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In 2020 and 2021, three species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) were established on Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce) in the region of Vihren hut in Pirin Mts. Branches, damaged by snow were collected and studied in laboratory conditions. As a result, 24 specimens of Ips amitinus were reared in 2020 and 81 specimens of I. amitinus, Crypturgus pusillus and Pityogenes chalcographus in 2021. The most abundant species was I. amitinus with 75.2%, followed by P. chalcographus (21.9%) and C. pusillus (2.9%).

Pinus peuce Griseb is five-needle pine native in high-altitude montane habitats of the Balkans. The aim was to assess the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with the soil, rootlets and living needles of P. peuce at three high-altitude forest sites with different edaphic conditions and stand characteristics in southeastern Montenegro. In total, 90 needle, 90 rootlet and 90 soil samples were sampled. DNA amplification using ITS2 rDNA as a marker and high-throughput sequencing resulted in 17,620 high-quality reads, representing 825 fungal taxa. There were 52.5% Basidiomycota, 43.9% Ascomycota and 3.6% Mucoromycotina. There were 118 unique fungal taxa in the rootlets, 230 in the soil and 113 in the needles, with 8 taxa were shared. The most common fungi in rootlets were Rhizopogon mohelensis (11.0%), Suillus sibiricus (8.4%), R. fallax (6.9%), in the soil – Phlebiopsis gigantea (5.1%), Tylospora asterophora (2.9%), Sollicocossima terricola (2.7%), and in the needles – Dothideomycetes sp. 3360_7 (17.6%), Dothideomycetes sp. 3360_10 (10.7%), Leotiomycetes sp. 3360_16 (6.5%). The results showed that the functional tissues and the rhizosphere soil of P. peuce were inhabited by a high diversity of fungi, which were largely specific to each particular substrate, while. the site conditions had only limited effect on associated fungal communities. Associated fungal communities were largely determined by the host tree species, substrate properties and functional capabilities of associated fungi.

Бялата мура (Pinus peuce Griseb.) е вид с локализирано разпространение във високите планини на Балканския полуостров. Той е средообразуващ за субалпийските гори в България и с голямо екологично значение. Очакваното повишаване на температурите през следващите десетилетия повдига въпроси за бъдещото състояние и разпространение на много дървесни видове и в този контекст, проучването на находища на малка надморска височина може да даде ценна информация за потенциалните реакции на видовете. В изследването се дава информация за необичайно ниско находище на бяла мура, което се намира над Костенецки водопад в Североизточна Рила. Най-ниско разположените индивиди са на 850-900 m надм. в. Дърветата се срещат на групи, предимно в горните части на скални венци, върху много плитки почви. Групите са чисти по състав или смесени с горун в по-ниските части, където има и подлес от типичните за субалпийски и алпийски терени черна боровинка и иглолистен връшняк. Единично се срещат бял бор, черен бор, планински ясен, офика, а при по-високите групи доминиращият вид в гората е обикновен бук с единично участие на дребнолистна липа, обикновена ела и обикновен смърч. Възрастта на най-старите дървета от бяла мура е над 170 години. В най-ниско разположените групи дърветата са на над 40-60 години. Дендроклиматичният анализ показва противоположен характер на реакция спрямо типичните локации на бяла мура. Това се изразява в отрицателни корелации с температурите в края на пролетта и началото на лятото и положителни с валежите, което е индикация за повишена чувствителност спрямо летни засушавания. Предвид прогнозите за бъдещия климат смятаме, че находището може да служи за пример за поведението на бялата мура в голяма част от находищата на вида, като установеното влияние на климатичните елементи посочва потенциален завишен стрес при по-горещи и сухи лета.

Disturbances by fire are among the most important processes that shape forest dynamics and diversity. However, the long-term variability of fire disturbance regimes in many European forests and specifically in the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula is not well understood. Here, we present the first Holocene record of fire regimes based on macrocharcoal morphologies in combination with pollen-based reconstruction of forest dynamics and fire-related strategies of prevailing mountain forests in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. While biomass burning followed the main trends in climate, the frequency and intensity of fire were strongly linked to fire-related coping strategies of dominant tree taxa (resisters, avoiders or invaders). Frequent fires of low intensity between 12,000 and 9000 cal year BP were concurrent with the dominance of invaders (Betula, herbs, ferns). Intermittent occurrence of low- and high-intensity surface and crown fires with longer return intervals between 9000 and 4000 cal year BP was associated with codominance of resister (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce, Pinus mugo) and avoider (Abies alba and Picea abies) forest types, whereas a lengthening of the fire return interval over the past 4000 years was linked to increased abundance of P. abies. As a rising number of fire episodes may drive land cover towards more fire-adapted plant communities and towards less intense fire events, we expect increased dominance of invaders (resprouters that rapidly reach maturity stage) as well as resisters (properties protecting from fire damage) under future warmer and drier climate. This study also shows the potential of combining charcoal morphologies with pollen records to track variability in fire intensity and plant functional attributes over long timescales that are also relevant to forest management stakeholders.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the effect of different degrees of mixing on the diversity structure in stands left to spontaneous development. The research included two communities of species endemic to the Balkan Peninsula—the Serbian spruce (Picea omorika Pančić Purk.) and the Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb). Data from eight sample plots were used in the research. The changes in diameter and height structure, spatial arrangement of trees, and diameter differentiation were analyzed. The analyzed parameters of structural diversity show relatively low to moderate values. Results showed an increase in mixing was reflected in the width and shape of distributions. A spatial analysis of stands with a higher degree of mixing showed a tendency towards a random to regular distribution of individuals, in contrast to stands with a lower degree of mixing which showed a tendency towards a clump distribution. The pronounced species’ dimensional and spatial diversity confirms their importance to the condition of modern forest management. Significant differences in the change of structure are shown by stands with a share of admixed species of above 20% by volume. The obtained results refer to stands left to spontaneous development, suggesting than an active research and management approach must be assumed to realize the goal of protecting rare forest ecosystems.

A new genus, Phaeocollybia, and the species P. festiva are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Phaeocollybia festiva was found in forests, dominated by the relict Pinus peuce. Description and illustrations of the species are provided and the biogeographic significance of the finding is discussed., This study was supported by the Bulgarian Science Fund (Grant no. KP-06 PN36/17/2019).

Worldwide treelines seem to share a twofold condition: over 50% of them are advancing and 50% appear to be static. In this study we compared the encroachment patterns of four pine species across anthropogenic treelines in Southern Europe. Using a synchronic approach, we studied structure and recent spatio-temporal patterns of pine recruitment at upper treeline ecotones in Albania, Italy, Montenegro and Spain. Within altitudinal transects we mapped and sampled 964 living individuals of Pinus heldreichii, Pinus peuce, Pinus sylvestris and Pinus uncinata growing above the current forest line. We measured their basal diameter, total height, and counted the number of seed cones. We differentiated seedlings (height 4 cm we extracted one increment core for cambial age determination and tree-ring width measurements. On smaller specimens, we estimated the age by counting annual internodes (terminal bud scars) along the whole stem. We compared the ground cover around each pine, applied point pattern analyses, modelled the probability of seed cone production and estimated the average distance of seed dispersal. The four pine species exhibited heterogeneous density values (87-1552 N° ha−1). The overall averaged means ranged 2–7 cm for basal diameter, 54–106 cm for total height and 9–20 years for cambial age, suggesting a recent encroachment process. None of these structural variables decreased with increasing relative altitude and distribution patterns exhibited a few higher density spots but not cohort spatial structure. Ground cover differed between species and more significantly between size classes. Grass was the most frequent type at all sites except for P. sylvestris where shrubs prevailed (>50%). Further differences appeared when discriminated by height thresholds, with larger share of saplings and trees neighboring shrubs and rocks. Basal area increments increased from 1990 and stabilized in recent years at all species except for P. peuce. Height and basal diameter predicted cones production better than cambial age. P. heldreichii and P. peuce dispersed seeds at longer distances than P. uncinata and P. sylvestris, suggesting different potential for further encroaching. Pine recruitment above the forest lines is quite synchronic at all sites (last 30 years), but in some cases it appeared as a high altitude tree densification process, whereas in others as a starting treeline advance. The use of permanent transects provides a detailed monitoring of tree survival and a more precise prediction of future treeline expansion.

Information on the Holocene vegetation history of the Central Rila Mountains for the last 10,000 years was obtained by means of pollen and fossil stomata analyses of a 500 cm core retrieved from peat bog Vodniza (2113 m a.s.l.), and supported by radiocarbon chronology. The early Holocene afforestation started with an initial Betula phase with stands of Juniperus and Pinus which occupied barren soils (10,000–8300 cal. yrs. BP) while deciduous oak forests with abundant Tilia , Ulmus , Acer , and later on Corylus , spread at lower elevations. During the Holocene climatic optimum (8300–6000 cal. yrs. BP) the conifers Pinus ( Pinus sylvestris , Pinus mugo , Pinus peuce ) and Abies expanded at the expense of the birch and oak forests. The tree line was running above 2100 m comparable to the present-day situation and started to descend after ca. 3200 cal. yrs. BP mostly due to human impact. The last tree which penetrated into the coniferous belt after 3400 cal. yrs. BP and reached altitudes of 2000–2100 m, confirmed by the find of fossil stomata, was Picea abies . Its maximal distribution was achieved between 2250 and 1100 cal. yrs. BP, alongside with some enlargement of beech communities. The first indications of stock-breeding and other human activities in the Central Rila Mountains were recorded since 3400–3200 cal. yrs. BP (Late Bronze Age). The vegetation reconstruction during the Holocene followed a pattern coherent with the information from the Northern Pirin and partly from the Western Rhodopes Mountains. The palaeoecological evidence from the Rila Mountains could be compared in broad lines with the high quality data obtained from the Romanian Carpathians by the application of multi-proxy research approach.

Tree rings are a natural archive containing valuable information about environmental changes. Among the most sensitive ecosystems to such changes are high-mountain forests. Tree-ring series from such locations are exceptionally valuable both for climate reconstructions and for studying the effects of climate changes on forest ecosystems. The objective of our study is to present new long tree-ring width chronologies of Pinus peuce Griseb. from several locations at Pirin Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, to explore their correlation with monthly temperatures and precipitation in the research area and to assess their potential for climate reconstruction. We built three long-term index chronologies for the radial increment of P. peuce from treeline locations in the study region. The longest chronology spans 675 years. We studied the impact of monthly air temperature and precipitation on its growth for the past 86 years using multiple regression analysis. Our analysis shows that P. peuce growth is positively influenced by high temperatures at the end of the previous growing season, especially at the two sites in Banderitsa valley until the middle of the 1970s, and negatively affected by cold winters. In some of the sample plots its growth was also positively correlated with high summer temperatures. However, even at these high altitudes in some of the locations on steep slopes P. peuce showed signs of negative impact of drought during the hottest summer months (especially in August). Our chronologies contribute to the paleoclimatic record for southwestern Bulgaria, which could provide baseline information about past climate variability and improve our understanding of current and future environmental changes.

Climate changes, their regional patterns, origin, and prediction are currently one of the most important scientific challenges. Tree-rings are among the most widely used proxies for past climate variation. However tree-ring width (TRW) from certain tree species and regions often do not contain robust climate signal. Other parameters such as Maximum latewood density (MXD) of conifer tree rings are more sensitive to summer temperatures, but the measurements have high costs. A potential surrogate for MXD is blue intensity (BI), which is based on the measurements of high-resolution images of the wood. The method has been tested and applied for several species. However it has not been tested up to now for Pinus heldreichii Christ (PIHE) and Pinus peuce Griseb. (PIPE). Those species are with limited distribution on the Balkan Peninsula and due to their longevity (frequently more than 500 years with potential to more than 1000 years) may serve as one of the best proxies for past climate variation in SE Europe. We composed BI chronologies following standard procedures from PIHE and PIPE trees from subalpine locations in the Pirin Mts, Bulgaria. The correlation analysis with climate parameters revealed strong and significant positive correlations of PIHE BI (ΔBI and Latewood BI (LwBI) series) and summer temperatures. The highest were 0.74 (p < 0.05) with July-August average temperatures for the period 1933–1983. The correlation values of ΔBI remained higher than 0.6 for the whole period (1933–2014) and sub-periods both for average monthly and average maximum temperatures. LwBI values of the PIHE chronology had correlation coefficients above 0.52 (highest 0.64) with August and August-July temperatures. The PIPE BI chronologies were also positively correlated with summer temperatures, but showed lower values than PIHE with lower temporal stability. The most stable were the correlations with LwBI average August temperatures, which were above 0.52. Delta BI series displayed high correlations for the 1933–1983 period, but then decreased and this caused overall lower correlations with August temperatures. Our data shows that there is potential to develop long BI chronologies and proxy climate reconstructions from the studied species and in this way complement the knowledge of the past climate of SE Europe.

Disturbances are among the most important processes that shape forest dynamics and landscapes. However the historic ranges of variability (HRV) of many coniferous forests in Europe and specifically in the mountains on the Balkan Peninsula are not well understood. We present the first overview of available data on disturbance events in coniferous forests in the high mountains in southwestern Bulgaria. Our study included data from historical publications, documents and archives, newer documentary data obtained through interviews with foresters and verified using satellite images, published studies and new tree-ring data. We documented at least 188 abiotic disturbance events in the Bulgarian mountains including fires (39%), windthrows (31%) and avalanches (20%) and fewer disturbances caused by snow and ice. Fires primarily affected Pine-dominated ecosystems, especially pure Pinus sylvestris and mixed Pinus sylvestris-Pinus nigra forests. Our tree-ring analysis also provided evidence for repeated fires in subalpine Pinus heldreichii and Pinus peuce forests during the last 500 years. Some of these fires affected different valleys within the same year, suggesting either large-scale events or the simultaneous occurrence of fires related to appropriate fuel and climate conditions. We also found data on several large fires in Picea abies-dominated ecosystems. Most of the fires were less than 100 ha, but some were larger, the most extensive of which was the Batalach fire (year 1890, approximately 9000 ha) in the Western Rhodopes. The highest frequency of fires was in 1880–1910, 1940–1950 and 2000–2010. We found evidence for at least 59 windthrows greater than 1 ha, mainly in pure Picea abies and mixed Picea abies-Pinus sylvestris forests. There was high variability in the size of windthrows, ranging from small-scale, gap-sized blowdowns to large and infrequent disturbances affecting more than 300 ha, the largest of which was the Beglika windthrow (1961, 3000 ha). Although avalanches are considered important for subalpine forests on steep slopes they were generally poorly documented and data were limited to several avalanche cycles in 1955, 1963–1974 and in the last two decades. Snow-related damage was important mostly for young pine forests in which several events affected a high stock of wood in the 1930s, 1987, 1988 and 2015. Our data show that natural disturbances of various types and of a range of sizes are part of the natural dynamics of coniferous forests in Bulgaria. Further, our study contributes to the understanding of the historic range of variability of mountain forests in Europe.

