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Volkova L, Paul KI, Roxburgh SH, Weston CJ. Tree mortality and carbon emission as a function of wildfire severity in south-eastern Australian temperate forests. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 853:158705. [PMID: 36099944 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance trends over recent decades indicate that climate change is resulting in increased fire severity and extent in Australia's temperate Eucalyptus forests. As disturbance cycles become shorter and more severe, empirical measurements are required to identify potential change in forest carbon (C) stock and emissions. However, such estimates are rare in the literature. The 2019-2020 wildfires burnt through 6 to 7 million ha of mainly temperate open Eucalyptus forest in south-east Australia, with top down emission estimates ranging from 97 to 130 tonnes CO2 ha-1. Study sites that had been assessed for all aboveground C pools prior to the wildfires, were burnt in January 2020 by wildfire that varied in severity. Here we quantify the impact of high and low/moderate fire severities on tree mortality, C loss and C redistribution and assess implications for future C storage in these temperate Eucalyptus forests. Higher fire severity resulted in greater overstorey tree mortality but not understorey or loss of dead standing trees than in low/moderate severity fires. High severity fires combusted almost twice as much C from live trees (42 Mg C ha-1) as low/moderate severity fires (25 Mg C ha-1), while C loss from dead standing trees was similar among fire severity classes (average 17 Mg C ha-1). Total aboveground C lost across study sites was 42 Mg C ha-1 for high and 47 Mg C ha-1 for low/moderate severity, with an average of 45 Mg C ha-1 equivalent to 15 % (high severity) and 14 % (low/moderate severity) of AGC. Extrapolating our findings to other tall to medium open Eucalyptus forests across Victoria revealed that 37.33 ± 12.25 Tg C (mean ± s.e.) or 152 ± 50 Mg CO2 ha-1 was lost to the atmosphere from the 0.9 million ha of these productive forests, equating to about 20 % of Australia's total net annual emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liubov Volkova
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria 3363, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Keryn I Paul
- CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Christopher J Weston
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria 3363, Australia
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2
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Allometric Equations for the Biomass Estimation of Calophyllum inophyllum L. in Java, Indonesia. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13071057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Reliable data on CO2 quantification is increasingly important to quantify the climate benefits of forest landscape restoration and international commitments, such as the Warsaw REDD+ Framework and Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. Calophyllum inophyllum L. (nyamplung as a local name or tamanu tree for the commercial name) is an increasingly popular tree species in forest landscape restoration and bioenergy production for a variety of reasons. In this paper, we present allometric equations for aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), and total above- and belowground biomass (TABGB) predictions of C. inophyllum L. Data collection was carried out twice (2017 and 2021) from 40 trees in Java, Indonesia. Allometric equations using the natural logarithm of diameter at breast height (lnDBH) and ln height (lnH) for biomass prediction qualified the model’s fit with statistical significance at 95% of the confidence interval for AGB, BGB, and TABGB predictions. The results showed that the linear models using both lnDBH and lnH were well fit and accurate. However, the model with lnDBH is more precise than the model using lnH. Using lnDBH as a predictor, the R2 values were 0.923, 0.945, and 0.932, and MAPE were 24.7, 37.0, and 25.8 for AGB, BGB, and TABGB, respectively. Using lnH as a predictor, the R2 values were 0.887, 0.918, and 0.898 and MAPE were 37.4, 49.0, and 39.8 for AGB, BGB, and TABGB, respectively. Consequently, the driven allometric equations can help accurate biomass quantification for carbon-trading schemes of C. inophyllum L.
