scholarly journals Gap Structure and Regeneration in the Mixed Old-Growth Forests of National Nature Reserve Sitno, Slovakia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jaloviar ◽  
Denisa Sedmáková ◽  
Ján Pittner ◽  
Lucia Jarčušková Danková ◽  
Stanislav Kucbel ◽  
...  

Forest management mimicking natural processes represents an approach to maintain mixed, uneven-aged stands at small spatial scales. The reliance on natural processes, especially on natural regeneration leads to the use of gap-based regeneration as a fundamental silvicultural technique. As a baseline for such management, we investigated mixed forest in unmanaged National Nature Reserve Sitno in the Western Carpathians, which harbours extraordinary diversity on a rather small scale. To quantify the impact of gaps on gap-filling processes and to assess the role they play in recently observed changes in tree species composition we established a large (2.5 ha) permanent research plot and surveyed the status of natural regeneration, forest structure, tree species composition, and disturbance regime. Our research highlights the long-term and contemporary difficulties in the establishment of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl and Fagus sylvatica (L.). Based on the provided evidence, the native tree species diversity in one of the few preserved old-growth multi-species beech-oak forest remnants is not likely to persist, what could have many implications for future ecosystem functioning. Our results suggest that variation in gap size is an important factor contributing to composition of tree species composition of natural regeneration. The recent intermediate-scale disturbance pattern dominating the old-growth beech-oak forest is beneficial to canopy recruitment of species less shade-tolerant than Fagus sylvatica, as Acer pseudoplatanus (L.), Acer platanoides (L.), and Fraxinus excelsior (L.). We discuss possible factors behind observed shifts in tree species composition and limitations for application of gap dynamics to forest practice in managed beech-oak forest systems. Overall, results of this study may help to design silvicultural measures promoting mixed-species forests to deliver a range of desired ecosystem services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Podrázský

The paper summarises main ideas concerning the structure of natural forest ecosystems at middle altitudes and documents the changes of humus forms and their chemistry in the natural forest of Žákova hora National Nature Reserve, in typical selected parts with different tree species composition: European beech – Norway spruce. The species composition, age and spatial structure are discussed and analysis of the uppermost soil layer is done in particular parts of the natural forest regeneration cycle, of different stages respectively. We compared the amount and layer composition of surface humus and basic pedochemical characteristics of holorganic and upper mineral horizons. The results document changes in the character of humus forms as a consequence of the tree species change. On the contrary, a high portion of uncertainty as for the species, age and spatial structure follows from discussion about the structure of natural forests at middle altitudes.



PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e0126140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jule Mangels ◽  
Nico Blüthgen ◽  
Kevin Frank ◽  
Fabrice Grassein ◽  
Andrea Hilpert ◽  
...  


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Abir Dey ◽  
Aklima Akther

The study aimed to quantify and discuss the current condition of the tree species composition and natural regeneration of southeast parts of Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar North Forest Division). A total of 121 stems having dbh ≥10cm and 3481 stems of regenerating tree species (dbh <10cm) per hectare were recorded. A large trees comprised of 17 species belonging to 10 families and 14 genera and 30 regenerating tree species belonging to 19 families and 27 genera have been found. The forests were highly non-uniform, with three or four species represented most of the stands. The values of diversity indices indicated limited plant diversity, which is dominated by two or three tree species. Stems of 10-30 cm dbh contributed almost 90% of the total stem density, whereas more than 80% of the total basal area still belonged to trees with dbh 100 cm or above. Dipterocarpus turbinatus was the most dominant species which have the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) with 135.82 and embodied 37.71% of the total stand density and 72.19% of total basal area. The study will provide scientific basis for the future implementation of forest conservation strategies in tropical forests of Southeast Asia, particularly in Bangladesh. This study may also pave the way to further research on regeneration potentials of the native species for conservation and enhancement of forests in future.



