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A minimal model for tree crown competition

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  • Loehle, Craig

Abstract

Trees compete for light by extending their crowns and shading shorter trees. A simple cellular model was developed to emulate this process. The model was able to replicate the key crown dynamics features of self-thinning, lack of self-thinning when stands are overly uniform, asymmetric crown dimensions, gap infilling, and failure of infilling for large gaps. Models based on fixed crown shapes such as cones or cylinders fail to replicate these features. Competition models based on total plant size (mass) assume that entire plants compete when in fact only overlapping roots compete directly and branches compete locally for light.

Suggested Citation

  • Loehle, Craig, 2025. "A minimal model for tree crown competition," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 501(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:501:y:2025:i:c:s0304380024003983
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2024.111010
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