Competitive interactions are important predictors of tree growth. Spatial and temporal changes in... more Competitive interactions are important predictors of tree growth. Spatial and temporal changes in resource availability, and variation in species and spatial patterning of trees alter competitive interactions, thus affecting tree growth and, hence, biomass. Competition indices are used to quantify the level of competition among trees. As these indices are normally computed only over small areas, where field measurements are done, it would be useful to have a tool to predict them over large areas. On this regard, remote sensing, and in particular light detection and ranging (lidar) data, could be the perfect tool. The objective of this study was to use lidar metrics to predict competition (on the basis of distance-dependent competition indices) of individual trees and to relate them with tree aboveground biomass (AGB). The selected study area was a mountain forest area located in the Italian Alps. The analyses focused on the two dominant species of the area: Silver fir (Abies alba Mi...
This review presents a multidisciplinary framework for integrating the ecological, regulatory, pr... more This review presents a multidisciplinary framework for integrating the ecological, regulatory, procedural and technical aspects of forest management for fires prevention under Mediterranean environments. The aims are to: i) provide a foreground of wildfire scenario; ii) illustrate the theoretical background of forest fuel management; iii) describe the available fuel management techniques and mechanical operations for fire prevention in forest and wildland-urban interfaces, with exemplification of case-studies; iv) allocate fire prevention activities under the hierarchy of forest planning. The review is conceived as an outline commentary discussion targeted to professionals, technicians and government personnel involved in forestry and environmental management.
Surface biomass characterization plays a key role in wildfire management. It allows classifying v... more Surface biomass characterization plays a key role in wildfire management. It allows classifying vegetation fuels flammability for fire risk analysis, to define silvicultural prescriptions for fire hazard reduction, to plan prescribed burning, or to model fire behavior and its effects, such as greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. To facilitate fuel classification and analysis of potential fire behavior and effects in Italy, we harmonized 634 measurements of surface wildland fuels from Alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments. The dataset provides quantitative data for duff, fine dead fuels and downed woody material, live grasses and shrubs fuel components. Surface fuel data were harmonized by subdividing loads (Mg ha-1) to standard size classes for dead (0-6, 6-25 and 25-75 mm) and live (0-6, 6-25 mm) fuels, collecting percent cover and depth/height (cm) of the various fuel components, and classifying observations into 19 fuelbed categories. To ensure comparability with existing vegetation classification systems, we classified each observation according to the European Fuel Map, the Corine Land Cover classes (level IV), the European Forest Types, and the forest categories of the Italian National Forest Inventory. The dataset and a photo description of each fuelbed category are available as Supplementary material. This dataset is the first step to develop several products at the national scale such as: (i) fuel type classification and mapping; (ii) carbon stock and wildfire emission estimates; (iii) calibration of fuel models for the simulation of fire behavior and effects.
Land use change is one of the most important drivers for the reduction of ecosystem resilience, a... more Land use change is one of the most important drivers for the reduction of ecosystem resilience, and the loss of biodiversity and services provision. This is a peculiar challenge, especially in Mediterranean mountain environments, where abandonment and forest transition phenomena increasingly threaten the forest capacity to provide benefits for local communities. Under these conditions, forest governance is called to balance the land use change impacts and the health and stability of forest ecosystems, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of such marginal environments. This paper aims at deeper understanding the impacts of land use change on forest ecosystem on mountain environments in Italy. At first, a downscaled review on the concepts of land use change and ecosystem services provision is carried out. Then, according to the review results, the relationships between adaptive capacity of forest management and planning, and land use change is deeply described. Finally, future-oriented strategies of adaptive governance to face land use change are proposed. In the context of land use change, adaptive governance can improve forest resilience through filling the research gaps between the national and the global contexts, adopting monitoring and assessment tools to simulate external changes and disturbances, and effectively implement consistent policy measures and strategies at local scale.
