Changes of structural attributes mixed beech stand in different tree stories Shastkalateh forest, Gorgan

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Gorgan

Abstract

Abstract
Background and objectives: Structure of forest ecosystems undergoes changes in the temporal and spatial scale that this changes cause development. Development process is very slow and takes place in long term in this unites. For evaluation of this changes are used density, canopy and mixing amount. Structural attributes, show the ecological diversity and sustainability of forest ecosystems well. We conducted this study to compare changes in the structural attributes of density and canopy with diversity of tree species between different stories, as well the relationship these variables with diversity indices, between two periods of inventory in fixed location and natural environment where external factors have the least proportion in stand development.
Materials and methods: Permanent sample plot with an area of 16 ha is located at 770-920 elevation and Northwest and west directions in 32 compartment, district one Shast Kalateh forest. Inventory was carried out using 100 % sampling method with 1 ha sample plot. Differences from 2003 to 2023 quantitative attributes of density, canopy and biodiversity indices were measured with standard method and compared through ANOVA in different stories.

Results: The density of trees in the investigated plot reduced from 306.31 to 275.44 trees per hectare in 2003 and 2023. Only, Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) species increased in density during this period. The highest frequency of tree individual belonged to under story in 2003, but in 2023, it was transferred to middle story. The average crown coverage percentage reduced from 86% to 70%. The highest amount of canopy percentage assigned to middle and upper stories. The average of Shannon's heterogeneity in 2003 in three story was (1.32, 1.29, 0.72) and in 2023 (0.49, 0.53, 0.58) respectively. The Shannon Wiener diversity index provided a better judgment of the species diversity in the investigated plot than other indices.

Conclusion: The investigated plot is a Mixed beech stand in which Beech shade tolerance species is dominant. Mixing more tree species while increasing diversity at different levels will bring stability of forest ecosystems. The results of this research showed that the indices of species diversity are only one of the methods of interpretation and evaluation of forest ecosystems and other characteristics should also be paid attention to. The periodic monitoring of this indices correctly shows changes trend of forest ecosystem. The results of used indices can be basis of evaluation and comparison with similar forest.

