scholarly journals Moderate Diversity in Forest Structure and Its Low Dynamics Are Favored by Uneven-Aged Silviculture—The Lesson from Medium-Term Experiment

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Janusz Szmyt ◽  
Władysław Barzdajn ◽  
Wojciech Kowalkowski ◽  
Robert Korzeniewicz
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Tree Size ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Size Diversity

For several decades, there has been growing interest in highly diversified forests as a result of their management using the so-called uneven-aged silviculture. Such management and forests resulting from its application fulfil the purpose of forest ecosystem protection without significant limitation of the other forest functions and services. The usefulness of such silvicultural system depends largely on the species composition of the stand. In Poland, this system has been used primarily in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)-dominated forests with an admixture of other shade-tolerant tree species and rather small admixture of light-demanding species. In our study, we analyzed the structure of fir-dominated uneven-aged forest consisting of a certain mix of eight tree species with different light-requirements, in which uneven-aged silviculture was performed for over two decades. The analysis of stand structure concerned three aspects of the forest structure: species diversity, spatial pattern of tree distribution, and tree size diversity. On the basis of three stand inventories, we captured the mid-term dynamics of the stand structure under moderate human pressure conditions. The results showed that the stand was characterized by high growing stock, with stable growth over the entire period. The silver fir was the dominant tree species, but the Scots pine and pedunculate oak also played an important role. However, the silver fir was abundant in the ingrowth class, whereas the pine and oak were absent or very rare in this stand strata. Noteworthy is the increasing importance of the European hornbeam, which is particularly evident in the ingrowth class; its abundance was twice that of the silver fir. The results clearly demonstrated that within 24 years, the share of light-demanding tree species in the forest clearly decreased, while that of shade-tolerant species clearly increased. Structural parameters showed a moderate tree-size diversity, despite the high species richness of the forest. This was mainly the result of selection cuttings, which clearly decreased tree-size variability after the second period of study. However, selection cuttings did not favor regeneration establishment, especially that of light-demanding tree species, whose role in the stand is assumed to be only minor in the future. The relatively high level of volume growth indicated that cutting intensity may be increased. More intense selection cuttings would also improve the stand structure by providing better light conditions for potential regeneration of different tree species, also light-adapted ones.

Langfristige Entwicklung von zwei Waldgesellschaften im Białowieża-Urwald

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Brzeziecki ◽  
Feliks Eugeniusz Bernadzki
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Forest Communities ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Strong Trend ◽  
Long Term Study

The results of a long-term study on the natural forest dynamics of two forest communities on one sample plot within the Białowieża National Park in Poland are presented. The two investigated forest communities consist of the Pino-Quercetum and the Tilio-Carpinetum type with the major tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Carpinus betulus. The results reveal strong temporal dynamics of both forest communities since 1936 in terms of tree species composition and of general stand structure. The four major tree species Scots pine, birch, English oak and Norway spruce, which were dominant until 1936, have gradually been replaced by lime and hornbeam. At the same time, the analysis of structural parameters indicates a strong trend towards a homogenization of the vertical stand structure. Possible causes for these dynamics may be changes in sylviculture, climate change and atmospheric deposition. Based on the altered tree species composition it can be concluded that a simple ≪copying≫ (mimicking) of the processes taking place in natural forests may not guarantee the conservation of the multifunctional character of the respective forests.

scholarly journals Relationship of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) mortality in the area of Fužine with climatic and structural parameters

2021 ◽  
Vol 145 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 311-321
Author(s):  
Damir Ugarković ◽  
Nenad Potočić ◽  
Marko Orešković ◽  
Krešimir Popić ◽  
Mladen Ognjenović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Structural Parameters ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Causes Of Mortality

