Cabrera, O.; Fries, A.; Hildebrandt, P.; Günter, S. & Mosandl, R. (2019): <b>Early Growth Response of Nine Timber Species to Release in a Tropical Mountain Forest of Southern Ecuador</b>. <i>Forests</i> <b>10</b>(3), 254.
Resource Description
Title:
Early Growth Response of Nine Timber Species to Release in a Tropical Mountain Forest of Southern Ecuador
email:
sven_gunter <at> yahoo.de
Dep. of Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Institute of Silviculture
Am Hochanger 13
Technische Universität München
85354 Freising
Germany
Individual:
Reinhard Mosandl
Contact:
email:
mosandl <at> forst.tu-muenchen.de
Dep. of Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Technische Universität München
Institute of Silviculture
Am Hochanger 13
85354 Freising
Germany
Abstract:
Abstract: Research Highlights: This study determined that treatment “release from competitors”<br/>
causes different reactions in selected timber species respective to diametrical growth, in which the<br/>
initial size of the tree (diametric class) is important. Also, the growth habit and phenological traits<br/>
(defoliation) of the species must be considered, which may have an influence on growth after release.<br/>
Background and Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze the diametric growth of nine<br/>
timber species after their release to answer the following questions: (i) Can the diametric growth of the<br/>
selected timber species be increased by release? (ii) Does the release cause different responses among<br/>
the tree species? (iii) Are other factors important, such as the initial diameter at breast height (DBH)<br/>
or the general climate conditions? Materials and Methods: Four-hundred and eighty-eight trees<br/>
belonging to nine timber species were selected and monitored over a three-year period. Release was<br/>
applied to 197 trees, whereas 251 trees served as control trees to evaluate the response of diametrical<br/>
growth. To determine the response of the trees, a linear mixed model (GLMM, R package: LMER4)<br/>
was used, which was adjusted by a one-way ANOVA test. Results: All species showed a similar<br/>
annual cycle respective to diametric increases, which is due to the per-humid climate in the area.<br/>
Precipitation is secondary for the diametric growth because sufficient rainfall occurs throughout year.<br/>
What is more important, however, are variations in temperature. However, the species responded<br/>
differently to release. This is because the initial DBH and growth habit are more important factors.<br/>
Therefore, the species could be classified into three specific groups: Positive, negative and no response<br/>
to release. Conclusions: Species which prefer open sites responded positively to release, while shade<br/>
tolerant species and species with pronounced phenological traits responded negatively. The initial<br/>
DBH was also an important factor for diametric increases. This is because trees of class I (20 cm<br/>
to 30 cm DBH) responded positively to the treatment, whereas for bigger or older individuals,<br/>
the differences decreased or became negative.
Keywords:
| tree growth | radial growth change | tree competition | silvicultural interventions |
Literature type specific fields:
ARTICLE
Journal:
Forests
Volume:
10
Issue:
3
Page Range:
254
Publisher:
MDPI
Publication Place:
Basel
ISSN:
1999-4907
Metadata Provider:
Individual:
Bernd Stimm
Contact:
email:
stimm <at> forst.tu-muenchen.de
Dep. of Ecology
Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
Technische Universität München
Institute of Silviculture
85354 Freising
Germany
