Influence of gap size and development stages on the silvicultural characteristics of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) regeneration

We studied ۱۱ gaps covered with beech saplings (< ۱.۳۰ m tall) in a reserve compartment (compartment ۱۳۹, district one, Langa forest, watershed ۳۶: Kazemrood) of the Caspian beech forest in N Iran. Two transects, each ۲ m wide, were laid along the longest (N-S) and shortest (E-W) axis of each gap. Five micro sample plots, each ۴ m۲, were established: one at the center, and one at each corner. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics of saplings with a diameter at breast height less than ۷.۵ cm were examined in the micro sample plots. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed using SPSS software for quantitative characteristics, and chi-square test for qualitative characteristics. Results indicated that medium-sized (۲۰۰-۵۰۰ m۲) gaps promote the growth of oriental beech saplings of desirable silvicultural forms during decay and initial stages.   REFERENCES Anonymous, (۱۹۹۸) Forestry plan of district one in Langa region, watershed number ۳۶ (Kazemrood), Noshahr natural resources office, ۴۵۰ p. Chazdon, R.L. and Fetcher, N. (۱۹۸۴) Light environments of tropical forests. In “Physiological Ecology of Plants of the Wet Tropics” (E. Medina, H.A. Mooney, and C. Vasquez-Yanes, Eds.), pp. ۲۷-۳۶.  W. Junk, The Hague. Denslow, J.S. and Hartshorn, G.S. (۱۹۹۴) Tree-fall gap environments and forest dynamic processes. In “La Selva: Ecology and Natural History of a Neotropical Rain Forest” (L.A. McDade, K.S. Bawa, H.A. Hespenheide, and G.S. Hartshorn, Eds.), University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. ۱۲۰-۱۲۷. Emborg, J., Christensen, M. and Heilmannclusen, J. (۲۰۰۰) The structural dynamics of suserup skov, anear natural temperate decidous forest in Denmark. For. Ecol. Manage. ۱۲۶, ۱۷۳-۱۸۹. Huth, F. and Wagner, S. (۲۰۰۶) Gap structure and establishment of Silver birch regeneration (Betula pendula Roth.) in Norway spruce stands (Picea abies L. Karst.). For. Ecol. Manage. ۲۲۹, ۳۱۴–۳۲۴. Korpel, S. (۱۹۹۵) Die Urwaelder der Westkarpaten. Gustav Fischerrt, Verlag, Stuttgart, ۳۱۰ p. Lee, R. (۱۹۷۸) “Forest Microclimatology.” Columbia University Press, New York. Lawton, R.O. (۱۹۹۰) Canopy gaps and light penetration into a wind-exposed tropical lower montane rain forest. Can. J. For. Rese. ۲۰, ۶۵۹–۶۶۷. Lowman, M.D. and Rinker, H.B. (۲۰۰۴) Forest Canopy. Elsevier Academic Press. ۵۱۷p. Madsen, P. and Larsen, J.B. (۱۹۹۷) Natural regeneration of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with respect to canopy density, soil moisture and soil carbon content. For. Ecol. Manage. ۹۷, ۱۰۳–۱۱۳. Marvie Mohadjer, M.R. (۱۹۷۵) The study of relation between morphological parameters of beech tree and site. Tehran University, J. Nat. Reso. Col. ۳۲, ۱۵-۲۹. Marvie Mohadjer, M.R. (۱۹۷۶) Study of beech forest qualitative characteristics in north of Iran. Tehran University, J. Nat. Reso. Col. ۳۴, ۷۷-۹۶. Naaf, T. and Wulf, M. (۲۰۰۷) Effects of gap size, light and herbivory on the herb layer vegetation in the European beech forest gaps. For. Ecol. Manage. ۲۴۴, ۱۴۱- ۱۴۹. Roloff, V.A., (۱۹۸۶) Morphologische Untersuchungen zum Wachstum und Verzweigungssystem der Rotbuche (Fagus sylvatica L.). Mitt. Dtsch. Dendrol. Ges. ۷۶, ۵-۴۷.  Rubin, B.D., Manion, P.D., FaberLangendoen, D. (۲۰۰۶) Diameter distributions and structural sustainability in forests. For. Ecol. Manage. ۲۲۲, ۴۲۷- ۴۳۸. Sagheb-Talebi, Kh. (۱۹۹۶) Quantitative and qualitative Merkmale von Buchen– jungwuechsen (Fagus sylvatica L.) unter dem Einfluss des Lichtes und anderer Standorts Faktoren. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. ۷۸, ۲۱۹ p. Sagheb-Talebi, Kh. and Schütz, J.P. (۲۰۰۶) Some criteria of regeneration density in young beech populations. International conference, IUFRO, WP ۱.۰۱.۰۷, Ecology and silviculture of beech, Poiana Brasov, Romania, ۸۵-۸۷. Shahnavzi, H., Sagheb-Talebi, Kh. and Zahedi-Amiri, Gh. (۲۰۰۵) Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of natural regeneration in gaps within beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands of Caspian Region. For. Pop. Rese. ۱۳(۲), ۱۴۱-۱۵۴. Schütz, J.P. (۱۹۹۰) Sylvicultur ۱. Principes déducation des forêts. Press. Polytech. et Uni. Romandes. Swiss, ۲۴۳ p. Wijdeven, S.M.J. (۲۰۰۳) Comparative Studies of Gap-phase Regeneration in Managed and Natural Beech Forests in Different parts of Europe: The Netherlands. NATMAN, Working Report. ۳۵, ۱۶ p. Zhu, J.j., Matsuzaki, T., Lee, F.Q. and Gonda, Y. (۲۰۰۳) Effect of gap size created by thinning on seedling emergency, survival and establishment in a coastal pine forest. For. Ecol. Manage. ۱۸۲, ۳۳۹-۳۵۴.

کلیدواژه ها:

Beech ، close to nature ، sapling ، seedling ، silviculture ، untouched ، Caspian/Hyrcanian forest ، Northern iran