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Phenological gaps exert a significant influence on the growth of dwarf bamboos. However, how dwarf bamboos respond to and exploit these phenological gaps remain enigmatic. The light environment, soil nutrients, leaf morphology, maximum photosynthetic rate, foliage dynamics, and branching characteristics of Sasa kurilensis were examined under the canopies of Fagus crenata and Magnolia obovata. The goal was to elucidate the adaptive responses of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps in the forest understory. The findings suggest that phenological gaps under an M. obovata canopy augment the available biomass of S. kurilensis, enhancing leaf area, leaf thickness, and carbon content per unit area. However, these gaps do not appreciably influence the maximum photosynthetic rate, total leaf number, leaf lifespan, branch number, and average branch length. These findings underscore the significant impact of annually recurring phenological gaps on various aspects of S. kurilensis growth, such as its aboveground biomass, leaf morphology, and leaf biochemical characteristics. It appears that leaf morphology is a pivotal trait in the response of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps. Given the potential ubiquity of the influence of phenological gaps on dwarf bamboos across most deciduous broadleaf forests, this canopy phenomenon should not be overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparison of old and new vegetation maps is an effective way to detect vegetation dynamics. Recent developments in computer technology have made it possible to accurately compare old paper vegetation maps with current digitized vegetation maps to reveal long-term vegetation dynamics. Recently, a 1:50,000 scale vegetation map of the Hakkoda Mountains in northern Japan, located in the ecotone of cool temperate and subalpine forests in northern Japan under an East Asian monsoon climate, from 1930 was discovered. We compared the 1930s vegetation map with the most recent 2010 vegetation map to test the following hypotheses: 1) the occurrence of upward expansion of the upper limit of cool-temperate deciduous forests, and 2) whether designation as a national park in 1936 would have reduced forestry and land use, expanded beech forests, and cool-temperate deciduous forests. To compare vegetation changes, 67 types of vegetation legends for the 1930 and 2010 maps were unified to 21 based on plant species composition. Consequently, vegetation has changed substantially over the past 80 years. 1) In the subalpine zone above 1,000 m, the coniferous forest area decreased by half. In the cool temperate zone below 1,000 m, the area of beech forests increased 1.48 times, and some of them could be shifted upwards, replacing subalpine fir forests in the lower part of the subalpine zone. 2) In areas below 700 m, deciduous oak forests once used as thickets were almost halved. Instead, climax and beech forests expanded. However, we also found that even after the area was declared a national park, oak forests were cleared and converted to commercial forests such as cedar plantations, cattle ranches, and horse pastures in some areas. These results will be useful for future ecosystem and biodiversity research/conservation and will provide baseline information for climate change adaptation policies.

Invasive mammalian predators are a global biodiversity problem, particularly in archipelagos in which native fauna evolved in isolation from mammals. Landscape scale management of selected invasive mammalian predators is occurring across Aotearoa New Zealand to protect vulnerable forest birds and bats. In temperate southern beech forests, both predator irruptions and the timing of predator control is driven by mast seeding of beech trees. Relationships between predators targeted in this control, other invasive mammalian predators and other native taxa, particularly lizards and invertebrates, are poorly understood. We monitored southern grass skinks in the Eglinton Valley, Fiordland from 2009 to 2020 alongside monitoring of predators (stoats, rats and mice) in a system where predator control occurred in response to mast seeding. We evaluated relationships between skink abundance and abundance of rats (targeted in predator control operations) and mice (which also prey on small vertebrates like lizards, but are not controlled). Skink abundance declined over time and was negatively correlated with mouse abundance, but not correlated with rat abundance. Current landscape predator control to protect forest birds and bats is likely insufficient to protect ground-dwelling lizards, and may actually be detrimental to lizard populations if controlling the other predators contributes to a mesopredator release of mice. Mice are significant predators of a range of small vertebrates and large invertebrates, yet research into the sustainable suppression of mice to benefit vulnerable native populations is lacking. We strongly advocate for such research in order to deliver conservation management that benefits the full suite of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the frequency and intensity of drought events expected in the coming decades in Western Europe may disturb forest biogeochemical cycles and create nutrient deficiencies in trees. One possible origin of nutrient deficiency is the disturbance of the partitioning of the green leaf pool during the leaf senescence period between resorption, foliar leaching and senesced leaves. However, the effects of drought events on this partitioning and the consequences for the maintenance of tree nutrition are poorly documented. An experiment in a beech forest in Meuse (France) was conducted to assess the effect of drought events on nutrient canopy exchanges and on the partitioning of the green leaf pool during the leaf senescence period. The aim was to identify potential nutritional consequences of droughts for trees. Monitoring nutrient dynamics, including resorption, chemistry of green and senesced leaves, foliar absorption and leaching in mature beech stands from 2012 to 2019 allowed us to compare the nutrient exchanges for three nondry and three dry years (i.e., with an intense drought event during the growing season). During dry years, we observed a decrease by almost a third of the potassium (K) partitioning to resorption (i.e. resorption efficiency), thus reducing the K reserve in trees for the next growing season. This result suggests that with the increased drought frequency and intensity expected for the coming decades, there will be a risk of potassium deficiency in trees, as already observed in a rainfall exclusion experiment on the same study site. Reduced foliar leaching and higher parititioning to the senesced leaves for K and phosphorus (P) were also observed. In addition, a slight increase in nitrogen (N) resorption efficiency occurred during dry years which is more likely to improve tree nutrition. The calcium (Ca) negative resorption decreased, with