The influence of canopy cover and other factors upon the regeneration of Scots pine and its associated ground flora within Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of selected environmental variables on the density of natural Scots pine regeneration at Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve. Data were collected, from quadrats spread throughout the forest, on both pine sapling densities and the composition of the ground vegetation. The effects of disturbance by fire, windthrow from gales and scarification were also studied. The canopy cover and soil wetness were found to have the largest statistical associations with the density of pine saplings, with interactions occurring between them. The density of pine saplings of less than 1 m tall was found to have a quadratic relationship with canopy cover, peaking at 20 per cent cover. The densities of taller classes of pine (> 1 m) were inversely associated with canopy cover. Soil wetness appeared to be an important determinant of the density of pine less than 1 m tall. Poorly drained sites contained higher densities of pine saplings. Canopy cover and soil wetness were also found to be the main factors associated with the species composition of the areas studied.