scholarly journals Planting mixed forests of European beech and conifers: Variations in microbial responses with site conditions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing-Zhong Lu ◽  
Stefan Scheu
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Beech Forests

AbstractTree - soil interactions depend on environmental context. Plantations of trees may impact soil microorganisms more strongly under unfavorable environmental conditions, compromising long-term ecosystem services. To contextually understand the effects of tree species composition on soil microorganisms, we quantified structural and functional responses of soil microorganisms to forest types across environmental gradients using substrate-induced respiration and phospholipid fatty acid analyses. Five forest types were studied including pure stands of native European beech (Fagus sylvatica), range expanding Norway spruce (Picea abies), and non-native Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), as well as the two conifer - beech mixtures. We found that microbial functioning strongly depends on environmental conditions, in particular on soil nutrients. At nutrient-poor sites, both pure and mixed coniferous forests, but especially Douglas-fir forests, stressed soil microorganisms compared to beech forests. By contrast, microbial structure and functional indicators in beech forests varied little with site conditions, likely because beech provided high amounts of root-derived resources for microbial growth. The results indicate that, at nutrient-poor sites, long-term effects of planting exotic Douglas-fir on ecosystem functioning need further attention, but planting Douglas-fir at nutrient-rich sites may be of little concern from the perspective of microbial communities. Overall, the results point to the importance of root-derived resources in determining the structure and functioning of soil microbial communities, and document the sensitivity of soil microorganisms to planting tree species that may differ in the provisioning of these resources.

scholarly journals Modeliranje višinske in debelinske rasti dominantnih dreves ter ocenjevanje indeksov produkcijske sposobnosti gozdnih rastišč

2021 ◽  
Vol 125 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Andrej Bončina ◽  
Vasilije Trifković ◽  
Živa Bončina
Keyword(s):  
Growth Models ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Site Productivity ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Sessile Oak ◽  
Diameter Increment

Modeling the height and diameter growth of trees is an important part of forest management. Growth models provide the basis for determining the thinning regime, target tree dimensions and optimal proportions of developmental phases of forest stands. We developed individual height growth models for dominant Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in two forest types (sessile oak-European beech forests and pre-Alpine silver fir-European beech forests). Based on the models, the site productivity index (SPI), defined as the dominant tree height at a diameter of 45 cm, was determined for spruce and beech in both forest types. Based on the diameter increment of the dominant trees, the age of trees in regard to their diameter was calculated, which was the basis for Height-Age modeling. The site productivity index (SPI) of spruce in sessile oak-beech forests and pre-Alpine silver fir-European beech forests is higher than that of beech: 31.3 and 29.7 vs 28.7 and 27.9, respectively. Estimated site indices (SI; dominant tree height at the age of 100 years) in sessile oak- European beech forests and pre-Alpine silver fir-European beech forests were 33.4 and 32.0 for spruce, and 29.0 and 27.0 for beech, respectively. Using the described procedure, it is possible to determine indices of site productivity of spruce and beech (SI and SPI) in the selected forest habitat types. Testing the procedure in other forest types and for other tree species is suggested.

scholarly journals Non-Specific Interactions of Rhizospheric Microbial Communities Support the Establishment of Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea in an Amazon Rehabilitating Mineland

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2079
Author(s):  
Paulo Henrique de Oliveira Costa ◽  
Sidney Vasconcelos do Nascimento ◽  
Hector Herrera ◽  
Markus Gastauer ◽  
Silvio Junio Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Soil Processes ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Bacterial Phyla ◽  
Wide Range

Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea (Fabaceae) is endemic to ferruginous tropical rocky outcrops in the eastern Amazon, also known as canga. Canga are often associated with mining activities and are the target of protection and rehabilitation projects. M. acutistipula stands out in this biodiversity hotspot with high growth rates, even in rehabilitating minelands (RMs). However, little is known about the diversity of soil microorganisms interacting with M. acutistipula in canga and RMs. This study analyzed the rhizosphere-associated bacterial and fungal microbial communities associated with M. acutistipula growing in an RM and a native shrub canga. The fungal phylum Ascomycota was the dominant taxa identified in the rhizosphere of the canga (RA: 98.1) and RM (RA: 93.1). The bacterial phyla Proteobacteria (RA: 54.3) and Acidobacteria (RA: 56.2) were the dominant taxa identified in the rhizosphere in the canga and RM, respectively. Beneficial genera such as Bradyrhizobium, Rhodoplanes, and Paraconiothyrium were identified in the rhizosphere of M. acutistipula in both areas. However, the analyses showed that the fungal and bacterial diversity differed between the rhizosphere of the canga and RM, and that the microbial taxa adapted to the canga (i.e., Rasamsonia, Scytalidium, Roseiarcus, and Rhodomicrobium) were lacking in the RM. This influences the microbe-mediated soil processes, affecting long-term rehabilitation success. The results showed that M. acutistipula established non-specific interactions with soil microorganisms, including beneficial taxa such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial endophytes, well known for their importance in plant adaptation and survival. High levels of microbe association and a plant’s ability to recruit a wide range of soil microorganisms help to explain M. acutistipula’s success in rehabilitating minelands.

