Many shade-tolerant trees reach the canopy through repeated suppression-and-release gap episodes, not one gap

Evidence

The significance of shade tolerance in these two species appears to be twofold. Understory saplings have a clear advantage over smaller seedlings in exploiting small canopy gaps before they are closed. However, particularly in the case of F. grandifolia, the relatively slow growth rates of saplings even in gaps suggest that many beech trees reach the canopy through multiple episodes of gap formation. The ability of understory saplings to persist for long periods under a closed canopy and subsequently to respond to new gaps is an important element of this mode of canopy recruitment. — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 1342

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Suppressed saplings can capture a mild gap faster than new seedlings can. — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 189; Repeat disturbances near old gaps are common and favor growth-suppression alternating species — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 230; Primary species win by persisting under closed canopy rather than growing fast in gaps — S. T. A. Pickett and P. S. White, eds., The Ecology of Natural Disturbance and…, 467 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• The same disturbance-diversity dynamics governing forest trees also structure moss communities on logs #expands (0.70) — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gathering Moss, 371