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Tree diameter, height and stocking in even-aged forests

Diamètre de l’arbre, hauteur et densité dans les forêts équiennes

Annals of Forest Science volume 66, page 702 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • Empirical observations suggest that in pure even-aged forests, the mean diameter of forest trees (D, diameter at breast height, 1.3 m above ground) tends to remain a constant proportion of stand height (H, average height of the largest trees in a stand) divided by the logarithm of stand density (N, number of trees per hectare): D = β(H − 1.3)/ ln(N).

  • • Thinning causes a relatively small and temporary change in the slope β, the magnitude and duration of which depends on the nature of the thinning.

  • • This relationship may provide a robust predictor of growth in situations where scarce data and resources preclude more sophisticated modelling approaches.

Résumé

  • • Des observations empiriques suggèrent que dans les forêts équiennes pures, le diamètre moyen des arbres forestiers (D, diamètre à hauteur de poitrine, 1,3 m au-dessus du sol) a tendance à rester une proportion constante de la hauteur du peuplement (H, hauteur moyenne des plus grands arbres dans un peuplement), divisé par le logarithme de la densité (N, nombre d’arbres par hectare) : D = β(H − 1.3)/ ln(N).

  • • L’éclaircie causes un changement relativement faible et temporaire de la pente β, l’ampleur et la durée dépend de la nature de l’éclaircie.

  • • Cette relation peut fournir un solide prédicteur de la croissance dans les situations où peu de données et de ressources excluent des approches plus sophistiquées de modélisation.

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  1. School of Environmental Science and Management, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, 2480, Lismore, NSW, Australia

    Jerome K. Vanclay

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Vanclay, J.K. Tree diameter, height and stocking in even-aged forests. Ann. For. Sci. 66, 702 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009063

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X