scholarly journals Regeneration Dynamics and Development of Seedlings in Sessile Oak Forests in Relation to the Light Availability and Competing Vegetation

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Branko Kanjevac ◽  
Milun Krstić ◽  
Violeta Babić ◽  
Zoran Govedar

Natural regeneration of sessile oak forests is a complex process whose final outcome is influenced by numerous factors. The initial phase of development of sessile oak seedlings stands out as the most critical period in the process of natural regeneration of sessile oak forests. As the available light and competition from the accompanying woody species and ground vegetation are some of the main predictors of the success of sessile oak forest regeneration, this paper presents the results of studying the influence of these factors on the regeneration dynamics and development of sessile oak seedlings. The research was conducted in sessile oak forests in northeastern Serbia in the period from 2015 to 2020. At the end of the growing season each year, the following data were collected on 180 smaller sampling plots of 1 m2 in different conditions of canopy openness: the number, height, and root collar diameter of sessile oak seedlings. Also, the percent cover of competing woody species and ground vegetation was estimated on these sample plots. The obtained results indicated that the success of sessile oak forest regeneration largely depends on the initial number of sessile oak seedlings and silvicultural treatments during the rejuvenation period, which determine the microclimatic conditions in the stand and control the competing vegetation. They also indicate that with an increase in the available light, the impact of the competing vegetation on the dynamics of regeneration and development of sessile oak seedlings is less pronounced. Accordingly, as young sessile oak seedlings need a large amount of light for survival and development, it is necessary to increase the available amount of light intensively in a short period of time (six–eight years) by reducing canopy openness and thus providing optimal conditions in which sessile oak seedlings can gain an advantage over the competing vegetation.

2013 ◽  
pp. 27-55
Author(s):  
Rade Cvjeticanin ◽  
Olivera Kosanin ◽  
Milun Krstic ◽  
Marko Perovic ◽  
Marijana Novakovic-Vukovic

This research was carried out in natural stands of sessile oak (Quercus petraea agg. Ehrendorfer 1967) on Miroc mountain. Three comunities were investigated: Pure sessile oak forest (Quercetum montanum Cer. et Jov. 1953. s.l.), sessile oak-common hornbeam forest (Querco-Carpinetum moesiacum Rud. 1949. s.l.) and sessile oak-balkan beech forest (Querco-Fagetum Glis. 1971). Pure sessile oak forests are found on the following soils: dystric ranker and acid cambic soil on sandstone, dystric ranker and acid cambisols on phyllite, and acid cambic soil on schists. Sessile oak-hornbeam forests grow on sandstone, granite and schists. Sessile oak-beech forests are found on acid cambisol on phyllite and sandstone conglomerate. Various ecological conditions (exposition, slope, altitude, soil types and bedrock) on Mt Miroc caused the occurence of diverse sessile oak forest communities, while different states of these forest stands resulted from the implementation of management measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e70549
Author(s):  
Jordi Bou ◽  
Lluís Vilar

The sessile oak forests found on the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula are ascribed to the Lathyro-Quercetumpetraeae association and play a key role in understanding the ecology of this habitat, as this region represents its xeric limit. For this reason, we analysed the biodiversity patterns and current conservation status of the sessile oak forests in the region. To do so, we collected Braun-Blanquet inventories of 34 plots randomly distributed throughout the sessile oak forests. The results showed a relationship between the climatic conditions and the biodiversity variables. While the richness of the community increased with decreasing temperatures, the characteristic species found within the community decreased at these same temperatures. This result was due to the presence of most companion species in the cool zones at high elevations.Sessile oaks are found close to other communities, such as silver birches and Scot pine forests.On the other hand, in the warm areas at low elevations, the sessile oak community was more established, with plants typical of this type of forest. These slightly warmer zones with sessile oaks are very important in terms of conservation and more vulnerable to climate change and the thermophilization of the community, as has been studied. As such, protecting and managing these forests is key to conserving this community. Nevertheless, as current protection measures do not safeguard most of these forests, it is essential to define a conservation strategy to preserve them. Using the conservation status, we have established criteria to improve the conservation strategy for sessile oak forest on the NE Iberian Peninsula.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 894-906
Author(s):  
Jordi Bou ◽  
Lluís Vilar

AbstractAimsOur aims were 3-fold: (i) to determine whether global change has altered the composition and structure of the plant community found in the sessile oak forests on the NE Iberian Peninsula over the last decades, (ii) to establish whether the decline in forest exploitation activities that has taken place since the mid-20th century has had any effect on the forests and (iii) to ascertain whether there is any evidence of impact from climate warming.MethodsWe assess changes in the plant community by comparing a current survey of sessile oak forest with a historical data set obtained from previous regional studies dating from 1962 to 1977. We analyse the regional changes in the community in terms of biodiversity variables, species composition and plant traits. Furthermore, plants traits such as plant life forms and chorological groups are used to discern any effects from land-use changes and climate warming on the plant community.Important FindingsThere has been a loss of diversity in the community and, in the hottest region, there is also a loss of species richness. The composition of the community suggests that, although significant changes have taken place over recent decades, these changes differ between regions as a result of the low impact global change has had in the western regions. For instance, while the tree canopy cover in the western sessile oak forests remains stable, the eastern sessile oak forests are still recovering from the former exploitation that led to a loss of their rich and abundant herbaceous stratum. In fact, the recovery process in the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range has constituted an increase in the Euro-Siberian plants typical to this community. Moreover, in the eastern forests, there is evidence that climate warming has impacted the thermophilization of the sessile oak forests found on the Coastal Range.


