Version 1
: Received: 23 April 2024 / Approved: 23 April 2024 / Online: 24 April 2024 (07:30:44 CEST)
How to cite:
Bledý, M.; Vacek, S.; Brabec, P.; Vacek, Z.; Cukor, J.; Černý, J.; Ševčík, R.; Brynychová, K. Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests. Preprints2024, 2024041584. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.1584.v1
Bledý, M.; Vacek, S.; Brabec, P.; Vacek, Z.; Cukor, J.; Černý, J.; Ševčík, R.; Brynychová, K. Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests. Preprints 2024, 2024041584. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.1584.v1
Bledý, M.; Vacek, S.; Brabec, P.; Vacek, Z.; Cukor, J.; Černý, J.; Ševčík, R.; Brynychová, K. Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests. Preprints2024, 2024041584. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.1584.v1
APA Style
Bledý, M., Vacek, S., Brabec, P., Vacek, Z., Cukor, J., Černý, J., Ševčík, R., & Brynychová, K. (2024). Silver Fir (<em>Abies alba</em> Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.1584.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Bledý, M., Richard Ševčík and Kateřina Brynychová. 2024 "Silver Fir (<em>Abies alba</em> Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change Impact on European Forests" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202404.1584.v1
Abstract
The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. In the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution, and wildlife-induced damage. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Due to its shade tolerance and environmental flexibility, particularly at higher altitudes, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands. It can form stands of heterogeneous structure, ranging from single to multi-layer to selection. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared to Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). During global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. This paper essentially reviews the description and distribution of the species, its ecological requirements, threats and diseases, habitat and stand conditions, and close-to-nature forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change.
Keywords
Forest management; Silver fir ecology; Climate change impact; Biodiversity; Threats and diseases; Regeneration practices
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Forestry
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
,
,
,
,
