Stable Leaf Area Index Despite Shifts in Biomass Allocation and Leaf Traits: A Case Study in a Young European Beech Forest Under Intense Tree Competition

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41320%2F25%3A103266" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41320/25:103266 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/16/4/557" target="_blank" >https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/16/4/557</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f16040557" target="_blank" >10.3390/f16040557</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Stable Leaf Area Index Despite Shifts in Biomass Allocation and Leaf Traits: A Case Study in a Young European Beech Forest Under Intense Tree Competition

Original language description

Young forest stands from natural regeneration are characterized by high competitive pressure and dynamic changes over time, especially in the initial growth stages. Despite their increasing area in the temperate zone, they have received significantly less scientific attention than old forest stands. Therefore, our research was conducted on young, over-dense European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest originating from natural regeneration, grown in central Slovakia, Western Carpathians. Repeated measurements of tree height and stem diameter measured on the base within a beech stand revealed significant temporal changes in their relationship. Over 16 years, height increased more than stem diameter. Both Lorey's height and mean diameter d0 showed continuous growth, with Lorey's height increasing 3.5-fold and mean diameter increasing 2.8-fold. The height-to-diameter ratio increased until stand age 15, then briefly declined before rising again. Stand density decreased over time, with the sharpest decline occurring between ages 15 and 16 (dropping from 843 to 599 trees per 100 m2). Mortality rates peaked at age 16, with an average annual rate of 9.4% over the entire observation period (2008-2023). Specific leaf area (SLA) was negatively related to tree size, and its value was smaller in 10- than in 20-year-old stands. The increase in SLA was driven by greater leaf area relative to leaf weight. Additionally, allometric relationships showed that branch and leaf contributions to aboveground biomass decreased with tree size within the stand but were greater in the older stand than in the younger growth stage. Estimated aboveground biomass was 667 +/- 175 kg per 100 m2 in the 10-year-old stand and 1574 +/- 382 kg per 100 m2 in the 20-year-old stand, with stems contributing the majority of biomass. Leaf Area Index (LAI) remained similar across both stand ages, while the Leaf Area Ratio (LAR) was nearly twice as high in the younger stand. These findings highlight dynamic shifts in beech stand structure, biomass allocation, and leaf traits over time, reflecting growth patterns and competition effects. The outputs indicate that competition in young forest stands is a dominant force in tree mortality. Understanding key interactions in young stands is crucial for sustainable forest management, as these interactions influence long-term stand stability and ecosystem functions.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40102 - Forestry

Project

<a href="/en/project/EF16_019%2F0000803" target="_blank" >EF16_019/0000803: Advanced research supporting the forestry and wood-processing sector´s adaptation to global change and the 4th industrial revolution</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

FORESTS

ISSN

1999-4907

e-ISSN

1999-4907

Volume of the periodical

16

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC

Number of pages

16

Pages from-to

1-16

UT code for WoS article

001475023100001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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