Search Results (37)

Background/Objectives: Fire is a dominant ecological force in Mediterranean ecosystems, shaping the adaptive traits of forest species such as Pinus brutia. Prescribed burning (also called controlled burning) is the intentional, carefully planned use of fire under specific environmental conditions to manage vegetation and reduce wildfire risk. While morphological and physiological fire adaptations are well-documented, emerging evidence highlights the role of epigenetic mechanisms—such as DNA methylation and histone modifications—in mediating stress responses. Methods: This study investigates genome-wide epigenetic changes in P. brutia following a prescribed burning experiment on Chios Island, Greece. Using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) analysis, we compared temporal shifts on epigenetic profiles before and after fire exposure extracting DNA from the same trees. Results: A significant increase in polymorphic epiloci, epigenetic diversity indices, and private epigenetic bands after prescribed burning was revealed, suggesting a stress-induced reprogramming of the epigenome. Concurrent measurements of midday needle water potential indicated an exploratory association between water stress and epigenetic shifts. Furthermore, Fireline Intensity (FI) correlated with epigenetic diversity index signaling an immediate response of the tree. Conclusions: These findings support the hypothesis that fire stress induces epigenetic responses in P. brutia, potentially enhancing resilience to future environmental challenges. Further research is required to address the level of heritability of these epigenetic changes in next generation and connect these indexes with adaptation and sustainability of forest ecosystems. Full article

Twin wildfires burned over 9500 ha in Seferihisar, İzmir, western Türkiye, on 29—30 June 2025 under extreme fire weather conditions. This study reconstructs the spatiotemporal progression of the fires and examines the drivers of contrasting behaviors and burn severity. Multi-source datasets—Sentinel-2 imagery, VIIRS/MODIS thermal detections, MTG images and thermal detections, aerial photos, and ground data—were integrated to delineate progression polygons and compute rate of spread (ROS), fuel consumption (FC), and fire-line intensity (FI). Kuyucak fire showed rapid early growth, burning 3554 ha in 2.5 h (mean ROS of 5.0 km h⁻¹; mean FI of 37,789 kW m⁻¹), driven by strong northeasterly winds of 40–50 km h⁻¹, steep terrain, dense Pinus brutia fuels, and very low dead fine-fuel moisture (<6%). Kavakdere fire advanced more slowly (mean ROS of 1.6 km h⁻¹) across open grassland and cropland, yielding lower FC and FI. Synoptic analysis revealed a strong pressure-gradient-induced northeasterly wind regime linked to a mid-tropospheric geopotential height dipole between Central Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, while WRF simulations indicated a dry boundary layer and enhanced low-level winds during peak spread. Sentinel-2 dNBR burn severity mapping showed substantial spatial variability tied to fuel and topography contrasts. Findings demonstrate how twin ignitions under similar weather conditions can produce divergent outcomes, underscoring the need for terrain- and fuel-aware strategies during extreme Mediterranean fire outbreaks. Full article

This article describes a field- and laboratory-based framework that can be used to monitor the C balance in Mediterranean pine forest ecosystems under different management practices that determine their structure and function. By jointly monitoring stand structure, gas exchange, litter, and decomposition dynamics, this protocol enables the assessment of how management-driven changes regulate carbon uptake, turnover, and losses, thereby affecting carbon sequestration potential. As an example, we suggest the implementation of the protocol at ten (10) permanent monitoring plots across three study areas located in Greece. The first group of plots represents a post-fire chronosequence in pine stands with no management interventions. The second group includes pine stands that exhibit variation in overstory and understory density driven by differences in microclimate and management history. The third group consists of peri-urban pine stands subjected to thinning of varying intensity. The monitoring protocol is implemented across all plots and the collected data can be classified into three analytical domains: (a) demography, encompassing measurements of tree growth and mortality; (b) litter and decomposition dynamics, involving the quantification of litterfall and its seasonality and the estimation of its decomposition rates; and (c) gas exchange, focusing on measurements of leaf photosynthesis and respiration (including relevant leaf functional traits) and monitoring of soil respiration. These three data domains can be used to comparatively consider the effect of forest management on key ecosystem processes and to constrain local-scale vegetation dynamics models. Full article

