Understory cover may constraint tree regeneration, impair livestock grazing and increase wildfire hazard. While prescribed burning and thinning are potential options for managing understory, resprouting vigor of large shrubs and small trees negatively affects their cost–benefit ratio. Selection of the largest stem and cleaning the rest of the stools can be an alternative option, if the stem left competes with resprouts for belowground resources. Alternatively, resources stored in the reserved stem may promote the growth of resprouts. Although few studies documented the effects of stem selection on resprouting vigor, no information is available for understory species. This study assessed the effect of stem selection (SS) in comparison to cleaning (CC) on resprouting vigor of box-tree. Both options were randomly applied to individuals growing in the understory of black pine forest in four localities. The resprout number resprouts (Rn) and the maximum resprout length (Lmax) were modeled against treatment, stand canopy cover, and pre-treatment stool basal area. Light availability at the individual level was assessed in a subset (n = 38) growing in two localities. Rn and Lmax were lower in SS than in CC. SS apparently inhibited bud initiation and prompted the reserved stem to compete for belowground resources with new resprouts. Resprouting was negatively related to the stand canopy cover. This effect of light availability was corroborated when measured at the individual level. As a conclusion, the implementation of SS in sub-Mediterranean forests with understory dominated by box-tree is a better management alternative than CC for fuel and forest management purposes.

中文翻译：

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茎的选择降低了亚地中海松林下黄杨（Buxus sempervirens L.）林下的重新发芽活力

林下覆盖物可能会限制树木再生、损害牲畜放牧并增加野火危险。虽然规定的燃烧和间伐是管理林下林木的潜在选择，但重新发芽大灌木和小乔木的活力会对它们的成本效益比产生负面影响。如果剩余的茎与新芽竞争地下资源，则选择最大的茎并清洁其余的粪便可能是另一种选择。或者，储存在保留茎中的资源可以促进再芽的生长。尽管很少有研究记录茎选择对重新发芽活力的影响，但没有关于林下物种的信息。本研究评估了茎选择 (SS) 与清洁 (CC) 相比对箱形树重新发芽活力的影响。这两种选择都随机应用于四个地区黑松林林下生长的个体。再发芽数再发芽数 (Rn) 和最大再发芽长度 (Lmax) 是根据处理、立冠盖和处理前粪便基底面积建模的。在生长在两个地方的一个子集 (n = 38) 中评估了个体水平的光照可用性。SS 中的 Rn 和 Lmax 低于 CC。SS 显然抑制了芽的萌生，并促使保留的茎与新芽竞争地下资源。重新发芽与立式树冠盖呈负相关。当在个体水平上进行测量时，这种光照可用性的影响得到了证实。作为结论，