Principal Components Analysis of Tree Stem Profiles

1989

S. 1538-1542

3 Abb., 5 Tab., 14 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200088473

The use of principal components analysis to study tree stem profiles was critically analyzed during 1085 destructively sampled Douglas-fir trees an 1260 simulated trees with known geometric shapes. Interpretation about the meaning of each principal component is provided and constrated with others in the forestry literature. Nearly indentical results with both the destructively sampled and simulated trees, along with certain theoretical consideratons, indicate that the principal components are related to free form as opposed to tree profile or taper. Therefore, principal components analysis is a useful analytical tool for stratifying trees into different form groups.