Conservation of Biodiversity, Forest Resources and Ecosystem Services
June 2
ndto 9
th, 2013 L’viv, Ukraine
Abstracts
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Conservation of Biodiversity, Forest Resources and Ecosystem Services
June 2
ndto 9
th, 2013 L’viv, Ukraine
Abstracts
Diaci Jurij, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hamor Fedir Dmytrovych, Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Rakhiv, Ukraine Jonsson Bengt Gunnar, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden Keeton William S., University of Vermont, Burlington, USA
Krynytskyy Hryhoriy, Ukrainian National Forestry University, L’viv, Ukraine
Nadyeina Olga, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine Piovesan Gianluca, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
Layout
Jacqueline Annen, WSL
We acknowledge financial support from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, SERI, Switzerland.
The authors are responsible for the content and style of the contribution.
Recommended form of citation
Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 2013: International Conference Primeval Beech Forests
Reference Systems for the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity, Forest Resources and Ecosystem Services. June 2nd to 9th, 2013 Lviv, Ukraine. Abstracts. Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 144 pp.
PDF-Download: www.wsl.ch/publikationen/pdf/12499.pdf
Swiss Federal Institue for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland 2013
3
Opening Session 5
1 Primeval beech forests: Biodiversity sanctuaries or refuges
Symposia 1 12
2 Structure, composition and dynamics of primeval forests
Symposia 2A 24
Symposia 2B 34
Symposia 2C 41
3 Sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation: Integrative and segregative approaches and restoration
Symposia 3E 52
Symposia 3F 62
Symposia 3G 69
4 The future of European beech forests
Symposia 4 76
Poster 87
Index Oral Presentations and Posters 131
Program 138
5
6
World Heritage Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians as Symbol of the Ecological European Unity
Hamor, Fedir Dmytrovych
Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine
In terms of historical retrospective, speaking about conservation of the Carpathian beech primeval forests and turning them into a real international natural science lab, on the first place we have to recall an important role of people who have started this process. First, it refers to a Crown Prince of Austro-Hungarian monarchy Rudolph and a Swiss forestry engineer Konrad Roth; a Czech professor Alois Zlatnik and Slovak author of the monography “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians” Stefan Korpel; the director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Mario Broggi, and many Ukrainian scientists and nature conservationists.
Secondly, the inclusion of the Carpathian primeval beech forests in the Ukrainian-German-Slovak nomination came true due to the author of these lines and Slovakian researchers Ivan Voloshchuk and William Pichler, German professors Peter Schmidt, Harald Plachter, Hans D. Knapp, Pierre Ibish, the IUCN expert David Mihalyk, and supported by the governments of Ukraine, Slovakia and Germany.
Listing on the UNESCO World Heritage List has opened great opportunities for international cooperation, in particular the scientific one.
For solving the problems of the primeval forests’ conservation and research, the implementation of different international projects played a great role, including the Ukrainian-Swiss Institutional Partnership (2005–2013 years), the Ukrainian-Dutch Primeval Forest Inventory of Transcarpathia (2006–2008 years), the Ukrainian-German “Carpathian Biosphere Reserve: challenges and solutions for protected area management in the Ukrainian Transcarpathia” (2009–2011.), the German-Ukrainian-Slovak
“Primeval Beech Forests as the World Heritage Property – sustainable management of adjacent areas in Ukraine and Slovakia” (2011–2012 years), and others.
Finally, the results of activities based on the beech primeval forests are bringing many positive socio- economic impacts for the region. In particular: Ukraine has implemented a large-scale project on sustainable forest management in Transcarpathia (FORZA); special regulations for the protection of primeval forests and forest biodiversity have been included into the legislation etc. Due to our initiative, the Transcarpathian Regional Council decided to resolve the problems of sustainable development and improvement of mountain settlements located in the zone of the Ukrainian part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Ancient Neech Forests of Germany”.
But most important is that the European process of preserving beech forests has been started. And today, it is already possible to say that using the principles of public diplomacy, primeval beech forests are the symbol of ecological unity in Europe.
Paper-ID: 254
7
Primeval Forest Reserves in the Ukrainian Carpathians: History of their Establishment
Stoyko, Stefan
Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
In the pre-agricultural period, natural forests occupied 95% of the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians (37 000 km2 area, 180 km wide, maximum altitude 2061 m). The most intensive felling of these forests started in the 1860s and 1870s, when railway lines were built over the Uzhotsky, Veretsky and Yablunytsky passes, providing the opportunity for wood transport to the European markets. Continuing felling has reduced the forest cover in the region to presently less than 50%. Between 1908 and 1913, Hungarian foresters promoted the idea of creating 2 small primeval forest reserves in the Beskid mountains to preserve the virgin forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians: the Fageto Abietum reserve Tikhyy and the Fagetum sylvaticae reserve Yasin (Foldvary 1931).
From 1936–1938, the Czech botanist A. Zlatnik (1938) carried out ecological studies in virgin forests of Transcarpathia and increased the area of virgin forest reserves in the Yavirnyk (Fagetum sylvatice) and Pip Ivan (Piceetum abietis) mountains. Further virgin forest reserves were initiated by the Polish botanist W. Szafer: an Abieto-Fagetum-taxosum reserve in 1913 on the Northern megaslope of the Carpathians in the Dnister river basin and a Piceetum abietis reserve (832 ha) in the Chornohora mountain. Another botanist, Sz. Wierdak (1923), created a Fageto-Piceetum reserve (2.6 ha) with Hungarian lilac Syringa josikaea in the Stryy river basin. In 1934, suggested by the Head of the Greek-Catholic church A.
Sheptytsky, a Cembreto-Piceetum virgin forest reserve (255 ha) was created in Gorgans.
In order to preserve the virgin forests ecosystems, the government of Ukraine created the Carpathian biosphere reserve (57 880 ha), 7 national natural parks, and 1 zapovidnyk (strict protection). 29 279 ha of beech virgin forests have been found in the Ukrainian and Slovakian Carpathians. In 2007, the
“Primeval Beech Forest of the Carpathians” were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
8
A Global Perspective on Old-growth Forest Restoration and Silviculture:
Learning Through Shared Experience
Keeton, William S.1; Franklin, Jerry F.2; Burrascano, Sabina3; Karabchuk, Dmytro4
1 University of Vermont, United States of America
2 University of Washington, United States of America
3 Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
4 Ukrainian National Forestry University, Ukraine
Restoration of old-growth forest characteristics is an objective shared throughout many regions of the temperate forest biome. In Europe, reestablishing elements of stand structural complexity that were once widespread in primary beech and spruce-fir forest types is gaining acceptance. For example, in the Carpathian Mountain region researchers have experimented with silvicultural techniques designed to convert intensively managed spruce plantations to site-endemic beech and mix species compositions, and with the long-term objective of promoting structural complexity. European forest scientists are not alone in this endeavor. Similar approaches have been tested in many regions globally.
