might exceed earlier ‘normal’ levels, eventualty lead to
permanent changes.
The question of adaptability is the main problem in
clonal forestry. Stands with only one or a few genotypes
have a greatly reduced adaptability on the population
level (evolutionary adaptability) leading to lack of
resilience. Forest stands with one or a few genotypes
especially selected for good performance in a particular
environment, are unlikely to have enough buffering
capacity in an uncertain future (Perry and Maghembe,
1989).
Artificial regeneration traditionally using a limited
number of plants raised in modern plant production
systems limits the possibilities of natural selection
against undesirable (sellings) and poorly adapted genotypes
during stand development. This might lead to
reduction in both resistance and resilience, thereby
affecting future structural stability. These problems are
discussed by Hattemer and Miiller-Starck ( 1988), Hattemer
( 1994) and Ackzell and Lindgren ( 1994 ) _ However,
the ecological significance of such limitations in
the selection potential in artificial established stands is
only insufficiently analyzed and far from understood.