scholarly journals Analysis of the growth characteristics of a 450-year-old silver fir tree

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
Damjan Pantic ◽  
Milan Medarevic ◽  
Matthias Dees ◽  
Dragan Borota ◽  
Bojan Tubic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Average Height ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Selection Forest

The growth characteristics of silver fir are of high importance for selection forest management, and for the current aims laid out in Serbia?s forest management focused on increasing the share of silver firs in Serbia?s growing stock. With the objective of increasing the understanding of the growth characteristics of silver fir, the growth of two silver fir trees felled during forest site production research on Mt. Goc, located in Central Serbia, have been analyzed. Both trees showed significant differences in their growth dynamics over long periods as results of micro-site and micro-stand effects (primarily ambient light regime). The common growth characteristic of the two trees, a 450-year-old tree as the main study object (labeled Tree A) and a 270-year-old Tree B is a long stagnation stage. For Tree A the latent phase, with small interruptions, lasted 410 years; one phase lasted 330 years in continuity, which is the longest period of silver fir stagnation recorded in Europe. Tree B showed a long-lasting stagnation stage that lasted 170 years. The long stagnation stage of Tree A, characterized by an average diameter increment of 1.4 mm/year (average growth ring width of 0.7 mm) and an average height increment of 0.08 m/year, shows the extraordinary silver fir capacity for physiological survival in complete shade. This study adds to the existing knowledge of the shade tolerance of the silver fir. Therefore, the silver fir belongs to the group of extremely shade-tolerant tree species. This characteristic makes silver fir an irreplaceable tree species in the selection forest structure. It offers a wide range of silvicultural flexibility in the management of these forests, and is applicable to silver fir selection Serbia?s forests.

scholarly journals Forest Stand Species Mapping Using the Sentinel-2 Time Series

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Grabska ◽  
Patrick Hostert ◽  
Dirk Pflugmacher ◽  
Katarzyna Ostapowicz
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Forest Tree Species ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Species Mapping ◽  
Sentinel 2

Accurate information regarding forest tree species composition is useful for a wide range of applications, both for forest management and scientific research. Remote sensing is an efficient tool for collecting spatially explicit information on forest attributes. With the launch of the Sentinel-2 mission, new opportunities have arisen for mapping tree species owing to its spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution. The short revisit cycle (five days) is crucial in vegetation mapping because of the reflectance changes caused by phenological phases. In our study, we evaluated the utility of the Sentinel-2 time series for mapping tree species in the complex, mixed forests of the Polish Carpathian Mountains. We mapped the following nine tree species: common beech, silver birch, common hornbeam, silver fir, sycamore maple, European larch, grey alder, Scots pine, and Norway spruce. We used the Sentinel-2 time series from 2018, with 18 images included in the study. Different combinations of Sentinel-2 imagery were selected based on mean decrease accuracy (MDA) and mean decrease Gini (MDG) measures, in addition to temporal phonological pattern analysis. Tree species discrimination was performed using the Random Forest classification algorithm. Our results showed that the use of the Sentinel-2 time series instead of single date imagery significantly improved forest tree species mapping, by approximately 5–10% of overall accuracy. In particular, combining images from spring and autumn resulted in better species discrimination.

scholarly journals Modellierung der Vegetationshöhenstufen und der Areale von Buche und Tanne für die Schweiz

2019 ◽  
Vol 170 (6) ◽  
pp. 326-337
Author(s):  
Barbara Huber ◽  
Päivi Gubelmann ◽  
Andreas Zischg ◽  
Sabine Augustin ◽  
Monika Frehner
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
National Forest Inventory ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
The Future ◽  
Fuzzy Logic Approach ◽  
Altitudinal Belts ◽  
Site Types

