What does the area between curves A and B on the chart indicate?

What does the area between curves A and B on the chart indicate?

• A. The current density of trees
• B. The maximum possible tree height
• C. The optimal diameter at breast height range
• D. The range of stocking where trees can fully utilize the site

Answer: (D)

Stocking charts show how tree density relates to how a site is being used for growth. The two curves bound a band that represents where stands are able to use the site’s productive potential effectively. The area between those curves corresponds to the range of stocking where trees can fully utilize the site’s resources (light, water, nutrients). If you’re below the lower curve, the site isn’t being fully used because there aren’t enough trees to exploit it; if you’re above the upper curve, crowding reduces growth and site utilization. So that between-curves area is the range where stocking is optimal for full site use. The other options describe specific metrics (current density, maximum height, or DBH range) that aren’t defined by the area between these curves.

Stocking charts show how tree density relates to how a site is being used for growth. The two curves bound a band that represents where stands are able to use the site’s productive potential effectively. The area between those curves corresponds to the range of stocking where trees can fully utilize the site’s resources (light, water, nutrients). If you’re below the lower curve, the site isn’t being fully used because there aren’t enough trees to exploit it; if you’re above the upper curve, crowding reduces growth and site utilization. So that between-curves area is the range where stocking is optimal for full site use. The other options describe specific metrics (current density, maximum height, or DBH range) that aren’t defined by the area between these curves.