Patterns of mast fruiting - a stochastic approach
  Mast fruiting represents a synchronous population behaviour which can spread on large landscape areas. This reproductive pattern is generally perceived as a synchronous periodic production of large seed crops and has a significant practical importance to forest natural regeneration in order to synchronize cuttings. The mechanisms of masting are still argued and models of this phenomenon are uncommon, so a stochastic approach can cast significant light on some particular aspects. Trees manage to get synchronized and coordinate their reproductive routines. But is it possible that trees get synchronized by chance, absolutely random? Using a Monte Carlo simulation of seeding years and a theoretical masting pattern, a stochastic analysis is performed in order to assess the chance of random mast fruiting. Two populations of 100 trees, with different fruiting periodicity of 2-3 years and 4-6 years, were set and the fruition dynamic was simulated for 100 years. The results show that periodicity itself cannot induce by chance the masting effect, but periodicity mathematically influences the reproductive pattern. 
Ciprian Palaghianu, Marian Dragoi
q-bio.QM