Number and height of unbrowsed saplings are more appropriate than the proportion of browsed saplings for predicting silvicultural regeneration success (original) (raw)
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The influence of ungulates on tree saplings is well ocumented. However, few models can predict thefuture consequences of browsing—for example, their effect on the development of the species composi-tion of a tree stand. When a certain threshold of browsing intensity is reached, a particular silviculturaltarget – such as a mixed species forest – may be jeopardized. In this work, we present a model approachthat addresses the question of how many individual trees will survive under the impact of ungulates,and thus, predicts possible tree regeneration failure. The model considers complex interactions betweenungulates and tree saplings which are based on commonly used assumptions derived from a reviewof the literature. The model is based on a stochastic process including browsing percentages, hazardtimes (years until saplings are no longer endangered due to browsing) and browsing tolerances of treesaplings. A negative binomial distribution of browsing events is used to simulate leader shoot browsingof a regeneration area. The use of this type of distribution is an innovation we have implemented in orderto consider spatially clustered browsing occurrences instead of a random binomial distribution modelsnormally take into account. In comparison with alternative modelling approaches that are quite complexdue to the input parameters used, we see advantages of using our model to predict browsing-inducedregeneration failure of tree species, both for practical reasons and due to the plausibility of the resultsobtained. This type of model enables the prediction of the expected loss of admixed tree species underbrowsing and is an important first step in evaluating economic losses. Using the more clustered distri-bution type to indicate browsing events, predicts higher levels of damage than obtained using a randombrowsing component.
Scientific Reports
Intensive ungulate browsing significantly impacts forests worldwide. However, it is usually not single browsing events that lead to sapling mortality, but the little-researched interactions of browsed saplings with their biotic and abiotic environment. (I) Our objective was to assess the impact of ungulate browsing on the growth of young saplings relative to other environmental factors by utilizing their height increment as a sensitive measure of vitality to indicate their status. (II) Furthermore, we aimed to identify factors affecting ungulate browsing at our study sites, assessed as browsing probabilities, and identify effective mitigation measures for browsing impact. We analyzed an extensive sapling dataset of 248 wildlife exclosures, which were erected in 2016 in beech dominated forests across Germany and assessed annually until 2020. (I) Browsing probability and light availability were the most influential parameters for selectively browsed, admixed tree species (e.g., sycamo...
Forest Research Papers, Vol. 75 (1), 2014
Forest Research Papers, Vol. 75 (1), 2014 Title: Environmental conditions that promote the occurrence of truffles (Tuber spp.) on historical sites in Poland Author(s): Rosa-Gruszecka A., Hilszczańska D., Szmidla H. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0001 Title: A comparison of lower montane natural forest (Abies, Fagus, Picea) in Oszast Reserve and spruce monocultures in the Żywiecki Beskid and Śląski Beskid Author(s): Jaworski A., Pach M. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0002 Title: Analysis of the duration of basic logging operations performed using a chainsaw Author(s): Gałęzia T. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0003 Title: The influence of different thinning methods on dominance coefficients of future crop trees in even-aged Scots pine stands Author(s): Zachara T. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0004 Title: Genetic variability of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) natural regeneration compared with their maternal stands Author(s): Nowakowska J. A., Zachara T., Konecka A. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0005 Title: Evaluating variation in logged timber costs and raw timber prices during the period, 2001–2009, for the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Zielona Góra Author(s): Adamowicz K., Kaciunka H. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0006 Title: Natural regeneration in the ‘Czmoń' nature reserve (Wielkopolska Region) Author(s): Horodecki P., Wiczyńska K., Jagodziński A. M. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0007 Title: Vegetation diversity of the Scots pine stands in different forest sites in the Turawa Forest District Author(s): Stefańska-Krzaczek E., Pech P. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0008 Title: Opportunity costs of establishing nature reserves in selected forest districts of the Mazowieckie Province Author(s): Kaliszewski A., Młynarski W. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0009 Title: Transformation of methane in peatlands environments Author(s): Stępniewska Z., Goraj W., Kuźniar A. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2014-0010
Forest Ecology and Management, 2021
Tree regeneration (TR) in canopy gaps is a key process to understand how forest ecosystems might adapt to future environmental changes. Since successful TR is the result of a complex interplay of several stochastic events such as gap formation, seed production, ungulate pressure and diseases, some of the processes have been neglected or strongly reduced for model applications. Most empirical data on TR originate from (national) forest inventories based on statistically optimized designs for timber resource estimations and use geographically fixed permanent plots. Consequently, these representative samples record TR both in gaps as well as under closed canopy conditions. In this study, we compared TR in 63 representative plots of the Swiss National Forest Inventory ('NFI sampling'), located in beech and silver fir-beech forests along an elevation gradient in the Jura Mts., with an opportunistic 'gap sampling' strategy targeting TR-clusters. We analyzed quantitative (e.g., number of individuals) and qualitative (e.g., species diversity, similarity to surrounding canopy) differences between the 'NFI sampling' and 'gap sampling,' as well as the environmental factors (e.g., gap size, cluster age, elevation) influencing the composition of TR in small canopy gaps. The 'gap sampling' recorded higher median TR densities (+62%, stems ha − 1) and species richness (4.0 ± 2.1, mean ± sd) than the 'NFI sampling'. More importantly, the 'gap sampling' provided much more consistent results among sites (i.e., 4x lower variance). Consequently, the 'gap sampling' revealed not only general but also species-specific patterns across TR size classes and along elevational gradients in contrast to the lack of patterns in the 'NFI sampling'. Species richness decreased as TR grew taller, and the tallest TR size class (>130 cm) was almost solely comprised of the dominant species in the surrounding canopy (direct ingrowth). The high amount of direct ingrowth in TR indicates that small canopy gaps might offer only limited management potential to alter forests and that extensive disturbances or management at early TR stages (sapling) would be necessary to promote species better suited to the expected future site conditions. We raise the question of whether a forest monitoring that is statistically optimized for timber resource estimation is best suited to detect adaptation effects to quickly changing environments best visible at the regeneration stage, or whether forest inventory tools should be extended by methods that focus on disturbed parts of forests where changes and adaptations take place. We propose the implementation of an opportunistic gap-based monitoring of TR that essentially serves to identify the best forest management strategies (e.g. gap size, intervention intervals) in forests adapting to environmental change.
