Abstract: Forest gap is ubiquitous in both undisturbed and disturbed forest ecosystems, which drives the development of forest ecosystem, and affects the composition of plant species, stand structure and succession phase. The study of forest gap is of significance for the restoration and management of disturbed forest ecosystem. Based on a wide range of literature collection, the concept and characters of forest gap, variations of habitat conditions after gap formation, as well as the responses of plant species to forest gap and the research means on forest gap were summarized, which could be helpful to the forest ecosystem management and other related studies of forest science.

Key words: Small-middle size soil animals, Diversity, Vertical distribution