Topic
Undergrowth
About: Undergrowth is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 795 publications have been published within this topic receiving 11911 citations. The topic is also known as: understorey & underbrush.
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TL;DR: In this paper , a comparison of nest box use shows that the Hazel Dormouse has specific habitat preferences in mountainous areas, such as beech forests, spruce forests, windbreaks and mountain pine (Pinus mugo) thickets.
Abstract: Dormice monitoring was carried out between 2014 and 2019 at 14 areas located in various regions of the Tatra National Park in Poland. The areas were located in various habitats: beech forests and spruce forests in the low mountain zone; spruce forests, windbreaks and mountain pine (Pinus mugo) thickets in the high mountain zone. The choice of the area for monitoring resulted from the habitat type and technical possibilities enabling regular inspections. Each area was equipped with 30 nest boxes dedicated to dormice. The boxes were hung on trees at a height of 1.5 to 2 meters, only in mountain pine thickets. In habitats with a dense cover of European Red Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) the boxes were hung lower, on branches or on specially constructed poles. The use of boxes was determined on the basis of the presence of dormice or their nests.
A comparison of nest box use shows that the Hazel Dormouse has specific habitat preferences in mountainous areas. This species was most frequently found in windbreaks, often those with a high proportion of trees destroyed after an outbreak of the spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus). These habitats are characterized by extensive undergrowth with numerous raspberries, Common Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), Rosebay Willow Herb (Epilobium angustifolium) and spruce undergrowth (Picea abies). Beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) forms a habitat which is not preferred, but is unavoidable. Negative selectivity was demonstrated in relation to the spruce and mountain pine forests that are dominant in the Tatra National Park. The Forest Dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) was found at only one plot in the fourth year of observation. It was located in a small patch of beech in the vicinity of the site where this species was detected in 2011.
TL;DR: In this article , the vertical and horizontal structure in post-pyrogenic pine forests of Vacciniosum, Vaccinioso-cladinosum and Myrtillosum site types in the boreal forest of the Komi Republic was studied.
Abstract: Information on the structural organization of forest stands obtained on sample plots is the basis for long-term monitoring of post-fire pine forest structure and dynamics in the European North-East. These data can be used as a marker of native pine stands of the European taiga. Here, we studied vertical and horizontal structure in the post-pyrogenic pine forests of Vacciniosum, Vaccinioso-cladinosum and Myrtillosum site types in the boreal forest of the Komi Republic. The type of horizontal structure of uneven-aged forest stands changed with age from grouped to random one. Large trees were randomly distributed on the plot. We observed the weak aggregation of undergrowth trees (natural tree regeneration) in stands at distances of 2–6 m. Undergrowth individuals were characterized by group distribution at smaller distances than 1–2 m. Spatial relationships between large, small and codominant trees demonstrated random distribution in most cases. Undergrowth individuals did not show any competitive relations. However, we revealed a “taking off” effect between mature trees of pine and pine undergrowth. The direction of the displacement of tree crown centre projections relative to the bases of their trunks was ambiguous. The shift of the crown space towards the maximum solar radiation was detected in a thinned stand with old age and big size of trees. In other site types, no one-sided orientation of the tree crown development emerged.
TL;DR: In this paper , the long-term dynamics of the Darwin Nature Reserve's forests, which turned out in altered environmental conditions due to the creation of the Rybinsk Reservoir, were studied.
