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Development of an Individual-Tree Basal Area Increment Model using a Linear Mixed-Effects Approach
Published on: July 3, 2020
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Long-term spatiotemporal dynamics in a mountain birch (
Per Holm Nygaard1, Fredrik Bøhler2, Bernt-Håvard Øyen3
1Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, NIBIO Ås Norway.
Plant-Environment Interactions (Hoboken, N.J.)
|June 7, 2023
Summary
Mountain birch forests show significant recovery and biomass increase, with a notable upward shift in the forest line. These findings suggest resilience and adaptation to changing conditions, informing sustainable forestry practices.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Forestry
- Climate Change Adaptation
Background:
- Mountain birch forests are vital Eurasian ecosystems providing essential services.
- Understanding their long-term dynamics is crucial for conservation and management.
- Previous studies lacked comprehensive data on stand development and forest line changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze long-term stand dynamics of mountain birch forests in SE Norway.
- To document changes in the forest line over 70 years.
- To assess the ecological resilience and inform sustainable silviculture.
Main Methods:
- Utilized permanent plot inventories from 1931, 1953, and 2007.
- Measured biomass, dominant height, and species composition (birch and spruce).
- Calculated forest line advance rates and changes in alpine area.
Main Results:
- Significant increase in mountain birch biomass and height from 1953-2007.
- Doubled spruce (Picea abies) biomass and presence, indicating species shifts.
- Mountain birch forest line advanced by 0.71 m/year (1937-2007), reducing alpine area by 12%.
Conclusions:
- Mountain birch exhibits high resilience and recovery potential after disturbances like moth outbreaks.
- Observed changes suggest responses to improved growth conditions and natural regeneration cycles.
- Dimension cutting every ~60 years is proposed as a sustainable silviculture method mimicking natural processes.
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