Allometric relationships for estimating the aboveground phytomass and leaf area of mangrove Kandelia candel (L.) Druce trees in the Manko Wetland, Okinawa Island, Japan

• Published in: Trees (Berlin, West) West), 2005-05, Vol.19 (3), p.266-272
• Main Authors: Khan, M.N.I, Suwa, R, Hagihara, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allometry; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; biomass; equations; estimation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; leaf area index; Leaves; mangrove forests; Okinawa, Japan; Plants and fungi; tree and stand measurements; trees; tropics; wetlands
• ISSN: 0931-1890; 1432-2285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-004-0377-0

Allometric relationships for estimating the phytomass of aboveground organs (stem, branches, leaves and their sum) and the leaf area in the mangrove Kandelia candel (L.) Druce were investigated. The variable D^sub 0.1^^sup 2^H (D^sub 0.1^ stem diameter at a height of H/10, H tree height) showed better accuracy of estimation than D^sup 2^ (D, DBH) or D^sup 2^H. A moderate relationship was found when the branch weight, leaf weight and leaf area were plotted against D^sub B^^sup 2^ (D^sub B^ stem diameter at a height of clear bole length). A strong linear relationship was found between leaf area and leaf weight (R^sup 2^=0.979). The aboveground weight (w^sub T^) showed a strong relationship when plotted against D^sub 0.1^^sup 2^H (R^sup 2^=0.958), but very weak relationships were obtained against D^sup 2^ (R^sup 2^=0.300) and D^sup 2^H (R^sup 2^=0.316). The w^sub T^ also showed a proportional relationship (R^sup 2^=0.978) to D^sub 0.1^^sup 2^H with a proportional constant of 0.04117 kg cm^sup -2^ m^sup -1^ (R^sup 2^=0.978). Taking into account the allometric relationships of the weight of aboveground organs or leaf area per tree to different dimensions, such as D^sup 2^, D^sup 2^H, D^sub B^^sup 2^ and D^sub 0.1^^sup 2^H, a standard procedure for estimating the biomass and leaf area index in the K. candel stand, including the shorter trees, is proposed.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]