Structure of a Central-European mountain spruce old-growth forest with respect to historical development

This study examines the structural characteristics of the tree layer, dead wood, canopy openings, and regeneration patterns of a spruce old-growth forest in the Bohemian Forest, Czech Republic. An old-growth stand with minor human influence and a stand that was presumably logged about 200 years ago were analyzed and compared, as some forest managers considered the presumable human impact as a reason for salvage logging. Even though the stands differed in tree density, height and DBH structure, it was not possible to conclude whether it was due to management history or the environmental differences. The volume of dead wood also differed between the stands. There was about 142 and 83 m3 ha−1 of dead wood in the old-growth stand and presumably logged stand, respectively. The amount of dead wood found in the old-growth stand was comparable with values reported from spruce old-growth stands across Central Europe. In both stands, many canopy trees were arranged in linear patterns, which was a result of spruce regeneration on nurse logs. This suggests that the origin and development of the stands were characterized by natural processes and during the past 200 years typical old-growth structural characteristics have already evolved.