Autochthonous Tree Research Articles

Does the degradation of histosols due to recurrent fire affect the establishment of a hygrophilal autochthonous tree species?

Forest Islands and their adjacent natural grasslands are vulnerable and sensitive ecosystems to the actions of severe fires, which result in losses of their resilience, which makes the potential of passive restoration of these environments unfeasible after such events. This study aims to verify, through an autochthonous species exclusive to these Forest Islands, whether it can develop in Histosols around a Forest Island that has been degraded by fire for years. The place of study and collection of the material tested was in the Sempre-Vivas National Park. Histosols samples were collected for analysis of chemical and physical attributes and experimental conduction in a seedling nursery. The performance of Richeria grandis was evaluated in these Histosols from seed vigor tests, initial plant growth in a greenhouse. R. grandis manages to develop in Histosols around the degraded Forest Island, disregarding possible interspecific field competitions. The physical and chemical characteristics of the Histosols around the island do not prevent the effective restoration of this phytocenosis. R. grandis showed the same seed vigor for all Histosols tested and all seedlings survived until the end of the experiment. It was observed that the seedlings grown in the Histosols of the island of the forest, showed a behavior of greater height, number of leaves and moisture content, and the place with exposed Histosols, with the highest fire severity, provided the lowest development in height, diameter and number of leaves. According to ecophysiological analyses, the species is under some environmental stress regardless of the treatment.

Forest history from a single tree species perspective: natural occurrence, near extinction and reintroduction of European yew (Taxus baccata L.) on the Darss-Zingst peninsula, southern Baltic Sea coast

The forests along the southern Baltic Sea coast harbour some stands of the rare and endangered European yew (Taxus baccata L.), which are hypothesised to be autochthonous. Using the example of an occurrence on the Darss-Zingst peninsula, the population dynamics of the yew since the late Holocene are interdisciplinarily investigated and linked to the forest history of this area. Pollen analysis shows that yew has been present in the study area for at least 2600 years and thus indeed represents an autochthonous tree species in the area. The yew was probably originally part of a second tree storey and of forest margins within a mixed forest mainly consisting of several deciduous tree species and Scots pine. Historical evidence reveals that yew was still occurring in the forest in the middle of the eighteenth century, but then had nearly disappeared by the end of the nineteenth century. This was caused by several factors including forest grazing by livestock, high game populations and clear-cutting. First replanting of yew took place in the 1930s/1940s and 1950s/1960s, followed by planting campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s. Planting material from local and regional autochthonous relict populations was used, at least in part. The current yew population mainly comprises young individuals with a total number of ca. 1300 trees. It has thus been possible here to re-establish an autochthonous yew occurrence that was nearly extinct in historical times. This local example of targeted re-enrichment of native tree diversity may also encourage further measures to give this species a new chance again elsewhere in the wider region.

Pestrost in pojavljanje domačih in tujerodnih drevesnih in grmovnih vrst na ploskvah nacionalne gozdne inventure v Sloveniji

