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A matter of time: self-regulated tree regeneration in a natural Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest at Mt. Brocken, Germany

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Abstract

European natural mountain Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests are currently subject to extensive disturbances. An improved understanding of the self-regulated regenerative capacity of this forest type is therefore needed. We used the last remnant of natural mountain Norway spruce forests in central northwestern Europe (BNF Brocken natural forest), to analyze (1) the diversity of structure and age distribution of the tree population and (2) the effect of disturbances on self-regulated tree regeneration over the last 264 years. To this end, we combined an assessment of stand structure with dendrochronological investigations and a review of disturbance history. We hypothesized that BNF exhibits a high diversity of tree ages and dimensions and that recruitment and survival of tree regeneration were largely independent from disturbances. BNF showed a high structural and age diversity. Disturbances exhibited no regular temporal pattern. Their effect on tree regeneration was rather complex and changed with observation period. Impeding and facilitating effects of past disturbances on recruitment were significant from 1736 to 1910. From 1911 until 2000, recruitment decoupled from preceding disturbances. Subsequent disturbances facilitated survival of established trees from 1736 to 1820, while afterward no significant influence could be proved. Our study showed that in the course of self-regulated development the tree population of BNF has gradually acquired, or maintained, a diverse structure. Disturbances served as an important driver of diversification. We concluded that increasing deadwood availability and limiting browsing are the key to securing immediate regeneration.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Hans-Ulrich Kison and Ute Springemann from the Harz National Park for supporting our study, to Tim Green and Robert Larkin for language check and Andreas Mölder and Marcus Schmidt for important comments and recommendations. This study was supported by project GACR No. 15-14840S, Czech University of Life Sciences Project CIGA No. 20164310 student project, and institutional project “EXTEMIT—K,” No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15_003/0000433 financed by OP RDE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. North West German Forest Research Institute, Grätzelstr. 2, 37079, Göttingen, Germany

    Peter Meyer & Jan Brandes

  2. Department of Forest Ecology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcka 129, 16521, Praha 6, Suchdol, Czech Republic

    Pavel Janda, Martin Mikoláš, Volodymyr Trotsiuk, Hana Mrhalová, Michal Synek, Jana Lábusová & Miroslav Svoboda

  3. Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Frank Krumm

  4. Chair of Silviculture, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79085, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Daniel Kraus

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  1. Peter Meyer
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  2. Pavel Janda
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  11. Miroslav Svoboda
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Correspondence to Peter Meyer.

Additional information

Communicated by Jarmo Holopainen.

Electronic supplementary material

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10342_2017_1079_MOESM1_ESM.jpg

Supplement_Fig1: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of preceding years (lag) for the period of time from 1736–1820 (JPEG 426 kb)

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Supplement_Fig2: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of preceding years (lag) for the period of time from 1821–1910 (JPEG 405 kb)

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Supplement_Fig3: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of preceding years (lag) for the period of time from 1911–2000 (JPEG 335 kb)

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Supplement_Fig4: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of subsequent years (lag) for the period of time from 1736–1820 (JPEG 378 kb)

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Supplement_Fig5: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of subsequent years (lag) for the period of time from 1821–1910 (JPEG 306 kb)

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Supplement_Fig6: Cross-correlation between recruitments and disturbance probability of subsequent years (lag) for the period of time from 1911–1950 (JPEG 305 kb)

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Meyer, P., Janda, P., Mikoláš, M. et al. A matter of time: self-regulated tree regeneration in a natural Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest at Mt. Brocken, Germany. Eur J Forest Res 136, 907–921 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1079-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1079-7

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