Forests

19 pages, 3081 KB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating a Newcomer: Niche Differentiation and Habitat Use of Eurasian Red Squirrels and Native Species in a Forest Reserve Under Human Disturbance

by Wuyuan Zhang, Xiaoxiao Liu, Tong Zhang and Guofa Cui

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1360; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081360 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 531

Abstract

Understanding the integration of newly recorded species into forest ecosystems is essential for evaluating their ecological impacts on native wildlife diversity. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal niche dynamics of three sympatric squirrel species within the Labagoumen nature reserve, a [...] Read more.

Understanding the integration of newly recorded species into forest ecosystems is essential for evaluating their ecological impacts on native wildlife diversity. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal niche dynamics of three sympatric squirrel species within the Labagoumen nature reserve, a temperate forest located in northern China. Particular emphasis was placed on the recently documented Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and its potential interactions with two native species: Père David’s rock squirrel (Sciurotamias davidianus) and the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus). Using camera trapping data from 91 sites (2019–2024), we examined habitat use, activity rhythms, and niche overlap under contrasting levels of human disturbance. A total of 3419 independent effective photos of squirrels were recorded. S. vulgaris showed a broader spatial distribution and a higher relative abundance index (RAI) in the tourist area, while native species were more abundant in the non-tourist area. All three species showed similar annual activity patterns based on the monthly relative abundance index (MRAI), although native species exhibited an additional activity peak in June–July. Temporal niche overlap (C_ih) and the coefficient of overlap (Δ) between S. vulgaris and native species increased during the tourist season, suggesting synchronized activity under high disturbance. In contrast, lower overlap in the non-tourist season indicated stronger temporal partitioning. The daily activity rhythm of S. vulgaris remained stable, while native species displayed more variability, especially in non-tourist areas. S. vulgaris also exhibited a significantly broader spatial niche breadth (B_i), suggesting greater habitat exploitation and adaptability. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed no significant spatial segregation among the three species, indicating successful integration of S. vulgaris into the local community. Our findings emphasize the competitive advantage of S. vulgaris and demonstrate how human activities can restructure forest small mammal assemblages by altering spatiotemporal niche partitioning. We recommend long-term ecological monitoring to assess species diversity changes and guide adaptive conservation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Species Richness, Diversity and Habitat Modeling of Wildlife in Forests)

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14 pages, 1379 KB

Open AccessArticle

Physical–Mechanical Properties of Innovative Biobased Particleboards for Application in External Building Façades

by Ramunas Tupciauskas, Andris Berzins, Martins Andzs, Rudolfs Berzins, Janis Rizikovs and Gunars Pavlovics

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081359 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 391

Abstract

Human activities undoubtedly increase greenhouse gases (GHG), negatively influencing global climate change. The building and construction sector uses at least 40% of the total energy consumption and produces the same percentage of GHG emissions. Therefore, the development of sustainable building materials is a [...] Read more.

Human activities undoubtedly increase greenhouse gases (GHG), negatively influencing global climate change. The building and construction sector uses at least 40% of the total energy consumption and produces the same percentage of GHG emissions. Therefore, the development of sustainable building materials is a crucial key factor for environmental protection. The study contributes to the development of bio-based façade materials using available raw biomass like wheat straw, grey alder, and softwood (a mix of spruce and pine), to promote reduced emissions of CO₂. Two technologies were used to produce high-density particleboards based on (1) steam explosion treatment and (2) the addition of bio-based suberinic acids as a binder. In addition to the biomass species and board type, the influence of conventional and mold hot-pressing was investigated on produced board properties: density, thickness swelling, modules of rupture and elasticity in bending, and internal bonding. The obtained particleboards demonstrate significant differences in terms of the tested properties depending on all variable factors. The best performance, in terms of physical–mechanical properties, was achieved by the conventionally hot-pressed board of steam-exploded grey alder particles, being influenced by the highest density (1380 kg/m³). Mold hot-pressing in most cases resulted in decreased performance of obtained boards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Wood Science and Forest Products)

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24 pages, 9308 KB

Open AccessArticle

Profiling Climate Risk Patterns of Urban Trees in Wuhan: Interspecific Variation and Species’ Trait Determinants

by Wenli Zhu, Ming Zhang, Li Zhang, Siqi Wang, Lu Zhou, Xiaoyi Xing and Song Li

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081358 - 21 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Climate change poses significant threats to urban tree health and survival worldwide. This study evaluates climate suitability risks for 12 common tree species in Wuhan, a Chinese metropolis facing escalating climate challenges. We analyzed risk dynamics and interspecific variations across three periods, the [...] Read more.

Climate change poses significant threats to urban tree health and survival worldwide. This study evaluates climate suitability risks for 12 common tree species in Wuhan, a Chinese metropolis facing escalating climate challenges. We analyzed risk dynamics and interspecific variations across three periods, the baseline (1981–2022), near future (2023–2050), and distant future (2051–2100), quantifying climate risk as differences between local climate conditions and species’ climatic niches. We further examined how species’ geographic distribution and functional traits influence these climate risks. The results revealed significant warming trends in Wuhan during the baseline period (p < 0.05), with projected increases in temperature and precipitation under future scenarios (p < 0.05). The most prominent risk factors included the precipitation of the driest month (PDM), annual mean temperature (AMT), and maximum temperature of the warmest month (MTWM), indicating intensifying drought–heat stress in this region. Among the studied species, Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don, Platanus acerifolia (Aiton) Willd., Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu & W.C.Cheng, and Ginkgo biloba L. faced significantly higher hydrothermal risks (p < 0.05), whereas Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch. and Osmanthus fragrans (Thunb.) Lour. exhibited lower current risks but notable future risk increases (p < 0.05). Regarding the factors driving these interspecific variation patterns, the latitude of species’ distribution centroids showed significant negative correlations with the risk values of the minimum temperature of the coldest month (MTCM) (p < 0.05). Among functional traits, the wood density (WD) and xylem vulnerability threshold (P50) were negatively correlated with precipitation-related risks (p < 0.05), while the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA) were positively associated with temperature-related risks (p < 0.05). These findings provide scientific foundations for developing climate-adaptive species selection and management strategies that enhance urban forest resilience under climate change in central China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Urban Forestry)

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14 pages, 2286 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Differential Growth Dynamics Among Dominant Species Regulates Species Diversity in Subtropical Forests: Empirical Evidence from the Mass Ratio Hypothesis

by Zhangtian You, Pengfei Wu, Emily Patience Bakpa, Lifu Zhang, Lianyao Ji and Shuisheng You

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081357 - 21 Aug 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 411

Abstract

The Mass Ratio Hypothesis states that the growth dynamics of dominant species influence forest species diversity by regulating the niches of subordinate and transient species. However, this prediction has not yet been empirical confirmed in subtropical forests over long term. Using data from [...] Read more.

