Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães; Thomas Seifert

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães, Thomas Seifert

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 11 July 2015 Accepted: 18 July 2015 Published: 29 July 2015

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Abstract

Frequently, biomass expansion factors (BEFs), the respective biomass densities, and their uncertainties are computed without taking into account the appropriate estimators. The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of BEF, BEF-based biomass densities, and their uncertainties using different estimators (mean-of-ratios, ratio-of-means, and regression estimators) in double sampling. Our results demonstrated that increased uncertainty is associated with regression-based biomass densities, and that the computation of BEF using merchantable timber volume should utilize regression estimators, not the usual ratio estimators, which preferably, should be avoided altogether, as they are found to be subjective and more susceptible to errors and personal judgment.

Published in	American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
Page(s)	161-170
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tree Component, Additivity, Belowground Biomass, Aboveground Biomass, Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF), Androstachys Johnsonii Prain

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Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães, Thomas Seifert. (2015). Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 3(5), 161-170. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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ACS Style

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães; Thomas Seifert. Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. Am. J. Agric. For. 2015, 3(5), 161-170. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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AMA Style

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães, Thomas Seifert. Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. Am J Agric For. 2015;3(5):161-170. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11,
  author = {Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães and Thomas Seifert},
  title = {Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {161-170},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  abstract = {Frequently, biomass expansion factors (BEFs), the respective biomass densities, and their uncertainties are computed without taking into account the appropriate estimators. The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of BEF, BEF-based biomass densities, and their uncertainties using different estimators (mean-of-ratios, ratio-of-means, and regression estimators) in double sampling. Our results demonstrated that increased uncertainty is associated with regression-based biomass densities, and that the computation of BEF using merchantable timber volume should utilize regression estimators, not the usual ratio estimators, which preferably, should be avoided altogether, as they are found to be subjective and more susceptible to errors and personal judgment.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands
AU  - Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães
AU  - Thomas Seifert
Y1  - 2015/07/29
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 161
EP  - 170
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
AB  - Frequently, biomass expansion factors (BEFs), the respective biomass densities, and their uncertainties are computed without taking into account the appropriate estimators. The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of BEF, BEF-based biomass densities, and their uncertainties using different estimators (mean-of-ratios, ratio-of-means, and regression estimators) in double sampling. Our results demonstrated that increased uncertainty is associated with regression-based biomass densities, and that the computation of BEF using merchantable timber volume should utilize regression estimators, not the usual ratio estimators, which preferably, should be avoided altogether, as they are found to be subjective and more susceptible to errors and personal judgment.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães
Thomas Seifert

Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães, Thomas Seifert. (2015). Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 3(5), 161-170. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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ACS Style

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães; Thomas Seifert. Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. Am. J. Agric. For. 2015, 3(5), 161-170. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

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AMA Style

Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães, Thomas Seifert. Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands. Am J Agric For. 2015;3(5):161-170. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11,
  author = {Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães and Thomas Seifert},
  title = {Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {161-170},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20150305.11},
  abstract = {Frequently, biomass expansion factors (BEFs), the respective biomass densities, and their uncertainties are computed without taking into account the appropriate estimators. The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of BEF, BEF-based biomass densities, and their uncertainties using different estimators (mean-of-ratios, ratio-of-means, and regression estimators) in double sampling. Our results demonstrated that increased uncertainty is associated with regression-based biomass densities, and that the computation of BEF using merchantable timber volume should utilize regression estimators, not the usual ratio estimators, which preferably, should be avoided altogether, as they are found to be subjective and more susceptible to errors and personal judgment.},
 year = {2015}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Estimates of Tree Biomass, and Its Uncertainties Through Mean-of-Ratios, Ratio-of-Means, and Regression Estimators in Double Sampling: A Comparative Study of Mecrusse Woodlands
AU  - Tarquinio Mateus Magalhães
AU  - Thomas Seifert
Y1  - 2015/07/29
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 161
EP  - 170
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20150305.11
AB  - Frequently, biomass expansion factors (BEFs), the respective biomass densities, and their uncertainties are computed without taking into account the appropriate estimators. The objective of this study was to compare the estimates of BEF, BEF-based biomass densities, and their uncertainties using different estimators (mean-of-ratios, ratio-of-means, and regression estimators) in double sampling. Our results demonstrated that increased uncertainty is associated with regression-based biomass densities, and that the computation of BEF using merchantable timber volume should utilize regression estimators, not the usual ratio estimators, which preferably, should be avoided altogether, as they are found to be subjective and more susceptible to errors and personal judgment.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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