不同生态条件下松栎混交林3种优势乔木种群的更新规律

为探究秦岭林区松栎混交林群落乔木优势种的更新规律,通过典型样地调查,对油松(Pinus tabulifor-mis)、锐齿槲栎(Quercus aliena var.acuteserrata)和华山松(Pinus armandii)等3种优势乔木种群更新随林分密度、海拔、坡向、坡位等生态因子的变化规律进行了分析。结果表明:(1)林分密度、海拔、坡向、坡位等生态因子对3种乔木的天然更新均具显著影响;3种优势乔木树种幼苗密度均随林分密度增加而显著增加,林分密度从850株.hm-2增加到1 525株.hm-2时,3种幼树密度也逐渐增加,但林分密度为1 900株.hm-2时,3种幼树密度均显著降低;从海拔1 283m增至1 665m,锐齿槲栎和油松幼苗幼树密度均随海拔增加而显著增加,但海拔增至1 835m时,这两种幼苗幼树密度均显著降低。(2)华山松幼苗幼树密度一直随海拔升高而增加;从南偏西20°到75°,锐齿槲栎和华山松幼树密度逐渐降低,至北偏东40°(阴坡)时又显著增加,但3种乔木幼苗及油松幼树密度一直随坡向变化而增加;锐齿槲栎幼苗密度在下坡位显著高于中坡位和上坡位,但油松和华山松幼苗幼树随坡位由下到上逐渐增加。结果提示,处于中海拔、阴坡且密度适中的林分3种优势乔木更新最佳,对这类林分实施封禁将有助于松栎混交林优势乔木的天然更新。     

秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林幼苗更新特征

分析了秦岭山地锐齿栎次生林群落乔木及木本幼苗物种特征值、更新生态位宽度及不同影响因子下（包括林分密度、坡向、海拔等）乔木更新动态。结果表明,乔木层物种有25种,锐齿栎占有明显地优势,重要值为149.18%。其次为华山松(Pinus armandii)和千斤榆(Carpinus cordata)等;更新层共有木本植物41种,其中乔木种有28种,占所有木本植物总数量的68%,优势种有青蛙皮槭(Acer grosseri)、木姜子(Litsea pungens)等。林下有丰富的幼苗库,径级及龄级比较小。更新方式以实生为主;分析了10种更新优势乔木种群的生态位宽度,同种幼树种群生态位宽度均大于幼苗种群生态位宽度。幼苗种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子(Corylus heterophylla)、锐齿栎、青蛙皮槭等。幼树种群生态位宽度从大到小依次为榛子、青蛙皮槭、锐齿栎等;林分密度对林下乔木幼苗和幼树数量影响不同。当林分密度（株?hm-2）从720增加到1460时,幼苗密度逐渐增大。随后随着林分密度的增加,又呈现出减少的趋势。而幼树密度随着林分密度增加一直呈现出减少的趋势。坡向对锐齿栎次生林林下乔木幼苗和幼树的影响各异,阳坡（南偏西3）均利于幼苗和幼树的更新。南偏西45林分内,幼苗密度急剧减少。随着坡向转为阴坡,幼苗密度又逐渐增加。而幼树密度逐渐减少。当海拔从1083 m增加到1547 m时,幼树密度逐渐增加。随后,随着海拔增加到1882 m,幼树密度则逐渐减小。而幼苗密度随着海拔的增高一直呈现减小的趋势。     

秦岭山地松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及更新特征

采用样方法对秦岭南坡中段松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及天然更新特征进行了研究.结果表明:(1)松栎混交林乔木层物种共计40种,油松、锐齿槲栎和华山松为优势种,重要值分别为35.19％、31.99％和8.12％,漆树、栓皮栎和楝木为亚优势种.(2)更新层木本植物共计87种,其中乔木幼苗34种,占总数的39.08％,灌木物种也有一定优势地位,优势种有锐齿槲栎、悬钩子和菝葜等,高度级较小的更新苗在群落内占有较大比例.(3)优势乔木更新特征不同,锐齿槲栎幼苗和幼树密度显著高于油松和华山松,且锐齿槲栎幼苗密度显著高于其幼树,但油松幼苗与幼树、华山松幼苗与幼树间无明显差异.(4)混交林内锐齿槲栎径级结构呈近似倒“J”形分布,种群稳定;油松和华山松种群均呈近似正态分布,大径级个体群相对稳定,但林下幼树不足.该研究结果提示,松栎混交林下油松和华山松更新不良,这将不利于其长期存留于群落中,虽然锐齿槲栎从幼苗到幼树的发育过程中存在更新障碍,但并未影响其种群整体更新,若无大规模干扰,锐齿槲栎将维持逆“J”型的更新方式并成为松栎混交林群落中的第一优势种.     

