Several studies based on isozyme gene markers
showed no or only weak effects of selective thinning
on the allelic and genotypic structures of Central
European stand-forming tree species (Hussendo¨rfer
and Konnert, 2000; Konnert and Bauer, 2001; Wolf,
2001; Dounavi et al., 2002). In several studies
observed heterozygosity moderately increased after
thinning, but the allelic multiplicity decreased. As
expected, loss of rare alleles depends on the intensity
of the thinning operation and is particularly pronounced
if a high proportion of trees is removed in
small populations (Ka¨tzel et al., 2001).
Natural regeneration is usually promoted by selective
removal of trees. Thus, selective cutting prior to
the initiation of natural regeneration is part of many
harvesting operations. A reduction of density in
mature forests potentially affects gene dispersal
and the mating system (see above) and decreases
population size. Thus, genetic drift is a threat to the
maintenance of genetic variation in particular for
small and isolated populations if many trees are
removed during thinning and harvesting operations
in mature forests (case study 5). However, the variation
of the progeny generation also depends on the
amount of gene flow from surrounding forests, and
the effects of a reduced population size on levels of
genetic variation may be balanced by gene flow for
species with efficient dispersal means for pollen and
diaspores.