Effects of the Mode of Competition on Stationary Size Distribution in Plant Populations

Abstract

The effects of the mode of between-individual competition on the stationary size distribution in uneven-aged and continually reproducing tree populations were investigated theoretically, based on the diffusion and continuity equation models. The B(t,x) function, which gives a measure proportional to total leaf area of individual trees larger than dbh (trunk diameter at breast height) x at time t, expresses the effect of one-sided competition on the subject individual of dbh x. The effect of two-sided competition on individuals of any size is equally given by B(t,x 0 ), i.e. total leaf area of the stand (or LAI), where x 0 is the minimum dbh