Seedling bank dynamics in managed holm oak (Quercus ilex) forests

The present study reports spatiotemporal variations in seedling bank dynami cs during a 5-year period in thinned and unthinned holm oak (Quercus ilex) plots in the Montseny Massif (NE Spain). Large spatial and temporal variati ons in seedling density have been found in the three plots studied, while t he spatial pattern has shown low temporal fluctuations. However, difference s in recruitment and survival among thinned and unthinned plots were small, but both variables had large between-year variability. The monitoring of s eedling growth over time demonstrated that holm oak seedlings hardly grew i n height after five years. According to these results, holm oak seedlings p ersisted through time in the understory and remained suppressed while in th e shade, but did not show any release after thinning. Thus, the seedling ba nk only represents a reserve of small individuals that do not have any evid ent role in holm oak forest dynamics under the present disturbance/manageme nt regime.