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There is no doubt that global climate change is happening and affecting life on Earth in a variety of ways. It can be seen on the extreme events of natural disasters, prolonged periods of drought, and increased summer and annual temperatures. While climate change affects every place on Earth, the Mediterranean region is considered a hot spot of climate change. Temperature is expected to increase further, precipitation, especially during summer months, is expected to decrease, and extreme rainfall events are projected to increase. These projected changes will affect both continental and insular environments, with small islands being particularly vulnerable due to the lack of space for species to move into more favorable conditions. As a result, these environments need to be studied, the changes quantified, and the consequences monitored. The current study focuses on the island of Fournoi in the central eastern part of the Aegean Sea. We employed data from a local meteorological station, which operates for a limited period, the Climate Research Unit TS data, and remote sensing thermal data to monitor the trends in aridity over a period of almost 40 years. The results show that summer temperature has increased significantly over the last 40 years, and this is confirmed by both meteorological and remote sensing data. At the same time, precipitation seems to remain stable. Despite the increased aridity imposed by the increased temperature and stable precipitation, vegetation seems not to be experiencing extreme stress. On the contrary, it seems to be following a positive trend over the study period. This observation is explained by the extreme resilience of the plant species of the study area and the fact that vegetation has been recovering over the last 50 years after a period of human overexploitation, and this recovery overcomes the stress imposed by increased aridity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban development in south-eastern Europe has significant ecological consequences, such as a reduction in native plant diversity, the introduction of non-native species, and increased maintenance costs of urban green spaces. Achieving sustainable urban development requires a thorough understanding of the inventory of native plant species to better manage and conserve these areas. This study analyzed 806 vegetation surveys conducted in rural and urban areas over a 30-year period, identifying 450 plant species from 39 distinct plant communities. Our findings revealed generally low dominance index values in all communities, while Shannon diversity index values were particularly high, indicating rich species diversity despite urbanization pressures. Equality index values varied slightly, reflecting differences in species distributions. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified a substantial group of species with low abundance, which is essential for understanding and managing urban biodiversity. These findings have significant implications for urban planning and plant species conservation. Low dominance and high diversity suggest opportunities to improve urban green spaces by integrating diverse native species. In addition, the ecological and practical value of ruderal species, plants that thrive in disturbed environments, was emphasized, as well as their potential in medicine, phytoremediation, green roof design, and pollination services. Through directly correlating biodiversity indices with urban sustainability goals, our study provides useful insights for urban biodiversity management and the strategic integration of native plant species into urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides useful information on the distribution of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and presents additional data on the ecology, chorology and phytocenology of the species in the Oltenia region, Romania, based on literary sources, herbaria and field observations. By providing accurate and detailed data, this study contributes significantly to the existing knowledge, as well as mapping efforts of the species at the European level. In the subspontaneous flora of the Oltenia region, the C. sativa species is found in sheltered resorts in the counties of Gorj (Glogova, Valea Perilor, Tismana, Pocruia, Polovragi, etc.) and Mehedinți (Comăneşti, Baia de Aramă, etc.), on mesobasic soils, balanced from a hydraulic point of view. The phytocenoses where this species grows are rich in southern elements (e.g., Cornus mas L., Cerasus avium (L.) Moench, Quercus dalechampii Ten., Tilia tomentosa Moench). They are included in the Castaneo-Quercetum Horvat 1938 association. In Romania, habitats that include areas occupied by sweet chestnut are classified within habitat R4141—Daco-Balkan forests of oak (Quercus petraea) and chestnut (C. sativa) with Genista tinctoria. This habitat has a very high biodiversity conservation value and ecological importance. According to the Natura 2000 directive, sweet chestnut forests are included in the habitat category 9260, which underlines the importance at the European level for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of establishing fruit orchards has traditionally been attributed to the vigor of the nursery plant used. This study aimed to evaluate the post-transplant survival, canopy growth and fruit productivity of two sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars ('Lapins'/'Colt' and 'Regina'/'Gisela 12') with different radicular basal volumes of 100%, 50% and 25% and nursery plant types: (i) bare root (BR) or (ii) bagged (B). The initial stem diameter of the plants ranged from 12 to 19 mm, and their height ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 m. Plants grafted onto 'Colt' rootstock exhibited twice the initial root volume compared to those grafted onto 'Gisela 12'. Evaluations were carried out in three commercial orchards during three seasons in the Central Valley of Chile. The results indicated that root volume and nursery type did not affect plant survival and productivity. For 'Regina'/'Gisela 12', only the bag treatment resulted in less trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA) and shoot length, and for 'Lapins'/'Colt', the BR25 treatment showed a lower initial TCSA than other treatments, although without a negative effect on yield. Hence, the presumption about the influence of root volume and plant type on the successful establishment of a sweet cherry on 'Colt' and 'Gisela 12' rootstock can be discarded. The survival, growth and precocity of the orchard depend more on post-planting conditions and water management than on the number or type of nursery plant roots. It is important to prioritize proper post-planting care and water management for optimal orchard health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to clarify the vegetation history of planted forests that are still in use today by comparing the types of land afforested in 1960 with the post-war afforestation period