Age structure and spatial pattern of old-growth korean pine forest in Xiaoxing’anling Mountain

Abstract

Spatial pattern of trees, basal stem increment and height were examined in a 5.0 ha mixed deciduous/Pinus koraiensis forest from October in 1984 to May in 1987. Conclusions are as following: 1. Analysis of the age-structure of the korcan pine forest shows that it is different from general steady-state forest type. The lack of saplings and individuals in small-diameter class clearly indicates that regeneration is not continuous. Continuous regeneration depends on thinning of the canopy to form a gap. Similar-aged korcan pine sccdings grow in these gaps. 2. The horizontal structure of the korcan pine is a mosaic of more or less even-aged groups of trees. The mosaic is a result of korcan pine by regeneration strategy. The aggregations of korcan pine of different ages overlaps to form a continuous population generation. As a results, the population is maintained in steady state.