High Forest Research Articles

Wood Anatomical and Hydraulic Traits of Tamarix Species Across a Large Eurasian Gradient Show a Stronger Climatic Than Phylogenetic Signal

ABSTRACTAimTamarisk (Tamarix) is the predominant but taxonomically complex genus of the Tamaricaceae. The morphologically similar shrub or tree species grow in arid, salt‐influenced habitats of Eurasia and Africa. We sampled woody shoots of seven species at the eastern margin (NW China; T. ramosissima) and the centre (Uzbekistan; T. hispida) of the Indo‐Turanian region as well as at the eastern (Israel; T. aphylla, T. negevensis, T. nilotica) and western margin (southern Spain; T. boveana, T. gallica) of the Mediterranean region, the two diversity centres of the genus. To explore the drivers of intrageneric trait variability, we investigated whether differences in the anatomical‐hydraulic wood traits among the species are related to climate or phylogeny.LocationEurasia.TaxonTamarix L. (Tamaricaceae).MethodsWe determined features of wood anatomy and calculated the hydraulic conductivity (kt) and the water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductance (P50). We related these traits to climate variables and to the phylogenetic distances among the species.ResultsTamarix nilotica, T. negevensis and T. ramosissima exhibited large conduit areas, large hydraulic diameters and high kt, whereas the Spanish species T. gallica and T. boveana displayed high wood densities and a small fraction of large conduits. The phylogenetically distant species T. aphylla and T. hispida took intermediate positions. Tamarix ramosissima, which grows in regions with cold winters and hot‐dry summers, exhibited the most negative P50 values, indicative of a low susceptibility to a failure of the water‐conducting system. Trait differences among the species were unrelated to the species' phylogenetic relatedness but correlated with climate variables.Main ConclusionsDespite strong similarity in morphology and habitat preferences, Tamarix species displayed significant differences in their anatomical‐hydraulic traits. These differences were related to climate conditions rather than phylogeny and are indicative of specific local adaptations to environmental conditions.

Revealing the mismatch in the response to warm-wetting climate of vegetation greenness and primary productivity using MODIS GPP/LAI in Nepal

Abstract The increasingly warm-wetting climate has gradually promoted vegetation greenness on the Tibetan Plateau and the surrounding region, yet the specific mechanisms driving this change in high-altitude mountainous areas remain unclear. This study, using Nepal as a case study, investigated the spatial and temporal impacts of hydro-climatic factors on leaf area index (LAI) and gross primary productivity (GPP), as well as the coupling degree of GPP-LAI expressed as the correlation coefficient (R 2) of these trends from 2003 to 2020. The results indicated both GPP and LAI increased significantly more during the dry season than the rainy season in Nepal, but the coupling degree of GPP-LAI in Nepal showed distinct seasonal and elevational differences. Relative to low coupling degree in high and low elevation regions, a higher yet gradually decreasing coupling degree was demonstrated in the mid high regions of central Nepal. By analyzing the effects of elevational profiles, this study revealed that temperature and solar radiation exhibited significant negative correlations with GPP in the southern and central forests at mid elevation, while suggesting a positive correlation in the high mountain alpine forests, which mitigated the limiting effects of precipitation constraints on GPP during the dry season. And the decreased temperature and precipitation had negative impacts on treeline deviation, which led to spatial variations in treeline deviation and coupling degree on either side of the 83°E in the Nepalese Himalayan alpine forests. Additionally, trends of shrubland in GPP and LAI growth reflected adaptations to a warmer and wetter climate. The study about spatio-temporal variation in response to warm-wetting climate, affected by seasons and elevations, offers a scientific basis for the adaptation and conservation of alpine vegetation in Nepal.

