Gap Regeneration Research Articles

Gap regeneration in near-natural European beech forest stands in Central Bohemia – the role of heterogeneity and micro-habitat factors

Gap regeneration in near-natural European beech forest stands in Central Bohemia – the role of heterogeneity and micro-habitat factors

Forest regeneration in gaps seven years after partial harvesting in riparian buffers of boreal mixedwood streams

Partial harvesting in boreal forest riparian buffers has been proposed as a management tool to emulate natural disturbance (END) along streams and lakes to increase shoreline habitat complexity through ensuing forest regeneration. We investigated the effect of partial harvesting in stream-side riparian buffers on regeneration of canopy species (Abies balsamea, Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Picea mariana and Populus tremuloides) by testing the hypothesis that juvenile trees would be more abundant, species-rich, and larger in gaps than in non-harvested buffers, and that those differences would be proportional to gap size. Our main objective was to determine what gaps sizes are conducive to promote tree and woody shrub regeneration in stream-side riparian areas of boreal mixedwood forests. We compared woody plant regeneration among harvest gaps varying in size (small, 10–20m2; medium, 21–100m2; and large, >100m2), and contrasted with regeneration under closed canopy in unharvested buffers and undisturbed reference forests. We found that woody plant communities in partial harvesting gaps were denser and more diverse than unharvested buffers. They were more so in medium to large gaps and consisted of shade-intolerant and early successional species. Favorable light and soil temperature in the large gaps appear to be responsible for this. We concluded that intentional shoreline disturbance aiming to achieve increased riparian habitat complexity and early successional forest community is possible by partial harvesting at up to 50% basal area removal. However, as END principles are increasingly applied to riparian forest management, it will be necessary to test and monitor the effectiveness and longer-term ecological responses of riparian communities to such management at catchment and landscape levels.

Regeneration in canopy gaps of tierra-firme forest in the Peruvian Amazon: Comparing reduced impact logging and natural, unmanaged forests

Reduced impact logging (RIL) has been promoted as a cornerstone in sustainable forest management in the tropics, although the ecological implications of RIL guidelines are poorly understood. This study aims to identify the impact of RIL on the regeneration of commercial timber species by comparing the regeneration dynamics of logging gaps with naturally occuring canopy gaps. In the concession of Consorcio Forestal Amazonico in the region of Ucayali in the Peruvian Amazon, a total of 210 circular sample plots were established in 35 gaps in unmanaged natural forest and 35 canopy gaps in forest managed according to RIL guidelines. The size of each canopy gap was estimated by establishing a polygon that followed the vertical projection of the edge of the gap. Three circular plots of 100 m2 were established within each canopy gap. The center points of the plots were placed at the stump, mid-trunk and crown of the fallen tree. It appeared that the total abundance of seedlings did not differ significantly between logging gaps and natural canopy gaps. Instead the response to logging varied between species groups. The Clarisia sp. species group had a significant negative response to logging, while Ormosia sp., Aniba sp., Ocotea sp., Qualea sp. and Terminalia sp. were significantly more abundant in gaps of logged-over forest. A direct effect of seed tree retention on seedling abundance could not be detected statistically. Possible reasons for observed differences between untouched and logged forest and consequences of observed patterns for long-term forest development and management were discussed. It was concluded that issuing and enforcing strict guidelines on sustainable forest management is no guarantee for preserving species composition in tropical forests.

Regeneration of facial nerve defects with xenogeneic acellular nerve grafts in a rat model

Because of ease of harvest and low immunogenicity, xenogeneic acellular nerve graft (XANG) may be an alternative to autologous nerve to repair facial nerve defects. Facial nerve defects of Wistar rats were repaired by XANG, and nerve gap regeneration was investigated by electrophysiological test, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde tracing and histomorphometric analysis, as compared to autograft. Twenty weeks after the grafting, electrophysiology showed that whisker pad muscles responded to the electrical stimuli given at the site proximal to the transplantation in 2 groups. Some HRP-labeled facial motorneurons were located on the facial nucleus of the operated side, and an abundance of myelinated axons were found at the middle of the grafts and obvious motor endplates in the target muscles in 2 groups, although they were inferior to the contralateral side in numbers. XANG represents an alternative approach for the reconstruction of peripheral facial nerve defects.

