Individual-tree diameter growth and mortality models for bottomland mixed-species hardwood stands in the lower Mississippi alluvial valley

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 199; no. 2; pp. 307 - 322
• Main Authors: Zhao, Dehai, Borders, Bruce, Wilson, Machelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 11-10-2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Bottomland hardwoods; Dendrometry. Forest inventory; Distance-independent; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Individual-tree growth model; Mixed-species; Mortality; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Mississippi; United States; North America; America; USA; Bottomland hardwoods; Mixed-species; Mortality; Distance-independent; Individual-tree growth model; Growth; Light; Environmental factor; Behavior; Distance; Forest inventory
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2004.05.043

Individual-tree diameter growth and mortality models were developed for the bottomland mixed-species hardwood stands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). Data came from 5-year remeasurements of continuous forest inventory plots. Six species groups were created according to diameter structure, tree growth, mortality, recruitment and light demand of species. A 5-year basal area increment model and logistic mortality model were calibrated for species groups. Potential predictor variables at tree-level and stand-level were selected based on the available data and their biological significance to tree growth and mortality. The resulting models possess desirable statistical properties and model behaviors, and can be used to update short-term inventory.