<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

At the beginning of the 21st century, in extensively managed mature and over-mature conifer stands (Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies) in Latvia, establishment of native deciduous broad-leaved (Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Quercus robur and Ulmus laevis), as well as alien broad-leaved species (Acer pseudoplatanus and Tilia platyphyllos) has been observed. The establishment of deciduous broad-leaved species in coniferous stands is a process known as nemoralisation of coniferous stands, which is characterised by a large number of seedlings of broad-leaved species, young trees and the formation of a subcanopy layer in stands. Based on the age measurements of individuals of broad-leaved species trees, the establishment of some individuals into the studied coniferous stands occurred 40–50 years ago — in the 1970s–1980s. However, the predominant age of alien broad-leaved tree species in the study plots was 15–25 years, i.e. the introduction of large numbers of seedlings of these species in the coniferous stands occurred at the end of the 20th century. In this manner, in the final phase of the conifer replacement process, stable, mostly shade tolerant, mixed stands consisting of 3–4 species have formed, in which spruce is often found together with broad-leaved species.
</abstract>

At the beginning of the 21st century, in extensively managed mature and over-mature conifer stands (Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies) in Latvia, establishment of native deciduous broad-leaved (Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Quercus robur and Ulmus laevis), as well as alien broad-leaved species (Acer pseudoplatanus and Tilia platyphyllos) has been observed. The establishment of deciduous broad-leaved species in coniferous stands is a process known as nemoralisation of coniferous stands, which is characterised by a large number of seedlings of broad-leaved species, young trees and the formation of a subcanopy layer in stands. Based on the age measurements of individuals of broad-leaved species trees, the establishment of some individuals into the studied coniferous stands occurred 40–50 years ago — in the 1970s–1980s. However, the predominant age of alien broad-leaved tree species in the study plots was 15–25 years, i.e. the introduction of large numbers of seedlings of these species in the coniferous stands occurred at the end of the 20th century. In this manner, in the final phase of the conifer replacement process, stable, mostly shade tolerant, mixed stands consisting of 3–4 species have formed, in which spruce is often found together with broad-leaved species.

Nemoralisation of <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic> and <italic>Picea abies</italic> Forest Stands in the Hemi-Boreal Zone: A Case Study from Latvia

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nemoralisation of  and  Forest Stands in the Hemi-Boreal Zone: A Case Study from Latvia

At the beginning of the 21st century, in extensively managed mature and over-mature conifer stands (Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies) in Latvia, establishment...

Nemoralisation of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies Forest Stands in the Hemi-Boreal Zone: A Case Study from Latvia

Published Online: Sep 13, 2021

Page range: 299 - 309

Received: Feb 10, 2021

Accepted: Jul 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2021-0043

Keywords
coniferous species, deciduous species, forest stand dynamic, Acer sp., Tilia sp

© 2021 Māris Laiviņš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Nemoralisation of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies Forest Stands in the Hemi-Boreal Zone: A Case Study from Latvia

Published Online: Sep 13, 2021

Page range: 299 - 309

Received: Feb 10, 2021

Accepted: Jul 22, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2021-0043

Keywordsconiferous species, deciduous species, forest stand dynamic, Acer sp., Tilia sp

© 2021 Māris Laiviņš et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
coniferous species, deciduous species, forest stand dynamic, Acer sp., Tilia sp