Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamics in Natural Mixed-beech Forest of the Upper Vosges

  • Published:
Biodiversity & Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Forest dynamics were analysed in the Upper Vosges mountains of north-eastern France in two reserve areas, Frankenthal-Missheimle (FM) and Grand Ventron (GV), located in the Ballons des Vosges Natural Regional Park (Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges). Two plots of 3000 m2 each were established in mixed beech woodlands located just below sub-alpine beech forests for long-term monitoring. The main aim of the study was to interpret how the different species populations in mixed-beech woodlands in the Vosges grow and interact over the long term, and to determine the disturbance history. The study combined vegetation description, dendrological and structural data, architectural descriptions and drawings and light distribution and soil analysis. Historical information was also taken into consideration. Soils in the two plots showed available phosphate P values  > 0.14 g kg−1, indicating good levels of phosphorus supply for plants, except for A1/C horizon (1Va soil) which corresponds to a medium-fertility soil. However, soils were found to be shallow because of the slope, a factor that may limit water availability for adult trees and seedlings. As the canopy (composed of existing trees) consists of shade trees, the growth rates for seedlings and saplings (potential trees) depends on the canopy architecture: when growing in sunlit gaps, saplings reach full daylight (canopy height) in less than 100 years. When developing in shade (suppressed state), saplings may need up to 150 years before reaching full daylight. Alternating periods of rapid and slow growth explain why some trees present a wide range of stem diameters and ages in the area leading up to the canopy (some trees are more than 300-years-old), in contrast with the relatively homogeneous height classes distribution, indicating suppression periods. Trees in the FM and GV plots were found to have different growth rates. Both study plots developed with similar past disturbance events, the two most important being at the beginning of the 18th century. In addition, the forests were regularly affected by smaller disturbances until present. Because of the spatial heterogeneity and large range of ages represented, the forest stands within the two natural reserve areas are presently considered to be the best-preserved sites in the upper Vosges, but their situation near the timber line prevents them from becoming models for forest management at lower altitudes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • M. Becker (1985) ArticleTitleLe dépérissement du sapin dans les Vosges. Quelques facteurs liés à la détérioration des cîmes Revue Forestière Française 37 281–287 Occurrence Handle10.4267/2042/21809

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Becker (1989) ArticleTitleThe role of climate on present and past vitality of silver fir forests in the Vosges mountains of northeastern France Can. J. Forest. Res. 19 1110–1117 Occurrence Handle10.1139/x89-168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Bogenrieder (2001) ArticleTitleSchwarzwald und Vogesen - ein vegetationskundlicher Vergleich Mitteilungen des Badischen Landesvereins für Naturkunde und Naturschutz 17 745–792

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Bonneau (1995) Fertilisation des forêts dans les pays tempérés ENGREF Nancy

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Bonneau P. Faivre M. Gury J.M. Hétier F. Le Tacon (1978) Carte pédologique de la France à 1/100000. Notice explicativeSaint-Dié INRA Service d’Etude des Sols et de la Carte Pédologique de la France 11

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Bradshaw B. Holmqvist (1999) ArticleTitleDanish forest development during the last 3000 years reconstructed from regional pollen data Ecography 22 53–62

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Brethes J.J. Brun B. Jabiol J.F. Ponge F. Toutain (1992) Typologie des formes d’humus D. Baize M.C.R Girard (Eds) éférentiel PédologiqueAssociation Française pour l’Etude du sol INRA Paris 177–192

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Carbiener (1966) La végétation des Hautes Vosges dans ses rapports avec les climats locaux, les sols et la géomorphologie University of Orsay France

    Google Scholar 

  • Cenusa R. 2001. Les montagnes de Calimani. Les forêts vierges de Roumanie, Giurgieu, Donita, Bandku, Radu, Cenusa, Dissescu, Stoiculescu, Biris. ASBL forêts wallone, pp.179–184.

  • R.L. Chazdon R.W. Pearcy (1986) ArticleTitlePhotosynthetic light environments in a lowland and tropical rain forest in Costa Rica J. Ecol. 72 533–564

    Google Scholar 

  • Closset D. and Schnitzler A. 2000a. Naturalité de la hêtraie d’altitude dans la Réserve naturelle du Frankenthat Missheimle. University of Metz-Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges. Internal Report 37p.

