Factors limiting regeneration of Quercus alba and Cornus florida in formerly cultivated coastal plain sites, South Carolina

To determine the extent that resources, conditions and herbivory limit regeneration of Quercus alba L. and Cornus florida L. in formerly cultivated coastal plain uplands, we planted seedlings of the two species in two pine and one pine–hardwood forest understory and three adjacent clearcuts. Soil carbon and moisture, available nitrogen and phosphorus, and gap light index (GLI) were measured next to each seedling. Over two growing seasons, stem and leaf herbivory were estimated and survival was recorded. At the end of 2 years, all surviving stems were harvested to determine total leaf area and 2-year biomass growth. Survival to the end of the study was not significantly different between clearcuts (62.9%) and understories (64.6%). However, clearcuts led to significantly greater biomass growth and leaf area (ANOVA; P