Coniferous Broad-leaved Forest Research Articles

Mixed Coniferous Broad-Leaved Forests as Road Shelter Forests: Increased Urban Traffic Noise Reduction Effects and Economic Benefits

Mixed Coniferous Broad-Leaved Forests as Road Shelter Forests: Increased Urban Traffic Noise Reduction Effects and Economic Benefits

Population dynamics and its relationship with functional traits in different succession stages of temperate mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest in Northeast China.

Functional traits regulate plant response to environmental changes, with consequences on population dynamics. However, how plant functional traits impact population dynamics, including growth, mortality, and recruitment, remains elusive in temperate forests across different successional stages. In this study, we compiled data on population dynamics and eight functional traits, encompassing hydraulic, wood, and leaf traits, from 35 species commonly found in a secondary poplar-birch forest and a broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Northeast China. We quantified the intrinsic relationships between plant population dynamics and assessed how plant functional traits influenced these dynamics. The results demonstrated a gradual increase in the correlation among population dynamics as forest succession progressed. In the secondary forest, tree growth rate and mortality rate were negatively correlated, while growth-death rate and growth-recruitment rate were not related. Conversely, in the broad-leaved Korean pine forest, there was a significant negative correlation between tree growth rate and mortality rate, as well as between growth rate and recruitment rate, while tree mortality rate positively correlated with recruitment rate. Additionally, functional traits effectively predicted population dynamics, but the predictive ability varied across successional stages. Functional traits, particularly xylem hydraulic traits (e.g., Huber value) and anatomical traits (e.g., mean xylem conduit diameter), were stronger predictors of tree growth, mortality, and recruitment rates at the late successional stage compared with the early stage. These findings indicated that population dynamics and functional traits exhibited strong regularity in the late successional stage of broad-leaved Korean pine forests.

Climatic and disturbances influence on tree-rings of Larix gmelinii in the southeast coastal area

The vast region of North East Asia is covered by primary mixed conifer-broadleaved forests which include a range of different tree species. A key factor in the dynamics of these ecosystems is wind disturbance. According to reports, this factor will be increasingly important as a result of the poleward migration of tropical cyclones, a characteristic of which is strong wind. At the same time, global climate change may reduce the recovery potency of some species and lead to new combinations of species. Gmelin Larch is one of the key early succession species in the north of the region. In the southeastern part of its range (Russian Far East), this species has not been widely studied by dendroclimatologists and there are no dendroecological studies available. This study shows how the seasonal growth of Larix gmelinii responds to changes in climate, specifically to variations in precipitation and temperature. The study has established that these trees are more affected by rising temperatures than by consistent precipitation levels, provided there is no shortage of water. Interestingly, after the 1970s there was a change in the climate sensitivity of Larix gmelinii in June (the month with the strongest correlation). It went from a negative correlation with temperature to a positive correlation with precipitation. By using tree ring data, we were able to reconstruct the past history of forest disturbance. The peaks in this chronology coincide with those in earlier published dendroecological reconstructions for other species. They indicate that the radial growth of larch is sensitive to canopy changes. We recorded two release peaks in the 1960s and 2000s, during the period of meteorological observations. We attributed the first peak to the most powerful tropical cyclone Emma (1956). We assume also that the second peak reflects the recent intensification of tropical cyclones in the region. In our opinion, the change in microclimate as a result of disturbance has altered the relationship to climate in such a way that disturbance may cause tree growth to be dependent on precipitation. At the same time, such low correlations do not support a conclusion about the strong negative influence of the current climate on the trees.

