Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape, such as a tree's stem diameter, height and crown size, underpin a wide range of ecological research—from developing and testing theory on forest structure and dynamics, to estimating forest carbon stocks and their uncertainties, and integrating remote sensing imagery into forest monitoring programmes. However, these data can be surprisingly hard to come by, particularly for...

Remote sensing is revolutionizing the way we study forests, and recent technological advances mean we are now able – for the first time – to identify and measure the crown dimensions of individual trees from airborne imagery. Yet to make full use of these data for quantifying forest carbon stocks and dynamics, a new generation of allometric tools which have tree height and crown size at their centre are needed. Here, we compil...

Information on the relative abundance of early and late-successional species in presettlement forests is useful in formulating management plans that emulate natural processes. In northern Maine, early 19th century land surveys have suggested a low proportion of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and other fire-adapted species. A recent article in this journal proposed a much higher abundance of pine based on lumber production...