REGENERATION DYNAMICS IN CANOPY GAPS OF A MONTANE FOREST OF CHILOE-ISLAND, CHILE

We test the hypothesis that in forests characterized by disturbances w hich generate small-sized gaps, the canopy tends to a compositional eq uilibrium where the shade-tolerant trees remain the dominants. In a mi d-elevation primary rain forest, Chiloe Island, Chile, we evaluated se ed and seedling abundance at species level, in gaps of the forest. The n, we applied transition probabilities based on seedling/sapling abund ances to test if the expected stationary specific composition of the c anopy is correlated with the present canopy of the forest. Our results suggest that the observed canopy and subcanopy of this forest-type te nds to be in a compositional equilibrium. Finally, we discuss the prob able mechanisms responsible for this pattern.