Spatial and temporal deforestation dynamics of Zagros forests (Iran) from 1972 to 2009

The emerging interest in sudden losses in vegetation and forest cover in semi-arid areas has led to a new understanding of the patterns and processes of deforestation. The Zagros oak forests in western Iran have undergone dramatic changes in cover and structure in recent decades, with negative consequences for the communities that depend upon them. This study had three objectives: (1) evaluate the nature and magnitude of these changes from 1972 to 2009 through trends in forest area and connectivity; (2) evaluate the changes in forest area and landscape connectivity across a climatic gradient; and (3) evaluate the effect of topographical variations. Landsat MSS, TM, and ETM+ images for the region were preprocessed and corrected prior to classification of 167 landscape units (LU; 400km2 each). We developed two measures – deforestation sensitivity (DS) and connectivity sensitivity (CS) – for each LU. A considerable but relatively linear loss in forest area and connectivity was detected. Connectivity loss occurred more rapidly than forest loss due to the loss of connecting patches. More connectivity was lost in southern Zagros due to climatic differences and different forms of traditional land use. Steep slopes and high elevations experienced more forest loss and connectivity. In northern Zagros the coppice form of forest management should be supported as a method that maintains connectivity. In southern Zagros, restoration projects should focus on regeneration in forest gaps to restore connectivity between isolated forest fragments. The study provides large scale information for restoration projects across a spatial climatic gradient.

Population persistence of a Tertiary relict tree Tetracentron sinense on the Ailao Mountains, Yunnan, China

The persistence of the Tertiary relict tree Tetracentron sinense Oliv. on the eastern slope of the Ailao Mountains, Yunnan, SW China, was here studied in terms of population structure (size, age) and regeneration patterns. T. sinense occurred in unstable habitats by stream banks, on steep slopes, on scree slopes, or on roadsides near streams in narrow valleys, all places subject to frequent natural disturbances, whereas none were found on stable gentle slopes free of major disturbances at similar altitudes. Further, no established saplings of T. sinense were found in forests having high bamboo (Yushania crassicollis Yi) coverage in their understory. The size and age structure of T. sinense were multimodal. The reproduction of the tree was either by means of abundant minute wind-dispersed seeds or by resprouts in unstable habitats. These populations depended on disturbance or gap regeneration to survive. T. sinense, along with other tree life-forms including evergreen broad-leaved species and conifers, dominated in the forest canopy layer, even reaching the emergent layer in places. Results of the study provide insight into the ecological characteristics and survival mechanisms of this East Asian paleoendemic tree species. The study will provide a scientific basis for recommendations for the conservation of this species and for other Tertiary relict plants having similar regeneration dynamics.

Comparative Assessment of Natural Regeneration Quality in Two Northern Hardwood Stands

Selected quality aspects of natural regeneration in gaps were studied in two sugar maple-yellow birch forest stands in Quebec: a selection-cut stand (SC) and a protected old-growth stand (OG). The quality-assessment systems by Sonderman (1979) and Borner et al. (2003) were applied to saplings and poles of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) between 2.5-13.0 m in height to assess stem deviation, forks, the number of live branches, branch diameters, and overall quality. These individual quality parameters, the Sonderman-quality index (QI), and a modified quality index (mQI) were used to illustrate differences in sapling quality between species and stands. Saplings and poles in the OG had fewer forks and fewer live branches of smaller relative branch diameters, resulting in better overall quality compared to the SC. Gap size had no significant influence on individual quality parameters, Sonderman-QI, or mQI class. The combination of both assessment systems into the mQI class allows for a comprehensive evaluation of regeneration quality, which may be used to evaluate the success of silvicultural measures in the context of quality-oriented northern hardwoods management. ABSTRACT

Filling the gap: A compositional gap regeneration model for managed northern hardwood forests

