Dynamics ofphytomass production in the forest ecosystems of Mt. Etna
Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di MetodologieFisiche e Chimiche per l’Ingegneria, Catania Italy
A synthesis isgiven of the results of the research into the variations of the dynamics ofphytomass of natural and artificial forest ecosystems of Genista aetnensis, Castaneasativa, Quercus ilex, Quercus cerris, Fagus sylvatica, Betulaaetnensis, and Pinus laricio, carried out on 19 plots in 11 areas at differentheights and exposure on the volcano Mt. Etna.
Ineach ecosystem the regression equations were calculated using the destructivemethod, and, based on their demography, the phytomass was measured in Mg ha-1.
Thevalues of total phytomass at Monte Minardo, vary from 1.51 to 158.58 Mg ha-1in tress from 1 to 52 years; in the artificial ecosystems of Castanea sativa these values were22.3 –24.08 Mg ha-1,in trees from 7 and 8 years, and from 83.25 to 99.55 Mg ha-1, in trees from 12 to 22 years; thesevalues depend on the age, pruning method, exposure and altitude, while in thewoods of Genista aetnensis, the values were 16.0 to 48.4 Mg ha-1respectively in those of 8 and 14 – 18 years old and depend on thedensity and edaphic conditions of the plot other than age.
Inthe other natural ecosystems investigated the total phytomass was 45.96 Mg ha-1,in 35 year old trees in the ecosystem of Betula aetnensis, 93.36 in Quercuscerris of 25 years of age, 94.0 in Pinus laricio, of 20 – 25years, and 131.92 and 140.17 Mg ha-1, at 45 and 46 years for Fagussylvatica.
Theseresults have been compared with those reported by other authors as regardssimilar ecosystems in various parts of Mediterranean Europe.