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Wild leek (Allium tricoccum) is a spring ephemeral of northeastern North America. In the Canadian province of Quebec, it is listed as threatened due to human harvesting, and in Gatineau Park its presence is used as an indicator of human impact. Wild leek grows in patches on the forest floor, and before the tree canopy develops its green leaves are clearly visible through the bare branches of deciduous forests, allowing it to be observed with optical remote sensing. This study developed and tested a new method for monitoring wild leek across large geographic areas by integrating field observations, UAV video, and satellite imagery. Three-cm resolution orthomosaics were generated for five <0.1 km2 sites from the UAV video using Structure-from-Motion, segmented, and classified into wild leek (WL) or other (OT) surface types using a simple greenness threshold. The resulting maps, validated using the field observations, had a high overall accuracy (F1-scores between 0.64 to 0.94). These maps were then used to calibrate a linear model predicting the per-pixel percentage cover of wild leek (%WL) from NDVI in the satellite imagery. The linear model calibrated for a Sentinel-2 image from 2018, covering all of Gatineau Park (~361 km2), allowed %WL to be predicted with an RMSE of 10.32. A similar model calibrated for a WorldView-2 image from 2018 was noisy (RMSE = 37.64), though much improved by resampling this image to match the spatial resolution of Sentinel-2, due to MAUP scale effect (RMSE = 13.06). Testing the potential for satellite-based monitoring of wild leek, the %WL prediction errors were similar when a new linear model was developed using the Sentinel-2 image from 2017 (RMSE = 12.84) and when the model calibrated with the 2018 Sentinel-2 image was applied to the 2017 satellite data (RMSE = 16.97). The linear models developed for the Sentinel-2 and WorldView-2 images from 2018 were used to map wild leek cover for Gatineau Park. Both images allowed production of similar wild leek maps that, based on field experience and visual inspection of the imagery, provide good descriptions of the actual distribution of wild leek at Gatineau Park.

Scene perception and traversability analysis are real challenges for autonomous driving systems. In the context of off-road autonomy, there are additional challenges due to the unstructured environments and the existence of various vegetation types. It is necessary for the Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs) to be able to identify obstacles and load-bearing surfaces in the terrain to ensure a safe navigation (McDaniel et al. 2012). The presence of vegetation in off-road autonomy applications presents unique challenges for scene understanding: 1) understory vegetation makes it difficult to detect obstacles or to identify load-bearing surfaces; and 2) trees are usually regarded as obstacles even though only trunks of the trees pose collision risk in navigation. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to study traversability analysis in unstructured forested terrains for off-road autonomy using LIDAR data. More specifically, to address the aforementioned challenges, this dissertation studied the impacts of the understory vegetation density on the solid obstacle detection performance of the off-road autonomous systems. By leveraging a physics-based autonomous driving simulator, a classification-based machine learning framework was proposed for obstacle detection based on point cloud data captured by LIDAR. Features were extracted based on a cumulative approach meaning that information related to each feature was updated at each timeframe when new data was collected by LIDAR. It was concluded that the increase in the density of understory vegetation adversely affected the classification performance in correctly detecting solid obstacles. Additionally, a regression-based framework was proposed for estimating the understory vegetation density for safe path planning purposes according to which the traversabilty risk level was regarded as a function of estimated density. Thus, the denser the predicted density of an area, the higher the risk of collision if the AGV traversed through that area. Finally, for the trees in the terrain, the dissertation investigated statistical features that can be used in machine learning algorithms to differentiate trees from solid obstacles in the context of forested off-road scenes. Using the proposed extracted features, the classification algorithm was able to generate high precision results for differentiating trees from solid obstacles. Such differentiation can result in more optimized path planning in off-road applications.

