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Assessing tree dendrometrics in young regenerating plantations using terrestrial laser scanning

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Abstract

Context

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides a valuable tool for the retrieval of detailed individual-tree structural parameters, but has never previously been applied to young stands under field conditions.

Aims

The aim was to explore the performance of TLS in a young tree plantation located in a heterogeneous environment in subtropical China.

Methods

We investigated 438 young trees for congruence between direct field and TLS measurements of total tree height, stem diameter at ground height, and length and height of the longest branch using correlation tests. We applied generalized linear models to examine whether congruence was affected by the observed structural parameter or extrinsic factors (e.g., potential occlusion, point cloud quality).

Results

TLS made it possible to detect trees higher than 40 cm. The TLS-retrieved data were highly congruent with the data obtained from direct measurements. The poor descriptions of stems and branches of some individuals of small-sized and leaf-on tree species were due to occlusion by ground vegetation and leaf-on branches. Observed structural parameter and extrinsic factors did not explain the variance between the two approaches.

Conclusion

TLS proved to be a promising tool for high-resolution, non-destructive analyses of tree dendrometrics in young regenerating plantations.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out as part of the BEF-China project financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG FOR 891/2). We are grateful to all members of BEF-China for their support and to Lars Goldbach for his valuable assistance in the scanning campaign. We thank the two anonymous reviewers for comments that considerably improved the earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty Sustainability, Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr.1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Ying Li, Carsten Hess, Henrik von Wehrden, Werner Härdtle & Goddert von Oheimb

  2. Center for Methods, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr.1, 21335, Lüneburg, Germany

    Henrik von Wehrden

  3. Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Savoyen Strasse 1, Vienna, 1160, Austria

    Henrik von Wehrden

Authors
  1. Ying Li
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  2. Carsten Hess
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  3. Henrik von Wehrden
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  4. Werner Härdtle
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  5. Goddert von Oheimb
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ying Li.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Jean-Michel Leban

Contribution of the co-authors

Ying Li: designed the study, performed the research, analyzed data and wrote the manuscript

Carsten Hess: performed the research, analyzed data and contributed new methods

Henrik von Wehrden: analyzed data and revised the manuscript

Werner Härdtle: revised the manuscript

Goddert von Oheimb: designed the study, supervised the work and coordinated the research project

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Li, Y., Hess, C., von Wehrden, H. et al. Assessing tree dendrometrics in young regenerating plantations using terrestrial laser scanning. Annals of Forest Science 71, 453–462 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0358-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0358-4

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