Stochasticity in tree growth closes the chain of evidence in forest
structural dynamics
Abstract
Forest structural dynamics is governed by tree growth and mortality;
While the mean growth rate has been integrated in mathematical
derivation of forest size structure, variance in growth is always
ignored. Here by solving Kolmogorov forward equation, I show the
significant difference in forest size structure predictions with and
without considering of the variance, which just solved the puzzle of
mismatch between observation and theoretical prediction in previous
studies. An asymptotically power-law relationship between tree size and
growth rate variance was found and statistically interpreted, which is
the key link in connecting all the evidences in forest size structure
formation.