Effects of grazing disturbances on soil seed bank diversity in two vegetation types

Soil seed bank (SSB) play an essential role in the restoration and regeneration of plant communities. Grazing is a common disturbance factor that exerts an important effect on the diversity and composition of the SSB community in forests. Here, we evaluated the structure and composition of SSB along a grazing disturbance gradient of two types of vegetation (broad-leaved forests and mixed coniferous broad-leaved forests) in southwest China. A comparison of the similarity of SSBs with the above-ground vegetation strata (tree, shrub and herb layers) was also analyzed. The experiment revealed the germination of 25 species that belonged to 14 families and 24 genera. The density of SSBs did not show significant differences along the grazing disturbance. The alpha diversity of SSBs was the highest at moderate grazing intensity in broad-leaved forests, and not significantly different along disturbance intensities in mixed coniferous broad-leaved forests. No significant changes were observed in the species composition of SSB along the grazing gradients. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analyses revealed low similarities between SSBs and above-ground vegetation, with the lowest similarity occurring under medium grazing disturbance intensity. Overall, our research offers significant insight into the response of SSBs to grazing in different vegetation types. It serves as a guide for designing grazing management strategies tailored to natural forests.

Analysis of vertical differentiation of vegetation in Taishan World Heritage site based on cloud model

While the forests on Mount Taishan are predominantly man-made, there is a notable vertical variation in vegetation. This study employs the method of cloud model, quantifying uncertainty (fuzziness and randomness) of things. Utilizing digital elevation model (DEM) and vegetation distribution data, we constructed elevation cloud models for Mount Taishan’s deciduous broad-leaved, temperate coniferous, and mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests. Using three numerical features of the cloud model—Expectation (EX), Entropy (EN), and Hyper-entropy (HE)—we quantitatively analyzed the macro regularity and local heterogeneity of Mount Taishan’s forests vertical distribution from the perspective of uncertainty theory. The results indicate: (1) The EX of the core zone elevation of deciduous broad-leaved forest is 716.65 m, temperate coniferous forest is 1053.51 m, and mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest is 1384.09 m. The variation range of the core zone distribution height is smaller in the mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest (EN: 53.74 m) compared to deciduous broad-leaved forest (EN: 99.63 m) and temperate coniferous forest (EN: 121.70 m). (2) The fuzziness and randomness of the distribution height of the lower extension zones of deciduous broad-leaved forest and temperate coniferous forest (EN: 75.15 m, 184.56 m; HE: 24.09 m, 63.54 m) are greater than those of the upper extension zones (EN: 44.75 m, 42.49 m; HE: 14.48 m, 13.23 m). (3) The distribution fuzziness and randomness within temperate coniferous forests exceed those of deciduous broad-leaved forests. Within the core zones, the uncertainty regarding the vertical distribution of vegetation across different aspects remains consistent, which retains the characteristic of man-made forests. However, in transition areas, there is significant disparity, reflecting the adaptive relationship between vegetation and its environment to some extent. In the upper and lower extension zones of deciduous broad-leaved forests, the EX values for the vertical distribution height of mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests differ significantly from those of deciduous broad-leaved forests (the difference is 22.82–39.15 m), yet closely resemble those of temperate coniferous forests (the difference is 4.79–7.94 m). This suggests a trend wherein deciduous broad-leaved tree species exhibit a proclivity to encroach upon coniferous forest habitats. The elevation cloud model of vertical vegetation zones provides a novel perspective and method for the detailed analysis of Mount Taishan’s vegetation vertical differentiation.

Effects of tree species mixing and soil depth on the soil bacterial and fungal communities in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations

Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.] is a critical timber tree species for its fast growth and high yield in southern China and is widely planted in subtropical regions of the country. However, the management of Chinese fir in the form of a monoculture plantation is not conducive to the maintenance of soil fertility and improvements in forest productivity. The establishment of mixed conifer–broad–leaved forests through near-natural transformation is developing into a promising method of forest cultivation for replacing large pure coniferous plantations. Bacteria and fungi are an important part of the soil microbiota and are involved in the soil nutrient cycle. Therefore, this study investigated the response of soil bacterial and fungal communities to the introduction of broad–leaved trees in three types of Chinese fir plantations [Cunninghamia lanceolata monoculture plantation (CMP), C. lanceolata–Castanopsis hystrix Hook. f. & Thomson ex A. DC.–Michelia hedyosperma Law. mixed plantation (CCM), and C. lanceolata–Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Benth.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson–Erythrophleum fordii Oliv. mixed plantation (CCE)] located in Guangxi Province, China. And the effect of soil layers (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm soil depths) on the soil microbial communities was further analyzed. The results suggested that tree species mixing significantly affected bacterial and fungal communities, but soil depth only significantly affected bacterial communities (P < 0.01). The relative abundance of Basidiomycetes in CCE (53.91–78.76 %) was significantly higher than that in pure forest (P < 0.05). Bacteria exhibited more complex and multilinked networks in the mixed stands, particularly for the CCE plantation. Mixed planting patterns significantly enhanced bacterial nitrogen fixation and the presence of symbiotic fungi. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and correlation analyses indicated that the microbial community structure was strongly affected by soil environmental factors, with bacteria affected mainly by available phosphorous (AP) and fungi affected mainly by soil enzyme activity and total potassium (TK). In summary, the introduction of broad–leaved species (especially C. fissa and E. fordii) had a significant impact on the soil microbial community, increasing the relative abundance of bacterial nitrogen fixation and symbiotic fungi and generating a complex microbial network. We suggest that changes in AP, TK, and fungal communities should be considered in the near-natural transformation of Chinese fir or soil fertility maintenance and sustainable management to maintain soil fertility.

Northward expansion of Cenozoic Asian humid climate recorded by sporopollen

The distribution pattern of arid–humid climate in the modern northwest–southeast confrontation in Asia evolved from the zonal distribution pattern of the Paleogene. However, this evolutionary process remains poorly constrained by geological evidence. In this paper, we analyze the characteristics of sporopollen assemblages recorded in Late Eocene strata of the Jianchuan Basin in southwest China. We show that vegetation patterns exhibited a remarkable shift from tropical–subtropical sparse forest to subtropical–temperate mixed broad-leaved–coniferous forest at ∼40.6 Ma; this shift is further indicated by the rapid decrease in drought-tolerant plants, mostly Ephedra and Chenopodiaceae, evidence that the previous hot–dry climate was replaced by a warm–humid climate at this time. This evidence suggests that the Asian monsoon began to affect the study area at ∼40.6 Ma. We then comprehensively integrated sporopollen results from several basins across East Asia, revealing that the frontal edge of the humid monsoon climate moved intermittently to the northwest after the Late Eocene, and may have advanced to the Lunpola–Lanzhou line by the early Late Oligocene, this being similar to the position of the leading edge of the modern monsoon. Moreover, the frontal edge of the humid monsoon climate may have extended as far as the Qaidam Basin during the Middle Miocene, but then gradually retreated to the position of the modern monsoon front. The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and global climate change may have played dominant roles in this evolution.

How do different thinning methods influence spatial tree diversity in mixed forest stands of planted Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and naturally regenerated birch (Betula spp.) in southern Sweden?

Forest biomass has become a viable alternative energy source for replacing fossil fuels, particularly after the European Union acknowledged its sustainability status. To reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 in Sweden, new efficient methods of biomass extraction, such as geometrical biomass thinnings, are being explored and tested. These machine-based methods involve the extraction of above-ground biomass in narrow, 1–2 m-wide strips between extraction racks. While evidence-based optimization of biomass extraction mostly focuses on time- and cost-efficiency and on stand growth, criteria such as tree diversity are often overlooked. However, with ongoing climate change, tree diversity is crucial to strengthening the resilience and productivity of future forests, which also enhance the provision of ecosystem services and overall biological diversity. Therefore, we studied the effects of different biomass thinning strategies on spatial tree diversity in southern Sweden using nearest-neighbour summary statistics. We found scientific evidence that different geometrical designs of biomass thinning, especially in 1 or 2 m-wide strips, resulted in higher spatial tree diversity compared to conventional biomass thinning. Hence, in mixed conifer-broadleaved forests, biomass thinning in 1 or 2 m-wide strips is recommended for maintaining spatial tree diversity.

