Disturbance history of a swamp forest refuge in northern Sweden

• Published in: Biological conservation 1994, Vol.68 (2), p.189-196
• Main Authors: Segerström, Ulf, Bradshaw, Richard, Hörnberg, Greger, Bohlin, Elisabet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; habitat continuity; indicator species; palaeoecology; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; slash-and-burn cultivation
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-3207(94)90350-6

Swedish swamp forests have a considerable conservation value because of their rich biodiversity which includes many threatened species. They have been interpreted as refugia from fire with long histories of forest continuity. Palaeoecological investigation of a small swamp forest in northern Sweden shows that the forested area was under cultivation 500 years ago. The present forest has only developed during the last 300 years as a consequence of changes in land-use. Palaeoecology can be used to test assumptions about stability, disturbance and ‘natural’ vegetation. Results from such studies suggest that communities are highly dynamic, and conservation policy should create a framework within which dynamic processes can operate, in addition to species preservation. Our method is a potentially valuable tool in the formulation of future nature conservation policy.