Classification of canopy, stem, crown status and climber infestation in natural tropical forest in Nigeria.
Abstract
D.b.h., canopy status, stem form, crown form and climber infestation were measured at intervals over a 14-yr period for trees of Khaya ivorensis and Sterculia rhinopetala growing in the Idanre Forest Reserve, Nigeria. Initial b.a. accounted for 54-60% of b.a. increment (b.a.i.) variation in K. ivorensis and 26-37% in S. rhinopetala. Regression analyses showed that initial climber infestation was significantly related to b.a.i. in S. rhinopetala. Classification by stem form and, to a lesser extent, by canopy status, improved the prediction of b.a.i. in K. ivorensis. The correlations between successive increments did not diminish substantially over the 14-yr period.