Regeneration of trees in canopy gaps created by timber harvest is vital for the sustainability of many managed forests. In northern hardwood forests of the Great Lakes region of North America, regeneration density and composition are highly variable because of multiple drivers that include browsing by herbivores, seed availability, and physical characteristics of forest gaps and stands. The long-term consequences of variability in regeneration for economic productivity and wildlife habitat are uncertain. To better understand and evaluate drivers and long-term consequences of regeneration variability, simulation models that combine statistical models of regeneration with established forest growth and yield models are useful. We present the structure, parameterization, testing and use of a stochastic, regression-based compositional forest gap regeneration model developed with the express purpose of being integrated with the US Forest Service forest growth and yield model ‘Forest Vegetation Simulator’ (FVS) to form an integrated simulation model. The innovative structure of our regeneration model represents only those trees regenerating in gaps with the best chance of subsequently growing into the canopy (i.e., the tallest). Using a multi-model inference (MMI) approach and field data collected from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan we find that ‘habitat type’ (a proxy for soil moisture and nutrients), deer density, canopy openness and basal area of mature ironwood (Ostrya virginiana) in the vicinity of a gap drive regeneration abundance and composition. The best model from our MMI approach indicates that where deer densities are high, ironwood appears to gain a competitive advantage over sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and that habitat type is an important predictor of overall regeneration success. Using sensitivity analyses we show that this regeneration model is sufficiently robust for use with FVS to simulate forest dynamics over long time periods (i.e., 200 years).

Mortality of girdled trees and survival of seedlings in canopy gaps after logging in a terra firme forest in Brazilian Amazon

Post harvest silvicultural practices in managed forests are seldom applied in the Amazon region. To tackle this problem an experiment was established in 700 ha of terra firme dense forest of the Brazilian Amazon aiming to test the main silvicultural treatments applied elsewhere in the tropics in order to select the most promising ones and recommend their application as part of forest management practices in the region. The experimental area is located in the Rio Capim Forest Management Unit, municipality of Paragominas (2o25’-4o09’S, 46o25’-48o54’W), State of Para, Brazil, where some post-harvest silviculture activities are performed such as tree girdling, planting in gaps and assistance of natural regeneration in gaps, which were discussed in the present paper. Large sized trees had higher mortality rates corroborating with some studies carried out in Amazonia and elsewhere. In general survival of planted seedlings was considerable high (over 75%). Prospects of success of this approach as post harvest silviculture are very promising. Survival of seedlings from natural regeneration of commercial species, mainly light-demanding, was high in the gaps created by logging, suggesting that natural regeneration can establish stands of commercial value.

Impact of typhoon disturbance on the diversity of key ecosystem engineers in a monoculture mangrove forest plantation, Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam

Mangrove crabs as key ecosystem engineers may play an important role in the recovery process of storm-damaged forests. Yet, their response to storm disturbance is largely unknown. Here we compare the ground-dwelling brachyuran crab community of intact mangrove stands with that of typhoon gaps having experienced 100% tree mortality. Field work was conducted in two adjacent areas in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, southern Vietnam. In each area, an 18–20yr old monoculture Rhizophora apiculata stand served as control and was compared with typhoon gaps where downed stems had been removed or left on-site. The gaps were 14 and 20months old when studied in the dry and rainy season 2008, respectively. Time-based sampling of ground-dwelling crabs with hand or shovel was conducted by 4 persons inside 100m2 plots for 30min (7 replicate plots per area, treatment and month). Abiotic (sediment pH, salinity, temperature, grain size, water content, carbon and nitrogen content), and biotic measures (e.g. canopy coverage, woody debris, number of trees, leaf litter) were also taken. Despite complete canopy loss, total crab abundance has not changed significantly (in contrast to biomass) and all 12 species found in the forest were also found in the gaps, demonstrating their robustness. Another 9 gap-exclusive species were recorded and average species number and Shannon diversity were thus higher in the gaps. Perisesarma eumolpe was the most abundant species, both in the forest and in the gaps, and a shift from sesarmids (typical forest species) to ocypodids (generally more prominent in open areas) has not occurred. The persistence of litter-feeding sesarmid crabs prior to the re-establishment of a mangrove canopy is likely to depend on the availability of woody debris on the ground of the gaps, fuelling a mangrove detritus based food web, rather than one based on microphytobenthos and deposit-feeding ocypodids. The presence of burrowing crabs in the gaps suggests that important ecosystem engineering activities are still performed. However, bioturbation may be reduced as crab biomass and body size were smaller in the gaps. Follow-up assessments and field experiments are needed to understand the crabs' role in processing the woody debris, their long-term community dynamics and possible feed-backs between species shifts and gap regeneration.

Respuesta inicial de la regeneración arbórea luego de la floración y muerte de Chusquea culeou (Poaceae) en bosques andinos del centro-sur de Chile

SUMMARY In temperate rainforests at mid-elevation (> 600 m a.s.l.) in South-America the Chusquea culeou bamboo (colihue) is the dominant understory species and potentially can impede tree regeneration. Dieback of colihue subsequent to its gregarious flowering may result in an opportunity for tree establishment or growth release of previously suppressed juvenile trees, especially in canopy gaps. In this research we evaluated the bamboo dieback effect on tree species establishment and advance regeneration growth in two old-growth forests. The first forest is dominated by Nothofagus dombeyi-Saxegothaea-conspicua-Dasyphyllum diacantoides and the second is dominated by Araucaria araucana-Nothofagus, located in the Andean Cordillera of south-central Chile. In each forest (San Pablo de Tregua and Quetrupillan) following the gregarious flowering and dieback of colihue, between 2001 and 2003, we recorded new establishment of colihue and tree demographic changes and growth of advance regeneration in gaps with live versus dead colihue. In both forests the mortality of the advance regeneration was higher in gaps with dead colihue. Only in San Pablo was the height growth of Saxegothaea conspicua higher in gaps with dead colihue. New tree establishment did not show differences between flowered and non-flowered conditions. The recruitment of colihue seedlings was higher in gaps with dead colihue in both forests, being the clearest pattern of response to this dieback event. Overall, similar to other studies, the colihue dieback results in growth of advance regeneration, but it did not represent a major opportunity for new tree establishment in these forests.

Possible ecological implications of floating microbial assemblages lifted from the lakebed on an Antarctic lake

AbstractMicrobial assemblages can be found drifting/floating in lake water and being washed ashore in continental Antarctica. Two field studies in early and late January 2008 measured the light utilization properties and photosynthetic responses of these assemblages, which were then compared with those of pelagic and benthic microbial communities to evaluate the ecological implications of this phenomenon. The nutrient concentrations were low in the lake water, indicating oligotrophic conditions. Based on microscopic and pigment analysis, both the floating and benthic communities were mainly composed of Oedogonium sp. (Chlorophyceae), followed by cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dinoflagellates. Floating assemblages had a firmer and denser structure, and possessed more rich carotenoids than the benthic community. Measurements of photosynthesis conducted in early January indicated that the activities of the floating assemblages were considerably low. In late January almost all floating assemblages on the lakeshore turned white because of freezing and drying by the ambient temperature decrease, and had no photosynthetic signals. These results suggest that the floating assemblages could spontaneously lift off from the lakebed because of the bubbles created by photosynthesis and then repeatedly roll, flip, sink, or float depending on buoyancy. In addition, this phenomenon seemed to greatly change the cycling of matter by transporting the lake's photosynthetic products to the surrounding ecosystems, then give the benthic subsurface communities in dark regions a chance to reactivate such as gap regeneration in the case of climax forest, and also allow the floating assemblages to restart photosynthesis at the top of the lakebed by resinking.

Dynamic response of herbaceous vegetation to gap opening in a Central European beech stand

Herbaceous ground vegetation in artificially-created gaps was studied in a managed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest over a period of eight years in Northern Hungary, Central Europe. These gaps were being used as an alternative to the regular shelterwood system to create uneven-aged stands. The effects of gap size (15 and 40 m diameter) and canopy openness on herbaceous species colonization and persistence were assessed in a systematic grid of 5 5 m. Overall, herbaceous cover was low before gap creation, increased soon afterwards, and continued to rise over time. The number of herb species increased in the gaps and, to a lesser extent, in adjacent areas under the remaining tree canopy. Colonization of gaps was rapid and there was substantial turnover of species i.e. various species disappeared from the gaps over time whilst others colonized. Species with both long-term persistent seed banks and long distance dispersal abilities were the most successful types colonizing gaps. Six species occurred preferentially in large gaps, while only one species was found to prefer small gaps. Species present before gap creation survived in both gap sizes. Smaller gaps with a diameter of half the height of canopy trees also tended to remain free of common weed species, whereas large cover of Rubus fruticosus L. and Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth could hamper natural regeneration in larger gaps. For the successful regeneration of beech we recommend the use of small gaps complemented by few large gaps.