Comprendere il fuoco, come fattore di disturbo, è indispensabile per migliorare le strategie di g... more Comprendere il fuoco, come fattore di disturbo, è indispensabile per migliorare le strategie di gestione forestale. Gestire un elemento complesso come il fuoco, richiede una conoscenza approfondita dei parametri che lo caratterizzano, finalizzata a ridurne la pericolosità e massimizzare l’efficienza e la sicurezza degli addetti durante le operazioni di spegnimento. Un ruolo fondamentale nel determinare le caratteristiche dell’incendio e le modalità di propagazione, è legato ai combustibili, che vengono schematizzati in appositi modelli che ne rappresentano le peculiarità pirologiche. I tipi di combustibile possono essere simili per diversi ecosistemi, ma possono avere differenti modelli di combustibile ad essi associati (Chuvieco et al., 2003). Nel corso degli anni, infatti, diversi modelli sono stati sviluppati nei vari Stati (NFFL o modello Behave-Stati Uniti; FBP-Canada; PROMETHEUS-Europa, ecc.) e riadattati a specifici contesti territoriali, nel tentativo di schematizzare elemen...
We present an innovative method based on the application of inverse yield models for producing sp... more We present an innovative method based on the application of inverse yield models for producing spatially explicit estimations of forest age. Firstly, a raster growing stock volume map was produced using the non-parametric k-Nearest Neighbors estimation method on the basis of IRS LISS-III remotely sensed imagery and field data collected in the framework of a local forest inventory. Secondly, species-specific inverted yield equations were applied to estimate forest age as a function of growing stock volume. The method was tested in 128 000 ha of even-aged forests in central Italy (Molise region). The accuracy of the method was assessed using an independent dataset of 305 units from a local standwise forest inventory. The results demonstrated that the forest age map was accurate, with a root mean square error of 15.8 years (30% of the mean of field values), and useful for supporting forest management purposes, such as the assessment of harvesting potential and ecosystem services. Thanks to the use of remotely sensed data and spatial modeling, the proposed approach is cost-effective and easily replicable for vast regions.
Atti del Terzo Congresso Nazionale di Selvicoltura, 2009
... Segmentazione di immagini telerilevate multirisoluzione per la derivazione di cartografie di ... more ... Segmentazione di immagini telerilevate multirisoluzione per la derivazione di cartografie di uso/copertura del suolo multiscala. Rivista Italiana di Telerilevamento, 37: 113-136. Corona P., 1999. ... Cecchi G., Rusco E., Blasi C., Marchetti M., Chirici G., Corona P., 2005. ...
Questions: Could mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo) located above the timberline and at... more Questions: Could mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo) located above the timberline and at the southern limit of its potential geographic distribution be a promising species to monitor climatic change in specific environments such as the Mediterranean mountains? Does mountain pine krummholz upward expansion result from current climate change? Has the relationship between climate and tree ring growth of mountain pine changed? To what extent does climatic variability affect tree ring growth? Could mountain pine upward expansion contribute to loss of biodiversity in the undisturbed tree line ecotone on the Majella massif?
The concept of the old-growth forest is highly debated in the literature because of its implicati... more The concept of the old-growth forest is highly debated in the literature because of its implications, from close-to-nature forest management to carbon balance. Studies on old-growth forests have multiplied in the last three decades. Most of these studies have focussed on defining the structural features of old-growth forests of non-Mediterranean forest ecosystems or of specific forest types. In Italy, forest structure since Roman times has been greatly influenced by man. For this reason, the concept of old-growth forest in these ecosystems seems more controversial than at the global level. Nonetheless, in the Mediterranean region, there are persistent forest formations that present a certain level of oldgrowthness. These types of forests have been identified mostly in National Parks. The description of forest structure requires a vast amount of information about several biometric attributes. Consequently, the classification of forests as old growth is very time-and resource-consuming. This research aims to describe and test a proposed methodology to classify and determine the relative oldgrowthness of a series of forest inventory plots. Data from 77 beech forest plots located all across Italy were collected and compared with a virtual reference plot. To compare the forest plots, a set of similarity/dissimilarity indexes were tested. The results obtained show that it is possible to accurately rank the oldgrowthness of forest plots and to screen them to exclude non-old-growth forests. The method described was applied for the first time on a set of plots located in the Italian National Parks to determine a priority list of beech forests where further studies need to be conducted. Keywords Old-growth forest Á Forest structure Á Forest inventory Á Dissimilarity Á National Park Communicated by J. Müller.