In Slovenia, the National Forest Inventory (NFI) is used to monitor the state and development of forests at the national level. In this paper, we analysed the diversity of tree and shrub species and assessed the presence of non-native tree species in Slovenian forests. According to the literature, Slovenia hosts 71 autochthonous tree species, of which 60 were found among the trees measured on the 2 x 2 km NFI density plot grid. The highest average number of trees and shrubs, as well as the Shannon-Wiener index of species diversity, were observed in sample plots located in the Pre-Alpine Ecological Region (H’ = 0.85), while the lowest values were found in the Alpine Ecological Region (H’ = 0.58). The total growing stock of trees and shrubs in Slovenia is 330.7 m3/ha ± 2.1%, with the growing stock of small trees and shrubs (less than 10 cm DBH for trees and shrubs) estimated at 9.7 m3/ha ± 5.9%. Common beech (Fagus sylvatica) (31.9%) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) (28.2%) dominate the growing stock of tree and shrub species, while common hazel (Corylus avellana) (85.0%) represents the highest proportion of shrub species. Ten different non-native tree species were identified across 138 NFI plots, with the highest distributions in the Sub-Mediterranean and Pre-Pannonian Ecological Regions. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) dominates the growing stock of non-native tree species. Among small trees (those with a DBH of less than 10 cm), common beech represents 32.4%, with Norway spruce and manna ash (Fraxinus ornus) each contributing more than 10.0%. The growing stock of small shrub species (shrubs with a DBH of less than 10 cm) is dominated by common hazel (Corylus avellana) with 78.3%, while more than 2% is also represented by cornel (Cornus mas), old man’s beard (Clematis vitalba) and elderberry (Sambucus nigra). The results show that the combination of a panel system, a large number of sample plots (3027) and an improved coding system enabled the first comprehensive and objective assessment of tree and shrub species diversity, as well as the presence of non-native species in Slovenian forests.

Palm density and grazing effects on plant communities: implications for livestock management in a Butia palm grove.

Some grasslands in ecotones with forests tend to be encroached by woody species, because of changes in climate and land use. Such structural changes in vegetation can be facilitated when the grassland community presents an autochthonous arboreal component, like Butia palms. We aim to identify the responses of taxonomic and functional diversity on grassland community with the occurrence of arborescent/arboreal species (autochthonous and encroaching) to palm density and grazing intensity. The study was conducted in a Butia odorata palm grove under cattle management, in Southern Brazil. To assess the taxonomic and functional composition we performed ordinations analysis with the vegetational data and using path analysis we assessed the causal relationships between variables of interest. Density of Butia odorata and woody plants were strongly positive related, suggesting a facilitation process in the establishment of arborescent plants on the grassland matrix. The abundance of less palatable plants and grazing pressure were inversely related, indicating a selection process induced by higher grazing intensity. We suggest that the grazing intensity management must be based on the autochthonous tree density, applying higher grazing intensity in areas with higher density of encroaching plants, in addition to maintaining other regions conducive to Butia palm regeneration through fallows.

Biotic homogenization of dendroflora in the conditions of the megapolis (Dnipro, Ukraine)

Purpose. Biodiversity assessment and clarification of the trend towards homogenization of the dendroflora of the Shevchenko Park (Dnipro, Ukraine). Methods. Floristic methods of research are applied - elucidation of the taxonomic composition and selection of the adventitious fraction of dendroflora, methods of species richness assessment (according to the Menkhinik index and Margalef index), determination of floristic commonality (according to the Jaccard index) and floristic homogeneity (according to the Koch index of biotic dispersion), methods of ecological analysis (by biomorphs and ecomorphs), physical, physicochemical, chemical methods of soil analysis, soil biological activity, statistical methods of data processing (descriptive statistics and correlation analysis). Results. It was established that artificial stands of trees in the Shevchenko Park are capable of forming a sufficient amount of viable undergrowth of autochthonous and introduced (adventurous) species, the ratio of which is 37.0% to 63.0%. The amount of tree growth of adventive sites in the areas according to the level of recreational load is distributed as follows: with no load - 38.5% of the number of self-regenerating trees, with moderate - 68.2%, with strong - 80.5%. The indexes of species richness of Margalef and Menkhinik of self-regenerating tree species for the site with a strong recreational load turned out to be the largest (due to adventitious species) compared to the sites with no and moderate recreational load. Koch index of biotic dispersion is 50.0%. Correlation coefficients between the number of allochthonous and autochthonous tree species that have self-regenerated for the studied areas with strong, moderate and no recreational load are statistically significant (0.73, 0.76, 0.77 respectively). Conclusions. On the territory of the investigated areas of the park, there are 14 tree species capable of seed self-regeneration, which taxonomically belong to 12 genera and 10 families. Of them, 9 adventive species were registered, represented by 9 genera and 7 families with the leading family Sapindaceae. The calculated index of biotic dispersion testifies to the presence of a process of floristic homogenization of the forest stand on the territory of the park. As part of the adventitious fraction of the self-regenerating dendroflora, there is an increased invasion of Ailanthus altissima and the occurrence of such neophyte species as Celtis occidentalis and Acer negundo, which indicates the penetration of alien species into the local flora and a potential threat to natural floristic diversity.

