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The Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) is one of the smallest mammals on earth and is used in many fields of research, including physiology, behavioral science and neuroscience. However, establishing and maintaining a breeding colony of this species in the laboratory can be challenging, as it requires specific husbandry conditions that greatly differ from those of more common laboratory species such as mice or rats. Over the past 15 y, we have successfully established a long-term thriving colony of 150 to 200 animals originating from 36 founders. The colony shows longer life expectancy and larger litter sizes than wild conspecifics. Breeding occurs year-round, independent of seasons, and a breeding pair can regularly produce 2 to 6 offspring with an average life expectancy of more than 3 y. The shrews are housed in glass or plastic enclosures on a specific soil-sand-mixture bedding and are provided with hideouts and nesting material consisting of moss, wood, or bark. Due to their high basal metabolic rate, the shrews require food intake greater than their body weight per day, can hunt arthropods as large as themselves, and cannot survive more than a few hours without food. Live feed such as crickets or mealworms is crucial and must be provided daily or, at the very least, every 2 d. Although our husbandry practices have constantly been adapted and refined, shrew husbandry remains challenging, and great care is necessary to meet the specific needs of this species. Here, we describe the establishment of a long-term stable colony of Etruscan shrews in a research animal facility and the specific husbandry requirements for animal wellbeing.

Population size, group composition and feeding ecology of the endemic and endangered Black-and-White Colobus Monkey (Colobus guereza gallarum) was investigated in Harenna Forest, South East Ethiopia by using the line-transect method in 10 selected blocks. During the dry and wet seasons, a mean number of 212 and 246 C. g. gallarum individuals was recorded, respectively. Also, the number of groups of the animal was higher in wet (36) than dry (31) season, but statistically insignificant (P= 0.447). Out of the recorded C. g. gallarum, 25.98% were adult males; 32.53% adult females; 14.85% sub-adult male, 11.14% sub-adult female and 15.50% were juveniles/young. Young leaves were the largest (35.1%) contributor to the diet of guereza followed by shoots (22.1%) in both seasons. Other common items were included mature leaves (20.6 %), bark (17.7%), fruit (2.8%) and flower (1.7%). C. g. gallarum were observed feeding on 19 plant species belonging to 12 families. The highest contribution of the diet was from the family Rosaceae (41.67%), while family Fabaceae, Moraceae and Myrsinaceae were contributing 50% of the diet. Schefflera volkensii was the most consumed plant species which accounted for 7.96%, followed by Urera hypselodendron (7.83%) and Dombeya torrida (7.06%). Moreover, C.g.gallarum mainly forage on leaves particularly young leaves, and their foraging activities depend inside the forest. Thus, to maintain sustainable conservation of the endemic C.g.gallarum in the area, their habitats should be properly protected, and appropriate monitoring strategies should be designed.

Climate change is one of the major threats to biodiversity, but its impact varies among the species. Bark beetles (Ips spp.), as well as other wood-boring pests of European forests, show escalating numbers in response to the changes driven by climate change and seriously affect the survival of the forests through the massive killing of trees. Many methods were developed to control these wood-boring beetles, however, their implementation can be detrimental for other forest specialists. Ants are widely used for biological pest-control, so in our study, we aimed to test the effect of Formica polyctena on the control of the wood-boring beetles. The results show that the proportion of infested trees is significantly reduced by the increase of the number of F. polyctena nests, with a strong effect on those infested by Ips species. We also show that the boring beetle community is shaped by different biotic and abiotic factors, including the presence of F. polyctena nests. However, the boring beetle infestation was not related to the latitude, altitude and age of the forests. Based on our results, we assert the effectiveness of the red wood ants as biological pest control and the importance of their conservation to keep the health of the forests.

