Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regeneration dynamics in aging black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) plantations on the south slopes of the Middle Balkan Range in Bulgaria

  • Published:
New Forests Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To study the regeneration dynamics in mature black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) plantations in the Middle Balkan Range, Bulgaria, a total of 48 research plots (sized 0.1 ha) were established; 26 plots were established in the foothills of the mountains (foothill zone) and 22 in the main massive (mountainous zone). Pine overstorey as well as advance regeneration in subplots were recorded. Analysis of variance and regression analysis showed that in general relative stand basal area (RSBA) was the most important predictor of deciduous advance regeneration density, top height as well as age span of the regeneration layer. In the mountainous zone soil depth (SD) and the presence of mature deciduous trees (MDT) explained a significant amount of the variation in regeneration features. Lower RSBA induced by earlier thinnings resulted in higher regeneration density, larger top heights and wider age span of deciduous species. Under the pine canopy oak regeneration can persist longer compared to natural broadleaved canopies. In the studied plantations pine regeneration was confined to few scattered seedlings and regeneration groups. Based on these findings silvicultural concepts for the further management of black pine plantations in the Middle Balkan Range are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amorini E (1983) Thinning trials in the black pine stand of Monte della Modina in the Tuscan Apennines. Ann Ist Sper Selvic 14:47–99 (In Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Amorini E, Gambi G (1976) An example of spontaneous natural regeneration of Pinus nigra in the Tusco-Marchigian Apennines. Ann Ist Sper Selvic 7:1–25 (In Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheshitev G, Kanev I (1989) Geological map of Bulgaria, 1:500000. Bulgarian Geological Comity (In Bulgarian)

  • Chettleburgh M (1952) Observations on the collection and burial of acorns by jays in Hinault Forest. Brit Birds 45:359–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimitrov D (1967) Results of cleanings under canopy of sessile oak-dominated stands. Gorsko Stopanstvo 11:7–14 (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Donov V (1993). Forest pedology, Martilen, Sofia, pp 16 (In Bulgarian)

  • Draper N, Smith R (1981) Applied regression analyses. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost I (1997) Dispersal and establishment of Quercus robur. Dissertation, Uppsala University

  • Frost I, Rydin H (2000) Spatial pattern and size distribution of the animal—dispersed tree Quercus robur in two spruce-dominated forests. Écoscience 7:38–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs M, Krannitz P, Harestad A, Bunnell F (1997) Seeds that fly on feathered wings: acorn dispersal by Steller’s jays. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PSWPSW-GTR-160

  • Georgiev N (1991) Physical geography of Bulgaria, c/o Jusautor, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

  • Hasenauer H (2003) Terms and definitions relevant for conversion. Abstracts of the international conference “The question of conversion of coniferous forests”, 27 September–02 October 2003, Freiburg, pp 16

  • Howe H, Smallwood J (1982) Ecology of seed dispersal. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 13:201–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2007) Intergovernmental panel on climate change. http://www.ipcc.ch/

  • Johnson W, Adkisson C, Crow T, Dixon M (1997) Nut caching by blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata L.): implications for tree demography. Am Midl Nat 138:357–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson P, Shifley S, Rogers R (2002) The ecology and silviculture of oaks. CABI Publishing, NY

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr G (2000) Natural regeneration of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio) in Great Britain. J For 5:479–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig W (1980) Acorn storage by acorn woodpeckers in an oak woodland: an energetics analysis. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report, PSWPSW-44

  • Koleva K, Peneva R (1990) Climate reference book, precipitations. BAS Press, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyuchukova M (1983) Climate reference book, temperatures. Nauka i Izkustvo, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

  • Lüpke B, Ammer C, Bruciamacchie M, Brunner A, Ceitel J, Collet C, Deuleuze C, Placido J, Huss J, Jankovič J, Kantor P, Larsen J, Lexer M, Löf M, Longauer R, Madsen P, Modrzyński J, Mosandl R, Pampe A, Pommerening A, Štefančik I, Tesař V, Thompson R, Zientarski J (2003) Silvicultural strategies for conversion. Abstracts of the international conference “The question of conversion of coniferous forests”, 27 September–02 October 2003, Freiburg, pp 25–26

  • Mandzhukov P (1914) Causes of the deforestation of the Balkan Range in Kazanlak region. Gorski pregled 10:367–379 (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mas G (1993) Silvicultural techniques in environmental restoration: the introduction of natural vegetation into black pine plantations. Monti e Boschi 44:16–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellanby K (1968) The effects of some mammals and birds on regeneration of Oak. J Appl Ecol 5:359–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosandl R, Kleinert A (1998) Development of oaks (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) emerged from bird-dispersed seeds under old-growth pine (Pinus silvestris L.) stands. For Ecol Manag 106:35–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nocentini S (1995) The renaturalization of forest plantations. An experimental trial with Pinus nigra and P. nigra var. laricio on Monte Morello near Florence, Italia. Forestale e Montana 4:425–435 (In Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavlik B, Muick P, Johnson S, Popper M (1991) Oaks of California. Cachuma Press, Los Olivos

