Signals of summer drought in crown condition data from the German Level I network

Crown transparency estimates of Scots pine, Norway spruce, common beech, pedunculate and sessile oak, annually surveyed between 1990 and 2004 within a grid over Germany, provide a suitable response variable to study drought effects on forest trees. Major climatic factors, available on a monthly basis as plot-specifically interpolated values and parameters of site and stand conditions, biotic and other relevant factors were used as predictors in different cross- and length-sectional, and longitudinal models. Stand age is a considerable and most constant driver of crown transparency in all species. Pine, spruce and beech responded—mainly with a delay of 1 year—with some foliar loss in areas where there was a surplus of temperature after the generally hot and dry summer of 2003. Parallel time-series analyses delivered species-specific geographic large-scale patterns with delayed or recent precipitation deficits or temperature surpluses. Even if beech is partly responding in current years with leaf loss towards precipitation surpluses, defoliation is especially high 1 year after hot summers, partly a result of high seed sets after such summers. Crown condition of oak responds in dry and warm areas according to the drought stress hypothesis, however, in cool and wet mountainous ranges oak responds after wet summers with higher defoliation. Longitudinal approaches revealed for all 4-tree species significant relationships between crown condition and deviations from the long-term means of temperature, precipitation but also global radiation and wind speed. Results do not always match the drought stress hypothesis, however, this is not to expect considering the heterogeneous site, stand and climatic conditions across Germany. Complex interactions of climatic and biotic factors also impede simple relationships. Soil-related clusters reveal higher sensitivity of spruce and beech towards climatic drought factors on more acid soils with thin humus layers. Also clusters constructed from plot-specific courses of defoliation reveal groups with rather closer relationships like a group of pine plots in the Oberpfalz, which seems to be especially sensitive to summer drought.     

Modelling self-pruning and branch attributes for young Quercus robur L. and Fagus sylvatica L. trees

The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for first order branchiness in young planted forest stands of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and to give an ecological and silvicultural interpretation to these models. The reported models focus on the lower most-valuable stem part (i.e. until 6 m height), and cover different tree development classes to capture the development of branchiness over time. For each species 30 study plots were selected spread over two nearby forests in Flanders (northern Belgium), minimising site and genetic variability. Branches were counted on a total of 399 oak and 376 beech trees. On a subsample of 30 trees per species (one tree per plot), detailed non-destructive branch measurements were performed, yielding data for 555 oak and 438 beech branches. For both species, models for tree self-pruning (i.e. total branch number and dead branch portion), branch mortality and branch architecture (i.e. branch diameter and branch insertion angle) were built. A generalised linear mixed modelling approach was adopted. The models for total branch number and dead branch portion may be interpreted in terms of four processes contributing to self-pruning: (1) stand and tree development, (2) tree competitive status, (3) stand density and (4) site humidity. The reported models reveal similar self-pruning rates in oak and beech, but with different driving factors: early branch dying and slow shedding for oak and the other way around for beech. Mortality of individual branches is further determined by branch position and branch dimension. Branch diameter and branch insertion angle of both species are mainly related to branch cord length and relative branch position. All modelled effects are consistent with known ecological and ecophysiological processes. Silvicultural implications for stand establishment and early tree selection are discussed. The reported models can be used to fine-tune operational silvicultural choices for quality timber production. This is a first step towards the integration of branchiness models for oak and beech into forest growth simulators.     

Influence of stand,site and meteorological variables on the maximum leaf area index of beech,oak and Scots pine

Different multiple linear regression models of maximum leaf area index (LAI_max) based on stand characteristics, site quality, meteorological variables and their combinations were constructed and cross-validated for three economically important tree species in Flanders, Belgium: European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The models were successfully tested on similar datasets of experimental sites across Europe. For each species, ten homogeneous and mature stands were selected, covering the species’ entire stand productivity range based on an a priori site index classification. LAI_max was derived from measurements of leaf area index (LAI) made by means of hemispherical digital photography over the whole growing season (mid-April till end October 2008). Species-specific models of LAI_max for beech and oak were mostly driven by management practice affecting stand characteristics and tree growth. Tree density and dominant height were main predictors for beech, while stand age and tree-ring growth were important in the oak models. Scots pine models were more affected by site quality and meteorological variables. The beech meteorological model showed very good agreement with LAI at several European sites. Scots pine’s stand model predicted well LAI across Europe. Since the species-specific models did not share common predictors, generic models of LAI_max were developed for the 30 studied sites. Dominant height was found to be the best predictor in those generic models. As expected, they showed a lower predictive performance than species-specific ones.     

