If one site has 180 trees per acre and another 160 trees per acre, what is the likely effect on competition?

If one site has 180 trees per acre and another 160 trees per acre, what is the likely effect on competition?

• A. Higher density site would have less competition.
• B. Competition levels would be the same.
• C. Higher density would increase growth rate.
• D. Higher density site would have greater competition.

Answer: (D)

When more trees occupy the same area, each tree has less access to essential resources like light, water, and nutrients. In this case, the site with 180 trees per acre provides less resource per tree than the site with 160 trees per acre, so competition among trees is higher at the denser site. That increased competition typically slows growth and stresses trees, as they must share light and underground resources more intensively. So the likely effect is greater competition on the higher-density site. The other ideas don’t fit because more trees don’t reduce competition, and higher density doesn’t inherently boost growth rate; it usually slows growth due to resource limitation.

When more trees occupy the same area, each tree has less access to essential resources like light, water, and nutrients. In this case, the site with 180 trees per acre provides less resource per tree than the site with 160 trees per acre, so competition among trees is higher at the denser site. That increased competition typically slows growth and stresses trees, as they must share light and underground resources more intensively. So the likely effect is greater competition on the higher-density site. The other ideas don’t fit because more trees don’t reduce competition, and higher density doesn’t inherently boost growth rate; it usually slows growth due to resource limitation.