風是影響樹木生長的重要因素之一，恆春半島森林長期受東北季風吹襲，可能導致單一樹冠在迎風與背風方向，枝條生長速率不一，而使樹冠呈現不對稱。樹冠之不對稱性可能會影響倒樹發生之頻率與方向，進而顯著地影響森林的長期動態。本研究評估墾丁高位珊瑚礁森林內樹冠之不對稱程度，並探討樹冠偏離方向與季風方向之關係。作者於2006年2月間，在墾丁高位珊瑚礁森林保留區內10公頃森林動態樣區中，沿步道每隔十五公尺，記錄胸高徑最大樹於東、南、西與北方四個方位之樹冠半徑，繪製樹冠圖，估算「樹冠不對稱指數」。結果顯示，15棵樹之樹冠呈顯著之不對稱現象，但並未朝特定方向偏離。如此，落山風並非造成樹冠不對稱的主要因子，樹冠之不對稱現象可能受季風以外的其他因子影響。

Monsoons play an essential role in determining the structure,composition, and dynamics of forest ecosystems in the Hengchun Peninsula. Branches in windward and leeward sides of the crown may grow at unequal rates and result in crown asymmetry. Such asymmetry may further impact the frequency and directions of treefalls, thus casting significant impacts on long-term forest dynamics. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree of crown asymmetry and its relationship to the directionality of monsoons in a tropical forest in the Kenting Uplifted Coral Reef Nature Reserve. We measured crown radii in four cardinal directions (North, East, South, and West) of fifteen canopy trees along a trial in the Kenting Forest Dynamics Plot in February, 2006. Crown asymmetry indices of these fifteen trees were estimated from crown radii.The results indicate that tree crowns of these fifteen trees are significantly asymmetric, but are not skewed towards a certain direction. Thus, the results suggest that monsoons are not the most important factor
determining the shape of tree crowns. Crown asymmetry may be generated by factors other than prevailing monsoons in the Kenting area.