Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) is one of the most economically important tree species in the western United States. The species is widely distributed in mid- to high-elevation mountains, so its vulnerability to wind and snow is of concern to foresters. Height-to-diameter (H-D) ratio is an important metric for assessing tree stability and resistance to windstorm and icing damage. But our understanding of the variation in H-D ratio of Engelmann spruce and its driving mechanism is limited. Based on inventory data of 9004 Engelmann spruce trees from 997 permanent plots, this study used the r...
