Caractérisation des forêts mélangées

International audienceAn appropriate, common interpretation of stand structure characteristics is a key element to better understand forest ecosystem ecology and dynamics. Standards for characterizing the structure, dynamics and productivity of even-aged pure stands are well developed, but such harmonized concepts and methods for mixed forest stands are lacking. Here we compile a comprehensive set of measures, indices and methods at stand level to characterize and evaluate mixed stands. The chapter is organized according to the main components of the structure of forest stands; hence it includes (1) the most relevant concepts and approaches to describe stand density as a key component of stand structure; (2) stand species composition indicators and the most common species diversity indices used in the science of forest growth and yield; (3) how to describe tree distribution patterns, including horizontal spatial pattern, species intermingling and vertical spatial pattern, as well as species-specific height growth and canopy space partitioning; (4) ways to characterize tree-size distribution and growth partitioning among trees of different sizes; and (5) site productivity indices and methods for the comparison of productivity inmixed vs. monospecific stands. Finally we discuss some of the methodological and application challenges related to the reviewed indices and methods which require further attention