Bryophyte ecological and forest ecological investigations

Informations

Funding country

Hungary

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

10/1/2003

End date

9/30/2004

Budget

18,525 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

1. Bryophytes and fungi dwelling on dead logs were surveyed in near-natural beech woods between 2000 and 2002. During this project we would like to analyze these data and publish the results in international scientific journals. The main questions and tasks of the analysis are to characterize (1) the species pools and abundance relations of the investigated groups; (2) the difference between the species composition of different geographical regions; (3) the changes of species composition during decay process; (4) the effect of log size and other environmental conditions on diversity and composition of bryophytes and fungi. 2. Fine spatial scaled and long-term surveys of bryophyte vegetation have been carried out on selected dead logs for three years to investigate the dynamics of dead wood living bryophytes. The task of this investigation is to characterize the background mechanisms of the compositional changes during decay: local extinction and colonization, growth constrains and disturbance responses of the bryophyte species. During this research period we plan to repeat the field sampling and do some preliminary analysis concerning to the dynamics of this bryophyte vegetation. 3. We would like to compare the diversity and species composition of different organism groups (fungi, bryophytes, vascular plants, collemboles, longhorn beetles) in forest of different management regime. In Orség region private forests stands of high stand structural and tree species diversity managed by tree selection logging will be compared with even-aged, mono-dominant state forests managed by clear cutting or shelter wood systems. In 2004 we plan preliminary field trips and the selection of sites for investigation.