Often termed “disturbance-based” or “natural dynamics” silviculture,” these systems are grounded in the science of disturbance ecology, biological legacies, and stand development. In this paper we will argue there is an opportunity to share information across regions and learn from our collective experiences. The talk will provide a global perspective on old-growth silviculture with direct application to European beech systems. Systems developed abroad but transferrable to Europe include variable retention harvesting, expanding gap with legacy structure, irregular shelterwood method, and Structural Complexity Enhancement (SCE). These will be compared against “close-to-nature” silviculture developed in Europe. The talk will draw heavily on research conducted in Vermont, USA, where SCE has been tested in a long-term experimental study. This has investigated effects on rates of late-successional forest structural development, including vertically differentiated canopies, horizontal heterogeneity, large tree recruitment, and coarse woody debris. SCE has proven effective for carbon management and for enhancing populations of late-successional species, including herpetofauna, herbaceous plants, and fungi. Our recent simulation modeling using data from beech forests in western Ukraine indicates similar potential for systems employed there. This body of research suggests significant promise for restoration of old-growth beech forests and ecological co-benefits, such as carbon and biodiversity, though global change poses considerable risks and uncertainties.
Keywords: Old-growth forest restoration, structural complexity enhancement, close to nature silviculture, carbon, biodiversity
Paper-ID: 118
9
European beech forest regions and the potential for a complete serial transnational nomination to the World Heritage List
Knapp, Hans Dieter; Mund, Jan-Peter; Sauermann, Julia; Waldherr, Marcus; Ibisch, Pierre
The World Heritage Committee approved the extension of the “Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians, Slovakia and Ukraine” to include the “Ancient Beech Forests of Germany” at the 35th session in June 2011 in Paris. It recommended continuing the process together with other interested countries and working towards a finite serial transnational nomination of European beech forests.European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) occurs as a more or less dominant tree at very diverse sites, at poor and acid as well as at rich and basic soils, on sand dunes and loam as well as on slate rocks or limestone. Apart from moisture there are hardly any edaphic limitations. Beech forests would dominate the primary
‘wilderness’ in Central Europe. As wide-spread mature ecosystem they are a special phenomenon on the continent of Europe and shape diverse landscapes from the sea shore up to the upper timber line in the principal European mountains.For interpretation and understanding of the vast distribution range of beech forests in Europe, as well for the definition of the geographical scope of a “complete nomination”, an eco-geographical regionalization is suggested. It is based on the map of natural vegetation of Europe and on the distribution map of Fagus sylvatica, taking into account the plant-geographical division and the terrestrial eco-regions of Europe. Eleven “Beech Forest Regions” are distinguished: Pyrenaic, Central Mediterranean, Illyric, Moesian-Balcanic, Subatlantic-Hercynic, Alpic, Pannonic, Carpathian, Atlantic, Baltic, Polonic-Podolic-Moldavan, and Euxinic (with F. orientalis).The scope for a finite and complete serial transnational nomination is limited by the few remnants of primeval/ancient beech forests, but it should involve the best remaining examples of all bio-geographical beech forest regions.
10
Population Dynamics in Highly Fragmented Landscapes
Ovaskainen, Otso
University of Helsinki, Finland
Habitat loss is globally one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. However, it is often difficult to assess which component of habitat loss eventually drives populations to extinction – loss of habitat area, quality, connectivity or continuity – and at which spatial and temporal scales. I review theoretical and empirical studies examining how species communities respond to habitat loss and fragmentation. In particular, I ask how the underlying processes, such as individual movements, demographic and genetic viability of local populations, as well as species interactions, are modified by landscape structure. Key concepts to be discussed include the extinction threshold (critical level of habitat loss and fragmentation below which a species is expected to go to extinct) and the extinction debt (the number of species that are currently below their extinction threshold but have not gone extinct yet). Finally, I present the research plan of an international (Finland-Norway-Ukraine) project which addresses the influence of landscape fragmentation to fungal biodiversity in Ukrainian Carpathians.
Keywords: habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, extinction threshold, extinction debt, population viability Paper-ID: 127
11
12
Symposia 1
Oral presentations
Fungicolous fungi of Primeval Beech and Spruce Forests of Ukrainian Carpathians and Perspectives of Their In-depth Study
Akulov, Olexander Yu
V.N. Karasin National University of Kharkiv, Ukraine
Fungicolous fungi is a large ecological group of fungi that inhabit other fungi (Gams et al. 2004). The term “fungicolous” covers all forms of relationships between partner’s fungi: neutralism, saprotrophy, commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism in various forms (Jeffries, Young 1994; Dighton et al. 2005).
According to the degree of specialization these fungi can be divided into fungicolous in a narrow sense (that can to develop solely on other fungi), facultative fungicolous fungi (prefer fungi, but can colonize other substrates), as well as polyphagous fungi (that may occur on different substrates, including fungi) (Arnold, 1971).Because of the unique biological characteristics and extraordinary taxonomic diversity, fungicolous fungi remain insufficiently studied in comparison with other ecological groups. According to Gams et al. (2004), at present, in total about 900 species of specialized fungicolous fungi are described, among which 643 are sporocarp-inhabiting (colonize fruit bodies of macromycetes). However, there is no doubt that their real species richness is much higher.During our expeditions to primeval beech and spruce forests of Ukrainian Carpathians (Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Natural Reserve “Gorgany”, National Nature Park “Synevir”, 2010–2012) more than a hundred species of sporocarp-inhabiting fungicolous fungi were identified. Among them there is a number of species rare at the European scale.
The presence of unique records together with high rates of fungicolous fungi species richness and abundance in the studied forests, in comparison with other regions of Ukraine, makes them a “hot spot” of fungal diversity. We believe that this group of fungi in primeval beech and spruce forests of Ukrainian Carpathians is a very promising object for deep mycofloristic and environmental research.