in Japan's Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Kinki regions. It was during that time that the majority of the planted forest in these regions was established. We calculated the afforestation ratios (afforested area of each type of land/total afforested area) for the smallest survey unit, the 1950 administrative sections, using data from the 1960 World Agriculture and Forestry Census on the afforested areas of various types of land (i.e., deforested areas resulting from natural forests, deforested areas resulting from planted forests, and areas other than forests). The afforestation ratios were then sorted into ten categories for each municipality in the three regions and mapped using GIS. The analysis results showed that the vegetation history in Kyushu, even within the same municipality, was frequently mixed in 1960; in Hokkaido, the afforestation ratio for deforested areas resulting from natural forests was extremely high, while the afforestation ratio for deforested areas resulting from planted forests was low. In contrast, the Kinki region has a low afforestation ratio for non-forest regions. This study provides useful information for ecosystem management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understory vegetation is one of the most important links for improving forest biodiversity, and its restoration is conducive to sustainable forest development, energy flow, and nutrient cycling. However, little is known about the developmental dynamics and main driving factors of the long-time series coverage, biomass, diversity, and species composition of plantation understory vegetation. In a case study of three typical plantations, with a natural secondary forest as reference in the Loess Plateau of China, we collected understory vegetation from a Robinia pseudoacacia Linn. deciduous broad-leaved plantation, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. evergreen coniferous plantation, and mixed plantation with an age span of 10 to 50 years. (1) The understory plantation coverage and biomass results of stands with different ages showed the R. pseudoacacia plantation to be significantly higher than the P. tabulaeformis plantation, and the species diversity of the P. tabulaeformis plantation changed the most with the stand age. However, the growth resource imbalance, and drastic changes in the stands' environment caused by excessive intraspecific competition in the early stage of the P. tabulaeformis plantation vegetation restoration, are the main reasons that make the species diversity of undergrowth vegetation of P. tabulaeformis plantation lower than that of other stand types. (2) The understory species composition of the plantations revealed their degree of community stability. Compared to the R. pseudoacacia plantation and P. tabulaeformis plantation, the mixed plantation had higher stability, and its species composition closely resembled a natural secondary forest. The community stability of the P. tabulaeformis plantation was the lowest because it had the lowest coverage, biomass, and species diversity of understory vegetation. However, the understory species composition of the three plantation types converged, which was due to atypical species contribution. (3) The dynamic changes of canopy and soil nutrients were the main driving factors affecting the R. pseudoacacia plantation understory vegetation species composition. Stand density and elevation limited the understory vegetation communities of P. tabulaeformis plantation restoration. Soil bulk density is the key factor affecting understory vegetation in mixed plantations, and this effect weakens with the stand age. In future studies, the focus should be on the converged action and further development trend of atypical species, choosing an appropriate recovery strategy (active or passive), and providing more possibilities for the intensive management of vegetation under different plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chestnut, Castanea sativa Miller (Fagales: Fagaceae), is an ecologically and economically important tree species of the forest ecosystem in Southern Europe, North-Western Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, and the Caucasus. The distributional range of chestnut in Europe has been highly modified by humans since ancient times. Biotic and abiotic factors have dramatically changed its distribution. Historic anthropogenic range expansion makes it difficult to identify habitat requirements for natural stands of chestnut. In the Caucasus, natural stands of chestnut survived in glacial forest refugia and landscapes that have been difficult for humans to colonize. To identify the species reliable habitat requirements, we estimated the relationship between climatic variables and 620 occurrence locations of natural chestnut stands from the Caucasus and validated the model using GBIF data from outside the Caucasus. We found that our best model is reasonably accurate and the data from the Caucasus characterize chestnut stands throughout the species range well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperate forests are highly complex ecosystems in which many aspects of invertebrate distribution and abundance remain poorly understood. In order to accumulate data on the vertical and temporal distribution of forest Lepidoptera in the Republic of Mordovia (central European part of Russia), specimens were collected with beer-baited traps from April to October in 2019–2022. Traps were deployed at different heights above ground level (i.e., 1,5, 3,5, 7, and 12 m) in deciduous forests, pine forests, forest edges, and forest glades. Over the four-year sampling period, over 69,000 specimens of Lepidoptera were collected and examined. In deciduous forests, maximum abundance was observed at 12 m above ground level, whereas in pine forests, maximum abundance was observed at 7 m. In both forest types, the lowest abundance was observed at the lowest sample sites (i.e., 1.5 m above ground level). In forest glades in 2020, maximum abundance was observed at 2 m, with abundance showing a conspicuous decline with trap height above the ground. However, this pattern was not repeated in subsequent years. Lepidoptera exhibited various patterns of seasonal abundance among habitat types, but most showed bi- or trimodal patterns (corresponding with spring summer and fall), with the greatest number of specimens captured in late summer or autumn. Forest edges showed the greatest abundance of all sampled habitat types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mid‐field woodlots play an important role in maintaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. However, it is not clear whether non‐linear or linear woodlots are most beneficial for wild bee conservation.We assessed the attractiveness of two common types of woodlots in an agricultural landscape in northern Poland (non‐linear and linear: 7 and 9 sites, respectively) in terms of wild bee abundance, species richness, and functional diversity.Linear habitats had higher abundance of wild bees. However, woodlot type did not affect wild bee species composition or functional trait composition. Species composition responded significantly to measures of syntaxonomic heterogeneity and landscape heterogeneity. Woodlot area, landscape context (isolation and landscape heterogeneity), and syntaxonomic heterogeneity explained most of the differences among habitats (non‐linear vs. linear) in wild bee abundance and species richness, regardless of the habitat type. The higher attractiveness of linear woodlots was due to increased food availability in the herbaceous layer in the spring–summer (June) and summer (July–August) periods.Linear woodlots have the potential to be used as tools for integrating agricultural production with biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen fertilisation is a common form of agricultural intensification, aimed at increasing biomass, which can affect plant species diversity and ecosystem functioning. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis of nitrogen fertilisation studies in European permanent grasslands, we asked: (i) what relationship form exists between nitrogen application rate and change in plant diversity, compared to zero fertilisation controls; and (ii) how grassland, management and study characteristics affect this relationship. Meta-analysis of 34 control-treatment effects from 14 studies conducted across nine European countries revealed a negative linear relationship between nitrogen fertilisation rate and change in plant species richness, equivalent to approximately 1.5 species/m2 lost for every 100 Kg ha−1 yr−1 of nitrogen added. Fertilisation induced reductions in plant species richness were greater when defoliation rates were lower. We found some evidence that grasslands with a higher baseline plant diversity lost more species when fertilised compared to more species poor grasslands, although uncertainty was high. Due to the diverse grassland types included in the analysis, the variability in fertilisation-driven changes in plant diversity was high. We identified several remaining limitations to our understanding, including uncertainty about non-linear effects, which could aid efforts to optimise the trade-off of plant diversity and increasing grassland yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood and charcoal were key sources of energy during early industrialization in Europe (18th century), preceding the large-scale exploitation of fossil coal. Past timber harvesting implied land transformation and woodland resources management. Therefore, relict charcoal kilns and historical documents of forest management are important sources of information about past woodland composition and structure. However, ancient charcoal kilns are poorly documented in temperate woodlands in the lowlands of western Europe, especially combined with historical written sources. In this study, charcoal production was investigated in an area in NE France, by combining charcoal and historical sources analysis, along with innovative dating methodologies. Thus, by using both radiocarbon and optically-stimulated luminescence dating, we showed that the activity lasted until recent times (19th–early 20th centuries) and Carpinus was the dominant taxon in charcoal assemblage. Moreover, kiln attributes seemed to be independent of topographical variables. Woodlands in this area were subject to a coppice-with-standards management, where small diameter wood was preferred to produce charcoal and large diameter stems, mainly Quercus and Fagus, were traded as timber. The dominance of Carpinus is rather uncommon in charcoal studies but supports the importance of Carpinus as fuelwood since the Middle Ages, as confirmed by many written sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of rare species is essential for maintaining ecosystem function. Quercus hondae is a rare evergreen oak species (Cyclobalanopsis) endemic to Japan. This species is found in several locations in Southwestern Japan; small populations remain in the tutelary forests of the Japanese shrine. To evaluate the genetic diversity and phylogeographic structure of this rare species, 11 microsatellite loci and chloroplast DNA sequences are analyzed for 12 populations of Q. hondae and 8 populations of the more widespread congeneric species, Q. glauca. It is found that heterozygosity at both the population and species level is substantially lower in Q. hondae than in Q. glauca. Genetic differentiation among populations of Q. hondae was high, in contrast to Q. glauca, in which populations exhibit largely insignificant differentiation. STRUCTURE analysis shows that at K = 7, the clusters largely corresponded to major predefined populations. This study suggests that there is little gene flow among extant Q. hondae populations and that Q. hondae is genetically differentiated due to the greater effect of genetic drift in small populations. This pattern is in sharp contrast to that of a more common congeneric species, which will be an important consideration in the conservation of Q. hondae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While deforestation is a major environmental issue in the tropics, with thousands of hectares converted to agricultural land every year, in Europe the opposite trend is observed, with land abandonment in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas allowing the afforestation of former agricultural and pastoral land. This trend allows semi-natural ecosystems to recover after a prolonged period of exploitation and often over-exploitation, but it may also lead to significant loss of landscape heterogeneity with potentially detrimental effects on biodiversity. The current study aims to monitor changes in the vegetation coverage across a period of 35 years (between 1984 and 2019) in the Rhodopi Mountains range National Park in northern Greece. A time series of LANDSAT TM (16 images), LANDSAT ETM + (1 image) and LANDSAT 8 OLI/TIRS (4 images) were employed. One data transformation method was applied (TCT), and five vegetation indices (NDVI, NDWI, SAVI, EVI2 and BSI) were calculated to capture the land cover transition during the study period. The obtained results and all used indices suggest that over the study period there was a continuous trend of vegetation cover increasing, with open areas decreasing. The observed trend was further confirmed using Object Oriented Image Analysis on two pairs of images sensed in 1984 and 2019, respectively. The results suggest that almost 22.000 ha of open habitats have been lost to broadleaved and conifer woodlands, while the former also appear to be advancing into conifer-covered areas. This trend has led to significant loss of landscape heterogeneity and to a broadleaf-dominated landscape. The results are discussed in relation to their driving forces, the potential implications on biodiversity and the risk of wildfires in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Coppice woods were once widespread in Europe. It is usually assumed that underwood