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Forest Sciences

2009

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Articles 31 - 60 of 440

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Seed Orchard Designs By Computer, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Seed Orchard Designs By Computer, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

A computer program creates permuted neighbourhood designs for second generation seed orchards which may include a high proportion of related clones. It maximizes panmixis, and ensures isolation of all related clones. It is fast, efficient and easy to use. Copies of the program are available from the author.


Enhancing A Permanent Sample Plot System In Natural Forests, Trevor Beetson, Marks Nester, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Enhancing A Permanent Sample Plot System In Natural Forests, Trevor Beetson, Marks Nester, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Permanent sample plots (PSPs) provide the basis for growth models and thus determine the quality of inferences made from decision support systems for forest management. Existing plots may have been adequate in the past, but changing needs and possibilities may have made data suboptimal for present demands. Funds for the establishment of additional plots are generally limited, so supplementary sampling should be based on an optimal sampling strategy employing prior information. This case study in south-east Queensland used topoclimatic strata and existing inventory data to identify where additional PSPs should be established, so as to increase the geographical and silvicultural …


Aggregating Tree Species To Develop Diameter Increment Equations For Tropical Rainforests, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Aggregating Tree Species To Develop Diameter Increment Equations For Tropical Rainforests, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Pairwise F-tests provided an efficient approach for aggregating large numbers of species into a manageable number of groups for developing diameter increment functions. The first stage of the two-stage procedure identified the number of groups required and the species defining these groups; the second stage aggregated all the remaining species into the most appropriate group. Although there is no guarantee that this leads to an optimal solution, empirical results suggest that the outcome is near optimal. This approach is readily automated and computationally efficient. An analysis of diameter increments of 237 species from the rainforests of north Queensland indicated 41 …


Stand Biomass Dynamics Of Pine Plantations And Natural Forests On Dry Steppe In Kazakhstan, V A. Usoltsev, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Stand Biomass Dynamics Of Pine Plantations And Natural Forests On Dry Steppe In Kazakhstan, V A. Usoltsev, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Biomass dynamics were studied in isolated relict stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on the dry steppe of Kazakhstan (53-54° N), where potential evaporation is 500-600 mm yr-1 and the rainfall is 250-260 mm yr-1. Samples were taken from seven plots in natural stands on sandy forest soils (aged 13-110 yrs) and ten plots in plantations on dark-chestnut-coloured soils (aged 5-50 yrs). Nine or ten sample trees were taken from each plot, giving a total of 68 and 96 sample trees in natural and plantation stands respectively. Root systems were excavated and fractionated in 11 plots. Analyses indicated that …


Growth Models For Tropical Forests: A Synthesis Of Models And Methods, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Growth Models For Tropical Forests: A Synthesis Of Models And Methods, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Tropical forests may have many species, indeterminate ages, and a wide range of growth habits and stem sizes and thus require special modeling techniques. But technique contributes only part of model quality, and much depends on the calibration data and access to the model. Whole stand models have limited utility in these forests, as it is hard to describe the forest adequately with few stand-level variables. Stand table projection and matrix models may be useful where summarized data are available and computer resources are limited, but the many classes required detract from the method. Tree list models offer greater flexibility, …


Assessing Site Productivity In Tropical Moist Forests: A Review, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Assessing Site Productivity In Tropical Moist Forests: A Review, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Reliable estimates of site productivity are essential for improved predictions of timber yields and for meaningful simulation studies. Few suitable techniques exist for tropical moist forests. Conventional indices such as site index cannot be estimated reliably for stands with many species or indeterminate ages. Emerging techniques require two steps: calibration and validation with permanent sample plots, and correlation with easily measured stand parameters. One promising index for the tropical moist forest is based on the expected diameter increment of individual trees adjusted for tree size and competition. Measures of stand height such as maximum stand height, canopy height and the …