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Aboveground Biomass Models in the Combretum-Terminalia Woodlands of Ethiopia: Testing Species and Site Variation Effects. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11060811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The Combretum-Terminalia woodlands and wooded grasslands (CTW) are widely distributed in East Africa. While these landscapes may have the potential to act as key global carbon sinks, relatively little is known about their carbon storage capacity. Here we developed a set of novel aboveground biomass (AGB) models and tested for species and site variation effects to quantify the potential for CTW to store carbon. In total, 321 trees were sampled from 13 dominant tree species, across three sites in the Northwest lowlands of Ethiopia. Overall, fitted species-specific models performed the best, with diameter at breast height explaining 94–99% of the AGB variations. Interspecific tree allometry differences among species were more substantial than intraspecific tree allometry among sites. Incorporating wood density and height in the mixed-species models significantly improved the model performance relative mean absolute error (MAPE) of 2.4–8.0%, while site variation did not affect the model accuracy substantially. Large errors (MAPE%) were observed when using existing pantropical models, indicating that model selection remains an important source of uncertainty. Although the estimates of selected site-specific models were accurate for local sites, mixed-species and species-specific models performed better when validation data collated from different sites were incorporated together. We concluded that including site- and species-level data improved model estimates of AGB for the CTW of Ethiopia.
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Fouse JA, Eagle MJ, Kroeger KD, Smith TP. Estimating the aboveground biomass and carbon stocks of tall shrubs in a pre‐restoration degraded salt marsh. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqualyn A. Fouse
- Friends of Herring River P.O. Box 1485 Wellfleet Massachusetts 02667 United States
| | - Meagan J. Eagle
- U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole Massachusetts 02543 United States
| | - Kevin D. Kroeger
- U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole Massachusetts 02543 United States
| | - Timothy P. Smith
- U.S. National Park Service Cape Cod National Seashore 99 Marconi Site Road Wellfleet Massachusetts 02667 United States
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Root Growth Was Enhanced in China Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) after Mechanical Disturbance by Ice Storm. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12121800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Accurate estimation of forest biomass and its growth potential could be important in assessing the mitigation potential of forest for climate change. However, severe mechanical disturbance such as stem breakage imposed significant changes to tree individuals in biomass structure, which could bring new inaccuracy to biomass estimation. In order to investigate the influence of severe mechanical disturbance on tree biomass accumulation and to construct accurate models for biomass and carbon storage estimation, this paper analyzed the relationship between tree size and biomass for China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) which suffered stem breakage from, and survived, an ice storm. The performance of independent variables diameter (D) and height (H) of China fir, were also compared in biomass estimation. The results showed that D as an independent variable was adequate in biomass estimation for China fir, and tree height was not necessary in this case. Root growth was faster in China fir which had suffered breakage in the main stem by the ice storm, than China fir which were undamaged for at least 7 years after the mechanical disturbance, which, in addition to biomass loss in stem, caused changes in the allocation pattern of the damaged trees. This suggests biomass models constructed before severe mechanical disturbance would be less suitable in application for a subsequent period, and accurate estimations of biomass and forest carbon storage would take more effort.
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Gonzalez‐Akre E, Piponiot C, Lepore M, Herrmann V, Lutz JA, Baltzer JL, Dick CW, Gilbert GS, He F, Heym M, Huerta AI, Jansen PA, Johnson DJ, Knapp N, Král K, Lin D, Malhi Y, McMahon SM, Myers JA, Orwig D, Rodríguez‐Hernández DI, Russo SE, Shue J, Wang X, Wolf A, Yang T, Davies SJ, Anderson‐Teixeira KJ. allodb
: An R package for biomass estimation at globally distributed extratropical forest plots. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erika Gonzalez‐Akre
- Conservation Ecology Center Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
| | - Camille Piponiot
- Conservation Ecology Center Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
- Forest Global Earth Observatory Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama Panama
- UR Forests and Societies Cirad Univ Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Mauro Lepore
- Forest Global Earth Observatory Smithsonian Institution Washington DC USA
| | - Valentine Herrmann
- Conservation Ecology Center Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
| | - James A. Lutz
- Wildland Resources Department Utah State University Logan UT USA
| | | | | | - Gregory S. Gilbert
- Department of Environmental Studies University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Fangliang He
- Biodiversity & Landscape Modeling Group University of Alberta Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Michael Heym
- Faculty of Forest Science and Resource Management Technical University of Munich Freising Germany
| | - Alejandra I. Huerta
