The Potential for Future Shifts in Tree Species Distribution Provided by Dispersal and Ecological Niches: A Comparison between Beech and Oak in Europe

(1) Due to global warming, distribution ranges of temperate tree species are shifting northwards and upslope to cooler areas. Shifts in distribution first become visible through changes in regeneration dynamics. However, the future distribution of tree species in the face of rapid climate change depends not only on the climatic suitability of the tree species, but also on its ability to disperse into new habitats. The aim of the study was therefore to examine how the distribution of European beech and European oak shifts and how species can spread from fragmented seed trees. (2) In order to investigate the shift in distribution of beech and oak, the bioclimatic envelopes of the old trees and different size classes of the natural regeneration were compared. Subsequently, a simulation of the potential distribution for the present climate, as well as for the climate for the reference period 2091–2100, for three different representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios was determined. In order to determine which of these areas can actually be colonised, a dispersal potential for the species was determined using a quantile regression, taking habitat fragmentation into account. (3) The results of the present study demonstrate range shifts of the tree species regeneration distribution (B0, B1 and B2) compared to the overstorey distribution (OST). While oak regeneration shows an expansion of its distribution in the cold-wet range, beech regeneration shows a reduction of its distribution in the dry-warm range. As the dispersal potential of oak exceeds that of beech, it is expected that oak will be better able to spread from fragmented seed trees. However, the results also indicate that many areas, despite climatic suitability, cannot be colonised due to too large dispersal distances. (4) For the forest management, this results in an important planning tool for future tree species composition, as climatic suitability, habitat connectivity and dispersal ability are taken into account.

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Long-term changes in tree species composition in the Dinaric mountain forests of Slovenia

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc79227-2 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 79 (2) ◽

pp. 227-232 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Andrej Boncina ◽

Franc Gaspersic ◽

Jurij Diaci

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

European Beech ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Virgin Forest ◽

Forest Remnant ◽

The Impact

This study utilizes data from long-term research sites in managed fir-beech forests (Hrusica, Leskova dolina and Rog) and a virgin forest remnant (Rajhenav), used as a reference site. Data obtained from old forest management plans and forest inventories were analysed. The results of the study support the hypothesis that two main tree speciessilver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)alternate site dominance. The causes of species dominance alternation include both natural processes and anthropogenic factors, in particular silvicultural practices and the impact of ungulates. More than a hundred years ago, European beech dominated stand volume. The proportion of silver fir increased until 19401970 when a gradual decrease started. All indicators suggest that the proportion of silver fir will decrease further in the coming decades. Key words: tree species composition alternation, diameter distribution, silver fir, European beech, forest history, forest planning, managed forests, virgin forest remnant

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Loss of available soil organic carbon from afforestation plots: effect of tree species composition and warming

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-19705 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Zhenhui Jiang ◽

Anna Gunina ◽

Lucas Merz ◽

Yihe Yang ◽

Yakov Kuzyakov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Species Composition ◽

Temperature Sensitivity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

European Beech ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Tree Species Composition

Afforestation with pure and mixed-species is an important strategy to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and restore degraded lands. However, what remains unclear is the stability of SOC to microbial degradation after afforestation and the effect of tree species composition. Moreover, it is important to reveal how sensitive the SOC in afforestation lands is to environmental changes, such as warming. To study the combined effects of warming and the tree species composition on decomposition of SOC by microorganisms and enzyme activities, soils were collected from the monocultural and mixtures of Silver birch (Betula Pendula) and European beech (Fagus Silvatica) (BangorDiversity, UK, 12 years since afforestation) and were incubated for 169 days at 0, 10, 20, 30 &#176;C at 60 % of WHC. The field experiment is arranged into a completely randomized design with n=4. The CO2 efflux was measured constantly, whereas activities of &#946;-glucosidase, chitinase and acid phosphatase, and content of microbial biomass C (MBC) were obtained at the end of the incubation.&#160;Results showed that soil cumulative CO2 efflux increased by 34.7&#8211;107% with the temperature. Potential enzyme activities were dependent on tree species composition. Warming, but not tree species exhibited a significant impact on the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil cumulative CO2 efflux and enzyme activities. The greatest temperature sensitivity (Q10) of total CO2 efflux was found at 10&#8211;20 &#176;C and was 2.0&#8211;2.1, but that of enzyme activities were found as 0.9&#8211;1.1 at 0&#8211;10 &#176;C. These results suggest that warming has an asynchronous effect on the SOC decomposition and enzyme activity, and enzymes cannot account for the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. Thus, thermal adaptations of SOC mineralization is independent of the adaptation of the enzyme pool.

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Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity in Czech populations of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Forestry Studies / Metsanduslikud Uurimused ◽

10.2478/fsmu-2020-0015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 64-76

Author(s):

Dagmar Zádrapová ◽

Jiří Korecký ◽

Jakub Dvořák ◽

Zuzana Faltinová ◽

Jan Bílý

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Czech Republic ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

Tree Species ◽

European Beech ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Primary Driver

Abstract European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most important broadleaved tree species in Europe both ecologically and economically. Nowadays, in the Czech Republic, beech is underrepresented in forest tree species composition, and there are tendencies to increase its proportion. When reintroducing beech, genetic variability, along with other factors, play a key role. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of ten selected indigenous beech populations across the Czech Republic. Two hundred and fifty individuals were genotyped on 21 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers, which were amplified using two newly assembled multiplexes. According to the results, observed heterozygosity (Ho ) among populations ranged from 0.595 to 0.654 and expected heterozygosity (He ) from 0.650 to 0.678. That is comparable with the findings in other European studies. The high discriminatory power of the assembled multiplexes was confirmed by calculating the Probability of Identity among both unrelated and related individuals. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) based on Nei's genetic distances revealed that there are genetic differences among populations resulting in three approximate clusters (geographically north, south-east, and south-west). Nevertheless, the results implicate that on a geographical scale of the Czech Republic, the distance is unlikely to be the primary driver of genetic differentiation.

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Above-ground net primary productivity in young stands of beech and spruce

Forestry Journal ◽

10.2478/v10114-011-0022-y ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 59 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jozef Pajtík ◽

Bohdan Konôpka ◽

Róbert Marušák

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Primary Productivity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Net Primary Productivity ◽

Standing Stock ◽

European Beech ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Resistant Species

AbstractOne of the expected consequences of climate change and its inherent phenomena to forest ecosystems is the gradual modification of their tree species composition (i.e. expansion of resistant species instead of less resistant ones). Climate change accompanied with increasing temperatures and a lack of precipitations may present a threat especially to spruce stands in the European part of the temperate zone. European beech is one of the possible forest tree species which might replace the potentially endangered spruce. In this paper, we observed, by using a combination of continual measurements and destructive whole-tree sampling, standing stocks of above-ground biomass (i.e. stem, branches, and foliage) and its annual net primary productivity (NPP) in naturally regenerated young stands of beech and spruce. We intentionally selected a site where the changing climate conditions are better suited to the ecological demands of beech rather than spruce (the species is dominant in the observed area). We recorded only small differences in the standing stock of stems of the beech, if based on tons per ha. However, this is in favor of spruce if based on cubic meters per ha. The largest difference between the species was found for the standing stock of foliage, spruce retained three times the biomass of beech. Also, beech allocated more carbohydrates to stem than spruce. On the other hand, we estimated nearly the same production of foliages and branches in both stands.