no apparent consequence in our study site. Our results show that nutrient exchanges in the canopy and the partitioning of the green leaf pool can be modified by drought events, and may have consequences on tree nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophytes are important to terrestrial ecosystems, as they build soil and improve habitats for vascular plants. We investigated the influence of substrate pH, light, and cover of lichens and vascular plants on bryophyte communities in different microhabitats near the Lewis Pass. The effect of tree diameter and trunk aspect on epiphytic communities was also examined. In total, 30 bryophyte species were identified in 98 0.25 m2 quadrats in five forest microhabitats (kānuka/mānuka and beech forest floor, beech tree trunks, and streamside and decomposing wood in beech forest). Bryophyte community composition in streamside microhabitats differed from all other microhabitats. Bryophyte community composition on the beech forest floor differed from the community on kānuka/mānuka forest floor; these differences were correlated with vascular plant and lichen cover. The composition and cover of epiphytic communities on tree trunks were correlated with aspect and lichen cover, there was no effect of tree diameter. No effect of substrate pH was found, although pH only ranged from 4 to 6. This study is one of the first in New Zealand to study the relationship between environmental factors and bryophyte communities in beech and kānuka/mānuka forests, contributing to our understanding of these understudied, key components of New Zealand forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functioning of forest ecosystems depends on the taxonomic and ecological diversity of soil fungi. Urbanization is increasing worldwide and is regarded as a key driver of environmental change altering local species assemblages in urban forest. We investigated whether the degree of urbanization and local forest characteristics affect the soil fungal community in 20 beech forests located along a rural–urban gradient in the city of Basel and its suburbs (Switzerland). We analyzed their soil fungal communities by DNA metabarcoding of the rDNA ITS2 region and related these data to local forest vegetation characteristics and soil properties. The number of fungal OTUs in the 20 forests examined ranged from 170 to 303. Richness, diversity and evenness of fungal communities were all significantly affected by the degree of urbanization, but in different ways. Soil fungal richness was highest in forests in areas with a low degree of urbanization and lowest in forests in rural areas. In contrast, the fungal community diversity increased with the increasing degree of urbanization. Different fungal phyla and fungal guilds showed distinct patterns in their relative abundance along the rural–urban gradient. The degree of urbanization reduced the relative abundance of symbiotrophic fungi, but increased that of saprotrophic and pathotrophic fungi. Our results show that urbanization changes soil fungal community, which in turn can lead to alterations in forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the frequency and intensity of drought events expected in the coming decades in Western Europe may disturb forest biogeochemical cycles and create nutrient deficiencies in trees. One possible origin of nutrient deficiency is the disturbance of the partitioning of the green leaf pool during the leaf senescence period between resorption, foliar leaching and senesced leaves. However, the effects of drought events on this partitioning and the consequences for the maintenance of tree nutrition are poorly documented. An experiment in a beech forest in Meuse (France) was conducted to assess the effect of drought events on nutrient canopy exchanges and on the partitioning of the green leaf pool during the leaf senescence period. The aim was to identify potential nutritional consequences of droughts for trees. Monitoring nutrient dynamics, including resorption, chemistry of green and senesced leaves, foliar absorption and leaching in mature beech stands from 2012 to 2019 allowed us to compare the nutrient exchanges for three nondry and three dry years (i.e., with an intense drought event during the growing season). During dry years, we observed a decrease by almost a third of the potassium (K) partitioning to resorption (i.e. resorption efficiency), thus reducing the K reserve in trees for the next growing season. This result suggests that with the increased drought frequency and intensity expected for the coming decades, there will be a risk of potassium deficiency in trees, as already observed in a rainfall exclusion experiment on the same study site. Reduced foliar leaching and higher parititioning to the senesced leaves for K and phosphorus (P) were also observed. In addition, a slight increase in nitrogen (N) resorption efficiency occurred during dry years which is more likely to improve tree nutrition. The calcium (Ca) negative resorption decreased, with no apparent consequence in our study site. Our results show that nutrient exchanges in the canopy and the partitioning of the green leaf pool can be modified by drought events, and may have consequences on tree nutrition.

Among the protected sites of the Eastern Carpathians, the Synevyr National Nature Park (NNP) in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine is one of the most valuable and was created to preserve its unique mountain beech and spruce forest communities. The importance of the conservation of typical natural virgin forest ecosystems of the Central European mountain systemis emphasized. The aim of this article was to determine the state of the naturalness of virgin forests in the territory of Synevyr NNP, to analyse their syntaxonomy, and to establish the floristic and geobotanical characteristics of its virgin forests and to distinguish the existing biodiversity threats. It was established that the studied plots of beech and spruce forests within the territory of the Synevyr NNP have a distinct virgin nature based on their structure, forest valuation parameters, spontaneous dynamics and other features. Syntaxonomically the virgin forests of the park belong to two associations: Symphyto cordati-Fagetum Vida (1959) 1963 (alliance Fagion sylvaticae Luquet 1926, order Fagetalia sylvaticae Pawłowski 1928, class Сarpino-Fagetea sylvaticae Jakucs ex Passarge 1968) and Luzulo luzuloidis-Fagetum (Du Rietz 1923) Markgraf 1932 (alliance Luzulo-Fagion sylvaticae Lohmeyer & Tx. in Tx. 1954, order Luzulo-Fagetalia Scamoni & Passarge 1959, class Quercetea roboripetraeae Br.-Bl. & Tx. ex Oberd. 1957). The natural and anthropogenic biodiversity threats of these virgin forests are summarized. The results of the research formed the basis for the inclusion of the beech virgin forests of Synevyr NNP as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the list of objects on “Beech virgin forests and ancient forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe”.

Background and objectives: Beech trees (Oriental beech: Fagus orientalis Lipsky.), native to Hyrcanian forests of Iran, are considered as one of the most valuable forest tree species in the north of the Iran. Biscogniauxia nummularia (Bull.) Kuntze is an endophytic fungus which acts as a pathogenic fungus under favorable conditions and causes strip-cankers (commonly known as charcoal canker) in Fagus species. The disease occurs in tree hosts affected by stress. High temperatures and summer droughts are favorable conditions for causing and distributing this disease in the forest. Methodology: During the field surveys across the beech forests of Sangdeh region in Mazandaran province, beech trees with severe symptoms of charcoal canker were observed. The most visible symptoms of the disease in the form of round spots to black stripes on the trunk and branches, as well as dieback of the beech tree branches in the area. Several samples were collected from infected parts of oriental beech trees and transferred to the plant pathology laboratory. Microscopic slides of the fungal stroma were prepared from infected tree bark and subjected to microscopic observation based on valid identification keys. Furthermore, the samples were cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) culture medium and the pathogenic agent was identified after purification by hyphal tip and single spore techniques, using microscopic examination and morphological characteristics. Results: Results showed that Biscogniauxia nummularia is the agent of disease, which causes severe damage to beech trees and has already been identified as cause of beech charcoal canker in many European countries. This fungal species has some special morphological characteristics, including applanate stroma, ostioles are slightly papillate to nearly at the same level as the stromatal surface, ascus apical apparatus blue in iodine and Melzer's reagents, so it is separated from other species. This is the first report of identification of B. nummularia as the causal agent of beech canker disease from Iran. This fungus spends most of its life cycle as an endophyte, and under unfavorable environmental conditions, especially drought stress. B. nummularia takes advantage to alter host physiology, invading host tissue and causing black bark cankers on trunk and branches, known as strip cankers, and wood decay in mature trees. Conclusion: The direct relationship between the consequences of climate change, especially water and temperature stress in the host and the development of forest pathogens in the case of several important and key pathogenic fungi, including B. nummularia, has been reported by various researchers in the world, and it has been determined that environmental stress plays an important role in the development of this disease on beech trees in different parts of the world. Meanwhile, as one of the requirements of disease management, it is important to identify the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the populations of this fungus in Iran and to identify the distribution and frequency of the disease, which can be very useful in choosing its management strategies. On the other hand, due to the prediction of progressive adverse climate changes in the future, which are an important factor in the development of the disease, continuous monitoring of current changes in beech natural habitats should be included in forest ecosystem monitoring programs to predict future changes, possible ecosystem consequences, and as a vital part of sustainable forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological gaps exert a significant influence on the growth of dwarf bamboos. However, how dwarf bamboos respond to and exploit these phenological gaps remain enigmatic. The light environment, soil nutrients, leaf morphology, maximum photosynthetic rate, foliage dynamics, and branching characteristics of Sasa kurilensis were examined under the canopies of Fagus crenata and Magnolia obovata. The goal was to elucidate the adaptive responses of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps in the forest understory. The findings suggest that phenological gaps under an M. obovata canopy augment the available biomass of S. kurilensis, enhancing leaf area, leaf thickness, and carbon content per unit area. However, these gaps do not appreciably influence the maximum photosynthetic rate, total leaf number, leaf lifespan, branch number, and average branch length. These findings underscore the significant impact of annually recurring phenological gaps on various aspects of S. kurilensis growth, such as its aboveground biomass, leaf morphology, and leaf biochemical characteristics. It appears that leaf morphology is a pivotal trait in the response of S. kurilensis to phenological gaps. Given the potential ubiquity of the influence of phenological gaps on dwarf bamboos across most deciduous broadleaf forests, this canopy phenomenon should not be overlooked.

Aim: In recent decades, a surge in the number of significant and uncontrolled wildfires has occurred worldwide. Global warming may amplify this trend and threaten most ecosystems worldwide. Deciduous forests are characterized by high plant diversity, and understanding their long‐term dynamics is crucial to anticipate changes in these ecosystems during ongoing global warming. The aim of this study is to understand how European beech forests have colonized the inner Eastern Carpathians and how changes in fire regime and human activities have affected their biodiversity. Location: Inner Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Slovakia. Taxon: Plantae, gymnosperms, angiosperms. Methods: Peat core was extracted from the centre of Ďurova mláka mire in 2018. A multi‐proxy approach has been applied to investigate the development of beech forest. Charcoal analysis has been done each centimetre to reconstruct the fire signal. Pollen analysis has been done at 2 cm resolution to reconstruct the vegetation composition and dynamics, and the variation in palynological richness (PRI), evenness and turnover has been analysed. Macro‐remains analysis has been performed at 10 cm resolution to add more information about the local vegetation. Results: Low diversity spruce forest was dominant until 5200 cal. BP during a fire‐prone period due to specific climatic conditions (drier climate than the following period). The higher fire frequency and intensity following this period is simultaneous with the first expansion of Fagus which indicate that Fagus could occupy post‐fire habitats, at least at the local scale. However, its dominance coincided with major gaps in fire events from 3900 cal. BP. The PRI has increased during the transition from spruce to beech forest highlighting the importance of beech forests in maintaining plant biodiversity. However, the stronger increase in the richness is synchronous with the increase in human activities around 2000 cal. BP, and then 350 cal. BP. Main Conclusions: Climate‐driven fire frequency has been a natural driver of vegetation changes in the Carpathians by promoting the emergence of high diversified beech forest. These changes were significantly modified by later increase in human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest phenology plays a key role in the global terrestrial ecosystem influencing a range of ecosystem processes such as the annual carbon uptake period, and many food webs and changes in their timing and progression. The timing of the start of the phenology season has been successfully determined at a range of scales, from the individual tree by in situ observations to landscape and continental scales by using remotely sensed vegetation indices (VIs). The spatial resolution of satellites is much coarser than traditional methods, creating a gap between space-borne and actual field observations, which brings limitations to phenological research at the ecosystem level. Several unconsidered methodological and observational-related limitations may lead to misinterpretation of the timing of the satellite-derived signals. The aim of this study is therefore to clarify the meaning of a set of spring phenology metrics derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) time series in beech forests distributed across Europe with respect to PEP725 in situ observations, from 2003 to 2020. To this aim, we (i) tested the differences between remotely sensed and in situ start-of-season (SOS) metrics and (ii) quantified the influence of latitude, elevation, temperature, and precipitation on such differences. Results demonstrated that there is a clear temporal gradient among the different SOS metrics, all of them occurring prior to the in situ observations. Furthermore, latitude and temperatures proved to be the main factors guiding the differences between remotely sensed and in situ SOS metrics. Evidence from this study may help in recognizing the actual meaning of what we see by means of remotely sensed phenology metrics. In this perspective, field observations are crucial in understanding phenology events and provide a reference base. Satellite data, on the other hand, complement field observations by filling in gaps in spatial and temporal coverage, thus enhancing the overall understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a rich beech fossil record in Japan dating from the Paleogene to the Holocene, which allows for the continuous tracing of the evolutionary history of the genus and allows us to understand the environmental background that facilitated the genus to obtain a dominant state in present‐day forests. In addition to the temperate climate, the oceanic climate was an important factor in controlling beech distribution and dominance in the forests in Japan. With the cooling climate, beech species began expanding their distribution in the Northern Hemisphere in the middle Eocene and appeared in Japan in the late middle Eocene. Beech species became dominant in forests in Japan during the Miocene along with the development of the oceanic climate by the opening of the Sea of Japan and with the strengthening of the monsoon. Fagus crenata appeared until the Late Pliocene and became dominant in forests in central Japan in the late Early Pleistocene coinciding with the onsetting inflow of the Tsushima Warm Current to the Sea of Japan in interglacial stages. During the full‐glacial stages since the late Middle Pleistocene, the cold and dry climate caused by the strong winter monsoon limited the distribution of beeches into refugia at humid places, including the inland. During the deglaciation since ca 19 ka, the beech population began to grow and its distribution expanded, controlled by the development of the Tsushima Warm Current, as well as latitudinal and altitudinal temperature clines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of certain species in habitats and at altitudes different from their usual ecological requirements has great biogeographic importance. Such a situation was identified in 2023 on the middle and lower course of Eșelnița Valley, a Danube tributary in the Carpathian Mountains in southwestern Romania. Thus, in Eșelnița Valley, we identified Vaccinium myrtillus and Calluna vulgaris species in beech forests at low altitudes. The lowest altitude with V. myrtillus in Eșelnița Valley was 198 m (approximately 5 km upstream from the Danube). On Eșelnița Valley, other species related to mountain areas are also present at low altitudes, favored by the narrow shape and the cooler microclimate of the valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management has a direct influence on the structure and stability of forests. In this study, we used the 3D data from mobile laser scanning in real forest stands dominated by European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to simulate different silvicultural treatments and assess their impact on the structural complexity and short-term economic return. For the structural assessment, we used the box-dimension (Db), a holistic measure of structural complexity in forest. The expected net revenues of the silvicultural treatments were used as a proxy for short-term economic gain. We simulated six different treatments in 19 different real-world forest stands. The results showed that each treatment had a negative impact on the structural complexity of the stands but with varying severity. The treatments with the smallest effect on stand structural complexity showed the highest net revenue, indicating no trade-offs if a forest owner strives for small stand structural changes and high economic return. The approach used here allows quantifying the structural and economic consequences of different treatments in forest stands prior to the actual application in the real world. This holds large potential for decision making according to the forest owner's objective.

Burial in the forest is a recent, non-confessional alternative to the established cemeteries owned and run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. Danish forest burials fulfil common criteria for non-religion and they are an example of institutionalized non-religion. Their non-confessional character is emphasized in the information material directed towards potential buyers of forest burial plots. Forest burials appeal to both non-members and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; in fact, nearly two-thirds of those who had a forest burial by the end of 2021 were members of the church. I have participated in seven tours conducted at different forest burial sites, and I have interviewed nearly fifty participants about their motives for considering buying a forest burial plot. In my analyses, I structure the interviews along the three dimensions, knowing, doing, and being. I found that the motives for people to choose a forest burial reflected both non-religious and religious/spiritual considerations. Forest burials exemplify a religious complexity where nature, non-religion, religion, and spirituality intersect. In this complexity, I see the institution of forest burial as a non-religious vessel, which the buyers fill with their individual thoughts and acts.