Seed dispersal by Tana River mangabeys in fragmented gallery forests

Data collected on a free ranging group of Tana River mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus) indicates that this endangered primate species, which has previously been regarded as a seed predator, plays an important role in seed dispersal and do contribute to the regeneration of a highly fragmented gallery forest. We observed fruit handling behavior and the post-dispersal fate of seeds ingested by the mangabeys. The two main fruit handling behaviors observed, fruit swallowing and processing fruits in cheek pouches, positively contributed to seed disper- sal. Seed predation was not common during this study, apart from a few particular plant species such as Acacia robusta and Alangium salviifolium with non-fleshy fruits. We found a correlation between seed predation and fruit availability, respectively seasonal differential specific dispersal efficiency. The role of the mangabeys in dispersing seeds and facilitating forest regeneration is enhanced by their movement across forest patches through non-forested matrix, which contributes to the deposition of seeds and regeneration in these habitat gaps.

Spatial distribution of saplings in heavily worn urban forests: Implications for regeneration and management

We studied the spatial distribution of saplings in the vicinity of other saplings and mature trees in heavily worn urban forests. Our aim was to identify favorable microsites for saplings to regenerate under different levels of wear. We hypothesized that these safe microsites were situated close to tree trunks that might offer shelter from trampling caused by humans and their pet dogs. The distribution of saplings was explored at 0.1–0.6m to the nearest sapling and 0.1–2m to the nearest mature tree. Sorbus aucuparia was the most abundant sapling species, followed by Populus tremula, Betula pubescens and Picea abies. These species all tended to cluster with their conspecific saplings and were generally randomly distributed with respect to mature trees. Saplings of S. aucuparia and P. tremula favored growing close to mature P. abies (already at 0.4–0.8 up to 2m from the trunk base, respectively) and S. aucuparia trees (at 0.2–0.4m up to 2m). Betula sp. and Acer platanoides grew close to Pinus sylvestris trees. Furthermore, with increased levels of wear, saplings clustered more likely together and close to tree trunks. The results are contrary to the gap regeneration hypothesis known from rural unworn forests where saplings often grow in canopy gaps. We suggest the idea of a ‘sheltering group’, i.e. tree groups and thickets of densely growing conspecific saplings, for the maintenance of regeneration of saplings and other vegetation in heavily worn recreational forests. Since urban forestry may strongly affect the existence and spatial location of a high variety of microhabitats, small-scale spatial exploration is needed to identify microsites that offer opportunities for natural regeneration under heavy recreational use. To maintain natural regeneration and the survival of saplings in worn urban forests, we recommend microhabitat-level species-specific forest management.

The reparative response to cross-linked collagen-based scaffolds in a rat spinal cord gap model

Prior work demonstrated the improvement of peripheral nerve regeneration in gaps implanted with collagen scaffold-filled collagen tubes, compared with nerve autografts, and the promise of such implants for treating gaps in spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The objective of this study was to investigate collagen implants alone and incorporating select therapeutic agents in a 5-mm full-resection gap model in the rat spinal cord. Two studies were performed, one with a 6-week time point and one with a 2-week time point. For the 6-week study the groups included: (1) untreated control, (2) dehydrothermally (DHT)-cross-linked collagen scaffold, (3) DHT-cross-linked collagen scaffold seeded with adult rat neural stem cells (NSCs), and (4) DHT-cross-linked collagen scaffold incorporating plasmid encoding glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor (pGDNF). The 2-week study groups were: (1) nontreated control, (2) DHT-cross-linked collagen scaffold; (3) DHT-cross-linked collagen scaffold containing laminin; and (4) carbodiimide-cross-linked collagen scaffold containing laminin. The tissue filling the defect of all groups at 6 weeks was largely composed of fibrous scar; however, the tissue was generally more favorably aligned with the long axis of the spinal cord in all of the treatment groups, but not in the control group. Quantification of the percentage of animals per group containing cystic cavities in the defect showed a trend toward fewer rats with cysts in the groups in which the scaffolds were implanted compared to control. All of the collagen implants were clearly visible and mostly intact after 2 weeks. A band of fibrous tissue filling the control gaps was not seen in the collagen implant groups. In all of the groups there was a narrowing of the spinal canal within the gap as a result of surrounding soft tissue collapse into the defect. The narrowing of the spinal canal occurred to a greater extent in the control and DHT scaffold alone groups compared to the DHT scaffold/laminin and EDAC scaffold/laminin groups. Collagen biomaterials can be useful in the treatment of SCI to: favorably align the reparative tissue with the long axis of the spinal cord; potentially reduce the formation of fluid-filled cysts; serve as a delivery vehicle for NSCs and the gene for GDNF; and impede the collapse of musculature and connective tissue into the defect.

