Ecological stability of alpine treeline ecotone formed by beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Ďumbier Low Tatras

Abstract

The paper analyses the results of the ecological stability research of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands at the alpine tree-line ecotone in the Ďumbier part of Law Tatras. The applied methodology by Vološčuk (2000) is based on the approximation of the current tree species composition with respect to the original ones, crown ratio, slenderness quotient, sanitary coefficient and vertical species profile of the stands. The resulting value of ecological stability of the stands, typologically classified into a group of forest types Fageto-Aceretum humile, was increased by approximation of 80.0–82.5%, slenderness quotient 0.55–0.60 m.cm−1 and sanitary coefficient. Vitality was assessed with regard to the most common damage to individual, more than 160-year-old beech trees at the alpine treeline ecotone in the form of necrosis. Vertical and horizontal structure of the stands was influenced mainly by dense tree clusters. The value of ecological stability was decreased by average crown ratio of individual trees ranging from 0.47–0.57. Based on the final index of ecological stability ES 16–24, beech forests in the alpine treeline ecotone may be considered as very stable.