Hierarchical log Gaussian Cox process for regeneration in uneven-aged forests

Abstract: We propose a hierarchical log Gaussian Cox process (LGCP) for point patterns, where a set of points x affects another set of points y but not vice versa. We use the model to investigate the effect of large trees to the locations of seedlings. In the model, every point in x has a parametric influence kernel or signal, which together form an influence field. Conditionally on the parameters, the influence field acts as a spatial covariate in the intensity of the model, and the intensity itself is a non-linear function of the parameters. Points outside the observation window may affect the influence field inside the window. We propose an edge correction to account for this missing data. The parameters of the model are estimated in a Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) where a Laplace approximation is used for the Gaussian field of the LGCP model. The proposed model is used to analyze the effect of large trees on the success of regeneration in uneven-aged forest stands in Finland.