Growth response to thinning in Quercus pyrenaica Willd. coppice stands in Spanish central mountain

Abstract

-This paper presents the growth response of coppice forest of Quercus pyrenaica Willd. to thinnings of different intensities. Four treatments were tested: light, moderate and heavy thinning with respectively 25, 35 and 50% of basal area removed, and no thinning (control). The results obtained show significant differences between treatments for diameter and biomass of the mean tree and for current diameter increment, for the three inventories carried out (1994, 1998, 2002). The largest values for the mean tree were observed with the heaviest thinning treatment. No differences were found between treatments for stand yield (total basal area and biomass). Stand structure appears more regular in thinned plots, reducing the risk of forest fires and increasing the landscape and recreation values and the possibility of silvopastoral use.growth / Mediterranean oak / stand structure / thinning / coppice Résumé -Croissance de taillis de chêne tauzin (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) soumis à différentes intensités d'éclaircie dans la chaîne montagneuse centrale de l'Espagne. Cet article présente la réponse de taillis de chêne tauzins (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) à des éclaircies par le bas de différentes intensités. Au total, quatre traitements ont été appliqués: éclaircie faible, moyenne et forte en enlevant respectivement 25, 35 et 50 % de la surface terrière et un traitement sans éclaircie (contrôle). Les résultats ont mis en évidence des écarts significatifs en ce qui concerne le diamètre et la biomasse de l'arbre moyen et l'accroissement courant du diamètre aux trois dates d'inventaires pratiqués (1994, 1998, 2002): à chacun de ces inventaires, des valeurs plus importantes ont été obtenues pour l'arbre moyen lorsque l'intensité d'éclaircie était la plus forte. Aucun écart significatif entre traitements n'a été observé en ce qui concerne la production totale (surface terrière et biomasse). La structure du peuplement est plus régulière dans les parcelles éclaircies, réduisant par là-même les risques d'incendies et augmentant la valeur paysagère et récréative des peuplements ainsi que leur aptitude au sylvo-pastoralisme. croissance / chêne tauzin / éclaircie / structure du peuplement / taillis

Modeling individual-tree mortality in Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) stands

“…In the case of pyrenean oak stands, the anthropogenic impact from villages located nearby takes the form of recurrent fires, livestock grazing, collection of firewood or poles as well as harvesting of non-timber products (Cañellas et al, 2004). In addition, the regeneration of pyrenean oak generally takes place through stump and/or root sprouting; so stand dynamics differ from those of others species.…”

“…The present model does not capture the U-shape, probably due to the low frequency of trees larger than 50 cm dbh in the data set (160 trees of 4 505 total, 3.5%). This stand structure is due to the management practices applied up to the middle of the last century in this kind of stands, which were managed as either coppices or coppices with standards, by cutting trees every 20 y with subsequent shoot or root regeneration (Cañellas et al, 2004).…”

“…), a widespread tree species in the northwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The increasing interest in the use of this species for either direct production (such as wine barrels or biomass) or indirect production (such as silvopastoral uses, recreation or environmental preservation) justifies the need to develop a dynamic growth model (Adame et al, 2008a;2008b;Cañellas et al, 2004).…”

The effects of thinning on the structural diversity of coppice forests

“…Barbour [4] suggested that thinning could accelerate the development of some features of stand structure found in late seral stage forests. The effects of thinning on yield, diameter distribution, height and diameter growth have been widely studied for coppices [5,6,9,17]. However, although studies have been carried out recently on Q. ilex [13] and Q. pubescens [15], changes in stand structure are not as well documented.…”

Is anticipated seed cutting an effective option to accelerate transition to high forest in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) coppice stands?

“…Moreover, given the role of mountain forests as a defense against natural hazards and for preservation of high-quality water resources, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services have become increasingly important in recent decades (Brunet et al 2010;Scarascia-Mugnozza et al 2000). These considerations supported widespread conversion of many beech coppices into high forests, as commonly observed in many European countries and forest tree species (Cañellas et al 2004;Di Matteo et al 2010;Van Calster et al 2007). This was motivated by a reputation of high forests as a provider of more productive and ecologically functional stands.…”