Variability of local spatial structure in a wave-regenerated Abies forest

Although some studies have demonstrated temporal patterns of changes in spatial structure during forest development, few studies have examined the variability of spatial structure between stands at the same developmental stage. In the present study, we investigated variations of spatial structure between sites at the same developmental stage for three developmental stages (sapling, intermediate, and mature) in a wave-regenerated Abies veitchii and Abies mariesii forest. The spatial structure of tree heights in each plot was analyzed by using the mark correlation and mark variogram methods, and the pattern of tree locations in each plot was analyzed by using the pair-correlation function. Analysis of the spatial height structure indicated that a size hierarchy between neighboring trees (a local size hierarchy) generally did not develop at the sapling stage. A local size hierarchy developed in most plots during the two later stages. There was no obvious difference among developmental stages in the spatial pattern of tree locations because of the large variation within each stage. Our results demonstrate that large variation in spatial structure existed between sites in the wave-regenerated Abies forest, even at the same developmental stage. The variability in spatial structure confirmed the importance of stochastic factors in forest dynamics.