秦岭山地典型次生林木本植物幼苗更新特征

采用样方法调查了秦岭山地5种典型次生林--油松林、锐齿栎林、红桦林、云杉林和华山松林幼苗的更新特征.结果表明: 不同次生林木本植物幼苗物种分化明显,除锐齿栎林和华山松林外,其余次生林幼苗物种相似性系数均较低;油松林和锐齿栎林木本植物幼苗数量、物种丰富度指数、Simpson优势度指数及均匀度指数均较高,红桦林均最低;云杉林和华山松林幼苗数量及物种多样性指数基本一致.不同次生林幼苗和幼树所占比例存在明显差异,除红桦林幼树数量的比例较大外,其余林分幼苗的比例较大,为云杉林＞油松林＞锐齿栎林＞华山松林.不同林分幼苗萌生比例差异明显,为华山松林＞云杉林＞红桦林＞锐齿栎林＞油松林.锐齿栎林和油松林乔木幼苗比例最高,分别占木本幼苗总种数的68%和51.4%,群落处于演替中期,持续更新能力较强;云杉林、华山松林乔木幼苗比例分别为40%和15%,处于演替后期,更新能力较差;而红桦林中幼苗很难发育成幼树,持续更新能力欠缺.     

湖南栎类天然次生林幼树更新特征及影响因子

以湖南典型栎类天然次生林为研究对象,基于51块样地的调查数据,采用k-means聚类分析划分林分类型,研究湖南不同栎类天然次生林幼树更新特征,分析了湖南不同栎类天然次生林幼树更新指标(幼树密度、幼树平均地径、平均高以及平均冠幅)与环境因子、林分因子的相关性,旨在阐明环境因子、林分因子对幼树更新的影响,以期为湖南不同栎类天然次生林的恢复与经营管理提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)利用聚类分析可将研究区内栎类天然次生林划分为5个类型,包括甜槠锥栗混交林(CC)、亮叶水青冈多脉青冈混交林(FC)、石栎樟树混交林(LC)、枹栎甜槠混交林(QC)、青冈栎混交林(CG)。(2)不同类型栎类天然次生林更新幼树优势种分化明显,物种丰富度差异显著(P0.05)。5种不同栎类次生林幼树密度均未超过500株/hm~2,更新情况较差;幼树数量差异显著(P0.05),为亮叶水青冈多脉青冈混交林石栎樟树混交林青冈栎混交林枹栎甜槠混交林甜槠锥栗混交林;生长情况差异显著(P0.05),为青冈栎混交林亮叶水青冈多脉青冈混交林枹栎甜槠混交林甜槠锥栗混交林石栎樟树混交林。(3)相关分析结果显示,不同类型次生林幼树更新的主要影响因子存在差异。甜槠锥栗混交林中幼树密度与腐殖质厚度呈显著负相关(P0.05);幼树平均高与灌木盖度呈显著正相关(P0.05);幼树平均地径与草本盖度、灌木盖度呈显著正相关(P0.05)。亮叶水青冈多脉青冈混交林中幼树密度与海拔、腐殖质厚度、枯落物厚度呈显著正相关(P0.05),与草本盖度呈极显著正相关(P0.01);幼树平均地径与郁闭度呈显著负相关(P0.05);幼树平均高、幼树平均冠幅与坡位呈显著正相关(P0.05)。石栎樟树混交林中幼树密度与坡向、土壤厚度呈显著正相关(P0.05),其余因子对幼树生长无显著影响。枹栎甜槠混交林中幼树密度与郁闭度、乔木密度呈极显著正相关(P0.01),与坡位呈显著负相关(P0.05);幼树平均冠幅与坡度呈显著负相关(P0.05)。青冈栎混交林中幼树平均地径与土壤厚度呈显著正相关(P0.05),与乔木密度呈极显著正相关(P0.01);幼树平均冠幅与灌木盖度呈显著正相关(P0.05)。     

