| Tree- and stand-level leaf area (LA)—stemwood volume growth relationships were explored in mixed-species, multi-aged northern conifer stands dominated by Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. (eastern hemlock), Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (balsam fir), and Picea rubens Sarg. (red spruce). A T. canadensis LA model was developed to supplement published equations for A. balsamea and P. rubens. Sapwood area was an effective T. canadensis LA surrogate, though nonsapwood-based models using stem cross-sectional area and modified live crown ratio produced results comparable to sapwood-based models.; Equations for predicting tree-level stemwood volume increment (AVINC) were derived, and implied growth efficiencies (GE) were used to assess magnitude and pattern of GE change between strata and species. AVINC was effectively modeled using LA alone, and the slightly peaking GE -... |
