ISSN:
1573-5052
Keywords:
National Parks
;
Restitution
;
Succession
;
Vegetation Dynamics
;
Virgin Forest
;
Windfall
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of Central European virgin forests is very restricted and in many respects hypothetical. Analysis of the development of forest stands influenced by natural disturbances (storm; snow avalanche) is considered to lead to new information about the natural processes involved in virgin (near-nature) forests within a relatively (!) short time span (which, in forests, still counts for decades). National Parks offer areas big enough for such studies, and they guarantee a study period of several decades (or more). This paper presents the first results of vegetation development following natural destruction of the tree layer in a near-nature spruce forest ecosystem in the Bavarian Forest National Park (Bavaria; Germany) damaged by windfall in August, 1983; in the Mountain Mixed Forest of the Berchtesgaden National Park (Bavaria; Germany) damaged by a snow slide in January, 1986; and additionally points from a similar project which deals with windfall areas in 10 managed forests in Bavaria created by the 1990 February storms. The used permanent plot (transect) method is described. Several aspects of forest vegetation dynamics are discussed against a background of results of the first vegetation record, which is the beginning of a long term permanent plot study.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00047695
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