Effects of environmental changes on the vitality of forest stands

Using the physiological single tree growth model BALANCE, vitality of forest stands was simulated in dependence of the site-related factors, climate and stand structure. At six level II plots in southern Germany with the main tree species beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), oak (Quercus robur L.), spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.), and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), simulated results were compared to measured values (soil water content, bud burst and leaf colouring, diameter at breast height, tree height and crown density) in order to validate the model. Sensitivity tests were done to examine the influence and the interactions of the environmental parameters. The validation results show that BALANCE is capable of realistically simulating the growth and vitality of forest stands for central European regions for medium term time spans (several years). The validation of the water balance module produces mean absolute errors based on field capacity between 2.7 and 6.9% in dependence of sites and forest stands. Senescence of foliage as well as crown density is reproduced with a correlation coefficient of 0.70 compared to measurements. Differences between measured and simulated diameter values were smaller than 1% for spruce and smaller than 6.5% for beech after 7 years of simulation, and smaller than 1% for oak after 8 years of simulation. On the other hand, the simulations for pine trees conform less with the measurements (difference: 22.6% after 8 years). The sensitivity of the model on environmental changes and on combinations of these parameters could be demonstrated. The responses of the forest stands were quite different.     

Relation Between Defoliation and Litterfall in Some Danish Picea Abies and Fagus Sylvatica Stands

Assessing defoliation and measuring litterfall are two different ways of estimating the shedding of needles and leaves from the forest canopy. Both variables can be said to reflect the crown condition, but the two methods have rarely been compared. In this study the visual observations of defoliation of individual trees were compared with sampled litterfall data for the two main tree species in Denmark, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies. Defoliation assessments and litterfall measurements were performed in seven level II plots. Six of the stands were 40 yrs old and the remaining stand was 81 yrs old. Both a positive and a negative correlation, which were not significant, were observed between defoliation and total leaf litterfall on the beech sites. Similarly, no significant correlation was observed between defoliation and the yearly needle litterfall on the younger Norway spruce plots. However, the defoliation and the yearly needle litterfall at the old stand at Klosterhede were positively correlated on a 10% significance level. A positive correlation was also apparent at the younger stands between the defoliation and the needle litterfall from the period April-July of the same year in which defoliation was assessed. The absence of a clear connection between the two assessments is discussed. The two assessments are apparently of widely different origin, which makes comparison difficult.     

Analyses of stand structure as a tool for silvicultural decisions — a case study in a Quercus petraea — Sorbus torminalis stand

The study applies structural indices using the example of an oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) — chequer tree (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) stand in order to derive recommendations for the silvicultural treatment of Chequer trees. The investigated stand, located in the northern part of Bavaria, comprises eight tree species and four shrub species. Various indices were used to analyse the stand structure and the crown coverage frequency. It was shown that chequer trees, which are presently of high economic interest, are strongly oppressed in the upper layer and almost completely missing in the lower layers of the stand. The possible reasons for this finding and alternatives for the further management of the stand are discussed. Persistent and repeated thinnings in order to ensure sufficient crown development of the chequer trees seem to be essential for their survival.     

Influence of light availability on growth, leaf morphology and plant architecture of beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.), maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and ash ( Fraxinus excelsior L.) saplings

In a field study, we measured saplings of beech, ash and maple growing in a fairly even-aged mixed-species thicket established by natural regeneration beneath a patchy shelterwood canopy with 3–60% of above canopy radiation reaching the saplings. Under low light conditions, maple and ash showed a slight lead in recent annual length increment compared with beech. With increasing light, ash and maple constantly gained superiority in length increment, whereas beech approached an asymptotic value above 35% light. A suite of architectural and leaf morphological attributes indicated a more pronounced ability of beech to adapt to shade than ash and maple. Beech displayed its leaves along the entire tree height (with a concentration in the middle crown), yielding a higher live crown ratio than ash and maple. It allocated biomass preferentially to radial growth which resulted in low height to diameter ratios, and expressed marked plagiotropic growth in shade indicating a horizontal light-foraging strategy. In addition, beech exhibited the highest specific leaf area, a greater total leaf area per unit tree height, a slightly greater leaf area index, and a greater plasticity to light in total leaf area. Ash and maple presented a “gap species” growth strategy, characterized by a marked and constant response in growth rates to increasing light and an inability to strongly reduce their growth rates in deep shade. In shade, they showed some plasticity in displaying most of their leaf area at the top of the crown to minimize self-shading and to enhance light interception. Through this, particularly, maple developed an “umbrella” like crown. These species-specific responses may be used for controlling the development of mixed-species regeneration in shelterwood systems.     

