Stand structure and biodiversity in mixed, uneven-aged coniferous forests in the eastern Alps

Bagnaresi, U.; Giannini, Raffaello; Grassi, Giacomo; Minotta, Gianfranco; Paffetti, Donatella; Prato, Ermelinda; Placidi, A. M. P.

doi:10.1093/forestry/75.4.357

Cited by 32 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Both the intensity and the fre quency of the disturbance factors, from natu ral or anthropic origin, are the basis of the evolutionary dynamics of forest stands and, therefore, of their structural heterogeneity. Similarly, silviculture influences the forest dynamics through modifications of the stands in terms of structure and species com position (Oliver & Larson 1996, Bagnaresi et al 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy)

Bianchi¹,

Bottacci²,

Calamini³

et al. 2011

iForest

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Sasso Fratino Nature Reserve (National Park of Casentino Forests, northern Apennines) is a quite rare example of natural Apennine forest. The Reserve was established in 1959, aiming to protect a forest, although not a virgin one, low-intensively disturbed in the past by comparison with other neighbouring stands. Causes of such a low disturbance are the very limited accessibility of the area due to the very steep slopes characterising the site morphology, as well as historical features. The forest is a pure beech stand from 1250 m a.s.l. upwards, below this altitude is a mixed beech and silver fir forest. The study focuses on the understanding of the processes driving the evolution of the forest in the absence of human activities. To achieve this goal, 9 permanent, long-term research plots were established at different altitudes, in order to investigate on forest dynamics and regeneration processes. Simplified (single-layer) stand structures are more frequent where canopy gaps are absent. Two-layered structures are the result of the occurrence of canopy gaps, which allow the settlement, and subsequently the establishment, of a lower regeneration layer. Where the gap dimensions allow canopy closure, this kind of structure persists. When the gaps are quite large, the regeneration layer reaches the top layer and the structure stand tends, once more, toward a single-layer. Multilayered structures are extremely rare at plot level and become evident only at a wider scale. Our surveys indicate also a high variability of tree diameter distribution patterns in the forest stands. Such variability could be strictly related to the heterogeneity of site characteristics as well as to the effects of disturbance factors (both natural and anthropic). Concerning altitude, we observed an increase both of site index (dominant height) and species diversity in the regeneration layer, moving from higher (1500 m) to lower (900 m) altitudes. As a whole, our observations show that the dynamics of forest vegetation in the reserve is mostly affected by the interruption of tree canopy continuity. This implies substantial local variations of PAR in space and in time, which determine favourable ecological conditions for: (a) survival and growth of beech seedlings, or release of advanced beech regeneration; and (b) release of advanced silver fir regeneration (fir, more shade tolerant than beech, regenerates mainly in locations and conditions where the broadleaf saplings cannot survive for lack of light). The knowledge of the mechanisms of vegetation dynamics in the Reserve can be used to form the basis of close-to-nature silvicultural choices in similar stands in order to increase functionality and stability. Periodical monitoring of RNI will allow the investigation of the evolutionary trends of the forest stands

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy)

Bianchi¹,

Bottacci²,

Calamini³

et al. 2011

iForest

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“…The average annual rainfall of this area ranges from 1100 to 1500 mm, with a maximum in summer-autumn and a minimum during the winter; the average temperature ranges from 16°C (July) to -3°C (January) at 1300 m asl and from 13°C (July) to -5°C (January) at 1900 m asl. Stands in Comelico are managed through a silvicultural system ranging from single-tree selection cutting to irregular group shelterwood, which leads to irregular spatial distribution of the tree crowns even at small scales [3]. The stand examined in this study can be described as "Abietetum on silicate soils" [9].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of light and competition on crown and shoot morphological parameters of Norway spruce and silver fir saplings

Grassi

Giannini²

2005

Ann. For. Sci.