The n-alkane composition in the leaf cuticular waxes of natural populations of Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii), Austrian pine (P.nigra), and Macedonian pine (P.peuce) was compared for the first time. The range of n-alkanes was wider in P.nigra (C-16-C-33) than in P.heldreichii and P.peuce (C-18-C-33). Species also diverged in abundance and range of dominant n-alkanes (P. heldreichii: C-23, C-27, and C-25; P.nigra: C-25, C-27, C-29, and C-23; P.peuce: C-29, C-25, C-27, and C-23). Multivariate statistical analyses (PCA, DA, and CA) generally pointed out separation of populations of P.nigra from populations of P.heldreichii and P.peuce (which were, to a greater or lesser extent, separated too). However, position of these species on the basis of n-alkane composition was in accordance neither with infrageneric classification nor with recent molecular and terpene investigations. This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Nikolić, B.; Mitić, Z. S.; Tešević, V.; Đorđević, I.; Todosijević, M.; Bojović, S.; Marin, P. D. Chemotaxonomic Considerations of the N-Alkane Composition in Pinus Heldreichii, P.Nigra, and P.Peuce. Chemistry & Biodiversity 2018, 15 (9), e1800161. [https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201800161]

The principal aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and qualitative and quantitative variability of essential oils obtained from seven naturally grown populations of thePinus peuceGrisebach, Pinaceae in Kosovo. Plant materials were collected from three populations in the Sharri National Park and from four other populations in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park, in Kosovo. Essential oils were obtained by steam distillation and analyzed by GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection) and GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). The results showed that the yield of essential oils (v/wdry weight) varied depending on the origin of population and the plant organs and ranged from 0.7 to 3.3%. In total, 51 compounds were identified. The main compounds wereα-pinene (needles: 21.6–34.9%; twigs: 11.0–24%),β-phellandrene (needles: 4.1–27.7; twigs: 29.0–49.8%), andβ-pinene (needles: 10.0–16.1; twigs: 6.9–20.7%). HCA (Hierarchical Cluster Analysis) and PCA (Principal Component Analyses) were used to assess geographical variations in essential oil composition. Statistical analysis showed that the analyzed populations are grouped in three main clusters which seem to reflect microclimatic conditions on the chemical composition of the essential oils.

An assessment of adaptability of saplings of four evergreen species (Picea abies Karst., Pinus mugo Turra, Pinus peuce Grisb. and Pinus heldreichii H. Christ.), native for Bulgarian treeline zone, was made on the basis of leaf gas exchange and survivability in artificially induced drought stress. The established low sensitivity of gas exchange to summer drought and the highest mortality of P. abies may be regarded as an evidence for a narrow zone of tolerance. P. peuce and P. heldreichii have low survivorship under drought conditions, regardless of the variable effect of soil moisture on the gas exchange parameters. The better survivability and significant reduction of gas exchange in response to soil water deficit of P. mugo probably will give him an advantage in future adaptation to climate change and in competition with other subalpine species. We conclude that the expected trends in climate change will most likely lead to a further narrowing of the ecological and physiological comfortable zone for two investigated endemic species.

A palynological study was performed on a 2 m thick sediment sequence recovered from Mire Kupena (1356 m), a former lake in the Western Rhodopes Mountains (south Bulgaria) and supported by radiocarbon dating. The record extends back to ca. 30,000 cal. yrs. BP (Middle Pleniglacial) when the study area was occupied by wooded steppe composed of Pinus sp., Pinus peuce , some Betula , Juniperus , and cold-tolerant herb vegetation dominated by Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae. In addition, the almost continuous presence of deciduous Quercus , Tilia , Corylus , Abies , Picea , Fagus , Alnus , and Carpinus betulus pollen suggests interstadial conditions and this area could be recognized as a montane refugial place. A reconstruction of the interval between ca. 24,000 and 15,000 cal. yrs. BP was not possible due to an extremely low sediment accumulation rates or, more likely, a hiatus. The lateglacial landscape was dominated by mountain-herb steppe vegetation with isolated stands of Pinus , Betula and shrubland of Juniperus . The afforestation in the Early Holocene started with broad-leaved forests composed of Quercus with C. betulus , Carpinus orientalis / Ostrya , Ulmus , Tilia and Corylus and minor amounts of Pinus , Betula and Abies . In the Late Holocene ( Fagus began to gain importance chiefly at the expense of the mixed oak forests, while after ca. 2000 cal. yrs. BP forests of Pinus sylvestris with some P . peuce quickly expanded around the mire. A comparison with other long palynological records from the mountains and lowlands of Bulgaria and in northern Greece reveals not only common trends in the vegetation development that are a reflection of the climate changes, but also site-specific features related to the location and topography of each site.

Cronartium ribicola causes white-pine blister rust and its main hosts are species of Ribes (telial host) and Pinus (aecial host). Between 2007 and 2010, the distribution and abundance of C. ribicola was surveyed in: (1) Ribes spp. in botanical gardens of southern and northern Finland, and (2) Pinus spp. in five-needle pine plantations and Ribes spp. of northern Finland. The fruit-bearing species Ribes nigrum, Ribes rubrum and Ribes uva-crispa have long been cultivated throughout Finland and Ribes alpinum is a common ornamental. C. ribicola occurred on the leaves of 26 of 36 Ribes species/cultivars. The rust produced spores on all domesticated cultivars of R. nigrum in all botanical gardens each year of the study, whereas some Ribes appeared to be resistant in all locations. Rust infections of Ribes became less common further north and the northernmost infection was found in western Lapland. The rust was not detected on Pinus cembra and Pinus peuce in plantations of northern Finland, although indiv...

Comparative analysis of terpene diversity and differentiation of relict pines Pinus heldreichii, P.nigra, and P. peuce from the central Balkans was performed at the population level. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that the composition of needle terpenes reflects clear divergence among the pine species from different subgenera: P. peuce (subgenus Strobus) vs. P. nigra and P. heldreichii (subgenus Pinus). In addition, despite the described morphological similarities and the fact that P. nigra and P. heldreichii may spontaneously hybridize, our results indicated differentiation of their populations naturally growing in the same area. In accordance with recently proposed concept of flavonic evolution' in the genus Pinus, we assumed that the terpene profile of soft pine P. peuce, defined by high amounts of six monoterpenes, is more basal than those of hard pines P. nigra and P. heldreichii, which were characterized by high content levels of mainly sesquiterpenes. In order to establish precise positions of P. heldreichii, P. nigra and P. peuce within the taxonomic and phylogenetic tree, as well as develop suitable conservation strategies and future breeding efforts, it is necessary to perform additional morphological, biochemical, and genetic studies. This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: (1) Mitić, Z. S.; Nikolić, B. M.; Ristić, M. S.; Tešević, V. V.; Bojović, S. R.; Marin, P. D. Terpenes as Useful Markers in Differentiation of Natural Populations of Relict Pines Pinus Heldreichii, P. Nigra, and P. Peuce. Chemistry and Biodiversity 2017, 14 (8). [https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201700093]

This study reports a protocol for the germination and early seedling growth of Pinus peuce Gris. using zygotic embryo culture. In order to overcome seed dormancy and optimize organogenesis, the effect of nutritional, plant growth regulatory and physical factors on in vitro germination and growth of isolated mature zygotic embryos of P. peuce were investigated. Projekat ministarstva br.173015

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of needle essential oil, obtained by hydrodistillation from wild Pinus peuce Griseb. (Pinaceae), growing on three different locations in R. Macedonia were investigated in period 2008/2009. Carried out GC/FID/MS analysis, one hundred and three constituents were identified belonging to the six different classes of components: monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and other non-terpene components, representing 88.61/94.04% of the entire oil. The most abundant constituents were α-pinene (12.89/27.34%), β-pinene (6.16/13.13%), limonene + β-phellandrene (2.09/6.64%) and bornyl acetate (2.92/11.67%) as well as trans-(E)-caryophyllene (4.63/7.13%) and germacrene D (8.75/20.14%). Antimicrobial screening of Pinus peuce needle essential oil was made by hole-plate diffusion and broth dilution method against 13 bacterial isolates of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and one strain of Candida albicans. The most sensitive bacteria against tested Pinus peuce essential oils were Streptococcus pneumonia encompassing Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Acinetobacter spp. and Streptococcus pyogenes. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the oils ranged from 7.5 - 62.5 µl/ml.

The composition of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from needles, from branches without needles and from branches with needles of Pinus peuce Griseb. (Pinaceae) from Pelister Mtn. (R. Macedonia) was analyzed by GC/FID/MS. One hundred and seven components (40 monoterpenes, 37 sesquiterpenes, 9 diterpenes and 21 other components - aliphatic and cyclic hydrocarbons; aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, and acids; phenols and other oxygenated benzene derivates) were identified. The most abundant constituents were terpene hydrocarbons, encompassing the monoterpenes: α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene + β-phellandrene and bornyl acetate and the sesquiterpenes: trans (E)-caryophyllene and germacrene D.

The principal objective of national parks as protected areas is to preserve forest ecosystems, but at the same time they may serve genetic conservation. The Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) is a five-needle pine native to the Balkan peninsula, occupying an area of 2 500 hectares at Pelister National Park (NP). The native populations of Macedonian pine in Pelister NP represent an especially valuable genetic resource for conservation. In situ and ex situ methods were implemented for the conservation of Macedonian pine genetic resources in Pelister NP. In situ conservation has aimed at preserving an existing, native population of Macedonian pine within the community of which it forms a part and in the environment to which it is adapted. An ex situ conservation of Macedonian pine in Pelister NP was also considered and carried out, but only to the extent that it enhanced the goals of the previous in situ genetic conservation activities. The overall conservation approach applied involves preserving not only associated flora, fauna, and ecosystem processes, but maintaining the Macedonian pine populations in Pelister NP within a dynamic environment in which the genetic variation can continue to respond to natural influences.

Compressed leaves and carpological assemblages from the Pianico Formation, which was deposited into the Pianico-Sellere palaeolake, are newly studied, and the early 20th century leaf collection by Rytz is preliminarily revised. Despite the occurrence of two tephra layers, the dating of this Formation is still controversial: a long temperate period (Pianico-Sellere Interglacial), corresponding to its lower BVC (“Banco Varvato Carbonatico”) member, would either correlate to OIS 11 or to OIS 19. The macrofloral record of the BVC member includes the locally extinct species Acer cappadocicum Gleditsch sensu lato, Pinus peuce Griseb., Prunus lusitanica L., Pyracantha coccinea M.J. Roemer, and Rhododendron ponticum L. var. sebinense (Sordelli) Sordelli. A number of other locally extinct species (Picea omorika (Pancic) Purkine, Rhamnus alaternus L., Tilia caucasica Rupr.) have not been figured and described in detail by the reporting authors, thus they should be confirmed by better documentation. From the biostratigraphic point of view the Pianico fossil flora does not display taxa typical for the Early Pleistocene (e.g. Carya, Liquidambar, and Eucommia), and a single fruit remain may putatively be assigned to the extinct species Potamogeton marginatus Dorofeev, which occurs from the Holsteinian to the Weichselian in Eastern Europe. Re-examination of the plant macrofossil record confirms that aquatic plants are absent from the leaf assemblages of the Pianico Formation and only very rarely occur as carpological remains (Najas marina L. and Potamogeton). The presence of lake-margin species suggests that patches of sedge and reed marshes bordered the lake at the beginning of BVC deposition, and later decreased or disappeared. On the low mountain slopes, steeply dipping into the lake, closed and prevalently deciduous woody vegetation was growing during the BVC deposition. Evergreen shrubs to small trees might well have grown as understorey in the deciduous woodlands (Buxus, Ilex) or in more open, drier rocky places (especially Pyracantha). The macrofossil evidence suggests that, unlike Picea abies (L.) Karsten, P. peuce and Abies cf. alba were not restricted to higher altitudinal belts. The occurrence of P. abies cones in the basal layers of the MLP (“Membro di La Palazzina”) member most probably indicates the settlement of spruce close to the lake-shore. This would be in agreement with the cooling-related contraction of broadleaved forests and the expansion of cool-adapted vegetation types to lower elevations, as indicated by palynological data of the upper part of the Pianico Formation.

High mountains and their ecosystems offer an outstanding opportunity for studies on the impact of climate change. The Pirin Mountains in Southeast Europe, situated at the transition between temperate and Mediterranean climate, are considered as very sensitive to historical and current global changes. Site specific effects as well as the impact of historical disturbances have been analysed at treeline ecotone testplots. Bosnian Pine (Pinus heldreichii) and Macedonian Pine (Pinus peuce) are the most common species at the recent timberline around 2.100 m a.s.l. in the Pirin Mountains. The results on dendroclimatology provide an insight into the potential of the Bosnian Pine and its chronologies in the Northern Pirin Mountains. First conclusions can be drawn from the chronology and site comparison respectively as well as the climate-growth-analysis. On the one hand, the width growth is humidity limited. On the other hand, the tree-rings similarly reflect high summer temperatures as a negative impact f...

To gain insight into the question of which vegetation characteristics have the most influence on avian assemblages in late-successional forests, the habitat preferences of bird-guilds in old-growth endemic forests of Macedonian pine were studied over 3 years in the Pirin National Park, Bulgaria. Bird-habitat relationships were investigated by comparing vegetation characteristics, and bird species richness, diversity, abundance, and guild structure of birds (determined according to food type, foraging and nesting sites) between mature (60-100 years old) and over-mature (>120 years old) Macedonian pine forest stands. Studied forest age-classes differed mainly by the density, height and diameter of trees, and the amount of dead wood. The first one of these parameters decreased and the latter two parameters increased with the forest succession. The difference in the vegetation structure affected the abundance of bird-guilds and thus, the overall bird abundance and the structure of avian assemblages within Macedonian pine forests. There was no significant difference in bird diversity among studied forest age-classes, but the overall bird abundance increased with forest maturation. Analyzed by study plots, species richness was higher in over-mature forests, but at cluster level, there was no significant difference between mature and over-mature forest age-classes. Half of the studied (insectivorous, hole- and ground-nesters, bark- and canopy-foraging bird species) guilds were more abundant in over-mature forests, while there was no bird-guild exhibiting a preference for mature forest stands. The abundances of bird-guilds were correlated with tree height, diameter at breast height and the amount of dead wood between the studied forest age-classes and this might explain their preferences for over-mature pine forests. Therefore, for future sustainable management of these endemic forests and the conservation of their avifauna, efforts should focus on protecting the remaining native old-growth forest stands and the importance of the structure of Macedonian pine forests on their bird assemblages should be considered in forestry practices.

