Alder Forest Research Articles

Soil and geobotanical, typological characteristics of bottomland forest with short-term flooding Poltava-city green belt

Carrying out its assignment Poltava-city green belt bottomland forests with short-term flooding, has significant anthropogenic impact, needs constant research of forest biogeocoenosis present day condition. There have been done the complex research of bottomland forests with short-term flooding which are located in the range of Poltava-city green belt. Forest types according to O. L. Belgard have been noted. Soil and geobotanical characteristics, soil sections macromorphological peculiarities have been given, results of soil water extracts analysis in the investigated forestry have been noted. Throuout the complex researches of all components of forest biogeocoenosis the learning of forest and environment coorelation that is due to anthropogenic effect is topical. Especially it concerns the big cities green belt of industrial regions that suffer from the human direct influence or indirect consequences of his living. Thereby the National special-purpose program «Forests of Ukraine» for 2010–2015 was approved the aim of which is a complex study of this category of forest-steppe zone forest biogeocoenosis. For this reason was made an accent to investigate all-round the Poltava-city green belt forests related to Poltava Region throuout the regional special-purpose program of forestry integrated development «Poltava region forests by 2015». To identify the soil and geobotanical characteristics of biogeocenosis and physical and chemical piculiarities of bottomland forests with short-term flooding adaphotop we will consider the most typical sample plots of different plantations according to its forest stand that grows in relatively identical conditions. Forest areas of Poltava-city green belt belongs to the eastern soil and climatic forest-steppe zone of Poltava Region and is situated in forest-stepp belt of Left bank of Dnipro inside the Dnipro and Donetsk dimple. The most common soils are deep, low humic chernozem and middle clay-loam soil. There are mulch and sandy, agrilloarenaceous soils in river valleys. The picture of exploration area ground structure looks in such a way. The most common ground species of the area is a loess-like clay loam. There are sands observed near the river bed of Vorskla and clay on steep slopes. Soddy-meadow and chernozem-meadow, sandy loam and clay loam soils are involved in the bottomland forests formation. Typical chernozem occupies significant territories, which is formed by herbaceous grouping of mesoxerophytes, euxerophytes and xeromesophytes. Floodplain soils are divided into three parts: riverine, central and terrace near flood plain. In the riverine part is formed the most light mechanical components of interbedding soils formed on new derived silt from slightly humic layers. There are a low percent of humus (not more than 1 %) and nutritional chemicals. Thereby their fertility is low. In the central part of floodplain had been formed the sandy loam and clay loam soils with stronger profile on the massive, often calcareous or carbonaceous parent rock material. In cases of flood the water is widely overflowed and stay for a long time rich in sludge particles. It is the richest soils of the floodplain. The done research gave us the opportunity to clear up that the bottomland forests with short-term flooding of Poltava-city green belt are consist mainly of oak, aspen and alder forests. The formation and distribution of the main associations of floodplain forests depend on the regime of floodplain, trophotop and relief inhomogenuity. It was noticed that it can be found three more typical natural forest vegetations related to bottomland forests with short-term flooding inside the Poltava-city green belt: Dc' 3 (moist linden oak forest with hairlike sedge), Dn / 4 (alder forest with muddy tall herbaceous vegetation), Dc / 2 (live aspen forest with). It was noticed, that in all investigated plant formations the forest site type is sandy loam with different variations: live (SP / 2), moist (SP / 3), muddy (SP / 4). Different variations of soil has been investigated. There is no carbonate in soils of the investigated biogeocenosis. Water extract analysis tell about the lack of salinity properties, dry particles ranges (0,05–0,2 %), pH is alkaline. Detailed soil and geobotanical characteristics and establishing peculiarities of bottomland forests with short-term flooding adaphotop will give opportunity to reconstruct the existing Poltava-city green belt plantations and organize the stationary investigations with the aim of their more rational employment and saving.