Feeding Preferences of Domestic and Wild Ungulates for Forage Trees in the Dry Tropics

Silvopastoralism based on livestock feeding on forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing on the open pastures of dry tropical Central America. Four autochthonous trees, Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium and Guazuma ulmifolia, and one exotic (Moringa oleifera) tree are the preferred species for these silvopastoral systems. Little is known, however, about the feeding preferences of cattle, sheep and goats for such fodder trees and whether wild ungulates (white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) feed on these plants. In this work, we conducted several multiple-choice feeding preference tests (cafeteria test) to compare the best choice to feed cattle, sheep, goats and white-tailed deer in these farming systems. Although all ruminant species included the four autochthonous trees and the exotic M. oleifera in their diets, G. ulmifolia was the preferred forage tree by far. The preference for the rest of the trees varied among our ruminant species. When M. oleifera was added to the cafeteria test, it was well accepted by white-tailed deer but little appreciated by their domestic counterparts. The use of these forage trees for livestock feeding is thus interesting not only for sustainable animal production but also to support wild herbivores in the dry tropics of Central America.

The FraDiv experiment: Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning research meets reforestation practice

European ash-rich forest ecosystems are transforming rapidly under the influence of ash dieback, putting many associated species at risk. Forest managers face the urgent challenge to deal with the loss of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) as a key tree species to maintain species richness and ecosystem functioning. The project FraDivexp, located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, aims at counteracting detrimental effects of progressive ash decline by testing alternative tree species in a Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) experiment along a hydrological gradient. Here, we provide insight into how a BEF-approach can be combined with silvicultural management practice to meet the needs for both ecological research and reforestation. At the same time, we present first data on the survival of the planted saplings.In winter 2019/2020, FraDivexp was established with autochthonous tree species considered potential substitutes for the functioning of ash. At 12 sites, plantations including Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides L., Carpinus betulus L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Ulmus laevis Pall. were planted directly underneath the remains of collapsing forest canopies involving all monocultures, and all combinations of 2-, 4- and 5-species mixtures. One year after planting of 25,200 trees, total mortality was at 5% with U. laevis showing lowest mortality while establishment of A.platanoides was least successful. In this early phase of FraDivexp tree mortality was species-specific and driven by initial individual tree size, pH-values in the topsoil and canopy openness, while there was no effect associated with tree diversity. Analysis of further biotic factors showed high mortality of A.platanoides in areas with a high cover of Rubus spp. in the herb layer, indicating species-specific susceptibility to different site conditions. Overall, low mortality (compared to other BEF experiments on arable land) suggests an advantage of establishing a BEF experiment within an existing forest matrix. Simultaneously, this study shows that differences in environmental context dependency among species need to be considered more explicitly, when recommending management strategies. To ensure successful establishment of reforestations with substitute tree species is the first step to efficiently counteract the massive loss of ash trees with the aim of maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

BIOECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF THE ADVENTITIOUS FRACTION OF THE DENDROFLORA OF RECREATIONAL AND PARK LANDSCAPES (DNIPRO)

