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Rubén’s work focuses on different areas of expertise:

– Empirical modelling of tree properties that may have an impact on the timber properties of commercial species in Great Britain. Examples of this are the study of knot geometry, climate-driven cracking, and tree allometry under wind exposure.

– Construction of empirical dynamic models in collaboration with the Forest mensuration modelling and forecasting group of FR. The new generation of top height models for major species in Great Britain or a new growth model for improved Sitka spruce are the results of these efforts.

– Forest mensuration through aerial and terrestrial LiDAR and photogrammetry techniques through the adaptation of methods and algorithms to the reality of British forestry. Some ongoing projects in this respect include volume and taper mensuration and natural regeneration assessment in Sitka spruce.

– Participation in projects with partners and colleagues from Spain, France, Canada and Brazil in areas related to empirical modelling and forest inventory, with special focus on uncertainty assessments, lifetime analysis and development of statistical methods for forestry applications.

Rubén joined Forest Research in November 2016. He obtained his PhD degree from the Technical University of Madrid (Spain) in 2013. From 2013 to 2016, he worked in the INRA – Nancy (France). Most of Rubén’s research has focused on empirical modelling for forestry applications, forest inventory and uncertainty assessment.

Affiliations

Member of the Spanish Society of Forest Sciences

Member of the Computer-Aided Projection of Strategies in Silviculture (CAPSIS) community

Support Scientist (data analyst)
Silviculture and wood properties

NRS

Northern Research Station

Bush Estate

Roslin

Scotland

Related Research

Research

Knot Measurement & Modelling Using CT Scanning

Knot Measurement & Modelling Using CT Scanning

Status current

Related Publications

Publication

Diameter, height and volume increment single tree models for improved Sitka spruce in Great Britain

The British forestry sector lacks reliable dynamic growth models for stands of improved Sitka spruce, the most important commercial forest type in Great Britain. The aim of this study is to fill this gap by trialling a new modelling framework and to lay the foundations of a future dynamic growth simulator for that forest type. […]

Published

Publication

Simultaneous estimation of Pinus nigra Arn. ssp. salzmannii natural regeneration emergence and survival through lifetime analysis

We developed a climatic sensitive model to simultaneously estimate the emergence and survival of Corsican pine natural regeneration in Spain through lifetime analysis. This work is highly relevant for managing the species in a context of climate change. Our modelling approach represents a breakthrough in the state of the art of lifetime analysis.

Published
Dynamic top height models for several major forest tree species in Great Britain

New dynamic top height models for 10 major species in Great Britain for pure, even-aged stands

Peer reviewed journal articles

Peer reviewed papers

Manso, R., Ligot, G., Fortin, M., 2019a. A recruitment model for beech–oak pure and mixed stands in Belgium. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research cpz056. https://doi.org/10.1093/foresj/cpz056

Manso, R., McLean, J.P., Ash, A., Achim, A., 2019b. Estimation of individual knot volumes by mixed-effects modelling. Can. J. For. Res. 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2019-0038

de-Dios-García, J., Manso, R., Calama, R., Fortin, M., Pardos, M., 2018. A new multifactorial approach for studying intraannual secondary growth dynamics in Mediterranean mixed forests: Integrating biotic and abiotic interactions. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2017-0139

Manso, R., Calama, R., Pardos, M., Fortin, M., 2018a. A maximum likelihood estimator for left-truncated lifetimes based on probabilistic prior information about time of occurrence. Journal of Applied Statistics 45, 2107–2127. https://doi.org/10.1080/02664763.2017.1410527

Manso, R., Ningre, F., Fortin, M., 2018b. Simultaneous Prediction of Plot-Level and Tree-Level Harvest Occurrences with Correlated Random Effects. Forest Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxy015

Pichancourt, J.-B., Manso, R., Ningre, F., Fortin, M., 2018. A carbon accounting tool for complex and uncertain greenhouse gas emission life cycles. Environmental Modelling & Software 107, 158–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.06.005

Calama, R., Manso, R., Lucas-Borja, M.E., Espelta, J.M., Piqué, M., Bravo, F., Del Peso, C., Pardos, M., 2017. Natural regeneration in Iberian pines: A review of dynamic processes and proposals for management. Forest Systems 26, eR02S. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2017262-11255

Fortin, M., Manso, R., Schneider, R., 2017. Parametric bootstrap estimators for hybrid inference in forest inventories. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpx048

Kebbi-Benkeder, Z., Manso, R., Gérardin, P., Dumaray, S., Chopard, B., Colin, F., 2017. Knot extractives: a model for analysing the eco-physiological factors that control the within and between-tree variability. Trees 31, 1619–1633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1573-z

Melo, L., Schneider, R., Manso, R., Saucier, J.-P., Fortin, M., 2017. Using survival analysis to predict the harvesting of forest stands in Quebec, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2016-0498

Colet, C., Manso, R., Barbeito, I. 2017. Coexistence, association and competitive ability of Quercus petraea and Quercus robur seedlings in naturally regenerated mixed stands. Forest Ecology and Management, DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2017.01.021