Township-Level Ecological Management for Enhanced Ecosystem Services in the Qinling Mountains

The Qinling Mountains, known for high forest cover and multiple ecosystem services (ES), present significant potential for advancing ecological management (EM) paradigms. However, existing studies on matching long-term ES sequences with governance units remain limited. By quantifying the assemblage and clustering patterns of ecosystems in the Qinling Mountains over forty years, this study was innovative in analyzing changes in long-term ecosystem interactions and the impact of spatialization drivers, enhancing the significance of administrative-scale adaptations for sustained conservation and EM strategies. The results showed an increasing trend in the multiple ES Landscape Index (MESLI) since 2000. Spatialized trend analysis showed that the MESLI increased by 58.8% in the east. Moreover, the potential of ES bundles (ESB) in matching ecological management scales was demonstrated. Three ESBs were identified at different administrative levels and townships were more responsive to ESB changes. The composite ESB 1 dominated at 50.2%, and ESB 2 exhibited an upward trend. Additionally, spatial analysis of long-term drivers revealed the underlying causes of local ES degradation. Climate change had region-wide impacts, while natural and anthropogenic factors contributed to localized degradation. These findings emphasize the critical role of spatiotemporal analysis in shaping township-level EM strategies in multi-ES regions, providing feasible guidance for accurately enhancing localized management.

Zooming into refractory timber: enhancing anatomical identification with confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence

Summary Accurate wood identification is crucial for combatting the illegal logging and trade of forest products worldwide. However, certain challenges such as small specimen size, high wood density, and level of degradation can complicate the identification process. There is therefore a need to develop methods and use complementary techniques in forensic wood identification, particularly for difficult samples. This study utilized confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to detect and locate autofluorescence of axial parenchyma cells (APCs) to facilitate the identification of three challenging unknown wood specimens. These specimens posed difficulties for sectioning with a microtome due to brittleness, density, or small size constraints. CLSM results were compared with those from conventional light compound and stereomicroscopy. In our investigation, the three unknown wood samples were identified as Bobgunnia cf. fistuloides, Chlorocardium cf. rodiei, and Diphysa cf. carthagenensis. Specifically, CLSM confirmed the absence of apotracheal parenchyma in B. cf. fistuloides, which could not be determined using fluorescence stereomicroscopy. For D. cf. carthagenensis, CLSM’s fluorescence intensity highlighted axial parenchyma effectively, surpassing fluorescence stereomicroscopy. A notable advantage of our non-invasive CLSM method was its ability to examine smooth, unsectioned block surfaces, thereby enhancing preservation and ‘in-situ’ visualization of APCs. Our results combining autofluorescence and CLSM clearly offered superior resolution in observing APCs compared to traditional microscopy and can thus be applied for increasing confidence in wood species identification.

Salt stress tolerance strategies vary between different functional groups of plants of native semi-arid species

The increase in salinity in dry regions has contributed to the desertification of areas, increasing the need to identify tolerant species. The investigation of functional groups of plants clarifies adaptation strategies; however, in a saline environment, it has not yet been explored. The objective was to investigate how different functional groups of Caatinga plants respond to increased saline stress. Plants of deciduous species with high wood density (HWD) (Myracrodruon urundeuva and Bauhinia cheilantha), and deciduous species with low wood density (LWD) (Amburana cearenses and Pseudobombax marginatum) were evaluated. The saline concentrations (NaCl) were 0.15; 2.5; 3.5 and 4.5 dS m-1 applied for 90 days. A completely randomized design was adopted in a 2 × 2 × 4 factorial scheme with five replications. At the end of the experiment, growth, stomatal conductance (gs), water potential (Ψxylem), chlorophyll fluorescence, salt content and enzymatic activity were analyzed. The data were subjected to polynomial regression analysis and Tukey test (5 %). The HWD group was classified as salinity tolerant and presented high values of gs (300 mmol m-2s-1), variation in Ψxylem (70 %), efficiency of photosystem II, number of leaves, and accumulation of salts in the leaves (K+ = 70 %, Na+ = 18 %, and Cl- = 52.5 %). On the other hand, the LWD group was classified as moderately sensitive to salinity and showed a large reduction in growth and biomass with increased salinity, accumulation of ions in stem (Cl- = 136 %) and root (Na+ = 44 %; Cl- = 45 %), and higher enzymatic activity (45 %). Tolerance strategies to saline stress differ between different functional groups of Caatinga seedlings. The HWD group is more tolerant to salinity and represents a good alternative for the recovery of salinized areas.

