The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management

Poor regeneration close to edges on clear-cuts and around seed trees in the Swedish boreal zone is well-known to foresters. With an intensifying national and European discussion concerning forestry, the prominence of edge effects is likely to increase. However, little is known of the drivers behind...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Björs, Marcus
Format: M2
Language:Inglés
Published: SLU/Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management 2022
Subjects:
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author Björs, Marcus
author_browse Björs, Marcus
author_facet Björs, Marcus
author_sort Björs, Marcus
collection Epsilon Archive for Student Projects
description Poor regeneration close to edges on clear-cuts and around seed trees in the Swedish boreal zone is well-known to foresters. With an intensifying national and European discussion concerning forestry, the prominence of edge effects is likely to increase. However, little is known of the drivers behind these edge effects. Recent developments in the research surrounding ectomycorrhizal fungi and their ability to form common mycorrhizal networks may be able to explain some of these patterns. In this study, I have analysed growth data of Scots pine seedlings planted in a Chequered-Gap-Shelterwood-System trial located in Jämtland, Sweden. I found that growth is significantly higher in the centre of a clear-cut gap than in the edge zone, defined as within five metres from the clear-cut edge. Which side of the gap the plants were exposed to was also partially significant. The results correlate well with the expected outcomes of below-ground competition described in literature. These edge effects may have long term implications for management due to lower growth, but the usage of new management methods may bring positive social benefits.
format M2
id RepoSLU17990
institution Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
language Inglés
publishDate 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher SLU/Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management
publisherStr SLU/Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management
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spelling RepoSLU179902022-07-08T10:38:06Z The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management Björs, Marcus Ectomycorrhizal fungi Common mycorrhizal network Regeneration Boreal Scots pine Poor regeneration close to edges on clear-cuts and around seed trees in the Swedish boreal zone is well-known to foresters. With an intensifying national and European discussion concerning forestry, the prominence of edge effects is likely to increase. However, little is known of the drivers behind these edge effects. Recent developments in the research surrounding ectomycorrhizal fungi and their ability to form common mycorrhizal networks may be able to explain some of these patterns. In this study, I have analysed growth data of Scots pine seedlings planted in a Chequered-Gap-Shelterwood-System trial located in Jämtland, Sweden. I found that growth is significantly higher in the centre of a clear-cut gap than in the edge zone, defined as within five metres from the clear-cut edge. Which side of the gap the plants were exposed to was also partially significant. The results correlate well with the expected outcomes of below-ground competition described in literature. These edge effects may have long term implications for management due to lower growth, but the usage of new management methods may bring positive social benefits. SLU/Dept. of Forest Ecology and Management 2022 M2 eng https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/17990/
spellingShingle Ectomycorrhizal fungi
Common mycorrhizal network
Regeneration
Boreal
Scots pine
Björs, Marcus
The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title_full The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title_fullStr The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title_full_unstemmed The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title_short The role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
title_sort role of common mycorrhizal networks for forest regeneration near clear-cut edges : implications for management
topic Ectomycorrhizal fungi
Common mycorrhizal network
Regeneration
Boreal
Scots pine