Successional pathways in Swiss mountain forest reserves

摘要: Knowledge on the natural dynamics of Norway spruce-European silver fir forests is scarce, but high importance for sustainable management these ecosystems. Using a unique data set from five forest reserves in Swiss Alps that covers up to 35 years, we elucidated communalities and differences stand structure species composition across over time investigated role site conditions versus intrinsic dynamics. For early late successional phases, found clear relationship between (diameter distributions) composition. Two pathways succession were evident as function disturbance regime. Thus, spatial extent disturbances spruce-fir strongly determines pathway succession. Contrary earlier descriptions clearly distinguishable optima our did not reveal early, mid-, optimum phases. Although here are characterized by highly different climatic soil conditions, their temporal development was fit well into single scheme, suggesting mountain forests, life-history strategies tree may have stronger influence trajectories than per se.