子午岭地区辽东栎和油松林建群种的更新生态位宽度分析

通过实地调查并采用Levins生态位宽度指数对子午岭地区主要树种辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)和油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)的幼苗、幼树和成树在不同坡向的辽东栎林、油松 辽东栎混交林和人工油松林3种群落中的生态位宽度进行了分析研究。结果显示:(1)辽东栎和油松的更新生态位宽度在不同群落中各不相同,成树的生态位宽度与群落类型一致;(2)辽东栎幼苗和幼树在阳坡和阴坡人工油松林中的生态位宽度分别是0.951、0.95和0.98、0.94,且生态位宽度显著大于其它2个群落,表明辽东栎幼苗和幼树能很好地适应人工油松林的环境条件;(3)在阳坡,油松幼苗的生态位宽度在辽东栎林最大为0.79,且极显著大于其它2个群落,而阳坡油松幼树的生态位宽度在人工油松林中最大为1.00;在阴坡,油松幼苗的生态位宽度在人工油松林最大为0.63,而阴坡油松幼树的生态位宽度却在油松 辽东栎混交林最大为0.83,且极显著大于其它2个群落;表明油松幼苗适应阳坡的辽东栎林环境和阴坡的人工油松林环境,油松幼树适应阳坡的人工油松林环境和油松 辽东栎林环境。结果表明,人工种植油松林有利于该地区的植被恢复,人工油松林和油松 辽东栎混交林会在该地区存在较长时间,而阳坡的油松 辽东栎混交林存在时间会更长。     

陕西黄土高原油松生长状况及其影响因子分析

选择黄土高原榆林、延安、铜川、渭南、咸阳、宝鸡等地(市)269块标准地332株油松解析木数据,运用方差分析、多重比较、通径分析等方法,以分析陕西黄土高原地区油松的生长状况及其主要影响因子.结果显示:(1)陕西黄土高原油松20年时树高、胸径、材积平均值分别为(6.51±0.18) m、(7.56±0.28) cm、(0.020 4±0.001 8) m3;该地区油松树高、胸径分别在20年和45年后进入稳定生长时期,而材积在100年时仍处于旺盛生长阶段.(2)海拔、坡位、坡向及林分密度直接或间接地对油松生长产生显著影响,不同立地因子、林分密度条件下,油松生长状况差异显著.其中,海拔1 000～1 200 m的立地条件下油松生长表现良好且优于其他海拔区域,阴坡的油松生长状况优于其他坡位,密度以3 300～6 600株·hm-2之间最适宜油松生长.研究表明,黄土高原地区营造油松林应选择海拔1 000～1 200 m、阴坡下部、密度一般控制在3 300～6 600株·hm-2之间,并且在造林过程中以东南部密度大,西北部密度小;阴坡、半阴坡密度大,半阳坡、阳坡密度小;坡中下部密度大、坡中上部密度小为原则.     

山西文峪河上游河岸林的土壤种子库与树种更新特征

以山西文峪河上游13种典型的河岸林为研究对象,通过土壤种子库和树种更新研究,分析群落种子库与林下更新随演替进展的变化趋势,以及该区河岸树种的繁殖对策。结果表明：13种群落的土壤种子库密度间于1290±103～3950±154粒/m2,63.5%的种子留存于0～5 cm的层次;种子库包含49种植物,以多年生草本为主,存在耐干扰种和湿地植物的种子;处于相同或相邻演替阶段的群落,种子库相似性较高;随演替进展,种子库密度、丰度、Shannon-Wiener指数及种子库与地上植被的相似性均呈降低趋势;处于演替后期的青杄Picea wilsonii林存在丰富的＂青杄幼苗库＂;先锋种白桦Betula platyphylla的种子存在于演替各阶段的群落中,储量丰富,其更新主要依赖于风媒种子,并存在少量萌蘖;青杄、白杄P.meyeri、华北落叶松Larix principis-rupprechtii、油松Pi-nus tabulaeformis和辽东栎Quercus liaotongensis的种子库损耗严重,没有或仅存少量种子,其中云杉和油松的更新幼苗幼树多,属持久幼苗库更新;华北落叶松幼苗幼树少,且仅出现于林缘或林窗等开阔地,属植被空隙中季节性更新;辽东栎主要依赖丰富的幼苗库进行更新,同时存在一定的萌蘖;青杨Populus cathayana以大量风媒种子更新结合营养扩展。     

