Changes in spatial distribution during the life history of a tropical tree,Scaphium macropodum (Sterculiaceae) in borneo

We studied the spatial distribution of fruits and plants, mortality and growth rates ofScaphium macropodum (Sterculiaceae) in four 1-ha plots in a tropical rain forest in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The species is a large deciduous tree and produces wind-dispersed fruits on defoliated twigs. The density of dispersed fruits on the ground decreased with increasing distance from a parent tree. The area under the parent's crown had the highest density of the fruits and the highest mortality of the seedlings immediately after germination. Consequently, the density of the established seedlings peaked 14 m from the tree which is outside its crown. Thick litter mainly from the parent tree seemed to physically prevent the seedlings' root from reaching the soil surface and caused the high mortality. Juvenile and mature trees distributed exclusively, suggesting that regeneration is the most successful outside of the crown of mature trees. Saplings under canopy shade did not grow well.Scaphium macropodum is hypothesized to require a gap for seedling growth and successful regeneration, whereas it can germinate and last under closed canopies as suppressed seedlings or saplings.     

Roots,soil water and crop yield: tree crop interactions in a semi-arid agroforestry system in Kenya

Variations in soil water, crop yield and fine roots of 3–4 year-old Grevillea robusta Cunn. and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. growing in association with maize (Zea mays L.) were examined in semiarid Kenya during the long rains of 1996 and 1997. Even although tree roots penetrated more deeply than maize roots, maximum root length densities for both tree species and maize occurred in the top 200 mm of the soil profile where soil moisture was frequently recharged by rains. Populations of roots in plots containing trees were dominated by tree roots at the beginning of the growing season but because tree roots died and maize root length increased during the cropping season, amounts of tree and maize roots were similar at the end of the season. Thus, there was evidence of temporal separation of root activity between species, but there was no spatial separation of the rooting zones of the trees and crops within that part of the soil profile occupied by crop roots. Tree root length density declined with increasing distances from rows of trees and with depth in the soil profile. Although Grevillea trees were largest, plots containing G. sepium trees always contained more tree roots than plots containing G. robusta trees and Gliricidia was more competitive with maize than Grevillea. Overall, Gliricidia reduced crop yield by about 50% and Grevillea by about 40% relative to crop yield in control plots lacking trees and reductions of crop yield were greatest close to trees. There was less soil moisture in plots containing trees than in control plots. Such difference between control plots and plots containing trees were maximal at the end of the dry season and there was always less soil moisture close to trees than elsewhere in the plots. Plots containing Gliricidia trees contained less soil water than plots containing Grevillea trees.     

Above- and below-ground characteristics associated with wind toppling in a young Populus plantation

 Damage from a dormant-season windstorm in a 3-year-old Populus research trial differed among four clones and three spacings and between monoclonal and polyclonal plots. Clonal differences in susceptibility to toppling (or leaning) were associated with both above- and below-ground characteristics. Susceptible clones had less taper in the lower stem and more weight in branches on the upper stem. The most susceptible clone also had the most above-ground biomass per unit of cross-sectional root area. The other susceptible clone had the least root system development in the windward quadrants. Wind toppling was least at the closest spacing. Apparently, mutual support was more important than individual tree characteristics from which the most damage would be expected at the closest spacing. Differences between paired trees of the same clone and spacing which did or did not topple were primarily associated with distribution of root systems by compass quadrant or depth. At the closest spacing where crown sway would have been minimized, trees which did not topple had greater cross-sectional root area in the windward direction than trees which did topple. At the widest spacing where crown sway would have been greatest, windfirm trees had greater cross-sectional root area than non-windfirm trees in both the windward and leeward directions. Toppling was reduced in polyclonal plots; this reduction may have been the result of more rapid stand differentiation in the polyclonal plots or reduction in the “domino effect” by inclusion of more windfirm clones in the mixture. Received: 23 October 1995 / Accepted: 22 February 1996     

Neighbouring monocultures enhance the effect of intercropping on the turnip root fly (Delia floralis)

Knowledge of insect behaviour is essential for accurately interpreting studies of diversification and to develop diversified agroecosystems that have a reliable pest‐suppressive effect. In this study, we investigated the egg‐laying behaviour of the turnip root fly, Delia floralis (Fall.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), in an intercrop‐monoculture system. We examined both the main effect of intercropping and the effect on oviposition in the border zone between a cabbage monoculture [Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata (Brassicaceae)] and a cabbage‐red clover intercropping system [Trifolium pratense L. (Fabaceae)]. To investigate the border‐effect, oviposition was measured along a transect from the border between the treatments to the centre of experimental plots. Intercropping reduced the total egg‐laying of D. floralis with 42% in 2003 and 55% in 2004. In 2004, it was also found that the spatial distribution of eggs within the experimental plots was affected by distance from the adjoining treatment. The difference in egg‐laying between monoculture and intercropping was most pronounced close to the border, where egg‐laying was 68% lower on intercropped plants. This difference in egg numbers decreased gradually up to a distance of 3.5 m from the border, where intercropped plants had 43% fewer eggs than the corresponding monocultured plants. The reason behind this oviposition pattern is most likely that flies in intercropped plots have a higher probability of entering the monoculture if they are close to the border than if they are in the centre of a plot. When entering the monoculture, flies can pursue their egg‐laying behaviour without being disrupted by the clover. As the final decision to land is visually stimulated, flies could also be attracted to fly from the intercropped plots into the monoculture, where host plants are more visually apparent. Visual cues could also hinder flies in a monoculture from entering an intercropped plot. Other possible patterns of insect attack due to differences in insect behaviour are discussed, as well as the practical application of the results of this study.     

The relation between fine root density and proximity of stems in closed Douglas-fir plantations on homogenous sandy soils: implications for sampling design

Studies have been carried out in two fully stocked, fast growing Douglas-fir plantations of the Dutch ACIFORN project in three consecutive years, to obtain information on fine root densities (Olsthoorn 1991). For the present paper, data collected in early summer 1987 were used to study the relation of fine root density and proximity to the nearest tree or the dominant tree. A large number of samples (37 in one site and 55 in another) was collected in a small plot (10 × 11 m). Two distances were measured at each sampling point: the distance to the nearest tree and the distance to the tree with a dominant crown above that point. There was large variability in fine root density in the samples. Tests with different regression models showed a distinct rooting pattern for one of the two locations. It is concluded that systematic errors in the assessment of fine root density can arise when sampling points are chosen at a constant distance from trees. For Douglas-fir, this systematic error could have been an overestimation of the fine root density by up to 10%. These systematic errors can be avoided easily, using a stratified random design or a random sampling design. When trees are spaced irregularly, a grid sampling design is also appropriate. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

红松人工林优势木竞争指数影响因子

在温带湿润气候区东段不同立地条件下的红松人工林内设置面积为600 m~2(20 m×30 m)的70块矩形固定样地。在每个样地内,选取5颗最高且长势较好的优势木作为研究的对象木,用Voronoi图确定优势木相应的竞争木,测定每一块样地内优势木与竞争木之间的距离。采用Hegyi单木竞争指数模型,分析优势木在不同样地水平上的种内竞争强度,探讨林分生长因子、地形因子、土壤养分因子对优势木竞争指数的影响,并对这3类因子与优势木竞争指数进行相应的拟合和相关性分析。结果表明：红松人工林优势木竞争强度随着优势木胸径的增大而变小,并且两者之间的关系服从幂函数;红松优势木的竞争指数与其树高、胸径、冠幅呈极显著的相关关系(P<0.01);坡向、坡位、海拔对竞争指数影响极显著(P<0.01);红松人工林优势木竞争指数的大小与土壤氮磷钾含量均呈极显著的相关关系(P<0.01);pH值对优势木竞争指数的影响不显著。当红松人工林优势木平均胸径达到45cm,优势木平均树高和冠幅大于周围竞争木时,其对周围资源的利用程度增大,林木会发生自然稀疏现象,其所受的竞争压力减小。红松喜光性强,对水分的要求高,...     