Keywords: Structure dynamics, Diversity, Tree strata, Mixed beech stand

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

 1.Etemad, V., Moridi, M., & Sefidi, K. (2017). Quantification of beech stands structure in the stem exclusion phase.
J. of Forest and Wood Products. 69 (4), 647-656. [In Persian]
2.Heiri, C., Wolf, A., Rohrer, L., & Bugmann, H. (2009). Forty years of natural dynamics in Swiss beech forests: structure, composition, and the influence of former management. Ecological Applications. 19 (7), 1920-1934.
3.Sagheb-Talebi, Kh., Parhizkar, P., Hassani, M., Amanzadeh, B., Hemmati, A., Khanjani-Shiraz, B., Amini, M., Mohammadnejad Kiasari, S., Mirkazemi, S. Z., Karimidoost, A., & Maghsoudlou, M. K. (2020). Preliminary results of survey on stand structure in permanent research plots of Hyrcanian intact beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests. Iranian J. of Forest and Poplar Research. 28 (2), 163-179. [In Persian]
4.Maleki, K., & Kiviste, A. (2015). Effect of sample plot size and shape on estimates of structural indices (case study: mature silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) dominating stand in Järvselja). Forestry Studies, Metsanduslikud Uurimused. 63, 130-150.
5.Kint, V., De Wulf, R., & Lust, N. (2004). Evaluation of sampling methods for the estimation of structural indices in forest stands. Ecological Modelling. 180 (4), 461-476.
6.Ni, R., Baiketuerhan, Y., Zhang, C., Zhao, X., & Gadow, K. (2014). Analysing structural diversity in two temperate forests in northeastern China. Forest Ecology and Management. 316, 139-147.
7.Pach, M., & Podlaski, R. (2015). Tree diameter structural diversity in Central European forests with Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica: managed versus unmanaged forest stands. Ecological Research. 30, 367-384.
8.Hakkenberg, C. R., Song, C., Peet, R. K., & White, P. S. (2016). Forest structure as a predictor of tree species diversity in the North Carolina Piedmont. J. of Vegetation Science. 27, 1151-1163.
9.Spies, T. A., & Franklin, J. F. (1989). Gap characteristics and vegetation response in coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Ecology. 70, 543-545.
10.Amini, M., Amini, R., Sagheb Talebi, Kh., & Khorankeh, S. (2016). Changes in forest stand structure in a permanent plot established in Neka-Zalemroud forest plan. Iranian J. of Forest and Poplar Research. 24 (2), 260-272. [In Persian]
11.Amiri, M., Rahamani, R., Sagheb Talebi, Kh., & Habashi, H. (2015). Structural characteristics of dead wood in a natural untouched of Fagus orientalis Lipsky mixed stand forest (Case Study: Shast-klateh Forest, Golestan province). J. of Wood
and Forest Science and Technology. 22 (1), 185-205. [In Persian]
12.Pastorella, F., & Paletto, A. (2013). Stand structure indices as tools to support forest management: an application in Trentino forests (Italy). J. of Forest Science. 59 (4), 159-168.
13.Li, Y., Ye, Sh., Luo, Y., Yu, S., & Zhang, G. (2023). Relationship between species diversity and tree size in natural forests around the Tropic of Cancer. J. of Forestry Research. 34, 1735-1745.
14.Sterba, H. (2008). Diversity indices based on angle count sampling and their interrelationships when used in forest inventories. Forestry. 81 (5), 587-597.
15.Zhu, J., & Liu, Z. (2004). A review on disturbance ecology of forest. J. of Applied Ecology. 15 (10), 1703-1710.
16.Dolle, M., Petritan, A. M., Biris, I. A., & Petritan, I. C. (2017). Relations between tree canopy composition and under storey vegetation in a European beech-sessile oak old growth forest in Western Romania. Biologia. 72 (12), 1422-1430.
17.Storch, F., Boch, S., Gossner, M. M., Feldhaar, H., Ammer, C., Schall, P., Polle, A., Kroiher, F., Müller J. & Bauhus, J. (2023). Linking structure and species richness to support forest biodiversity monitoring at large scales. Annals of Forest Science. 80, 3. 1-17.
18.Bugno-Pogoda, A., Durak, R., & Durak, T. (2021). Impact of forest management on the temporal dynamics of herbaceous plant diversity in the Carpathian beech forests over 40 years. Biology. 10 (5), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10050406.
19.Abrari Vajari, K. (2020). Species diversity in tree strata and its relation to some features of beech stand in Hyrcanian forests (Case study: Savadkooh, Mazandaran). J. of Environment Sciences & Technology.22 (4), 1-9. [In Persian]
20.Nouri, Z., Feghhi, J., Zahedi Amiri, Gh., & Rahmani, R. (2011). Estimation of species diversity in forest different stories (case study: Patom district of Kheyrud forest). J. of Natural Environmental, Iranian J. of Natural Resources. 63 (4), 399-407. [In Persian]
21.Durak, T., Bugno-Pogoda, A., & Durak, R. (2022). Impact of forest stand development on long-term changes in the herb layer of semi-natural Carpathian beech forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 528, 1-12.
22.Gao, T., Hedblom, M., Emilsson, T., & Nielsen, A. B. (2014). The role of forest stand structure as biodiversity indicator. Forest Ecology and Management. 330, 82-93.
23.Pretzsch, H., Biber, P., Schutze, G., Kemmerer, J., & Uhl, E. (2018). Wood density reduced while wood volume growth accelerated in Central, European forests since 1870. Forest Ecology and Management. 429, 589-616. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.07.045.
24.Chivulescu, S., Ciceu, A., Leca, S., Apostol, B., Popescu, O., & Badea, O. (2020). Development phases and structural characteristics of the Penteleu-Viforata virgin forest in the Curvature Carpathians. i Forest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 13, 389-395.
