Abstract
Accurate estimation of tree biomass is necessary to provide realistic values of the carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere. A recognized source of errors in tree aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation is introduced when individual tree height values (H) are not directly measured but estimated from diameter at breast height (DBH) using allometric equations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of 12 alternative DBH : H equations and compare their effects on AGB estimation for three tropical forests that occur in contrasting climatic and altitudinal zones. We found that fitting a three-parameter Weibull function using data collected locally generated the lowest errors and bias in H estimation, and that equations fitted to these data were more accurate than equations with parameters derived from the literature. For computing AGB, the introduced error values differed notably among DBH : H allometric equations, and in most cases showed a clear bias that resulted in either over- or under-estimation of AGB. Fitting the three-parameter Weibull function minimized errors in AGB estimates in our study and we recommend its widespread adoption for carbon stock estimation. We conclude that many previous studies are likely to present biased estimates of AGB due to the method of H estimation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2374-2380 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Ecological Applications |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 19 Oct 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2016 |
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Keywords
- bias
- biomass
- error
- inaccurarcy
- modelling
- tropical forest
Cite this
Re-evaluation of individual diameter : height allometric models to improve biomass estimation of tropical trees. / Ledo, Alicia; Cornulier, Thomas; Illian, Janine B; Iida, Yoshiko; Kassim, Abdul Rahman; Burslem, David F R P.
In: Ecological Applications, Vol. 26, No. 8, 12.2016, p. 2374-2380.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Re-evaluation of individual diameter
T2 - height allometric models to improve biomass estimation of tropical trees
AU - Ledo, Alicia
AU - Cornulier, Thomas
AU - Illian, Janine B
AU - Iida, Yoshiko
AU - Kassim, Abdul Rahman
AU - Burslem, David F R P
N1 - Acknowledgments The first author was supported by the European Union under a IEF Marie-Curie Action. We thank Helene Muller-Landau and S. Joseph Wright for providing data on tree heights for some trees in Panama and for comments that helped to develop this study.
PY - 2016/12
Y1 - 2016/12
N2 - Accurate estimation of tree biomass is necessary to provide realistic values of the carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere. A recognized source of errors in tree aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation is introduced when individual tree height values (H) are not directly measured but estimated from diameter at breast height (DBH) using allometric equations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of 12 alternative DBH : H equations and compare their effects on AGB estimation for three tropical forests that occur in contrasting climatic and altitudinal zones. We found that fitting a three-parameter Weibull function using data collected locally generated the lowest errors and bias in H estimation, and that equations fitted to these data were more accurate than equations with parameters derived from the literature. For computing AGB, the introduced error values differed notably among DBH : H allometric equations, and in most cases showed a clear bias that resulted in either over- or under-estimation of AGB. Fitting the three-parameter Weibull function minimized errors in AGB estimates in our study and we recommend its widespread adoption for carbon stock estimation. We conclude that many previous studies are likely to present biased estimates of AGB due to the method of H estimation.
AB - Accurate estimation of tree biomass is necessary to provide realistic values of the carbon stored in the terrestrial biosphere. A recognized source of errors in tree aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation is introduced when individual tree height values (H) are not directly measured but estimated from diameter at breast height (DBH) using allometric equations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of 12 alternative DBH : H equations and compare their effects on AGB estimation for three tropical forests that occur in contrasting climatic and altitudinal zones. We found that fitting a three-parameter Weibull function using data collected locally generated the lowest errors and bias in H estimation, and that equations fitted to these data were more accurate than equations with parameters derived from the literature. For computing AGB, the introduced error values differed notably among DBH : H allometric equations, and in most cases showed a clear bias that resulted in either over- or under-estimation of AGB. Fitting the three-parameter Weibull function minimized errors in AGB estimates in our study and we recommend its widespread adoption for carbon stock estimation. We conclude that many previous studies are likely to present biased estimates of AGB due to the method of H estimation.
KW - bias
KW - biomass
KW - error
KW - inaccurarcy
KW - modelling
KW - tropical forest
U2 - 10.1002/eap.1450
DO - 10.1002/eap.1450
M3 - Article
C2 - 27907254
VL - 26
SP - 2374
EP - 2380
JO - Ecological Applications
JF - Ecological Applications
SN - 1051-0761
IS - 8
ER -