The Mass Ratio Hypothesis states that the growth dynamics of dominant species influence forest species diversity by regulating the niches of subordinate and transient species. However, this prediction has not yet been empirical confirmed in subtropical forests over long term. Using data from 1995 to 2017, we examined how dominant tree species regulate species evenness and richness by analyzing their height and diameter growth in three clear-cut forests (Castanopsis carlesii (Hemsl.) Hayata, Castanopsis fissa (Champ. ex Benth.) Rehder & E. H. Wilson, and Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. stands), combined with the mean value of species niche breadth (measures the diversity of resources a species utilizes) across the community, including separate analyzes for subordinate (persistently coexisting with dominants species) and transient species (temporarily occurring species). Our results showed that an increase in height and diameter growth of dominant species had a negative effect on niche breadth of subordinate species, which in turn reduced species evenness (p < 0.01) but showed no significant relationship with species richness (p ≥ 0.05). Growth dynamics of dominants had no significant influence on the niche breadth of transient species. The early-fast growing dominant C. lanceolata significantly restricted the niche breadth of subordinate species (1.16 ± 0.23), resulting in relatively low evenness (0.49 ± 0.11). Conversely, the late-fast growing dominant C. carlesii promoted niche expansion (6.62 ± 1.20), resulting in higher evenness (0.81 ± 0.02). C. fissa -dominated strands with intermediate growth increments, exhibited moderate species evenness. These findings provide long-term empirical support for the Mass Ratio Hypothesis by demonstrating that growths of dominant species modulate niche partitioning in subordinates and thereby shape species diversity in subtropical forest communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Forest Restoration and Applied Conservation: Bridging Science and Practice)

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15 pages, 2548 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Use of Herbicides and Surfactants for Control of Two Midwest Forest Invaders: Amur Honeysuckle and Wintercreeper

by Kendra Cipollini, Hannah Anderson, Kasia Sandlin and Don Cipollini

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081356 - 21 Aug 2025

Viewed by 1070

Abstract

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder) and wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Maz.) are important invasive plants in Midwestern U.S. forests. We studied how two herbicides at two concentrations combined with three concentrations of a surfactant affected the mortality of these species. [...] Read more.

Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder) and wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Maz.) are important invasive plants in Midwestern U.S. forests. We studied how two herbicides at two concentrations combined with three concentrations of a surfactant affected the mortality of these species. For L. maackii, we also studied the effect of application timing, and for E. fortunei, we also measured the treatment effect on native species after one year. For E. fortunei, triclopyr caused complete mortality at both low and high concentrations. The application of glyphosate increased mortality from low to high concentrations. The addition of a surfactant to glyphosate increased mortality, with the low concentration being as effective as the high concentration. There was a negative effect of surfactant on native species, with the high concentration of the surfactant causing a 75% reduction in native species compared to not using a surfactant. For L. maackii, there was greater mortality from the fall application of herbicides. Mortality was higher overall with the addition of a surfactant, but the effect of the surfactant was more important in spring. Glyphosate was more effective in fall, while triclopyr tended to be more effective in spring. Generally, lower concentrations of herbicides tended to have a higher efficacy in the fall. Our results can help managers determine the best method of chemical control that balances cost, efficacy, and recovery of native species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Invasive Species: Distribution, Control and Management)

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21 pages, 5183 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Ecological Contributions of Tree Assemblages in Urban Expressway Interchange Landscapes: A Case Study from Nanjing, China

by Mingxing Xu and Lu Ding

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081355 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 462

Abstract

Urban expressway interchanges, though primarily engineered for traffic efficiency, also serve as crucial ecological nodes within urban landscapes. This study evaluates the ecological functions of arborous vegetation across four typical interchange configurations—cloverleaf, single trumpet, double trumpet, and irregular—along the Nanjing Ring Expressway. Using [...] Read more.

Urban expressway interchanges, though primarily engineered for traffic efficiency, also serve as crucial ecological nodes within urban landscapes. This study evaluates the ecological functions of arborous vegetation across four typical interchange configurations—cloverleaf, single trumpet, double trumpet, and irregular—along the Nanjing Ring Expressway. Using the i-Tree Eco model, we quantified key ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and storage, air pollutant removal, and stormwater mitigation. Field surveys documented 7985 trees from 45 species, with the 10 most abundant accounting for over two-thirds of total individuals. Results revealed that the trees sequester around 115 tons of carbon annually and store nearly 1850 tons in total, equivalent to an estimated economic benefit of ¥5.8 million. Trees also removed more than 1.5 tons of air pollutants and intercepted nearly 2400 cubic meters of stormwater each year. Species such as Sophora japonica, Phoebe zhennan, and Cinnamomum camphora emerged as key contributors to ecological performance. Among interchange types, double trumpet configurations yielded the highest overall service value, while single trumpet interchanges demonstrated superior efficiency per unit area. These findings highlight the underutilized ecological potential of transport-adjacent green spaces and underscore the importance of species selection and spatial design in maximizing multifunctional benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Services of Urban Forest)

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17 pages, 3379 KB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Responses of the NAC Gene Family in Acanthus ebracteatus: Involvement in Abiotic Stress Responses and Biosynthesis of Verproside and Verbascoside

by Jun Yao, Huiting Fan, Canming Xing and Ying Zhang

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081354 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 351

Abstract

The NAC gene family, as a group of plant-specific transcription factors, plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, abiotic stress regulation, and biosynthesis of medicinal components. However, research on this family in the medicinal true mangrove Acanthus ebracteatus remains unreported. In this study, [...] Read more.

The NAC gene family, as a group of plant-specific transcription factors, plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, abiotic stress regulation, and biosynthesis of medicinal components. However, research on this family in the medicinal true mangrove Acanthus ebracteatus remains unreported. In this study, 56 NAC genes (AeNAC01-AeNAC56) were identified from A. ebracteatus transcriptome data, all encoding proteins with the NAM domain. Phylogenetic analysis classified them into two groups, with 51 in Group I and 5 in Group II. Comparative transcriptome analysis of roots, leaves, and flowers, validated by qRT-PCR, revealed lower AeNAC genes expression in leaves, with AeNAC10, AeNAC31, and AeNAC48 showing the lowest levels. Under salt, cold, and waterlogging, AeNAC03/44, /48/56 exhibited differential expression, suggesting their key roles in stress responses. Metabolome analysis further demonstrated that AeNAC14 and AeNAC48 significantly correlated with the biosynthesis of verproside and verbascoside, major bioactive phenythanoid glycodides in A. ebracteatus leaves with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study provides insights into the A. ebracteatus NAC gene family, identifying candidate targets for understanding the synergistic regulation of abiotic stress responses and medicinal component biosynthesis, which is significant for optimizing the plant’s growth and medicinal value via genetic engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forests That Heal: Importance of Medicinal Trees and Forest Understory Plants Conservation and Use)

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18 pages, 11894 KB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Profiling of AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Genes in Prunus armeniaca L.

by Yanguang He, Lin Wang, Nan Jiang, Donglin Zhang, Xiaodan Shi, Tana Wuyun and Huimin Liu

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081353 - 20 Aug 2025

Viewed by 424

Abstract

The APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF transcription factor) family plays pivotal roles in plant growth, stress responses, and metabolic regulation. Here, we identified 118 AP2/ERF family members in the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genome, which were classified into four major subfamilies (AP2, DREB, [...] Read more.

The APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF transcription factor) family plays pivotal roles in plant growth, stress responses, and metabolic regulation. Here, we identified 118 AP2/ERF family members in the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genome, which were classified into four major subfamilies (AP2, DREB, ERF, and RAV) and Soloists (few unclassified factors), through phylogenetic analysis. The ERF subfamily exhibited the largest expansion (55 members), driven predominantly by 10 tandem and 14 segmental duplication events. Gene structures and conserved motifs exhibited similar patterns within each subfamily. Chromosomal distribution was uneven, with chromosome 1 harboring the highest gene density. PaWRI1 was specifically expressed in apricot kernel and positively correlated with oil accumulation. A total of 47 lipid-related genes were predicted as potential targets of PaWRI1 through correlation analysis, which covers the entire three-stage process of plant oil synthesis. These results advance our understanding of how core AP2/ERF transcription factors modulate oil accumulation pathways in apricot, offering potential targets for metabolic engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Tree Breeding: Genomics and Molecular Biology)

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20 pages, 6505 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Updated Models to Characterize Skidding Performance in Romania Based on a Nation-Level Dataset

by Monica Cecilia Zurita Vintimilla and Stelian Alexandru Borz

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081352 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 374

Abstract

Skidding is one of the most important methods for wood extraction globally, necessitating updated models to assess its performance based on the technical characteristics of the fleet in use. Based on a nation-wide, all-season dataset, this paper aimed to develop time and fuel [...] Read more.

Skidding is one of the most important methods for wood extraction globally, necessitating updated models to assess its performance based on the technical characteristics of the fleet in use. Based on a nation-wide, all-season dataset, this paper aimed to develop time and fuel consumption models for currently used cable skidders and farm tractors fitted for skidding in Romania. Although some statistical assumptions were not met, our models characterized the performance well in terms of time and fuel consumption, allowing for a differentiation in performance between skidders and farm tractors. For skidders, cycle time was explained to a degree of 58% (R² = 0.58) by payload volume, number of pieces, and extraction distance, highlighting the importance of these variables when assessing cycle time performance of machines equipped with a double-drum winch. In contrast, for farm tractors, cycle time was explained solely by extraction distance (R² = 0.87), which indicates a lower variability induced by payload size and number of pieces for machines equipped with a single-drum winch. Similar models were developed for fuel consumption, showing the significance of payload volume and extraction distance for skidders (R² = 0.54) and extraction distance alone (R² = 0.75) for farm tractors. Beyond an extraction distance of 50 m, the productivity of farm tractors decreased sharply, reaching half of that of skidders at an extraction distance of 1500 m, indicating a better time and fuel consumption performance of skidders, particularly in the case of excessively long extraction distances. Further studies should focus on finding effective methods and developing automated systems able to track the performance of operations and keep the pace with improvements in machine performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Operations and Engineering)

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24 pages, 1251 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Application of a Sustainability Indicator (WPSI) for Wood Preservative Treatments in Chile

by Consuelo Fritz, Micaela Ruiz and Rosemarie Garay

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081351 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 496

Abstract

This study presents the Wood Protection Sustainability Index (WPSI), a novel decision-support tool aimed at evaluating wood preservatives utilized in Chile and facilitating a shift toward more sustainable wood protection practices. WPSI encompasses four essential attributes: protection treatment, wood durability, in-service risk, and [...] Read more.

This study presents the Wood Protection Sustainability Index (WPSI), a novel decision-support tool aimed at evaluating wood preservatives utilized in Chile and facilitating a shift toward more sustainable wood protection practices. WPSI encompasses four essential attributes: protection treatment, wood durability, in-service risk, and sustainability. These are assessed under two distinct scenarios. Scenario 1 represents current market practices, where chromated copper arsenate (CCA) remains prevalent due to its accessibility and affordable cost. In contrast, Scenario 2 prioritizes sustainability, demonstrating that copper azole (CA) and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) surpass CCA in performance, with CCA ranking lowest due to its environmental implications. Furthermore, a SWOT analysis accompanies the index, identifying key challenges and opportunities within Chile’s wood preservation industry. The findings highlight the importance of aligning national strategies with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through performance-based regulations and safer alternatives. The WPSI can be integrated with local standards, regional risk classifications, and national preservative approval systems, allowing for meaningful comparison across diverse global contexts. This approach promotes more sustainable construction practices while ensuring both technical and economic viability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Processing of Wood and Lignocellulosic Materials: From Molecular Engineering to Industrial Implementation)

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19 pages, 1563 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Biochar Application on Nitrogen Fixation and Water Use Efficiency of Understorey Acacia Species as well as Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools in a Subtropical Native Forest

by Ashrafun Nessa, Shahla Hosseini Bai, Zakaria Karim, Jiaping Yang and Zhihong Xu

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081350 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 472

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how biochar and Acacia species would affect biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and water use efficiency (WUE) of understorey Acacia species as well as soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools 15 months after biochar application in the suburban [...] Read more.

This study aimed to examine how biochar and Acacia species would affect biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and water use efficiency (WUE) of understorey Acacia species as well as soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools 15 months after biochar application in the suburban native forest of subtropical Australia. This experiment was established with wood biochar applied at 0, 5, and 10 t ha⁻¹ at 20 months after prescribed burning. We collected foliar and soil samples 15 months after biochar application and used N isotope composition (δ¹⁵N) and carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C) to assess the BNF and WUE of two understorey Acacia species (Acacia leiocalyx and Acacia disparrima). We also characterised soil C and N pools and their δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C. Biochar did not influence Acacia plant BNF and WUE 15 months after biochar application. However, the BNF of A. leiocalyx was significantly greater compared with that of A. disparrima. The soil under A. leiocalyx had greater NH₄⁺-N (i.e., 10–20 cm) but lower δ¹⁵N than A. disparrima. This study represents one of the few attempts to apply the ¹⁵N natural abundance (δ¹⁵N) techniques to quantify the soil–plant–microbe interactions for N cycling in a native forest ecosystem. Understorey A. leiocalyx was more effective in improving N recovery post-fire via BNF. Soil under A. leiocalyx had greater N availability with lower δ¹⁵N, influencing plant available N sources and δ¹⁵N. Thus, A. leiocalyx would be able to fix more N₂ from the air compared with that of A. disparrima in the suburban native forest ecosystem subject to periodical fuel reduction prescribed burning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)

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15 pages, 1674 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Litter and Topsoil Under Different Vegetation Cover by Using a Chemometric Approach

by Fulvia Tambone, Anna Masseroli, Paolo Beccarelli, Luca Breno, Marco Zuccolo, Gigliola Borgonovo, Stefania Mazzini, Alex Golinelli and Barbara Scaglia

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081349 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 430

Abstract

Leaf litter conservation practices in forests can contribute to increasing CO₂ storage in natural soils as organic matter; however, this process depends on the type of vegetation cover. This study, using different approaches, aimed to assess this process starting from the characteristics [...] Read more.

