Gap dynamics in the Western Carpathian mixed beech old-growth forests affected by spruce bark beetle outbreak

Orman, Olga; Dobrowolska, Dorota

doi:10.1007/s10342-017-1054-3

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Compared with even-aged stands, virgin forests are thought to better withstand natural disasters, such as insect outbreaks, windthrows and severe drought, thanks to the co-occurrence of different development phases which ensure long-term sustainability and continuity of the forest ecosystem (Orman & Dobrowolska 2017). The typical process of identification of development phases in virgin forests can suffer from subjectivity (Feldmann et al 2018), whereas the adoption of quantitative methods to investigate stand dynamics based on repetitive measurements combined with GIS data and stand structural characteristics is required to obtain more precise and reliable results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development phases and structural characteristics of the Penteleu-Viforta virgin forest in the Curvature Carpathians

Chivulescu¹,

Ciceu²,

Leca³

et al. 2020

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The stand structure of a virgin forest situated at an average altitude of 1130 m a.s.l. in the Milea Viforâta Nature Reserve (Southern Carpathians, Romania) was investigated to determine the specific development phases of the forest and understand how they influence the stand structure, with the aim of providing optimal solutions and structural models for sustainable forest management. All trees with breast height diameter (dbh) ≥ 8 cm were inventoried in the study plot (1 ha), and the main dendrometrical variables were measured. Radial increment cores were taken from all the trees and were subsequently processed. A total of 317 trees from three species -European beech (Fagus sylvatica), silver fir (Abies alba) and Norway spruce (Picea abies)were sampled at different development phases (optimum, ageing, breakdown and dieback, rejuvenation). Testing stand structural diversity with the Gini index, a minimal stability was found in the rejuvenation development phase and a maximum stability in the ageing phase. No significant match was found between standard theoretical functions (Normal, Weibull, Gamma and Exponential) and the observed distribution of tree diameter. Also, it was confirmed that dominance of beech in all development phases is a consequence of its high competitive ability and its capacity to endure difficult environmental and biologically stressful conditions. The results revealed a series of structural models specific to these forest ecosystems, which can help managing forests under the selection system.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development phases and structural characteristics of the Penteleu-Viforta virgin forest in the Curvature Carpathians

Chivulescu¹,

Ciceu²,

Leca³

et al. 2020

iForest

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“…Inter-and intra-stand variation in species composition may also play a crucial role, as the vulnerability of fir, spruce and beech to particular disturbance agents differs considerably Schütz et al 2006). For example, larger canopy openings resulting from severe windstorms or a clumped pattern of spruce mortality associated with insect outbreaks are conducive to the formation of patch structures (Korpeľ 1993;Sproull et al 2016;Parobeková et al 2018;Orman and Dobrowolska 2017). In particular, climate warming and associated adaptive changes in species compositions of natural ecosystems acting in the direction of a decreasing proportion of conifer species, especially spruce, may shift disturbance regimes towards more severe ones (Seidl et al 2017).…”

Section: Tree Distribution Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, recently, large-scale surveys and sophisticated analytic tools have been employed to gain insight into these issues. The view emerging from these studies is that the dynamics of natural montane mixed-species forests is driven by disturbances of minor intensity that kill single trees or lead to the death of small groups of trees (Standovár and Kenderes 2003;Splechtna et al 2005;Zeibig et al 2005;Firm et al 2009;Trotsiuk et al 2012;Motta et al 2015;Petritan et al 2015;Orman and Dobrowolska 2017). Severe disturbances occurring in the form of insect outbreaks, wind and/or ice storms are infrequent Jaloviar et al 2017;Janda et al 2017), and the pattern of live canopy tree distribution and their mortality is close-to-random (Szwagrzyk and Czerwczak 1993;von Oheimb et al 2005;Paluch 2007;Šebková et al 2011;Paluch et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dinaric Mountains versus the Western Carpathians: Is structural heterogeneity similar in close-to-primeval Abies–Picea–Fagus forests?

