Willow Research Articles

Þistil, mistil, kistil: Plants of Death, Rebirth, and Magic in Medieval Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions

<i>Þistil, mistil, kistil</i>: Plants of Death, Rebirth, and Magic in Medieval Scandinavian Runic Inscriptions

Production of biomass from forests and residues from the wood processing industry

An analysis of the relationship between technological and social development in the history of mankind shows that changes have always been related to the use of energy. Limited opportunities and negative environmental effects of the use of fossil fuels are increasingly affecting the need to use renewable energy sources. Today, more and more attention is paid to reducing the negative effects of energy on the environment, and the importance of renewable energy sources from forests is emphasized. Biomass is living matter whose reserves are constantly replenished by the action of solar energy. Wood biomass is a renewable energy source that includes wood mass from the forest, secondary (non-commercial) wood mass, wood residues and used wood. From the energy aspect, forest biomass includes woody vegetation and its remains suitable for energy production. Of particular importance, especially in countries with significant forest resources, is forest biomass as a renewable energy source. Although there are objective limitations that make it difficult to use forest biomass for energy, it does they do not represent permanent obstacles but imply their gradual, systematic and long-term elimination. It is assumed that the problems of lack of energy in the near future will be among the first challenges of modern society. Therefore, it is necessary to harmonize the production of biomass (breeding forestry) with previously developed nursery production (quantity, quality and type of planting material), natural regeneration and forest care (forest management systems) with the capacities and possibilities for using forest biomass for energy. Intensifying the use of forest biomass implies the introduction of modern technological solutions and machines (harvesters, forwarders, etc.) for which there are no adequate human resources for handling these machines, and the road network is unsatisfactory for their intensive application. Significant amounts of biomass (especially firewood) are traditionally used in numerous households throughout the Republic of Srpska, so it is necessary to examine the efficiency and alternatives of this type of biomass use. The use of forest biomass for energy must be based on sustainability, decentralized access and environmental protection, ie it must take into account the emission of harmful gases, the impact on biodiversity and the level of disruption of natural processes that can endanger life. To that end, specializedenergy plantations are being developed in Europe, in which various types of trees are grown, and the highest yields are achieved with poplars and willows on which significant genetic interventions have been performed. Breeding of species that make up energy crops is rare, although some varieties of species of the genus Salix (willow) are intensively used for biomass production with a harvest cycle every 2–5 years, and are genetically bred to increase their resistance to phytopathological diseases that have a negative impact on biomass yield. Strategic guidelines for the use of forest biomass for energy purposes are related to the promotion of the use of forest biomass for energy purposes in a way that does not endanger the environment.

Tuning the water interactions of cellulose nanofibril hydrogels using willow bark extract

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are increasingly used as precursors for foams, films and composites, where water interactions are of great importance. In this study, we used willow bark extract (WBE), an underrated natural source of bioactive phenolic compounds, as a plant-based modifier for CNF hydrogels, without compromising their mechanical properties. We found that the introduction of WBE into both native, mechanically fibrillated CNFs and TEMPO-oxidized CNFs increased considerably the storage modulus of the hydrogels and reduced their swelling ratio in water up to 5–7 times. A detailed chemical analysis revealed that WBE is composed of several phenolic compounds in addition to potassium salts. Whereas the salt ions reduced the repulsion between fibrils and created denser CNF networks, the phenolic compounds - which adsorbed readily on the cellulose surfaces - played an important role in assisting the flowability of the hydrogels at high shear strains by reducing the flocculation tendency, often observed in pure and salt-containing CNFs, and contributed to the structural integrity of the CNF network in aqueous environment. Surprisingly, the willow bark extract exhibited hemolysis activity, which highlights the importance of more thorough investigations of biocompatibility of natural materials. WBE shows great potential for managing the water interactions of CNF-based products.