Leaf litter conservation practices in forests can contribute to increasing CO₂ storage in natural soils as organic matter; however, this process depends on the type of vegetation cover. This study, using different approaches, aimed to assess this process starting from the characteristics of three different types of litters and topsoil (0–5 cm depth) originating from chestnut, beech, and pine in various forest locations within the territory of Edolo (Camonica Valley, Central Italian Alps). Both labile (DOM) and recalcitrant (ROM) organic matter fractions were considered. Microbial degradation activity was strongly influenced by DOM (DOM vs. Respiration mg CO₂ g⁻¹ dry matter: r = 0.96), and NMR spectroscopy showed that aromatic C and polymethylene C in long-chain aliphatic structures (e.g., lipids, cutin) became more evident from litters to topsoils due to a concentration effect. Finally, chemometric elaboration of quantitative and qualitative data identified two principal component (PC) profiles, explaining 88% of the total variance, in which litter and the topsoil samples were spatially separated, indicating that significant changes occurred during the decomposition process. An Evolution Index (EI) calculated highlighted greater changes for chestnut (0.90) followed by pine (0.60) and beech (0.48), in agreement with chemical (degradation rates of 14.21%, 49.11%, and 48% for beech, chestnut, and pine litter, respectively) and spectroscopic data. Beech litter appears to be more efficient at conserving organic carbon. These findings underscore the importance of understanding litter characteristics for forest management, suggesting which species are most effective in promoting soil carbon storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)

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18 pages, 13905 KB

Open AccessArticle

UAV-Based Multispectral Assessment of Wind-Induced Damage in Norway Spruce Crowns

by Endijs Bāders, Andris Seipulis, Dārta Kaupe, Jordane Jean-Claude Champion, Oskars Krišāns and Didzis Elferts

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1348; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081348 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 484

Abstract

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of forest disturbances globally, including windthrow, which poses substantial risks for both forest productivity and ecosystem stability. Rapid and precise assessment of wind-induced tree damage is essential for effective management, yet many injuries remain visually [...] Read more.

Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of forest disturbances globally, including windthrow, which poses substantial risks for both forest productivity and ecosystem stability. Rapid and precise assessment of wind-induced tree damage is essential for effective management, yet many injuries remain visually undetectable in the early stages. This study employed drone-based multispectral imaging and a simulated wind stress experiment (static pulling) on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to investigate the detectability of physiological and structural changes over four years. Multispectral data were collected at multiple time points (2023–2024), and a suite of vegetation indices (the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Structure Insensitive Pigment Index (SIPI), the Difference Vegetation Index (DVI), and Red Edge-based indices) were calculated and analysed using mixed-effects models. Our results demonstrate that trees subjected to mechanical bending (“Bent”) exhibit substantial reductions in the near-infrared (NIR)-based indices, while healthy trees maintain higher and more stable index values. Structure- and pigment-sensitive indices (e.g., the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI 2), the Transformed Chlorophyll Absorption in Reflectance Index/Optimised Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (TCARI/OSAVI), and RDVI) showed the highest diagnostic value for differentiating between damaged and healthy trees. We found the clear identification of group- and season-specific patterns, revealing that the most pronounced physiological decline in Bent trees emerged only several seasons after the disturbance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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13 pages, 4157 KB

Open AccessArticle

Automatic Registration of Terrestrial and UAV LiDAR Forest Point Clouds Through Canopy Shape Analysis

by Sisi Yu, Zhanzhong Tang, Beibei Zhang, Jie Dai and Shangshu Cai

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1347; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081347 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 547

Abstract

Accurate registration of multi-platform light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds is essential for detailed forest structure analysis and ecological monitoring. In this study, we developed a novel two-stage method for aligning terrestrial and unmanned aerial vehicle LiDAR point clouds in forest environments. [...] Read more.

Accurate registration of multi-platform light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds is essential for detailed forest structure analysis and ecological monitoring. In this study, we developed a novel two-stage method for aligning terrestrial and unmanned aerial vehicle LiDAR point clouds in forest environments. The method first performs coarse alignment using canopy-level digital surface models and Fast Point Feature Histograms, followed by fine registration with Iterative Closest Point. Experiments conducted in six forest plots achieved an average registration accuracy of 0.24 m within 5.14 s, comparable to manual registration but with substantially reduced processing time and human intervention. In contrast to existing tree-based methods, the proposed approach eliminates the need for individual tree segmentation and ground filtering, streamlining preprocessing and improving scalability for large-scale forest monitoring. The proposed method facilitates a range of forest applications, including structure modeling, ecological parameter retrieval, and long-term change detection across diverse forest types and platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Source Data Application for Forestry Conservation)

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14 pages, 2110 KB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Drivers of Regeneration in Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea: Thresholds for Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment in Hainan’s Intertidal Zones

by Haijie Yang, Bingjie Zheng, Jiayi Li, Xu Chen, Xiaobo Lv, Cairong Zhong and He Bai

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081346 - 19 Aug 2025

Viewed by 518

Abstract

The endangered mangrove Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea is found in China only in Hainan’s intertidal zones. Its populations are declining severely due to anthropogenic disturbances and regeneration failure. To clarify its environmental adaptation mechanisms, we investigated the effects of temperature, light intensity, photoperiod, salinity, soil, [...] Read more.

The endangered mangrove Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea is found in China only in Hainan’s intertidal zones. Its populations are declining severely due to anthropogenic disturbances and regeneration failure. To clarify its environmental adaptation mechanisms, we investigated the effects of temperature, light intensity, photoperiod, salinity, soil, and flooding cycle on seed germination, seedling growth, and physiological traits, revealing that (1) the optimal germination conditions for seeds were 30–35 °C, 24 h continuous illumination at 25,000 lux, and 0‰ salinity, with soil type showing no significant effect (p > 0.05); (2) seedlings at 1–2 months post-germination achieve maximal growth at 30 °C in non-saline conditions, with salinity suppressing growth and light intensity affecting only crown expansion; and (3) flooding responses are age-dependent: seedlings at 1–2 months post-germination show optimal growth at 8 h per day (100% survival), while 12 h (h) per day reduces survival by 13.3%. One-year-old seedlings exhibit distinct strategies: 4 h per day flooding induces escape responses (peak growth, chlorophyll, sugars), 8 h per day shows photosynthetic compensation despite metabolic trade-offs, and 12 h per day triggers tolerance mechanisms (biomass maximization via structural reinforcement). These findings demonstrate S. hydrophyllacea’s multifactorial adaptation to intertidal conditions, providing critical physiological benchmarks for conservation strategies targeting this threatened ecosystem engineer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mangrove Ecosystems in the Face of Climate Change: Resilience, Adaptation, and Conservation Strategies)

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18 pages, 6096 KB

Open AccessArticle

SFGI-YOLO: A Multi-Scale Detection Method for Early Forest Fire Smoke Using an Extended Receptive Field

by Yueming Jiang, Xianglei Meng and Jian Wang

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081345 - 18 Aug 2025

Viewed by 456

Abstract

Forest fires pose a significant threat to human life and property. The early detection of smoke and flames can significantly reduce the damage caused by forest fires to human society. This article presents an SFGI-YOLO model based on YOLO11n, which demonstrates outstanding advantages [...] Read more.