Outbreaks of Ips typographus (L.) caused by catastrophic natural phenomena in Central Europe, Siberia and the Far East have been the subject of numerous scientific studies. Molecular methods were used to analyze the relationships and origin of Ips species. The review article shows in detail the biological characteristics of I. typographus, such as the effect of temperature on vital parameters and flight behavior. It was found that the spruce bark beetle disperses within 500 m. However, new attacks occur in the immediate vicinity of the old foci. The susceptibility and protection mechanisms of trees are critical to a successful bark beetle attack. The newly attacked trees react with preformed resin, reactions to wounds, and, ultimately, systemic changes in physiology. The risk assessment in the studies was carried out both at the tree level and at the forest level as a whole. The risk of an attack of I. typographus is associated with the growth of the forest in a particular area, age, the flow of nutrients and water to the tree. The dynamics of outbreaks, to a large extent, depend on the abundance of I. typographus, susceptibility of trees, weather conditions and phytosanitary measures. Bark beetle I. typographus is an integral component of any forest ecosystem. It colonize weakened, weak or dead trees, and thus begins the decomposition of bark and wood. This pest is able to use short-lived resources and quickly multiply to extremely large numbers, for example, after winds. In such epidemic situations, I. typographus can pose a serious threat to spruce-rich forests, especially for stands planted outside their optimal range. The spatial development of I. typographus infections can be analyzed using GIS and multiple regression methods to investigate potential correlations between climatic, specific and phytosanitary factors and infection dynamics. Also, the article discusses various methods of forest control and emphasizes the need for more sophisticated risk assessment tools. For citation: Pirtskhalava-Karpova N.R., Karpov A.A., Kozlovski E.E., Grishchenko M.Yu. Protection of Spruce Forests from Outbreaks of Ips typographus (Review). Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 4, pp. 55–67. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-4-55-67

El nogal común (Juglans regia L.) posee una madera tradicionalmente demandada por el mercado europeo, pero a nivel nacional no existe una cultura de uso de esta madera, por lo que las trozas obtenidas en los raleos se pierden como desecho. Para resolver este problema se desarrolló una investigación con el objetivo de evaluar el rendimiento en el aserrío de trozas de raleo de nogal y desarrollar una propuesta de clasificación para las piezas aserradas obtenidas. Se utilizaron 74 trozas, con edades entre 7 y 11 años. Se determinó el volumen de madera que ingresó al aserradero, utilizando la fórmula de cubicación de trozas de Smalian, luego se aserraron las trozas obteniendo piezas con caras lisas y cantos muertos, de las cuales se obtuvieron tablillas de escuadrías variables, a las que se les determinó el volumen, con lo que se pudo calcular el rendimiento del proceso. Además, para analizar los defectos en las trozas y su relación con el rendimiento, estas se dividieron en dos grupos, utilizando una norma brasileña de clasificación de trozas. Junto a lo anterior, se desarrolló una clasificación para estas tablillas utilizando como base la normativa chilena, basada en el criterio visual. Como resultado se obtuvo un rendimiento del 15,14 %, con tablillas de volúmenes entre 0,0011 y 0,0051 m3 por tablilla, clasificadas en tres grupos, concluyéndose que es posible obtener madera aserrada a partir de trozas de raleo de plantaciones jóvenes.

Bombax costatum est une espèce agroforestière menacée de disparition du fait des fortes pressions anthropiques qu’elle subit par le prélèvement de son calice. La présente étude a pour objectif d’évaluer l’influence des modes d’affectation des terres sur les caractéristiques dendrométriques, les types morphologiques et la phénologie de B. costatum dans la Réserve de biosphère de la Pendjari (RBP). Quatorze placeaux de 200 m × 200 m répartis dans quatre modes d’affectation des terres (zone d’occupation contrôlée, chaîne de l’Atacora, zone cynégétique de la Pendjari et Parc national de la Pendjari) de la RBP ont été inventoriés. Les données telles que le diamètre à hauteur de poitrine, la hauteur totale, le nombre d’individus, l’aspect de l’écorce et la couleur des fleurs ont été collectées. Les caractéristiques structurales de B. costatum ont été évaluées à trois niveaux : les paramètres dendrométriques dont la densité, le diamètre moyen, la surface terrière et la hauteur moyenne ; les structures en diamètre ; la distribution de fréquence des différents types morphologiques obtenus (aspect de l’écorce, couleur de la fleur). Pour tester les différences entre les modes d’affectation des terres, une ANOVA, une analyse log-linéaire et une analyse de covariance ont été effectuées respectivement sur les paramètres dendrométriques et les types morphologiques suivant les modes d’affectation des terres. Le mode d’affectation des terres a un effet significatif (P

Loss of drilling fluid is a common problem during the drilling of wells and it restricts the appropriate functionality of muds. Drilling fluid loss significantly increases drilling costs and non-productive time as well as increasing the drilling operation risks. Various investigations have been carried out in order to find appropriate mud additives that either block fractures and pores or reduce fluid loss by improving the fluid rheology. Cheap, environmentally friendly and effective additives are still required by the drilling industry. Hence, the application of available materials in each region, to produce appropriate additives, is a challenge for the oil industry. In this study, Eucalyptus Camaldulensis (EUC) bark powder has been chosen as a new, fibrous, cheap, environmentally friendly and available material to control fluid loss, particularly in southern Iran. Different characterization tests, such as acid dissolution and fluid loss control, were carried out to study the performance of the new proposed additive. Removal by hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid were studied at various acid concentrations and temperatures. Dynamic fluid loss was also measured at different EUC concentrations. Our study showed that EUC powder can reduce the final fluid loss by 88–97%, the initial fluid loss by 45–66%, and the total loss by 87–94%, which is a satisfactory level.

Introduction The data on forest pathological processes dynamics in the stands managed by the state forestry enterprises were generalized in the study. The results indicate a gradual increase in the scale of pathological processes and, accordingly, an increase in the amount of sanitary measures taken in the stands. In recent years, especially in Western and Central Polissia in Ukraine, there has been a massive dying of pine stands caused by invasion of apical bark beetles. As a result,there is a significant increase in sanitation felling. Outbreaks of stem pests occurred along with chronic root rot foci, periodic fires, windbreaks, windthrows, and snowbreaks. Deterioration of pine stands occurs due to their simplified structure and is brought about by climate change. Significant areas of the pine stands covered with large-scale pathological processes and major material losses point at a necessity to reduce the stands’ maturity age. The aim of the research was to determine the age range of pathological processes in pine stands. Materials and Methods Changes in the condition of the pine stands in Volyn Region were observed for the period 1992–2018 by means of the database information analysis as of every third year since 1994. The collected data include the areas of the stands with certain pathological processes, their assessment indicators, the reasons which initiated a pathological process, and forestry measures and their consequences. The forestry enterprises specialists determined the reasons for the deterioration of the condition of the stands. The list included about 60 different factors, some of which were grouped together. To assess the extent of pathological processes, the area of one or another dying species as a percentage of the total area covered by it was considered as follows: 0.1–2.4% – weak; 2.5–5.0% – average; 5.1–10.0% – strong; 11–15% – very strong; 15.1–20.0% – critical; > 20.0% – ecological catastrophe. The general age dynamics of the pine stands was determined as of 2011 according to the Forest Fund of Ukraine and compared with the age dynamics of the pine stands with pathological processes. Results The vast majority of the pine stands in Volyn Region was established in the 1950s–60s. These are mainly pure in composition or nearly pure stands of natural and artificial origin (80–100 % of pine) which cover respectively 73.2 % and 80.6 % of the area. Among the stands of different species in which pathological processes were observed as of 2018 in the forests of Volyn Region, pine stands occupy more than 80 %. In the total forest area of Volyn Region pine plantations make 57 %. The data show that the dying pine stands make 15 % of all pine stands. A proportion of pine stands with pathological processes in the total area of dying stands exceeds the percentage of pine-covered areas by 24 %. The general dynamics of the area of pine stands dying in one or another degree for the period 1994–2018 shows that from 2000 to 2009 their area varied from 4,700 ha to 5,500 ha, which points at a low resistance to pathological processes. Since 2012, the scale of pathological processes had increased and as of 2018 reached almost 34 thousand hectares due to an outbreak of apical bark beetle (Ips acuminatus). In general, during all the years of observation, the main factor initiating dying of the pine stands in Volyn Region was root rot by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. The most severe wind damage to the pine stands took place in the periods as of 2000 (467 ha – 8.7 %), 2003 (114 ha – 2 %) and 2009 (655 ha –14 %). Damage of pines of Volyn Region by fires was noted in the period 2000–2009 and the worst large-scale fires took place as of 2000 – 449 hectares (8 % of the area of all stands died in this period). Damage to root systems and overgrowth of crown branches can many times exceed the area of pine trees with visible signs, which, in our opinion, may be the basis for the spread of apical bark, the stock of which is always in chronic foci of root rot by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref., whose area since 2000 reaches 3,500–4,000 ha. The scale of distribution of forest pathological processes in the pine stands of different age classes shows that the largest part of dying forests are stands of VI and VII age classes: 41% and 24%, respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of areas of all pine stands of VI and VII age classes in the total distribution of pine trees by age classes is significantly lower: by 26% and 15%, respectively, indicating a low biological resistance of artificial pine stands older than 50 years old. Conclusions As of 2012, the area of dying pine stands in Volyn Region increased sharply due to a mass reproduction of apical bark beetle (Ips acuminatus) and in 2018 it reached almost 34,000 ha. The largest percentage of the pine stands dying to one or another degree are stands of VI and VII age classes (41 % and 24 %), and the percentage of areas of all pines of VI and VII age classes in the general distribution of pines by age classes in Volyn Region is significantly smaller, respectively 26 % and 15 %, which indicates a low biological resistance of artificial pine stands at this age, and a necessity to reduce age of felling of such stands to 51–70 years. From the pine stands of I–VI age classes in Volyn Region, 70–90 % were established artificially; more than 80% of them were pure or nearly pure in composition. About 48 % of all pines in Volyn Region are vulnerable to pathological processes. 3 Figs., 3 Tables, 11 Refs. Key words: pathological processes, Scots pine forests, forest decline, root rot, Ips acuminatus.