... G. Chirici (*), V. Garfì (*), P. DiMartino (*), R. Tognetti (*), N. Pavone (**), M. Ottaviano... more ... G. Chirici (*), V. Garfì (*), P. DiMartino (*), R. Tognetti (*), N. Pavone (**), M. Ottaviano (*), D. Tonti (*), B. Lasserre (*), G ... Chirici G., Di Martino P., Garfì V., Ottaviano M., Tonti D., Giongo Alves M., Santopuoli G., Marchetti M ... Accademia Italiana di Scienze Forestali, Taormina: 989-994 ...
Nella realizzazione di impianti di arboricoltura da legno la scelta del sesto d'impianto costitui... more Nella realizzazione di impianti di arboricoltura da legno la scelta del sesto d'impianto costituisce un elemento di grande importanza. Esso ha implicazioni importanti sulla gestione del soprassuolo dal punto di vista ecologico, colturale ed economico e ne condiziona la dinamica evolutiva. Differenti densità d'impianto hanno effetti diversi sull'accrescimento delle singole piante e del soprassuolo nel suo complesso. Questo studio, condotto in piantagioni di douglasia in Calabria, si è posto l'obiettivo di valutare gli effetti della densità di impianto sui principali parametri di interesse dendro-auxometrico del soprassuolo. Le densità d'impianto poste a confronto variano da 2500 a 833 piante a ettaro. I risultati conseguiti a 40 anni dalla piantagione, evidenziano come la scelta delle distanze d'impianto negli impianti di arboricoltura da legno assume una grande importanza poiché condiziona il modulo colturale da adottare nella gestione.
Gli indirizzi di politica ambientale ed energetica scaturiti dagli accordi internazionali sullo s... more Gli indirizzi di politica ambientale ed energetica scaturiti dagli accordi internazionali sullo sviluppo sostenibile (Convenzione sui Cambiamenti Climatici, per la Biodiversità, per la Lotta contro la Desertificazione, Accordi di Johannesburg, Direttive Europee tra le quali il Pacchetto Clima 2009), la necessità di ridurre la dipendenza energetica dall'estero (tra i Paesi più industrializzati, l'Italia è la nazione con il minor tasso di auto-approvvigionamento di energia), l'esigenza di valorizzare le fonti interne d'energia, alternative alle classiche fonti
In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) incr... more In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) increases along the latitudinal transect, from North to South, is higher in pure than in mixed stands, and their formation is linked to spring and/or summer drought conditions. Trees respond to climate, recording information in tree rings and their anatomical features, such as IADFs. The IADFs are regions within the tree ring where density changes in response to tree physiological processes and environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different forest-stand structures and of climate on IADF formation and frequency in populations of silver fir along a latitudinal gradient in Italy (Trentino, Molise and Calabria regions). In doing so, we aimed to compare the frequency of IADFs in pure or mixed stands and to understand the ability of silver fir to cope with environmental fluctuations. Results showed higher frequency of IADFs in pure than mixed stands (in Trentino and Calabria) and in younger trees (namely in the pure stand in Calabria), because of the higher sensitivity to environmental variability. The formation of IADFs in silver fir emerged as a response to cope with drought. Summer precipitation (both pure and mixed stands in Trentino) and early spring/summer (both pure and mixed stands in Calabria) played a key role in the formation of IADF-type E+. The formation of IADF-type L+, on the other hand, was related to temperature/precipitation in late summer and early autumn (both pure and mixed stands in Molise) and to precipitation in summer (pure stand in Calabria). Our findings support the theory that IADFs are an important structural/functional mechanism for responding to climate fluctuations.
