Neighbor-dependent canopy dimensions of ash, hornbeam, and lime in a species-rich mixed forest (Hainich National Park, Thuringia) [German]

摘要

The canopy dimensions of ash, hornbeam and small-leafed lime (similar to 80-100 years old) were analyzed in a mixed forest (i) to identify species specific characteristics of canopy form, (ii) to test for effects of neighboring species on canopy dimensions and (iii) to draw possible conclusions about a species' competitive ability in the mixed stand based on the patterns of canopy space partitioning. The canopy dimensions in vertical and horizontal directions were measured in 17 target-neighbor-plots and the data analyzed for canopy width in the direction of a conspccific tree or a neighbor of the respective other species. We found that the species of the neighboring tree had a significant effect on the canopy width of the target species. Ash and hornbeam had a smaller canopy width in the neighborhood of a conspecific tree in contrast to growth in the neighborhood of a different species. Lime had a significantly greater canopy width when growing with ash than when growing with a conspecific tree. However, lime reduces canopy width in the neighborhood of hornbeam. In the three mixed two-species combinations, we found the following asymmetries in canopy width: hornbeam > lime, hornbeam > ash, lime > ash.