Tree dieback is a complex process involving negative impact of various abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. Climate change, comprising all those effects, is generally considered as the largest threat to forest ecosystems in Europe. Although the scale of climate change impacts on forests is not yet fully understood, especially on the regional or species level, significant damage seems to be caused by weather extremes, such as drought and strong winds. With the expected increase in the number, length, and/or intensity of extreme weather events in Croatia, research into the causes of tree mortality is both important and timely. Silver fir is the most damaged and endangered conifer tree species in Croatia. The dieback of silver fir can be attributed to various factors, therefore the goals of this research were to determine the mortality of silver fir trees (by number and volume) for various causes of mortality, among which the climatic and structural parameters were of most interest. The twenty-year data for tree mortality in pure silver fir stands in the area of Fužine (Gorski kotar, Croatia) were collected and analysed. The largest number and volume of dead trees was caused by complex (multiple causes) dieback in the overstorey (0,75 N/ha, 2,35 m<sup>3</sup>/ha), and the smallest (0,17 N/ha, 0,02 m<sup>3</sup>/ha) by dieback of supressed trees. No significant differences were determined regarding the timing of tree death for different causes of mortality. Climatic parameters (drought, air temperature, PET) and structural parameters of the stands (tree DBH, social position, crown diameter, shading, physiological maturity) as well as plot inclination were found to be the factors of a significant influence on the mortality of silver fir trees.

Stand Structure and the Influence of Overwood on Regeneration in Tropical Eucalypt Forest on Melville-Island

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Fensham ◽  
DMJS Bowman
Keyword(s):  
Forest Structure ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Root Systems ◽  
Ground Layer ◽  
Significant Response ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Relative Dominance ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Tap Root

The stand structure of tree species in tropical eucalypt forest on Melville Island reveals a mass of short woody sprouts in the ground layer and low numbers of sapling eucalypts. The growth of the woody sprouts showed no significant response in the first 2 years after release from overwood competition. However, eucalypts are released in response to overwood removal, after 2-5 years, although investigations of old clear-felled blocks indicated that this response is not consistent. The initiation of saplings may be related to the size of the lignotuber and the presence of a tap root for some species. It is suggested that the accession of saplings may be limited by the degradation of root systems by termite herbivory. Using assumptions regarding longevity of life stages, it is demonstrated that the forest structure of the study site can be perpetuated undercurrent conditions despite indications that the relative dominance of the forest eucalypt species will shift.

scholarly journals Muster und treibende Kräfte der Samenproduktion bei Waldbäumen

2016 ◽  
Vol 167 (6) ◽  
pp. 316-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Wohlgemuth ◽  
Anita Nussbaumer ◽  
Anton Burkart ◽  
Martin Moritzi ◽  
Ulrich Wasem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Mast Seeding ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Central Plateau ◽  
Forest Tree Species

Patterns and driving forces for seed production in forest tree species Why is the annual fruit production in forest tree species not constant, and which factors cause massive fruit production (seed mast year)? These and other related questions were already posed more than 100 years ago when tree breeding was economically beneficial. The questions have not been fully answered, yet. Rather, the same questions are studied again today as the climate is changing and the uncertainty about the continuation of forests at their current locations is growing. A 25 year long observation series on the variation of fruit production in Switzerland revealed a mean frequency of three years for mast seeding (full and medium mast) at low elevation on the Central Plateau in European beech (Fagus sylvatica), oak (Quercus petraea, Q. robur) and silver fir (Abies alba). In contrast, mast seed years of Norway spruce (Picea abies) occurred, on average, every sixth year. In 1992 and 2011, all four species synchronously showed mast seeding. The results are discussed in the light of different theories and new research findings. From the state of the current know ledge, we derive the need for long-term and fine-scale baseline data and present the new reporting and information webpage «mast web.ch». Here, volunteers can report observations on the fruit production of main tree species following a few simple criteria (citizen science approach). With this data, distribution maps on mass fructification levels will be made available and will serve for spatio-temporal fine-scale studies on mast seeding phenomena.

scholarly journals Die klimatische Trockengrenze häufiger Baumarten hängt vom Bodennährstoffstatus ab

2018 ◽  
Vol 169 (6) ◽  
pp. 323-331
Author(s):  
Karl H. Mellert ◽  
Roberto Canullo ◽  
Tobias Mette ◽  
Daniel Ziche ◽  
Axel Göttlein
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Acidic Soils ◽  
Soil Nutrient Status ◽  
Sessile Oak

