scholarly journals Structural Features of Old Growth Forest from South Eastern Carpathians, Romania

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-164
Author(s):  
Valentin Cristea ◽  
Ștefan Leca ◽  
Albert Ciceu ◽  
Șerban Chivulescu ◽  
Ovidiu Badea
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Gini Index ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Eastern Carpathians ◽  
Beech Stand

Background and Purpose: Romania’s forests are of globally significant value due to their natural characteristics, as similar forests in some other parts of the world have been lost forever. These types of forests, so-called "virgin" and "quasi-virgin (old growth)" forests, are also identified in the Buzau Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Carpathians in Romania (Curvature Region). Materials and Methods: To study and understand the structure and dynamics of primeval forest, four permanent one-hectare research plots were installed in the Penteleu Mountains, part of the Buzau Mountains. All trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 80 mm were measured and their main dendrometric characteristics (DBH, height and social position) registered. The forest structure was analysed by fitting different theoretical distribution functions (beta, gamma, gamma 3P, gamma 3P mixt, loglogistic 3p, lognormal 3P and Weibull 3p). The structural homogeneity of the permanent research plots was tested using the Camino index (H) and Gini index (G). Results: For the smaller DBH categories, Norway spruce was relatively shorter in height, but with increasing DBH, the heights of Norway spruce exceeded those of European beech. Stand volume varied between 615 and 1133 m3 per hectare. The area of maximum stability where we encountered the lowest tree height variability was recorded between the 60 cm and 100 cm diameter categories. The Lorenz curve and the Gini index indicated that the studied stands have high structural biodiversity. Conclusions: The results showed that the studied forests have an optimal structural diversity, assuring them a higher stability and multifunctionality. Thus, these forests are models for managed forests.

Modeling individual tree height to diameter ratio for Norway spruce and European beech in Czech Republic

Trees ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1969-1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram P. Sharma ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Stanislav Vacek
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Individual Tree

scholarly journals Hydrological effects of Norway spruce and European beech on snow cover in a mid-mountain region of the Polana mts., Slovakia / Hydrologický vplyv smreka obyčajného a buka lesného na snehovú pokrývku v stredohorských polohách pohoria poľana na slovensku

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matus Hribik ◽  
Tomas Vida ◽  
Jaroslav Skvarenina ◽  
Jana Skvareninova ◽  
Lubomir Ivan
Keyword(s):  
Snow Cover ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Mountain Region ◽  
Runoff Generation ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Snow Melting ◽  
Beech Stand

The paper evaluates the results of a 6-year-monitoring of the eco-hydrological influence of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus silvatica L.) forest stands on the hydro-physical properties of snow cover. The experiment was carried out in the artificially regenerated 20-25-year-old forest stands approaching the pole timber stage in the middle mountain region of the Polana Mts. - Biosphere reserve situated at about 600 m a.s.l. during the period of maximum snow supply in winters of years 2004 - -2009. Forest canopy plays a decisive role at both the snow cover duration and spring snow melting and runoff generation. A spruce stand is the poorest of snow at the beginning of winter. High interception of spruce canopy hampers the throughfall of snow to soil. During the same period, the soil surface of a beech stand accumulates greater amount of snow. However, a spruce stand accumulates snow by creating snow heaps during the periods of maximum snow cumulation and stand´s microclimate slows down snow melting. These processes are in detail discussed in the paper. The forest stands of the whole biosphere reserve slow down to a significant extent both the snow cover melting and the spring runoff of the whole watershed.

Soil respiration in pure and mixed stands of European beech and Norway spruce following removal of organic horizons

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 2756-2764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Borken ◽  
Fritz Beese
Keyword(s):  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Large Contribution ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Beech Stand

Soil respiration was measured in adjacent pure and mixed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) at Solling, Germany. Forest type had a significant effect on soil respiration, which was highest in the pure beech stand and lowest in the pure spruce stand. Both throughfall and soil temperature increased with the proportion of beech. Additionally, microbial respiration and biomass in the organic (O) horizons increased sequentially from the pure spruce to the pure beech stand, suggesting that abiotic and biotic factors enhanced the decomposition of litter under beech. Because the spruce litter decomposition rate was low, carbon (C) stocks of the O horizons increased with the proportion of spruce, from 1.6 to 5.1 kg C·m–2. The removal of the O horizons decreased soil respiration by 31%–45%, indicating a large contribution of the mineral soil and roots to total soil respiration. Turnover times of organic C in the O horizons ranged between 5.5 years in the pure beech stand and 20.6 years in the pure spruce stand. Our results suggest that tree species conversion may alter the turnover of soil organic matter, and thus the sequestration of organic C in the O horizons.

scholarly journals Adaptability of Narrow-Crowned Norway Spruce Ideotype (Picea abies (L.) Karst. pendula Form) in 25 Years Half-Sib Comparative Trials in the Eastern Carpathians

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ecaterina Apostol ◽  
Marius Budeanu
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Breeding Strategy ◽  
Eastern Carpathians