Tropical tree species with high wood specific gravity have higher concentrations of wood phosphorus and are more efficient at resorbing it.

Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) play important roles in plant metabolism and hydraulic balance, respectively, while calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are important components of cell walls. Although significant amounts of these nutrients are found in wood, relatively little is known on how the wood concentrations of these nutrients are related to other wood traits, or on the factors driving the resorption of these nutrients within stems. We measured wood nutrient (i.e. P, K, Ca, and Mg) concentrations, wood specific gravity (WSG), as well as wood fibre and parenchyma fractions, in both inner (i.e. close to the pith) and outer (i.e. close to the bark) wood, for 22 tree species from a rainforest of eastern Amazonia. We first examined the associations of wood nutrient concentrations with WSG, fibre fractions, and parenchyma fractions. Then, we assessed whether resorption rates (i.e. difference between heartwood and sapwood nutrient contents) differed among nutrients, and whether nutrient resorption rates were related to species ecological strategies. WSG was unrelated to wood Ca, positively related to wood P in outer wood, and negatively related to inner wood Mg, as well as to both inner and outer wood K. Overall, nutrients were unrelated or negatively related to fibre and parenchyma fractions, except for wood Ca and wood P, which were positively related to fibre and axial parenchyma fractions in outer wood, respectively. We found that resorption rates did not differ among nutrients, and that P resorption rates were higher in high WSG, while K, Ca, and Mg resorption rates were unrelated to WSG. This study illustrates that the relationships of wood nutrient concentration with WSG and cell type fractions can be nutrient-specific. Our results indicate that, excluding a positive association between wood Ca and fibre fractions, and between wood P and axial parenchyma fractions, wood nutrients were mostly unrelated to anatomical traits. Our findings also suggest that high-WSG (i.e. shade-tolerant) species store higher amounts of wood P, and are more efficient at resorbing wood P, than low-WSG (i.e. fast-growing) species. These insights are important to increase our understanding on wood nutrient allocation, nutrient resorption, and tree ecological strategies in lowland tropical forests.

Economic Evaluation of the Planting Period and Retting Techniques in the Production of Quality Kenaf Fibre

The quality and quantity of fibre produced in terms of fibre length, tensile strength and fineness could be determined by the planting period and good retting techniques in kenaf. This study was carried out to determine the appropriate time of planting and examined the different retting techniques for enhanced quality fibre for value addition. Five varieties of Kenaf (Cuba108, Ifeken-DI-400, Ifeken100, Ifeken-400 and Tianung-2) were planted at 50cm x 20cm monthly from June to August (June 10, July 10 and August 10) in 5 locations with their coordinates; Ibadan (Transitional-Rain forest, Lat.7.23′N;Long.3.55′); Ilora (Derived savannah, Lat.8.54′N;Long4.54′E); Ikenne (High Rain forest, Lat.6.92′N;Long.9.46′N); Orin Ekiti (Rain forest, Lat.7.49′N;Long.5.14′E) and Kishi (Southern Guinea Savannah, Lat.9.46′N; Long.3.52′E). Gross Margin (GM) analysis was used to determine the profitability and suitability of the different planting periods. The results show that total variable cost (TVC) in Orin Ekiti for each planting time was the highest (₦705,650:00). The least TVC (₦250,000) was from August plantings in Ikenne. The GM value for a sum of ₦701,650 and ₦1,736,400 were obtained from Kishi and Ilora respectively while ₦1,441.750, ₦184,750, ₦1,224,950 were obtained for the months of June plantings in Orin-Ekiti, Ikenne and Ibadan respectively. July and August plantings recorded low GM. The GM value of June planting was significantly higher in all the locations. The results of the retting techniques revealed that chemical retting had a greater efficiency in the processing of fibre while tank retting is technically supported due to its potability and availability.

