Search Results (31)

Birch stands, dominated by Betula pendula Roth, are a common feature of boreal forests. Within the Krasnoyarsk (central) group of regions, they are concentrated in the taiga, subtaiga and forest steppe zones of actively managed forests, represented by stands of seed and shoot origin. The health and productivity of birch forests is often determined by the activity of wood-decay fungi, which leads to rot and decay in trees. The objective of the research is to evaluate the impact of stem rot on birch forests in the study area, with a focus on key ecological and silvicultural factors. The research methods employed included a reconnaissance survey of birch forests, a detailed forest pathology survey of forest stands on research plots (31 pcs.), comprehensive macroscopic diagnostics of stem rot, identification of xylotrophic fungi by basidiomes, integrated assessment of forest health, graph analytics and statistical data analysis. Stem rot has been identified in all birch forests in the study area. In shoot origin stands, the incidence rate has reached the stage of the disease center (i.e., more than 10% of trees are infected). The following wood-decay fungi have been detected on the trunks of living trees affected by rot: Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola, Inonotus obliquus, Phellinus igniarius, and Trametes versicolor. The infection typically infects trees via spores, finding entry through dying branches or mechanical and thermal wounds on trunks. In trees of shoot origin, stem rot is frequently transmitted via mycelium from stumps left after felling. This, in conjunction with diminished immunity, contributes to a substantially elevated incidence of stem rot in comparison to stands of seed origin. The research has not established a reliable correlation between the incidence of stem rot and forest stand characteristics due to the impact of human activity on birch forests (e.g., cutting, fires, tree injury). At the same time, no reliable connection has been established between the spread of stem rot and the stage of recreational disturbance. Trees of various sizes are affected by stem rot, usually proportional to their representation in the structure of the forest stand. The disease has a detrimental effect on the trees, which is clearly evident in the decline of forest health. Full article

Fraxinus sogdiana Bunge is a class II key protected plant in China, known as the “living fossil of broad-leaved trees”. It is commonly found in multi-stemmed cespitose forms created by the sprouting of its root systems and stumps. We sampled plots in the east and west of the Kashi River in the Xinjiang Yili F. sogdiana National Nature Reserve. We investigated the cespitose F. sogdiana by using population ecology methods in order to provide scientific information for the conservation and sustainable development of the species as well as for the management of the reserve. We chose diameter class structure instead of age class structure to establish a population static life table, draw population survival and mortality curves, calculate a population dynamic index, and use spectral analysis to explore the fluctuation cycle of the population. The results show that age classes II–IV, comprising 74.72%, 91.53%, and 81.77% of the two cespitose populations in the east and west of the Kashi River and the total population, respectively, showed that the populations had a growing age structure. Still, there were very few individuals in age class I. The survival curves tended to be the Deevey–II type, with peak mortality occurring at age class IX in the east of the Kashi River and age class V in the west of the Kashi River. The dynamic index of populations changed the V_pi in the east and west of the Kashi River and the total population were greater than 0, indicating they were growing-type populations, and the V′_pi of the east of the Kashi River population was closer to 0, meaning that this population was relatively more resilient to external disturbances. Spectral analysis revealed that the periodic fluctuation of the population was mainly controlled by the biological characteristics of the population. Additionally, the east of the Kashi River population and the total population exhibited obvious multi-harmonic small periodic fluctuations. We suggest that the habitat of the cespitose F. sogdiana populations should be protected and improved to strengthen the nurturing management of individuals of age classes I and II for maintaining the natural renewal and development of the population. Full article

