The relationship between canopy structure and light transmission to the forest floor is of particular interest for studying the effects of succession, timber harvest, and silviculture prescriptions on understory plants and trees. Indirect measurements of leaf area index (LAI) estimated using gap fraction analysis with linear and hemispheric sensors have been commonly used to assess radiation in...

To characterize the disturbance regime of one type of vegetation, study areas in which relatively small-scale disturbance predominates were chosen in several old-growth mesic forests in the eastern United States. Canopy openings covered 9.5% of total land area. New gaps were formed at an average rate of 1% of total land area per year; old gap area closed at a similar rate primarily by sapling h...

in order to study the effect of canopy gap size on species diversity and composition in mixed stands, a reserved area which located in asalem forests was selected. all of gaps in this area identified and were divided into four categories: small gaps (1000 m2). in each category, 21 of gaps with a relatively homogeneous in terms of an aspect and slope were selected. the major and minor diameter o...

We hypothesized that photoinhibition of shade-developed leaves of deciduous hardwood saplings would limit their ability to acclimate photosynthetically to increased irradiance, and we predicted that shade-tolerant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) would be more susceptible to photoinhibition than intermediately shade-tolerant red oak (Quercus rubra L.). After four weeks in a canopy gap, photo...

Abstract Context In the last century European forests are experiencing tree damage and mortality rise it is expected to continue due increased disturbances under global change. Disturbances generally creates canopy gaps, which leads secondary succession, compositional changes landscape mosaic transformations. Forest gap characterization has traditionally been performed in light-limited tropical...