Sustainable Timber Harvesting: Simulation Studies In The Tropical Rainforests Of North Queensland, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Sustainable Timber Harvesting: Simulation Studies In The Tropical Rainforests Of North Queensland, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Although logging ceased in the tropical rainforests of north Queensland following their World Heritage Listing in 1988, they provide a good basis for simulation studies on sustainability of timber harvesting as reliable logging records, inventory and growth data are available. A growth model for these forests has been developed and published. The growth model is dynamic, responding to changes in stand density, composition and management history. A harvesting simulator predicts the trees removed by selection logging, and predicts changes on the residual stand. Simulation studies employ cutting cycle analysis and yield scheduling to demonstrate the sustainability of harvesting. These studies …


Modelling Forest Growth And Yield : Applications To Mixed Tropical Forests, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Modelling Forest Growth And Yield : Applications To Mixed Tropical Forests, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Contents: 1. Introduction -- 2. Whole Stand Models -- 3. Size Class Models -- 4. Single-tree and Tree List Models -- 5. Data Requirements -- 6. Constructing Growth Models -- 7. Forest Site Evaluation -- 8. Diameter Increment -- 9. Mortality and Merchantability -- 10. Regeneration and Recruitment -- 11. Model Evaluation and Re-calibration -- 12. Implementation and Use -- 13. Future Directions.


Assessing The Quality Of Permanent Sample Plot Databases For Growth Modelling In Forest Plantations, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard, C Pilegaard Hansen Nov 2009

Assessing The Quality Of Permanent Sample Plot Databases For Growth Modelling In Forest Plantations, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard, C Pilegaard Hansen

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Informed plantation management requires a good database, since the quality of information depends on the quality of data, growth models and other planning tools. There are several important questions concerning permanent plots: how many plots, where to put them, and how to manage them. Plot measurement procedures are also important. This paper illustrates graphical procedures to evaluate existing databases, to identify areas of weakness, and to plan remedial sampling. Two graphs, one of site index versus age, another with stocking versus tree size, may provide a good summary of the site and stand conditions represented in the database. However, it …


Growth And Yield Of A Tropical Rain Forest In The Brazilian Amazon 13 Years After Logging, J Nm Silva, J Op De Carvalho, J Do Ca Lopes, B F. De Almeida, D Hm Costa, L C. De Oliveira, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard Nov 2009

Growth And Yield Of A Tropical Rain Forest In The Brazilian Amazon 13 Years After Logging, J Nm Silva, J Op De Carvalho, J Do Ca Lopes, B F. De Almeida, D Hm Costa, L C. De Oliveira, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Successive inventories of a silvicultural experiment in terra firme rain forest within the Tapajós National Forest in the Brazilian Amazon are examined to provide guidelines for operational forest management on a sustainable basis. The experiment was logged in 1979 without additional silvicultural treatment, but included protection from further logging and encroachment (‘log and leave’). Thirty-six permanent plots established in 1981 were remeasured in 1987 and 1992. Logging changed the canopy structure and altered the composition of the stand, reducing the number of shade tolerant species and stimulating light demanding species. There was a net increase in stem number and stand …


Evaluating Forest Growth Models, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard Nov 2009

Evaluating Forest Growth Models, Jerome K. Vanclay, J P. Skovsgaard

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Effective model evaluation is not a single, simple procedure, but comprises several interrelated steps that cannot be separated from each other or from the purpose and process of model construction. We draw attention to several statistical and graphical procedures that may assist in model calibration and evaluation, with special emphasis on those useful in forest growth modelling. We propose a five-step framework to examine logic and bio-logic, statistical properties, characteristics of errors, residuals, and sensitivity analyses. Empirical evaluations may be made with data used in fitting the model, and with additional data not previously used. We emphasize that the validity …


Mobilizing Expert Knowledge Of Tree Growth With The Plantgro And Infer Systems, C Hackett, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Mobilizing Expert Knowledge Of Tree Growth With The Plantgro And Infer Systems, C Hackett, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

PLANTGRO can provide estimates of plant and tree growth under a wide range of conditions by evaluating responses to some environmental variables ranging from day length to soil pH and determining the limiting factor. Although intended only to indicate the suitability of a given sitespecies combination, empirical trials suggest that the suitability index provides a reasonable indication of growth potential, offering correlations with height growth as high as 80%. PLANTGRO can be calibrated for new situations by providing appropriate soil, climate and species files. These can be compiled from plot-based data, casual observations, or expert knowledge. INFER is an expert …


Flores: For Exploring Land Use Options In Forested Landscapes, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Flores: For Exploring Land Use Options In Forested Landscapes, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Incentives intended to stimulate better land use practices often don't work as intended, and can have undesirable side effects that were not foreseen. How can we better equip policy makers and their advisors to envisage fully the efficacy and consequences of initiatives? One way is to provide a decision support system. The formulation and construction of such a system offers other benefits: it would make existing information more accessible, facilitate hypotheses testing, and foster collaboration between researchers working on these issues. FLORES is such a system being developed through a partnership co-ordinated by the Center for International Forestry Research.


Accuracy And Precision Of Two Laser Dendrometers, J P. Skovsgaard, V K. Johannsen, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Accuracy And Precision Of Two Laser Dendrometers, J P. Skovsgaard, V K. Johannsen, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Two commercial laser dendrometers were tested under controlled and field conditions, and contrasted with alternative instruments. Testing focused on height measurement, but also considered distance and remote diameter measurements. Both laser instruments gave very precise estimates, but showed some bias. Users of these and other ‘high-tech’ instruments are reminded that precision is not synonymous with accuracy. Users should not become complacent about the submillimetre readout, but should calibrate instruments to examine if users' accuracy requirements are satisfied. Instruments may need to be re-calibrated each measurement season and after any mishandling.


Estimating Sapling Vitality For Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) In Russian Karelia, D G. Oreshkin, J P. Skovsgaard, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Estimating Sapling Vitality For Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) In Russian Karelia, D G. Oreshkin, J P. Skovsgaard, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

A new method is proposed for estimating vitality or growth potential for saplings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), based on height, diameter and height increment. A two-stage process was used to establish the vitality index. The logarithms of height, diameter and height increment were regressed against age, to adjust for the wide range of ages present in our data (c. 10,000 saplings with ages spanning 4–50 years). Then principal component analysis was used to obtain coefficients, which were, in turn, standardized on each axis to provide a vitality index scaled in standard deviations. This standardized scale allows the rank …


Smokejumper Obituary: Thoman, Lewis T. (Missoula 1950), National Smokejumper Association Nov 2009

Smokejumper Obituary: Thoman, Lewis T. (Missoula 1950), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.


Smokejumper Obituary: Roberts, D. Ellis (Missoula 1943), National Smokejumper Association Nov 2009

Smokejumper Obituary: Roberts, D. Ellis (Missoula 1943), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.


Smokejumper Obituary: Cooley, Earl E. (Missoula 1940), National Smokejumper Association Nov 2009

Smokejumper Obituary: Cooley, Earl E. (Missoula 1940), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.


Smokejumper Obituary: Selby, William E. (North Cascades 1961), National Smokejumper Association Nov 2009

Smokejumper Obituary: Selby, William E. (North Cascades 1961), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.


Estructura Y Composición Florística Del Bosque De La Llanura Aluvial En La Amazonía Peruana: I. El Bosque Alto, Gustav Nebel, Lars Peter Kvist, Jerome K. Vanclay, Henning Christensen, Luis Freitas, Juan Ruiz Nov 2009

Estructura Y Composición Florística Del Bosque De La Llanura Aluvial En La Amazonía Peruana: I. El Bosque Alto, Gustav Nebel, Lars Peter Kvist, Jerome K. Vanclay, Henning Christensen, Luis Freitas, Juan Ruiz

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Three peruvian flood plain forests adjacent to the Ucayali river were sampled using nine one hectare permanent sample plots in which stems exceeding 10 cm DBH were identified and measured. These plots have been measured 4 times during 1993- 1997, and provide the basis for the results reported here. Three plots were established in each of the three forest types high restinga, low restinga, and tahuampa, characterized in part by and annual inundation of 1, 2 and 4 months per year, respectively. Stem density varies from 446 to 601 per ha, and the basal area ranges between 20-29 m2/ha. A …


