Kilgore, J.S., A.T. Corbin, K.L. Gross
Presented at the All Scientist Meeting (2002-10-04 )
An understanding of current forest productivity provides baseline data to understand the effects of future climate change on productivity. Tree productivity studies generally include destructively measuring tree components or use allometric equations established by destructive sampling. However, destructive sampling in long-term forested plots is not feasible. In any case, no standard methods have been consistently applied to estimate forest productivity in the published literature or across the LTER system. The purpose of this project is to develop an efficient and non-destructive set of techniques to estimate recent aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) in forested landscapes. Litterfall production was measured over 8 years using one or more litter traps in all 3 Deciduous Forest (DF) replicates at Kellogg Biological Station in southwest Michigan. Recent (10yr) aboveground wood production was measured as biomass increment as calculated from current diameter and xylem increments using established regional biomass equations for each tree within the 2400m2 plot in DF3. Average (8yr) litterfall production was 491 g/m2/yr, and average (10yr) aboveground wood production was 364 g/m2/yr for a total of 855 g/m2/yr of aboveground net primary productivity. These proposed methods can be easily applied to forests with trees expressing annual growth rings and having established allometric equations. Further study will assess the utility and viability of proposing these methods as LTER protocol.
Back to meeting | Show |