PATTERNS OF DIAMETRIC GROWTH IN STEM-ANALYZED LAUREL TREES (CORDIA ALLIODORA) IN A PANAMANIAN FOREST

摘要

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.