Canopy disturbance and gap partitioning promote the persistence of a pioneer tree population in a near-climax temperate forest of the Qinling Mountains, China.

ABSTRACT: An unresolved question of temperate forests is how pioneer tree species persist in mature forests. In order to understand the responsible mechanisms, we investigated a near-climax mixed temperate forest dominated by Betula albosinensis in the Qinling Mountains of China. Through establishing four 50 m × 50 m plots, we examined the canopy disturbance characteristics and its effects on tree recruitments. We further test the intra- and interspecific effects on the recruitment of B. albosinensis. The obtained data demonstrated canopy disturbance was frequent but most small-sized. The canopy gaps are caused mainly by adult B. albosinensis by snapping. The regeneration of coexistent tree species shows a distinct preference for gap size. B. albosinensis were clumped at

SUBMITTER: Guo Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635929 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature