DiscussionReproduction and the transmission of genetic and behavioral traits to offspring is a fundamental principle common to all species on this planet. When studying forest ecology, it is crucial to study the proportion of individuals surviving each stage of their growth, because the life and mortality experienced in a species population describes a characteristic of the species in question. In the case of American beech and sugar maple, their attempt to produce seeds is analogous to entering a lottery, where each seedling has a potential chance of becoming a tree cover, but only a few will survive and reach the size of the forest cover; thus, becoming the appropriate “winners”. Our information shows that together, based on size class distribution, both species exhibit a “winner takes all” pattern, supporting our hypothesis. The results showed a greater number of seedlings and short saplings than tall saplings, undercanopies and canopies. This is evident for a type III survival curve. In the type III curve, all individuals initially have a very low chance of survival. However, once individuals pass their age threshold and survive, they live to an advanced age. Only a few individuals from mast seedling production mature into fully adapted canopy trees. On the other hand, our hypothesis that canopy trees account for most of the biomass was confirmed as basal areas decreased from canopy growth stages to seedlings. This is evidence that once individuals survive the bottleneck where there is high mortality of young individuals (seedlings), which are then considered "losers", this will allow other individuals to have greater size to flourish. Here, having a considerable amount of dbh (diameter at breast height) represents a larger surface area...... middle of paper ...... (1992). Replacement models of gap phases in a subalpine old-growth forest. Ecology, 657-669. Loach, K. (1970). Shade tolerance in tree seedlings. New Phytologist, 69(2), 273-286.Moore, MR and Vankat, JL (1986). Responses of the herbaceous layer to the dynamics of gaps in a mature beech and maple forest. Midland American Naturalist, 336-347. Poulson, TL and Platt, WJ (1996). Beech and sugar maple replacement designs in Warren Woods, Michigan. Ecology, 1234-1253. Runkle, J.R. (1981). Gap regeneration in some old-growth forests in the eastern United States. Ecology, 62(4), 1041-1051. Williams, A. B. (1936). The composition and dynamics of a climax beech-maple community. Ecological Monographs, 6(3), 317-408.Woods, K.D. (1979). Reciprocal replacement and maintenance of codominance in a beech-maple forest [Michigan (USA), beech, maple]. Oikos.