Abstract
The spatial structure of trees is a template for forest dynamics and the outcome of a variety of processes in ecosystems. Identifying the contribution and magnitude of the different drivers is an age-old task in plant ecology. Recently, the modelling of a spatial point process was used to identify factors driving the spatial distribution of trees at stand scales. Processes driving the coexistence of trees, however, frequently unfold within gaps and questions on the role of resource heterogeneity within-gaps have become central issues in community ecology. We tested the applicability of a spatial point process modelling approach for quantifying the effects of seed dispersal, within gap light environment, microsite heterogeneity, and competition on the generation of within gap spatial structure of small tree seedlings in a temperate, old growth, mixed-species forest. By fitting a non-homogeneous Neyman–Scott point process model, we could disentangle the role of seed dispersal from niche partitioning for within gap tree establishment and did not detect seed densities as a factor explaining the clustering of small trees. We found only a very weak indication for partitioning of within gap light among the three species and detected a clear niche segregation of Picea abies (L.) Karst. on nurse logs. The other two dominating species, Abies alba Mill. and Fagus sylvatica L., did not show signs of within gap segregation.
Highlights
The spatial patterns of plants are thought to carry information on the processes that led to their formation
Unlocking this information is far from trivial and is an age-old task in plant ecology [1,2,3,4]. It is the variety of influencing processes acting and the interaction at different spatial and temporal scales that makes the identification and interpretation of processes leading to a certain spatial structure very difficult [3,4], and the fact that different drivers may create similar patterns and similar processes may create different patterns in different settings
Retained or removed independently of each other, introducing non-homogeneity controlled by we considered the L-function for a so-called non-homogeneous Neyman–Scott point process (INSP)
Summary
The spatial patterns of plants are thought to carry information on the processes that led to their formation. Unlocking this information is far from trivial and is an age-old task in plant ecology [1,2,3,4] It is the variety of influencing processes acting and the interaction at different spatial and temporal scales that makes the identification and interpretation of processes leading to a certain spatial structure very difficult [3,4], and the fact that different drivers may create similar patterns and similar processes may create different patterns in different settings. See Velázquez et al [13]
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