Structure, spatio-temporal dynamics and disturbance regime of the mixed beech–silver fir–Norway spruce old-growth forest of Biogradska Gora (Montenegro)

• Published in: Plant biosystems 2015-11, Vol.149 (6), p.966-975
• Main Authors: Motta, R, Garbarino, M, Berretti, R, Bjelanovic, I, Borgogno Mondino, E, Čurović, M, Keren, S, Meloni, F, Nosenzo, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: canopy gaps; coarse woody debris; disturbances; forest canopy; forest structure; gaps; land cover; landscapes; Old-growth forest; old-growth forests; remote sensing; satellite images; surveys; trees
• ISSN: 1724-5575; 1126-3504; 1724-5575
• DOI: 10.1080/11263504.2014.945978

The structure and the spatio-temporal dynamics of the mixed beech–silver fir–Norway spruce old-growth forest of Biogradska Gora (Montenegro) have been analysed at different spatial scales: at the landscape scale, using a high-resolution SPOT5 satellite image and at the stand level with an intensive field survey. This remote-sensing approach has been used to obtain a land cover map in order to define the main vegetation types and to detect the large canopy gaps (>150 m ²). The structural characteristics have been delineated in a 50-ha study area in which a regular 120-m grid was superimposed over a 1:10,000 raster map and 30 sampling points have been obtained. The forest is characterized by a high volume of living trees (1029.6 m ³ ha ⁻ ¹) and coarse woody debris (420.4 m ³ ha ⁻ ¹) and by small-scale disturbances (individual trees to small groups) with a low incidence of intermediate disturbances (18 forest canopy gaps>150 m ² over 1230 ha). The two approaches have proved useful to delineate the spatio-temporal dynamics. The Biogradska Gora forest dynamics are dominated by very small-scale processes, which are partially autogenic and partially caused by allogenic factors. The influence of large-scale or intermediate disturbances has shown to be negligible.