tree taxon composition was not directly influenced by people, whereas especially Quercus was promoted among standard trees. However, no work has quantitatively tested these assumptions. Our main question was whether there were any patterns in our data to suggest that certain trees occurred more frequently as standards than as underwood, possibly as a result of management decisions. Location: Czech Republic. Methods: We constructed a database covering 12,000 hectares of forests around AD 1900. We recorded the occurrence of tree taxa for standards and underwood in 1,507 compartments in 21 forest units. We visualised patterns in these data by bar graphs and chord diagrams. We analysed correlation patterns through association analysis and co‐correspondence analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant association between the occurrences of standards and underwood in individual compartments for Quercus, Alnus, Carpinus, Fagus, Larix, Populus tremula and Tilia. Only Quercus standards and underwood showed a positive association. The taxon composition of standards and underwood in forest compartments was statistically significantly correlated. Conclusions: No simple answer can be given to the question whether or not the taxon composition of standards and underwood in coppice woods differed as a result of management. At the level of individual tree taxa, some trees were more common as standards while others, as underwood. However, the prevalence of Quercus among standards was not confirmed because in our study area Quercus was a common underwood tree as well. At the same time, no significant differences were apparent in the taxon composition of standards and underwood in individual forest compartments. It seems difficult to differentiate between the effects of human selection and indirect selection through natural properties and environmental factors. Our results also highlight the need to carefully consider the properties of written historical sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: How do contrasting environmental conditions among forests and hedgerows affect the vegetative and reproductive performance of understorey forest herbs in both habitats? Can hedgerows support reproductive source populations of forest herbs, thus potentially allowing progressive dispersal of successive generations along these linear habitats? Location: Hedgerows and deciduous forest patches in agricultural landscapes across the European temperate biome. Methods: First, we assessed differences in environmental conditions among forests and hedgerows. Next, we quantified plant performance based on a set of functional life‐history traits for four forest herbs (Anemone nemorosa, Ficaria verna, Geum urbanum, Poa nemoralis) with contrasting flowering phenology and colonisation capacity in paired combinations of forests and hedgerows, and compared these traits among both habitats. Finally, we assessed relationships between plant performance and environmental conditions in both habitats. Results: All study species showed a higher above‐ground biomass in hedgerows than in forests. For Poa nemoralis and Geum urbanum, we also found a higher reproductive output in hedgerows, which was mainly correlated to the higher sub‐canopy temperatures therein. The "ancient forest herb" Anemone nemorosa, however, appeared to have a lower reproductive output in hedgerows than in forests, while for Ficaria verna no reproductive differences were found between the two habitats. Conclusions: This is the first study on such a broad geographical scale to provide evidence of reproductive source populations of forest herbs in hedgerows. Our findings provide key information on strategies by which forest plants grow, reproduce and disperse in hedgerow environments, which is imperative to better understand the dispersal corridor function of these wooded linear structures. Finally, we highlight the urgent need to develop guidelines for preserving, managing and establishing hedgerows in intensive agricultural landscapes, given their potential to contribute to the long‐term conservation and migration of forest herbs in the face of global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsule: Nest success rate of Hawfinches Coccothraustes coccothraustes within our study areas averaged 36% across five seasons, a level unlikely to be driving population declines and considerably higher than was suggested by recent estimates from the long-term Nest Record Scheme. Aims: To investigate potential habitat correlates of nest success and identify nest predators from an intensive study on Hawfinches. To compare nest success and habitat of these nests with those found by Nest Record Scheme (NRS) recorders and test whether there is evidence of a decline in nest success over time from the NRS data. Methods: Females trapped at feed sites were fitted with radio-tags and tracked back to nest sites providing a sample of nests for subsequent monitoring. Habitat measures potentially influencing survival were collected at nest sites and modelled against nest outcome. Nest success was compared with that from the long-term Nest Record Scheme. Nest cameras were deployed to identify predators. Results: Nest success varied among years, but the mean value was not substantially lower than other Hawfinch studies or from other species with similar nesting strategies. Apparent recent declines in success suggested by Nest Record Scheme data were not evident in our study areas. Only avian species were recorded predating nests and a number of partial predations were recorded. No correlation was found between overall success for study nests and the habitat or temporal measurements collected. Conclusions: Within our study areas, average Hawfinch nest success and productivity appeared to be sufficient to maintain local population stability though our sample size was modest and further work would be beneficial. General nest recording may have inherent biases that lead to an over-estimation of nest failure compared to those found by more structured study. Drivers of recent UK Hawfinch declines may be operating outside of the nesting season and/or in landscapes outside primary woodland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture, soil CO2 efflux (RS), and isotopic composition of RS (δR) were studied in three sessile oak forest stands with different management practice: a high forest (HF), a high forest converted from coppice stand (CHF), and a coppice forest (CF). Measurements were taken monthly, with each position described by light parameters. RS was driven by temperature and moisture. RS increased dramatically with moisture in relatively dry soil, while they remained on the same level when moisture exceeded 13%. Differences in mean soil moisture and RS normalized for 10 °C (R10) among the stands usually followed the pattern HF > CF > CHF. The δR was highest in CHF, but during drought the pattern was HF > CHF > CF. To test the effect of stand structure on soil moisture and R10, we analyzed relationship of these