Native and Alien Plant Species Richness Response to Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Temperate Floodplain and Swamp Forests

Soil nitrogen and phosphorus are commonly limiting elements affecting plant species richness in temperate zones. Our species richness-ecological study was performed in alder-dominated forests representing temperate floodplains (streamside alder forests of Alnion incanae alliance) and swamp forests (alder carrs of Alnion glutinosae alliance) in the Western Carpathians. Species richness (i.e., the number of vascular plants in a vegetation plot) was analyzed separately for native and alien vascular plants in 240 vegetation plots across the study area covering Slovakia, northern Hungary and southern Poland. The relationship between the species richness of each plant group and total soil nitrogen content, plant-available phosphorus and carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio was analyzed by generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) with Poisson error distribution and log-link function. The number of recorded native and alien species was 17–84 (average 45.4) and 0–9 (average 1.5) species per plot, respectively. The GLMMs were statistically significant (p ˂ 0.001) for both plant groups, but the total explained variation was higher for native (14%) than alien plants (9%). The richness of native species was negatively affected by the total soil nitrogen content and plant-available phosphorus, whereas the C/N ratio showed a positive impact. The alien richness was predicted only by the total soil nitrogen content showing a negative effect.

Phylogeography and population genetics of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) in Ireland: putting it in a European context

Black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) is a widespread tree of European forests with a high potential for wood and biomass production. This study investigated the genetic origin and diversity in remnants of putative native alder forest stands in Ireland and compared it with other European populations to determine phylogeographic patterns. The efficiency of capture of the genetic diversity in a breeding population was also assessed. Data were obtained from chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) polymorphisms and from nuclear microsatellites. In silico PCR-RFLP was used to locate cpDNA sequence polymorphisms in order to develop flanking primers for high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. The cpDNA polymorphism analysis detected two main haplotypes in Ireland. The same two are also found in Wales and England while only one is found in Scotland. The results suggest that Irish populations of alder have originated from at least two European glacial refugia. Black alder in Ireland exhibited no or very weak population differentiation using nuclear microsatellite markers, which is consistent for a wind-dispersed, outcrossing species. Based on the nuclear microsatellite data, a decline in population sizes is estimated to have occurred around a timeframe that coincides with a period of large-scale deforestation. The breeding population contained two haplotypes and showed a high level of genetic capture (86 % of microsatellite alleles) when compared with all samples combined. This study fills a gap in previous knowledge, provides an additional marker and an additional method for future studies. The characterisation of a breeding population provides valuable baseline data for a national alder tree improvement programme.

Soil Nitrogen Transformations and Availability in Upland Pine and Bottomland Alder Forests

Soil nitrogen (N) processes and inorganic N availability are closely coupled with ecosystem productivity and various ecological processes. Spatio-temporal variations and environmental effects on net N transformation rates and inorganic N concentrations in bulk soil and ion exchange resin were examined in an upland pine forest (UPF) and a bottomland alder forest (BAF), which were expected to have distinguishing N properties. The annual net N mineralization rate and nitrification rate (kg N·ha−1·year−1) were within the ranges of 66.05–84.01 and 56.26–77.61 in the UPF and −17.22–72.24 and 23.98–98.74 in the BAF, respectively. In the BAF, which were assumed as N-rich conditions, the net N mineralization rate was suppressed under NH4+ accumulated soils and was independent from soil temperature. On the other hand, in the UPF, which represent moderately fertile N conditions, net N transformation rates and N availability were dependent to the generally known regulation by soil temperature and soil water content. Stand density might indirectly affect the N transformations, N availability, and ecosystem productivity through different soil moisture conditions. The differing patterns of different inorganic N indices provide useful insight into the N availability in each forest and potential applicability of ion exchange resin assay.

Holocene pollen record from Lake Sokoch, interior Kamchatka (Russia), and its paleobotanical and paleoclimatic interpretation

