Population Individual-Size Structure in Succession Processes

Abstract

Individual characters’ differentiation in the course of growth plays a significant role in the moulding of many population characteristics. Traits then established, determine the intra-population and the individual-environment interface relations. The strength of the interactions between members of the same plant population, and of different species, as well as their action on the habitat depends on their habitus and growth. The role of individuals in their population and habitat can thus be expressed by their size (height, breadth) and biomass, since these characteristics are usually the expression of their chance to survive and reproduce. Due to the presence of various growth-modifying agents, body size differences occur even between even-aged individuals in the same growth phase. These differences become much more conspicuous if a population includes uneven-aged individuals, because individuals size and biomass change with the age of the individuals (cf. Part 3).