Effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity - the case of the Illyrian Fagus sylvatica habitat type (Natura 2000)

Abstract

In Slovenia, the Natura 2000 network covers more than 37% of the country. Forests dominate more than 70% of this area, and forest management is a significant driver of diversity. Depending on the options applied, forest management may enhance or decrease forest biodiversity. Dinaric fir-beech forests (part of Natura 2000 habitat type) with remarkable nature-conservation interest and timber production functions were selected for this study. With the aim of testing the effects of different silvicultural measures on plant diversity in these forests, and consequently on biodiversity in a broader sense, three sites in the Slovenian part of a Dinaric fir-beech forest range were studied. The plant species diversity was assessed before and after the implementation of silvicultural measures of three intensities: (1) control plots -no logging; (2) logging of 50% of the growing stock; and (3) logging of 100% of the growing stock. Before the implementation of the silvicultural measures, the mean number of plant species per 400 m² vegetation plots was 48.8, and the mean value of the Shannon's diversity index was 2.41. Two years after the measures were implemented, different magnitudes of plant species turnover were observed. There were no significant changes in plant diversity status and vegetation composition in the control plots. Two years after 50% of the growing stock was logged, the mean number of species was 73.3, and the mean value of the Shannon index was 3.21. In the plots where all the trees were removed, the mean number of species was 87.4, and the mean value of the Shannon index was 3.42. In parallel with the increases in the diversity parameters, the cover of the herbaceous layer increased significantly with an increase in the silvicultural intensity, indicating that short-term species turnover can mostly be attributed to herbaceous plant species. As a result of changed stand and ecological conditions, an increased plant diversity, a greater biodiversity in a broader sense and an improved habitat suitability for different animal species could be expected.

Initial understory vegetation responses following different forest management intensities in Illyrian beech forests

“…), were selected (Figure b): Trnovo (45.989° N, 13.759° E), Kočevski Rog (45.668° N, 15.033° E) and Snežnik (45.672° N, 14.460° E). The selected forest sites, with elevations ranging from 800 to 900 m, exhibited similar abiotic conditions, stand structure features and species composition (Kutnar et al., ). The diverse topography of high karst plateaus is characterized by numerous sinkholes, ridges and slopes.…”

“…and Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst. ), with an average canopy cover of 95% or higher (Kutnar et al., ).…”

“…Many studies have investigated the effects of forest management on understory vegetation (e.g., Duguid & Ashton, ; Förster, Becker, Gerlach, Meesenburg, & Leuschner, ; Kutnar, Eler, & Marinšek, ). However, there has been a lack of consistency in findings, suggesting a system‐specific nature of forest vegetation responses (Kutnar, Marinšek, & Giancola, ; Pykälä, ).…”

Evaluating Short-Term Impacts of Forest Management and Microsite Conditions on Understory Vegetation in Temperate Fir-Beech Forests: Floristic, Ecological, and Trait-Based Perspective

“…Three study locations in Dinaric fir-beech forests, located in the western (Trnovo), southern (Snežnik), and south-eastern (Kočevski Rog) part of Slovenia, were selected. For details about our study area, see the work of [35]. Before experimental treatments were implemented, environmental conditions (geology, altitude, climate) and properties of forest stands (tree and understory species composition, stand structure) were comparable between the three locations.…”

Gozd in les: 70 let

“…Raziskave, ki so sledile, so dokazale, da stik z naravo in obiskovanje naravnih okolij nudita večji restorativni učinek, kot ga nudijo urbana okolja (Burnard in Kutnar, 2015). Večina teh raziskav je osnovanih na dveh teorijah, ki opredeljujeta psihofiziološko podlago restorativnih izkušenj med izpostavljenostjo naravnim okoljem (de Vries, 2010).…”