<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> One of the expected consequences of climate change and its inherent phenomena to forest ecosystems is the gradual modification of their tree species composition (i.e. expansion of resistant species instead of less resistant ones). Climate change accompanied with increasing temperatures and a lack of precipitations may present a threat especially to spruce stands in the European part of the temperate zone. European beech is one of the possible forest tree species which might replace the potentially endangered spruce. In this paper, we observed, by using a combination of continual measurements and destructive whole-tree sampling, standing stocks of above-ground biomass (i.e. stem, branches, and foliage) and its annual net primary productivity (NPP) in naturally regenerated young stands of beech and spruce. We intentionally selected a site where the changing climate conditions are better suited to the ecological demands of beech rather than spruce (the species is dominant in the observed area). We recorded only small differences in the standing stock of stems of the beech, if based on tons per ha. However, this is in favor of spruce if based on cubic meters per ha. The largest difference between the species was found for the standing stock of foliage, spruce retained three times the biomass of beech. Also, beech allocated more carbohydrates to stem than spruce. On the other hand, we estimated nearly the same production of foliages and branches in both stands.</p></abstract>

One of the expected consequences of climate change and its inherent phenomena to forest ecosystems is the gradual modification of their tree species composition (i.e. expansion of resistant species instead of less resistant ones). Climate change accompanied with increasing temperatures and a lack of precipitations may present a threat especially to spruce stands in the European part of the temperate zone. European beech is one of the possible forest tree species which might replace the potentially endangered spruce. In this paper, we observed, by using a combination of continual measurements and destructive whole-tree sampling, standing stocks of above-ground biomass (i.e. stem, branches, and foliage) and its annual net primary productivity (NPP) in naturally regenerated young stands of beech and spruce. We intentionally selected a site where the changing climate conditions are better suited to the ecological demands of beech rather than spruce (the species is dominant in the observed area). We recorded only small differences in the standing stock of stems of the beech, if based on tons per ha. However, this is in favor of spruce if based on cubic meters per ha. The largest difference between the species was found for the standing stock of foliage, spruce retained three times the biomass of beech. Also, beech allocated more carbohydrates to stem than spruce. On the other hand, we estimated nearly the same production of foliages and branches in both stands.

Above-Ground Net Primary Productivity in Young Stands of Beech and Spruce

National Forest Centre - Forest Research Institute Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 2175/22, SK – 960 92 Zvolen

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ – 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol

National Forest Centre - Forest Research Institute Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 2175/22, SK - 960 92 Zvolen

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ - 165 21 Praha 6 - Suchdol

Central European Forestry Journal

{"article-title":"Above-Ground Net Primary Productivity in Young Stands of Beech and Spruce"}

One of the expected consequences of climate change and its inherent phenomena to forest ecosystems is the gradual modification of their tree species...

Above-Ground Net Primary Productivity in Young Stands of Beech and Spruce

Published Online: Nov 20, 2013

Page range: 154 - 162

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10114-011-0022-y

Keywords
Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, net primary productivity, above-ground biomass, standing stock, tree compartments

This content is open access.

Above-Ground Net Primary Productivity in Young Stands of Beech and Spruce

Published Online: Nov 20, 2013

Page range: 154 - 162

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10114-011-0022-y

KeywordsFagus sylvatica, Picea abies, net primary productivity, above-ground biomass, standing stock, tree compartments

This content is open access.

Keywords
Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, net primary productivity, above-ground biomass, standing stock, tree compartments