Assessing age- and silt index-independent diameter growth models of individual-tree Southern Appalachian hardwoods

Henry McNab; Thomas F. Lloyd

Treesearch

Assessing age- and silt index-independent diameter growth models of individual-tree Southern Appalachian hardwoods

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Henry McNab, Thomas F. Lloyd

Year:

1999

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

Proceedings First International Conference on Measurements and Quantitative Methods and Management & The 1999 Southern Mensurationists Meeting. p 172-189

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Abstract

Models of forest vegetation dynamics based on characteristics of individual trees are more suitable to predicting growth of multiple species and age classes than those based on stands. The objective of this study was to assess age- and site index-independent relationships between periodic diameter increment and tree and site effects for 11 major hardwood tree species. Model formulations of western conifers were evaluated by multiple regression for significance of three types of variables affecting diameter growth: tree size, competition, and site effects. Many variables were highly correlated with diameter growth but were also intercorrelated. Importance of size or competition variables differed by species and parsimonious models of highly significant (p

Keywords

accuracy, bias, competition, deciduous trees, diameter growth models, height-diameter relationships, validation

Citation

Mcnab, Henry W.; Lloyd, Thomas F. 1999. Assessing age- and silt index-independent diameter growth models of individual-tree Southern Appalachian hardwoods. Proceedings First International Conference on Measurements and Quantitative Methods and Management & The 1999 Southern Mensurationists Meeting. p 172-189