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An analysis of structure: biomass structure relationships for characteristic species of the western K alahari, B otswana
Author(s) -
Meyer Thoralf,
D'Odorico Paolo,
Okin Greg S.,
Shugart Herman H.,
Caylor Kelly K.,
O'Donnell Frances C.,
Bhattachan Abi,
Dintwe Kebonyethata
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12086
Subject(s) - allometry , basal area , biomass (ecology) , tree allometry , transect , crown (dentistry) , ecology , ecosystem , environmental science , vegetation (pathology) , belt transect , biology , biomass partitioning , medicine , pathology , dentistry
Abstract Savannah ecosystems are important carbon stocks on the E arth, and their quantification is crucial for understanding the global impact of climate and land‐use changes in savannahs. The estimation of aboveground/belowground plant biomass requires tested allometric relationships that can be used to determine total plant biomass as a function of easy‐to‐measure morphological indicators. Despite recent advances in savannah ecology, research on allometric relations in savannahs remains confined to a few site‐specific studies where basal area is typically used as the main morphometric parameter with plant biomass. We investigate allometric relations at four sites along a 950‐km transect in the K alahari across mean rainfall gradient 170 mm yr −1 –550 mm yr −1 . Using data from 342 harvested trees/shrubs, we relate basal area, height and crown diameter to aboveground biomass. These relationships are strongest in trees and weakest in small shrubs. Strong allometric relationships are also determined for morphologically similar groups of woody vegetation. We show that crown diameter can be used as an alternative to basal area in allometric relationships with plant biomass. This finding may enhance the ability to determine aboveground biomass over large areas using high‐resolution aerial or satellite imagery without requiring ground‐based measurements of basal area.