Modelling of the vegetation belts and the areas of beech and silver fir for Switzerland The vegetation belts and the distribution area of beech and silver fir in Switzerland are an essential basis for the classification of forest site types with ecograms and therefore for site-specific recommendations of tree species and for forestry. Their limits, which are to a large extend defined by climatic factors, were until now only defined on a qualitative basis. For the future usage of the ecograms for tree species recommendations the limits must be described quantitatively, so that they can be modelled for the future with climate scenarios. With maps in a high spatial resolution of the forest-relevant climate variables and with additional important site parameters, those parameters were selected, which were relevant for the actual limits of the vegetation belts as well as for the beech and silver fir areal. The altitudinal belts were modelled by means of a linear regression between the known position of a representative altitudinal limit and the respective climatic factors at that position. The areal limits were modelled with a fuzzy logic approach. The climatic variables for the time span 2070–2099 were calculated on the basis of the climate (emission) scenario A1B (regional models RegCM3 and CLM), so that the limits of the altitudinal belts and the areas could be modelled for the future. The results of the model approaches are ecologically plausible. This could be shown in a comparison with the forest site types on the sample points of the National Forest Inventory and in an expert evaluation. The developed vegetation and climate maps as well as the modelled projections of the altitudinal belts in the future are the basis for the inclusion of climate change in the recommendation of tree species. They serve as decision support for forest managers and authorities in the forestry planning which is confronted with many uncertainties.

scholarly journals Climate signal in the radial growth of selected coniferous species from the Forest Experimental Station in Rogów

2013 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szymon Bijak
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Coniferous Tree ◽  
Climate Signal ◽  
Experimental Station ◽  
Coniferous Tree Species

Abstract I present dendroclimatological analysis of coniferous tree species growing under the same environmental conditions in the WULS-SGGW Forest Experimental Station in Rogów (51°49' N, 19°53' E, ca. 190 m a.s.l). The study focuses on silver fir, European larch, Scots pine and Douglas fir. For each species, tree-ring width and annual sensitivity chronologies were developed for the period 1931-2010. Analysed species show considerable similarity of their radial increment course (GLK up to 67%, the t-value of 3,5-9,5). The relationship obtained for of the influence of climate conditions on radial growth of these species is typical of the relationships reported from other locations in lowland Poland. Late winter and early spring temperature, especially during February-March, is the main factor affecting tree-ring formation. The general relationship demonstrates that this seasonal thermal limitation operates at an inter-regional and interspecific level in determining the growth of coniferous tree species in Poland. Whereas, the dependence of these species on precipitation is much less significant.

scholarly journals Principles Used in Selecting Tree Species for Regeneration of Forest Sites in Southwestern British Columbia

1984 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klinka ◽  
M. C. Feller
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Forest Trees ◽  
Ecological Characteristics ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Sustainable Productivity

Selecting the best tree species for reforesting a forest site is a critical decision in forest management. Ideally, this decision requires that the ecological characteristics of forest trees, sites and ecosystems are known, and that the intent, goal, strategy and objective of forest management are defined. This knowledge can then be used to develop criteria for selecting the most suitable tree species or combination of tree species for a given site. The criteria used in the tree species selection guidelines for southwestern British Columbia are: maximum sustainable productivity, crop reliability and silvicultural feasibility.

scholarly journals Methodology for establishing the degree of naturalness of forest stands

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaromír Macků
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
The Real ◽  
Real Tree ◽  
Potential Vegetation

Forest stands naturalness degree represents the real tree species composition comparison with the tree species on natural vegetation level – It means forest typology units. The natural tree species composition is derived from Typological System of UHUL (Forest Management Institute). The degree of naturalness of forests is one of the attributes for the assessment of the ecological stability of forests, whilst the broader basis for analysis of sustainable development of the territory.The real tree species composition comes from the forest management planes database and the natural potential vegetation one from typological sites units (forest site complex). Forests types complex is a higher unit of this system hierarchy. The solution based on comparison of the real species composition with natural potential vegetation, e.g. forest stands naturalness degree, is to be used in the ecosystem platform way. The preparation of entry data, e.g. allocation of structured stand type code to the real and natural species composition precedes the analysis itself. Then follows the tree species index calculation which means the final sum of tree index present and any absent species. This index presents the difference between the real tree condition and the model one. It is used entirely original concept algorithm of structured stand types.This algorithm allows for the application computer technology and process so the range from forest stand group of up to the large territory (CZ).The naturalness degree classification is defined on 0–6 levels, from zero degree for introduced species, 3rd degree for cultural forests, to 6th degree for those with natural tree composition. The limited criterion is the stand naturalness degree which should be on 4th level and above. This method is for 15 years of application not only in the works of forestry sites typology completely worked.

