Does forest continuity matter in conservation? - A study of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes in beech forests of southern Sweden

The effects of forest continuity at local scale for red-listed and indicator species of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes were investigated in 150 Fagus sylvatica stands in southern Sweden. Stands having forest continuity (n = 106) had continuous forest cover more than 350 years, whereas stands lacking continuity (n = 44) had forest cover less than 160 years. Forest continuity was identified by comparing a sequence of historical maps with a modern survey of beech forests. In the field woody beech substrates were searched for the epiphytes of interest. A number of environmental and spatial variables were inventoried and compiled for each stand. In all 64 species (51 lichens, 13 bryophytes) were found in the stands having continuity, and 21 (14 lichens, 7 bryophytes) in the stands lacking continuity. Controlling for the different number of surveyed stands, stands having continuity had significantly more species of lichens, but not of bryophytes. In the stands lacking continuity we did not find lichens associated with the very late succession stage. The quantity of substrates, stand age and forest continuity were the three most important factors explaining species richness as well as composition of studied epiphytes. The effect of continuity was probably due to a combination of a higher substrate quality, mainly old beeches, and a longer time available for colonization. Also, we found strong positive correlations between number of indicator and red-listed epiphyte species. In short-term conservation old stands having continuity, containing suitable substrates and indicator species are target areas.     

亮叶水青冈次生林种间分离特征的研究

采用最近邻体列联表法和计算主要树种混交度的方法,研究亮叶水青冈天然次生林不同树种的种间分离特征。结果表明:1）亮叶水青冈空间分布格局为聚集型,该群落中随机毗邻种对的数量占优势(比例达69.89%),正分离种对较少(比例为29.88%),负分离种对极少(仅为0.23%)。星座图清晰显示种间分离在不同种之间存在一定的差异。2）随着亮叶水青冈在群落中的重要值增大,亮叶水青冈与其他树种发生正分离的种对也增加;随着亮叶水青冈径阶增大,与其他树种的分离关系逐渐接近自然状态,即以随机毗邻为主,正分离次之,负分离不存在。3）群落的平均混交度较高,取值集中在0.5～0.75,说明整体上树种之间的隔离程度较大;亮叶水青冈的混交度值为0.34,处于弱度与中度混交之间,趋向于聚集分布;茅栗、四照花等主要伴生树种的混交度在0.75左右,可以视为强度混交。种间分离类型比例和主要树种混交度的取值分析均说明该亮叶水青冈群落的稳定性较强。      

Phenological phases of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and their dependence on region and altitude in Southern Germany

Long-term observational data of the phenological network of the German Weather Service (DWD) were used to derive the altitudinal dependence of leaf unfolding (LU), leaf discolouration (LD) and the length of the vegetation period (LD-LU) of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in different regions of Southern Germany. Depending on altitude, the vegetation period starts in Bavaria between the 2nd and 24th May with a delay of around 2 days per 100 m altitude increase (averaged over the last 30 years). In Southern Bavaria, LU starts a few days earlier as well as increases slightly faster into higher altitudes than in the northern regions. This can be explained by a more favourable supply of warmth and radiation in the south. The end of the vegetation period, defined here as the beginning of LD, showed no altitudinal dependence, which reflects an interaction of endogenous and exogenous factors as triggers for LD. In the Bavarian Forest region, altitudinal dependences are strongly influenced by sites which are affected by cold-air tailback (‘Kaltluftstau’) was obtained. Hence, phenological gradients should only be derived and applied above a phenological inversion zone. The calculated vertical gradients for LU can be used together with available observational data to estimate the beginning of the forest vegetation period of beech for different altitudes of Bavaria.     

Impact of late frost events on radial growth of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Southern Germany

Phenological, temperature, and tree-ring data were used in order to identify and quantify the impact of late frosts on common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) at different altitudes in Southern Germany during the last century. For this intention, dendroecological investigations were made upon trees at the Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeißenberg as well as from seven stands in the Bavarian Forest and 17 stands at the northern fringe of the Alps. From these locations, a considerable number of severe growth minima in the tree-ring series could be related to late frost in the days of or immediately after leaf unfolding. The frequency of frost-related growth minima increases with altitude. In individual years, radial growth can be reduced by more than 90% (stand mean) in relation to the average growth of the ten previous years. Hence, late frosts are considered as important ecological events that strongly affect beech vitality and competitiveness especially at high altitudes. Evidence of significant impacts on radial growth by late frosts distinct before leaf unfolding or with temperatures above ?3°C was not found. Also, increasing frequency and intensity of late frosts during recent decades were not ascertained. Hence, the recently observed decreased vitality of common beech accompanied by growth depressions especially at high altitude sites in Central Europe cannot be explained as a consequence of late frost damage.     

