V. 81 N. 2s (2026): Atti della Conferenza Foreste vetuste e antichi alberi: un tesoro di natura, vita e cultura. Firenze 1 ottobre 2025 / Vallombrosa 2-3 ottobre 2025
Reviews

Processi ecofisiologici ed ecosistemici nei boschi vetusti

Roberto Tognetti
Libera Università di Bolzano, Piazza Università - 39100, Bolzano, Italia.

Pubblicato 2026-10-06

Parole chiave

  • crescita,
  • risorsa,
  • invecchiamento,
  • produttività,
  • ecofisiologia

Come citare

Tognetti, R. (2026). Processi ecofisiologici ed ecosistemici nei boschi vetusti. L’Italia Forestale E Montana, 81(2s), 222–240. https://doi.org/10.36253/ifm-1206

Abstract

I boschi vetusti rappresentano oggi un riferimento essenziale per orientare strategie adattative di gestione, conservazione e ripristino degli ecosistemi forestali: conservano grandi quantità di carbonio, ospitano biodiversità e mostrano processi ecologici che nei boschi giovani o gestiti sono assenti o meno evidenti. Capire come funzionano aiuta a prevedere la stabilità futura delle foreste e la loro capacità di rispondere a siccità, aumento delle temperature e altri stress. Con l’aumento dell’età e delle dimensioni, gli alberi affrontano vincoli diversi da quelli delle piante giovani. Devono trasportare acqua più in alto, mantenere una maggiore massa viva e sostenere chiome complesse. Questi fattori possono ridurre la crescita e la produttività, sia del singolo albero sia dell’intero popolamento. A livello individuale, il rallentamento può dipendere da maggiori costi respiratori, limiti idraulici e minore efficienza fotosintetica. A livello di popolamento, può essere associato a minore disponibilità di nutrienti e a una maggiore allocazione di risorse verso componenti non legnose. Resta però incerto quanto questi processi causino davvero il declino produttivo osservato. Età, dimensioni, genetica, ambiente e disturbi interagiscono in modi ancora poco chiari, limitando la capacità di prevedere la risposta delle foreste vetuste al cambiamento globale. 

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