50 [Fünfzig]jährige Sukzession auf einer Waldschlagfläche im osthessischen Bergland : Folgerungen für den Naturschutz : Die Bedeutung ökologischer Langzeitforschung für Naturschutz
The succession of a 1 ha large plot which was clear-cut in 1946 is recorded by 2 permanent plots of 312 and 179 m¬. In short the temporal series was: predominant herbaceous vegetation, Rubus-thicket, Sambucus-Frangula-shrub and finally pioneer forest (Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Salix caprea), intermediate forest (Quercus robur, Qu. petraea, Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium, Acer pseudoplatanus) as well as terminal forest (Fagus sylvatica). The last three types of tree stands developed simultanecously resulting in a small-scale mosaic. The pioneer forest broke down in 1987 on account of an ice-rain leading to patchwise renewal of earlier stages. One patch outside the permanent plots heavily browsed by roe deer is dominated by Deschampsia flexuosa. The development of different forest vegetation types on a comparatively small succession area is rarely documented for central Europe and the outcome should have consequences for planning and nature conservation activities in forests: - Species diversity is comparatively high due to high structural diversity in space and time. - Large herbivores may influence patch dynamics for decades. Such processes should no longer be viewed only in negative terms as they may have been much more important in original landscapes. - Even without planting, nursing, or other measures of forestry a number of commercially valuable stems have developed. All these qualities make spontaneous forest stands like the one studied an alternative to plantations. Even for afforestation programs of fallow land it may be a reasonable possibility. In the context of an evaluation of these uncontrolled processes, the significance of even small permanent plots is evident.
