Gap characteristics and their effects on regeneration, dominance and early growth of woody species

Aims We aim to examine the canopy gal) characteristics and evaluate their influence on regeneration, dominance and the early growth of woody species in seasonally dry Shorea robusta forests (Sal forests). Methods Sixty canopy gaps were surveyed in six randomly located transects belts in seasonally dry subtropical Sal forests of central Nepal. Each transect belt was followed until 10 gap sites were encountered. The equation for the area of all ellipse was used to calculate the size of canopy gip, measuring the longest axis and its perpendicular shorter axis. Number, sizes, ages and causes of tree fall, creating canopy gaps, along with number and sizes of border trees were identified and recorded. Detailed gap inventories were carried out using square 25-m(2) quadrats placed in the middle of each gap. All individuals >2 m in height within the quadrat were identified at the species level and their diameter all breast height was measured. We assigned a nested 4-m(2) quadrat to the corner of each 25-m(2) quadrat, within which all woody individuals >10 cm tall were identified at the species level, and counted them and their regeneration mechanisms were identified. The height and collar diameter of the tallest individuals were measured. Descriptive statistics was calculated for the variables of interests and Pearson correlation, linear regression, independent-sample t-test and chi-square test were used to relate them and to test for their associations. Important Findings The study found mean gap size of 283 m(2) and similar to 50% gaps of 10-15 years old. Gaps created by natural single-tree falls were significantly more numerous, and their mean size was significantly smaller than those resulting from artificial causes or multiple-tree falls. Gal) size correlated with the basal area of felled trees, but it did not correlate with the number of tree falls. While tree fall basal area was significantly positively correlated to the seed-originated seedling to resprout ratio, it was negatively correlated, along with gal) area and the basal size of retained trees, to seedling growth, The relative seedling density of Terminalia alata increased with increases in gal) areas, while that of S.robusta decreased with increases in tree fall basal area, thereby lowering the plot-level dominance. However, the relative seedling densities of Eugenia operculata and Syzigium cumini were negatively and positively correlated, respectively, with tree fall basal area.