Species and Structural Diversity of Coniferous-Broadleaved Mixed Forests of the Pshekha River, North-Western Caucasus

The article presents the species and structural diversity of coniferous-broadleaved forests of the Pshekha river – the largest tributary of the Kuban river. All in all, 7 main types of forest were identified and described: fir-beech fern-forb forest, fir-hornbeam blackberry-forb forest, aspen-hornbeam honeysuckle-small-herb forest, hornbeam-black alder nitrophilic-tall-herb forest, hornbeam-oak rhododendron-blackberry forest, hornbeam-beech blackberry-forb forest and hornbeam honeysuckle-blackberry forest. The composition of the forest flora of the Pshekha river includes 270 species, including 221 species of vascular plants and 49 species of mosses. Floristic diversity of coniferous-broadleaved forests of the Pshekha river is inversely related to the crown density of the stand and the proportion of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis). The highest species saturation was noted in the hornbeam-black alder nitrophilic-high-grass forest type, the lowest – in the fir-beech fern-forb type. Ecological and coenotic structure of coniferous-broadleaved forest types of the Pshekha river depends on the height above sea level, which determines the indicators of the average annual precipitation and average annual temperature – with a decrease in altitude above sea level. m. the proportion of boreal species in the composition of the flora decreases, while the proportion of nemoral and meadow-edge species increases. In the coniferous-broadleaved forests of the river. Pshekha, 11 species of earthworms were identified, belonging to four morpho-ecological groups: epigeic, epi-endogeic and endogeic, as well as anecic. In forests with a high quality of litter (hornbeam-dominated), the greatest contribution to the biomass is made by epigeic (up to 41%) and endogeic (up to 45%) groups of earthworms. In forests with low quality litter (fir- and beech-dominated), the share of endogeic earthworms is high (up to 66%). Anecic worms are mostly confined to forests on moist soils. In all types of forests, Crimean-Caucasian endemics make a large contribution to biomass and abundance: polymorphic species D. schmidti, anecic D. mariupolienis, as well as Mediterranean species: litter D. attemsi (often inhabiting oak and hornbeam deadwood) and proper soil A. jassyensis. Cosmopolitan species (D. r. tenuis, D. octaedra) are numerous among the epigeic worms and often inhabit deadwood of coniferous tree species.

Species Diversity of Myxomycetes of the “Nizhnyaya Kama” National Park and Adjacent Territories in the Early Autumn Period

The paper presents data on the distribution and species diversity of myxomycetes in the territory of the “Nizhnyaya Kama” National Park and its surroundings during early autumn of 2021 and 2022. A total of 40 species of myxomycetes were found in the unique spruce-alder ravine ecotopes and coniferous-broadleaved forest communities of the National Park, with 3 of them being new records for the Republic of Tatarstan. Additionally, the species Dictydiaethalium plumbeum was recorded for the first time in this area since 1887, in a similar microhabitat. An annotated checklist and authors’ photos of some species are provided.

Analysis of Specific Ecological and Genetic Soil Properties for the Forest Ecosystem Monitoring in the Zone of Coniferous–Broadleaved Forests

A reliable assessment of the composition and properties of soils in forest ecosystems is the basis for environmental monitoring, including monitoring of carbon pools and fluxes, which is of particular importance in the context of global changes in the environment and climate. The specific ecological and genetic features and classification of soils are analyzed at permanent monitoring sites in the main types of forest ecosystems of the Zvenigorod Biostation of Moscow State University and the Sima Quarry state nature reserve (Moscow oblast, Russia). Soil monitoring is organized and conducted on the basis of national experience and recommendations of the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests). The eluvozems and soddy eluvozems on two-layered deposits predominate in the soil cover of the nature reserve; these soils have a loamy sandy texture (content of clay fraction of <0.002 mm is 3.3–7.0%), acidic media ({text{p}}{{{text{H}}}_{{{{{text{H}}}_{{text{2}}}}{text{O}}}}} 4.6–5.7), low cation exchange capacity, low content of exchangeable bases (30–52 cmolс/kg in organic and 0.6–7.5 cmolс/kg in mineral horizons), and low base saturation (49–67 and 11–51%, respectively). The contents of potentially toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn) in the soils of the nature reserve do not exceed background levels. The ecological state of soils assessed according to their chemical and physical properties improves in the following order: contact-bleached eluvozem—pseudofibrous soddy eluvozem—ferruginous soddy eluvozem. This determines the functioning and stability of forest ecosystems to external impacts under increasing anthropogenic pressure and climate change.

