Drivers of the Distribution of Ecological Species Groups in Temperate Deciduous Managed Forests in the Western Carpathian Mountains

Abstract

Managed broadleaf deciduous forests are an important type of forest vegetation in Central Europe, also in the Western Carpathians. These forests are both economically and environmentally valuable. However, little is known about ecological species groups and the inter-specific associations of dominant species in temperate deciduous managed forests in Central Europe. Since the forest stands are in a managed landscape, they are not consistent with the traditionally recognized and used vegetation associations in the Western Carpathians. For these reasons our research contributes to understanding the consequences of broadleaf deciduous forest management. The aim of this research was the determination of ecological species groups and an investigation into the main environmental drivers, in order to explain the distribution of ecological species groups. The numerical TWINSPAN classification was selected to distribute 146 relevés to the five ecological species groups. Of these, 77 relevés were divided into two groups with Fagus sylvatica dominant, while 63 relevés were Quercus petraea dominant. Carpinus betulus, Tilia cordata and Fraxinus excelsior were dominant in 19 relevés. Constrained Analysis of Principal Components was used to explain the vegetation–environment relationship on three transects in the Male Karpaty Mountains. Altitude, pH, Ca, C, K and Mg were selected as the significant environmental drivers responsible for a large part of the species group variability (31.8%). The main requirement for sustainable forest management is knowledge of the vegetation–environment relationship and this research was focused on gaining such understanding. This knowledge can be used as a decision support tool for sustainable management in managed deciduous forests.

Assessing the Potential of Forest Stands for Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms as a Subsistence Ecosystem Service for Socially Disadvantaged People: A Case Study from Central Slovakia

“…The most significant preconditions for mushroom growing, according to of authors' own research and the literature review [8,22,24,28,30,53,54], were identified as being the soil, hydric and climate conditions of the site and the actual tree species of the forest stand. These conditions were translated into five variables that represent an intersection between the identified theoretical preconditions and the available spatial datasets for the study area (Forest Inventory and Forest Types).…”

Endangered Forest Communities in Central Europe: Mapping Current and Potential Distributions of Euro-Siberian Steppic Woods with Quercus spp. in South Slovak Basin

“…We studied the effects of forest successional stages and management intensity on the abundance and species richness [4]. Similar studies have been conducted in the territory of the Slovak Republic with a focus on damage to soil and remaining forest stands by machines, evaluation of abiotic controls of wind disturbance using the generalized additive model [5][6][7], with a focus on spruce forests [8,9], and an analysis of the qualitative features of beech and oak trunks as a determinant of quality assessment [10].…”

The combined effect of surface water and groundwater on environmental heterogeneity reveals the basis of beta diversity pattern in desert oasis communities

“…The composition and distribution of species are the most fundamental characteristics of a community, and biodiversity research based on these two concepts is important within community ecology [ 1 ]. Species beta diversity is an indicator that represents differences in species composition between communities [ 2 , 3 ].…”