This study analysed the stability of the narrow-crowned Norway spruce (pendula form) compared with the classic form of spruce (pyramidalis form) in two half-sib field trials located in the Romanian Carpathians. From eight natural populations, representative of three of the four large spruce spread areas in Romania, open-pollinated seeds from 48 trees (24 pendula ideotype and 24 pyramidalis form) were collected to install the Maneciu and Soveja trials. In these trials, at age 25 years, measurements were performed for the following traits: tree height, breast height diameter, crown diameter, number of branches per whorl and dominant branch diameter. Some important traits were calculated: average volume per tree, trees’ slenderness, crown slenderness and branches’ finesse. Pearson’s simple correlations between the analysed traits were calculated and also the correlations between traits and geographic and climatic gradients of provenances’ origin. In addition, cores were collected to compare the wood density of the two forms of spruce. In both trials, but especially in the limitative environmental conditions of the Soveja trial, the narrow crowned form of Norway spruce (Picea abies f. pendula) presented more favourable average results than the normal crown spruce form for the most important stand stability traits: trees’ slenderness, wood density, branches’ diameter and branches’ finesse. Between spruce crown forms, in both trials, no significant differences were observed for the growth traits, but between trials, higher results resulted in optimal environmental conditions of the Măneciu test (+89% for the trees’ volume). The trees from different provenances and with specific forms of the crown reacted differently to the changing of the testing site, which required the adoption of maximum caution for decisions regarding the transfer of forest reproductive materials. The correlations between the analysed traits converge towards the adoption of a two-step breeding strategy, starting by selection of narrow crowned trees after stability traits.

scholarly journals The Possibility of Using the Chapman–Richards and Näslund Functions to Model Height–Diameter Relationships in Hemiboreal Old-Growth Forest in Estonia

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Kristi Nigul ◽  
Allar Padari ◽  
Andres Kiviste ◽  
Steffen M. Noe ◽  
Henn Korjus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Volume Estimation ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Single Tree ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Mixed Species Forest

In light of the difficulties in stand volume estimation of natural forests, we analyzed height–diameter relationships and derived a set of height estimation equations for volume estimation for naturally developing forest ecosystems, using the Järvselja old-growth and the Laeva commercial forest in Estonia as a case study. This contribution presents an approach to model individual tree height–diameter relationships for Scots pine, common aspen, silver and downy birch, Norway spruce, black alder, gray alder, linden species, European ash, Norway maple, deciduous species and coniferous species in multi-size and mixed-species naturally developing stands in Estonia. Single-tree-level data were collected in 2013. Two methods were used to obtain stand-level data: whole surface inventory and partial surface inventory. To model the height–diameter relationship in naturally developed mixed-species forest stands in order to predict single tree height based on observed diameter at breast height, we applied nonlinear mixed models where we applied the Chapman–Richards and Näslund models as fixed-effects and the influence of the species contribution at the sites as random effects. The fixed-effects followed a set of criteria: (1) height starts at h = 1.3; d = 0; (2) the applied functions are monotonically increasing with a clear inflection point and 3) the fixed-effect model has an asymptotic value) in a naturally developed mixed-species forest.

scholarly journals Modelling individual tree height to crown base of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. e0186394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram P. Sharma ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Stanislav Vacek ◽  
Vilém Podrázský ◽  
Václav Jansa
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L

Relations between tree canopy composition and understorey vegetation in a European beech-sessile oak old growth forest in Western Romania

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Dölle ◽  
Any Mary Petritan ◽  
Iovu Adrian Biris ◽  
Ion Catalin Petritan
Keyword(s):  
European Beech ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Herb Layer ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Canopy Layer ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Understorey Vegetation ◽  
Sessile Oak ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Western Romania

AbstractThe diversity relationship between tree and herb layer has often been investigated, but the results are contradictory. Moreover, few studies of deciduous European species have been conducted to date in natural or near-natural forests, while such studies in old-growth forest with considerable co-dominance of oak are missing.In one of the best preserved natural European beech-sessile oak forests (Runcu-Grosi Natural Reserve, Western Romania) we investigated whether there is a correlation between canopy-layer diversity and herb-layer diversity. Structural diversity, vegetation composition, ecological and functional traits were evaluated. Our results show that the herb-layer diversity is higher under canopy with greater tree-layer diversity, and the diversity of both layers depend on whether the overstorey is dominated by beech or sessile oak. Herb layers of plots with oak co-dominance showed higher indicator values for light and temperature, and a higher proportion of graminoides and shrub species. In contrast, herb-layer in beech plots is dominated by juvenile trees, mainly beech and competitive herb species. Oak plots are characterised by a generally more evenly distributed herb-layer composition. Species richness of herb-layer was higher under a diversely structured overstorey, which was mainly achieved when oak was present in the canopy, and correlated negatively with litter thickness, which was highest in beech plots. We conclude that the identity of the dominant canopy species is most important for herb layer species composition and diversity. Furthermore, the plots with oak occurrence in the overstorey even with weak proportion (around 20% of stand basal area) features a higher biodiversity of species in the understorey.

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