Modelling diameter distribution of Tetraclinis articulata in Tunisia using normal and Weibull distributions with parameters depending on stand variables

doi:10.3832/ifor1688-008

Modelling diameter distribution of Tetraclinis articulata in Tunisia using normal and Weibull distributions with parameters depending on stand variables

Tahar Sghaier⁽¹⁾ , Isabel Cañellas⁽²⁾, Rafael Calama⁽²⁾, Mariola Sánchez-González⁽²⁾

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 9, Issue 5, Pages 702-709 (2016)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor1688-008
Published: May 17, 2016 - Copyright © 2016 SISEF

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of both Normal and two-parameter Weibull distributions in describing diameter distribution of Tetraclinis articulata stands in north-east Tunisia. The parameters of the Weibull function were estimated using the moments method and maximum likelihood approaches. The data used in this study came from temporary plots. The three diameter distribution models were compared firstly by estimating the parameters of the distribution directly from individual tree measurements taken in each plot (parameter estimation method), and secondly by predicting the same parameters from stand variables (parameter prediction method). The comparison was based on bias, mean absolute error, mean square error and the Reynolds’ index error (as a percentage). On the basis of the parameter estimation method, the Normal distribution gave slightly better results, whereas the Weibull distribution with the maximum likelihood approach gave the best results for the parameter prediction method. Hence, in the latter case, the Weibull distribution with the maximum likelihood approach appears to be the most suitable to estimate the parameters for reducing the different comparison criteria for the distribution of trees by diameter class in Tetraclinis articulata forests in Tunisia.

Keywords

Diameter Class Model, Normal Distribution, Weibull Distribution, Maximum Likelihood Approach, Moments Method, Tetraclinis articulata

Authors’ address

(1)

Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF), B.P. 10, Avenue Hédi Karray 2080, Ariana (Tunisia)

(2)

INIA-CIFOR, Ctra A Coruña. km 7.5, 28040 Madrid (Spain)

Corresponding author

Tahar Sghaier
sghaier.tahar@iresa.agrinet.tn

Citation

Sghaier T, Cañellas I, Calama R, Sánchez-González M (2016). Modelling diameter distribution of Tetraclinis articulata in Tunisia using normal and Weibull distributions with parameters depending on stand variables. iForest 9: 702-709. - doi: 10.3832/ifor1688-008

Academic Editor

Chris Eastaugh

Paper history

Received: Apr 25, 2015
Accepted: Dec 21, 2015

First online: May 17, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2016
Publication Time: 4.93 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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