The successful regeneration of mature oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) forests is thought to be dependent on the presence of oak advance regeneration. However, the advance regeneration must be of sufficient size and density for oak to be competitive and become a dominant species after harvest. The presence of a dense midstory canopy of shade tolerant species has been implicated with the poor development of oak advance regeneration. Understory Vegetation Control was conducted in 1994 in average quality (SI₅₀ 17.7 - 21.9 m for upland oak) southern Appalachian forest stands to determine the effects on oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) and maple (<i>Acer</i> spp.) advance seedling abundance, growth, and development. Three study sites were located in southwest Virginia, and the following two treatments were implemented at each site: Understory Vegetation Control (UVC) and Control. Permanent sampling plots and individual seedlings were located to quantify the density, recruitment, and growth of advance regeneration. Competing vegetation was significantly reduced after one year by the UVC treatment, where the mean relative change in the sum of the heights of competing stems between 1 and 5 m in height was -15.9 percent for the UVC plots vs. 22.8 percent for the Control plots. Neither oak seedling recruitment nor height growth was enhanced by the UVC treatment after one year. Insufficient time has elapsed to allow for a growth response, or to determine if seedling recruitment will be enhanced by UVC. Several years may be required to determine if the UVC treatment can enhance the growth and competitive status of oak regeneration. / Master of Science

Changes in forest ecosystem vegetation also bring about changes to the associated soil. In order to maintain forest productivity, it is important to know the effects of tree species upon the soil, especially the influence of deciduous versus coniferous tree species. Many deciduous species increase pH, nitrogen, base saturation and/or accumulation of organic matter in the forest floor. The chemical properties of the forest floor may, in turn, influence the chemical properties of the underlying mineral soil. If a tree species significantly alters the soil, then silviculturists may consider crop rotation between deciduous and coniferous trees or growing mixed-species stands to maintain greater nutrient availability and maintain site productivity. Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and black spruce (Picea mariana) may occupy similar sites in the North American boreal forest. Shade-intolerant aspen is generally a seral species while shade-tolerant black spruce can be a seral species but also forms a major component in late successional stages. This study investigated differences in nitrogen-related soil properties between trembling aspen and black spruce stands on upland sites in the BWBS zone of northeastern BC. We asked two questions: (1) are the differences in soil nutrient properties manifested in both forest floor and mineral soil? (2) To what extent are these differences reflected in the floristic composition of understory vegetation?

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a variação espacial da regeneração natural das espécies nativas no sub-bosque de um povoamento de Eucalyptus saligna Smith. localizado na Estação Experimental de Itatinga do Departamento de Ciências Florestais da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, que vem sendo manejado ha 50 anos pelo sistema de talhadia simples. A Estação Experimental de Itatinga ocupa uma área aproximada de 675 ha localizados na região fisiográfica denominada Planalto Ocidental Paulista. O uso da terra é caracterizado pelos plantios monoculturais de espécies exóticas, principalmente Eucalyptus sp. e Pinus sp., e fragmentos florestais naturais representativos de floresta estacional semidecidual, floresta ripária, cerradão e cerrado, em diferentes níveis de perturbação. A área experimental compreende 2 sítios distantes entre si em aproximadamente 250 metros e com desnível topográfico de 30 metros, diferenciados principalmente pela fitofisionomia da vegetação, declividade do terreno e pelas diferentes características de fertilidade e capacidade de retenção hídrica dos solos. Foram alocadas aleatoriamente 8 parcelas permanentes de 625 m 2 em cada sítio. Em cada parcela foi realizado o inventário das espécies nativas arbóreas ou arbustivas em via de regeneração, abrangendo os indivíduos com altura maior que 1,5 metros, bem como as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna existentes. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (LVA), que apresentou área basal média de 6,12 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 92 indivíduos distribuídos em 24 espécies, com destaque para Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis , Piptocarpha rotundifolia , Pouteria ramiflora e Anadenanthera falcata. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho (LV), que apresentou área basal média de 13,81 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 991 indivíduos, distribuídos em 90 espécies com destaque para Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis , Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata e Actinostemum communis. No total foram identificadas 107 espécies, sendo 7 espécies comuns aos dois sítios, distribuídas em 72 gêneros e 34 famílias. Os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner (H’) obtidos para o sítio LVA e LV foram respectivamente 2,51 e 3,75. Embora os dois sítios estudados estejam espacialmente próximos, as diferenças com relação a quantidade de indivíduos amostrados e o número de espécies identificadas foram significativas. Analisando-se os resultados pode-se concluir que as variações quantitativas e qualitativas da regeneração natural entre os dois sítios dependem principalmente das condições de umidade e fertilidade do solo. A influência das brotações do Eucalyptus saligna ocorre principalmente no sítio LV em decorrência das condições microclimáticas determinadas pelo dossel desuniforme existente, promovendo diferentes condições de sombreamento e umidade do ar e do solo, as quais possibilitaram o crescimento de espécies de diferentes estádios de sucessão. No sítio LVA, onde as brotações de Eucalyptus saligna ocorreram em menor densidade e tamanho, promovendo menor variação nas condições microclimáticas, pode-se concluir que houve pequena influência sobre a regeneração natural. / This study was carried out to evaluate the spatial variation of the native species naturally regenerating in Eucalyptus saligna stand understory. This stand which is located at Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo (Itatinga Experimental Station, Forest Sciences Department), has been managed through lopping system for fifty years. The Itatinga Experimental Station, with an area of 675 hectares, is located on the physiographic region named São Paulo West plateau. This region is characterized by monoculture plantations of exotic tree species, mainly Eucalyptus sp and Pinus sp, besides representative remnants of natural forest formations like semideciduos seasonal forest, riparian forest and savannah (Cerradão e Cerrado) with different dis turbance degrees. The experimental area encompasses two sites separated from each other around 250 m, differing 30 m in altitude. These two sites are different mainly in phytophysionomy, land slope and soil fertility and soil hydric retention capacity. Eight permanent plots of 625 m 2 in each site (LVA and LV) were randomly sampled. The woody species individuals with height equal or bigger than 1,5 m and the Eucalyptus saligna coppicings were surveyed in each plot. On the LVA site, with an average basal area of Eucalyptus coppicings of 6,12 m 2 /ha, 92 individuals were sampled, distributed in 24 species and the most important ones were Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis, Piptocarpha rotundifolia, Pouteria ramiflora and Anadenanthera falcata. On the LV site, 991 individuals were sampled, distributed in 90 species and the most important ones were Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis, Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata and Actinostemum communis. A total of 107 species were identified and 7 species were common to both sites, distributed into 72 genera and 34 families. The Shannon-Wiener (H´) diversity indexes obtained for LVA and LV site were respectively 2.51 and 3.75. Although both studied sites were close to each other, the differences related to the abundance of the sampled individuals and the number of species were significant. Based upon the results it is possible to conclude that the quantitative and qualitative variations of the natural regeneration between the two sites depend mainly on the soil humidity and fertility. The Eucalyptus saligna influence occurs mainly on site LV due to the different microclimate conditions promoted by the uneven canopy, generating different conditions of shading, soil and air humidity, allowing the growth of species of different successional stages. At the LVA site, were the Eucalyptus saligna coppicing were at a smaller density and size, promoting a smaller variation at the microclimatic conditions, we may conclude that the influence at the natural regeneration was also smaller.

