Population age structure and dynamics of <i>Pinus koraiensis</i> in a broadleaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain, China

Abstract

AimsTo provide a theoretical basis for the protection and restoration of broadleaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain area, the population age structure and quantitative dynamics of Pinus koraiensis were investigated.Methods We used field data to form the static life table, estimate the population quantitative indexes, and to fit the survival and mortality curves for identifying the population characteristics of P. koraiensis.We also used the survival functions and spectral analysis to explore its population age structure and to reveal natural regeneration processes and as well as future developmental trend.Important findings Based on the distribution of diameter, the population of P. koraiensis could be sorted into 14 age classes and combined into four subpopulations, i.e., juvenile (I-III), middle-age (IV-VI), adult (VII-X) and old (XI-XIV) stages.By contrast, the number of individuals in population was higher in stages of young and adult and lower in middle and old stages.However, the survival curve of population was close to Deevey-III type, reflecting that the high mortality occurred in juvenile stage.In addition, external random interference was crucial for whole population dynamics.With and without such interference, the population of P. koraiensis become the constant type (V′ pi was close to 0) and increasing type (V pi  0), respectively.Moreover, the survival function analysis showed that the number of individuals of this species was dramatically decreased in early stage, and then relatively stable in middle-age stage and declined again in late stage.Furthermore, spectral analysis for this population indicated that the pattern of natural regeneration exhibited periodic fluctuation along successional process.With population development,

Topics & Concepts