The state of seed self-regeneration of woody plants of Kyrylivka Park (Dnipro, Ukraine) in areas with a strong, moderate and non-existent level of recreational load was studied. Floristic methods (estimates of species richness, determination of floristic community and homogeneity), methods of ecological analysis of vegetation, physico-chemical methods of soil analysis, statistical methods are applied. It was established for the first time that in Kyrylivka Park, artificial stands are capable of forming a sufficient amount of viable undergrowth of autochthonous (53,5%) and introduced (46,5%) species. The amount of tree growth of adventitious plants in the areas according to the level of recreational load is distributed as follows: with no load – 32,2% of the number of self-regenerating trees, with moderate – 41,3%, with strong – 89,7%. The indices of species richness of Margalef and Menkhinik of self-regenerating tree species for the site with a strong recreational load turned out to be the largest (at the expense of adventitious species) compared to the sites with a moderate recreational load and without it. The calculated Koch index of biotic dispersion (40.0%) indicates a certain process of floristic homogenization of the tree stand in the investigated territory of the park. The correlation coefficients between the number of self-restored allochthonous and autochthonous tree species for the studied areas with strong, moderate and absent recreational loads are significant (0.90, 0.92 and 0.88 respectively). The need to analyze and forecast the possible remote consequences of the introduction of alien species in the composition of the dendroflora is emphasized.

Influence of soil properties on millipede (Diplopoda) communities in forest stands of various tree species

Although millipedes are faunistically among the best studied groups of edaphon in Europe, there is still a lack of available information on the ecological requirements of particular species. Habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely controlled by soil properties, habitat structure and microclimate. In forests, habitat features are predominantly driven by the properties of woody tree species. Millipedes, like other saprophages, are influenced by the characteristics of litter and soil. However, the effect of tree species on millipede communities has not been investigated in forest stands consisting of several autochthonous or allochthonous tree species. Our study examines the effect of soil properties related to several autochthonous and allochthonous tree species on millipede communities. The research was carried out at 9 stands in the Arboretum Mlyňany (western Slovakia). Each stand represents a monoculture of one of 9 tree species: 4 autochthonous species (Picea abies, Taxus baccata, Quercus cerris, and Carpinus betulus) and 5 allochthonous species (Picea orientalis, Pinus nigra, Pinus ponderosa, Thuja occidentalis, and Castanea sativa). The results of this research confirmed relationships between (1) the soil pH and the total activity-density of millipedes, (2) the soil pH and the structure of the millipede communities, (3) the soil conductivity and the structure of the millipede communities, and (4) the leaf litter pH and the equitability of the millipede communities. In terms of the total activity-density and species richness of the millipedes, forest stands with autochthonous tree species provided more favourable conditions for millipedes than forest stands with allochthonous tree species. Millipedes achieved high abundance and diversity in these stands and can therefore contribute to the faster decomposition of dead organic matter and nutrient recycling in forest ecosystems.

Tree layout methodology for shading pedestrian zones: Thermal comfort study in Bilbao (Northern Iberian Peninsula)

The need to reduce heat-related thermal stress calls for a reassessment of shading in outdoor urban spaces with the aim of achieving more habitable and sustainable cities. In this research, a methodology based on mathematical formulas is presented and applied to determine the most appropriate geometric properties and position of the trees to be planted in an urban canyon, based on its E-W solar orientation and the height of the buildings. The methodology relies on shading the largest possible surface area of the pedestrian zones of a canyon through the appropriate autochthonous tree species, but it also requires a thermal-comfort evaluation of tree transmissivity. The case study is validated in Bilbao, where a combination of measurement and modelling techniques (Solweig model) are used to verify suitable guidelines for urban design. The results will be of interest to architects and city planners for decision-making when integrating trees, so that urban thoroughfare development can improve thermal comfort in actual or new canyons. The methodology could be applied to other climatic regions, although some of the parameters used both for the evaluation of the heat-related critical moments and in the formulas should be adapted.

Soil parameters explain short-distance variation in production of Tuber aestivum Vittad. in an oak plantation in the central-northern part of the Great Hungarian Plain (Jászság region, Hungary)

Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi of which several species can be commercially produced in man-made plantations using trees inoculated with their mycelia. The production in tree plantations is meant to increase the availability of economically valued ascocarps on the market and, in the same time preserve natural habitats from an excessive pressure of truffle hunters, as well as limit the damage that they may face due to the inadequate management of truffle-producing regions. Even though plantations of summer truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.) are the most ubiquitous in France and Italy, the Jászság region in Hungary has been recently recognized as one of the most productive areas in Europe. Forestry practice in this region often assumes the renovation of autochthonous tree stands by massive sowing of the tree seeds. One of these plantations of oaks (Quercus robur and Q. cerris), spontaneously colonized without artificial inoculation, appeared to produce the highest officially reported amounts of summer truffles in Europe. Therefore, the managing forestry company decided to apply practice that aimed at maintenance of high truffle production. Assuming that climatic and vegetation factors have no impact on ascocarp production within the stand, the plantation provided perfect experimental setup for investigating the influence of very localised soil properties and terrain morphology on truffle abundance. Therefore, in this contribution selected soil properties have been investigated in the entire plantation using specifically designed protocols to characterize the site and find out if the spatial variation in the truffle production can be explained by short-distance differences in soil properties. In the Chernozem soil type that dominated the entire forest stand, soil organic matter (SOM), soluble nitrogen (TN) and properties influenced by SOM and biological activity were positively correlated with high ascocarp production, whereas increased soil aggregate size and clay content was negatively correlated with productivity. The spatial distribution of these parameters appeared strongly related to ascocarp abundance distribution. Chernozem seems to be an ideal type of soil for Tuber aestivum ascocarp production, but terrain morphology and soil properties spatial pattern, which may have been historically influenced by fluvial and aeolian processes, can significantly influence the rate of production. In the case of non-wood products such as truffles, forest management will necessarily have to consider the conditions of the soil environment that, influencing the presence of the truffle species, can make their production interesting in terms of income for the forest owner.

Urban trees assimilation efficiency and assessment of environment quality

The conception of functional adaptation of woody plants in the changing conditions of natural ecotopes and the urban ecosystem is substantiated. The new integrated methods for estimation of the natural environment transformation under the pressure of urbanization are suggested. The objects of our research are 49 species and forms of woody plants inhabiting the urban ecosystem of Lviv, natural and artificial tree stands of Ukrainian regions. Also, we focused our attention on the anthropotransformation of microclimate, soil changing in tree plantations and problems of edaphotopes contamination. The main subject of the original plant studies were the general phenotypic functional changes in the assimilation apparatus of tree species, which can be estimated by the complex of conventional and new indicators of chemical and biochemical composition of leaf dry matter from ecotopes with different living conditions and origin. We investigated the morphological, physiological and biochemical reactions of assimilating organs of woody plants affecting their growth and development in the conditions of the Lviv city and in the natural conditions of forests and parks. As a result of long-term studies of such reactions, we have suggested an original methodological approach to elucidating the levels of phenotypic functional adaptation. Also, the ability of autochthonous and allochthonous (exotic) tree species to adapt their growth and development to new or modified anthropogenic environment has been studied out. The average level of sugars in the leaves during vegetation was considered as a normal level with the maximum at the beginning, and subsequent decrease in the middle while the minimum of content was determined at the end of the growing season. The appropriate character of starch metabolism are displayed by average levels in different species, with the maximum concentration in July and subsequent minimization of their content at the end of the growing season. The naturally determined dynamics of fiber (cellulose) concentrations implies gradual decline in the period from spring to autumn of its proportion in the leaves dry matter at the high level of concentration, similarly as in the native species. The gradual increase in the proportion of all water-soluble carbohydrates about insoluble in adapted native plants was considered as a natural. A small amount of sugars in a ratio with the general concentration of ash in the leaves at the end of the growing season, we consider as auspicious. Suggested by us clusterization of native and exotic tree species concerning of the efficiency of their introduction in different urban plantations, and depending on the degree of anthropogenic ecotope transformation, allows diversely and effectively recommend different tree species and their forms in varied scopes of application. We used indicators of phenotypic functional adaptation while inventorization of Lviv botanical gardens collections has taken place. The informative criteria for assessing the status of plants, selection of resistant local and introduced individuals with high adaptive potential were elicited by mentioned above indices. A comprehensive approach to the study of ecotope qualities is effective for assessing the acclimatization conditions for tree exotics in the botanical gardens of Western Ukraine and for developing agrotechnical measures for their cultivation.

Особливості росту кедра атласького (Cedrus Atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière) у лісових культурах Закарпаття

Наведено коротку характеристику кедра атласького та досліджено історію створення насаджень інтродуцента на території держлісфонду державного підприємства "Мукачівське лісомисливське господарство". Встановлено, що оптимальними умовами для культивування кедра атласького в лісових культурах є свіжі й вологі грудові типи лісорослинних умов (D2-3) у передгірській частині Закарпаття до висоти 600 м н.р.м. Визначено показники продуктивності насаджень досліджуваної породи. Встановлено, що в дібровних типах лісорослинних умов кедр атласький на Закарпатті перевершує таксаційні показники аборигенних деревних порід. Порівняльна оцінка лісівничо-таксаційних показників, у розрізі кожної зростаючої породи на досліджуваній ділянці, свідчить, що кедр атласький характеризується кращими показниками розвитку. Запас досліджуваного деревостану, де склад є таким – 8Кда1Яц1См+Клг+Лпд, у 40 річному віці становить 293 м3/га і середній приріст за запасом відповідно – 7,1 м3/га рік. Встановлено, що мішані насадження кедра атласького за середньою висотою та діаметром достовірно вищі, порівняно із чистими деревостанами в однакових ґрунтово-кліматичних умовах Закарпаття. Розпочаті дослідження мають на меті встановлення перспектив використання породи у лісокультурному виробництві регіону, визначення ступеня натуралізації виду та агресивності його поведінки щодо автохтонних деревних видів рослин у корінних типах лісу.

Особливості росту біогрупи гіркокаштана звичайного у Зіболківському лісництві ДП "Жовківське лісове господарство"

Наведено коротку характеристику гіркокаштана звичайного та досліджено історію створення насадження за участю інтродуцента у Зіболківському лісництві ДП "Жовківське лісове господарство" на початку ХХ ст. Визначено особливості росту досліджуваної породи. Встановлено, що у віці 95 років дерева гіркокаштана звичайного досягають середньої висоти 19,5 м та середнього діаметра 44,3 см. Вивчено процеси природного поновлення інтродуцента та досліджено основні чинники, що впливають на формування підросту. Зроблено порівняльний аналіз природного поновлення гіркокаштана звичайного та клена-явора під наметом деревостану інтродуцента. Встановлено, що самосів гіркокаштана відстає в рості, кількості та життєвості і, перебуваючи в умовах надмірного затінення, "випадає" із підросту до 8-річного віку. Проведені дослідження свідчать, що гіркокаштан звичайний в умовах вологої грабово-соснової судіброви Малого Полісся України досяг найвищого рівня акліматизації – натуралізації, що підтверджує здатність виду до природного поновлення. Розпочаті дослідження мають на меті встановлення перспектив використання породи у лісокультурному виробництві регіону, визначення ступеня натуралізації виду та агресивності його поведінки щодо автохтонних деревних видів рослин у корінних типах лісу.