A pollen record, obtained from sediments of Lake Sokoch in mountain interior of the Kamchatka Peninsula, covers the last ca. 9600years (all ages are given in calibrated years BP). Variations in local components, including pollen, spores and non-pollen palynomorphs, and related changes in sedimentation document the lake development from initially seepage and shallow basin to deeper lake during the mid Holocene and then to the hydrologically open system during the late Holocene. The studies of volcanic ashes from the lake sediment core show their complex depositional histories.Lake Sokoch occupies a former proglacial basin between two terminal moraines of the LGM time. The undated basal part of record before ca. 9600year BP, however, does not reflect properly cold conditions. At that time, although shrublands and tundra dominated, stone birch and white birch forests have already settled in surroundings; the presence of alder woodland indicates wet and maritime-like climate. The subsequent forest advance suggesting warmer conditions was interrupted by the ca. 8000–7600year BP spell of cooler climate. The following culmination of warmth is bracketed by the evidence of the first maximal forest extent between ca. 7400 and 5100year BP. During that time, dramatic retreat of alder forest suggests a turn from maritime-like to more continental climate conditions. The cool and wet pulse after ca. 5100year BP was pronounced as forests retreat while shrublands, meadows and bogs extended. An expansion of white birch forest since ca. 3500year BP reflected the onset of drier climate, strengthening continentality and seasonal contrast. The second maximum of forests dominated by both stone and white birches occurred between ca. 2200 and 1700year BP and indicated warming in association with relatively dry and increasingly continental climate. The following period was wetter and cooler, and minor outbreak of alder forest around ca. 1500year BP suggests a short-term return of maritime-like conditions. Since ca. 1300year BP forests retreated and replaced by shrublands, tundra and bogs, pointing to cool and wet climate and likely increased back continentality. A prominent re-advance of stone birch forest shown atop the record, most probably reflects recent warming trend.The reconstructed cool periods correlate well with Holocene glacial advances in neighboring mountain areas and with the tree ring and ice core records from the Central Kamchatka Depression. The Lake Sokoch pollen record, being consistent with the previously obtained regional paleoclimatic data, yet contributes new detailed information, especially for the late Holocene.

Functional species traits of carabid beetles living in two riparian alder forests of the Sila plateau subject to different disturbance factors (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

We studied carabid beetle assemblages found in riparian black alder forests in the Sila plateau (Southern Apennines). These carabid assemblages are characterized by a high incidence of endemic small-sized, low dispersal, highly stenotopic (hygrophilic), and trophycally specialized species. To evaluate the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on these insects, we compared carabid assemblage of an old undisturbed forest (65-170y, wilderness landscape) with that of a younger, partly grazed stand (40-60y, cropland landscape). The carabid assemblage of the disturbed stand was characterized by a higher number of species, but showed a lower incidence of zoophagous specialists and brachypterous beetles, with many species probably coming from an adjacent cropland. However, the disturbed stand maintains almost 80% of the core species found in the older forest, which suggests that these insects are not particularly sensitive to disturbance factors represented by periodic wood harvesting and extensive cattle grazing.

On eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) breeding in atypical habitat under competitive conditions with other eagle species

Abstract In the paper we describe two cases of eastern imperial eagle breeding in the former nests of greater spotted eagle and white-tailed eagle observed in the Tatarstan Republic, Russia. In both cases, eastern imperial eagles occupied non-favourable habitats they never used before - a vast alder forest in the wetlands and an island in a reservoir. The possible reasons that made the eagles expand their breeding ranges in the Volga region ofRussia are discussed in this paper

СИНТАКСОНОМІЯ УГРУПОВАНЬ ДРІБНОЛИСТЯНИХ ЛІСІВ НА ЗАРОСТАЮЧИХ ПЕРЕЛОГАХ

<p>The spontaneous small leaf particles groups of fallows, that are the first stage of the restoration of broad-leaved forests were investigated. In composition of groups of birch, aspen and alder saplings on the fallows (Ivano-Frankivsk and Zhytomyr region) three new associations are distinguished and described (Cirsio arvensi-Betuletum pendulae, Phalacrolomo annui-Populetum tremulae, Dauco carotae-Alnetum glutinosae). These syntaxons are included into new class Dactylo glomerati-Populetea tremulae Vorobyov et I. Solomakha cl. nova in press. Syntaxonomy of this class was generalized for the territory of Ukraine.</p> <p><em>Key words: Syntaxonomy, class Dactylo glomerati-Populetea tremulae, fallows, afforestation, birch aspen and alder forests, Ukraine.</em></p>

Physiological profiles of microbial communities in mine soils afforested with different tree species

