Development of Allometric Equations for Estimating Above-Ground Liana Biomass in Tropical Primary and Secondary Forests, Malaysia

Abstract EN

The study developed allometric equations for estimating liana stem and total above-ground biomass in primary and secondary forests in the Penang National Park, Penang, Malaysia.

Using biomass-diameter-length data of 60 liana individuals representing 15 species, allometric equations were developed for liana stem biomass and total above-ground biomass (TAGB).

Three types of allometric equations were developed: models fitted to untransformed, weighted, and log-transformed (log10) data.

There was a significant linear relationship between biomass and the predictors (diameter, length, and/or their combinations).

The same set of models was developed for primary and secondary forests due to absence of differences in regression line slopes of the forests (ANCOVA: P>0.05).

The coefficients of determination values of the models were high (stem: 0.861 to 0.990; TAGB: 0.900 to 0.992).

Generally, log-transformed models showed better fit (Furnival's index, FI < 0.50) than the other models (FI > 0.5).

A comparison of the best TAGB model in this study (based on FI) with previously published equations indicated that most of the equations significantly (P<0.05) overestimated TAGB of lianas.

However, a previous equation from Southeast Asia estimated TAGB similar to that of the current equation (P>0.05).

Therefore, regional or intracontinental equations should be preferred to intercontinental equations when estimating liana biomass.Erratum to “Development of Allometric Equations for Estimating Above-Ground Liana Biomass in Tropical Primary and Secondary Forests, Malaysia”dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/858630