stand initiation
Post on 23-Feb-2016
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Stand Initiation
Competition with different life forms
• Herbs• Forbs• Grasses• Woody shrubs
Competition with many species
• “brushy stage”
Wide range of ages
• A small advantage in years can be a large advantage in competitive ability
eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus )
Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Wide variation in site
• Small plant size magnifies the growth effects caused by subtle variations in microenvironment– Microsite is the entire environment of the
individual– Trees are in more vulnerable position• e.g. leader frost damage
Stand environment changing rapidly
• Site is still responding to previous disturbance– ‘assart’ effect– Nitrogen fixing herbacious vegetation
Unfilled (available) growing space
• Free to grow stage
Harper sieve• ‘Can’t be old if you die young’– Nature selects for competitive ability during
stand initiation stage– Tree breeding programs do not – require
management
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