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

Marziliano, Pasquale A.; Coletta, Vittoria; Scuderi, A.; Scalise, Clemente; Menguzzato, Giuliano; Lombardi, Fabio

doi:10.1007/s11629-016-4336-1

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 56 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Gaps can range from small openings formed from the death of a single tree, medium openings formed by the asynchronous mortality of multiple trees, to large opening related to periodic storm events [10]. Gaps, in addition to being different for size, differ also in severity and frequency [8,11] and can trigger dynamic processes of forest species settlement, which causing change in composition, structure, and age [15][16][17], creating heterogeneity in forests [18,19]. Apart from the gap sizes, the cardinal points inside of gaps also influence the microclimatic conditions [20,21] and consequent germination and growth of tree species, playing a crucial role in the distribution of the vegetation patterns [9,[22][23][24]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Gap Size and Cardinal Directions on Natural Regeneration, Growth Dynamics of Trees outside the Gaps and Soil Properties in European Beech Forests of Southern Italy

Bagnato

Marziliano

Sidari

et al. 2021

Forests

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present study was focused on how cardinal directions inside gaps of different sizes (small, 200 m2; medium, 400 m2; and large, 600 m2) can affect soil characteristics and tree regeneration. Additionally, the effects of gap size on the growth dynamics of trees outside the gaps were evaluated. The study was carried out in a European beech stand located in Aspromonte National Park (Southern Apennines, Calabria, Italy). Microclimatic variables, physical, chemical, and biochemical soil properties, natural regeneration density, and growth trees outside the gaps density of natural regeneration were assessed. This study provided evidence for an important effect of cardinal points on micro-environmental parameter variability, nutrient cycle, physic-chemical soil properties, water availability, and biological processes such as trees growth and regeneration. The European beech natural regeneration was most abundant in the south part of the gaps. Thus, we can state that cardinal points affect the trees natural regeneration in a species-specific manner. The new microclimatic conditions due to the gap opening had positive effects on the tree growth located along the gap edge, especially in the trees sampled on the edges of the medium gaps. On the contrary, the trees located in the forest recorded a productivity coherent with the period prior the gap opening. In medium-sized gaps, the combination and interaction of microclimatic and soil parameters (humification and mineralization process and microbial activity) created the best conditions for beech natural regeneration and favored an increase in the productivity of the trees at the edge of the gaps.

show abstract