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As one of the main terrain factors, the slope aspect generally shows remarkable effects on microclimate and vegetation distribution. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential effects of the slope aspect on soil respiration and the soil microbial community in a temperate mountain forest. A field investigation was carried out in a mountain oak forest located at different slope aspects (northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest), and soil respiration was continuously measured for 12 months. The soil's bacterial and fungal taxa were analyzed during the growing season. Our results showed that average soil respiration on the southwest and southeast slope aspects was 72.9% higher than the average on the northeast and northwest slope aspects. The coefficient of variation of soil respiration had the highest value on the northwest aspect (20.9%) and the lowest value on the southeast aspect (6.9%). The southeast slope had significantly higher soil respiration and temperature sensitivity compared to the other three slope aspects. The slope aspect substantially affected the soil's bacterial and fungal r/K strategy, showing the lowest values on the northwest aspect and the highest values on the southeast aspect. Differences in bacterial r/K, the ratio of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) to soil organic carbon (SOC), and SOC among slope aspects contributed to a 43%, 38%, and 32% variation in soil respiration, respectively. The variation of soil temperature across slope aspects showed an indirect effect on soil respiration through changing bacterial r/K and MBC/SOC. Our findings highlight that terrain plays a critical role in regulating the spatial heterogeneity of soil respiration in mountain forests, which could be explained by the differences in SOC and microbial community composition across slope aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil bacteria, the predominant microbiota in soil, are subject to the law of minimum and the law of tolerance, but the assembly patterns of soil bacteria in response to environmental factors remain far from clear. Here, we took advantage of an altitudinal gradient (1020–1770 asl) in oak-dominant forests and assessed whether soil bacteria linearly or nonlinearly respond to environmental properties through the changes in the community diversity and composition. We found that soil bacteria decreased with increasing altitude in terms of the species richness and phylogenetic structure, while they were unchanged with increasing altitude in terms of community composition. The species richness was nonlinearly affected by the soil pH (19.9%), C:N ratio (14.3%), SOC (11.4%), and silt + clay content (9.9%). Specifically, the species richness peaked at a pH of 5.5–6.5, and an SOC of 25–50 g kg−1, and it showed abrupt decreases and increases at a C:N ratio of 14.5 and a silt + clay content of 70%. The community composition was significantly affected by the soil pH (28.2%), then by the SOC (3.6%), available phosphorus (1.0%), and silt + clay content (0.5%), and it showed less turnovers at a pH of 6.0, SOC of 50 g kg−1, and available phosphorus > 3.0 g kg−1. These findings imply that environmental filtering processes nonlinearly shape bacterial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The diet of the Atlas Flycatcher, an endemic bird species of North Africa is studied in Northeastern Algeria in the forest of Guerrouch in the Taza National Park. The diet analysis was based on the examination of the faecal sacs of the nestlings (n=150) collected in nest boxes installed in a mixed formation of Algerian oak and African oak (Quercus canariensis and Quercus afares). A total of 854 food items were identified, representing 49 prey taxa. The analysis of centesimal frequencies by class revealed the clear dominance of Insecta with 85.12%, followed by Arachnida 13.34%, Gastropoda 1.28% and Malacostraca 0.23%. Regarding orders, the diet was constituted mainly of Coleoptera 44.37%, followed by Hemiptera 21.89% and Araneae 13.34%. The size of the prey taxa varied between 3 and 14 mm with an average of 7.11±3.14 mm. The best represented size class was that which varies between 3 and 4.37 mm. To test the homogeneity between the 4 nest boxes sampled, an ANOVA test was applied. The results show the presence of 2 distinct groups of nesting boxes concerning the variable number of families / faecal sacs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is declining at various scales due to habitat simplification. Nevertheless, there is scarce information on how the biotic and abiotic changes linked to simplification affect several diversity dimensions, such as taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities. This study investigated whether transforming natural oak forests into induced grasslands affected species diversity, functional group structure, and phylogenetic diversity of ant assemblages inhabiting a temperate forest in central Mexico. We placed over 1000 pitfall traps in five sampling events covering a ten‐year period. We used Hill numbers to evaluate species diversity differences between vegetation types and patterns over time. Ant species were classified into stress‐related functional groups, which were analyzed for their association with vegetation types and changes to their proportional abundance over time. We calculated the standardized effect size of the mean nearest taxon distance to quantify the evolutionary history and test for non‐random patterns within vegetation types and sampling years. Species richness did not differ between vegetation types, yet grasslands showed greater diversity for the q = 1 and q = 2 orders. , We also found three ant species as bioindicators for each type of vegetation. Regarding functional structure, cold climate specialists were associated with oak forests. In contrast, generalist species were predominant in induced grasslands. Higher phylogenetic diversity with an overdispersed structure was associated with oak forest, whereas lower phylogenetic diversity and a clustered pattern were found in induced grassland. These results indicate that habitat simplification may not affect the number of ant species, but rather increases their relative abundance and reorganizes the functional and phylogenetic structure in the ecosystem, particularly shifting towards the dominance of evolutionary closely related species and broad‐stress‐tolerant groups. These results highlight the importance of integrating further dimensions of diversity to properly evaluate the reassembly dynamics after habitat simplification, and understand the mechanisms driving this biodiversity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of the spongy moth Lymantria dispar can have devastating impacts on forest resources and ecosystems. Lepidoptera‐specific insecticides, such as Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (BTK) and tebufenozide, are often deployed to prevent heavy defoliation of the forest canopy. While it has been suggested that using BTK poses less risk to non‐target Lepidoptera than leaving an outbreak untreated, in situ testing of this assumption has been impeded by methodological challenges. The trade‐offs between insecticide use and outbreaks have yet to be addressed for tebufenozide, which is believed to have stronger side effects than BTK. We investigated the short‐term trade‐offs between tebufenozide treatments and no‐action strategies for the non‐target herbivore community in forest canopies. Over 3 years, Lepidoptera and Symphyta larvae were sampled by canopy fogging in 48 oak stands in southeast Germany during and after a spongy moth outbreak. Half of the sites were treated with tebufenozide and changes in canopy cover were monitored. We contrasted the impacts of tebufenozide and defoliator outbreaks on the abundance, diversity, and functional structure of chewing herbivore communities. Tebufenozide treatments strongly reduced Lepidoptera up to 6 weeks after spraying. Populations gradually converged back to control levels after 2 years. Shelter‐building species dominated caterpillar assemblages in treated plots in the post‐spray weeks, while flight‐dimorphic species were slow to recover and remained