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. 2019 Dec 19;14(1):18.
doi: 10.1186/s13021-019-0134-8.

The accuracy of species-specific allometric equations for estimating aboveground biomass in tropical moist montane forests: case study of Albizia grandibracteata and Trichilia dregeana

Damena Edae Daba  1 , Teshome Soromessa  2
Affiliations

The accuracy of species-specific allometric equations for estimating aboveground biomass in tropical moist montane forests: case study of Albizia grandibracteata and Trichilia dregeana

Damena Edae Daba et al. Carbon Balance Manag. .

Abstract

Background: Application of allometric equations for quantifying forests aboveground biomass is a crucial step related to efforts of climate change mitigation. Generalized allometric equations have been applied for estimating biomass and carbon storage of forests. However, adopting a generalized allometric equation to estimate the biomass of different forests generates uncertainty due to environmental variation. Therefore, formulating species-specific allometric equations is important to accurately quantify the biomass. Montane moist forest ecosystem comprises high forest type which is mainly found in the southwestern part of Ethiopia. Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve is categorized into Afromontane Rainforest vegetation types in this ecosystem. This study was aimed to formulate species-specific allometric equations for Albizia grandibracteata Tuab. and Trichilia dregeana Sond. using the semi-destructive method.

Results: Allometric equations in form of power models were developed for each tree species by evaluating the statistical relationships of total aboveground biomass (TAGB) and dendrometric variables. TAGB was regressed against diameter at breast height (D), total height (H), and wood density (ρ) individually and in a combination. The allometric equations were selected based on model performance statistics. Equations with the higher coefficient of determination (adj.R2), lower residual standard error (RSE), and low Akaike information criterion (AIC) values were found best fitted. Relationships between TAGB and predictive variables were found statistically significant (p ≤ 0.001) for all selected equations. Higher bias was reported related to the application of pan-tropical or generalized allometric equations.

Conclusions: Formulating species-specific allometric equations is found important for accurate tree biomass estimation and quantifying the carbon stock. The developed biomass regression models can be applied as a species-specific equation to the montane moist forest ecosystem of southwestern Ethiopia.

Keywords: Afromontane rainforest; Model comparisons; Scatter plots; Semi-destructive; Species-specific.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the data collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; and in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Ethiopia with Oromia region, and the study area. The study area is marked green and the lines with blue color are rivers
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Scatter plot of Diameter-Height relationships for: a A. grandibracteata, b T. dregeana tree species
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Linear regression for log-transformed data: a aboveground biomass against D; b aboveground biomass against height
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Linear regression for log-transformed data: a aboveground biomass against D2H, b aboveground biomass against wood density
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Scatter plots for: a aboveground biomass against diameter, b aboveground biomass against height for T. dregeana
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Scatter plots for: a TAGB against D2H, b TAGB against wood density for T. dregeana
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Species specific and pan-tropical allometric equations comparison for: a A. grandibracteata, b T. dregeana TAGB. Measured biomass: was obtained based on the semi-destructive methodology for allometric equation; Specific Equation: equation which was developed for A. grandibracteata and T. dregeana; Generalized Equation: was taken from [12] for pantropical tropical moist forest stands
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