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Poisoned trap trees and tripods started to be applied in defence along with the development of insecticides and pheromones whose negative impacts on the non-target fauna of invertebrates should be, however, taken into account together with the effi ciency of these defence measures. In spruce stands with the diff erentiated mass outbreak base (Forest District Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic) we tested lying poisoned trap trees of 4 m in length and tripods with the Storanet net sized 1.5 and 1.9 m² that was baited with the IT Ecolure pheromone. Th e effi ciency of trapping I. typographus with the poisoned trap trees was statistically signifi cantly higher than that of trapping the beetle with the tripods with the Storanet at both spring and summer swarming. Th e effi ciency of defence measures was only 20–30% in relation to trees infested by bark beetles. A higher number of killed non-target arthropods was recorded on the tripods with the Storanet than on the poisoned trap trees. Th e IT Ecolure pheromone probably caused an increased occurrence of Acanthocinus aedilis, Molorchus minor, Th anasimus formicarius and T. femoralis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More frequent and severe natural disturbances are likely to increase as a result of climate change. However, we have little evidence of the disturbance severity effect on forest birds. We aimed to compare the effect of natural disturbance severity on the bird species in the spruce forests of Šumava NP. For this purpose, we surveyed bird communities in 1) small- and 2) large-scale disturbances, 3) enclaves of live trees in large-scale disturbance areas and 4) non-disturbed forests. Birds were sampled using the point count method in breeding season 2021 and analysed using redundancy analysis (RDA). We recorded 42 bird species on a total of 141 survey points. Small-scale disturbances had generally positive effects on many common forest bird species. On the other hand, large-scale disturbances negatively affected birds of closed canopy stands (e.g. Fringilla coelebs) and positively species of open or shrub habitats (e.g. Anthus trivialis) and some birds with conservation status (e.g. Tetrao urogallus). The size of damaged area was a crucial factor which changed the effect of disturbances on many species. Considering these, both types of disturbances are an important factor for mountain forest bird species diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the effect of climate change, we can expect continuing trend in increasing frequency and severity of disturbances in Norway spruce forests. We are lacking the information to what extent is the pre-disturbance forest structure resilient to stand-replacing disturbance and if it can be carried over to the next generation of forest stand. Therefore following questions arise: How does the pre-disturbance spatial pattern influence the spatial structure of natural regeneration? Does the spatial pattern remain preserved even after nearly complete canopy dieback? We did repeated measurement of forest structure in Trojmezná primary forest (Šumava National Park) ~3 and ~13 years after bark beetle disturbance. Density of trees (height =1.3 m) increased over the years, in 2011 the mean density was 416 ind.ha-1 while in 2021 the mean density was 2 205 ind.ha-1. The tree species composition was dominated by Norway spruce (92.8%) with a mix of rowan (6.8%), which decreased from 15.3% since 2011. Young trees were strongly aggregated to themselves as well as to snags and stumps. Significant clustering around dead wood occurred at shorter distances (around 2 m), the effect weakened with the increasing distance. This implies that the new generation of forest stand mirrors the former parent stand, keeping its spatial structure preserved even after stand replacing disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was the evaluation of three experimental plots Novosedly, Krnov, Líšná established in Moravia regions (Czech Republic). Progenies of hybrid aspen from controlled pollination (33 progenies of Populus tremula × P. tremuloides and 4 progenies of P. tremula × P. tremula) were measured at the age of 10, resp. 11 years. Basic quantitative characteristics (height, DBH, stem volume, standing volume) were evaluated and progenies were compared. Best results showed the group of progenies P. tremula × P. tremuloides obtained from crossing of maternal genotypes P. tremula selected in previous progeny tests. Standing volume of this group of progenies ranged among 197–295 m³ . ha–1 in Novosedly experiment, among 163–225 m³ . ha–1 in Krnov experiment. Standing volume of the group of progenies P. tremula × P. tremuloides with maternal genotypes selected only as plus trees in forest stands ranged among 193–208 m³ . ha–1 in Novosedly experiment, among 163–202 m³ . ha–1 in Krnov experiment. Reference progenies of P. tremula × P. tremula (crossing of parent plus trees from forest stands) planted in Krnov exhibited the lowest standing volume (92–105 m³ . ha–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a comparison of the growth of 13 domestic provenances of European beech on long-term research plots in Bohemia (No. 149 Křivoklát, No. 150 Konopiště) and in South Moravia (No. 153 Bučovice) evaluated at the age of 18 and 20 years, respectively. The plots are part of an originally 14-member series, founded in 1995. The total heights and diameters at breast height of all growing beeches were measured and subsequently mortality, stem volume and hectare growing stock were determined. From among phenotypic characteristics, the stem shape and stem forking were visually evaluated. The mean survival rate of provenances was significantly higher in the plots situated in Bohemia (67% in No. 149 and 64% in No. 150) in comparison with South Moravia (No. 153), where only 46% of the original number of planted beeches survived. On the other hand, beech provenances grow more slowly in Bohemia than in South Moravia. At the Bohemian plots, the mean growth was significantly smaller in Křivoklát (plot No. 149) than in Konopiště (plot No. 150). Although local provenances mostly had a higher survival rate, growing stock, and partially also morphological quality, some of them stand out in this respect. Presented results thus do not fully comply with the current national rules for the transfer of forest reproductive material. Since the beginning of the millennium the transfer of forest reproductive material has been attached to the natural forest areas (PLOs) in the Czech Republic. Their number (41) and limited sizes have fostered an internal debate about merging adjacent, ecologically