In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) incr... more In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) increases along the latitudinal transect, from North to South, is higher in pure than in mixed stands, and their formation is linked to spring and/or summer drought conditions. Trees respond to climate, recording information in tree rings and their anatomical features, such as IADFs. The IADFs are regions within the tree ring where density changes in response to tree physiological processes and environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different forest-stand structures and of climate on IADF formation and frequency in populations of silver fir along a latitudinal gradient in Italy (Trentino, Molise and Calabria regions). In doing so, we aimed to compare the frequency of IADFs in pure or mixed stands and to understand the ability of silver fir to cope with environmental fluctuations. Results showed higher frequency of IADFs in pure than mixed stands (in Trentino and Calabria) and in younger trees (namely in the pure stand in Calabria), because of the higher sensitivity to environmental variability. The formation of IADFs in silver fir emerged as a response to cope with drought. Summer precipitation (both pure and mixed stands in Trentino) and early spring/summer (both pure and mixed stands in Calabria) played a key role in the formation of IADF-type E+. The formation of IADF-type L+, on the other hand, was related to temperature/precipitation in late summer and early autumn (both pure and mixed stands in Molise) and to precipitation in summer (pure stand in Calabria). Our findings support the theory that IADFs are an important structural/functional mechanism for responding to climate fluctuations.
Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Species interactions in pure and mixed-sp... more Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Species interactions in pure and mixed-species stands of silver fir and European beech in Mediterranean mountains Soraya Versace (1-2) , Vittorio Garfì (1) , Michele Dalponte (2) , Mirko Di Febbraro (1) , Lorenzo Frizzera (2) , Damiano Gianelle (2-3) , Roberto Tognetti (3-4) Interactions between tree species determine the dynamics of forest communities. Spatial and temporal changes in resource availability, variation in species composition and spatial distribution of trees may alter competitive interactions between species and, therefore, affect tree growth and forest productivity. In this study, we analyzed the intra and inter-specific interactions between European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in southern Italy (Molise and Calabria regions), and how these interactions affect basal area increments in mixed-species and pure stands. Results showed that intraspecific interactions have a negative effect on the basal area increment, both in pure and mixed-species stands of Molise and Calabria. Basal area increment was higher influenced by intra-specific interactions in pure stands than in mixed-species stands. Silver fir in Molise showed higher basal area increment in mixed-species stand, probably in relation with stand structure and space occupation that resulted in less competition between individual trees. European beech showed high values of intra-specific interactions in pure stands, likely related to the low self-tolerance of this species and to the spatial arrangement of trees, due to canopy closure. The absence of inter-specific interactions in mixed-species stands could be explained by the subdominant position of European beech, which may have limited the benefit derived from niche separation and complementarity for silver fir.
Climate change is increasingly favouring the occurrence of extreme weather events, affecting spec... more Climate change is increasingly favouring the occurrence of extreme weather events, affecting species distribution and tree growth. It has been proposed that mixed forests are more resistant to drought spells and heat waves than corresponding monocultures. We sampled tree cores in nine plots along a latitudinal gradient of the Italian Peninsula (Trentino, Molise and Calabria). The objective of the study was to identify radial growth responses in mixed-species and pure plots of European beech and silver fir to climate dynamics and extreme events. Pointer years, as well as correlation and response functions, were used to analyse the climate–growth relationships in mixed-species and pure plots. Climate–growth relationships showed differences between mixed-species and pure plots only at the regional level. In particular, Trentino differed from Molise and Calabria, when considering maximum temperatures. In Trentino, winter (for silver fir) and summer (for both species) temperatures had a less negative impact on the radial growth of trees, in comparison with Molise and Calabria. Nevertheless, correlations between the radial growth and drought indices, and the principal component analysis, showed that plots were relatively unresponsive to summer drought. These results can be important for the implementation of operational techniques that increase the adaptation of silver fir and European beech to climate change, as well as for assisted migration.
