关键词: -3/2幂律, -4/3幂律, 植物种群, 自然稀疏, 自疏边界线, 能量相当, 异速生长, 等速生长

Abstract: Yoda's -3/2 power rule or law of self-thinning based on the isometric scaling growth of plant, as well as a -4/3 law of self-thinning based on the energy equivalence ecological theory and the allometric relationship between metabolic rate and body mass of individuals are reviewed. Although the existence of a general self-thinning trajectory with a slope of -3/2 is questioned extensively, there is no evidence to reject the -3/2 power rule as the upper limit boundary line, below which all size-density trajectories possibly occur, and to accept the -4/3 power rule as the substitute. The authors suggest a re-evaluating of the -3/2 as well as -4/3 power law of self-thinning, from the first principles to the representation.

Key words: -3/2 power law, -4/3 power law, plant population, self-thinning, self-thinning boundary line, energy equivalence, allometry, isometry