Repeated stand structure inventory dataset in long abandoned deciduous forest reserves in Hungary

Zsófia Szegleti; Ákos Vig; Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai; Gábor Szabó; Zita Zimmermann; Ferenc Horváth

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2023.108929

Repeated stand structure inventory dataset in long abandoned deciduous forest reserves in Hungary

Data Brief. 2023 Jan 25:47:108929. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2023.108929. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Zsófia Szegleti^{1

2}, Ákos Vig³, Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai⁴, Gábor Szabó¹, Zita Zimmermann¹, Ferenc Horváth²

Affiliations

¹ Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary.
² Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, H-2163 Vácrátót, Hungary.
³ Gödöllő Campus, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary.
⁴ Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Biology, University of Pécs, H-7624 Pécs, Hungary.

Abstract

Deeper understanding on natural forest dynamics requires long-term data series from forests that have not been affected by human interventions, which are often scarce especially in the Pannonian Bioregion. Unmanaged, but regularly inventoried forest reserves provide an opportunity to fill this gap. The dataset provides repeated inventory data for 233 permanent plots situated in the core areas of six forest reserves selected from primary forests (Kékes), long abandoned forests (Kecskés-galya, Szalafő, Várhegy) and abandoned ones (Hidegvíz-völgy, Nagy Istrázsa-hegy). The sampled old stands represent the four most widespread hilly forest types in Hungary: Carpathian submountainous beech forest; sessile oak-hornbeam forest; Turkey oak and sessile oak forest; downy oak forest. In each plot, stand level attributes included main mensuration variables (canopy closure, stand height, tree density, basal area, living and dead volume, lying deadwood and admixture of the main tree species). Tree level attributes (diameter at breast height, height measured and estimated, crown position in the canopy, health status, tree history of all trees or shrubs having diameter larger or equal to 5 cm) were also measured in two inventories (after 6-16 years) for a total of 6,986 individual trees sampled in all plots. Fagus sylvatica L., Quercus petraea agg., Q. cerris L., Q. pubescens Willd., Carpinus betulus L., Acer campestre L. and Cornus mas L. were the most abundant. The individual tree history classification refers to regeneration ingrowth, growing phase, mortality, decaying phase and disappearance events, that can be used for calculation of various stand dynamics attributes. The dataset offers valuable opportunities for quantifying changes in stand structures and tree population dynamic attributes after the abandonment of management. Inventory data can be integrated with environmental and climatic information to understand the drivers of forest stand dynamics under a changing climate.

Keywords: Carpathian basin; Forest ecosystems; Natural regeneration; Pannonian bioregion; Population dynamic; Tree mortality.