- Deptartment of Entomology and Plant Pathology North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA
| | - Patrick A. Jansen
- Forest Global Earth Observatory Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama Panama
- Department of Environmental Sciences Wageningen University Wageningen Netherlands
| | - Daniel J. Johnson
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Nikolai Knapp
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ Leipzig Germany
- Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems Eberswalde Germany
| | - Kamil Král
- Department of Forest Ecology Silva Tarouca Research Institute Brno Czech Republic
| | - Dunmei Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco‐Environment, Ministry of Education Chongqing University Chongqing China
| | - Yadvinder Malhi
- School of Geography and the Environment University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Sabrina E. Russo
- School of Biological Sciences University of Nebraska Lincoln NE USA
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln NE USA
| | - Jessica Shue
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater MD USA
| | - Xugao Wang
- Institute of Applied Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang China
| | - Amy Wolf
- Natural & Applied Sciences University of Wisconsin Green Bay WI USA
| | - Tonghui Yang
- Forestry Institute Ningbo Academy of Agricultural Science Ningbo China
| | - Stuart J. Davies
- Forest Global Earth Observatory Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama Panama
| | - Kristina J. Anderson‐Teixeira
- Conservation Ecology Center Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
- Forest Global Earth Observatory Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama Panama
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Aneseyee AB, Soromessa T, Elias E, Feyisa GL. Allometric equations for selected Acacia species (Vachellia and Senegalia genera) of Ethiopia. CARBON BALANCE AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 16:34. [PMID: 34727268 PMCID: PMC8561847 DOI: 10.1186/s13021-021-00196-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allometric equations are used to estimate biomass and carbon stock of forests. In Ethiopia, despite the presence of large floral diversity, only a few site-specific allometric equations have been developed so far. This study was conducted in the Omo-Gibe woodland of south-western Ethiopia to develop an allometric equation to estimate the Above-ground Biomass (AGB) of the four Acacia species (Senegalia polyacantha, Vachellia seyal, Vachellia etbaica and Vachellia tortilis). Fifty-four (54) Acacia trees were sampled and measured within 35 temporarily established square plots. In each plot, dendrometric variables were measured to derive the models based on combinations of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), height, and wood density as predictor variables. Model performance was evaluated using goodness-of-fit statistics. The biomass was compared using four allometric biomass models that have been widely used in the tropics. RESULTS The model containing DBH alone was more accurate to estimate AGB compared to the use of multiple predictor variables. This study, therefore, substantiated the importance of site-specific allometric equations in estimating the AGB of Acacia woodlands. This is because a site-specific allometric equation recognizes the environmental factors, vegetation types and management practices. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of allometric equations and an accurate estimate of AGB of Acacia woodlands in Ethiopia and similar ecosystems elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abreham Berta Aneseyee
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resource, Department of Natural Resource Management, Wolkite University, P. O. Box 07, Wolkite, Ethiopia.
| | - Teshome Soromessa
- Center for Environmental Science, College of Computational and Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box No: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eyasu Elias
- Center for Environmental Science, College of Computational and Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box No: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gudina Legese Feyisa
- Center for Environmental Science, College of Computational and Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box No: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Kükenbrink D, Gardi O, Morsdorf F, Thürig E, Schellenberger A, Mathys L. Above-ground biomass references for urban trees from terrestrial laser scanning data. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2021; 128:709-724. [PMID: 33693550 PMCID: PMC8557373 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Within extending urban areas, trees serve a multitude of functions (e.g. carbon storage, suppression of air pollution, mitigation of the 'heat island' effect, oxygen, shade and recreation). Many of these services are positively correlated with tree size and structure. The quantification of above-ground biomass (AGB) is of especial importance to assess its carbon storage potential. However, quantification of AGB is difficult and the allometries applied are often based on forest trees, which are subject to very different growing conditions, competition and form. In this article we highlight the potential of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) techniques to extract highly detailed information on urban tree structure and AGB. METHODS Fifty-five urban trees distributed over seven cities in Switzerland were measured using TLS and traditional forest inventory techniques before they were felled and weighed. Tree structure, volume and AGB from the TLS point clouds were extracted using quantitative structure modelling. TLS-derived AGB estimates were compared with AGB estimates based on forest tree allometries dependent on diameter at breast height only. The correlations of various tree metrics as AGB predictors were assessed. KEY RESULTS Estimates of AGB derived by TLS showed good performance when compared with destructively harvested references, with an R2 of 0.954 (RMSE = 556 kg) compared with 0.837 (RMSE = 1159 kg) for allometrically derived AGB estimates. A correlation analysis showed that different TLS-derived wood volume estimates as well as trunk diameters and tree crown metrics show high correlation in describing total wood AGB, outperforming tree height. CONCLUSIONS Wood volume estimates based on TLS show high potential to estimate tree AGB independent of tree species, size and form. This allows us to retrieve highly accurate non-destructive AGB estimates that could be used to establish new allometric equations without the need for extensive destructive harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kükenbrink