Tree species may affect diversity of soil microbial communities in afforested post-mining barrens. The objective of this study was to compare community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) of microbial communities in O horizons and uppermost mineral layers of mine soils under the pine (Pinus sylvestris), birch (Betula pendula), larch (Larix decidua), alder (Alnus glutinosa), and mixed pine–alder and birch–alder forest stands. The physiological abilities of soil microbial communities were studied using the Biolog® test. Physiological diversity was calculated as Shannon’s index (H’) based on the Biolog® data. There were significant vegetation-dependent differences in CLPPs with the larch and birch stands supporting microbial communities with distinct physiological profiles. The soil microbial communities under these stands used less efficiently carbohydrates and were characterized by lower CH/AA ratio. The differences in CLPPs were limited to O horizon, in the mineral soil the effect of tree species was much less pronounced. Admixture of alders to birch and pine stands did not result in consistent increase of physiological diversity of soil microbial communities. However, the microbial communities under pure larch stand were significantly less physiologically diverse which may suggest worse functioning of microbial communities under pure larch plantations.

Оптимизация состава насаждений при созданиилесных культур ольхи черной в степной зоне России

Оптимизация состава насаждений при созданиилесных культур ольхи черной в степной зоне России

The thousand-year history of the Slovak Karst inferred from pollen in bat guano inside the Domica Cave (Slovakia)

A thousand years old 105 cm deep deposit of bat guano in the Domica Cave (southern Slovakia, Slovak Karst National Park) has been discovered for science, and three samples were analysed for pollen to identify the bats’ preferred foraging habitats and for insect remains to identify their diet. The bat species concerned, Rhinolophus euryale, is rare in the area, which lies at the northern margin of its distribution. The pollen record captured alder forests between 897–1024 AD, temperate light broad-leaved oak-hornbeam forests with Quercus cerris, Fraxinus ornus, Cornus mas and Corylus avellana between 1522–1800 AD, and almost recently willow shrubs. This pattern may, however, reflect local changes in the surrounding landscape where the bats hunted. Pollen of anemophilous taxa was underrepresented (e.g. Fagus), while entomophilous taxa were overrepresented (e.g. Fraxinus ornus, Loranthus europaeus, Acer, Agrostemma githago). The phenology of the encountered pollen taxa indicates that the bats used the Domica Cave mainly as spring and summer roosts. The pollen record further indicates that the bats prefer to forage in a forest–steppe landscape with open Pannonian broadleaved forests and humid temperate riparian environments. Today, this kind of landscape does not occur further north, which may explain the northern limit of this bat species at the study site.

Living on the edge: studies on ecology of plant species and populations at the limits of their geographic range. Tribute to Professor Janusz B. Faliński (1934-2004)

Abstract Abies alba and Senecio rivularis - two of 44 mountain species reported from the Roztocze Highlands, SE Poland were objects of the study. Both species reach the north-eastern limits of their occurrence in this region. In case of Abies alba, the extent of its habitat niche and possibility of adaptation to alternative niches at the range limits were investigated in two areas of the Roztocze Highlands - the Roztocze National Park (RNP) and gorge sections of four river valleys (RV) of a mountainous character. In both landscapes, fir prefers mineral soils that are too leachy for deciduous species and even for spruce. In the RV sites, fir seems to have a much broader ecological scale and often colonizes organic soils with wet mixed coniferous forests with spruce, ash-alder, and bog alder forests. The studies on Senecio rivularis are an example of long-term ecological studies at the population level, conducted in the RNP since 1987, e.g., in terms of changes in the size structure of individuals compared to the changes in the surface area covered by this population. A nearly 3-fold increase in the area inhabited by the population was accompanied by changes in the spatial organisation of the population and individual size structure dynamics, which reflects the intensification of intra- and interspecific competition, and indicates condition changes in the population area.

