We contrast a new continuous approach(CA)for estimating plot-level above-ground biomass(AGB)in forest inventories with the current approach of estimating AGB exclusively from the tree-level AGB predicted for each tree...We contrast a new continuous approach(CA)for estimating plot-level above-ground biomass(AGB)in forest inventories with the current approach of estimating AGB exclusively from the tree-level AGB predicted for each tree in a plot,henceforth called DA(discrete approach).With the CA,the AGB in a forest is modelled as a continuous surface and the AGB estimate for a fixed-area plot is computed as the integral of the AGB surface taken over the plot area.Hence with the CA,the portion of the biomass of in-plot trees that extends across the plot perimeter is ignored while the biomass from trees outside of the plot reaching inside the plot is added.We use a sampling simulation with data from a fully mapped two hectare area to illustrate that important differences in plot-level AGB estimates can emerge.Ideally CA-based estimates of mean AGB should be less variable than those derived from the DA.If realized,this difference translates to a higher precision from field sampling,or a lower required sample size.In our case study with a target precision of 5%(i.e.relative standard error of the estimated mean AGB),the CA required a 27.1%lower sample size for small plots of 100 m2 and a 10.4%lower sample size for larger plots of 1700 m2.We examined sampling induced errors only and did not yet consider model errors.We discuss practical issues in implementing the CA in field inventories and the potential in applications that model biomass with remote sensing data.The CA is a variation on a plot design for above-ground forest biomass;as such it can be applied in combination with any forest inventory sampling design.展开更多
Background: Coupling biomass models with nutrient concentrations can provide sound estimations of carbon and nutrient contents, enabling the improvement of carbon and nutrient balance in forest ecosystems. Although nu...Background: Coupling biomass models with nutrient concentrations can provide sound estimations of carbon and nutrient contents, enabling the improvement of carbon and nutrient balance in forest ecosystems. Although nutrient concentrations are often assumed to be constant for some species and specific tree components, at least in mature stands,the concentrations usually vary with age, site index and even with tree density. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the sources of variation in nutrient concentrations in biomass compartments usually removed during harvesting operations, covering a range of species and management conditions: semi-natural forest, conventional forest plantations and short rotation forestry(SRF). Five species(Betula pubescens, Quercus robur, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens and Populus spp.) and 14 genotypes were considered. A total of 430 trees were sampled in 61 plots to obtain 6 biomass components:leaves, twigs, thin branches, thick branches, bark and wood. Aboveground leafless biomass was pooled together forpoplar.The concentrations of C, N, K, P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B were measured and the total biomass of each sampled tree and plot were determined. The data were analysed using boosted regression trees and conventional techniques.Results: The main sources of variation in nutrient concentrations were biomass component > > genotype(species) ≈ age >tree diameter. The concentrations of Ca, Mg and K were most strongly affected by genotype and age. The concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Cu in the wood component decreased with age, whereas C concentrations increased, with a trend to reach 50% in the older trees. In the SRF, interamerican poplar and P. trichocarpa genotypes were comparatively more efficient in terms of Ca and K nutrient assimilation index(NAI)(+65-85%) than eucalypts, mainly because leafless biomass can be removed. In the conventional eucalypt plantations(rotation 15 years), debarking the wood at logging(savings of225% of Ca and 254% of Mg for E. globulus) or the use of selected genotypes(savings of 45% of P and 35% of Ca) will provide wood at a relatively lower nutrient cost. Considering all the E. globulus genotypes together, the management for pulp with removal of debarked wood shows NAI values well above(x 1.7-x 3.9) the ones found for poplar or eucalypt SRF and also higher(x 1.6-x4.0) than the ones found for oak and birch managed in medium or long rotations.The annual rates of nutrient removal were low in the native broadleaved species but the rates of available soil nutrients removed were high as compared to poplar or eucalypts. Management of native broadleaved species should consider nutrient stability through selection of the biomass compartments removed.(Continued on next page)(Continued from previous page)Conclusions: The nutrient assimilation index is higher in poplar grown under short rotation forestry management than in the other systems considered. Nutrient management of fast growing eucalyptus plantations could be improved by selecting efficient genotypes and limiting removal of wood. The values of the nutrient assimilation index are lower in the natural stands of native broadleaved species than in the other systems considered.展开更多
Up to now, ecology has a strong influence on the development of technical and instrumental aspects of architecture, such as renewable and efficient of resources and energy, COz emissions, air quality, water reuse, som...Up to now, ecology has a strong influence on the development of technical and instrumental aspects of architecture, such as renewable and efficient of resources and energy, COz emissions, air quality, water reuse, some social and economical aspects. These concepts define the physical keys and codes of the current ＇sustainable＇ architecture, normally instrumental but rarely and insufficiently theorised. But is not there another way of bringing us to nature？ We need a theoretical referent. This is where we place the Van der Laan＇s thoughts： he considers that art completes nature and he builds his theoretical discourse on it, trying to better understand many aspects of architecture. From a conceptual point of view, we find in his works sense of timelessness, universality, special attention on the ＇locus＇ and a strict sense of proportions and use of materials according to nature. Could these concepts complement our current sustainable architecture？ How did Laan apply the current codes of ecology in his architecture？ His work may help us to get a theoretical interpretation of nature and not only physical. This paper develops this idea through the comparison of thoughts and works of Laan with the current technical approach to ＇sustainable＇ architecture.展开更多
文摘We contrast a new continuous approach(CA)for estimating plot-level above-ground biomass(AGB)in forest inventories with the current approach of estimating AGB exclusively from the tree-level AGB predicted for each tree in a plot,henceforth called DA(discrete approach).With the CA,the AGB in a forest is modelled as a continuous surface and the AGB estimate for a fixed-area plot is computed as the integral of the AGB surface taken over the plot area.Hence with the CA,the portion of the biomass of in-plot trees that extends across the plot perimeter is ignored while the biomass from trees outside of the plot reaching inside the plot is added.We use a sampling simulation with data from a fully mapped two hectare area to illustrate that important differences in plot-level AGB estimates can emerge.Ideally CA-based estimates of mean AGB should be less variable than those derived from the DA.If realized,this difference translates to a higher precision from field sampling,or a lower required sample size.In our case study with a target precision of 5%(i.e.relative standard error of the estimated mean AGB),the CA required a 27.1%lower sample size for small plots of 100 m2 and a 10.4%lower sample size for larger plots of 1700 m2.We examined sampling induced errors only and did not yet consider model errors.We discuss practical issues in implementing the CA in field inventories and the potential in applications that model biomass with remote sensing data.The CA is a variation on a plot design for above-ground forest biomass;as such it can be applied in combination with any forest inventory sampling design.
