CROWN TRANSPARENCY OF BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVATICA L.) IN THE NORTHERN APENNINES (ITALY) - STATUS, CHANGES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH SITE CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER INDEXES OF TREE CONDITION

Explained and unexplained crown transparency (ECT and UCT, respectivel y) of 2090 beech trees were examined in 1994 and compared with site co ndition and other indices of tree status. No relationship was found be tween UCT, social class, age and diameter. Some relationships were fou nd between UCT, canopy closure, the amount of discolored foliage, the growth pattern (a modified Roloff score), fruiting and regeneration. U CT increases with altitude and decrease with site quality. Short-term changes in UCT do not exceed 5% in approximately 70% of the observed b reeches, although changes of 20% or more in UCT scores has been record ed on 6% of the beeches. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.