Forests

This is international comparative research on the perception of local residents toward the natural environment in South Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Through the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) investigation, perceptions of natural environmental conservation and utilization of 664 urban forest visitors were analyzed, and the relationship between recreational behavior, NEP scores, and demographic characteristics was investigated. The three countries, with different histories, cultures, and economic development, showed statistically significant differences in all items. In terms of the NEP response score, Taiwan showed the most positive results with an average of 4.08. Frequent visits by the elderly and family were common significant factors of high NEP score for all survey locations. In the confirmatory factor analysis of latent variables for NEP, ‘limits to growth’ were significant in South Korea while ‘ecological crisis’ was more significant in Taiwan and Indonesia. Forest experience frequency was a common factor affecting NEP, indicating that frequent forest visits during leisure time are a major factor in improving the ecological paradigm. Full article

Whether decomposition can be affected by the biodiversity of soil organisms is an important question. Biodiversity is commonly expressed through indices that are based on species richness and abundances. Soil processes tend to saturate at low levels of species richness. A component of biodiversity is functional diversity, and we have shown that the absence of the influence of species richness on decomposition switched into a positive relationship between fauna diversity and decomposition when we expressed biodiversity in terms of interspecific functional dissimilarity. Communities with functionally dissimilar species are characterized by complementary resource use and facilitative interactions among species. It is suggested that the effects of environmental changes on ecosystem functions such as decomposition can be better understood if we have more knowledge about the selective effect of these changes on specific facets of soil biodiversity, such as functional diversity. Full article

The chemical composition of wood is important to assess the quality of this raw material for the industry of cellulosic pulp production. The purpose of this work was to determine the chemical composition of Eucalyptus spp. grown for cellulosic pulp production. Ten Eucalyptus spp. clones with six years of age, located in the municipality of Itamarandiba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were used. Quantification was obtained for extractives, monosaccharides, uronic acids, acetates, lignin, ash and the phenolic composition of the extracts. In average, clones showed around 2.7% extractives, with a predominance of polar compounds soluble in ethanol and water; 27.7% lignin and 0.3% ash. Glucose was the main sugar detected (64.2%), followed by xylose (19.3%). The main components of the extractives were steroids, fatty acids and aromatic acids, followed by smaller amounts of substituted alkanoic acids, fatty alcohols, glycerol derivatives and triterpenes. The ethanol–water extracts presented total phenol contents ranging from 321.4 to 586.6 mg EAG/g of extract, tannins from 28.1 to 65.1 mg catechin/g of extract and flavonoids from 73.6 to 256.9 mg catechin/g of extract. Clones with a higher holocellulose amount and a lower lignin content showed a higher potential for cellulosic pulp production. These findings are important for the development of high-quality wood based on important traits for the pulp and paper sector. Full article

Line-conditioned excess (lc-excess), the deviation of the relationship between δD and δ¹⁸O in soil water from that of precipitation, is often used to indicate soil evaporation loss, but the conditions of using lc-excess under the influences of precipitation infiltration or percolation had not been identified. The interaction effects of climate, soil and vegetation on soil evaporation in forests are not well known. We collected soil water at 0–5, 15–20 and 40–45 cm depths and event-based precipitation from 2011 to 2015 in a subtropical forest plantation and calculated the lc-excess. Precipitation on the sampling day and percolation of upper soil water with low lc-excess affected the capacity of the lc-excess to indicate the soil evaporation fractionation signals. Lc-excess of soil water at 0–5 cm depth indicated a reliable soil evaporation loss estimate over 30 days prior to the sampling day. Soil evaporation loss was dominated by the cumulative soil temperature (T_ss) during drought periods and was dominated by the relative soil water content (RSWC) during non-drought periods. High T_ss decreased soil evaporation loss by increasing transpiration and relative humidity. Our results emphasize the importance of sampling the upper-most soil layer when there is no rain and vegetation during drought periods in forests when studying soil evaporation loss dynamics. Full article

