Finite mixture model for the application in forestry

摘要

Finite mixture model (FMM) has been used extensively to fit such distribution in different study fields including medicine, biology, fisheries, forestry, environmental science, engineering, and economics. This study compares three diameter distribution models to fit mixed-species forest stands using four example plots with two or three species components in Daxing'an Mountain P.R. China. Our results indicated that the FMM models are more flexible to describe highly skewed and irregular diameter distributions for the whole plot, as well as provide the acceptable estimation for each species component and the mixing proportions. Thus, the FMM models can be a useful tool for effectively managing mixed-species forest stands.