A dataset of soil water and heat dynamics from Pinus massoniana plantations under close-to-nature management in South Subtropics (2016–2021)

This study was conducted at the Tropical Forestry Experimental Center of the Chinese Academy of Forestry in Youyiguan Pingxiang Chongzuo Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station of Guangxi. Based on the automatic meteorological observation station, we monitored and analyzed the soil hydrothermal dynamics in Pinus massoniana plantations under close-to-nature management. The sample plots layout, index monitoring, and data quality control were carried out in accordance with relevant specifications. This dataset contains the data of soil temperature, soil volume water content, soil heat flux, as well as air temperature and air humidity in Pinus massoniana plantations of close-to-nature management in South Subtropics from 2016 to 2021. After standard data processing, including outlier elimination and data interpolation, we statistically derived the daily data of soil water and heat dynamics of Pinus massoniana, and explained the construction of the dataset. The establishment and sharing of this dataset are valuable for facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of soil water and heat in Pinus massoniana plantations under close-to-nature management in South Subtropics. Furthermore, the dataset can serve as an important resource for in-depth research on the response of mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest to global climate change. It can provide essential to support the sustainable management and conservation of forest resources in South Subtropics.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE HAMMERAE-GROUP OF THE GENUS ANURIDA LABOULBÈNE, 1865 (COLLEMBOLA: NEANURIDAE) FROM PRIMORSKY KRAI

Anurida octoculata sp. n. is described from a protected coniferous-broadleaved forest of the Vladivostok Botanical Garden. The species belongs to the Beringian hammerae-group, which occupies a rather isolated position within the genus. The most characteristic feature of the new species is reduction of axial chaetotaxy, namely, the absence of setae p1 on all terga from Th.2 to Abd.4. Among the species of the group with a low number of ocelli, it shares this character with only two known congeners: A. reducta Fjellberg and A. narli Fjellberg, but it can easily be distinguished by the number of ocelli, the fine structure of the maxillary head, and peculiarities of chaetotaxy. New distribution data on A. hirsuta Babenko et Nakamori and A. elegans Babenko, Shveenkova et Kuznetsova are given also.

Habitat characteristics, population structure, distribution, and regeneration status of Taxus wallichiana in South Vietnam

Abstract. Hop NV, Xiong CC, Quy NV, Luong NT. 2023. Habitat characteristics, population structure, distribution, and regeneration status of Taxus wallichiana in South Vietnam. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 179-188. Taxus wallichiana Zucc. is an endangered plant species with high economic value, making it threatened to extinction. Biological information about this species is therefore essential for its conservation. This study is aimed to assess the habitat characteristics, population structure, distribution, and regeneration status of T. wallichiana in South Vietnam. Vegetation surveys were conducted from 2016 to 2021 in three regions in Lam Dong Province. The study revealed that it was distributed in regions with monsoon climate with a total extent of ??379.57 ha, with habitats located on the hillside, narrow shelves, dissected terrain, high slope, on feralite soil with light brown to yellow, red, the soil layer thickness over 0.3 m and in clusters or streaks. The study recorded 634 trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH)?25 cm and 137 trees with 6 cm ?DBH&lt;25 cm. The trees were found primarily at 1401-1500 m above sea level in a mixed broadleaved-coniferous forest. The growth indicators of DBH and overall height (Hvn) developed strongly, but the stand volume was low owing to low tree density. The exponential function was the most suitable for simulating the relationship between Hvn and DBH. Seven thousand six hundred and seventy-three regenerating young individuals were recorded with low density. The density of the regenerating trees decreased as the tree height increased. The finding of this study suggests that T. wallichiana faces the danger of extinction, so solutions are required to conserve and develop this threatened species.