基金Funding for this research was obtained from MINECO(Spain)through the project RTA2014-00007-C03-02Additional funding was derived from the projects AGL2010-22308-C02-01 and AGL2007-66739-C02-01/FOR
文摘Background: Coupling biomass models with nutrient concentrations can provide sound estimations of carbon and nutrient contents, enabling the improvement of carbon and nutrient balance in forest ecosystems. Although nutrient concentrations are often assumed to be constant for some species and specific tree components, at least in mature stands,the concentrations usually vary with age, site index and even with tree density. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the sources of variation in nutrient concentrations in biomass compartments usually removed during harvesting operations, covering a range of species and management conditions: semi-natural forest, conventional forest plantations and short rotation forestry(SRF). Five species(Betula pubescens, Quercus robur, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens and Populus spp.) and 14 genotypes were considered. A total of 430 trees were sampled in 61 plots to obtain 6 biomass components:leaves, twigs, thin branches, thick branches, bark and wood. Aboveground leafless biomass was pooled together forpoplar.The concentrations of C, N, K, P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B were measured and the total biomass of each sampled tree and plot were determined. The data were analysed using boosted regression trees and conventional techniques.Results: The main sources of variation in nutrient concentrations were biomass component > > genotype(species) ≈ age >tree diameter. The concentrations of Ca, Mg and K were most strongly affected by genotype and age. The concentrations of P, K, Ca, Mg, S and Cu in the wood component decreased with age, whereas C concentrations increased, with a trend to reach 50% in the older trees. In the SRF, interamerican poplar and P. trichocarpa genotypes were comparatively more efficient in terms of Ca and K nutrient assimilation index(NAI)(+65-85%) than eucalypts, mainly because leafless biomass can be removed. In the conventional eucalypt plantations(rotation 15 years), debarking the wood at logging(savings of225% of Ca and 254% of Mg for E. globulus) or the use of selected genotypes(savings of 45% of P and 35% of Ca) will provide wood at a relatively lower nutrient cost. Considering all the E. globulus genotypes together, the management for pulp with removal of debarked wood shows NAI values well above(x 1.7-x 3.9) the ones found for poplar or eucalypt SRF and also higher(x 1.6-x4.0) than the ones found for oak and birch managed in medium or long rotations.The annual rates of nutrient removal were low in the native broadleaved species but the rates of available soil nutrients removed were high as compared to poplar or eucalypts. Management of native broadleaved species should consider nutrient stability through selection of the biomass compartments removed.(Continued on next page)(Continued from previous page)Conclusions: The nutrient assimilation index is higher in poplar grown under short rotation forestry management than in the other systems considered. Nutrient management of fast growing eucalyptus plantations could be improved by selecting efficient genotypes and limiting removal of wood. The values of the nutrient assimilation index are lower in the natural stands of native broadleaved species than in the other systems considered.
文摘Up to now, ecology has a strong influence on the development of technical and instrumental aspects of architecture, such as renewable and efficient of resources and energy, COz emissions, air quality, water reuse, some social and economical aspects. These concepts define the physical keys and codes of the current ＇sustainable＇ architecture, normally instrumental but rarely and insufficiently theorised. But is not there another way of bringing us to nature？ We need a theoretical referent. This is where we place the Van der Laan＇s thoughts： he considers that art completes nature and he builds his theoretical discourse on it, trying to better understand many aspects of architecture. From a conceptual point of view, we find in his works sense of timelessness, universality, special attention on the ＇locus＇ and a strict sense of proportions and use of materials according to nature. Could these concepts complement our current sustainable architecture？ How did Laan apply the current codes of ecology in his architecture？ His work may help us to get a theoretical interpretation of nature and not only physical. This paper develops this idea through the comparison of thoughts and works of Laan with the current technical approach to ＇sustainable＇ architecture.