Bioeconomic modeling of mixed Norway spruce—European beech stands: economic consequences of considering ecological effects

The study provides an improved bioeconomic model of mixed-species stands in order to test the economic consequences of tree species mixtures composed of spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), when the impact of mixing tree species on stand resistance against hazards is considered. We used survival probabilities of spruce in mixed- and mono-species stands derived by Griess et al. (For Ecol Manag 267:284–296, 2012) to expand an existing bioeconomic model by Knoke and Seifert (Ecol Model 210:487–498, 2008). Monte-Carlo simulations showed the highest average net present value (sum of all net revenues during one rotation period discounted by 2 %) for spruce stands with a small beech admixture of 7 % of total stems. The net present value of this mixed stand type was 8 % higher than that reached with a spruce monoculture, while risk—measured as standard deviation of net present value—was 18 % lower than that of a pure spruce stand. A mixed stand with 51 % beech led to a decrease of 23 % of the average net present value when compared to a spruce monoculture. However, the stabilizing effect of this high proportion of beech trees on spruce together with general economic diversification effects (as a result from low correlation of hazard and market risks of both tree species) reduced the standard deviation of the net present value by 55 %. Generally, an intensive species mixture in groups, with interactions between species throughout the stand, led to higher net present values and lower risks when compared to mixtures of identical proportions in large homogenous blocks without species interactions. For calculating survival probability, data from Rhineland-Palatinate were used, for modeling growth, data were based on information gained in Bavaria. It can be assumed that susceptibility toward windthrow was underestimated with respect to Bavarian conditions or growth was overestimated with respect to Rhineland-Palatinate conditions. This narrows the explanatory power of the study at hand and—once again—highlights the importance of a standardization of inventory processes all over Europe. Still the strong potential of mixing species is proven by the results. The hypothesis, derived from simpler, more traditional bioeconomic models that mixed-species stands are economically inferior to mono-species stands, could therefore be rejected. Of particular relevance to practicing foresters is the result that even mild admixtures may lead to substantial positive economic consequences. With relatively small initial investments then, a considerable increase in efficiency can be expected. This finding makes the admixture of at least small proportions interesting for the privately owned forest sector.     

Factors affecting post-fire crown regeneration in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) trees

Cork oak (Quercus suber) forests are acknowledged for their biodiversity and economic (mainly cork production) values. Wildfires are one of the main threats contributing to cork oak decline in the Mediterranean Basin, and one major question that managers face after fire in cork oak stands is whether the burned trees should be coppiced or not. This decision can be based on the degree of expected crown regeneration assessed immediately after fire. In this study we carried out a post-fire assessment of the degree of crown recovery in 858 trees being exploited for cork production in southern Portugal, 1.5 years after a wildfire. Using logistic regression, we modelled good or poor crown recovery probability as a function of tree and stand variables. The main variables influencing the likelihood of good or poor crown regeneration were bark thickness, charring height, aspect and tree diameter. We also developed management models, including simpler but easier to measure variables, which had a lower predictive power but can be used to help managers to identify, immediately after fire, trees that will likely show good crown regeneration, and trees that will likely die or show poor regeneration (and thus, potential candidates for trunk coppicing).     

Tree effects on the chemical topsoil features of oak, beech and pine forests

We aimed to study tree effects on the chemical properties of forest soils. We compared soil features of three types of forest ecosystems, each with four stands (replicates): beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), oak forests (dominated by Quercus pyrenaica) and pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris). Five samples from the top 10 cm of soil were taken per stand, from which pH, organic matter content (O.M.), total nitrogen (N) and available calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), potassium (K⁺) and sodium (Na⁺) were determined. Litter layer depth was measured at each soil sampling point. We also measured tree density and crown diameters at each stand. Our results indicated that soil samples from the four pine plantation stands were more similar while oak and beech stands were characterised by great variability in terms of soil properties and leaf litter depth. Although the identity of the dominant tree species significantly influenced several topsoil chemical properties (increase in pH and available cations in oak forests and higher organic matter and total nitrogen in beech and pine ecosystems), there were other important factors affecting soil features that may be taken under consideration. Differences between soil properties of the three types of forest ecosystems were mainly related to the characteristics of the litter layer and less related to the tree layer structure. Finally, the establishment of pine plantations in naturally deciduous tree areas made the topsoil features more homogeneous.     

