Production of Seeds and Cones and Consequences for Wood Radial Increment in Norway Spruce (Picea Abies (L.) Karst.)

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Abstract
The presence of a trade–off between growth and reproduction was tested in four sites in a subalpine Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest by measuring annual stem diameter increments at breast height and seed and cone productions during the periods 1962–1985 and 1983–1990, respectively. Trees growing in forest stands near the timber line (about 1900 m above sea level) had the greatest reduction in annual stem diameter increment during mast years; while trees growing at about 1300–1500 m above sea level did not show any reduction. Trees growing at about 1700 m showed only a limited reduction. At the same elevation, trees growing within closed forest stands suffered a greater reduction in stem growth when compared with trees growing at the edge of a cutting.