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Patterns of diametric growth in stem-analyzed laurel trees (Cordia alliodora) in a Panamanian forest

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Based on cross-dated increment cores, yearly diameters of trees were reconstructed for 21 laurels (Cordia alliodora) growing in a natural secondary forest on Gigante Peninsula, Panama. From this sample of dominant-codominant trees, ages were 14–35 years with an average of 25 years. Growth typically slowed at 7 years old, indicating effects of competition from closure of gaps in the canopy. Rate of growth in diameter was modeled using the Bertalanffy-Richards growth function. Four patterns of growth were detected, of which 57% were sigmoidal, 19% were convex, 10% were monomolecular, and 14% were inverse sigmoid.

Citation

Parresol, Bernard R; Devall, Margaret S. 2013. Patterns of diametric growth in stem-analyzed laurel trees (Cordia alliodora) in a Panamanian forest. The Southwestern Naturalist 58(2):170-178.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/48861