Level and spatial pattern of overstory retention impose trade‐offs for regenerating and retained trees

Variable retention (VR) has been adopted globally as an alternative to more intensive forms of regeneration harvest. By retaining live trees within harvest units, VR seeks balance among the commodity, ecological, and aesthetic values managed forests. Achieving these multiple, often competing objectives requires understanding how level spatial pattern shape abundance, growth, mortality regenerating retained trees. Using long-term (18–19 yr) data from a regional-scale experiment, we explore individual interactive effects (15% vs. 40% initial basal area) (dispersed aggregated) on post-harvest dynamics forests differing structure seral composition. Level imposed trade-offs for density growth (≥0.1 m tall, <5 cm dbh) ingrowth (trees attaining 5 during study). Greater led greater late-seral regeneration, but lower early-seral ingrowth, slower ingrowth. Dispersed enhanced early- (compared aggregated treatments), reduced We also observed Lower smaller (<25 dbh), particularly in dispersed settings, survival larger trees, which were susceptible windthrow. Pattern similar trade-offs, with enhancing reducing small Finally, resulted productivity retained-tree cohorts. Ingrowth was at treatments; higher treatments. Our results provide unique, perspective sensitivity tree key structural elements systems. Strong responses produce different ecological or resource objectives. Balancing may require combined use aggregates, retention, clearings, mimic heterogeneity habitats, physical structures, conditions that are produced by natural disturbances.