Spatial patterns of trees from different development stages in mixed temperate forest in the Hyrcanian region of Iran

Maryam KAZEMPOUR Larsary, Kambiz TAHERI Abkenar, Hassan Pourbabaei, David Pothier and Beitollah Amanzadeh
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Maryam KAZEMPOUR Larsary: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran
Kambiz TAHERI Abkenar: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran
Hassan Pourbabaei: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran
David Pothier: Centre d'étude de la forêt (CEF), Québec, Canada
Beitollah Amanzadeh: Center of Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Guilan Province, Rasht, Iran

Journal of Forest Science, 2018, vol. 64, issue 6, 260-270

Abstract: Mixed beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests are very important to the Hyrcanian region of Iran because of their high degree of naturalness and as a source of wood production. Determination of tree spatial patterns over development stages is a first step in understanding underlying processes driving regeneration and forest dynamics. Spatial patterns of trees from three development stages (initial, optimal and decay) of an untouched mixed beech forest were quantified within three 1-ha plots. To prepare the stem maps, we measured each tree with a DBH larger than 7.5 cm using the azimuth-distance method. Spatial patterns were then analysed using Ripley's K-function. Results indicated that the number of trees decreased from the initial stage to the decay stage, with tree spatial patterns being aggregated, slightly aggregated and highly randomized for initial, optimal and decay stages, respectively. Differences in spatial patterns among the development stages are not unexpected considering that such unmanaged forests are driven by gap dynamics which results in interactions between gap filling individuals.

Keywords: close-to-nature silviculture; gap dynamics; mixed beech forests; Ripley's K-function (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:6:id:7-2018-jfs

DOI: 10.17221/7/2018-JFS

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