Forest structure of a maple old-growth stand: a case study on the Apennines mountains(Southern Italy)

In Europe, very small forest areas can be considered to be old-growth, and they are mainly located in Eastern Europe. The typical structures of old growth forests infrequently occur in Mediterranean mountainous environments, since they have been affected by human activities for centuries. This study focused on a remote and almost pure Italian maple stand located in southern Italy, which has not been managed for long time due to its inaccessibility. The effects of natural evolution on the forest stand were evaluated through the analysis of the spatial and chronological structure and the regeneration patterns, then estimating the amounts and quality of deadwood occurrence. Across the whole stand, all the trees with DBH （diameter at breast height） larger than 50 cm （LLT, large living trees） were measured （DBH and height） and age was also determined through a dendrochronological approach. The diameters observed ranged between 50 and 145 cm with ages of 12o to ~5o years. The Latham index calculated for trees within the sample plot highlighted a multilayered canopy with a dominant layer of largeliving trees （age 〉 120 years）. The size-class distribution of stems had a reverse-J shape, and basal area was 52 m2 ha-1. Deadwood was exclusively constituted by standing dead trees and CWD and its volume was on average 31 m3 ha-1. Pure Italian maple forests are generally rare in Europe, and it was unexpected to find a forest stand characterized by a so complex structure with old growth attributes. The study of complex forest stand, even if small, could give precious information on the forest evolution, clarifying also diverse auto-ecological traits of tree species that usually are not common in our forests.

Inventory of aspen trees in spruce dominated stands in conserva-tion area

Background： The occurrence of aspen trees increases the conservation value of mature conifer dominated forests. Aspens typically occur as scattered individuals among major tree species, and therefore the inventory of aspens is challenging. Methods： We characterized aspen populations in a boreal nature reserve using diameter distribution, spatial pattern, and forest attributes： volume, number of aspens, number of large aspen stems and basal area median diameter. The data were collected from three separate forest stands in Koli National Park, eastern Finland. At each site, we measured breast height diameter and coordinates of each aspen. The comparison of inventory methods of aspens within the three stands was based on simulations with mapped field data. We mimicked stand level inventory by locating varying numbers of fixed area circular plots both systematically and randomly within the stands. Additionally, we also tested if the use of airborne laser scanning （ALS） data as auxiliary information would improve the accuracy of the stand level inventory by applying the probability proportional to size sampling to assist the selection of field plot locations. Results： The results showed that aspens were always clustered, and the diameter distributions indicated different stand structures in the three investigated forest stands. The reliability of the volume and number of large aspen trees varied from relative root mean square error figures above 50% with fewer sample plots （5-10） to values of 25%-50% with ]0 or more sample plots. Stand level inventory estimates were also able to detect spatial pattern and the shape of the diameter distribution. In addition, ALS-based auxiliary information could be useful in guiding the inventories, but caution should be used when applying the ALS-supported inventory technique. Conclusions： This study characterized European aspen populations for the purposes of monitoring and management of boreal conservation areas. Our results suggest that if the number of sample plots is adequate, i.e. 10 or more stand level inventory will provide accurate enough forest attributes estimates in conservation areas （minimum accuracy requirement of RMSE% is 20%-50%）. Even for the more ecologically valuable attributes, such as diameter distribution, spatial pattern and large aspens, the estimates are acceptable for conservation purposes

Biomass growth characteristics of 13-year-old Pinus densiflora S.et Z.in a post-fire plantation on different contour conditions in Samcheuk,Korea

We used preliminary data to estimate the growth volume of artificially reforested Pinus densiflora in a post-fire area on three different contour conditions. We compared the growth of P. densiflora on a south-facing slope(Ssth), north-facing slope(Snth) and ridge area(Ridge), using 7 trees selected from each stand aspect. The tree height, diameter and growth volume were measured and the dry weight of each plant part were compared and analyzed. The results revealed that the total dry weight was highest on Ssth(5992.3 g), followed by Snth(4833.2 g) and lowest on Ridge(3160.1 g). The height growth was highest on Snth(285.8 cm), followed by Ssth(274.5 cm) and lowest on Ridge(211.5 cm). The diameter growth was greatest on Ssth(7.37 cm), followed by Snth(7.10 cm) and lowest on Ridge(5.72 cm). The volume growth was highest on Ssth(4257.7 cm3), followed by Snth(3750.7 cm3) and lowest on Ridge(2093.7 cm3). Therefore, we should consider and include the concept of slope orientation together with differences in habitat environments in afforestation projects when creating artificial forests with P. densiflora. These study results can serve as important preliminary data for future establishment of artificial forest of P. densiflora in a post-fire plantation.

Influence of topography,soil properties and plant community on the biomass of Abies georgei var.smithii seedlings in Southeast Tibet

Biomass of seedlings at different developing stages of growth is important information for studying the response of species to site conditions.The objectives of this study was to explore the distribution characteristics of AGB(above-ground biomass)and BGB(below-ground biomass)of Abies georgei var.smithii seedlings of different ages,and investigate the effects of topography(slope aspect,altitude),plant community characteristics(crown density,species diversity,etc.),and soil properties(soil physical and chemical properties)on the biomass and its allocation.Seedlings in five age classes(1–2,3–4,5–6,7–8,and 9–10 years old)were collected by full excavation from 6 elevations(3800 m,3900 m,4000 m,4100 m,4200 m,4300 m)on the north and south slopes of Sejila Mountain in Tibet.15seedlings of each age class were investigated at one altitude.The individual effects of seedling age(SA)and the interaction effects of SA,slope aspect(SL),and elevation(EG),namely,SL×EG,SL×SA,EG×SA,and SL×EG×SA,had significant effects on the AGB of the seedlings(p<0.05),whereas BGB was only significantly affected by SA(p<0.001).The AGB and BGB of the seedlings showed a binomial growth trend with the increase in seedling age,and had an allometric relationship at different elevations,α(allometric exponential)varied from 0.913 to 1.046 in the northern slope,and from 1.004 to 1.268 in the southern slope.The biomass of seedlings on the northern slope was remarkably affected by stand factors,with a contribution rate of 47.8%,whereas that on the southern slope was considerably affected by soil factors with a contribution rate of 53.2%.The results showed that age was the most important factor affecting seedling biomass.The allometric pattern of seedling biomass was relatively stable,but in a highaltitude habitat,A.georgei var.smithii seedlings increased the input of BGB.Understanding seedling biomass allocation and its influencing factors is useful for evaluating plants’ability to acquire resources and survival strategies for adaptation to the environment in Tibet Plateau.