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-The effects of a natural gradient of light and competition on crown, shoot and needle morphology of naturally regenerated Norway spruce (Picea abies) and silver fir (Abies alba) saplings, 0.8-0.2 m tall, were analyzed in a uneven-aged, managed stand in Comelico (eastern Italian Alps). The results indicate that: (i) both crown, shoot and needle morphology are strongly affected by light, but in the examined conditions (relative irradiance ranging from 2 to 32%) no significant effect of competition was observed, (ii) the ecological differences between Norway spruce and silver fir saplings cannot be mainly attributable to differences in crown morphological traits, and (iii) the apical dominance ratio (i.e., the length of the apical leader divided by the mean length of the lateral shoots at the last node) is a relatively good and simple indicator of the light conditions in which saplings are growing. These informations may be useful in order to promote and assure effectively natural regeneration. . Les résultats obtenus montrent que : (i) couronne, pousse et morphologie des aiguilles sont fortement affectées par la lumière, mais dans les conditions étudiées (éclairement relatif variant de 2 à 32 %) il n'a pas été observé d'effet significatif de la compétition ; (ii) les différences écologiques entre les plants d'épicéa et de sapin pectiné ne peuvent pas être attribuées principalement à des différences dans les caractéristiques morphologiques de la couronne ; (iii) le ratio de dominance apicale (i.e., longueur de la pousse terminale de la flèche divisée par la longueur moyenne des pousses latérales du dernier verticille) est relativement un bon et simple index des conditions de lumière dans lesquelles poussent les plans. Cette information peut être utile pour promouvoir et assurer efficacement une régénération naturelle. lumière / compétition / croissance / morphologie de la couronne / morphologie de la pousse

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“…In contrast, SMI is based on three stand characteristics which are easy to obtain: tree species, stand age and growing stock, which is heavily influenced by logging intensity. Interactions of the three factors are known to be of major importance for biodiversity issues (Bengtsson et al 2000;Bagnaresi et al 2002;Atlegrim and Sjöberg 2004;Ishii et al 2004;Eriksson and Hammer 2006;Schroeder 2007;Wilson and Puettmann 2007;Rosenvald and Lõhmus 2008;Smith et al 2008;Michel and Winter 2009;Felton et al 2010;Quine and Humphrey 2010).…”

Section: Smi and Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

How to quantify forest management intensity in Central European forests

2013

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Existing approaches for the assessment of forest management intensity lack a widely accepted, purely quantitative measure for ranking a set of forest stands along a gradient of management intensity. We have developed a silvicultural management intensity indicator (SMI) which combines three main characteristics of a given stand: tree species, stand age and aboveground, living and dead wooden biomass. Data on these three factors are used as input to represent the risk of stand loss, which is a function of tree species and stand age, and stand density, which is a function of the silvicultural regime, stand age and tree species. Consequently, the indicator consists of a risk component (SMI r ) and a density component (SMI d ). We used SMI to rank traditional management of the main Central European tree species: Norway spruce (Picea abies [Karst.] L.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and oak (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea L.). By analysing SMI over their whole rotation period, we found the following ranking of management intensity: oak\beech\pine(spruce. Additionally, we quantified the SMI of actual research plots of the German Biodiversity exploratories, which represent unmanaged and managed forest stands including conifer forests cultivated outside their natural range. SMI not only successfully separate managed from unmanaged forests, but also reflected the variability of forest management and stand properties across the entire sample and within the different management groups. We suggest using SMI to quantify silvicultual management intensity of stands differing in species composition, age, silvicultural system (even-aged vs. uneven-aged), thinning grade and stages of stand conversion from one stand type into another. Using SMI may facilitate the assessment of the impact of forest management intensity on biodiversity in temperate forests.

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Stand structure and biodiversity in mixed, uneven-aged coniferous forests in the eastern Alps

Cited by 32 publications

References 8 publications

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy)

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy)

Influence of light and competition on crown and shoot morphological parameters of Norway spruce and silver fir saplings

How to quantify forest management intensity in Central European forests

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