variables to light parameters calculated for the angles of 60° and 180°. Subsequently, we analyzed data from all measured positions divided according to gap fraction into six groups. The results showed that forest floor shading by the canopy decreases moisture regardless of stand type, but no significant relationship was found between the light parameters and R10. We may conclude that soil moisture is affected by canopy structure and RS by stand type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixed Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., Pinus massoniana Lamb., and hardwood forest in southeastern China is a major assemblage in natural secondary forests, and of national and international importance in terms of both timber and ecosystem services. However, over-harvesting has threatened its long-term sustainability, and there is a knowledge gap relating to the effect of harvesting on the ecosystem. After conifer species were selected for harvesting, the mixed Chinese fir, pine, and hardwood forest was changed into mixed evergreen broadleaf forest. In this context, we observed the restoration dynamics of plant communities over a period of 15 years (1996 to 2011) with different levels of harvesting intensity, including selective harvesting at low (13.0% removal of growing stock volume), medium (29.1%), high (45.8%), and extra-high (67.1%) intensities, as well as clear-cut harvesting (100.0%), with non-harvesting as the control, based on permanent sample plots established in a randomized block design in these forests in southeastern China. The impact on the richness, diversity, and evenness of plant species derived from descriptive statistical analyses was shown to initially increase, and then decrease, with an increase in harvesting intensity. The most critical impacts were on the richness, diversity, and evenness of shrub and herb species. Richness, diversity, and evenness of plant species recovered and increased under selective harvesting at low and medium intensities, while these parameters had not recovered and significantly decreased under selective harvesting at high and extra-high intensities, as well as with clear-cut harvesting. The impact on the plant community stability was derived from the stability test method of the improved Godron M. The plant community stability was closest to the point of stability (20/80) under selective harvesting at medium intensity, followed by selective harvesting at low intensity. The plant community stability was far from the point of stability (20/80) under selective harvesting at high and extra-high intensities, as well as with clear-cut harvesting. Of these treatments, clear-cut harvesting had the greatest effect with regard to reducing stability. Therefore, these results indicate that the selective harvesting at low and medium intensities is conducive to preserve or increase the species diversity and community stability. In order to prioritize promoting plant species diversity, clear-cut harvesting and selective harvesting at high and extra-high intensities should be avoided with regard to this type of forest in this region. This study sheds light on the practice of forest operation in the study region and subtropical forests with the same environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To maintain biodiversity in plantation forest ecosystems it is important to understand the community assembly process. Canopy thinning effectively increases understorey diversity in plantation forests. However, the process of understorey community assembly after canopy thinning remains unclear. We compared the relative importance of two mechanisms that could affect the assembly of understorey woody communities after thinning: (1) environmental filtering due to competition from canopy trees, and (2) stochastic immigration. If the latter is dominant, the effectiveness of local treatment might be unpredictable because of the variable probability of immigration at each location. Location Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Methods We censused the understorey tree communities in 18 quadrats (each 1 m × 1 m) in each of 49 stands of Japanese cedar plantations. The mean species richness of the 18 quadrats (alpha-diversity), variation in community composition among them (beta-diversity), deviation of beta-diversity from that of a random community (beta-deviation) and total species richness of the plots (gamma-diversity) were compared among censuses (before thinning, 2 and 5 yr after thinning). The relative contributions of two explanatory variables to the various diversities were examined: (1) basal area of canopy trees (overstorey BA, an index of environmental filtering), and (2) available seed source in the surrounding landscape (landscape effect; an index of the probability of immigration). Results Although neither beta-diversity nor gamma-diversity changed throughout the censuses, the alpha-diversity, stem abundance and beta-deviation were affected by thinning. beta-deviation increased after thinning. Overstorey BA limited alpha- and gamma-diversity throughout the censuses. The landscape effect was more significant in terms of beta-deviation after than before thinning. In addition, the effective scale of the landscape effect increased after thinning. Conclusion Our results indicate that both processes are important: thinning brought about an increase in the relative importance of stochastic immigration as well as a reduction in competitive pressure from canopy trees. These results suggest that while local treatment can increase understorey diversity, stochastic immigration from seed sources is the direct driver after thinning. Although local treatment is effective, its efficiency depends on the seed source availability in the surrounding landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation practices in Europe frequently attempt to perpetuate or mimic the 'traditional' forms of management of semi-natural habitats, but with a limited understanding of what these entailed., We review the emerging understanding of ecological processes, structures and management interventions that enhance biodiversity (wildlife) at diverse scales. These are then examined in the context of pre-industrial ( c. 1200-1750) land management systems in lowland England, in order to identify historic practices which are likely to have provided important wildlife resources, but which are relatively neglected in current conservation management., Principles enhancing alpha and beta diversity and the conservation status of threatened species include structural complexity and heterogeneity at nested spatial scales; physical disturbance and exposure of mineral substrate; nutrient removal; lengthened successional rotations; and spatial variation in grazing regimes., The available evidence suggests that pre-industrial land management was generally characterized by intense resource exploitation and significant levels of biomass harvest; complex nested structural heterogeneity both between and within landscape elements; overlaying of multiple land uses; and spatial and temporal variability in management, rendering the concept of long-lived 'traditional' practice problematic. Grazing patterns are poorly understood, but intensive grazing was probably the norm in most contexts, potentially resulting in simplified sward structures and suppressed ecotonal vegetation., In much of the pre-industrial period, early-successional and disturbed microhabitats were widespread, but ungrazed or lightly grazed herb-rich vegetation may have been limited, the converse of current conservation management. The key change since then has been homogenization at multiple scales, coupled with reduction of specific niches and conditions., Synthesis and applications. In adopting perceived 'traditional' management practices, modern conservation rarely achieves the range and complexity of conditions that were present in the past. A better understanding of past practices allows more favourable management of those surviving semi-natural habitats where historic assemblages persist - with greater emphasis on physical disturbance and variability in prescriptions both temporally and spatially. When creating or restoring habitats, after interruption of management sufficiently long for dependent assemblages to be lost, better appreciation of historic management encourages novel forms of intervention to enhance biodiversity, with emphasis on complex structural and spatial heterogeneity at nested scales, biomass removal and nutrient reduction. These strongly management-based approaches are complementary to the use of large herbivores to create and maintain dynamic ecotonal mosaics in the manner advocated by some proponents of 'rewilding'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions Can signs of 19th century grassland management, which can be observed in the flora immediately (2-4 yrs) after clear-cutting in boreonemoral Sweden, still remain 4 yrs later? Do the effects from the time since clear-cutting differ between forest and grassland plant species? Location Province of Östergötland, southern Sweden. Methods Twelve contemporary clear-cut areas that were once meadows and 12 that were once forests were selected using land-use maps from the 1870s. Grasses and herbaceous plants were surveyed twice, once in 2009 and once in 2013 (2-4 and 6-8 yrs after clear-cutting, respectively). Plant presence was recorded within 100 circular sample plots (radius 1 m) placed evenly throughout each respective clear-cut area along transects spaced 25-m apart. The number of sample plots in which a species was present was taken as a measure of that species' frequency. Random effects meta-analysis, odds ratios and ANCOVA were used to analyse species responses to clear-cutting over time. Results A total of 170 plant species were found in the study, of which 33 were classified as grassland indicator species and 31 as plants primarily confined to forests. Clear-cut areas with a history as meadowland had, on average, up to 64% higher total species richness and 110% more grassland indicator species than did clear-cut areas with a history as forest. The time since clear-cutting had no effect on total species richness. However, the odds of finding a grassland indicator species decreased with the time since clear-cutting, whereas the odds of finding a forest species increased. Conclusions We concluded that land-use history plays an important role in explaining the flora found in Swedish clear-cuts, and that its effects on species richness remain for a minimum of 8 yrs after harvest (conservative estimate). This phenomenon highlights the importance of acknowledging land-use legacies in ecological research and conservation. Future studies should investigate various options for the promotion of grassland plants in clear-cuts with a history of grassland management while also acknowledging the potential conflicts between conservation and production. The results may pertain to other countries with similar land-use histories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The ecosystem service of predation of weed seeds by naturally occurring seed-eating animals, including ants, in agricultural fields has been suggested to be a potentially important biocontrol option. Laboratory and field tests have found high levels of seed removal from experimentally placed seed; however, the effect of predation on naturally dispersed weed seeds is unknown. We measured the effect of invertebrate seed predators on natural weed seed dispersal and germination in a field experiment under commercial growing conditions. 2. The two-factor, large-scale field experiment in a field used to grow wheat with conservation tillage used an insecticide to remove soil invertebrates (ants had been reduced by 85% relative to water controls) and shallow tillage for mechanical weed removal (no effect on ants). There was one natural weed seeding event, when a wind storm blew one single incursion of Salsola australis (Chenopodiaceae) tumbleweeds across the field. 3. We measured the number of tumbleweeds after 2 months and found the removal of ants resulted in a doubling of tumbleweeds: 3383 ± 513 weeds ha -1 in the insecticide treatment plots compared with 1768 ± 100 weeds ha -1 in the water control treatment plots, and 1948 ± 227 weeds ha ±1 in the rest of the field. 4. The difference in tumbleweed germination and growth was not due to growing conditions. We measured soil nutrients before the incursion and soil moisture during the weed growing period and found that there were higher levels of nitrogenous compounds in water control plots, but no other nutrient or moisture differences, than in insecticide exclusion plots. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our results provide evidence that the ecosystem service of ant predation of naturally dispersed weed seeds limits weed abundance in commercial cereal fields in warmer climates. The fields were not managed to increase ants; alternative conservation agricultural management methods that promote agro-ecology, including low or zero tillage and low insecticide use, could increase ant abundance and thereby reduce weeds. The use of seed predators as a type of biocontrol agent will need to be integrated with other weed management methods, including herbicides and shallow tillage, although the latter may conflict with ant survival. The use of seed predators may be particularly advantageous in organic systems, or locations where economic margins are low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions Do woodland field layer communities reassemble effectively after being translocated from a donor to a receptor site? Does the method of soil handling (turfing or loose-tipping) or the season of transfer determine the outcome? Location A deciduous ancient coppice woodland in Kent, southeast England. Methods Two methods of soil translocation were compared: loose-tipping, involving stripping a layer of topsoil and re-spreading it at a receptor site; and soil placement, in which soil turves were cut and laid