Spatial pattern formation and relative importance of intra‐ and interspecific competition in codominant tree species, Podocarpus nagi and Neolitsea aciculata

Abstract

AbstractSpatial patterns, their changes due to mortality, and intra‐ and interspecific competition of two codominant tree species, Podocarpus nagi and Neolitsea aciculata, were analyzed at Mt. Mikasa, Nara City, Japan. Podocarpus nagi has a higher shade tolerance but a narrower seed dispersal range than N. aciculata. We inferred the mechanisms of spatial pattern formation and coexistence of the two species. Podocarpus nagi and N. aciculata trees were clumped and showed a spatial repulsion from each other. Patches dominated by either P. nagi or N. aciculata were formed. Podocarpus nagi trees were less clumped with increasing tree size, although no significant change in spatial patterns due to mortality was detected. A patch formation of the P. nagi population seemed to be induced by the narrow seed dispersal range. On the other hand, N. aciculata trees were more clumped and more repulsive from P. nagi trees with increasing tree size. The distribution of N. aciculata trees shifted to more clumped than expected from the random mortality over the research period. Post‐dispersal mortality due to competitive exclusion by P. nagi affected the patch formation of the N. aciculata population. The relative importance of intraspecific competition to interspecific competition on the relative growth rate increased with increasing tree size. The shift corresponded to an increasing spatial repulsion between the two species. The patch formation of P. nagi population may create the spatial refuge of N. aciculata from P. nagi and may enable avoidance of interspecific competition and the coexistence of the two species.