Tree Growth Dynamics in Competitive Forest Ecosystems
Summary
Tree growth in forests is governed by a complex interplay of biotic interactions, resource availability and environmental conditions. As individual trees develop, they compete with neighbours for light, water and nutrients, leading to spatial and temporal variation in growth rates. Competition can be symmetric or asymmetric: taller or larger trees may pre-empt light (asymmetric), while root systems may overlap more evenly (symmetric). These interactions drive stand dynamics, influencing patterns of self-thinning, crown plasticity and biomass allocation above and below ground. Advances in measurement and modelling—from traditional mensuration and growth-ring analysis to remote sensing and individual-based models—have improved our capacity to quantify neighbourhood effects and predict stand trajectories. Understanding these processes is vital for managing timber production, conserving biodiversity and enhancing forest resilience under climate change.
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Tree Growth Dynamics in Competitive Forest Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in tree growth dynamics in competitive forest ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Competition index: A quantitative measure of the influence of neighbouring trees on the growth of a focal tree, often based on distances and sizes of competitors.
Diameter at breast height (DBH): The stem diameter measured at 1.3 m above ground, a standard metric for estimating tree size and growth.
Basal area increment (BAI): The annual increase in the cross-sectional area of a tree stem at breast height, used to assess radial growth.
Mixed-effects model: A statistical framework that includes both fixed effects (population-level predictors) and random effects (individual or plot-level variability).
Airborne laser scanning (ALS): A remote-sensing technique that uses laser pulses from aircraft to capture detailed three-dimensional forest structure.
Neighbourhood effects: The cumulative impact of all proximate trees on the growth and development of a focal tree.
References
- Quantifying neighbour effects on tree growth: Are common ‘competition’ indices biased?. Journal of Ecology (2023).
- Spatially Explicit Individual Tree Height Growth Models from Bi-Temporal Aerial Laser Scanning. Remote Sensing (2024).
- Evaluating tree-to-tree competition during stand development in a relict Scots pine forest: how much does climate matter?. Trees (2021).
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