Work package 2: Present natural beech reference

Relevant existing information on present-day stand dynamics in European beech forests will be collected and synthesised with new studies undertaken in beech forest reserves in 8 European countries. Three approaches will be used:

A) Literature review. The WP partners will collect existing material on natural dynamics of beech forests by undertaking literature reviews and making requests for material through appropriate networks and contacts (e.g. COST Action E4 Network, national Working Groups on Forest Reserves, and national research experts). Material on the whole European range of beech will be collected by dividing this task amongst the partners on a regional basis. Each partner will undertake a structured review of the material they have collected. The focus will be on key topic areas: tree growth, mortality, regeneration and demography; ungulate browsing and debarking; natural disturbance (storms, drought, pollution, disease;) coarse woody debris; canopy gaps; development phases; landscape patterns. They will produce a report of their findings and a bibliography.

B) Permanent plot studies. Further recording of plots where individual trees and fallen logs have been mapped and measured at intervals to give information on tree growth, regeneration, mortality, canopy gaps, CWD and browsing. Plots from France will be included. The precise details of this part of the WP will be partly determined by the review of existing literature, i.e. the aim is to focus the work on in-filling areas where information on natural dynamics is scant or lacking. First and second-phase (and up to sixth-phase) recording of permanent tree plots, mapping of developmental stages, mapping of canopy gaps, tracing past-canopy gaps (aerial photos) will be used at differing intensity at 27 sites in 7 countries.

C) New mapping of developmental stages using aerial photographs and remote-sensed satellite images. Further recording of sites where forest development stages have been mapped or photographed in the past. The oldest available maps are 15 years old, but aerial photographs dating back 25 years are available. Aerial photographs and satellite images can provide a chronosequence of different development stages and canopy gaps. Remote-sensed satellite image will be studied on some of the largest expanse of near-natural beech forest in Europe, a site of 5000 ha natural beech forest in Romania. SPOT images with 10 by 10 meter resolution will be bought from the Nat-Man budget for the study.

Work-package leader:

 

Ed Mountford, University of Oxford (UOXF)
Department of Plant Science, South Park Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UNITED KINGDOM, Fax: (+44) 1865 275074, phone: (+44) 1939 234320, e-mail:

 

NatMan Work-package 2: Reports
Deliverable 6	Natural Canopy Gap Characteristics in European Beech Forests
Deliverable 20	Report on site-based permanent plot, second-phase and new mapping studies. HU4 Néra forest reserve
	Coarse woody debris (CWD) in the Weberstedter Holz, a near natural beech forest in central Germany
	Gap Disturbance Patterns in a Beech Virgin Forest Remnant Krokar in the Mointain Vegetation Belt of Slovenia
	Changes in ground vegetation following severe storm-damage at Noar Hill Hanger Beechwood
	Changes in overstorey trees in the old-growth stands above the cliff at Lady Park Wood during 1945-2000
	Changes in the young-growth stands at Lady Park Wood during 1976-2002
	The development of beech woodland at Dendles Wood National Nature Reserve, Devon
	Long-term changes in the vegetation of Denny Wood, an ancient wood-pasture in the New Forest
	Long-term development in an area of The Mens, a minimum intervention woodland damaged by the Great Storm of 1987
	Natural developments in a minimum intervention area in Buckholt Wood, part of the Cotswolds Commons and Beechwoods National Nature Reserve
	Storm-damage and stand change at Noar Hill Hanger during 1987-2000
	Storm-damage and vegetation changes at Ashford Hangers National Nature Reserve during 1987-2001
	Gap studies in the Weberstedter Holz, a near natural beech forest in central Germany
	Report on site-based permanent plot, second-phase and new mapping studies. HU5 Börzsöny mountains: Natural Disturbances (ice and wind) in the forests of Börzsöny
	Report on site-based permanent plot, second-phase and new mapping studies. HU1 Kékes forest reserve
	Influence of Large Natural Disturbance on Stand Development in Virgin Forest Remnant Ravna Gora - Slovenia
	Long Term Stand Structure Changes in Virgin Forest Remnant Pecka - Slovenia
	Stand Structure, Gap Formation, and Regeneration in Virgin Forest Remnant Strmec - Slovenia
	Report on site-based permanent plot, second-phase and new mapping studies. HU3 Alsóhegy forest reserve
	Report on site-based permanent plot, second-phase and new mapping studies. HU2 Öserdö forest reserve
	Stand dynamics in the Neuenburger and Hasbrucher Urwald
	Stand dynamics in Fontainebleau
	Stand dynamics in Pijpebrandje
	Suserup 1992-2002. Structural dynamics, developmental phases and storm damage