Long-term changes in the tree and shrub layers of a British nature reserve and their relevance for woodland conservation management

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• 作者：K.J. Kirby^a ; ^{keith.kirby@bnc.oxon.org" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; E.A. Goldberg^b ; ^{emma.goldberg@naturalengland.org.uk" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; R. Isted^c ; ^{Rebecca.isted@forestry.gsi.gov.uk" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; S.C. Perry^b ; ^{Suzanne.perry@naturalengland.org.uk" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; R.C. Thomas^b ; ^{Rachel.thomas@naturalengland.org.uk" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：Long-term monitoring ; Beech forest ; Stand dynamics ; Nature reserve ; Ash dieback ; Sycamore
• 刊名：Journal for Nature Conservation
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：June 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：31
• 期：Complete
• 页码：51-60
• 全文大小：920 K

文摘

Changes in the woodland extent over the last 200 years were assessed from old maps for a 100 ha woodland nature reserve in southern Britain. More detailed changes in the composition and structure of the tree and shrub layers were measured using data from 95 permanent vegetation plots (10 × 10 m) distributed across the reserve at the intersections of a 100 m grid. These were recorded in 1973, 1992 and 2009. The woodland area has more than doubled since the 18th century, but whereas the pre-1800 woodland was mainly Fagus sylvatica the more recent woodland was initially predominantly conifer plantation. These plantations have since developed into mainly broadleaved high forest of Fraxinus excelsior and Acer pseudoplatanus. Changes on the site are the combination of active interventions through management and natural processes (differential species growth, death from disease, windthrow, herbivore damage). Further changes are likely in future in particular from ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) and climate change impacts. Many of the changes seen on this reserve are mirrored in woods elsewhere in Britain and Europe. Over periods of a few decades and at the whole-reserve scale the woods can be considered to be relatively stable; at the plot level, or over time-scales of centuries they are very dynamic. Whether woods are judged to be resilient must include definition of the temporal and spatial scales.