Forest fires pose a significant threat to human life and property. The early detection of smoke and flames can significantly reduce the damage caused by forest fires to human society. This article presents an SFGI-YOLO model based on YOLO11n, which demonstrates outstanding advantages in detecting forest fires and smoke, particularly in the context of early fire monitoring. The main principles of the algorithm include the following: first, a small-object detection head P2 is added to better extract shallow feature information; a Feature Enhancement Module (FEM) is utilized to increase feature richness, expand the receptive field, and enhance detection capabilities for small objects across multiple scales; the lightweight GhostConv is employed to significantly reduce computational costs and decrease the number of parameters; and Inception DWConv is combined with a C3k2 module to utilize multiple parallel branches, thereby enlarging the receptive field. The improved algorithm achieved a mean Average Precision (mAP50) of 95.4% on a custom forest fire dataset, surpassing the YOLO11n model by 1.8%. This model offers more accurate detection of forest fires, reducing both missed detections and false positives and thereby meeting the high precision and real-time detection requirements in forest fire monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)

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25 pages, 7852 KB

Open AccessArticle

Herbaceous Layer Response to Overstory Vegetation Changes in Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. Forests in Korea

by Byeong-Joo Park and Kwangil Cheon

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081344 - 18 Aug 2025

Viewed by 436

Abstract

The development of overstory vegetation can considerably influence the composition and dynamics of herbaceous layer vegetation. However, the type of ecological processes underlying these changes remain poorly understood. We aimed to analyze changes in herbaceous layer species composition in Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex [...] Read more.

The development of overstory vegetation can considerably influence the composition and dynamics of herbaceous layer vegetation. However, the type of ecological processes underlying these changes remain poorly understood. We aimed to analyze changes in herbaceous layer species composition in Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. forests in central South Korea and identify the ecological processes driving succession, using zeta diversity and species turnover. We also sought to address regional bias in existing long-term monitoring data. Permanent 1 ha survey plots were established according to International Long Term Ecological Research Network guidelines, divided into 100 subplots. Data on species composition, crown openness, transmitted light, and structural variables were collected through four surveys (2014, 2015, 2017, and 2020) between 2014 and 2020. Zeta diversity and turnover metrics were used to evaluate succession dynamics. Species richness, cover, and turnover in the herbaceous layer were significantly correlated with overstory structure and rock cover. Crown openness and transmitted light declined but did not correlate with species turnover. Zeta diversity shifted from a power function model (2014–2017) to an exponential model (2020), indicating a shift from deterministic to stochastic processes. Successional changes in herbaceous vegetation may indicate a potential shift in forest structure in Q. mongolica stands—from stable, deterministic patterns to more variable, stochastic processes—highlighting the need for long-term monitoring in dynamic forest ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity Patterns and Ecosystem Functions in Forests)

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23 pages, 1307 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Digital Intelligence Integration Boosts Forestry Ecological Productivity: Evidence from China

by Bingrui Dong, Min Zhang, Shujuan Li, Luhua Xie, Bangsheng Xie and Liupeng Chen

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081343 - 18 Aug 2025

Viewed by 494

Abstract

In the context of the “Dual Carbon” goals and ecological civilization development, enhancing forestry ecological total factor productivity (FETFP) has become vital for advancing green development and environmental governance. Confronted with tightening resource constraints and pressure to transform traditional growth models, [...] Read more.

In the context of the “Dual Carbon” goals and ecological civilization development, enhancing forestry ecological total factor productivity (FETFP) has become vital for advancing green development and environmental governance. Confronted with tightening resource constraints and pressure to transform traditional growth models, whether digital intelligence integration can effectively empower improvements in FETFP requires in-depth empirical validation. Based on publicly available panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2012 to 2022, this study constructs an index system for measuring digital intelligence integration and FETFP. Using the Double Machine Learning (DML) framework, the study empirically identifies the impact of digital intelligence development on FETFP and explores its internal mechanisms. The key results show that (1) digital intelligence integration significantly enhances FETFP. For every unit increase in digital and intelligent integration, FETFP rises by an average of 19.97%; (2) mechanism analysis reveals that digital intelligence improves FETFP by optimizing the forestry industrial structure, promoting green technological innovation, and amplifying the synergistic effects of fiscal support; (3) and heterogeneity analysis suggests that the positive impact of digital intelligence integration is more pronounced in regions with higher environmental expenditures and stronger green finance support. Accordingly, this study proposes several policy recommendations, including accelerating digital infrastructure development, strengthening foundational digital intelligence capabilities, enhancing support for green innovation, leveraging the ecological multiplier effects of digital transformation, tailoring digital strategies to local conditions, and improving the precision of regional environmental governance. The findings provide robust empirical evidence for improving FETFP in developing and developed economies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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19 pages, 14441 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Forest Extraction and Ecological Network Construction of Remote Sensing Images Combined with Dynamic Large Kernel Convolution

by Feiyue Wang, Fan Yang, Xinyue Chang and Yang Ye

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081342 - 18 Aug 2025

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Abstract

As an important input parameter of the ecological network, the accuracy and detail with which forest cover is extracted directly constrain the accuracy of forest ecological network construction. The development of medium- and high-resolution remote sensing technology has provided an opportunity to obtain [...] Read more.

As an important input parameter of the ecological network, the accuracy and detail with which forest cover is extracted directly constrain the accuracy of forest ecological network construction. The development of medium- and high-resolution remote sensing technology has provided an opportunity to obtain accurate and high-resolution forest coverage data. As forests have diverse contours and complex scenes on remote sensing images, a model of them will be disturbed by the natural distribution characteristics of complex forests, which in turn will affect the extraction accuracy. In this study, we first constructed a rather large, complex, diverse, and scene-rich forest extraction dataset based on Sentinel-2 multispectral images, comprising 20,962 labeled images with a spatial resolution of 10 m, in a manually and accurately labeled manner. At the same time, this paper proposes the Dynamic Large Kernel Segformer and conducts forest extraction experiments in Liaoning Province, China. We then used forest coverage as an input parameter and classified the forest landscape patterns in the study area using a landscape spatial pattern characterization method, based on which a forest ecological network was constructed. The results show that the Dynamic Large Kernel Segformer obtains 80.58% IoU, 89.29% precision, 88.63% recall, and a 88.96% F1 Score in extraction accuracy, which is 4.02% higher than that of the Segformer network, and achieves large-scale forest extraction in the study area. The forest area in Liaoning Province increased during the 5-year period from 2019 to 2023. With respect to the overall spatial pattern change, the Core area of Liaoning Province saw an increase in 2019–2023, and the overall quality of the forest landscape improved. Finally, we constructed the forest ecological network for Liaoning Province in 2023, which consists of ecological sources, ecological nodes, and ecological corridors based on circuit theory. This method can be used to extract large areas of forest based on remote sensing images, which is helpful for constructing forest ecological networks and achieving coordinated regional, ecological, and economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Long-Term Monitoring and Driving Forces of Forest Cover)

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27 pages, 1818 KB

Open AccessArticle

Facilitation or Inhibition? Aging Rural Labor Force and Forestry Economic Resilience: Based on the Perspective of Production Factors

by Yuping Huang, Weiming Lin, Tian Xiao, Jingying Ren and Shuhan Lin

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081341 - 18 Aug 2025

Viewed by 454

Abstract

Globally, the accelerating aging of the rural labor force is profoundly impacting the economic resilience of the labor-intensive forestry sector. However, the intrinsic connection between the two has not been fully understood and requires further exploration. As the most populous nation globally and [...] Read more.

