@mastersthesis {40071,
	title = {The relationship between stem-form, stand-closure and site-conditions: The influence of environmental conditions on tree allometry and forest structure in west-central Alberta},
	year = {1995},
	address = {Brock University},
	abstract = {Changes in the configuration of a tree stern result insignificant
 differences in its total volume and in the proportion
 of that volume that is merchantable timber. Tree allometry, as
 represented by stem-fo~, is the result of the vertical force of
 gravity and the horizontal force of wind. The effect of wind force
 is demonstrated in the relationship between stem-form, standclosure
 and site-conditions. An increase in wind force on the
 individual tree due to a decrease in stand density should produce
 a more tapered tree. The density of the stand is determined by the
 conditions that the trees are growing under. The ability of the
 tree to respond to increased wind force may also be a function of
 these conditions . This stem-form/stand-closure/site-conditions
 relationship was examined using a pre-existing database from westcentral
 Alberta. This database consisted of environmental,
 vegetation, soils and timber data covering a wide range of sites.
 There were 653 sample trees with 82 variables that formed the basis
 of the analysis. There were eight tree species consisting of Pinus
 contorta, Picea mariana, Picea engelmannii x glauca, Abies
 lasiocarpa, Larix laricina, Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera
 and Populus balsamifera plus a comprehensive all-species data set.
 As the actual conformation of the stern is very individual,
 stem-fo~was represented by the diameter at breast height to total
 height r~tio. The four stand-closure variables, crown closure,
 total basal area, total volume and total number of stems were
 reduced to total basal area and total number of stems utilizing a
 bivariate correlation matrix by species. Site-conditions were subdivided
 into macro, meso and micro variables and reduced in number
 3
 using cross-tabulations, bivariate correlation and principal components
 analysis as screening tools. The stem-fo~/stand-closure
 relationship was examined using bivariate correlation coefficients
 for stem-fo~ with total number of stems and stem-fo~ with total
 basal area. The stem-fo~/site-conditions and the stand-closure/site-
 conditions relationships were examined using multiple correlation
 coefficients. The stem-form/stand-closure/site-conditions
 relationship was examined using multiple correlation coefficients
 in separate analyses for both total number of stems and total basal
 area.
 An increase in stand-closure produced a decrease in stem-form
 for both total number of stems and total basal area for most
 species. There was a significant relationship between stem-form
 and site-conditions and between stand-closure and site-conditions
 for both total number of stems and total basal area for most
 species. There was a significant relationship between the stemform
 and site-conditions, including the stand-closure, for most
 species; total number of stems was involved independently of the
 site-conditions in the prediction of stem-form and total basal area
 was not. Larix laricina and Betula papyrifera were the exceptions
 to the trends observed with most species.
 The influence of both stand-closure (total number of stems in
 particular) and site-conditions (elevation in particular) suggest
 that forest management practices should include these- ecological
 parameters in determining appropriate restocking levels.
￼},
	url = {https://dr.library.brocku.ca/handle/10464/2191},
	author = {Jaques, Kathleen E.}
}
