Estimating the Carbon in Coarse Woody Debris with Perpendicular Distance Sampling

Abstract

Perpendicular distance sampling (PDS) is a design for sampling the population of pieces of coarse woody debris (logs) in a forested tract. In application, logs are selected at sample points with probability proportional to volume. Consequently, aggregate log volume per unit land area can be estimated from tallies of logs at sample points. In this chapter we provide protocols and formulae for estimating the carbon in coarse woody debris with PDS. We also provide formulae for estimating components of change in the log population between two points in time.