Canopy vitality drives rainfall redistribution in an old-growth temperate beech forest

Bryophytes disperse efficiently via wind-borne spores, yet long-distance transport alone does not guarantee successful establishment at the deposition site. Species-rich hotspots are expected to arise where a sustained regional diaspore supply coincides with a high diversity of suitable substrates, creating both safe sites for colonization and stepping-stone nodes for further dispersal. Here, we use the Ostrava Zoo, located in the core of a heavily industrialized city in the Moravian-Silesian region (Czech Republic), as a case study to examine how these processes shape bryophyte diversity in an urban landscape. Between 2021 and 2024, we recorded 129 bryophyte taxa (18 liverworts, 111 mosses) within the Zoo, a species richness comparable to that of nearby protected areas in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids. The assemblage includes several regionally rare taxa and a pronounced epiphytic component (38 epiphytic species), indicating both improved air quality and the importance of old, healthy tree stands. Analyses of species occurrence across habitat categories demonstrate that the exceptional diversity of the Zoo is underpinned by high substrate and microhabitat heterogeneity, spanning remnants of beech forest, wetlands, disturbed soils in animal enclosures and a wide range of artificial structures. Back-trajectory modelling of air masses during the main vegetation season further shows that prevailing winds frequently connect the Zoo with bryophyte-rich reserves in the Beskids, supporting the hypothesis that the Zoo functions as a recipient and secondary source of diaspores in a fragmented urban matrix. Our results highlight that large urban green areas such as zoological gardens can act as bryophyte refugia and stepping-stone sites of conservation importance within industrial regions.

Key Message This dataset offers high-resolution multi-temporal data on European beech tree dynamics, collected through UAV LiDAR and multispectral sensors at Alpe di Catenaia, Central Italy. It tracks architectural and phenological changes under different forest management regimes, providing valuable insights for ecological research and forest management. The data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14650937 , with comprehensive metadata available to facilitate its use and interpretation and a standardised metadatafile at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/30e8c7be-de64-4a83-8fea-0610feb7f74f .

Comparative study of furfurylation and polyesterification of beech wood: influence of impregnation cycles on durability, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties

Abstract Climate change challenges forestry in temperate regions, with drought and insect infestations affecting major tree species. Introducing drought-tolerant non-native species into managed forests is a widely discussed adaptive strategy. However, the impact of such interventions on forest nitrogen (N) cycling are still unknown. Here, we investigate the influence of species identity and competition on sapling N form preferences and root morphological traits of non-native Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ( Mirbel ) Franco ) and native European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.). We conducted an in-situ experiment in a close-to-nature beech forest in Germany, growing beech and Douglas fir saplings for two years in bottomless pots under intra- and interspecific competition. Using highly 15 N-enriched ammonium nitrate, we tracked N uptake in plant compartments to compare the species’ inorganic N uptake form preference and allocation. Under intraspecific competition, Douglas fir and beech showed higher uptake of ammonium than nitrate. Under interspecific competition, N form uptake was complementary, with beech exhibiting a preference for nitrate. Fine root morphology did not significantly affect N form preference. Roots displayed species-specific traits; Douglas fir’s traits point to a slow resource acquisition strategy (e.g., large fine root diameter) and traits of beech to a fast strategy (e.g., high branching frequency), yet fine root morphology was unaffected by species mixing. Our findings suggest that Douglas fir and European beech saplings can coexist without hampering each other’s N nutrition. The study highlights the necessity of field-based investigations to elucidate the complex interactions governing N cycling in mixed-species forests, providing insights for climate change-adapted forest management.

