Spatial pattern reveals process in a species-rich seasonal tropical forest: Insights from a multi-type point process model

Abstract

The spatial arrangement of individuals of multiple species of sessile organisms is thought to be driven by a variety of entangled biotic and abiotic mechanisms. In particular, segregation along environmental gradients causes long-distance clustering within species and separation between species. Dispersal limitations result in intermediate-scale clustering, solely within species. Physical packing, resource competition and natural enemies as agents of negative density dependence cause regularity at finer scales, with the latter only within species. Functional groups representing structure and dynamics have distinct associations, with gap and understorey species more clustered than canopy. We ..