Tree allometry variation in response to intra- and inter-specific competitions

Abstract

Crown, height and stem allometry vary with stand density and species composition, the plasticity in response to inter- and intra-specific competitions being related to species shade tolerances. Determining the way in which variability in tree allometry is modulated by intra- and inter-specific competitions in different species and stand compositions is of particular interest for forest modelling and practice. In this study, we explore this variability by developing models for tree crown diameter, total height and diameter at a height of 4 m, which include intra- and inter-specific competition terms. More than 19,000 Scots pine, silver fir, sessile oak and European beech trees from 4711 sample plots belonging to the Spanish National Forest Inventory were included in the study, covering both monospecific and two species mixed stands in Northern Spain. Trees growing under conditions of high competition displayed narrower crowns, greater heights and less taper for a given tree diameter, the plasticity in crown and height in response to intra-specific competition being related to species shade tolerance. The inter-specific competition effect on crown diameter and height was related to the difference in shade tolerance between the two species of the mixture, while stem taper did not exhibit this pattern. These results suggest that trees in mixed stands indeed show a modified allometry, which might be related to complementary resource acquisition strategies. The large variability observed in tree allometry indicates the need to consider both intra- and inter-specific competitions in allometric models.