Globally, the accelerating aging of the rural labor force is profoundly impacting the economic resilience of the labor-intensive forestry sector. However, the intrinsic connection between the two has not been fully understood and requires further exploration. As the most populous nation globally and a top producer, trader, and consumer of forest products, China stands out as a perfect case study for this issue. Based on this, this study utilizes panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2012 to 2022 and employs a dual machine learning model to empirically examine the impact and mechanisms of rural labor force aging on forestry economic resilience from the perspective of production factors. The findings indicate: (1) overall, the increase in rural labor force aging significantly inhibits forestry economic resilience; (2) rural labor force aging enhances forestry economic resilience by promoting large-scale forest land management, driving forestry technological innovation, and increasing government capital investment; it also inhibits forestry economic resilience by reducing educational human capital and health human capital; (3) the rural force aging exerts a marked adverse effect on the resilience of the forestry economy in the eastern and central regions, major grain-producing areas, and major grain-consuming areas. Based on this, this study proposes policy recommendations in three areas: building a flexible and diversified labor supply and replacement system, exploring a “scale and technology” integration path suited to national conditions, and implementing differentiated regional strategies. The aim is to provide a reference for government departments in formulating strategies to enhance the resilience of the forestry economy in the era of aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)

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16 pages, 5450 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological, Anatomical, and Genomic Insights into the Rare Tree Species Fraxinus sogdiana, Celtis caucasica, and Betula jarmolenkoana from the Northern Tien Shan

by Gulbanu Sadyrova, Aisha Taskuzhina, Kirill Yanin, Nazym Kerimbek, Akmaral Nurmakhanova, Kusaev Shaganbek, Nazym Bekenova, Kuralai Orazbekova and Dilyara Gritsenko

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081340 - 17 Aug 2025

Viewed by 562

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the population structures, anatomical adaptations, and chloroplast genome organizations of three rare tree species—Fraxinus sogdiana Bunge, Celtis caucasica Willd., and Betula jarmolenkoana Golosk.—from the Northern Tien Shan region of Kazakhstan. Field surveys revealed species-specific demographic [...] Read more.

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the population structures, anatomical adaptations, and chloroplast genome organizations of three rare tree species—Fraxinus sogdiana Bunge, Celtis caucasica Willd., and Betula jarmolenkoana Golosk.—from the Northern Tien Shan region of Kazakhstan. Field surveys revealed species-specific demographic patterns, with F. sogdiana and B. jarmolenkoana populations displaying a complete age spectrum and signs of ongoing regeneration, while C. caucasica exhibited a lack of juvenile stages, indicating regeneration failure. Anatomical analysis of leaf and stem tissues highlighted adaptive features aligned with habitat conditions: F. sogdiana showed mesophytic traits suited for riparian environments, C. caucasica displayed xeromorphic structures reflecting drought tolerance, and B. jarmolenkoana demonstrated structural reinforcement adapted to high-altitude stressors. Whole chloroplast genome sequencing revealed conserved quadripartite architecture across species, with minor variations in gene content and inverted repeat boundaries suggesting lineage-specific evolution. The findings underscore the ecological sensitivity and conservation priority of these species and provide foundational data for future ecological monitoring, restoration efforts, and phylogenomic research in Central Asian montane ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genetics and Molecular Biology)

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15 pages, 4130 KB

Open AccessArticle

Monitoring and Influencing Factors Analysis of Urban Vegetation Changes in the Plateau-Mountainous City

by Zhoujiang Liu, Wentan Wei, Yifan Dong and Wenxian Hu

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1339; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081339 - 17 Aug 2025

Viewed by 472

Abstract

It is of great importance to study the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation and its influencing factors at a regional scale in plateau mountainous cities for ecological restoration and management and maintenance of ecosystem stability. This study employed MODIS NDVI data to construct a [...] Read more.

It is of great importance to study the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation and its influencing factors at a regional scale in plateau mountainous cities for ecological restoration and management and maintenance of ecosystem stability. This study employed MODIS NDVI data to construct a kNDVI dataset for the growing season in Kunming, with the aim of exploring the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation more precisely. The study analyzed the trends and stability of kNDVI and investigated the primary drivers of kNDVI dynamics in Kunming. The results show that the regional proportion of higher-level kNDVI is more than half, and vegetation in the growing season has shown an improvement trend. The primary factors influencing kNDVI variations in Kunming include soil type, landform type, nighttime light intensity, and slope gradient. The pairwise interactions among factors have a more substantial impact on vegetation dynamics compared to individual factors, with the interaction between soil type and nighttime light intensity being particularly pronounced. The results offer scientific bases for assessing and managing ecological environment quality in plateau-mountainous cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Remote Sensing in Vegetation Dynamics and Ecology—2nd Edition)

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13 pages, 1516 KB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Nitrogen in Compound Fertilizer on Soil CO₂ Efflux Rates in Pinus densiflora S. et Z. Stands

by Gyeongwon Baek and Choonsig Kim

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1338; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081338 - 17 Aug 2025

Viewed by 471

Abstract

Compound fertilizer is generally applied to alleviate multi-nutrient deficiency problems in forest stands, but research on the effect of fertilizer application on soil CO₂ efflux (Rs) processes has focused on the role of single-nitrogen (N) application. This study evaluates the effects of [...] Read more.

