Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape
Tree-rings are often assumed to approximate a circular shape when estimating forest productivity and carbon dynamics. However, tree rings are rarely, if ever, circular, thereby possibly resulting in under- or over-estimation in forest productivity and carbon sequestration. Given the crucial role pla...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00856/full |
| _version_ | 1811284023762223104 |
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| author | Pei-Jian eShi Pei-Jian eShi Jian-Guo eHuang Jian-Guo eHuang Cang eHui Henri D. eGrissino-Mayer Jacques C. eTardif Lihong eZhai Fu_Sheng eWang Bai-Lian eLi |
| author_facet | Pei-Jian eShi Pei-Jian eShi Jian-Guo eHuang Jian-Guo eHuang Cang eHui Henri D. eGrissino-Mayer Jacques C. eTardif Lihong eZhai Fu_Sheng eWang Bai-Lian eLi |
| author_sort | Pei-Jian eShi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tree-rings are often assumed to approximate a circular shape when estimating forest productivity and carbon dynamics. However, tree rings are rarely, if ever, circular, thereby possibly resulting in under- or over-estimation in forest productivity and carbon sequestration. Given the crucial role played by tree ring data in assessing forest productivity and carbon storage within a context of global change, it is particularly important that mathematical models adequately render cross-sectional area increment derived from tree rings. We modelled the geometric shape of tree rings using the superellipse equation and checked its validation based on the theoretical simulation and six actual cross sections collected from three conifers. We found that the superellipse better describes the geometric shape of tree rings than the circle commonly used. We showed that a spiral growth trend exists on the radial section over time, which might be closely related to spiral grain along the longitudinal axis. The superellipse generally had higher accuracy than the circle in predicting the basal area increment, resulting in an improved estimate for the basal area. The superellipse may allow better assessing forest productivity and carbon storage in terrestrial forest ecosystems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:22:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d79f226afa1e4d9298fda5872bf657f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:22:26Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d79f226afa1e4d9298fda5872bf657f02022-12-22T03:06:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2015-10-01610.3389/fpls.2015.00856154624Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shapePei-Jian eShi0Pei-Jian eShi1Jian-Guo eHuang2Jian-Guo eHuang3Cang eHui4Henri D. eGrissino-Mayer5Jacques C. eTardif6Lihong eZhai7Fu_Sheng eWang8Bai-Lian eLi9Co-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaProvincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South AfricaDepartment of Geography, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USACentre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research (C-FIR), University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, CanadaKey Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaCo-Innovation Centre for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, ChinaEcological Complexity and Modelling Laboratory, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USATree-rings are often assumed to approximate a circular shape when estimating forest productivity and carbon dynamics. However, tree rings are rarely, if ever, circular, thereby possibly resulting in under- or over-estimation in forest productivity and carbon sequestration. Given the crucial role played by tree ring data in assessing forest productivity and carbon storage within a context of global change, it is particularly important that mathematical models adequately render cross-sectional area increment derived from tree rings. We modelled the geometric shape of tree rings using the superellipse equation and checked its validation based on the theoretical simulation and six actual cross sections collected from three conifers. We found that the superellipse better describes the geometric shape of tree rings than the circle commonly used. We showed that a spiral growth trend exists on the radial section over time, which might be closely related to spiral grain along the longitudinal axis. The superellipse generally had higher accuracy than the circle in predicting the basal area increment, resulting in an improved estimate for the basal area. The superellipse may allow better assessing forest productivity and carbon storage in terrestrial forest ecosystems.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00856/fullRotationcross sectionbasal areaPolar Coordinatemajor semi-axistree-rings. |
| spellingShingle | Pei-Jian eShi Pei-Jian eShi Jian-Guo eHuang Jian-Guo eHuang Cang eHui Henri D. eGrissino-Mayer Jacques C. eTardif Lihong eZhai Fu_Sheng eWang Bai-Lian eLi Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape Frontiers in Plant Science Rotation cross section basal area Polar Coordinate major semi-axis tree-rings. |
| title | Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape |
| title_full | Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape |
| title_fullStr | Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape |
| title_full_unstemmed | Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape |
| title_short | Capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree-ring geometric shape |
| title_sort | capturing spiral radial growth of conifers using the superellipse to model tree ring geometric shape |
| topic | Rotation cross section basal area Polar Coordinate major semi-axis tree-rings. |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpls.2015.00856/full |
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