Ecophysiology of natural regeneration of forest stands in Spain

Abstract

Natural regeneration is a slow and unpredictable process because of the complex interaction between the success of seedling establishment and site factors. In this review, we focus on four groups of factors that influence natural regeneration: seeds (seed production, seed banks, seed viability, serotinous cones in conifers, seed dormancy and seed germination), seedling performance, sprouting and ecological factors of the site (soil characteristics, weed competition, temperature, salinity, water availability, light, wildfires, predation, pests and diseases). The knowledge of the effect of all these factors and their interactions on the physiology of seedlings is essential for the management of natural stands. In this sense, simulations of forest regeneration are a useful tool.