Common allometric equations for estimating the tree weight of mangroves

Abstract

Inventory data on tree weights of 104 individual trees representing 10 mangrove species were collected from mangrove forests in South-East Asia to establish common allometric equations for the trunk, leaf, above-ground and root weight. We used the measurable tree dimensions, such as dbh (trunk diameter at breast height), DR0.3 (trunk diameter at 30 cm above the highest prop root of Rhizophora species), DB (trunk diameter at lowest living branch), and H (tree height) for the independent variable of equations. Among the mangrove species studied, the trunk shape was statistically identical regardless of site and species. However, ρ (wood density of tree trunk) differed significantly among the species. A common allometric equation for trunk weight was derived, when dbh2H or DR0.32H was selected as the independent variable and wood density was taken into account. The common allometric equations for the leaf and the above-ground weight were also derived according to Shinozaki's pipe model and its extended theory. The common allometric relationships for these weights were attained with given ρ of each species, when DB2 or dbh2 or DR0.32 was selected as the independent variable. For the root weight, the common equation was derived from the allometric relationship between root weight and above-ground weight, since these two partial weights significantly correlated with each other. Based on these physical and biological parameters, we have proposed four common allometric equations for estimating the mangrove tree weight of trunk, leaf, above-ground part and root.

Ecosystem-Wide Impacts of Deforestation in Mangroves: The Urabá Gulf (Colombian Caribbean) Case Study

“….information (if any) about carbon losses associated to clear-falling are [sic] difficult to obtain since this activity is illegal in most countries; actual records of total biomass extracted to use mangrove area for other purposes (e.g., roads, urban development) is also rare making it difficult to determine this component in global estimates of carbon sequestration." In order to account for the impact of selective logging on biomass and carbon reservoirs in the vicinity of the Turbo municipality, we combined forest structure data [39] and published allometric equations [58,59]. Fringing mangroves at the Atrato River Delta stored the greatest amount of aboveground carbon (89.3 Mg C/ha) in comparison to the Eastern Coast mangroves ( Table 2).…”

Aboveground Biomass Production of <i>Rhizophora apiculata</i> Blume in Sarawak Mangrove Forest

“…Within sample plot (100×50 m), all tree heights and diameters were measured. The Diameter (D) of trees was measured using diameter tape at 30 cm above the highest prop-roots while tree Height (H) was measured using hypsometer (Komiyama et al, 2005). To estimate the aboveground tree biomass in this forest, seven tree samples were selected for sampling (2 small, 3 medium and 2 big size trees).…”

“…Therefore, attention has been paid to develop techniques to estimate tree biomass from easily measured tree characteristics known as 'allometry'. Allometry is a powerful tool for estimating biomass production from easily measured tree characteristic such as stem diameter and height that are quantifiable in the field (Komiyama et al, 2005). Common allometric equations have been reported for aboveground biomass (Brown et al, 1989;Brown, 1997;Ketterings et al, 2001) and also for mangroves biomass (Komiyama et al, 2002;Ong et al, 2004;Nguyen and Ninomiya, 2007) elsewhere.…”

Estimating Mangrove Biophysical Variables Using WorldView-2 Satellite Data: Rapid Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

“…The study confirmed the importance of the red-edge band of WV2 satellite image and associated vegetation indices for AGB estimation over other spectral regions. Komiyama et al [19], Komiyama et al [5], Fu and Wu [4] and Perera and Amarasinghe [20] derived only a relationship between mangrove canopy dynamics, AGB and vegetation indices. Therefore, testing the possibility of mapping AGB of mangroves over a large area from remotely-sensed data is still required.…”