摘要：We studied 11 gaps covered with beech saplings (< 1.30 m tall) in a reserve compartment (compartment 139,district one,Langa forest,watershed 36: Kazemrood) of the Caspian beech forest in N Iran.Two transects,each 2 m wide,were laid along the longest (N-S) and shortest (E-W) axis of each gap.Five micro sample plots,each 4 m2,were established: one at the center,and one at each corner.Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of saplings with a diameter at breast height less than 7.5 cm were examined in the micro sample plots.Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed using SPSS software for quantitative characteristics,and chi-square test for qualitative characteristics.Results indicated that medium-sized (200-500 m2) gaps promote the growth of oriental beech saplings of desirable silvicultural forms during decay and initial stages.