Wildfire is a dominant ecological force in Mediterranean pine forests, and post-fire silvicultural practices can substantially alter their recovery trajectories. In this study, we examined how natural regeneration and artificial plantations influence the composition, structure, and functional roles of medium and large-sized mammal communities in burned Pinus brutia forests of southwestern Türkiye. Camera trap data were combined with linear mixed-effects models, functional diversity metrics, and indicator species analysis to assess community responses. Mammalian assemblages showed marked shifts across treatments: generalist carnivores such as Vulpes vulpes and Canis aureus dominated burned areas, whereas higher-trophic specialists like Caracal caracal were restricted to unburned forests. Functional richness was consistently higher in unburned stands, while artificial plantations reduced both richness and evenness. Natural regeneration partly mitigated these declines by sustaining more balanced community structures. Indicator species analysis confirmed these patterns, with Lepus europaeus strongly associated with burned sites and C. caracal with unburned forests. Overall, findings demonstrate that post-fire silvicultural practices strongly shape mammalian community assembly and functional diversity. Natural regeneration preserves structural heterogeneity and supports functionally diverse assemblages, whereas artificial plantations promote homogenization. Effective restoration strategies should therefore integrate wildlife responses with vegetation recovery to strengthen ecosystem resilience and maintain the ecological roles of mammals. Full article

Regeneration of Pinus brutia (Turkish red pine) after clear-cutting is showing failures in some low-elevation Mediterranean stands, raising questions about long-used silvicultural prescriptions. Because site limitations arise from the combined effects of climate, terrain, and surface thermal conditions that vary over short distances, diagnosing where problems may occur is challenging at operational scales. In this study, we first evaluate the study area (Antalya, Türkiye, 0–400 m elevation band) using open, long-term climatic indicators, along with terrain and surface thermal remote sensing variables, to describe recent environmental conditions relevant to germination and early seedling survival. We then build a transparent environmental-analog screening product that summarizes the degraded reference site as an environmental signature and computes pixel-wise similarity across the landscape at 100 m resolution. The resulting map reports three actionable tiers (≥95th, 90–95th, 85–90th percentiles), delineating compact clusters of very-high analogs surrounded by broader high/elevated belts. Interpreted strictly as a screening layer (not a predictive model), it supports compartment-scale triage: ≥95th areas are first candidates for field checks and adjusted prescriptions, while lower tiers guide targeted site preparation and monitoring. The novelty and importance are practical: widely available Earth observation data are converted into a reproducible, auditable tool that reduces dependence on complex predictive models and large calibration samples, while still requiring careful local interpretation and ground-truthing to inform P. brutia regeneration planning. Full article

The pistachio psyllid (Agonoscena pistaciae) is a significant pest in pistachio (Pistacia vera) orchards, leading to serious economic losses. Understanding its overwintering behaviour is essential for developing effective pest control strategies. This study aimed to identify the overwintering habitats of A. pistaciae and to explore an alternative nature-based trapping method to managing its population. Field surveys were conducted over two years (2020–2022) in five key pistachio-growing regions of southern Türkiye. Our findings suggest that the A. pistaciae primarily overwinters in the mature cones of Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), as well as on the semi-evergreen leaves of oak trees (Quercus brantii, and Q. infectoria). Based on these observations, we developed cone-based overwintering traps and deployed them in pistachio orchards. These traps captured ten times more psyllids than those that were naturally overwintering in cones, which highlights their potential as a pest management tool. This study provides the first evidence of A. pistaciae overwintering in conifer cones and suggests that cone-based traps could serve as a practical and eco-friendly alternative to chemical control methods. Implementing this strategy in pistachio orchards may help reduce psyllid populations while preserving the ecological balance. Full article