Compound fertilizer is generally applied to alleviate multi-nutrient deficiency problems in forest stands, but research on the effect of fertilizer application on soil CO₂ efflux (Rs) processes has focused on the role of single-nitrogen (N) application. This study evaluates the effects of N addition in compound fertilizer on the rates in Pinus densiflora S. et Z. (Korean red pine) stands. Compound fertilizer with N (N₃P₄K₁ = 113:150:37 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and without N (P₄K₁ = 150:37 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) was applied on the forest floor for three years. Rs rates were measured for four years, from April 2011 to March 2015. The mean annual Rs rates during the study period were 3.10 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the N₃P₄K₁, 3.08 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the P₄K₁, and 3.08 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the control treatment. The rates in all treatments were significantly lower in 2013 (2.73 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) than in other sampling years (3.03–3.58 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) when the mean soil water content was the lowest (15.7%) during the four sampling years (other sampling years: 23.0–24.1%). The exponential relationships between Rs and the soil temperature were slightly more significant in the fertilized (N₃P₄K₁: R² = 0.72–0.80; P₄K₁: R² = 0.70–0.81) treatments compared to the control (R² = 0.62–0.74) treatment. The mean Q₁₀ values for the four years were similar between the N₃P₄K₁ treatment (4.19), the control (4.23) treatment, and the P₄K₁ (4.24) treatment. The results demonstrate that mean annual Rs rates in Korean red pine stands were not affected by the increased N availability in compound fertilizer, whereas decreases in mean annual Rs rates may be strongly attributed to the soil water content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Belowground Carbon Flux in Forests: Carbon Emission, Storage and Beyond)

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20 pages, 3131 KB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Variability in the Maximum Water Holding Capacity and Physicochemical Properties of Forest Floor Litter in Anatolian Black Pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold) Stands in Türkiye

by Semih Ediş

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081337 - 16 Aug 2025

Viewed by 473

Abstract

Forest litter plays a critical role in regulating the water balance of forest ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions where hydrological stability is under pressure due to climate change. This study investigates the maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) of litter layers across three ecologically [...] Read more.

Forest litter plays a critical role in regulating the water balance of forest ecosystems, particularly in semi-arid regions where hydrological stability is under pressure due to climate change. This study investigates the maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) of litter layers across three ecologically distinct regions in Türkiye—Kastamonu, Kütahya, and Muğla—to evaluate how structural and physicochemical characteristics influence the maximum water holding capacity (MWHC) of litter layers. Litter samples classified into humus, fermenting debris, and needles were analyzed for MWHC, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDSs). The results revealed that both the type of litter and regional ecological conditions significantly affect MWHC, with humus layers and moist environments exhibiting the highest water holding capacity. Additionally, MWHC showed moderate positive correlations with EC and TDS, highlighting the importance of chemical composition in water dynamics. The findings underscore that forest litter should be regarded as a dynamic and functional hydrological component, not merely residual biomass. This perspective is vital for sustainable watershed planning and adaptive forest management. The study supports the development of integrated management strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship Between Forest Vegetation and Water and Its Regulation in Changing Environments)

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14 pages, 2495 KB

Open AccessArticle

“Thermophilous” Trees in the Lateglacial Vegetation of the Eastern Baltic: New Questions for an Old Issue

by Olga Druzhinina, Anna Rudinskaya, Lyudmila Lazukova, Ivan Skhodnov, Aleksey Burko and Kasper van den Berghe

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081336 - 16 Aug 2025

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Abstract

The results of a recent palynological study of the Kulikovo section (southeastern Baltic) allow us to elaborate on issues of the presence of pollen from the “thermophilous” trees (Picea, Alnus, Corylus, Ulmus, Quercus, Tilia, Fraxinus) [...] Read more.

The results of a recent palynological study of the Kulikovo section (southeastern Baltic) allow us to elaborate on issues of the presence of pollen from the “thermophilous” trees (Picea, Alnus, Corylus, Ulmus, Quercus, Tilia, Fraxinus) in Lateglacial sediments. The research shows their continuous presence throughout the interval of 13.9–12.5 ka with a total contribution from 7% to 17%. Comparing the results with regional palynological data revealed certain similarities and patterns, which are not sufficiently explained by contamination by ancient redeposited material. These taxa belonging to the hemiboreal plant group were most probably part of the Lateglacial vegetation along with subpolar and boreal plants. This correlates well with regional paleoclimate reconstructions, assuming that, during the major part of the Lateglacial, July temperatures were comparable to modern average temperatures, which range from +16.5 to +18 °C. Inclusion of hemiboreal tree vegetation in paleoreconstructions will offer an updated picture of the dynamics of the natural environment and increase the accuracy of paleoclimatic reconstructions based on palynological data, allowing us to obtain more accurate temperature values of the climate of the past. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen-Based Tree Population Dynamics and Climate Reconstruction)

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21 pages, 3049 KB

Open AccessArticle

SRoFF-Yolover: A Small-Target Detection Model for Suspicious Regions of Forest Fire

by Lairong Chen, Ling Li, Pengle Cheng and Ying Huang

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081335 - 16 Aug 2025

Viewed by 434

Abstract

The rapid detection and confirmation of Suspicious Regions of Forest Fire (SRoFF) are critical for timely alerts and firefighting operations. In the early stages of forest fires, small flames and heavy occlusion lead to low accuracy, false detections, omissions, and slow inference in [...] Read more.

The rapid detection and confirmation of Suspicious Regions of Forest Fire (SRoFF) are critical for timely alerts and firefighting operations. In the early stages of forest fires, small flames and heavy occlusion lead to low accuracy, false detections, omissions, and slow inference in existing target-detection algorithms. We constructed the Suspicious Regions of Forest Fire Dataset (SRFFD), comprising publicly available datasets, relevant images collected from online searches, and images generated through various image enhancement techniques. The SRFFD contains a total of 64,584 images. In terms of effectiveness, the individual augmentation techniques rank as follows (in descending order): HSV (Hue Saturation and Value) random enhancement, copy-paste augmentation, and affine transformation. A detection model named SRoFF-Yolover is proposed for identifying suspicious regions of forest fire, based on the YOLOv8. An embedding layer that effectively integrates seasonal and temporal information into the image enhances the prediction accuracy of the SRoFF-Yolover. The SRoFF-Yolover enhances YOLOv8 by (1) adopting dilated convolutions in the Backbone to enlarge feature map receptive fields; (2) incorporating the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) prior to the Neck’s C2fLayer for small-target attention; and (3) reconfiguring the Backbone-Neck linkage via P2, P4, and SPPF. Compared with the baseline model (YOLOv8s), the SRoFF-Yolover achieves an 18.1% improvement in mAP@0.5, a 4.6% increase in Frames Per Second (FPS), a 2.6% reduction in Giga Floating-Point Operations (GFLOPs), and a 3.2% decrease in the total number of model parameters (#Params). The SRoFF-Yolover can effectively detect suspicious regions of forest fire, particularly during winter nights. Experiments demonstrated that the detection accuracy of the SRoFF-Yolover for suspicious regions of forest fire is higher at night than during daytime in the same season. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural Hazards and Risk Management)

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15 pages, 4124 KB

Open AccessArticle

Compensatory Regulation and Temporal Dynamics of Photosynthetic Limitations in Ginkgo Biloba Under Combined Drought–Salt Stress

by Yuxuan Meng, Yang Wu, Shengjie Liang, Lehao Li, Ying Zhu, Peng Ding, Chenhang Liu, Sunjie Tang and Jimei Han

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081334 - 16 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Photosynthesis in higher plants is highly sensitive to drought and salinity. While studies have examined the individual effects of drought or salt stress on photosynthesis, their combined impact remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the diurnal dynamics and primary limiting factors [...] Read more.

