Title
(spruce-)fir-beech forests (Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies) in the north Alps with Aposeris foetida, in the east with Helleborus niger
Geographical distribution
Country/territory
Switzerland: Rätikon; Liechtenstein; Austria; Germany: dominant unit of the montane altitude of the whole northern Limestone Alps
area frequency
3 polygons.
Scientific names of main plant communities and their most common synonyms (with author citation)
Aposerido-Fagetum Oberdorfer 1950 ex Oberdorfer 1957 (syn.: Cardamino trifoliae-Fagetum Oberdorfer & Müller 1984 p.p., Lonicero alpigenae-Fagetum Oberdorfer & Müller 1984 p.p., Adenostylo glabrae-Abieti-Fagetum Mayer 1974); Helleboro nigri-Fagetum Zukrigl 1973.
Structural feature of the main community(ies) (layers, life-forms, etc.)
Two- to three-layered, growthy mixed forests with fir and spruce leading in growth with age (up to 40 m); an insignificant shrub layer (apart from the presence of tree upgrowths) and a species-rich herb layer in which Fagetalia species dominate together with limestone scree indicators, but acidophytic species are also always present. The moss layer is sparse.
Dominant and most frequent species in different layers
Tree layer
Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies; Acer pseudoplatanus, partly Ulmus glabra isolated admixed; (Larix decidua, Pinus sylvestris especially in pioneer stages)
Shrub layer
Young growth of tree species, Daphne mezereum, Lonicera nigra, Lonicera alpigena, Rosa pendulina, rarely Euonymus latifolia
Lianas
locally Clematis alpina
Herb layer
Aposeris foetida (missing in the east), Veronica urticifolia (missing in the east), Adenostyles glabra, Cardamine enneaphyllos, Cardamine trifolia, Galium odoratum, Mercurialis perennis, Prenanthes purpurea, Polygonatum verticillatum, Valeriana tripteris, Oxalis acetosella, Athyrium filix-femina, Sanicula europaea, Carex sylvatica, Carex digitata, Melica nutans, Calamagrostis varia, Actaea spicata, Salvia glutinosa, Helleborus niger (missing in the west),
Moss layer (incl. lichens)
Ctenidium molluscum, Fissidens dubius, Plagiochila porelloides, Tortella tortuosa
Diagnostically important species
Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba, Picea abies; Lonicera alpigena, Lonicera nigra, Rosa pendulina; Aposeris foetida, Adenostyles glabra, Cardamine trifolia, Cardamine enneaphyllos, Polygonatum verticillatum, Salvia glutinosa, Veronica urticifolia, Helleborus niger
Ecological variants
Rich subclassification depending on soil moisture, water balance: and exposure: intermittently fresh form with Calamagrostis varia, fresh with Cardamine trifolia, moister with Adenostyles alliariae, loam-rich sites with Cardamine bulbifera, Hordelymus europaeus, a dry low montane form with Carex alba, and an altimontane type on dolomite with Carex ferruginea amongst others.
Geographical variants (geogr. differential species)
Western form in Bavaria with Aposeris foetida, Cardamine trifolia, Veronica urticifolia, eastern with Helleborus niger and Cyclamen purpurascens, from eastern Bavaria to Salzkammergut there is overlapping of the two vicariants.
Natural accompanying vegetation (most important units in complex with the name giving mapping unit, scientific names)
dolomite pine forest (Erico-Pinetum), dwarf pine scrub (Erico- and Rhododendro-Pinetum mugo), block spruce forest (Asplenio-Piceetum), rocky ridge (fir) spruce forest (Seslerio-Piceetum), carbonate spruce forest (Adenostylo glabrae-Piceetum), maple-ash forests (Aceri-Fraxinetum), sycamore-beech forest (Aceri-Fagetum, Saxifrago rotundifoliae-Fagetum), brown earth fir-beech forest (Galio odorati-Fagetum), thermophilous beech forests (Carici-Fagetum, Seslerio-Fagetum, Cyclamini-Fagetum), transitional mires, slope-base swamp springs.