Effects of long-term barley monoculture on plant-affecting soil microbiota

Effects of soil microbiota on shoot and root growth of barley were tested in a greenhouse tube-growing system. Tubes were filled with a mixture of pure sand and various percentages of soils sampled from plots in three long-term field experiments measuring effects of various crop rotations on yield. Using 3% soil in the sand-soil mixture, shoot dry weight of barley test plants was reduced by about 35% and root depth by about 40% in soils from monoculture plots as compared to soils from crop-rotation plots. Typical root symptoms on poorly growing barley plants started as distinct dark-brown zones which then rapidly spread over the whole root system until the root tips ceased to grow. As tested in one experiment, the barley monoculture soil also affected wheat and oats, but to a lesser degree than it did barley. Most of the depressing effects of monoculture soil on barley were eliminated when soil samples were treated with metalaxyl or heated to 65°C for 2 hours. A Pythium sp. frequently isolated from barley roots showing typical symptoms affected barley, wheat and oats in the same way as did barley monoculture soil.     

Spacing patterns of an Acacia tree in the Kalahari over a 61-year period: How clumped becomes regular and vice versa

Nearest tree neighbour distances and the tree spatial formation on a large scale over time and space replicates were examined. The study was conducted in a natural savanna ecosystem in the Southern Kalahari, South Africa. Nearest tree neighbour and point pattern analysis methods were used to investigate changes in the spatial pattern of trees in two plots. Trees larger than 2 m canopy diameter were mapped. We used aerial photographs of the study area from 1940, 1964, 1984, 1993, and a satellite image from 2001 to follow two plots over time. Field work was carried out too for classification accuracy. We were able to identify and individually follow over 2400 individual trees from 1940 until 2001. Nearest neighbour analysis results indicate that dead trees were on average closer to their nearest neighbouring trees than living trees were to their neighbours. Most dead trees were on average 6 m from their nearest neighbours, while most living trees were about 20 m apart. Point pattern analysis results show a cyclical transition from clumped to random and sequentially to regular tree spacing. These transitions were not correlated across two plots. Generally, decreases in small-scale clumping coincided with periods of high mortality. Our findings show that regular, clumped, and random tree pattern can occur, pending on time, location, and scale within the location.     

落叶松人工林单木模型的研究

根据吉林省松江河林业局所实测的落叶松人工林(Larix olgensis)临时标准地66块、固定标准地18块以及8块团状枝解析样地资料,通过对林分中优势木生长及树冠结构与动态的分析,提出适于树木生长的Korf方程并用来构造林木的潜在生长函数。选择林分密度指数(SDI)作为反映林分中林木之间平均拥挤指标。在单木竞争指标的选择上,通过引进树冠因子,并在与传统的竞争指标相比较的基础上,淡化距离因子的作用,应用优势木相对树冠表面积构造了与距离无关的单木竞争指标,以此建立了落叶松人工林单木生长模型。     

Competitive interactions of Persian oak coppice trees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus brantii</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">persica</Emphasis>) in a pure dry woodland revealed through point pattern analysis

Understanding intraspecific interactions among Persian oaks is essential to predict the responses of Zagros dry woodlands purely covered by these coppice trees to environmental changes (such as drought) that have direct effects on the sustainability of these woodlands. This investigation attempted to explore the scale-dependent competition among Persian oaks and highlight the impacts of competitive interactions on their biophysical properties (i.e. tree height, diameter at root collar and crown attributes) via point pattern analysis. Structurally different summary statistics were implemented to analyse the spatial pattern of Persian oaks in a pure 9-ha study plot. Nearest neighbour distribution function D(r) indicated that these coppice trees had no nearest neighbours up to the spatial scale of 2 m, and they all had a nearest neighbour at distances shorter than 12 m. Furthermore, pair correlation function g(r) showed the significant dispersion of Persian oaks up to the scale of 5 m, which may be the outcome of intraspecific competition for resources such as soil nutrients and water. As explored by mark variograms γ _m (r), Persian oaks of the same size had significant spatial correlations that illustrated the competitive (not facilitative) interactions of these coppice trees in the study plot. Mark correlation function k _mm (r) additionally revealed negative correlations of height and radial growth up to large spatial scales. Consequently, the outcome of this study highlighted the significant effects of competitive intraspecific interactions among Persian oak coppice trees on their spatial pattern and biophysical properties.     

