Over a hectic 2-week period in December, we created 43 treefall gaps across Guam, Rota, and Saipan. To create these gaps, we cut down small trees of three common species:
Aglaia mariannensis,
Guamia mariana, and
Cynometra ramiflora- and then trimmed the adjacent vegetation. The gaps are about 8-12 m2 in size, which is approximately the size of an average gap in these islands. Now, we get to follow regeneration in these gaps over the next 3 1/2 years- will the presence of birds affect which species recruit in each gap, or the pace of regeneration? Stay tuned!