Stumps are residuals from artificial forest harvesting, persist in forest ecosystems, and have garnered attention for their ecological roles in soil and water conservation, carbon sequestration, and forest regeneration. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of stump fine root biomass and their impact on soil nutrient cycling remain unclear. This study focuses on the fine roots of Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) stumps generated during the construction of national reserve forests at Xishan State Forest Farm, Linwu County, Hunan Province, from 2014 to 2022. Employing a space-for-time substitution approach, we investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of fine root biomass (FRB) and its effects on soil chemical properties. The results indicated that the Chinese Fir stump FRB significantly differed with increasing residual time across various soil layers and distances, with an average annual loss rate of 8.40%–9.96%. The living fine root biomass (LFRB) was predominantly concentrated in the 0–20 cm soil layer and decreased with increasing soil depth. Initially, the LFRB was closer to the stumps; however, this proximity effect diminished over time. There were no significant differences in the fine root loss coefficients between layers, within the vertical soil profile with 95% root loss over a time span of 15.1–15.9 years. However, there were horizontal differences, with a 95% root loss over a time span of 13.7–17.0 years. The changes in soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (STN) content over the study period exhibited a trade-off relationship with the loss of LFRB, with SOM and STN peaking 1 year after the peak of dead fine root biomass (DFRB), suggesting a combined effect of living root exudates and dead root decomposition on SOM and STN enhancement. The trend of LFRB loss was generally inverse to the changes in the soil’s total phosphorus (STP) content, which gradually increased with extended stump retention, indicating that stumps provide a long-term source of phosphorus for the soil. The study also revealed that living fine roots of Chinese Fir stumps can persist in forest soils for a relatively long time and that their biomass dynamics positively affect soil nutrients and carbon storage. These findings provide theoretical support for forest management and suggest that retaining stumps in post-harvest forest management can maintain soil fertility and ecological functions. Full article

Live stump-supported slopes are an environmentally friendly form of support that utilizes the powerful anchoring and reinforcing effects of deep-rooted plants to enhance slope stability. In order to ensure the safety and stability of embankment slopes during their service life, it is necessary to carry out research on the dynamic characteristics and stability of live stump slopes under train vibration loading. In this study, a large-scale indoor dynamic loading model test with a geometry of 1:7 was carried out on the live stump slope of a ballasted passenger railroad track to explore the attenuation characteristics of additional dynamic stresses, the dynamic displacement response law of the slope surface and the stress response characteristics of the live stumps, and to further investigate the influence of the live stumps on the stability of the slope under the dynamic loading. The results are as follows. (i) Additional dynamic stresses decayed at the bed surface and bed floor at a greater rate than the embankment body, and were significantly affected by dynamic loading when the vertical depth was less than 0.89 m. (ii) The dynamic displacement of the foundation bed is larger than that of the embankment body. The displacement response of the slope near the top and about 1/4 of the elevation of slope is the largest. (iii) The taproot of the living poles has many reverse bending points, and the bending moment of the taproot between the lateral roots shows the law of being larger on the top and smaller on the bottom. (iv) The slope facing has an amplifying effect on the vibration load of the train, and the farther away from the track, the smaller the amplifying effect. The research results have reference significance for the theoretical research and engineering application of living poles. Full article

This paper examines the phenomenon of joint attention and its relevance in understanding the modes of awareness of the presence of God. It explores the perspectives of Eleonore Stump and Andrew Pinsent, as well as the challenge raised by Donald Bungum, with the aim of reaching a better understanding of a distinct way of being ‘moved by God in a divine way’. According to Stump and Pinsent, joint attention can deepen our understanding of our relationship with God, emphasizing the importance of sharing attention with Him and making better sense of the way humans may be moved in a divine way. However, Bungum challenges this view by suggesting the possibility of closeness without explicit awareness. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of awareness and the presence of God in our spiritual lives, for our connection with God can manifest in diverse ways different from traditional accounts of explicit awareness. We suggest that a view of joint attention centered in action may be more suitable for an attempt to make sense of what ‘to be moved in a divine way’ amounts to. Full article

