scholarly journals Can Visual Aesthetic Components and Acceptance Be Traced Back to Forest Structure?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 701
Author(s):  
Frieder Füger ◽  
Franka Huth ◽  
Sven Wagner ◽  
Norbert Weber
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Visual Aesthetics ◽  
Visual Diversity

The importance of local forests as places of recreation and human well-being depends very much on their visual impact on human perception. Forest managers, therefore, seek to achieve structural elements or attributes that can be used to enhance the visual aesthetics of managed forest ecosystems. The following survey was undertaken in the Tharandter Forest in Saxony (Germany). The field interviews were focussed on visual aesthetics and acceptance. The statements of the 53 participants in the survey were used to analyse views concerning typical Norway spruce forest types: with the regeneration of deciduous tree species in the background, without regeneration, and with European beech as a second layer in the foreground. The evaluation of the questionnaires confirmed a clear ranking. The forest view with the regeneration of deciduous tree species received the highest number of positive scores, followed by the forest view with beech as a second layer. The forest view characterised by pure and dense Norway spruce trees received the worst rating, differing significantly from the other two, on the basis of the spatial arrangement, visual diversity and acceptance. Linear mixed models demonstrated that visual aesthetics was mostly explained by visual diversity as a result of tree species diversity or mixtures and age structures, the diversity of surrounding structures and colours, ground vegetation or visibility.

Douglas-fir – spruce for the 22nd century? Review of the recent Czech literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Подразски ◽  
Vilem Podrazski ◽  
Матвеев ◽  
Sergey Matveev
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Middle Europe ◽  
The Stability

Presented paper summarizes the knowledge concerning the cultivation of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii /Mirb./ Franco), its production as well as its non-production forest functions in the conditions of the Czech Republic/Middle Europe. It analyzes the research outcomes from the point of view of volume and value production in comparison with domestic tree species, from the point of view of the soil effects and effects on the ground vegetation diversity, and from point of view of stability and cultivation in the last period. Main aim is represented by the comparison with the Norway spruce, which can be with advantages replaced by this species, with favourable impact on amount and value of the timber production, on the soil and biodiversity status of the ground vegetation. The Norway spruce is heavily affected and endangered by the coming or supposed climatic changes. Also the stability of forest stands can be supported considerably replacing Norway spruce by Douglas-fir. This species can represent suitable alternative to the Norway spruce in lower and middle altitudes and it can contribute highly to the competitiveness not only of the Czech, but European forestry too, increasing stability and production, decreasing the negative effects of the tree species changes in the past.

scholarly journals Landscape-Scale Mixtures of Tree Species are More Effective than Stand-Scale Mixtures for Biodiversity of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes and Lichens

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffi Heinrichs ◽  
Christian Ammer ◽  
Martina Mund ◽  
Steffen Boch ◽  
Sabine Budde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Gamma Diversity ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Scale Mixtures ◽  
Species Mixtures

Tree species diversity can positively affect the multifunctionality of forests. This is why conifer monocultures of Scots pine and Norway spruce, widely promoted in Central Europe since the 18th and 19th century, are currently converted into mixed stands with naturally dominant European beech. Biodiversity is expected to benefit from these mixtures compared to pure conifer stands due to increased abiotic and biotic resource heterogeneity. Evidence for this assumption is, however, largely lacking. Here, we investigated the diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens at the plot (alpha diversity) and at the landscape (gamma diversity) level in pure and mixed stands of European beech and conifer species (Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir) in four regions in Germany. We aimed to identify compositions of pure and mixed stands in a hypothetical forest landscape that can optimize gamma diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens within regions. Results show that gamma diversity of the investigated groups is highest when a landscape comprises different pure stands rather than tree species mixtures at the stand scale. Species mainly associated with conifers rely on light regimes that are only provided in pure conifer forests, whereas mixtures of beech and conifers are more similar to beech stands. Combining pure beech and pure conifer stands at the landscape scale can increase landscape level biodiversity and conserve species assemblages of both stand types, while landscapes solely composed of stand scale tree species mixtures could lead to a biodiversity reduction of a combination of investigated groups of 7 up to 20%.

scholarly journals Tree species identity mediates mechanisms of top soil carbon sequestration in a Norway spruce and European beech mixed forest

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Andivia ◽  
Victor Rolo ◽  
Mathieu Jonard ◽  
Pavel Formánek ◽  
Quentin Ponette
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Soil Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Top Soil

scholarly journals Impacts of landscape-scale windthrow and subsequent, variable reforestation on bird communities in Central Europe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Kamp ◽  
Johanna Trappe ◽  
Luca Dübbers ◽  
Stephanie Funke
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Secondary Succession ◽  
Forest Disturbance ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Long Distance

AbstractWith climate change, the area affected by and the intensity of forest disturbances such as windthrow, insect outbreaks and fire will be increasing. Post-disturbance forest management will be varied, and it is difficult to predict how much natural succession will be allowed in comparison to reforestation. Both, disturbance and reforestation will affect forest biodiversity globally, but potential shifts in species distribution, abundance and community composition are poorly understood.We studied the response of breeding bird communities to windthrow and different reforestation strategies in one of Central Europe’s largest contiguous windthrow areas created by storm Kyrill in 2007. A decade after the disturbance, we compared bird species diversity, population densities and community composition on plots in replanted beech, replanted conifers and secondary succession (all salvage-logged after the storm), with undisturbed old Norway spruce Picea abies as a control, in the setting of a natural experiment.Of the stands blown down, 95% were Norway Spruce. Reforestation strategies varied, with Spruce and non-native conifers planted on twice the area that was replanted with European Beech Fagus sylvestris. Large areas were still dominated by successional tree species a decade after the storm, especially birch, mirroring recommendations of sub-national forestry agencies to include secondary succession in future forest development. Birds responded strongly to windthrow, with a pronounced community turnover. Species associated with high conifer stands reached significantly lower densities on sample plots in disturbed areas. Replanted areas were characterized by mostly ubiquitous bird species. Areas dominated by secondary succession, especially birch Betula spp., were characterized by high densities of long-distance migrants (often species of conservation concern) and shrubland species, among them several indicator species.Our results suggest that an increase of forest disturbance across Central Europe will lead to a pronounced reorganisation of biodiversity. Strategies that allow more secondary succession, and avoid replanting allochthonous tree species are likely to benefit populations of depleted bird species, even at salvage-logged and cleared disturbance sites.

scholarly journals The linkage of 13C and 15N soil depth gradients with C:N and O:C stoichiometry reveals tree species effects on organic matter turnover in soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 151 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 203-220
Author(s):  
Marcel Lorenz ◽  
Delphine Derrien ◽  
Bernd Zeller ◽  
Thomas Udelhoven ◽  
Willy Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Elemental Stoichiometry ◽  
Depth Gradients

AbstractThe knowledge of tree species dependent turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited, yet required to understand the carbon sequestration function of forest soil. We combined investigations of 13C and 15N and its relationship to elemental stoichiometry along soil depth gradients in 35-year old monocultural stands of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), black pine (Pinus nigra), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and red oak (Quercus rubra) growing on a uniform post-mining soil. We investigated the natural abundance of 13C and 15N and the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) and oxygen:carbon (O:C) stoichiometry of litterfall and fine roots as well as SOM in the forest floor and mineral soil. Tree species had a significant effect on SOM δ13C and δ15N reflecting significantly different signatures of litterfall and root inputs. Throughout the soil profile, δ13C and δ15N were significantly related to the C:N and O:C ratio which indicates that isotope enrichment with soil depth is linked to the turnover of organic matter (OM). Significantly higher turnover of OM in soils under deciduous tree species depended to 46% on the quality of litterfall and root inputs (N content, C:N, O:C ratio), and the initial isotopic signatures of litterfall. Hence, SOM composition and turnover also depends on additional—presumably microbial driven—factors. The enrichment of 15N with soil depth was generally linked to 13C. In soils under pine, however, with limited N and C availability, the enrichment of 15N was decoupled from 13C. This suggests that transformation pathways depend on litter quality of tree species.

scholarly journals Langzeitforschung auf Sturmflächen zeigt Potenzial und Grenzen der Naturverjüngung

2015 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Brang ◽  
Sandra Hilfiker ◽  
Ulrich Wasem ◽  
Andreas Schwyzer ◽  
Thomas Wohlgemuth
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Climax Species ◽  
Advance Regeneration

Long-term research on storm areas demonstrates the potential and the limits of natural regeneration After windthrow, questions arise about the appropriate silvicultural management. Answers can be derived from long-term studies on 19 storm-damaged areas caused by Vivian (1990) and Lothar (1999), which encompass cleared, cleared and planted as well as uncleared subareas. Forest succession on these areas was studied using repeated regeneration inventories. Ten resp. 20 years after the storms, the resulting young forests were 3–12 m tall and had a stem density of 500 to 31,400 per ha. Many tree species grow in the storm areas, with climax species like European beech (in the lowlands) and Norway spruce (in high-altitude forests) being most frequent. Advance regeneration has only a small share of the young stands, since seedlings were scarce in the pre-storm stands. Regeneration is slightly more dense on cleared than on uncleared storm areas. The yearly increase in seedling density ranged from 25 to 4,000 trees per ha, with low values occurring mainly if dense vegetation of tall forbs, bramble or bracken covered the ground. The increase in density has fallen since the storms, and in thickets with high stem numbers, the regeneration density has even started to decrease. Pionieer trees as well as sycamore maple and ash grow fastest, and climax species like Norway spruce and silver fir slowest. For spruce, planting results in an advance of 1.0 to 2.4 m after 20 years in high montane storm areas; moreover, gaps, which are widespread in storm areas even 10 or 20 years after the storm event, can be avoided. On areas with total damage, cluster planting should be considered, in particular in protection forests and in cases with scarce advance regeneration, missing seed trees and dense ground vegetation.

scholarly journals Isoprenoid emission response to changing light conditions of English oak, European beech and Norway spruce

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (18) ◽  
pp. 4045-4060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ylva van Meeningen ◽  
Guy Schurgers ◽  
Riikka Rinnan ◽  
Thomas Holst
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Light Response ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
High Light ◽  
English Oak ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Isoprenoid Emission

Abstract. Light is an important environmental factor controlling biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions, but in natural conditions its impact is hard to separate from other influential factors such as temperature. We studied the light response of foliar BVOC emissions, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance on three common European tree species, namely English oak (Quercus robur), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and two provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in Taastrup, Denmark. Leaf scale measurements were performed on the lowest positioned branches of the tree in July 2015. Light intensity was increased in four steps (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 µmol m−2 s−1), whilst other chamber conditions such as temperature, humidity and CO2 levels were fixed. Whereas the emission rate differed between individuals of the same species, the relative contributions of compounds to the total isoprenoid emission remained similar. Whilst some compounds were species specific, the compounds α-pinene, camphene, 3-carene, limonene and eucalyptol were emitted by all of the measured tree species. Some compounds, like isoprene and sabinene, showed an increasing emission response with increasing light intensity, whereas other compounds, like camphene, had no significant emission response to light for most of the measured trees. English oak and European beech showed high light-dependent emission fractions from isoprene and sabinene, but other emitted compounds were light independent. For the two provenances of Norway spruce, the compounds α-pinene, 3-carene and eucalyptol showed high light-dependent fractions for many of the measured trees. This study highlights differences between compound emissions in their response to a change in light and a possible light independence for certain compounds, which might be valid for a wider range of tree species. This information could be of importance when improving emission models and to further emphasize the discussion regarding light or temperature dependencies for individual compounds across species.

scholarly journals Different Atmospheric Methane-Oxidizing Communities in European Beech and Norway Spruce Soils

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 3228-3235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela M. Degelmann ◽  
Werner Borken ◽  
Harold L. Drake ◽  
Steffen Kolb
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Sequence Difference ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Oxidation Rates ◽  
Distance Cutoff

ABSTRACT Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests exhibit lower annual atmospheric methane consumption rates than do European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. In the current study, pmoA (encoding a subunit of membrane-bound CH4 monooxygenase) genes from three temperate forest ecosystems with both beech and spruce stands were analyzed to assess the potential effect of tree species on methanotrophic communities. A pmoA sequence difference of 7% at the derived protein level correlated with the species-level distance cutoff value of 3% based on the 16S rRNA gene. Applying this distance cutoff, higher numbers of species-level pmoA genotypes were detected in beech than in spruce soil samples, all affiliating with upland soil cluster α (USCα). Additionally, two deep-branching genotypes (named 6 and 7) were present in various soil samples not affiliating with pmoA or amoA. Abundance of USCα pmoA genes was higher in beech soils and reached up to (1.2 ± 0.2) × 108 pmoA genes per g of dry weight. Calculated atmospheric methane oxidation rates per cell yielded the same trend. However, these values were below the theoretical threshold necessary for facilitating cell maintenance, suggesting that USCα species might require alternative carbon or energy sources to thrive in forest soils. These collective results indicate that the methanotrophic diversity and abundance in spruce soils are lower than those of beech soils, suggesting that tree species-related factors might influence the in situ activity of methanotrophs.

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