Improved aboveground biomass estimation and regional assessment with aerial lidar in California’s subalpine forests

BackgroundUnderstanding the impacts of climate change on forest aboveground biomass is a high priority for land managers. High elevation subalpine forests provide many important ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, and are vulnerable to climate change, which has altered forest structure and disturbance regimes. Although large, regional studies have advanced aboveground biomass mapping with satellite data, typically using a general approach broadly calibrated or trained with available field data, it is unclear how well these models work in less prevalent and highly heterogeneous forest types such as the subalpine. Monitoring biomass using methods that model uncertainty at multiple scales is critical to ensure that local relationships between biomass and input variables are retained. Forest structure metrics from lidar are particularly valuable alongside field data for mapping aboveground biomass, due to their high correlation with biomass.ResultsWe estimated aboveground woody biomass of live and dead trees and uncertainty at 30 m resolution in subalpine forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, from aerial lidar data in combination with a collection of field inventory data, using a Bayesian geostatistical model. The ten-fold cross-validation resulted in excellent model calibration of our subalpine-specific model (94.7% of measured plot biomass within the predicted 95% credible interval). When evaluated against two commonly referenced regional estimates based on Landsat optical imagery, root mean square error, relative standard error, and bias of our estimations were substantially lower, demonstrating the benefits of local modeling for subalpine forests. We mapped AGB over four management units in the Sierra Nevada and found variable biomass density ranging from 92.4 to 199.2 Mg/ha across these management units, highlighting the importance of high quality, local field and remote sensing data.ConclusionsBy applying a relatively new Bayesian geostatistical modeling method to a novel forest type, our study produced the most accurate and precise aboveground biomass estimates to date for Sierra Nevada subalpine forests at 30 m pixel and management unit scales. Our estimates of total aboveground biomass within the management units had low uncertainty and can be used effectively in carbon accounting and carbon trading markets.

Quantifying Forest Disturbances and Lanscape Level Over Half a Century Using Cold War SPY Satellite and Contemporary Imagery. Case Study Pecineagu Watershed, Romania

This study examines disturbances in the Pecineagu watershed forests over the last 50 years. The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively assess the intensity and consequences of canopy disturbances in the Pecineagu watershed forests over the past half-century. Utilizing meta-analysis and advanced remote sensing techniques, including satellite imagery from Corona Spy, Landsat, and Sentinel-2, we identified significant changes in forest cover and structure. The analysis revealed 142 hectares of disturbed forest between 1986 and 1996, with a notable portion undergoing clearcutting and afforestation. Despite these disturbances, our findings show high forest connectivity and low fragmentation, predominantly in the dominant forest layer. However, two areas, i.e. Berevoiu – Valea Coltilor and Manastire – Valea Comisului, experienced substantial fragmentation in different periods, indicating variable impacts across the watershed. These results underscore the importance of continuous monitoring and sustainable forest management to maintain forest connectivity and minimize fragmentation. The study also highlights the need for accurate data recording in forest management plans for effective resource management, offering crucial insights into forest conservation strategies amid environmental changes.

Small Gap Dynamics in High Mountain Central European Spruce Forests-The Role of Standing Dead Trees in Gap Formation.