Graduation date: 2006 / Canopy gap formation is a major factor contributing to maintenance of overstory species diversity and stand structure in forests and may be integral to development of understory shrub and herb layers as well. Acknowledgement of gap formation as a fundamental feature of natural forests has led to consideration of gaps as an option in forest management regimes. This study examined understory vegetation communities across canopy gaps created as a part of the Density Management Study (DMS), which investigates the effectiveness of a thinning regime in promoting late-successional habitat development in young Douglas-fir forests of western Oregon. Patterns in understory vegetation community composition in and around 0.1 and 0.4ha gaps created as a part of the DMS treatment were investigated. The primary goal of this research was to investigate the potential role of canopy gap creation in fostering heterogeneity in understory vegetation communities, and to examine the extent of gap influence on the surrounding thinned forest matrix. Tree species distributions have been shown to partition across gaps in tropical forest systems through differential responses of species to gradients in resource availability, a pattern known as gap partitioning. In temperate forests, understory vegetation communities are much more diverse than the overstories, and display a greater array of habitat requirements. Therefore, understory communities may be more likely than overstories to exhibit gap partitioning in these forests. Patterns in understory community composition across gaps suggest that gap partitioning has occurred. The strength of this partitioning effect appears to differ between gap sizes, as smaller gaps showed a less powerful effect. Abundance of ruderal species was strongly related to gap partitioning in larger gaps, while smaller gaps were dominated by competitor species. Partitioning may be related to an interactive relationship between harvest-related ground disturbance and resource gradients. Therefore, considerations of gap partitioning processes should take into account intensity and spatial distribution of ground disturbance in relation to resource gradients. In addition, conditions necessary for the expression of gap partitioning in understory vegetation communities may be rare in natural gaps in this region. The influence of gaps on understory vegetation communities in the surrounding forest appears to be relatively small. This small influence extent may help explain the lack of a stand level response to gap formation in these stands. Larger gaps exhibit a slight influence on the understory plant community in the surrounding forest to the north of the gap. In small gaps, there seemed to be an influence of the surrounding forest on gap interiors, resulting in an area of influence smaller than the physical gap area. This relationship may indicate that the area of gap influence on understory vegetation may not scale linearly with physical gap size. Species diversity was higher in gap interiors than in surrounding thinned forests. However this effect was partially due to the presence of exotic species, which showed an affinity for gap interiors. Late successional associated species were negatively related to gap interiors, but only in the larger gap size. Gap creation appears to be promoting small scale species diversity in these stands, but creation of large gaps may also promote the establishment of exotic species and may have a negative effect on late successional associated species. However, any and all of these effects may be transient, as understory communities will be strongly affected by overstory re-establishment, and related changes in resource availability. In general, gap formation may influence small-scale stand heterogeneity as evidenced by understory plant communities, but this effect may rely strongly on the nature of gap formation and intensity of disturbance related to this formation.

The boreal forest is confined to the Northern Hemisphere and is the most continuous and extensive forest in the world. In North America boreal forest extends from the Pacific to Atlantic coast spanning over 10° latitude. White spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), black spruce (P. mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) are among the dominant tree species. Black spruce and trembling aspen may form pure stands and occupy similar sites as their edaphic amplitudes overlap; however, spruce is rare on water-deficient sites and aspen does not tolerate excess water. Despite many studies conducted in the North American boreal forest, little is known about relationships between the boreal understory vegetation and softwood or hardwood canopy species in different climate regions. Furthermore, the variation in species diversity and succession between the stands dominated by coniferous trees and those dominated by broadleaved trees within the same region is unknown. The objectives of this study are to determine (1) the difference in the species diversity and floristic composition of understory vegetation between black spruce and trembling aspen stands within the same climatic region, and (2) how the species diversity and floristic composition of understory vegetation in each stand type vary with climate, and soil moisture and soil nutrient conditions.