Keywords: Fungicolous fungi, Biodiversity, Carpathians, Ukraine
Paper-ID: 149
13
Effect of canopy gaps on species assemblages of saproxylic beetles in the Uholka Primeval Forest, Ukraine
Chumak, Maksym2; Lachat, Thibault1
1 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
2 Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians, L’viv, Ukraine
Forest gaps with large amounts of dead wood are lacking in managed forests, whereas they are one of the major structural elements in primary forests. They are heavily influenced by natural dynamics and provide habitat for the species communities especially of saproxylic species. In the Primeval Beech Forest of Uholka, we studied the effect of canopy gaps on saproxylic insect communities and tried to find out which parameters influence most this species group. Insects were sampled with flight interception and barber traps during the vegetation season from May to October in 2011 and 2012. In every canopy gap, a triplet of traps was installed in the center, at the edge and in the adjacent closed forest. Various ecological variables were also measured on the sampling sites such as deadwood, canopy openness, temperature, microhabitats, as well as tree regeneration. These ecological variables will serve to analyze insect data and to understand which parameters influence their abundance, diversity and community composition. As insect activity increases with sun exposure and temperature, we expect a higher species diversity and abundance in the canopy gaps than in closed forest. Furthermore, we will also determine some indicator species for canopy gaps, as we expect that some species are restricted to one single habitat.In the frame of this conference, we present preliminary results of our study. These results could be of interest for forest managers willing to improve the habitat conditions for saproxylic species, as tree felling might mimic the effect of natural canopy gaps if some dead wood is retained in the forest after logging. Further analyses of our data and studies in managed forest will be necessary to establish conservation standards.
Keywords: Saproxylic beetles, canopy gaps, biodiversity conservation, primeval beech forest
14
Environmental and Forest-Stand Variables Determining Epiphytic Lichen Diversity in a Primeval Beech Forest of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
Dymytrova, Lyudmyla; Nadyeina, Olga; Hobi, Martina; Scheidegger, Christoph
1 M.H. Kholodny Institute of Botany NASU, Ukraine
2 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
The Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhanskyi Massif of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (ca 10 000 ha) is the largest primeval beech forest of Europe which is UNESCO’S World Heritage. The aim of this research was to assess the diversity of epiphytic lichens in this massif and to study the relationship between environmental variables and lichen richness in primeval beech forests. A total of 294 systematically arranged forest inventory plots were studied and 203 epiphytic lichens were recorded. Among them 13 species are included in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and 80 species belong to indicators of woodland key habitats. Buellia chloroleuca, Lecanora strobilina, Ramonia luteola, Rinodina capensis, Thelopsis flaveola, Usnea wasmuthii and Wadeana dendrographa are new to Ukraine. The lichen species diversity at plot level in this primeval beech forest was mainly affected by climatic and topographic factors whereas forest-stand variables (developmental stage of forest stand, canopy closure and mean DBH) were less important. The most important factor determining lichen species richness was altitude.
Canopy closure reflecting different interdependent variables (solar radiation, humidity and forest age) has a strong influence on lichen species pattern. The amount of lying deadwood at studied plots does not significantly affect the lichen species richness in beech forest. Lichen species composition only slightly depended on the developmental stage of forest stands because at each plot trees of different age were mixed, which caused a high diversity of lichens with a wide range of ecological amplitudes.
The high richness of rare and threatened in Europe lichens recorded in the Uholsko-Shyrokoluhanskyi primeval forest underlines a high value of this area for the conservation of epiphytic lichens. Further studies are needed to analyse the influence of forest-stand variables at tree level on lichen species richness in an area where the effects of altitudinal gradients are less dominant.
Keywords: lichen diversity, virgin beech forest, environmental factors, Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhanskyi Massif Paper-ID: 143
15
Evaluation of biodiversity on dead wood in primeval beech forests in Europe:
Wood-inhabiting fungi
Heilmann-Clausen, Jacob1; Christensen, Morten9; Bässler, Claus2; Walleyn, Ruben10; Adamcík, Slavomír3; Ódor, Peter4; Aude, Erik5; van Dort, Klaas6; Fritz, Örjan7; Frederiksen, Rasmus Fuglsang8
1 Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Nationalpark Bavarian Forest, Germany
3 Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Slovakia
4 MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Hungary
5 HabitatVision, Denmark
6 Forestfun, the Netherlands
7 Naturcentrum, Sweden
8 Mariagerfjord kommune, Denmark
9 Grontmij, Denmark
10 Institute for Forestry and Game Management, Belgium
Fungi are the principal agents of wood decay in European beech forests, and many fungal species are fully dependent on dead wood. The scarcity of dead wood in managed forests has hence resulted in a strong decline for wood-inhabiting fungi, and many species are now very rare or local, and dependent on old growth forest reserves for survival. In order to investigate the importance of climate and long term landscape history for wood inhabiting fungi on beech, we are currently exploring natural reference sites across Europe. So far forest reserves in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden have been explored by our group, and communities of wood-inhabiting macrofungi have been investigated using standard sampling protocols.Our preliminary results show that fungal communities on beech are structured by a common successional gradient related to wood decay stage across Europe. Thus, a relatively limited set of species are dominating fungal communities on beech logs at the continental scale, and each of these species have fairly similar appearance patterns in the decay succession across Europe. However, distinct geographical differences in community composition are also evident, and seem to relate to both climate and landscape history.
Reserves in the Carpathians appear to be hotspots for rare specialists reflecting the relatively high naturalness of beech forests in this region. Beech forest reserves of southern Europe (Spain and Italy) appear to support some interesting species absent from other regions, while reserves in NW Europe are generally showing impoverished fungal communities, probably reflecting dead wood continuity gaps in the past.
Keywords: biodiversity, biogeography, dead wood, fungi, landscape history
16
Lobaria pulmonaria has a Complex Genetic Structure in a Primeval Beech Forest Landscape of the Carpathians (Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh, Ukraine)
Nadyeina, Olga Volodymyrivna1,2; Dymyrtova, Lyudmyla Volodymyrivna1,2; Naumovych, Hanna Olexiivna3; Postoialkin, Sergiy Viktorovych3; Scheidegger, Christoph2
1 M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine
2 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
3 Kherson State University, Ukraine
Lobaria pulmonaria is a widespread, but regionally threatened epiphytic lichen species with special habitat requirements to old-growth and primeval forests. The species is suffering a strong decline in managed forest landscapes in Europe and North America. Our study aimed an investigating population genetics of L. pulmonaria in one of European largest primeval beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest. We visited 314 systematically arranged plots on 10 282 ha and found L. pulmonaria on 29 plots only (9%).
Trees with L. pulmonaria were found in floodplains along the small streams (350–900 m alt.) and in relatively open forest sites on the mountain ridges close to the timberline (900–1350 m alt.). Large tree diameters at the plot level explained the occurrence of L. pulmonaria in the study area. For the genetic analyses we included a total of 1522 thalli fragments of L. pulmonaria sampled from 484 trees, which were collected within and outside of the forest inventory plots. Lobaria pulmonaria samples were genetically investigated with symbiont-specific microsatellite markers for the fungal and algal partner of the lichen. We found higher level of genotype diversity at the tree level and at short distances in the whole forest massif compared to managed forests in other parts of Europe. Genetic population structure revealed two distinct genepools for both symbionts, respectively. One fungal genepool was confined to mountain ridges and the second cluster was concentrated along floodplain forests where it spanned a long altitudinal gradient from the bottom of the valleys up to the headwaters close to a timberline. We found a significant association between fungal and algal genepools. This indicates ecological differentiation of the two respective genepools of L. pulmonaria. Our studies found a genetic signature of primeval beech forest landscapes, which is not maintained in managed forests.
Keywords: epiphytic lichen, genetic pattern, Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh
Paper-ID: 142
17
Evaluation of biodiversity on dead wood in primeval beech forests in Europe:
Bryophytes
Ódor, Péter1; Aude, Erik2; van Dort, Klaas W.3; Fritz, Örjan4; Frederiksen, Rasmus F.5; Heilmann-Clausen, Jacob6; Christensen, Morten7; Walleyn, Ruben†; Bässler, Claus8; Adamcik, Slavomir9
1 MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Hungary
2 HabitatVision, Denmark
3 Forestfun Ecologisch Adviesbureau, the Netherlands
4 Naturvardsbiolog pa Naturcentrum AB, Sweden
5 Mariagerfjord Kommune, Denmark
6 University of Copenhagen, Denmark
7 Grontmij, Denmark
8 Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
9 Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
Composition and diversity of bryophytes occurring on dead wood and trunks of living trees were evaluated in European beech forests. Some of the best beech forest reserves were visited across Europe including the following countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands. In total, more than 2000 logs have been investigated in 54 reserves. Compositional and diversity pattern, representation of specialist epixylic and epiphytic species and species of conservation concern were explored.The studied forest reserves were different according to climate, forest history and substrate availability (dead wood conditions, tree species composition). At the European scale the species composition of the main biogeographical regions considerably differs. These biogeographical differences were very pronounced for epiphytic species.
Specialist epixylic species showed the highest diversity in the mountain beech-fir forests of Central Europe (Carpathians and Alps) and the Dinaric Mountains. This regions are biodiversity hot-spots for epixylic bryophytes. Occurrence of these species is limited by broken forest and dead wood continuity in the Atlantic region and by climatic factors (mainly hot summers) in some mediterranean (e.g. Italy, Bulgaria) and continental (e.g. Hungary) regions. Comparing similar patterns of saproxylic fungi, for bryophytes large scale biogeographical patterns were more pronounced and local dead wood conditions were less determinant.Although the evaluation was extensive and there were some geographical gaps in this study, it is the first attempt for the exploration of the main gradients of this organism groups in the range of European beech forests.
Keywords: bryophytes, dead wood, biodiversity, biogeography
18
Wood-inhabiting Fungi of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh (Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine):
Current Knowledge and Research Perspectives
Ordynets, Oleksandr1; Nadyeina, Olga2,3
1 Department of Mycology and Plant Resistance, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv, Ukraine
2 Department of Lichenology and Bryology, M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, Kyiv, Ukraine
3 Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
Wood-inhabiting fungi from Basidiomycota division are the most effective wood-decomposers and thereby very important for the forest ecosystems dynamics. These fungi are now in the focus of the management impact on forest ecosystems studies, searching indicator species of forest naturalness, and nature conservation activity (Nordén et al. 2007; Stockland, Larsson 2011). However, so far, only few researches were applied to the fungal communities of the largest in Europe primeval beech forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh (Küffer et al. 2004; Tsykun et al. 2010).To relieve the wood-inhabiting fungi diversity in a primeval beech forest landscape, we collected fungal specimens on 43 plots of Shyrokyi Luh in August 2010. The plots (circular, 500 m2 each) are part from those established for the comprehensive Swiss-Ukrainian forest inventory (Commarmot et al. 2013).Total number of species recorded within the plots is 58. The minimal and maximal numbers of species per plot are 2 and 15 (mean 7.0). The fungal species richness on plot was of medium dependence from environmental predictors, fixed on the plots, in a whole (GLM, R2 = 0.48, p = 0.03), and was affected by the longitude, altitude and exposition of the slope, but not by other topographic and forest-stand parameters.
Moreover, two species known as indicators of the high nature value of the Europaean beech forests (Christensen et al. 2004) were revealed: Ceriporiopsis gilvescens and Dentipellis fragilis. The third indicator species, Climacodon septentrionalis, was observed outside the plots, as well as other 13 species, including rare for Europe (Perenniporia narymica, Sparassis brevipes, Trametopsis cervina), and recently reassessed taxa like Frantisekia mentschulensis (originally described as new to science from Ukrainian Carpathians).Preliminary results show necessity of further extensive surveys of wood- inhabiting fungi, which, in addition to comprehensive forest structure pattern, provide an important reference data on forest biodiversity in Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh primeval beech forest.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Basidiomycota, indicators, rare species, deadwood
Paper-ID: 144
19
Impacts of the primeval tree stands on the structural characteristics of the ground invertebrates in the eastern Carpathian mountains (Ukraine)
Slobodian, Olena
Gorgany Nature Reserve, Ukraine
Primeval forest are dynamic ecosystems but without anthropogenic disturbance. They emerged and developed naturally under the influences of natural elements and processes, and are generally characterized by high species diversity and spatial structure (Cherniavskyy 1997). As a consequence, their invertebrates mesofauna is: – an essential component facilitating forest ecosystem services, – involved in the processes of soil formation and degradation of organic, substances. e.g. litter, – an important element of biodiversity. In our study we evaluated effects of primeval tree stand characteristics on the diversity and composition of invertebrate communities in the Gorgany Nature Reserve. Data were collected on the permanent plots using ground traps. Differences among the plots were characterized by altitude and type of the tree stand. The collected data were compared between study areas and showed that invertebrate communities were influenced, mainly by the forest types. Furthermore, in spruce- fir-beech primeval forests at an altitude of 1010 m asl we found a high diversity of species from the families Staphylinidae, Silphidae, Carabidae, Geotrupidae, Cholevidae and Curculionidae (the assessed from 1028 individuals). Species diversity and abundance of invertebrates in spruce-fir virgin forest at an altitude of 1045 m asl was lower and included 744 individuals. A spruce-Swiss pine virgin forest, which was located at an altitude of 1150 m asl was characterized by a low species diversity and only 260 individuals were detected. The highest diversity was found in the families Carabidae, Silphidae and order Diptera. A comparison of the permanent sample plots revealed that the overall frequency of Carabidae was highest in the spruce-fir-beech primeval forests. We found significant relation between forest type and diversity of ground invertebrates.
Keywords: structural characteristics, ground invertebrates, Gorgany Nature Reserve
20
Monitoring of Soil Microbial Coenosis in Primeval Beech Forests
Symochko, Lyudmila Yuryevna
Uzhgorod National University, Ukraine
Soil microorganisms are very sensitive reagents on influence of external factors, therefore they can be used for monitoring researches. Studies of soil microbiota were conducted in virgin beech forests of Shyrokoluzhansky massif of Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. The purpose of the research was to determine the number of different ecological-trophic groups of soil microorganisms, biological activity and phytotoxicity of soil, intensity of microbiological processes by index of pedotrophity and oligotrophity.
