6533b835fe1ef96bd129eb28

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Browsing hinders the regeneration of broadleaved trees in uneven-aged forest management in southern Finland

Atte KomonenSauli ValkonenMerja EloEsko Paananen

subject

hirvi010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesForest managementBiodiversity01 natural sciencesmetsänuudistusgap cuttingmoosebrowsing damageRegeneration (ecology)Recreation0105 earth and related environmental sciences040101 forestryAbiotic componentlehtipuutjatkuva kasvatusAgroforestrymetsänkäsittelyForestry04 agricultural and veterinary sciencesDamagestree recruitment0401 agriculture forestry and fisheriesEnvironmental sciencesingle-tree selectionmetsänhoitoSurface runoffselection silviculturehirvituhot

description

Uneven-aged forest management has attained increasing popularity. It may benefit biodiversity, buffer against pests and abiotic damages, decrease runoff from clearcuts and improve recreational values. We studied how gap cuttings and single-tree selection cuttings influence browsing damage in spruce-dominated forests in south-central Finland. Overall, browsing damage was especially frequent in aspen and rowan, but also in birch. The larger the basal area left in harvesting, the lower the browsing pressure on birch and rowan; neither the harvesting method nor the seedling density had an independent effect on browsing damage. Although larger tree retention levels may reduce browsing damage, the regeneration and recruitment of shade-intolerant broadleaved trees may be compromised. peerReviewed

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2020-05-18
http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202102171686