Lecture 3B Flashcards
Lecture 3b. Forest Dynamics, Growth, and Yield (Part 2)
Why is Growth and Yield Modeling Important?
Helps predict future forest conditions, supports decision-making in forest management and conservation, and improves sustainable timber production and resource allocation.
What is Growth?
The increase in tree volume, biomass, or height over time.
What is Yield?
The total volume of timber or biomass that can be harvested at a specific time.
What is Site Index?
A measure of site productivity based on the height of dominant trees at a reference age (e.g., 50 years for some species).
What is Annual Growth Rate?
Growth measured over a specific period, used to estimate long-term forest productivity.
What is Basal Area?
The cross-sectional area of all trees in a forest stand, used in growth calculations.
What is Increment?
The increase in tree size over time, categorized as current, mean, or periodic.
What is the Annual Growth Rate formula?
Growth divided by the number of years in the period.
What are Deterministic Models?
Models that predict fixed outcomes based on given input variables and assume no randomness, useful for controlled conditions.
What are Stochastic Models?
Models that incorporate random variation to account for natural unpredictability and provide different possible outcomes with associated probabilities.
What are Empirical Models?
Models based on observed data rather than theoretical assumptions, used for practical yield forecasting.
What are Process-Based Models?
Models that simulate physiological processes like photosynthesis and carbon allocation and require extensive field data and computational resources.
What is the Estimation process in model development?
Determining statistical coefficients to describe growth and yield relationships.
What is Evaluation in model development?
Assessing model performance using accuracy tests and validation techniques.
What is Verification in model development?
Ensures the model functions logically without errors.
What is Validation in model development?
Tests the model against real-world data to confirm accuracy.
What is Sensitivity Analysis?
Examining how changes in input variables affect model predictions.
What is Uncertainty Assessment?
Recognizing limitations in data collection and assumptions.
What is Simulation?
Uses computer models to estimate forest stand development over time and can test different scenarios for management planning.
What is Calibration?
Adjusts the model to match specific local conditions (e.g., climate, soil type) and involves refining parameters to improve predictive accuracy.
What is Monitoring?
Continuous evaluation to refine predictions and correct errors, requiring long-term data collection for model updates.
What is the relationship between model complexity and scale?
The complexity of forest processes and structures increases with temporal and spatial levels of integration: Tree → Stand → Landscape.
What are Black-Box Models?
Models that show statistical correlations between inputs & outputs without explaining underlying processes.
What are White-Box Models?
Models that consider physiological and ecological processes, providing mechanistic insights.
