FHM Crown Classification

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FIA Crown Classification
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Why Crowns?

• To assess individuals, stands or watersheds
• To indicate vigor and growth potential
• To help measure net primary production
• To determine basic structural architecture of
  forests
• To assess affects on understory flora and fauna

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Why Crowns?

• Health is reflected in crowns
• Specialists look for
• Damage from insects or diseases to foliage,
  branches, or stem
• Dieback
• Cankers, wounds
• Survival and growth

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Use Of Crown Data
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FIA Crown Classification

• Consistency, repeatability
• Among field people
• Among crews
• Among states, regions
• MQOs
• Certification

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Size Classes of Trees

• Seedlings
• gt1 inch DBH and 6 inches (conifer) or 1 foot
  (hardwood) tall
• No P3 variables
• Saplings
• 1 inch to 4.9 inches DBH
• Several variables
• Trees
• 5.0 inches DBH
• Several variables

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FIA Plot Configuration
Subplot-trees
Microplot-saplings
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Definitions

• Live branch
• Woody lateral growth supporting foliage and
  larger than 1 inch at the base just above the
  swelling where it joins the main (crown) stem.

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Definitions

• Twig
• Woody lateral growth with secondary branching
  and less than 1 inch in diameter at the point of
  attachment to a branch or crown stem.

10
Definitions

• Sprig
• Woody or non-woody lateral growth without
  secondary branching and less than 1 inch

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Definitions

• Snag branch
• Dead upper crown branches without fine twigs.

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Definitions

• Epicormic branches
• Woody or non-woody lateral growths, usually on
  the bole or crown stem and initiated by sudden
  exposure or loss of crown stem.

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Definitions, saplings

• Normal foliage
• Individual leaves have lt50 of the surface area
  affected by a damage agent.

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Definitions, saplings

• Abnormal foliage
• Individual leaves have gt50 of the surface area
  affected by a damage agent.
• Note, for saplings, foliage missing from dieback
  areas is considered abnormal--more later.

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Overstory Canopy Zone

• The area delineated by the average live crown
  length used to determine uncompacted live crown
  ratio for overstory trees.
• The bottom of the zone is the average height of
  the live crown bases.
• The top of the zone is the average height for the
  live crown tops.

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Overstory Canopy Zone
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Crown Measurements Require

• A calibrated eye
• 2 Certified crown raters working as a crew
• A positive attitude
• Good weather and daylight

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Viewing the Crown
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Viewing the Crown
DONT stand under the tree to make your ratings.
DONT stand at 180o from your partner.
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We Need Two Views Of Every Crown!
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Saplings
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Crown Variables

• Saplings
• Uncompacted live crown ratio
• Crown light exposure
• Crown position
• Vigor class

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Codes

• Crown Light Exposure
• Codes 0 to 5
• Crown Position
• Codes 1 4
• Sapling Vigor
• Codes 1 - 3

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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Saplings

• What is UNCOMPACTED LIVE CROWN RATIO?
• The percentage of ACTUAL live tree length
  supporting live foliage that is effectively
  contributing to tree growth and maintenance.

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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
X/Y(100)
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Saplings

• Determine the live top of the tree (dieback
  dead branches excluded)
• Determine the base of the live crown (include the
  foliage on the lowest foliated twig ignore any
  sprigs)
• Determine the ACTUAL LENGTH of the tree
• Determine the ratio of the live crown height to
  the actual live tree length
• Agree on the best answer with your partner or
  average and record

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Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
X/Y(100)
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Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
X
Y
X/Y(100)
Remember to use ACTUAL LENGTH when determining
uncompacted live crown ratio.
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Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
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Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
15
Include dieback in actual length Include leafed
twigs Exclude sprigs
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Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
All epicormic sprigs crown gone due to
damage/dieback ULCR 00
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Crown Light Exposure

• The number of sides (the top is a side, too) of a
  tree crown that would receive sunlight if the sun
  were directly overhead.

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Crown Light Exposure
Code Definition
0 Tree receives no light because it is shaded by trees, vines or other vegetation or has no crown by definition
1 Tree receives light on top or 1 side
2 Tree receives light on top and 1 side, or on 2 sides
3 Tree receives light on top and 2 sides, or on 3 sides
4 Tree receives light on top and 3 sides, or on 4 sides
5 Tree receives light on top and all 4 sides
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Crown Light Exposure

• Divide the sapling/tree vertically into 4 sides
• Divide the crown in such a way that as many sides
  as possible receive full light
• To qualify a side must have an ULCR of 35 or
  more and the entire side (25 of the crown
  circumference) must receive full light
• Count the number of sides that would receive
  light from directly overhead
• Add 1 for the top if it receives any light
• Trees with an ULCR of lt35 can only have an
  exposure of 0 or 1