- Swiss Federal Institute WSL, Zürichstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8045 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Gardi
- School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL, Länggasse 85, CH-3052 Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | - Felix Morsdorf
- Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8045 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esther Thürig
- Swiss Federal Institute WSL, Zürichstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Lukas Mathys
- Nategra LLC, Nydeggstalden 30, CH-3011 Bern, Switzerland
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Species-Specific Allometric Equations for Predicting Belowground Root Biomass in Plantations: Case Study of Spotted Gums (Corymbia citriodora subspecies variegata) in Queensland. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12091210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora spp. variegata; CCV) has been widely planted, has a wide natural distribution, and is the most important commercially harvested hardwood species in Queensland, Australia. It has a great capacity to sequester carbon, thus reducing the impact of CO2 emissions on climate. Belowground root biomass (BGB) plays an important role as a carbon sink in terrestrial ecosystems. To explore the potential of biomass and carbon accumulation belowground, we developed and validated models for CCV plantations in Queensland. The roots of twenty-three individual trees (size range 11.8–42.0 cm diameter at breast height) from three sites were excavated to a 1-m depth and were weighed to obtain BGB. Weighted nonlinear regression models were most reliable for estimating BGB. To evaluate the candidate models, the data set was cross-validated with 70% of the data used for training and 30% of the data used for testing. The cross-validation process was repeated 23 times and the validation of the models were averaged over 23 iterations. The best model for predicting spotted gum BGB was based on a single parameter, with the diameter at breast height (D) as an independent variable. The best equation BGB = 0.02933 × D2.5805 had an adjusted R2 of 0.854 and a mean absolute percentage error of 0.090%. This equation was tested against published BGB equations; the findings from this are discussed. Our equation is recommended to allow improved estimates of BGB for this species.
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Ramchunder SJ, Ziegler AD. Promoting sustainability education through hands-on approaches: a tree carbon sequestration exercise in a Singapore green space. SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE 2021; 16:1045-1059. [PMID: 33488835 PMCID: PMC7811337 DOI: 10.1007/s11625-020-00897-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
During a university class project related to climate change mitigation strategies, we utilized a university green space as a "living laboratory" for collaborative learning exercise to estimate landscape-level carbon biomass storage. The key objective of the exercise was to foster sustainability awareness with regard to the effectiveness of tree-planting initiatives to offset carbon emissions. Collaborative learning is a process by which students work together in small groups to accomplish a common goal. As experiences are active, social and student-owned, the process leads to the development of a variety of cognitive and transferable skills that are beneficial in academia and the workplace. Through data collection/analysis, the carbon biomass exercise not only allowed students to assess critically the efficacy of a tree-planting initiative as a means to sequester carbon, but they became aware of the difficulties in performing research on complex environmental issues. The intention of the research was to give students an opportunity to practice data collection, data analysis, problem solving, teamwork, communication and scientific literacy skills, meanwhile utilizing the campus open green space to enhance the knowledge discovery process. Informal assessment and discussions with students demonstrated that the activity was successful in reaching a wide range of students with varying backgrounds and initial attitudes about climate change mitigating strategies, which was our objective. Our case study demonstrates how learning objectives can be integrated with university sustainability initiatives to improve learning and student engagement. Finally, we see green spaces as dynamic settings for learning about physical processes and issues related to environmental management and sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorain J. Ramchunder
- Department of Geography and Bachelor of Environmental Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alan D. Ziegler
