Abstract
Heinken, T.: Vegetation and habitat of beech forests on acid soils at the edge of their distribution range – the example of central Brandenburg (NE Germany). – Hercynia N.F. 40 (2007): 193 -211.Different from NW Germany, the northern part of NE Germany and the “Hohe Fläming” region, central Brandenburg is considered as being largely devoid of natural beech forests because of its subcontinental, dry climate. In the present study the vegetation ecology of beech forests of the region is comprehensively documented for the first time, and they are compared with NW German stands in Lower Saxony. In the study area beech forests are concentrated in the Berlin-Potsdam region along the Havel river lakes which is characterised by relatively high precipitation and a specific land use history. All belong to the Luzulo- Fagetum growing on acid soils. Four subtypes are distinguished according to nutrient availability and soil moisture. The central Brandenburg Luzulo-Fagetum does not markedly deviate from other beech forests in the northern German lowlands with respect to vegetation structure and edaphic subtypes. However, numerous indicator species for humid or moist conditions are less frequent than under atlantic climate conditions in the lowlands of Lower Saxony, a pattern occurring also in other forest communities. On the other hand, nitrogen and disturbance indicators are more frequent in central Brandenburg. As expected, podzolisation of the soils and humus accumulation is lower in beech forests under subcontinental climate, but surprisingly the soils are more sandy and thus drier. However, beech forests are lacking on south-exposed slopes, and they are notably occurring in northern exposition. A combined analysis of distribution patterns and climatic data, postglacial vegetation history and forest use history, and actual rejuvenation dynamics reveals that the present-day beech forests in central Brandenburg have to be considered as near-natural relics, which are currently spreading. The range of potentially natural beech forests is larger than assumed until now, but further on it is not clearly to define.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Beech forests in the study area are concentrated around Berlin-Potsdam along the Havel river lakes.
Verbatim
e0“In the study area beech forests are concentrated in the Berlin-Potsdam region along the Havel river lakes”
Claim · model-written summary
The beech forests belong to Luzulo-Fagetum on acid soils.
Verbatim
t0“Buchenwälder”
e0“All belong to the Luzulo- Fagetum growing on acid soils”
Claim · model-written summary
Four subtypes were distinguished by nutrient availability and soil moisture.
Verbatim
t0“Buchenwälder”
e0“Four subtypes are distinguished according to nutrient availability and soil moisture”
Claim · model-written summary
Central Brandenburg Luzulo-Fagetum did not markedly deviate from northern German beech forests in vegetation structure and edaphic subtypes.
Verbatim
e0“The central Brandenburg Luzulo-Fagetum does not markedly deviate from other beech forests in the northern German lowlands with respect to vegetation structure and edaphic subtypes”
Claim · model-written summary
Indicators of humid or moist conditions were less frequent than in Lower Saxony.
Verbatim
t0“Buchenwälder”
e0“numerous indicator species for humid or moist conditions are less frequent than under atlantic climate conditions in the lowlands of Lower Saxony”
Claim · model-written summary
Nitrogen and disturbance indicators were more frequent in central Brandenburg.
Verbatim
t0“Buchenwälder”
e0“nitrogen and disturbance indicators are more frequent in central Brandenburg”
Claim · model-written summary
Podzolisation and humus accumulation were lower under subcontinental climate.
Verbatim
e0“podzolisation of the soils and humus accumulation is lower in beech forests under subcontinental climate”
Claim · model-written summary
Beech forest soils were more sandy and drier.
Verbatim
t0“Buchenwälder”
e0“the soils are more sandy and thus drier”
Claim · model-written summary
Beech forests were absent from south-exposed slopes and occurred notably in northern exposition.
Verbatim
e0“beech forests are lacking on south-exposed slopes, and they are notably occurring in northern exposition”
Claim · model-written summary
Present-day beech forests in central Brandenburg were interpreted as spreading near-natural relics.
Verbatim
e0“present-day beech forests in central Brandenburg have to be considered as near-natural relics, which are currently spreading”
Claim · model-written summary
The potential natural range of beech forests was larger than previously assumed.
Verbatim
e0“The range of potentially natural beech forests is larger than assumed until now”