Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece
The structural diversity of old-growth forests is a fundamental element as regards ecosystem stability and functionality. The current study aims at exploring the texture diversity in the unique virgin Frakto forest of Greece through the determination of the forest development phases and their relate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/278 |
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| author | Dimitra Papadopoulou Dimitrios Raptis Vassiliki Kazana Thekla Tsitsoni |
| author_facet | Dimitra Papadopoulou Dimitrios Raptis Vassiliki Kazana Thekla Tsitsoni |
| author_sort | Dimitra Papadopoulou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The structural diversity of old-growth forests is a fundamental element as regards ecosystem stability and functionality. The current study aims at exploring the texture diversity in the unique virgin Frakto forest of Greece through the determination of the forest development phases and their related stages. Eight sample plots of 0.25 hectares each were randomly distributed to serve the field research needs. During the single phases, a significant number of variables at the stand level, such as the total dead and living timber volume and the density expressed as the number of stems per hectare and basal area, were calculated, and their values were merged into three main stages. The Frakto virgin forest was found to be dominated by the optimal stage (61.7%), followed by the decay stage (22.7%), and the initial stage (15.6%), in alignment with relevant distributions reported for other European virgin forests. Statistically significant differences in terms of stem density and woody volume between the stages demonstrated increased structural diversity and heterogeneity, a typical characteristic of primeval forests. The results offer an insight into forest growth dynamics under natural processes, thus providing a knowledge base for the promotion of sustainable forest management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:56:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac6cf936a1774596a7d1ca904dc45876 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:56:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac6cf936a1774596a7d1ca904dc458762023-11-16T20:05:36ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-02-0115227810.3390/d15020278Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of GreeceDimitra Papadopoulou0Dimitrios Raptis1Vassiliki Kazana2Thekla Tsitsoni3Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, GreeceDepartment of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, GreeceDepartment of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, GreeceDepartment of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe structural diversity of old-growth forests is a fundamental element as regards ecosystem stability and functionality. The current study aims at exploring the texture diversity in the unique virgin Frakto forest of Greece through the determination of the forest development phases and their related stages. Eight sample plots of 0.25 hectares each were randomly distributed to serve the field research needs. During the single phases, a significant number of variables at the stand level, such as the total dead and living timber volume and the density expressed as the number of stems per hectare and basal area, were calculated, and their values were merged into three main stages. The Frakto virgin forest was found to be dominated by the optimal stage (61.7%), followed by the decay stage (22.7%), and the initial stage (15.6%), in alignment with relevant distributions reported for other European virgin forests. Statistically significant differences in terms of stem density and woody volume between the stages demonstrated increased structural diversity and heterogeneity, a typical characteristic of primeval forests. The results offer an insight into forest growth dynamics under natural processes, thus providing a knowledge base for the promotion of sustainable forest management.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/278ecosystem dynamicsdevelopment cycleold growth foreststand structurestand diversity |
| spellingShingle | Dimitra Papadopoulou Dimitrios Raptis Vassiliki Kazana Thekla Tsitsoni Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece Diversity ecosystem dynamics development cycle old growth forest stand structure stand diversity |
| title | Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece |
| title_full | Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece |
| title_short | Exploring Texture Diversity of Beech-Spruce-Fir Stands through Development Phase Analysis in the Frakto Virgin Forest of Greece |
| title_sort | exploring texture diversity of beech spruce fir stands through development phase analysis in the frakto virgin forest of greece |
| topic | ecosystem dynamics development cycle old growth forest stand structure stand diversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/278 |
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