DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.04.034
Scopus记录号: 2-s2.0-84878732224
论文题名: Towards non-destructive estimation of tree age
作者: Rohner B. ; Bugmann H. ; Bigler C.
刊名: Forest Ecology and Management
ISSN: 0378-1127
出版年: 2013
卷: 304 起始页码: 286
结束页码: 295
语种: 英语
英文关键词: Age-diameter relationship
; Chapman-Richards growth equation
; Dendrochronology
; Forest reserve
; Nonlinear mixed-effects model
; Quercus spp.
Scopus关键词: Age-diameter relationship
; Dendrochronology
; Forest reserves
; Growth equation
; Mixed-effects models
; Quercus spp
; Climatology
; Conservation
; Estimation
; Forestry
; Polynomials
; Random processes
; Volume measurement
; Nonlinear equations
; age class
; age determination
; deciduous tree
; dendrochronology
; diameter
; environmental gradient
; estimation method
; forest management
; nature conservation
; nondestructive testing
; Richards equation
; Conservation
; Estimation
; Forestry
; Meteorology
; Random Processes
; Switzerland
; Quercus
英文摘要: Accurate tree age information is required in many contexts ranging from nature conservation to forest science and management. Currently available methods for tree age estimation are either destructive or often inaccurate, the latter mostly because they do not tap the full potential of available data and knowledge on tree growth. We compared two new approaches for tree age estimation based on nonlinear age-diameter relationships to a traditional polynomial approach. The nonlinear approaches were based on repeated diameter measurements. One of them included environmental covariates (slope, elevation, aspect, water holding capacity and a drought index) based on the fixed effects of a mixed-effects model. The accuracy of the approaches was evaluated for 237 oaks (Quercus spp.) growing along an environmental gradient in Switzerland and comprising ages from 23 to 284. years. The potential of the nonlinear approach with covariates was assessed by additionally including the random effects of the mixed-effects model.The nonlinear approach with covariates and the polynomial approach were of similar accuracy except for extreme sites, where the polynomial approach performed better. The nonlinear approach without covariates was least accurate. Additionally including the random effects in the nonlinear approach with covariates strongly improved the age estimates and reduced the relative errors below 40% for 98% of the trees.Including repeated diameter measurements and environmental covariates led to similarly accurate age estimates as the traditional polynomial approach. However, the accuracy of the nonlinear approach with covariates has a high potential for further improvements. Additionally, the nonlinearity and the site information that is explicitly included allow for applications beyond currently represented ages and sites. This transferability and the potential for extrapolation obviate the need for model fitting in further applications, making it entirely non-destructive, which is a large advantage over the polynomial approach, which requires new fitting for new sites. Thus, applying the nonlinear approach with covariates is highly suitable e.g. in protected forests, where destructive age determination is not allowed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. Citation statistics:
资源类型: 期刊论文
标识符: http://119.78.100.158/handle/2HF3EXSE/66468
Appears in Collections: 影响、适应和脆弱性
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作者单位: Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
Recommended Citation:
Rohner B.,Bugmann H.,Bigler C.. Towards non-destructive estimation of tree age[J]. Forest Ecology and Management,2013-01-01,304