Modelling potential density of natural regeneration of European oak species (Quercus robur L., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) depending on the distance to the potential seed source: Methodological approach for modelling dispersal from inventory data at forest enterprise level

Abstract

The use of natural oak regeneration from admixed oaks and neighbouring oak stands provides an interesting alternative to cost-intensive artificial oak regeneration when aiming for forest conversion of pure coniferous stands. In this study analysis of forest inventory data is done on how far and in what density natural regeneration of both Pedunculate and Sessile oak occurs in coniferous stands.In order to investigate as exclusively as possible the effect of distance to the seed source on the regeneration density of both oaks, the regeneration potential was determined by using quantile regression. By applying a .995th quantile, reducing factors on seedling density, e.g. desiccation, browsing, pathogens or limited resource availability, were excluded as much as possible. Thus, the effect of zoochorus vectors on effective dispersal could be quantified.The regeneration potential was determined based on data from the forest inventory of the Saxony state forest enterprise, Germany, including 2357 sample plots. Remote sensing data, including the location of oaks in the overstorey, were used to determine the distance to the nearest potential seed source.The results of the present study demonstrate that the highest regeneration densities are not found in the immediate vicinity of the nearest seed source, but at distances between 60 and 140 m to it, i.e. the maximum of seedling density per area unit is in some distance to the trees trunk. In the present study, dispersal distances of established regeneration up to 1565 m were detected. From a distance of 1570–2300 m on, there was no oak regeneration.The results prove that acorns are taken from the seed source and that, in addition to barochorus dispersal, the zoochorus dispersal is of great importance for the succession of coniferous stands. The position of potential seed sources is therefore an important information for silvicultural planning, in order to estimate potential oak regeneration densities.