Effects of positive interactions, size symmetry of competition and abiotic stress on self-thinning in simulated plant populations.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Competition drives self-thinning (density-dependent mortality) in crowded plant populations. Facilitative interactions have been shown to affect many processes in plant populations and communities, but their effects on self-thinning trajectories have not been investigated.

Methods

Using an individual-based 'zone-of-influence' model, we studied the potential effects of the size symmetry of competition, abiotic stress and facilitation on self-thinning trajectories in plant monocultures. In the model, abiotic stress reduced the growth of all individuals and facilitation ameliorated the effects of stress on interacting individuals.

Key results

Abiotic stress made the log biomass-log density relationship during self-thinning steeper, but this effect was

SUBMITTER: Chu CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2944970 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature