Growth and survival of transplanted black beech (Fuscospora solandri) seedlings on Motuareronui (Adele Island)

Black beech (Fuscospora solandri) seedlings were planted in randomly located plots on Motuareronui (Adele Island) to assess whether survival was sufficient for applied nucleation to be used as a restoration method on parts of the adjacent mainland. The long-term goal of this project is to re-establish black beech as a keystone canopy species on ridges and headlands that lost their primary forest cover as a result of fires by the middle of last century. One hundred and sixty-four of 199 beech seedlings (82%) planted in 2014 survived to 2019. Survival was higher in plots that had a low to moderate canopy density, or when plots had either low or moderate canopy density, when seedlings had higher levels of ambient light. There was weak evidence of a negative relationship between seedling growth and the amount of ambient light, attributable to apical dieback in some seedlings.