2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Kohler ◽  
Patrick Pyttel ◽  
Christian Kuehne ◽  
Tobias Modrow ◽  
Jürgen Bauhus

Abstract Key message This literature review identified the main factors for the success of different silvicultural approaches to regenerate sessile oak naturally and unveiled at the same time important knowledge gaps. Most previous studies were only short-term and restricted to a few factors and single locations. Hence, the findings of these studies are of limited explanatory power and do not allow to develop general, widely applicable management recommendations. Context Successful natural regeneration of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) through silvicultural actions depends on a number of biotic, abiotic and management factors and their interactions. However, owing to a limited understanding about the influence of these critical factors, there is great uncertainty about suitable silvicultural approaches for natural oak regeneration, in particular regarding the size of canopy openings and speed of canopy removal. Aims This study aimed at critically evaluating documented information on natural regeneration of sessile oak. Specifically, we identified (i) the factors that determine the success of approaches for natural regeneration and (ii) evaluated the evidence base associated with different silvicultural approaches. Methods A comprehensive literature search was done considering relevant peer-reviewed publications of ISI-listed journals as well as non-ISI listed published papers and reports by practitioners. Out of more than 260 collected references, a set of 53 silvicultural ‘core publications’ was identified and analyzed using a catalogue of numeric and categorical evaluation criteria. Results The most important factors determining regeneration success extracted from the literature were light availability, presence of competing vegetation, initial oak seedling density, browsing of seedlings and intensity of stand tending measures. However, the review revealed also great uncertainty regarding the interactions between these factors and the magnitude of their influence. Most studies were of short duration and restricted to single locations. In only 20% of the experimental studies, the observation period exceeded five years. Total costs of regeneration efforts were quantified and reported in only two studies. This lack of data on the expenses of different approaches to natural oak regeneration appears to be one of the most crucial knowledge deficits revealed in this literature review. Conclusion Natural regeneration of sessile oak may be achieved under a wide range of canopy openings, if competing vegetation and browsing is negligible, seedling density is high and tending to remove competing vegetation is carried out consistently. However, since the silvicultural regeneration success depends on the interactions among these factors, which have often not been adequately considered, we caution against general recommendations for silvicultural systems developed from case studies and call for new long-term studies with comprehensive experimental designs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoran GOVEDAR ◽  
Branko KANJEVAC ◽  
Violeta BABIC ◽  
Nikola MARTAC ◽  
Milos RACIC ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivera Kosanin ◽  
Milan Knezevic

The soils in sessile oak forests were studied at three localities in the region of Northeast Serbia. Brownised dystrict humus-siliceous soil was studied on gneiss in M.U. "Zlatica" - N.P. "Djerdap", in the forest of sessile oak with fescue grass (Quercetum montanum subass. festucetosum heterophyllae). Dystric acid brown soil on gneiss was studied in the region of F.E. "Severni Kucaj", M.U. "Ravna Reka", in the community of sessile oak and hornbeam (Querco-Carpinetum moesiacum), and in the region of the Teaching Base "Majdanpecka Domena" in M.U. "Crna Reka - Pek", in the forest of sessile oak with hairy sedge (Quercetum montanum subass. caricetosum pilosae) on schist's. Eutric brown soil was studied on amphibolite schist and on basic and neutral eruptive rocks in the region of N.P. "Djerdap", in M.U. "Zlatica", in the typical sessile oak forest (Quercetum montanum subass. tipicum).


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 459
Author(s):  
Girmantė Jurkšienė ◽  
Virginijus Baliuckas

Pedunculate and sessile oak species are sympatric. These oaks hybridize with one another, and this process influences the development of undergrowth. The purpose of this study was to determine how different oak species influence the forest regeneration process. For this purpose, the forest was divided into eight transects of 300 m and 100 m widths, distinguished into temporary plots of 10 m in diameter covering the whole territory of the forest. The distribution of oak undergrowth was calculated by four oak height groups, determining the composition of the first storey, covering of underbrush and herbaceous plant, and forest site. We determined that the spread of oak differed depending on the first storey tree species and underbrush. Grass cover was the biggest influence on the sessile oak. The impurity of sessile oak in oak stands had a positive impact on the development of undergrowth, since the entire undergrowth develops faster than separate components of the undergrowth.


Plant Ecology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 201 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgenia Chaideftou ◽  
Costas A. Thanos ◽  
Erwin Bergmeier ◽  
Athanasios Kallimanis ◽  
Panayotis Dimopoulos

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Kokkonen ◽  
S. Ellen Macdonald ◽  
Ian Curran ◽  
Simon M. Landhäusser ◽  
Victor J. Lieffers

Given a seed source, the quality of available substrates is a key factor in determining the success of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) natural regeneration. We examined the influence of substrate and competing vegetation on survival and growth of natural regeneration of white spruce up to 4 years following harvesting in deciduous-dominated upland boreal mixedwood sites. Feather moss, thick soil surface organic layers, litter, and solid wood were poor substrates for establishment. Early successional mosses establishing on mineral soil, thin organics, and rotten wood were generally favourable microsites but were not highly available on postharvest sites. Mineral soil substrates were not as suitable as expected, likely because on a postlogged site, they are associated with unfavourable environmental characteristics (e.g., low nutrient availability, exposure). There was some evidence that survival and growth of seedlings were improved by surrounding vegetation in the first years, but heavy competing vegetation had a negative impact on older seedlings. Burial by aspen litter greatly increased seedling mortality, especially when combined with a brief period of submergence due to heavy spring snowmelt. The results provide insight into conditions under which natural regeneration could be an option for establishing white spruce following harvesting of deciduous-dominated boreal mixedwood forests.


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