scholarly journals Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests of a selection structure in the Bieszczady Mountains (southeastern Poland)

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 301-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jaworski ◽  
Z. Kołodziej

The characteristics of two beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands are presented in this paper. One, the Tarnicki stand, situated in the Bieszczadzki National Park, represents the growing up stage and selection phase of a forest of primeval character. The other one, the Otryt stand, is situated in managed forests of the Lutowiska Forest District. In each stand two sample plots were established. The distribution of the number of trees in each sample plot agreed with de Liocourt sequence and Meyer curve. Both stands were characterized by the structure of many generations. The Otryt stand, with respective volumes of 238 and 324 m<sup>3</sup>/hain two sample plots, was characterized by a lack of large diameter trees and a high percent of trees of the smallest diameters, while the Tarnicki stand, with volumes of 442 and 517 m<sup>3</sup>/ha, was characterized by the presence of large diameter trees (d<sub>1.3</sub> &ge; 72 cm). The phase of the selection forest in the Tarnicki stand is of temporary character because, due to natural processes, a two-storied structure may develop there, and with time, a one-storied structure in the optimal stage. In the Otryt stand, representing a managed forest, the maintenance of the selection structure may be expected due to selection cuttings. It has to be acknowledged that managed stands of characteristics similar to those presented in this paper makes it possible to carry out selection cutting, especially in the protection zone surrounding the Bieszczadzki National Park.

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 278-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jaworski ◽  
R. Podlaski

Studies were carried out during 1987–1997 in four stands situated in the lower mountain zone, and representing the association <i>Carici-Fagetum abietetosum</i> (sample plots Facimiech and Walusi&oacute;wka) and the community of a transitory character between <i>Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum</i> and <i>Carici-Fagetum</i> (sample plots Gr&oacute;dek and Przelecz Sosn&oacute;w). The greatest volume increment was found in a pure fir (<i>Abies alba</i>) stand of Facimiech (9.4 m<sup>3</sup>/ha/year, i.e. 1.4% of actual stand volume determined in 1997) being in the optimum stage, phase of aging and regeneration, and the smallest one stand of Gr&oacute;dek (5.3 m<sup>3</sup>/ha/year, i.e. 0.9% of actual stand volume) being in the growing up stage, phase of selection forest. The stand of Przelcz Sosn&oacute;w was characterized by the greatest mortality of trees (volume of loss, i.e. 13.5 m<sup>3</sup>/ha/year). In this stand of a transitory character between the growing up and optimum stages, due to rapid mortality of fir the break up of the stand took place, and in consequence the growing up stage, phase of a little diversified stratified structure was developed. Volume of recruitment was the greatest in the stand of Facimiech, i.e. 0.05 m<sup>3</sup>/ha/year. In three fir (<i>Abies alba</i>)-beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica<i>) stands the proportions of fir and beech in stand increment differed from their proportions in stand volume. The percentage of fir in volume increment was smaller, and that of beech greater, than their percentages in stand volume. Processes of increment and mortality of fir and beech pointed to a progressive process of changes taking place in stand species composition, expressed by the increase of beech and the decrease of fir. The knowledge about values of loss, recruitment, and increment, expressed by the number of trees and volume units, may be of help in determination of the amount of cut in productive and protective forests managed according to a close-to-nature silviculture.


2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hristovski ◽  
L. Melovski

The radial patterns of 13 elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Co) were analyzed in the tree rings of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The study site was located in an 'unpolluted' beech ecosystem in Mavrovo National Park. Thus, the obtained radial patterns in the beech trees were considered to be physiologically driven without significant pollution influence. The influence of the main climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) was tested. The radial patterns of individual trees were compared in order to find individual responses to environmental impacts. For most of the elements, higher concentrations were recorded in the pith and outer-most rings and lower in the middle part of the wood. The concentration of heavy metals was low, and followed the physiological patterns of other biogenic elements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 377-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Podlaski

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200–300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971–1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885–1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885–1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
R. Podlaski

The objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between crown characteristics and the radial increment of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and to specify the characteristics of beech trees with the radial increment above the average in the Świętokrzyski National Park. The following relationships have been found: the radial increment of beech increases as the degree of the freedom of the light part of the crown from neighbouring trees increases, and the increase in the relative crown length causes a significant increase in the radial increment. Most of the best growing beech trees are characterized by the light part of the crown confined in an area of up to about 55%, and the relative crown length spanning the range of 55% (trees 61 to 80 years of age at b.h.) to 76% (trees 21 to 40 years of age at b.h).


