Contemporary research on regeneration patterns of Central European virgin forests with recomendation for future researchBončina, Andrej (Avtor) Diaci, Jurij (Avtor) virgin forestDinaric fir-beech forestnatural regenerationgap dynamicSloveniaRajhenavThe research of the natural regeneration of virgin forests enables the understanding of forest stand dynamics; the results can be applied to current silvicultural methods. In contemporary researches of virgin forests, two main approaches have been established: the Central European, based on partitioning forest development phases, and the North-American, which emphasises forcst gaps. In our article, the general characteristics of gap dynamics and natura! regeneration of forests are presented, based on research work of Dinaric fir-beech virgin forests. Natura! regeneration is a continuous process, not limited to gaps only, but continuing within all the phases of virgin forest. The gap size is small, the forest cycle is less conspicuous and according to total area, optimal phase prevails. The authors point out the importance of a comprehensive and complex studies of virgin forests, which would enable us to discover the forest structure and its function. 19982015-07-10 21:34:00Neznano69671UDK: 630*22:630*23ISSN pri članku: 0351-3114COBISS_ID: 431782sl