On the Consequences of Using Moving Window Segmentation to Analyze the Structural Stand Heterogeneity and Debatable Patchiness of Old-Growth Temperate Forests

(1) Background: Early research in natural forests on decennia implanted conviction concerning the patchy patterns of their structural heterogeneity. Due to variety methodological approaches applied, verification this fundamental assumption remains open. The aim study was discuss limitations associated with use moving windows overlap for delineation homogeneous patch mosaics forest ecosystems. (2) Methods: “patchiness” hypothesis tested six old-growth formed by Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L., and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. localized Bosnia Herzegovina southern Poland. In each stand, tree diameter at breast height (dbh) recorded circular sample plots 154 m2 regularly distributed a 20 × m lattice over an area 10 ha. (3) Results: Computer simulations showed that classification based overlapping results apparent patchiness, even completely randomized distributions. Analyses carried out empirical data indicated prevalent random (4) Conclusions: Patchiness is not universal feature investigated communities. size window noise-smoothing procedure exert strong effects biasedness classification, frequency types, mean size.