出版社：Arbeitsgemeinschaft Forstliche Standorts- und Vegetationskunde (AFSV)
摘要：A long term study of the natural dynamics of a semi-natural beech forest largely
untouched for fifty years began in 1999. A part of the >150 year old
beech/ash stand was completely inventoried (28 ha), and the gaps in the forest
canopy measured repeatedly. The gaps ranged from 8 – 592 qm, with a mean size of
less than 150 qm. There were, on average, 3 gaps/ha, occupying less than 4 % of
the stand area. The establishment and survival rates of admixed species were low
under the largely intact canopy. The total seedling number was only slightly
higher in the gaps (approx. 7 plants/qm) than under the canopy (approx. 6
plants/qm). The problem of seedling establishment was exacerbated by the
unregulated influence of deer. Ash seedlings rarely exceeded heights of 50 cm
without the protection of fencing, and the development of the sycamores was
halted at 90 cm. Even the unpalatable beech benefited slightly from fencing. The
average volume of coarse woody debris (CWD) was 62 m³/ha, comprised chiefly of
large lying timber, but also of large standing dead wood. The findings to date
support the assumption that beech forests left to develop naturally regenerate
gradually by means of numerous small scale disturbances, and tend towards an
ever greater dominance of beech.
