Abstract
A retrospective sampling method is applied to European beech (Fagus silvática L.) in order to assess the response of older aged trees to selective cutting. In a typical stand of the Southern Black Forest. 50 older aged trees (80 – 150 years old) were selected at a single point in time to assess a wide range of current and past competition scenarios. The radial growth and height growth for each tree were reconstructed using tree ring analysis and height-internode analysis respectively. The crown width growth was reconstructed using the measurement of branch internodes from the four longest branches in each of the cardinal directions. Spatial competition was reconstructed using a regression analysis between stumps of removed trees and diameter at breast height. The growth response of the trees, in terms of diameter and crown width, to changes in competition, was found to be a function of the initial size of the tree, the age of the tree, the age of the tree at the time of competition change and the magnitude of the change in competition. Height growth was found to be too variable to be accurately modelled. It was found that a time-series of individual tree growth responses and spatial competition can be successfully reconstructed to support the investigation into whether releasement might be an effective tool in accelerating the development of large trees in transition forests.
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Haywood, A., Spiecker, H. (2002). A Methodology for the Retrospective Analysis of the Releasement Response of Old Aged European Beech Trees. In: von Gadow, K., Nagel, J., Saborowski, J. (eds) Continuous Cover Forestry. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9886-6_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9886-6_17
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