Muchos artrópodos, incluidos los escorpiones, son carnívoros, pero se desconocen los hábitos alimentarios de muchas especies. Se sabe que se alimentan principalmente de artrópodos e incluyen también anélidos y pequeños vertebrados. Potencialmente varias especies de escorpiones son depredadores de mamíferos, pero no hay ningún informe de consumo de murciélagos por escorpiones. Nuestro objetivo es reportar un evento de alimentación de un murciélago mastín de Pallas (Molossus molossus) por el escorpión de corteza de Centroamérica (Centruroides exilimanus) en el sur de Honduras. Para documentar este evento, tomamos fotografías de los especímenes y la hora en que ocurrió el evento. Hay varios edificios y oficinas en la mina Clavo Rico en El Corpus, Choluteca, Honduras donde hemos observado tres colonias de murciélagos. Esta mina está ubicada en el bosque húmedo tropical. El 20 de octubre de 2015 a las 11:42 h, encontramos un escorpión que arrastraba un M. molossus desde el techo de un edificio. El escorpión probablemente encontró o capturó al murciélago dentro del techo, y ya se había comido partes de la cabeza cuando lo encontramos. Una vez en el suelo, el escorpión arrastró al murciélago debajo del piso del edificio. Los escorpiones pueden depredar vertebrados, aunque no se observó el proceso de depredación tampoco han sido reportados casos de consumo de murciélagos muertos por escorpiones y no se conocen casos de depredación de murciélagos por estos artrópodos. Los murciélagos molósidos descansan en grandes grupos incluso en sitios donde los escorpiones pueden acceder fácilmente. El murciélago era mucho más pesado que el escorpión, por lo que, si este es un evento de depredación, demuestra las extraordinarias capacidades de un artrópodo con un potente veneno.

This article argues that in qualitative research into the work of a regulator, it is as important to watch out for that regulator’s omissions and silences as it is to examine what the regulator does and says. The argument is illustrated by data drawn from a study of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme, the purpose of which is (or should be) to safeguard detainees and to deter police from misconduct which might lead to deaths in custody. Research into the scheme included using the technique of watching out for what the visitors did not do and did not say. The data obtained by this method are interpreted through the lens of Lukes’ theory of power to suggest that this watchdog has been debarked as a result of the power of the police.

