Betula Pendula Roth (B. Verrucosa Ehrh.) and B. Pubescens Ehrh.

Atkinson, Mark

doi:10.2307/2260870

Cited by 322 publications

(305 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Several authors report that birch establishes on bare soils, as the ability of seedlings to penetrate the canopy of Calluna is low, whereas in open conditions birch is at an advantage and can compete effectively with other species (Hester et al 1991, Atkinson 1992, Reyes et al 1997, Manning et al 2004. Recently burned areas are ideal for germination of birch seeds and the establishment of seedlings: ash promotes seed germination and increases root growth during the most sensitive period of seedlings development, thus promoting their survival (Gimingham 1972, Atkinson 1992). Moreover, burning may remove allelophatic effects of the Calluna (Mugion 1996, Bonanomi et al 2005.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree encroachment dynamics in heathlands of north-west Italy: the fire regime hypothesis

Ascoli¹,

Bovio²

2010

iForest

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Tree encroachment is one of the primary conservation issues in Calluna-heathlands, a priority habitat in Europe. Improving understanding of the ecological factors that trigger transitions to woodlands is key to developing strategies for heathlands management. The irrational use of fire has been recognized as one of the key factors that drives the loss of heathlands of north-west Italy. The effect of high frequency pastoral burning on the replacement of heathlands by grasslands has been documented by several studies. The relationship between fire and tree encroachment is less clear. The paper examines the effect of the fire regime on the encroachment of Populus tremula L. and Betula pendula Roth. in the heathland. The study was carried out at the Managed Nature Reserve of Vauda (7° 41’ E, 45° 13’ N), which includes one of the most valuable heathlands of north-western Italy. The experimental design consisted of analysing the age structure, dendrometric variables and the species composition of three aspen and birch stands, circular-shaped and isolated within the heathland matrix. From 1986 to 2009 all stands experienced the same fire regime due to pastoral burning. Wildfires of similar behaviour occurred in 1998, 2003 and 2008 and determined the stand structure observed in 2009. The results evidenced that fire acts as a catalyst not only for seedlings establishment, as previously documented, but also for woodland expansion in the heathland. After initial establishment, stands showed a concentric encroachment dynamic, mainly due to aspen root suckering after post-fire stem mortality, whose steps of expansion coincided with the return interval of wildfires. Moreover, aspen determined the loss of heathland characteristic species, whose relative abundances were inversely correlated to aspen density along a gradient from the stands centre to the surrounding heathland. The regulation of current burning practices by prescribed burning, integrated with rational grazing, presents the next research questions to be addressed

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree encroachment dynamics in heathlands of north-west Italy: the fire regime hypothesis

Ascoli¹,

Bovio²

2010

iForest

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“…The germination percentage of the seeds also varies from year to year, with mast years usually characterized by the highest germination rates (Sarvas 1952, Bjorkbom 1967, Holm 1994, Osumi & Sakurai 1997, Sperens 1997, Raspé et al 2000, Hynynen et al 2010. However, pioneer tree species exhibit seed morphologies, seed dispersal distances as well as requirements for germination and seedling establishment that are different from those of intermediate and late-successional species (McVean 1953, Atkinson 1992, Lautenschlager 1994, Worrell 1995, Raspé et al 2000. Despite differences between their fruits and seeds, birch and alder (winged nuts), willow and poplar (catkins, seeds with pappus) and rowan (small seeds within a red fleshy fruit) can be analyzed together as each group possesses morphological similarities (McVean 1956, Perala & Alm 1990, Worrell 1995, Raspé et al 2000.…”

Section: Iforest -Biogeosciences and Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seeds of alder trees are mature in November, but most are only released in February and March, and, like birch, germinate predominantly after dispersal in spring (Pietzarka & Roloff 2010). Seeds of birch and alder do not exhibit dormancy (McVean 1953, Atkinson 1992. The spatial distribution of deposited seeds on soil depends on the position of the seed trees and on the dispersal agents (Bakker et al 1996b).…”