close natural forest areas (PLOs) into broader regions of provenance where transfer of reproductive material would not be restricted horizontally (e.g. Hynek 2000; Šindelář 2003, 2004; Kotrla et al. 2019, 2020a, 2020b; Kubů 2020; Novotný et al. 2020). Historically, this approach was applied in the Czech Republic in the form of so-called Seed Areas (SOs), which were established for Norway spruce, Scots pine and European larch by the Guidelines for approving and maintaining basic materials and transfer of forest reproductive material (Směrnice 1988), and the Decree No. 82/1996 Coll. They were proposed also for other tree species. For European beech, Pospíšil (1964), Šindelář (1985) and Hynek (1990, 2000) proposed two areas: 1) Hercynian-Sudeten and 2) Carpathian SO. Šindelář (1985), in addition, defined so-called districts, where the remnants of autochthonous beech populations were to be protected from genetic contamination from the outside. In a later proposal, however, Hynek (2000) defined a total of eleven SOs for beech, maintaining the principle of “districts” in the form of so-called core PLOs (8a – Křivoklátsko, 8b – Bohemian Karst, 13 – Šumava, 21a – Jizera Mountains, 27 – Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, 30b – Moravian Karst, 36 – Central Moravian Carpathians, 38 – White Carpathians and Vizovické Hills, 40 – Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains, 41 – Hostýnsko-vsetínské Hills and Javorníky Mountains), into which the transfer of non-indigenous reproductive material should not be allowed. Regarding the allowable vertical transfer generally by ± 1 forest vegetation zone (LVS), an exception of no transfer of reproductive material from other LVS into the 7th LVS was proposed. Recent working proposal for the amendment of the existing Decree No. 139/2004 Coll. (Kotrla et al. 2020a) returns to two broader areas of provenance: I – Hercynian (PLO 1–34) and II - Carpathian (PLO 35–41), assuming a possibility of one-way transfer of reproductive material from the area II to area I, and a possibility of reciprocal transfers between neighbouring PLOs along the border of the areas I and II. Our study covers the series of three research provenance plots established in different natural conditions (Tab. 1) on which a total of 7 Czech and 6 Moravian beech provenances from different altitudinal vegetation zones (LVS 3–7) were planted (Tab. 2). Individual plots were established in a randomized complete block design with 4 random replicates of experimental variants. On individual experimental lots (parcels) with a size of 10 m × 10 m, 50 beech individuals were planted in a 2 m × 1 m spacing. Measurements on the plots No. 149 and No. 150 took place at the age of 18 years, on the Moravian plot No. 153 at the age of 20 years. From the quantitative indicators, the heights and diameters at breast height of all living trees were determined, from which the stem volumes under bark and respective growing stocks per hectare were calculated. An ultrasonic hypsometer Vertex III (accuracy 0.1 m) was used to measure the heights while the breast height diameters were measured with a millimetre calliper. Besides, the survival rates of provenances, stem shapes (scale: 1 – straight, 2 – slightly unilaterally curved, 3 – markedly unilaterally curved or bent several times) and stem forking (1 – continuous stem, 2 – one fork, 3 – repeatedly forked, done only at the plot No. 153) were assessed. The relevant indices of qualitative traits were calculated as averages from numerical values assigned to individual trees at each parcel. The significance of differences between provenances was assessed using the Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance and the subsequent Kruskal–Wallis post hoc test (Tab. 4). A summary overview of the values of all studied indicators is given in Tab. 3, and comparisons of the growth of provenances are presented in Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Overall survival rate was significantly higher at the plots No. 149 and No. 150 (67% and 64%, respectively) in Bohemia in comparison with the plot No. 153 situated in South Moravia (46%). In Bohemia, the provenances 1 Hluboká and 28 Lužná were the best ones in the plot No. 149 Křivoklát, while provenances 4 Karlovice and 15 Konopiště (local) were the best ones at the plot No. 150 Konopiště from the point of view of all monitored indicators. In Moravia (plot No. 153 Bučovice), local provenances 10 Buchlovice and 11 Bučovice were the best ones. Our results demonstrate that the response of beech provenances to the experimental transfer to different site conditions of individual research plots (Tab. 5) does not fully support current zoning rules (Decree No. 139/2004 Coll.), which are in favour of local reproductive material. Although local provenances (10, 11, 14, and 15, see Tab. 2) mostly had a higher survival rate, growing stock and partially also morphological quality, some of them stand out in this respect. In addition, several non-indigenous provenances perform very well in conditions where their transfer is not possible under current legislation. We admit that the experimental plantations are still young and exposure of provenances to local environments rather short. The results obtained so far, however, support and justify partial amendments to the existing regulatory rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the projects aimed at solving the problem of the decline of silver fi r in the Czech Republic in the 1970s was the establishment of a 20-member series of provenance plots with 153 provenances representing almost the entire distribution area of the species. The work presents results of the evaluation of 36 provenances of silver fir originating from 10 European countries, which are verified in the research plot No. 62 – Nýrsko (western Bohemia). The age of evaluated stands is 36 years. Heights, d.b.h., stem shape and health status of all living trees were determined. Calculated volumes of large wood were compared with the yield tables. Results are interpreted in connection with the assessment of geographical variability within the provenance zones, climatypes and European forest zoning. Based on the obtained data, Czech provenances CZ 185 – Bruntál, CZ 198 – Vítkov and CZ 37 – Rychnov nad Kněžnou belonging to climate type 6c – Lusatian, and also French F 118 – SaintÉvroult II (climatype 3 – Normandy) were evaluated as the best growing. The Italian provenance I 227 – Popi e Bibbiena and the French F 162 – Les Fanges IV proved to be the least successful. Only average values were reached by the provenances belonging to the local climatype 6b – Šumava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]