Forest Dynamics

A Design and Structure of the Monitoring System.- 1 Introduction.- 1.1 Problem Analysis.- 1.1.1 Over-Use of Natural Forests.- 1.1.2 Ignorance of Natural Processes in Man-Made Forests.- 1.1.3 Restoration of Man-Made Forests as Natural Areas.- 1.1.4 Lack of Coherent Information on Natural Processes.- 1.1.5 Tools for Prediction.- 1.2 Objectives.- 1.3 Outline of the Text.- 2 Design of the System.- 2.1 Phase 1: Working Out Appropriate Techniques for Data Collection.- 2.1.1 Reflections on Plot Size and Frequency of Measurements.- 2.1.2 A Hierarchy for Forest Analysis.- 2.1.3 Nested Plot Design.- 2.2 Phase 2: The Organization of Datastorage and Retrieval.- 2.3 Phase 3: Data Processing and Interpretation.- 3 Data Collection and Data Storage.- 3.1 Forest Type Area.- 3.1.1 Mapping of Forest History.- 3.1.2 Mapping of Vegetation Structure.- 3.1.3 Mapping of Vegetation Composition.- 3.2 Core Area.- 3.2.1 Tree Charting.- 3.2.2 Tree Measurements.- 3.2.3 Tree Classifications.- 3.2.4 Tree Ring Sampling.- 3.2.5 Sequential Ground Photography.- 3.2.6 Vegetation Mapping.- 3.3 Woody Transect Area.- 3.3.1 Profile Drawings.- 3.4 Herbaceous Transect Area.- 3.4.1 Permanent Quadrats.- B Data Processing.- 4 The Tree Model.- 4.1 Review of Tree Models.- 4.1.1 Models of Tree Architecture.- 4.1.2 Two-Dimensional Tree Shape Models.- 4.1.3 Three-Dimensional Tree Shape Models.- 4.2 Tree Model Description.- 4.2.1 Crown Projection.- 4.2.2 Crown Projections of Bending Trees.- 4.2.3 Dead Trees.- 4.2.4 Calculation of Unknown Co-Ordinates.- 4.2.5 Transverse Crown Sections.- 4.2.6 Fitting of Transverse Crown Sections.- 4.2.7 Horizontal Crown Sections.- 4.2.8 Fitting of Crown Projections.- 4.3 Modelling Uprooting Mound-and-Pit Micro-Relief.- 5 Processing of Primary Tree Characteristics.- 5.1 Computing of Crown Area, Crown Cover, Crown Volume and Basal Area.- 5.2 Statistical Analysis of Tree Data.- 5.3 Two Dimensional Computer Plotting of Forest Structure.- 6 Application Programs.- 6.1 Light Simulation.- 6.1.1 The Program FOREYE.- 6.2 Vegetation Data Processing and Forest Structure.- 6.3 Aerial View Simulation.- 6.3.1 The Program CANOPIX.- 6.4 Forest Reconstruction with Tree Ring Data.- 6.4.1 The Program GROWRING.- C Examples of System Application.- 7 Reconstruction of Long-Term Cyclic Forest Dynamics.- 7.1 Cyclic Forest Dynamics in the 600 Years’ Unexploited Beech Forest of Fontainebleau (France).- 7.1.1 Historical Analysis.- 7.1.2 Tree Age Distribution.- 7.1.3 Pattern in the Regeneration Mosaic.- 7.1.4 Forest Growth Reconstruction in a Melico-Fagetum (Core area I).- 7.1.5 Forest Growth Reconstruction in a Fago-Quercetum (Core area II).- 7.1.6 Mosaic Development During Regeneration After Management.- 7.2 Cyclic Forest Dynamics in an Unexploited Lime-Hornbeam Forest in Bialowieza (Poland).- 7.2.1 Historical Analysis.- 7.2.2 Tree Age Distribution.- 7.2.3 Pattern in the Regeneration Mosaic.- 7.2.4 Forest Growth Reconstruction.- 7.2.5 Mosaic Development During Regeneration.- 7.3 Reconstruction of Forest Dynamics in Pasture Woodlands in the New Forest (England).- 7.3.1 Historical Analysis.- 7.3.2 Pattern in the Regeneration Mosaic.- 7.3.3 Mosaic Development During Regeneration.- 8 Reconstruction of Long-Term Non-Cyclic Forest Dynamics.- 8.1 Non-Cyclic Forest Dynamics in Unexploited River-Bank Willow Forest on the Ile De Rhinau (France).- 8.1.1 Historical Analysis.- 8.1.2 Tree Age Distribution.- 8.1.3 Pattern in Regeneration Mosaic.- 8.1.4 Forest Growth Reconstruction.- 8.1.5 Mosaic Development During Regeneration.- 8.2 Non-Cyclic Forest Dynamics in an Unexploited Adler-Birch Swamp Forest in the Otterskooi (The Netherlands).- 8.2.1 Historical Analysis.- 8.2.2 Vegetation Pattern and Forest History.- 8.2.3 Forest Architecture and Forest History.- 8.2.4 Tree Species Distribution and Forest History.- 8.2.5 Architectural Compartments and Tree Distribution.- 8.2.6 Potential Natural Vegetation.- 9 Monitoring of Forest Dynamics.- 9.1 Stand Dynamics in a Spontaneous Willow Forest in Zuidelijk Flevoland, a Polder Reclaimed in 1968 (The Netherlands).- 9.2 Herb-Layer Dynamics in Unexploited Beech Forests in the Neuenburger Urwald (Federal Republic of Germany).- 9.2.1 Herb-Layer Dynamics in a Fago-Quercetum.- 9.2.2 Herb-Layer Dynamics in a Stellario-Carpinetum.- 9.2.3 Conclusion.- 10 Studies of Variables in Different Forest Areas.- 10.1 Crown Area Index and Crown Cover Index.- 10.2 Crown Cover per Tree Species.- 10.2.1 Crown Cover of Beech (Fagus sylvatica).- 10.2.2 Crown Cover of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and Oak (Quercus robur).- 10.3 Relation Between Diameter of the Crown and Diameter of the Bole.- 10.4 Height/Diameter Ratios and Structural Ensembles.- 10.4.1 Height/Diameter Ratios and Structural Ensembles in Beech Dominated Forests of the Fago-Quercetum and Melico-Fagetum.- 10.4.2 Height/Diameter Ratios and Structural Ensembles in Forests of the Alno-Padion.- 11 Simulations.- 11.1 Light Plans and Profiles.- 11.1.1 Horizontal Light Patterns.- 11.1.2 Vertical Light Patterns.- D The Potential of SILVI-STAR.- 12 The Monitoring System as a Tool: Some Examples.- 12.1 Forestry.- 12.2 Fauna Habitat Studies.- 12.3 Pollution Impact.- 12.4 Nature Management.- 12.5 Hydrology.- 12.6 Soil Studies.- 12.7 Vegetation Science.- 13 Scope for Improvements and Further Development.- 13.1 Restrictions of the System.- 13.2 Prospects for Further Development.- 13.2.1 Data Collection.- 13.2.2 Predictive Models.- 13.3 Problems to Solve.- Summary.- References.- Species Index.