It was found the proportion and the number of different ecological-trophic groups of soil microorganisms changes with altitude. So the number of ammonificators with increasing of altitude above sea level was reduced. The soil at altitude of 1100 meters above sea level was characterized by minimum content of organotrophes – 1,22 mln. (CFU-colony forming units/1 g.a.d.s). At altitude of 500 meters content of ammonificators increased six times and was 7,07 mln. CFU/1g.a.d.s., which indicates to accumulation of the soil organic matter. Similar changes occurred with the number of bacteria which are using mineral forms of nitrogen for their nutrition. Their maximum quantity (4,32 mln. CFU/1g.a.d.s ) was in the soil of biotope disposed at altitude of 500 meters above sea level. Fluctuations in the number of soil micromycetes of virgin forest ecosystems have not been as significant as the bacterial microbiota (within 17000–28000 CFU/1g.a.d.s.). On altitude of 500–800 meters biodiversity of micromycetes was higher in comparison with other control points of sampling. Virgin forests are unique ecosystems, which can be used as etalon for basic monitoring. Functional diversity of soil microbial communities determines conditions of growth and development of flora and fauna. Being the important component of ecosystem, microbial coenosis of soil is involved in the regulation of homeostasis. Investigation and preservation of diversity of native soil microorganisms is very important aspect, which unfortunately is not given due attention.
Keywords: Microorganisms, soil, biodiversity, beech, monitoring.
Paper-ID: 166
21
Diversity and Ecology of Armillaria Species in Primeval Forests of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
Tsykun, Tetyana1,2; Rigling, Daniel1; Prospero, Simone1
1 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
2 Uzhgorod National University, Ukraine
The basidiomycete genus Armillaria is an important component of forest ecosystems worldwide. All species of this genus can behave as saprotrophs and some of them also as primary or secondary pathogens. In this study we investigated the occurrence and ecology of Armillaria species in the Uholsko- Shyrokoluzhanskyi (beech forests, 10 383 ha) and Chornohirskiy (mixed /conifer forests, 4127 ha) protected forest massifs. Armillaria rhizomorphs were systematically sampled from the soil and from the root collar of trees on 79 plots of a 1.5 x 1.5 km grid. In both forest massifs, rhizomorphs were present in the majority of the samples. Their abundance significantly decreased with increasing altitude of the plots. Most rhizomorphs in the soil were found within a pH range of 4.0–5.0. In contrast, soil acidity had no significant influence on the frequency of epiphytic rhizomorphs. Species identification based on DNA analyses showed that all five European annulated Armillaria species occur in the investigated forests, with the preferentially saprotrophic A. cepistipes and A. gallica being the most frequent. This particular species composition and the absence of a significant pathogenic activity suggest that in the investigated forests Armillaria species behave as saprotrophs and essentially contribute to wood decomposition. Armillaria borealis and A. mellea were found only once and probably they play a marginal ecological role in this particular ecosystem. Armillaria ostoyae is known as frequent and aggressive pathogen in managed conifer stands in Europe. In our study area this species was rare and restricted to beech forests with no visible tree mortality. On the other hand, A. ostoyae was not detected in undisturbed conifer and beech-fir stands. Based on our results, we suggest that forest management might increase the incidence of the pathogenic A. ostoyae, which seems to be rare in virgin forests.
Keywords: Rhizomorphs, Wood-decaying fungi, pathogens, Natural forests, The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
23
24
Symposia 2A
Oral presentations
Patch Dynamics of Lowland Beech Forests in a gradient of Management intensity
Begehold, Heike; Winter, Susanne
State agency of environment, health and consumer protection, Brandenburg
We investigated forest development phases (fdp) in 19 lowland beech forest study sites (14–43 ha) out of which nine have already been mapped in 2002. Fdp divides the forest life cycle in phases which are, like shown in a forerunner research project, connected with different biodiversity thus fdp patch formation and dynamic is substantial for maintaining forests’ biodiversity. In each study site, fdp patches with a minimal size of 196 m2 were recorded according to a dichotomic decision tree for forest life cycle assessments in forest reserves. It considers parameters like tree dimension, canopy and regeneration cover and deadwood amount. We analysed the proportion of fdp per site as well as fdp-patches size, distances between “old” phases and (for the nine repeated recordings) the development of individual fdp-patches over the last decade in order to point out differences between management intensities and -types.Due to an implementation of guidelines for conservation-sound management into some state forestry guidelines, the management vary between the study sites. In conventionally managed forests the fdp patch distribution does not significantly differ from those of 2002:the medium optimal phase predominates the stands, “old” phases remain almost absent, and the number of different fdp and of fdp-patches per hectare is the lowest compared to conservation-sound managed, recently unmanaged and reference sites unmanaged for more than 120 years. Stands under a conservation- sound management show an increase of “later” phases in the forest life cycle and a more balanced distribution across almost all fdp (but terminal phase is still absent). Mosaic textures of different fdp are much more complex, fine-grained and complete in stands that have been out of management for more than 120 years.In conclusion, we found that a conservation-sound management has a significant impact on diversity and presence of fdp – enabling them to develop into a more near-natural patch distribution, even after 10 years – resulting in broader stand structure diversity, stretching out for its connected biodiversity.
Keywords: forest development phases, patch dynamic, management intensity, biodiversity
Paper-ID: 125
25
Old-growth Characteristics of the Beech Forest Reserves in Serbia
Bjelanovic´ , Ivan; Krstic´ , Milun
University of Belgrade – Faculty of Forestry, Serbia
The paper presents analysis of ecological and stand characteristics of beech forest reserves in Serbia.
Old-growth beech forests mostly are protected as nature reserves and have developed for a long period of time without relevant human impact or stand replacing or major natural disturbances. According to analysis of state of the protected natural areas, we identified 43 reserves with beech, in the form of pure or mixed forests, with a surface of about 3800 ha. There are 15 reserves in pure beech forests with a surface of about 300 ha. The research was based on the data of site conditions and stand structure from permanent research plots followed by standard dendrometric and statistical processing.
The research was conducted in pure beech old-growth forests, as well as in mixed beech with conifers or broadleaves. The structural characteristics typical of the old-growth forests (high living and CWD biomass, large and old trees, diameter distribution, multi layered structure) and the disturbance regime were analyzed. The results are confirmed that pure beech forest reserves, thanks to their ecological and conservational values and high productivity, are the most valuable part of the growing stock in Serbia.