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The development of tree species composition of the species-rich natural forest during the last 33 years

Beskydy ◽

10.11118/beskyd201306010009 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 9-16

Author(s):

Miroslav Balanda ◽

M. Saniga ◽

J. Pittner

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Tree Species ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

European Beech ◽

Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽

Large Wood ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Dominant Position ◽

Oak Trees ◽

Tree Layer

The presented study is aimed on the analysis of inventory data from the old-growth mixed forest of National Nature Reserve (NNR) Sitno. A special attention was paid to the temporal variation of the tree species composition. Study analyzes data acquired in the decadal periodic inventory campaigns during the last 33 years. Analysis of dynamic changes in portion of partial tree species in NNR Sitno revealed the significant continuous decrease of oak trees during analyzed period. Evaluation of temporal changes showed the significant decrease of oaks regarding the number of trees thicker than 8 cm (8 %) as well as the volume of large wood (11 %). On the other hand, the European beech is achieving the dominant position within the upper tree layer on the behalf of oaks and other tree species. Inventory revealed slight decrease of beech in term number of tree individuals that is connected with significant increase of the large wood volume. We recorded the increasing abundance of maples (Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer platanoides) and common ash in the natural regeneration.

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Qualitative and value production of tree species in mixed spruce-fir-beech stands under the conditions of the Western Carpathians

Central European Forestry Journal ◽

10.2478/forj-2021-0004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (3) ◽

pp. 155-165

Author(s):

Igor Štefančík ◽

Rudolf Petráš ◽

Julián Mecko ◽

Jiří Novák

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Abies Alba ◽

European Beech ◽

Silver Fir ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Self Development ◽

Management Method ◽

Value Production

Abstract Value production is one of the most important information for comparing different tree species composition and management strategies in forestry. Although the value production of forest stands is affected by various factors thinning can be considered as one of the most important one. This paper aims at the evaluation of qualitative and value production in mixed Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands, which were managed by crown thinning for a period of 44 to 50 years and/or left to self-development. More than 1,500 individual trees aged from 61 to 132 years from 15 subplots established in western part of the Low Tatras Mts. and the Great Fatra Mts. in Slovakia were assessed. The proportion of stems in the highest quality A (stem quality classes) reached a low percentage, i.e. 12% in beech, 28% in spruce and 13% in fir out of the number of evaluated trees. The percentage of the highest quality log classes (assortments I + II) of beech ranged from 0 to 23% and of coniferous ones from 2 to 12%. Regarding the management method used, this percentage accounted for 0.1 to 23% for plot with self-development, whereas in plots with tending it was from 1 to 23%. Value production of coniferous tree species was always higher compared to beech, regardless of the management method. Regarding individual tree species, we found the highest value production in fir (81.4 € m−3) and the lowest in beech (46.5 € m−3).

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Langfristige Entwicklung von zwei Waldgesellschaften im Białowieża-Urwald

Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen ◽

10.3188/szf.2008.0080 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 159 (4) ◽

pp. 80-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

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.

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Site classification in a mixed hardwood forest (Hallerbos, Belgium) with a homogeneous ground vegetation dominated by Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard ex. Rothm.

Silva Gandavensis ◽

10.21825/sg.v59i0.868 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. Maddelein ◽

B. Muys ◽

J. Neirynck ◽

G. Sioen

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Ph Value ◽

Soil Analysis ◽

Base Cation ◽

Site Quality ◽

Ground Vegetation ◽

Site Classification ◽

Species Classification ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Understorey Vegetation

The forest of Halle (560 ha), situated 20 km south of Brussels is covered by a beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest, locally mixed with secundary species (Tilia, Fraxinus, Acer, Quercus,... ). In almost all stands, herbal vegetation is dominated by bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). The research intended to classify 36 plots of different tree species composition according to their site quality. Three classification methods were compared: the first one based on the indicator value of the understorey vegetation, a second one on the humus morphology and a last one on some quantitative soil characteristics. According to the plant sociological site classification, the plots have the same site quality. However, humus forms differ apparently and significant differences were found in pH value and base cation saturation of the soil, abundance and biomass of earthworms and biomass of the ectorganic horizon. Tree species proved to be the main cause of these differences. The results illustrate that the herbal vegetation is not always a reliable indicator of site quality. In the case of a homogeneous vegetation dominated by one or more indifferent species, classification on humus morphology or soil analysis are more appropriate. In the forest of Halle, the tree species is probably the main cause of the observed differences in site quality.

