Understanding processes underlying spatial distribution of tree species is fundamental to studying species coexistence and diversity. This study modeled point patterns of tree distribution for the purpose of identifying processes that generate spatial patterns of tree communities. We used four primary point pattern processes (homogeneous Poisson process, inhomogeneous Poisson process, homogeneous Thomas, and inhomogeneous Thomas process) to model tree distribution in two large-scale stem-mapped forests in
Results/Conclusions
The results showed that inhomogeneous Thomas processes was the best model that described most of the species studied, suggesting that spatial patterns of tree species were formed by the joint effects of habitat associations and dispersal limitation. Homogeneous Thomas process that models the effect of dispersal limitation was the second best model. We also found that the best fit models could be predicted by species abundance in one forest, but by dispersal mode in the other forest. This study indicated the interactive operation of niche-based (habitat heterogeneity) and neutral-based (dispersal limitation) in generating spatial patterns of tree species in forest communities.
