Abstract
The conversion of plantation forests that have suffered strong wind to natural forests has warranted a great deal of research and observation. “Leaving fallen logs” with no salvage logging or site preparation after wind disturbance is critical, but the effects of canopy on microsites on the forest floor are unexplained. We evaluated the function of pits, upside mounds, downside mounds, areas underneath fallen logs, and intact floors for the regeneration of plant species in plantation forests of Abies sachalinensis that had suffered wind disturbance. The results found that 1) the association of regenerated plant species differed between microsites with and without some canopy, and 2) A. sachalinensis exhibited a high regeneration potential in downed forests, whereas Quercus crispula could only regenerate in downed forests with a partially remaining canopy.
