A DISTRIBUTION-INDEPENDENT APPROACH TO PREDICTING STAND DIAMETER DISTRIBUTION

A new approach to projecting future stand diameter distribution was pr oposed without assuming a predefined probability density function. The Lebesque-Stieltjes integral was applied to derive a group of equation s for the relationships between current and future stand diameter dist ributions and stand-level attributes, The parameters in the tree survi val function-and diameter growth function were recovered using these e quations based on independent estimates of future stand mean diameter, quad ratio mean diameter, and survival from a whole stand model, This disaggregation approach ensured that the resolutions at size-class di stribution and/or individual tree levels were compatible with the stan d-level aggregates, A stochastic error component was incorporated into the tree diameter growth function, This allowed us to mimic the tree diameter differentiation process over time, and it improved prediction accuracy for future stand diameter distributions, The proposed approa ch can also be used to allocate stand growth and yield to a list of in dividual trees, The fluctuation of tree growth and survival for each t ree can be implemented by simulating the variance of tree diameter gro wth and survival probability using Monte Carlo or error propagation me thods.