http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy
That aside, I should add that the "toppled" seedling were planted in full sunlight and their nearest neighbors (all plantings) averaged 10 feet away (i.e. zero shading). I was told the Coast Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) seedlings perfer to grow in shade, so perhaps they are not adapted to full wind? Just trying to think of alternate hypotheses... I assume that you do not have much to say about the influence of agricultural conditions on native trees in their natural setting? Sounds like you know a bit about trees, so thank you for participating, David Thomson -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Voelker, Steve Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 12:32 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: How much fertilizer and water to give seedlings of wild trees? Jonathan, In reply to your question and to David Thomson's comments: ... Regarding tree biomechanics (which truly have little to do with the growth rate of great danes) - it is only occassionally that growth rate, by itself, significantly effects wood strength (MOE, modulus of elasticity). To the extent that some species growth rate is positively correlated earlywood/latewood ratio, wood with more earlywood will tend to have less strength. In the case of the oaks, though, fast growth rates tend to increase latewood production and hence increase density and MOE. Furthermore, saplings toppling over does not happen due to growth rate directly, but is more likely related to stem taper - as influenced by spacing and competition for light. If some species or individuals are intense competition for light (possibly species that grew the fastest when planted under a constant, but too small a spacing), they will tend to have less taper and will be less stable under mechanical loading. ... Cheers, Steve Voelker Oregon State University Wood Science & Engineering Forest Science
