Allocation - Ontogenetic aspects of biomass allocation in beech

Biomass allocation plays a key role in the growth of trees. The annual acquisition and allocation patterns are expected to explain the widely observed sigmoid tree growth pattern. Moreover, especially the growth pattern in the post-expansion phase of adult trees remains unclear and in this paper more data are provided to give an idea about this phase in Fagus sylvatica L. Patterns of growth and allocation were studied and they give good indications of a deterred height growth, suggesting that trees economize their allocation pattern. This would result in a continued positive growth and reproduction over a longer time span, which might be followed directly by senescence.

Publications

MSc theses

• Polinder, A. (2007). Just a matter of scaling. The effects of tree size on production, allocation and shoot development in Fagus sylvatica L. (supervision: Sterck, Sass-Klaassen)