Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game

Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of near-natural mixed forests is a key factor for ecologically oriented management of forest ecosystems. The development of these model forests mostly takes place continually without any pronounced disturbances. Natural regeneration can be locally limited by u...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vacek Zdeněk
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: Sciendo 2017-03-01
Series:Central European Forestry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/forj-2017-0006
_version_ 1818173008014999552
author Vacek Zdeněk
author_facet Vacek Zdeněk
author_sort Vacek Zdeněk
collection DOAJ
description Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of near-natural mixed forests is a key factor for ecologically oriented management of forest ecosystems. The development of these model forests mostly takes place continually without any pronounced disturbances. Natural regeneration can be locally limited by ungulate browsing. The paper was focused on the structure and development of forest stands with emphasis on natural regeneration in relation to ungulates in Černý důl Nature Reserve and Trčkov National Nature Reserve situated in the Orlické hory Mts., Czech Republic. The case study was conducted in a spruce-beech-fir forest stand on four permanent research plots (PRP) of 0.25 ha in size. PRP are situated in the same stand and in comparable site and stand conditions, but two PRP has been protected against game by fencing since 1985-1989. The stand volume ranged from 478 to 565 m3 ha−1 in age 143 - 156 year. The results showed that the diversity of tree layer was higher by 19.8% (48.0% in species richness) in the stands protected by fence. In the phase of natural regeneration, the species composition, stand structure and number of recruits were poorer on unfenced PRP (7,990 recruits ha−1) compared to fenced PRP (13,160 recruits ha−1). Admixed silver fir and rowan were completely eliminated by browsing (to 94 - 100% of individuals). Growth analyses statistically confirmed that ungulates were a significant limiting factor for successful forest development (P < 0.001).
first_indexed 2024-12-11T19:21:40Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1710bf50d71a404eb59cb21c25f1a937
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2454-0358
language ces
last_indexed 2024-12-11T19:21:40Z
publishDate 2017-03-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series Central European Forestry Journal
spelling doaj.art-1710bf50d71a404eb59cb21c25f1a9372022-12-22T00:53:30ZcesSciendoCentral European Forestry Journal2454-03582017-03-01631233410.1515/forj-2017-0006Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate gameVacek Zdeněk0Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ – 165 21 Prague, Czech RepublicKnowledge of the structure and dynamics of near-natural mixed forests is a key factor for ecologically oriented management of forest ecosystems. The development of these model forests mostly takes place continually without any pronounced disturbances. Natural regeneration can be locally limited by ungulate browsing. The paper was focused on the structure and development of forest stands with emphasis on natural regeneration in relation to ungulates in Černý důl Nature Reserve and Trčkov National Nature Reserve situated in the Orlické hory Mts., Czech Republic. The case study was conducted in a spruce-beech-fir forest stand on four permanent research plots (PRP) of 0.25 ha in size. PRP are situated in the same stand and in comparable site and stand conditions, but two PRP has been protected against game by fencing since 1985-1989. The stand volume ranged from 478 to 565 m3 ha−1 in age 143 - 156 year. The results showed that the diversity of tree layer was higher by 19.8% (48.0% in species richness) in the stands protected by fence. In the phase of natural regeneration, the species composition, stand structure and number of recruits were poorer on unfenced PRP (7,990 recruits ha−1) compared to fenced PRP (13,160 recruits ha−1). Admixed silver fir and rowan were completely eliminated by browsing (to 94 - 100% of individuals). Growth analyses statistically confirmed that ungulates were a significant limiting factor for successful forest development (P < 0.001).https://doi.org/10.1515/forj-2017-0006browsing damagenatural regenerationprotected areasfagus sylvaticapicea abiesabies alba
spellingShingle Vacek Zdeněk
Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
Central European Forestry Journal
browsing damage
natural regeneration
protected areas
fagus sylvatica
picea abies
abies alba
title Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
title_full Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
title_fullStr Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
title_full_unstemmed Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
title_short Structure and dynamics of spruce-beech-fir forests in Nature Reserves of the Orlické hory Mts. in relation to ungulate game
title_sort structure and dynamics of spruce beech fir forests in nature reserves of the orlicke hory mts in relation to ungulate game
topic browsing damage
natural regeneration
protected areas
fagus sylvatica
picea abies
abies alba
url https://doi.org/10.1515/forj-2017-0006
work_keys_str_mv AT vacekzdenek structureanddynamicsofsprucebeechfirforestsinnaturereservesoftheorlickehorymtsinrelationtoungulategame