Structural Characteristics of Canopy Gaps in the Gap Making Phase in the Evolution of Beech Stands in the Asalem Forests- Guilan

Small-scale disturbances that create canopy gaps play a key role in regulating successional pathways in temperate forests. This research was carried out with the aim of investigating the structural characteristics of natural canopy gaps in the in the Gap making phase during the development of beech stands in the Asalem forests-Guilan as the initial phase of the development of beech stands. Three one-hectare sample plots were selected in this phase, and in each of them, some of the characteristics of the gaps, such as gap area, the species of gap makers, the regeneration characteristics, the number of gaps and the gap filler trees was measured and recorded. The number and species of gap maker trees were calculated. The regeneration propertise such as the species, number, and diameter of the collar and the height of seedlings were recorded in each of the gaps. The number and species of seedlings of gap filler were measured. Based on the results, four gaps were measured in each sample plot. The size of gaps varied between sample plots. The largest and smallest gaps were measured with an area of 551.26 and 70.85 m2, respectively. In all three plots, gap makers were allocated to beech trees. The highest and lowest frequencies of gap filler trees were calculated for beech and other species, respectively. The highest and lowest amount of regeneration was measured in the gaps for beech (53.26%) and other species (7.80%), respectively. In total, in the three sample plots, there were 28 gap makers, all of which were beech trees, and that the size of the gap makers’ tree was 15.7 m3 per hectare.