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Intra-specific differences in allometric equations for aboveground biomass of eastern Mediterranean Pinus brutia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
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Abstract

• Context

Biomass prediction is important when dealing for instance with carbon sequestration, wildfire modeling, or bioenergy supply. Although allometric models based on destructive sampling provide accurate estimates, alternative species-specific equations often yield considerably different biomass predictions. An important source of intra-specific variability remains unexplained.

• Aims

The aims of the study were to inspect and assess intra-specific differences in aboveground biomass of Pinus brutia Ten. and to fill the gap in knowledge on biomass prediction for this species.

• Methods

Two hundred one trees between 2.3 and 55.8 cm in diameter at breast height were sampled throughout the eastern- and southernmost natural distribution area of P. brutia, in Middle East, where it forms different stand structures. Allometric equations were fitted separately for two countries. The differences in biomass prediction at tree, stand, and forest level were analyzed. The effect of stand structure and past forest management was discussed.

• Results

Between-country differences in total aboveground biomass were not large. However, differences in biomass stock were large when tree components were analyzed separately. Trees had higher stem biomass and lower crown biomass in dense even-aged stands than in more uneven-aged and sparse stands.

• Conclusion

Biomass and carbon predictions could be improved by taking into account stand structure in biomass models.

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Acknowledgments

Data collection was supported by Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and Fundación Biodiversidad. The authors wish to thank the Ministries of Agriculture of the Governments of Lebanon and Syria as well as the Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) for their precious collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Sergio de-Miguel & Timo Pukkala

  2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), B.P. 270 Alger RP, 16000, Alger Gare, Algiers, Algeria

    Nabil Assaf

  3. Department of Forestry and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tishreen, Latakia, Syria

    Zuheir Shater

Authors
  1. Sergio de-Miguel
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  2. Timo Pukkala
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  3. Nabil Assaf
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  4. Zuheir Shater
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sergio de-Miguel.

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Handling Editor: Shuqing Zhao

Contribution of the co-authors

Sergio de Miguel: sampling design, data analysis, writing, research project coordination.

Timo Pukkala: sampling design, data analysis, writing, scientific supervision.

Nabil Assaf: sampling design, data collection, field work supervision.

Zuheir Shater: sampling design, data collection, field work supervision.

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de-Miguel, S., Pukkala, T., Assaf, N. et al. Intra-specific differences in allometric equations for aboveground biomass of eastern Mediterranean Pinus brutia . Annals of Forest Science 71, 101–112 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0334-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0334-4

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