The response of ground vegetation to structural change during forest conversion in the southern Black Forest |
| |
Authors: | S Gärtner A Reif |
| |
Institution: | 1.Institute of Silviculture, Vegetation Science and Site Classification, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Science,Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg,Freiburg,Germany |
| |
Abstract: | The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of forest conversion on forest floor vegetation. ‘Ecological’ forest conversion,
as defined by an interdisciplinary southern Black Forest project group, describes the transformation of even-aged spruce (Picea abies L. H. Karst.) stands to structured continuous cover forests consisting of spruce (Picea abies), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). In order to analyse the conversion process, four conversion stages were defined in a conceptual forest development model.
Four forest districts deemed to be representative of the southern Black Forest region were selected for the study. The ground
vegetation was initially classified independently from the stand structures. Subsequently, the relationship between stand
structures, as determined by development stage, and ground vegetation was analysed. It was revealed that forest conversion
modified the ground vegetation. The main factors influencing ground vegetation were the influence of broadleaves, predominately
beech (F. sylvatica), on the canopy composition and litter coverage on the one hand; and the canopy coverage of spruce, the proportion of needle
litter and the associated light penetration on the other. The prevalence of moss and vascular plant species preferring acidic
sites found in spruce forests decreased during the transition process, whereas, species requiring a moderate base supply increased
in abundance. The continuous cover forest representing the final stage of conversion increasingly contained a mixture of ground
vegetation species normally associated exclusively with either conifer or deciduous forest. Due to the fact that there is
an associated ground vegetation specific to the different stages of forest conversion in stands dominated by Norway spruce
or European beech and a mixture in the latest conversion stages, large-scale forest conversion should be avoided in favour
of management promoting a diversity of silvicultural goals and treatments in neighbouring stands. Only a variety of treatments
ensures the maintenance of floristic diversity in the long-term. |
| |
Keywords: | Ground vegetation Forest conversion Forest transformation Forest structure |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|