Two fully established experimental sites will be established, one in Zedelgem (West-Vlaanderen) and one in Gedinne (Ardenne), with synthetic communities of single species and plots with increasing tree species richness for long-term monitoring. Characteristics of the sites are summarised in the table below.
| Zedegem (Flanders) | Gedinne (Wallonia) | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude |
|
370 m |
| Soil type |
Acidic sandy soils |
Acidic loamy soil |
| Former land use |
Arable fields |
Spruce plantation |
| Size |
9.5 hectares |
7.4 hectares |
| Species pool |
Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus petraea, Tilia cordata |
To be determined |
The experimental design will be as follows in each of the study sites:
- 5 plots x 4 diversity levels (1, 2, 3 & 4) x 2 replications = 40 plots
- Plots measure ~44mx44m
- All five species occur in similar frequency (20/40) and all two-species combinations occur in a similar frequency as well (10/40)
- Planting density of 1.5m x 1.5m, cells of 9 individuals per species
- Buffer zone of 1 tree line (i.e. 3 m) between plots
