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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

40102 - Forestry

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/EF16_019%2F0000803" target="_blank" >EF16_019/0000803: Excelentní Výzkum jako podpora Adaptace lesnictví a dřevařství na globální změnu a 4. průmyslovou revoluci</a><br>

Návaznosti

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

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

FORESTS

ISSN

1999-4907

e-ISSN

1999-4907

Svazek periodika

16

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

4

Stát vydavatele periodika

CZ - Česká republika

Počet stran výsledku

16

Strana od-do

1-16

Kód UT WoS článku

001475023100001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

—