- Faculty of Fisheries Technology and Aquatic Resources, Mae Jo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Huynh T, Lee DJ, Applegate G, Lewis T. Field methods for above and belowground biomass estimation in plantation forests. MethodsX 2020; 8:101192. [PMID: 33384949 PMCID: PMC7771103 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.101192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A practical and cost-effective destructive sampling method for estimating above and belowground biomass of Corymbia citriodora subspecies variegata grown in plantations is described. The methodology includes details on selecting sample trees, weighing tree components in the field, excavating root systems and obtaining fresh weights and laboratory analyses of components to determine oven dry weights. The development of these sampling procedures is a basic step towards successful, consistent collection of biomass data in 18-20 years old plantation forests. This methodology was developed for eucalypt hardwood timber plantations in Queensland, Australia. However, these procedures can be applied to plantations elsewhere as well as to trees in native forest environments with minor modifications. The methodology developed for field sampling of the tree components and the derivation of allometric relationships for predicting individual tree biomass (above and belowground) highlighted the following:•Accurate quantification of above and belowground biomass of eucalypts.•Description of measured variables for developing allometric relationships.•Integration of field and laboratory measurements to streamline data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinh Huynh
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore Dc, Queensland, Australia.,Forest Science Institute of Central Highlands and South of Central, Dalat, Vietnam
| | - David J Lee
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore Dc, Queensland, Australia
| | - Grahame Applegate
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore Dc, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tom Lewis
- Forest Research Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore Dc, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Gympie, Queensland, Australia
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A Systematic Review of the Factors Influencing the Estimation of Vegetation Aboveground Biomass Using Unmanned Aerial Systems. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12071052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Interest in the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) of vegetation in agricultural and non-agricultural settings is growing rapidly but there is no standardized methodology for planning, collecting and analyzing UAS data for this purpose. We synthesized 46 studies from the peer-reviewed literature to provide the first-ever review on the subject. Our analysis showed that spectral and structural data from UAS imagery can accurately estimate vegetation biomass in a variety of settings, especially when both data types are combined. Vegetation-height metrics are useful for trees, while metrics of variation in structure or volume are better for non-woody vegetation. Multispectral indices using NIR and red-edge wavelengths normally have strong relationships with AGB but RGB-based indices often outperform them in models. Including measures of image texture can improve model accuracy for vegetation with heterogeneous canopies. Vegetation growth structure and phenological stage strongly influence model accuracy and the selection of useful metrics and should be considered carefully. Additional factors related to the study environment, data collection and analytical approach also impact biomass estimation and need to be considered throughout the workflow. Our review shows that UASs provide a capable tool for fine-scale, spatially explicit estimations of vegetation AGB and are an ideal complement to existing ground- and satellite-based approaches. We recommend future studies aimed at emerging UAS technologies and at evaluating the effect of vegetation type and growth stages on AGB estimation.
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Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass of Trees in the Dry Afromontane Forests of Northern Ethiopia. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10121114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Dry Afromontane forests form the largest part of the existing natural vegetation in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, models for quantifying aboveground tree biomass (AGB) of these forests are rare. The objective of this study was, therefore, to develop local multispecies and species-specific AGB models for dry Afromontane forests in northern Ethiopia and to test the accuracy of some potentially relevant, previously developed AGB models. A total of 86 sample trees consisting of ten dominant tree species were harvested to develop the models. A set of models relating AGB to diameter at breast height (DBH) or at stump height (DSH), height (H), crown area (CA), and wood basic density (ρ) were fitted. Model evaluation and selection was based on statistical significance of model parameter estimates, relative mean root-square-error (rMRSE), relative bias (rBias), and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). A leave-one-out cross-validation procedure was used to compute rMRSE and rBias. The best multispecies model, which includes DSH, CA, and ρ as predictors, explained more than 95% of the variability in AGB. The best species-specific models for the two dominant species, with DBH or DSH as the sole predictor, also explained more than 96% of the variability in AGB. Higher biases from the previously published models compared to the best models from this study show the need to develop local models for more accurate biomass estimation. The developed models allow to quantify AGB with a high level of accuracy for our site, and they can potentially be applied in dry Afromontane forests elsewhere in Ethiopia if species composition and growing conditions are carefully evaluated before an application is done.
