The influence of abiotic and biotic disturbances on the protective effect of alpine forests against avalanches and rockfalls

Oven, Domen (author), Žabota, Barbara (author), Kobal, Milan (author)

V gozdovih alpskega prostora lahko abiotske in biotske motnje vplivajo na porazdelitev in strukturo gozdov do te mere, da jim zmanjšajo varovalni učinek pred naravnimi nevarnostnimi, kot so snežni plazovi in skalni podori. V članku je zato predstavljen pregled glavnih vplivov abiotskih (gozdni požari, vetrolom, snegolom, žled, snežni plazovi in skalni podori) in biotskih (insekti in patogeni) motenj na varovalno in zaščitno funkcijo gozdov pred snežnimi plazovi in skalnimi podori. Naravne motnje na splošno negativno vplivajo na varovalni učinek gozda pred naravnimi nevarnostmi, še posebej v primeru veliko-površinskih dogodkov z visoko jakostjo poškodovanosti. Slednje so v alpskem prostoru najpogosteje posledica neviht, napada podlubnikov, snežnih plazov in gozdnih požarov. Podnebne spremembe in njihov vpliv na naravne motnje bodo v bodoče postale pomemben izziv pri upravljanju z gozdovi, ki opravljajo varovalno in zaščitno funkcijo.

• Language: English
• Keywords: natural disturbances, natural hazards, abiotic disturbances, biotic disturbances, protection forests, protective effect, stand parameters, rockfall, avalanche
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: Str. 1-18
• Numbering: [Št.] 121
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-114959
• UDC: 630*9:630*38:630*42(045)=163.6
• ISSN on article: 2335-3112
• DOI: 10.20315/ASetL.121.1
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5652134
• Publication date in RUL: 03.04.2020

OVEN, Domen, ŽABOTA, Barbara and KOBAL, Milan, 2020, The influence of abiotic and biotic disturbances on the protective effect of alpine forests against avalanches and rockfalls. Acta Silvae et Ligni [online]. 2020. Vol. 121, p. 1–18. [Accessed 17 May 2025]. DOI 10.20315/ASetL.121.1. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=114959

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta Silvae et Ligni
• Publisher: Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije, založba Silva Slovenica, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo
• ISSN: 2335-3112
• COBISS.SI-ID: 266761216

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpliv abiotskih in biotskih motenj na varovalni učinek alpskih gozdov pred snežnimi plazovi in skalnimi podori

Abstract

Abiotic and biotic disturbances in alpine forests can reduce forest cover or change the structure of the forest and consequently reduce the protective effect of forest against natural hazards such as avalanches and rockfalls. In this review article, the effect of the main abiotic (forest fire, windthrow, ice break, snow break, avalanche and rockfall) and biotic (insects and pathogens) disturbances in protection forests are presented along with their potential influence on the protective effect of forest against avalanches and rockfalls. In general, natural disturbances negatively affect the protective effect of forest, especially in the case of large-scale and severe events, which in alpine areas are mostly caused by storms, bark beetle outbreaks, avalanches and forest fires. Climate change induced interactions between disturbances are expected to present challenges in the management of protection forests in the future.

• Keywords: naravna motnja, naravne nevarnosti, varovalna funkcija gozda, varovalni učinek, sestojni parametri, skalni podori, snežni plazovi, zaščitna funkcija gozda