Section: Iforest -Biogeosciences and Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil seed banks of pioneer tree species in European temperate forests: a review

Tiebel¹,

Huth²,

Wagner³

2018

iForest

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The ability of short-lived tree species such as birch, alder, willow, poplar and rowan to form even a short-term soil seed bank is discussed controversially in the literature. Soil seed banks are an important component of succession and regeneration in ecosystems. Following disturbance, buried viable seeds germinate and the seedlings that establish cover the disturbed, exposed soil surfaces. The objective of this study was to review the literature on soil seed bank research carried out in central and north-west European temperate forests to provide an overview of the ability of pioneer tree species to form a viable seed bank. The review of 33 publications revealed that birch is the only pioneer tree species of temperate forests with longer-lived seeds, persisting in the soil for 1-5 years. Birch seeds remain viable in deeper soil layers (5-10 cm), so birch may be assigned to the short-term persistent soil seed bank type. The seeds of alder, willow and poplar would appear to be short-lived. Maximum seed densities of all tree species were found in the upper soil layers. With increasing soil depth, seed density declined. Viable seeds of rowan were not detected in any of the soil seed bank studies, although seed trees were present. We found that in spite of the capacity for long seed dispersal distances, high densities of birch, alder and willow seeds were only observed in close proximity to seed trees. The higher the numbers of seed trees, the higher the seed densities in soils. Maximum seed densities were recorded during and shortly after seed rains had occurred. Our results reveal that a birch seed bank may compensate for years of low seed production levels. However, as the seed bank is only short-term persistent, it must be supplemented by fresh seeds from surrounding seed trees as often as possible to guarantee a continuous capacity for regeneration.

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“…and birch (Betula spp. ) would be particularly interesting to study in this context as they support high numbers of plant-feeding invertebrate species (Jones 1959;Atkinson 1992;Key 1995). While some invertebrate species may specialise on other conifer species, differences in forest structure may have a more important potential effect on biodiversity.…”

Section: Compositionalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying practical indicators of biodiversity for stand-level management of plantation forests

Smith

Gittings

Wilson

et al. 2007

Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation

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Identification of valid indicators of biodiversity is a critical need for sustainable forest management. We developed compositional, structural and functional indicators of biodiversity for five taxonomic groups-bryophytes, vascular plants, spiders, hoverflies and birds-using data from 44 Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) plantation forests in Ireland. The best structural biodiversity indicator was stand stage, defined using a multivariate classification of forest structure variables. However, biodi-versity trends over the forest cycle and between tree species differ among the taxonomic groups studied. Canopy cover was the main structural indicator and affected other struc-tural variables such as cover of lower vegetation layers. Other structural indicators included deadwood and distances to forest edge and to broadleaved woodland. Functional indicators included stand age, site environmental characteristics and management prac-tices. Compositional indicators were limited to more easily identifiable plant and bird species. Our results suggest that the biodiversity of any one of the species groups we surveyed cannot act as a surrogate for all of the other species groups. However, certain subgroups, such as forest bryophytes and saproxylic hoverflies, may be able to act as surrogates for each other. The indicators we have identified should be used together to identify stands of potentially high biodiversity or to evaluate the biodiversity effects of silvicultural management practices. They are readily assessed by non-specialists, ecolog-ically meaningful and applicable over a broad area with similar climate conditions and silvicultural systems. The approach we have used to develop biodiversity indicators, including stand structural types, is widely relevant and can enhance sustainable forest management of plantations.

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Betula Pendula Roth (B. Verrucosa Ehrh.) and B. Pubescens Ehrh.

Cited by 322 publications

References 88 publications

Tree encroachment dynamics in heathlands of north-west Italy: the fire regime hypothesis

Tree encroachment dynamics in heathlands of north-west Italy: the fire regime hypothesis

Soil seed banks of pioneer tree species in European temperate forests: a review

Identifying practical indicators of biodiversity for stand-level management of plantation forests

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