Species-specific or generic allometric equations: which option is better when estimating the biomass of Mexican tropical humid forests?

The aim of this study has been to compare the aboveground biomass (AGB) in six tropical forests in southeastern Mexico using generic and species-specific models at tree, species, and community levels. The dbh of 2,352 trees ≥10 cm was measured at 115 plots. AGB was estimated using Chave et al.’s generic model, with the most reliable specific equations extracted from the literature and online databases. Overall, we found 45 specific models applicable to 55.4% of the species present. In 30% of the species examined, there was a difference in AGB between the different methods used. Using specific equations at the community level, the estimate for AGB increased by 9.1% (<i>x</i> = 166.6 Mg ha⁻¹ ± 27.5 SD) compared to the generic model alone (<i>p</i>

本研究旨在对比墨西哥东南部6片热带森林的地上生物量（aboveground biomass, AGB），分别在单木、物种及群落三个尺度下，采用通用模型与物种特异性模型开展分析。研究于115个样地内测定了2352株胸径（dbh）≥10 cm的树木的胸径数据。地上生物量估算采用查维（Chave）等人提出的通用模型，同时从文献与在线数据库中提取可信度最高的物种特异性方程。最终共筛选得到适用于现存55.4%物种的45个特异性模型。在所考察的30%的物种中，不同方法得到的地上生物量估算结果存在差异。在群落尺度下使用物种特异性方程进行估算时，地上生物量的估算值较仅使用通用模型提升了9.1%（<i>x</i> = 166.6 Mg·ha⁻¹ ± 27.5 标准差（standard deviation, SD）），对应的p值