Old-Growth Forests: Function, Fate and Value

Contents......Page 12
Part I: Introduction......Page 28
  1.1 Old-Growth Forest Perception......Page 30
  1.3 Aims and Scope......Page 32
  References......Page 36
  2.1 Introduction......Page 38
  2.2 Old-Growth Forest Definitions and their Limitations......Page 39
  2.3 Use of the Term \"Old-Growth\" – a Literature Survey......Page 46
  2.4 Old-Growth and the Disturbance Spectrum......Page 51
  2.5 Identifying Old-Growth – the Conservation Perspective......Page 54
  2.6 Conclusions and Pragmatic Considerations......Page 56
  References......Page 58
  3.2 Longevity of Conifers and Angiosperms......Page 62
  3.3 What Limits the Life Span of a Tree?......Page 66
  3.4 Concluding Remarks......Page 79
  References......Page 80
Part II: Aboveground Processes......Page 82
  4.2 Increased Respiratory Demand......Page 84
  4.3 Limitations of Photosynthesis......Page 85
  4.4 Stand-Level Controls......Page 90
  4.5 Community and Ecosystem Constraints on Age/Size-Productivity Relationships......Page 92
  4.6 Conclusions......Page 102
  References......Page 103
  5.1 Introduction......Page 108
  5.2 A Trait-Based Model of Forest Carbon Dynamics......Page 110
  5.3 The Spectrum of Traits......Page 116
  5.4 Model Performance and Lessons from the Equilibrium Behaviour......Page 118
  5.5 The Spectrum of Carbon Trajectories in North American Forests......Page 121
  5.6 Determinants of Old-Growth Carbon Stock Changes......Page 123
  5.7 Discussion......Page 126
  5.8 Conclusion......Page 136
  References......Page 137
  6.2 Structural and Compositional Features of Old-Growth......Page 142
  6.3 Understorey Light Environments and Dynamics......Page 144
  6.4 Consequences for Understorey Vegetation Composition and Dynamics......Page 152
  6.5 Acclimatisation of Plant Form and Function to Low Light Availability......Page 153
  6.6 Resource Allocation and Shade Tolerance......Page 156
  6.7 Conclusions......Page 160
  References......Page 161
  7.1 Introduction......Page 168
  7.2 Characteristics of Old-Growth Forests Relevant for Biosphere–Atmosphere Exchange......Page 169
  7.3 Exchange of Carbon Dioxide......Page 170
  7.4 Exchange of Water and Energy......Page 176
  7.5 Effect of Diffuse Light......Page 178
  7.6 Conclusions......Page 180
  References......Page 181
  8.1 Introduction......Page 186
  8.2 Underlying Processes......Page 187
  8.3 Theoretical Trends......Page 196
  8.4 Comparison of Theoretical and Observed Temporal Trends......Page 205
  8.5 Effect of Management......Page 209
  8.6 Consequences for Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance......Page 210
  8.7 Reducing Observational Uncertainties......Page 212
  8.8 Conclusions......Page 213
  References......Page 214
Part III: Belowground Processes......Page 218
  9.1 Introduction......Page 220
  9.2 Lake Islands in Northern Sweden......Page 222
  9.3 Retrogressive Successions Elsewhere in the World......Page 227
  9.4 Conclusions......Page 232
  References......Page 233
  10.1 Introduction......Page 238
  10.2 What Comprises Belowground Structural Diversity?......Page 239
  10.3 Root Gaps and Horizontal Variation in Rooting Density in Old-Growth Forests......Page 240
  10.4 Pit-and-Mound Topography in Old-Growth Forest......Page 246
  10.5 Old-Growth Structures Harbouring Roots......Page 247
  10.6 Influence of Stand Age on Diversity of Functional Root Types, Mycorrhizae, and the Vertical Patterning of Root Systems......Page 249
  References......Page 252
  11.2 Development of Soil Carbon Stocks in Ecosystems......Page 258
  11.3 Soil Carbon Storage in Old-Growth Forests......Page 261
  11.4 Case Study of Soil Carbon Sequestration in a 250-Year-Old Beech Forest......Page 279
  11.5 Discussion of Carbon Stock Changes......Page 285
  11.6 Conclusions......Page 287
  References......Page 288
  12.1 Introduction......Page 294
  12.2 Observations of Old-Growth Forest Carbon Balance......Page 295
  12.3 Is There a Theoretical Limit to Soil Carbon Storage?......Page 296
  12.4 Perspectives for a New Generation of Models......Page 302
  12.5 Conclusions......Page 305
  References......Page 306
Part IV: Biomes......Page 310
  13.1 Introduction......Page 312
  13.2 Abundance of Old-Growth Forests......Page 313
  13.3 Characteristics of Old-Growth Boreal Forests......Page 315
  13.4 Implications for Forest Management......Page 323
  13.5 Conclusions......Page 324
  References......Page 325
  14.1 Forest Management and Carbon Sequestration......Page 328
  14.2 Mechanisms of Biomass Decline......Page 329
  14.3 Aboveground Biomass Chronosequences for US Forests......Page 332
  14.4 Discussion......Page 355
  References......Page 363
  15.1 Introduction......Page 370
  15.2 Global Distribution of Temperate and Boreal Forests......Page 372
  15.3 Productivity of Temperate and Boreal Forests......Page 373
  15.4 Disturbance and Forest Succession at the Regional Scale......Page 382
  15.5 Effects of Management......Page 385
  15.6 Forest Management and Forest Protection in Europe......Page 387
  15.7 Conclusions......Page 390
  References......Page 391
  16.1 Introduction......Page 394
  16.2 Conservation Status, Values and Threats......Page 396
  16.3 Plant–Animal Interactions......Page 404
  16.4 Biogeochemistry......Page 407
  16.5 Conclusions......Page 411
  References......Page 412
  17.1 Introduction......Page 418
  17.2 Structure......Page 419
  17.3 Physiological Attributes......Page 422
  17.4 Are Rain Forests Carbon Sinks?......Page 424
  17.6 How Will Rain Forests Behave in a Hotter and Drier Climate?......Page 426
  17.7 The Future......Page 429
  References......Page 430
Part V: Human Dimensions......Page 436
  18.2 Monitoring of Forest Areas from the Global to the Regional Scale using Satellite Imagery......Page 438
  18.3 Information on Global Forest Extent and Deforestation Rates......Page 439
  18.4 Tropical Forest Monitoring in the Context of the UNFCCC......Page 448
  18.5 Conclusions......Page 451
  References......Page 452
  19.1 Introduction......Page 455
  19.2 Old-Growth Forests – Habitat Function......Page 456
  19.3 Characteristic Human Impacts on Old-Growth Forests in Different Biomes and their Impact on Habitat Characteristics, Habitat Functions and Biodiversity......Page 461
  19.4 Conclusions......Page 471
  References......Page 472
  20.1 Introduction......Page 478
  20.2 Forests in UN Processes......Page 479
  20.3 Consideration of Old-Growth Forests in UN Processes......Page 484
  20.4 Potential Role of Old-Growth Forests in Future International Environmental Agreements......Page 486
  References......Page 487
Part VI: Synthesis......Page 490
  21.1 Challenges in Functional Old-Growth Forest Research......Page 492
  21.2 Functional Consequences of Old-Growth Forest Structure: the Spatial View......Page 494
  21.3 Old-Growth Forests in the Context of Succession: the Temporal View......Page 498
  21.4 The Fate of Old-Growth Forests Worldwide......Page 509
  21.5 Research Needs......Page 512
  21.6 Overall summary......Page 515
  References......Page 517
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