Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

Standard

Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests. / Fichtner, Andreas; Sturm, K.; Rickert, Corinna et al.
In: The Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 49, No. 6, 12.2012, p. 1306-1315.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

Harvard

APA

Vancouver

Bibtex

@article{d8c864a58be64200ac7eafced13e1e30,
title = "Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests",
abstract = "New forest management approaches aim to ensure high biodiversity and climatic adaptability. Silvicultural practices can alter tree-tree interactions and thus influence forest structure and composition. However, knowledge of the interacting effects of competitive and abiotic stress in tree communities is still limited. We assessed growth dynamics of European beech Fagus sylvatica in oligo- to eutrophic lowland beech forests by quantifying variation in the importance and intensity of competitive interactions among adult trees along a productivity gradient defined by nutrient availability and hydrological characteristics. We further predicted changes in competition indices with various levels of crowding for different forest types. Basal area growth of 1819 canopy trees was analysed using forest inventory data. Competition response of adult trees was inconsistent among forest types. For small timber trees, the intensity (absolute effect) and importance (effect relative to abiotic constraints) of competition decreased with increasing abiotic stress. Growth responses of medium and large timber trees, however, revealed an opposite trend. Thus, in tree communities, competition effects did not follow a general pattern, because tree maturation altered the responsiveness of trees to environmental stress. Resource dependency of competition effects was most pronounced for large timber trees, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions occurring on fertile sites. For small and medium timber trees, however, competition effects were strongest in dense stands, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions on resource-limited sites. Synthesis and applications. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems.",
keywords = "Ecosystems Research, Biology, Basal area increment, Competition, Plant interaction, Size asymmetry, Stress gradient hypothesis, Sustainable forest management, Thinning",
author = "Andreas Fichtner and K. Sturm and Corinna Rickert and W. H{\"a}rdtle and Joachim Schrautzer",
note = "Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "2012",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02196.x",
language = "English",
volume = "49",
pages = "1306--1315",
journal = "The Journal of Applied Ecology",
issn = "0021-8901",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress

T2 - Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests

AU - Fichtner, Andreas

AU - Sturm, K.

AU - Rickert, Corinna

AU - Härdtle, W.

AU - Schrautzer, Joachim

N1 - Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2012/12

Y1 - 2012/12

N2 - New forest management approaches aim to ensure high biodiversity and climatic adaptability. Silvicultural practices can alter tree-tree interactions and thus influence forest structure and composition. However, knowledge of the interacting effects of competitive and abiotic stress in tree communities is still limited. We assessed growth dynamics of European beech Fagus sylvatica in oligo- to eutrophic lowland beech forests by quantifying variation in the importance and intensity of competitive interactions among adult trees along a productivity gradient defined by nutrient availability and hydrological characteristics. We further predicted changes in competition indices with various levels of crowding for different forest types. Basal area growth of 1819 canopy trees was analysed using forest inventory data. Competition response of adult trees was inconsistent among forest types. For small timber trees, the intensity (absolute effect) and importance (effect relative to abiotic constraints) of competition decreased with increasing abiotic stress. Growth responses of medium and large timber trees, however, revealed an opposite trend. Thus, in tree communities, competition effects did not follow a general pattern, because tree maturation altered the responsiveness of trees to environmental stress. Resource dependency of competition effects was most pronounced for large timber trees, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions occurring on fertile sites. For small and medium timber trees, however, competition effects were strongest in dense stands, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions on resource-limited sites. Synthesis and applications. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems.

AB - New forest management approaches aim to ensure high biodiversity and climatic adaptability. Silvicultural practices can alter tree-tree interactions and thus influence forest structure and composition. However, knowledge of the interacting effects of competitive and abiotic stress in tree communities is still limited. We assessed growth dynamics of European beech Fagus sylvatica in oligo- to eutrophic lowland beech forests by quantifying variation in the importance and intensity of competitive interactions among adult trees along a productivity gradient defined by nutrient availability and hydrological characteristics. We further predicted changes in competition indices with various levels of crowding for different forest types. Basal area growth of 1819 canopy trees was analysed using forest inventory data. Competition response of adult trees was inconsistent among forest types. For small timber trees, the intensity (absolute effect) and importance (effect relative to abiotic constraints) of competition decreased with increasing abiotic stress. Growth responses of medium and large timber trees, however, revealed an opposite trend. Thus, in tree communities, competition effects did not follow a general pattern, because tree maturation altered the responsiveness of trees to environmental stress. Resource dependency of competition effects was most pronounced for large timber trees, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions occurring on fertile sites. For small and medium timber trees, however, competition effects were strongest in dense stands, with lowest sensitivity to changes in crowding conditions on resource-limited sites. Synthesis and applications. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems. Tree-tree interactions in beech forests showed a clear pattern which depended on tree maturation and resource supply. This highlights the importance of considering tree size-related changes along environmental gradients in regional growth models. Our findings indicate that management practices could facilitate both timber production and nature conservation demands by adapting thinning approaches to age- and resource-related tree growth patterns. We propose a distinct reduction in thinning intensity, particularly for larger beech trees growing on sites with optimum below-ground resources. This would increase the permanent stand volumes and promote natural stand dynamics, which in turn would benefit biodiversity typical of old-growth beech forest ecosystems.

KW - Ecosystems Research

KW - Biology

KW - Basal area increment

KW - Competition

KW - Plant interaction

KW - Size asymmetry

KW - Stress gradient hypothesis

KW - Sustainable forest management

KW - Thinning

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870329702&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02196.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2012.02196.x

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 49

SP - 1306

EP - 1315

JO - The Journal of Applied Ecology

JF - The Journal of Applied Ecology

SN - 0021-8901

IS - 6

ER -

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Do We Really Know The Benefit Of Machine Learning In Production Planning And Control? A Systematic Review Of Industry Case Studies
  2. Is globalization healthy
  3. Compression behaviour of wire + arc additive manufactured structures
  4. Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress
  5. Questions liées au genre dans la scène berlinoise de l’electronic dance music
  6. A fragile kaleidoscope
  7. Towards a Deconstruction of the Screen
  8. Inadequate Assessment of the Ecosystem Service Rationale for Conservation
  9. Understanding role models for change
  10. Schreiben
  11. The influence of Reputation on Travel Decisions in the Internet
  12. Personality in personnel selection and assessment
  13. Collaborative innovation online
  14. Mapping the determinants of carbon-related CEO compensation
  15. Coming to work while sick
  16. Stadtentwicklung und Migration
  17. Building a digital anchor
  18. Green Big Data – eine Green IT/Green IS Perspektive auf Big Data
  19. Applying the energy cultures framework to understand energy systems in the context of rural sustainability transformation
  20. Bodenlos.
  21. The role of scenarios in fostering collective action for sustainable development
  22. As You Like It
  23. Ballons
  24. NGOs
  25. Drawing Lessons: Ruth Asawa’s Early Work on Paper
  26. How Participatory Should Environmental Governance Be?
  27. Tree species richness strengthens relationships between ants and the functional composition of spider assemblages in a highly diverse forest
  28. Mitteilung zur Kopula von Aeshna viridis
  29. Playing the past to understand the present
  30. SAMT
  31. Working in the "Global Village"
  32. Who participates in which type of teacher professional development?
  33. Mysthik
  34. Art and Culture as an Urban Development Tool