Population Dispersion Patterns of Trees in a Southern Louisiana Hardwood Forest

Abstract

Three methods are used to describe the population dispersion patterns of 4 tree species in a Louisiana hardwood forest. These methods are based on the variance-mean ratio from thirty-eight 10 .times. 10 m quadrats, the distances from randomly selected points to the closest plant of each species, and the distances from individual trees to their nearest neighbor of the same species. Results indicate that 2 species, Celtis laevigata Willd. and Ulmus americana L., occur in clumps within which the stems tend to be uniformly dispersed. The dispersion pattern of Carpinus caroliniana. Walter was tested for 2 size classes; the stems over 10 cm DBH [diameter breast height] are uniformly dispersed and stems between 2.5 and 10 cm DBH are clumped, suggesting that the uniform pattern in large stems is caused by differential mortality incurred as the stems increase in size. Quercus nigra is also clumped.