Keywords: beech, old-growth forests, forest reserves, structural characteristics
26
European’s Largest Natural Beech Forest Reserve; Lessons on Stands Structure and Development
Bouriaud, Olivier; Turcu, Daniel-Ond; Tomescu, Romica; Biris, Iovu-Adrian; Ponette, Quentin
1 Forest Research and Management Institute (ICAS) Bucharest, Romania, Romania
2 Université Catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute – Environmental Sciences (Eli-e), Forest Sciences
Natural forests are fascinating but very rare. Their presence is the testimony of their ability to go through time and withstand changes in environmental conditions (this is also a typical charactersitic of cultural forests! that withstand periodic changes). There are many lessons to learn from these forests in order to improve our knowledge and find the most suitable ways to a nature-based forestry. Romania has the largest natural beech forest in Europe, with more than 5000 ha, in Nera Springs Nature Reserve (South- Western Romania), which spans over a 700 m elevation range. A network of twelve inventory plots was set up in the reserve to describe the forest attributes and spatio-temporal (?) variation in structure according to an elevation gradient. Competition, locally extremely high, was studied by computing a modified Schütz index. Inventories revealed a large variability of stand attributes, although consistently multi-aged and mono-specific, both within plots and along the elevation gradient that altered the gap- phase regeneration patterns. The two abstracts (201 and 208) submitted look very simillar. We woul like to leave it up to you which abstract will be presented as an oral contribution. Of course, the oral should include novel data and conclusions.
Keywords: European beech, natural forest, structure, competition
Paper-ID: 201
27
Causes and consequences of long-term beech progression in a mixed mountain old-growth forest of Slovenia
Diaci, Jurij; Adamic, Tomaz; Rozman, Andrej; Rozenbergar, Dusan University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Slovenia
The competitive strength of silver fir and beech in mixed mountain forests has changed over different spatial and temporal scales. In the last 60 years, synchronous beech expansion has been reported from many mixed old-growth forests in South-East Europe. The aim of this study was to analyse tree regeneration and canopy interactions in the virgin forest Pecka over the last half of the century (1963–
2007). In six consecutive inventories all trees in the reserve with d.b.h. > 10 cm were measured and the regeneration was sampled. During the last inventory, the ground vegetation and light conditions were also assessed.Throughout the observation period, the density of silver fir in the regeneration layer and the overstory has been constantly decreasing. Very likely this was triggered by overbrowsing on tree regeneration and by the decline of silver fir in the canopy due to air pollution. A gradual fir decline favoured the development of a dense beech understory. Despite two successive wind throw events in the 1980s and 2000s, no significant light improvement at the forest floor or increase in the density of semi-shade tolerant species were recorded. In 2007 the average diffuse light level was 4.0% and the regeneration density 19,954 ha-1; beech was dominant (94%), followed by silver fir (4%) and sycamore maple (2%). The results suggest strong competitiveness of beech, which may significantly inhibit the recruitment of competitors in the long-term, particularly if they are hampered by anthropogenic influences. Thus, future successional pathways may be drastically different than historical trajectories.
Keywords: regeneration dynamics, silver fir decline, light regime, ground vegetation, forest composition
28
Structure and Species Mixture of Old-Growth Forest Janj in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Keren, Srdjan1; Motta, Renzo2; Govedar, Zoran1; Diaci, Jurij3
1 Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, Vojvode Stepe Stepanovica 75a, 78000 Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina
2 Department of Agroselviter, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco (TO), Italy
3 Department of Forestry, University of Ljubljana, 83 Vecna pot, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
In the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) there are three wide-known old-growth forests:
Perucica, Lom, and Janj. While Perucica and Lom were given certain scientific attention, the research of Janj was rather scarce. In this study we investigated structure, composition and regeneration of old-growth forest Janj which is mainly composed of Fagus sylvatica (L.), Abies alba (Mill.) and Picea abies (L.H. Karst). Regular 100 m grid with 40 sampling points in the core area of virgin forest Janj was superimposed. The measurements regarding dbh, tree heights, regeneration and coarse woody debris (CWD) were carried out. Average number of trees was determined to be 517 per hectare and the share of beech in this parameter was 63.4%, while its share in basal area was only 17.7%. Average basal area was 66.7 m2/ha. Acer pseudoplatanus (L.), although completely kept away from canopy stratum by other species competition, was rather frequent in understorey along with mentioned shade- tolerant species. When examining neighborhood effects we divided old-growth forest into three strata:
understorey, middlestorey and upperstorey, in order to get better insight into replacement patterns of tree species. Fagus sylvatica (L.) was found to be inferior in middle- and upper storey, however, proved to be dominant species in understorey on almost all sampling plots that were set across old-growth forest Janj. This species has had similar biosocial position in last five decades, although basal area of Janj has even slightly increased during this period.
Keywords: old-growth forest, species mixture, structure, neighborhood effects
Paper-ID: 151
29
Does time since last disturbances affect forest structure, microhabitat
occurrence and lichen status? A case study in beech forests of Mediterranean mountains
Lombardi, Fabio1; Chirici, Gherardo1; Tognetti, Roberto1; Winter, Susanne2; Ravera, Sonia1; Corona, Piermaria3; Lasserre, Bruno1; Marchetti, Marco1
1 Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio (DiBT), Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, I-86090 Pesche, Italy.
2 Technische Universität Dresden, Institute for General Ecology and Environment Protection, Pienner Street 8, D-01737 Tharandt, Germany.
3 Dipartimento per la Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici Agroalimentari e Forestali (DIBAF), Università della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis, I-01100 Viterbo, Italy
The time since the last harvest and the stand age were used as criteria to assess the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the structural diversity of beech forest stands in five old-growth forests in the Mediterranean mountains. The studied forests are located on the Apennines, in Central Italy. In each stand, the living structure, deadwood and the type and frequency of microhabitats were inventoried in 5 plots of 1 ha. The presence and the preservation status of conservation of Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. were also evaluated. Its occurrence was checked on all trees, assigning the scale of abundance.
The structural features observed in the study sites were the J-shaped size-class distribution of stem diameters, a pattern usually observed in natural forest stands without large scale disturbances, the occurrence of small-scale gaps and the large basal area values. Living tree and deadwood volumes were related to the time since the last harvest, ranging from 363 to 702 m3 per ha and from 17 to 143 m3 per ha, respectively. The living tree volume and time since the last harvest emerged as the most important factors influencing the stand complexity and the accumulation of deadwood. Lying deadwood was the most abundant component, due to natural mortality occurring in these stands in the last decades. On average, lying deadwood represented 58% of the total deadwood. The number and variability of microhabitats were highest in stands that had not been managed for centuries and lowest in those that had developed without anthropogenic disturbance for only a few decades. The occurrence of L. pulmonaria was related to the structural characteristics of the stands, in particular those directly affecting the light availability. We conclude that the conservation value and age of the investigated beech forests were strictly related to the time since the last large disturbance.
