Vegetation Season Research Articles

Effects of genetically modified maize MON810 on surface‐active springtails (Collembola)

AbstractSpringtails (Collembola) are an integral and beneficial component of soil communities. As part of a comprehensive study of the effects of the Bacillus thuringiensis‐maize hybrid DKC4442YG (Bt event MON810) expressing Cry1Ab toxin on nontarget invertebrates, we studied abundance and diversity of surface‐active springtails in the temperate region of central Europe (western Slovakia) over 3 years in 10 plots with Bt and 10 plots with the near‐isogenic non‐Bt event DK440. Standard fertilizer and herbicide applications were used without the use of insecticides. Springtails were collected throughout vegetative season, nine to 11 times in each plot every year, using pitfall traps; a total of 580 samples were collected throughout the study period. In total, 7945 individuals of nine species were collected. We found that maize hybrid (Bt vs. non‐Bt) did not affect the average number of species, abundances, or community composition of springtails. There was also no significant interaction between the maize hybrids and seasonal patterns of species numbers, abundances, or community composition. To conclude, the studied genetically modified maize event MON810 did not have any impact on the communities of surface‐active Collembola.

Numerical modelling of biogeomorphological processes in salt marsh development: Do short-term vegetation dynamics influence long-term development?

Salt marshes are critical coastal ecosystems that provide numerous services. They are governed by complex biogemorphological interactions on multiple spatiotemporal scales. To simulate long-term salt marsh development in numerical models, smaller- and shorter-term vegetation processes are often neglected. This study investigates the importance of spatiotemporally and seasonally varying vegetation dynamics on decadal salt marsh development in an integrated numerical biogeomorphological model simulating a representative, idealized case of the Dutch Western Scheldt Estuary. The focus lies on the influence of seasonal vegetation dynamics, interspecific interactions between two salt marsh species, and the stabilizing effect of below-ground biomass with increasing vegetation age on critical shear stress, which results in spatially non-uniform erosion resistance of sediment and vegetation. By incorporating seasonal growth periods and varying characteristics of vegetation, we demonstrate the impact of species-specific traits on vegetation stability and morphological changes. Introducing an additional pioneer species that can establish further seaward reveals the sheltering effect and the long-term implications of this zonation for marsh development. Additionally, the influence of spatially and temporally varying below-ground biomass on sediment stability and vegetation's resistance to uprooting is significant for the biogeomorphological interactions. Comparison of the different model simulations to topographical data from the Dutch Western Scheldt Estuary shows that the model results are representing the morphological variability occurring in the field. Our findings highlight the complex biogeomorphological feedback that govern salt marsh development and show that models that neglect shorter-term seasonal and grid-scale (25 m2) spatially varying processes may overlook critical interactions that influence the lateral extent and overall morphological development of salt marshes. Therefore, this study underscores the need to integrate seasonal dynamics, species diversity, and below-ground biomass variability into biogeomorphological models to enhance predictive accuracy. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the large-scale, long-term consequences of seasonal and spatiotemporally varying vegetation processes, which is essential for informing conservation and management strategies under changing climatic conditions.

Human recreational activity does not influence open cup avian nest survival in urban green spaces

The breeding period of birds is a critical and sensitive portion of the annual cycle. Understanding how human use of urban green spaces affects nest survival can improve our understanding of conserving breeding bird populations in cities and support science-based management of urban green spaces that benefit both people and nature. We conducted a nest survival field study between April and August of 2023 in multiple green spaces in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the country’s second-largest city. We asked whether human presence (distance to trails and amount of human activity) influences the nest survival of four common open-cup nesting bird species: American robins (Turdus migratorius), gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), and yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia). We also asked if variables traditionally associated with nest survival, such as vegetation concealment and seasonality, would influence nest survival. Our analyses surprisingly revealed no significant influence of human activity, vegetation concealment, and seasonality on nest survival for our target species. We found for nests that did fail, nests established during the earlier part of the nesting period failed faster. American robin nests were the most successful of our study’s four target species, whereas Northern cardinal nests were the least successful. Within the limitations of our study system, our findings suggest that human presence on trails is not negatively impacting the nesting success for our target bird species using urban green spaces. Our study provides integrated science advice to land managers so they can support opportunities for people to connect with nature without causing trade-offs with biodiversity conservation.

ОЦЕНКА ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЦИИ ФЕРМЕНТАТИВНОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ ПРИ ПРИМЕНЕНИИ БЕЗОТВАЛЬНЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ ОБРАБОТКИ В СЛОЯХ АГРОЧЕРНОЗЕМА

The objective of the study is to identify the effect of no-till technologies for processing agrochernozems on the heterogeneity of the compared soil layers in terms of protease and urease enzyme activity. The studies were carried out under the conditions of a production experiment laid out in the Shilinskoye agricultural production cooperative in the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe located within the Chulym-Yenisei denudation plateau of the southwestern outskirts of Central Siberia (56°37' N and 93°12' E). The soil of the experimental plot was leached high-humus medium-deep light clayey chernozem on red-brown clay. The experimental soil was characterized by: humus content of 5.9 %, neutral reaction of the environment (pHH2O 6,8). The sum of absorbed bases was from 60 to 62 mg-eq/100 g of soil. In production crops, soil samples were taken three times during the vegetation season from the 0–5 and 5–20 cm layers using the snake method. The sample size was 15 individual samples. The norm, in accordance with the WMO regulations, was calculated for a 30-year period (1981–2010). The experimental design consisted of the following variants (processing methods): 1 – zero; 2 – minimum; 3 – moldboard (st). A significant differentiation of the studied agrochernozem layers was revealed when using minimum tillage technologies. Periods with a deficit of atmospheric moisture had a significant effect on the amount of proteolysis. An increase in moisture was accompanied by a decrease in proteolytic activity (r = –0.5 ... –0.63) when using surface disking, whereas under no-till conditions a direct effect of moisture on the level of hydrolysis of nitrogen-containing organic compounds was found (r = 0.61 ... 0.68). An increase in protease activity was accompanied by a significant decrease in difficult-to-hydrolyze nitrogen-containing compounds when using surface disking (r = –0.57 ... –0.71). During periods with excess moisture, significant differences in the level of urease activity were also found, mainly when using minimum tillage technology. The transformation of easily hydrolysable nitrogen-containing organic compounds was associated with the level of urease activity.

Changes in the frequency of sharp cold snaps in spring during the XXI century in Ukraine and their impact on agricultural production

Aim. Identification of trends in the frequency of sharp inter-day decreases in the average daily air temperature of varying intensity in spring in the agroclimatic zones of Ukraine and their likely change by the end of the twenty-first century for climate scenarios of representative concentration pathways of greenhouse gas emissions RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. Methods. Solving the set tasks envisaged the application of both conventional scientific and specialized research methods: analytical and synthetic – to analyze the current state of research, statistical – to assess the intensity and significance of changes in the frequency of sharp inter-day air temperature drops of varying intensity, comparative analysis – to identify their specificities in agroclimatic zones of Ukraine, climatic – to characterize extreme temperature conditions, modeling – to assess their changes in the short, medium and long term under the implementation of RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Results. The current state of changes in the extremes of temperature conditions in spring, in particular, sharp inter-day changes in air temperature of varying intensity (severe, very severe, extremely cold snaps) in the agroclimatic zones of Ukraine, is considered. Sharp cold snaps aggravate agricultural production since the decrease in temperature by 4–10 °C or more often leads to light frosts, which may cause partial or complete death of plants. The specificities of their frequency and intensity in 1981–2020 were determined. It was found that in spring, the sharpest cold snaps of 4–6 ºС in Ukraine occur 2–4 times per season; they are most frequent (3–4 times) in the western and eastern Forest-Steppe and Polissia. Very severe cold snaps of 6–10 ºС are observed 2–3 times less – from 6–8 cases in 10 years in the southern Steppe to 13–16 cases in Polissia, in the western and eastern Forest-Steppe. The extremely cold snaps of 10 ºС and more are rare in spring in Ukraine – from 2–3 to 8–9 cases in one hundred years. Conclusions. It was determined that despite a considerable increase in air temperature in Ukraine, Europe, and Arctic latitudes, the earlier beginning of the warm season and vegetation season, the number of spring days with severe, very severe, and extremely severe cold snaps is increasing in almost the entire territory of Ukraine. The north-eastern and eastern regions of the country are most vulnerable due to the registered highest increase in air temperature and frequency of sharp cold snaps. There may be fewer sharp cold snaps in the short- and long-term perspective in Ukraine as compared to the current climatic period. Still, the frequency of extremely cold snaps (over 10 ºС a day) will increase by the end of the century, especially in Polissia, and the western and central Forest-Steppe. These changes may result in premature termination of the vegetation period, damage to primordia and fruits, impairments to normal plant development, and a significant effect on crop productivity.