Gap dynamics are driving many important processes in the development of temperate forest ecosystems. What remains largely unknown is how often the regeneration processes initialized by endogenous mortality of dominant and co-dominant canopy trees take place. We conducted a study in the high mountain forests of the Central Western Carpathians, naturally dominated by the Norway spruce. Based on the repeated forest inventories in two localities, we quantified the structure and amount of deadwood, as well as the associated mortality of standing dead canopy trees. We determined the basic specific gravity of wood and anatomical changes in the initial phase of wood decomposition. The approach for estimating the rate of gap formation and the number of canopy trees per unit area needed for intentional gap formation was formulated based on residence time analysis of three localities. The initial phase of gap formation (standing dead tree in the first decay class) had a narrow range of residence values, with a 90-95% probability that gap age was less than 10 or 13 years. Correspondingly, a relatively constant absolute number of 12 and 13 canopy spruce trees per hectare died standing in 10 years, with a mean diameter reaching 50-58 cm. Maximum diameters trees (70-80 cm) were represented by 1-4 stems per hectare. The values of the wood-specific gravity of standing trees were around 0.370-0.380 g.cm-3, and varied from 0.302 to 0.523 g.cm-3. Microscopically, our results point out that gap formation is a continuous long-lasting process, starting while canopy trees are living. We observed early signs of wood degradation and bacteria, possibly associated with bark beetles, that induce a strong effect when attacking living trees with vigorous defenses. New information about the initial phase of gap formation has provided a basis for the objective proposal of intervals and intensities of interventions, designed to promote a diversified structure and the long-term ecological stability of the mountain spruce stands in changing climate conditions.

Exploring the Profitability, Supporting Functions and Business Environment of Small and Medium Forest-Based Enterprises in Ruvuma, Tanzania

Even though forest-based enterprises are prominent in the Ruvuma region as they are beneficial to the community in both an economic and social sphere, little is known about their profitability, supporting functions and business environment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the profit and determine supporting functions and the business environment of the SMEs along forest-based value chains in the Ruvuma region. A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Two districts (Songea urban and rural) were purposively selected due to their high forest value chain potentials and high availability of Small and Medium Enterprises. About 120 entrepreneurs who were dealing with forest products were randomly selected for this study. Interviews and unstructured questionnaires were used to obtain data on the profit metrics, supporting functions and the business environment of the SMEs. Descriptive, Inferential (Binary Logistic Regression) and Content analysis were performed on the collected data. The study revealed that the SMEs found along the forest-based value chain which was later categorized according to the nature of the products they produce and trade varied in their profitability (i.e., wild tea leaves 73%, beekeeping 54%, mushrooms 48%, bamboo 27%, fire sticks 12%, and timber -13%), their supporting functions included Capacity building, Entrepreneurial relationships, Financing, and Entrepreneurial Research and Development and that there is an existing understanding on their business environment i.e., the laws, policies and regulations which were at play. These findings can be used for different purposes such as a basis for further research on the forest-based entrepreneurship industry, education provision to the entrepreneurs, policy formulation for the benefit of entrepreneurs and allocation of funding to these enterprises

Association Between Reduced Upstream Riparian Forest Cover and Impaired Development of Embryos From Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

ABSTRACT Populations of the Eastern Hellbender, (a large‐bodied, fully aquatic salamander) inhabiting stream reaches with low catchment‐wide riparian forest cover upstream, have experienced population declines and a shift toward a geriatric population age structure. These population declines and demographic shifts might be attributed to reduced embryo viability. Reduced egg quality/viability could negatively affect recruitment and has also been known to trigger filial cannibalism in other species. Therefore, we hypothesized that in comparison to high forest cover sites, hellbender eggs collected from low forest cover sites would have a greater incidence of developmental abnormalities and lower overall viability, and that this would predict whole‐clutch cannibalism by the attending male. We collected a subset of eggs (~20–35) from 99 clutches across sites with variable upstream riparian forest cover and reared these eggs through hatching in stream water under controlled laboratory conditions. At the same time, we monitored the fate of the remaining eggs from the same clutches in the field to document the frequency of whole‐clutch filial cannibalism. We found that eggs collected from sites with lower upstream forest cover had significantly shorter embryonic development times and produced a lower percentage of viable hatchlings (hatchlings with normal development times and morphology). The average modelled viability of hatchlings was 70% higher in sites with the highest forest cover compared to our sites with the lowest forest cover. In contrast to our predictions, we did not find evidence to suggest that egg viability in the lab predicted whole‐clutch cannibalism in the field. Although forest cover was a significant predictor of egg viability and underdevelopment, substantial variance in embryonic developmental traits was unaccounted for in our models suggesting that traits associated with adults (e.g., egg and/or sperm quality) may also play a role in determining developmental outcomes. Further experiments are needed to identify what factors (e.g., egg quality, water quality) disrupt the embryonic development of hellbenders as well as the proximate stimulus that causes adult male hellbenders to eat their young. Our results emphasise the importance of restoring and protecting riparian forest cover to conserve sensitive stream species.

