3. Results
3.1. Managed versus unmanaged stands
Managed stands had significantly fewer snags and largediameter
trees than unmanaged ones (18% and 22% lower in
managed stands, respectively) (Table 1). When we analysed
the main forest types separately, the results were the same
except for Quercus suber stands, where silvicultural
treatments greatly increased the number of large-diameter
trees (Table 2).
Managed stands in Catalonia had significantly higher values
of shrub and tree species richness and tree species diversity than
unmanaged ones (Tables 1 and 2). The difference was larger for
tree species richness and diversity (7% and 13% higher in
managed stands, respectively) than for shrub species richness
(4% higher in managed stands) (Table 1). No significant effect
of forest management on shrub abundance was observed when
considering all the forest types together, although the mean
value of this indicator was slightly lower in managed forests
(Table 1).