Abstract. Eddy covariance (EC) measurements are a backbone of ecological research and have provided valuable insights into the variability of carbon and water fluxes in different ecosystems and under varying environmental conditions. Since these measurements are integrative and weighted over changing areas (footprint), species-specific information cannot be easily derived except for homogenous monocultures. However, EC sites are increasingly established in mixed forest stands which are considered to be more resilient under changing environmental conditions. This leads to the question of how species-specific responses can be determined, and whether the magnitude of fluxes derived from temporally varying flux footprint predictions (FFPs) can provide insight into these responses. At a site in southwestern Germany's Black Forest, primarily composed of mature beech and Douglas fir trees, we investigate the dependence of EC flux measurements on different FFP areas and explore how species-specific contributions to gas exchange can be disentangled using a combined measurement and modeling framework. We applied an ecosystem model that has been calibrated from EC measurements at various sites with beech- and Douglas fir monocultures, and evaluated it with data of soil water content and soil respiration taken at homogeneous parts of the investigated mixed forest site. Then we compared hourly aggregated measurements of net carbon exchange (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) with model simulations under four configurations: (i) pure beech, (ii) pure Douglas fir, (iii) a static weighted average of both species, and (iv) a dynamic weighted average based on FFP variations. The results show that weighted combinations of the two species generally provide a better match with hourly EC measurements than single-species simulations, while differences between static and dynamic weighting approaches remain relatively small. However, species-specific flux responses can be significantly different during transitional periods such as autumn and spring when physiological differences between Douglas fir and beeches are most pronounced. We demonstrate that accounting for seasonal differences is particularly important for gap-filling EC measurements in mixed forests and, consequently, for determining annual carbon and water budgets. Furthermore, EC measurements over mixed forests provide valuable information for detailed model evaluation, while species-specific modeling helps disentangle and attribute underlying ecosystem dynamics to individual species.

Effects of understory degradation induced by sika deer on soil microarthropods in beech forests: comparison between two different climatic conditions

Soil carbon stocks and nutrient stratification differ across age-related development stages of oriental beech forests in northwestern Türkiye

Martagon Lily, Lilium martagon, belongs to geophytes inhabiting mainly forest communities in temperate regions of Europe and Asia and it is considered as a rare and endangered species in many regions. The presented investigations were conducted in three populations, occurring in forest habitats in Southern Poland: Wolski Forest (population 1), Mount Chełm (population 2), and Hrabeński Forest (population 3). At each site, 10 phytosociological relevés covering an area of 100 m2 were taken. For each phytosociological relevé, the Shannon-Wiener, Pielou, and Simpson indices, as well as the number of species, were calculated. The detailed field studies were conducted in permanent study patches measuring 20 m × 20 m. The measurements of habitat conditions (e.g., number of species, soil moisture, light intensity at ground level, height of plant cover) were carried out in 2018. The observations of the abundance and developmental structure of stems, as well as selected traits (e.g., height, number and dimensions of leaves, number of flowers) were conducted in 2018-2023. The analysis of phytosociological relevés showed that the study sites in Wolski Forest and Mount Chełm were located in the Tilio cordatae-Carpinetum betuli oak-hornbeam forest association, while the study site in Hrabeński Forest was situated in the Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum mountain beech forest association. The statistical analysis confirmed that the greatest Shannon and Simpson index values, number of species, soil humidity, light intensity at ground level, and height of plant cover were recorded in Hrabeński forest. The greatest number of Lilium martagon stems and a lack of juvenile stems was found in population 3, while in less abundant populations-1 and 2-juvenile, immature, virginile, and generative stems were found. The statistical analysis showed that the highest immature and virginile stems with the greatest number of whorl leaves, as well as the substantial height of generative stems and number of whorl leaves observed in population 3, might be the result of growing in conditions of lateral shading provided by adjacent plants. The lowest height of immature and virginile stems recorded in population 1 and generative stems noticed in population 2 might be caused by them being overshaded by the canopy of surrounding trees. Moreover, the obtained results suggest the favourable impact of weather conditions during the meteorological spring and summer of 2019 on the growth of Lilium martagon stems. Nevertheless, the lack of a unified trend in the studied populations indicates the occurrence of site-specific temporal variability of individual traits. Considering the obtained results, it can be concluded that population 3 presents a much better state and prospects for persistence in the occupied site than populations 1 and 2. At the same time, it should be pointed out that further long-term observations of populations of Lilium martagon located in different habitat conditions are still strongly desired.