Regardless of their growth locations and species diversity, plants have endophytic bacterial communities. Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is valuable for human health because of its antioxidant properties, and the plant has adapted to stressful growing conditions in forests. Here, we aimed to describe the composition of the community of endophytic microorganisms in bilberry leaves and to determine whether the diversity of endophytic bacteria varies depending on the geographical location of the plants. In this study, we evaluated the significance of endophytes in the host plant and the potential use of such bacteria. Twenty-five culturable bacterial isolates were identified in V. myrtillus leaves based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. For the first time, we report upon the diversity of endophytic communities coexisting in bilberry leaves in different geographical locations of the Nordic-Baltic region. Under harsh conditions, the bilberry plants had a greater diversity of bacteria. The bacterial families Bacillaceae, Paenibacillaceae and Micrococcaceae were the most common endophytes in leaves of bilberry. Strains of Staphylococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Pseudomonaceae, Corynebacteriaceae and Planococcaceae were identified in samples from Finland and Norway. Plant growth-promoting genes (acdS and AcPho) and/or enzymatic activity were identified in many isolates. Full article

Natural habitats increasingly face the introduction and spread of non-native species. Under the right conditions, non-native species can become invasive over time. This issue is now being addressed by many experts and researchers who are using and developing various approaches and methods to limit and eliminate or suppress problematic plant species. Many invasive plants are already spreading uncontrollably in urban and forestry areas, causing health hazards, environmental and economic damage and negatively impacting natural ecosystems. The use of chemical agents is generally limited, so our only option to control and suppress the problematic species is mechanical removal. In this research suppression by tree stem wounding, i.e., incomplete girdling, was used. This type of injury causes the plant to lose its vitality, become weaker after first year and then die within a few years. Using a research approach, we chronologically monitored the response of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) stem tissue to mechanical wounding of the incomplete girdling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and light microscopy were used for monitoring moisture content and anatomical changes in different periods after injury. The results of the study showed that cherry laurel, with an intense wound tissue response and other changes, is a species with good compartmentalization potential. The rapid and intense tissue response to injury requires high energy and nutrient consumption and consequently leads to a loss of vigour and mechanical stability, which may result in plant destruction. Results revealed that mechanical wounding by incomplete girdling is a successful method for suppression of non-native and invasive cherry laurel. Full article

Forest stand structure can be described through stand structural parameters as well as using stand structural indices. However, to date, there is still much uncertainty regarding how stand structural indices and parameters are intercorrelated. The analysis of correlation can guide their selection in research applications and forest management, avoiding redundancies and loss of time during data collection. In this study, using a sample of forest stands belonging to three forest types of the southeastern Italian Alps, we explored the correlation among stand structural indices, and then we checked the relationships between stand structural indices and stand structural parameters. The results indicate that the stand structural indices vary among the sampled forest types. Moreover, the correlation among stand structural indices indicates that some of them are strongly intercorrelated and, thus, they can give redundant information. Strong correlations have been found between the Shannon index and the Mingling index, between the Gini index and the Diameter differentiation index, and between size dominance indices. Correlations between stand structural indices and stand structural parameters were weak, and, therefore, we cannot recommend the exclusive use of stand structural indices as alternative to the common stand structural parameters. Instead, the combined use of stand structural indices and parameters can be a robust solution for describing forest stand structure. Full article

This study investigates the effects of recurrent wildfires on the resilience of a typical Mediterranean ecosystem. It is based on uninterrupted monitoring over 42 years of the avifauna in a cork oak forest that burned three times during this time interval. The monitoring involved two line-transect counts in spring accompanied by the simultaneous and independent estimation of the vegetation cover profile. One of the two transects was initially designed to serve as an unburned control before it also burned during the second fire. Many forest bird species were already present from the first spring postfire due to the rapid regeneration of the canopy. Some open-habitat bird species colonized the burned area during the first 2–4 years after the fire, resulting in an initial phase of high diversity. The postfire bird succession was mainly driven by sedentary species that recolonized the burned area after the first winter, whereas most migratory species present before the fire resettled as early as the first postfire spring, probably because of site tenacity. It was found that the impact of the second fire on avifauna was lower than that of the first or third fire. The return to an avifauna and forest structure successionally equivalent to the prefire control was achieved in about 15 years, which can be considered as the recovery time. Afterwards, both vegetation and avifauna in the burned areas tended to take on more forest characteristics than in the prefire control. These findings suggest that: (i) the recurrence of fire does not necessarily result in the cumulative degradation of the ecosystem at each repetition; (ii) the asymptotic resilience model is not adapted to the case of disturbances in non-mature environments; (iii) the notion of returning to an original undisturbed baseline is illusive in an area that has been under continuous human influence since ancient times. Full article