樟子松人工林分枝结构的分析

基于对6块樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)人工林固定标准地中的30株样木枝解析调查数据,通过分析不同林分、不同大小林木1级枝和2级枝的分枝概率、分枝格局和分枝角度,揭示了樟子松人工林树冠的分枝结构特点。研究结果表明：樟子松人工林1级枝和2级枝的平均分枝数量分别为3.84个和2.80个,两者分枝概率均呈正态分布;1级和2级枝条在光照条件好的几个区间（方位角46°～225°）分布较多,1级枝条的水平分布遵从均匀分布,而2级枝条则不遵从均匀分布;树冠上层枝条的分枝角度略小于树冠中、下层,上层平均分枝角度为45.6°,而中下层平均分枝角度都为49.4°。不同大小林木的1级枝分枝结构规律表明：Ⅰ级木和Ⅴ级木的每轮平均分枝数非常接近,分别为3.89和3.94个,比Ⅲ级木每轮分枝数大0.5个左右;1级枝水平分布在各区间内(45°间隔)相差在0.24%～2.81%之间,方差分析结果表明枝条水平分布与林木大小无关;不同大小林木的分枝角度有所差别,Ⅰ级木、Ⅲ级木和Ⅴ级木的平均分枝角度分别为48.5°、42.2°和50.7°。     

科尔沁沙地不同密度(小面积)樟子松人工林生长状况

在内蒙古科尔沁沙地丘间片林中选择不同密度的樟子松样地,对樟子松在不同栽植密度条件下的生长情况进行了研究.由于受多年降水偏少的影响,科尔沁沙地的樟子松出现了大量枯梢继而死亡的现象,而这种现象与林地的密度存在很强的相关性.样地林木的死亡率随林地密度的加大呈幂函数关系增加,原先最高密度情况下的林地,保存到现在的活木数量反而最少;林木的平均死亡年龄、最早死亡年龄、冠幅、树高和胸径随林地密度的增加而减小.虽然在其它一些区域的研究结果表明,树高较少受竞争的影响,但是在半干旱区,树高仍然与密度相关.枯梢林木的比例在高密度的样地大于低密度的样地,枯梢对低密度样地的林木基本上没有大的影响.各样地的冠幅和胸径比相差不大,平均只有0.297,以此指标衡量,该地可能更适合单一樟子松林的种植.综合来看,科尔沁沙地的气候和土壤条件适合栽植樟子松,但初始密度应控制在2800株/hm2以下,并应根据生长情况在进入生长高峰期后对林木进行适时间伐,20a龄期的林木其密度保持在2100株/hm2左右比较适宜.     

Effects of agroforestry on phytoseiid mite communities (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in vineyards in the South of France

The abundance and diversity of phytoseiid mites were surveyed from April to September 2003 to 2005 in vineyards (Grenache and Syrah cultivars) co-planted with rows of Sorbus domestica or Pinus pinea and in monoculture plots of grapes in the South of France. Densities of phytoseiid mites were different on the two tree species, with P. pinea a more suitable host than S. domestica. Typhlodromus (Typhlodromus) exhilaratus was the dominant species occurring on grapes and on co-planted rows of S. domestica and P. pinea, whereas T. (T.) phialatus was the most abundant species in monoculture plots of both S. domestica and P. pinea. Factors determining the dominance of T. (T.) phialatus over T. (T.) exhilaratus in monoculture trees are discussed. In this study, agroforestry management did not affect phytoseiid diversity in vineyards, but did affect phytoseiid density, especially in 2005. The results obtained in 2003 and 2004 are not easy to discuss in this regard because of the low densities of mites observed during these 2 years (very dry climatic conditions and pesticide applications).     

