Survival and growth of seedlings in a Quercus serrata forest with canopy gaps after a bumper acorn crop

Abstract

Survival and growth of Quercus serrata seedlings were examined on the forest floor of an abandoned coppice stand of Q. serrata for seven years, after a bumper acorn crop occurred and canopy gaps were created by snow damage in 1998. The means of the initial density of current-year seedlings was 155 per m², and the one-year (seven-year) survival rate was 74% (40%). The mean basal diameter of seven-year seedlings was 2.8mm (max. 6.7mm), and their mean height was 21cm (max. 66cm). The seven-year survival rate exhibited a significant positive correlation with the relative light intensity in 1999 in each plot. The mean basal diameter of seven-year seedlings had a significant negative correlation with initial density, but their mean heights had a significant positive correlation with the relative light intensity in 2005. The maximum height of seven-year seedlings exceeded 30cm in 40% of 625 grids (2m×2m) in a 50m×50m plot. Since the new canopy gaps were created by mass mortality of oak trees since 2003, it was expected that the seedlings were able to grow vigorously. Therefore, it will be possible to regenerate this stand by their seedlings in the future.