A survey on the canopy gaps and gap phase replacement in an old-growth beech-dwarf bamboo forest, Wakasugi Forest Reserve, southwestern Japan* Shin-Ichi YAMAMOTOi)andNaoyuki NISHIMURA2) Shin'Ichi YAMAMoTo, Naoyuki NisHiMuRA: A survey on the canopy gaps and gap phase replacement in an old-grouth beech-dwarf bamboo forest, Wakasugi Forest Reserve, southwestern Japan: Jpn. J. For. Environment 37. 94-99, 1995 Canopy gaps and gap phase replacement in an old-growth beech forest with dwarf bamboo

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... story, Wakasugi Forest Reserve, southwestern Japan, were surveyed to clarify the regeneration and to predict the future status of the beech forest. Percentage gap area (percentage of total gap area to the area surveyed) was 15.2%. Gap density was 13.7gaps ha" and mean gap size was 110.6m2 ranging from 9.lm2 to 285.0m2. Gaps smaller than 160m2 were much more abundant than larger ones <73.7% of total 19gaps). About 68% of all gaps were those formed by single gapmakers and the remainder were by multiple gapmakers. Dominant mode for the death of canopy trees was by broken trunks; 42.9% of canopy