Keywords: Unmanaged Mediterranean beech forests, Apennines, forest structure, deadwood, micro- habitat, lichen
30
Natural Regeneration of Primeval Beech Forests is a Model for Regulatory Measures in the Forest Ecosystems for Different Purposes in the Ukrainian Carpathians
Parpan, Vasyl
Ukrainian Research Institute of Mountain Forestry, Ukraine
A carefully elaborated and long research of primeval beech forest is the basis for the identification of age and structure of its various stages of development. The size of gaps (patches) formed by falling trees of different ages determines the number and species composition of its natural regeneration.
Based on the research in natural beech forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians a generalized model of an asynchronous dynamic mosaic of forest patches in decomposition, natural regeneration, restoration, and old-age is proposed. The results of our research and review studies are the theoretical basis for planning group-selective cutting in beech forests for different purposes.
Keywords: Natural regeneration, primeval beech forests, regulatory measures
Paper-ID: 153
31
Stand Structure and Complexity of Beech Dominated Forests in Transcarpathia (Ukraine)
Rehush, Nataliia; Korol, Mykola; Chaskovskyy, Oleh; Kaganyak, Yulian Ukrainian National Forestry University, Ukraine
Forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica L. are one of the most prevalent in the Ukrainian Carpathians.
Till this date, large parts of them are considered to be natural forests without human interference.
The goal of this present study is to analyze and to compare the structural variability between beech stands with different ranges of anthropogenic impact. To achieve this, three areas were selected to collect data from: natural forests, old-growth forests, and forests under traditional management. These are representative types of forest management systems. From this areas twelve plots (0.3–1.1 ha each) dominated by beech trees were selected, which were situated 500 to 1100 m a.s.l. The position of all trees, alive or dead, with a DBH ≥ 6 cm were recorded. Further, their DBH, layer, and health conditions were measured. Also the degree of decomposition was measured for standing and lying deadwood. Different spatial indices (Cox, Clark-Evans, Gadow Winkelmass-distributions) were used to analyze and compare the horizontal structure of the forests. Even though individual structural features may be similar, the dynamics in the natural forests show a clear trend toward a broadening of the diameter distribution, and an increase in basal area and standing dead wood. Forests under traditional management appear to be more evenly-structured with a lower stand complexity. Vertical structure was also more complex in the natural forest. Trees in the managed forests tend to be randomly distributed, while in the natural and old-growth they seem to be more clumped together. A high amount of standing and lying dead wood in the natural forest is an indicator for a rich biodiversity and complexity. Our results provide additional information on the whole complex of structural variability of the forests and its application for a sustainable management of beech forest ecosystems.
Keywords: old-growth forests, managed forests, natural forests, Fagus sylvatica, stand structure
32
Dynamics of Beech and Beech-Fir-Spruce Forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians
Sukhariuk, Dmyro Dmytrovych1; Chernyavsky, Mykola Vasyliovych2; Henyk, Yaroslav1; Uzhyk, Halyna1; Kabal, Myroslav1
1 Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine
2 Ukrainian National Forestry University
The cyclical dynamics of virgin beech forests were studied based on long-term observations on 7 stem mapped sample plots 0.7–1.0 ha in area, situated in the Uholka massif. Measurements were carried out in 1998, 2007 and 2012, on one plot also in 1968 and 1975. The studies showed that in the virgin forest the age, height and diameter parameters of trees vary considerably.The age range of trees with more than 6 cm DBH (diameter at 1.3 m height) covers 300 years, the height range 40 m and the DBH range more than 100 cm. On the 7 sample plots allocated to different development phases (equilibrium, optimum, aging, decay, renewal, young forest and juvenile), the growing stock varied from 127 to 696 m3/ha. Due to strong windfalls in 2007, the standing volume decreased and beech regeneration increased until 2012 by 3–7 times. In 2012, the DBH and height distributions of all plots together are characterized by curves close to a hyperbolic shape, with maximum frequencies in the small sizes.The long-term dynamics (1977 to 2010) of the beech-fir-spruce virgin forest in the optimum phase were studied on a monitoring plot of 1 ha size, situated the Chornohora massif. Within the 33 years, the growing stock increased from 640 to 690 m3/ha, although the number of living trees remained almost unchanged (466 trees/ha and 465 trees/ha, respectively). In general, a tendency towards a decrease of Picea abies and increase of Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba is observed. The cyclical dynamics of beech and beech-fir-spruce primeval forests are similar with regard to phytomass accumulation rates and decay. Both forest types have a complex stand structure, but they differ in the regeneration intensity and the duration of developmental phases.
Keywords: primeval beech forest, cyclical dynamics, regeneration-decay,sample plots
Paper-ID: 226
33
Structural Complexity of the Uholka Virgin Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Forest Across Time, Space and Scale
Zenner, Eric Klaus1; Commarmot, Brigitte2; Hobi, Martina2
1 Penn State University, United States of America
2 Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Switzerland
The characterization of reference conditions for forest structural complexity entails quantifying spatiotemporal dynamics in relevantly-sized forest patches, the identification of which requires repeated spatially-explicit inventories over large areas in natural stands. To quantify patchiness across time and scales, we quantified forest structure in a 10-ha uneven-aged stand in the virgin Uholka- Shyrokoluzhanskyi beech forest reserve that was stem-mapped (trees ≥ 6 cm dbh) and inventoried in 2000 and 2010. To sample structure across scales, a successively smaller grid was placed over the stand and estimates were calculated for 0.0625, 0.25, 1, 2.5, and 5 ha. At the 10-ha scale, spatially explicit metrics indicated a regular spatial pattern (index of aggregation, R = 1.04), moderate vertical tree size differentiation (diameter differentiation index, T = 0.45), moderate mingling of trees in different canopy layers (index of mingling of IUFRO class 1, DM = 0.46), and high horizontal and vertical small-scale complexity (structural complexity index, SCI = 7.26). Over the 10-year inventory period, these spatially explicit metrics were very stable at the 10-ha scale, with changes of 0.09% for DM, 0.20% for R, 0.60% for T, and 2.30% for the SCI. Similarly minor changes in average structure and only moderate changes in individual grid cells were observed at scales down to 0.25 ha (generally 100%. We conclude that, in the absence of major disturbance, large scales (>1 ha) are necessary to capture typical structural complexity, while small scales (< 0.25 ha) are essential for revealing small- scale structural dynamics over even short time frames, such that quantifying structure across scales is required to explore spatiotemporal dynamics.