scholarly journals From Acid Rain to Low Precipitation: The Role Reversal of Norway Spruce, Silver Fir, and European Beech in a Selection Mountain Forest and Its Implications for Forest Management

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 894
Author(s):  
Enno Uhl ◽  
Torben Hilmers ◽  
Hans Pretzsch
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Role Reversal ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Selection Forest ◽  
Species Specific

We make use of long term observation data from a selection forest in Bavaria. Despite the changing environmental conditions, stand level productivity remains constant over time. Maintaining species and structural diversity by forest management can contribute to resilient forest ecosystems. Background and Objectives: Forests in mountains are similarly affected by environmental changes like those in northern latitudes as species are closer to the edge of their ecological niche. There are recent studies that report species-specific responses to climate change in unmanaged, mono-layered mountain mixed forests. We analyze how environmental changes modify the growth of multi-layered, managed selection forest, which are often targeted for stabilization and risk prevention. We pose the central hypothesis that different species-specific susceptibility to disturbances and structural diversity contribute to ecosystem stability. Materials and Methods: Based on the long-term experiment Freyung 129 in the montane zone of the Bavarian Forest, Germany we analyze long term chronologies of periodic single tree and stand growth of Norway Spruce, silver fir, and European beech in dependence of environmental factors and forest management. Results: First, we show that despite environmental changes in terms of air pollution and drought stress, productivity at stand level persists constantly because of structural diversity and species traits. Second, we show that the species-specific contribution to total stand growth and growth distribution among stem diameter classes may change over time; the species interactions balance total growth. Third, we reveal a role reversal of tree species growth pattern. N. spruce was superior in growth in the first half and was replaced by s. fir in the second half of the survey period. Fourth, we identify the interplay of different stress factors on species-specific growth as the main cause for species-specific asynchronous but growth stabilizing reaction pattern. Finally, we show that density regulation was limited in its impacts to mitigate prevailing stress factors. Conclusions: We discuss the reasons for the observed stability of productivity. We interpret results, where especially the diversity of species and structure typical for selection forests result in stable productivity and wider plateau of the density-productivity relationship, and the suitability of the selection forest concept for risk prevention and stress resilience. We conclude that species composition and stand structure of selection forestry in mixed mountain contribute to climate smart forestry.

Biscogniauxia (Hypoxylon) Canker or Dieback in Trees

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Paez ◽  
Jason A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Root Disease ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quercus Spp

Biscogniauxia canker or dieback (formerly called Hypoxylon canker or dieback) is a common contributor to poor health and decay in a wide range of tree species (Balbalian & Henn 2014). This disease is caused by several species of fungi in the genus Biscogniauxia (formerly Hypoxylon). B. atropunctata or B. mediterranea are usually the species found on Quercus spp. and other hosts in Florida, affecting trees growing in many different habitats, such as forests, parks, green spaces and urban areas (McBride & Appel, 2009).  Typically, species of Biscogniauxia are opportunistic pathogens that do not affect healthy and vigorous trees; some species are more virulent than others. However, once they infect trees under stress (water stress, root disease, soil compaction, construction damage etc.) they can quickly colonize the host. Once a tree is infected and fruiting structures of the fungus are evident, the tree is not likely to survive especially if the infection is in the tree's trunk (Anderson et al., 1995).

scholarly journals Classification of Tree Species as Well as Standing Dead Trees Using Triple Wavelength ALS in a Temperate Forest

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 2614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Amiri ◽  
Peter Krzystek ◽  
Marco Heurich ◽  
Andrew Skidmore
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Feature Selection Method ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Maximum Point ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Multi Wavelength ◽  
Standing Dead ◽  
Standing Dead Trees ◽  
532 Nm

