Vegetation and biotope dynamics in sprucebilberry forests Piceetum myrtillosum: ten years after clearcutting with retention of European aspen Populus tremula

Abstract

The changes in the biotope and in the spectrum of ecological coenotic groups of herb and dwarf shrub tiers of vegetation have been monitored over ten years following the clearcutting of the Piceetum myrtillosum (bilberry-rich spruce forest) considering on-site retention of aspen (Populus tremula L.) in the Babaevsky District of Vologda Oblast. During the first years after clearcutting, the vegetation cover is unstable, sparse, is characterized by pronounced species changes. The diverse ecotopes resulting from clearcutting contribute to the rapid emergence of new plants, including meadow and swamp species, in disturbed communities. Subsequently, tree tier with the dominance of small-leaved trees forms gradually at after clearcutting site. Additionally, the abundance of the shade-tolerant species increases, while that of the meadow species decreases.

Keywords

• clearcuts
• secondary succession
• aspen
• biological diversity
• forest restoration
• ellenberg ecological scales
• southern taiga