Advanced Aboveground Spatial Analysis as Proxy for the Competitive Environment Affecting Sapling Development

Tree saplings are exposed to a competitive growth environment in which resources are limited and the ability to adapt determines general vitality and specific growth performance. In this study we analyzed the aboveground spatial neighborhood of oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) saplings growing in Germany, by using hemispherical photography and terrestrial laser scanning as proxy for the competitive pressure...