Canopy gaps in Douglas-fir forests of the Cascade Mountains

Abstract

Types and rates of mortality were measured and canopy gap formation rates were estimated from 5- to 15-year records of mortality in 34 permanent plots in mature (100- to 150-year-old) and old-growth (> 200-year-old) Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.)Franco)/western hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (Raf.) Sarg.) forests in western Oregon and Washington. Gap surveys were conducted in a mature and old-growth stand, the characteristics of 40 gaps and regeneration were measured. Most canopy trees died without disrupting the forest in both mature (87.6%) and old-growth stands. The gap survey found a higher proportion of gaps in the mature stand than in the old-growth stand. Most regeneration (> 1 m tall) in gaps was western hemlock; Douglas-fir regeneration did not occur. The ratio of seedling density in gaps to density under canopies was about 3 for the mature stand and about 9 for the old-growth stand. Seedling density was correlated with measures of gap age but not gap size. The study suggests that gap disturbances and vegetative responses are important processes in the dynamics of these forests. However, gap formation rates and vegetative responses appear to be slow relative to other forest types. In addition to gap size, canopy structure and disturbance severity are important determinants of gap response.