Regeneration in felling gaps after logging in Acre state, Western Amazon.

Regeneration of tree species in felling gaps were studied during the first two years following harvesting in a tropical forest in Acre state, Brazil. Felling gaps averaged 340 m2 in size, while canopy openings averaged 17%. Seedling mortality in adjacent undisturbed forest was 4.6% yr', and 59.6% yr·1 and 100% yr' in the crown and trunk zones respectively, two years after logging. Recruitment of new seedlings inthe undisturbed forest understorey averaged 462 plants ha' yr', two years after gap creation. Inthe crown zones of the gaps, recruitment of seedlings averaged 1350 ha' yr', and in the trunk zones 1392 ha' yr'. The entire seedling community in trunk zones after logging was composed of new recruits. lhere was a tendency for seedling growth rates to increase from the natural forest (0,21cm yr-1) to the crown zone (0.40cm yr'), Before gap creation, species richness and diversity and seedling density were quite similar. After gap creation a sharp decrease could be verified in the gap.zones, however the differences between gap and undisturbed forest decreased rapidly in the second year after gap creation. lhe regeneration of commercial species was not affected by gap creation apart from the increase in growth rates.

2002