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This paper provides characteristic and a comprehensive overview of the adaptation strategies of sessile oak (Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl.) in the context of global climate change (GCC). The GCC is primarily manifested by increasing air temperatures and changing precipitation distribution. It poses a significant challenge to tree species including sessile oak, affecting its capacity for adaptation and survival. Despite the challenge, sessile oak shows significant drought tolerance due to its deep-reaching root system, which allows the tree to use available water more efficiently. Other adaptive strategies include the establishment of mixed stands that increase the resilience and biodiversity of the ecosystem. Adjustments of stand density through tending interventions play a significant role, helping to improve the stress resistance of stands. Additionally, coppice forest cultivation is applied on extremely dry sites. The sessile oak is also significant for its ecological plasticity – its ability to thrive on versatile soil and climatic conditions makes it a promising tree species for future forest management. Mixed stands with sessile oak and other tree species can enhance the ecosystem services of forests and also increase their endurance to GCC events. However, sessile oak faces several challenges, including the increasing risk of damage from pests and pathogens that require targeted measures for its protection and sustainable cultivation. The literature review suggests that a comprehensive understanding of sessile oak’s ecological requirements and interactions with the environment is crucial for its successful adaptation to GCC and the formulation of effective strategies for its protection and use in forest management.

Although the ongoing global climate change elicits a shift in tree species composition along the vertical gradient, very extensive areas of pure Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] stands still occur out of their ecological optimum in the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Adaptive measures should be applied in these stands to promote productivity and stability. All measurements were performed in the 2018–2021 period on three permanent research plots located in the North-East part of Bohemia (Czech Republic). Based on the results, the most favourable way to increase solar radiation use efficiency expressed by canopy production index (CPI) and leaf area efficiency (LAE) is in-time heavy pre-commercial thinning application. Th e highest CPI and LAE values were observed in the Norway spruce stand aft er heavy pre-commercial thinning application (CPI = 2.00 and LAE = 1.59). In contrast, CPI = 1.26 and LAE = 0.99 were observed aft er the mild one, and CPI = 0.73 and LAE = 0.60 were reported in the control treatment with no silvicultural intervention. Overall, the presented results indicate a positive effect of heavy pre-commercial thinning on CPI and LAE in pure young Norway spruce stands. However, more eff ort should be devoted to studying the impact of different pre-commercial thinning intensities on solar radiation use efficacy across a broader gradient of site conditions, and future work should also be extended to other tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Topsoil contents of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and related soil properties such as pH and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents were studied in the two main forest types of the Archbishopric forests in the area of the Jeseníky Mts., Czech Republic. Statistical comparisons were carried out between mature Norway spruce (NS) and European beech (EB) stands, separately for the forest floor (horizons FH) and the mineral (0–2 cm depth) soil. The FH horizons under EB showed higher contents of Zn, as compared to NS. In comparison, potentially higher contents of Cd were found under NS. The mineral topsoil under EB showed higher contents of Pb and Zn as compared to NS. In contrast, the pH was higher and the C:N ratio lower under EB, as compared to NS in both soil layers; the latter due to higher C under NS in organic horizons, while higher N under EB in the mineral soil. The results indicate that the species composition of managed forests may have conflicting impacts on soil quality and the accumulation and persistence of heavy metals in forest soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]