The climatic drought limit of common tree species depend on soil nutrient status In forest ecology, there is a huge experience in the ecological amplitude of tree species, which is commonly represented in so-called ecograms. However, the ecogram axes are purely qualitatively described and scaled. In the study presented here, we try to specify the drought limit in the ecogram for the ten most abundant and economically important tree species in Germany (Norway spruce, Scots pine, silver fir, European beech, pedunculate oak, sessile oak, sycamore maple, European elm, hornbeam and common ash) using generalized regression models. We use data on the occurrence of the tree species and on the soil of about 3300 plots of the second German forest soil condition survey (BZW II), combined with data from the ICP Forests Level I program (BioDiv and BioSoil) from 13 neighboring European countries as well as climate data from WorldClim. The focus is on the question to what extent the drought limit of the tree species depends on the soil nutrient status. As a predictor of nutrient status, we chose the base saturation type (BT) already introduced in practice. The warmth factor was included as Growing Degree Days, the water balance as climatic water balance in the forest vegetation period (KWB). The drought limit could be specified for all tree species except elm and pedunculate oak. It was found that not only in known nutrient-sensitive tree species (sycamore, ash, hornbeam), the drought limit depends on the BT, but also in beech and spruce. In the case of sycamore as an example of a nutrient-sensitive species, the dry climate limit on strongly acidic soils (BT 5) is already reached at a KWB of 20 l/m2, on base-rich (BT 1 and 0) only at a KWB of −150 l/m2. In beech, too, the drought limit on acidic soils has been reached more quickly than on base-rich sites (BT 5: −40 l/m2, BT 0: −120 l/m2). In contrast, the reaction of spruce is reversed (BT 5: −50 l/m2, BT 0: 10 l/m2). For pine, sessile oak and fir, the drought limit is independent of the base type and is −230 l/m2 (Scots pine), −150 l/m2 (sessile oak) and 0 l/m2 (silver fir). The drought limit specified by BT is a helpful quantity, especially in view of climate change, as it makes it possible to better estimate the potential of the different tree species.

scholarly journals Tree Species Classification in a Temperate Mixed Mountain Forest Landscape Using Random Forest and Multiple Datasets

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 4657
Author(s):  
Rafael Hologa ◽  
Konstantin Scheffczyk ◽  
Christoph Dreiser ◽  
Stefanie Gärtner
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Mountain Forest ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Forest Landscape ◽  
Species Classification ◽  
Tree Species Composition

For monitoring protected forest landscapes over time it is essential to follow changes in tree species composition and forest dynamics. Data driven remote sensing methods provide valuable options if terrestrial approaches for forest inventories and monitoring activities cannot be applied efficiently due to restrictions or the size of the study area. We demonstrate how species can be detected at a single tree level utilizing a Random Forest (RF) model using the Black Forest National Park as an example of a Central European forest landscape with complex relief. The classes were European silver fir (Abies alba, AA), Norway spruce (Picea abies, PA), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, PS), European larch (Larix decidua including Larix kampferii, LD), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, PM), deciduous broadleaved species (DB) and standing dead trees (snags, WD). Based on a multi-temporal (leaf-on and leaf-off phenophase) and multi-spectral mosaic (R-G-B-NIR) with 10 cm spatial resolution, digital elevation models (DTM, DSM, CHM) with 40 cm spatial resolution and a LiDAR dataset with 25 pulses per m2, 126 variables were derived and used to train the RF algorithm with 1130 individual trees. The main objective was to determine a subset of meaningful variables for the RF model classification on four heterogeneous test sites. Using feature selection techniques, mainly passive optical variables from the leaf-off phenophase were considered due to their ability to differentiate between conifers and the two broader classes. An examination of the two phenological phases (using the difference of the respective NDVIs) is important to clearly distinguish deciduous trees from other classes including snags (WD). We also found that the variables of the first derivation of NIR and the tree metrics play a crucial role in discriminating PA und PS. With this unique set of variables some classes can be differentiated more reliably, especially LD and DB but also AA, PA and WD, whereas difficulties exist in identifying PM and PS. Overall, the non-parametric object-based approach has proved to be highly suitable for accurately detecting (OA: 89.5%) of the analyzed classes. Finally, the successful classification of complex 265 km2 study area substantiates our findings.

scholarly journals Growth response of mixed beech forests to climate change, various management and game pressure in Central Europe