意大利苍耳与乌拉尔甘草种间竞争能力比较

意大利苍耳已经开始入侵乌拉尔甘草农田,然而对其入侵后果目前知之甚少。通过研究意大利苍耳与乌拉尔甘草的种间竞争关系,以期为意大利苍耳对乌拉尔甘草农田生态系统的入侵能力及入侵后果的评估提供试验依据。模拟了甘草农田的土壤水肥条件,采用取代试验法,设置意大利苍耳与乌拉尔甘草的单种种植和混种种植2种种植模式,待意大利苍耳生育期结束后进行收获,分别比较了该两种植物的个体生长及生物量积累在单种种植与混种种植两种处理间的差异,并比较单种和混种模式下乌拉尔甘草的地下器官中甘草酸含量的差别,通过计算相对产量、相对竞争强度和竞争攻击系数来比较该两种植物种间竞争能力的相对强弱。结果表明：与单种模式相比,混种模式下意大利苍耳个体生长的形态学性状和有性繁殖能力均有显著增加,其株高、冠幅和种子数量较单种处理分别增加了13%、27%和56%。而乌拉尔甘草的个体生长及克隆繁殖能力均显著降低,其根瘤的形成也受到显著的抑制,混种处理的乌拉尔甘草的株高、冠幅、根总长度、根总表面积、根平均直径以及根瘤数量比单种处理分别下降了35%、45%、55%、63%、19%和76%。单种处理下每株甘草根状茎的平均条数为3条,而与意大利苍耳混种后,其根状茎的发育被完全抑制。与单种处理相比,混种处理中的意大利苍耳生物量积累均显著的增加了,其中根、茎、叶、果实及总生物量与单种模式相比分别增加了84%、73%、84%、73%和77%,而混种模式却极显著降低了乌拉尔甘草生物量和地下器官甘草酸含量的积累,使其根、茎、叶、总生物量以及甘草酸含量与单种模式相比分别下降了72%、80%、65%、71%和63%。混种模式中的意大利苍耳相对产量（RY_a）大于1,而乌拉尔甘草相对产量（RY_b）小于1,表明意大利苍耳受到邻株同种其他个体的种内竞争压力大于来自邻株乌拉尔甘草的种间竞争压力,而乌拉尔甘草受到邻株同种其他个体的种内竞争压力则小于来自邻株意大利苍耳的种间竞争压力。混种模式中的意大利苍耳相对竞争强度（RCI_a）小于0,其竞争攻击系数（A_q）大于0,而乌拉尔甘草的相对竞争强度（RCI_b）则在0-1之间,其竞争攻击系数（A_b）小于0,表明在该两种植物的混生群落中,乌拉尔甘草的竞争能力弱于意大利苍耳。总体来看,在二者混生的群落中,意大利苍耳在竞争中占据明显的优势地位,对乌拉尔甘草的产量和品质均造成强烈的负面影响。     

Natural regeneration of forest related to the spatial structure of trees: A study of two forest communities in Western Carpathians,southern Poland

The existence of a relationship between the spatial pattern of trees and the distribution of young individuals beneath the canopy has been tested in the beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) — fir (Abies alba) forests in the mountainous region, using two different methods. The first method was the analysis of spatial pattern of individuals, the second one was based on calculating sums of influences of all trees occurring within analysed plot on a given point on the forest floor. Results of spatial pattern analyses were surprisingly consistent: almost all mature trees and seedlings didplayed a random pattern of spatial arrangement. However, there is a clear, although statistically insignificant tendency towards uniformity of spatial pattern with increasing sizes of analysed trees. Results of comparing sums of influences on regularly distributed points with sums of influences on seedlings or saplings revealed no tendency in forest regeneration to concentrate in places, where the sums were smaller than the average for a plot. This, coupled with the dominance of random spatial pattern of trees, suggests, that viewed on a small spatial scale, influence of competition among forest trees on their spatial arrangement is obscured by other factors, which are not closely related to the distribution of individuals.     

