Swedish beech forests and the storm gap theory

The storm gap theory of forest dynamics was developed by Sernander largely as a result of his investigations of the Norway spruce Picea abies forests of Fibyurskog and Granskär following the great storms of 1931 and 1932.This theory is reviewed in the light of subsequent investigations and its relev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arboricultural journal 2012-09, Vol.34 (3), p.151-159
Main Authors: Packham, John R, Hytteborn, Håkan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
biodiversity
climate change
epiphytes
Fagus sylvatica
forests
influence of fire on forest history
lichens
old-growth forest
Picea abies
plant communities
storm gaps
storms
veteran trees
wind
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Summary:The storm gap theory of forest dynamics was developed by Sernander largely as a result of his investigations of the Norway spruce Picea abies forests of Fibyurskog and Granskär following the great storms of 1931 and 1932.This theory is reviewed in the light of subsequent investigations and its relevance to forests of common beech, Fagus sylvatica, which Watt had also investigated in southern England; developing his theory of pattern and process in the plant community as a result.Ancient unmanaged Swedish beech forests are extremely important as they enable us to ascertain how such forests develop in a state of nature. They are often important in terms of biodiversity and the veteran trees they contain are especially valuable in the conservation of rare epiphytic lichens and bryophytes.The history of Fagus sylvatica and variations in its extent in Swedish forests during the Holocene is illustrated by a review of articles concerning a number of important forest areas.
ISSN:2168-1074
0307-1375
2168-1074
DOI:10.1080/03071375.2012.729368