Vegetation dynamics of herb layer in managed submountain beech forest

Abstract

Dynamics of herb layer within two communities in managed submountain beech forest was studied. Sampling was done on three differently managed forest plots over the period of 16 years (1995–2011). The first plot was situated in an original 110-year-old beech stand (control), the second was covered by a thicket (in 2011 – aged ca 23 years) developed after clear-cut. At the third plot, several interventions were performed along with a gradual reduction of the original stand density, and finally the parent stand was completely felled. Results revealed conspicuous changes in community structure, especially in species richness and composition. Also, changes in population dynamics of two dominant herb species were observed, mainly on the managed plots. Using Shannon-Wiener′s index we ranked the communities to the category with low-diversity, however increasing diversity was denoted on the area with complete removal of the tree layer. Bioindication using the Ellenberg’s indicator values for selected ecological factors (temperature, light, soil moisture and nitrogen content) was used to find a reflection of the human-caused environmental changes on herb layer structure in a beech forest. Mean values for the both light and nitrogen content were changed significantly only on the managed plots, while no biologically significant changes in mean values for the both temperature and soil moisture were found.