[en] 1. Irregularly shaped trees including trees with buttresses, flutes or stilt roots are frequent in tropical forests. The lack of an international standard to measure the diameter of such trees leads to high uncertainties in biomass estimation, tree growth and carbon budget monitoring.
2. In this study, we developed a new method based on terrestrial close range photogrammetry for measuring and modeling irregular stems. This approach is cheap and easy to implement in the field as it only requires a camera and a graduated rod. We validated the approach with destructive cross section measurements along the stem of three buttressed trees. To demonstrate the broader utility of this method, we extended the validated approach to 43 additional trees belonging to two species: Celtis mildbraedii (Ulmaceae) and Entandophragma cylindricum (Meliaceae). Based on the 3D models, we computed shape indices for each tree, and we analyzed the stem morphology of the two species. Finally, we analyzed some standardized predictors for the estimation of above-ground biomass.
3. We found a high concordance between diameters derived from the photogrammetric process and destructive diameter measurements along the stem for the three calibration trees. We found that C. mildbraedii develop much stronger irregularities than E. cylindricum. We also identified a large intra-specific variation in trunk morphology for E. cylindricum. The basal area at 1.3m height (Darea130), seems to be a more robust predictor for biomass estimates (lowest AIC and RSE) than diameter measured above buttresses (DAB) or DBH estimated from available taper model. Finally, Darea130 might be estimated with a good precision (RMSE < 5 %) with linear model based on the field measurements DAB and the perimeter of the convex hull of the buttresses at 1.3 m height (Dconvhull130).
4. In this study, we showed the high potential of the photogrammetry for measuring and modeling irregular stems. Photogrammetry could then be used as a non destructive measurement tool to produce correction factors for standardizing the diameter of irregular stems at a reference height which is a key issue in tree growth monitoring and biomass change estimation.