In the current study, lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) waste, as obtained after the essential oils steam distillation process as well as lignocellulose biomass of two of the most common pine species (Pinus nigra L., Pinus brutia L.), was characterized in terms of chemical composition, moisture, ash content, and calorific value, in order of its potential to be used as feedstock material in pellets production to be assessed, studying different materials ratios. The lavender material was introduced at low percentages (0, 5, 10 and 15% w/w) in the feedstock of pellets, in order to maintain the total ash content of the mixed feedstock as adequately low-lying, ensuring the classification of pellets in qualitative categories of A1, A2 and B (residential uses, ENplus). The resultant lavender–pine mixed syntheses were densified in a multi-mold pelletizing machine and the pellets were characterized with regard to physical, morphological, mechanical, hygroscopic, and thermal characteristics, based on the limits set by the respective ENplus standards as benchmarks. The results demonstrated that although lavender waste has a high content of ash and extractives compared to wood, it can be used in a mixture (<15% lavender percentage) with pure wood material to produce pellets of adequate quality for residential use. The lavender waste presence favored pellets’ mechanical strength, dimensions, hydrophobicity, dimensional stability, bulk density (marginally) and resultant quality of the pellets. Lavender slightly decreased the calorific value of pellets, though without recording a significant adverse impact. The lavender material mixed with black pinewood (at 15%) revealed the best pellets’ feedstock performance. The findings exhibited that lavender lignocellulosic residues are suitable for producing high-performance residential pellets, provided that the lavender content does not exceed 15% of the feedstock. Full article

Stem radius growth (GRO), tree water deficit (TWD), and maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) were monitored throughout 2023 in a semi-arid Mediterranean forest stand in Burdur, Türkiye, where Pinus nigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe and Pinus brutia Ten. naturally co-occur. These indicators, derived from electronic band dendrometers, were analyzed in relation to key climatic variables. Results indicated that P. brutia had a longer growth period, while P. nigra exhibited a higher average daily increment under the environmental conditions of 2023 at the study site. Annual stem growth was nearly equal for both species. Based on dendrometer observations, P. brutia exhibited lower normalized TWD and higher normalized MDS values under varying vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and soil water potential (SWP) conditions. A linear mixed-effects model further confirmed that P. brutia consistently maintained lower TWD than P. nigra across a wide climatic range, suggesting a comparatively lower degree of drought-induced water stress. GRO was most influenced by air temperature and VPD, and negatively by SWP. TWD was strongly affected by both VPD and SWP, while MDS was primarily linked to minimum air temperature and VPD. Moreover, MDS in P. brutia appeared more sensitive to climate variability compared to P. nigra. Although drought limited stem growth in both species during the study year, the lower TWD and higher MDS observed in P. brutia may indicate distinct physiological strategies for coping with drought. These findings offer preliminary insights into interspecific differences in water regulation under the particular climatic conditions observed during the study year in this semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystem. Full article

Biodegradable polymer composites offer promising alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, supporting the principles of a zero waste and circular economy. This study investigates the reinforcing potential of alkali-treated wood flour derived from recycled pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) and poplar (Populus alba L.) waste wooden pallets in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites. Wood flour was initially recovered through grinding and screening during recycling, followed by alkali treatment via a green chemistry approach to enhance interfacial bonding with the PLA matrix. The impact of alkali concentration and two fabrication methods—additive manufacturing (AM) and injection molding (IM)—on the properties of developed biocomposite materials was assessed through mechanical, physical, morphological, and thermal analyses. IM samples outperformed AM counterparts, with the IM PLA containing 30 wt% wood flour (alkali-treated with 10% solution) showing the highest mechanical gains: tensile (+71.35%), flexural (+64.74%), and hardness (+2.62%) compared to untreated samples. Moreover, the AM sample with 10 wt% wood flour and 10% alkali treatment showed a 49.37% decrease in water absorption compared to the untreated sample, indicating improved hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that alkali treatment reduced void content and enhanced morphological uniformity, while thermal properties remained consistent across fabrication methods. This work introduces a green composite using non-toxic materials and treatments, facilitating eco-friendly production aligned with zero waste and circular economy principles throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. Full article

The Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) of Mediterranean forest is expected to change over the 21st century due to the warmer and drier conditions. In this study, we present a process-based forest carbon-flux model, where stand structure and soil heterotrophic respiration have been parameterized with long-term monitoring data in a Mediterranean Pinus brutia. Ten. forest. The developed model was validated using an independent annual tree-ring increment dataset from the 1980–2020 period (baseline climate) across a post-fire gradient (four plots) and an elevation gradient (five plots). Additionally, the model was forced with two downscaled climate change scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) for the 2020–2100 period. Average GPP, Net Primary Productivity (NPP), ecosystem Respiration (R_eco) and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) were calculated for two future time periods (2051–2060 and 2091–2100) under the two climate change scenarios and compared along the two gradients. Under baseline climate conditions, our simulations suggest a temperature sensitivity of GPP and R_eco, as expressed along the elevation gradient. However, the effect of stand structure (represented through the site-specific leaf area index (LAI)) was more prominent, both along the elevation gradient and the post-fire chronosequence. Under the two climate change scenarios, a reduced GPP and an increased R_eco lead to reduced NEP compared to baseline climate conditions across all study plots. Full article

Sustainable management of forest ecosystems requires assessing forest dynamics and project stand growth and yield in order to make strategic decisions. The size–density relationship is one of the most important measures in quantifying the carrying capacity of a forest ecosystem and determining appropriate silvicultural decisions. In this study, the maximum stand density index (SDI_max) was estimated for three common pine species in seven different ecological regions across Türkiye. Observations from 14,413 sample plots, including Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.; 6266 plots from five regions), Black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold; 6106 plots from five regions) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.; 2041 plots from three regions) forests were used in this study, covering the entire natural range of these three pine species. A mixed model with region as a random effect was developed for each species to estimate SDI_max. Results show that the slope coefficients of the self-thinning lines vary by species and are significantly different from −1.605. The Scots pine stands exhibited the highest SDI_max, followed by Black pine and Calabrian pine stands. Across seven ecological regions, the highest SDI_max was observed in the Aegean region for Calabrian and Black pine and in the East Anatolia region for Scots pine. The arid Inner Anatolia region yielded the lowest SDI_max for Black pine and Scots pine. The humid and semi-humid regions showed a higher SDI_max compared to arid regions. The three pine species studied make up almost half of the total forest area in Türkiye. The results of the study are therefore very important in terms of quantitative assessment of the country’s forests. The differences in stand dynamics of these three pine species, which are also widely distributed outside Türkiye under different ecological conditions, may also be a relevant source of information for other regions. Moreover, considering that pine stands in dry environments have a lower carrying capacity than those in humid conditions, it seems likely that pine forests in Türkiye will be affected by increasing global warming. Full article

Evaluating SOC lability is crucial for sustainable agriculture policies and environmental quality. This study assessed the impact of well-stocked forest cover on SOC pools and lability compared to shrubby soil. Geo-referenced soils under Red pine (Pinus brutia), Black pine (Pinus nigra), Cedar (Cedrus libani), Fir (Abies cilicia), Juniper (Juniperus excelsa), Oak (Quercus L.), Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), and degraded shrubs were collected from a depth of 0 to 30 cm in the Seyhan River Basin, Mediterranean Turkey. The analysis of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil AC (active carbon), and PC (passive carbon) were analyzed to understand soil carbon management across diverse vegetation types. Juniper forests have the highest SOC (27.98 g/kg) and PC (27.35 g/kg), followed by Cedar (SOC: 27.64 g/kg, PC: 27.05 g/kg) and Fir (SOC: 26.44 g/kg, PC: 25.85 g/kg). Shrubby areas have the lowest SOC (4.06 g/kg) and PC (3.61 g/kg). The Oak soil had the highest CLI (1.16), suggesting a relatively higher proportion of labile carbon than other forests. CPI indicates forests have a greater carbon storage capacity (1.09) compared to shrublands (0.18), with forests also having a higher CMI (0.83). The findings emphasize the critical role of forests, especially Juniper forests, in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation within the Seyhan River Basin in Turkey. Full article

