Strategies for assessing inter- and intra-specific variation in tree biomass in the interior west

Abstract

Wildfire hazard mitigation and bioenergy harvesting have emerged as forest management priorities throughout the Interior West (IW) of the USA. Regional forest inventory and forecasting applications are therefore increasingly focused on tree biomass, including biomass in traditionally non-merchantable components. Yet accurate biomass equations for the latter components are typically lacking, even for major commercial species. This is because previous assessment efforts have focused on distinct components, have used inconsistent methodologies, or have relied on data with limited spatial or biophysical extents. Here we review and contrast the current state of knowledge of a widely distributed and commercially important species, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and a locally important species of the southwest, two-needle pinyon (Pinus edulis). Owing to high levels of inter- and intra-specific variation in biomass allometry and to the high costs of collecting biomass data, an important element of new data collection efforts will be the development of standardized and accurate subsampling procedures. We describe these subsampling strategies and discuss potential adaptations for two-needle pinyon in the southwest.

Parent Publication

• Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012

Citation

Affleck, David L.R.; Goodburn, John M.; Shaw, John D. 2012. Strategies for assessing inter- and intra-specific variation in tree biomass in the interior west. In: Morin, Randall S.; Liknes, Greg C., comps. Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 361-364.