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Spatial distribution of gaps along three catenas in the moist forest of Taï National Park, Ivory Coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Lourens Poorter ,
Luc Jans ,
Frans Bongers  and
Renaat S. A. R. Van Rompaey
Lourens Poorter
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, Wageningen Agricultural University, PO Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Luc Jans
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, Wageningen Agricultural University, PO Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Frans Bongers
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, Wageningen Agricultural University, PO Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
Renaat S. A. R. Van Rompaey
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, Wageningen Agricultural University, PO Box 342, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract

The spatial distribution of canopy gaps was analysed on three sites (total 71 ha) in the tropical moist forest of Tai National Park, Ivory Coast. Pattern analysis revealed a clustered distribution of gaps for two of the three sites. Catena dependent gap formation processes might explain local differences in the occurrence and distribution of gaps. Gap densities, sizes and percentage forest area in gap phase are higher on the upper and middle slope than on the crest or lower slope. As a consequence, regeneration of gap dependent tree species might be directed to the catena positions with the highest disturbance regime. The spatial distribution of gap dependent species can be clumped, not only due to the regeneration within gaps, but also due to the clustered nature of gap distribution on its own.

Keywords

catenaforest dynamicsgapIvory CoastMonte Carlo testnearest neighbourspatial distributiontropical moist forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , August 1994 , pp. 385 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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