An empirical approach to the analysis of forest stratification

Abstract

Natural forest communities consist of different overlapping elementary subpopulations. Using the results of forest stratification in the preceding study, the properties of mean tree height for subpopulation in a stratified forest stand were examined. Mean tree height decreased as tree density per subpopulation increased. This relation was described by a simple mathematical model consisting of a power equation of tree density and two coefficients. The first coefficient or exponent of tree density was close to −1/2 in its expectation, while the other coefficient depended on life forms, especially in tropical forests. For tropical deciduous forests which suffered from seasonal forest fires, the latter coefficient was smaller than those for tropical evergreen and Japanese forests. This difference of the coefficient was not clear between tropical evergreen and Japanese forests and between deciduous and evergreen forests in Japan. In conclusion, the proposed model is similar to the 1/2 power law of tree height in man-made forests with simple architecture, and is designated the quasi-1/2 power law of tree height.