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Rudgers JA, Hallmark A, Baker SR, Baur L, Hall KM, Litvak ME, Muldavin EH, Pockman WT, Whitney KD. Sensitivity of dryland plant allometry to climate. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alesia Hallmark
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM USA
| | | | - Lauren Baur
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM USA
| | | | - Marcy E. Litvak
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM USA
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Site-Specific Allometric Models for Prediction of Above-and Belowground Biomass of Subtropical Forests in Guangzhou, Southern China. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10100862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tree allometric models that are used to predict the biomass of individual tree are critical to forest carbon accounting and ecosystem service modeling. To enhance the accuracy of such predictions, the development of site-specific, rather than generalized, allometric models is advised whenever possible. Subtropical forests are important carbon sinks and have a huge potential for mitigating climate change. However, few biomass models compared to the diversity of forest ecosystems are currently available for the subtropical forests of China. This study developed site-specific allometric models to estimate the aboveground and the belowground biomass for south subtropical humid forest in Guangzhou, Southern China. Destructive methods were used to measure the aboveground biomass with a sample of 144 trees from 26 species, and the belowground biomass was measured with a subsample of 116 of them. Linear regression with logarithmic transformation was used to model biomass according to dendrometric parameters. The mixed-species regressions with diameter at breast height (DBH) as a single predictor were able to adequately estimate aboveground, belowground and total biomass. The coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.955, 0.914 and 0.954, respectively, and the mean prediction errors were −1.96, −5.84 and 2.26%, respectively. Adding tree height (H) compounded with DBH as one variable (DBH2H) did not improve model performance. Using H as a second variable in the equation can improve the model fitness in estimation of belowground biomass, but there are collinearity effects, resulting in an increased standard error of regression coefficients. Therefore, it is not recommended to add H in the allometric models. Adding wood density (WD) compounded with DBH as one variable (DBH2WD) slightly improved model fitness for prediction of belowground biomass, but there was no positive effect on the prediction of aboveground and total biomass. Using WD as a second variable in the equation, the best-fitting allometric relationship for biomass estimation of the aboveground, belowground, and total biomass was given, indicating that WD is a crucial factor in biomass models of subtropical forest. Root-shoot ratio of subtropical forest in this study varies with species and tree size, and it is not suitable to apply it to estimate belowground biomass. These findings are of great significance for accurately measuring regional forest carbon sinks, and having reference value for forest management.
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Developing Allometric Equations for Estimating Shrub Biomass in a Boreal Fen. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9090569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Allometric equations for estimating aboveground biomass (AGB) from easily measured plant attributes are unavailable for most species common to mid-continental boreal peatlands, where shrubs comprise a large component of the vegetation community. Our study develops allometric equations for three dominant genera found in boreal fens: Alnus spp. (alder), Salix spp. (willow) and Betula pumila (bog birch). Two different types of local equations were developed: (1) individual equations based on genus/phylogeny, and (2) a general equation that pooled all individuals regardless of genera. The general equation had a R2 = 0.97 (n = 82), and was not significantly different (p > 0.05) than any of the phylogenetic equations. This indicated that a single generalized equation is sufficient in estimating AGB for all three genera occurring in our study area. A closer look at the performance of the general equation revealed that smaller stems were predicted less accurately than larger stems because of the higher variability of leafy biomass found in small individuals. Previously published equations developed in other ecoregions did not perform as well as our local equations.
