Spatial correlation of pit and mound topography with canopy gaps in a virgin mixed beech forest, northern Iran

Historical ecology identifies long‐term rewilding strategy for conservingMediterranean mountain forests in southItaly

“…Ideally, in old‐growth forests, silver fir regeneration would be favored by natural tree fall. In old‐growth forests, the natural fall of large trees creates gaps in the canopy layer, provides downed wood that can be colonized by tree seedlings and, in the case of uprooting, generates a pit and mound microtopography and the associated ecological niches suitable for silver fir (and other mesic species) regeneration (Habashi, 2019). At lower altitudes, silver fir seems to be capable of associating with sub‐Mediterranean tree species, provided that anthropogenic disturbances are minimal (Di Pasquale et al, 2014; Vitasse et al, 2019).…”

Research History of Forest Gap as Small-Scale Disturbances in Forest Ecosystems

“…Gap maker collapses drastically change the understory environment [98]. Whether the trunk is broken to form mounds or uprooted to produce small pits, the microtopography near the roots is the most directly affected area; the spatial correlation between forest gaps and the pits and mounds suggests that the micro-succession of fallen trees is related to the dynamics of forest gaps [99]. Falling trees prevent transpiration from plants, making some of the soil water content higher, and increasing light also accelerates the evaporation of surface soil moisture [100], sometimes with the presence of heavy fog limiting light and providing moisture to the soil surface.…”