@article{fdi:010065348,
  title = {{S}hould tree biomass allometry be restricted to power models ?},
  author = {{P}icard, {N}. and {R}utishauser, {E}. and {P}loton, {P}ierre and {N}gomanda, {A}. and {H}enry, {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he increasing number of model types that are used to predict tree biomass from diameter, height and wood density has brought questioning about the biological relevance of complex allometries (i.e. non-power models). {S}tatistical issues such as collinearity among predictors and unreliable coefficient estimates have also been associated with complex allometric models. {U}sing a data set of 225 trees from central {A}frica, we assessed the relevance of simple allometry (i.e. power model) versus complex allometry to predict tree biomass. {A} complex allometric model of biomass was developed based on a model of resource partition between dbh and height growths. {A}lthough being a good model for biomass prediction, the power model was outperformed by the complex allometric model. {A} careful examination showed that the power model could be segmented into two pieces of power models. {U}sing tree diameter and height as separated predictors improved the biomass prediction, irrespective of the collinearity between these two predictors. {A} critical value of 25% for the {PRSE} statistic used to assess the reliability of coefficient estimates corresponded to a significance level of 10(-5)-10(-4) and was thus unreasonably low. {W}e conclude that growth theories should be developed to explain allometric models, but that the arbitration between these models should ultimately rely on observed data, not on theories.},
  keywords = {{A}llometry ; {C}arbon allocation ; {P}ower model ; {S}egmented regression ; {T}ree ; biomass ; {T}ropical forest},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}orest {E}cology and {M}anagement},
  volume = {353},
  numero = {},
  pages = {156--163},
  ISSN = {0378-1127},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.foreco.2015.05.035},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010065348},
}