European beech wood has low natural resistance to microbial attacks especially when it is exposed outdoors. We looked at ways of improving this by applying three hydrophilic extracts from other species known for their ability to inhibit fungal growth. We prepared oak heartwood and black locust bark extracts by accelerated-solvent extraction with aqueous methanol and freeze-drying, and obtained black wattle bark hot-water extract commercially. The molecular size of the phenolic components and associated saccharides in the extracts were determined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). We found that two extracts improved beech wood durability even at low concentrations (5 wt.% solution); the most effective extract was black wattle extract. The worst performance, by black locust bark extract, was attributed to the presence of small-molecule phenolics. The total phenolic content was up to 9× lower than that reported for fresh extracts. Even though the extracts were not stored specifically to preserve the original phenolic content, we found that two were still effective as fungal inhibitors.

Abstract Centuries of timber production have homogenized many forests by reducing variation in canopy density and deadwood availability, with far‐reaching consequences for biodiversity and trophic interactions. Recent studies indicate that increasing structural heterogeneity through canopy gap creation and deadwood enrichment can promote biodiversity and support tree regeneration. These management practices may also influence tree performance, among others assessed by folivory and leaf fluctuating asymmetry, which indicate how well trees resist leaf damage and maintain developmental stability under environmental stress. However, it remains unknown whether such management enables trees to mitigate folivory and developmental instability, especially across macroclimatic gradients such as elevation. We conducted a large‐scale experiment in Germany across 11 pairs of forests: one structurally homogeneous control forest and one experimentally heterogenized forest, where canopy gaps and deadwood were created to increase between‐patch structural heterogeneity. The forests spanned an elevation gradient from 38 to 1143 m. Across all forest pairs, we sampled 19,656 leaves from 1404 European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) trees. We quantified folivory, leaf fluctuating asymmetry, microclimatic conditions (temperature, vapour pressure deficit) and biotic pressures (predation, parasitism, competition). Experimental enhancement of structural heterogeneity reduced folivory overall but increased leaf fluctuating asymmetry. Folivory increased with elevation, while leaf fluctuating asymmetry declined, producing an inverse relationship: At low elevations, structural enhancement reduced folivory but increased asymmetry, whereas at high elevations it increased folivory but reduced asymmetry. Microclimatic variables explained variation in both folivory and leaf asymmetry more consistently than biotic pressures. These findings extend the stress‐gradient framework by showing that identical management interventions can yield opposite outcomes depending on the macroclimatic gradient associated with elevation. Thus, integrating elevation and climate context into forest management seems to be crucial for maintaining the resilience of temperate forests under global change. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

ABSTRACT This study reports the preparation and application of a low-cost activated carbon produced from beech wood residues (BW-AC) via phosphoric acid activation. The adsorbent possessed a mesoporous-dominated, amorphous structure with a high specific surface area of 867.3 m2 g−1. The efficacy of BW-AC was evaluated for tetracycline (TC) removal from aqueous solutions. The effects of key operational parameters, including pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial TC concentration, and temperature, were systematically investigated. TC adsorption was largely pH independent, whereas increasing the adsorbent dosage improved TC uptake, with an optimal range of 1–1.5 g L−1. Robust statistical model selection using the corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) identified the general-order kinetic model as the best fit, with AICc and BIC values of –38.43 and –41.18, respectively. Among the isotherm models, the Langmuir model provided the best representation of equilibrium data, yielding AICc and BIC values of 73.61 and 72.64, respectively, and a maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 219.9 mg g−1 at 20 °C. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-driven adsorption process. These findings collectively demonstrate that BW-AC is an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of TC from contaminated water.

ABSTRACT Canopy gap mosaics, characteristic features of mature forests, exert substantial influence on understory and environmental variables. Previous studies have documented that larger gaps correlate with enhanced diversity of understory, known as gap size effect (GSE), particularly in tropical and subtropical forests. However, this relationship remains poorly understood in cool-temperate forests where dwarf bamboo dominates the understory exclusively. Dwarf bamboo can change this relationship through various mechanisms in understory. This study aimed to elucidate GSE and its mechanisms considering the presence of dwarf bamboo. In two cool-temperate forests, Kayanodaira and Ohshirakawa, central Honshu, Japan, gaps of various sizes were selected. In each gap, the estimated number of herb-layer spp. (height < 1 m) and shrub-layer spp. (height ≥1 m and diameter at breast height ≤5 cm) as understory was measured. Simultaneously, major environmental variables such as light intensity at three heights, dominance of dwarf bamboo, and litter thickness were also measured, and their means and variations were calculated. In two study sites, the estimated number of herb-layer and shrub-layer spp. increased with gap size. Moreover, this GSE was found to be influenced by dwarf bamboo from both negative and positive perspectives. As negative way, dense dwarf bamboo cover intercepts light and weakens the positive effect of increased light in larger gaps. As positive way, larger gaps lead to greater spatial heterogeneity in bamboo biomass, which enhances microenvironment variation and promotes niche differentiation. These findings suggest that forests dominated by dwarf bamboo exhibit a unique mechanism of GSE.

