The positive ecological interaction between gap formation and natural regeneration has been examined but little research has been carried out on the effects of gaps on natural regeneration in forests under different intensities of disturbance. This study evaluates the composition, diversity, regeneration density and abundance of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps in undisturbed, intermittently disturbed, and disturbed forest sites. Bia Tano Forest Reserve in Ghana was the study area and three gaps each were selected in the three forest site categories. Ten circular subsampling areas of 1 m² were delineated at 2 m spacing along north, south, east, and west transects within individual gaps. Data on natural regeneration < 350 cm height were gathered. The results show that the intensity of disturbance was disproportional to gap size. Species diversity differed significantly between undisturbed and disturbed sites and, also between intermittently disturbed and disturbed sites for Simpson’s (1-D), Equitability (J), and Berger–Parker (B–P) indices. However, there was no significant difference among forest sites for Shannon diversity (H) and Margalef richness (MI) indices. Tree species composition on the sites differed. Regeneration density on the disturbed site was significantly higher than on the two other sites. Greater abundance and density of shade-dependent species on all sites identified them as opportunistic replacements of gap-dependent pioneers. Pioneer species giving way to shade tolerant species is a natural process, thus make them worst variant in gap regeneration.

已经研究了间隙形成与自然更新之间的积极生态相互作用，但很少研究间隙对不同干扰强度下森林自然更新的影响。本研究评估了在未受干扰、间歇性受干扰和受干扰的林地间隙中树种自然更新的组成、多样性、更新密度和丰度。加纳的 Bia Tano 森林保护区是研究区域，在三个林地类别中分别选择了三个缺口。10 个 1 m ^{2 的}圆形子采样区沿北、南、东和西横断面在单个间隙内以 2 m 的间距划定。收集了 < 350 cm 高度的自然再生数据。结果表明干扰强度与间隙大小不成比例。对于 Simpson (1-D)、Equitability (J) 和 Berger-Parker (B-P) 指数，未受干扰和受干扰地点之间以及间歇性受干扰和受干扰地点之间的物种多样性存在显着差异。然而，香农多样性 (H) 和 Margalef 丰富度 (MI) 指数的森林地点之间没有显着差异。不同地点的树种组成不同。受干扰地点的再生密度明显高于其他两个地点。所有地点依赖阴凉的物种的丰度和密度更大，将它们确定为依赖间隙的先驱者的机会性替代品。先锋物种让位于耐荫物种是一个自然过程，从而使它们在间隙再生中成为最差的变种。