Adaptive Relationships in Hemi-Boreal Forests: Tree Species Responses to Competition, Stress, and Disturbance.

European Union forest policy calls for closer-to-nature forest management, but natural disturbances and forest succession are ecological phenomena that are difficult to characterize and integrate into sustainable forest management practices. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the adaptive properties of Lithuania's hemi-boreal forest ecosystems. To accomplish this, we first reviewed (i) the potential natural forest communities, (ii) the successional dynamics, and (iii) adaptive strategies of forest trees, and second, we synthesised the adaptive relationships using these three reviews. The results firstly identified that Lithuania's potential natural forests are broadly divided into two climatically based zonal formations: (i) mesophytic and hygromesophytic coniferous and broadleaved forests and (ii) mesophytic deciduous broadleaved and coniferous-broadleaved forests. Secondly, the review of successional dynamics showed that each tree species can be categorised into various end communities and plant functional groups. Using the differences in tree establishment and phenological development modes we identified four forest dynamic types of tree adaptive strategies: stress-resistant ruderals, competitive stress-sensitive ruderals, ruderal stress-sensitive competitors, and stress-resistant competitors. Such functional redundancy leads to a variety of tree responses to competition, stress, and disturbance, which reduces the risk of loss of forest ecosystem functioning. Finally, the synthesised review on the adaptive relationships of each forest tree community shows both the niche position of each hemi-boreal forest tree species and how they should be managed in the organization of plant communities. We believe that this research can serve as a guide for future relevant research and the development of appropriate methods for sustainable forest management.

Simulation Modeling of Forest Soil Respiration: Case Study of Entic Carbic Podzol under Coniferous–Broadleaved Forest in the South of Moscow Oblast

Simulation Modeling of Forest Soil Respiration: Case Study of Entic Carbic Podzol under Coniferous–Broadleaved Forest in the South of Moscow Oblast

Assessment of Carbon Stock and CO2 Production Potential for Soils of Coniferous-Broadleaved Forests

—The assessment of carbon stocks in soils of coniferous and broadleaved forests, agrocenoses, fallow lands, and floodplains has been performed for the territory of the Chashnikovo Agrobiological Station of Moscow State University. The typology of litter horizons, the contents of plant detritus in the them, and the ratio of the thicknesses of litter subhorizons have been determined as indicators of the organic matter decomposition intensity. For mineral soil profile, total organic carbon stocks in the layers of 0–30 and 0–100 cm layers and the stock of biologically active carbon in the layer of 0–20 cm layer have been determined. Maximum organic matter accumulation in litters and moderate accumulation in mineral profile is typical of soddy-podzolic soils (Retisols) under coniferous forests. The litter carbon stocks in spruce forests differ by almost an order of magnitude depending on the position in the tessera. Minimum carbon accumulation in litters is characteristic of the soils of upland and floodplain meadows. Alluvial soils of floodplain meadows are characterized by the highest stock of total carbon, as well as carbon of biologically active soil organic matter. The potential of CO2 production by soil determined the structural and functional litter characteristics and the stock of biologically active organic matter in the upper (0–20 cm) soil layer depend on several factors: vegetation type, hydromorphism degree, and agricultural use at present and in the past. Soils of coniferous forests in comparison with soils of broadleaved forests are characterized by lower rates of litter decomposition due to the biochemical features of plant remains and are assumed to have a lower potential for CO2 production. Soils of natural herbaceous ecosystems, especially floodplain meadows, are characterized by the maximum potential production of carbon dioxide due to intense decomposition of plant residues and high stock of biologically active organic matter carbon.