The role of vegetation in the relationship between microhabitat and ship rat (Rattus rattus) distribution remains poorly understood. We used three years of trapping data (2017-2020) to calculate capture rates for 97 traps in the Makarora Valley and Haast Pass areas of Mt Aspiring National Park and determined aspects of the vegetation surrounding traps that influenced capture rates. The presence of fruiting understory plants--roundleaved coprosma (Coprosma rotundifolia), horopito (Pseudowintera colorata), and wineberry (Aristotelia serrata)--had weakly significant and positive associations with rat captures, whereas increasing density of large (> 200 mm DBH) mountain beech (Fuscospora cliffortioides) trees had a negative association, which was highly significant. Future research should incorporate methodology that links seasonal food abundances to capture rates and explores the influence of edge effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In New Zealand, ship rats (Rattus rattus) have been implicated in many extinctions, declines, and range contractions of native birds, so ship rats are an important target of predator control. The outcomes of ship rat control operations are difficult to predict due to other factors which affect rat populations including altitude, Nothofagus seedfall, and control of other mammalian pests, particularly brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and stoats (Mustela erminea). Here we used long-term rat tracking-tunnel data 1998-2016 from seven Nothofagus forest sites in the northern South Island to address three questions: (1) How do rat tracking rates vary with altitude and Nothofagus seedfall? (2) Which forms of rat control are more effective at reducing rat tracking rates? (3) Is there evidence for mesopredator release of rats in Nothofagus forests when stoats are controlled by trapping? Analysis with binomial GLMMs found that rat tracking rates significantly declined with altitude and increased with Nothofagus seedfall, especially during high-seed years in 2000, 2006, and 2014. Diphacinone, and especially brodifacoum and aerially applied 1080, significantly reduced rat tracking rates, whereas intensive snap-trapping did not. Contrary to earlier studies from North Island forests, we found that rat tracking rates increased significantly with mustelid trapping, suggesting mesopredator release of rats following stoat control. Therefore, in Nothofagus forests where rats are present, land managers should consider the relative threats to native wildlife from stoats and ship rats when deciding whether to trap stoats in an area without effectively controlling ship rats. This study highlights the value of long-term data sets for identifying relationships that may otherwise go undetected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses data by summarising the concentration values of ground-level ozone (GLO). The study area is situated in central Slovakia and is part of the Western Carpathians. These measurements were carried out between 2015 and 2020, implementing Werner's method working with passive samplers. The highest average and the highest absolute GLO deposition values were 30.93 ppb and 61.06 ppb, respectively, recorded in August 2015 in the forest in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. The lowest average GLO value in the whole measuring period was 17.72 ppb, measured in the town of Zvolen; the absolute minimum was 4.43 ppb, recorded in April 2016 on an open plot in the Kremnické vrchy Mts. The GLO formation over the study area has not yet reached a steady rate. Since 2007, the developmental trend has been increasing. Statistically significant differences in GLO concentrations were confirmed between the localities with different airborne pollutions. However, the analysis of the existing ozone concentration values showed considerable differences, especially related to the time pattern. The spatial variability was equalised. The extreme values, while remarkable, were dangerous, especially in the forest stands in the Kremnické vrchy Mts., where they were 14 times above the critical level of 32.5 ppb O3. The dominant factor influencing the GLO concentration was global radiation. The effects of average temperature and rainfall total were less important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights opinions about the meaning of the name Făgăraș (attested both as a toponym and as an anthroponym). In order to explain its meaning, the sources, which are extremely diverse, are documented (collections of documents, statistical and fiscal records: urbaria, conscriptions, catagraphies, parish registers, yearbooks, telephone books, internet sites, topographic maps etc.). Also, taking into account the (predominantly) meaning of the anthroponym, we have highlighted its spatial distribution, in conjunction with other words (appellatives) related to beech charcoal production (Romanian: cărbunar, mangalagiu). Based on the chrono-spatial distribution, it seems that the toponym was similar to făget (beech forest), and the anthroponym refers to the production of beech charcoal from beechwood. In both cases, both the appellative and the name (toponyms, anthroponyms) are Romanian creations (if not entirely, at least in most of them). The distribution of toponyms is closely related to the spread of the beech forests, and that of the anthroponyms is also closely related to this forest vegetation.

The conversion of coniferous forest to deciduous forest is accompanied by changes in the vertical distribution of fine roots and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. It is unclear how these changes affect soil CO2 efflux and vertical soil CO2 production, considering changing climate. Here, we present the results of a 6-year study on CO2 efflux, covering relatively warm-dry and cool-wet years. A combination of the flux-gradient method and closed chamber measurements was used to study the CO2 efflux and the vertical distribution of soil CO2 production in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and a pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in northeast Germany. We observed, on average, similar CO2 efflux with 517 (±126) and 559 (±78) g C m–2 a–1 for the beech site and the pine site, respectively. CO2 efflux at the beech site exceeded that at the pine site during the wet year 2017, whereas in dry years, the opposite was the case. Water availability as indicated by precipitation was the primary determining long-term factor of CO2 efflux, whereas seasonal variation was mainly affected by soil temperature, and—in the case of beech—additionally by soil water content. CO2 efflux decreased more dramatically (-43%) at the beech site than at the pine site (-22%) during the warm-dry year 2018 compared to the cool-wet year 2017. We assumed that drought reduces heterotrophic respiration (Rh) at both sites, but additionally decreases autotrophic respiration (Ra) at the beech stand. Soil CO2 production at the beech site ranged over a greater soil depth than at the pine site, attributed to different fine root distribution. The organic layer and the A horizon contributed 47 and 68% of total CO2 efflux at the beech site and the pine site, respectively. The seasonal patterns of different CO2 efflux between both sites were assumed to relate to different phases of tree physiological activity of deciduous compared to evergreen tree species.

Aim. To identify the structural features and assess the current condition of woody species in the beech forests of Dagestan, Russia.Material and Methods. Research was based on the analysis of data from 69 sampling areas located in various physical-geographical regions of Dagestan. A detailed accounting of individual specimens of all age groups of each species was undertaken in the sampling areas. The total area surveyed was 43,125 m2. In total, 11,446 individuals of different species were involved in the statistical analysis, of which 1,974 form a tree tier, in which each individual is evaluated according to a scale of condition categories.Results. A study of the structure of beech forests showed the participation rate of Fagus orientalis Lipsky to be from 7.5 to 8.5 points. The average age of the upper sub-level of beech in the foothills was 110 years and in the highlands 160 years. For most woody species the age spectrum was sinistral and incomplete. Beech with a full-membered age spectrum were observed in the beech forests of the southwestern sub-region and in the high mountain region. A general trend is observed of deterioration of the condition of individuals in the transition from the upper to the lower sub-level. The average condition of beech individuals within the tree tier is 1.4 points. The condition categories of other species are characterized as being generally closer to 'weakened'.Conclusion. The results obtained regarding the structure and condition of woody species in the beech forests of Dagestan confirm the highly edifying role of beech. The greatest negative impact is exerted by the anthropogenic factor, which is confirmed by the incompleteness of the beech age spectrum and the low participation rate of the old-growth generative group and of the post-generative period.

Competition between trees has an impact on their structural features and it is very important to measure the competition index and determine the correlation with some of the characteristics of the trees. To conduct the research, circular sample plots (n = 24) with an area of ​​400 m 2 were established in a 150 × 100 m grid in the forest, Savadkoh-Mazandaran. Within each sample plot, frequency, height, crown diameter and diameter at breast height (dbh) for each tree were measured in the overstorey. The richness and diversity index of trees and competition index for each plot were calculated. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the values ​​of competition index for the three tree species. Competition index with height, dbh and crown diameter had significant positive correlation for all tree species, but negative significant correlation with height and H/D for beech and alder and also positive correlation for hornbeam. There was a negative significant correlation between beech competition index and tree richness index and a positive correlation between alder competition index and tree diversity index. With increasing altitude, competition index values ​​decreased only for hornbeam species. Significant differences were observed among the three tree species in terms of crown diameter, dbh, height and H/D ratio in stand. In general, regarding the relationship between some tree variables and the index of competition in the stand, this information can be used in the selection and application of silvicultural operations such as thinning and remarking in temperate Hyrcanian broadleaf forest.

The aim of the paper is to highlight the variation of the frequency and types of microhabitats on trees, in a natural beech forest, depending on different stand characteristics and site condition. The research was carried out in the "Izvoarele Nerei" Nature Reserve from Caras-Severin County, Romania, the previously announced aim being achieved by fulfilling objectives such as: identifying the types of microhabitats on trees (according classification from specialty literature) on altitudinal levels, establishing the influence of altitude on the frequency of microhabitats, identification of other stand characteristics and site conditions having an influence on the frequency of microhabitats on trees. The research was carried out on four altitudinal levels (800, 1000, 1200 and 1350 m), trees characteristics determination and microhabitats identification being carried out in sample areas of 2500 m2, two on each altitudinal level. The most frequent microhabitats were: branch rot hole (length >= 5 cm), cracks and scars (length >= 100 cm), root buttress cavities (length >= 5 cm), epiphytic lichens (coverage > 25 %), root buttress cavities (length >= 10 cm), branch rot hole (length >= 10 cm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, the use of environmental radionuclides, particularly caesium-137 (137Cs), represented one of the most valid methods for estimating soil erosion. However, the cost associated with the use of the equipment needed for radiometric analyses is still high and, for this reason, finding more easily measurable indicators can be useful. There is a strong correlation between 137Cs, organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N) and water soluble phenols (WSP) exists, indicating the latter parameters as possible early indicators of soil erosion. Based on the above assumptions, the main purpose of this work is to identify specific soil chemical parameters able to indicate early triggering of soil erosion. Specifically, several soil parameters such as pH, electric conductivity (EC), WSP, OC, N and C/N have been evaluated against 137Cs and on a comparative basis. In addition, since the rate of soil erosion depends on the degree of coverage and canopy structure, two different tree species (Pinus nigra laricio Poir. and Fagus sylvatica L.) have been considered in this contribution in which ten different scenarios of forest management have been analysed. The results show that the reduction in tree cover of managed sites triggers erosion and nutrient loss processes. It has been observed that the loss of 137Cs, compared to the control areas, is closely correlated with those of WSP, OC and N. These parameters (WSP, OC and N), more easily assessable, can be a valid tool to understand easily, triggering of erosive phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Balkan Peninsula is the southernmost border of podzol distribution in the northern hemisphere. So far, podzols have been recorded and studied at three sites in Serbia, including Mt. Golija, Mt. Goe and Mt. Jablanik, and this paper reveals the results of a pedological and phytocoenological study conducted at a new site on Mt. Jelova Gora. Podzols are most often formed in coniferous forests, while they less frequently occur in deciduous forests, like on Mt. Jelova Gora. In the investigated area, podzols were found in the montane achidophilous beech forest with blueberry (Vaccinio-Fagetum moesiacae montanum Fuk. 1969) and the montane beech forest with holly (llici-Fagetum montanum Gajic 1979), in which they had not been recorded before. The parent rock (quartz conglomerate) plays a key role in the formation of podzols on Mt. Jelova Gora, together with the occurence of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), which slows down the transformation of organic waste, is a producer of raw humus, and thus an indicator of acid reaction soils. Finally, it should be pointed out that podzol is a very rare soil type, which is highly interesting for the relevant scientific and professional circles in Serbia and the entire Balkan Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterisation of native forests is essential for sustainable forest management and for maintenance of ecological and socio-economical functions. In New Zealand, knowledge of forest composition and extent informs predator control measures to protect native bird life, particularly in forests dominated by Southern beeches (Nothofagaceae). As high-resolution (> 1:50,000) maps of beech cover do not exist at national scale, we present a method to identify and map beech cover that combines multi-temporal spectral signatures from ESA’s Sentinel-2 satellite with forest plot survey data. A temporal stack of satellite imagery from 2016 to 2019 is used to derive annual metrics (mean and standard deviation) of vegetation indices which are used as input to a pixel-wise classification. A random forest classification, discriminating between beech/non-beech areas (with a beech relative cover threshold of 25%), and trained using 880 forest plots from the Land Use and Carbon Analysis System (LUCAS) natural forest network, achieved an accuracy of 87.7% (± 2.2%). This spectral classification captures both large- and local-scale spatial patterns of beech cover, which is confirmed by field visits and multi-source species occurrence information.

The relationship between beech (Fagus crenata) reproductive-organ (female flowers: FFs, male inflorescences: MIs, and filled masts: FMs) production and the numbers of nuisance Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) killed (NBs: an indicator of the extent of bear intrusions into residential areas) in a snowy rural region in central Japan was studied over 15 years. The yearly fluctuation of beech reproductive-organ productions between the three study stands was strongly synchronous. There were strong significant pairwise correlations between FFs, MIs and FMs. To identify factors associated with NBs in the May–July (BMJ), August (BA), and September–November (BSN) periods, a model selection procedure using generalized linear mixed effect models was applied with two explanatory variables: FMs in the preceding year (PFMs) and MIs in the current year. Both PFMs and MIs had little effect on BMJ, implying that NBs was independent of these variables in the spring–early summer. MIs had a significant negative effect on BA, implying that NBs increased in mid-summer when MIs were small. PFMs and MIs had significant positive and negative effects, respectively, on BSN, implying that NBs increased in the fall when MIs (i.e., FMs) were small. PFMs had a much smaller effect than did MIs. In conclusion, bear intrusions into human settlements from mid-summer to fall increased in years with minimal MIs, suggesting that bear intrusions in the season of a given year can be predicted by observation of the density of MIs fallen on the forest floor until July in beech stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults of the threatened beetle species Rosalia alpina are usually associated with sun–exposed dead wood. In previous fieldwork, however, we frequently found adult beetles on shaded surfaces of trees. We thus studied whether adults preferred different lightning conditions depending on their behavior on 447 beech trees located in four forests in two distant locations in Europe. From a total of 542 individuals, we observed that 54 % of them occurred in shaded conditions, and 35 % in predominantly shaded conditions. This avoidance of direct sunlight could be widespread in the species because it was independent of the location and behavior.