Knowledge about forest structures, particularly of deadwood, is fundamental for understanding, protecting, and conserving forest biodiversity. While individual tree-based approaches using single wavelength airborne laserscanning (ALS) can successfully distinguish broadleaf and coniferous trees, they still perform multiple tree species classifications with limited accuracy. Moreover, the mapping of standing dead trees is becoming increasingly important for damage calculation after pest infestation or biodiversity assessment. Recent advances in sensor technology have led to the development of new ALS systems that provide up to three different wavelengths. In this study, we present a novel method which classifies three tree species (Norway spruce, European beech, Silver fir), and dead spruce trees with crowns using full waveform ALS data acquired from three different sensors (wavelengths 532 nm, 1064 nm, 1550 nm). The ALS data were acquired in the Bavarian Forest National Park (Germany) under leaf-on conditions with a maximum point density of 200 points/m 2 . To avoid overfitting of the classifier and to find the most prominent features, we embed a forward feature selection method. We tested our classification procedure using 20 sample plots with 586 measured reference trees. Using single wavelength datasets, the highest accuracy achieved was 74% (wavelength = 1064 nm), followed by 69% (wavelength = 1550 nm) and 65% (wavelength = 532 nm). An improvement of 8–17% over single wavelength datasets was achieved when the multi wavelength data were used. Overall, the contribution of the waveform-based features to the classification accuracy was higher than that of the geometric features by approximately 10%. Our results show that the features derived from a multi wavelength ALS point cloud significantly improve the detailed mapping of tree species and standing dead trees.

scholarly journals Disentangling the Legacies of Climate and Management on Tree Growth

Ecosystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Marqués ◽  
Drew M. P. Peltier ◽  
J. Julio Camarero ◽  
Miguel A. Zavala ◽  
Jaime Madrigal-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Ring Formation ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Past Climate ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Ecological Memory ◽  
Historical Forest

AbstractLegacies of past climate conditions and historical management govern forest productivity and tree growth. Understanding how these processes interact and the timescales over which they influence tree growth is critical to assess forest vulnerability to climate change. Yet, few studies address this issue, likely because integrated long-term records of both growth and forest management are uncommon. We applied the stochastic antecedent modelling (SAM) framework to annual tree-ring widths from mixed forests to recover the ecological memory of tree growth. We quantified the effects of antecedent temperature and precipitation up to 4 years preceding the year of ring formation and integrated management effects with records of harvesting intensity from historical forest management archives. The SAM approach uncovered important time periods most influential to growth, typically the warmer and drier months or seasons, but variation among species and sites emerged. Silver fir responded primarily to past climate conditions (25–50 months prior to the year of ring formation), while European beech and Scots pine responded mostly to climate conditions during the year of ring formation and the previous year, although these responses varied among sites. Past management and climate interacted in such a way that harvesting promoted growth in young silver fir under wet and warm conditions and in old European beech under drier and cooler conditions. Our study shows that the ecological memory associated with climate legacies and historical forest management is species-specific and context-dependent, suggesting that both aspects are needed to properly evaluate forest functioning under climate change.

scholarly journals The composition and diversity of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps under different intensities of forest disturbance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maame Esi Hammond ◽  
Radek Pokorný ◽  
Daniel Okae-Anti ◽  
Augustine Gyedu ◽  
Irene Otwuwa Obeng
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Forest Disturbance ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Gap Formation ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Shade Tolerant Species ◽  
Disturbed Forest

AbstractThe positive ecological interaction between gap formation and natural regeneration has been examined but little research has been carried out on the effects of gaps on natural regeneration in forests under different intensities of disturbance. This study evaluates the composition, diversity, regeneration density and abundance of natural regeneration of tree species in gaps in undisturbed, intermittently disturbed, and disturbed forest sites. Bia Tano Forest Reserve in Ghana was the study area and three gaps each were selected in the three forest site categories. Ten circular subsampling areas of 1 m2 were delineated at 2 m spacing along north, south, east, and west transects within individual gaps. Data on natural regeneration < 350 cm height were gathered. The results show that the intensity of disturbance was disproportional to gap size. Species diversity differed significantly between undisturbed and disturbed sites and, also between intermittently disturbed and disturbed sites for Simpson’s (1-D), Equitability (J), and Berger–Parker (B–P) indices. However, there was no significant difference among forest sites for Shannon diversity (H) and Margalef richness (MI) indices. Tree species composition on the sites differed. Regeneration density on the disturbed site was significantly higher than on the two other sites. Greater abundance and density of shade-dependent species on all sites identified them as opportunistic replacements of gap-dependent pioneers. Pioneer species giving way to shade tolerant species is a natural process, thus make them worst variant in gap regeneration.

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