Competitive interactions are important predictors of tree growth. Spatial and temporal changes in... more Competitive interactions are important predictors of tree growth. Spatial and temporal changes in resource availability, and variation in species and spatial patterning of trees alter competitive interactions, thus affecting tree growth and, hence, biomass. Competition indices are used to quantify the level of competition among trees. As these indices are normally computed only over small areas, where field measurements are done, it would be useful to have a tool to predict them over large areas. On this regard, remote sensing, and in particular light detection and ranging (lidar) data, could be the perfect tool. The objective of this study was to use lidar metrics to predict competition (on the basis of distance-dependent competition indices) of individual trees and to relate them with tree aboveground biomass (AGB). The selected study area was a mountain forest area located in the Italian Alps. The analyses focused on the two dominant species of the area: Silver fir (Abies alba Mi...
This review presents a multidisciplinary framework for integrating the ecological, regulatory, pr... more This review presents a multidisciplinary framework for integrating the ecological, regulatory, procedural and technical aspects of forest management for fires prevention under Mediterranean environments. The aims are to: i) provide a foreground of wildfire scenario; ii) illustrate the theoretical background of forest fuel management; iii) describe the available fuel management techniques and mechanical operations for fire prevention in forest and wildland-urban interfaces, with exemplification of case-studies; iv) allocate fire prevention activities under the hierarchy of forest planning. The review is conceived as an outline commentary discussion targeted to professionals, technicians and government personnel involved in forestry and environmental management.
Surface biomass characterization plays a key role in wildfire management. It allows classifying v... more Surface biomass characterization plays a key role in wildfire management. It allows classifying vegetation fuels flammability for fire risk analysis, to define silvicultural prescriptions for fire hazard reduction, to plan prescribed burning, or to model fire behavior and its effects, such as greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. To facilitate fuel classification and analysis of potential fire behavior and effects in Italy, we harmonized 634 measurements of surface wildland fuels from Alpine, temperate and Mediterranean environments. The dataset provides quantitative data for duff, fine dead fuels and downed woody material, live grasses and shrubs fuel components. Surface fuel data were harmonized by subdividing loads (Mg ha-1) to standard size classes for dead (0-6, 6-25 and 25-75 mm) and live (0-6, 6-25 mm) fuels, collecting percent cover and depth/height (cm) of the various fuel components, and classifying observations into 19 fuelbed categories. To ensure comparability with existing vegetation classification systems, we classified each observation according to the European Fuel Map, the Corine Land Cover classes (level IV), the European Forest Types, and the forest categories of the Italian National Forest Inventory. The dataset and a photo description of each fuelbed category are available as Supplementary material. This dataset is the first step to develop several products at the national scale such as: (i) fuel type classification and mapping; (ii) carbon stock and wildfire emission estimates; (iii) calibration of fuel models for the simulation of fire behavior and effects.
Land use change is one of the most important drivers for the reduction of ecosystem resilience, a... more Land use change is one of the most important drivers for the reduction of ecosystem resilience, and the loss of biodiversity and services provision. This is a peculiar challenge, especially in Mediterranean mountain environments, where abandonment and forest transition phenomena increasingly threaten the forest capacity to provide benefits for local communities. Under these conditions, forest governance is called to balance the land use change impacts and the health and stability of forest ecosystems, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of such marginal environments. This paper aims at deeper understanding the impacts of land use change on forest ecosystem on mountain environments in Italy. At first, a downscaled review on the concepts of land use change and ecosystem services provision is carried out. Then, according to the review results, the relationships between adaptive capacity of forest management and planning, and land use change is deeply described. Finally, future-oriented strategies of adaptive governance to face land use change are proposed. In the context of land use change, adaptive governance can improve forest resilience through filling the research gaps between the national and the global contexts, adopting monitoring and assessment tools to simulate external changes and disturbances, and effectively implement consistent policy measures and strategies at local scale.