underrepresented in treated stands 2 years post‐treatment. Spongy moth outbreaks had minor effects on leaf chewer communities. Summer Lepidoptera decreased only when severe defoliation occurred, whereas Symphyta declined 1 year after defoliation. Polyphagous species with only partial host plant overlap with the spongy moth were absent from heavily defoliated sites, suggesting greater sensitivity of generalists to defoliation‐induced plant responses. These results demonstrate that both tebufenozide treatments and spongy moth outbreaks alter canopy herbivore communities. Tebufenozide had a stronger and longer lasting impact, but it was restricted to Lepidoptera, whereas the outbreak affected both Lepidoptera and Symphyta. These results are tied to the fact that only half of the outbreak sites experienced severe defoliation. This highlights the limited accuracy of current defoliation forecast methods, which are used as the basis for the decision to spray insecticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A blend of longhorn beetle pheromones was tested as a generic attractant in a Central European oak forest. Overall, 20 cerambycid species totalling 1250 specimens were captured using two trap types.More adults of Phymatodes testaceus and Leiopus nebulosus nebulosus were attracted to pheromone‐baited traps compared to solvent controls. Significant numbers of four other species were caught by panel traps but not funnel traps. For the cerambycine Pyrrhidium sanguineum, significantly more beetles were caught in treatment traps than controls. For the cerambycine Anaglyptus mysticus, lepturines Cortodera humeralis and Rhagium sycophanta, the numbers of beetles caught in treatment or control traps were similar, indicating no attraction to the lure blend. Adults of a predatory clerid beetle Clerus mutillarius were caught in significantly larger numbers by both baited trap types in comparison to controls, totalling 1514 specimens.Antennae of both sexes of C. mutillarius showed responses to 3‐hydroxyhexan‐2‐one and 2‐methylbutan‐1‐ol, and males also responded to syn‐2,3‐hexanediol.Strong attraction of C. mutillarius suggests eavesdropping on the pheromones of cerambycids and that such attractant baits, without traps, might be used to manipulate the local population density of predators in a push‐pull biological control program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functioning of tropical montane ecosystems are key provider of environmental services. However, climate and land use change interactively affect the ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes that support the provision of such services. We evaluate the effect of land use/land coverand the seasonality and intensity of the rainfall on the ecological functions of erosion control and nutrient regulation in a gradient of human intervention in the Central Andes of Colombia. Our results show that soil erosion (kg/ha/year) was higher in the transitory crop (187.7), followed by the permanent crop (98.2), and much lower in the pasture (8.0) and native forest (7.2). Our results also indicate a differential effect of land use and rainfall seasonality on erosion and nutrient transport, both processes being significantly higher in crops and lower in forest, both for the wet and dry seasons. However, the relationships between erosion and rainfall intensity varied depending on the hydrological season (in the wet seasons, no linear model was significant, while in the dry seasons, linear models for maximum rainfall intensity were significant in both crops and in the oak forest, and linear models with mean intensity were significant for both types of crops). Nitrogen exhibited the highest rates of transport, which can have important implications for water and soil pollution. Nitrogen transport via erosion (g/ha/year) was consistent with erosion results, being higher in the transitory crop (399.9) and permanent crop (265.3) that in the oak forest (6.9) and pasture (6.8). These results indicate that converting forests affects the capacity of ecosystems to provide environmental services, which is further amplified by projections of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ice storms, as important sources of frequent and injurious disturbances, drive forest dynamics in the Northern Hemisphere. However, stand-level differential vulnerability to ice storms and the associated factors that predispose forest stands remain unclear. This is particularly concerning in the subtropics where the frequency of ice storms is predicted to increase with global warming. Here we assessed how the impact on three forest stands (early and late secondary-growth forests, and old-growth forests) differed after an extreme ice storm during 20-21 March 2022, and identified the abiotic and biotic factors that determine the damage intensity in the Shennongjia World Natural Heritage Site, a biodiversity conservation hotspot in central China. We found a stand-specific 'middomain effect' where the late secondary-growth forest sustained the most severe damage, the early secondarygrowth forest sustained the least, and the old-growth forest suffered an intermediate amount. 'Crown broken' was the most severe damage type across all three forest stands, although the proportion of 'branch broken' was also high in the old-growth forest. Topography played a significant role in determining the vulnerability of the early secondary-growth forest to severe ice storms whereas the forest structure and composition were important factors in explaining the damage rates in the old-growth forest, although they differed among the damage categories. In contrast, topography, forest structure and composition generally explain the intensity of damage in the late secondary-growth forests. Our results highlight that, in subtropical forests, the intensity of damage caused by severe ice storms and related determining factors are stand-level dependent. We also suggest exploring potential management strategies (e.g., slow-growing hardwood species that can resist storms should be the main species for reforestation in early secondary-growth forests) to mitigate the risk of future severe ice storms, as well as other wind-related climatic extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a long-term sampling of the ectomycorrhizal fungi in remnant fragments of both lowland oak forest and montane cloud forest, in central Veracruz, Mexico, a new species, Tylopilus tropicalis of the Tylopilus balloui group, was discovered, along with a new record of T. oradivensis originally described from Costa Rica. Macro- and micromorphological features, a phylogenetic analysis of a concatenated ITS, 28S and RPB1 dataset, as well as ecological distribution, support the hypotheses. The new species proposed here grows under Quercus sapotifolia, and T. oradivensis appears near Q. xalapensis in the tropical oak forest and in the montane cloud forest, respectively. Both species treated here are described, illustrated, and discussed. An artificial key is provided to distinguish both species from other closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six bacteria (Bacillus velezensis 13, Bacillus subtillis 42, Pseudomonas fluorescens E221, Pseudomonas Poae EE12, Rahnella sp. EM1, and Serratia sp. EM2) isolated from the soil and litter of Mexican oak forests were characterized by identifying their ability to acquire phosphorus from different sources, analyzed for their biocontrol capabilities against two different phytopathogenic fungi, and finally tested for their ability to stimulate the germination of maize seeds and promotion of maize seedling growth. The greatest capacity to biocontrol the mycelial growth of phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum was found in B. velezensis 13 and B. subtillis 42. P. poae EE12 and P. fluorescens E221 significantly promoted germination and the length of the primary root in Zea mays. Rahnella sp. EM1 and Serratia sp. EM2 could produce indole compounds related to auxin synthesis and increased the fresh weight of the maize seedlings. Together, these isolates represent an alternative to reduce the use of agrochemicals in maize cultivation. In general, soil microorganisms from Mexican oak forests represent a source of genetic resources for the sustainable management and conservation of soils for agricultural use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand forest services at stand level through the integration of structural attributes, forest structures in three main stand types were analyzed based on various structural attributes relating to the services of habitat conservation, timber production and soil water conservation in Loess Plateau, China. Forty sample plots with similar site and environment conditions were established in three types of oak stands. Twenty-two indexes such as stand density, mean DBH, mean height, etc., were selected to analyze the relationship between structural attributes and forest service. With a core set of structural attributes selected by principal component analysis, the link between the service and structural attributes and the compatibility between each service was analyzed using correlation analysis. The results show that the oak–broadleaf mixed forest has the highest structural complexity index (SCI), indicating the best habitat conservation among others, while the oak–pine mixed forest and pure oak forest have the highest timber value in different scenarios of timber price, indicating the largest potential for timber production. Little differences were found between stand types regarding the indicators for soil water conservation. The structural attributes that had a positive correlation with habitat conservation (e.g., number of shrub species, species richness of canopy layer, the proportion of broadleaves and snag density) were identified to be negative for timber production; while the attributes that had a positive correlation with timber production (e.g., stand density and proportion of pine and oaks) were found to be negative for habitat conservation. The results of the trade-off analysis showed that timber production tends to be conflicting with the other two non-timber forest services. In order to enhance the provisioning of multiple services, it was suggested to implement the interventions that could balance these services, such as structural retention and single-tree selective logging. This study could contribute to the theoretical base for the decision making in the multi-purpose sustainable management of oak forests in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green oak tortrix (Tortrix viridana L.) is a pest that is changing the phenological pattern and the leaf area index (LAI) of trees in the Zagros region. We compared LAI changes in control (pest-free) and pest-affected areas of oak forests located in Sardasht city, Azerbaijan province, western Iran. During the developmental stage of the canopy (April to December 2020), 32 pictures were taken at 15 locations using a fisheye lens camera at both study sites. Correlation of LAI with meteorological parameters such as temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), precipitation, evaporation, and daylight hours were studied. Average LAI value in the control (1.51) was significantly greater than that of the pest-affected area (0.90). LAI peaked at 1.32 in the pest affected area on June, 8, 2020, whereas the peak value of 1.81 was observed 8 days earlier (May, 31, 2020) in the control area. Apart from rainfall, LAI demonstrated a significant positive correlation with all climatic parameters in both control and pest areas. However, LAI showed a stronger correlation with climatic parameters in the control area (mean r=0.6) compared to the pest-affected area (mean r=0.4). In both studied areas, temperature had the highest correlation coefficients with LAI (0.7 in the control vs. 0.5 in the pest-affected area). The sensitivity of LAI to both green oak tortrix and climatic parameters suggests that the climate change may result in future alterations on oak tree phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experimental Biology (1563-0218) is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agrociencia is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Some unusual specimens of the wood-inhabiting fungus Auricularia auricula-judae have been studied using morphological and molecular methods. As expected from external features, we describe a new species Auricularia cerrina sp. nov. Sequencing of the ITS region confirms differences from other species of Auricularia, and preliminary phylogenetic analysis is presented. Auricularia cerrina is characterized by blackish fruitbodies in fresh conditions with the combined presence of the medulla layer and small spores compared with Auricularia auricula-judae. The new species is based on specimens from the Czech Republic (central Europe) of Quercus cerris. Colour photographs in situ of fruitbodies and some microscopic photos are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inefficient management of protected areas (PAs) is often due to ignoring their surrounding matrix in the baseline studies, especially in wooded landscapes. In Iran, the application of landscape structure studies in protection policies and PA management is not prevalent. In this study, land cover changes in Dena Rural District (including parts of inside and outside Dena PA) have analyzed using the process of the Landsat images along with field survey two times (1989 and 2018). The landscape structural integrity was quantified based on the situation of oak forest land and its alteration. The composition and the configuration of oak forest land were assessed by metrics based on the moving extent of the Persian squirrel, Sciurus anomalus (which is an endangered focal endemic species completely dependent on the oak forest). Alterations of landscape structural integrity were compared for inside and outside Dena PA and at different altitudes. The results show connectivity loss and increased fragmentation of oak remnant patches, but this deforestation is more severe near areas facing direct human impacts and interventions. These are among attributes that are to be considered for zoning PA (such as controlling zone and training/participation zone). At higher altitudes, physical protection and strict control are more effective, while training local communities for stewardship is more essential at lower altitudes for conserving woodland integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences in nutrient acquisition pathways between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi are associated with greater soil organic matter accumulation and reduced inorganic nitrogen (N) availability in EM‐dominated forests. These plant–soil feedbacks are expected to influence seedling recruitment and the maintenance of diversity.Montane forests of Central America are characterized by a mosaic of AM and EM dominance. We used a seedling transplant and soil manipulation experiment on Volcán Barú, Panama, to evaluate whether patches of oak (EM‐dominated) forest and mixed (AM‐dominated) forest affect seedling growth. We predicted that (a) plant–soil feedbacks would result in lower soil inorganic N availability in oak than in mixed forests, (b) consequently AM seedlings would grow more slowly and have lower foliar N concentrations in oak forest and (c) dependence of EM seedlings on organic N uptake via mycorrhiza would mean that inorganic N addition would increase seedling performance for AM but not EM (i.e. oak) seedlings. As soil organic matter accumulation may affect seedling performance beyond altering nutrient supply, we also tested whether organic matter removal differentially affected AM and EM seedlings.Nitrogen availability was six times lower and the soil organic layer three times deeper in oak‐dominated stands compared to mixed stands. Foliar N was lower for AM seedlings growing in oak than in mixed forest, but did not differ for oak seedlings and was increased only marginally by N addition for both AM and EM seedlings growing in both AM and EM forests. Seedling growth did not respond to N addition or organic matter removal. However, AM seedlings generally grew slower in oak forest compared with AM forest, consistent with lower foliar N concentration and low‐light availability. These results suggest that changes in soil nitrogen availability have a limited effect on seedling growth.In the neotropics, EM tree communities occur at high elevation. Future upslope migration of trees may result in AM‐dominated tree communities encountering unfavourable soil conditions generated by EM‐dominated canopies. While longer term experiments are needed, our results suggest that AM seedlings may not be able to tolerate conditions associated with EM forest. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and socioeconomic factors are modifying fire regimes. In this scenario, some taxa, such as amphibians, may be increasingly vulnerable. We examined the response of amphibian species to fire severity after a 1600-ha fire in a fire-active region located in the north-western Iberian Peninsula. This area is a biogeographical crossroad where Atlantic and Mediterranean amphibian species can coexist in the same ponds. We sampled 33 water points in native (mainly oak) and exotic (eucalyptus) forests. Water points were sampled in two different periods: just after the fire to report direct mortality, and two years after the fire to evidence amphibian resilience. We examined the influence of forest type and fire severity on the number of amphibian species detected per point (species richness). Species richness per point varied depending on both forest type (i.e. higher richness in the native forest) and fire severity. Both Atlantic and Mediterranean groups showed higher species richness at native than at exotic points. The occurrence of Atlantic species did not change with fire whereas the number of Mediterranean species increased at sites affected by highseverity fires. This study identified the negative effect of eucalyptus plantations on amphibians and showed that the response of this taxon to fire is partially shaped by species-specific bioregion affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty regarding how subalpine forest ecosystems respond to tree harvesting hinders their sustainable management and conservation strategies. To investigate the impact of oak (Quercus aquifolioides Rehd. et Wils.) harvesting and stand recovery processes on soil microbial communities and understory vegetation on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, we sampled and quantified the microbial community structure and understory vegetation in three age classes (1 year, 10 years, and 20 years since tree logging) of harvested stands and an un-harvested reference (control) stand of subalpine oak forest. Our result showed logging significantly altered the edaphic properties (p < 0.001) and shifted microbial community structure (p < 0.05), increasing the abundances of the Actinobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) but decreasing fungi and general, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Post-harvest evolution increased the biomass of understory vegetation and reshaped its community. Fungi (18:1ω7c, 18:1ω9c) and gram-negative bacteria (18:2ω7c, cy19:0) abundances changed significantly (p < 0.01) after harvesting and during stand recovery, suggesting their potential use as indicators for post-harvest oak recovery. Structural equation modeling (SEqM) revealed that, via litter, residue, and edaphic properties, the recovery process indirectly promoted microbe abundance while the overstory vegetation regrowth inhibited the plant community's biomass in the understory. Microbial communities only had a minor, direct effect on understory vegetation. Litter and edaphic factors played important roles in reshaping understory plant and soil microbial communities for post-harvest evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spittlebugs have been identified as the main European vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. in different pathosystems. However, our knowledge about bacterium epidemiology in Apulian (Southern Italy) olive orchards is currently limited to the late spring secondary (olive-to-olive) spread mediated by the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius (L.). Summer dispersal toward wild trees and shrubs is a common trait observed in several spittlebug species that could have important impacts on X. fastidiosa epidemiology. Here, we report preliminary data on presence and abundance of spittlebugs during the year in four different habitats interspersed with cultivated orchards within a natural area in Apulia. In two surveyed habitats, a pine forest and a lake shore, the latter dominated by elm plants, spittlebug adults peaked during the period June-September, with maximum values in July-August on elm. Three spittlebug species, Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen), P. spumarius and Philaenus italosignus Drosopoulos et Remane were evenly collected on pine plants, while the latter was the most abundant on elms. A few individuals were collected on elm throughout the end of the year, while on pines spittlebugs were only collected in summer. The possible implications of our findings for X. fastidiosa epidemiology in both cultivated orchards and natural habitats, together with future research needs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to know the influence of environmental conditions on the distribution of oak species in the Tlemcen Mountains. We made a bioclimatic and floristic study on four stations located on the mountain ranges of the Tlemcen Mountains. This study was carried out, taking into account the ecological aspect oriented towards the presence of oak species within the four study stations. The main ecological gradients governing the ecological trends of oak forests in this area have been characterized. The ecological dynamics of oak taxa within the local floristic procession for each station was analyzed by Mintab 16 software according to factorial discrimination of correspondences (A.FC), which led us to highlight the most influential ecological gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forest fire incidences in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India are very common in summers. Pine and oak are the principal and dominant species of Himalayan subtropical forest and Himalayan temperate forest, respectively. Forest vegetation influences the physicochemical and biological properties of soil and forest fire in pine and oak forests may have a different effect on the physicochemical and biological properties of soil. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the impact of forest fire on soil microbial properties, enzymatic activity, and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties in the advent of forest fire in the pine and oak forests of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Results: The soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, soil basal respiration, and acid phosphatase activity decreased, whereas dehydrogenase activity increased at burnt sites of both forest types. The overall change in soil microbial biomass carbon was 63 and 40% at the burnt oak forest and burnt pine forest, respectively. Dehydrogenase activity and acid phosphatase activity showed a strong positive correlation with soil organic matter (r = 0.8) and microbial indices, respectively. The ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon/nitrogen was reduced at burnt sites of both forest types. Factor analysis results showed that fire had a significant impact on soil characteristics. The soil basal respiration was linked with macro- and micronutrients at burnt sites, whereas at control sites, it was linked with physicochemical properties of soil along with nutrients. Conclusion: Forest fire had a significant impact on soil properties of both forest types. The impact of forest fire on soil microbial biomass carbon was stronger in the oak forest than in the pine forest. Forest type influenced soil enzymatic activity at burnt sites. The bacterial community was dominated over fungi in burnt sites of both forests. Soil microbial indices can be used as a selective measure to assess the impact of fire. Furthermore, forest type plays an important role in regulating the impact of forest fire on soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regeneration of pedunculate oak by shelterwood cutting causes profound ecological changes in the regenerated stands. In this paper, we studied how the pedunculate oak leaf miner community changes after shelterwood cutting with a short regeneration period and does the stand age influence the trend of seasonal variation in their diversity. Leaf miners were chosen because they are a very diverse group of insects closely tied to their host plant. For this reason, their community reacts to all changes to which their host plant is subjected. Three regenerated (5, 10, and 15-year-old) and one control (110-year-old forest) stand were selected in the studied area. A total of 28 species of leaf miners were recorded in them. Many rare species disappeared after shelterwood cutting, while frequent and abundant species experienced a decline in numbers. That led to a decrease in diversity, which was the lowest in the 5-year-old stand. The diversity of leaf miners began to increase in the older regenerated stands. The highest diversity was observed in the control stand. A period of 5 years is needed for the recolonization of approx. 