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Tree species dynamics and disturbance in three Swedish boreal forest stands during the last two thousand years
Author(s) -
Bradshaw Richard H. W.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1654-1103
pISSN - 1100-9233
DOI - 10.2307/3235612
Subject(s) - taiga , disturbance (geology) , picea abies , ecology , geography , forest dynamics , range (aeronautics) , boreal , forestry , population , pollen , biology , demography , paleontology , materials science , sociology , composite material
. Data from three forest stands for the past 2000 yr show how the shade‐intolerant species Pinus sylvestris and Betula pubescens maintain significant populations in the Swedish boreal landscape. Age structure data from a northern stand close to the range limits of Picea abies and Pinus complement a local pollen diagram, and reveal cyclic population fluctuations which can be related to periods of climatic stress and fire. Pollen data from two southern stands show that high fire frequencies in the past prevented the expansion of Picea populations. Reduction of the fire frequency during the last 200 yr has favoured Picea. A long time perspective reveals the population dynamics of long‐lived species and indicates the controlling factors. Such knowledge permits assessment of the current status and likely future of forest stands.