25.Yang, L., Zhang, J., Wang, J., Gu, Y., & Han, Sh. (2023). A linear positive relationship between tree species diversity and forest productivity across forest- dominated natural reserves on a large spatial scale. Forest Ecology and Management. 548, 1-9.
26.Dr-Bahramnia forestry plan. (1996). Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources. 218p. [In Persian]
27.Krebs, C. J. (1999). Ecological methodology. Happer & raw press, 330p.
28.Habashi, H., Hosseini, S. M., Mohammadi, J., & Rahmani, R. (2007). Stand structure and spatial pattern of trees in mixed Hyrcanian beech forests of Iran. Iranian J. of Forest and Poplar Research. 15 (1), 55-64. [In Persian]
29.Moridi, M., Sefidi, K., & Etemad, V. (2015). Stand characteristics of mixed oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands in the stem exclusion phase, northern Iran. European J. of Forest Research. 134 (4), 693-703.
30.Nourolahi, S. S., Rahmani, R., Habashi, H., & Castagneri, D. (2020). Impact of plot area on structural attributes estimation in a mixed beech stand. Iranian J. of Forest and Poplar Research. 28 (1), 1-13. [In Persian]
31.Sagheb-Talebi, Kh., Jashni, J., Mohammadnejad Kiasari, Sh., Mohammadi Nasrabadi, H., & Paydar, M. (2012). Light regime in natural and planted stands of the Caspian Forests. Iranian J. of Forest and Poplar Research. 20 (1), 165-181. [In Persian]
32.Laurans, M., Hérault, B., Vieilledent, G., & Vincent, G. (2014). Vertical stratification reduces competition for light in dense tropical forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 329, 79-88.
33.Seidel, D., Leuschner, C., Müller, A., & Krause, B. (2011). Crown plasticity in mixed forests-quantifying asymmetry as a measure of competition using terrestrial laser scanning. Forest Ecology and Management. 261, 2123-2132.
34.Miri, N., & Darwish Sefat, A. A. (2021). Modeling of canopy cover estimation using Landsat 8 satellite oli data in the Zagros forests. Ecology of Iranian Forests. 9 (17), 196-206. [In Persian]
35.Hansen, A. J., Phillips, L. B., Dubayah, R., Goetz, S., & Hofton, M. (2014). Regional scale application of lidar: variation in forest canopy structure across the southeastern US. Forest Ecology and Management. 329, 214-226.
36.Dieler, J., & Pretzsch, H. (2013). Morphological plasticity of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in pure and mixed-species stands. Forest Ecology and Management. 295, 97-108.
37.Bakhshandeh Navroud, B., Abrari vajari, K., Pilehvar, B., & Kooch, Y. (2018). Evaluating Plant diversity and some features of Oriental beech in different tree-layers (Case study: Beech forests, Asalem, Guilan). Plant Ecosystem Conservation. 6 (12), 109-122. [In Persian]
38.Schröter, M., Härdtle, W., & von Oheimb, G. (2012). Crown plasticity and neighborhood interactions of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in an old-growth forest. European J. of Forest Research. 131 (3), 787-798.
39.Szwagrzyk, J., Szewczyk, J., & Maciejewski, Z. (2012). Shade-tolerant tree species from temperate forests differ in their competitive abilities (A case study from Roztocze, South-Eastern Poland). Forest Ecology and Management. 282, 28-35.
40.Paluch, J. G. (2007). The spatial pattern of a natural European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)–silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) forest: A patch-mosaic perspective. Forest Ecology and Management. 253, 161-170.
41.Pourbabaei, H., & Dado, K. (2005). Species diversity of woody plants in the district No.1 forests, Kelardasht, Mazandaran province. Iranian J. of Biology. 18 (4), 307-321. [In Persian]
42.Ratcliffe, S., Holzwarth, F., Nadrowski, K., Levick, S., & Wirth, C. (2015). Tree neighbourhood matters– species composition drives diversity– tree productivity patterns in a near-natural beech forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 335, 225-234.
43.Kazemi, Sh., Habashi, H., Hojjati, S. M, Vaez Mousavi, S. M., & Rafiei, F. (2023). Biodiversity response of under story woody and herbaceous plant to the developmental stages of forest in the mixed hornbeam stands. Gorgan's Shast-Kalateh forest. Ecology of Iranian Forests. 11 (21), 138-147. [In Persian]
44.Fatemi Talab, R., Metaji, A., & Babaei Kafaki, S. (2012). Determining of stand dynamic and its relationship with understory biodiversity in managed and unmanaged stands of beech forests. Iranian J of Forest. 4 (3), 277-287. [In Persian]
45.Aubert, M., Alard, D., & Bureau, F. (2003). Diversity of plant assemblages in managed temperate forests (case study: Normandy of France). Forest Ecology and Management. 175, 321-337.
46.Daneshvar, A., Rahmani, R., & Habashi, H. (2007). The heterogeneity of structure in mixed beech forest (case study: shast-kalateh, Golestan province). J. of Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resources. 14 (4), 1-12. [In Persian]
47.McKenzie, D., Halpern, C. B., & Nelson, C. R. (2000). Over story influences on herb and shrub communities in mature forests of western Washington, USA. Canadian J. of Forest Research. 30 (10), 1655-1666.
48.Pretzsch, H. (2021). The social drift of trees. Consequence for growth trend detection, stand dynamics, and silviculture. European J. of Forest Research. 140, 703-719.
49.Akhavan, R., & Hasani, M. (2024). Quantifying the structure of pure beech forests using spatial structural indices (case study: Hyrcanian forests, Mazandaran province). Forest Research and Development. 9 (2), 221-235. [In Persian]
Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology
Volume 31, Issue 2
June 2024
Pages 31-47

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics