UBC Undergraduate Research

Natural regeneration on coarse woody debris Guo, Xuan

Abstract

In the Pacific Northwest temperate forest, coarse woody debris provides a great substrate for natural regeneration of many conifer species. Logs in decay class III and IV are most suitable for seedling growth. Seedling establishment and early survival rate are higher on nurse logs than on forest floors because of favorable microsite and seedbed material. The advantage of this regeneration pattern is most significant under closed-canopy condition. However, nutrient limitation and temporal changes in substrate availability enable few seedlings to grow into saplings or mature trees at later stages. In forest management, snags and coarse woody debris should be maintain at a certain level to sustain this natural regeneration pattern and maintain structure diversity of temperate rainforest in the Pacific Northwest.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International