Abstract: The article presents the results of studying the long-term dynamics of the Darwin Nature Reserve’s forests, which turned out in altered environmental conditions due to the creation of the Rybinsk Reservoir. Multi-year reservoir influence has significantly changed the environment of coastal areas, which resulted in necessity of studying the coastal forests state. The lichen pine forest growing in the zone of direct influence of the Rybinsk Reservoir became an object of study. A geobotanical description was carried out and inventory characteristics of the woodland were determined in order to study the direction and speed of growth and development processes at the trial areas. The main focus was on the dynamics of the living ground cover as an indicator of soil and hydrological conditions and the state of the stand, undergrowth, and understorey. The connection of growth and development processes of flooded stands with climatic features of growth periods, relief features and level regime of the reservoir was found. The calculation of the effect of flooding, which characterizes the impulses of deviation of the pine stand productivity indicators, showed that in the conditions of well-defined mesorelief and deep groundwater occurrence in the low-water period, the effect was negative, and in the high-water period – positive. This value was positive for both periods on the slopes of shallow subsurface depressions. A comparative analysis of absolute increments in flooded and reference stands revealed significant differences in the nature of these changes. The average growth tends to increase under flooding, which is not typical for natural stands in ripe age. Sharp peaks of current increment rise correspond to the period with the most well-defined influence of flooding. Significant mobility and variability of the ground cover indicate the dynamism of the studied type of forest, the processes of self-regulation in lichen pine trees are so disturbed by the reservoir influence that even the formed forest type is not able to survive. From the perspective of I.S. Melekhov’s dynamic typology, the studied forest type under flooding should be considered as a type-stage on the way to the accelerated formation of a new type – green-moss pine forest. The findings confirming the provisions of the dynamic typology are important both for forest science and forestry practice, and for monitoring studies in the reserve.
TL;DR: The results of a comprehensive study of the burnt area formed in 2006 on the site of a rocky pine forest in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia, east of Lake Onega, are presented in this article .
Abstract: The results of a comprehensive study of the burnt area formed in 2006 on the site of a rocky pine forest in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia, east of Lake Onega, are presented. It has been established that the self-renewal of pine in the burnt area proceeds successfully. Here, young animals of mixed composition were formed. The number of pine undergrowth is 2400 ind./ha. Its number is almost 2 times higher than the number established by the 2020 Reforestation Rules. The young generation of pine is characterized by significant differentiation both in height — from 0,3 to 5 m, and in age — from 3 to 15 years. Analysis of the course of growth of model specimens showed that the increase in height depends to a greater extent on the height of the pine undergrowth than on age. The maximum values of the current growth are 25…30 cm/year. The composition of the undergrowth is dominated by mountain ash and goat willow. The total number of undergrowth species exceeds 1460 ind./ha. Living ground cover is represented by 21 species, of which 12 species are representatives of angiosperms and 9 species of mosses and lichens. Xerophytes dominate — heather, cladonia, juniper polytrichum. The soils are poor and are characterized by the predominance of oligopeat species — lingonberries, small sorrel, lichens. Successful natural reforestation is noted on the site of a burnt rocky pine forest.
TL;DR: In this article , a model was built, with the help of which it is consistently assessed during the course of the research what happens to the forest stand after cutting (on a fresh trail, 4-5 years after cutting) and after more than 30 years on an old trail.
Abstract: The objects of research were forest plantations, passed through renovation rubles in the Arkhangelsk forestry of the Arkhangelsk region. Trial plots were established in spruce plantations (bilberry spruce forest and sphagnum spruce forest), on fresh haulage, in apiary, and on old haulage after felling more than 30 years ago. Based on the results of the research, a model was built, with the help of which it is consistently assessed during the course of the research what happens to the forest stand after cutting (on a fresh trail, 4-5 years after cutting) and after more than 30 years on an old trail. In the blueberry spruce forest, 4-5 years after felling, the amount of undergrowth increased slightly (by 1500 pieces/ha) compared to the forest stand and mainly due to self-sowing, the species composition was preserved - spruce, birch, aspen. After more than 30 years, there was a massive increase in undergrowth by 8 times. In the sphagnum spruce forest in the apiary, birch prevailed; immediately after felling, due to littering and the impact of machinery, undergrowth settlement was not observed. After more than 30 years, the number of undergrowth increased due to birch (69%). Thus, by evaluating the undergrowth and undergrowth in the blueberry type of forest, the felling strategy is updated. In the sphagnum type, reforestation processes continue and reforestation processes are still observed.