Nasrin Nasiri;M R Marvie Mohadjer;V Etemad;Kiomars Sefidi;Leila Mohammadi;Maryam Gharehaghaj

Department of Biological Science, Ecology and Evolution Group, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, US;Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran;Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Technology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Closed canopy;Canopy gap;Growth form;Vitality;Beech;TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST;SYLVATICA L. FOREST;OLD-GROWTH;FRAXINUS-EXCELSIOR;SOIL-MOISTURE;LIGHT;SEEDLINGS;DYNAMICS;DENSITY;STAND

For developing nature-based silvicultural practices in a beech forest to promote, abundance, height, vitality, and preferred growth form, regenerated trees growing in gaps were compared with those under closed canopies. A systematic 50 x 50 m grid was plotted in a beech stand in the Kheyrud Experimental Forest for selecting trees to measure variables in gaps and under closed canopies. Abundance and mean height of regenerated beech trees were significantly higher in closed canopies than in canopy gaps. Beech seedlings with excurrent growth were significantly taller within regeneration patches under closed canopy. Moreover, regenerated trees with high vitality were more abundant in closed canopy areas than in gaps. Thus, beech regeneration should improve under closed canopies; hence, gaps in a near natural forest should be created only after adequate regeneration and appropriate growth under the parent tree in a closed canopy area is ensured. The results of this research have profound implications for the sustainable management of the forest and for ensuring sustainable beech regeneration. The presence of a closed canopy cover likely will reduce potential stresses on oriental beech regeneration.