ZLV Online

Abstract

The structure of the mountain spruce forests is affected by many factors, such as site, physiographic characteristics or climate. It is unclear to what extent the various factors are involved in their final condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation of the structure of natural montane spruce forest in the central part of the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. (Czech Republic) to the aspect, altitude and age structure. The stand structure was evaluated by median and range of living and dead trees DBH; living trees height and canopy closure on 10 circular 3,000 m2 plots (5 plots within southern and 5 plots within northern aspect). The most important factor having an influence on the majority of the structural parameters was the age structure (i.e. stand history). Structural heterogeneity increased depending on the heterogeneity of the tree ages and the median size of trees increased with increasing age. Site influenced median tree size only, because with the increasing altitude the tree height decreased. DBH of the dead trees exhibited significant relation to slope aspect only. Canopy closure did not reveal any relation to the explanatory variables. This study demonstrates that the stand history (influencing the age structure) is the most important factor determining the current stand structure, dynamics, and also e.g. its susceptibility to wind and bark beetle disturbance. Forest management is able to influence the forest age structure, and should understand all these relationships.