PARENT SESSION
Poster Session # 2: Statistical Ecology and Ecological Modeling.

Monday, August 4 Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. SITCC Exhibit Hall B.

Modeling white fir site productivity in southwestern USA: Parameter prediction and guide curve methods.

McKelvey, Stephen¹, Parysow, Pablo^*,1, Mathiasen, Robert¹, ¹ Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

ABSTRACT- The objective of this study was to model site productivity for Rocky Mountain white fir in Arizona and New Mexico. For that purpose, we developed site index models and curves using both the parameter prediction and guide curve methods. Site index is commonly used in growth and yield models to project forest stands under alternative management scenarios. We collected stem analysis data from 91 white fir trees to carry out the parameter prediction method. We also used the height and age of 1,054 white fir trees to apply the guide curve method. We compared the white fir site index curves produced by the parameter prediction and guide curve methods. In addition, we compared the site index curves for white fir and Douglas fir growing in Arizona and New Mexico, using the guide curve method for both species.

Key words: site productivity, white fir, site index