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Crown Light Exposure
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Crown Light Exposure
In this case, the code for exposure would be 2
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Crown Light Exposure
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Crown Light Exposure
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Sapling/Tree Crown Position

• The relative position of each tree in relation to
  the main overstory canopy

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Sapling/Tree Crown Position

• 2 Conditions (gt 1 acre in size)
• gt50 crown cover
• 1Superstory (Never for saplings)
• 2Overstory
• 3Understory
• lt50 crown cover
• 4Open grown (all saplings/trees)

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Overstory Canopy Zone
gt50 crown cover
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
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Overstory Canopy Zone
(Most will be coded 5 for crown light exposure)
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Overstory Canopy Zone
All coded 4
(Most will be coded 5 for crown light exposure)
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Sapling Vigor Class - Factors

• Uncompacted live crown ratio (as before)
• Dieback
• Must occur on the upper 50 and outer portion of
  the crown to be counted
• Qualifies as damaged foliage, i.e. the foliage
  that would have been there contributes to the
  percentage of damaged foliage
• Damaged foliage
• 50 damage on each individual leaf
• Judged as a percentage of all the foliage
• Normal foliage is the inverse percentage

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Sapling Vigor Class

• Assigned to all tally saplings to assess health
  and vitality
• Vigor Class 1
• Must have ULCR of 35 or more
• Must have less than 5 dieback
• Must have 80 or more normal foliage (lt20
  damaged)
• Vigor Class 2
• Can have any ULCR
• Normal foliage from 21-100
• May or may not have dieback
• Vigor Class 3
• Can have any ULCR
• Must have 20 or less normal foliage

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Sapling Vigor Class 1
50
35
ULCR 35 or more, lt 5 dieback, gt80 normal
foliage
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Sapling Vigor Class 3
15
Any ULCR, Any dieback, lt20 normal foliage
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Sapling Vigor Class 2
15
65
Any ULCR, lt80 dieback, 21-100 normal foliage
50
Sapling Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio
ULCR 75 Vigor Class 1
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Saplings,Dead Foliage is Damaged
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Saplings,Damaged Foliage?
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Saplings,Damaged Foliage?
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Saplings,Damaged Foliage?
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Saplings
ULCR 80 Vigor Class 1
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Saplings
ULCR 75 Vigor Class 1
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Saplings
ULCR 80 Vigor Class 1
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Saplings
ULCR 40 Vigor Class 1
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Saplings
ULCR 70 Vigor Class 2
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Saplings
ULCR 60 Vigor Class 3
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Saplings
ULCR 75 Vigor Class 1
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Trees
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Crown Variables

• Trees
• Uncompacted live crown ratio
• Crown light exposure
• Crown position
• Crown density
• Crown dieback
• Foliage transparency

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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees

• The percentage of actual live tree length
  supporting live foliage that is effectively
  contributing to tree growth and maintenance.

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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees

• Determine the live top of the tree (dieback
  dead branches excluded)
• Determine the base of the live crown (Go to the
  lowest foliage include all branches that are
  part of the obvious live crown such that most
  of the crown is included apply the 5 foot/1 inch
  rule as necessary)
• Determine the ACTUAL LENGTH of the tree
• Determine the ratio of the uncompacted live crown
  to the actual length of the tree
• Agree on best answer with your partner or average
  and record

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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees
Obvious live crown include most of the foliage
and branches go to the lowest foliage.
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees
5 foot, 1 inch Rule
If a 1 inch branch is attached less than 5 foot
from the obvious base include it.
lt5 foot
gt1 inch
Go to the lowest foliage
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees

• 5 foot, 1 inch Rule

lt5 feet include
New Live Crown Base
gt5 feet exclude
gt1 inch
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Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio, Trees
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Crown Light Exposure

• The number of sides (the top is a side, too) of a
  tree crown that would receive sunlight if the sun
  were directly overhead.

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Crown Light Exposure
Code Definition
0 Tree receives no light because it is shaded by trees, vines or other vegetation or has no crown by definition
1 Tree receives light on top or 1 side
2 Tree receives light on top and 1 side, or on 2 sides
3 Tree receives light on top and 2 sides, or on 3 sides
4 Tree receives light on top and 3 sides, or on 4 sides
5 Tree receives light on top and all 4 sides
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Crown Light Exposure

• Divide the sapling/tree vertically into 4 sides
• Divide the crown in such a way that as many sides
  as possible receive full light
• To qualify a side must have an ULCR of 35 or
  more and the entire side (25 of the crown
  circumference) must receive full light
• Count the number of sides that would receive
  light from directly overhead
• Add 1 for the top if it receives any light
• Trees with an ULCR of lt35 can only have an
  exposure of 0 or 1