Summary Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious disease of pines (Pinus spp.), with a worldwide distribution. It is caused by the ascomycete fungi Dothistroma septosporum (teleomorph: Mycosphaerella pini) and Dothistroma pini (teleomorph unknown). Recently, DNB was found on Pinus peuce in Austria, Pinus pallasiana in Ukraine and the European part of south-western Russia, as well as on Pinus radiata and Pinus wallichiana in Bhutan. Based on DNA sequence comparisons of the internal transcribed spacer and β-tubulin gene regions, isolates from Austria and Bhutan were identified as D. septosporum, while isolates from Ukraine and south-western Russia were identified as D. pini. Additional isolates studied from Pinus mugo in Hungary confirmed the presence of D. septosporum in this country. The record of D. septosporum on exotic P. peuce in Austria represents a new host report of this needle blight pathogen in Europe. Likewise, DNB and the associated pathogen, D. septosporum are reported from Bhutan, eastern Himalayas, for the first time. In addition, D. pini was found in two European countries and on a new host, P. pallasiana. These European records represent the only reports of D. pini from outside the north-central USA. Morphological examination of selected specimens from different hosts and countries showed that D. septosporum and D. pini overlap in the length of their conidia, while the width is slightly wider in D. pini than in D. septosporum. The differences in conidial width are so small, however, that identification of the two Dothistroma species solely based on morphology is virtually impossible. The new host and country records provided here are consistent with the continuing trend of reports of the DNB pathogens from new hosts and new geographical areas during the last two decades, particularly in the northern hemisphere.

12 Cinara-Species were found in the province Smoljan of the Rhodopen Mountains in June 1988: C. confinis on Abies alba; C. pilicornis, C. costata, C. piceae, C. pruinosa and C. viridescens on Picea excelsa; C. pinea and C. pini on Pinus sylvestris; C. brauni on Pinus nigra; C. cembrae on Pinus peuce; C. juniperi on Juniperus communis and C. cupressi on Thuja orientalis. C. pilicornis is the most important Honeydew-producer from these species. C. viridescens and C. pruinosa are also considerable for the apiculture in the forests with many Formica-colonies. Likewise Physokermes hemicryphus is a weighty honeydew producing insect in the Rhodopen Mountains.

The Picea abies and Abies alba communities in Rila mountain are characterized by the occurrence of the Balkan endemic Pinus peuce and the Carpatian-Balkan element Moehringia pendula. The presence of diagnostic taxa for Eu-Vaccinio-Piceenion indicates that in spite of their specific characters, Spruce forests in Rila could be included in the European boreal vegetation. The Silver Fir in Rila is almost always mixed with Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica. The herb layer supports two plant groups, one belonging to the Vaccinio-Piceetea and a second one to the Querco-Fagetea. Thus this phytocoenosis should be included into Abieti-Piceenion. Two associations are newly described: Moehringio pendulae-Piceetum abietis and Veronico urticifoliae-Abietetum albae.

Pollen analysis, plant macrofossil determination and radiocarbon dating were performed on profiles of Holocene age obtained from two subalpine lakes (2320-2340 in a.s.l.) in the Central Rila Mountains, Bulgaria. The palaeovegetational reconstruction dates back to the mid-Atlantic (6500-6700 cal. BP). The plant macrofossil record revealed that groups of Pinus mugo and Juniperus sibirica were distributed in the subalpine zone. The treeline was shaped by Pinus sylvestris and Pinus peuce and was higher (up to 2200-2300 in a.s.l.) compared with the present-day. A change to cooler summers and warmer winters after 6700 cal. BP, characterized by a rise in humidity and precipitation, stimulated the formation of a coniferous vegetation belt dominated by Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce and Abies alba. The pollen assemblages also indicated a dominance of deciduous trees (Quercetum mixtum-Corylus phase) at low altitudes until c. 6000 cal. BP. The sub-Boreal was characterized by a wider distribution of Abies alba in the lower part of the coniferous belt and a gradual enlargement of the areas occupied by Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies after 3800-3500 cal. BP. The macrofossil finds of Picea abies testify to its expansion after 2800 cal. BP when average temperatures dropped and precipitation increased. Traces of human disturbance in the subalpine area are continuously registered in the pollen and plant macrofossil records since 3770 cal. BP, indicating livestock-grazing, burning of dwarf-pine (Pinus mugo) for new pasture land and lowering of the treeline. ispartof: The Holocene: an interdisciplinary journal focusing on recent environmental change vol:15 issue:5 pages:663-671 status: published

Pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating were performed on a sequence 150 cm deep from a peat bog (Mozgovitsa, 1800 m above sea-level) in the Northwestern Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria. The palaeovegetational reconstruction focused on the main stages of forest development starting from approximately 8700 years BP. The vegetational response to the amelioration of the climate in the Early Holocene until 7500 cal BP resulted in the spread of birch forests (Betula pendula) that occupied large areas at high altitudes forming the upper tree-line together with pine (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce, Pinus mugo), juniper (Juniperus), alder (Alnus), and willow (Salix). Below them were mixed deciduous oak forests with some Ulmus, Tilia, Corylus, Carpinus, and Acer. The continuous Early Holocene pollen record of mesophyllous demanding trees (Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies), though in low frequencies, suggests that groups of these trees survived in environmentally favourable habitats with sufficient moisture such as deep mountain valleys. The most important change in the vegetation cover started ca. 7500 cal BP when birch forests declined and coniferous vegetation dominated by Pinus sylvestris, Pinus peuce and Abies alba invaded the slopes. The spread of the conifers and the expansion of their areas presume an increase in humidity and precipitation, and the development of soils with humic horizons. The last trees to establish after ca. 4000 cal BP in the study area were Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica. Their expansion in the Northwestern Pirin Mountains started at the Subboreal/Subatlantic transition ca. 3000 cal BP when average temperatures dropped and precipitation increased. Deforestation in historic times resulted in the appearance of new pasture land and the lowering of the upper tree-line.

The etymology of three Balkan tree names, S.-Cr. munika Pinus leucodermis' molika Pinus peuce' and omorika Picea omorika' is discussed. The latter is supposed to go back, together with Bulg. morika spruce', to Slavic *mъxorъ fringe' describing here the hanging branches of spruce. The Bosnian pine munika, munjika growing in high and rocky places exposed to the thunder, the relation to S.-Cr. munja Common Slavic *mъlnja seems probable, and molika may be explained as a re-borrowing from Alb. molikë traceable to the same Slavic prototype *mъlnika. Razmatra se etimologija tri balkanska naziva za četinare, s.-h munika Pinus leucodermis', molika Pinus peuce' i omorika Picea omorika'. Za ovaj poslednji pretpostavlja se da se zajedno sa bug. morika smreka' svodi na prasl. reč *m''xor'' resa', koja bi ovde opisivala viseće granje smreke. Kako munika / munjika raste na visokim kamenitim položajima izloženim udaru groma verovatnom se čini veza sa munja prasl. *m''lnja, a molika se da objasniti kao povratna pozamljenica iz alb. molikë svodljivog na isti slov. praoblik *m''lnika.

Diatoms, Cladocera, and chironomids preserved in the sediments of Lake Dalgoto were studied to reconstruct the history of the lake ecosystem in the context of the vegetation history as represented by the pollen stratigraphy. Younger Dryas silty sediments at the base of the core are characterized by low diversity of aquatic organisms. The transition to the Holocene is indicated by a sharp change from silt to clay-gyttja. The migration and expansion of trees at lower elevations between 10200 and 8500 14C-yr BP, along with higher diversities and concentrations of aquatic organisms and the decreased proportion of north-alpine diatoms, point to rapidly rising summer temperatures. After 6500 14C-yr BP the expansion of Pinus mugo in the catchment coincides with signs of natural eutrophication as recorded by an increase of planktonic diatoms. In the late Holocene (4000–0 14C-yr BP) Pinus peuce and Abies are reduced and Picea expands. Cereal grains and disturbance indicators suggest late-Holocene human modification of the vegetation.

Pollen stratigraphy of a core 270 cm long from Lake Dalgoto at 2310 m in the Northern Pirin Mountains, southern Bulgaria, was treated by optimal partitioning and compared to a broken-stick model to reveal statistically significant pollen zones. The vegetational reconstructions presented here are based on pollen percentages and pollen influx, on comparisons of modern and fossil pollen spectra, and on macrofossil dates from other sites in the mountains. During the Younger Dryas (11000–10200 14C yr BP), an open xerophytic herb vegetation with Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae was widely developed around the lake. Deciduous trees growing at lower elevations contributed to the pollen rain deposited at the higher-elevation sampling sites. Specifically, from 10200 to 8500 yr BP, Quercus, Ulmus, Tilia and Betula expanded rapidly at low and intermediate elevations, and between 8500 and 6500 yr BP they extended to higher elevations close to the upper forest limit, which was formed by Betula pendula at about 1900 m. Coniferous species were limited in the region at this time. After 6500 yr BP, the expansion of conifers (Pinus peuce, P. sylvestris, P. mugo, Abies alba) at high elevations forced the deciduous trees downward. Between 6500 and 3000 yr BP, the forest limit at 2200 m was formed by P. peuce, and A. alba had its maximum vertical range up to 1900 m. Later the abundance and vertical range of P. peuce and A. alba were reduced. After 3000 yr BP, Picea expanded.