Trade-offs in the Effects of Forest Gaps on Tree Regeneration, Microclimate, and Soil Nutrients: A Meta-Analysis

Owing to forest disturbances and planned timber harvests, forest canopies are increasingly opened up worldwide. To facilitate a global assessment of how canopy opening influences multiple ecosystem functions, this dataset compiles paired observations comparing forest gap and closed-canopy conditions across a wide range of forest ecosystems. The dataset integrates information on three major functional groups, including understory tree regeneration (e.g., seedling height, diameter, biomass, and survival), microclimate variables (e.g., air and soil temperature, humidity, and light), and soil nutrient properties (e.g., soil C, N, P, K and their available forms).