Department of Forest Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Doi
Abstract
Here we developed a simple linear model to estimate white spruce bark thickness in the northern forests of Alaska. Data were
collected from six areas throughout interior and southcentral Alaska. Geographic variation of bark thickness was tested between
the Alaska statewide model and for each geographic area. The results show that the Alaska statewide model is accurate, simple, and
robust, and has no practical geographic variation over the six areas. The model provides accurate estimates of the bark thickness for
white spruce trees in Alaska for a wide array of future studies, and it is in demand by landowners and forest managers to support
their management decisions.We are obligated to Carol E. Lewis and Edmond C. Packee
for supporting this bark thickness research. This research was
also supported in part by the United States Department of
Agriculture, McIntire-Stennis Act Fund ALK-03-12, and by
the School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences,
University of Alaska Fairbanks.We thank the associate editor,
Han Chen, and an anonymous reviewer for their helpful
comments