Differential effects of understory and overstory gaps on tree regeneration1

• DOI: 10.3159/07-ra-034.1
• Publication Date: 2008-04-24T21:17:53Z
• Authors: Brian Beckage; Brian D. Kloeppel; J. Alan Yeakley; Sharon F. Taylor; David C. Coleman
• Keywords: Understory; Windthrow; Tree canopy

Gaps in the forest canopy can increase diversity of tree regeneration. Understory shrubs also compete with seedlings for limited resources and may depress recruitment. We compared effects shrub removal windthrow gaps on seedling recruitment understory resource levels. Shrub removal, left intact, was associated increased levels light soil moisture coincided species richness regeneration to both control plots gaps. Canopy gaps, however, resulted a more than 500 fold nitrate concentrations, growth rates that were twice as high observed removal. Our results suggest layer overstory have complementary availability corresponding benefits establishment growth.