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Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal

Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.

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Main Author: Pienaar, Louis Otto
Other Authors: Seifert, Thomas
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2016
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access_status_str Open Access
author Pienaar, Louis Otto
author2 Seifert, Thomas
author_browse Pienaar, Louis Otto
Seifert, Thomas
author_facet Seifert, Thomas
Pienaar, Louis Otto
author_sort Pienaar, Louis Otto
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/98459
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:30.888Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2016
publishDateRange 2016
publishDateSort 2016
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/98459 Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal Pienaar, Louis Otto Seifert, Thomas Drew, David M. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Forest and Wood Science. Forest biomass -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal UCTD Thesis (MScFor)--Stellenbosch University, 2016. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to develop species-specific allometric models for selected natural forest species within a forest forming part of the Southern Mistbelt Forest Group, close to the town of Richmond in KwaZulu Natal. The objective was met by determining the tree dimensions (diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height) of the forest. The collected variables were used and the most dominant species in terms of their basal area coverage: Xymalos monospora and Celtis africana were selected for biomass modeling. The allometric models were developed from a two-step stratified sampling approach. Population dimensions were determined from sample plots, where-after trees were sampled for biomass representing the collected dimensions. The dry mass of the sampled components were used in a regression modeling approach to develop a set of species-specific and combined species linear models. The best models were selected based on goodness-of-fit model evaluation criteria (GOF) and parsimony principles and a two-step upscaling process was used to upscale samples to tree level and from tree to stand level. DBH and basic density were significant predictors of total above-ground biomass (AGB) and diameter as single predictor produced consistently good results. Diameter was used throughout the upscaling process to determine the biomass per ha. The estimated AGB for X. monospora, C. africana and all the species were 62.98, 93.56 and 230.86 Mg haˉ¹ respectively. Estimated AGB for all species compared well with results from other biomass studies. Future research can investigate remote sensing applications in combination with the field sampling to estimate forest biomass more cost effectively over larger areas. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om spesie-spesifieke allometric modelle vir geselekteerde natuurlike woudspesies te ontwikkel in 'n woud wat deel vorm van die Suidelike Misbelt woudgroep, naby die dorp Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal. Die doel was bereik deur die bepaling van die boom dimensies (deursnee op die bors hoogte en boomhoogte) van die woud en deur gebruik te maak van die versamelde veranderlikes, is die mees dominante spesies in terme van hul basale area dekking: Xymalos monospora en Celtis africana gekies vir modellering. Die allometriese modelle is ontwikkel uit 'n twee-stap gestratifiseerde steekproefneming benadering. Bevolkings dimensies is bepaal van die monster erwe, waar-na ‘n steekproef van die bome verteenwoordigend van die versamelde dimensies bemonster is vir biomassa bepaling. Die droë massa van die monster komponente is in 'n regressie modelerings benadering tot 'n stel van spesie-spesifieke en gekombineerde spesies lineêre modelle ontwikkel. Die beste modelle is gekies op grond van beste model evalueringskriteria en model spaarsamigheidsbeginsels en 'n twee-stap opskaling is gebruik om monsters op te skaal tot boom vlak en van boom tot vlak staan. Deursnee op borshoogte en basiese digtheid was beduidende voorspellers van die totale bogrondse biomassa en deursnee as enkele voorspeller het konsekwent goeie resultate gelewer. Deursnee is dwarsdeur die opskalings proses gebruik om die biomassa per ha te bepaal. Die beraamde totale bogrondse biomassa vir X. monospora, C. africana en al die spesies tesame was 62.98, 93.56 en 230.86 Mg haˉ¹ onderskeidelik. Beraamde totale bogrondse biomassa vir alle spesies het goed vergelyk met die resultate van ander biomassa studies. Toekomstige navorsing kan afstandswaarnemings tegnieke in kombinasie met die veld steekproefneming ondersoek om biomassa meer koste-effektief oor groter gebiede te bepaal. Masters 2016-03-09T14:21:38Z 2016-03-09T14:21:38Z 2016-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/98459 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 147 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Forest biomass -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
UCTD
Pienaar, Louis Otto
Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title_full Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title_fullStr Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title_full_unstemmed Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title_short Modeling above-ground biomass of selected tree species within a Mistbelt forest in KwaZulu Natal
title_sort modeling above ground biomass of selected tree species within a mistbelt forest in kwazulu natal
topic Forest biomass -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/98459
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