Stand structure and spatial distribution of trees at different developmental stages and stand layers in mixed stands in Artvin region, Turkey
Citation
Göktürk, A., & Tıraş, H. (2020. Stand structure and spatial distribution of trees at different developmental stages and stand layers in mixed stands in Artvin region, Turkey. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 18(5), 6163-6179.Abstract
The objective of this study is to determine the stand structure and spatial distribution patterns in
rare mixed stands of Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis L.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Caucasian
fir (Abies nordmanniana (Stev.) Spach. subsp. nordmanniana). The study was conducted in Ovacik Forests
of Artvin, Turkey in 2016. To evaluate stand structure, the distribution of tree species was determined
according to developmental stage (seedling- thicket stage; sapling- pole stage; small wood stage; medium
- large wood stage) and vertical structure (overstory, middlestory and understory). Spatial distribution of
trees was analyzed using Ripley’s K function in ArcGIS. Results showed that all three species contributed
to the mixed stand. Caucasian fir dominated in in all plots and plots had a layered structure. Spatial analyses
revealed that all trees showed clumped distributions (p<0.01) at smaller scales. Scots pine and Caucasian
fir mostly showed random distribution whereas Oriental spruce showed a clumped distribution at 0–7 m
scales. Each of the tree species at the medium wood developmental stage showed random distributions at
all scales. Clumped distribution was observed in the middle and understory while trees in the overstory
layer were randomly distributed