Open Access

Jochen Engelhard, Albert Reif

• Ziel dieses Beitrags ist, den Einfluss der überschirmenden Baumarten auf die Artenzusammen-setzung der Waldbodenvegetation zu klären, beginnend vom reinen Buchenwald über abgestufte Mischungsverhältnisse bis hin zum reinen Fichtenbestand. Das für die Untersuchungsbestände gültige Waldbaukonzept der Landesforstverwaltung Baden-Württemberg soll hinsichtlich seiner Auswirkung auf die Waldbodenarten geprüft werden. Anhand der Ergebnisse werden Schlussfolgerungen für die forstliche Praxis abgeleitet.
• Spruce forests are frequently thought of as species poor and associated with the suppression of natural forest species, in other words a loss of biodiversity. The effect of varying degrees of spruce admixture on the ground vegetation is the theme of this study. Research was carried out in 50-90 year old pure beech and spruce stands, as well as variously mixed stands in the central “Schwäbische Alb”. Few species appear to be strictly tied to pure beech stands. To preserve these species, pure beech forest should be maintained at least in some stands of managed forests. However, the majority of the beech forest species can also be found in spruce stands. Under spruce, the species number increases considerably, because many open land species can be found. Their occurrence can be explained by the higher light intensities under spruce canopies. The increased number of species under spruce canopies does not necessarily mean a higher value for nature conservation. Other criteria like naturalness or rarity, must be taken into consideration. A few rare species were found to be associated with pure spruce canopies. Therefore, the conversion of all pure spruce stands to mixed stands would result in a loss of rare species well worth conservation.