It is important to examine the factors limiting survival of seedlings and saplings, because in many plant species, habitat partitioning is most plausible and high mortality is observed at the early stage. We assessed difference of community dynamics and factors that limited survival of seedlings and saplings stages in a warm-temperate secondary forest.

Total of 73 quadrats with 4 m² area located in 5 plots were censused 2 times a year from April 2010 to November 2011 in a secondary forest of Seto city, Japan. In each census, we enumerated all woody individuals ≥ 1 cm and < 50 cm in height. We also measured light condition, soil content water, slope angle, and soil fertility. Using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), we analysed the effects of these environmental variables on survival of major species both for seedling and sapling stages.

The density, dominant species, and soil fertility were different among the plots. Mortalities of seedlings were significantly higher than those of saplings. Results of GLMM indicated that light condition and soil fertility were the main factors limiting survival of seedlings in several species, but not for saplings. Our results suggest that limiting factors of survival might change according to the growth stage.