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Forests
Special Issues
Biodiversity and Ecology of Forest Ecosystems: A Multitrophic Perspective
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Biodiversity and Ecology of Forest Ecosystems: A Multitrophic Perspective

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 1441

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Demetra Kandalepas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA
Interests: endophytes; plant–fungus interactions; wetlands; swamps; community ecology
Dr. Todd Fredericksen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ferrum College, Ferrum, VA 24088, USA
Interests: wildlife; forestry; forest ecology; silviculture; biodiversity; forest regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, harboring a rich array of species across all trophic levels. This Special Issue will bring together studies on the biodiversity and ecology of forest ecosystems, highlighting the interactions and ecological roles of organisms ranging from microbes to megaflora and megafauna. We welcome research articles, reviews, and perspectives that investigate the diversity, distribution, and functional roles of plants, animals (including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates), fungi, and bacteria within forest habitats.

We especially encourage submissions that address how these organisms interact with one another and respond to environmental changes such as climate warming, habitat fragmentation, and disturbances. Contributions that take innovative approaches—including molecular tools, long-term monitoring, and integrative field studies—are particularly welcome.

By focusing on the interconnected web of forest life, this Special Issue will illuminate the mechanisms sustaining biodiversity and forest health, while fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration. Our aim is to provide a platform for research that informs forest conservation and management strategies in the face of global environmental challenges. We warmly invite you to join us in exploring the complex tapestry of life in forests worldwide and how it shapes—and is shaped by—the dynamic forest environment.

Dr. Demetra Kandalepas
Dr. Todd Fredericksen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest biodiversity
  • ecosystem ecology
  • trophic interactions
  • microbial diversity
  • fungal ecology
  • climate change impacts
  • forest conservation
  • community structure
  • habitat fragmentation
  • species interactions

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

32 pages, 4963 KB  
Article
The Numidian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica Trab.): An Endangered Tree Endemic of Tunisia
by Gianni Della Rocca, Azza Chtioui, Ferid Abidi, Lorenzo Arcidiaco, Paolo Cherubini, Alberto Danieli, Silvia Traversari, Giovanni Trentanovi, Sara Barberini, Roberto Danti, Giovanni Emiliani, Bernabé Moya, Niccolò Conti and Meriem Zouaoui Boutiti
Forests 2026, 17(4), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17040438 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1087
Abstract
The Numidian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica, C. numidica hereafter) is a rare, almost unknown, endemic taxon of Tunisia whose conservation has long been hampered by human activities, taxonomic uncertainty and limited ecological knowledge, with only 64.33 ha of its populations [...] Read more.
The Numidian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. numidica, C. numidica hereafter) is a rare, almost unknown, endemic taxon of Tunisia whose conservation has long been hampered by human activities, taxonomic uncertainty and limited ecological knowledge, with only 64.33 ha of its populations remaining. Although recent genetic studies have confirmed its native status and long-term isolation, detailed information on its distribution, population structure and threats remain lacking. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of C. numidica across its remaining range. Field surveys revealed that the species persists in only three small, fragmented forests, Bou Abdallah, Sidi Amer, and Dir Satour, covering a total of 64.33 ha. Soil analysis revealed some differences among sites, with Bou Abdallah showing higher clay content and Dir Satou exhibiting the highest levels of nitrogen, organic carbon, Olsen P, and available Mn and Mo. Climatic analyses indicate a semi-arid Mediterranean environment with pronounced summer droughts and a clear warming trend. Trees showed widespread damages, due to intensive grazing, tree cutting, crown dieback (drought), and pest and pathogen attacks. Natural regeneration was limited, and the condition of affected trees ranged from moderate to severe, with Bou Abdallah showing the highest levels of degradation. Notably, the severe fungal pathogen Seiridium cardinale, causal agent of cypress canker, was detected on C. numidica for the first time, highlighting an urgent conservation concern. Our results point to a staged conservation approach over time. In the immediate term (within 1 year), urgent monitoring and management of S. cardinale is needed. In the short term, efforts should focus on protecting carefully selected areas, about 5–10 regeneration microsites per forest, from grazing to support natural regeneration, reduce ongoing soil degradation, and establish clonal and seed-production plantations along with long-term seed storage. In the long term, the survival of C. numidica will only be possible with the active involvement of local communities, through awareness campaigns, adapting traditional practices such as gdel, and developing small-scale ecotourism that provides sustainable livelihoods while reinforcing support for conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecology of Forest Ecosystems: A Multitrophic Perspective)
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