As a novel technology for slope protection, living stumps have demonstrated the ability to significantly enhance slope stability. This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties of living-stump root systems and their reinforcement mechanisms on slopes through three-dimensional modeling tests. Using ABS materials, a 3D model of a living elm stump was created via 3D printing; this was followed by slope model testing. The reinforcement mechanisms of living stumps were examined through a combination of model testing and numerical simulation. The results reveal that the presence of living stumps in the lower and middle sections of a slope causes the maximum-shear-stress zone of the soil to shift deeper. The stress distribution around the living stump is notably improved owing to the lateral root system. Living stumps positioned in the lower part of the slope intersect the potential sliding surface, gradually transferring soil shear stress to the root system through root–soil interactions. Furthermore, the tap roots and lateral roots of living stumps form a robust spatial network that can collectively withstand soil shear stress, thereby enhancing slope stability. Full article

Efforts to enhance carbon storage in forest ecosystems through policy and management decisions rely on accurate forest biomass assessments. However, most forest inventories consider tree mortality the only form of aboveground biomass loss, overlooking other important factors, such as wood decay in living trees. In this study, using linear mixed-effects models, we delve into the sustainability of mature and over-mature deciduous forests in Latvia by conducting a comprehensive analysis of stem rot severity, identifying species for which the impact of stem rot on their carbon stock reduction was most significant. The analysis focused on determining the proportion of discolored wood, decomposed wood, and hollow spaces within the stems of 190 living deciduous trees commonly found in hemiboreal forests. The study reveals a greater extent of stem rot and more extensive decay in Populus tremula trees than in Betula spp., Alnus glutinosa, and Alnus incana. It emphasizes the influence of tree species, age, and diameter at breast height on stem rot proportions. The stump rot area significantly predicts the amount of decomposed and discolored wood within the stem. The study provides valuable insights for sustainable forestry practices and highlights challenges in estimating stem rot severity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive diagnostic methods. Full article

Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia) has a fragmented distribution of 75 groves found along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Outplanting and range expansion or assisted migration of this iconic species for the objectives of genetic conservation and timber production would be supported by information on growth and morphology to guide seed-collection decisions. We measured and assessed giant sequoia planted as seedlings and clonal stock originating from 22 groves in two common-garden experiments at Foresthill, California, north of the current species range, after 29 growing seasons. Traits examined were tree-size parameters, fluting and asymmetry of the lower stem, basal swelling, fullness of the live crown, epicormic sprouting, and heartwood decay resistance in cut stumps. Performance in terms of tree size after 29 years varied widely among genotypes with different grove origins. Morphology and decay resistance also exhibited some variation according to grove origins. The seedling stock outperformed the clonal stock of the same grove origins in terms of size and is therefore recommended when faster early growth is desired to outcompete other trees or for other management objectives. However, more fluting was exhibited by the larger fast-growing giant sequoia, while fewer seedlings had epicormic sprouts than the clonal stock of the same grove origins. At our warm low-elevation study site, giant sequoia from Mountain Home, Giant Forest, and Converse Basin consistently exhibited above-average growth among other giant sequoia in a pure planting and in an intimate mixture with five common conifer associates. Therefore, seed collected from these three groves should perform relatively well at other locations with a similar climate. When conservation of the species and its genetic diversity is the primary objective, we recommend collecting from a wide range of groves and undertaking assisted migration by planting at multiple locations inside and outside giant sequoia’s range as a hedge against the loss of native groves. Full article

Prunus serotina is an important invasive plant species in Poland. It was introduced to European forests, even in places currently protected by law, such as national parks. One major factor contributing to the spread of this species is the lack of infecting pathogens and incomplete knowledge about the relationship between the plant and microorganisms. This study aimed to identify fungal communities collected from freshly cut stumps of live and dead black cherry tree specimens growing in a protected forest. The main working hypotheses were as follows: (i) fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees will differ in diversity and the number of taxa; and (ii) saprotrophic fungi will dominate in the wood of dead tree stumps. This study applied Illumina sequencing based on the amplification of the fungal ribosomal ITSI region. The average number of sequences (OTU) obtained from the analysis of dead tree wood was 101,758, while that of living trees was 94,150. These sequences belonged to 312 taxa, among which 254 were isolated from the wood of dead trees and 171 from that of living trees. Among the saprotrophs on dead trees, the following species were identified: Stereum rugosum, Ganoderma adspersum, G. applanatum, Peniophora cinerea, and Ascocoryne cylichnium. On the other hand, in the wood of living trees, Cytospora leucostoma and Botrytis cinerea were the most abundant saprotrophic species. The fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees differed in the diversity and abundance of taxa, thus confirming our hypothesis. The results of our research conducted in a protected area indicate that black cherry wood can be naturally colonized by many pathogen species that can further limit its expansion. Full article