Development of Technosol properties and recovery of carbon stock after 16 years of revegetation on coal mine degraded lands, India

Surface mining is recognized as one of the essential anthropogenic activities which drastically disturbs the ecosystem. To offset the impacts of surface mining, revegetation is widely used to restore the disturbed landscape. The present field study was carried out to assess the status of an ecosystem structure, soil quality and C pool of the 16-years old revegetated post-mining site and compared to an undisturbed forest site. For this, physicochemical, biological and hydrological properties of Technosols were analyzed, and differences in these parameters were quantified. Vertical distribution of soil nutrients (NPK), soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) were assessed in the upper 100 cm (at an interval of 20 cm) of Technosols and forest soils. After 16-years of revegetation, autochthonous tree species comprise 17% of the total tree population on the reclaimed site. Technosol quality was increased in terms of accumulation of SOC, available nitrogen (N), and available phosphorus (P). SOC and total N stock recovered in Technosols were 70% and 47% of the reference forest soils, respectively. Likewise, after 16-years of revegetation, ecosystem C pool was 33% of the undisturbed forest site. Increase in C pool can be attributed to the development of plant biomass C, accretion of SOC and litter C pool. The study provides an insight into the magnitude of nutrient content and development of ecosystem C pool in a reconstructed ecosystem and importance of revegetation of post-mining sites to offset CO2 emission. The study concluded that plantation of multipurpose tree (MPT) species will improves Technosol quality, facilitates natural colonization of native tree species and increases ecosystem C pool along the age of revegetation.

Genetic and landscape characterization of ancient autochthonous olive trees in northern Italy

Several ancient olive plants with different genetic, agronomic and morphological characteristics are widespread in the Emilia-Romagna region. In this study, details of 206 trees located in four provinces were collected and their phytometric traits were recorded. Easily recognizable varieties were identified, while plants of uncertain genetic identity were submitted for molecular analysis with SSR markers and compared with cultivars widespread in central Italy and Emilia-Romagna. The genetic analyses showed that most of the ancient olive trees belonged to 10 cultivars that are already characterized, with different cases of intra-varietal clones. The remaining accessions belonged to 19 different genotypes of unknown origin. The highest percentage of policormic trees was found in the Bologna and Rimini provinces. A high percentage of plants located under unfavourable aspects (west to east) was found only in the Rimini territory, which presents peculiar and milder climatic conditions compared to the other provinces. Slope appeared not to be a limiting factor for tree survival. The information obtained could help the rational reintroduction of olive growing in suitable areas of Emilia-Romagna, with the subsequent economic advantages, erosion preservation and germplasm enrichment.

Short Communication: Survival and growth of mono and mixed species plantations on the Coromandel coast of India

Anbarashan M, Padmavathy A, Alexandar R. 2017. Short Communication: Survival and growth of mono and mixed species plantations on the Coromandel coast of India. Asian J For 1: 70-76. There exists very little information on the growth of autochthonous tree species autochthonousin the tropics and on the experiences in conducting mono and mixed species plantations. The aim of this study was to compare the variation in growth parameter between the mixed species plantation and mono species plantation. The growth, survival, and height of 82 autochthonous mixed species plantations were compared with Casuarina equisetifolia, an exotic species broadly planted in this region after over a decade (2006 to 2016). In the mixed species plantation, seven species showed 100 % survival rate and 19 species were not survived after 10-year intervals. In the mono species plantation, Casuarina equisetifolia had 92 % of the survival rate. When it is compared to the mono plantation, the growth rate of mixed species plantation showed highly significant differences (P < 0: 05) values. Simple linear regression between annual girth increment and height produced very strong positive relations (R2 0.759). Plantations of Casuarina equisetifolia seem to be well adapted to the coastal region. On the other hand, mixed plantation with autochthonous species would contribute more to sustainable management because they provide a greater range of ecological goods and ecosystem services than the single species plantations.

