Undoubtedly, more attempts have been made to define timberline than other vegetation limits, in particular for correlating the location of this prominent vegetation- and landscape-limit to certain isotherms or other altitudinal limits, such as snow line, for example (e.g., Hermes, 1955). Most definitions refer to a certain minimum tree height or minimum forest cover. Aas (1964) and Mork (1968b), for example, consider a forest to be a closed forest if the average distance between the trees does not exceed 30 m. The critical minimum heights range from 2 to 8 m (Table 1), the minimum cover from 30% to 40% (Jenic and Locvenc, 1962; Ellenberg and Muller-Dombois, 1967; Ellenberg, 1978).
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(2009). Definitions, Terminology. In: Holtmeier, FK. (eds) Mountain Timberlines. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9705-8_3
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