Application of bivariate Ripley's K- function for studying competition and spatial association of trees (Case study: intact Oriental beech stands in Kelardasht)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

2 Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands

Abstract

Competition is a fundamental ecological process driving succession in a forest and affects on forest stand structure. Understanding competition among tree species is especially important when management goal is to mimic the dynamics of natural ecosystems. Three 1-ha stem-mapped plots were established at three developmental stages of initial, optimal and decay in an intact natural, unmanaged and uneven-aged beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forest in the Kelardasht region, in the north of Iran. Diameter of all trees with dbh greater than 7.5 cm were recorded. All of the measured trees were assigned into four diameter size classes as small, medium, large, and extra large timbers. Spatial associations among tree size classes were analyzed using bivariate Ripley’s K-function. Results showed that association patterns (i.e., attraction and repulsion) varied among different size classes across different development stages, likely influenced by shade-tolerance characteristics, seed dispersal limitation and intra-specific competition of beech trees. This study highlighted the application of bivariate Ripley’s K-function and the importance of competition in understanding stand dynamics of beech forests across development stages. The information derived from these untouched stands could be useful as a key reference for developing management programs, silvicultural interventions, plantations and reforestation programs as well as giving us insight into competitive processes to enable better modeling of beech stands dynamics.
 

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research
Volume 19, Issue 4 - Serial Number 46
December 2012
Pages 644-632

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