Abstract
The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) unit of the U.S. Forest Service has collected, compiled, and made available plot data from three measurement periods (identified as 1977, 1990, and 2003, respectively) within Minnesota. Yet little if any research has compared the relative utility of these datasets for developing empirical yield models. This paper compares these and other subdatasets in the context of fitting a basal area (B) yield model to plot data from the aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest type. In addition, several models and fitting methods are compared for their applicability and stability over time. Results suggest that the three parent datasets, along with their subdatasets, provide very similar three parameter B yield model prediction capability, but as model complexity increases, variability in coefficient estimates increases between datasets. The absence of data for older aspen stands and the inherent noise within B data prevented the exact determination of an overall best model. However, the model B=b1Sb2(1-exp(-b3A)) with site index (S) and stand age (A) as predictors was found consistently among the highest in precision and stability. Additionally, nonlinear least squares and nonlinear mixed-effects fitting procedures produced similar model fits, but the latter is preferred for its potential to improve model projections. The results indicate little practical difference between datasets from different time periods and different sizes when used for fitting the models. Additionally, these results will likely extend to other states or regions with similar remeasurement data on aspen and other forest types, thus facilitating the development of other ecological models focused on forest management.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 188-194 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Forest Ecology and Management |
Volume | 262 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 15 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Role of the funding source : Funding for this research was provided by the Forest Resources Interagency Information Cooperative (IIC), funded by the State of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources (see http://iic.gis.umn.edu ). IIC had no direct involvement in any aspect of the research, including study design, data collection and analysis, reporting, and publishing. In addition, the variety of stakeholders within the IIC eliminated any potential conflict(s) of interest.
Keywords
- Basal area
- Dataset comparison
- Fitting method
- Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)
- Populus tremuloides Michx
- Yield model