Quantity and quality of deadwood in the mid-successional stage in oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands (Case study: Kheyrood forest, Nowshahr)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Prof., Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Prof., Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

5 Ph.D. Student Forestry, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch and member of Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tehran, Iran

6 Ph.D. Student Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Deadwood is widely recog­nized as an extremely important structural and functional component of forest communities. Therefore, understanding its role and dynamics are important to improve forest management strategies in both managed and unmanaged forests. The aim of this study was to analyze the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of dead trees in the mid-succession stage in intact mixed oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests of Kheyrood,, Mazandaran province. Three one-ha sample plots were laid out in compartment 310 of Gorazbon district, in which a number of quantitative (diameter at breast height≥7.5cm and height) and qualitative (species, type of deadwood (log or snag) and decay class) characteristics were recorded. Our results indicated the mean volume of deadwood of 37.8 m3 ha-1. In addition, common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) possessed the highest frequency (64%) of the deadwood among the species. The frequency and volume proportions of logs were 74.7% and 69.3%, respectively, and the maximum amount of deadwood was observed in the large timber size (50-75 cm). As conclusion, forest management planning should pass an adequate attention to succession stage and the amount of deadwood to guarantee the health, long lasting productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystem.
 

Keywords


- Aakala, T., 2010. Coarse woody debris in late-successional Picea abies forests in northern Europe: Variability in quantities and models of decay class dynamics. Forest Ecology and Management, 260(5): 770-779.
- Alidadi, F., Marvi-Mohadjer, M.R., Etemad, V. and Sefidi. K., 2014. Decay dynamic of beech and hornbeam trees in mixed beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 22(4): 624-635 (In Persian).
- Amanzadeh, B., Sagheb-Talebi, K., Foumani, B.S., Fadaie, F., Camarero, J.J. and Linares, J.C., 2013. Spatial distribution and volume of dead wood in unmanaged Caspian Beech (Fagus orientalis) forests from Northern Iran. Forests, 4(4): 751-765.
- Angers, V.A., Messier, C., Beaudet, M. and Leduc, A., 2005. Comparing composition and structure in old-growth and harvested (selection and diameter-limit cuts) northern hardwood stands in Quebec. Forest Ecology and Management, 217(2): 275-293.
- Anonymous, 2003. Forest Management Plan of Kheyroud Forest, District No: 3 (Gorazbon). Faculty of Natural Resources, Karaj, University of Tehran, Karaj, 375p (In Persian).
- Botkin, D.B., Sampson, R.N. and Adams, D.L., 1994. Assessing forest ecosystem health in the Inland West. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 2(1-2): 3-10.
- Brown, S., Mo, J., McPherson, J.K. and Bell, D.T., 1996. Decomposition of woody debris in Western Australian forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 26(6): 954-966.
- Chambers, J.Q., Higuchi, N., Schimel, J.P., Ferreira, L.V. and Melack, J.M., 2000. Decomposition and carbon cycling of dead trees in tropical forests of the central Amazon. Oecologia, 122(3): 380-388.
- Chen, H.Y.H. and Popadiouk, R.V., 2002. Dynamics of North American boreal mixed woods. Environmental Reviews, 10(3): 137-166.
- Habashi, H., 2008. Investigation of dead-tree role in the forests of Iran. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, 127p (In Persian).
- Harmon, M.E., Franklin, J.F., Swanson, F.J., Sollins, P., Gregory, S.V., Lattin, J.D., Anderson,  N.H., Cline, S.P., Aumen, N.G., Sedell, J.R., Lienkaemper, G.W., Cromack, K. and Cummins, K.W., 1986. Advances in ecological research, Vol. 15, Ecology of coarse woody debris in temperate ecosystems. USDA Forest Service, USA, 132p.
- Harmon, M.E. and Sexton, J., 1996. Guidelines for Measurements of Woody Detritus in Forest Ecosystems. US LTER Publication No. 20., U.S. LTER Network Office, University of Washington, College of Forest Resources, Seattle, WA, 73p.
- Kakavand, M., 2014. Composition and structural diversity of mixed beech stand in middle successional stage of old growth forests in the north of Iran. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 114p (In Persian).
- Kooch, Y., Hosseini, S.M., Akbarinia, M., Tabari, M. and Jalili, S.G., 2010. The role of dead tree in regeneration density of mixed beech stand (Case study: Sardabrood forests, Chalous, Mazandaran). Iranian Journal of Forest, 2(2): 93-103 (In Persian).
- Marage, D. and Lemperiere, G., 2005. The management of snags: A comparison in managed and unmanaged ancient forests of the Southern French Alps. Annals of Forest Science, 62(2): 135-142.
- Marvie-Mohadjer, M.R., 2013. Silviculture. University of Tehran Press, Tehran, 419p (In Persian).
- McGee, G.G., Leopold, D.J. and Nyland, R.D., 1999. Structural characteristics of old-growth, maturing, and partially cut northern hardwood forests. Ecological Applications, 9(4): 1316-1329.
- Moridi, M., Etemad, V., Sefidi, K., Namiranian, M. and Sadeghi, S.M.M., 2016. Mortality of trees in the stem exclusion phase over the beech stand development. Journal of Forest and Wood Product, 68(4): 931-943 (In Persian).
- Oikonomakis, N. and Ganatsas, P., 2012. Land cover changes and forest succession trends in site of Natura 2000 network (Elatia forest) in northern Greece. Forest Ecology and Management, 285: 153-163.
- Radu, S., 2006. The ecological role of deadwood in natural forests: 137-141. In: Gafta, D. and Akeroyd, J. (Eds.). Nature Conservation. Springer, Berlin, 460p.
- Sagheb-Talebi, Kh., 2014. Appropriate Characteristics of Beech Stands for Application of Close to Nature Silviculture (Selection System). Final Report of National Research Project, Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 123p (In Persian).
- Sagheb‐Talebi, Kh. and Schütz, J.P., 2002. The structure of natural oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) forests in the Caspian region of Iran and potential for the application of the group selection system. Journal of Forestry Research, 75(4): 465-472.
- Sefidi, K. and Marvie-Mohadjer, M.R., 2010. Characteristics of coarse woody debris in successional stages of natural beech (Fagus orientalis) forests of northern Iran. Journal of Forest Science, 56(1): 7-17.
- Sefidi, K., Marvie-Mohadjer, M.R., Mosandl, R. and Copenheaver, C.A., 2013. Coarse and fine woody debris in mature Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests of northern Iran. Natural Areas Journal, 33(3): 248-255.
- Sefidi, K., Marvie-Mohadjer, M.R., Zobeyri, M. and Etemad, V., 2009. Standing dead trees (Snags) component of the close to nature silviculture in a mixed beech forest in north of Iran. Pajouhesh & Sazandegi, 81: 50-58 (In Persian).
- Stachura, K., 2006. Old trees and decaying wood in forest ecosystems of Poland "Old Wood". The Research Project, Published by Polish Society for Protection of Birds in Co-operation with the European Forest Task Force Bird Life Int., Poland, 17p.
- Travaglini, D., Barbati, A., Chirici, G., Lombardi, F., Marchetti, M. and Corona, P., 2007. Forest BIOTA data on deadwood monitoring in Europe. Plant Biosystems, 141(2): 222-230.
- Zolfeghari, E., 2005. Ecological study of dead trees in Beech forests of Iran. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 80p (In Persian).
- Zolfeghari, E., Marvie-Mohajer, M.R. and Namiranian, M., 2007. Impact of dead trees on natural regeneration in forest stands (Chelir district, Kheyroudkenar, Nowshahr). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 15(3): 234-240 (In Persian).