Spatial and temporal variability of soil moisture active and passive (SMAP) droughts and their impacts on vegetation in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Drought is a reoccurring natural phenomenon that presents significant challenges to agricultural production, ecosystem stability, and water resource management. The Central Highlands of Vietnam, a major region of industrial crops and vegetation ecosystems, has become increasingly vulnerable to drought impacts. Despite this vulnerability, limited research has explored the specific characteristics of drought and its seasonal effects on vegetation ecosystems in the region. This study addressed these gaps by providing a detailed analysis of recent soil moisture drought characteristics and their seasonal impacts on vegetation from 2015 to 2023 using weekly soil moisture active passive (SMAP) and moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite time series observations. This analysis derived the soil moisture anomaly index as a proxy to assess drought characteristics and used correlation analysis to quantify their impacts on seasonal vegetation dynamics. Our spatial analysis identified the most significant drought years in 2015 and 2019 in the study region, while the wettest conditions were detected in 2017 and 2022 over the study period. Notably, significant soil moisture deficits were observed in August and October throughout the study period, even though these months typically fall within the rainy season. On average, nearly 25 drought events were detected in the region from 2015 to 2023 due to soil moisture deficits, each lasting approximately 6 weeks. The impact of drought events on the vegetation ecosystem was seasonally pronounced in spring and winter, where droughts were notably higher. Our results provide valuable insights into informed decision-making and sustainable agricultural practices in the region. Understanding the spatial and temporal patterns of drought and its seasonal effects on vegetation can help policymakers and farmers develop targeted strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts, enhance water management practices, and promote drought-resistant crop varieties, thereby maintaining agricultural productivity and ecosystem health amidst increasing climate variability.

FTIR Analysis of Pesticide Active Ingredients into Seasonal Vegetables: Ensuring Food Safety and Raising Awareness

Bangladesh's agriculture sector heavily relies on the use of pesticides for pest control and production. However, improper use and unsafe handling practices can lead to the bio-accumulation of pesticide active ingredients in vegetables, causing high farmer exposure and adverse health effects. This study aimed to detect the presence of pesticide active ingredients in raw vegetables using Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). The study involved four fruit vegetables (Eggplants, Tomatoes, Bitter gourd, Green-bean) and 11 different pesticides used by farmers. The results showed that the most widely applied pesticides were moderately toxic WHO class II pesticides. Organophosphate, Neonicotinoid, and fungicide were found in fruits vegetables (Green bean, bitter gourd & eggplant). Food contamination is a serious concern for developing countries, including Bangladesh. Improper pesticide application can lead to a buildup of agrochemical active ingredients on plants' edible portions, potentially absorbing into the food chain. Programs like farmer’s field school, integrated pest management, and the department of agricultural extension's awareness program can help enhance knowledge about effective pesticide usage and prevent health issues related to personal health and safety. It is crucial to limit and avoid misuse and overdose of pesticides in vegetables to prevent the distribution of pesticide molecules and prevent acute and chronic health complications.

Review Article Advanced seed invigoration technologies in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Okra is one of the important warm season vegetables widely cultivated for its tender green fruits and has huge potential for foreign exchange and commercial trade. It is propagated through botanical seeds. Non-availability of quality seeds, poor storability due to oil content, hard seed, slow and uneven germination are the important causes of low productivity of okra. To overcome the above problems, cost effective seed invigoration treatments are recommended in commercial seed production centers. Currently “Seed enhancement Technologies” is gaining attention to improve seed vigour and enhance planting value of crop plants. This research review provides insights into various seed quality enhancement treatments viz., seed priming, physical treatment, seed coating, seed pelleting and other novel treatments namely; nanotechnology and plasma treatments are discussed for adoption of seed treatments to enhance seedling vigour, boost crop production and productivity. Among different methods reported seed priming is adjusted as most economical and trending technique which is considered as climate resilient in terms of biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Key words: Climate resilient, Crop productivity, Okra, Seed invigoration, Seed quality

Habitat Partitioning Among Mediterranean Tortoises (Genus Testudo) in Response to Vegetation Seasonality

Habitat Partitioning Among Mediterranean Tortoises (Genus Testudo) in Response to Vegetation Seasonality

Seasonal dynamics of kiwifruit microbiome: A case study in a KVDS-affected orchard.

Over the past decade, Italian kiwifruit orchards and overall production have faced a significant threat from Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS). Despite the insights gained from metagenomics studies into the microbial communities associated with the disease, unanswered questions still remain. In this study, the evolution of bacterial, fungal, and oomycetes communities in soil and root endosphere at three different time points during the vegetative season was investigated for the first time in a KVDS-affected orchard in the Lazio Region. The fungal and oomycetes genera previously associated with the syndrome, including Fusarium, Ilyonectria, Thelonectria, Phytophthora, Pythium and Globisporangium, were identified in both groups. In contrast, the characterization of bacterial communities revealed the first instance of the presence of the genus Ralstonia in soil and root samples. The microbiome composition shifts between KVDS-affected and asymptomatic plants were significant as evidenced by the results, particularly after a temperature increase. This temperature change coincided with the onset of severe disease symptoms and may indicate a key role in the progression of KVDS.

Multi-scale temporal and spatial variations of soil heat flux under varying riparian forests: From a day to a year.

This study delves into the multi-scale temporal and spatial variations of soil heat flux (G) within riparian zones and its correlation with net radiation (Rn) across six riparian woodlands in Shanghai, each characterized by distinct vegetation types. The objective is to assess the complex interrelations between G and Rn, and how these relationships are influenced by varying vegetation and seasons. Over the course of a year, data on G and Rn is collected to investigate their dynamics. The multi-scale temporal patterns of G and its relationship with Rn are significantly influenced by both vegetation type and season, with the most pronounced variability observed seasonally, exhibiting distinct cycles for both broadleaf and conifer forests. The presence of shrubs is found to increase G, and the dominant temporal scales were found to vary within broadleaf forests. Additionally, G demonstrates a non-linear gradient with respect to the proximity to the river, with the river's influence on G diminishing at distances less than 11m in broadleaf and 6m in conifer woodlands. While the river enhances G and its hysteresis with Rn, vegetation characteristics dominate in dense canopies. This study underscores the importance of understanding the spatio-temporal variation patterns of soil heat flux and their response to different vegetation attributes. Such knowledge is vital for developing riparian soil heat flux models and informing riparian forest management strategies, especially in the context of climate change. The results provide insights into the complex interactions between soil heat flux, net radiation, and vegetation, offering a foundation for future research and management practices aimed at preserving and enhancing the ecological functions of riparian ecosystems.

Continuous colonization of the Atlantic coastal rain forests of South America from Amazônia.

The two main extensions of rain forest in South America are the Amazon (Amazônia) and the Atlantic rain forest (Mata Atlântica), which are separated by a wide 'dry diagonal' of seasonal vegetation. We used the species-rich tree genus Inga to test if Amazônia-Mata Atlântica dispersals have been clustered during specific time periods corresponding to past, humid climates. We performed hybrid capture DNA sequencing of 810 nuclear loci for 453 accessions representing 164 species that included 62% of Mata Atlântica species and estimated a dated phylogeny for all accessions using maximum likelihood, and a species-level tree using coalescent methods. There have been 16-20 dispersal events to the Mata Atlântica from Amazônia with only one or two dispersals in the reverse direction. These events have occurred over the evolutionary history of Inga, with no evidence for temporal clustering, and model comparisons of alternative biogeographic histories and null simulations showing the timing of dispersal events matches a random expectation. Time-specific biogeographic corridors are not required to explain dispersal between Amazônia and the Mata Atlântica for rain forest trees such as Inga, which are likely to have used a dendritic net of gallery forests to cross the dry diagonal.

OPTIMAL PARAMETERS OF SOIL WATER REGIME DURING CROPS CULTIVATION ON DRAINED LANDS

The results of the research on determining the optimal parameters of the soil water regime during cultivation of promising agricultural crops on drained lands under modern conditions of farm management and climate changes are presented. It was found that the weather conditions of the vegetation seasons of 2022, 2023, and 2024 on the drained lands of the reclamation system of the Sarny Research Station of IWP&LR of NAAS were very contrasting: periods with excessive precipitation alternated with their prolonged absence, and significant fluctuations in temperature indicators were noted. The assessment of the impact of water regime regulation on the yield of spring wheat, winter rapeseed, grain corn, and soybeans was carried out using an unified fertilization system, applying the same rates of mineral fertilizers, and with an identical plant protection system on the background of 3 options for regulating the groundwater level (GWL) - 75-80 cm, 85-100 cm, and 100-140 cm. On the background of the indicated options for regulating the GWL, the lowest moisture reserves were observed in the summer period, and in areas adjacent to the studied territory, where the GWL was not regulated, moisture reserves in the summer in the soil layer of 0-30 cm dropped to the critical values (8–9 mm). On the experimental plots during this period, thanks to timely sluicing, soil moisture reserves did not fall below 47-50 mm. Based on the analysis of the dynamics of dry mass of growth of spring wheat, winter rapeseed, grain corn, and soybeans according to the options for regulating the soil water regime, the optimal parameters of the soil water regime (GWL, moisture, and moisture reserves) were determined for the phenological phases of the studied crops. It was found that the highest yield increase due to the optimization of moisture supply was observed in spring wheat and soybeans. Spring wheat is the most sensitive to soil water regime and reacts more actively than other crops to a decrease in GWL. The regulation of the GWL contributed to an increase in the yield of spring wheat by 41.6%, winter rapeseed by 18.3%, grain corn by 32.5%, and soybeans by 44,8%.

Soil Moisture Content Prediction in Loam Soil with RFR Model

Soil moisture content (SMC) is an important factor in agricultural productivity; it has an impact on crop growth, water use efficiency, and soil health. However, accurately predicting SMC, especially at deeper soil layers, remains challenging due to high variability and limited spatiotemporal data resolution. This study developed and evaluated a Random Forest Regression (RFR) model to predict SMC in loam soil at five different depths (5, 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm) utilizing meteorological data (temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and solar radiation) and vegetation indices: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI). Data were collected during the maize vegetation season in 2023 in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. The results showed that the mean SMC ranged from 12.61% to 16.19%. Correlation analysis demonstrated that precipitation and NDMI had the strongest positive correlation with SMC, especially at shallower depths r = 0.78 at 5 cm depth, Solar radiation had a moderate correlation with SMC, especially at the deeper depths. The RFR model performed well at all depths, achieving an R² of 0.86 at 5 cm depth; the model accuracy enhanced at deeper layers, achieving R² values of 0.91 and 0.94 at 60 and 80 cm depths, respectively. The most significant predictors according to the feature importance analysis were precipitation, humidity, and NDMI, with NDMI playing a crucial role in subsurface moisture retention at deeper depths. These findings highlight the potential for machine learning algorithms to optimize irrigation approaches and improve water management in precision agriculture.

Variability of the thousand-seed weight in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The thousand-seed weight (TSW) is one of the traits which is related to yield and milling quality of wheat. The aim of this work was to study the variability of the thousand-seed weight of bread wheat varieties grown under different environmental conditions. Fifty wheat varieties in a field experiment designed as a randomized block system were used for this study in three replications on the field in Kraljevo, Serbia during two vegetation seasons (2015-2017). The seeds were sown at 0.10 m distance in 1.0 m long rows spaced apart 0.2 m. Sixty plants at the full maturity stage (20 plants replication-1) were harvested and used for analyzing the thousand-seed weight. The analysis of variance was performed by MSTAT C (5.0 version). Similarities among wheat varieties were analyzed by using the hierarchical method of the Euclidean distance. The results have shown significant differences in the thousand-seed weight among varieties in both years. On average, in the first vegetation season the lowest thousand-seed weight (39.14 g) was recorded in the Lepenica variety, while the highest thousand-seed weight (54.66 g) was recorded in the Zadruga variety. In the second vegetation season, the thousand-seed weight varied from the lowest in NS Rana 2 (34.57 g) to the highest in Šumadinka (50.33 g). The similarity was illustrated on a dendogram containing four clusters in the first year and six clusters of varieties in the second year. The prominent cluster contained different numbers and compositions of varieties with the highest degree of similarity. The differences in average of the thousand-seed weight were determined by the genetic, environmental factor and by genotype/environment interaction.

Soil mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) in pure stands on post-agricultural lands: does season matter?

Post-agricultural land differs from typical forest land in physical, chemical and biological features. In addition, the environment of this land type is determined, among other things, by the introduced tree species. These differences may be revealed by the biodiversity and abundance of the soil fauna. We analysed the abundance, species richness and diversity of different instars of mesostigmatid mites inhabiting three different habitat types on post-agricultural land (shaped by pure Pinus sylvestris L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Betula pendula Roth stands). We collected 288 soil samples from eight plots in three stands. The collection was conducted in July and October in two consecutive vegetation seasons (2021 and 2022) for Mesostigmata mites community. Soil characteristics (determination of soil group and analysis of physical and chemical properties of soil and litter) were done in July 2021. In total, 399 individuals (266 females, 50 males and 83 juveniles) were classified into 38 taxa (33 species, five genera). Most individuals belonged to the Parasitidae, Laelapidae and Veigaiidae families. The most abundant species were Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestini) (21.6% of all recorded mites), Veigaia nemorensis (C.L.Koch) (7.8%) and Trachytes aegrota (C.L.Koch) (7.0%). Abundance, species richness and diversity were shaped by collection month and Fe content in soil. The abundance was influenced by N litter content and was significantly lower in P. sylvestris stand in July (0.57 ± 0.23; mean ± SE) than in P. sylvestris (2.17 ± 0.54) and T. cordata (2.15 ± 0.48) stands in October. Moreover, abundance in P. sylvestris stand in October was higher than in B. pendula stand in July (0.78 ± 0.26). Similarly, species richness was significantly lower in P. sylvestris stand in July than in P. sylvestris and T. cordata stands in October (2.17 ± 0.54 and 2.15 ± 0.48, respectively). Higher Shannon’s diversity of mite communities was reported in P. sylvestris stand in October (0.40 ± 0.10) than in P. sylvestris and B. pendula stands in July (0.12 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.08, respectively). Large fluctuations of abundance, species richness and diversity of soil mite communities in P. sylvestris and B. pendula stands between collection months give the insights for creating mixed stands on post-agricultural land. It is worth noticing that the wet season creates the most favourable living environment for mesostigmatid mites in P. sylvestris litter.

Characteristics of the process of tree mortality occurring in the Polish Sudetes Mts

Abstract The forests of the Sudetes Mts are among the ecosystems most threatened by climate change in Poland. Abiotic factors cause the threat, such as an increase in the average annual temperature and a clear change in the distribution of atmospheric precipitation intensity during the year. The aim of the study is to characterise the process of tree mortality, especially spruce, the main forest-forming species of the region, in the Sudetes. The analyses carried out covered 12 forest districts belonging to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Wrocław. Calculations made with the stand growth model showed that the total volume of merchantable timber in the forest districts is about 58 million m3, of which 68% consists of spruce. Two indices characterising the process of tree dieback, that is, tree dieback index (the volume of deadwood of a specific tree species harvested in the period 2011–2022) and tree dieback intensity coefficient (the quotient of the volume of deadwood harvested after the occurrence of the main cause of tree dieback and the volume of deadwood harvested before the occurrence of this cause there) were applied. The threat process intensified in 2015, when drought during the vegetation season caused massive thinning of trees and breakdown of tree stands, especially spruce stands and, to a lesser extent, pine and larch stands, and the least of all, birch, alder and beech stands. Therefore, it was assumed in the study that it is the ratio of the volume of deadwood obtained in the periods 2015–2018 and 2019–2022 to the volume of deadwood obtained in the period 2011–2014. There is an urgent need to change the concept of forest management in Poland. In the field of silviculture, it should include in particular: a) planning the species composition of tree stands, adapted to the changing of their growth conditions; b) a critical approach to the methods of forest management, including harvesting system and c) a critical verification of the methods used to determine the action level of cutting management, especially harvesting systems, and the order of selection of tree stands for the implementation of these treatments.

