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Effects of forest management on the amount of deadwood in Mediterranean oak ecosystems

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Annals of Forest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Context

Deadwood is an important habitat for vertebrate and invertebrate species, a key factor in the nutrient cycle and a valuable carbon pool. Difference in the deadwood C stock depends on many variables such as forest type, microclimate and forest management.

Aims

We investigated the relationship between C stock in deadwood and forest management in oak stands of southern Italy.

Methods

Deadwood C stock was quantified in 74 forest stands under intensive, extensive or multifunctional management. The relationship between management and C stock in deadwood was assessed taking into account the decay class and the type of deadwood (snags, stumps and logs).

Results

Intensively managed forests are characterized by significantly lower mean levels of deadwood C than the other forms of management. Multifunctional management resulted in the highest level of C, mainly in logs and snags, while extensive management resulted in high levels of C storage concentrated in snags.

Conclusion

Results of the research highlight that forest management practices greatly influence the quantitative and qualitative presence of deadwood in forests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura-Forest Monitoring and Planning Research Unit (CRA-MPF), P.za Nicolini 6, 38123, Villazzano, Trento, Italy

    Alessandro Paletto

  2. Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura - Agrobiology and Pedology Centre (CRA-ABP), P.za D’Azeglio 30, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Isabella De Meo

  3. Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura - Forestry Research Centre (CRA-SEL), Via S. Margherita 80, 52100, Arezzo, Italy

    Paolo Cantiani & Fabrizio Ferretti

Authors
  1. Alessandro Paletto
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  2. Isabella De Meo
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  3. Paolo Cantiani
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  4. Fabrizio Ferretti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandro Paletto.

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Handling Editor:

Andreas Bolte

Contribution of the co-authors

Alessandro Paletto and Isabella De Meo analysed the data and wrote the paper; Paolo Cantiani and Fabrizio Ferretti designed the research and experiment and supervised the work.

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Paletto, A., De Meo, I., Cantiani, P. et al. Effects of forest management on the amount of deadwood in Mediterranean oak ecosystems. Annals of Forest Science 71, 791–800 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0377-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0377-1

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