Aurélio Lourenço Rodrigues

On the use of data mining for estimating carbon storage in the trees

Forests contribute to climate change mitigation by storing carbon in tree biomass. The amount of carbon stored in this carbon pool is estimated by using either allometric equations or biomass expansion factors. Both of the methods provide estimate of the carbon stock based on the biometric parameters of a model tree. This study calls attention to the potential advantages of the data mining technique known as instance-based classification, which is not used currently for this purpose. The analysis of the data on the carbon storage in 30 trees of Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia) shows that the instance-based classification provides as relevant estimates as the conventional methods do. The coefficient of correlation between the estimated and measured values of carbon storage in tree biomass does not vary significantly with the choice of the method. The use of some other measures of method performance leads to the same result. In contrast to the convention methods the instance-based classification does not presume any specific form of the function relating carbon storage to the biometric parameters of the tree. Since the best form of such function is difficult to find, the instance-based classification could outperform the conventional methods in some cases, or simply get rid of the questions about the choice of the allometric equations.

Acuracidade da distribuição diamétrica entre métodos de projeção em Floresta Ombrófila Mista

This study aims to evaluate accuracy of projections in diametric Araucaria Forest, using models of the transition matrix and movement ratio, applied in three temporal amplitude (2, 3 and 4 years), and two employees amplitudes diameter classes (5 and 10cm). The information used in the study are from permanent plots established in the National Forest of Sao Francisco de Paula - RS. The efficiency of the projections was verified based on observed values, using Kolmogorov Smirnov test and analysis of variance. Although they have been influenced by the Markovian properties, projections carried out showed efficiency to describe the future structure of the forest, but the model the movement ratio projections generated more efficient compared to those described by the transition matrix. The time span of 4 years applied the range of 5cm diameter class had the most accurate results of the study overestimated by 1.7% the total number of individuals in the forest.

A model based on environmental factors for diameter distribution in black wattle in Brazil.

This article discusses the dynamics of a diameter distribution in stands of black wattle throughout its growth cycle using the Weibull probability density function. Moreover, the parameters of this distribution were related to environmental variables from meteorological data and surface soil horizon with the aim of finding a model for diameter distribution which their coefficients were related to the environmental variables. We found that the diameter distribution of the stand changes only slightly over time and that the estimators of the Weibull function are correlated with various environmental variables, with accumulated rainfall foremost among them. Thus, a model was obtained in which the estimators of the Weibull function are dependent on rainfall. Such a function can have important applications, such as in simulating growth potential in regions where historical growth data is lacking, as well as the behavior of the stand under different environmental conditions. The model can also be used to project growth in diameter, based on the rainfall affecting the forest over a certain time period.

Estimativa de carbono individual para Araucaria angustifolia

Forests are important carbon sinks that contribute to climate change mitigation. Quantifying the carbon stock is critical for measuring such mitigation potential. Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Ktze. Araucariaceae is a key forest species in southern Brazil, due to its ecological and economic importance. This study aimed at comparing two procedures for estimating individual carbon stock ( C ) of A. angustifolia , in pure stands established in the southern Parana State, Brazil. Individual carbon stocks were determined for thirty trees, as well as correlations between C , dendometric variables, Biomass Expansion Factor ( BEF ) and Root-to-Shoot Ratio ( R ). Regression equations of C , concerning Diameter Breast Height ( DBH ) and total height ( H ), were adjusted and compared to trunk volume ( V ) estimates combined with BEF and R . DBH and H showed high correlation to C , what did not happen to tree age, BEF and R . The regression equations of C , concerning DBH and H , adjusted well to the data set, providing reliable estimates. The same happened to the volume equations combined with expansion factors, which also provided statistically acceptable estimates. No difference was observed between the two procedures tested, being both reliable for estimating the individual carbon stock.

Teores de carbono em espécies da floresta ombrófila mista e efeito do grupo ecológico

This study was conducted in Boa Ventura do Sao Roque, Parana State, Brazil, aiming to evaluate the carbon concentration in components of 12 arboreal species from the Araucaria Forest, as well as the performance of the 0.5 conversion factor and the influence of trees ecological groups in their carbon concentration. Carbon concentration averages were obtained from the tree components, and compared among them, among the species and the conversion factor, to assess the interspecific differences and the reliability of the conversion factor. To analyze the influence of ecological groups over the carbon concentration of the species, cluster analyzes were performed. It was not found significant difference among the carbon concentration in the components of the trees. However, comparing the 12 species, Luehea divaricata, Albizia polycephala and Cestrum sp. differed significantly, presenting lower carbon concentration. Comparison between carbon concentration average of the species and the 0.5 conversion factor indicated that the latter overestimates the carbon concentration in the trees at an average rate of 14.27%. No correlation was found between the ecological groups of the species and their carbon concentration, since groups were formed by species with distinct ecological traits.

Critical analyses when modeling tree biomass to ensure additivity of its components

It is presented the theme additivity of biomass of tree components. To evaluate and discuss this context, experimental information collected in forests of Acacia mearnsii De Wild. was used. Equations for components (stem and crown) and total biomass were fitted by means of two procedures: 1) generalized nonlinear least squares and 2) weighted-nonlinear seemingly unrelated regressions. Analyzing the performance of the estimators, it can be concluded that the two tested procedures are equivalent. On the other hand, this conclusion differs when evaluated the consistency and efficiency of the estimators. Fitting equations for the components and for the total biomass by an independent way is not realistic, because from a biological point of view the estimates of biomass are inconsistent, i.e., are not additive. The biomass estimates of the components and of the total, resulting from equations adjusted by means of systems of equations, provided narrower confidence intervals in relation to the equations adjusted independently, and is therefore more efficient. The second procedure presents better biological properties and statistics to estimate allometric equations for biomass of the components and for the total when compared with the independent estimation, thus it should be the method to be used.