北京松山油松林林分结构和地形对幼苗更新的影响

以北京松山国家自然保护区油松林为研究对象,通过分析油松林天然更新与地形因子、林分结构的关联,揭示影响松山油松天然更新的因素。结果表明:油松幼苗数量与海拔呈显著负相关(P0.01);油松幼苗数量在不同坡位间差异显著(P0.05),表现为下坡中坡上坡;幼苗数量与坡度呈显著负相关(P0.01);林分结构中大小树比例与幼苗更新数呈抛物线关系,在大树比例为50%左右达到最低值;林分密度(P0.05)及草本盖度(P0.05)与油松幼苗更新显著关联,幼苗更新数量随着林分密度和草本盖度的增加而增加。     

接种肉苁蓉对梭梭天然林的影响研究

在新疆准噶尔盆地东南缘广泛分布的平缓低洼地、平缓沙地和半流动沙丘等不同生境类型的梭梭天然林内,进行人工接种肉苁蓉对梭梭天然林影响的试验研究。结果表明,接种肉苁蓉对梭梭天然林林下植被的种类组成、植株数量、植被盖度、物种多样性、生物量以及天然更新的幼苗幼树等都将产生不同程度的影响。其中,在平缓低洼地的梭梭天然林内,因挖接种穴和回填,林下植被的个体数损失4.1×104株.hm-2,占接种前林下植被个体总数的18%;林下植被的生物量损失35.64kg.hm-2,占接种前林下植被生物总量的14.9%;梭梭幼苗幼树的个体数损失1320株.hm-2,占接种前梭梭幼苗幼树个体总数的24.2%。在平缓沙地的梭梭天然林内,林下植被的个体数损失2.6×104株.hm-2,占接种前林下植被个体总数的49%;林下植被的生物量损失39.87kg.hm-2,占接种前林下植被生物总量的19.0%;梭梭幼苗幼树损失345株.hm-2,占接种前梭梭幼苗幼树的18.8%。在半流动沙丘的梭梭天然林内,林下植被的个体数损失2000株.hm-2,占接种前林下植被个体总数的5%;林下植被的生物量损失9.98kg.hm-2,占接种前林下植被生物总量的6.0%;梭梭幼苗幼树损失256株.hm-2,占接种前梭梭幼苗幼树的3.8%。受挖接种穴和回填直接影响的调查样方内,植物个体数减少26%~53%,植被总盖度减少46%~52%,物种多样性下降5%~13%,生态优势度提高2%~6%,梭梭天然更新幼苗幼树减少40%~75%,林下植被地上和地下部分的生物量损失25.2%~55.7%。     

History of Disturbance and Regeneration Strategies of Fagus engleriana and Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata Forests in Shennongjia,Hubei Province

Based on plot investigation, stem analysis and radial growth pattern, the authors studied the history of suppression, release and regeneration strategies of Fagus engleriana Seem. and Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata Maxim. forests, which were widely distributed in Shennongjia of Hubei Province. It was found that (85.9 ± 6.9) % of the Fagus engleriana samples showed periods of suppression during their canopy recruitment. The average number of suppression periods was 2.1 ± 0.8, the average total length of suppression time was (47 ± 24.1) a, the length of longest suppression time was 73 a, the average number of periods of release was 1.6±0.7, and the average total length of release time was 23 a. (60.83±17.3)% of the Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata samples showed periods of suppression but without release. Combined with height and radial growth characteristics, these suggest that Fagus engleriana was shade-tolerant species, and its regeneration strategies was release from seedling sprouts in canopy gaps, while Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata was shade-intolerant species, and its regeneration strategies was seedling establishment and growth in large canopy gaps by producing large amount of seeds.     

Spatial distribution and regeneration of Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus floribunda in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya, India

Studies were conducted on population status and regeneration of Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus floribunda in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya. Saplings of Q. semecarpifolia belonging to the 51-100 cm size class and those of Q. floribunda belonging to the 101-150 cm size class were well represented in studied subalpine forests. Comparable seedling emergence and establishment of both species, either in the habitat dominated by same or different species seems to be an adaptational strategy of these species in subalpine forests. Seedling to tree ratio for Q. semecarpifolia was higher in the stand dominated by Q. floribunda, while comparable pattern was observed for Q. floribunda in the stand dominated by Q. semecarpifolia. Establishment of higher percent of seedlings of one species in the habitats dominated by another species of Quercus appears to indicate an oligarchic nature of oaks in subalpine forests. This study describes regeneration strategies, and spatial distribution of these species in a subalpine forest of Uttarakhand.     

