Postpyrogenic Successions in Oak–Korean Pine Schisandra–Hazel Forests in Sikhote-Alin

The results of long-term stationary studies of the formation and development of oak–Korean pine schisandra–hazel forests of the Southern and Middle Sikhote-Alin are discussed. Specific features of the stand decline, seed-based reforestation, and the tree species growth and development during the reforestation successions in areas with different wildfire intensity are considered. After persistent ground fires, the stand decline is most intensive in the first 5 years; the decay rates and the number of survived trees vary in different types of burnt areas. The most active seed-based reforestation occurs on postfire sites during the first 2 years. The sprouts of birch, aspen, and other early-successional species predominate. The highest rates of annual growth of the young generation of trees are at the areas significantly damaged by fire; in serial species (birch, aspen, Manchurian cherry, etc.) they are an order of magnitude higher than in climax broadleaf and coniferous species. The dominance indices that equally depend on the abundance of undergrowth, forest thinners, and large trees show that, during reforestation successions after both rapid and persistent surface fires, the phytocoenotic importance dynamics in Korean pine, Mongolian oak, and other forest forming species has its own peculiarities.