Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific?
Accurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) in tree–shrub communities is critical for quantifying forest ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration potential. Although generalized allometric equations offer expediency in natural forest AGB estimation, their neglect of interspecific variabi...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Yuxin Shang Yutong Xia Xiaodie Ran Xiao Zheng Hui Ding Yanming Fang |
| author_facet | Yuxin Shang Yutong Xia Xiaodie Ran Xiao Zheng Hui Ding Yanming Fang |
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| description | Accurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) in tree–shrub communities is critical for quantifying forest ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration potential. Although generalized allometric equations offer expediency in natural forest AGB estimation, their neglect of interspecific variability introduces methodological pitfalls. Precise AGB prediction necessitates resolving two biological constraints: phylogenetic conservation of allometric coefficients and ontogenetic regulation of scaling relationships. This study establishes an integrated framework combining the following: (1) phylogenetic signal detection (Blomberg’s K/Pagel’s λ) across 157 species’ allometric equations, revealing weak but significant evolutionary constraints (λ = 0.1249, <i>p</i> = 0.0027; K ≈ 0, <i>p</i> = 0.621); (2) hierarchical error decomposition of 9105 stems in a Mt. Wuyishan forest dynamics plot (15 species), identifying family-level error stratification (e.g., Theaceae vs. Myrtaceae, Δerror > 25%); (3) ontogenetic trajectory analysis of <i>Castanopsis eyrei</i> between Mt. Wuyishan and Mt. Huangshan, demonstrating significant biomass deviations in small trees (5–15 cm DBH, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Key findings resolve the following hypotheses: (1) absence of strong phylogenetic signals validates generalized models for phylogenetically diverse communities; (2) ontogenetic regulation dominates error magnitude, particularly in early developmental stages; (3) differential modeling is recommended: species-specific equations for pure forests/seedlings vs. generalized equations for mixed mature forests. This work establishes an error hierarchy: ontogeny > taxonomy > phylogeny, providing a mechanistic basis for optimizing forest carbon stock assessments. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4f7549b36458400e9f3d8a6918a4f04f2025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-07-0117749310.3390/d17070493Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific?Yuxin Shang0Yutong Xia1Xiaodie Ran2Xiao Zheng3Hui Ding4Yanming Fang5Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of the Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of the Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of the Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory On Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientifc Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaState Environmental Protection Key Laboratory On Biosafety, Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientifc Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaKey Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration On Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of the Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, ChinaAccurate estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB) in tree–shrub communities is critical for quantifying forest ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration potential. Although generalized allometric equations offer expediency in natural forest AGB estimation, their neglect of interspecific variability introduces methodological pitfalls. Precise AGB prediction necessitates resolving two biological constraints: phylogenetic conservation of allometric coefficients and ontogenetic regulation of scaling relationships. This study establishes an integrated framework combining the following: (1) phylogenetic signal detection (Blomberg’s K/Pagel’s λ) across 157 species’ allometric equations, revealing weak but significant evolutionary constraints (λ = 0.1249, <i>p</i> = 0.0027; K ≈ 0, <i>p</i> = 0.621); (2) hierarchical error decomposition of 9105 stems in a Mt. Wuyishan forest dynamics plot (15 species), identifying family-level error stratification (e.g., Theaceae vs. Myrtaceae, Δerror > 25%); (3) ontogenetic trajectory analysis of <i>Castanopsis eyrei</i> between Mt. Wuyishan and Mt. Huangshan, demonstrating significant biomass deviations in small trees (5–15 cm DBH, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Key findings resolve the following hypotheses: (1) absence of strong phylogenetic signals validates generalized models for phylogenetically diverse communities; (2) ontogenetic regulation dominates error magnitude, particularly in early developmental stages; (3) differential modeling is recommended: species-specific equations for pure forests/seedlings vs. generalized equations for mixed mature forests. This work establishes an error hierarchy: ontogeny > taxonomy > phylogeny, providing a mechanistic basis for optimizing forest carbon stock assessments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/493phylogenetic signalaboveground biomassallometric modelsphylogenetic errorsforest ecosystems |
| spellingShingle | Yuxin Shang Yutong Xia Xiaodie Ran Xiao Zheng Hui Ding Yanming Fang Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? Diversity phylogenetic signal aboveground biomass allometric models phylogenetic errors forest ecosystems |
| title | Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? |
| title_full | Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? |
| title_fullStr | Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? |
| title_short | Allometric Equations for Aboveground Biomass Estimation in Natural Forest Trees: Generalized or Species-Specific? |
| title_sort | allometric equations for aboveground biomass estimation in natural forest trees generalized or species specific |
| topic | phylogenetic signal aboveground biomass allometric models phylogenetic errors forest ecosystems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/7/493 |
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