Forest regrowth following farmland (agriculture and pasture) abandonment has been positively associated with a number of processes including the regulation of hydrological cycling, the enhancement of soil functioning and an increase in forest productivity and carbon (C) sequestration. Although these changes in ecosystem functioning post‐farmland abandonment have been observed in multiple locations and studies, the ecophysiological basis underpinning these patterns remains unclear. Here, we examine whether increased forest expansion following pastureland abandonment is associated with greater water‐use efficiency (WUE) and legacies from previous land use in terms of nitrogen (N) availability.We thus explored differences in leaf traits and N availability between recently established (post‐1950) beech Fagus sylvatica (L.) forests on former pastureland and long‐established beech forests (pre‐1950). The investigated leaf traits were SLA, leaf N concentration (%N) and intrinsic WUE (iWUE, i.e. the ratio between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance); as well, leaf and soil stable N isotope composition (δ15N) and total %N were used to assess changes in N availability. Finally, we compared the correlation strength between the above‐mentioned parameters and those associated with tree productivity (wood density and basal area increment, BAI) and the richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi (ECM) in these two forest types.Recent forests had greater iWUE than long‐established forests, which was associated more with lower SLA than leaf %N. Leaf and soil δ15N were more robust proxies than %N for detecting differences in N availability. Less negative leaf and soil δ15N values in recent versus long‐established forests suggest, on the one hand, greater N availability, probably due to higher historical N input originating from animal excreta on these former pasturelands, and, on the other hand, an increase in N loss pathways.Our results point to greater correlations between leaf δ15N, tree iWUE and productivity in recent forests than in long‐established forests, thereby suggesting a close link between C and N cycles. Our findings also highlight different N dynamics between the two forest types, with recent forests showing 'leaky' N cycling wherever lower N retention by trees and associated ECM fungi occurs as a legacy of previous land use. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) are critical to the establishment of many plant species and an important consideration in ecological restoration of southern beech (Nothofagaceae) forest. However, information on spore viability and storage is lacking for EMF taxa associated with southern beech. This study tested the viability and germination of spores from fruiting bodies collected during autumn and spring from mountain beech forest, Otago, New Zealand. Nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences matched autumn collections to the EMF genera Cortinarius, Inocybe and Russula, but all spring collections were an undescribed hypogeous taxon resembling the native EMF genus Hysterangium, referred to here as Hysterangiaceae 'Motatapu'. We investigated propidium iodide as a spore viability test, and compared spore germination in water vs glucose, in different temperature and light regimes, and between freshly collected spores and spores from fruiting bodies dried at 30°C or frozen at −20°C. Propidium iodide did not stain all devitalised spores, so may be unreliable for quantifying viability of fresh spores. Spore germination in water was <6% for all genera and <2% for most taxon × treatment combinations. Fresh spores of Hysterangiaceae 'Motatapu' suspended in 4°C water showed higher germination than at 20°C; excluding light had no significant effect. Spores of the same taxon suspended in 10% and 20% glucose showed lower germination in comparison to water and showed deformations. Germination percentages of all taxa decreased with storage, but spores of some taxa retained viability for 120 days in 4°C water suspensions. Spores of Hysterangiaceae 'Motatapu' showed the least loss of viability with storage of all taxa investigated. For the purposes of storing EMF material for use as inoculum, we recommend drying fruiting bodies at 30°C for storage, then preparing fresh spore suspensions in water when inoculum is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The decline and disappearance of seminatural grasslands in Japan have caused a reduction in plant and animal species inhabiting such grasslands. We aimed to understand the assemblage structure, species diversity, and distribution of carabid beetles in traditionally managed seminatural grasslands, by comparing with the adjacent old beech forest. We investigated the carabid beetle assemblages in a seminatural grassland maintained by prescribed burning and annual mowing, and the adjacent old beech forest in Yamagata Prefecture, northeast Japan. We recorded several forest species along with open habitat species and habitat generalists in the grassland, suggesting that forest species may utilize the adjacent grasslands as temporary habitats. Cluster analysis showed that the assemblage structure of carabid beetles in the grassland differed from that in the beech forest. There were no clear differences in the carabid assemblages between the burned grassland sites and the grassland sites mowed in July after burning. This suggests that the annual mowing had little influence on the response of grassland carabid species in parts of the grassland. We recorded Harpalus roninus (Coleoptera: Carabidae), a rare carabid species in Japan, indicating that this beetle can be a characteristic of the studied grassland. Redundancy analysis showed that the eight abundant grassland species were associated with canopy openness, grass height, and understory vegetation cover, whereas the five most common species recorded from the beech forest were associated with litter depth and soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the expected increase in frequency of dry summers are likely to affect the growth of important tree species. We investigated relationships between morphological and chemical leaf traits of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and environmental factors along a water availability gradient consisting of 12 sites located throughout Switzerland. We found that leaf dry mass and leaf area tended to decrease with increasing long-term mean annual precipitation (MAP) and actual to potential transpiration (AT/PT), two correlated variables that form the water availability gradient. These results contrast with those of several other studies, and might be explained by favorable temperature and humidity conditions during leaf formation in spring at the dry sites. Although the relationship was not linear over the whole gradient, the drier sites were characterized by beech with a lower specific leaf area, along with higher foliar potassium (K) and lower foliar nitrogen (N) concentrations. These patterns likely reflect strategies developed as an adaptation to reduced water availability, but they also result from variation in the availability of nutrients in soil across our sites. In the case of N, there are indications that atmospheric deposition plays a role in foliar concentrations.

Water-filled tree holes are abundant microhabitats in forests worldwide and are inhabited by specialized communities of invertebrates. Despite their importance, the temporal dynamics of communities within and between years are largely unknown. Here, I present a case study on the phenology of insect larvae in two holes in a beech tree (lower and upper canopy) located in southern Germany over a period of three years. I asked whether water temperature and the characteristics of insect larvae at the community and population levels are similar in periodicity every year and whether they differ in the lower and upper canopy. The water temperature in tree holes differed greatly from air temperature, and this effect was more pronounced in the lower than in the upper canopy, which resulted in a lower probability of drying out occurring in the lower canopy. This was associated with a higher species richness in the lower canopy and greater abundance of drought tolerant species in the upper canopy. There was a significant periodicity in larval abundance, biomass, species richness and body size distribution of abundant species in both tree holes, but it was not seasonal. This result indicates that unpredictable drying out of tree holes are more important drivers of tree hole community dynamics than changes in water temperature. The community of larvae in the tree hole in the upper canopy lagged behind that in the lower canopy, which indicates that most species mainly colonize the more stable microhabitats in the lower canopy. Hopefully this case study will encourage future larger-scale phenological studies to test (1) whether the patterns observed in this study can be generalized over larger spatial scales and (2) the relative importance of abiotic and biotic drivers of the dynamics of communities in tree holes.