Forest Research Papers, Vol. 81 (2), 2020
Forest Research Papers, 2020
Title: Comparing methods for assessing the health of regeneration in Scots pine cultures, Author(s): Zbigniew Sierota, Monika Małecka, Marta Damszel, DOI: 10.2478/frp-2020-0006; Title: Determining the value of standing timber for harvest planning optimization, Author(s): Karol Zaborski, Jan Banaś, Anna Kożuch, DOI: 10.2478/frp-2020-0007; Title: Assessing the occupation of nest boxes by dormice (Gliridae) in the Carpathian forests, Author(s): Izabela Fedyń, Ewa Pierzchała, Katarzyna Nowak, Joanna Wąs, Adela Malak, Katarzyna Śnigórska, DOI: 10.2478/frp-2020-0008; Title: Geocaching in education – a review of international experiences, Part 2. Recipient, location and subject matter of education, Author(s): Ewa Referowska-Chodak, DOI: 10.2478/frp-2020-0009; Title: Site index research: a literature review, Author(s): Wojciech Kędziora, Robert Tomusiak, Tomasz Borecki, DOI: 10.2478/frp-2020-0010
Forest Research Papers, Vol. 74 (2), 2013
Forest Research Papers, Vol. 74 (2), 2013 Title: The current growth increment of pine tree stands comprising three different age classes Author(s): Kazimierczak K. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0009 Title: Climate signal in the radial growth of selected coniferous species from the Forest Experimental Station in Rogów Author(s): Bijak Sz. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0010 Title: The peculiarities of bear numbers dynamics in the Eastern Carpathians Author(s): Khoyetskyy P. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0011 Title: Substrate influences the height of one- and two-year-old seedlings of silver fir and European beech growing in polystyrene containers Author(s): Banach J., Skrzyszewska K., Świeboda Ł. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0012 Title: A two-phase inventory method for calculating standing volume and tree-density of forest stands in central Poland based on airborne laser-scanning data Author(s): Miścicki S., Stereńczak K. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0013 Title: The economic, financial and legal situation of private estates in Poland during the interwar period Author(s): Zając S. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0014 Title: Growth of Ulmus glabra Huds. grafts in the clone archive in Bielsk Forest District Author(s): Mioduszewski S., Korczyk A. F. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0015 Title: Susceptibility of Polish provenances and families of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) to colonisation by Phytophthora cambivora Author(s): Jankowiak R., Banach J., Balonek A. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0016 Title: Radial variation in the wood properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) grown on former agricultural soil Author(s): Tomczak A., Jelonek T. DOI: 10.2478/frp-2013-0017
Impact of browsing damages on growth and quality of silver birch plantations in Latvia
Agronomy research, 2016
Silver birch is widely used both in forest regeneration and afforestation of abandoned agricultural lands, since it has high productivity and phenotypic plasticity and is relatively seldom damaged by biotic or abiotic factors. In Baltic States significant browsing damage of this tree species had not been noted in contrast to other countries with notably higher ungulate population densities. Therefore the aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of browsing damages on tree and stand parameters as a basis for further recommendations for stand protection. Data for the analysis were collected in central Latvia (56°22 ́N, 23°7 ́E) in a large plantation with areas of different browsing intensity. At the age of 16 years, tree height and diameter was measured and traits characterising damages were assessed. Browsing had caused a significant decrease in survival: from 87% survival in areas with light browsing to 56% survival in areas with heavy browsing. Browsing had caused a reduction of...
Proceedings of the …, 2007
Forest fires and forest recovery are topics of serious concern in the Mediterranean Basin, especially in Portugal, where burnt area significantly increased in the last two decades, contrarily to other southern European Mediterranean countries (EC, 2005). Since 2000 more than 1.3 million hectares were burned (DGRF, 2006), representing about 15% of the Portuguese mainland. However, there is a lack of information about several trees species mortality and recovery capacity in burned areas, which would be very useful for post-fire forest management. Aiming to contribute to this knowledge, we started a research project after a wildfire that affected about 3,000 hectares. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the survival/mortality of several tree species in relation to variables such as fire severity and tree characteristics, and to evaluate species regeneration strategies, as well as the regeneration growth after fire disturbance. In this research we also monitored the cumulative impacts of wild herbivores on the postfire regeneration processes. Here we present the results on mortality and sucker growth observed three years after the fire.