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is a major production tree species for the European wood industry. However, it is highly sensitive to bark stripping (BS) by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), which causes large timber losses. Because the red deer population has increased over the last decades, a better understanding of the underlying causes driving BS is urgently needed. BS outbreaks are multifactorial: winter food shortage, local and regional deer abundance and stand properties (thermal and visual cover, and scarcity of herbaceous layers) have been found to drive BS rates. Although the influence of each of these factors is well studied, there is still no consensus on their relative contributions to BS or what mitigation strategy is best. In this study, we made use of a long-term, large-scale BS inventory (13 years over 2570 km2) to fill these gaps. We modeled winter and summer BS rates in response to the most explanatory variables, selected from a large set of environmental variables. Our results highlight the prevalence of deer abundance combined with high sensitivity of coniferous thickets and pronounced habitat selection by deer for these stands. Our findings show that the control of red deer populations is a key measure for reducing BS in Norway spruce stands.

This study aims to determine the conditions and patterns of utilization of snails in the Penyengat island waters, Riau Island, Indonesia. The method used was purposive sampling of 5 stations with 70 x 2 m quadratic transect for the density of the Gonggong Snail. The results found two types of snail bark species namely Laevistrombus turturella and Strombus urceus with a total density value of 0.114individual per m². The use of snail bark patterns in Penyengat Island waters, namely the size of the catch is medium to large, manual capture techniques (collected by hand), the catching area in the waters of the island is 100-200 m from the beach, the most catches found >100 individuals, season and time of catching snail barks at stinging island waters are not based on season, utilization and distribution of utilization. The snail bark resource is used for consumption and sold to collectors.

Carissa edulisis a plant of 5m high at maturity. It grows in the Savannah woodlands of Uganda and is commonly found on ant-hills.Carissa edulisis used as a remedy for treatment of headache, chest complains, rheumatism, oedema, gonorrhea, syphilis, sickle cell anaemia, cough, ulcer, tooth-ache, and worms. Poor harvesting methods of Carissa edulis for medicine such as uprooting the whole plant threatens its existence.Its seeds are scarce because ants, birds and animals eat them hence propagation by seed is a challenge.Carissa edulishas not been in cultivation therefore its most suitable propagation method is unknown. These create the need to explore the most appropriate propagation method forCarissa edulisas a means of capturing its germplasm from the wild for purposes of its domestication, conservation and continuous availability to the communities. An experiment was conducted at the National Forestry Resources Research Institute, Uganda with an objective of investigating the best method of propagatingCarissa edulisusing stem cuttings. The cuttings were categorized into softwood, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings and 50 of each treated with Indole-butyric acid (IBA) in concentrations of 0.6 w/w and 0.8 w/w plus a control and replicated 3 times.The rooting media used included: sterilized sand and soil and milled Pine bark (soaked in water for a night). Results showed the best method for propagation ofCarissa edulisis by use of softwood stem cuttings treated with IBA rooting hormone of 0.8 w/w and placed in sterilized Sand as propagation medium.

The efficiency of woodworking enterprises largely depends on the size and qualitative characteristics of round timber. The paper aims to assess the main inventory characteristics of round timber in economically accessible forest areas of Arkhangelsk region. The studies were carried out at a number of large enterprises in Arkhangelsk region using a modern VECTOR 3D photometric scanner. Measurements were made on the line for sorting logs by diameter at the warehouses of raw materials. There were examined 18,931 sawlogs. The length of each log was 6 m. The diameter range of round timber was from 10 to 42 cm. As a result of experiments, the average diameter of harvested logs of pine and spruce were found and the parameters of curvature, taper and bark content were determined depending on the top diameter of round timber. The region continues to trend a gradual decrease in the average diameter of round timber, the value of which in the considered period 2014–2018 varied in the range of 11–16 cm. Simultaneously with a decrease in the average diameter of round timber, the curvature, taper and bark content are reduced, which may indirectly indicate that wood under the age of ripeness is involved in industrial production. If in the 2000s small and medium-sized timber was harvested mainly from the tree top, today, it can be assumed that the source of such timber is young trees that have not reached the age of industrial ripeness but grow near the road infrastructure. Changes in the dimensional and qualitative characteristics of round timber are of a system nature and are makings for the modernization of the machinery and equipment used by logging enterprises and sawmills. In the context of reducing the average diameter of round timber, in order to maintain current performance and volume output of sawn timber, it is necessary to increase feed rates and introduce an optimization system resulting in provision of individual cutting of logs in accordance with their size and shape.For citation: Tambi A.A., Ugryumov S.A., Birman A.R., Chernogradskaya I.A. Dimensional and Qualitative Characteristics of Round Timber Harvested in Arkhangelsk Region. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2020, no. 4, pp. 147–156. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2020-4-147-156

In November 2004, the windstorm Alžbeta damaged over 12 thousand ha of forests in the High Tatra Mts. It was the largest wind disaster in the modern forestry history of Slovakia. The process of forest regeneration at the post-disturbance area has to be monitored together with the effectiveness of implemented forestry measures. Therefore, we focused on tree measurements at 90 monitoring plots (MP) in 1 × 1 km net placed in the post-disturbance area in the Tatra National Park. We recorded tree species, number of trees (density) and tree heights. Besides that, stem diameters of trees with breast height diameter over 7 cm were measured. The field work was performed in the growing season of 2019, i.e. about 15 years after the wind disturbance. In total, 20 tree species, 15 broadleaves and 5 coniferous ones, were recorded at MP. The most frequent (28.9% of all trees) species was Norway spruce followed by silver birch (18.6%), rowan (16.9%) and goat willow (15.2%). Four species, i.e. European larch, wild cherry, grey alder and common alder contributed to the total number of trees between 1.8 and 4.8% each. Share of all other species together was about 5%. Tree height frequency was left-sided for the whole sampling set (all species together), as well as for individual species. Most of young trees were less than 1m high, but some of them exceeded 10 m. Further, tree density of over 100 individuals per are (100 m2) was found at 1/3 of all MPs. As many as 25% of MPs were characterized with tree densities between 61 and 90 individuals. At 23% of MPs, the number of trees was up to 30 individuals per are, and 20% of MPs had between 31 and 60 small trees per are. The results suggested that the post-disturbance forest stands in the High Tatras would be more resistant to wind storms and very probably also to bark beetles after reaching maturity than those, which were destructed and declined at the beginning of 21st century.

Ongoing changes in fire regimes have the potential to drive widespread shifts in Earth's vegetation. Plant traits and vital rates provide insight into vulnerability to fire‐driven vegetation shifts because they can be indicators of the ability of individuals to survive fire (resistance) and populations to persist (resilience) following fire. In 15 study sites spanning climatic gradients in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA, we quantified variation in key traits and vital rates of two co‐occurring, widely distributed conifers (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex. P. Lawson & C. Lawson and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). We used mixed‐effects models to explain inter‐ and intraspecific variation in tree growth, survival, bark thickness and seed cone production, as a function of species, tree life stage (i.e. diameter, height and age), average climate, local competition and site conditions. Pinus ponderosa was predicted to survive low‐severity fire at a 23% earlier age than P. menziesii. Pinus ponderosa had thicker bark and more rapid juvenile height growth, traits conferring greater fire resistance. In contrast, P. menziesii was predicted to produce seed cones at a 28% earlier age than P. ponderosa. For both species, larger individuals were more likely to survive fire and to produce cones. For P. ponderosa, cone production increased where average actual evapotranspiration (AET) was higher and local competition was lower. More frequent cone production on productive sites with higher AET is an important and underappreciated mechanism that may help to explain greater resilience to fire in these areas. Synthesis. Our analyses indicated that many plant traits and vital rates related to fire differed between Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, with trade‐offs between investment in traits that promote individual defence to fire and those that promote recolonization of disturbed sites. Future changes in fire regimes will act as a filter throughout North American forests, with our findings helping to infer which individuals and populations of two iconic species are most vulnerable to future change and offering a framework for future inquiry in other forests facing an uncertain future.

Key message Models for quantifying tree biometric properties, imperative for forest management decision-making, including height, diameter, bark thickness and volume were developed, and wood basic density was documented for dry Afromontane forests of south-central Ethiopia. Abstract Tree biometric properties such as height (ht), diameter at breast height (dbh), bark thickness (bt), volume and wood basic density (wbd) are imperative for forest management decision-making. For dry Afromontane forests in south-central Ethiopia, models for quantifying such tree properties are totally lacking. This study, therefore, aimed at developing models for ht based on dbh, for dbh based on stump height diameter (dsh), for bt based on dbh, for volume based on dbh, ht and crown width (crw), as well as documenting wbd data. Comprehensive and representative datasets were collected from Degaga–Gambo and Wondo Genet forests. The ht, dbh and bt modelling were based on 1345 sampled trees during forest inventories, while the volume modelling and wbd documentation were based on 63 destructively sampled trees from 30 species covering 87% of the total basal area in the study sites. Weighted least squares regression was applied for modelling and leave one out cross-validation was used for evaluation. The ht–dbh and dbh–dsh models performed well (pseudo-R2 = 0.72 and 0.98), while bt–dbh performed poorer (pseudo-R2 = 0.42). Models for the total tree, merchantable stem and branches volume were developed with different options for independent variables, where pseudo-R2 varied from 0.74 to 0.98, with smallest values for the branches models The models may be applied to forests outside the present study sites provided that the growing conditions are carefully evaluated. The species-wise wbd was ranging from 0.426 to 0.979 g cm−3, with the overall mean of 0.588 g cm−3. The wbd data will be useful for building up a national wbd database and may also be included in the Global Wood Density database. The study represents a significant step towards sustainable forest management including REDD + MRV practices in the dry Afromontane forests of south-central Ethiopia.

Planting depth management is a silvicultural regime that highly related to standing productivity. However, the influence of planting depth on stand productivity is not deeply understood by forest managers. This study examined the effect of planting depth on early growth, aboveground biomass, and carbon storage in Eucalyptus pellita which planted in Ultisols. An experiment comprising two treatments of planting depth, namely 10 cm and 20 cm, was set up using a randomized complete block design. Several parameters were selected to assess the preliminary growth of E. pellita, i.e. survival rate, height, diameter, and volume. Aboveground biomass and carbon storage were estimated in each tree component such as stem, branches, bark, and leaves. Data collection was conducted in 6, 12, and 18 months after planting. Comparison means of every indicator were analyzed using t-test with a significant level of 5%. Results demonstrated the different planting depths did not have a significant influence on survival rate as well as biomass distribution and carbon storage in leaves at the end of 18 months. Nevertheless, a substantial effect of planting depth was obviously recorded in all the rest indicators. The use of planting depth 20 cm potentially increased volume, biomass, and carbon storage ranging 21.5 – 32.1%.

The results of analyzing the influence of biotope dendroflora species composition in the town of Poltava on spreading and the degree of infesting foliage tree species with mistletoe during 2016–2019 in park zones of the town have been presented. While conducting studies, the materials of tour and experimental research-es in Kyivskyi, Podilskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi residential districts of the regional center were used. The conducted studies have shown that negative dynamics has lately been observed as to foliage tree species in-festation with mistletoe (Viscum album L.). Among the investigated districts, green plantings of Shevchen-kivskyi district are infested most of all (25.2 %) and those of Podilskyi district are the least infested (12.1 %). Considerable tree infestation process in street plantings can be explained by high anthropogenic load on them, namely a high degree of technogenic effect, soil pollution with heavy metals, dry city air, and mechan-ical injuries, which in their turn weakens immunity and decreases the resistance of street plantings to pests, diseases, and semi-parasites. One of the main reasons of infesting trees with mistletoe in park plantings is close placing of infested and healthy trees, which is strengthened by considerable anthropogenic pressure and selectivity of the parasite to tree species prevailing in park dendroflora. According to the results of the studies, tree species were determined, which due to their biological-physiological peculiarities are most of-ten infested with mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and those ones, which, on the contrary, are more resistant to the effect of this parasite. The conducted analysis enabled to develop recommendations as to rehabilitation of biotope species composition in Poltava taking into account their resistance to mistletoe infestation de-pending, in particular, on bark structure and thickness. The determining of the most resistant tree species can also be recommended for improving species composition of park zones in urban eco-system as part of measures to clean tree plantings in Poltava. Taking into account the results of the conducted research will enable to develop practical recommendations, aimed at improving the situation as to mistletoe (Viscum album L.) not only in residential districts of Poltava, but also at optimizing green plantings of any populated area.

