Spatial Patterns of Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill.): A Case Study

Abstract

Recent research has interested in determining optimal conditions for regeneration and restoration of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). Spatial patterns of trees can reveal successional status of trees which can also be used for restoration purposes. Studies regarding the spatial characteristics of longleaf pine has been limited. In this study, spatial patterns of longleaf pine trees were examined in Alabama, USA. All trees >5 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) were stem-mapped, and twenty-four tree species were recorded within the study site. Point pattern analyses was conducted to monitor spatial patterns of longleaf pine trees. A clustered distribution pattern of trees with a short mean distance was determined. Trees represented a clumped pattern at distances smaller than 20 m, while a tendency from a clustering pattern to a random pattern was observed at distances between 26 and 65 m.