Spatial distribution patterns and associations of Pinus koraiensis and Tilia amurensis in broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Changbai Mountains
长白山阔叶红松林中红松与紫椴的空间分布格局及其关联性

Based on the investigation data from a 25 hm2 broadleaved Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) mixed forest plot in Changbai Mountains of China, the dominant species Korean pine and Tilia amurensis were chosen as research objects. One point pattern analysis method, O-ring statistics, was used to analyze the spatial patterns of the species in three vertical layers, i.e., overstory, midstory and understory layers, and the spatial associations of intra- and inter-species between different vertical layers were studied. The results showed that P. koraiensis and T. amurensis were clumped at smaller scales. Higher layers tended to be randomly or regularly distributed, while lower layers tended to be aggregated at smaller scales. The aggregation degree decreased with canopy height. P. koraiensis stems in overstory layer were significantly positively associated to the stems in midstory layer at scales <11 m, and T. amurensis in overstory layer showed negatively correlation with that in midstory and understory layers. There was generally a positive correlation between the two species, but the association varied among different layers. No significant correlation was observed between P. koraiensis stems in overstory layer and T. amurensis in three layers. P. koraiensis stems in midstory layer showed slightly negative correlation with T. amurensis in the same layer at scales >4 m, but no significant association to T. amurensis in understroy layer. T. amurensis in overstory layer was significantly positively associated to P. koraiensis in midstory layer at scales <100 m.