40% of the leaf miner fauna, while 10 years is the recolonization period for approx. 60% and 15 years for approx. 85% of the above fauna. The trend of seasonal variation of the diversity of the pedunculate oak leaf miner community varied in stands of different ages. The diversity of oak leaf miners was the lowest in spring, whereas it increased until the middle of summer and then decreased in all the studied stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambrosia beetles, including Cyclorhipidion bodoanum, are frequently introduced into new areas through the international trade of wood and wood products. Cyclorhipidion bodoanum is native to eastern Siberia, the Korean Peninsula, Northeast China, Southeast Asia, and Japan but has been introduced into North America, and Europe. In Europe, it was first discovered in 1960 in Alsace, France, from where it has slowly spread to the north, southeast, and east. In 2020, C. bodoanum was captured in an ethanol-baited insect trap in the Bohemian Massif in the western Czech Republic. The locality is covered by a forest of well-spaced oak trees of various ages, a typical habitat for this beetle. The capture of C. bodoanum in the Bohemian Massif, which is geographically isolated from the rest of Central Europe, confirms that the species is spreading east. The species probably spread naturally from Germany, but the period of establishment is difficult to estimate. Although the spread seems to be slow i.e. the beetle required about 60 years to spread from the borders of France and Switzerland to Bohemia, C. bodoanum may have spread more quickly but remained undetected in the newly invaded areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: What will happen to species diversity in a forest when exploitation of the canopy foliage terminates? The foliage of the main canopy tree of a mountain evergreen oak forest was harvested at different intensities prior to a forest survey in 1993 and resampled in 2013 after the harvest of canopy foliage ceased (1995). We predict a decrease in herbaceous species richness with increasing canopy cover, and an opposite trend for vines and woody species. We hypothesise that plant species' alpha and beta diversity will change most in the plots where foliage was most intensively harvested while showing less change in the plots that underwent almost no harvesting. Location: Temperate evergreen laurel–oak forest in the Himalaya, Nepal. Methods: We resampled all non‐epiphytic vascular plants in 64 plots of 10 m × 10 m in 2013, following the same protocol used in 1993. Plant species were categorised into three life forms; woody (except woody vines), herbaceous, and vines. Uni‐ and multivariate numerical methods were used to assess the significance of the changes in species diversity for different life forms. Results: Vines and woody species increased, whereas herbaceous species decreased, but overall gamma diversity remained unchanged. The overall alpha richness for herbaceous species decreased, while the opposite is true for woody and vine richness. Herbaceous richness decreased and woody richness increased in the areas with low and intermediate disturbance (in 1993), whereas vines remained unchanged. Only vine richness increased in the area that was very disturbed in 1993. Total species richness as well as herbaceous and vine richness decreased with increasing tree canopy cover. Conclusions: Plots that were intensively harvested in 1993 did not recover their richness because vines dominated the forest floor. Management should prevent overexploitation, and only allow low‐intensity canopy disturbance, which may facilitate habitat diversity and thereby enhance species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To develop a syntaxonomic classification of the xero-mesophytic broad-leaved oak forests of the Republic of Tatarstan with a preliminary analysis of their unique ecological features. Study area: The Republic of Tatarstan (European part of the Russian Federation). Methods: A total of 91 relevés were processed. Most of them (73.6%) were sampled in Tatarstan during 2016 and 2017, the remaining ones (26.4%) were historical published data. They were classified by means of a modified TWINSPAN algorithm using total inertia as a heterogeneity measure. Diagnostic, constant, and dominant species were identified using analytical tools in the JUICE 7.0 program. Results: The xero-mesophytic forests of the study area were assigned to four clusters. We describe two of them as new associations: Astragalo ciceri-Quercetum roboris ass. nova and Sanguisorbo officinalis-Quercetum roboris ass. nova. We classify them within the class Quercetea pubescentis. Conclusions: Our study is the first attempt to classify thermophilous and xero-mesophytic oak forests of the Republic of Tatarstan using the Braun-Blanquet system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong mutual relationships exist between rodents and ecosystems. By modifying the structure and functioning of ecosystems, human activity can affect rodent behaviour and ecology. The yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis is widespread in Europe, and its spatial ecology has been studied in various habitats, but studies are lacking for Mediterranean forests often altered by forest management practices. We investigated the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in a sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forest of central Italy subject to forest management. We radio-tracked 27 individuals in two different coppice stands, i.e. a recently cut area and a high forest, differing in terms of species-specific habitat quality and rodent population density. We analysed the size of home ranges in relation to habitat type and sex. Our results revealed that home range and core area size did not differ between habitat types or sexes. The spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis thus did not appear to be influenced by population density and habitat quality. The lack of sex-related differences confirms the current knowledge on the species' spatial ecology. Our findings provide the first useful information on the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forests, whose ecological processes may be markedly influenced by this key species at several trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Ant-plant mutualistic networks tend to have a nested structure that contributes to their stability, but the ecological factors that give rise to this structure are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate whether ant abundance and dominance hierarchy determine the structure of the ant-plant networks in two types of vegetation: oak and grassland, in two temperate environments of Mexico: Flor del Bosque State Park (FBSP) and La Malinche National Park (MNP). We predicted that dominant and abundant ant species make up the core, and submissives, the periphery of the network. We also expected a higher specialization level in the ant trophic level than in plant trophic level due to competition among the ant species for the plant-derived resources. Methods. The ant-plant interaction network was obtained from the frequency of antplant interactions. We calculated a dominance hierarchy index for the ants using sampling with baits and evaluated their abundance using pitfall traps. Results. In MNP, the Formica spp. species complex