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Tamalika Chakraborty ◽  
Albert Reif ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis ◽  
Somidh Saha

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in European beech in response to droughts. We aimed to find the impact of multiple droughts on beech trees’ annual radial growth at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability in the forest. Besides, we quantified the influence of competition and canopy openness on the mean basal area growth of beech trees. We carried out this study in five near-natural temperate forests in three localities of Germany and Switzerland. We quantified available soil water storage capacity (AWC) in plots laid in the transition zone from oak to beech dominated forests. The plots were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) and ‘less-dry’ (AWC > 60 mL). We performed dendroecological analyses starting from 1951 in continuous and discontinuous series to study the influence of climatic drought (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) on the radial growth of beech trees in dry and less-dry plots. We used observed values for this analysis and did not use interpolated values from interpolated historical records in this study. We selected six drought events to study the resistance, recovery, and resilience of beech trees to drought at a discontinuous level. The radial growth was significantly higher in less-dry plots than dry plots. The increase in drought had reduced tree growth. Frequent climatic drought events resulted in more significant correlations, hence, increased the dependency of tree growth on AWC. We showed that the recovery and resilience to climatic drought were higher in trees in less-dry plots than dry plots, but it was the opposite for resistance. The resistance, recovery, and resilience of the trees were heterogeneous between the events of drought. Mean growth of beech trees (basal area increment) were negatively impacted by neighborhood competition and positively influenced by canopy openness. We emphasized that beech trees growing on soil with low AWC are at higher risk of growth decline. We concluded that changes in soil water conditions even at the microsite level could influence beech trees’ growth in their drought limit under the changing climate. Along with drought, neighborhood competition and lack of light can also reduce beech trees’ growth. This study will enrich the state of knowledge about the ongoing debate on the vulnerability of beech trees to drought in Europe.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Sojka ◽  
Adam Choiński ◽  
Mariusz Ptak ◽  
Marcin Siepak

AbstractThe objective of this study was to analyse spatial variability of the trace elements (TEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) concentration in lake bottom sediments in Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP); Poland. The following research questions were posed: which factors have a fundamental impact on the concentration and spatial variability of elements in bottom sediments, which of the elements can be considered as indicators of natural processes and which are related to anthropogenic sources. The research material was sediments samples collected from 19 lakes. The concentrations of 24 TEs and 14 REEs were determined. The analyses were carried out using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ). Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were used to determine the spatial variability of the TEs and REEs concentrations, indicate the elements that are the indicators of natural processes and identify potential anthropogenic sources of pollution. The geochemical background value (GBV) calculations were made using 13 different statistical methods. However, the contamination of bottom sediments was evaluated by means of the index of geo-accumulation, the enrichment factor, the pollution load index, and the metal pollution index. The BTNP area is unique because of its isolation from the inflow of pollutants from anthropogenic sources and a very stable land use structure over the last 200 years. This study shows high variability of TE and REE concentrations in lake sediments. The values of geochemical indices suggest low pollution of lakes bottom sediments. It was found that TEs originated mainly from geogenic sources. However, the concentrations of Li, Ni, Sc, Se, Be, Se, Ag, Re, Tl, Cd, Sb and U may be related to the impact of point sources found mainly in the Ostrowite Lake. Almost all REEs concentrations were strongly correlated and their presence was linked to with geochemical processes. The elements allowing to identify natural processes and anthropogenic pollution sources were Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, Cd, Zn, Bi, Re, Ba, Al and Rb in TEs group and Nd, Gd, Yb, Lu, Eu, Dy and Ce in REEs group. The analysis shows high spatial variability of TE and REE concentrations in lake sediments. The values of geochemical indices point to low pollution of lakes sediments. The anthropogenic sources only for two lakes had an impact on concentrations of selected TEs and REEs. The analyses allowed to identify elements among TEs and REEs documenting geochemical processes and those indicating anthropogenic sources of pollution.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 374
Author(s):  
Piotr Brewczyński ◽  
Kamil Grałek ◽  
Piotr Bilański

The small-sized gametophytes and sporophytes of the green shield-moss Buxbaumia viridis (Moug.) Brid. make it difficult to study. However, in Europe, there has been increasing interest in this species in the past few years, mostly as a result of the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. In Poland, B. viridis has only been reported in isolated studies that have been limited in terms of area and the number of participating workers. One of the Polish regions where B. viridis was recently recorded is the Bieszczady Mountains, but there have been no large-scale surveys of that region to date. The objective of the current work was to describe the B. viridis population in the Bieszczady Mountains in terms of its spatial distribution and abundance, investigate its selected microhabitat preferences, and evaluate the conservation status of this moss species within the Natura 2000 site Bieszczady PLC180001. The studied region encompassed 93,490.44 ha, including 69,056.23 ha of managed forests and 24,434.21 ha of forests belonging to the Bieszczady National Park. A preliminary survey was conducted in the Cisna Forest District (forest area of 19,555.82 ha) on 15–17 November 2017, while the main survey was performed in selected forest subcompartments of four forest districts—Baligród, Komańcza, Lutowiska, and Stuposiany—as well as the Bieszczady National Park from 5 to 16 November 2018. The field work consisted of searching for B. viridis sporophytes and setae and recording selected population and locality characteristics. The study led to the discovery of 353 new B. viridis localities in 202 study areas, with 9197 diploid individuals (sporophytes or setae only) growing in 545 microhabitats. The number of B. viridis localities discovered in the Bieszczady Mountains during 17 days of survey in 2017 and 2018 was two times higher than the combined number of localities previously found in Poland over more than 150 years (159 localities). Additionally, the number of sporophytes and setae identified was two times greater than their overall number in previous records. In addition, this study provides information about selected microhabitat preferences and the conservation status of this moss in the Bieszczady Natura 2000 site.


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