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Norway spruce has experienced unprecedented forest declines in recent decades, leading to extensive salvage logging. Currently, because of the conversion of conifer forests into more natural mixed forests in Central Europe, spruce has begun to be replaced, mainly by European beech. The frequently discussed changing climate has a crucial effect on the vitality of both species. To improve our understanding of spruce and beech responses to climate change, including more frequent temperature and drought extremes, we investigated the impact of temporal climate variability on the growth of these species along an elevation gradient. In total, 79 spruce and 90 beech trees were used to build species-specific tree-ring width chronologies representing the altitudinal range in which both species grow (450, 650, 800, and 950 m asl) under the conditions of the Czech Republic. The climate–growth relationship indicates strong dependence of spruce and beech tree-ring growth on spring temperature (Mar–May) at all sites and summer (Jun–Aug) water availability at lower altitudes. Significant temporal shifts in the climate–growth relationships of both species indicate an increasing negative effect of summer temperature and positive effect of water availability in summer. The increasing drought and temperature sensitivity of both species suggest a significant impact of the predicted climate change on such forest ecosystems. Discussion emphasizes the current importance of adaptive forest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of the Pliocene Prolagus in central Europe is still poorly understood. The proven record is limited there just onto P. bilobus from Gundersheim localities (Germany) and P. osmolskae from Raciszyn 1 (Poland). Unfortunately, the taxonomy of P. bilobus has until now remained unclear. Apart from the original description, no studies have provided data based on direct observation of the type material. Only minor attention has also been paid to a detailed analysis of additional material from the Gundersheim localities. Therefore, we are providing the first revision of the type material of P. bilobus accompanied by a synoptic survey of the type locality. Based on previously undescribed material of P. bilobus, we clarify the morphologic variability and dimensional range of P. bilobus, and question the validity of P. osmolskae. A direct revision of the both species evidenced that the only available specimen -- the holotype -- of P. osmolskae clearly falls within the recorded size and morphological range of the very large P. bilobus. And thus P. osmolskae Fostowicz-Frelik, 2010 is regarded here as a junior subjective synonym of P. bilobus Heller, 1936. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bears from the Late Biharian localities Koneprusy Caves, C 718 and Kozi Grzbiet differ significantly from U. arctos, particularly in morphology of metaconid and entoconid complex of m1. In contrast, they exhibit a number of dental morphometric characters typical for spelaeoid lineage for which we interpret them as the early members of U. deningeri clade. Also the nominal taxa U. suessenbornensis, U. etruscus gombaszogensis and U. savini are assigned to spelaeoid lineage. U. sackdillingensis is tentatively assigned to arctoid lineage, similarly as few single specimens from Late Biharian sites Chlum 4, Kövesvarad, Prezletice and Voigtstedt. All other material from these sites was identi-fied as U. deningeri. A smaller part of the studied material, including the type series of U. eberbachensis, is of ambigu-ous taxonomical status and do not allow an exact species determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]