Abstract
The dynamics of mixed stands are more complex and less studied than those of monospecific stands. The objective of this work was to analyze the variables involved in seedling occurrence and seedling survival in mixed stands of Pinus pinaster and P. pinea in Mediterranean areas. From 2011 to 2016, regeneration of both species was monitored at two sites located in Central Spain. We installed 72 regeneration plots where seedling dynamics were monitored. All the trees in the study areas were measured and mapped. Additionally, we took hemispherical photographs in each regeneration plot. The average density of P. pinea seedlings over the study period was almost 20 times larger than that of P. pinaster. Our results indicate that the seedlings of both species grow under moderate light conditions. In addition, we found that the occurrence of seedlings of both species was related to the structure of the stand. P. pinea seedlings grew where the density and size of P. pinaster trees were low and where P. pinea trees provided moderately sheltered conditions, whereas the number of P. pinaster seedlings was related to under intermediate densities of P. pinaster trees. Furthermore, seedling survival was positively associated with age of the seedlings and negatively with the August average maximum temperature. The temporal continuity of mixed stands of P. pinea and P. pinaster in the study area is compromised by the observed lack of regeneration of P. pinaster.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Ángel Bachiller and Estrella Viscasillas for the field work. We also thank Adam Collins for revising the English and the two reviewers who provided good comments to improve the quality of this paper. This work has been funded by the following projects: AGL2016-76769-C2-1-R and S2013/MAE-2760 BOSSANOVA-CM. D. Moreno-Fernández has also benefitted from a FPU predoctoral contract of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (FPU13/02113). We are also grateful to Forest Service and forest owners for facilitating plot installation.
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Moreno-Fernández, D., Montes, F., Sánchez-González, M. et al. Regeneration dynamics of mixed stands of Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus pinea L. in Central Spain. Eur J Forest Res 137, 17–27 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1086-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-017-1086-8