La régénération naturelle du Pin pignon (Pinus pinea L.) est difficile à atteindre. Ce processus est soumis à de multiples contraintes abiotiques et biotiques et leurs interactions qui demeurent partiellement connues. Une meilleure connaissance de ces facteurs est nécessaire pour la mise au point de recommandations sylvicoles en vue de favoriser la régénération. Compte tenu de la littérature disponible, nous avons supposé que l’établissement des semis de Pin pignon est contrôlé principalement, par ordre d’importance, par : (i) la disponibilité de la lumière, (ii) la biomasse des aiguilles de la litière et enfin (iii) la concurrence avec la végétation du sous-bois. En outre, l’étude a été complétée par une caractérisation de la structure du peuplement en termes de croissance et de fructification. L’établissement des semis de Pinus pinea a été étudié in situ et sous des conditions contrôlées pour trois forêts au nord de la Tunisie (Mekna III, Ouchtata II et Bechateur). Les semis vivants ont été comptés sur 90 placettes de 500m² chacune distribuées sur les trois forêts, et mis en relation avec la lumière disponible, la biomasse de la végétation du sous-bois et la biomasse des aiguilles de litière. Une expérience complémentaire a été menée dans des pots en conditions contrôlées sous serre avec des graines des trois forêts. Trois régimes de lumière incidente ont été appliqués (3%,16% et 58%) combinés avec trois modalités de lit de germination : sol nu, sol couvert d’aiguilles de litière et sol arrosé d’extrait d’aiguilles. L’étude a montré que la limitation de la germination n’était pas directement due à la lumière, mais plutôt à la température et à l’humidité liées à leur tour à la disponibilité de la lumière. L’émergence des semis a été significativement entravée par les couches de litière imposant une barrière mécanique, tandis qu’aucun effet chimiotoxique n'a été détecté. La végétation du sous-bois ne semble pas avoir joué un rôle important dans les premiers stades d’établissement des semis de Pinus pinea sous ces conditions climatiques méditerranéennes. Les besoins en lumière des jeunes plantules augmentent au fur et à mesure de leur développement et par conséquent le type d’interaction avec la végétation du sous-bois passe de la neutralité à la compétition. Nos résultats peuvent servir comme base initiale pour affiner la sylviculture afin d’améliorer l’établissement des pins. Le plan de gestion doit inclure une scarification afin de réduire l’épaisseur des couches de litière et des éclaircies intensives pour augmenter la disponibilité de la lumière. / Natural regeneration of Pinus pinea stands in Tunisia is difficult to achieve. This process is threatened by multiple abiotic and biotic stresses and their interactions which are still not well known, whereas, the knowledge of these factors is essential for sylvicultural recommendations. Given the available literature, we hypothesized that stone pine seedling establishment is mainly controlled in order of importance by (i) light availability, (ii) amount of needle litter, and (iii) competition with understory vegetation. Furthermore, the study was completed by a characterization of stand structure in terms of growth and fructification. The seedling establishment behaviour of Pinus pinea was studied under field and controlled conditions for three forests of north Tunisia (Mekna III, Ouchtata II and Bechateur). Live seedling were counted in 90 plots (500m² each) distributed in these forests, and related to light availability, biomass of understory vegetation, and biomass of needle litter collected in eight square subplots (0.5m × 0.5m). An additional experiment was conducted under controlled conditions in pots in greenhouse with seeds of the three forests. Three light regimes were applied (3%, 16%, and 58%) of incident light, combined with three seedbed modalities: bare soil, soil covered with needle litter and soil watered with needle extract. The study showed that germination limitation was not directly related to light, but rather to temperature and humidity linked to the light regime. Seedling emergence was significantly suppressed by litter layer which imposed a mechanical barrier, whereas no chemotoxic effect was detected. The understory vegetation did not appear to play a significant role in Pinus pinea early seedling establishment in these Mediterranean climate conditions. During the subsequent development of seedlings, their light requirement increased and their interactions with understory woody vegetation moved from neutral relationship towards a competitive relationship. We use our results to propose an initial silvicultural approach to favour pine establishment. A management plan should first include scarification to reduce litter thickness and then heavy thinning to significantly increase light availability.

