Structure of Evergreen Temperate Rain Forest on the Taitao Peninsula, Southern Chile

In southern Chile, many of the native forests are currently dominated by Nothofagus species. However, in some forests the Nothofagus shows few signs of successful regeneration. In the past, this has been explained by the inability of certain shade-intolerant Nothofagus species to regenerate under the rain forest canopy or under small canopy gaps. Instead, regeneration occurs following large-scale disturbances. However, exceptions to this occur, and several Nothofagus species appear to be able to regenerate in either large- or small-scale gaps. The mature, closed-canopy forest stands of the Taitao Peninsula are dominated by only two species: Nothofagus nitida (Phil.) Krasser and Podocarpus nubigena Lindl. The population structures of both of these species show the reverse-J basal area distributions that have frequently been associated with successful regeneration patterns. This may suggest that good regeneration is occurring in small gaps with the implication that in contrast to other mixed species Nothofagus forests in Chile, the composition of the forest canopy may be relatively stable.