Clonality drives structural patterns and shapes the community assemblage of the Mediterranean Fagus sylvatica subalpine belt

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.947166
• Publication Date: 2022-09-16T09:30:30Z
• Authors: Luigi Saulino; Angelo Rita; Marina Allegrezza; Maurizio Zotti; Valentina Mogavero; Giulio Tesei; Silvia Montecchiari; Emilia Allevato; Marco Borghetti; Giuliano Bonanomi; Antonio Saracino
• Keywords: Understory

Past anthropogenic disturbances lowered the altitudinal distribution of Mediterranean Fagus sylvatica forests below 2,000 m a.s.l. Accordingly, our current understanding southern range F. is restricted to managed stands this elevation, neglecting relic growing above. This study has shed light on structure and species assemblage an unmanaged relict subalpine stand within core its southernmost glacial refugia at highest elevation limit (2,140 a.s.l.) in Apennines (Italy). Here, tree biometric attributes understory abundances were assessed eight permanent plots systematically positioned from 1,650 2,130 In belt, had formed a dense clonal stem population that was layered downward steepest slopes. The density spatial aggregation stems increased, while their stature crown size decreased. Above m, changes growth patterns, upright single-stemmed procumbent multi-stemmed, canopy layer architecture, with crowns packed closer floor, allowed for persistence herbaceous biogeographic interest. Clonal layering represents adaptive regeneration strategy belt environmental constraints not previously recognized forests. unique forest highlight value inclusion priority areas networks, representing long-term management emblematic microclimatic refugia.