Old-Growth Redwood Biomass and Productivity, 1972-2001

Above-ground total tree biomass in an old Sequoia sempervirens stand at Bull Creek was extremely high, exceeding 300,000 g/m². Productivity was studied via tree re-measurement in 1972 and 2001, with above-ground net primary production (ANPP) estimates ranging from 600 to 1,400 g/m²/yr. The dataset contains site characteristics, stand descriptors, and calculated biomass, ANPP, and woody detritus input data.

Use Cases

• Calibrating allometric models for tree volume and biomass based on tree circumference measurements.
• Analyzing long-term changes in forest stand structure using re-measurement data from 1972 and 2001.
• Estimating carbon sequestration potential in coastal redwood ecosystems using ANPP and biomass values.
• Studying the impact of tree mortality on net primary production over a multi-decadal period.

Strengths

• Provides a 29-year longitudinal study of tree growth and mortality (1972-2001).
• Includes specific quantitative estimates for key ecological metrics, such as ANPP (700-1000 g/m²/yr) and biomass (>300,000 g/m²).
• Data files have been checked for accuracy and are identical to the original 2005 publication.

Limitations

• Column names and the exact number of rows are not specified in the provided metadata.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between platforms (2001 vs. 2026), suggesting metadata may be inconsistent.
• The dataset is limited to a single, specific old-growth stand, which may limit generalizability.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Tree re-measurement and allometric relationships, with procedures outlined by Busing and Fujimori (2005).

Time Range

1972-2001

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:40:22.507564

Geography

Bull Creek in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California, USA