The Dynamics of Stand Structure Development and Natural Regeneration of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Plitvice Lakes National Park

The authors investigate the structural characteristics, regeneration processes, growth, development, and survival of a young generation of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) based on three periodic measurements (1998, 2009, and 2018). The studied forest community (Lamio orvale-Fagetum sylvaticae (Ht....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forests 2024-02, Vol.15 (2), p.357
Main Authors: Dubravac, Tomislav, Barčić, Damir, Rosavec, Roman, Španjol, Željko, Vojniković, Sead
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beech
Biodiversity
Biotic factors
Dynamics
Ecosystems
Environmental aspects
Fagus sylvatica
Forest communities
Forest ecosystems
Forest management
Forest protection
Forests
Growth
Lakes
National parks
Parks & recreation areas
Physiological aspects
Plot (Narrative)
Precipitation
Regeneration
Stand structure
Terrestrial ecosystems
Trees
Vegetation mapping
Vegetation surveys
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Summary:The authors investigate the structural characteristics, regeneration processes, growth, development, and survival of a young generation of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) based on three periodic measurements (1998, 2009, and 2018). The studied forest community (Lamio orvale-Fagetum sylvaticae (Ht. 1938) Bohridi 1963) is situated within a forest reserve in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Monitoring was carried out according to UN/ECE (2000) for systematic and repeated research. The basic structural indicators, structural canopy elements, and appearance of the young generation were measured as the basic conditions of natural restoration in repeated phytocenological surveys (1980, 1988, 2004). The distribution of the number of trees of the first two measurements (1998–2009) indicates a distribution with pronounced right asymmetry. The structural dynamics observed during the surveys and alongside vegetation surveys indicate the dynamics of the growth and development of beech. The results show that the main drivers of development dynamics in protected forest ecosystems are structural breaks (gaps) that occur in stands due to the action of abiotic and biotic factors. The passive management model in effect in the national park should be replaced with a more active approach to facilitate natural processes with the aim of preserving and renewing the forest ecosystem.
ISSN:1999-4907
1999-4907
DOI:10.3390/f15020357