Response of artificial acid irrigation, liming, and N-fertilisation on elemental concentrations in needles, litter fluxes, volume increment, and crown transparency of a N saturated Norway spruce stand

The response of N-fertilisation, irrigation, acid irrigation, and liming on concentrations of elements in needles, fluxes of elements in litter, volume increment, and crown density on a full stocked, healthy, and vigorously growing mature spruce stand was investigated. The plots of the Höglwald site in Southern Bavaria exhibited a high volume increment with regularly more than 20 m³ ha⁻¹ per year, despite the high age of the stand (77 years at the beginning of the experiment in 1984). Neither a distinct growth reduction of the stand due to acid irrigation, or N oversaturation, nor an enhancement of growth due to N-fertilisation, irrigation, or liming of the stand could be detected. For the years 1984 and 1985 a marked decrease in crown density was detected for all plots. This was followed by a stagnation for 2 years. Afterwards the crown density improved until the end of the investigation for all plots. Neither acid irrigation, nor liming altered the amount of litter fall. Ca fluxes in litter, and concentrations in needles were enhanced on most of the limed plots five to six years after liming. Acid irrigation reduced Ca content in litter, but other elements were not or only slightly influenced. The nutritional status of all plots as shown by the concentrations of elements in needles indicates that for most of the years a sufficient to high supply of N, P, Ca, and Mg for all investigated plots, whereas K concentration in needles exhibited wide year to year variations. Most of the elemental concentrations in needles and fluxes in litter were not influenced by any of the treatments. Also, N-fertilisation did not enhance the N concentrations in needles significantly.     

Tree mortality risk of oak due to gypsy moth

We present prediction models for estimating tree mortality resulting from gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, defoliation in mixed oak, Quercus sp., forests. These models differ from previous work by including defoliation as a factor in the analysis. Defoliation intensity, initial tree crown condition (crown vigour), crown position, and species grouping classes were highly significant in categorical analysis of variance for mortality. Heavy defoliation intensity was shown to have a strong, consistent influence in increasing the probability of tree mortality. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis, a binomial decision tree procedure, was used to develop prediction models of mortality risk for use by forest managers. The best decision tree had 65 groups that correctly classified 75% of the live trees and 76% of the dead trees. Models were run separately by defoliation class and provided correct classifications between 63 and 78% of the trees. Forest land managers can use these models to assign probabilities of death for moderate and heavy defoliation intensity levels and compare predicted mortality to mortality of undefoliated trees to determine how gypsy moth defoliation will affect their stands. The probabilities can be used to develop marking guides Lased on projected defoliation levels for implementing silvicultural treatments to minimize gypsy moth effects in forest stands prior to infestation.     

Modelling above and below ground carbon dynamics in a mixed beech and spruce stand influenced by climate

Tree growth and carbon dynamics are important issues especially in the context of climate change. However, we essentially lack knowledge about the effects on carbon dynamics especially in mixed stands. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the effects of climatic changes on the above and below ground carbon dynamics of a mixed stand of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) by means of scenario simulations. To account for the typical tree interactions in a mixed-species stand a spatial explicit tree growth model based on eco-physiological processes was applied. Three different climate scenarios considering altered precipitation, temperature, and radiation were calculated for an unthinned and a thinned stand. The results showed significant changes of above and belowground biomass over time, especially when temperature and radiation were increased additionally to decreased precipitation. The reduction in biomass increments of Norway spruce were more attenuated above than below ground. In contrast, the results for beech were the opposite: The belowground increments were reduced more. These results suggest a shift in the species contribution to above and belowground biomass under dryer and warmer conditions. Distinct effects were also found when thinned and unthinned stands were compared. A reduced stand density changed the proportions of above and below ground carbon allocation. As a main reason for the changed growth reactions the water balance of trees was identified which lead to changed biomass allocation pattern. This article belongs to the special issue “Growth and defence of Norway spruce and European beech in pure and mixed stands”.     