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a variação espacial da regeneração natural das espécies nativas no sub-bosque de um povoamento de Eucalyptus saligna Smith. localizado na Estação Experimental de Itatinga do Departamento de Ciências Florestais da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, que vem sendo manejado ha 50 anos pelo sistema de talhadia simples. A Estação Experimental de Itatinga ocupa uma área aproximada de 675 ha localizados na região fisiográfica denominada Planalto Ocidental Paulista. O uso da terra é caracterizado pelos plantios monoculturais de espécies exóticas, principalmente Eucalyptus sp. e Pinus sp., e fragmentos florestais naturais representativos de floresta estacional semidecidual, floresta ripária, cerradão e cerrado, em diferentes níveis de perturbação. A área experimental compreende 2 sítios distantes entre si em aproximadamente 250 metros e com desnível topográfico de 30 metros, diferenciados principalmente pela fitofisionomia da vegetação, declividade do terreno e pelas diferentes características de fertilidade e capacidade de retenção hídrica dos solos. Foram alocadas aleatoriamente 8 parcelas permanentes de 625 m 2 em cada sítio. Em cada parcela foi realizado o inventário das espécies nativas arbóreas ou arbustivas em via de regeneração, abrangendo os indivíduos com altura maior que 1,5 metros, bem como as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna existentes. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (LVA), que apresentou área basal média de 6,12 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 92 indivíduos distribuídos em 24 espécies, com destaque para Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis , Piptocarpha rotundifolia , Pouteria ramiflora e Anadenanthera falcata. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho (LV), que apresentou área basal média de 13,81 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 991 indivíduos, distribuídos em 90 espécies com destaque para Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis , Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata e Actinostemum communis. No total foram identificadas 107 espécies, sendo 7 espécies comuns aos dois sítios, distribuídas em 72 gêneros e 34 famílias. Os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner (H’) obtidos para o sítio LVA e LV foram respectivamente 2,51 e 3,75. Embora os dois sítios estudados estejam espacialmente próximos, as diferenças com relação a quantidade de indivíduos amostrados e o número de espécies identificadas foram significativas. Analisando-se os resultados pode-se concluir que as variações quantitativas e qualitativas da regeneração natural entre os dois sítios dependem principalmente das condições de umidade e fertilidade do solo. A influência das brotações do Eucalyptus saligna ocorre principalmente no sítio LV em decorrência das condições microclimáticas determinadas pelo dossel desuniforme existente, promovendo diferentes condições de sombreamento e umidade do ar e do solo, as quais possibilitaram o crescimento de espécies de diferentes estádios de sucessão. No sítio LVA, onde as brotações de Eucalyptus saligna ocorreram em menor densidade e tamanho, promovendo menor variação nas condições microclimáticas, pode-se concluir que houve pequena influência sobre a regeneração natural. / This study was carried out to evaluate the spatial variation of the native species naturally regenerating in Eucalyptus saligna stand understory. This stand which is located at Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo (Itatinga Experimental Station, Forest Sciences Department), has been managed through lopping system for fifty years. The Itatinga Experimental Station, with an area of 675 hectares, is located on the physiographic region named São Paulo West plateau. This region is characterized by monoculture plantations of exotic tree species, mainly Eucalyptus sp and Pinus sp, besides representative remnants of natural forest formations like semideciduos seasonal forest, riparian forest and savannah (Cerradão e Cerrado) with different dis turbance degrees. The experimental area encompasses two sites separated from each other around 250 m, differing 30 m in altitude. These two sites are different mainly in phytophysionomy, land slope and soil fertility and soil hydric retention capacity. Eight permanent plots of 625 m 2 in each site (LVA and LV) were randomly sampled. The woody species individuals with height equal or bigger than 1,5 m and the Eucalyptus saligna coppicings were surveyed in each plot. On the LVA site, with an average basal area of Eucalyptus coppicings of 6,12 m 2 /ha, 92 individuals were sampled, distributed in 24 species and the most important ones were Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis, Piptocarpha rotundifolia, Pouteria ramiflora and Anadenanthera falcata. On the LV site, 991 individuals were sampled, distributed in 90 species and the most important ones were Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis, Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata and Actinostemum communis. A total of 107 species were identified and 7 species were common to both sites, distributed into 72 genera and 34 families. The Shannon-Wiener (H´) diversity indexes obtained for LVA and LV site were respectively 2.51 and 3.75. Although both studied sites were close to each other, the differences related to the abundance of the sampled individuals and the number of species were significant. Based upon the results it is possible to conclude that the quantitative and qualitative variations of the natural regeneration between the two sites depend mainly on the soil humidity and fertility. The Eucalyptus saligna influence occurs mainly on site LV due to the different microclimate conditions promoted by the uneven canopy, generating different conditions of shading, soil and air humidity, allowing the growth of species of different successional stages. At the LVA site, were the Eucalyptus saligna coppicing were at a smaller density and size, promoting a smaller variation at the microclimatic conditions, we may conclude that the influence at the natural regeneration was also smaller.