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The development and local stand-scale dynamics of a Picea abies forest in southeastern Norway

Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, c/o Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway, anne.bjune{at}bjerknes.uib.no

M. Ohlson

Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432 Ås, Norway

H.J.B. Birks

Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, c/o Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway, Environmental Change Research Centre, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

R.H.W. Bradshaw

Department of Geography, The University of Liverpool, Roxby Building, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK

The local development and forest history have been studied based on pollen, plant macrofossil, stomata and charcoal analysis from a small forest hollow situated within an old-growth, closed Picea abies forest, rich in epiphytic lichens and wood-decaying fungi in southeastern Norway. The main aims of this study are to identify the natural development, the disturbance history and the role of human impact of this forest stand during the last 9650 years. Forest trees have always been dominant in the landscape around the forest hollow. The forest was first dominated by Betula and Pinus sylvestris, and later these were co-dominant with thermophilous deciduous trees such as Corylus, Fagus, Fraxinus excelsior , Quercus, Tilia cordata and Ulmus. During the last 1000 years, Picea abies (spruce) has become the dominant tree in this area, but its presence can be traced back about 9300 years. The establishment of spruce caused a major shift in the ecosystem. Human impact and fire seem to have been the driving factors to create openings for spruce to establish. Based on estimates of palynological richness, the most diverse pollen assemblages are found in periods with intermediate levels of disturbance.

Key Words: Stand-scale pollen analysis • forest • Picea abies • fire • human impact • palynolgical richness.

The Holocene, Vol. 19, No. 7, 1073-1082 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0959683609341004


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