GAP FREQUENCIES IN LOWLAND RAIN-FOREST SITES ON CONTRASTING SOILS IN AMAZONIAN ECUADOR

The forest in the less fertile site had lower maximum canopy height and a smaller percentage of area in gaps (1.4% of area with highest canopy <2m) than the forest in the more fertile site, where the higher percent area in gaps (5.1%) was due to both more gaps and larger gaps. The difference in gap incidence between the sites is probably due to differences in tree stability caused either by differences in soil structure or by shorter canopy and/or greater root density associated with the less fertile soils. -from Authors