intact. The operation also provided an opportunity to observe the effects of seasonal translocation, respectively, in autumn and spring. Soil compaction, texture and chemistry were assessed after translocation, while vegetation cover changes were followed over a 10-yr period. Results Immediately after soil transfer, the vegetation community reverted to an earlier successional stage, with bare ground rapidly colonized by annuals and biennials, many germinating from the soil seed bank. By the third year after translocation, a perennial vegetation cover had developed comprising grasses and woodland-edge opportunists as well as most of the original woodland species. After 10 yr, bramble ( Rubus fruticosus agg.) dominated the receptor sites, along with the woodland geophyte bluebell ( Hyacinthoides non-scripta), while some woodland species became less abundant. Localized soil compaction radically altered species composition. Autumn translocation promoted better immediate recovery of forest species than spring translocation, while soil placement caused less initial damage than loose-tipping. Convergence in vegetation composition in all soil handling treatments was observed towards canopy closure. Conclusions Results illustrate the importance of conducting translocation operations in the autumn when the vegetation is dormant and soil moisture is low, and point to the need for sensitive soil handling. After 10 yr the field layer at the receptor site still resembled that of the donor, but with differences in abundance of some individual species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions What are the effects of replacing mixed species natural forests with Cryptomeria japonica plantations on understorey plant functional and species diversity? What is the role of the understorey light environment in determining understorey diversity and community in the two types of forest? Location Subtropical northeast Taiwan. Methods We examined light environments using hemispherical photography, and diversity and composition of understorey plants of a 35-yr C. japonica plantation and an adjacent natural hardwood forest. Results Understorey plant species richness was similar in the two forests, but the communities were different; only 18 of the 91 recorded understorey plant species occurred in both forests. Relative abundance of plants among different functional groups differed between the two forests. Relative numbers of shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant seedling individuals were also different between the two forest types with only one shade-intolerant seedling in the plantation compared to 23 seedlings belonging to two species in the natural forest. In the natural forest 11 species of tree seedling were found, while in the plantation only five were found, and the seedling density was only one third of that in the natural forest. Across plots in both forests, understorey plant richness and diversity were negatively correlated with direct sunlight but not indirect sunlight, possibly because direct light plays a more important role in understorey plant growth. Conclusions We report lower species and functional diversity and higher light availability in a natural hardwood forest than an adjacent 30-yr C. japonica plantation, possibly due to the increased dominance of shade-intolerant species associated with higher light availability. To maintain plant diversity, management efforts must be made to prevent localized losses of shade-adapted understorey plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field production of seedlings used to create nursery stock liners involves transplanting and root pruning that can alter root system architecture. Seedlings of eight species of trees commonly used in urban landscapes were selected based on the configuration of their woody lateral roots; Preferred (maximum gap between roots ≤90 degrees), Acceptable (maximum gap 120–150 degrees), and Inferior (≥180 degree gap—no lateral roots on one side). The lateral root configuration (LRC) of the seedlings was compared to the LRC one year after replanting. The number of lateral or regenerated roots alone was generally adequate to form an acceptable root flare (≥3 roots) one year after seedlings were replanted. The maximum gap in lateral roots as a seedling was not consistent with the maximum gap one year after the seedlings were replanted in most species. It often became larger. Neither lateral roots nor regenerated roots alone could reliably produce a root structure with an acceptable maximum gap between roots. Lateral roots and roots regenerated from the pruned end of the main root, together produced enough flare roots one year after replanting with a small enough maximum gap in the radial distribution for good stability. This information may be an initial step in developing criteria for seedling grading systems that will improve root systems of nursery stock grown for planting in urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, a forest is also understood as a real social actor with multiple-scale influences, capable of significantly conditioning the social, economic, and cultural system of a whole territory. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct and interpret the population's perception of the silvicultural activities related to traditional use of forest resources of the southwestern Sardinian Marganai State Forest. The "Marganai case" has brought to the attention of the mass media the role of this forest and its silviculture. The research was carried out via semi-structured interviews with the main stakeholders in the area. The qualitative approach in the collection and analysis of the information gathered has allowed us to reconstruct the historical-cultural and social cohesion function that the forest plays in rural communities. The results highlight that the main risks concern the erosion of the cultural forest heritage due to the abandonment of the rural dimension (mainly by the new generations, but not only), with the consequent spread of deep distortions in the perception, interpretation, and necessity of forestry activities and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the article was to model the economic efficiency of coppice and compare it with that of an oak high forest (primarily for the territory of Křivoklátsko Forest Park). The model calculations were based on actual expenses and revenues from the area of interest to the maximum possible extent. The calculations included methods both with time factor (dynamic methods, namely the method of net present value) and without time factor (static methods). For the area of Křivoklátsko Forest Park, the examined data showed that the economic efficiency of coppice could be greater than that of high forest or over-mature coppice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of canopy gaps is thought to be an efficient silvicultural operation to diversify species composition of monoculture conifer plantations; however, the shortage of regeneration materials in overclosed plantations is one of the concerns related to this operation. Seed dispersal by frugivorous birds may play an important role in inducing the spread of native broad-leaved trees in canopy gaps in plantations in the warm temperate zone of central Japan because bird-dispersed woody species are abundant in this area. We monitored the dynamics of the abundance and species composition of bird-dispersed seeds over 12 years after gap creation in the canopy of a Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold et Zucc.) Endl.) plantation. We also studied the effects of gap-mosaic patterns (from many small gaps to fewer large gaps) on dispersal. We used a hierarchical Bayesian zero-inflated Poisson model to analyze the factors affecting seed dispersal by frugivorous birds. Seed dispersal by birds increased with gap age except for just after gap creation. Dispersal in coarser gap mosaics was more abundant than that in finer gap mosaics. The species diversity of dispersed seeds in each seed trap (α-diversity) and plot (γ-diversity) showed similar trends in terms of temporal changes and differences between plots related to seed dispersal abundance; β-diversity did not. These trends might have been caused by shrub-vegetation development after gap creation. The effects of shrub vegetation were classified into the attraction by fruits borne within the vegetation, as well as other effects related to vegetation, such as functions of perch availability and insect presence as a food source. The presence of bird-dispersed seeds was strongly promoted by vegetation in all seasons, but only marginally by the presence of fruit-bearing vegetation. However, fruits attracted seed dispersal by frugivorous birds in the winter season. Our results suggest that both vegetation development and fruiting are important for promoting seed dispersal by frugivorous birds, and those effects are different in different seasons according to vegetation conditions and shifting food resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree species diversity can positively affect the multifunctionality of forests. This is why conifer monocultures of Scots pine and Norway spruce, widely promoted in Central Europe since the 18th and 19th century, are currently converted into mixed stands with naturally dominant European beech. Biodiversity is expected to benefit from these mixtures compared to pure conifer stands due to increased abiotic and biotic resource heterogeneity. Evidence for this assumption is, however, largely lacking. Here, we investigated the diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens at the plot (alpha diversity) and at the landscape (gamma diversity) level in pure and mixed stands of European beech and conifer species (Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir) in four regions in Germany. We aimed to identify compositions of pure and mixed stands in a hypothetical forest landscape that can optimize gamma diversity of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens within regions. Results show that gamma diversity of the investigated groups is highest when a landscape comprises different pure stands rather than tree species mixtures at the stand scale. Species mainly associated with conifers rely on light regimes that are only provided in pure conifer forests, whereas mixtures of beech and conifers are more similar to beech stands. Combining pure beech and pure conifer stands at the landscape scale can increase landscape level biodiversity and conserve species assemblages of both stand types, while landscapes solely composed of stand scale tree species mixtures could lead to a biodiversity reduction of a combination of investigated groups of 7 up to 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of hedgerows in maintaining biodiversity in areas of intensive agriculture is well known, particularly for bats. However, few studies have addressed the importance of the intrinsic characteristics of hedgerows for bats and disentangled the relative effects of local and landscape characteristics of hedgerows on bat activity. In an acoustic survey, we assessed bat activity by recording bat calls using detectors and manually verified all calls using spectrogram analysis. The parameters used to determine local hedgerow structures were the length of the line of trees, of shrub hedgerows, of wooded hedgerows without shrubs and of hedgerows including the three strata (tree, shrub and herb) at a local scale. We assessed the influence of hedgerow structure and on bat activity with an approach considering both species and community, comparing two different scales, the local and the landscape. We highlighted the importance of hedgerow characteristics for bats on both the local and landscape scales even though responses differ between species and spatial scales. We found that the presence of trees in hedgerows exerts a generally positive influence on bat activity and that hedgerows with the three strata had lower bat activity than hedgerows with trees. In our study, some bats seemed to prefer agricultural landscapes dominated by wooded hedgerows and, on the local scale, hedgerows that include trees with little diversified among strata, except for gleaning species. Our study shows that in terms of hedgerow management, conservation efforts must be designed and undertaken on both the local and landscape scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining environmental flow requirements to sustain aquatic ecosystem health remains a challenge. The purpose of this research was to quantify the extent of current flow alterations relative to baseline hydrologic conditions of a simulated historic flow regime prior to anthropogenic flow disturbance (i.e., pre-settlement flows). Results allowed assessment of the efficacy of environmental flow targets based on pre-settlement land cover in a contemporary mixed-land-use catchment (i.e., urban, agricultural, and forested). Pre-settlement flows were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Pre-settlement land cover, based on soil physical characteristics, was used to simulate pre-settlement flows with the SWAT model. Environmental flow targets were calculated for each flow element of a historic flow regime (magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change). Urban (20% of watershed area) and agricultural development (42% of watershed area) were correlated to decreased median daily stream flow by 0.8 m3 s−1 (percent difference = −115%), increased maximum daily flow by 22 m3 s−1 (percent difference = 13%), and a 34% increase in daily flow variability. High flow frequency increased by 45–76% following development. Results highlight a need for consideration of environmental flow targets appropriate for watersheds already modified by existing land use, and point to a need for long-term, broad-scale, and persistent efforts to develop achievable environmental flow recommendations, particularly in rapidly urbanizing mixed-land-use watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]