A novel model to evaluate spatial structure in thinned conifer-broadleaved mixed natural forests

In order to ensure the effective analysis and reconstruction of forests, it is key to ensure the quantitative description of their spatial structure. In this paper, a distance model for the optimal stand spatial structure based on weighted Voronoi diagrams is proposed. In particular, we provide a novel methodological model for the comprehensive evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands in natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests and the formulation of management decision plans. The applicability of the rank evaluation and the optimal solution distance model are compared and assessed for different standard sample plots of natural mixed conifer-broadleaved forests. The effect of crown width on the spatial structure unit of the trees is observed to be higher than that of the diameter at breast height. Moreover, the influence of crown length is greater than that of tree height. There are nine possible spatial structure units determined by the weighted Voronoi diagram for the number of neighboring trees in the central tree, with an average intersection of neighboring crowns reaching 80%. The rank rating of natural forest sample plots is correlated with the optimal solution distance model, and their results are generally consistent for natural forests. However, the rank rating is not able to provide a quantitative assessment. The optimal solution distance model is observed to be more comprehensive than traditional methods for the evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands. It can effectively reflect the trends in realistic stand spatial structure factors close to or far from the ideal structure point, and accurately assesses the forest spatial structure. The proposed optimal solution distance model improves the integrated evaluation of the spatial structure of forest stands and provides solid theoretical and technical support for sustainable forest management.

Phytotoxic Effects of Kerosene on Plants of Forest and Bog Phytocenoses of Southern Taiga

One of the most important problems of environmental sciences is to determine limits for the sustainable functioning of affected ecosystems. The effects of volatile hydrocarbons (such as gasoline and kerosene) on plants in natural ecosystems have been poorly studied to date. The present work outlines the data of a field experiment on the effects of kerosene on the plants of forest and bog communities in Central Russia. In this paper, we model the influence of kerosene spillage on plants growing in a coniferous broad-leaved (aspen–spruce) forest and a raised bog with a subshrub–sphagnum pine forest. We used TS-1 kerosene, which is the most commonly used fuel for commercial aviation in Russia. The applied pollutant (loads of 1 to 100 g/kg) had a significant impact on herbaceous plants, leading to the death of individuals even at minimal doses. The shrubs of the bog community as well as the mosses of both communities were more resistant to kerosene. The recovery processes of plant communities were clearly pronounced as early as 2 years after the application of the pollutant. The level of kerosene threshold exposure, which significantly affects the dominant plants of the herb–shrub layer, can be defined as 1–5 g/kg for the forest community and 5–10 g/kg for the bog community.

Patterns of the red-listed epiphytic species distribution in coniferous-deciduous forests of the Moscow Region

Epiphytes model the diversity of forest communities and indicate the integrity of natural ecosystems or the threat to their existence. The high sensitivity of epiphytic species to the environmental quality makes them good indicators in anthropogenic landscapes. The study deals with the distribution patterns of rare indicator epiphytic species at the border of their range in the broadleaved– coniferous forest zone, in the central part of the East European Plain within the Moscow region. The distribution and abundance of eight lichen species Anaptychia ciliaris, Bryoria fuscescens, B. implexa, Usnea dasopoga, U. glabrescens, U. hirta, U. subfloridana and the epiphytic moss Neckera pennata were studied. The main environmental factors at the regional level were climate variables based on the Worldclim database, water indices based on Sentinel-2 multispectral remote sensing data, and the anthropogenic impact factor in terms of the Nighttime lights of the earth’s surface based on the Suomi NPP satellite system. It was revealed that the vast majority of records were in the western and northern sectors of the region, i.e. in the broad-leaved–coniferous forest zone, while the vast majority of 0-records were in the southern and eastern sectors, in the area of broad-leaved and pine forests and extensive reclaimed wetlands. The association with different types of communities and biotopes, as well as tree species, was assessed at the ecosystem level, using field data. It has been established that the distribution of the studied species is governed by natural-geographic features of the territory. The principal limiting factors are air pollution, ecological restrictions (high humidity requirement of sites), cutting of mature forests and formation of local anthropogenic infrastructure. In perspective the study of ecology and living conditions of the studied rare species will help determine the optimal conditions contributing to biodiversity conservation in forests near large metropolitan areas and optimization of habitat diversity.