Tree seedling growth and survival in a Malaysian rain forest

Abstract

Growth and survival of tree seedlings were observed in lowland, evergreen, tropical rain forest in Pantai Aceh Forest Reserve, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia. Four natural gaps and two closed-canopy sites were used. At the start of observations 1287 seedlings of 116 species were tagged in 120 1-m2 plots. Over 16 months 251 (19.5%) seedlings died. Mortality was inversely correlated with seedling height. Potential direct radiation had no affect on seedling mortality. For the 5 common species mortalities were: Shorea multiflora 6.2%, Hopea pedicellata 6.8%, Shorea curtisii 13.4%, Hopea beccariana 14.1%, and Gluta curtisii 22.7%. Mortality of recruits from seed was: S. multiflora 19.0%, S. curtisii 29.1% and G. curtisii 29.5%. The seedlings grew very little over the 16 months. Height growth was greater in gap sites. There was a significant relationship between direct site factor and plot maximum height growth but its predictive value was poor. Gluta curtisii was the only species to show a significant relationship between direct site factor and height growth. Shorea multiflora and G. curtisii showed a significantly greater rate of height growth in the plots with above-median direct site factor compared to plots with below-median values. Shorea multiflora is a very shade tolerant species. -from Author