Beech leaf nematode, Litylenchus crenatae, is the causal agent of beech leaf disease (BLD), a condition characterized by interveinal dark-green banding, leaf thickening, bud abortion, and potentially tree mortality. Current identification methods for L. crenatae rely on morphometric analysis or molecular techniques such as conventional PCR and real-time PCR. To support timely management of BLD, there is a need for a rapid, field-deployable detection method. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is a new isothermal in vitro nucleic acid amplification technique that has been adopted for rapid and reliable diagnostics of nematodes. In this study, RPA assay combined with lateral flow (LF) dipsticks has been developed targeting the ITS rRNA gene of L. crenatae. The assay demonstrated high specificity, sensitivity, enabling direct detection from crude nematode extracts and from DNA leaf plant extracts. Assay specificity was validated against a range of non-target nematode species. The LF-RPA assay showed reliable detection within 28–30 min with a sensitivity of 0.002 nematode per reaction tube for crude nematode extracts or 0.03 nematode per reaction tube using DNA extracts from leaves. The LF-RPA assay presents a practical diagnostic tool for plant clinics and forestry professionals, enabling rapid on-site detection of L. crenatae in infested beech trees to support timely disease management decisions.

The article presents the normative values of the consumption of saturated water steam for steaming beech lumber with false heartwood wood of thickness h = 40 mm by a volume of 16 m3 in pressure autoclave AZ 240 for the purpose of eliminating color differences between sapwood and false heartwood by steaming modes I. and II. The norm of water steam consumption for the steaming process of beech wood using mode I, uniting the wood to a light brown color, is m H2O-I = 2637.6 kg. Normative heat consumption for the process of steam mode II. to dark brown-gray color is m H2O-II = 3051.9 kg. The discontinuous process of steaming wood in an autoclave is characterized by uneven consumption of saturated water steam, the largest consumption is at the beginning of the technological process when heating the steamed wood and the autoclave. In the heating phase, in the most demanding mode of steam consumption, mode II, m H2O = 856.4 kg.h-1 steam is consumed. After heating, the consumption of saturated steam drops significantly to m H2O = 6.1 kg.h-1 . The practical benefit of specifying the consumption of saturated water steam in the process of steaming wood in a steam autoclave is when planning the production of heat in the heat source – the boiler room of the plant and the capacity load of the waste water treatment plant.

ABSTRACT The incorporation of lignocellulosic fillers into photopolymer matrices offers a promising route toward more sustainable additive manufacturing materials. However, their influence on stereolithography (SLA) processing and mechanical performance remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the printability limits and mechanical behavior of beech wood (Fagus orientalis L.) particle – reinforced photopolymer composites produced via SLA. Beech wood particles were incorporated into an acrylate-based resin at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight. Increasing wood content altered resin optical and rheological characteristics, resulting in UV light attenuation, reduced cure depth, and impaired interlayer adhesion. To compensate for these effects, bottom exposure times were increased from 40 s for the neat resin to 60 s and 70 s for the 5% and 10% formulations, respectively. Although specimens containing 15% wood particles could be fabricated, defects such as incomplete curing and delamination prevented mechanical testing. Tensile and compressive properties decreased systematically with increasing wood content due to weak interfacial bonding between hydrophilic wood particles and the hydrophobic photopolymer matrix, as well as microstructural heterogeneities. Among the investigated formulations, the composite containing 5% beech wood particles exhibited the most favorable balance between printability and mechanical performance. These results define filler-content thresholds for wood-filled SLA composites.

