Development of Vegetation in Localities of Pedunculate Oak Dieback in Croatia

2000

S. 277-293

7 Abb., 22 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200085185

Dieback of pedunculate oak forests in lowland Croatia is one of the most important forestry problems today. A synergistic action of various adverse impacts has resulted in the forced felling of some 600,000 mß of stemwood on 20,000 ha of the most actuely affected areas in the north-west of Croatia over the last thirty years. Dieback has had the most severe impact on the forest association of pedunculate oak and Genisto elata (Genisto elatae-Quercetum roboris). In the majority of localities this association was in a progressive developmental stage towards the forest of pedunculate oak and commun hornbeam (Carpino betuli-Quercetum roboris). Changes in the vegetation in the localities of forest dieback have led to the disappearance of both pedunculate oak and numerous members of a well-structured phytocoenosis on the one hand, and the expansion of some pioneering floral elements on the other. Among the latter, those growing on more humid, waterlogged and open sites are particularly prominent.