Background: A Hartmann operation, which is the intervention by which the lower part of the sigmoid and the upper part of the rectum are resected with the closing of the rectal stump and end colostomy, has as its indications: advanced or complicated rectosigmoid neoplasm, moderate biological condition of the patient, peritoneal sepsis, intestinal occlusion and fragile colonic wall, especially in the context of inflammatory changes. The Hartmann procedure can save lives even at the cost of a stoma reversal failure. Methods: The cases operated with the Hartmann procedure by an open approach or laparoscopic approach in our clinic, between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2020, were admitted in this study and their medical records were reviewed, also making a comparison between the two types of approach. Univariate statistical comparisons but also a multivariate analysis was performed. Results: We performed 985 operations for intestinal and colonic occlusion (7.15% of the total operations in the clinic), 531 (54%) were non-tumor occlusions and 454 (46%) were occlusive tumors (88 Hartmann operations). Of these, 7.3% were laparoscopically performed (7 laparoscopic Hartmann operations and 23 diagnostic laparoscopies). A total of 11 cases (18%) also had colonic perforation. We compared laparoscopic Hartmann with open Hartmann and observed the benefits of laparoscopy for postoperative morbidity and mortality. The presence of pulmonary and cardiac morbidities is associated with the occurrence of general postoperative morbidities, while peritonitis is statistically significantly associated with the occurrence of local complications that are absent after the laparoscopic approach. Conclusions: The Hartmann procedure is still nowadays an operation widely used in emergency situations. Laparoscopy may become standard for the Hartmann procedure and reversal of the Hartmann procedure, but the percentage of laparoscopy remains low due to advanced or complicated colorectal cancer, poor general condition both at the first and second intervention, and the difficulties of reversal of the Hartmann procedure. Full article

Although the current ecological engineering technology can reinforce shallow landslides, it cannot reinforce deep landslides. A new type of ecological engineering technology-living tree stump slope protection was developed, aiming at the deficiency of current ecological engineering technology. For living stumps with different tap root lengths, the mechanical properties of the living stump slope and root system were analyzed. The model was based on the finite element method, using the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion to consider the mechanical plasticity of the soil. The three-dimensional (3D) models of living stumps with different tap root lengths were simulated by embedded beam elements. Changes in stress and strain of soil and root system were simulated. The strength reduction method was used here to calculate the safety factor of the slope. The results showed that long taproots moved the soil shear stress area to deeper soil layers, increasing the stability of the slope. The root system in the middle and lower part of the slope mainly exerted its tensile strength and played a positive role in the stability of the slope. The longer the taproots, the more stable the slope. Slope stability may be affected by root length, spatial root morphology, and the spatial layout of the root system on the slope. Planting living stumps in the middle and lower part of the slope densely was recommended in ecological engineering. Full article

A dendrochronological investigation was undertaken on subfossil Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stumps following their discovery during conservation management at Wem Moss, a small (28 ha) former raised mire in Shropshire, UK. Two ring-width chronologies were constructed from 14 of the 17 trees sampled spanning 198 and 208 years, respectively. Whilst dendrochronological dating was not possible, radiocarbon assays provided an estimated age for this mire-rooting woodland of between 3015 and 2505 years cal. BCE, coinciding with the age traditionally associated with the widespread mortality of pine trees throughout much of the UK and Ireland, often referred to as the Pine Decline (ca. 4000 radiocarbon years BP). Placed in a wider geographical context, the Wem Moss pines are located within the lowland Meres and Mosses region, where previous studies on subfossil pine have demonstrated protracted declines in mire-rooting trees. These have included tree mortality significantly post-dating the Pine Decline, especially at larger peatland sites that exceed 5 km². Such macrofossil evidence for the presence of Scots pine into the late Holocene is supported by continuous Pinus pollen representation at peatland sites in the Welsh Marches (English–Welsh border), suggesting the possible survival of native Scots pine trees in this area up to the present day. The investigation of Wem Moss bog pines and their wider geographical context highlights the incomplete and patchy nature of palaeo-vegetational records and also the need for future genetic research on living Scots pine in possible refugial areas in Britain and Ireland. Full article

Dead wood, including coarse woody debris, CWD, and fine woody debris, FWD, plays a substantial role in forest ecosystem functioning. However, the amount and dynamics of dead wood in the forests of Northern Eurasia are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop a spatially distributed modelling system (limited to the territories of the former Soviet Union) to assess the amount and structure of dead wood by its components (including snags, logs, stumps, and the dry branches of living trees) based on the most comprehensive database of field measurements to date. The system is intended to be used to assess the dead wood volume and the amount of dead wood in carbon units as part of the carbon budget calculation of forests at different scales. It is presented using multi-dimensional regression equations of dead wood expansion factors (DWEF)—the ratio of the dead wood component volume to the growing stock volume of the stands. The system can be also used for the accounting of dead wood stock and its dynamics in national greenhouse gas inventories and UNFCCC reporting. The system’s accuracy is satisfactory for the average level of disturbance regimes but it may require corrections for regions with accelerated disturbance regimes. Full article

Accurate estimates of tree diameter, height, volume, and biomass are important for numerous economic and ecological applications. In this study, we report exponential equations to predict tree DBH (cm), stem volume over bark (VOB, m³), and total above-stump biomass (TASB, kg) using three varying levels of input data for Pinus radiata D. Don, Eucalyptus globulus Labill., and Eucalyptus nitens (H.Deane & Maiden) Maiden planted trees. The three sets of input data included: (1) tree height (HT, m), (2) tree HT and ground projected living crown area (CA, m²), and (3) tree HT, CA, and additional stand parameters. The analysis was performed using a large dataset covering the range of distribution of the species in central Chile and included stands of varying ages and planting densities. The first set of equations using only HT were satisfactory with Adj-R² values ranging from 0.78 to 0.98 across all species and variables. For all three species, estimation of DBH, VOB, and TASB as a function of HT improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable, increasing Adj-R² and reducing RMSE. The inclusion of stand variables, such as age and stand density, also resulted in further improvement in model performance. The models reported in this study are a robust alternative for DBH, VOB, and TASB estimations on planted stands across a wide range of ages and densities, when height and CA are known, especially when input data are derived from remote sensing techniques. Full article

(1) Background: Coleoptera is one of the most diverse insect lineages. Coleoptera species live in many ecosystems around the globe and their role in ecosystems is very diverse. To study the number and distribution of species, lists of species were compiled and then added into the database generation platforms. The aim of the work was to describe the modern fauna of Coleoptera based on a recently published dataset. (2) Methods: Studies were conducted from 1971 to 2022. Insects were collected by different means (searching under the bark of trees and stumps, sifting litter and wood dust, soil samples, caught in the light, in soil traps, window traps, etc.). For each observation, the coordinates of the place of discovery, the number of individuals, dates were noted. (3) Results: The dataset presents data on 2416 species and subspecies of Coleoptera from 89 families found in the Lipetsk region. In total, the number of studied specimens in the dataset was 16,184, the number of occurrences was 6192. The largest families in terms of species diversity were Staphylinidae (541 species), Curculionidae (416), Chrysomelidae (315) and Carabidae (285). (4) Conclusions: In addition, based on the analysis of additional references, 452 more species and 2 families are indicated. Thus, the biodiversity of Coleoptera of the Lipetsk region is 2868 species from 89 families. Full article