Drivers of biomass stocks and productivity of tropical secondary forests.

Young tropical secondary forests play an important role in the local and global carbon cycles because of their large area and rapid biomass accumulation rates. This study examines how environmental conditions and forest attributes shape biomass compartments and the productivity of young tropical secondary forests. We compared 36 young secondary forest stands that differed in the time since agricultural land abandonment (2.3-3.6 years) from dry and wet regions in Ghana. We quantified biomass stocks in living and dead stems, roots, and soil, and aboveground biomass and litter productivity. We used structural equation models to evaluate how macroclimate, soil nutrients (N, P), and forest attributes (structure, diversity, and functional composition) affect ecosystem functioning. After three years of succession, tropical wet forests stored on average 115 t biomass ha-1 (the sum of aboveground living and dead biomass, belowground fine root biomass, and soil organic matter), and dry forests stored 99 t ha-1. These values represent 31% (in the wet forest) and 39% (in the dry forest) of the biomass compared with neighboring old-growth forests. The majority of forest ecosystem biomass was stored in the soil (70%) and aboveground living vegetation (25%). Macroclimate strongly shaped forest attributes, which in turn determined biomass stocks and productivity. Soil phosphorus strongly increased litter production and soil organic matter, confirming that it is a limiting element in tropical ecosystems. Tree density and species diversity increased forest biomass stocks, suggesting crown packing and complementary resource use enhance forest functioning. A more conservative trait composition (high wood density) increased biomass stocks but reduced productivity, indicating that quantity, identity, and quality of species affect ecosystem functioning.

Tannin-based non-isocyanate polyurethane wood adhesive rich in complicated cross-linked networks with ultra-strong bonding property and excellent water resistance by introducing poly-urea structure

Developing of bio-based wood adhesives is an inevitable common topic in the development at top speed of wood industry. Herein, a bio-based tannin wood adhesive, named as tannin-based non-isocyanate polyurethane-urea (TNIPU-U), was designed which showing a ultra-strong adhesion and water resistance performance by two-step approach. A plausible mechanism was proposed, which implied that urea acted as the crosslinker to connect with derived intermediates containing free amino groups rooted from the reaction of tannin, dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and HMDA, to introduce urea linkages in traditional TNIPU. Furthermore, addition of urea to act as a trapping agent to capture excessive free HMDA in TNIPU adhesive, promoting additional polyurea formation, leading to avoidance of its emission during the hot-pressing process. This will convert the imperfection of TNIPU to a superiority by a eco-friendly strategy. The complicated cross-linked networks will be obtained that are rich in physical entanglement, covalent bonds, and hydrogen bonds. Compared with the TNIPU, the shear strength of TNIPU-U adhesive, after soaked in hot water and boiling water for 3 h, exhibited increase by 17.88 % and 34 %, respectively, indicating the potential for use under harsher conditions. Moreover, the TNIPU-U adhesive exhibits an excellent bonding performance (1.93 MPa) that greatly exceeds the China National Standard (GB/T 9846–2015, ≥ 0.7 MPa) requirement for exterior-grade plywood type I. It is comparable to commercial phenol-formaldehyde resin on the aspect of water tolerance. It can be applied to particleboard preparation and bamboo bonding as well, showing a well-adopted feature. This study provides an efficient, low-cost, and sustainable strategy for high performance bio-based wood adhesives.