Comprendere il fuoco, come fattore di disturbo, è indispensabile per migliorare le strategie di g... more Comprendere il fuoco, come fattore di disturbo, è indispensabile per migliorare le strategie di gestione forestale. Gestire un elemento complesso come il fuoco, richiede una conoscenza approfondita dei parametri che lo caratterizzano, finalizzata a ridurne la pericolosità e massimizzare l’efficienza e la sicurezza degli addetti durante le operazioni di spegnimento. Un ruolo fondamentale nel determinare le caratteristiche dell’incendio e le modalità di propagazione, è legato ai combustibili, che vengono schematizzati in appositi modelli che ne rappresentano le peculiarità pirologiche. I tipi di combustibile possono essere simili per diversi ecosistemi, ma possono avere differenti modelli di combustibile ad essi associati (Chuvieco et al., 2003). Nel corso degli anni, infatti, diversi modelli sono stati sviluppati nei vari Stati (NFFL o modello Behave-Stati Uniti; FBP-Canada; PROMETHEUS-Europa, ecc.) e riadattati a specifici contesti territoriali, nel tentativo di schematizzare elemen...
We present an innovative method based on the application of inverse yield models for producing sp... more We present an innovative method based on the application of inverse yield models for producing spatially explicit estimations of forest age. Firstly, a raster growing stock volume map was produced using the non-parametric k-Nearest Neighbors estimation method on the basis of IRS LISS-III remotely sensed imagery and field data collected in the framework of a local forest inventory. Secondly, species-specific inverted yield equations were applied to estimate forest age as a function of growing stock volume. The method was tested in 128 000 ha of even-aged forests in central Italy (Molise region). The accuracy of the method was assessed using an independent dataset of 305 units from a local standwise forest inventory. The results demonstrated that the forest age map was accurate, with a root mean square error of 15.8 years (30% of the mean of field values), and useful for supporting forest management purposes, such as the assessment of harvesting potential and ecosystem services. Thanks to the use of remotely sensed data and spatial modeling, the proposed approach is cost-effective and easily replicable for vast regions.
Atti del Terzo Congresso Nazionale di Selvicoltura, 2009
... Segmentazione di immagini telerilevate multirisoluzione per la derivazione di cartografie di ... more ... Segmentazione di immagini telerilevate multirisoluzione per la derivazione di cartografie di uso/copertura del suolo multiscala. Rivista Italiana di Telerilevamento, 37: 113-136. Corona P., 1999. ... Cecchi G., Rusco E., Blasi C., Marchetti M., Chirici G., Corona P., 2005. ...
Questions: Could mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo) located above the timberline and at... more Questions: Could mountain pine (Pinus mugo Turra subsp. mugo) located above the timberline and at the southern limit of its potential geographic distribution be a promising species to monitor climatic change in specific environments such as the Mediterranean mountains? Does mountain pine krummholz upward expansion result from current climate change? Has the relationship between climate and tree ring growth of mountain pine changed? To what extent does climatic variability affect tree ring growth? Could mountain pine upward expansion contribute to loss of biodiversity in the undisturbed tree line ecotone on the Majella massif?
The concept of the old-growth forest is highly debated in the literature because of its implicati... more The concept of the old-growth forest is highly debated in the literature because of its implications, from close-to-nature forest management to carbon balance. Studies on old-growth forests have multiplied in the last three decades. Most of these studies have focussed on defining the structural features of old-growth forests of non-Mediterranean forest ecosystems or of specific forest types. In Italy, forest structure since Roman times has been greatly influenced by man. For this reason, the concept of old-growth forest in these ecosystems seems more controversial than at the global level. Nonetheless, in the Mediterranean region, there are persistent forest formations that present a certain level of oldgrowthness. These types of forests have been identified mostly in National Parks. The description of forest structure requires a vast amount of information about several biometric attributes. Consequently, the classification of forests as old growth is very time-and resource-consuming. This research aims to describe and test a proposed methodology to classify and determine the relative oldgrowthness of a series of forest inventory plots. Data from 77 beech forest plots located all across Italy were collected and compared with a virtual reference plot. To compare the forest plots, a set of similarity/dissimilarity indexes were tested. The results obtained show that it is possible to accurately rank the oldgrowthness of forest plots and to screen them to exclude non-old-growth forests. The method described was applied for the first time on a set of plots located in the Italian National Parks to determine a priority list of beech forests where further studies need to be conducted. Keywords Old-growth forest Á Forest structure Á Forest inventory Á Dissimilarity Á National Park Communicated by J. Müller.