scholarly journals An influence of different thinning methods on qualitative wood production of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) on two eutrophic sites in the Western Carpathians

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 10) ◽  
pp. 406-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Štefančík ◽  
M. Bošeľa
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Wood Production ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Measurement Interval ◽  
Growing Stock ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Crown Thinning

The issues related to appropriate management methods of beech stands have been considered as a crucial topic from the past up to now. Although the positive effect of tending on wood quality in beech stands is a generally known fact, the results from long-term experiments are very scarce. We investigated the qualitative production of beech forests, treated by different thinning methods during a long-term period of 53 years. For this purpose two long-term (lasting 53 years with a measurement interval of 5 years) series of research plots were used. On each plot three different thinning methods were applied: i) heavy thinning from below (C-grade according to the German forestry research institutes in 1902), ii) free crown thinning (original thinning method developed in Slovak Republic), and iii) control plot (without treatments). As much as 6,316 trees at the beginning of research and 864 trees at the last measurement were assessed and measured. Chi-squared test was used to quantify the effect of different thinning methods on qualitative wood production. The results showed the highest proportion of target trees, as well as the best average quality of the stem and crown on plots where the free crown thinning was applied followed by the plots with heavy thinning from below and control ones. We found that the proportion (expressed out of the total growing stock of crop trees) of veneers was the highest on plots managed by the free crown thinning (30 and 36%) and the lowest on control (unthinned) plots (10 and 19%). It is concluded that no significant differences between the two studied sites were found, which demonstrates a similar effect of the investigated thinning methods at different places across the region of Slovak Republic, but with similar site conditions. On the other hand, the most appropriate and hence successful thinning method was proved to be the free crown thinning, which is also recommended for management of beech forests from the aspect of silvicultural wood quality.  

scholarly journals The Effect of Climate on Tree-Ring Chronologies of Native and Nonnative Tree Species Growing Under Homogenous Site Conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (-1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Feliksik ◽  
Sławomir Wilczyński
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Diameter Increment

The Effect of Climate on Tree-Ring Chronologies of Native and Nonnative Tree Species Growing Under Homogenous Site ConditionsDendroclimatic studies were carried out in the experimental stands composed of many tree species situated in the Polish part of the Baltic sea-coast. Increment cores were taken from a 100-years old trees of 2 native species: Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestrisL.) and 3 nonnative species: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii(Mirb.) Franco), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis(Bong.) Carr.) and Silver fir (Abies albaMill.). Thirty trees of each species were cored. The relationships between the diameter increment and the thermal and pluvial conditions during the period from 1925 to 2005 were analyzed on the basis of standardized tree-ring chronologies and climatic data. It was found that precipitation and temperature of the growing season and months preceding that season affected the annual diameter increment of all investigated tree species. The current year winter and early spring temperatures as well as February and August precipitation had a similar effect on the variation of diameter increment of trees. On the other hand thermal and pluvial conditions of the current year June differentiated the increment rhythm of individual species. A very strong negative effect on diameter growth of trees was observed in the case of winter and early spring frosts. Norway spruce turned out to be a species most resistant to low temperatures. The investigated tree species, especially Norway spruce, was susceptible to water deficiency in the soil during spring and summer. In the case of Scots pine a high precipitation in June stimulated its growth. The diameter increments of Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Scots pine, and Silver fir were more strongly connected with air temperature than with precipitation. So called all-species chronology of tree-ring width, constructed during this study, permitted to verify the factors having a similar effect on growth response of the investigated tree species. It reflected the mutual characteristics of diameter increments of trees of various species.

Admixing other tree species to European beech forests: Effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks. A review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Rehschuh ◽  
Michael Dannenmann
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Soc Stocks

<p>Drought-sensitive European beech forests are increasingly challenged by climate change. Admixing other, preferably more deep-rooting, tree species has been proposed to increase the resilience of beech forests to summer drought. This might not only alter soil water dynamics and availability, but also soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) storage in soils. Since information of these effects is scattered, our aim was to synthesize results from studies that compared SOC/TN stocks of beech monocultures with those of mixed beech stands as well as of other monocultures. We conducted a meta-analysis including 40 studies with 208, 231 and 166 observations for forest floor, mineral soil and the total soil profile, respectively. Pure conifer stands had higher SOC stocks compared to beech in general, especially in the forest floor with up to 200% (larch forests). Other broadleaved tree species (ash, oak, lime, maple, hornbeam) showed in comparison to beech lower SOC storage in the forest floor, with little impact on total stocks.  Similarly, for mixed beech-conifer stands we found significantly increased SOC stocks of >10% and a small increase in TN stocks of approx. 4% compared to beech monocultures, which means a potential SOC storage increase of >0.1 t ha<sup>-1</sup>yr<sup>-1 </sup>(transformation of mineral soil to 100 cm depth). In contrast, mixed beech-broadleaved stands did not show a significant change in total SOC stocks. Currently, the influence climatic and soil parameters on SOC changes due to admixture of other tree species is analyzed based on this dataset. This is expected to facilitate an assessment which mixtures with beech have the largest potential towards increasing SOC stocks.</p>