  • Closset D. 2000. Sylvigénèse et naturalité de la hêtraie d’altitude dans la Ré serve Naturelle du Frankenthal-Missheimle. DEA Sciences Agronomiques, University of Metz.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameCOST Action E4 EU (1999) (European corporation in science and technology) Forest Research Network Final report. Mission, goals, outputs, recommendations, linkage and patterns Office for Official Publications of the European Communities Luxembourg

    Google Scholar 

  • J.S. Denslow J.C. Schultz P.M. Vitousek B.R. Strain (1990) ArticleTitleGrowth responses of tropical shrubs to treefall gap environments Ecology 71 165–179 Occurrence Handle10.2307/1940257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Duchaufour M. Bonneau (1959) ArticleTitleUne nouvelle méthode de dosage du phosphore assimilable dans les sols forestiers Bulletin de l’Association Française pour l’étude du sol 4 193–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelin C. 1977. Images de làrchitecture des conifères. PhD thesis, University of Montpellier.

  • H. Ellenberg (1988) Vegetation of Middle Europe Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • D.A. Franks F. McNaughton (1991) ArticleTitleStability increases with diversity in plant communities: empirical evidence from the 1988 Yellowstone drought Oikos 62 360–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Frazer G.W., Canham C.D. and Lertzman K.P. 1999. Gap Light Analyser (GLA), Version 2.0: Imaging software to extract canopy structure and gap light transmission indices from true-colour fisheye photographs, User’s Manual and Program Documentation. Copyright 1999: SimoFraser University, Burnaby, British Columbiaand Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York.

  • Garnier E. 1994. L’homme et son milieu: le massif du Grand Ventron à travers les âges. Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, Internal Report.

  • Garnier E. 1998. Jalons pour une histoire de l’environnement: la réserve naturelle du Frankenthal-Missheimle. Relations des sociétés et du milieu. Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, Internal report.

  • Gilg O. 1997. Eléments d’évaluation de la naturalité des écosystèmes forestiers vosgiens. Eléments conceptuels et méthodologiques, application aux hêtraies-sapinières de la réserve naturelle du massif du Grand Ventron, DEA, University of Aix Marseille.

  • T.J. Givnish (1984) Leaf and canopy adaptations in tropical forests E. Medina H.A. Mooney C. Vasques-Yanes (Eds) Physiological Ecology of Plants of the Wet Tropics Junk The Hague 51–83

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Hallé R.A.A. Oldeman (1970) Essai sur l’architecture et la dynamique de croissance des arbres tropicaux Masson Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Hallé R.A.A Oldeman PB. Tomlinson (1978) Tropical Trees and Forests: An Architectural Analysis Springer Verlag Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • T. Helle O. Järvinen (1986) ArticleTitlePopulation trends in North Finnish land birds in relation to their habitat selection and changes in forest structures Oikos 46 107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Heuzé P. 2002. Impact à moyen terme des grands herbivores sur la hêtraie-sapinière vosgienne. PhD Thesis, University of Metz.

  • E. W. Jones (1945) ArticleTitleThe structure and reproduction of the virgin forest of the north temperate zone New Phytologist 44 130–148 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1469-8137.1945.tb05026.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H. Koop P. Hilgen (1987) ArticleTitleForest dynamics and regeneration mosaic shifts in unexploited beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands at Fontainebleau (France) Forest Ecol. Manag. 20 135–150 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0378-1127(87)90155-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • H. Koop (1989) Forest Dynamics. Silvistar: A Comprehensive Monitoring System Springer Verlag Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Korpel (1995) Die Urwälder der Westkarpaten Gustav Fischer Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Leibendgut (1959) ArticleTitleÜber Zweck und Methodik der Struktur und Zuwachsanalyse von Urwäldern Schweiz Zeitschrift für Forstwesen. 110 110–124

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Lemée (1978) Structure et Fonctionnement des Ecosystèmes Terrestre Masson Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansuy D. 1992. Les granites et la couverture pédologique dans le bassin du Rouge Rupt. Leurs participations au contrôle de l’acidification des eaux (Cornimont – Vosges méridionales). PhD thesis, University of Nancy.

  • H Mayer M. Neumann (1981) ArticleTitleStruktureller und entwicklungsdynamischer Vergleich der Fichten-Tannen-Buchen Urwälder Rothwald Niederösterreich und Corkova Urwald Kroatien Forstwissenschaftliches Centralblatt 100 111–132

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Motta P. Nola P. Piussi (2002) ArticleTitleLong-term investigations in strict forest reserve in the eastern Italian Alps: spatio-temporal origin and development in two multi-layered subalpine stands J. Ecol. 90 495–507 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.00685.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolini E. 1997. Approche morphologique du développement du hêtre (Fagus sylvatica.). PhD thesis, Université de Montpellier.

  • E. Oberdorfer (1991) Die hochmontanen Wälder und subalpinen Gebüsche. Der Feldberg im Schwarzwald. Subalpine Insel im Mittelgebirge Landesantstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Würtemberg Karlsruhe

    Google Scholar 

  • E. Oberdorfer (1992) Süddeutsche Pflanzen-Gesellschaften. Teil IV: Wälder und Gebüsche Gustav Fischer Verlag Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Office National des Forêts 2000. Evaluation de l’impact des ongulés sur la végétation forestière du Frankenthal-Missheimle. Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, Internal Report.

