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Self-thinning of plant populations from a dynamic viewpoint
Article first published online: 2 APR 2004
DOI: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00832.x
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How to Cite
Roderick, M. L. and Barnes, B. (2004), Self-thinning of plant populations from a dynamic viewpoint. Functional Ecology, 18: 197–203. doi: 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00832.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 2 APR 2004
- Article first published online: 2 APR 2004
- Received 29 September 2003; revised 23 November 2003; accepted 24 November 2003
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Keywords:
- −3;
- 2 law;
- community ecology;
- population dynamics;
- self-thinning law;
- self-thinning trajectory
Summary
- 1In this paper a new formulation of the self-thinning law for plant populations is presented, based on dynamical principles. The basis of the new approach is explicitly to separate the equation of state (total = mean × number) from the change in state (δtotal = mean × δnumber + number × δmean).
- 2Using the dynamical approach, an analytical expression for the self-thinning exponent is derived which shows that the self-thinning exponent follows a trajectory, but whenever the total is constant the self-thinning exponent must, by definition, = −1. Conversely, whenever the total varies the self-thinning exponent must, by definition, differ from −1. The underlying general principles of self-thinning trajectories are deduced.
- 3The new dynamic interpretations are general because they are independent of the details about how the changes in the number and mean occurred.
- 4The theory is demonstrated using a typical self-thinning experiment.