Retention forestry implies that biological legacies like dead and living trees are deliberately selected and retained beyond harvesting cycles to benefit biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This model has been applied for several decades in even-aged, clearcutting (CC) systems but less so in uneven-aged, continuous-cover forestry (CCF). We provide an overview of retention in CCF in temperate regions of Europe, currently largely focused on habitat trees and dead wood. The relevance of current meta-analyses and many other studies on retention in CC is limited since they emphasize larger patches in open surroundings. Therefore, we reflect here on the ecological foundations and socio-economic frameworks of retention approaches in CCF, and highlight several areas with development potential for the future. Conclusions from this perspective paper, based on both research and current practice on several continents, although highlighting Europe, are also relevant to other temperate regions of the world using continuous-cover forest management approaches.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-019-01190-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Context Intensification and specialisation of agriculture and forest use has led to profound structural and compositional changes in European landscapes. In particular, sharp, narrow edges adjacent to relatively homogenous vegetation types progressively replace transitional habitats, crucial for a plethora of species and ecological processes. Quercus robur and Q. petraea regeneration niches make them best adapted to such transitional habitats. However, contemporary oaks' importance, including their regeneration, is usually considered within limits of forest habitats. Objective Defining habitats, landscape patterns and processes fostering oak regeneration and 'oakscape' development. Methods We assessed the state-of-the art of the topical literature with respect to various aspects of oak regeneration based on a refined list of 234 titles from the Web of Science database. Results The review confirmed that the vast majority of studies focus on forest habitats, disregarding the fact that substantial part of acorns are being carried away and seeded by birds in non-forest habitats. Conclusions The common acceptance of the simplistic landscape mosaic model, based on segregated homogenous vegetation categories and clear-cut lines separating patches, impedes proper assessment of landscape changes, referring to 'untypical', transitional habitats-the true oaks' domain. Hence, restoring and sustaining European 'oakscape' should result from the overall landscape management, based on a better adapted gradient approach to landscape studies. Applying such an approach, we identified a set of habitats fostering successful oak regeneration and recruitment without direct human support, contributing to the contemporary 'oakscape', represented mostly by non-forest, either natural or anthropogenic habitats.

This paper presents a phytosociological classification of the conifer-broadleaved hardwood forests in central Westland, South Island, New Zealand. The analysis was made using the BRAUN-BLANQUET approach. Because this approach has rarely been applied in New Zealand, syntaxa were not named using BRAUN-BLANQUET nomenclature. The following community groups and communities were distinguished: 2 m tall). It was found mainly on rocky sites in schist and greywacke areas. Using 28 species groups, further partitions could be made to 43 "sub-units", including subdivisions, types and subtypes. The floristic relationships of the community types were transformed into a hierarchical arrangement. Variation in species composition was dominantly related to altitude, and disturbance resulting in soil differences. Different frequencies of disturbance can be related to landscape stability and topographic position: In schist areas, disturbances of soil and vegetation were frequent, and low-statured seral communities and tall forests frequently were found in a small-scale vegetation pattern. In granite areas, the canopy is more uniform, with few areas of seral vegetation. These large-scale differences in landscape stability and vegetation can be related to different intensities of canopy mortality. Mortality of canopy trees is higher in schist areas than in granite areas. This may be a consequence of differential browse pressure by introduced brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr.). South Island N.Z.

Efecto de un incendio forestal causado por un turista sobre bosques de Nothofagus pumilio en la reserva de la biosfera Torres del Paine, Chile (Patagonia Austral) SUMMARY This study describes the impact of a wildfire caused by a tourist at Torres del Paine Biosphere Reserve in 2005, which destroyed approximately 2,000 ha of forests. Changes on biodiversity attributes of Nothofagus pumilio stands including structure, floristic composition and regeneration, are shown. We compared three plot groups having similar site and structure: Cordón Masle burned plots (CMBP); Cordón Masle unburned plots (CMUP), adjacent to the first ones; and Cerro Paine unburned plots (CPUP), outside the fire perimeter. Data was analyzed using univariate (Mann-Whitney) and multivariate (MRPP and ISA) non-parametric analysis. In CMBP, the fire reduced in average 91.7 % of the tree density and 70.9 % of the basal area. In the unburned plots the average of seedling was 23,625 and 22,750 ha-1 in CPUP and CMUP respectively, whereas in burned ones it was only 1,125 ha-1 in CMBP. Canopy layer collapsed and species richness and cover on ground increased significantly in burned plots. The average of exotics increased from 1.5 and 0.6 in CPUP and CMUP respectively to 11.9 in CMBP. Tree mortality, lower regeneration, biological invasion and broken canopy-ground balance in burned stands, are altering the successional pathways of forests, making difficult the forest regeneration and restoration efforts. Based on this information, we propose managers to encourage efforts in fire prevention and to incorporate a database on biodiversity indicators for management plans, in order to know more about the ecological integrity of ecosystems and the impacts provoked by recreation. RESUMEN Se describe el impacto de un incendio causado por un turista en la reserva de la biosfera Torres del Paine en el 2005 que destruyó aproximadamente 2.000 ha de bosques. Se muestran los cambios ocurridos en atributos de bosques de Nothofagus pumilio incluyendo estructura, regeneración y composición florística. Se comparan tres grupos de parcelas con sitio y estructura semejantes: parcelas incendiadas (CMBP) y parcelas adyacentes no incendiadas (CMUP) del Cordón Masle, y parcelas no incendiadas de Cerro Paine (CPUP), fuera del perímetro del incendio. Se utilizó análisis no paramétricos univariados (Mann-Whitney) y multivariados (MRPP e ISA). En los sitios incendiados, el fuego redujo en promedio el 91,7 % de la densidad arbórea y el 70,9 % del área basal. El promedio de plántulas fue de 23.625 y 22.750 ha-1 en CPUP y CMUP, respectivamente, mientras que en CMBP se redujo a 1.125 ha-1. El dosel colapsó y la cobertura y riqueza de especies de sotobosque incrementó significativamente en las parcelas incendiadas. El promedio de exóticas incrementó de 1,5 y 0,7 especies en CPUP y CMUP, respectivamente, hasta 11,9 especies en CMBP. La mortalidad de árboles, escasa regeneración, invasión biológica y el colapso del dosel, están alterando las vías sucesionales de los bosques reduciendo su ca...

Question: What components of drought influence the drought limit of Fagus sylvatica forests? This study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the future of Fagus as a major component of central European forests. Location: The drought limit of F. sylvatica at its ecotone with forest dominated by Quercus pubescens, Q. petraea and their hybrids in two limestone regions (Klettgau, Schwäbische Alb) in southwestern Germany was compared. Methods: Vegetation relevés were classified and a gradient analysis was performed. The vegetation pattern was analysed with several drought relevant variables. Classification trees were used to determine the drought limits of the Fagus forest. Results: The Fagus, Quercus and the ecotone forests were floristically characterized. The lower humidity in the submontane Klettgau, compared to the montane Schwäbische Alb, was compensated for by greater soil moisture (ASWSC). Therefore, Fagus forest in the Schwäbische Alb grew on sites with ASWSC values similar to those of ecotone forest in Klettgau. Conclusions: The interaction between climatic and edaphic drought related factors demonstrates that drought is a complex edaphic‐climatic factor. Both components contribute to limiting the distribution of Fagus. For the two regions in southwestern Germany, and under the existing climatic conditions, it could be shown that Fagus is able to dominate forests on soils with very low ASWSC (≥ 68 l.m‐2).