University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Maximilian Engelhardt
(2019):
Charakterisierung der Entwicklungsdynamik in Eichen dominierten Naturwaldreservaten in Österreich.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Waldbau (WALDBAU),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 89 (inklusive Anhang).
UB BOKU
obvsg
- Abstract:
- Due to changing environmental conditions and the associated consequences for the forest, it is becoming increasingly important to understand and describe the natural processes in forests. The research in natural forest reserves makes it possible to gain insights that will help to build stable forests and protect natural forests. The objectives of this work is the characterization of the forest dynamics of oak-dominated natural forest reserves and the estimation about possible future trends. The research questions are based on hypotheses discussed in the scientific literature. It will be investigated which influence the former management on the stand structure has, which tree species represent the largest competition for oak and how the oak species can remain in the forest without human interventions. Eight different natural forest reserves with a high proportion of oaks were selected. In these reserves, investigations were made in the months of July and August 2018 in accordance to the guidelines for repeated surveys in natural forest reserves of the Federal Research and Training Center for Forests (BFW). The results show that the reserves have been able to build up the growing stock steadily, the largest competitors for the oak species have been European beech (Fagus sylvatica), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and lime species (Tillia cordata and Tillia platyphyllos). In the natural regeneration, the oak species have been present only in very small numbers. This indicates, that especially in the young stand development phases, oak is lagging behind proportionately the tree species distribution without any anthropogenic promotion. Similarly, the oaks might survive only on sites where they can prevail against their competitors due to their physiologic limits. Locations which a high proportion of European beech might eventually become nearly pure beech stands as oak will retreat from this stands, due to its low competitiveness against the shade tolerant species.
- Beurteilende*r: Vacik Harald