Female song elicits increased vocal display effort in both sexes of Alston's singing mouse.

Acoustic displays are conspicuous behaviors common across diverse animal taxa. They have long been studied in behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience. Most of these investigations, however, have focused on male display. For species in which both sexes display, correcting this bias will lead to a fuller understanding of the evolution and function of these behaviors. In this study, we investigated the role of vocal advertisement display in female Alston's singing mice (Scotinomys teguina). Singing mice are small muroid rodents of the family Cricetidae, native to high altitude cloud forests of Central America. Females and males both produce elaborate advertisement songs used in mate attraction and intra-sexual competition. Prior studies have largely focused on male behavior, though we recently found that both sexes dramatically increase their rate of singing and song duration in response to playback of conspecific male song. Here, we tested how mice of both sexes adjust their song effort in response to female song playback. Our results show that, like male song, female song elicits robust increases in song effort from both female and male mice. This study reveals additional social contexts that promote high song effort in this species, while raising additional questions about the role of song in communication within and between the sexes.

Prevention of water ingress during the operation of oil wells at some facilities of the Siyazan monoclinal field

The Siyazan monocline is located in the Caspian-Guba oil-gas region and stretches for 90 km along the foothills of the South-Eastern Caucasus. This 800 m wide strip-shaped area is located between Zorat station and Karachay. It consists of areas with different structures according to the terrain. It stretches from Atacay to Kilkilay in the southeast with a coastal plain and low hills, while the North-West area passes through relatively high plains and forests. Wells are often drilled deep (about 1000 m long and more), equipped with uncemented, ready-made filter casing, and the entire unit is operated together. The upper part of the unit consists of oil-saturated chalk sediments, and the lower part consists of non-retentive (clay-sandy) rocks. As a result, only the upper part of the bed is exploited. The surface of the Siyazan monoclinal deposit has many water networks crossing it (Garachay, Caghajugchay, Valvalechay, Shabranchay, Kilkilachay, Atachay). The tributaries of these water bodies do not dry up even in the summer months. Ready-made filters are used in wells exploiting layers of chalk sediments located at an angle of 70–80o. Over time, irrigation in such wells occurs due to the opening of holes in the perforation interval to large distances and bottom water entering the well from lower wells.

Why models underestimate West African tropical forest primary productivity

Tropical forests dominate terrestrial photosynthesis, yet there are major contradictions in our understanding due to a lack of field studies, especially outside the tropical Americas. A recent field study indicated that West African forests have among the highest forests gross primary productivity (GPP) yet observed, contradicting models that rank them lower than Amazonian forests. Here, we show possible reasons for this data-model mismatch. We found that biometric GPP measurements are on average 56.3% higher than multiple global GPP products at the study sites. The underestimation of GPP largely disappears when a standard photosynthesis model is informed by local field-measured values of (a) fractional absorbed photosynthetic radiation (fAPAR), and (b) photosynthetic traits. Remote sensing products systematically underestimate fAPAR (33.9% on average at study sites) due to cloud contamination issues. The study highlights the potential widespread underestimation of tropical forests GPP and carbon cycling and hints at the ways forward for model and input data improvement.

Aridity and forest age mediate landscape scale patterns of tropical forest resistance to cyclonic storms

