Ecosystems on dunes are influenced by critical environmental factors (mineral nutrients, water deficiency, etc.) considered decisive for their existence. The present paper is based on studies carried out on dunes on the coastal area of the Baltic Sea, southwest Estonia. The nature of forest ecosystems on dunes was studied from the aspects of chemical characteristics of soil, vascular plant species richness and diversity. Sampling sites on the dunes with different heights were selected in Cladina and in Vaccinium vitis-idaea site-type Scots pine forests. Vascular plant species richness and diversity were related to edaphic gradients. On the dune with a height of 32.1 m a.s.l., significant relationships were revealed between the number of species of ground vegetation, pH, volumetric water content in soil and the position of the sample plots. No relationships were revealed between the number of vascular plant species, soil pH, volumetric water content and mineral nutrients on the dune with a height of 9 m a.s.l. The most frequent and abundant plant species on the higher dune were Deschampsia flexuosa, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and V. myrtillus; the highest number of species were found at the bottom of the dune, while on the top only some xeromorphic species such as Festuca ovina, Sedum acre and Crepis tectorum occurred. On the lower dune, the most frequent were Vaccinium vitis-idaea, V. myrtillus and Melampyrum pratense, while V. uliginosum was found only on the bottom and slope and Empetrum nigrum on the top of the dune.
Chemical characteristics of soils in Scots pine forests of Cladina and Vaccinium vitis-idaea site types on coastal dunes of Baltic Sea The coastal dunes of Southwest Estonia have been undergoing a process of stabilisation and are today covered predominantly with Scots pine forests. For the investigation of soils on dunes sampling sites were selected according to topographical positions and forest site types: two sites in Cladina and two sites in Vaccinium vitis-idaea site types on dunes of different heights. The prevailing soils on dunes are Gleyic Podzols, which are generally poor in humus, water and mineral nutrients. Great differences in soil chemical components were found on the foots, slopes and tops of the dunes depending on the height of the dune. The study showed that the concentration of macronutrients (N, K, Ca, Mg) in soil decreased from the foot towards the top. On the other hand, a serious decrease in the nutrient concentration from the O horizon to the BC horizon was typical of the dunes. The soils were generally acidic, with the pH of 3.4-5.5 in the studied sampling sites. The soils were more acidic on the foots of the dune and in the O and A horizons.
The content of nutrients in soil and needles of second-growth pines was studied on dunes of different relative height (23 m, 10 m, 5 m) in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in South-West Estonia. Results give an insight into the nutrition status of pines on the plain and on the slopes and tops of dunes. The data obtained indicate that the logarithmic relationship is statistically significant between N, K, and Mg contents in the needles and soil and the height of the sample point on the dune. Deficiency of nutrients for the growth of pines, especially that of N and K, had developed on dunes. The study showed that on dunes the nutrition conditions and concentration of nutrients in needles depend significantly on the relative height of the growth site on the dune.
Less intensive harvesting methods (e.g. selection cutting, shelterwood cuttings) are recommended as alternatives to clearcutting for maintaining mature forest biodiversity in the process of forest regeneration. However, the long-term impact of low-intensity harvesting methods have rarely been studied. Our aim was to clarify the long-term effects of repeated selective cutting, thinning and shelterwood cutting on the richness, abundance and species composition of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens in Scots pine forests. Data were collected from 25 mature stands located in dry Podzols in south-western Estonia with a known management history for the last 70 years. Altogether 35 vascular plant, 41 bryophyte and 78 lichen species were recorded, including five species with conservational value. Generally, the management history was not related to species richness, except a negative correlation with the species number of epiphytic lichens on conifer trees. In addition, the abundance of two lichen species from the genus Chaenotheca was lower in more frequently managed stands. Species richness and composition were most strongly affected by soil pH and light conditions. We conclude that long-term low-intensity harvesting of Scots pine forests on nutrient poor Podzols maintains suitable habitats for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, confirming its suitability for sustainable forest regeneration.
Edela-Eesti luitemetsade järelkasvu arengust ning uuenemistingimustest sambliku ja pohla kasvukohatüübis On the southwestern coast of Estonia dune pine forest covers approximately 3000 hectares. This area includes coastal pine forests. The dune pine forest natural renewal in Southwest Estonia is the object of research. The natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at the cowberry site type and at the lichen site type are observed. The necessary observations were made and primary data were collected in 1999-2006 from 28 sample plots, wherefrom 16 were situated at the lichen and 12 at the cowberry site type. The aim of the present study was to find out how old stand and forest site type influences the growth of second growth (height, height increment, age and number of trees per unit area) and its morphological parameters (length of needles and shoots and their dry mass).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.