CANOPY GAP DYNAMICS OF TWO DIFFERENT FOREST STANDS IN A MALAYSIAN LOWLAND RAIN FOREST

Abstract

NUMATA, S., YASUDA, M., OKUDA, T., KACHI, N. & NUR SUPARDI, M. N. 2006. Canopy gap dynamics
of two different forest stands in a Malaysian lowland rain forest. The forest structure, canopy gap dynamics
and light environment in the understorey of an unlogged primary forest and a regenerating forest that had
been selectively logged in the 1950s in the Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia were
studied. Eight years’ observation showed that a higher frequency and larger size of canopy gaps occurred
in the primary forest compared with the regenerating forest. The lack of large trees in the regenerating
forest was responsible for the lower frequency and size of canopy gaps. Most of the forest floor was under
closed canopy in both forests. However, the light availability to the forest understorey was significantly
higher in the regenerating forest compared with that of the primary forest in closed canopy areas. This
may be because of the lesser stratification of canopy layers in the regenerating forest. These changes in the
light condition in the regenerating forest may have impacts on the regeneration of tropical tree species.