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Carbon in Mature Native Forests in Australia: The Role of Direct Weighing in the Derivation of Allometric Equations. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9020060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Youkhana AH, Ogoshi RM, Kiniry JR, Meki MN, Nakahata MH, Crow SE. Allometric Models for Predicting Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Stock of Tropical Perennial C 4 Grasses in Hawaii. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:650. [PMID: 28512463 PMCID: PMC5411447 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Biomass is a promising renewable energy option that provides a more environmentally sustainable alternative to fossil resources by reducing the net flux of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. Yet, allometric models that allow the prediction of aboveground biomass (AGB), biomass carbon (C) stock non-destructively have not yet been developed for tropical perennial C4 grasses currently under consideration as potential bioenergy feedstock in Hawaii and other subtropical and tropical locations. The objectives of this study were to develop optimal allometric relationships and site-specific models to predict AGB, biomass C stock of napiergrass, energycane, and sugarcane under cultivation practices for renewable energy and validate these site-specific models against independent data sets generated from sites with widely different environments. Several allometric models were developed for each species from data at a low elevation field on the island of Maui, Hawaii. A simple power model with stalk diameter (D) was best related to AGB and biomass C stock for napiergrass, energycane, and sugarcane, (R2 = 0.98, 0.96, and 0.97, respectively). The models were then tested against data collected from independent fields across an environmental gradient. For all crops, the models over-predicted AGB in plants with lower stalk D, but AGB was under-predicted in plants with higher stalk D. The models using stalk D were better for biomass prediction compared to dewlap H (Height from the base cut to most recently exposed leaf dewlap) models, which showed weak validation performance. Although stalk D model performed better, however, the mean square error (MSE)-systematic was ranged from 23 to 43 % of MSE for all crops. A strong relationship between model coefficient and rainfall was existed, although these were irrigated systems; suggesting a simple site-specific coefficient modulator for rainfall to reduce systematic errors in water-limited areas. These allometric equations provide a tool for farmers in the tropics to estimate perennial C4 grass biomass and C stock during decision-making for land management and as an environmental sustainability indicator within a renewable energy system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel H. Youkhana
- Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HonoluluHI, USA
| | - Richard M. Ogoshi
- Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HonoluluHI, USA
| | - James R. Kiniry
- Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, TempleTX, USA
| | - Manyowa N. Meki
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Blackland Research and Extension Center, TempleTX, USA
| | | | - Susan E. Crow
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, HonoluluHI, USA
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Paul KI, Roxburgh SH, Chave J, England JR, Zerihun A, Specht A, Lewis T, Bennett LT, Baker TG, Adams MA, Huxtable D, Montagu KD, Falster DS, Feller M, Sochacki S, Ritson P, Bastin G, Bartle J, Wildy D, Hobbs T, Larmour J, Waterworth R, Stewart HTL, Jonson J, Forrester DI, Applegate G, Mendham D, Bradford M, O'Grady A, Green D, Sudmeyer R, Rance SJ, Turner J, Barton C, Wenk EH, Grove T, Attiwill PM, Pinkard E, Butler D, Brooksbank K, Spencer B, Snowdon P, O'Brien N, Battaglia M, Cameron DM, Hamilton S, McAuthur G, Sinclair J. Testing the generality of above-ground biomass allometry across plant functional types at the continent scale. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2016; 22:2106-24. [PMID: 26683241 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Accurate ground-based estimation of the carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems is critical to quantifying the global carbon budget. Allometric models provide cost-effective methods for biomass prediction. But do such models vary with ecoregion or plant functional type? We compiled 15 054 measurements of individual tree or shrub biomass from across Australia to examine the generality of allometric models for above-ground biomass prediction. This provided a robust case study because Australia includes ecoregions ranging from arid shrublands to tropical rainforests, and has a rich history of biomass research, particularly in planted forests. Regardless of ecoregion, for five broad categories of plant functional type (shrubs; multistemmed trees; trees of the genus Eucalyptus and closely related genera; other trees of high wood density; and other trees of low wood density), relationships between biomass and stem diameter were generic. Simple power-law models explained 84-95% of the variation in biomass, with little improvement in model performance when other plant variables (height, bole wood density), or site characteristics (climate, age, management) were included. Predictions of stand-based biomass from allometric models of varying levels of generalization (species-specific, plant functional type) were validated using whole-plot harvest data from 17 contrasting stands (range: 9-356 Mg ha(-1) ). Losses in efficiency of prediction were <1% if generalized models were used in place of species-specific models. Furthermore, application of generalized multispecies models did not introduce significant bias in biomass prediction in 92% of the 53 species tested. Further, overall efficiency of stand-level biomass prediction was 99%, with a mean absolute prediction error of only 13%. Hence, for cost-effective prediction of biomass across a wide range of stands, we recommend use of generic allometric models based on plant functional types. Development of new species-specific models is only warranted when gains in accuracy of stand-based predictions are relatively high (e.g. high-value monocultures).