Adjoining climax and permanent vegetation (with numbers of mapping units)
alpine grassland (B43, B44), larch-pine forests (C19), alpine rose-dwarf pine shrub (C20), fir- and mixed fir forests (D28, D29), spruce forests (D35), species-poor beech and mixed beech forests (F85, F87, F96), species-rich beech and mixed beech forests (F110, F115, F120, F131), pine forests (K1, K2, K3), Black pine forests (K9), tree-rich raised bogs (S11), brown mires (S24), grey alder forests (U27).
Land use, substitute communities
forestry (substitute communities, plantations of economic tree-species, scrub)
spruce dominated stands and spruce forests are frequent, secondary dwarf pine stands (after abandonment of alm meadow grazing).
grassland (meadows, pastures, herb-rich communities)
Intensive pasturing: Alchemillo-Cynosuretum, Poion alpinae; extensive pasturing: Nardion, Gentiano vernae-Brometum, and also Seslerion and Caricion ferrugineae grasslands; subordinate fodder meadows: Alchemillo-Arrhenatheretum, Geranio-Trisetetum.
arable land (characteristic weed communities)
---
settlements (typical ruderal vegetation)
Hardly any settlements, on alm meadows there is vegetation typical for manured ground (“Lägerflur” Rumicion alpini).
Site conditions of the mapping unit
Landscape type, geomorphology
High mountains: rugged rock formations (hard limestone) alternate with karst formations and less stable relief forms (marl)
Altitudinal belt and/or altitudinal range
montane-altimontane to subalpine; (600)700-1800 m
Geology (bedrock)
main dolomite, laminated limestone and its taluses, more rarely chalky clay and sandstone (Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous), locally moraines (Pleistocene)
soil type, also the depth of fine textured earth (soil), stone content; (international nomenclature)
rendzines and browned rendzines, limestone-brown soils, chalky clay-brown soils, limestone brown loam (terra fusca), colluvial mixed soils; (rendzic leptosols; eutric and chromic cambisols)
soil texture
partly sandy, mostly silty to clayey loam
soil moisture, water balance
fresh to moderately dry, locally periodically moist
soil reaction
moderately acidic to neutral
soil fertility
meso- to eutrophic, locally lime-oligotrophic
Climate incl. local climate
climate type (following Walter & Lieth)
VI5, VI(X)3
average annual temperature
3-7,5 EC
average annual precipitation
1100 to >2000 mm
average temperature of the warmest month
11-17 EC
average temperature of the coldest month
-5 to -2 EC
local climate or other climatic peculiarities
Frequent foehn, strong summerly thunderstorms with >100 mm of precipitation/h.
Importance for nature protection
Present state and development trend of natural vegetation (degree of endangerment)
Some semi-natural stands are still preserved over great expanses, but often the fir has disappeared, and segregation to spruce forests or pure beech forests has taken place.
endangered communities, species worthy of protection in natural vegetation
Primeval forest remnants, large, undissected forest areas, raised and transitional mire complexes, sloped spring areas; extensively cultivated alpine meadows with shortgrass meadows.
causes of endangerment
Formerly forest clearing and forest grazing; in the 20th century selective browsing of the fir and hardwoods occurred as a result of game overpopulation; emissions, tourism.
required measures for protection and restitution
Restoration of the natural hardwood and fir proportions as far as possible, control of game stocks, control of forest grazing; designation of primeval forest-like stands as natural forest reservations; further development is to be avoided.
Localities of representative stands (loci typici) with state of protection
of the natural vegetation
Germany: forest administration Kreuth, at the Große Traiten (border to Austria), Berchtesgaden-West: primeval forest reserve Kienberg, Garmisch-Partenkirchen: primeval forest reserve Schrofen, Oberstaufen: primeval forest reserve Achrain (Bavaria); Austria: Urwälder Rothwald and Neuwald (Lower Austria, primeval forest reserves), National park Limestone Alps (Upper Austria).
of characteristic substitute communities worthy of protection
No details
Most important references (author, year)
Ewald 1997; Feldner 1978; Kuoch 1954; Mayer 1974; Oberdorfer (Hrsg.) 1992; Seibert 1968; Storch 1983; Zukrigl 1973; Zukrigl, Eckhart & Nather 1963
Compiled by
K. Zukrigl and U. Bohn under use of documents by U. Bohn, J. Ewald, H. Mages, Th. Zanker, H. Wagner