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Crown Light Exposure
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Crown Light Exposure
In this case, the code for exposure would be 2
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Crown Light Exposure
80
Crown Light Exposure
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Sapling/Tree Crown Position

• The relative position of each tree in relation to
  the main overstory canopy

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Sapling/Tree Crown Position

• 2 Conditions (gt 1 acre in size)
• gt50 crown cover
• 1Superstory (Never for saplings)
• 2Overstory
• 3Understory
• lt50 crown cover
• 4Open grown (all saplings/trees)

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Overstory Canopy Zone
gt50 crown cover
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
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Overstory Canopy Zone
(Most will be coded 5 for crown light exposure)
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Overstory Canopy Zone
All coded 4
(Most will be coded 5 for crown light exposure)
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Crown Density

• The amount of crown branches, foliage, and
  reproductive structures that block light
  visibility through the crown

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Codes

• Crown density, crown dieback and foliage
  transparency
• 00 No Crown
• 05 1-5
• 10 6-10
• 99 95-100

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Crown Density Procedure

• Identify the base of the live crown used for ULCR
• Mentally project a symmetrical normal crown
  shape for that tree on that site, outlining the
  crown from branch tip to branch tip above the
  live crown base, including foliated, dead, and
  missing portions of the crown
• Within the crown outline, estimate the percent of
  sunlight being blocked by all parts of the crown
• Agree on the best answer with your partner or
  average and record

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Crown Density
90
Crown Density
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Crown Density
Density 50 (½ 100, ½ 0)
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Crown Density
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Crown Density
Include dead branches, dieback and/or missing top
Include gaps for symmetry
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Crown Density
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Crown Density
Density 65
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Crown Density
Density 55
97
Crown Density
Density 35
98
Crown Density
Dead, no density estimate necessary!
If there was some green, then.
Density 20
99
Crown Density
Density 70
100
Crown Density
Oval shape
Density 65
101
Crown Density
Pyramidal shape
Density 80
102
Crown Density
Oval shapes
Density 60
Density 50
103
Crown Density
Broad, flat oval
Density 75
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Crown Dieback

• Recent mortality of branches with fine twigs
• Begins at the terminal portion of a branch and
  proceeds downward and inward towards the crown
  stem
• Only considered when in the upper and outer
  portions of the crown

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Crown Dieback Procedure

• Identify the base of the live crown used for ULCR
• Determine the outline by shrink-wrapping the
  foliated and dieback areas of the crown exclude
  snag branches and large holes
• Within the outline, estimate the percentage of
  area that is dieback
• Agree on an answer with your partner or average
  and record

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Crown Dieback
107
Crown Dieback
Recent only Fine twigs attached
108
Crown Dieback
Dieback 15
109
Crown Dieback
Dieback?
Exclude old, stubby dead
110
Crown Dieback
Dieback 15
111
Crown Dieback
Dieback 25
112
Crown Dieback
Dieback 75
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Foliage Transparency

• The amount of skylight visible through the live,
  normally foliated portion of the crown or branch.

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Foliage Transparency

• Identify the base of the live crown used for ULCR
• Determine the outline by shrink wrapping the
  foliated areas of the crown, but excluding
  dieback, vines, snag branches and large holes
• Within the outline, estimate the percent of
  sunlight being transmitted through the foliage
• Agree on an answer with your partner or average
  and record

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Foliage Transparency
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Foliage Transparency
117
Foliage Transparency
Transp 5
118
Foliage Transparency
Transp 15
119
Foliage Transparency
Transp 10-15
120
Foliage Transparency
Transp 10 Ignore dieback
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Foliage Transparency
Transp 15 Ignore dieback
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Foliage Transparency

• Rate what you feel should be present and not
  necessarily what is present.
• I.e. a recently defoliated tree should have a
  transparency of 99, not 0.

• Transp 60-70

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Foliage Transparency
Transp 20
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Foliage Transparency
Transp 15-20
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Foliage Transparency
Transp 40-50
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Foliage Transparency
Transp 10
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
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Situations
Try to separate the subject from other trees
Rate the whole crown, not just the easiest part
to see
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Situations

• Trees with no crown by definition (Epicormics
  or Sprigs only)
• After a sudden release or damage, a tree may have
  very dense foliage but no crown
• Code these trees as
• ULCR 00
• Light Exposure 0
• Position 3
• Density 00
• Dieback 99
• Transparency - 99

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MQOs
ULCR, DENS, DIE, TRANS - 10 90
LGHT -1 gt0 85
POS 0 85
VIG 0 90
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Codes
ULCR, Dens, Die Trans (5 classes) ULCR, Dens, Die Trans (5 classes)
Code
0 (or No Crown for UCLR Dens) 00
1-5 05
6-10 10
11-15 15
16-20 20
21-25 25
26-30 30