Three Interpretations of the Self-thinning Rule

The self-thinning rule states that w, the mean biomass per plantin a dense monospecific stand, is related to p, the number ofplants in a unit area of that stand, by the power law relationshipw = Kp^–, where is approximately three-halves. The supportfor this rule, theoretical as well as experimental, has thusfar been largely empirical. In an effort to provide a firmertheoretical basis for it, three different and somewhat independenttheoretical models are propounded and shown to lead to powerlaw relationships with characteristic exponents in the vicinityof three-halves. theoretical models, mathematical model, three-halves law, density-effect, self-thinning