Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany)

Mercier, Paula; Aas, Gregor; Dengler, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany)
Authors:	Mercier, Paula Aas, Gregor Dengler, Jürgen
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579
Published in:	Forest Ecology and Management
Volume(Issue):	453
Issue Date:	12-Sep-2019
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0378-1127 1872-7042
Language:	English
Subjects:	Forest ecology; Skid trail
Subject (DDC):	577: Ecology
Abstract:	While it is well-known that skid trails in forests locally increase soil compaction and illumination, the effect on vegetation and its spatial and temporal variation have hardly been studied in temperate forests. We surveyed Norway Spruce (Picea abies), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) dominated forests to reflect the range of the prevalent forests types and ecological gradients of Northern Bavaria, Germany. In each forest type, we chose skid trails with different times since last use (0−2 years ago, 3−6 years ago, ≥ 7 years ago) to address the temporal aspect and sampled 4-m² plots on the trail itself, adjacent to the trail and in the forest interior to address the spatial aspect. We analysed the response of soil compaction, canopy cover, vascular plant and bryophyte species richness, vegetation cover and height, both in total and differentiated by layer, and mean ecological indicator values to the use of skid trails. Skid trails exhibited significantly higher soil compaction together with a more diverse, more light and moisture demanding vegetation compared to the forest interior. On the trails, graminoids were favoured over woody perennials. Vegetation adjacent to the skid trail resembled the forest interior, yet soil compaction exceeded that of the forest interior. Irrespective of time since last use, the soils on skid trails remained more compacted and likewise ecological response of understory vegetation did not change with time. Canopy cover and species richness responded strongly site-specific, and effects lasted the longest in the surveyed Scots Pine dominated forests but were diminished in European Beech dominated forests. Our results indicate a shift to a more ruderal and wetland-like vegetation on skid trails, which, however, hardly extended into the adjacent forest stand. Overall, plot-scale richness was higher on skid trails than in adjacent the adjacent forest, suggesting that skid trails could contribute to greater habitat diversity in managed forests. Since soils remained compacted even for several decades without use, a designated skid trail system is essential. There is a lack of long-term studies on the understory response to the use of skid trails and further research focussed on the persistence in time is needed.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/18206
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Life Sciences and Facility Management
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

Files in This Item:

There are no files associated with this item.

Show full item record

Mercier, P., Aas, G., & Dengler, J. (2019). Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany). Forest Ecology and Management, 453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579

Mercier, P., Aas, G. and Dengler, J. (2019) ‘Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany)’, Forest Ecology and Management, 453. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579.

P. Mercier, G. Aas, and J. Dengler, “Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany),” Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 453, Sep. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579.

MERCIER, Paula, Gregor AAS und Jürgen DENGLER, 2019. Effects of skid trails on understory vegetation in forests : a case study from Northern Bavaria (Germany). Forest Ecology and Management. 12 September 2019. Bd. 453. DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579

Mercier, Paula, Gregor Aas, and Jürgen Dengler. 2019. “Effects of Skid Trails on Understory Vegetation in Forests : A Case Study from Northern Bavaria (Germany).” Forest Ecology and Management 453 (September). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579.

Mercier, Paula, et al. “Effects of Skid Trails on Understory Vegetation in Forests : A Case Study from Northern Bavaria (Germany).” Forest Ecology and Management, vol. 453, Sept. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117579.