Keywords: forest structure, dynamics, scale, spatial metrics, structural complexity index
34
Symposia 2B
Oral presentations
Determining sequential stages in the Managed and Unmanaged Fagetum orientalis L. Forests in Iran
Fatemi Talab, Seid Reza1; Khademi, Amin2; Madanipour, Morteza3
1 Department of Forestry, Abadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadeh, Iran.
2 Department of Green Space Engineering, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran.
3 Department of Forestry, Shabestar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran.
The rationale behind this study comes from the fact that studying natural stands’ conditions, distinguishing different development stages, and following dynamic procedures of virgin forests help researchers utilize an appropriate method to preserve productivity and constancy of forests. This study has been conducted in the Fagetum orintalis community of northern forests of Iran, Ramsar. The dynamics and structures of each of the areas under study of Ramsar can be described in time and space according to the mosaic-cycle concept. A specific model of the forest cycle in Ramsar was developed, including three sequential stages (initial, optimal and decay). In order to study and compare the edaphic factors of the two areas, soil samples were picked out from the depth of 0–30 cm of the ground. The initial, optimal, and decay stages were observed in both of these two areas. Most repetitions of plots of the managed area were in the initial stage while those of the unmanaged area were in the decay stage. The results of PCA analysis showed that in the unmanaged area, Mg, absorbable P, absorbable Ca, and pH variables were the most important edaphic factors while clay, slit, absorbable P, OM, and pH variables were the most important edaphic factors of the managed area.
Keywords: Initial, Optimal, Decay, Managed, Unmanaged.
Paper-ID: 232
35
Neighbourhood dynamics of gaps in an old-growth beech mountain forest in Central Europe
Gratzer, Georg1; Brown, Patrick2; Splechtna, Bernhard1; Rudel, Brigitte3
1 BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Institute of Forest Ecology
2 University of Toronto, Division of Biostatistics
3 BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Institute of Surveying, Remote Sensing and Land Information
Disturbances play a major role in structuring plant communities and in maintaining diversity and productivity. Canopy openings created by natural disturbance are not random in space and time: canopy trees at the edge of gaps have higher probabilities of transition to gaps than trees in closed canopies.
Such neighbourhood effects of canopy gaps may play an important role in forest dynamics by causing
“disturbance hot spots” with higher spatial and temporal persistence than expected from classical gap dynamics theory. They unfold on a template of abiotic controls like topography and soil stability and interact with disturbance effects biotic factors. These factors have rarely been quantified at stand scales in space and over time, particularly not for Central European mountain beech dominated old-growth forests. The objective of our study was thus to quantify the role of neighbourhood and site factors for gap formation probability and characterise long-term canopy development and the disturbance regime of and old growth beech mountain forest. The study was carried out in beech dominated forests of the Rothwald old-growth forest in Austria. Aerial photographs taken in 1962, 1991 and 1996, covering 58 ha were analysed in a 5 m lattice. Ising models were used for characterising probabilities for the states (gap vs. forest) of 5 m x 5 m pixels. An inclusion of aspect, altitude, topographic position and topographic wetness revealed that the probability of gap states is almost exclusively determined by the state of neighbouring pixels. Spatio-temporal analysis corroborated this result: the probability of pixels being gaps in 1996 modelled as linear combinations of the states of pixels in 1991 and 1996 was largely driven by gap formation of neighbours and by a gap state at the start of the period. The results underline the importance of neighbourhood effects of gap dynamics at stand scales.
Keywords: Disturbance ecology, neighbourhood dynamics, gaps
36
Natural disturbances in the primeval beech forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh:
a canopy gap assessment based on WorldView-2 stereo satellite data
Hobi, Martina Lena1,2; Ginzler, Christian1; Commarmot, Brigitte1; Bugmann, Harald2
1 Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Switzerland
2 Forest Ecology, ETH Zurich
Analyses of forest structural patterns at high resolution have benefitted from advances in remote sensing, especially with the recent launch of satellites providing data with sub-metric ground resolution.
Furthermore, remote sensing approaches are quite valuable to cover large areas. The objective of this study was to map canopy gaps in the forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh (Ukraine), the largest remnant of primeval European beech forest, so as to characterise its natural disturbance regime. A stereo pair of very high-resolution WorldView-2 satellite images was used to generate a digital surface model of the forest canopy covering an area of around 10 000 ha. Hillshades of this canopy surface model were used in combination with the spectral information of the imagery and manual measurements in a 3D software to map gaps in the canopy. This allowed for the generation of gap probability maps over the entire study area. Information on forest structure based on dendro-ecological and inventory data collected in summer 2010 were used to draw inferences on the disturbance regime. Image matching during the generation of the canopy surface model was strongly influenced by the viewing angle of the satellite and the topography of the area. The gap probability map supports the results of the inventory data, indicating a small-scale disturbance regime that typically leads to canopy gaps ≤200 m2, formed by the death of one to a few trees only, and rare stand-replacing events. The main characteristics of this forest such as dominance by the highly shade-tolerant beech, the uneven-aged canopy structure, the high abundance of old trees and the homogeneity of forest characteristics at larger scales suggest that the structure of this forest is defined by fine-scale processes.
Keywords: image classification, forest structure, remote sensing, small-scale disturbance, Carpathian Biosphere Reserve
Paper-ID: 128
37
Patch Mosaic of Developmental Stages in Beech Dominated Forests
Kral, Kamil; Vrska, Tomas; Adam, Dusan; Hort, Libor; Fuentes, Andrea
The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Czech Republic
The study describes the fine-scale patch mosaic in central European beech dominated natural forests by the conceptual model of the forest cycle and compares characteristics of the mosaic on three extensive study sites (75 ha, 46 ha, 21 ha) along the beech vegetation (altitudinal) gradient during the last 40 years. Specifically the concept of developmental stages and phases (Korpel 1982, 1995;
Podlaski 2008) is applied. The developmental stages are classified by – GIS based method (Král et al.
2010), being recognized automatically from stem position maps by an artificial neural network. This approach ensures that the same stand structures (observed through the presence of living and dead trees of given DBH) will always be classified and mapped in the same way. Resulting mosaics are subsequently analyzed by quantitative and qualitative patch and mosaic metrics in GIS environment (Rempel et al. 2012). The mean patch size of the mosaic ranges in all study sites in relatively narrow interval from about 600 to 700 m2, in spite of the high variability of mean patch sizes of different developmental stages, which are in all study sites usually bigger for Growth stage and Steady State and smaller for Optimum and Breakdown stage. Also the mean shape characteristics as Mean Shape Index and Edge Density (McGarigal and Marks 1995) are at the mosaic level quite even in all studied forest types. And again there are significant differences in particular developmental stages, where Steady State and Growth stage usually show higher shape complexity than the stage of Optimum and the Breakdown stage in particular. The latter sometimes act as small, scattered inclusions in a stand matrix of the Steady State or the Growth stage. The proportion of the Steady State seems to increase along the altitudinal vegetation gradient, most likely due to increasing proportion of conifers.
Keywords: patch mosaic, developmental stages, forest dynamics, mosaic metrics