Pan-Transcriptome Analysis of Willow Species from Diverse Geographic Distributions

Willows, in the genus Salix, are widespread on the earth with significant ecological and economic values for humans. Although about 500 Salix species have been estimated, the genomic foundation of their adaptations to environments with diverse stresses has been underexplored. Here, we applied a pan-transcriptome approach to investigate the phylogenetic relationships and genetic variations among 16 willow species. A pan-transcriptome of 29,668 gene families was assembled, 69% of which exhibited presence/absence variation across the analyzed species. In comparison to core genes present in all species, shell gene families absent in at least one species were enriched with genes in pathways of signaling transduction and response to stimuli, suggesting their functions in the interaction with diverse environmental factors. A phylogenetic tree of 16 willow species was constructed with high confidence based on 870 single-copy orthologous genes, providing detailed evolutionary relationships of willow sections. The willow species were further assigned into four species clusters using the gene numbers in each family. The diversity of gene family size and gene expression levels among the willow species are closely associated with their geographical distributions. The gene family members involved in DNA repair and cellular response to DNA damage stimuli were expanded in willow species from high-altitude regions in southwestern China, which may contribute to their tolerance to ultraviolet radiation stress. Our study generates a comprehensive pan-transcriptome resource for a large set of Salix species and provides insights into the adaptations of willows to diverse environments, which will be valuable for comparative analysis with other related woody and herbaceous plants.

IMAGES OF GILAN IN THE POETICS OF VELIMIR KHLEBNIKOV

The article discusses V. Khlebnikov’s Iranian images associated with the poet’s stay in Gilan from April to July 1921. The relevance of the article is determined by the need to explore the Persian component of Khlebnikov’s poetics, which cannot be reduced to speculative and generalized Asian images. The article demonstrates the diversity of poetic manifestations of Gilan, depicted through its inhabitants, landscapes, mythology, ancient and contemporary history. The poem “Night in Persia” is proposed to be read as a spiritual experience of mastering space. The specifics of female images in the poems “Novruz of Labor,” “With a Copper Womb…” as well as the images of Gilan’s nobility in the poem “Gul-Mulla’s Trumpet” are analyzed. Gilan images made it possible to concretize the poet’s ideas about the unity of universal destiny. For the first time, the variants of the essay “The Iron Pen on the Willow Branch” are brought into discussion on the Eastern theme in Khlebnikov’s works. The simultaneous semantic connotations of the willow tree as a writing tool and a Christian symbol are defined. The composition of the essay recreates the logic of sacred history: from Palm Sunday to Easter. The tragic death of Gilan’s political leader Kuchuk-Khan is correlated with the idea of sacrificial love embodied in the avant-garde work of the artist P. Miturich. Thus, the poet contrasts the forced liberation of the East with its spiritual transformation through the efforts of poets and artists. The images of Gilan embody the poet’s ideas about the nature of Iranian influences and reflect the direct Persian impact on Russian literature, effectively expanding its boundaries.

A lab unearthed: Plotting the grounds for future fields

A lab unearthed: Plotting the grounds for future fields

The Mentoring of a Willow Tree and the Thaw

The Mentoring of a Willow Tree and the Thaw

Effectively removing gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by willow catkins: Do you still dislike the catkins floating?

The floating catkins generated by willow and poplar trees have been criticized for spreading germ and causing fire for decades. It has been found that catkins are with a hollow tubular structure, which made us wonder if the floating catkins can adsorb atmospheric pollutions. Thus, we conducted a project in Harbin, China to investigate whether and how willow catkins could adsorb atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results suggest that both the catkins floating in the air and on the ground preferred to adsorb gaseous PAHs rather than particulate PAHs. Moreover, 3- and 4-ring PAHs were the dominating compositions adsorbed by catkins, which significantly increased with exposure time. The gas/catkins partition (KCG) was defined, which explained why 3-ring PAHs are more easily adsorbed by catkins than by airborne particles when their subcooled liquid vapor pressure is high (log PL > −1.73). The removal loading of atmospheric PAHs by catkins were estimated as 1.03 kg/year in the center city of Harbin, which may well explain the phenomenon that levels of gaseous and total (particle + gas) PAHs are relatively low in the months with catkins floating reported in peer-reviewed papers.

BuOH fraction of Salix Babylonica L. extract increases pancreatic beta-cell tumor death at lower doses without harming their function

Salix babylonica L. is a species of the willow tree. Insulinoma is a tumor originating from pancreatic beta cells. This study aims to research the effect of different fractions of Salix babylonica L. leaf extract on INS-1 cells for treating pancreatic tumors. Cell death occurred at lower doses in the EtOAc fraction. The cells are functional in the BuOH fraction but not in EtOAc and H2O fractions. The EtOAc fraction has a higher percentage of necrosis and ROS. INS1, INS2, and AKT gene expressions in the H2O fraction, GLUT2, IR, HSP70 gene expressions, and WNT4 protein levels increased in the BuOH fraction. HSP90 gene expression, Beta-actin, GAPDH, insulin, HSP70, HSP90, HSF1, Beta-Catenin, and WNT7A protein levels were decreased, while IR immunolabelling intensity increased in both fractions. Ca+2, K+, Na+, and CA-19-9 in the cell, Ca+2 and K+ in secretion increased. The secondary metabolites in the EtOAc fraction cause more damage in INS-1 cells. Since the water fraction also causes the cells to die in high doses, cell function is damaged. The secondary metabolites in the BuOH fraction kill INS-1 cells with less damage. This makes the BuOH fraction of Salix babylonica L. more valuable.

Trophic relationship between Salix flowers, Orthosia moths and the western barbastelle

We present the results of a study which describes the relationship between the western barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus a highly specialised moth predator, and its prey—moths of the genus Orthosia, another selective animal known to converge around a dominant producer of pollen and nectar in early spring—willow trees Salix sp. In order to describe this trophic relationship, we conducted acoustic recordings at five paired sites (willow/control tree) in proximity to known barbastelle hibernation sites (Natura 2000: PLH080003 and PLH200014) beginning in mid-March 2022 after the first willow blossom sighting. Our study confirms a relationship between willow trees and barbastelles during early spring, as their activity around them was significantly higher than control sites. We also explore the activity of barbastelles over time, finding that activity levels around willows significantly decrease from the night of the first recorded bat, while the abundance of non-moth specialist bats remains consistent. Short-time importance (directly after hibernation) of willows for a moth specialist bat is probably due to other species blossom, attracting alternative prey, and in consequence—the bat. This newly described relationship should influence current conservation measures aimed at barbastelles.

Willow bark proanthocyanidins with potential for water treatment: Chemical characterization and zinc/bisphenol A removal

This study investigates the chemical structure of proanthocyanidin-rich crude extracts from willow bark and these materials were tested initially as adsorbents for artificial (waste)water treatment. The crude extracts were obtained through mild water extraction and the colorant fractions were further chromatographically fractionated to understand the chemical structure of the willow bark proanthocyanidins. The chemistry of crude extracts and purified fractions were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Both NMR (liquid and solid-state) and UPLC-MS/MS suggest that the crude extracts constitute of interflavan linked flavan-3-ols, i.e. proanthocyanidins with both procyanidin (PC)-type and prodelphinidin (PD)-type subunits, with the PC/PD ratio of approximately 2.3–2.5. PD-type proanthocyanidins were detected from the purified colorant fractions only with UPLC-MS/MS. Both the UPLC-MS/MS and size exclusion chromatography suggest that the crude extracts have an average oligomerization degree of roughly 5–6 flavan-3-ol units. Adsorption experiments showed that the activated foams made of crude extracts were effective in removing both zinc and Bisphenol A (BPA) with removal efficiencies of roughly 80–90% and thus these willow bark-derived proanthocyanidins are promising in water treatment. The significance of this study suggests the upgrading use of crude extracts for water treatment could significantly improve the value of willow bark.

Willow Bark-Derived Materials with Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Properties for Potential Wound Dressing Applications.

Tree stems contain wood in addition to 10-20% bark, which remains one of the largest underutilized biomasses on earth. Unique macromolecules (like lignin, suberin, pectin, and tannin), extractives, and sclerenchyma fibers form the main part of the bark. Here, we perform detailed investigation of antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of bark-derived fiber bundles and discuss their potential application as wound dressing for treatment of infected chronic wounds. We show that the yarns containing at least 50% of willow bark fiber bundles significantly inhibit biofilm formation by wound-isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains. We then correlate antibacterial effects of the material to its chemical composition. Lignin plays the major role in antibacterial activity against planktonic bacteria [i.e., minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 1.25 mg/mL]. Acetone extract (unsaturated fatty acid-enriched) and tannin-like (dicarboxylic acid-enriched) substances inhibit both bacterial planktonic growth [MIC 1 and 3 mg/mL, respectively] and biofilm formation. The yarn lost its antibacterial activity once its surface lignin reached 20.1%, based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The proportion of fiber bundles at the fabricated yarn correlates positively with its surface lignin. Overall, this study paves the way to the use of bark-derived fiber bundles as a natural-based material for active (antibacterial and antibiofilm) wound dressings, upgrading this underappreciated bark residue from an energy source into high-value pharmaceutical use.

