Sjálfsáning stafafuru (Pinus contorta) í nágrenni Furuskógar við Hrafnagjá

A study on self-seeding lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) around Furuskógur near Hrafnagjá, Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, reveals that 21 self-seeded plants were found within 100 meters of the plantation edge, with most concentrated in open and disturbed areas like lava-field heath and along roads or trails. The research, conducted on July 4–5, 2025, used four transects to assess seedling distribution, finding that wind direction influenced dispersal patterns, with the farthest seedling (79 meters away) located in a crosswind transect. No coned-bearing plants were observed, suggesting limited reproductive maturity. The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of plantation edges and open habitats to track invasive spread in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Valdason, Á. (2026). Sjálfsáning stafafuru (Pinus contorta) í nágrenni Furuskógar við Hrafnagjá (Version 1.0). Þjóðgarðinn á Þingvöllum. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.22659448