Seed regeneration potential of canopy gaps at early formation stage in temperate secondary forests, Northeast China

Promoting the seed regeneration potential of secondary forests undergoing gap disturbances is an important approach for achieving forest restoration and sustainable management. Seedling recruitment from seed banks strongly determines the seed regeneration potential, but the process is poorly understood in the gaps of secondary forests. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of gap size, seed availability, and environmental conditions on the seed regeneration potential in temperate secondary forests. It was found that gap formation could favor the invasion of more varieties of species in seed banks, but it also could speed up the turnover rate of seed banks leading to lower seed densities. Seeds of the dominant species, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, were transient in soil and there was a minor and discontinuous contribution of the seed bank to its seedling emergence. For Quercus mongolica, emerging seedling number was positively correlated with seed density in gaps (R?=?0.32, P<0.01), especially in medium and small gaps (<500 m(2)). Furthermore, under canopies, there was a positive correlation between seedling number and seed density of Acer mono (R?=?0.43, P<0.01). Gap formation could promote seedling emergence of two gap-dependent species (i.e., Q. mongolica and A. mono), but the contribution of seed banks to seedlings was below 10% after gap creation. Soil moisture and temperature were the restrictive factors controlling the seedling emergence from seeds in gaps and under canopies, respectively. Thus, the regeneration potential from seed banks is limited after gap formation.     

Ontogenetic changes in crown architecture and leaf arrangement: effects on light capture efficiency in three tree species differing in leaf longevity

Pronounced strategy shifts along ontogeny have been observed in several tree species, mainly because of the trend to maximize growth during the seedling stage, which constitutes the most vulnerable part of the tree’s life cycle. Our aim here was to analyze the ontogenetic changes in crown characteristics and light capture patterns in three Quercus species: the evergreens Quercus ilex and Quercus suber and the deciduous Quercus faginea co-occurring in a Mediterranean open woodland. The seedlings were distributed in the large clearings among the adults and received full sunlight. We constructed three-dimensional models of the aerial parts of seedlings and mature trees of the three species, using the YplantQMC program. Large differences between growth stages were observed for all variables. The seedlings exhibited smaller branch sizes and crown densities than those observed in the adult trees. Leaf angles to horizontal also tended to increase during ontogeny, whereas leaf dispersion and the observed distances between leaves tended to decrease. The amount of photosynthetic radiation absorbed per unit leaf area throughout the growing season was lower in adult specimens than in young specimens. Changes in absorption efficiency during ontogeny were more intense for the species with longer leaf life span at maturity. We conclude that more intense ontogenetic shifts in species with longer leaf life span reflect the priority change from the maximization of short-term productivity at the seedling stage to maximizing leaf longevity during the adult stage.     

Feedbacks between canopy composition and seedling regeneration in mixed conifer broad‐leaved forests

To address the role of canopy‐seedling feedbacks in the structure and dynamics of mixed conifer broad‐leaved forests in the eastern US, we monitored seedling regeneration patterns and environmental conditions in the understorey of stands dominated by either hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) or red oak (Quercus rubra) for three years. Hemlock seedlings were favoured over other species’ seedlings in hemlock stands (a true positive feedback), due to a combination of high seed inputs, high seedling emergence and relatively high seedling survival during the growing season, which allowed hemlock to remain dominant under its own canopy. Red oak stands favoured a suite of mid‐successional broad‐leaved species over hemlock. A more even age structure of broad‐leaved species in red oak stands revealed that high seedling survival in such stands were driving this feedback. Canopy‐mediated variations in both understorey light availability (1.5% for hemlock vs 3.5% for red oak) and soil pH (3.9 for hemlock vs 4.4 for red oak) were found to be the primary correlates of stand‐level differences in seedling regeneration dynamics. In mixed temperate forests in the eastern US, canopy‐seedling feedbacks could act to slow successional trajectories and contribute to the maintenance of a stable landscape structure over many generations.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus suber</Emphasis> Decline on Woody Plant Regeneration: Potential Implications for Successional Dynamics in Mediterranean Forests

