Modeling conifer tree crown radius and estimating canopy cover

Models of tree crown radius were developed for several conifer species of California. Typical forest inventory variables (DBH, height, height-to-crown base, crown class, basal area per hectare, and trees per hectare) were considered as independent variables in model development. Models were fitted u...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest ecology and management 2000-02, Vol.126 (3), p.405-416
Main Authors: Gill, Samantha J, Biging, Gregory S, Murphy, Edward C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
basal area
Biological and medical sciences
calibration
Canopy or crown cover
Conifer
crown
Crown closure
Crown radius
Dendrometry. Forest inventory
diameter
estimation
Forestry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
ground cover
growth models
height
Least squares approximations
Mathematical models
Modeling
Pinopsida
plant characteristics
Plants (botany)
Regression analysis
species differences
stand density
Vegetation
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Summary:Models of tree crown radius were developed for several conifer species of California. Typical forest inventory variables (DBH, height, height-to-crown base, crown class, basal area per hectare, and trees per hectare) were considered as independent variables in model development. Models were fitted using both ordinary and weighted least squares methods. It was found that for the species studied, an ordinary least squares linear regression with DBH as the only independent variable was appropriate. For some species studied, the addition of other independent variables provided minor improvements over the model with only DBH. These models of crown radius could be summed to give an estimation of canopy cover. Using crown mapped data, it was possible to test and calibrate these models to predict non-overlapping canopy cover. Linear and non-linear models were considered for calibration. A non-linear model with an upper asymptote seemed to be the best calibration. These models enable an efficient and unbiased method of estimation of canopy cover as an alternative to photointerpretation estimation of cover.
ISSN:0378-1127
1872-7042
DOI:10.1016/S0378-1127(99)00113-9