formed the core of the network (in both the oak forest and the grassland), while in FBSP, the core species were Prenolepis imparis (oak forest) and Camponotus rubrithorax (grassland). Although these core species were dominant in their respective sites, they were not necessarily the most dominant ant species. Three of the four networks (oak forest and grassland in FBSP, and oak forest in MNP) were nested and had a higher number of plant species than ant species. Although greater specialization was observed in the ant trophic level in the two sites and vegetations, possibly due to competition with the more dominant ant species, this was not statistically significant. In three of these networks (grassland and oak forest of MNP and oak forest of FBSP), we found no correlation between the dominance hierarchy and abundance of the ant species and their position within the network. However, a positive correlation was found between the nestedness contribution value and ant dominance hierarchy in the grassland of the site FBSP, which could be due to the richer ant-plant network and higher dominance index of this community. Conclusions. Our evidence suggests that ant abundance and dominance hierarchy have little influence on network structure in temperate ecosystems, probably due to the species-poor ant-plant network and a dominance hierarchy formed only by the presence of dominant and submissive species with no intermediate dominant species between them (absence of gradient in hierarchy) in these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date seven species of the genus SphaerotarsusWomersley, 1936 have been described namely, three exclusively from larvae, three from postlarval forms and one from larvae and postlarval forms. In this study, the larvae of a fifth species are described and illustrated from Iran, namely: Sphaerotarsus sadafae sp. nov. collected from soil and litter under oak trees, (Quercus spp). Also, a key to the world larval species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a one-year decomposition experiment on Quercus frainetto Ten. and Quercus cerris L. leaf litter in natural conditions. The decomposition rate constant was 0.831 yr-1 (Q. frainetto) and 0.458 yr-1 (Q. cerris). For the initial chemical composition of the oaks' litter, differences were not found in concentrations of lignin and fats, waxes and oil fractions, but were found for water-soluble matter, hemicellulose and cellulose. Later decomposition stages indicated that lignin and fats, waxes and oil fractions influenced differences in both oaks' litter decay rates. Anatomical analysis revealed differences between the oaks in leaf mesophyll and epidermis but not in the entire leaf and lower epidermis. Results after 12 months of the experiment revealed that 48.04% of the entire leaf, 53.30% of mesophyll, 32.93% of lignified upper and 47.67% of lower epidermis in Q. frainetto, and 28.70% of the entire leaf, 31.60% of mesophyll, 25.17% of lignified upper and 20.93% of lower epidermis in Q. cerris were decomposed. Reduction in leaf thickness mainly was caused by the reduction of mesophyll parenchyma, composed of easily degradable plant materials. Leaf tissues with the most recalcitrant plant materials were lignified upper epidermis, covered by a thick cuticle composed of fats and waxes, and xylem within the leaf veins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to evaluate the changes in land use that occurred in Pine and mixed forests, at the national level during the period 2001 to 2013. Design/Methodology/Approach: layers of Land Use and Vegetation (Sp. equ. USV) of Series II (from 2001) and V (from 2013) of the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía, scale 1: 250,000 were used. Different categories of vegetation under study were reclassified and homogenized for both covers. Rates of change and indicators of transitions were estimated for the spatial-temporary analysis: surfaces of estimated losses and gains, indices of persistence, exchanges and net changes; also, indices of gain and loss to persistence. Results: the rate of negative change for primary forests (Pine and mixed) ranges from 0.80 to 1.84. It was observed that 120 047 km² (57.72%) were stable surfaces. However, 36 986 km² (18.00%) were losses, 14 369 km² gains and 28 738 km² (14.00%) between categories. It was observed from 2001 to 2013 that 13.69% of the area corresponding to primary forests which existed in 2001 became part of secondary vegetation in 2013. Study limitations/Implications: in order to observe the influence of other categories, it would be important to incorporate more classes throughout the study to be analyzed globally in the system throughout the country. Findings/Conclusions: The persistence of the coverage of primary forests is important to design conservation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Our Forests / Naše Šume is the property of Udruzenje Inzinjera i Tehnicara Sumarstva Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Clear-cutting of Oak forests and intensive cultivation on the hilly regions of the Zagros Mountains has led to plausible threats on the natural ecosystem and catastrophic floods in western Iran. This study was conducted to explore the effects of clear-cutting of natural forests in different slope positions on some soil chemical and physical properties as well as quantification of soil redistribution using magnetic susceptibility. Two adjacent sites, including natural forest and cultivated lands, were selected and a total of six transects at three soil depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) and a total of seventy-two soil samples were examined. Soil properties such as particle size distributions, bulk density (ρb), calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), soil organic matter (SOM), and magnetic susceptibility at low and high frequencies were measured. Results indicated that clear-cutting and cultivation for 50 years significantly (p < 0.05) increased ρb and CCE and reduced SOM and TN. Moreover, magnetic susceptibility at four slope positions was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared with the natural forest. Using a simple proportional model to estimate the soil loss or gain and comparing the mean χlf in any given point confirmed a high rate of soil loss in cultivated sites. In the forest soils, low soil loss in shoulder position and high rate of deposition in footslope and backslope positions were obtained. In general, it is revealed that magnetic measures could provide valuable estimates of mid-term soil erosion and sedimentation in the hilly region following land use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although livestock grazing is known as a historic disturbance in forest ecosystems, but we still need more understanding about how it can affect soil properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of grazing intensity and type of livestock on the physical and chemical properties of soil in the Armardeh forests, Baneh County in the Kurdistan Province. Therefore, five areas were selected with different grazing intensity and livestock types. In total, 68 soil samples from 0-10 cm depth were taken and the most important physical and chemical soil factors including N, P, K, SOM, soil texture, and compaction were measured. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) method and CANOCO software were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that environmental variables are able to interpret 58.9% of the total variation. Four variables including stocking rate in grazing season, (Maraz goat+Mo goat+ sheep and cow), Mo goat+sheep, and finally Q. libani-Q. infectoria forest-type were selected as the most important variables in forward selection of RDA and responsible for 42.1% of total variation. Soil properties showed the most similarity between control and second treatment (Maraz goat with low-density grazing) and with generally lower soil compaction and higher SOM, N, K and P. On the contrary, the fifth treatment had the highest soil compaction and the lowest soil nutrient level. In conclusion, Maraz goat associated with low-intensity grazing rate caused lower effects on physical and chemical properties of soil in the study area and it can be recommended to local herder as a better adapted livestock to the Zagros oak forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zagros Woodland is one of the main components of Zagros ecosystem that has significant role in water and soil conservation. Drought, as one of the climatic hazards, can have dramatic effects on forest cover. Therefore, detecting the spatiotemporal dynamics of the forest in response to drought is very important. The main objective of this study was to detect the spatiotemporal relationship of forest cover of Lorestan province in response to annual drought. In this regard, the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) values were extracted from Landsat 5 and 8 images for the period 2017-2017. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was calculated for the mentioned period using monthly rainfall statistics of 9 synoptic stations in the region. By using spatial correlation analysis, the relationship between annual forest area and drought index was investigated and finally, sensitivity function of spatial variation of forest cover was obtained by fitting a linear model. The results of field sampling showed that EVI threshold> 0.4 can be considered as the province's forest cover threshold. Correlation analysis between forest cover and drought indicated that the 18-year time series of forest cover had a significant correalation of 0.68 with SPI (0.95 confidence level). The results of development of sensitivity function to SPI index indicated that the forest cover had significant sensitivity to drought so that for each 0.1 unit change in the SPI index the forest cover area will change as 14880 ha in the same direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a proposal of two new species of Phylloporus discovered in tropical oak forests from central Veracruz, Mexico. Both species were distinguished based on macro and micro-morphologic features and supported with a molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on sequences of nuc rDNA ITS, D1, D2 and D3 domains of nuc 28S rDNA (LSU), and transcription elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1α). In the phylogenetic reconstruction inferred, the new species clustered in two different clades related to species from USA, Costa Rica and Panama. The recollection of fructifications in monodominant stands of either Quercus oleoides or Q. sapotifolia, allowed recognizing the distribution of one of the Phylloporus species under both Quercus species, and the other under Q. oleoides only. Detailed macro and microscopic descriptions accompanied by illustrations, photos and a taxonomic discussion are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During application, a significant part of herbicide reaches the soil surface and profile which inevitably affect the activity of microorganisms. Some microorganisms are able to degrade herbicides and use them as a source of biogenic elements and energy to maintain their physiological processes. On the other hand, herbicides may alter the number of microorganisms as well as change their activity and reproduction. For that reason, it is of most importance to determine the correlation between microorganisms and herbicides in the soil. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of herbicides nicosulfuron, imazamoxare and cycloxydim, applied in the regeneration of oak forests on different groups of microorganisms in the soil. Microbiological research included the determination of the total number of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, azotobacter and aminoheterotrophs. The number of microorganisms was determined by introducing a diluted soil suspension into the proper media and counted per 1 g of absolutely dry soil. The investigated herbicides cycloxydim, nicosulfuron and imazamoxare reduced the total number of bacteria and aminoheterothrops but increased the number of actinomycetes and fungi in forest soils. Imazamox and cycloxydim had a negative effect on the Azotobacter sp., while the effect of nicosulfuron was stimulative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the desertification vulnerability of an approximately 1,000‐ha area in Anatolia, Turkey, comprising semiarid oak (Quercus spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.) forests and the adjacent cultivated lands by using the environmental sensitivity index (ESI). We calculated the ESI values for 632 randomly selected sites in the study area by entering the desertification indicators vegetation cover, plant type, soil depth, rock fragments, soil texture, slope gradient, drainage, parent material, mean annual precipitation, slope aspect, aridity index, land use intensity, and policy enforcement into the web‐based model Desertification Indicator System for Mediterranean Europe. The spatial structure of the ESI values was then evaluated using semivariograms and kriging‐interpolated surface maps. The mean ESI value was significantly greater in the cultivated areas (1.47; range = 1.25–1.61) than in the pine (1.32; 1.03–1.45) and oak (1.28; 1.18–1.57) forests (P < 0.01). The ESI was moderately spatially dependent in the oak forests and cultivated areas and strongly spatially dependent in the pine forests, as evidenced by the corresponding semivariograms. The ordinary kriging‐interpolated maps showed that most of the cultivated areas were critically vulnerable to desertification, whereas the majority of the forested areas were moderately vulnerable. We examined how the ESI values varied with soil organic matter (OM) content as an independent variable and found that the OM content was significantly moderately correlated with the ESI (n = 632, r = −0.51, P < 0.01), suggesting that the ESI could be used to evaluate the desertification vulnerability of similar landscapes across Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out in 6 territories located in oak forests of Slobozhanshchyna in 2007–2016. Family home ranges were determined using the average nearest neighbour distance between all setts of a sett system for the badgers and between breeding burrows for the foxes. The use of fox and badger family home ranges in different seasons and years was estimated by changes in the use of burrows at the monitoring site of Gomilshanski Lisy National Nature Park. In the oak forests, 173 burrows were studied, among which 75 are used by badgers and 45 by foxes. The area of most of the badger family home ranges in the oak forests is 28–88 hа. The area of the fox family home ranges in the oak forests is 86 to 892 ha. In the oak forests of Slobozhanshchyna, badger and fox family home ranges correspond to the data for similar biotopes in Europe. Seasonal changes of the badger family home range used at the monitoring site in Gomilshanski Lisy NNP in general correspond to literature radio tracking data. Changes in use of the fox family home range de pend on fluctuations of the abundance of rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of Lactarius are documented from fragments of tropical lowland oak forest in central Veracruz. Lactarius trichodermoides, described here as new, was found in association with Quercus sapotifolia and Lactarius subplinthogalus with Quercus glaucescens. Both Lactarius species were identified morphologically and supported by phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and D1-D2 domains of nuc 28S rDNA sequences. Confirmation of mycobionts in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) associations was verified by molecular identification of ECM root tips. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic descriptions and photographs and illustrations of basidiomes and ectomycorrhizas are presented. The new binomial Lactarius chiangmaiensis is proposed for L. subplinthogalus var. chiangmaiensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Biológica Colombiana is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Biologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studies at small spatial scale are often fundamental to highlight the behavioural plasticity of a species and thus have important implications for conservation planning, in particular for species usually considered as habitat specialists. We investigated second-order habitat selection of the European pine marten in an area dominated by deciduous oak forest and open fields in central Italy, by radio-tracking 16 pine martens (eight males, eight females). Pine martens placed home ranges in areas with more open field than in the study area, whereas woodland (oak and conifer forests) comprised a smaller portion of the home range than predominant forest character of the studied area. Although the presence of the species in the open habitats has been documented, to our knowledge, our results provide the first evidence of home range establishment in this cover type by pine marten at population level. The combination of low predation risk and high availability of resources could allow pine martens to occupy open fields in our study area. We highlighted different individual strategies of habitat selection, with some individuals placing home ranges in areas with high forest coverage while others occupying open areas. We found no effects of sex and body condition on habitat selection, and this could indicate that in the study area, both forested and non-forested cover types, such as open fields, shrub and anthropic areas, can provide adequate food, overhead cover and resting sites for all individuals. Pine marten ability to occupy open fields seems thus more related to the behavioural flexibility of the species, rather than to the need to supplement dens and forage from complementary lower quality habitat. The high quality of the Mediterranean continental area studied could also explain the selection of open areas by the pine marten. Our results offer useful information on pine marten ecology and may be helpful for conservation management of this species in southern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad is the property of Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Instituto de Biologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During explorations of tropical oak forests in central Veracruz (eastern Mexico), the authors discovered a Cantharellus species that produces basidiomes with strikingly violet pileus and a hymenium with yellow, raised gill-like folds. It is harvested locally and valued as a prized edible wild mushroom. Systematic multiyear sampling of basidiomes allowed the recording of the morphological variation exhibited by fresh fruit bodies in different growth stages, which supports the recognition of this Cantharellus species from others in the genus. Two molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a set of sequences of species of all major clades in Cantharellus, one including sequences of the transcription elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1a) and a combined tef-1a and nLSU region (the large subunit of the ribosome), confirm the isolated position of the new species in a clade close to C. lewisii from USA, in the subgenus Cantharellus. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic descriptions, accompanied by illustrations and a taxonomic discussion are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of disturbance degree on the species richness and species diversity of oak forests in the Kurdistan Province (Iran). The study ran on three treatments: undisturbed, moderately disturbed, and highly disturbed. For each treatment, there were selected three forest patches with similar physiographic conditions and on each patch there were specified three 400 m2 plots for recording floristic data. The species' name and the abundance of herbaceous species were recorded on 5 micro plots sized 1.5 × 1.5 m for each sample. Menhinick, Margalef, the number of species indices and also rarefaction, jackknife methods and species abundance distribution models were used to estimate the herbaceous species richness for the three treatments. The results showed that all the richness indices had the highest values for the undisturbed forests and the lowest values for the highly disturbed ones. Based on all models, undisturbed forests were showed more diverse than highly disturbed area. Generally the negative impact of human activities (wood cutting and grazing) on the herbaceous species richness was found much stronger in the highly disturbed forests and in moderately disturbed forests compared the undisturbed ones. With increasing destruction intensity, the herbaceous species richness in the oak forests decreased dramatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liana constitutes an important structural and functional component in many forest ecosystems and has profound impacts on forest carbon (C) cycling. However, whether and how liana regulates spatial distributions of litterfall and soil organic C are still poorly understood. To address this critical knowledge gap, we investigated litterfall composition and soil physicochemical characteristics in stands with different densities of liana (Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem.). Both fresh and decomposed leaf litters were greater in the stands with high density of the liana species T. jasminoides. More liana covered stands also had higher soil respiration rate, soil organic C, and total nitrogen than those with less liana. The findings demonstrate that understory liana can regulate litterfall distribution and thus soil organic C, suggesting that the influences of understory liana on belowground ecological processes should be considered while assessing the role of liana in forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we used the maximum entropy (MAXENT) method to predict habitat distribution of the Persian squirrel in oak forests of Kurdistan Province, western Iran. We used 70 points with known occurrence of the species and 17 environmental variables (climatic variables represented annual trends in temperature and precipitation, seasonality and extreme or limiting environmental factors) to map the species distribution. The MAXENT model showed high performance. Using a 0.5 logistic probability threshold, the models suggested about 16,783.5 ha of the study area to have high suitability for the Persian squirrel. These areas were thus estimated as "good" habitats. Amongst the environmental variables, land cover had the greatest role in the Persian squirrel's distribution. Precipitation and temperature were the two major climatic factors that affected the Persian squirrel's distribution. Gap analysis showed that many parts of the species habitat have remained unprotected what can threaten the survival of the studied species in the region. These findings can be used to develop conservation management plans and boost the network of protected areas in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typological analysis of watershed forests of the Seversky Donets River was carried out on the basis of forest management data with electronic databases of "Ukrderzhlisproekt" Production Association. More than 27 types of forest were analyzed with total size of 228.2 thousand hectares. The classification of forest growth conditions, forest types and tree species on the left and right banks of the Seversky Donets River was done for the Luhansk region. We determined that the forest fund of the Luhansk region consists from the oak forests - 46.4 %, sudubrava - 21.1 %, conifer forest - 17.5 %. The proportion of coniferous forests makes up to 15.0 % of total forest area. We calculated that the area of common oak and common pine is 86.9 and 70.9·103 ha respectively. The following types of forests are prevailing: dry birchbark-marple sudubrava (30.8 %), fresh oak-pine sudubrava (13.1%), dry Tatarian maple sudubrava (12.9%), and fresh pine forest (10.6%). In the forest area of the Luhansk region we registered 70 tree species, of which 19 species - in oak-pine forest; 37 - in conifer forest; 55 - in sudubrava; 59 - in oak forest. By categories of protection the recreation forests (51.7 %) and protective forests (42.0 %) are the dominant. The forests of nature protection, forests of scientific, historical and cultural significance have only 6.4 % from the total forest area. The structure of forests by age groups was: middle-aged forests - 41.3 %, young growths - 17.8 %, ripening forests - 15.5 %, mature forests - 16.7 %, and old growth forests - 13.3 % from total forest area of Luhansk region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]