    Google Scholar 

  • Penev N, Georgiev A, Aleksandrov A, Garilov C, Dimitrov D (1982) Establishment of highly-productive forest stands. Zemizdat, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pintarić K (1997) Analysis of the structure and quality of young natural regeneration of black pine. Šumarski List 5/6:215–224 (In Serbian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Preto G (1983) Black pine in Val del Bidente, Forli, Italy. Aspects of natural regeneration. Ann Ist Sper Selvic 14:47–99 (In Italian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Radkov I, Minkov Y (1963) Oak forests in Bulgaria. SPH, Varna (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Radulović S (1957) Results from a study of the development of Pinus sylvestris and P. nigra on an Oak/Hornbeam site on Mt. Avala and a survey of the thinnings in these stands. Šumarstvo 11/12:667–689 (In Serbian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Raev I, Knight G, Staneva M (eds) (2003) Droughts in Bulgaria. The contemporary analogous to climate change in Bulgaria. “Prof Marin Drinov”, Sofia, 284 pp

  • SFA (2008) Annual report of the Bulgarian State Forest Agency, form 1 FF (in Bulgarian)

  • Shaw M (1968) Factors affecting the natural regeneration of Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) in North Wales: a preliminary study of acorn production, viability and losses. J Ecol 56:565–583

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiecker H, Hansen J, Klima E, Skovsgaard J, Sterba H, Teuffel K (2004) Norway spruce conversion—options and consequences. European Forest Institute Research Report 18

  • Stankova T (2006) Possibilities for density optimization of Scots pine and Austrian black pine plantations by mathematical models. Dissertation, Forest Research Institute, Sofia (in Bulgarian, with extended summary in English)

  • Stankova T, Stankov H, Shibuya M (2006) Mean-dominant height relationships for Scotch pine and Austrian black pine plantations in Bulgaria. Ekologichno inzhenerstvo i opazvane na okolnata sreda 4:59–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanov B (1941) Geographical distribution of coniferous plants and speciation in nature. Godishnik na Sofiiskiya Universitet 2:1–56 (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanov B (1958) Dendrology. Zemizdat, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanton M (1965) Acorn destruction potential of small mammals and birds in British woodlands. J For 59:230–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Thibaut A, Claessens H, Rondeux J (2004) Site index curves for Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. in Southern Belgium: effect of site on curve shape. Forestry (Oxford) 77:159–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Tishkov H (1976) The climate of the mountainous regions of Bulgaria. BAS Press, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trabaud L, Campant C (1991) The difficulty of natural regeneration of Salzmann pine (Pinus nigra subsp. salzmannii) following fire. Biol Conserv 58:329–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velkov D (1986) Black pine in the forestation practice. Gorsko Stopanstvo i Gorska Industriya 5:6–8 (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Velkov D, Dobrev R (1984) Black pine genetic resources in Osogovo mountain. Gorsko Stopanstvo 11:12–15 (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlasev V (1966) Black pine forests in Bulgaria. Zemizdat, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahariev B, Duhovnikov Y, Iliev A, Biolchev A, Enchev E, Vlasev V, Zashev B, Donov V, Ganchev G, Kalinkov V, Kitin B, Iliev S, Tsanova P, Damyanov A (1977) The forestation in Bulgaria. Zemizdat, Sofia (In Bulgarian)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zerbe S (2002) Restoration of natural broad-leaved woodland in Central Europe on sites with coniferous forest plantations. For Ecol Manag 167:27–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhelev I (1968) Studies on pine plantations natural regeneration in Shipka mountain. Forestry 7:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Zlatanov T (2005) Regeneration processes in Austrian pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) plantations on the south slopes of the Middle Balkan Range. PhD thesis autoreferat, Forest Research Institute, Sofia, 32 pp (In Bulgarian)

Download references

Acknowledgments

The preparation of the manuscript was financially supported by COST FP0703. The comments of two anonymous reviewers are greatly acknowledged and helped to improve the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Research Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Tzvetan Zlatanov & Ivaylo Velichkov

  2. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

    Manfred J. Lexer

  3. Forest Research Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tomislav Dubravac

Authors
  1. Tzvetan Zlatanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ivaylo Velichkov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Manfred J. Lexer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tomislav Dubravac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tzvetan Zlatanov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zlatanov, T., Velichkov, I., Lexer, M.J. et al. Regeneration dynamics in aging black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) plantations on the south slopes of the Middle Balkan Range in Bulgaria. New Forests 40, 289–303 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-010-9200-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-010-9200-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation