Quantifying Crown Morphology of Mixed Pine-Oak Forests Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning

Mixed forests make up the majority of natural forests, and they are conducive to improving resilience resistance forest ecosystems. Moreover, it is in crown trees where effect inter- intra-specific interaction between them evident. However, our knowledge changes morphology caused by density, competition, mixture specific species still limited. Here, we provide insight on stand structural complexity based study four response variables (Maximum Crown Width Height, MCWH; Base CBH; Volume, CV; Projection Area, CPA) derived from multiple terrestrial laser scans. Data were obtained six permanent plots Northern Spain comprising two widespread across Europe; Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). A total 193 pines 256 oaks extracted point cloud. Correlation test conducted (? ? 0.9) finally eleven independent for each target tree calculated categorized into size, competition mixture, which was included as a continuous variable. Linear non-linear regressions used fit models best selected according lowest AIC Index biological sense. Our results evidence plasticity diverse neighborhoods show complementarity mixtures, have higher MCWH CBH than but lower CV CPA, contrary oaks. The confirm that mixtures can be increase above ground diversity.