Castanea henryi is a ubiquitous hardwood chestnut species in southern China and is important both ecologically and economically. It is mainly cultivated for nut production, just like other chestnut species. However, the establishment of C. henryi seedlings in a new orchard has proven to be difficult because few seedlings survive transplanting due to the incompatibility of their coarse root architecture with nutrient-depleted red acid soils in southern China. Root architecture can be profoundly modified and nutrient can be stress alleviated due to the association of roots with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi. Boletus edulis is an ECM fungus with edible and medicinal fruiting bodies. However, its impact on plant growth varies with the plant species it is associated with. In order to elucidate the role of B. edulis in C. henryi afforestation, we evaluated growth parameters and soil enzymatic activities, as well as seasonal variations in physiology and structure of ECM root tips. Growth responses and soil enzymatic activities were measured 6 months after inoculation. The physiological characteristics of root tips were also compared at various seasons throughout the year. B. edulis colonization of C. henryi roots was successful at a 60% colonization rate. Height, base diameter, and biomass (especially the underground part) of inoculated seedlings (JG) were higher than those of uninoculated seedlings (CK). JG had higher root total length, root surface area, root volume, root average diameter, and number of root tips than CK. Additionally, JG exhibited higher total nitrogen and phosphorus content. Abnormal mantle and Harting net were observed in winter. No matter the season, ECM tips had higher antioxidant enzyme activities, root activities, soluble protein content, and lower malondialdehyde compared to non-ECM tips (nE) and those without ECM tips (woE), and there were no differences between nE and woE. It is important to understand the growth of the host plant in response to ECM and that the seasonal variation of ECM root tips is important when growing high-quality C. henryi seedlings, due to the crucial role of B. edulis in improving seedling initial survival rate. Full article

Local adaptation and plasticity of growth play important roles in the adaptability of trees to changing conditions. Under accelerating climatic changes, the adaptive capacity of metapopulations can be exceeded, implying a necessity for assisted gene flow to sustain the productivity of forests. Such management is knowledge intensive, and information on the responsiveness of metapopulations (provenances) across the climatic gradient can aid more comprehensive projections of their performance. The plasticity of growth responses to weather conditions of five provenances of Scots pine with differing field performance across the climatic gradient of the south-eastern Baltic Sea region was assessed using dendrochronological methods and generalized additive models. Weather conditions related to water availability in summer, as well as during dormancy, were the main regional drivers of an increment in the provenances. The provenances differed by the plasticity of responses according to field performance, indicating adaptation in terms of growth sensitivity and uneven adaptability. The weather–growth responses of the top-performing provenances to summer weather were more plastic, providing advantages under a changing climate. Accordingly, regional sensitivity and plasticity of growth responses could be used for the screening of genotypes best suited for the projected climates. In addition, the estimated growth responses encourage supplementation of the local breeding populations with the top-performing provenances originating from sites with the projected climates. Full article

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment stresses that it is possible to manage ecosystems so as to strengthen their capacity to provide a range of goods and services. In reality, the delivery of ecosystem services reflects policy and delivery mechanisms, the environment, and the objectives of landowners and managers. Amid gradual changes to forest policy and more recent periods of austerity, the management of treescapes by locally led groups, such as Community Woodland Groups (CWGs), has become increasingly common. Through document analysis and interviews we explore the objectives and activities of British-based CWGs, and the implications these have for the delivery of ecosystem services. Additionally, we explore CWGs involvement with three types of networks and the ways in which each facilitate CWGs’ establishment, operations and ecosystem service provision. We conclude that, while CWGs are capable of delivering a range of ecosystem services, their focus is typically on: (i) cultural services for the benefit of the local community, and (ii) biodiversity. Since these foci parallel the goods and services emphasised in contemporary forest policy agendas, it is apparent that CWGs represent a promising model for woodland management. However, to realise their potential and confront management challenges, CWGs often rely on access to advice, labour, equipment and funding from across multiple networks. Full article