2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 293-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Střeštík ◽  
P. Šamonil

In 2002 a study focused on the evaluation of height and density of expanding natural regeneration of Fraxinus excelsior L. (FE) was carried out on Velk&aacute; hora Hill, a locality in the Bohemian Karst (Česk&yacute; kras). The examined area is located in Karl&scaron;tejn National Nature Reserve and takes up around 31 ha. The parent rock is limestone. The expansion depends on soil and exposition conditions and relates to the water balance gradient. FE reached the highest densities (up to 6,000 individuals/400 m<sup>2</sup>) on Velk&aacute; hora&rsquo;s peak plateau on medium-deep, heavy-textured decarbonized <br />soils. The lowest expansion (508 individuals/400 m<sup>2</sup>) was found on slopes fully exposed to south (S) with water retention capacity lower than 20 mm. In total, the average density was 1,190 individuals/400 m<sup>2</sup>. FE natural regeneration reached the highest average heights (around 210 cm) on Fageto-Quercetum illimerosum mesotrophicum, the smallest heights on Carpineto-Aceretum saxatile. Average height in the locality was 47 cm. No relation was found between FE natural regeneration height or density and the distance of a fertile specimen. The distance exceeded 70 m only in 3.4%. FE seeds could be detected almost everywhere at the area. FE is capable to establish itself on any location of the studied locality except ecologically extreme parts of rock steppe without forest and Fagus sylvatica L. stands occupying S slopes. On less favourable sites it is capable to use the protection of other tree species and as a low growing tree it can eventually dominate the site. In more favourable conditions it expands on the whole area, where it can dominate the undergrowth already at 1-m height. If the forest sites are left to natural development, a distinctive change in the tree species composition could take place in a short time period. Such a change could have an essential impact on light conditions, energy flux and species composition of plant and animal communities.





2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 244-250
Author(s):  
D. Sugiero ◽  
R. Jaszczak ◽  
G. Rączka ◽  
P. Strzeliński ◽  
A. Węgiel ◽  
...  

The author analyzes the changes in the tree species composition of <I>Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum</I> Klika 1927 em. Mat. 1964 in the mountain stands of Bieszczady National Park in 1993–2003. The analysis takes into account the changes over a ten-year period in the number and volume structure of each tree species in each stand layer: young natural regeneration, undergrowth, and mature stand. Additionally, after comparing the results with the natural Carpathian forests’ structure, the adaptation level of the present tree species composition to the current climate and soil conditions, as well as probable directions of future changes have been assessed. A ten-year period is too short to find significant changes in stand species structure but it is possible to see some trends: beech share in stands is increasing and fir is decreasing.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Depecker ◽  
Justin Anio Asimonyio ◽  
Ronald Miteho ◽  
Yves Hatangi ◽  
Jean-Leon Kambale ◽  
...  

Despite their key role in biodiversity conservation, forests of the Congo Basin are increasingly threatened by human activities. Whereas deforestation is very conspicuous, it remains challenging to monitor the impact of forest degradation under a more or less intact canopy. Likewise, the outcomes of forest regeneration following agricultural abandonment remain poorly studied in the Congo Basin. Here, we surveyed 125 vegetation quadrats across 25 forest inventory plots in the Yangambi region, and based on historical land-use maps. We aimed to assess both the impact of anthropogenic disturbance and forest recovery on tree species diversity, tree functional traits, community composition, canopy cover, and forest structure, as compared to undisturbed old-growth forest. We found that undisturbed old-growth forest harboured more tree individuals, particularly individuals with a smaller diameter, as well as species with a higher wood density when compared to both disturbed old-growth and regrowth forest. Moreover, species diversity was highest in disturbed old-growth forest. Tree species composition was significantly different between undisturbed old-growth forest and the other two forest categories. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic disturbance results in a degraded forest structure and may reduce the forest's ability to store carbon. Whereas species diversity recovered 60 years after agricultural abandonment, species composition remained different from undisturbed old-growth forest. Our study illustrates the need for more extensive vegetation surveys in the Congo Basin in order to quantify the effects of human disturbance under a closed canopy.



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