Inhomogeneous models of tree stand self-thinning

It is shown that some rather different formulas of forest stand self-thinning can be considered as solutions of unique inhomogeneous Malthus extinction model with corresponding initial distributions of the mortality rate of trees. The results allow hypothesising that the distribution of mortality rate is specific for different tree species Developed theory suggests new methods to improve existing and to derive new self-thinning formulas using appropriate distributions of Malthusian parameter. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.