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Regeneration in windthrow areas in hemiboreal forests: the influence of microsite on the height growths of different tree species

  • Special Feature: Original article
  • Feasibility of Silviculture for Complex Stand Structures
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Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

Natural regeneration of windthrow areas is an important issue when planning forestry measures after forest disturbances. Seedling recruitment was investigated in storm-damaged hemiboreal mixed forests in eastern Estonia. The establishment and growth of seedlings from natural regeneration was registered for tree species in soil pits and in mounds of uprooted trees in stands that were either heavily or moderately damaged. Seedling growth is expected to be better in large but shallow soil pits created by uprooted Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and poorer in small but deep pits created by the hardwoods in the area, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and European aspen (Populus tremula L.). The most abundant regenerating species was birch. Pits hosted larger seedling numbers than mounds, due to soil instability in mounds. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) showed significantly faster growth than the other seedling species. Norway spruce pits were preferred to pits of other species by both birch and spruce seedlings. Black alder [Alnus glutinosa (L.) J. Gaertn.] did not show a preference for pits of a certain species of uprooted tree. Both spruce and rowan preferred hardwood mounds over spruce mounds. Storm severity also affected species composition: birch predominantly occurred on pits and mounds in heavily disturbed areas, while spruce was more abundant in the moderately damaged areas. The effects of advance regeneration and surrounding stands on seedling microsite preferences should be considered in future research and subsequent management recommendations.

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Acknowledgments

We thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. This study was supported by grants from the Estonian Environmental Investment Fund, Estonian Ministry of Education and Science grant SF0170014s08, Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, and Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Floortje Vodde, Kalev Jõgiste, Loïc Gruson, Triin Ilisson & Kajar Köster

  2. Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Floortje Vodde

  3. Faculty of Forestry and Forest Environment, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada

    Triin Ilisson

  4. Center for Forest Disturbance Science, US Forest Service, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602-2044, USA

    John A. Stanturf

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  1. Floortje Vodde
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  2. Kalev Jõgiste
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  3. Loïc Gruson
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  4. Triin Ilisson
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  5. Kajar Köster
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  6. John A. Stanturf
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Correspondence to Floortje Vodde.

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Vodde, F., Jõgiste, K., Gruson, L. et al. Regeneration in windthrow areas in hemiboreal forests: the influence of microsite on the height growths of different tree species. J For Res 15, 55–64 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0156-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-009-0156-2

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