Conversion of single-layered Scots pine monocultures into close-to-nature mixed hardwood forests: effects on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists

In the north Saxon lowlands (near Torgau), effects of conversion of pure pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) into mixed stands by planting deciduous trees [Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl] were investigated on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists. The effects of planting deciduous trees in pine stands were investigated using the strategy of space-for-time substitution including advanced plantations of beech and oak of different age classes. Wasps were captured at 4-week intervals by ground photoeclectors (GPE, n=6, 1 m²) and flight-interception traps (FIT, n=8), placed in the tree crown layer during the vegetation period (April–October) of 2000. A total of 32,479 parasitoid wasps belonging to 30 families were caught in the traps. Fifty-nine percent of individuals were representatives of families relevant as antagonists of forest insect pests: Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Eulophidae, Mymaridae, Trichogrammatidae, and Scelionidae. Compared to the pure pine stand, individual numbers of most families of parasitoid wasps were statistically significantly higher in mixed stands with deciduous trees. The clearest promoting effects of deciduous trees on parasitoid wasps were manifested in the oldest age classes of advanced beech and oak plantations. Oak exerted stronger effects than beech. This applied especially to the tree crown layer, the stratum with the highest spatial correlation between important phytophagous pine pests and relevant parasitoids. The increased structural diversity of the stands and the broader spectrum of potential hosts are regarded as key factors for the promoting effects of advanced plantings of deciduous trees in pine stands on the community of parasitoid wasps.     

Do mature pine plantations resemble deciduous natural forests regarding understory plant diversity and canopy structure in historically modified landscapes?

We compared the structure of the arboreal layer and the diversity and species composition of the understory vegetation of three types of mature forest communities: oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations. Our main aim was to determine whether differences in these variables existed and were due to the identity of the dominant tree species. We selected four stands or replicates per forest type located geographically close and with relatively similar conditions. We found no differences in the arboreal structure of oak and beech forests, which were characterised by great variability in tree size, while in case of plantations, this variability was lower at both the intra-stand (estimated by the coefficient of variation) and inter-stand (i.e. the four replicates harboured trees of similar sizes) scales. However, the highest variability in the canopy layer of natural forests was not consistently linked to greater understory species richness. Indeed, the lowest plant species richness was found in beech forests, while oak forests harboured the highest value at either the sampling unit (per m²) or stand scales. The greatest negative correlation between plant diversity and the environmental variables measured was found for litter depth, which was the highest in beech forests. The results obtained by the CCA indicated that the four replicates of each forest type clustered together, due to the presence of characteristic species. We concluded that pine plantations did not approach the environmental conditions of native forests, as plantations were characterised by singular understory species composition and low arboreal layer variability, compared to natural woodlands.     

Stocks and dynamics of soil organic carbon and coarse woody debris in three managed and unmanaged temperate forests

The effect of forest conservation on the organic carbon (C) stock of temperate forest soils is hardly investigated. Coarse woody debris (CWD) represents an important C reservoir in unmanaged forests and potential source of C input to soils. Here, we compared aboveground CWD and soil C stocks at the stand level of three unmanaged and three adjacent managed forests in different geological and climatic regions of Bavaria, Germany. CWD accumulated over 40–100 years and yielded C stocks of 11 Mg C ha^?1 in the unmanaged spruce forest and 23 and 30 Mg C ha^?1 in the two unmanaged beech–oak forests. C stocks of the organic layer were smaller in the beech–oak forests (8 and 19 Mg C ha^?1) and greater in the spruce forest (36 Mg C ha^?1) than the C stock of CWD. Elevated aboveground CWD stocks did not coincide with greater C stocks in the organic layers and the mineral soils of the unmanaged forests. However, radiocarbon signatures of the O _e and O _a horizons differed among unmanaged and managed beech–oak forests. We attributed these differences to partly faster turnover of organic C, stimulated by greater CWD input in the unmanaged forest. Alternatively, the slower turnover of organic C in the managed forests resulted from lower litter quality following thinning or different tree species composition. Radiocarbon signatures of water-extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the top mineral soils point to CWD as potent DOC source. Our results suggest that 40–100 years of forest protection is too short to generate significant changes in C stocks and radiocarbon signatures of forest soils at the stand level.     

Growth and form of Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior respond distinctly different to initial growing space: results from 24-year-old Nelder experiments

Initial growing space is of critical importance to growth and quality development of individual trees. We investigated how mortality, growth (diameter at breast height, total height), natural pruning (height to first dead and first live branch and branchiness) and stem and crown form of 24-year-old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur [L.]) and European ash (Fraxinus excelsior [L.]) were affected by initial spacing. Data were recorded from two replicate single-species Nelder wheels located in southern Germany with eight initial stocking regimes varying from 1,020 to 30,780 seedlings·ha -1 . Mortality substantially decreased with increasing initial growing space but significantly differed among the two species, averaging 59% and 15% for oak and ash plots, respectively. In contrast to oak, the low self-thinning rate found in the ash plots over the investigated study period resulted in a high number of smaller intermediate or suppressed trees, eventually retarding individual tree as well as overall stand development. As a result, oak gained greater stem dimensions throughout all initial spacing regimes and the average height of ash significantly increased with initial growing space. The survival of lower crown class ashes also appeared to accelerate self-pruning dynamics. In comparison to oak, we observed less dead and live primary branches as well as a smaller number of epicormic shoots along the first 6m of the lower stemof dominant and co-dominant ashes in all spacing regimes. Whereas stem form of both species was hardly affected by initial growing space, the percentage of brushy crowns significantly increased with initial spacing in oak and ash. Our findings suggest that initial stockings of ca. 12,000 seedlings per hectare in oak and 2,500 seedlings per hectare in ash will guarantee a sufficient number of at least 300 potential crop trees per hectare in pure oak and ash plantations at the end of the self-thinning phase, respectively. If the problem of epicormic shoots and inadequate self-pruning can be controlled with trainer species, the initial stocking may be reduced significantly in oak.     

Improving the simulation of stand structure in a forest gap model

There is currently great interest in improving the applicability of forest gap models to changing environmental conditions, in order to facilitate the assessment of possible impacts of climatic change on forest ecosystems. Moreover, for the development of mitigation strategies, it is necessary to include forest management options in the models. Both the simulation of transient effects of climatic change and of forest management regimens require a realistic representation of stand structure in gap models, since tree species respond to variations in stand density in characteristic ways, depending on their ecological strategies.In this study, we compared the effect of five different height growth functions that are sensitive to stand density on simulated stand structure of the FORSKA forest gap model. We used long term observation data from a beech thinning trial at Fabrikschleichach, Bavaria, to test the alternative functions. First, we compared simulation results of the original FORSKA model with measured stand development from 1870 to 1990. Whereas simulated stand level variables (e.g. biomass, mean diameter and height) showed good correspondence with observations, individual tree dimensions and simulated stand structure were quite unrealistic. After calibrating parameters of the height growth functions with data from a lightly thinned plot at Fabrikschleichach, we ran the model with data from a heavily thinned plot for validation. All five functions considerably improved the simulation of height/diameter relationships and stand structure. However, there were distinct differences between functions. The best correspondence with measurements was shown by a function which uses the relative radiation intensity in the centre of a tree crown as an indicator of the competition status of the tree. This function is rather simple and needs only two growth parameters, which can be derived for different functional types of species, according to their shade tolerance.With the new, flexible height growth function it should be possible to extend the applicability of gap models to more realistic simulation experiments including forest management and natural disturbance. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt to employ long term forest observation data for the calibration and validation of a forest gap model. The results suggest that such data could be very useful in model testing and improvement.     

Identifying dendroecological growth releases in American beech,jack pine,and white oak: Within-tree sampling strategy

The objective of this project was to identify the timing of growth release events detected from tree ring widths and compare whether two cores taken from the same tree reconstructed the same disturbance history. This research question is important because current dendroecological reconstructions of canopy disturbance rely on sampling one core per tree; however, the variation of releases from different cores from the same tree has never been evaluated. We sampled two increment cores from 20 jack pine, 17 white oak, and 19 American beech and identified release events with two commonly employed methods: radial growth averaging technique and boundary line criteria. In jack pine, 85% of the paired cores showed identical releases with the radial growth averaging technique, but 15% of the paired cores varied in reconstructed growth releases. In the jack pine, no releases were identified with the boundary line criteria for any of the paired cores. In the white oak, 65% had identical releases identified with the radial growth averaging technique and 35% of the pairs showed differences. The boundary line criteria for white oak had agreement between releases for 76% of the pairs and different release histories for 24% of the pairs. In the American beech, we were only able to use the radial growth averaging technique and this method showed identical release timing for 79% of the paired cores and differences in 21% of the paired cores. This level of within-tree growth variation is unlikely to influence identification of stand-wide disturbances; however, for reconstructions of small-scale disturbances it is likely to under-represent disturbance events. Therefore, for small-scale disturbance reconstructions, we recommend dendroecologists consider sampling two cores per tree instead of the standard sample of one core per tree.