Conclusion: The developed allometric equations in this study gave better estimation of dwt than default value. The average carbon stock was found to be 22.57 t/ha.

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Modelling Bark Thickness of Norway Spruce (Picea abies Karst)

South-east European forestry ◽

10.15177/seefor.19-17 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 125-135

Author(s):

Jusuf Musić ◽

Velid Halilović ◽

Jelena Knežević ◽

Admir Avdagić ◽

Aida Ibrahimspahić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Bark Thickness ◽

Optimal Model ◽

Breast Height ◽

Starting Point ◽

Mean Diameter ◽

The Mean ◽

Actual Method

Background and Purpose: Bark thickness and its share in the volume of roundwood are the most important characteristics of the bark, particularly in the process of timber harvesting, and during scaling of processed logs. Therefore it is very important to have at disposal relatively accurate data regarding these characteristics of bark for particular tree species. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the thickness of the bark and its share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out in the area of the Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and it encompassed 393 trees of Norway spruce from 10 cm to 115 cm of thickness at breast height. Measuring of the mean diameter and double thickness of bark was conducted by section method. In total, 4,647 diameters and bark thicknesses were measured in different relative lengths of stems or in average 10.6 measurements per one stem. Results: As an optimal model for the evaluation of double thickness of the bark of Norway spruce depending on mean diameter of roundwood the function with designated determination coefficient of 0.7142 was selected. The obtained results have confirmed the previously defined relations of investigate characteristics, which are as following: a) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood (section) double bark thickness is increased from 9.26 mm (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 31.65 mm (thickness class 92.5 cm); b) with the increase of mean diameter of roundwood the share of bark in its volume decreased from 14.26% (thickness class 12.5 cm) to 6.73% (thickness class 92.5 cm). Conclusions: By the actual method of estimating bark thickness or the share of bark in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce in the forestry of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina a significant error was created which increases with the increase of mean diameter. The obtained results point to the necessity of investigation of these bark characteristics in Bosnia and Herzegovina and represent an inevitable starting point for making adequate tables of bark thickness and its percentage share in the volume of roundwood of Norway spruce.

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Evaluation of the Relative Stem Taper Curves Estimated Only from Tree Height and Diameter at Breast Height:

Journal of the Japanese Forest Society ◽

10.4005/jjfs.94.188 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 94 (4) ◽

pp. 188-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Megumi Ishida ◽

Satoshi Naoi ◽

Yasumasa Watanabe ◽

Akinori Tsuzuku ◽

Masaya Aoki

Keyword(s):

Tree Height ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Stem Taper

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Tree crown size as a measure of tree biosocial position in 135-year-old oak (Quercus L.) stand

Folia Forestalia Polonica ◽

10.1515/ffp-2016-0004 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 31-42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Katarzyna Kaźmierczak ◽

Bogna Zawieja

Keyword(s):

Principal Component ◽

Tree Height ◽

Projection Area ◽

Tree Crown ◽

Diameter At Breast Height ◽

Breast Height ◽

Crown Length ◽

Pca Method ◽

Crown Projection Area

AbstractThe paper presents an attempt to apply measurable traits of a tree – crown projection area, crown length, diameter at breast height and tree height for classification of 135-year-old oak (QuercusL.) trees into Kraft classes. Statistical multivariate analysis was applied to reach the aim. Empirical material was collected on sample plot area of 0.75 ha, located in 135-year-old oak stand. Analysis of dimensional traits of oaks from 135-year-old stand allows quite certain classification of trees into three groups: pre-dominant, dominant and co-dominant and dominated ones. This seems to be quite promising, providing a tool for the approximation of the biosocial position of tree with no need for assessment in forest. Applied analyses do not allow distinguishing trees belonging to II and III Kraft classes. Unless the eye-estimation-based classification is completed, principal component analysis (PCA) method provided simple, provisional solution for grouping trees from 135-year-old stand into three over-mentioned groups. Discriminant analysis gives more precise results compared with PCA. In the analysed stand, the most important traits for the evaluation of biosocial position were diameter at breast height, crown projection area and height.

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Single-tree Equations for Estimating Biomass of Trembling Aspen, Large Tooth Aspen and White Birch in Ontario

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc57169-4 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 169-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

I. S. Alemdag ◽

K. W. Horton

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Tree Height ◽

Stem Bark ◽

Trembling Aspen ◽

White Birch ◽

Stem Wood ◽

Single Tree ◽

Breast Height ◽

Forest Regions ◽

Whole Tree

Ovendry mass of single trees of trembling aspen, largetooth aspen, and white birch in the Great Lakes — St. Lawrence and Boreal forest regions in Ontario was studied in relation to stem dimensions. Mass equations for tree components based on diameter at breast height outside bark and tree height were developed. Results were found more dependable for stem wood and the whole tree than for stem bark, live branches, and twigs plus leaves. Ovendry mass values were slightly higher than those reported for New York and northern Minnesota.

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