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Soil carbon and nutrient stocks under Scots pine plantations in comparison to European beech forests: a paired-plot study across forests with different management history and precipitation regimes

Forest Ecosystems ◽

10.1186/s40663-021-00330-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marco Diers ◽

Robert Weigel ◽

Heike Culmsee ◽

Christoph Leuschner

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Species ◽

European Beech ◽

Organic Layer ◽

Species Identity ◽

Data Set ◽

Nutrient Pools ◽

Total N ◽

Precipitation Regimes ◽

Pine Stands

Abstract Background Organic carbon stored in forest soils (SOC) represents an important element of the global C cycle. It is thought that the C storage capacity of the stable pool can be enhanced by increasing forest productivity, but empirical evidence in support of this assumption from forests differing in tree species and productivity, while stocking on similar substrate, is scarce. Methods We determined the stocks of SOC and macro-nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium) in nine paired European beech/Scots pine stands on similar Pleistocene sandy substrates across a precipitation gradient (560–820 mm∙yr− 1) in northern Germany and explored the influence of tree species, forest history, climate, and soil pH on SOC and nutrient pools. Results While the organic layer stored on average about 80% more C under pine than beech, the pools of SOC and total N in the total profile (organic layer plus mineral soil measured to 60 cm and extrapolated to 100 cm) were greater under pine by about 40% and 20%, respectively. This contrasts with a higher annual production of foliar litter and a much higher fine root biomass in beech stands, indicating that soil C sequestration is unrelated to the production of leaf litter and fine roots in these stands on Pleistocene sandy soils. The pools of available P and basic cations tended to be higher under beech. Neither precipitation nor temperature influenced the SOC pool, whereas tree species was a key driver. An extended data set (which included additional pine stands established more recently on former agricultural soil) revealed that, besides tree species identity, forest continuity is an important factor determining the SOC and nutrient pools of these stands. Conclusion We conclude that tree species identity can exert a considerable influence on the stocks of SOC and macronutrients, which may be unrelated to productivity but closely linked to species-specific forest management histories, thus masking weaker climate and soil chemistry effects on pool sizes.

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The composition and diversity of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps under different intensities of forest disturbance

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-020-01269-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maame Esi Hammond ◽

Radek Pokorný ◽

Daniel Okae-Anti ◽

Augustine Gyedu ◽

Irene Otwuwa Obeng

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Natural Regeneration ◽

Forest Disturbance ◽

Forest Site ◽

Gap Formation ◽

Tree Species Composition ◽

Forest Sites ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Shade Tolerant Species ◽

Disturbed Forest

AbstractThe positive ecological interaction between gap formation and natural regeneration has been examined but little research has been carried out on the effects of gaps on natural regeneration in forests under different intensities of disturbance. This study evaluates the composition, diversity, regeneration density and abundance of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps in undisturbed, intermittently disturbed, and disturbed forest sites. Bia Tano Forest Reserve in Ghana was the study area and three gaps each were selected in the three forest site categories. Ten circular subsampling areas of 1 m2 were delineated at 2 m spacing along north, south, east, and west transects within individual gaps. Data on natural regeneration < 350 cm height were gathered. The results show that the intensity of disturbance was disproportional to gap size. Species diversity differed significantly between undisturbed and disturbed sites and, also between intermittently disturbed and disturbed sites for Simpson’s (1-D), Equitability (J), and Berger–Parker (B–P) indices. However, there was no significant difference among forest sites for Shannon diversity (H) and Margalef richness (MI) indices. Tree species composition on the sites differed. Regeneration density on the disturbed site was significantly higher than on the two other sites. Greater abundance and density of shade-dependent species on all sites identified them as opportunistic replacements of gap-dependent pioneers. Pioneer species giving way to shade tolerant species is a natural process, thus make them worst variant in gap regeneration.

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