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Double sampling for stratification for the monitoring of sparse tree populations: the example of Populus euphratica Oliv. forests at the lower reaches of Tarim River, Southern Xinjiang, China

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 175, pages 45–61 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Desertification is a pressing issue in the dry Tarim River basin, which is under anthropogenic stresses. In this study, double sampling for stratification (DSS) is employed to inventory Populus euphratica Oliv. forests in the lower reaches of the Tarim River Basin in Xinjiang, China. The two objectives were evaluating DSS as a sampling technique for monitoring desertification and generating baseline information for permanent observation. Here, DSS consists of two phases: in phase 1, crown cover is observed on a large sample of plots on a high resolution satellite image, and these photo-plots are stratified into five crown cover strata. Phase 2 is a stratified random sample from these photo-plots and the sampled plots are field observed. Approximately 32% of the study area is without P. euphratica trees. As expected, estimated mean poplar tree density and basal area increase with crown cover. DSS takes advantages of stratification (fieldwork efficiency and statistical precision) without the need for a priori strata delineation. It proves feasible for inventory the sparse poplar population and holds promise for the assessment of trees outside the forest, where density varies considerably and pre-stratification is intractable. It can be integrated into permanent observation systems for monitoring vegetation changes.

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Author notes

  1. Tzeng Yih Lam

    Present address: Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

Affiliations

  1. Burckhardt-Institute, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 5, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Tzeng Yih Lam & Christoph Kleinn

  2. Department of Geoinformation Processing for Landscape and Environmental Planning, Institute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, Technical University Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 145, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    Bodo Coenradie

Authors
  1. Tzeng Yih Lam
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  2. Christoph Kleinn
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  3. Bodo Coenradie
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Correspondence to Tzeng Yih Lam.

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Lam, T.Y., Kleinn, C. & Coenradie, B. Double sampling for stratification for the monitoring of sparse tree populations: the example of Populus euphratica Oliv. forests at the lower reaches of Tarim River, Southern Xinjiang, China. Environ Monit Assess 175, 45–61 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1492-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1492-6

Keywords

  • Desertification
  • Probabilistic sampling
  • Trees outside forest
  • Diversifolious poplar
  • High resolution satellite image
  • Remote sensing