Классификация черноольшаников песчаных массивов Ростовской области

The results of geobotanical survey of Alnus glu­ti­nosa arena forests at three sandy areas within the North of the Rostov and the West of the Volgograd regions of the Russian Federation are given. The territory is situated at the East European Plain where steppes are zonal type of vegetation. This territory is well developed agricultural region with highly transformed lands. Nevertheless, the fragments of natural vegetation support rather high floristic and phytocoenotic diversity and they contain a number of endemic species also (Fedyaeva, 2002). Small patches of alder forest stands generally occur in roundish and tape-like depressions on the second and third sandy terraces of the Don River. These woods were in a focus of interest of many scientists, e.g. G. M. Zozulin (1992) who studied these more than 30 years. But the special papers including the ecologo-floristic characteristic of natural arena alder forests were missing up to now. According to vegetation classification based on the Braun-Blanquet approach (Braun-Blanquet, 1964) the alder forests are referred to four formerly described associations of the alliances Alnion incanae and Alnion glutinosae: Aceri tatarici–Alnetum glutinosae, Urtico dioicae–Alnetum glutinosae, Ficario–Ulmetum minoris and Carici elongatae–Alnetum glutinosae. Proposed 4 subassociations and 10 variants reveal the syntaxonomical structure of these associations. The comparative analysis of syntaxa of the forests of the alliances Alnion incanae and Alnion glutinosae within the Rostov region, in the Russian Southern Nechernozemje, in Ukraine and the Central Europe was done. It is emphasized that the differentiation of the alder communities is complicated due to their intrazonal positions in a landscape. There are a very few character species at the association level. At the same time a lot of plant communities reflect the ecotone features between the meso-hygrophyte forests of the class Querco-Fagetea and the mire woods of the class Alnetea glutinosae. Therefore we had to apply both the classical and nonclassical syntaxonomical analysis (Mirkin et al., 2009). It is obvious that the alder forests syntaxonomy at the lowest level will be specified in the nearest future. There are noticeable differences in species composition of studied communities depen­ding on their position in landscape. For example, there are communities with a large amount of species of the class Querco-Fagetea occurring in the forest margins and on slopes. The role of species of the class Alnetea glutinosae increases on the gradient from the outskirts of wood massifs to their central parts in lowlands also. Species of the alliance Alnion incanae are widely presented in all communities. Although the described communities are small in size and rather rare on the territory studied they contain 27 vascular plant species included in the Red Data Book of the Rostov region (Krasnaya…, 2004). These woods considerably increase the biodiversity within the steppe zone as well. The organization of a number of nature reserves is necessary to protect the certain types of alder forests.

A revision of the Neotropical genus Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão (Araneae, Hahniidae).

The Neotropical genus Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão, 1942 is revised, comprising four species from Argentina. The genus is here transferred to the subfamily Hahniinae Bertkau, 1878 from Cybaeolinae Lehtinen, 1967. Austrohahnia is diagnosed by a single synapomorphy, short setae ventrally on the abdomen, in immature as well as adult stages. The type species A. praestans Mello-Leitão, 1942 is redescribed. Austrohahnia catleyi new species is described and illustrated based both sexes from the alder forests of northwestern Argentina. Austrohahnia melloleitaoi (Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1942) new combination was transferred from Hahnia C.L. Koch, 1841, the male is described and illustrated for the first time, and the female is redescribed. Austrohahnia isophthalma (Mello-Leitão, 1941) new combination is also transferred from Hahnia and considered a nomen dubium. New geographic records of studied species are provided.

Оптимизация режима прореживаний и проходных рубок в пойменных черноольшанниках

In the steppe zone of Russia there is a tendency of increasing the proportion of mixed stands in the structure of riparian black alder forests. In middle-aged and maturing stands they occupy 21-23 % of the area. For such plants regulations of forming mode are absent, and for planting in pure content - require adjustments. In order to justify the feasibility and optimal standards of thinning in pure and mixed stands of natural and artificial origin thinning and felling were hold with a range of cutting intensity from very mild to severe. In pure stands thinning with intensity of 18 % has positively impacted: after 20 years, the average diameter, the absolute completeness and stock is higher for 14 %, 12.5 % and 14 %, respectively. Moderately strong felling in forest plantations of mixed composition had a negative result: in 17 years the completeness and the stock are 68.5 % and 68.4 % from control section indicators. According to forecasts, recovery of indicators of control stands does not happen in 30 years. After the thinnings in pure stands plantations, where grassroots method was used, had a better taxation structure: after 20 years after felling stock of experimental section exceeds the benchmark by 10.3 %, the completeness of- 10.2 %. The result of applying the method of crown thinning is deterioration in the structure of plantations: completeness and the stock reached the targets at 83.1 and 80.0 %, respectively. Thinning in mixed stands on condition of targeted reduction of the share of related species have a positive effect both on the dynamics of restoration of forest indicators and the improvement of sanitary structure of planting. An analysis of the results revealed the most effective cutting modes of formation and proposed regulations for modes of thinning in plantations of black alder of floodplain ecotype in the steppe zone of Russia.