  • L. Ooisterhius R.A.A. Oldeman T.L. Sharik (1982) ArticleTitleArchitectural approach to analysis of North American temperate deciduous forests Can. J. Forest Res. 12 835–847

    Google Scholar 

  • R.A.A. Oldeman (1974) ArticleTitleL’architecture de la forêt guyanaise Mémoires ORSTOM 73 73

    Google Scholar 

  • R.A.A. Oldeman (1979) ArticleTitleQuelques aspects quantifiables de l’arborigenèse et de la sylvigénèse Ecologica Plantarum 143 289–312

    Google Scholar 

  • R.A.A. Oldeman (1990) Forests: Elements of Silvology Springer Verlag Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Orsini J.C. Remy (1976) ArticleTitleUtilisation du chlorure de cobaltihexamine pour la détermination simultanée de la capacité d’échange et des bases èchangeables des sols Science du Sol 4 268–275

    Google Scholar 

  • G. P. Peterken (1996) Natural Woodlands: Ecology and Conservation in Northern Temperate Regions Cambridge University Press Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters R. 1992. Ecology of beech forests in the northern hemisphere. Ph.D thesis, University of Wageningen.

  • S. Pierrel (2001) Détermination du climat lumineux, à l’aide de photographies hémisphériques et de ses relations avec la répartition de la végétation dans une hêtraie sapinière de la réserve biologique intégrale en forêt domaniale de Guebwiller DEA. University of Strasbourg France

    Google Scholar 

  • Renaud J.P., Kustner C. and Hauschild R. 2000. La Réserve Biologique Domaniale de Guebwiller (Haut-Rhin). Présentation générale et résultats d’un premier inventaire réaliséselon le protocole européen COST. Office National des Forêts, Internal Report.

  • A. Roloff (1999) ArticleTitleTree vigor and branching pattern Journal of Forest Science 45 206–216

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Schnitzler (2002) Ecologie des forêts naturelles d’Europe Biodiversité, sylvigénèsevaleur patrimoniale des forêts primaires Lavoisier, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwoehrer C. and Despert Y. 1999. Réserve naturelle du FM, plan de gestion. Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, Internal Report.

  • Schwoehrer C. 1999. Réserve naturelle du massif du Grand Ventron, plan de gestion. Internal Report PNRBV.

  • Seynave I. 1999. Analyse de la structure de deux peuplements forestiers mé langés équiennes: lasapiniére-hêtraie et la chênaie-hêtraie dans le nord-est de la France. Ph.D thesis, ENGREF, Nancy.

  • B. Sittler T. Tennhardt E. Shicarts (2000) ArticleTitleDie Schützgebiete Russlands vor neuen Herausforderungen Natur und Landschaft 75 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Souchier B. 1971. Evolution des sols sur roches cristallines à l’étage montagnard (Vosges). Mémoire Service Carte géologique. Alsace Lorraine, pp.33.

  • Untereiner A., Advocat A. Stoehr B. and Despert Y. 2002. Carte de la végétation de la Réserve naturelle du Frankenthal Missheimle. Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges, Internal Report.

  • Ulrich E. and Williot B. 1994. Les dépôts atmosphériques en France de 1850 à 1990. ONF, Internal Report.

  • D. Vallauri L. Poncet (2003) La protection des forêts en France métropolitaine. Livre blanc sur la protection des forêts naturelles en France Lavoisier Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Varlet-Granchet G. Gosse M. Chartier H. Sinoquet R. Bonhomme J.M. Allirand (1989) ArticleTitleMise au point: rayonnement solaire absorbé ou intercepté par un couvert végétal Agronomie 9 419–439

    Google Scholar 

  • Vester H. 1997. The Trees and the Forest. The role of tree architecture in canopy development; a case study in secondary forests (Araracuara, Columbia) PhD thesis, University of Wageningen.

  • P.S. White (1978) ArticleTitlePattern process and natural disturbance in vegetation Bot. Rev. 45 229–299

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LBFE, University of Metz, Campus Bridoux, rue du Général Delestraint, 57070, Metz-Borny, France

    D. Closset-Kopp, A. Schnitzler & D. Aran

Authors
  1. D. Closset-Kopp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Schnitzler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Aran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Closset-Kopp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Closset-Kopp, D., Schnitzler, A. & Aran, D. Dynamics in Natural Mixed-beech Forest of the Upper Vosges. Biodivers Conserv 15, 1063–1093 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-1874-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-004-1874-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation