Life Sciences Commons^™

Leaf Area, Stemwood Volume Growth, And Stand Structure In A Mixed-Species, Multi-Aged Northern Conifer Forest, Laura Kenefic

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tree- and stand-level leaf area (LA) - stemwood volume growth relationships were explored in mixed-species, multi-aged northern conifer stands dominated by Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock), Abies balsameu (L.) Mill. (balsam fir), and Piceu rubens Sarg. (red spruce). A T. cunudensis LA model was developed to supplement published equations for A. bulsumeu and P. rubens. Sapwood area was an effective T. cunudensis LA surrogate, though nonsapwood-based models using stem cross-sectional area and modified live crown ratio produced results comparable to sapwood-based models. Equations for predicting tree-level stemwood volume increment (AVINC) were derived, and implied growth efficiencies (GE) were …