Abstract Cyclonic storms, or hurricanes, are expected to intensify as ocean heat energy rises due to climate change. Ecological theory suggests that tropical forest resistance to hurricanes should increase with forest age and wood density. However, most data on hurricane effects on tropical forests come from a limited number of well‐studied long‐term monitoring sites, restricting our capacity to evaluate the resistance of tropical forests to hurricanes across broad environmental gradients. In this study, we assessed whether forest age and aridity mediate the effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra islands. We leveraged functional trait data for 410 tree species, remotely sensed measurements of canopy height and cover, along with data on forest stand characteristics of 180 of 338 forest monitoring plots, each covering an area of 0.067 ha. The plots represent a broad mean annual precipitation (MAP) gradient from 701 to 4598 mm and a complex mosaic of forest age from 5 to around 85 years since deforestation. Hurricanes resulted in a 25% increase in basal area mortality rates, a 45% decrease in canopy height and a 21% reduction in canopy cover. These effects intensified with forest age, even after considering proximity to the hurricane path. The links between forest age and hurricane disturbances were likely due the prevalence of tall canopies. Tall forest canopies were strongly linked with low community‐weighted wood density (WD). These characteristics were on average more common in moist and wet forests (MAP >1250 mm). Conversely, dry forests were dominated by short species with high wood density (WD > 0.6 g cm−3) and did not show significant increases in basal area mortality rates after the hurricanes. Synthesis. Our findings show that selection towards drought‐tolerant traits across aridity gradients, such as short stature and dense wood, enhances resistance to hurricanes. However, forest age modulated responses to hurricanes, with older forests being less resistant across the islands. This evidence highlights the importance of considering the intricate links between ecological succession and plant function when forecasting tropical forests’ responses to increasingly strong hurricanes.

Determination of the Suitable Biomonitors to be used in Monitoring the Change for Reducing the Concentration of V in Areas with High-Level of Air Pollution.

In this study, Vanadium (V) concentrations were analyzed in five tree species (Pinus pinaster, Cupressus arizonica, Picea orientalis, Cedrus atlantica, and Pseudotsuga menziesii) from Duzce city (Turkey), a highly polluted area. The research compared V levels across species, organs, directions, and age groups over the past 40 years. Trees, which absorb nutrients from soil and air, were used as biomonitors. Cupressus arizonica and Cedrus atlantica emerged as effective for V mitigation due to high wood accumulation. Significant inter- and intra-species variations in V concentrations were noted, underscoring their potential as V indicators. Annual rings from older trees offer a long-term monitoring method. This study highlights the importance of species-specific selection for monitoring heavy metals and the role of wood in preventing reintroduction of metals into ecosystems. It enhances our understanding of V dynamics and the environmental monitoring potential of these species.

사비도성 내 수공업 공방의 양상과 외경부

This paper examined the location, structure, and operation of handicraft workshops in Sabi Capital in Baekje, and attempted a poetic review of Oegyeongbu location around the workshops. During the Three Kingdoms period, handicrafts include weaving such as sericulture and weaving, ceramics manufacturing earthenware and tile, mining gold, silver, copper, and iron, metallurgy to refine them, and various manufacturing industries to produce household goods, tools, and weapons. It is known that it was operated as a government-operated crust industry as the scale gradually increased over time. In Sabi Capital, metal workshops and ceramics workshops are mainly identified. It is understood that ceramics workshops are mainly distributed across the Baekma River, which is the western boundary of the capital, while metal or glass workshops are distributed at different times around specific points in the city. It is understood that the workshop in the early stages of Sabi-period was located in the south of Buso-Mountain, centered on the ruins of Gwanbuk-ri, and then moved to the northeast area of the capital. The northeastern area of Sabi Capital is vulnerable to running water because it corresponds to the alluvial land, but it is a place where abundant water sources can be supplied and smooth logistics and distribution is possible as it is close to a transportation route to enter from the outskirts of the capital. It is understood that this movement of the workshop facilities is due to the stabilization of the capital system after the capital city and the gradual development of wetlands inside the capital city. Along with the spatial movement of the workshop, changes in the structure are also confirmed. The initial Gwanbuk-ri workshop is a structure that simultaneously produces various goods within a dense space, while the workshop in the northeast of the capital divides individual ranges into a certain range and shows a structure in which production and accessories are organized within it. Based on underground storage facilities, hierarchical building structures, distribution patterns of various building sites, and high wooden slips in Sabi Capital, it is estimated that there was a space with functions as a part of the Oegyeongbu, as a government office for the operation and management of the workshop system in the west and north areas of the workshop.