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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

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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    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
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    Y1  - 2015/07/29
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    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
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    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
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Author Information
  • Department of Forest and Wood Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa

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