Morphology of the last instar larva and pupa of Paranthrene diaphana (Dalla Torre & Strand 1925) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), a serious pest of the babylon weeping willow trees in Iran.

This work presents the first description of the morphology of the last larval instar and pupa of the clearwing moth species Paranthrene diaphana (Dalla Torre & Strand, 1925). All diagnostic morphological features are described in detail, compared with the closely related species Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rottemburg, 1775) and P. insolitus Le Cerf 1914, and the features are illustrated with photographs and line drawings. The research on clearwing moths in Tehran Province (central Iran) has revealed that P. diaphana is a serious new pest that causes significant damage to babylon weeping willow trees Salix babylonica L. (Salicaceae).

Expression of the Populus Orthologues of AtYY1, YIN and YANG Activates the Floral Identity Genes AGAMOUS and SEPALLATA3 Accelerating Floral Transition in Arabidopsis thaliana.

YIN YANG 1 (YY1) encodes a dual-function transcription factor, evolutionary conserved between the animal and plant kingdom. In Arabidopsis thaliana, AtYY1 is a negative regulator of ABA responses and floral transition. Here, we report the cloning and functional characterization of the two AtYY1 paralogs, YIN and YANG (also named PtYY1a and PtYY1b) from Populus (Populus trichocarpa). Although the duplication of YY1 occurred early during the evolution of the Salicaceae, YIN and YANG are highly conserved in the willow tree family. In the majority of Populus tissues, YIN was more strongly expressed than YANG. Subcellular analysis showed that YIN-GFP and YANG-GFP are mainly localized in the nuclei of Arabidopsis. Stable and constitutive expression of YIN and YANG resulted in curled leaves and accelerated floral transition of Arabidopsis plants, which was accompanied by high expression of the floral identity genes AGAMOUS (AG) and SEPELLATA3 (SEP3) known to promote leaf curling and early flowering. Furthermore, the expression of YIN and YANG had similar effects as AtYY1 overexpression to seed germination and root growth in Arabidopsis. Our results suggest that YIN and YANG are functional orthologues of the dual-function transcription factor AtYY1 with similar roles in plant development conserved between Arabidopsis and Populus.

Salix babylonica L. mitigates pancreatic damage by regulating the Beclin-P62/SQSTM1 autophagy pathway in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSalix babylonica L. belongs to the genus Salix, family Salicaceae. It is traditionally used as an antipyretic, antirheumatic, antidiabetic and for the treatment of ulcers and parasite skin diseases. It also has a range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects. However, there are no reports on the phytochemical profile and efficacy of its leaves extract to modulate dexamethasone induced pancreatic damage. Aim of the studyThe present study was performed to annotate the phytoconstituents of Salix babylonica leaf extract and explore whether and how it could modulate dexamethasone-induced pancreatic damage and the role of oxidative stress and autophagy in mediating its protective effects. Materials and methodsWistar rats were used for this study. Salix babylonica in two dose levels (100 and 200 mg/kg) or metformin (50 mg/kg) was given by oral gavage concurrently with dexamethasone which was injected SC in a dose of 10 mg/kg for 4 consecutive days. ResultsLC-MS analysis furnished 84 secondary metabolites belonging to phenolic acids, salicinoids, proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, cyclohexanediol glycosides, and hydroxy fatty acids. S. babylonica at both dose levels and metformin decreased the elevated pancreatic beclin while elevated the decreased pancreatic P62/SQSTM1 content compared to dexamethasone. These effects were associated with improved histopathological changes, glycemic and lipid parameters indicating that there might be a connection between autophagy and dexamethasone-induced pancreatic damage. Given that the level of GSH was negatively correlated with the levels of beclin and positively correlated with P62/SQSTM1, while both MDA and NO levels were positively correlated with beclin and negatively correlated with P62/SQSTM1, it seems that dexamethasone induced autophagy may be attributed to dexamethasone induced pancreatic oxidative stress. ConclusionOur results indicate that S. babylonica protects pancreatic tissues against dexamethasone-induced damage by decreasing oxidative stress and its associated autophagy. Our study reveals a new mechanism for dexamethasone effects on pancreas and shows the potential therapeutic role of S. babylonica in mitigating dexamethasone adverse effects on pancreas and establishes the groundwork for future clinical applications.

