Tree-ring reconstruction of forest disturbances: evaluation of methods and past changes on forest dynamic

Mgr. Jan ALTMAN

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

Tree-ring data serves as a chronicle of the past environment and provides long-term records about climate variations, volcanic eruptions, glacial activity and many others processes. Over the past few decades, dendrochronology has become common in studying disturbances. This thesis is focused on release detection methods (i.e. abrupt growth after death of neighbouring tree(s)) and their application. The presented review showed that despite the some uncertainties in methodological approaches, release detection is a reliable tool for forest disturbance reconstruction. In this thesis, release detection was applied in various forest ecosystems for reconstruction of disturbances and their effects. The achieved results importantly contribute to the understanding of the ecological processes concerning forest management, long-term changes in natural forest ecosystems, forest diversity and the impact of global changes.

Abstract:

Tree-ring data serves as a chronicle of the past environment and provides long-term records about climate variations, volcanic eruptions, glacial activity and many others processes. Over the past few decades, dendrochronology has become common in studying disturbances. This thesis is focused on release detection methods (i.e. abrupt growth after death of neighbouring tree(s)) and their application. The presented review showed that despite the some uncertainties in methodological approaches, release detection is a reliable tool for forest disturbance reconstruction. In this thesis, release detection was applied in various forest ecosystems for reconstruction of disturbances and their effects. The achieved results importantly contribute to the understanding of the ecological processes concerning forest management, long-term changes in natural forest ecosystems, forest diversity and the impact of global changes.

Keywords

tree-ring, forest disturbance, methods, growth-change, forest dynamic, regeneration

Language used: Czech

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 10. 11. 2014

Accessible from:: 10. 11. 2014

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Jiří Doležal, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Doctoral programme / field:
Botany / Botany