Sasso Fratino Nature Reserve (National Park of Casentino Forests, northern Apennines) is a quite rare example of natural Apennine forest. The forest is a pure beech stand from 1250 m a.s.l. upwards, below this altitude is a mixed beech and silver fir forest. The study focuses on the understanding of the processes driving the evolution of the forest in the absence of human activities. Our surveys indicate also a high variability of tree diameter distribution patterns in the forest stands. Such variability could be strictly related to the heterogeneity of site characteristics as well as to the effects of disturbance factors (both natural and anthropic). Concerning altitude, we observed an increase both of site index (dominant height) and species diversity in the regeneration layer, moving from higher (1500 m) to lower (900 m) altitudes. As a whole, our observations show that the dynamics of forest vegetation in the reserve is mostly affected by the interruption of tree canopy continuity. This implies substantial local variations of PAR in space and in time, which determine favourable ecological conditions for: (a) survival and growth of beech seedlings, or release of advanced beech regeneration; and (b) release of advanced silver fir regeneration (fir, more shade tolerant than beech, regenerates mainly in locations and conditions where the broadleaf saplings cannot survive for lack of light).

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy) / BIANCHI L; BOTTACCI A; CALAMINI G; MALTONI A; MARIOTTI B; QUILGHINI G; SALBITANO F; TANI A; ZOCCOLA A; PACI M. - In: IFOREST. - ISSN 1971-7458. - ELETTRONICO. - 4:(2011), pp. 136-144. [10.3832/ifor0564-004]

Structure and dynamics of a beech forest in a fully protected area in the northern Apennines (Sasso Fratino, Italy).

BIANCHI, LIVIO;CALAMINI, GIANFRANCO;MALTONI, ALBERTO;MARIOTTI, BARBARA;SALBITANO, FABIO;TANI, ANDREA;PACI, MARCO
2011

Abstract

Sasso Fratino Nature Reserve (National Park of Casentino Forests, northern Apennines) is a quite rare example of natural Apennine forest. The forest is a pure beech stand from 1250 m a.s.l. upwards, below this altitude is a mixed beech and silver fir forest. The study focuses on the understanding of the processes driving the evolution of the forest in the absence of human activities. Our surveys indicate also a high variability of tree diameter distribution patterns in the forest stands. Such variability could be strictly related to the heterogeneity of site characteristics as well as to the effects of disturbance factors (both natural and anthropic). Concerning altitude, we observed an increase both of site index (dominant height) and species diversity in the regeneration layer, moving from higher (1500 m) to lower (900 m) altitudes. As a whole, our observations show that the dynamics of forest vegetation in the reserve is mostly affected by the interruption of tree canopy continuity. This implies substantial local variations of PAR in space and in time, which determine favourable ecological conditions for: (a) survival and growth of beech seedlings, or release of advanced beech regeneration; and (b) release of advanced silver fir regeneration (fir, more shade tolerant than beech, regenerates mainly in locations and conditions where the broadleaf saplings cannot survive for lack of light).
2011
4
136
144
BIANCHI L; BOTTACCI A; CALAMINI G; MALTONI A; MARIOTTI B; QUILGHINI G; SALBITANO F; TANI A; ZOCCOLA A; PACI M
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/511258
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