Database Temperate Deciduous Forests of the Uckermark Region

Abstract

Monika Wulf investigated 499 plots (vegetation releves) in 66 mixed broadleaf forests from 1992 to 2007. The 499 plots (100–400 m2) represent alder-ash dominated stands on wet and moist sites, oak-hornbeam forests on fresh soils, beech dominated forests on (moderately) fresh soils and some mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. In each plot the abundance of all vascular plants per stratum (first and second tree layer, shrub and herb layer) was estimated using the Barkman scale. Bryophytes were noted as presence/absence data, but not on all plots. The location of each plot was drawn in topographical maps at scale 1:25,000 with an average deviance of 100-200 m. Additionally sketches with positions of the main tree and shrub species within the plot and at the plot boundaries were drawn. For 157 plots exact positions were recorded by means of GPS with an average deviance of 5 -10 m. It is planned to do this also for about 150 plots in 2010 or 2011. In a selected number of 180 plots from 31 forests soil samples were taken at three different horizons (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-20 cm). At each plot 10 sub-samples were taken with a soil auger of 5 cm diameter, and were mixed separately for the three horizons to one sample. The soil samples were used to estimate the pH using a CaCl2-standard solution, and to determine the amount of the plant available cations Ca, K, Mg and P using an ammonium-acetatesolution. Determination of the cation concentrations were made with a spectral photometer and an atom-absorptions-spectrometer (AAS), respectively. For at least 50% of all plots site nutrient and moisture regime as well as humus nutrient and moisture regime were compiled from maps of the forest site inventories of the 1950s and 1960s. This report describes the available content in the Database Temperate Deciduous Forests of the Uckermark Region (GIVD ID EU-DE-007).