Growth rates and crown morphology of Abies amabilis in the seedling bank of an ancient subalpine conifer forest

The population dynamics of shade-tolerant tree species often includes a seedling bank — small trees persisting in the understory until canopy opening allows increased height growth. We studied the growth and morphology of 0.1–1.3 m tall Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes trees in the seedling bank of an ancient (>1300 years old) subalpine conifer forest on Vancouver Island, western Canada. We determined rates of height growth by counting...