Seedling and sapling distribution patterns in a coastal podocarp forest, Hokitika Ecological District, New Zealand

Abstract

The relationship between seedlings and saplings of four podocarp tree species (Prumnopitys ferruginea, Podocarpus totara, Dacrydium cupressinum, and Dacrycarpus dacrydioides) and overhead cover was investigated in a coastal forest fragment, Hokitika Ecological District, New Zealand Significantly more podocarp seedlings and saplings occurred under angiosperm trees, especially Weinmannia racemosa, than under podocarp trees. This pattern is similar to that described in other studies and may in part be due to dispersal of seed away from parent trees and to higher forest floor irradiances under angiosperm tree canopies than under podocarp canopies. The observed positive association between podocarp regeneration and angiosperm canopy tree species suggests that angiosperm trees play a key role in the dynamics of these forests.

Keywords:

• regeneration
• Podocarpaceae
• bird dispersal
• Hokitika Ecological District