Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: . Tropical tree height-diameter (H:D) relationships may vary by forest type and region making large-scale estimates of above-ground biomass subject to bias if they ignore these differences in stem allometry. We have therefore developed a new global tropical forest database consisting of 39 955 concurrent H and D measurements encompassing 283 sites in 22 tropical countries. Utilising this database, our objectives were: 1. to determine if H:D relationships differ by geographic region and forest type (wet to dry forests, including zones of tension where forest and savanna overlap). 2. to ascertain if the H:D relationship is modulated by climate and/or forest structural characteristics (e.g. stand-level basal area, A). 3. to develop H:D allometric equations and evaluate biases to reduce error in future local-to-global estimates of tropical forest biomass. Annual precipitation coefficient of variation (PV), dry season length (SD), and mean annual air temperature (TA) emerged as key drivers of variation in H:D relationships at the pantropical and region scales. Vegetation structure also played a role with trees in forests of a high A being, on average, taller at any given D. After the effects of environment and forest structure are taken into account, two main regional groups can be identified. Forests in Asia, Africa and the Guyana Shield all have, on average, similar H:D relationships, but with trees in the forests of much of the Amazon Basin and tropical Australia typically being shorter at any given D than their counterparts elsewhere. The region-environment-structure model with the lowest Akaike's information criterion and lowest deviation estimated stand-level H across all plots to within amedian −2.7 to 0.9% of the true value. Some of the plot-to-plot variability in H:D relationships not accounted for by this model could be attributed to variations in soil physical conditions. Other things being equal, trees tend to be more slender in the absence of soil physical constraints, especially at smaller D. Pantropical and continental-level models provided less robust estimates of H, especially when the roles of climate and stand structure in modulating H:D allometry were not simultaneously taken into account.
Source: Biogeosciences
Authors: T. R. Feldpausch, L. Banin, O. L. Phillips, T. R. Baker, S. L. Lewis, C. A. Quesada, K. Affum-Baffoe, E. J. M. M. Arets, N. J. Berry, M. Bird, E. S. Brondizio, P. de Camargo, J. Chave, G. Djagbletey, T. F. Domingues, M. Drescher, P. M. Fearnside, M. B. França, N. M. Fyllas, G. Lopez-Gonzalez, A. Hladik, N. Higuchi, M. O. Hunter, Y. Iida, K. A. Salim, A. R. Kassim, M. Keller, J. Kemp, D. A. King, J. C. Lovett, B. S. Marimon, B. H. Marimon-Junior, E. Lenza, A. R. Marshall, D. J. Metcalfe, E. T. A. Mitchard, E. F. Moran, B. W. Nelson, R. Nilus, E. M. Nogueira, M. Palace, S. Patiño, K. S.-H. Peh, M. T. Raventos, J. M. Reitsma, G. Saiz, F. Schrodt, B. Sonké, H. E. Taedoumg, S. Tan, L. White, H. Wöll, J. Lloyd
Institutions: University of Leeds, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, The Forestry Commission of Ghana, Wageningen University & Research, University of St Andrews, James Cook University, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Universidade de São Paulo, University of Edinburgh, University of Waterloo, Éco-Anthropologie, University of New Hampshire, Hokkaido University, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, US Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Oregon State University, University of Twente, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, University of York, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Ecosystem Sciences, Sabah Forestry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, University of Cambridge, Ecometrica (United Kingdom), National Agency for National Parks, Bureau Waardenburg (Netherlands), Université de Yaoundé I
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,628
Funders: Smithsonian Institution, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Harvard University, Leverhulme Trust, Sight Research UK, Royal Geographical Society, European Commission, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, James Cook University, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Arnold Arboretum, Natural Environment Research Council
OpenAlex ID: W2170375547