TY - JOUR
T1 - Allometric equations for young northern hardwoods
T2 - The importance of age-specific equations for estimating aboveground biomass
AU - Fatemi, Farrah R.
AU - Yanai, Ruth D.
AU - Hamburg, Steven P.
AU - Vadeboncoeur, Matthew A.
AU - Arthur, Mary A.
AU - Briggs, Russell D.
AU - Levine, Carrie R.
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Estimates of aboveground biomass and nutrient stocks are commonly derived using equations that describe tree dimensional relationships. Despite the widespread use of this approach, there is little information about whether equations specific to stand age are necessary for accurate biomass predictions. We developed equations for small trees (2-12 cm diameter) of six species in four young northern hardwood stands. We then compared our equations with equations used frequently in the literature that were developed in mature stands (Whittaker et al. 1974. Ecol. Monogr. 44: 233-252). Our equations for yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) predicted 11%-120% greater stem wood for individual trees compared with the equations from Whittaker et al. and, on average, 50% greater aboveground yellow birch biomass in the four stands that we studied. Differences were less pronounced for sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.); our equations predicted, on average, 9% greater aboveground stand biomass for sugar maple and 3% lower biomass for American beech compared with Whittaker et al. Our results suggest that stand age may be an important factor influencing the aboveground allometry and biomass of small yellow birch trees in these developing northern hardwood stands.
AB - Estimates of aboveground biomass and nutrient stocks are commonly derived using equations that describe tree dimensional relationships. Despite the widespread use of this approach, there is little information about whether equations specific to stand age are necessary for accurate biomass predictions. We developed equations for small trees (2-12 cm diameter) of six species in four young northern hardwood stands. We then compared our equations with equations used frequently in the literature that were developed in mature stands (Whittaker et al. 1974. Ecol. Monogr. 44: 233-252). Our equations for yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) predicted 11%-120% greater stem wood for individual trees compared with the equations from Whittaker et al. and, on average, 50% greater aboveground yellow birch biomass in the four stands that we studied. Differences were less pronounced for sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.); our equations predicted, on average, 9% greater aboveground stand biomass for sugar maple and 3% lower biomass for American beech compared with Whittaker et al. Our results suggest that stand age may be an important factor influencing the aboveground allometry and biomass of small yellow birch trees in these developing northern hardwood stands.
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U2 - 10.1139/x10-248
DO - 10.1139/x10-248
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79953898339
SN - 0045-5067
VL - 41
SP - 881
EP - 891
JO - Canadian Journal of Forest Research
JF - Canadian Journal of Forest Research
IS - 4
ER -