Tree regeneration on rotten wood and on soil in old-growth stand

Forest regeneration on soil and on decaying wood was studied in natural mixed stand of Facus sylvatica L., Abies alba Mill. and Picea abies Karst. in Babia Góra National Park, Western Carpathians.Downed wood, divided into five decay classes covered around 6% of the forest floor. Among seedlings, Fagus and Abies codominated, while Picea was less numerous. The average seedling density on the soil with herb layer (240 ind./100 m²) was higher than on the logs, even on the strongly decayed ones (177 ind./100 m²). However, the density of Abies and Picea seedlings was higher on the rotten wood than on soil. Seedling survival of all species was better on the logs, especially in conifers. Because of the total dominance of Fagus among saplings, the presence of Abies and Picea in the next generation of canopy trees can strongly depend upon their regeneration on decaying wood.