Tropical landscapes are changing rapidly as a result of human modifications; however, despite increasing deforestation, human population growth, and the need for more agricultural land, deforestation rates have exceeded the rate at which land is converted to cropland or pasture. For deforested lands to have conservation value requires an understanding of regeneration rates of vegetation, the rates at which animals colonize and grow in regenerating areas, and the nature of interactions between plants and animals in the specific region. Here, we present data on forest regeneration and animal abundance at four regenerating sites that had reached the stage of closed canopy forest where the average dbh of the trees was 17 cm. Overall, 20.3 percent of stems were wind-dispersed species and 79.7 percent were animal-dispersed species, while in the old-growth forest 17.3 percent of the stems were wind-dispersed species. The regenerating forest supported a substantial primate population and encounter rate (groups per km walked) in the regenerating sites was high compared to the neighboring old-growth forests. By monitoring elephant tracks for 10 yr, we demonstrated that elephant numbers increased steadily over time, but they increased dramatically since 2004. In general, the richness of the mammal community detected by sight, tracks, feces, and/or camera traps, was high in regenerating forests compared to that documented for the national park. We conclude that in Africa, a continent that has seen dramatic declines in the area of old-growth forest, there is ample opportunity to reclaim degraded areas and quickly restore substantial animal populations.

During genetic sampling of white spruce in 1984, increment cores were taken from 80 populations in order to study wood density variation within species in natural Quebec forests. Results show that wood density differences exist between populations and that wood density is negatively correlated with the width of the growth rings; however, some trees and some populations exhibit both high wood density and rapid growth. A moderate positive link was found between juvenile and mature wood densities at both the individual and population levels. Therefore, breeding programs for the improvement of wood density could be based on selections made on juvenile wood.

RCsumCThe degree of inheritance and the genetic correlations of white Le degrC de transmissibilitC et de correlation gCnCtique des spruce wood characters were studied from 39 half-sib families caractkristiques du bois de I'Cpinette blanche a CtC CtudiC, 19 ans of eight populations from the Upper Ottawa Valley, 19 years aprbs plantation. Trente-neuf demi-fratries issues de huit popuafter planting. The results indicated that these characters differ lations ont CtC CchantillonnCes dans la vallCe de la rivibre Outsignificantly among half-sib families. Furthermore, the study aouais. Les rCsultats obtenus indiquent que les caractkristiques showed that white spruce wood characters are genetically related.de bois des demi-fratries diffirent significativement. De plus, Strong genetic correlations exist between the characters of inner les caractiristiques du bois de 1'Cpinette blanche sont gCnCtiquewood and those of outer wood. Moderate to strong genetic conment likes. Une liaison gCnCtique forte existe entre les caractrol of outer wood characters was found while inner wood tkristiques du bois prbs de la moelle d'une part et celles du bois characters were found to be much more influenced by environprbs de 1' Ccorce d'autre part. I1 a CtC dCmontrC que les caracmental factors. Expected genetic gains from a sequential twotkristiques du bois prbs de I'Ccorce sont sous fort contr6le gCnCstep selection strategy were calculated.tique alors que celles du bois prbs de la moelle sont davantage influencCes par les conditions environnmentales. Les gains gCnttiques espCrCs d'une sClection en deux Ctapes ont CtC calculCs.

The variability of wood specific gravity and yield of 23 white spruce provenances from the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest region was studied 20 years after planting at Harrington Forest Farm, Québec. The results indicate no relationship between wood specific gravity of provenances and their respective growth performance. The southwestern section of this region showed a small decrease in wood specific gravity, but it was compensated for by a strong increase in volume growth, resulting in an important gain in dry weight productivity. The variability of white spruce wood specific gravity was split into three sources: 11% was attributed to provenance differences, 8% to provenance and repetition interaction, and the remainder to differences among trees of the same provenance and to experimental error. In a breeding program, a first selection should be made at the provenance level on the basis of volume productivity and a second selection on the basis of wood specific gravity values within the selected provenances, to maximize the overall genetic and economic gain.

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