Compatible models to predict tree crown ratio, crown length and height to the base of the crown for maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.)

Key message 

This paper provides individual tree models to estimate crown variables in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.). The estimation of crown variables, especially height to the base of the crown and crown length, is essential for forest fire simulators that require the calculation of canopy bulk density, a measure that relates leaf weight and canopy volume.

Keywords
Crown variables; Exponential model; Weibull function; Seemingly unrelated regression; Pinus pinaster Aiton

Publication
Pavel, M.A., Barreiro, S. & Tomé, M. Compatible models to predict tree crown ratio, crown length and height to the base of the crown for maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.). Annals of Forest Science 82, 42 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-025-01311-9

Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available in the GitHub repository of ForChange-CEF: https://github.com/ForChange-CEF/ModellingCrownVarMaritimePine_DataScriptExamples/tree/main/ModCrownVar. A description of the data can be found in Pavel MAA, Barreiro S, Tomé M (2025) Modelling crown variables for maritime pine in Portugal: data and script examples, ForChange Technical Publication TP01-2025, Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon. pp5, available in the same GitHub repository in pdf format.

Handling editor
Ignacio J. Diaz-Maroto