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Bayesian and classical biomass allometries for open grown valonian oaks (Q. ithaburensis subs. macrolepis L.) in a silvopastoral system

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Abstract

Allometric models predicting aboveground woody biomass for open grown valonian oak (Q. ithaburensis subs. macrolepis L.) trees growing in a Mediterranean silvopastoral system were built based on Bayesian and classical statistical techniques. The simple power model M = aDb was used for predicting aboveground woody biomass (M), stem (MS) and branch (MB) biomass through tree diameter (D). An informative Bayesian approach (IB) based on prior information about a and b and increasing variance of predicted values in relation to D was applied on 25 destructively sampled trees for estimating M. Non-informative Bayesian (NB), log-linear regression (LR) and non-linear regression were also built for M, MS and MB. Quite similar M distribution was derived from LR and NB across the D range, totally different from IB predictions which provided biologically sound estimates. Tree height, stem length and crown length did not substantially improve predictions for M, MS and MB. Comparisons to oak trees growing in closed stands indicated that open-grown oaks sustain much less stem biomass but maintain larger branch biomass than forest-grown counterparts. Comparisons to published values for open-grown green ash trees supported the hypothesis that open grown broadleaved specimens may sustain similar M values, irrespectively of species, growth conditions and tree size. On the contrary, allocation pattern of organic matter to stem and branches seems to vary by species and/or site conditions. Finally, predictions for b = 2.67 derived from a theoretical model was not supported by this dataset.

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Acknowledgements

This research was co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund—ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)—Research Funding Program: ARCHIMEDES III. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund, MIS 380360. Special permits for the destructive tree sampling were granted by the Special Secretariat for Forests, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. Three anonymous referees substantially contributed to the improvement of the submitted manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, TEI of Thessaly, 43100, Karditsa, Greece

    Dimitrios Zianis

  2. Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, TEI Stereas Elladas, 36100, Karpenissi, Greece

    Anastasia Pantera & Andreas Papadopoulos

  3. Crop production Department, Escola Politécnica Superior – Campus Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002, A Coruña, Spain

    Maria Rosa Mosquera Losada

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  1. Dimitrios Zianis
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  2. Anastasia Pantera
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  3. Andreas Papadopoulos
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  4. Maria Rosa Mosquera Losada
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Correspondence to Dimitrios Zianis.

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Zianis, D., Pantera, A., Papadopoulos, A. et al. Bayesian and classical biomass allometries for open grown valonian oaks (Q. ithaburensis subs. macrolepis L.) in a silvopastoral system. Agroforest Syst 93, 241–253 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-0060-7

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