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Unravel the complexities of SDI in forestry practices. Learn about the limitations, implications, and historical context of SDI metrics. Discover various perspectives and challenges in assessing stand density.
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Things just don’t add up with SDI…Martin Ritchie PSW Research Station
Overview • SDI: Concepts, Limitations • Additivity: • Stage (1968) • Curtis/Zeide/Long • Sterba & Monserud (1993) • Implications of maximum crown width functions…
Problems with Reineke’s SDI • Definition of the “maximum” • Applicable to even-aged stands • Not Additive: • No way to determine contribution of individual trees or cohorts to total SDI
Implied Comparability • SDI is meaningful as long as the maximum for a given comparison is a constant. • SDI is meaningful as long as the slope is fixed (you can’t compare across slopes).
Stage (1968) Suppose the following relationship holds for individual-tree sdi:
Stage (1968) This reduces to one variable: c=1.605/2, which acts as a weight on diameter-squared
Stage (1968) For individual-trees: Summation over all trees: c= 1.605/2 = 0.8025
Stage (1968) • There are an infinite number of solutions for “c” between 0 and 1 which will solve the equation. • c=.8025 is not necessarily optimal… e.g., c=1, then a=0 and b=SDI/BA.
Curtis (1971) Tree-Area-Ratio (OLS) Approach using “well-stocked” unmanaged natural stands of Douglas-fir: Similar, in effect to traditional Tree-Area-Ratio approach for most diameters:
Zeide (1983) Proposed a different measure of stand diameter; a generalized mean with power = k. Similar in form to Curtis (1971):
Zeide (1983) • The modification of “mean stand diameter” results in an additive function for SDI • SDIz/SDIr=f(c.v.)
Zeide (1983) Taylor Series Expansion about the arithmetic mean for the Generalized Mean: 1st 3rd 4th C=coefficient of variation g=coefficient of skewness p refers to slope of 1.6 for this case
Long (1995) Additivity accounts for changes in stand structure (empirically demonstrated): SDIr=927 SDIz=807
Problem: Implies that the slope and the maximum remain constant with respect to changes in stand structure
Sterba and Monserud (1993) • Slope is a function of stand structure (skewness): -Slope decreases as the skewness of the stand increases. -Change in slope is substantial
Sterba & Monserud (1993) • Additivity is effective within stand structure… • Difficult to make comparisons between stands of different structures…
So what? • Does the relationship really change with maximum or the slope?
Open Grown Trees • Using MCW=f(dbh), • And, some known distribution, with g fixed calculate an implied constant density line:
Uneven-aged Stand C=0.73 g=1.7
Uneven-aged Stand Ln(tpa) Ln(d)
Even-aged Stand C=0.36 g=0.8
Even-aged Stand Ln(tpa) Ln(d)
Ln(tpa) Ln(d)
Ln(tpa) .6*sdi max Ln(d)
Conclusions • Stage’s Solution to additivity is not unique, may or may not be optimal. • Long’s conclusion with uneven aged stands may be naïve, because maximum may change with changes in structure. • Slope may change as well (Sterba & Monserud), causing problems with application • However, MCW functions imply consistency across diameter distributions with a stable slope near Reineke’s 1.6 and a stable maximum for ponderosa pine.
References • Curtis, R.O. 1971. A tree area power function and related stand density measures for Douglas-fir. For. Sci. 17:146-159. • Long, J.N. 1995. Using stand density index to regulate stocking in uneven-aged stands. P. 111-122 In Uneven-aged management: Opportunities, constraints and methodologies. O’Hara, K.L. (ed.) Univ. Montana School of For./ Montana For. And Conserv. Exp. Sta. Misc. Publ. 56. • Long, J.N. and T.W. Daniel. 1990. Assessment of growing stock in uneven-aged stands. West. J. Appl. For. 5(3):93-96 • Reineke, L.H. 1933. Perfecting a stand-density index for even-aged forests. J. Agric. Res. 46:627-638. • Shaw J.D. 2000.Application of stand density index to irregularly structured stands. West. J. Appl. For. 15(1):40-42. • Sterba, H. and R.A. Monserud. 1993. The maximum density concept applied to uneven-aged mixed species stands. For. Sci. 39:432-452. • Sterba, H. 1987. Estimating potential density from thinning experiments and inventory data. For. Sci. 33:1022-1034. • Stage, A.R. 1968. A tree-by-tree measure of site utilization for grand fir related to stand density index. USDA For. Serv. Res. Note INT-77. 7 p. • Zeide, B. 1983. The mean diameter for stand density index. Can. J. For. Res. 13:1023-1024.
Some Other Interesting SDI-Related Stuff • Chisman, H.H. and F.X. Shumacher. 1940. On the tree-area ratio and certain of its applications. J. For. 38:311-317. • Curtis, R.O. 1970. Stand density measures: an interpretation. For. Sci. 16:403-414. • Lexen, B. 1939. Space requirements of ponderosa pine by tree diameter. USDA, Forest Service, Southwestern Forest and Range Experiment Station Res. Note 63. 4 p. • Mulloy, G.A. 1949. Calculation of stand density index for mixed and two aged stands. Canada Dominion Forest Serv. Silv. Leaflet 27. 2p. • Oliver, W.W. 1995. Is self-thinning in ponderosa pine ruled by Dendroctonus bark beetles? In: Eskew, L.G. comp. Forest health through silviculture. Proceedings of the 1995 National Silviculture Workshop; 1995, May 8-11; Mescalero New Mexico. General Technical Report RM-GTR-267. Fort Collins CO: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 213-218. • Schnur, G.L. 1934. Reviews. J. For. 32(3):355-356. • Spurr, S.H. 1952. Forest Inventory. Ronald Press, New York. Pages 277-288