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 331-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanislav Vacek ◽  
Anna Prokůpková ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Daniel Bulušek ◽  
Václav Šimůnek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Timber Production ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Great Density ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Growth Variability ◽  
Browsing Damage

The growth, structure and production of mixed beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests were analysed  in the Broumovsko Protected Landscape Area, Czech Republic. The objective of the paper was to evaluate stand structure, timber production and dynamics of forests with historically different silvicultural practices in relation to climate conditions, management and game damage. The results indicate that scree forests (coppices and coppices with standards) were stands with high-rich species diversity and structure compared to herb-rich beech forests (high forests) with higher timber production. The Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was the most sensitive tree species compared to low growth variability in European beech. The climate factors had the highest effect on radial growth from June to August. Natural regeneration showed great density potential (13,880–186,462 recruits·ha<sup>–1</sup>), especially in expansion of maples and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). However, recruits were seriously limiting by damage caused by hoofed game, especially in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.; 53% browsing damage), wych elm (Ulmus glabra Hudson; 51%) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.; 50%).

scholarly journals Expected Impacts of Mixing European Beech with Silver Fir on Regional Air Quality and Radiation Balance

Climate ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Boris Bonn ◽  
Jürgen Kreuzwieser ◽  
Ruth-Kristina Magh ◽  
Heinz Rennenberg ◽  
Dirk Schindler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Cloud Condensation Nuclei ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Radiation Balance ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Radiative Balance ◽  
Air Chemistry

The anticipated climate change during the next decades is posing crucial challenges to ecosystems. In order to decrease the vulnerability of forests, introducing tree species’ mixtures are a viable strategy, with deep-rooting native Silver fir (Abies alba) being a primary candidate for admixture into current pure stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) especially in mountainous areas. Such a change in forest structure also has effects on the regional scale, which, however, have been seldomly quantified. Therefore, we measured and modeled radiative balance and air chemistry impacts of admixing Silver fir to European beech stands, including changes in biogenic volatile organic compound emissions. An increased fraction of Silver fir caused a smaller albedo and a (simulated) larger evapotranspiration, leading to a dryer and warmer forest. While isoprene emission was negligible for both species, sesquiterpene and monoterpene emissions were larger for fir than for beech. From these differences, we derived that ozone concentration as well as secondary organic aerosols and cloud condensation nuclei would increase regionally. Overall, we demonstrated that even a relatively mild scenario of tree species change will alter the energy balance and air quality in a way that could potentially influence the climate on a landscape scale.

scholarly journals Sequestration of Mercury in Soils under Scots Pine and Silver Fir Stands Located in the Proximity to a Roadway

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4569
Author(s):  
Piotr Gruba ◽  
Mateusz Kania ◽  
Dawid Kupka ◽  
Marcin Pietrzykowski
Keyword(s):  
Scots Pine ◽  
Forest Soils ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
The Road ◽  
Forested Areas ◽  
Hg Accumulation

Forest soils are the main source of mercury (Hg) in stream water. Stocks of Hg in forest soils are related to several factors, including forest species composition. In this study, the potential source of Hg pollution was a relatively new roadway traversing forested areas. We compared Hg accumulation in soils of two coniferous species: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). The experimental plots were located near the S7 expressway in Central Poland. The stands differed in the length of time they had been exposed to Hg, because different parts of the roadway were built and opened to traffic at different times. We analyzed 480 soil samples from organic horizons (O) and the top 10 cm of mineral soil (A) sampled from six plots. The overall average Hg concentrations (irrespective of forest stand, n = 240) was 0.225 mg kg−1 in the O horizons and 0.075 mg kg−1 in the mineral horizons. The Hg concentration in the O horizons was more than three times greater in fir stands than that in pine stands. The average Hg:C ratios in the O and A horizons were 1.0 and 2.3 mg Hg kg−1 C, respectively. Our data does not clearly show the effect of road on Hg accumulation near the road. The concentrations of Hg in investigated soils adjacent to the roadway were only slightly higher than ranges reported for unpolluted areas, and no clearly affected by the vicinity of roadway. In contrast to the other reports, our data indicate a significant impact of tree species on Hg concentrations in both the O and A horizons. Moreover, the average Hg:C ratio was strongly dependent on the tree species.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document