Long-term changes in tree species composition in the Dinaric mountain forests of Slovenia

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrej Boncina ◽  
Franc Gaspersic ◽  
Jurij Diaci
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Virgin Forest ◽  
Forest Remnant ◽  
The Impact

This study utilizes data from long-term research sites in managed fir-beech forests (Hrusica, Leskova dolina and Rog) and a virgin forest remnant (Rajhenav), used as a reference site. Data obtained from old forest management plans and forest inventories were analysed. The results of the study support the hypothesis that two main tree species—silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)—alternate site dominance. The causes of species dominance alternation include both natural processes and anthropogenic factors, in particular silvicultural practices and the impact of ungulates. More than a hundred years ago, European beech dominated stand volume. The proportion of silver fir increased until 1940–1970 when a gradual decrease started. All indicators suggest that the proportion of silver fir will decrease further in the coming decades. Key words: tree species composition alternation, diameter distribution, silver fir, European beech, forest history, forest planning, managed forests, virgin forest remnant

Effects of Species Mixtures and Inventory Zones on Net Yields of British Columbia Forests

1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Harry G. Smith ◽  
Richard C. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Site Index ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Species Mixtures ◽  
Term Field

A least squares procedure developed to determine statistical significance of both qualitative and quantitative data was applied to find proportions of plots and amounts of wood yield by species mixtures and inventory zones. For 9 781 plots in Douglas-fir, spruce, and lodgepole pine forest types, sample volumes were highest in mixtures of these species with other conifers. However, small differences in age, site index, and stand density could account for much of the variation. When stand volumes were brought to common levels of age, site and density the need to recognize species composition classes and forest inventory zones diminished.If indicated gains from mixtures were real, stand managers could easily improve density of pure stands to exceed the increased yields indicated for conifer mixtures with Interior Douglas-fir (20.4%) and with lodgepole pine (3.4%). Because our analyses of regional inventories could not provide conclusive results, well designed long-term field trials would be needed to evaluate effects of species mixtures under fully comparable conditions.When stand density is used with age and site index to estimate yields there should be no need to recognize inventory zones within Coast and Interior races of the species tested.

scholarly journals Invasivität der Douglasie in Südwestdeutschland: Waldinventurdaten erlauben eine Einschätzung

2018 ◽  
Vol 169 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Bindewald ◽  
Hans-Gerhard Michiels
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Inventory Data ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Western Germany ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Forest Habitats

Invasiveness of Douglas fir in south-western Germany: an assessment based on forest inventory data Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) is the most significant tree species of non-native origin in south-western Germany from a commercial point of view. Its importance is expected to increase in the effort to adapt forests to climate change because Douglas fir is considered to be more drought-resistant than, for instance, Norway spruce. Currently, the use of Douglas fir in silviculture and the assessment of its invasiveness are controversially discussed between representatives of nature conservation and forestry. Evidence-based evaluations of the current extent of the establishment and spread of the tree species provide an improved basis for the assessment of invasiveness, as they add objective facts to the discussion and increase the transparency of the process. In this article, we analyze the natural regeneration of Douglas fir in different forest types in the State of Baden-Wurttemberg (south-western Germany) with the help of three systematically collected inventory datasets. The existing natural regeneration serves as a measure for the successful establishment and spread of the species and provides information on its potential invasiveness, i.e. presumable negative impacts on native species and ecosystems. According to the inventory data, the natural regeneration of Douglas fir occurs at a low level (on only 0.3% of the forest surface in Baden-Wurttemberg). However, it naturally regenerates in special protected rare forest habitats, especially on open rocky sites and bolder fields and in sessile oak forest communities on dry sites with acidic soils and mixed broadleaved forests dominated by sycamore. Here, negative impacts might be possible. Thus the species can be considered potentially invasive in these specific conditions. Since Douglas fir natural regeneration was only reported on a proportion of 0.2% of the whole area of monitored protected forest habitats, it should still be possible to successfully eradicate this tree species from these habitats. Data on natural regeneration across a range of different forest types provide an improved basis for the assessment of invasiveness, and thus for identification of appropriate management approaches, such as designating buffer zones around valuable protected habitats.

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