Beech sapling architecture following small and medium gap disturbances in silver fir-beech old-growth forests in Slovenia
2005
Diaci, J. (University of Ljubljana. Ljubljana (Slovenia).Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources) | Kozjek, L.
The objective of our research was to examine the effect of canopy shading on beech sapling architecture in the old growth silver fir-beech forests of Pecka and Rajhenavski Rog. In August 2003 we sampled one plot (352 m2) in a large gap in Pecka, which was a result of a strong windstorm in 1983, and eight small gaps (2678 m2) with similar sapling heights (3.88 m). A ground view of each gap was drawn including the characteristics of gap border trees and the density of separate sapling layers was recorded. The height and diameter were measured for each sapling, as well as the following quality characteristics on selected dominant saplings: width of the crown, number of larger branches and knots (1/3 DBH), intensity of stem bending, deviation from vertical growth, number of terminal shoots, and the type of damage. The results show a negative effect of high canopy shading (estimated relative light intensity was below 5%) on the architectural quality of saplings. A lower overall density of saplings, greater intensity of bending and deviation from vertical growth, a shorter stem length without branches, a larger number of saplings with two terminal shoots, and a larger number of damaged saplings were observed in small gaps.
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