... G. Chirici (*), V. Garfì (*), P. DiMartino (*), R. Tognetti (*), N. Pavone (**), M. Ottaviano... more ... G. Chirici (*), V. Garfì (*), P. DiMartino (*), R. Tognetti (*), N. Pavone (**), M. Ottaviano (*), D. Tonti (*), B. Lasserre (*), G ... Chirici G., Di Martino P., Garfì V., Ottaviano M., Tonti D., Giongo Alves M., Santopuoli G., Marchetti M ... Accademia Italiana di Scienze Forestali, Taormina: 989-994 ...
Nella realizzazione di impianti di arboricoltura da legno la scelta del sesto d'impianto costitui... more Nella realizzazione di impianti di arboricoltura da legno la scelta del sesto d'impianto costituisce un elemento di grande importanza. Esso ha implicazioni importanti sulla gestione del soprassuolo dal punto di vista ecologico, colturale ed economico e ne condiziona la dinamica evolutiva. Differenti densità d'impianto hanno effetti diversi sull'accrescimento delle singole piante e del soprassuolo nel suo complesso. Questo studio, condotto in piantagioni di douglasia in Calabria, si è posto l'obiettivo di valutare gli effetti della densità di impianto sui principali parametri di interesse dendro-auxometrico del soprassuolo. Le densità d'impianto poste a confronto variano da 2500 a 833 piante a ettaro. I risultati conseguiti a 40 anni dalla piantagione, evidenziano come la scelta delle distanze d'impianto negli impianti di arboricoltura da legno assume una grande importanza poiché condiziona il modulo colturale da adottare nella gestione.
Gli indirizzi di politica ambientale ed energetica scaturiti dagli accordi internazionali sullo s... more Gli indirizzi di politica ambientale ed energetica scaturiti dagli accordi internazionali sullo sviluppo sostenibile (Convenzione sui Cambiamenti Climatici, per la Biodiversità, per la Lotta contro la Desertificazione, Accordi di Johannesburg, Direttive Europee tra le quali il Pacchetto Clima 2009), la necessità di ridurre la dipendenza energetica dall'estero (tra i Paesi più industrializzati, l'Italia è la nazione con il minor tasso di auto-approvvigionamento di energia), l'esigenza di valorizzare le fonti interne d'energia, alternative alle classiche fonti
In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) incr... more In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) increases along the latitudinal transect, from North to South, is higher in pure than in mixed stands, and their formation is linked to spring and/or summer drought conditions. Trees respond to climate, recording information in tree rings and their anatomical features, such as IADFs. The IADFs are regions within the tree ring where density changes in response to tree physiological processes and environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different forest-stand structures and of climate on IADF formation and frequency in populations of silver fir along a latitudinal gradient in Italy (Trentino, Molise and Calabria regions). In doing so, we aimed to compare the frequency of IADFs in pure or mixed stands and to understand the ability of silver fir to cope with environmental fluctuations. Results showed higher frequency of IADFs in pure than mixed stands (in Trentino and Calabria) and in younger trees (namely in the pure stand in Calabria), because of the higher sensitivity to environmental variability. The formation of IADFs in silver fir emerged as a response to cope with drought. Summer precipitation (both pure and mixed stands in Trentino) and early spring/summer (both pure and mixed stands in Calabria) played a key role in the formation of IADF-type E+. The formation of IADF-type L+, on the other hand, was related to temperature/precipitation in late summer and early autumn (both pure and mixed stands in Molise) and to precipitation in summer (pure stand in Calabria). Our findings support the theory that IADFs are an important structural/functional mechanism for responding to climate fluctuations.
