Přirozená regenerace smrku v horské smrčině a na plochách disturbovaných kůrovcem

The natural regeneration of Picea abies in undisturbed mountain spruce forests as well as in disturbed areas formed by windstorms and overgrowth of bark beetles, especially spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus), takes place primarily through seed germination from a transitional soil seed bank. The quality of the soil seed bank depends on the amount of seeds available, which varies significantly throughout years, and on environment conditions. Interannual changes in the amount of seeds produced are caused by the irregular occurrence of seed years, which reflects weather changes in the context of ongoing climate change. Increased average air temperature and unevenly distributed rainfalls throughout the year have a positive effect on the spruce phenology, seed abundance and quality and results in increasing frequency of seed years. The large amount of seeds during seed years induces increased abundance of granivores for which the seeds are the source of nutrients and environment for their development. Seed predators of invertebrates and, small vertebrates groups and fungal pathogens significantly reduce the proportion of seeds needed for spruce natural regeneration. This bachelor thesis summarizes up to now knowledge explaining mechanisms and interactions associated with the soil seed bank of Picea...