Loss of oak dominance in dry-mesic deciduous forests predicted by gap capture methods

Gap capture methods predict future forest canopy species composition from the tallest trees growing in canopy gaps rather than from random samples of shaded understory trees. We used gap capture methods and a simulation approach to forecast canopy composition in three old oak forests (Quercus spp.) on dry-mesic sites in southern Wisconsin, USA. In the simulation, a gap sapling is considered successful if it exceeds a threshold height of 13–17 m (height of maximum crown width of canopy trees) before its crown center can be overtopped by lateral crown growth of mature trees. The composition of both the tallest gap trees and simulated gap captures suggests that 68–90% of the next generation of canopy trees in the stands will consist of non-Quercus species, particularly Ulmus rubra, Carya ovata and Prunus serotina. Quercus species will probably remain as a lesser stand component, with Quercus alba and Quercus rubra predicted to comprise about 19% of successful gap trees across the three stands. Several methods of predicting future canopy composition gave similar results, probably because no gap opportunist species were present in these stands and there was an even distribution of species among height strata in gaps. Gap trees of competing species already average 11–13 m tall, and mean expected time for these trees to reach full canopy height is only 19 years. For these reasons, we suggest that dominance will shift from oaks to other species, even though late successional species (e.g., Acer and Tilia) are not presently common in the understories of these stands.     

Variation in litter under individual tree crowns: Implications for scattered tree ecosystems

In forest ecosystems litter is usually assessed in terms of the average amount produced by the canopy. In scattered tree ecosystems this approach is problematic because the canopy is discontinuous and the spatial arrangement of litter highly variable. We addressed this problem by quantifying the spatial variation in litter load and litter composition associated with individual trees in a Eucalyptus melliodora – Eucalyptus blakelyi woodland. Litter was sampled under crowns and in grassland adjacent to 10 E. blakelyi and 10 E. melliodora trees ranging in diameter at breast height (dbh) from 14 to 129 cm. A total of 302 L samples were collected from these trees, at distances ranging from 0 to 42 m from main stem. The sampled litter loads ranged from 0.02 to 109.3 t ha^?1 and were significantly higher under tree crowns than in grassland for litter and each component of litter (leaves, bark, fine twigs, coarse twigs). In particular, the mean litter load under tree crowns (12.5 t ha^?1) was an order of magnitude higher than the mean litter load in grassland (1.27 t ha^?1). There was a significant (P = 0.0103) positive relationship between mean litter load under the tree crown and dbh, indicating larger trees produced more litter per unit area of ground than smaller trees. Generalized Linear Modelling produced highly significant (P < 0.0001) models predicting the spatial variation in litter load and litter composition in terms of distance from main stem and dbh. Our models demonstrate gradients in litter load and composition under tree crowns. These gradients were most pronounced for the large trees in our study. The disproportionate input of litter and variety of litter components associated with large trees in our study supports their keystone role in scattered tree ecosystems and highlights the need to maintain these structures in agricultural landscapes.     

Architecture of Iberian canopy tree species in relation to wood density,shade tolerance and climate

Tree architecture has important consequences for tree performance as it determines resource capture, mechanical stability and dominance over competitors. We analyzed architectural relationships between stem and crown dimensions for 13 dominant Iberian canopy tree species belonging to the Pinaceae (six Pinus species) and Fagaceae (six Quercus species and Fagus sylvatica) and related these architectural traits to wood density, shade tolerance and climatic factors. Fagaceae had, compared with Pinaceae, denser wood, saplings with wider crowns and adults with larger maximal crown size but smaller maximal height. In combination, these traits enhance light acquisition and persistence in shaded environments; thus, contributing to their shade tolerance. Pinaceae species, in contrast, had low-density wood, allocate more resources to the formation of the central trunk rather than to branches and attained taller maximal heights, allowing them to grow rapidly in height and compete for light following disturbances; thus, contributing to their high light requirements. Wood density had a strong relationship with tree architecture, with dense-wooded species having smaller maximum height and wider crowns, probably because of cheaper expansion costs for producing biomechanically stable branches. Species from arid environments had shorter stems and shallower crowns for a given stem diameter, probably to reduce hydraulic path length and assure water transport. Wood density is an important correlate of variation in tree architecture between species and the two dominant families, with potentially large implications for their resource foraging strategies and successional dynamics.     

