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Dozens of textural features have been published, but their realistic validation for efficient recognition applications still needs to be discovered. Textural features are derived using various approaches. We present a benchmark that can be used to evaluate these features and categorize them based on their information efficiency. We propose how the features can be benchmarked and explain different ways of measuring their properties and performance. Most textural feature-extracting algorithms are only based on information extraction from monospectral images (gray-level). Apart from native multispectral algorithms, we generalize some of these originally monospectral features for hyperspectral textures in our illustrating examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Historical disturbances shaped the contemporary local and regional richness of fungi. • Natural disturbances had contrasting effects on fungi at different spatial scales. • Local red-listed species diversity increased due to higher disturbance frequency. • Regional diversity of all species was decreased by higher disturbance severity. Understanding the processes shaping the composition of assemblages at multiple spatial scales in response to disturbance events is crucial for preventing ongoing biodiversity loss and for improving current forest management policies aimed at mitigating climate change and enhancing forest resilience. Deadwood-inhabiting fungi represent an essential component of forest ecosystems through their association with deadwood decomposition and the cycling of nutrients and carbon. Although we have sufficient evidence for the fundamental role of deadwood availability and variability of decay stages for fungal species diversity, the influence of long-term natural disturbance regimes as the main driver of deadwood quantity and quality has not been sufficiently documented. We used a dendroecological approach to analyse the effect of 250-years of historical natural disturbance and structural habitat elements on local (plot-level) and regional (stand-level) species richness of deadwood-inhabiting fungi. We used data collected from 51 study plots within nine best-preserved primary spruce forest stands distributed across the Western Carpathian Mountains. Historical disturbances shaped the contemporary local and regional species richness of fungi, with contrasting impacts of disturbance regime components at different spatial scales. While local diversity of red-listed species has increased due to higher disturbance frequency, regional diversity of all species has decreased due to higher severity historical disturbances. The volume of deadwood positively influenced the species richness of deadwood-inhabiting fungi while canopy openness had a negative impact. The high number of observed rare species highlights the important role of primary forests for biodiversity conservation. From a landscape perspective, we can conclude that the distribution of species from the regional species pool is - at least to some extent - driven by past spatiotemporal patterns of disturbance events. Natural disturbances occurring at higher frequencies that create a mosaic forest structure are necessary for fungal species - especially for rare and endangered taxa. Thus, both the protection of intact forest landscapes and forest management practises that emulate natural disturbance processes are recommended to support habitats of diverse fungal communities and their associated ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the year 1993, there was a great increase in the number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in the Czech Republic, and this high level has persisted with certain fluctuations. In the period 1965–1992, there were 8690 cases (annual average: 310.4), whereas there were 8674 registered cases in the years 1993–2006 (annual average: 619.6). In 2006, there was an exceptionally sudden increase with 1029 registered TBE cases, i.e., the national incidence was 10/100,000, the highest level recorded so far. It is documented that this situation was significantly influenced by exceptional weather in 2006. During the warm and rainy spring and early summer period (April–June), high host-seeking activity of Ixodes ricinus was recorded and also a high incidence of TBE resulting in a typical spring/summer peak of disease (June/July). There was a sudden break in the weather and a cool August followed (average temperature 0.8°C below the long-term [30 years] average) with high precipitation (175% above the long-term average). This had a favourable effect on the activity of I. ricinus, which did not decline in August (as it has been typical in other years), and it only gradually decreased thereafter in the warm autumn (September, October, and November average monthly temperatures 3.2, 2.8, and 3.2°C above the long-term average, respectively). Also the recreational behaviour of people was influenced very much in the peak period of summer vacations and school vacations (TBE typically is a recreational infection in the Czech Republic). August weather resulted in a decline in water sports and directed the majority of holidaymakers to go on a mushroom foray, a traditional national hobby in the Czech Republic. This was also triggered by that year''s very successful mushroom season, which was repeatedly highlighted by the media. This resulted in a second (late summer/autumn) peak of the incidence curve of TBE, which even exceeded the spring/summer culmination. Such a type of TBE seasonality had not been observed in the Czech Republic before, resulting in an exceptionally high overall annual incidence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Since 2002, the expansion of Ixodes ricinus ticks and tick-borne infection agents have been studied in the Krkonoše Mts., Czech Republic. Tick-borne encephalitis virus was detected by means of RT-PCR. In 2003, it was detected in 2 out of 491 ticks at 620 and 710–720m a.s.l., respectively, and in 3 out of 939 ticks at 600m a.s.l. at the same locality in 2004. In 2005, tick-borne encephalitis virus was detected in 5 out of 295 ticks at 900–1100m a.s.l., which is above the formerly known altitudinal limit of I. ricinus distribution. The reason for that could be found in the changing climate. Based on the meteorological data collected in the Krkonoše Mts., 1961–2005, there was a significant increase in the mean annual temperature (1.3–1.4°C) over that period, namely by 2–3.5°C in May through August. Thus, with respect to the average vertical temperature gradient in summer of about 0.6°C/100m, 2°C correspond to 300–350m in altitude, and accordingly 3.5°C correspond to a shift in altitude of approximately 550–600m, that being in accordance with environmental conditions of the former I. ricinus altitudinal limit confirmed in the Krkonoše Mts. 20 years ago. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Present risk assessment and prediction of future risk of humans exposed to Ixodes (I.) ricinus tick attacks and, consequently, to tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus infection as one of the basic preconditions for successful TBE prevention has been intensively studied in the Czech Republic. An atlas of TBE in the Czech Republic containing predictive maps of I. ricinus high-incidence habitats and TBE risk sites identified by satellite data (Landsat 5 TM with spatial resolution 30m) at a scale of 1:200,000 over a territory of 52,000km2 and maps of human TBE case distribution (1971–2000) has been prepared using remote sensing and geographical information systems technologies. The influence of climate changes on a forest ecosystem inhabited by I. ricinus has been studied in the southern region of the Czech Republic. The analysis of long-term series (1931–2000) of climatologic and phenological characteristics has been carried out. The results are compared with the long-term series of TBE incidence. The influence of weather condition on day-to-day changes of I. ricinus host-seeking activities was studied in 2001–2004. Field observations were realized in the south-eastern periphery of Prague where the experimental plots for tick monitoring were established in a relevant type of forest growth (Querceto-carpinetum). I. ricinus activities were investigated by the flagging method on three plots (200m2 each) in weekly intervals (March to November) during 2001–2004. The instruments for micrometeorological observations were installed between the experimental plots. Macrometeorological data were used from the nearby Czech Hydrometeorological Institute first class meteorological observatory. Simple and multiple linear regression and quadratic regression were used to test the relation between weather modification and I. ricinus host-seeking activity. Two preliminary most suitable ‘models’ are demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]