Tannins and essential oils are well recognised as antiherbivore compounds. We investigated the relative effectiveness of the polyphenol, tannin, and the essential oils, 1,8-cineole and pine oil, as feeding deterrents against western grey kangaroos. Both groups of secondary metabolites are naturally abundant in many Australian plants. These three metabolite groups were incorporated separately or together into standard pellets for presentation to kangaroos, and their behaviour (sequence of food choice and feeding time) and amounts consumed were observed. The control (with no secondary metabolites) was much preferred. There was a sharp reduction in the ingestion of pellets containing tannins, 1,8-cineole or pine oil. Combinations of the metabolites resulted in almost no consumption. In association with tannin, pellets containing either 1,8-cineole or pine oil were as effective deterrents as both combined. There was a strong correlation between time spent feeding on the different diets and the amount of food consumed, although the rate of intake was markedly slower when secondary metabolites were present. Behavioural observations showed that the amount of food ingested is initially guided by the presence/absence of essential oils, apparently detected by smell, and later by the presence/absence of tannins, by taste. Both groups of secondary metabolites work in concert by stimulating different senses that minimise herbivory by marsupials, such as the western grey kangaroo, and help to explain their abundance in the Australian flora. Full article

Forest fires are drivers of spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of vegetation and biodiversity. On the Canary Islands, large areas of pine forest exist, dominated by the endemic Canary Island pine, Pinus canariensis C. Sm. These mostly natural forests experience wildfires frequently. P. canariensis is well-adapted to such impacts and has the ability to re-sprout from both stems and branches. In recent decades, however, anthropogenically caused fires have increased, and climate change further enhances the likelihood of large forest fires. Through its dense, long needles, P. canariensis promotes cloud precipitation, which is an important ecosystem service for the freshwater supply of islands such as La Palma. Thus, it is important to understand the regeneration and vegetation dynamics of these ecosystems after fire. Here, we investigated species diversity patterns in the understory vegetation of P. canariensis forests after the large 2016 fire on the southern slopes of La Palma. We analyzed the effect of fire intensity, derived from Sentinel-2 NDVI differences, and of environmental variables, on species richness (alpha diversity) and compositional dissimilarity (beta diversity). We used redundancy analysis (dbRDA), Bray–Curtis dissimilarity, and variance partitioning for this analysis. Fire intensity accounted for a relatively small proportion of variation in alpha and beta diversity, while elevation was the most important predictor. Our results also reveal the important role of the endemic Lotus campylocladus ssp. hillebrandii (Christ) Sandral & D.D.Sokoloff for understory diversity after fire. Its dominance likely reduces the ability of other species to establish by taking up nutrients and water and by shading the ground. The mid- to long-term effects are unclear since Lotus is an important nitrogen fixer in P. canariensis forests and can reduce post-fire soil erosion on steep slopes. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on forest product markets and the forest product industry, and has also seriously affected the sales of forest products. This research aimed to analyze people’s preference for wood furniture and make policy recommendations. We examined the impact of the pandemic on consumers’ preferences for wood furniture from the perspective of accounting. Taking the accounting data of wood furniture enterprises as the research object, through the translog revenue function, and using the relationship between revenue and consumption in economics, we found that the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced consumers’ preferences for wood furniture, but the decline in preference is smaller for wood furniture produced by extra-large furniture manufacturers. This study contributes to the literature and in view of our research results and the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, we provide policy suggestions for the related governmental agencies and wood furniture manufacturers, in this special environment, that can reduce the negative impact of a pandemic on the wood furniture industry. Full article

