Distribution of seedlings and saplings of Quercus robur in a grazed deciduous forest

Seedling and sapling distribution of the deciduous tree Quercus robur was, studied in a grazed, partly open forest, ca. 20 km S of Linkoping, Sweden. Numbers of seedlings and saplings were compared between open and shaded parts of the forest. Cover values for the shrub and tree layers, proportion of bare ground and of stones and soil water content were determined. Q. robur was shown to germinate equally well in open and shaded parts of the forest; however, most saplings were found in the shade. No correlation was found between seedlings or saplings and cover of shrub layer or proportion of stones in the soil surface or with soil water content.