Year 2 - Development of a Spatially-Explicit Crown Allometry Model: Crown Shyness
Project Reference Number: 2008-10
Project Status: Complete
Led by: Dave Coates, PhD, Research Silviculturist, Ministry of Forests and Range, Smithers
Research Assistance: Aaron Trowbridge, Bulkley Valley Research Centre, Smithers; Hilary Thorpe, PhD, Queen Charlotte Islands
Funded by: Forest Investment Account - Forest Science Program (Y09-2260)
The primary objective of this project is to develop and parameterize a distance-dependent crown allometry function for the growth model SORTIE-ND. Previous model evaluation projects have pinpointed crown allometry as an important topic for model development. In SORTIE-ND, accurate crown allometry is necessary for unbiased prediction of understory light availability which in turn is critical for understory tree growth and mortality in complex stands. Our current forest management paradigm calls for increased focus on complex stand management. To evaluate complex stand management strategies, forest managers require models that can predict growth and stand dynamics for complex stands. SORTIE-ND was designed to predict growth and stand dynamics in complex stands and we expect that a better crown model will improve the models predictive ability.
Current Year Objectives:
- To measure crown allometry and crown shyness in existing stem-mapped stands.
- To develop spatial and non-spatial models of crown allometry and crown shyness.