Developing biomass allometric equations for small trees in mixed-species forests of tropical rainforest ecozone

Abstract

Allometric equations for the small trees that dominate many forests recovering from disturbance, such as fire, are relatively rare, increasing the uncertainty of aboveground biomass (AGB) estimates in young regrowth forests. In this study we sampled 516 small trees (diameter leaves > branches. AGB estimates based on allometric equations developed for larger trees, sourced from the literature, overestimated small tree biomass by up to 25% when compared with AGB estimates from equations developed in this study. The allometric models of small trees and the root-to-shoot ratio values obtained in this study will improve biomass estimates for young regrowth forests of Indonesia and the tropical region in general.

Keywords

• Biomass
• Shrubs
• Small trees
• Weighted regression
• Additivity model of biomass components
• Root-to-shoot ratio