Negative density dependence regulates two tree species at later life stage in a temperate forest

Tiefeng Piao; Jung Hwa Chun; Hee Moon Yang; Kwangil Cheon

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103344

Negative density dependence regulates two tree species at later life stage in a temperate forest

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 24;9(7):e103344. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103344. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Tiefeng Piao¹, Jung Hwa Chun², Hee Moon Yang², Kwangil Cheon²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China; Division of Forest Ecology, Department of Forest Conservation, Korea Forest Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Division of Forest Ecology, Department of Forest Conservation, Korea Forest Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that tree survival is influenced by negative density dependence (NDD) and differences among species in shade tolerance could enhance coexistence via resource partitioning, but it is still unclear how NDD affects tree species with different shade-tolerance guilds at later life stages. In this study, we analyzed the spatial patterns for trees with dbh (diameter at breast height) ≥2 cm using the pair-correlation g(r) function to test for NDD in a temperate forest in South Korea after removing the effects of habitat heterogeneity. The analyses were implemented for the most abundant shade-tolerant (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and shade-intolerant (Quercus serrata) species. We found NDD existed for both species at later life stages. We also found Quercus serrata experienced greater NDD compared with Chamaecyparis obtusa. This study indicates that NDD regulates the two abundant tree species at later life stages and it is important to consider variation in species' shade tolerance in NDD study.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chamaecyparis / physiology*
Ecosystem
Forests
Models, Biological
Population Density
Quercus / physiology*
Species Specificity

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the “Long-Term Monitoring and Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Forest Ecosystem” project of Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.