Calama, R., Fortin, M., Pardos, M., Manso. R. 2017. Modelling spatiotemporal dynamics of Pinus pinea cone infestation by Dioryctria mendacella. Forest Ecology and Management, 389:136-148, DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.12.015

Fortin, M., Manso, R., Calama, R. (2016). Hybrid estimation based on mixed-effects models in forest inventories. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 46(11), DOI:10.1139/cjfr-2016-0298

Fortin, M., Robert, N., Manso, R. (2016). Uncertainty assessment of large-scale forest growth predictions based on a transition-matrix model in Catalonia. Annals of Forest Science. DOI: 10.1007/s13595-016-0538-5

Manso, R., Morneau, F., Ningre, F., Fortin, M. (2015a). Incorporating stochasticity from extreme climatic events and multi-species competition relationships into single-tree mortality models. Forest Ecology and Management 354:243-253,DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2015.06.008

Manso, R., Morneau, F., Ningre, F., Fortin, M. (2015b). Effect of climate and intra- and inter-specific competition on diameter increment in beech and oak stands. Forestry, DOI:10.1093/forestry/cpv020

Ruano, I., Manso, R., Fortin, M., Bravo, F. (2015) Extreme climate conditions limit seed availability to successfully attain natural regeneration of Pinus pinaster in sandy areas of Central Spain. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45 (12)

Calama, R, Puértolas, J., Manso, R., Pardos, M (2015) Defining the optimal regeneration niche for Pinus pinea L. through physiology-based models for seedling survival and carbon assimilation. Trees 29 (6)

Keyes, CR., Manso, R. (2015) Climate-influenced ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) seed masting trends in western Montana, USA. Forest Systems 24 (1)

Ledo, A., Cayuela, L., Manso, R., Condes S. (2015) Recruitment patterns and potential mechanisms of community assembly in an Andean cloud forest. Journal of Vegetation Science 26 (5), DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12287

Calama, R., Manso, R., Barbeito, I., Madrigal, G., Gordo, J., Montero, G., Cañellas, I., Pardos, M. 2015. Do inter-specific differences in seed size determine natural regeneration traits in Pinus pinea and Pinus sylvestris?. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 13(2):387-404, DOI: 10.15666/aeer/1302_387404

Manso, R., Pardos, M., and Calama, R. (2014). Climatic factors control rodent seed predation in Pinus pinea L. stands in Central Spain. Annals of Forest Science, 71(8):873-883

Manso, R., Pukkala, T., Pardos, M., Miina, J., and Calama, R. (2014). Modelling Pinus pinea forest management to attain natural regeneration under present and future climatic scenarios. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 44(3):250-262

Manso, R., Calama, R., Madrigal, G., and Pardos, M. (2013). A silviculture-oriented spatiotemporal model for germination in Pinus pinea L. in the Spanish Northern Plateau based on a direct seeding experiment. European Journal of Forest Research, 132(5-6):969-982

Manso, R., Fortin, M., Calama, R., and Pardos, M. (2013). Modelling seed germination in forest tree species through survival analysis. The Pinus pinea L. case study. Forest Ecology and Management, 289:515-524

Manso, R., Pardos, M., Keyes, C. R., and Calama, R. (2012). Modelling the spatio-temporal pattern of primary dispersal in stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) stands in the Northern Plateau (Spain). Ecological Modelling, 226:11-21

Book chapters

Calama, R., Madrigal, G. Manso, R., Garriga, E., Gordo, F.J., Pardos, M. 2012. Germinación, emergencia y supervivencia de regenerado en Pinus pinea L. In Gordo, F.J., Calama, R., Pardos, M., Bravo, F., Montero, G. (eds) La regeneración natural de los pinares en los arenales de la Meseta Castellana Instituto. Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible. Universidad de Valladolid-INIA, Valladolid [in Spanish]

Madrigal, G., Pardos, M., and Garriga, E., Montero, G., Manso, R., Calama, R. 2012. Sitios de ensayo INIA de regeneración natural de Pinus pinea L. In Gordo, F.J., Calama, R., Pardos, M., Bravo, F., Montero, G. (eds) La regeneración natural de los pinares en los arenales de la Meseta Castellana Instituto. Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible. Universidad de Valladolid-INIA, Valladolid [in Spanish]

Manso, R., Calama, R., Madrigal, G., Garriga, E., De Blas, S., Gordo, F.J., Pardos, M. 2012. Dispersión primaria, dispersión secundaria y predación post-dispersión en Pinus pinea L. In Gordo, F.J., Calama, R., Pardos, M., Bravo, F., Montero, G. (eds) La regeneración natural de los pinares en los arenales de la Meseta Castellana Instituto. Universitario de Investigación en Gestión Forestal Sostenible. Universidad de Valladolid-INIA, Valladolid [in Spanish]

Other publications

Manso, R. 2014. Modelo integral de regeneración natural para Pinus pinea L. en la meseta norte (España) / An integral model for natural regeneration of Pinus pinea L. in the northern plateau (Spain). Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales, 40:215-218

Software

Fortin, M. Manso, R. 2013. Mathilde: A distance-independent model for European beech and sessile oak under even-aged management.[in French]