In the last two decades, widespread tree decline and mortality have been documented in forests worldwide. These mortality events usually show certain level of host-specificity, translating into rapid changes in the relative abundance of the adult community. Despite these short-term changes, it is poorly understood whether the decline and mortality of certain tree species are likely to result in long-term vegetation shifts. Trajectories of forest recovery and the probability of occurrence of permanent vegetation shifts are to a large extent determined by post-mortality regeneration dynamics. Using a spatially explicit neighborhood approach, we evaluated the spatial patterns of natural regeneration of the woody plant community in mixed Mediterranean forests affected by the decline of their dominant tree species, Quercus suber. We predicted the abundance, survival, and richness of the seedling and sapling bank as a function of the distribution and health status of the tree and shrub community. Results indicated that Q. suber decline had detectable effects on seedlings and saplings of coexistent woody species from very different functional groups (trees, shrubs, and lianas). The sign and magnitude of these effects varied substantially among coexistent species, which could imply shifts in the species ranking of seedling and sapling abundance, affecting successional trajectories and potentially leading to vegetation shifts. Because most of these changes pointed towards a loss of dominance of Q. suber, management strategies are urgently needed in order to attenuate adult mortality or promote its regeneration, counteracting the negative effects of global change drivers (exotic pathogens, climate change) on these valuable forests.     

Regeneration patterns in relation to canopy species composition and site variables in mixed oak forests in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, Mexico

Regeneration patterns in relation to canopy species composition and site variables were analyzed in mixed oak forests of the Sierra de Manantlán in western Mexico with the aim of establishing an ecological basis for the design of management alternatives. Using ordination (canonical correspondence analysis) and classification (two-way indicator species analysis) methods, five different canopy types and three different seedling associations were revealed according to species composition, all of them dominated by one or more oak species. Red–far red ratio, slope, altitude, topography, canopy type and grazing intensity were the main variables that explained differences in species composition among the seedling associations. Oak seedlings were relatively scarce in the sampling plots, with the lowest frequency values of all species recorded except for those of Quercus crassipes Humb. & Bonpl., and also the lowest density values. The presence of a particular oak seedling species was strongly associated with a particular percentage of canopy openness; Quercus candicans Née, Quercus laurina Humb. & Bonpl. and Quercus rugosa Née were present in the plots with the least-open canopy (6.4%, 2.9 and 6.2%, respectively), while Quercus castanea Née and Quercus crassipes Humb. & Bonpl. were present in the plots with the most-open canopy (13 and 8.1%, respectively). Every oak seedling species was more frequent, although not dependent, on the canopy type where the same oak species dominated. Because of the great heterogeneity in species composition and the physiographical factors of mixed oak forests in the Sierra de Manantlán, we concluded that management alternatives must be prescribed for each ecological situation where the different oak species are growing.     

Does predation contribute to tree diversity?

Seed and seedling predation may differentially affect competitively superior tree species to increase the relative recruitment success of poor competitors and contribute to the coexistence of tree species. We examined the effect of seed and seedling predation on the seedling recruitment of three tree species, Acer rubrum (red maple), Liriodendron tulipifera (yellow poplar), and Quercus rubra (northern red oak), over three years by manipulating seed and seedling exposure to predators under contrasting microsite conditions of shrub cover, leaf litter, and overstory canopy. Species rankings of seedling emergence were constant across microsites, regardless of exposure to seed predators, but varied across years. A. rubrum had the highest emergence probabilities across microsites in 1997, but Q. rubra had the highest emergence probabilities in 1999. Predators decreased seedling survival uniformly across species, but did not affect relative growth rates (RGRs). Q. rubra had the highest seedling survivorship across microsites, while L. tulipifera had the highest RGRs. Our results suggest that annual variability in recruitment success contributes more to seedling diversity than differential predation across microsites. We synthesized our results from separate seedling emergence and survival experiments to project seedling bank composition. With equal fecundity assumed across species, Q. rubra dominated the seedling bank, capturing 90% of the regeneration sites on average, followed by A. rubrum (8% of sites) and L. tulipifera (2% of sites). When seed abundance was weighted by species-specific fecundity, seedling bank composition was more diverse; L. tulipifera captured 62% of the regeneration sites, followed by A. rubrum (21% of sites) and Q. rubra (17% of sites). Tradeoffs between seedling performance and fecundity may promote the diversity of seedling regeneration by increasing the probability of inferior competitors capturing regeneration sites.