On the Convergence of Forest Stand Spatial Pattern Over Time: The Cases of Regular and Aggregated Initial Spatial Patterns

TL;DRAbstract

Abstract A model for the development of even-aged forest stand spatial pattern over time is described in this paper. The stands modeled are composed of a single species and they occupy a homogenous site. There is no reproduction in the stands during the period of time over which stand development is modeled. The model is based on computer simulation techniques and it incorporates provisions for handling stands having either regular (lattice) or aggregated (clumped) initial spatial patterns. The distribution of nearest neighbor distance squared is used to characterize spatial pattern. A single-stage time-dependent Markov chain is incorporated to model stand dynamics over time arising from intertree competition. Samples of distance squared data are taken at different stand ages for all generated stands. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to test the fit of all sample data sets to appropriate two-parameter Weibull distributions. Under the modeling assumptions incorporated, the lattice i

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