CANOPY GAP DYNAMICS OF TWO DIFFERENT FOREST STANDS IN A MALAYSIAN LOWLAND RAIN FOREST

of two different forest stands in a Malaysian lowland rain forest. The forest structure, canopy gap dynamics and light environment in the understorey of an unlogged primary forest and a regenerating forest that had been selectively logged in the 1950s in the Pasoh Forest Reserve, Negri Sembilan, Peninsular Malaysia were studied. Eight years ’ observation showed that a higher frequency and larger size of canopy gaps occurred in the primary forest compared with the regenerating forest. The lack of large trees in the regenerating forest was responsible for the lower frequency and size of canopy gaps. Most of the forest floor was under closed canopy in both forests. However, the light availability to the forest understorey was significantly higher in the regenerating forest compared with that of the primary forest in closed canopy areas. This may be because of the lesser stratification of canopy layers in the regenerating forest. These changes in the light condition in the regenerating forest may have impacts on the regeneration of tropical tree species.