Distribution of Castanopsis calathiformis (Skan) Rehder & E.H.Wilson Seedlings Beneath Maternal Tree Crowns in Forest Restoration Plots

Abstract

Castanopsis calathiformis (Skan) Rehder & E.H.Wilson is one of indigenous tree species in the Fagaceae that was planted in 1998 in a restoration plots in a deforested area near Mae Sa Mai village, Chiang Mai. Over time, C. calathiformis grew into large, healthy trees and have produced seeds into the plot. These have germinated and now dense carpets of C. calathiformis seedlings and saplings have formed dense under the maternal trees and no other plant species can grow in those areas. The objectives of this study are to (1) compare seeding populations of C. calathiformis with two other tree species in Fagaceae (Quercus brandisiana Kurz. and Quercus semiserrata Roxbin) Family within these restoration plots, and (2) determine seed predation and seed dispersal around the C. calathiformis maternal trees. The results showed that the seedling density of Q. brandisiana and Q. semiserrata was significantly lower than C. calathiformis. The density of C. calathiformis seedling declined significantly with increasing distances from the maternal trees and there was no relationship between characteristics of the maternal trees (height, GBH and crown width) and the density of C. calathiformis seedlings. The study of C. calathiformis seed destruction showed 14.1% of seed was destroyed (germinated seed = 4.31% and non-germinated seed = 9.76%) while intact and germinated seed = 82.7%. In the seed predation experiment no seed of C. calathiformis was removed from the plots. This study provided suggestion planting C. calathiformis in restoration sites should be considered carefully for each location to increase species diversity in the forest restoration efficiently.