%0 Research article
%T Forest age distribution and traces of past fires in a natural boreal landscape dominated by Picea abies
%A Wallenius, Tuomo
%D 2002
%J Silva Fennica
%V 36
%N 1
%R doi:10.14214/sf.558
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/558
%X Forest age distribution and occurrence of traces of past fires was  studied in a natural Picea abies -dominated landscape in the Onega  peninsula in north-west Russia. Forest age (maximum tree age) was  determined and charcoal and fire scars were searched for in 43 randomly  located study plots. In 70% of the study plots (30/43) trees older than  200 years existed. The largest 50-year age class consisted of plots with  251–300 year old forests. Traces of fires were found in all types of  study plots, in forests on mineral soil as well as on peatlands.  However, fire has been a rare disturbance factor, as traces of fires  could not be found in 35% of the study plots (15/43). Estimated from the  forest age class distribution, the fire rotation time for the whole  area has been at least 300 years, but possibly considerably longer. This  fire rotation time is much longer than fire history studies (largely  based on examination of fire scars) commonly have reported for the  average time between successive fires in Fennoscandia and Northwest  Russia. The results suggest that the often stated generalisations about  the importance and natural frequency of fire disturbance in boreal  forests do not apply in landscapes dominated by Picea abies.