Isotopologue ratios of N2O and N2 measurements underpin the importance of denitrification in differently N-loaded riparian alder forests.

Known as biogeochemical hotspots in landscapes, riparian buffer zones exhibit considerable potential concerning mitigation of groundwater contaminants such as nitrate, but may in return enhance the risk for indirect N2O emission. Here we aim to assess and to compare two riparian gray alder forests in terms of gaseous N2O and N2 fluxes and dissolved N2O, N2, and NO3(-) in the near-surface groundwater. We further determine for the first time isotopologue ratios of N2O dissolved in the riparian groundwater in order to support our assumption that it mainly originated from denitrification. The study sites, both situated in Estonia, northeastern Europe, receive contrasting N loads from adjacent uphill arable land. Whereas N2O emissions were rather small at both sites, average gaseous N2-to-N2O ratios inferred from closed-chamber measurements and He-O laboratory incubations were almost four times smaller for the heavily loaded site. In contrast, groundwater parameters were less variable among sites and between landscape positions. Campaign-based average (15)N site preferences of N2O (SP) in riparian groundwater ranged between 11 and 44 ‰. Besides the strong prevalence of N2 emission over N2O fluxes and the correlation pattern between isotopologue and water quality data, this comparatively large range highlights the importance of denitrification and N2O reduction in both riparian gray alder stands.

Numerical classification of alder carr and riparian alder forests in Slovakia

Numerical classification of alder carr and riparian alder forests in Slovakia

Diurnal Method for Evapotranspiration Estimation from Soil Moisture Profile

Abstract Water use of plants can be manifested in diurnal signal of soil moisture changes, and also of water table fluctuations in shallow water table environments. The signal can be especially strong in case of groundwater dependent forest vegetation with high water demand, where the water uptake is partly happening across the capillary zone. A new technique for water uptake estimation was elaborated on the basis of high frequency soil moisture profile data taking into account diurnally changing replenishment rate. The method is of great benefit to provide sufficient accuracy without soil specific calibration. The method was tested on the soil moisture dataset of a riparian alder forest in Hidegvíz Valley experimental catchment. Using this new method significantly higher and more realistic water uptake can be calculated compared to the traditional soil moisture method. The method is taking into account soil moisture replenishment from groundwater, which can provide high portion (up to 90%) of evapotranspiration in dry periods. For the above mentioned reason the new technique is recommended to be used for evapotranspiration estimation in groundwater discharge areas, where the traditional methods and simple one-dimensional hydrological models generally work inaccurate.

Mycosociological research in the Ficario-Ulmetum campesris association in the "Wielka Kępa Ostromecka" reserve on the Vistula river

In conneciton with the elaboration of ecological range of macrofungi in alluvial and alder forests in Poland, three-year mycosociological observations were made on two permanent plots laid out in the patches of the <i>Ficario-Ulmetum campcstris</i> association in the "Wielka Kępa Ostromecka" reserve near Bydgoszcz-Fordon on the Vistula river.

The preservation status of the lichen biota in the designed Special Area of Conservation NATURA 2000 „Middle Łyna River Valley – Smolajny”

The paper presents the list of 159 taxa, including 151 lichens and 8 saprotrophic or parasitic (lichenicolous) fungi, recorded in the designed Special Area of Conservation NATURA 2000 „Middle Łyna River Valley – Smolajny” (the Forest Division of Wichrowo). The analysed area (2953 ha) covers mostly forest communities, with natural character, associated with the valley of the Łyna river (hillside lime-oak-hornbeam forests, streamside alder-ash forest, riparian black alder forest).