Photosynthesis in higher plants is highly sensitive to drought and salinity. While studies have examined the individual effects of drought or salt stress on photosynthesis, their combined impact remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the diurnal dynamics and primary limiting factors (stomatal, mesophyll, and biochemical) affecting the net photosynthetic rate (A_n) in Ginkgo (G.) biloba under drought, salt, and combined drought–salt stress. The results revealed that G. biloba exhibited a bimodal pattern of A_n under control conditions, primarily driven by mesophyll conductance (g_m). Under drought, this pattern shifted, with stomatal limitations dominant in the late afternoon. In contrast, salt and combined stress induced a unimodal A_n pattern due to a flattened g_m curve and reduced correlation between g_m and A_n. Interestingly, combined stress caused significantly lower mesophyll limitations than salt stress alone, compensating for increased stomatal limitations and leading to a higher A_n. Our findings reveal a dynamic shift in the limiting factors over time and stress types, suggesting that G. biloba has mechanisms to mitigate combined drought–salt stress. These insights deepen our understanding of plant resilience under complex environmental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth and Photosynthetic Responses of Seedlings Under Climate Change in Forests)

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16 pages, 2714 KB

Open AccessArticle

Early Succession Across Boreal Forest Transitions After Linear Disturbance and Wildfire

by Colleen M. Sutheimer and Scott E. Nielsen

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081333 - 16 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Anthropogenic disturbances interact with wildfire, altering successional dynamics across North America’s boreal forest. Linear disturbances, including seismic lines used for oil and gas exploration, dissect forests, while wildfire is a fundamental agent of forest succession. However, little is known about early succession dynamics [...] Read more.

Anthropogenic disturbances interact with wildfire, altering successional dynamics across North America’s boreal forest. Linear disturbances, including seismic lines used for oil and gas exploration, dissect forests, while wildfire is a fundamental agent of forest succession. However, little is known about early succession dynamics after both seismic line creation and wildfire, especially across transitions from uplands to peatlands. To address this, we characterized and compared regeneration and recruitment after individual and successive disturbances in peatland, transitional, and mesic upland forests across the oil sands region of Alberta, Canada. We used non-metric multidimensional scaling to compare composition and mixed-effects generalized linear models to compare densities of trees and tall shrubs 10 to 24 years after disturbance. Compositionally, regeneration was similar within forest types and between transitional and peatland forests, while patterns in recruitment were more influenced by past disturbances. Overall, we found evidence of dominant, additive, and interactive effects on early successional patterns within linear disturbances in boreal forests. In transitional and peatland forests, disturbances influenced tree and tall shrub regeneration and recruitment in complex ways. Early successional dynamics after disturbance influence forest structure and composition and are vital to understanding recovery in boreal forests, especially across boreal forest transitions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impact of Disturbance on Forest Regeneration and Recruitment)

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17 pages, 2958 KB

Open AccessArticle

Distinguishing the Mechanisms Driving Community Structure Across Different Growth Stages in Quercus Forests

by Zhenghua Lian, Yingshan Jin, Xuefan Hu, Yanhong Liu, Fang Li, Fang Liang, Yuerong Wang, Zuzheng Li, Jiahui Wang and Hongfei Chen

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081332 - 16 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms governing forest community assembly across different growth stages is essential for revealing succession dynamics and guiding forest restoration. While much attention has been given to overstory trees, the understory regeneration layer, critical for forest succession, remains less explored, particularly regarding [...] Read more.

Understanding the mechanisms governing forest community assembly across different growth stages is essential for revealing succession dynamics and guiding forest restoration. While much attention has been given to overstory trees, the understory regeneration layer, critical for forest succession, remains less explored, particularly regarding its stage-specific survival strategies and assembly processes. This study investigates the natural regeneration of Quercus variabilis forests in northern China, focusing on the transition from early to later growth stages. Our objectives were to (1) identify the phylogenetic and functional structures of regeneration communities at early and later stages, (2) explore their responses to environmental gradients, and (3) assess the roles of deterministic and stochastic processes in shaping community assembly. We integrated phylogenetic structure, functional traits, and environmental gradients to examine natural regeneration communities. The results revealed clear stage-dependent patterns: communities exhibited random phylogenetic and functional structures in the early growth stage, suggesting a dominant role of stochastic processes during early recruitment. In contrast, communities showed phylogenetic clustering and functional overdispersion in later growth stages, indicating the increasing influence of environmental filtering and interspecific competition as individuals developed. Generalized Dissimilarity Modeling (GDM) further revealed that dispersal limitation and pH were key predictors of phylogenetic β-diversity in the later growth stage, while total phosphorus drove functional β-diversity in the later growth stage. No significant predictors were found for β-diversity in the early stage. These findings highlight the shift from stochastic to deterministic processes during forest regeneration, emphasizing the stage-dependent nature of assembly mechanisms. Our study elucidates the stage-specific assembly rules of Q. variabilis forests and offers theoretical guidance for stage-targeted interventions in forest management to promote positive succession. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Suitable Ecological Management of Forest Dynamics)

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19 pages, 3286 KB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Alters Ecological Niches and Distribution of Two Major Forest Species in Korea, Accelerating the Pace of Forest Succession

by Sang Kyoung Lee, Dong-Ho Lee, Yeo Bin Park, Do Hun Ryu, Jun Mo Kim, Eui-Joo Kim, Jae Hoon Park, Ji Won Park, Kyeong Mi Cho, Ji Hyun Seo, Sang Pil Lee, Seung Jun Lee, Ji Su Ko, Hye Jeong Jang and Young Han You

Forests 2025, 16(8), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081331 - 15 Aug 2025

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Abstract

Temperate forest ecosystems in Korea are currently undergoing a successional transition from Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. (evergreen conifer) communities to Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. (deciduous broadleaf) communities. This study aimed to assess interspecific differences in ecological responses to climate change [Representative [...] Read more.

Temperate forest ecosystems in Korea are currently undergoing a successional transition from Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. (evergreen conifer) communities to Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. (deciduous broadleaf) communities. This study aimed to assess interspecific differences in ecological responses to climate change [Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5] by evaluating changes in ecological niche characteristics and species distribution. Controlled-environment experiments, principal component analysis (PCA), and MaxEnt species distribution modeling were employed to quantify and predict ecological shifts in the two dominant species under climate change scenarios. Both species exhibited increases in niche breadth and interspecific overlap under climate change conditions. However, Q. mongolica showed a more pronounced increase in niche breadth compared to P. densiflora, indicating greater ecological flexibility and adaptive potential to warming conditions. According to the MaxEnt model projections, climate change is expected to result in an approximate 30% reduction in suitable habitat for P. densiflora in lowland areas. In contrast, Q. mongolica is projected to expand its suitable habitat by over 80%, notably in both low-elevation (below 800 m) and high-elevation (above 1400 m) zones, without being restricted to any specific altitudinal range. Our findings suggest that climate change may increase ecological similarity between P. densiflora and Q. mongolica, thereby raising the potential for interspecific competition. This convergence in niche traits could contribute to an accelerated successional transition, although actual competitive interactions in natural ecosystems require further empirical validation. Consequently, Korean forests are likely to transform into predominantly deciduous forest ecosystems under future climate conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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