Stand Structure Dynamics of a Young Forest Generation in the Bialowieza National Park

1993

S. 15-33

18 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200048881

The object of this study was a young forest generation in the natural forest of the Bialowieza National Park. The study covers period 1936-1982. Though a variety of species were present among seedling and saplings during the study period, only spruce, linden, hornbeam and ash trees have reached bigger dimensions and became part of the stand. Young numerous generations of those broadleaved, meso- and eutrophic species, have originated about year 1920, most probably from a single seed fall. They are, therefore, even-aged. The young generation has differentiated with time in heigh regard, creating three groups of trees (seedlings, small samplings and tall saplings). Part of the tallest group trees has became ingrowth trees to the main stand, while the remaining trees have been subject to succumbing. A "death area" has originated because no ingrowth trees emerged during many years. The processes of tree regeneration and spreading in the natural forest cannot be therefore regarded continous. They are rather cyclicaly repeated and correlated with the changes of climate. There have been few ingrowth trees of light-demanding species. The species composition of the stands investigated is likely to become poorer in the future unless the stands will be thinned. On less fertile sites, linden and hornbeam will prevail, whereas ash, in mixture with spruce, will dominate on rich and wet forest sites.