Ecology of beech regeneration in the allochthonous spruce stands - a case study

Abstract

DOBROVOLNÝ LUMÍR, CHÁB MIROSLAV: Ecology of beech regeneration in the allochthonous spruce stands -a case study. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 5, pp. 1261-1268 We study the successional process of beech in a allochthonous spruce monocultures. In the natural regeneration of the predominatly spruce stand (area: 14.28 ha, age: 110 years) with single mother beech trees admixture the spruce regeneration occupies the most part of the study area. However, about one quarter of area is occupied relatively regular by beech regeneration. The spruce density was at all times higher than that of beech while the spruce height grow was by contrast at all times lower than that of beech. Mean distance of beech seedlings dispersion is 12.7; at a distance greater than 40 m, the density already neared zero. Density of spruce increases with increasing light intensity, the density of beech decreases -the competition point was found about 19% of diff use radiation or about 14% of canopy openness. The both species respond to increase of light intensity with increase of height grow (by beech only weekly) -the spruce starts to dominate the beech at about 32% of diff use radiation or about 22% of canopy openness. The silvicultural goal in the next stand generation -converting of spruce forest into mixed forest, i.e. achievement of the legal proportion of beech as a soil-improving and reinforcing tree species (proportion about 30% and more) in the spruce stand can be reliably realized by natural way only using a combination of more intensive shelterwood or border felling with group selection system. natural regeneration, spruce, beech, species conversion Concept of close-to-nature silviculture searches for possibilities how to implement the natural processes into forestry management. At our department we study in the long-therm the successional process of beech, fi r and oak in a allochthonous spruce or pine monocultures. Here we get next case study from the ecology of beech regeneration in the predominantly spruce stand. Two key factors of the research of beech regeneration process in the dominant spruce stand are important for our aim of our previous research (Dobrovolný and Tesař, 2010a,b) and in this studyi) spreading of beech -the mean and silviculturally useable distance of beech seedlings from the mother beech trees and ii) competition of beech and spruce regeneration for light.

Gap regeneration and dynamics: the case study of mixed forests at Křtiny in the Czech Republic

“…However, the comparably good regeneration densities of F. sylvatica during FGS and SGS in gaps under mixed and broad-leaved stands, respectively, demonstrate the resilience of F. sylvatica species to light-exposed environments (Čater et al 2014) and browsing damage (Vilhar et al 2015). Further, our study result revealing the excellent regeneration of P. abies in gaps from FGS to SGS under a coniferous overstorey is consistent with Dobrovolný & Cháb (2013), who also reported the same observation. On the other hand, the evidenced low yield shift of P. abies and A. alba species in gaps under broadleaved canopies indicates the significant relationship between cohabiting species at the understory.…”

“…At the individual species level, poor regeneration performances of F. sylvatica in gaps under coniferous stand in this study agrees with Dobrovolný and Cháb (2013) but disputes Sterba and Eckmüllner (2008), who stated that the rate of invasion potential for F. sylvatica to occupy an area within a pure conifers forest in central European forests is unmatched. However, the comparably good regeneration densities of F. sylvatica during FGS and SGS in gaps under mixed and broad-leaved stands, respectively, demonstrate the resilience of F. sylvatica species to light-exposed environments (Čater et al 2014) and browsing damage (Vilhar et al 2015).…”

Natural regeneration in logging gaps of different sizes in Subri River Forest Reserve (Ghana)

“…The distribution pattern and dynamics of different height growths of natural regeneration of tree species in logging gaps of different sizes in this study attest that gap size is indeed a significant light resource regulator (Agyeman et al 1999;Hammond and Pokorný 2020c). Briefly, this result illustrates that light resource has significant influences on height growth of tree regeneration (Dobrovolný and Cháb 2013).…”

Preliminary assessment of effect of disturbance on natural regeneration in gaps of different sizes

“…Although beech regeneration was expected to have decreased substantially with increasing proportions of light conditions in big size gaps (Dobrovolný, Cháb 2013), comparatively, its regeneration density significantly increased in both assessed different growing seasons after gap disturbance. The abundant shedding of beech seeds from the matured old-growth stand and nearby mother trees (Dobrovolný, Cháb 2013) provided a regular supply of seeds and with time resulted in built of a rich seed reservoir or seed bank at the forest floor. This profuse seed source at gap microsites plus light availability in the first growing season after gap disturbance facilitated the upsurge yield of beech regeneration in gaps.…”

“…By autecology of beech, it thrives better under shelter conditions where diffuse light is high (Ritter et al 2005;Čater, Kobler 2017). Although beech regeneration was expected to have decreased substantially with increasing proportions of light conditions in big size gaps (Dobrovolný, Cháb 2013), comparatively, its regeneration density significantly increased in both assessed different growing seasons after gap disturbance. The abundant shedding of beech seeds from the matured old-growth stand and nearby mother trees (Dobrovolný, Cháb 2013) provided a regular supply of seeds and with time resulted in built of a rich seed reservoir or seed bank at the forest floor.…”