In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) incr... more In Abies alba Mill. (silver fir), the frequency of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs) increases along the latitudinal transect, from North to South, is higher in pure than in mixed stands, and their formation is linked to spring and/or summer drought conditions. Trees respond to climate, recording information in tree rings and their anatomical features, such as IADFs. The IADFs are regions within the tree ring where density changes in response to tree physiological processes and environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different forest-stand structures and of climate on IADF formation and frequency in populations of silver fir along a latitudinal gradient in Italy (Trentino, Molise and Calabria regions). In doing so, we aimed to compare the frequency of IADFs in pure or mixed stands and to understand the ability of silver fir to cope with environmental fluctuations. Results showed higher frequency of IADFs in pure than mixed stands (in Trentino and Calabria) and in younger trees (namely in the pure stand in Calabria), because of the higher sensitivity to environmental variability. The formation of IADFs in silver fir emerged as a response to cope with drought. Summer precipitation (both pure and mixed stands in Trentino) and early spring/summer (both pure and mixed stands in Calabria) played a key role in the formation of IADF-type E+. The formation of IADF-type L+, on the other hand, was related to temperature/precipitation in late summer and early autumn (both pure and mixed stands in Molise) and to precipitation in summer (pure stand in Calabria). Our findings support the theory that IADFs are an important structural/functional mechanism for responding to climate fluctuations.
Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Species interactions in pure and mixed-sp... more Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Species interactions in pure and mixed-species stands of silver fir and European beech in Mediterranean mountains Soraya Versace (1-2) , Vittorio Garfì (1) , Michele Dalponte (2) , Mirko Di Febbraro (1) , Lorenzo Frizzera (2) , Damiano Gianelle (2-3) , Roberto Tognetti (3-4) Interactions between tree species determine the dynamics of forest communities. Spatial and temporal changes in resource availability, variation in species composition and spatial distribution of trees may alter competitive interactions between species and, therefore, affect tree growth and forest productivity. In this study, we analyzed the intra and inter-specific interactions between European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in southern Italy (Molise and Calabria regions), and how these interactions affect basal area increments in mixed-species and pure stands. Results showed that intraspecific interactions have a negative effect on the basal area increment, both in pure and mixed-species stands of Molise and Calabria. Basal area increment was higher influenced by intra-specific interactions in pure stands than in mixed-species stands. Silver fir in Molise showed higher basal area increment in mixed-species stand, probably in relation with stand structure and space occupation that resulted in less competition between individual trees. European beech showed high values of intra-specific interactions in pure stands, likely related to the low self-tolerance of this species and to the spatial arrangement of trees, due to canopy closure. The absence of inter-specific interactions in mixed-species stands could be explained by the subdominant position of European beech, which may have limited the benefit derived from niche separation and complementarity for silver fir.
Climate change is increasingly favouring the occurrence of extreme weather events, affecting spec... more Climate change is increasingly favouring the occurrence of extreme weather events, affecting species distribution and tree growth. It has been proposed that mixed forests are more resistant to drought spells and heat waves than corresponding monocultures. We sampled tree cores in nine plots along a latitudinal gradient of the Italian Peninsula (Trentino, Molise and Calabria). The objective of the study was to identify radial growth responses in mixed-species and pure plots of European beech and silver fir to climate dynamics and extreme events. Pointer years, as well as correlation and response functions, were used to analyse the climate–growth relationships in mixed-species and pure plots. Climate–growth relationships showed differences between mixed-species and pure plots only at the regional level. In particular, Trentino differed from Molise and Calabria, when considering maximum temperatures. In Trentino, winter (for silver fir) and summer (for both species) temperatures had a less negative impact on the radial growth of trees, in comparison with Molise and Calabria. Nevertheless, correlations between the radial growth and drought indices, and the principal component analysis, showed that plots were relatively unresponsive to summer drought. These results can be important for the implementation of operational techniques that increase the adaptation of silver fir and European beech to climate change, as well as for assisted migration.
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