The Amazon Flood Plain Forest Tree Maquira Coriacea (Karsten) C.C. Berg: Aspects Of Ecology And Management, Gustav Nebel, Jens Dragsted, Thomas R. Simonsen, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

The Amazon Flood Plain Forest Tree Maquira Coriacea (Karsten) C.C. Berg: Aspects Of Ecology And Management, Gustav Nebel, Jens Dragsted, Thomas R. Simonsen, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Maquira coriacea is a commercial tree species growing throughout the Amazon flood plain forests. Densities up to 14/ha of individuals, ≥10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were observed, corresponding to a basal area of 2 m2/ha and a volume of 38 m3/ha. The primary period of fruiting coincided with the annual flooding, but fruits were also produced in other parts of the year. Seedlings with densities up to 150/m2 were concentrated around mother trees, and the stocks fluctuated much over the year due to mortality caused by flooding and wilting in dry periods. Growth data mainly from nine 1 …


Estructura Y Composición Florística Del Bosque De La Llanura Aluvial Inundable De La Amazonía Peruana: Ii. El Sotobosque De La Restinga, Gustav Nebel, Jens Dragsted, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Estructura Y Composición Florística Del Bosque De La Llanura Aluvial Inundable De La Amazonía Peruana: Ii. El Sotobosque De La Restinga, Gustav Nebel, Jens Dragsted, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Structure and floristic composition of small trees and shrubs (1.5 m height to 10 cm DBH) are described in two flood plain forests of the lower Ucayali river, Peruvian Amazon. The forests are of high and low restinga type, on an annual average flooded around 1 and 2 months, respectively. The soils are nutrients rich entisolls, and the vegetation forms closed high canopy forests with presence of emergents. A total of 25 permanent sample plots covering 0.64 ha were established. They are nested within six quadratic one-hectare permanent sample plots where large individuals (>= 10 cm DBH) were inventoried. …


Structure And Floristic Composition Of Flood Plain Forests In The Peruvian Amazon: I. Overstorey, Gustav Nebel, Lars Peter Kvist, Jerome K. Vanclay, Henning Christensen, Luis Freitas, Juan Ruiz Nov 2009

Structure And Floristic Composition Of Flood Plain Forests In The Peruvian Amazon: I. Overstorey, Gustav Nebel, Lars Peter Kvist, Jerome K. Vanclay, Henning Christensen, Luis Freitas, Juan Ruiz

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Three Peruvian flood plain forests adjacent to the Ucayali river were sampled using nine 1 ha permanent sample plots in which stems exceeding 10 cm DBH were identified and measured. These plots were measured four times during 1993–1997. Three plots were established in each of the three forest types high restinga, low restinga, and tahuampa, characterised in part by an annual inundation of one, two and four months per year, respectively. Stem density varied from 446 to 601 per hectare, and the basal area ranged between 20 and 29 m2/ha. A total of 321 species were recorded in the nine …


Regional Assessment Of Aspen Change And Spatial Variability On Decadal Time Scales, Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey Nov 2009

Regional Assessment Of Aspen Change And Spatial Variability On Decadal Time Scales, Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is commonly believed to be declining throughout western North America. Using a historical vegetation map and Landsat TM5 imagery, this study detects changes in regional aspen cover over two different time periods of 85 and 18 years and examines aspen change patterns with biophysical variables in the Targhee National Forest of eastern Idaho, USA. A subpixel classification approach was successfully used to classify aspen. The results indicate greater spatial variability in regional aspen change patterns than indicated by local-scale studies. The observed spatial variability appears to be an inherent pattern in regional aspen dynamics, …


Smokejumper Obituary: Wicks, Kenneth R. (Cave Junction 1956), National Smokejumper Association Nov 2009

Smokejumper Obituary: Wicks, Kenneth R. (Cave Junction 1956), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.


