A Gaussian multi-component model for the tree diameter distribution in old-growth forests

• Published in: European journal of forest research Vol. 137; no. 2; pp. 185 - 196
• Main Authors: Horodnic, Sergiu Andrei, Roibu, Cătălin Constantin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abies alba; Age; Beech; Biomedical and Life Sciences; cambium; Cluster analysis; Clustering; Coefficient of variation; cumulative distribution; Distribution functions; Empirical analysis; Exponential functions; Fagus; forest stands; Forestry; Forests; Goodness of fit; Herbivores; Life Sciences; Mathematical models; Mixed forests; mixed stands; Mountains; Normal distribution; Normality; old-growth forests; Original Paper; Parameter estimation; Plant Ecology; Plant growth; Plant Sciences; Probability density functions; probability distribution; Probability distribution functions; Romania; Root-mean-square errors; Statistical analysis; tree and stand measurements; Trees; Vector quantization; Romania; Uneven aged; Old growth; Gaussian multi-component; Forest structure; Diameter distribution; Mixture distribution

The old-growth forests are characterized by multi-aged structures for which the De Liocourt model with the Meyer negative exponential function is the most common descriptor of tree diameter distributions. In this study, we put forward a mixture of Gaussian functions model for describing the diameter...