Growth and water use performance of four co-occurring riparian tree species in a Mediterranean riparian forest

Mediterranean riparian zones act as vegetation shelters for several deciduous tree species at the edge of their bioclimatic distribution, e.g. alder (Alnus glutinosa), black poplar (Populus nigra) or ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Current global warming and human induced disturbances may worsen their growing conditions. Under such circumstances, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is outcompeting autochthonous tree species. Here, we provide evidences of black locust better growth and water use performance than alder and ash. We compare the temporal and spatial patterns of transpiration and the stem basal area increments of alder, black poplar, common ash and black locust, all of them co-occurring in a mixed riparian Mediterranean forest. Black locust presented the lowest transpiration values per basal area unit (4.0mm·m−2·growing season−1). Although tree transpiration was mainly driven by energy availability instead of water, ash transpiration was constrained by water availability at soil water contents below 0.08cm3·cm−3. Black locust was the only tree species growing all over the water availability gradient present in the study site, and it did not present any significant difference in sap flow values across this gradient. Furthermore, black locust and black poplar were the species with higher growth-based water use efficiency (5.4g·cm−1·m−3 and 3.6g·cm−1·m−3, respectively); ash and alder were the less efficient ones (2.8g·cm−1·m−3 and 1.9g·cm−1·m−3respectively). The good performance of black locust is relevant to understand its great successful invasion of Mediterranean riparian forests, particularly after human-induced disturbances, as forest management.

FIRST REPORT OF FIG MOSAIC VIRUS AND FIG BADNAVIRUS 1 ON COMMON FIG TREES IN CROATIA

Common fig (Ficus carica L.) is one of the most common fruit trees in the Croatian coastal region. Fig mosaic symp- toms, first reported more than a half century ago (Perisic , 1952) are found on most cultivars. In 2014, leaf samples were taken from 30 autochthonous fig trees from two locations of the Istrian peninsula for laboratory analyses. Twenty six trees exhibited typical symptoms of foliar mosaic, one tree exhibited also fasciations, while the remaining four trees were asymptomatic. Extraction of total RNA was done us- ing an RNeasy plant mini kit (Qiagen, Germany) and ex- traction of DNA using a GenElute Plant Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit (Sigma-Aldrich, USA). Plants were tested by PCR for the presence of Fig mosaic virus (FMV) and Fig badnavirus 1 (FBV-1), applying previously described condi- tions and diagnostic primers (Elbeaino et al., 2009; Laney et al., 2012). A symptomless fig tree was used as negative control. The infection with FMV was confirmed in 26 symp- tomatic out of 30 sampled trees (87%), while all 30 plants were positive for FBV-1. One amplicon each of FMV and FBV-1 (isolates FMV-Cro-19S and FBV-1-Cro-17S, respec- tively), were sequenced in both directions (GenBank acces- sion Nos KT312843 and KT312844). A BLASTN program search showed 97% identity at the nucleotide level of the FMV-Cro-19S RdRp gene with the comparable sequence of FMV SB2-2 isolate from Serbia (AB697838), while the poly- protein gene from FBV-1-Cro-17S had a sequence identical to that of several FBV-1 isolates from the USA (JN050864, JN050875, JN112365). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of FMV and FBV-1 in Croatia.

Die Suche nach altem Wald in der Schweiz

The search for old-growth forests in Switzerland Old-growth forests and stands have multiple values, such as biological, scientific, socioeconomic, aesthetic, spiritual and cultural ones, but they are very rare in central Europe. Currently, an overview about the existence and size of old-growth forest patches in Switzerland is missing. We propose a definition for old-growth forests worth preserving based on ten criteria: 1) presence of veteran trees, 2) significant biomass, 3) heterogeneous stand structure including senescent and decaying stages, 4) presence of natural processes and disturbances, 5) high dead wood volume (at least 30 m3/ha) and a large diversity of dimensions and decay stages of dead wood pieces, 6) autochthonous tree species, 7) diverse and natural species assemblages, 8) only extensive or no harvesting for the last 50 years, 9) long continuity of forest cover, 10) minimal area of 30 ha for old-growth forests and 1 ha for old-growth stands. When searching for old-growth forests and stands worth preserving, quantitative criteria from the National Forest Inventory and other sources should also be used. We call on all forest specialists to identify old-growth patches, to inform the population and decision makers about their high value, and to protect them in an adequate manner as a unique natural heritage.