Spatial Pattern of Larix gmelini in a Spruce-fir Valley Forest of Xiaoxing'an Mountains, China

On the basis of vegetation data in the 9.12 ha (380 m ${\times}$ 240 m) permanent sample plot of the spruce-fir valley forest in Liangshui National Reserve of Xiaoxing'an Mountains, the study was conducted to evaluate spatial distribution pattern and spatial association by using point pattern analysis for living and dead trees of Larix gmelini by DBH size class. The number of L. gmelini were counted as 59 living stems/ha (6.42 $m^2$/ha of basal area) and 34 dead stems/ha (2.86 $m^2$/ha of basal area). The distributional curve of diameter class exhibited bimodal shape. The analysis of spatial distribution patterns of all living larch stems noted the clumped distribution on the whole. The size of larch aggregates of dead stems was decreased as diameter class was increased. The distribution of dead stems became gradually randomized with decreased clumped size as the scale increased. Living stems and dead stems of the larch had positive spatial association at most of scales, illustrating that the occurrence of mortality of the larch tree was closely related to the distribution pattern of living larch trees.