Analyzing the current status of forest loss and its causes is crucial for understanding and preparing for future forest changes and the spatial pattern of forest loss. We investigated spatial patterns of forest loss in South Korea and assessed the effects of various factors on forest loss based on spatial heterogeneity. We used the local Moran’s I to classify forest loss spatial patterns as high–high clusters, low–low clusters, high–low outliers, and high–low outliers. Additionally, to assess the effect of factors on forest loss, two statistical models (i.e., ordinary least squares regression (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models) and one machine-learning model (i.e., random forest (RF) model) were used. The accuracy of each model was determined using the R², RMSE, MAE, and AICc. Across South Korea, the forest loss rate was highest in the Seoul–Incheon–Gyeonggi region. Moreover, high–high spatial clusters were found in the Seoul–Incheon–Gyeonggi and Daejeon–Chungnam regions. Among the models, the GWR model was the most accurate. Notably, according to the GWR model, the main factors driving forest loss were road density, cropland area, number of households, and number of tertiary industry establishments. However, the factors driving forest loss had varying degrees of influence depending on the location. Therefore, our findings suggest that spatial heterogeneity should be considered when developing policies to reduce forest loss. Full article

This study explored the regional differences in the forest industry and management via a Multiple Factor Analysis approach. The dataset used comprises all Russian regions and 34 variables that comprehensively describe the situation in the sector. Based on the Multiple Factor Analysis, the variables contributing most to the spatial heterogeneity in Russian forestry were divided into industrial and forestry factors. The regions leading in the development of the timber industry are mainly located in the Northwestern and Southeastern parts of Russia. They show similarities in high logging volumes, investment attractiveness, and competitiveness in foreign markets. However, a divergence was found between the Northwestern regions and the Siberian and the Far East territories in terms of forest management factors. The Western part of Russia benefits from the density of the population and infrastructure, and proximity to the national financial centers and European markets. By comparison, Asian Russia suffers from labor shortages caused by negative demographic trends and the negative consequences of climate change, resulting in an increase in forest losses and a lack of control, finance, and transport accessibility due to the vast territory. To alleviate regional inequalities, we propose the introduction of private ownership of forests, support for investment projects, and human capital development. Full article

Holm oak populations have deteriorated drastically due to oak decline syndrome. The first objective of the present study was to investigate the use of axillary budding and somatic embryogenesis (SE) to propagate asymptomatic holm oak genotypes identified in disease hotspots in Spain. Axillary budding was achieved in two out of six tolerant genotypes from the south-western region and in two out of four genotypes from the Mediterranean region. Rooting of shoots cultured on medium supplemented with 3 mg L⁻¹ of indole-3-acetic acid plus 0.1 mg L⁻¹ α-naphthalene acetic acid was achieved, with rates ranging from 8 to 36%. Shoot cultures remained viable after cold storage for 9–12 months; this procedure is therefore suitable for medium-term conservation of holm oak germplasm. SE was induced in two out of the three genotypes tested, by using nodes and shoot tips cultured in medium without plant growth regulators. In vitro cloned progenies of the tolerant genotypes PL-T2 and VA5 inhibited growth of Phytophthora cinnamomi mycelia when exposed to the oomycete in vitro. Significant differences in total phenol contents and in the expression profiles of genes regulating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were observed between in vitro cultured shoots derived from tolerant trees and cultures established from control genotypes. Full article

The plant-specific transcription factors TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLO IDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR1 (TCP) act as developmental regulators that have many roles in the growth and development processes throughout the entire life span of plants. TCP transcription factors are responsive to endogenous and environmental signals, such as salt stress. However, studies on the role of the TCP genes in salt stress response have rarely focused on woody plants, especially forest trees. In this study, the BpTCP3 gene, a CYC/TB1 subfamily member, isolated from Betula platyphylla Sukaczev, was significantly influenced by salt stress. The β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining analysis of transgenic B. platyphylla harboring the BpTCP3 promoter fused to the reporter gene GUS (pBpTCP3::GUS) further confirmed that the BpTCP3 gene acts a positive regulatory position in salt stress. Under salt stress, we found that the BpTCP3 overexpressed lines had increased relative/absolute high growth but decreased salt damage index, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels versus wild-type (WT) plants. Conversely, the BpTCP3 suppressed lines exhibited sensitivity to salt stress. These results indicate that the BpTCP3 transcription factor improves the salt tolerance of B. platyphylla by reducing reactive oxygen species damage, which provides useful clues for the functions of the CYC/TB1 subfamily gene in the salt stress response of B. platyphylla. Full article