Height competition between Quercus petraea and Fagus sylvatica natural regeneration in mixed and uneven-aged stands

Ligot, Gauthier; Balandier, Philippe; Fayolle, Adeline; Lejeune, Philippe; Claessens, Hugues

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2013.05.050

Cited by 78 publications

(109 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The competitive advantage of beech may result from its shade tolerance (Ligot et al, 2013) and specific root development (Leuschner et al, 2001), but here we demonstrate that genetic diversity and the degree to which it is transferred from adults to offspring may also favor beech, as compared to oak. At first sight, oak shows greater genetic diversity than beech (Tables 1 and 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…However, the future status of beech and oak forests affected by climate changes remains unclear and it is currently under intensive debate (Geßler et al, 2006;Kramer et al, 2010;Czucz et al, 2011;Scharnweber et al, 2011;Mette et al, 2013;Zimmermann et al, 2015). Succession from oak-to beech-dominated forest stands is often observed (Rohner et al, 2012;Petritan et al, 2014), but this process is usually long and complex, involving a variable pattern of competition for light, moisture and nutrient resources at the stage of regeneration, but also a variable pattern of mortality of senescent individuals (Vera et al, 2006;Bontemps et al, 2012;Ligot et al, 2013). However, the role of genetic diversity in the succession process is largely unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic Insights into Ecological Succession from Oak- (Quercus robur L.) to Beech- (Fagus sylvatica L.) Dominated Forest Stands

Sandurska¹,

Ulaszewski²,

Burczyk³

2017

Acta Biologica Cracoviensia S. Botanica

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Genetic diversity is often considered a major determinant of long term population persistence and its potential to adapt to variable environmental conditions. The ability of populations to maintain their genetic diversity across generations seems to be a major prerequisite for their sustainability, which is particularly important for keystone forest tree species. However, little is known about genetic consequences of demographic alterations occurring during natural processes of ecological succession involving changes in the species composition. Using microsatellites, we investigated genetic diversity of adult and offspring generations in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) populations coexisting in a naturally established old-growth forest stand, showing some symptoms of ongoing ecological succession from oak-to beech-dominated forest. In general, adult generations of both species exhibited high levels of genetic diversity (0.657 for beech; 0.821 for oak), which, however, depended on the sets of selected genetic markers. Nevertheless, several symptoms such as differences in genetic diversity indices between generations, significant levels of inbreeding (up to 0.029) and low estimates of effective population size (48-80) confirmed the declining status of the oak population. On the other hand, the uniform distribution of genetic diversity indices across generations, low levels of inbreeding (0.004), low genetic differentiation among adults and offspring and, most importantly, large estimates of effective population size (119-716), all supported beech as a successive and successful tree species in the studied forest stand.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Insights into Ecological Succession from Oak- (Quercus robur L.) to Beech- (Fagus sylvatica L.) Dominated Forest Stands

Sandurska¹,

Ulaszewski²,

Burczyk³

2017

Acta Biologica Cracoviensia S. Botanica

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“…Uneven-aged stands harboring trees of different sizes and ages can only persist if sufficient light reaches seedlings at least in scattered patches in the forest understory. Furthermore, the coexistence of different tree species can only be ensured if the variability in understory light is sufficient for all species to be able to survive, grow and reproduce (Ameztegui and Coll, 2011;Ligot et al, 2013). The exact needs in terms of variablity in light availability ultimately depend on the interspecific range of shade tolerances (Kobe et al, 1995), but the greater the variability in understory light conditions, the greater the opportunities for multiple species to regenerate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree light capture and spatial variability of understory light increase with species mixing and tree size heterogeneity

