Regenerative strategies of understorey flora following clearfell logging in the Central Highlands, Victoria

Summary While understorey species are assumed to regenerate after logging as they would following a wildfire, little empirical evidence exists to evaluate the claim. The regenerative strategies of understorey flora were assessed following the clearfelling of three coupes in Wet Forest of the Victorian Central Highlands. Vegetation adjacent to the coupes was sampled as an indication of pre-harvest floristics. The majority of regeneration in one-year-old harvested forest was from seed. Few vegetatively resprouting species were recorded after clearfelling, although several resprouting species were amongst the structurally dominant species in surrounding vegetation. These species appear to be vulnerable in a logging operation and may require special protection to preserve community structure.