Impacts of non-native plant and animal invaders on gap regeneration in a protected boreal forest

In balsam fir (Abies balsamea)-dominated boreal forests of Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland (Canada), non-native Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) has invaded forest gaps. Its management is complicated by the lack of viable control techniques and an overarching issue of gap regeneration failure attributed to browsing by non-native moose (Alces alces). This study identifies the impacts of thistle invasion on balsam fir regeneration and explores protocols to re-establish fir in gaps invaded by thistle and moose. Fir seeds were planted into ten gaps (five natural; five anthropogenic) and the emergence, growth, herbivory damage, and survival of fir was determined for 2 years amongst five treatments (n = 50 plots; 32 seeds/plot): (1) thistle monocultures in gaps; (2) where aboveground thistle biomass was removed; (3) where above- and below-ground thistle biomass was removed; (4) non-invaded areas in gaps; and, (5) adjacent uninvaded forest edges. In addition, 432 fir seedlings (aged 15 months) were transplanted into four forest gaps within the above treatments and followed for 1 year. Results indicate that invasion of C. arvense negatively affects fir emergence and early survival, and may further contribute to continued balsam fir regeneration failure independent of future moose densities. However, older fir seedlings transplanted into thistle monocultures experienced a positive facilitative effect due to the protection thistle provided against small mammal herbivory. Restoration actions that combine moose density reductions with the planting of fir seedlings offers the most viable long-term strategy to re-establish the native forest canopy in thistle-invaded gaps and would likely lead to the eventual decline of shade-intolerant C. arvense.

Understory bamboo flowering provides a very narrow light window of opportunity for canopy-tree recruitment in a neotropical forest of Misiones, Argentina

Chusquea ramosissima is a native monocarpic bamboo species growing in subtropical forests of northeastern Argentina, which can dominate gaps and open forests in the region, particularly after human disturbance. This bamboo species started to flower in different areas of northeastern Argentina in 2001, with the flowering peak during 2002 and 2003 and small isolated flowering events still occurring until 2010. We studied the effects of C. ramosissima flowering and die-back on microclimate, litter decomposition, nutrient availability, sapling growth, abundance and regeneration of tree canopy species. We wanted to know how environmental conditions and ecosystem processes change through time after bamboo flowering and if bamboo die-back would favor regeneration of canopy trees. Twenty 50 × 50 m plots of flowering and non-flowering bamboo were permanently marked and vegetation dynamics as well as nutrient cycling and microclimate studies were performed. C. ramosissima die-back enhanced growth and reduced mortality rate of tree saplings during the first year after flowering. Only growth of tree saplings previously established was enhanced by the flowering event and tree-species richness and saplings abundance of canopy trees did not change as expected due to bamboo flowering. The short-term effect of tree saplings growth was likely due to incident solar radiation at the forest floor which doubled in the first year after the bamboo flowering event. Increased light availability at the forest floor simultaneously promoted the growth of other understory plants such as ferns, lianas and Piper spp. that rapidly colonized gaps and intercepted a percentage of the incident solar radiation after the first year, which together with an increased litter layer due to the senescence of the bamboo, may have inhibited establishment of new tree individuals and affected tree growth. Contrary to predictions, soil water, litter decomposition and soil nutrients were not significantly affected by bamboo flowering. Thus, successful tree regeneration in gaps following bamboo flowering appears to be restricted to a very narrow window of increased light availability (i.e., 1 year) before growth of other understory plants and rapid re-colonization of bamboo. Changes in resource availability, and the opportunity for overstory regeneration after bamboo flowering events appears to depend on climatic and community characteristics of the ecosystem where the flowering event occurs and also, on the flowering patterns and their synchronicity.