et al. 2016

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Mixed and multi-layered forest ecosystems are sometimes more productive than monospecific and single-layered ones. It has been suggested that trees of different species and sizes occupy complementary positions in space which would act as a mechanism to increase canopy light interception and wood production. However, greater canopy light interception reduces the average amount and variability of transmitted radiation offering fewer opportunities for all species to regenerate and to maintain forest heterogeneity in the long run. We investigated whether increasing overstory heterogeneity indeed results in greater canopy light interception and lower variability in transmittance. We modeled the three-dimensional structure of forest stands with three typical forest structures, 10 mixtures of four tree species, and three different basal areas. We used the forest light interception model SAMSARALIGHT and performed three-way analyses of covariance to analyze the effects of the three varied components of forest heterogeneity. We found no evidence that increasing structural heterogeneity increases canopy light interception. However, the light interception by mixed canopies was greater than the weighted average of light interception by the corresponding pure canopies. Variability in transmittance increased in some cases with compositional heterogeneity and, to a lesser extent, with tree size inequalities. The advantage of heterogeneous forests is in opportunities for natural regeneration as well as in opportunities to enhance canopy light interception.

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“…In that sense, low values of SD founded in SA-4 and SB-4 (1.5 cm) can be conthe highest values of NRD were detected (respectively, 6.2 and 10 seedlings m -2 ) and so the stand can be considered well regenerated and therefore able to perpetuate itself, as well as report Kelly (2002), Ádám et al (2013) and Ligot et al (2013) for sessile oak stands and Aronson et al (2009) for cork oak stands. Overgrazing and human disturbances (such as the removal of dead wood and illegal cuts) lead to the depletion of the floristic composition and the presence of synanthropic species such as Asphodelus ramosus L., Urtica dioica L. e Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn detected in SA-4 and SB-4 where NR is absent.…”

Section: Site Analysismentioning

confidence: 82%

An index for the assessment of degraded Mediterranean forest ecosystems

2015

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Aim of study: Diagnosing the degradation degree of forest ecosystems is the basis for restoration strategies. However, there is no literature documenting how to quantify the forest degradation degree by using synthetic indicators, also because there is not a widely accepted definition for "forest degradation" and "degraded forest". Although there are many definitions of forest degradation that converge on the loss of ecosystem services, still today there are no largely accepted methods that give operational guidance to help in defining it. In the present research, with the aim to assess the degree of forest degradation, an integrated index -FDI, Forest Degradation Index -was developed.Area of study: In this first application, the FDI was applied and validated at stand level in two different Mediterranean forest types in two different case studies: Madonie and Nedrodi regional Parks (Sicily, Italy). The first dominated by sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. subsp. austrotyrrhenica Brullo, Guarino & Siracusa], the second dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber L.).Material and methods: FDI is a synthetic index structured starting from representative and relatively easily detectable parameters. Here, we propose a set of six indicators that should be assessed to determine the forest degradation: Structural Index (SI), Canopy Cover (CC), Natural Regeneration Density (NRD), Focal Species of Degradation (FSD), Coarse Woody Debris (CWD), and Soil Depth (SD). FDI, here proposed and discussed, has been based on a MCDA (Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis) approach using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, and implemented in order to contribute in finding simple indicators useful for forest restoration purposes that have an eco-functional basis.Main results: An integrated index of forest degradation has been defined. FDI values are comprised in the closed interval [0, 10], ranging from class I (Higher ecological functionality) to class IV (Lower ecological functionality). A forest fallen in the FDI-IV class can be defined degraded. In this first application, degradation occurs in SA-4 and in SB-4 where the lowest values (qualitative and quantitative) of the indicators were recorded and the FDI reach the minimum value.Research highlights: FDI has proved to be a useful tool at stand level in identifying a threshold value below which a forest can be termed as 'degraded'. In turn, FDI assumes the meaning of descriptor of the ecological functionality. Future development of the FDI will provide an extension of the application at landscape scale exploiting the potential advantages in coupling MCDA and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) techniques.

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Height competition between Quercus petraea and Fagus sylvatica natural regeneration in mixed and uneven-aged stands

Cited by 78 publications

References 46 publications

Genetic Insights into Ecological Succession from Oak- (Quercus robur L.) to Beech- (Fagus sylvatica L.) Dominated Forest Stands

Genetic Insights into Ecological Succession from Oak- (Quercus robur L.) to Beech- (Fagus sylvatica L.) Dominated Forest Stands

Tree light capture and spatial variability of understory light increase with species mixing and tree size heterogeneity

An index for the assessment of degraded Mediterranean forest ecosystems

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