Pinus species are notable in Mediterranean regions due to their ecological and economic importance. Various parts of these species are widely used in traditional medicine, especially pinecones, which are a significant source of bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological properties of the aqueous extracts obtained by maceration from three Pinus petal fractions, from P. halepensis Mill., P. brutia Ten., and P. pinea L. (APW, BPW, and PPW respectively), and the core fractions of the same species (ACW, BCW, and PCW respectively). The results showed that APW demonstrated superior performance compared to other species and fractions (p ≤ 0.05), with the highest total polyphenol content (203.51 mg GAE/g DW) and the highest antioxidant potential (IC₅₀ = 13.51 µg/mL) against DPPH free radical. All extracts showed high anticancer activity against HeLa and HepG2 cancer cell lines, and low inhibition against HEK-293, a normal cell line (<15%), indicating that none of extracts have any toxicity effect. Furthermore, only APW exhibits a significant inhibition against α-glucosidase with 77.20% at 50 µg/mL. HPLC-DAD analysis was conducted to identify 14 compounds. GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify 28 compounds, of which 11 were detected for the first time in this species. This study offers valuable insights into phytochemistry and potential therapeutic applications of pinecones. Full article

The objective of this research was to analyze the P. brutia natural regeneration and the environments where it was established in the absence of a wildfire in the open formations of the species in the middle elevations of the central part of Cyprus. Forty-eight rectangular plots of 0.1 ha were established in three site productivity types. Individuals of the species with a height from 0.1 m to 1.5 m were considered regeneration plants. Within each plot, various measurements and estimations were made. Moreover, 480 hemispherical photographs were taken. Additionally, hemispherical photographs were taken above each of the recorded naturally regenerated P. brutia plants. In all the site productivity types, the most regeneration plants were established and grew under the process of facilitation. In each of the site productivity types, there were no differences in the light condition diversity between the environments where the regeneration plants grew and the existing light conditions. Regeneration exhibited a small number of plants and constituted only a very small proportion of all trees in the three site productivity types. To achieve sustainability in P. brutia forests, forest practices must develop strategies for the enhancement of P. brutia regeneration in the studied area and in analogous environments. Full article

The art of the Achaemenid Empire flourished in Ancient Persia from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, and featured stone-carved monumental structures adorned with recurring zoological and floral patterns. Such representations clearly had a symbolic meaning intimately connected to religious expression and the will of deities. Considering the lack of any comprehensive analysis of botanical features, we investigate the recurring plant patterns and the variety of plants depicted. An analysis of the documentation referring mainly to monuments in the two main capitals of Darius I, Persepolis and Susa, showed the presence of certain repetitive elements, such as the so-called rosettes (composed variously of Asteraceae capitula and Nymphaea flowers), palms (Phoenix dactylifera, the tree of life), pines, flowers or bunches and metamorphic elements. Some plants are described in this paper for the first time in the context of Persian iconography, such as Mandragora officinalis in offering scenes as a symbol of fertility and protection against evil spirits, Pinus brutia var. eldarica as a symbol of immortality and elevation to the gods, and the capitula of Matricaria/Leucanthemum as solar symbols. Further interesting elements include cf. Myrtus communis in some crowns and probably cf. Ephedra sp. in offering scenes. Achaemenid art was deeply influenced by the Zoroastrian religion of ancient Persia with its great attention to nature as well as by the nearby civilizations of the Mesopotamian area and Egypt. Most elements were also associated with psychotropic or medicinal attributes, which contributed to their position as symbols of power. Full article