Gap-, stand-, and landscape-scale factors contribute to poor sugar maple regeneration after timber harvest

Natural regeneration in canopy gaps is a key process affecting long-term dynamics of many forests, including northern hardwood forests. The density and composition of regenerating trees are often highly variable, reflecting sensitivity to a suite of driving factors operating at different scales (e.g., harvest gap to regional landscape), including production of seeds, physical characteristics of gaps and stands, competition with non-tree vegetation, and browsing by animals. Multivariate analyses over broad geographic areas provide insights into the relative effects of these factors and permit exploration of spatial patterns in regeneration. We examined the effects of gap-, stand-, and landscape-scale factors on densities of tree seedlings (<1 m tall) and saplings (1–2 m tall) in 59 selection-harvested northern hardwood stands located across a 4500 km 2 region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We used Bayesian multilevel modeling to account for the hierarchical structure of the data and assess uncertainty in parameter estimates. Sugar maple ( Acer saccharum) saplings were absent from 61% of 154 m 2 plots centered in harvest gaps ( n = 347) despite its high shade tolerance and overstory dominance, but densities were high in other gaps. Densities of sugar maple seedlings and/or saplings were negatively associated with a combination of greater stand-scale densities of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus), greater gap-scale cover of non-tree vegetation, and lower gap-scale light availability, with deer density having the greatest effect. Densities of unpalatable and commercially less valuable ironwood ( Ostrya virginiana), the second most common regeneration species, were positively related to gap-scale seed-production potential but were unrelated to factors affecting sugar maple. Ironwood tended to replace sugar maple saplings in areas with high deer density. At the landscape scale, densities of sugar maple seedlings and saplings decreased with decreasing latitude and snow depth and increasing winter deer densities. These inverse spatial patterns suggest that deer herbivory can lead to landscape-scale variation in regeneration success. However, the spatial distribution of habitat types (a proxy for soil moisture and nutrient conditions) confound this observation, with higher densities of sugar maple generally located on stands with less nutrient-rich habitat types. Results demonstrate that combinations of factors operating at different scales, and with different relative magnitudes of impact, contribute to high variation in regeneration composition and density following timber harvest. Selection silvicultural practices, as currently applied, do not ensure regeneration of desirable species; practices might require modifications in general (e.g., increasing gap size) and to match them to regionally varying factors like deer density.

Forest regeneration in artificial gaps twelve years after canopy opening in Acre State Western Amazon

The main objectives were to study the effect of gap size and canopy openness on the natural regeneration dynamics considering the parameters of sapling growth, recruitment, mortality, density, species composition and above-ground biomass accumulation. The study was carried out in 32 artificial gaps with sizes varying from 100 to 1200 m 2 and canopy openness from 10 to 45%, from the second to the twelfth year after gap creation. The gap size was measured using the vertical projection of the tree crowns on the ground (Brokaw's definition), and the canopy openness measurement by hemispherical photography. In the first five years, mean sapling growth (0.54 cm year −1), mortality (3.9% year −1) and AGB (26.2 Mg ha −1 or 8.7 Mg ha −1 year −1) were significantly higher in the gaps than in the forest understorey (0.17 cm year −1, 1.5% year −1 and −0.59 Mg ha −1 year −1 respectively) and positively correlated with gap size and canopy openness. In the same period, recruitment was also significantly higher in the gaps (5.8% year −1) than in the forest understorey (0.4% year −1) but decreased with gap size and negatively correlated with canopy openness. In the first five years, the relative density of pioneer species was higher in the gaps but not significantly correlated with gap size or canopy openness. AGB increased linearly since canopy opening, and twelve years after gap creation it was still higher in larger (121.2 Mg ha −1 or 10.1 Mg ha −1 year −1) rather than smaller (62.5 ha −1 or 5.2 ha −1 year −1) gaps. Twelve years after gap creation there were no significant differences in the parameters of sapling growth, recruitment, and mortality which could be attributed to the original gap size and canopy openness.