Soil-to-Atmosphere GHG Fluxes in Hemiboreal Deciduous Tree and Willow Coppice Based Agroforestry Systems with Mineral Soil

In this study, we estimated the magnitude of soil-to-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in deciduous tree and willow coppice based agroforestry systems in hemiboreal Latvia. We studied systems combining hybrid alder, hybrid aspen, silver birch, black alder, and willow clones with perennial reed canary grass (RCG), which were established in the spring of 2011 in former cropland with mineral soil. Three different soil fertilisation practices were initially applied (control without fertilisation, fertilisation with wood ash, and sewage sludge). Measurements of fluxes of greenhouse gases were taken in both deciduous tree, willow coppice and RCG plots using a closed opaque manual chamber method, from June 2020 to October 2021. Soil CO2 fluxes (the sum of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration) were increased in RCG plots compared to plots under willow and deciduous tree canopies, while the highest mean CH4 fluxes were found in willow coppice plots. No impact of dominant vegetation type on instantaneous soil N2O fluxes was found. Temperature was the key determinant of the magnitude of CO2 and N2O fluxes. The highest soil CO2 and N2O fluxes were detected during the summer and decreased in the following order: summer, autumn, spring, winter. There were no pronounced relationships between soil CH4 fluxes and temperature.

Milking performance and plant specialized metabolites in the milk of goats fed silage from willow (Salix acmophylla) irrigated with saline water

Willow trees irrigated with recycled water yields fodder of good nutritional value that can be ensiled to provide feed year-round for dairy goats. We investigated the nutritional value of silage from willow irrigated with saline water (Electrical Conductivity 4.0) in a cross-over experiment (twenty eight goats, two periods). We compared total dry matter intake (TDMI), milking performance and milk composition, with a focus on plant phenolic compounds, of Damascus goats fed oats and vetch hays as the sole source of roughage (all-hay) or oats hay with willow silage, with 470 g/kg DM concentrates. Willow silage represented 175 and 205 g/kg of TDMI in the last five days of periods 1 and 2, respectively. Individual TDMI tended (P<0.06) to be 3.7% lower in the willow-fed goats. Milk yield, and the milk contents and daily yields of fat, protein and lactose did not differ between treatments. However, willow consumption was associated with lower contents of milk urea (P<0.02) and 59% higher anti-oxidative capacity (P<0.04). Consumption of willow silage was associated with higher levels of plasma malondialdehyde, but did not affect leucocyte clustering. We assessed the contents of plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) in the feeds and in the milk of five goats of each treatment at the end of period 2 by liquid chromatography / time-of-flight / mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS), with exact or tentative compound identification, depending on availability of appropriate standards. Although many flavonoids were present in feeds, they were not found in the milk of either treatment. Major phenolic compounds, including the salicinoids salicin, esculetin and chaenomeloidin found in feeds, were not recovered in milk but salicylic acid, found in all feeds, was present equally in the milk of both control and treated goats. Only two compounds directly related to the metabolism of salicin, i.e., salicylic acid and saligenin, were found in milk. Overall, milk from willow silage-fed goats contained more phenolic compounds, including benzyl alcohol, hydroquinone, methyl-syringate (P<0.001), and a saligenin derivative (P<0.005), and tended to contain more 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and hippuric acid (P<0.10) than milk from all-hay fed goats. Volcano plot-to-target changes in milk metabolites related to willow (untargeted LC-TOF-MS) showed intense upregulation of sulfated derivatives of phenolics. Growing willow for silage for dairy goats is an appropriate way to produce feed where saline water irrigation is available.

