@article{fdi:010073090,
  title = {{C}anopy area of large trees explains aboveground biomass variations across neotropical forest landscapes},
  author = {{M}eyer, {V}. and {S}aatchi, {S}. and {C}lark, {D}. {B}. and {K}eller, {M}. and {V}incent, {G}r{\'e}goire and {F}erraz, {A}. and {E}spirito-{S}anto, {F}. and d'{O}liveira, {M}. {V}. {N}. and {K}aki, {D}. and {C}have, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}arge tropical trees store significant amounts of carbon in woody components and their distribution plays an important role in forest carbon stocks and dynamics. {H}ere, we explore the properties of a new lidar-derived index, the large tree canopy area ({LCA}) defined as the area occupied by canopy above a reference height. {W}e hypothesize that this simple measure of forest structure representing the crown area of large canopy trees could consistently explain the landscape variations in forest volume and aboveground biomass ({AGB}) across a range of climate and edaphic conditions. {T}o test this hypothesis, we assembled a unique dataset of high-resolution airborne light detection and ranging (lidar) and ground inventory data in nine undisturbed old-growth {N}eotropical forests, of which four had plots large enough (1 ha) to calibrate our model. {W}e found that the {LCA} for trees greater than 27 m (similar to 25-30 m) in height and at least 100 m(2) crown size in a unit area (1 ha), explains more than 75% of total forest volume variations, irrespective of the forest biogeographic conditions. {W}hen weighted by average wood density of the stand, {LCA} can be used as an unbiased estimator of {AGB} across sites ({R}-2 = 0.78, {RMSE} = 46.02 {M}g ha(-1), bias = -0.63 {M}g ha(-1)). {U}nlike other lidar-derived metrics with complex nonlinear relations to biomass, the relationship between {LCA} and {AGB} is linear and remains unique across forest types. {A} comparison with tree inventories across the study sites indicates that {LCA} correlates best with the crown area (or basal area) of trees with diameter greater than 50 cm. {T}he spatial invariance of the {LCA}-{AGB} relationship across the {N}eotropics suggests a remarkable regularity of forest structure across the landscape and a new technique for systematic monitoring of large trees for their contribution to {AGB} and changes associated with selective logging, tree mortality and other types of tropical forest disturbance and dynamics.},
  keywords = {{BRESIL} ; {PANAMA} ; {COLOMBIE} ; {COSTA} {RICA} ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}iogeosciences},
  volume = {15},
  numero = {11},
  pages = {3377--3390},
  ISSN = {1726-4170},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.5194/bg-15-3377-2018},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010073090},
}