Abstract: In order to identify the natural regeneration characteristics of C. sinensis populations in Langqi Island of Minjiang Estuary, young trees (with DBH less than 2.5 cm) were investigated by a line sampling method. The annual growth of both seedlings in forest gaps and root sprouts under the canopy was measured. The results showed seed propagation, root sprouting and stump sprouting were the main regeneration ways, accounting for 45%, 36.3%, 18.7% of the whole young population, respectively. The root sprouts were more than seed-derived individuals in young populations with the height less than 40 cm. Conversely, the number of seed-derived plants was larger than that of root sprouted ones in the population with the height higher than 40 cm. More young seedlings were observed in forest gaps than under the canopy. Seedlings were dominated in gaps, while other two types were dominated under the canopy. In addition, differences in both the annual height growth (P<0.01) and annual ground diameter growth (P<0.05) between seedlings in gaps and root suckers under the canopy were significant.

Key words: natural regeneration, seedling, sprouting, Celtis sinensis, Minjiang Estuary