Türkiye'nin Bazı Herbaryumlarındaki Salicaceae Koleksiyonu Verilerinin Analizi

Building on centuries of research based on herbarium specimens gathered through time and around the world, much research on the analysis of collections data in the herbarium is being done. In this study, it was analyzed the herbarium sheets from the family Salicaceae. According to the herbarium records examined, Salicaceae family is represented by two genera in Turkish herbariums. A collection of 917 herbarium records for the genus Salix and 242 for the genus Populus was considered from the six biggest herbaria of Türkiye as ANK, ISTO, HUB, AEF, ISTE and GAZI. The number of taxa in herbaria collections, distribution, and the number of taxa according to family, distribution of taxa by collection date and locations, and comparison of Turkish data with well-known herbaria from the world were evaluated in the current study. Python programming language was applied for the data cleaning and visualization using pie charts, plots, bar graphs and map plots. ISTO holds most of the genus Salix with 287 records, followed by AEF with 221 records and HUB with 148 records. Total genus Salix collections of herbaria include 53 taxa. The oldest Salix herbarium sheet dates back to the mid-1800s (GAZI), whereas most herbarium sheets were collected from 2000-2001 (AEF). Most records for both genera Salix/Populus, were collected from Ankara province. It is followed by Bolu and Kars districts, respectively. Furthermore, the locations from which the Salicaceae members have been collected are presented with the help of a Turkish province map.

DENTAL USE OF KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE: STATUS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

The history of evidence-based use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) goes back at least two hundred and fifty years. Over the past period, the path has been passed from the use of willow bark decoctions to the synthesis and introduction of selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors into clinical practice. To date, the research direction has shifted from the search for new substances to the search for new routes of administration. The wide range of existing drug substances, however, has only in a few dosage forms. Thus, ketorolac tromethamine is known only as a solution for parenteral and intranasal administration, as well as oral tablets. This drug belongs to NSAIDs, particularly non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, and shows a pronounced analgesic activity. Due to this property, ketorolac can serve as an alternative to opioid analgesics or can reduce the dosage of the latter when used in combination. However, a number of systemic side effects (ulcerogenic properties, negative effect on the blood), unfortunately, impose their limitations. A possible solution to this situation may be the creation of local delivery systems, in particular, in situ implants. This review highlights the problem of developing local systems for the delivery of ketorolac tromethamine for the relief of acute pain. Special attention is paid to in situ implants based on bioadhesive polymers.

HABITAT STRUCTURE AND HETEROGENEITY DETERMINE A SUCCESSFUL BREEDING PROBABILITY OF THE LONG-EARED OWL (&lt;i&gt;ASIO OTUS&lt;/i&gt;, STRIGIDAE, STRIGIFORMES)

In 2001 to 2020, for each Long-eared owl nest in the Crane Homeland Nature Reserve territory with an area of 48 km2, the following microhabitat parameters were determined using standard field methods: the nest type built by different bird species, the presence of a nest roof, the nesting tree species, and the nest height above the ground. In most cases, for nesting the Long-eared owl reused magpie nests (Pica pica) (77%), and half of the nests were found on willow trees (family Salicaceae) (50%). The nest height above the ground varied from 1.5 to 22 m. Vegetation on the nesting area with a radius of 500 m was determined using the “Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin” automatic vegetation classifier of QGIS software. Five habitat types were so classified: forests, shrubs, meadows, arable land, and satellite image mistakes. Village areas were allocated separately. The average shares of the largest habitat types for over 20 years on the nesting sites included meadows (51.1%) and shrubs (16%). From 2001 to 2020, a habitat change in the breeding area was observed: forest and shrub areas decreased, while the meadow, village and arable land areas increased. An analysis of the effect of habitat types on the nesting success was evaluated by means of the “gbm” and “dismo” modules in the R program using the Boosted Tree classifier algorithm. The presence of such habitat types in the nesting area as villages (24.2%), shrubs (19.3%), meadows (11.8%), and habitat heterogeneity (11.6%) most strongly affected the probability of owl successful nesting. That owls tend to use anthropogenic and agricultural territories is associated with the diversity, easy foraging and more effective protection from predators during the breeding season.