Ecological Adaptation and Origin of Norway Spruce (Picea Abies (L.) Karst.) in Karkonosze Mountains National Park

1989

103 S.

28 Abb., 20 Tab., zahlr. Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

200090639

Artificial regeneration and a trade in seeds of unknown origin, especially in the years 1840-1925, contributed to mixing of indigenous and foreign spruce ecotypes in Europe. In the Karkonosze Mts, like in the whole Sudety Mts region, foreign ecotypes of these species both in lower and upper mountain zone are assumed to occur. Since until those foreign ecotypes are recognized the indiganousness of each stand may be questioned, the author undertook an attempt to determine the ecological origin of the spruce stands in the Karkonosze Mts, basing mainly on the estimation of their adaptation to the sites at present occupied by them. Investigations were performed on eighteen pure spruce stands in the age of 83-178 years, distributed on the area of the whole Karkonosze Mts National Park, between 670 and 1235 m asl, that is up to the forest limit. During the fall of the year 1976 in particular stands cones from 10 standing trees (1 kg per tree) were collected. On the 0,33 ha sample plots mother stands were exactly measured and described; among others current increment on the radius and late wood percentage as well as features of crown, branching and trunk were regarded. From every investigated population 30 cones, and from every cone 1 seed- scale were taken to be measured. The biometrical characters were emphasized, but the qualitative ones were regarded as well. Taking 50 seeds per population of several characters were measured. Then 1000 seeds were weighed and the germination tests were performed. Seeds wee sown during the spring of 1977 in three orchards - Rakownia, Morawina and Jagniatkow, located in different regions. After transplanting, in the year 1979, the experiment was continued until the year 1981. The arrengement of the experiment was based on the Latin rectangle with three replications. Taking pattern by Holzer (1966, 1975) the setting of top-buds (every 10 days) in the years 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981 was observed. In the year 1978 observation of top-buds opening were also performed. After the second vegetation period height and diameters of spruce-seedlings in all three locations were measured. Measurings and descriptions of five-year-old spruce-trees concerned height and diameter as well as height increment, crown extent and morphological features of the shoot. Some attention was paid to the features of the root- system of the five-year-old-spruce-tree too. The interpretation of results was performed by applying known mathematical/statistical methods and an own graphical method, based on the assumption of indigenousness of four investigated stands, established before the year 1830. The investigated spruce-populations show generally good adaptation to the ocupied mountain sites, formed under the strong influence of the altitude, and in the ecological/silvicultural aspect they may be treated as indigenous populations. The characters ...