An extreme-value approach to detect clumping and an application to tropical forest gap-mosaic dynamics

Although forest tree pattern-dynamics has long been a focus for ecological theory, many aspects of basic analysis remain problematic.This paper describes, examines and illustrates an 'extreme-value' approach to clump detection. Simulations demonstrate that the approach, though simple, is sensitive and well suited to identifying aggregation, even in small data sets.Though powerful, the extreme-value tests are slightly conservative.The approach is adaptable to other null distributions and applications. An illustration uses tree data from a Ugandan forest plot with records from 1939 to 1992. One plausible explanation for observed stem increases in this plot is an unusually high incidence of large tree-fall events. Evidence for this is sought through spatial localization of various stem populations. Various technical and ecological aspects of the extreme-value approach and tree spatial analyses are discussed.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Sheil, Douglas, Ducey, M.J.
Format:	Journal Article biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2002
Subjects:	forest trees, distribution, patterns, aggregation, experimental plots, rain forests,
Online Access:	https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18572 https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/1098
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