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Derivation of diameter measurements for buttressed trees, an example from Gabon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2012

Alfred Ngomanda ,
Quentin Moundounga Mavouroulou ,
Nestor Laurier Engone Obiang ,
Donald Midoko Iponga ,
Jacques-François Mavoungou ,
Nicaise Lépengué ,
Nicolas Picard  and
Bertrand Mbatchi
Alfred Ngomanda
Affiliation:
IRET, BP 13354, Libreville, Gabon
Quentin Moundounga Mavouroulou
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de l'Université des Sciences et Technique de Masuku, BP 901, Franceville, Gabon
Nestor Laurier Engone Obiang
Affiliation:
IRET, BP 13354, Libreville, Gabon
Donald Midoko Iponga
Affiliation:
IRET, BP 13354, Libreville, Gabon
Jacques-François Mavoungou
Affiliation:
IRET, BP 13354, Libreville, Gabon
Nicaise Lépengué
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de l'Université des Sciences et Technique de Masuku, BP 901, Franceville, Gabon
Nicolas Picard*
Affiliation:
IRET, BP 13354, Libreville, Gabon CIRAD, Campus de Baillarguet, TA C-37D, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France
Bertrand Mbatchi
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de l'Université des Sciences et Technique de Masuku, BP 901, Franceville, Gabon
*
1Corresponding author. Email: nicolas.picard@cirad.fr
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Extract

Many tropical tree species have buttresses at the standard breast height (1.3 m above ground) of diameter measurement, with a presumable role in improving nutrient acquisition or tree anchorage in the ground (Newbery et al. 2009, Richter 1984). Measuring the diameter using standard dendrometrical tools such as callipers or graduated tapes, which require that the cross-section of the trunk has a convex shape, is then impossible (Nogueira et al. 2006). The recommended method in this case is to measure the diameter above the buttress (DAB), thus possibly leading to biased estimates of the basal area (West 2009), of tree above-ground biomass (Dean & Roxburgh 2006, Dean et al. 2003) and of tree growth (Metcalf et al. 2009). As an alternative, one can measure the basal area at breast height of buttressed trees, using a method that can deal with the irregular non-convex shape of the cross-section of the stem such as the Picus calliper, photogrammetry or 3D laser scanning (Badia et al. 2003, Dean 2003, Newbery et al. 2009).

Keywords

allometrybasal areadendrometrymorphologyshapetaper
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , May 2012 , pp. 299 - 302
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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References

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