2020

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In this study, we analysed patterns of spatial variation in the basal area of live and dead trees and structural complexity in close-to-primeval forests in the Dinaric Mts. The results were compared with an analogous study conducted in the Western Carpathians. The research was carried out in the Janj, Lom and Perucića forest reserves (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in mixed-species stands of silver fir Abies alba Mill., European beech Fagus sylvatica L. and Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. In the core zones of the reserves, concentric sample plots (154 and 708 m2) were set in a regular 20 × 20 m grid covering approximately 10 ha. The analyses revealed varying distribution patterns of live canopy trees, suggesting that these characteristics may fluctuate to some extent at the regional level. At the spatial scale of 708 m2, attractive associations between dead canopy trees were found, but this tendency disappeared with increasing area. Although stands in the Dinaric Mts. are characterized by an almost twofold greater biomass accumulation compared to those from the Western Carpathians, the study revealed analogous bell-shaped distributions of stand basal areas of live trees and a very similar trend of decreasing variation in stand basal area and structural heterogeneity with increasing spatial scale. Nonetheless, the higher growing stocks, lower ratios of dead to live tree basal area and lower proportion of homogeneous structure types found in the Dinaric Mts. may suggest a less severe disturbance history over recent decades in this region compared to the Western Carpathians.

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“…Hence, forest canopy gaps playing a pivotal role in the long-term germination and regeneration of plant species in some degree. Oliver and Larson (1996) stated that canopy gaps simultaneously result in mortality in some individuals and establishment and growth in others, and the ongoing process of death and replacement has a profound effect on forest structure and composition. Pham et al (2004) showed that Abies balsamea is the most frequent successor in Abies forest stands and that Picea mariana is the most likely replacement species in Picea forest stands, regardless of the species of gap makers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree mortality and regeneration of Euphrates poplar riparian forests along the Tarim River, Northwest China

et al. 2021

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Background Tree mortality and regeneration (seedling and sapling recruitment) are essential components of forest dynamics in arid regions, especially where subjected to serious eco-hydrological problems. In recent decades, the mortality of the Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica) along the Tarim River in Northwest China has increased. However, few studies have quantified the causes of mortality and regeneration in this azonal riparian forest type. Methods The present study describes the annual hydrological response of tree mortality and regeneration in forest gaps. A total of 60 canopy gaps were investigated in six replicate grid plots (50 m × 50 m) and the annual runoff and water consumption data during the period of 1955–2016 were collected from hydrological stations in the middle reaches of the Tarim River. We compared the regeneration density of seedlings and saplings within the canopy gap areas (CGAs), undercanopy areas (UCAs), and uncovered riverbank areas (RBAs) through detailed field investigation. Results Our study found that the mortality of young and middle-aged gap makers has increased remarkably over recent decades, particularly since the year 1996. The main results indicated that regional water scarcity was the primary limiting factor for long-term changes in tree mortality, as shown by a significant correlation between the diameter at breast height (DBH) of dead trees and the annual surface water. The average density (or regeneration rate) of seedlings and saplings was highest in the RBAs, intermediate in the CGAs, and lowest in the UCAs. Compared with the UCAs, the CGAs promote tree regeneration to some extent by providing favorable conditions for the survival and growth of seedlings and saplings, which would otherwise be suppressed in the understory. Furthermore, although the density of seedlings and saplings in the CGAs was not as high as in the RBAs, the survival rate was higher in the CGAs than in the RBAs. Conclusion Forest canopy gaps in floodplain areas can play a decisive role in the long-term germination and regeneration of plant species. However, as a typical phreatophyte in this hyper-arid region, the ecosystem structure, functions and services of this fragile P. euphratica floodplain forests are threatened by a continuous decrease of water resources, due to excessive water use for agricultural irrigation, which has resulted in a severe reduction of intact poplar forests. Furthermore, the survival of seedlings and saplings is influenced by light availability and soil water at the regional scale. Our findings suggest that policymakers may need to reconsider the restoration and regeneration measures implemented in riparian P. euphratica forests to improve flood water efficiency and create canopy gaps. Our results provide with valuable reference information for the conservation and sustainable development of floodplain forest ecosystems.

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Gap dynamics in the Western Carpathian mixed beech old-growth forests affected by spruce bark beetle outbreak

Cited by 22 publications

References 41 publications

Development phases and structural characteristics of the Penteleu-Viforta virgin forest in the Curvature Carpathians

Development phases and structural characteristics of the Penteleu-Viforta virgin forest in the Curvature Carpathians

The Dinaric Mountains versus the Western Carpathians: Is structural heterogeneity similar in close-to-primeval Abies–Picea–Fagus forests?

Tree mortality and regeneration of Euphrates poplar riparian forests along the Tarim River, Northwest China

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