Structural heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation in a natural mature Pinus sylvestris dominated forest

The tree species composition, vertical stratification and patterns of spatial autocorrelation at the tree and quadrate (25 × 25 m) scales were studied in a natural mature PinuS sylvestris dominated forest in eastern Finland. For the analyses we mapped the locations and dimensions of trees taller than 10 m in a 9 ha (300 × 300 m) area, and within this area we mapped all trees taller than 0.3 m on a core plot of 4 ha (200 × 200 m). The overall tree size distribution was bimodal. the dominant layer and the understory forming the peak frequencies. Pinus sylvestris dominated the main canopy, together with scattered Betula pendula and Picea abies. Alnus incana, Populus tremula, Salix caprea, Sorbus aucuparia and Juniperus communis occurred only in the under- and middlestories. Autocorrelation analysis (semivarianee) of tree size variation revealed spatial patterns, which were strongly dependent on the size of trees included in the analysis. When all living trees, including the understory regeneration, were taken into account, the autocorrelation pattern ranged up to 35 m inter-tree distances, reflecting the spatial scale of understory regeneration patches. Competitive interaction among middle- and upperstory trees (height>10 m) had contrasting effects on autocorrelation pattern depending on spatial scale. At the fine scale, dominant trees suppressed their smaller close neighbors (asymmetric competition), which was shown as increased tree size variation at small inter-tree distances (<2 m). At slightly larger inter-tree distances, specifically among large trees of similar size, competition was more symmetrical, which resulted in decreased tree size variation at these inter-tree distances (3–4 m). This effect was seen most clearly in the dominant trees, there being a clear autocorrelation pattern in tree size up to inter-tree distances of ～4 m. At the quadrate scale (25 × 25 m) the analysis revealed high local variation in structural characteristics such as tree height diversity (THD), tree species diversity (H) and autocorrelation of tree height. The analysis suggests that naturally developed P. sylvestris forests exhibit complex small-scale patterns of structural heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation in tree size. These patterns may be important for stand-scale habitat diversity and can have aggregated effects on ecosystem dynamics at larger spatial scales though their influence on the spread of disturbance and regeneration after disturbance.     

Spatial pattern analysis and competition between Acacia karroo trees in humid savannas

It is unclear whether inter-tree competition plays a role in determining the woody plant cover of humid savannas. Spatial point-pattern analysis can give insights to the underlying processes affecting the individuals in a population. We assessed the spatial patterns of Acacia karroo trees from savannas in KwaZulu-Natal, using conventional nearest neighbour analysis and second-order spatial statistics such as Ripley??s K- and L-functions, and the univariate and bivariate O-ring statistics. We predicted that juvenile trees would be spatially aggregated, because of facilitation between shrubs when zones of overlap are relatively small, while adult trees would be regularly spaced because of the effects of density-dependent mortality (i.e. consistent with the honeycomb rippling model). We found that juvenile trees were more aggregated than expected by chance, and the overall spatial distribution of all trees was also found to be aggregated, with no evidence of regularity among large individuals. Nearest neighbour analysis, however, revealed significant positive correlations between the sum of the distances to the four nearest neighbours and the sum of the canopy diameters of the target tree and its four nearest neighbours, indicating the presence of competition. In sum, these findings suggest that competitive interactions between A. karroo trees at these sites are relatively weak, and result in decreased performance (smaller canopy diameters) rather than mortality, thus preventing a regular pattern of tree distribution. We advocate the use of both methods of detecting competitive interactions in the field, especially if the effects of competition are too subtle to result in differential mortality.