Abstract Despite a critical need to evaluate effectiveness of forest treatments in improving stand health, practitioners lack quantitative, repeatable metrics to assess tree vigor and stand health. We evaluated canopy and whole tree attributes of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. Ex Laws) related to carbon balance, water balance, and susceptibility to insects and pathogens in dry, pine-dominated forest stands during a multi-year drought, an environmental challenge to stand resilience. Metrics of trees in two unmanaged, and seven treated forested stands, in both uplands and lowlands to develop the quantitative approach. Whole tree and crown attributes including needle length and color, branchlet length and diameter, needle retention (needle ages and retention within ages), and frequency of insects, fungi, and abiotic needle damage were statistically selected to assess tree vigor. Cluster analysis of vigor attributes revealed that trees responded or persisted independently within a forest treatment; forest treatments did not necessarily yield similar tree responses within a stand. A rapid, qualitative assessment was developed to rank trees as low, average, and above-average vigor. To demonstrate an application of our approach, trees were ranked annually over six years in most stands, as well as in a stand where the prescription was adjusted due to the evaluation. The proportion of trees in the three tree vigor ranks differed, suggesting differing levels of stand health. Quantitative metrics and qualitative ranking of tree vigor could assist in selecting trees to be retained to meet specific management objectives, to evaluate treatment implementation, and to monitor post-treatment changes in stand health.

中文翻译：

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评估干松林树木活力和林分健康的定量和定性方法

摘要 尽管迫切需要评估森林处理在改善林分健康方面的有效性，但从业者缺乏量化、可重复的指标来评估树木活力和林分健康。我们评估了与碳平衡、水平衡以及在多年干旱期间以松树为主的干燥林分中的碳平衡、水平衡以及对昆虫和病原体的敏感性相关的黄松树冠和整棵树属性，这是一项环境挑战坚持韧性。在高地和低地的两个未管理和七个处理过的森林林分中的树木指标，以制定定量方法。整棵树和树冠的属性，包括针的长度和颜色、小枝的长度和直径、针保留（针龄和龄内保留）以及昆虫、真菌、统计选择非生物针刺损伤来评估树木活力。活力属性的聚类分析表明，树木在森林处理中独立响应或持续存在；森林处理不一定会在林分内产生类似的树木反应。开发了一种快速、定性的评估，将树木分为低、平均和高于平均水平的活力。为了展示我们方法的应用，大多数林分以及根据评估调整处方的林分在六年内每年对树木进行排名。三个树势等级中树木的比例不同，表明林分健康水平不同。树木活力的定量指标和定性排名可以帮助选择要保留的树木以满足特定的管理目标，