Distribution, regeneration and succession of Fagus

1ThisstudywassupportedbyNationalNaturalSciencesFoundationofChina(39500116and39670145)HistoryanddistributionFagusisaveryPOpuIargenusintheNoFthernHemi-sphere.TostudytheFagus'evoIutionhistoryisim-portantforrevealingeffeCtsofworldcIim8techangeontheplant,andgeoIogicaIandbioIogicaIconnectionordivergenceintheEurasia.lntheworId,thereare14speciesdistributedthroughoutthetempeFatezoneintheNorthernHemisphere,andtheyarethecIimaticclimaxplantinEuropeandNorthAmerica;however,itisonlydistributeddisc…     

Genetic structure of populations of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Denmark

The genetic structure in Danish indigenous and introduced provenances of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is described. Ten stands are analysed based on variation revealed by seven enzyme systems. The present study reveals significant allele frequency differences between populations with a small absolute amount of genetic differentiation, with no pattern related to geographic distance. The genetic differentiation between indigenous populations measured by Wright's F _ST‐statistic does not deviate significantly from zero, and only 2.9% of the total genetic variation in the foreign populations was due to interpopulation differences, The allele frequencies in relatively small and isolated populations do not differ from the frequencies found in larger areas with beech forest. The low genetic differentiation of isozyme level between indigenous and foreign populations was opposed by significant differences in foliation performance measured on three pairs of neighbouring stands. Foliation performance in adjacent stands of indigenous and introduced beech indicates that quantitative characteristics must be considered separately from neutral variation at single loci.     

Combined application of computer tomography and light microscopy for analysis of conductive xylem area in coarse roots of European beech and Norway spruce

Axial water transport in trees is mainly determined by the gradient of negative water pressure and the structure of conductive xylem elements (i.e. conduits) connecting the fine roots with the foliage. There is still an essential lack of knowledge concerning the relationship between wood structure and hydraulic properties, especially of coarse roots. To this end, the study aimed (1) to work out a novel approach, based on the combination of computer tomography (CT) and light microscopy (LM), for determining the cumulative cross-sectional lumen area of conduits involved in the water transport of coarse roots in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) and (2) to demonstrate its adequacy in quantifying the functional relationship between sapwood anatomy and ascending water mass flow in the xylem. The cross-sectional sapwood area of coarse roots was assessed through CT. The cumulative cross-sectional lumen area of conduits in the sapwood (i.e. the lumen area of conductive conduits) was measured by LM in combination with interactive image analysis. The new approach was developed with coarse roots of both the tree species growing in a 60-year-old mixed forest in Bavaria, Germany. The combination of the two methods unveiled spruce to possess a distinct sapwood/heartwood boundary in small-diameter roots, whereas such roots of beech reflected a gradual transition zone; only large-diameter roots displayed a distinct boundary in beech. Additionally, the cumulative lumen area of conductive conduits was found to be approximately 12% of the total coarse root cross-sectional area in both the tree species. The new approach of measuring the conductive lumen area of coarse-root conduits yielded levels of specific sap flow (i.e. axial conductivity) that substantially differed from those derived from commonly applied methods, which were based on sap flow per unit of total cross-sectional root area or xylem cross-sectional area of individual roots. The combination of CT and LM will facilitate functional comparisons of woody roots differing in diameter and of tree species of different anatomical xylem structure.     

Acidification and chemical properties of fagus sylvatica l forest soils

Exchangeable Al and acidity of Swedish beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest soils are documented and discussed on the basis of known changes in soil chemical properties during recent decades. It is concluded that the pH and base saturation decrease, which has occurred in most forest soils of the region, has been accompanied by increases in the amount of exchangeable and soil solution Al and a greater decrease of the Ca: AI ratio, particularly in the B horizon. An adverse nutritional state now seems to prevail in most beech forest B horizons. Conditions are more favourable in the topsoil due to the formation of Al‐humus complexes which are less available to plant uptake, and in the case of very acid mor layers, a low Al content. However, in A (mull) horizons of intermediate acidity with a rather high clay content and low in humus, conditions approaching those of the B horizon may be found.