What Would A Global Forest Convention Mean For Tropical Forests And For Timber Consumers?, Jerome K. Vanclay, J Doland Nichols Nov 2009

What Would A Global Forest Convention Mean For Tropical Forests And For Timber Consumers?, Jerome K. Vanclay, J Doland Nichols

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

A global forest convention has been advocated for about 15 years, but progress is slow and positions of advocates and opponents appear entrenched. We review several case studies and offer new empirical evidence relating to causes of and remedies for deforestation. We find no evidence to suggest that a forest convention will be effective in halting deforestation. Our data indicate that development assistance may be the most effective approach to save forests in developing countries. It appears that “money speaks louder than words.” We conclude that a global forest convention will be ineffective unless accompanied by substantial and well-directed development …


Improving Dimensional Stability In Plantation-Grown E. Pilularis And E. Dunnii, Carolyn A. Raymond, Michael Henson, Marie-Chantale Pelletier, Steve Boyton, Bill Joe, Dane Thomas, Helen Smith, Jerome K. Vanclay Nov 2009

Improving Dimensional Stability In Plantation-Grown E. Pilularis And E. Dunnii, Carolyn A. Raymond, Michael Henson, Marie-Chantale Pelletier, Steve Boyton, Bill Joe, Dane Thomas, Helen Smith, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

No abstract provided.


Mixed-Species Plantation Of Eucalyptus With Nitrogen Fixing Trees: A Review, David I. Forrester, Jürgen Bauhus, Annette L. Cowie, Jerome K. Vanclay Oct 2009

Mixed-Species Plantation Of Eucalyptus With Nitrogen Fixing Trees: A Review, David I. Forrester, Jürgen Bauhus, Annette L. Cowie, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Mixed-species plantations of Eucalyptus with a nitrogen (N2) fixing species have the potential to increase productivity while maintaining soil fertility, compared to Eucalyptus monocultures. However, it is difficult to predict combinations of species and sites that will lead to these benefits. We review the processes and interactions occurring in mixed plantations, and the influence of species or site attributes, to aid the selection of successful combinations of species and sites. Successful mixtures, where productivity is increased over that of monocultures, have often developed stratified canopies, such that the less shade-tolerant species overtops the more shade-tolerant species. Successful mixtures also have …


Illumination-Size Relationships Of 109 Coexisting Tropical Forest Tree Species, Douglas Sheil, Agus Salim, Jérôme Chave, Jerome K. Vanclay, William D. Hawthorne Oct 2009

Illumination-Size Relationships Of 109 Coexisting Tropical Forest Tree Species, Douglas Sheil, Agus Salim, Jérôme Chave, Jerome K. Vanclay, William D. Hawthorne

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Summary 1 Competition for light is a central issue in ecological questions concerning forest tree differentiation and diversity. Here, using 213 106 individual stem records derived from a national survey in Ghana, West Africa, we examine the relationship between relative crown exposure, ontogeny and phylogeny for 109 canopy species. 2 We use a generalized linear model (GLM) framework to allow interspecific comparisons of crown exposure that control for stem-size. For each species, a multinomial response model is used to describe the probabilities of the relative canopy illumination classes as a function of stem diameter. 3 In general, and for all …


Social And Ecological Issues For Private Native Forestry In North-Eastern New South Wales, Australia, V Alex Jay, J Doland Nichols, Jerome K. Vanclay Oct 2009

Social And Ecological Issues For Private Native Forestry In North-Eastern New South Wales, Australia, V Alex Jay, J Doland Nichols, Jerome K. Vanclay

Professor Jerome K Vanclay

Forests in north-eastern New South Wales have often been the focus of controversy. The tension between production and preservation continues and hampers current negotiations for a code of practice for private native forestry. The structure of many private forests reflects past mismanagement and silvicultural intervention would benefit both conservation and production objectives, but such intervention is rarely financially viable. This paper sets out the economic and ecological basis for private native forestry. Both the timber industry and nature-based tourism are major contributors to the local economy, and both rely in part on private native forests. Draft regulations currently under negotiation …