Biomass component equations for Latin American species and groups of species

Abstract

Abstract• Studies dealing with the estimation of biomass, site productivity and the contribution of forests to the global carbon balance require the use of allometric equations. There have been a great number of equations developed to estimate biomass components of trees and shrubs in various ecosystems. However, there are less literature compilations that address the calculations of biomass components.• I report a total of 229 sets of allometric equations to estimate biomass components for 102 species in 72 different forest communities of arid, semi-arid, subtropical, tropical and temperate Latin-American ecosystems.• The selection of the appropriate allometric model is a key element in the accurate estimation of biomass, stand productivity, carbon stocks and fluxes, and as a consequence, it is important to apply special effort to the selection and estimation of biomass equations.• I also discuss statistical methods of parameter estimation and recommend the dissection of two conventional allometric equations when biomass studies are conducted on a wide range of diameters. In order to use nondestructive procedures of biomass estimation such as the fractal theory, the null hypothesis that the mean slope b value is equal to 2.67 was rejected for Latin American biomass species.• This information is critical for the establishment of environmental projects that aim to estimate conventional parameters (i.e., productivity, habitat quality and fuel wood) as well as environmental features (i.e., stocks and fluxes of carbon and nitrogen). • Les études portant sur l'estimation de la biomasse, la productivité des stations et la contribution des forêts à l'équilibre mondial du carbone nécessitent l'emploi d'équations allométriques. Il y a eu un grand nombre d'équations qui ont été développées pour estimer la biomasse des composantes des arbres et des arbustes dans différents écosystèmes. Cependant, il existe beaucoup moins de compilations de la littérature scientifique qui portent sur les calculs des composantes de la biomasse. Mots-clés• Je rapporte un total de 229 séries d'équations allométriques pour estimer les composantes de la biomasse de 102 espèces différentes dans 72 communautés forestières des zones arides, semi-arides, sub-tropicales, tempérées des écosystèmes latino-américains.• La sélection du modèle allométrique est un élément clé pour l'estimation précise de la biomasse, de la productivité des stations, des stocks de carbone et des flux et, en conséquence, il est important de bien sélectionner les équations permettant l'estimation de la biomasse.• J'ai également discuté les méthodes statistiques d'estimation des paramètres et recommandé la dissection des deux équations allométriques classiques lorsque les études sur la biomasse sont conduites sur une large gamme de diamètres. Afin d'utiliser les procédures non destructives d'estimation de la biomasse telles que la théorie des fractales, l'hypothèse nulle que la pente moyenne b a une valeur égale à 2,67 a été rejetée pour la biomasse des espèces de l'Amérique l...

Quantifying Forest Biomass Carbon Stocks From Space

“…As the field samples used to create allometric models are delimited to the study area, their applicability is usually restricted to specific species and sites [27][28][29][30]. Allometry varies with climatic conditions, vegetation structure, tree species and growth-form of trees [31][32][33], and therefore different forest biomes and even regions within biomes will show variations in allometry.…”

GlobAllomeTree: international platform for tree allometric equations to support volume, biomass and carbon assessment

“…Although the number of available allometric equations has increased significantly in recent years, estimates of biomass have not necessarily improved. Biomass equations had been compiled for tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal trees or forests (Brown et al 1989, de Jong et al 2009, Henry et al 2011b, Jenkins et al 2003, Návar 2009, Schroeder et al 1997, Ter-Mikaelian & Korzukhin 1997. However, biomass equations for some ecosystems such as shrubland (Nàvar et al 2002) or continents such as Africa (Chave et al 2005) remain understudied.…”

“…Most of them are found in the scientific literature to which access is restricted. Currently, national and continental databases for allometric equations are few (Henry et al 2011a, Návar 2009, Zianis et al 2005) and should be continually updated. In addition, the existing databases are not harmonized GlobAllomeTree is an international platform for tree allometric equations.…”

The potential of plantations of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels for wood and biomass production (Mayombe Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo)

“…Measurements of both volume and AGB are difficult and time consuming (especially in tropical conditions), so often they are estimated from tree characteristics such as diameter or height, using allometric equations. The selection of the appropriate allometric model is a key element in the accurate estimation of volume and biomass (Navar, 2009). The requirements for these allometric equations are identical, so classical forest inventories provide all the necessary data (Brown, 1997).…”