Developing an early warning land degradation indicator based on geostatistical analysis of Ecosystem Functional Types dynamics

Identifying and quantifying ecosystem degradation and recovery is of critical importance for ecosystem health, biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of local communities. Remote sensing datasets and techniques, particularly land cover maps, provide crucial data for capturing spatial and temporal changes, supporting informed decision-making and targeted interventions. However, these maps often emphasize structural rather than functional attributes and, also due to their thematic and temporal resolution, may not detect early degradation signs. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Ecosystem Functional Attributes (EFAs) and Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) as early warning indicators of ecosystem degradation. Using Sentinel-2 derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from 2016 to 2022, we conducted qualitative and quantitative EFA/EFT analysis on two fragile protected areas, Moyowosi Game Reserve (Kigoma region, Tanzania) and the Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park (Cox’s Bazar district, Bangladesh). Firstly, EFA analysis characterized vegetation productivity and seasonality, revealing temporal trends and spatial patterns of change. Secondly, EFTs served as indicators of change levels. Our findings showed significant insights into productivity shifts due to human activities and climate anomalies, identifying specific temporal events and turning points. Variogram-based geostatistical analysis highlighted changes in vegetation diversity’s spatial distribution. Integrating EFA/EFT analysis with geostatistical methods proved effective for early detection of land degradation, surpassing traditional land cover change analysis. Hence, the presented approach forms a robust framework for an early warning system, aimed at monitoring and evaluating environmentally fragile areas and aiding decision-makers in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting sustainable land management.

The effects of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) on urban tree health

Background. Urban forests play a crucial role in making the urban environment and provide for sustainable development of urban areas. At the same time, urban habitats are stressful for trees therefore the latter become more susceptive to a range of disturbances, in particular to biotic agents such as the European mistletoe. The paper aims to evaluate the detrimental impacts of this hemiparasitic plant on urban trees. Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in an urban watershed of central and northwestern parts of the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Urban tree health survey took place in different stand types along 4 transects of the total length of 6.54 km. Totally, 956 individual trees were surveyed during the vegetation season of 2019. The health status of individual trees was assessed applying the 7-grade scale after O. D. Maslov, modified by the Ukrainian Forestry Research Institute. The mistletoe presence on individual trees was quantified using a semi-logarithmic index. The statistical analysis of the data collected involved the comparison of two empirical distributions, the normality test of the initial data, and the determination of the relationship between two independent samples. Results and Discussion. The analysis of the collected data revealed that the studied trees divided into two groups – “non-infested” and “mistletoe-infested” – grew in quite similar conditions and showed quite similar distribution by stand types, classes of soil conditions and age classes. We found differences in the mean health status between non-infested (transient from “weakened” to “dry-top”), and mistletoe-infested trees (“dry-top”): the tree health index of 2.43±0.03 for the former vs. 2.98±0.08 for the latter. Empirical distributions of the number of trees by the tree health classes in both groups were different too (the Kolmogorov–Smirnov criterion λ = 3.14 at Р >0.999). We found a significant positive correlation between both mistletoe abundance and the age of individual infested trees (Spearman’s R = 0.36 at Р >0.999), as well as the health index of individual infested trees (Spearman’s R = 0.23 at Р >0.95). Conclusions. The study has proven a negative effect of mistletoe’s infestation on the tree crown foliage assessed with the tree health index. Such an effect increases with the age of infested trees. The findings of this study suggest that in urban forests the mistletoe acts as a trigger towards acceleration of tree stand health deterioration.

Seasonal Differences in Vegetation Susceptibility to Soil Drought During 2001–2021

AbstractDroughts typically exert negative effects on vegetation growth, which largely depend on the timing of drought onset. However, huge inconsistencies exist in the seasonal vegetation response to drought among diverse regions across the globe. Here, using the leaf area index (LAI) and solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), we quantified the vegetation susceptibility by calculating the coincidence rate between vegetation suppression extremes and soil droughts, and further investigated the spatiotemporal changes of vegetation susceptibility during different seasons from 2001 to 2021. We found the vegetation during summer and dry seasons were most susceptible to soil droughts in the extra‐tropics and tropics, respectively. Temporally, the autumn vegetation susceptibility was strengthening in drought‐susceptible regions of extra‐tropics, albeit with insignificant change during spring, summer and the entire growing season. Both the dry and wet seasons showed evidently increasing vegetation susceptibility on the dry tropical ecosystems, which dominated the enhanced vegetation susceptibility of global drought‐susceptible regions. Our findings determined the spatial pattern of most susceptible seasons to soil droughts across the globe and highlighted the enhanced risk to soil droughts, especially in the dry tropics.