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Affiliation(s)
- Keryn I Paul
- CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Stephen H Roxburgh
- CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Jerome Chave
- UMR 5174 Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, CNRS & Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, 31062, France
| | - Jacqueline R England
- CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, Vic, 3169, Australia
| | - Ayalsew Zerihun
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia
| | - Alison Specht
- School of Geography Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- CESAB, Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité, Immeuble Henri Poincaré, 2ème étage Domaine du Petit Arbois, Avenue Louis Philibert, 13100, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Tom Lewis
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Qld, 4556, Australia
| | - Lauren T Bennett
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 4 Water Street, Creswick, Vic, 3363, Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic, 3121, Australia
| | - Thomas G Baker
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 4 Water Street, Creswick, Vic, 3363, Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, Vic, 3121, Australia
| | - Mark A Adams
- Centre for Carbon Water and Food, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, University of Sydney, Werombi Road, Camden, NSW, Australia
| | - Dan Huxtable
- Equinox Environmental Pty Ltd., 6 Craigie Cres, Manning, WA, 6152, Australia
| | | | - Daniel S Falster
- Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Mike Feller
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, 3041-2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Stan Sochacki
- School of Environmental Science, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Peter Ritson
- FarmWoods, 3/104 South Street, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia
| | - Gary Bastin
- Department of Land Resource Management, PO Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT, 0871, Australia
| | - John Bartle
- Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Bentley Delivery Centre, Locked Bag 104, Perth, WA, 6983, Australia
| | - Dan Wildy
- Fares Rural Pty Ltd, PO Box 526, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia
| | - Trevor Hobbs
- Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adeliade, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - John Larmour
- CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Rob Waterworth
- Mullion Group, 2a Fitzroy Rd, Forrest, ACT, 2603, Australia
| | - Hugh T L Stewart
- Hugh Stewart Consulting, 8 Upland Road, Strathmore, Vic., 3041, Australia
| | - Justin Jonson
- Threshold Environmental Pty Ltd, PO Box 1124, Albany, WA, 6331, Australia
- Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia, 1 Foreshore House, Albany, WA, 6330, Australia
| | - David I Forrester
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Freiburg University, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Mendham
- CSIRO Agriculture CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
| | - Matt Bradford
- CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 780, Atherton, Qld, 4883, Australia
| | - Anthony O'Grady
- CSIRO Agriculture CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
| | | | - Rob Sudmeyer
- Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Private Mail Bag 50, Esperance, WA, 6450, Australia
| | - Stan J Rance
- CSIRO Land and Water, 4Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia
| | - John Turner
- Forsci Pty Ltd., Ste 4.05/ 32 Delhi Rd, North Ryde, NSW, 2113, Australia
| | - Craig Barton
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, 2751, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth H Wenk
- Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Tim Grove
- CSIRO Land and Water, 4Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia
| | - Peter M Attiwill
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., 3010, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Pinkard
- CSIRO Agriculture CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
| | - Don Butler
- Queensland Herbarium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Qld, 4066, Australia
| | - Kim Brooksbank
- Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), 444 Albany Hwy, Albany, WA, 6330, Australia
| | - Beren Spencer
- Science Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Bentley Delivery Centre, Locked Bag 104, Perth, WA, 6983, Australia
| | - Peter Snowdon
- CSIRO Agriculture and CSIRO Land and Water, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Nick O'Brien
- New Forests Asset Management Pty Ltd., PO Box 434, North Sydney, NSW, 2059, Australia
| | - Michael Battaglia
- CSIRO Agriculture CSIRO Land and Water, Private Bag 12, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia
| | - David M Cameron
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Steve Hamilton
- Hamilton Environmental Services, 2345 Benalla-Tatong Road, Tatong, Vic., 3673, Australia
| | - Geoff McAuthur
- AusCarbon Pty Ltd., PO Box 395, Nedlands, WA, 6909, Australia
| | - Jenny Sinclair
- Green Collar Group, Level 1, 37 George St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
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