Reproductive correlation and mean–variance scaling of reproductive output for a forest model

We analyse the mean–variance scaling of reproductive output for a previously published forest model. The model relates individual reproductive effort and pollen limitation to the degree of synchrony in reproduction throughout a forest. We show that the exponent of Taylorʹs power law reflects the degree of synchrony of reproduction because it indicates the covariance of reproductive behavior. Further, we are able to relate the three components of masting, individual variability, population variability and synchrony in reproductive output, using Taylorʹs power law. Therefore Taylorʹs power law can be used as a synoptic index of masting.