Variability of the dynamics of forest development processes in the Bieszczady beech forests in relation to exposition and altitude

Abstract

The paper discusses the variability of the dynamics of volume growth, ingrowth and loss in the beech stands in the younger optimal phase of development. The material collected from the permanent circular sample plots established in the Bieszczady National Park (BNP) was classified into four groups relating to their location (elevation of up to and above 1000 m a.s.l and exposition: northern and southern). A significant decline in volume growth was found at higher altitudes and in northern expositions. There were no statistically significant differences in volume ingrowth and loss in relation to the analysed topographic factors