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Spinu, Andreea Petronela, 2018. Succession patterns and the role of fire in long-term dynamics of a mixed deciduous stand in Białowieża Forest, Poland. Second cycle, A2E. Alnarp: SLU, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre

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Abstract

In temperate Europe, the ecological importance of fire is poorly understood, especially in the dynamics of forests with high share of broadleaved tree species. The aim of this thesis was to explore the role of fire in a 43-ha mixed-deciduous forest stand in Białowieża Forest, NE Poland. The changes in the tree species composition were investigated using dendrochronological data obtained from three circular 5000 m2 sample plots and one 25m-long transect. In addition, to reconstruct the local fire history, all fire-scarred trees from the whole stand were cored and cross-sections from pine and oak stumps were collected. From 288 cores and one pine stump, tree establishment back to the end of the 1500s and 19 fire events between 1720 and 1908 were reconstructed. The stand’s age structure revealed a shift from light-demanding fire-adapted species (oak and pine) to shade-tolerant fire-sensitive species (hornbeam and lime) undergoing a transitional phase with codominance of a plastic species (spruce). Up to the end of the 18th century, oak and pine regenerated sporadically under frequent fires. The change gradually began with relaxation in the fire regime in the first half of the 19th century. This permitted more seedlings to survive and initiated cohorts of both oak and pine, followed by spruce encroachment. The canopy became denser, likely leading to more humid and less flammable fuel conditions after mid-1800s. Thus, the fires propagated less, permitting recruitment of more shade-tolerant species up to date. The data suggests that fire exclusion played an important role in the cessation of oak and pine regeneration in the studied stand. To my knowledge, this study is one of the first in temperate Europe highlighting the role of fire in shaping the long-term vegetation dyamics of mixed-deciduous forest ecosystems.

Main title:Succession patterns and the role of fire in long-term dynamics of a mixed deciduous stand in Białowieża Forest, Poland
Authors:Spinu, Andreea Petronela
Supervisor:Niklasson, Mats and Zin, Ewa
Examiner:Brunet, Jörg
Series:Examensarbete / SLU, Institutionen för sydsvensk skogsvetenskap
Volume/Sequential designation:294
Year of Publication:2018
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:SM001 Euroforester - Master's Programme 120 HEC
Supervising department:(S) > Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Keywords:dendroecology, disturbance regime, forest history, fire history, regeneration of Pinus sylvestris L., regeneration of Quercus robur L., temperate lowland Tilio-Carpinetum forest, mesophication, fire cessation
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-9744
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-9744
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Forest injuries and protection
Language:English
Deposited On:20 Sep 2018 11:45
Metadata Last Modified:26 Feb 2019 12:10

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