Measuring Tree Heights & Age
Tools used to measure tree heights.
Clinometer, merritt hypsometer, laser hypsometer
List the three rules that volume tables are based on.
Scribner Log Rule, Doyle Log Rule, International 1/4 Log Rule
Where do we measure diameter on a tree?
What is 4.5 ft or diameter at breast height
Round the following value to 1 significant figure: 5.9
6
What are the three ways we characterize stand density?
What is, overstocked, understocked or fully stocked
The baseline used to measure tree heights.
What is 66ft
Types of volume equations that ONLY use DBH.
What are single entry and local entry?
When measuring diameter on a tree on a slope you should measure from....
What is the uphill side of the tree
Round the following value to two significant figures: 5.34
What is 5.3
This is used to evaluate the productivity and growth potential of a forest based on the height of dominant trees at a certain age.
What is Site Index
The height most important for timber production
What is merchantable height
Define form classes.
What are groupings of trees into standardized categories based on similar form and taper?
The proper protocol for measuring diameter on a tree with a fork below breast height.
Measure each stem individually
Round the following value to 3 significant figures: 7.1536
7.15
List the characteristics a tree must have to be used to calculate site index
What is, the tree must be dominant or co-dominant and have no evidence of crown damage, disease, sweep, crook, forking, or prolonged suppression
Tool used to determine tree age
What is an increment borer
Define form factor
What is the ratio of a tree's actual volume to the volume of a cylinder with the same DBH and the same height
The proper protocol for measuring diameter on a tree with a fork above breast height
What is to measure below the fork
Round the following value to 3 significant figures: 8.596
8.60
When is the proper time to thin a stand?
What is, when the stand approaches the A curve or is on the border of becoming overstocked
What can be determined from a tree core sample?
Age, whether the tree is suppressed, dominant or released, fire damage, harsh growing conditions (drought), good growing conditions (lots of rain)
What is the difference between the scribner, doyle and international 1/4th log rules?
Scribner: used out west, based on the small end of the log, gives low estimates, rounds to the nearest 10th
Doyle: used in the southeast; overestimates large logs, underestimates small logs
international 1/4th: most accurate, used internationally, accounts for taper
Caliper, biltmore stick, d-tape or diameter tape
When do zeros count when using significant figures?
What is, when they are captive, or sandwhiched between two numbers greater than 0
List the challenges of site index
Exact stand age is difficult to determine, and small errors cause large changes in the site-index estimate
Not suited for uneven-aged stands, or areas with mixed species composition or open land
Stand volume (dbh and stem form) not taken into account
Site index is not constant. Might change due to environmental and climatic variations or management activities
Site index for one species cannot be translate into a usable index for different species on the same site.