A forest gap is not forever: Towards an objective standard to determine when a gap is considered closed in temperate forests

• Published in: Agricultural and forest meteorology Vol. 340; p. 109598
• Main Authors: Lu, Deliang, Zhu, Jiaojun, Zhang, Guangqi, Fang, Shuai, Sun, Yirong, Zhu, Chunyu, Zhang, Jinxin, Wang, G.Geoff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.09.2023
• Subjects: Crown base height; Gap filling; Gap-closure standard; Natural regeneration; Tree diversity; Gap filling; Gap-closure standard; Crown base height; Natural regeneration; Tree diversity

•We propose a gap closure standard based on height and stability of regeneration.•(1) Dominant gap regeneration layer reached canopy base height.•(2) The regeneration layer maintained stably in density, richness, and evenness.•Repeated gap disturbance was needed for successful gap filling in small g...