ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOMASS AND BASAL AREABASED ON PIPE MODEL-THEORY

To better understand and thus quantify an ecosystem function such as c arbon sequestration and water relations, the biological implications o f basal area (BA), which is one of the most convenient variables often used for the estimation of stem volume and aboveground biomass, are t heoretically examined on the basis of pipe model theory. Quantitative analysis of profile diagrams leads to the formulation of plant archite cture that simplistically describes the bifurcation manner in plant or gans: i.e. the plant weight above a given position is in proportion to the stem cross-sectional area at that position. This simple linear re lationship was shown to be applicable to the aboveground biomass estim ation using BA in forest stands. Specifically, the linearity of the re lationships between aboveground biomass and BA was validated for vario us forest stands. Pipe model theory, developed to describe tree archit ecture and forest profile, successfully explains the present relations hips, and will contribute to the evaluation of forest ecosystem functi ons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.