Abstract. Estimating the main tree attributes using hand-held personal laser scanning (PLS) instruments has been an ongoing area of research. So far, the vast majority of the studies have been conducted, during non-vegetation (leaf-off) period when the scanning view is not obstructed by foliage (Jurjević et al. 2020, Tupinambá-Simões et al. 2023, Vandendaele et al. 2024, Kokeza et al. 2024). Contrary, the number of studies conducted in the vegetation (leaf-on) period is negligible, and therefore, the more detailed comparison PLS studies between leaf-off and leaf-on estimates are still missing. This study investigates the impact of vegetation occlusion on the accuracy of the main tree attributes (diameter at breast height, tree height) in two different forest areas located in Central Croatia, i.e. in the lowland pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) forests and in the hilly European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. PLSHH scanning and collection of reference ground-truth data (detailed field measurements, static terrestrial laser scanning) in both forest areas were conducted during vegetation (leaf-on) and non-vegetation (leaf-off) periods within the same year, using consistent methodology to ensure comparability. The results show great potential of hand-held personal laser scanning technology in forest inventory. Diameter at breast height can be estimated with great accuracy in both study areas and both vegetation periods. However, the scanning in the leaf-off period produced slightly higher accuracy, which can be attributed to the presence of understorey vegetation in the leaf-on period. The more significant influence of the vegetation period is observed for tree heights, especially in European beech forest on hilly terrain with a greater presence of understorey vegetation. Further research should investigate whether the application of a more appropriate scanning scheme could improve the estimation accuracy of tree heights in such demand and complex forest environment.

Natural Regeneration of Beech Forests (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Shida Kartli According to Forest Types and Ecotopes

The impact of latitude and altitude on phenological rhythms was studied from 2017 to 2023 at two European beech forest sites in western Bulgaria, Petrohan and Belasitsa. These sites are part of the European Long-Term Ecological Research network. We used products from the Copernicus program&amp;rsquo;s High-Resolution Vegetation Plant Productivity to extract the main phenological events: start-of-season date, max-of-season date, end-of-season date, and season length. Our findings indicate that the spring phenology of European beech is closely linked to altitude, while autumn events are more significantly affected by latitude. Spring phenological events were delayed by 2.9 days per 100 m at Petrohan and 2.3 days per 100 m at Belasitsa. This relationship weakens in summer and almost disappears in autumn when latitude becomes a leading factor. The average difference in the end-of-season date between Belasitsa and Petrohan is 10.8 days, which means 5.4 days per degree of latitude. Although the end of the season has been occurring later each year, the relationship is still insignificant. The dynamics of individual phenological events in different years, at various altitudes and latitudes, show that European beech has good potential for acclimating to present climate conditions in the western Bulgarian mountains. Further research is needed on the influence of longitude, considering the uneven transition between Mediterranean and temperate-continental climates in the southeastern part of the species&amp;rsquo; range.

The oriental eyeworm Thelazia callipaeda has been present in Europe since the late 1980s. Its occurrence in the Carpathian Basin has been known since 2014. Despite the central position of Hungary in the radial expansion of T. callipaeda in Central and Eastern Europe, no comprehensive surveillance has been conducted to date to determine the reservoir role of wild carnivores within the Carpathian Basin. The study involved the analysis of samples from 180 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 119 European badgers (Meles meles), 62 golden jackals (Canis aureus), and 10 stone martens (Martes foina) harvested in the framework of an authorised wildlife management programme. Among the mustelids (family Mustelidae), no infected individuals were found. In the red fox, prevalence and mean intensity were 12.2% (95% CI: 8.0–18.0%) and 2.6 (95% CI: 1.7–4.9), respectively; while in the golden jackal, these values were 9.7% (95% CI: 4.3–20.0%) and 3.0 (95% CI: 1.5–6.5), respectively. The difference in prevalence and mean intensity of infection between the two hosts proved non-significant. The generalised linear models suggested that the presence of hygrophilous beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests positively influenced the occurrence of infection in wild carnivores. Although the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed only a modest discriminatory power for the models, these findings highlighted the potential of humidity in the spread of T. callipaeda in the Carpathian Basin.