Introduction The impact of forest fires on pine stands health and the rate of post-fire tree mortality depends on a number of factors. They are a type of fire, its intensity and duration, a predominant type of damage, and characteristics of the damaged stand. The secondary post-fire factors include trees infestation by beetles and diseases, health condition of the stand before the fire and the level of its weakening as well as impact of droughts. Materials and Methods Data from 58 sample plots (SP) were used to assess post-fire tree mortality. The stands on SP varied in age (43–95 years), their mensuration characteristics (diameter: 17–51 cm, height: 18.0–25.7 m, relative density of stocking: 0.5–1.0), fire damage intensity (average bark char height ranged from 0.4 to 4.9 m), a form of fire (running and slow surface fires), a year (2005–2018) and season of fire. SP were laid out mainly in the forests of the Forest-Steppe part of Kharkiv Region, grown in the fresh infertile and fairly infertile pine sites. A one-year post-fire period was used in the study. To assess the fire hazard level, a complex index of fire hazard by Nesterov (Nesterov 1945) was calculated. The correlation, regression and multiple regression analyses were performed according to generally accepted methods (Atramentova & Utevska 2007). Results Fires are one of the most dangerous destabilizing factors for forests. On determining specific features of the post-pyrogenic development of pine forests, it is possible to mitigate negative consequences caused by forest fires and assist in the management of forests damaged by surface fires. It was revealed that the health condition of the stands depended on the level of the fire hazard at the time of the fire, and worsened as fire hazard increased (r = 0.71; p = 0.05). With a high fire hazard (estimated by Nesterov methodology), the fire intensity (intensity of heat release during a fire) and amount of burnt forest fuel also increase. It has been established that with the fire danger score from 1,500 to 3,000, the categories of stand health varied from II,0 to III,9; the mortality rate reached 20%. With a further increase in the fire hazard up to more than 5,000, the health condition index of the damaged stands a year after the fire was III,5–V,0. It was found that the flame height and the bark char height on the trunks do not depend reliably on the fire hazard level by weather conditions. The approaches to predicting post-fire mortality at the stand level are improved taking into account fire hazard characteristics during a fire season, as well as the level of damage to trees in a pine stand and its morphometric characteristics. Conclusions A correlation between surface fire consequences (a rate of post-fire trees mortality) and the fire hazard index by weather conditions was found. It is explained by the fact that the rate of drying of surface forest fuel depends on the fire hazard index by Nesterov. With higher values of fire hazard, the intensity of heat release during a forest fire and the level of forest litter burning increase. Thus, for complex index of fire hazard from 1,500 to 3,000, a health condition index varied from II,0 to III,9. At that, the tree mortality reached 20% of total number of trees. With a further increase in the index of fire danger up to more than 5,000 points, the health condition index of pine stands a year after the fire varied from III,5 to V,0. It was found that the height of the bark char on the tree trunks does not significantly depend on the fire danger level. 2 Figs., 2 Tables, 16 Refs. Key words: postfire mortality models, fire resistance, fire hazard, consequences of forest fires.

The term »loss« should be distinguished from the term »waste« commonly used by forestry practitioners to indicate the difference between gross volume (planned production based on official tariffs) and net volume (produced timber volume) of trees. Volume loss in round wood refers to the difference between the actual volume of round wood and the volume determined based on the prescribed method of measurement and calculation. As a result of prescribed scaling methods and calculations, volume losses appear due to 1) used volume equations, 2) prescribed method of measurement (i.e. measurements of length and mid-length diameter) and 3) deduction of double bark thickness. In Croatia, round wood is cross-cut and transported with bark, while logs are measured and sold without bark. In this way, the bark is an unnecessary ballast in production, but has many possible applications such as energy source, in the production of wooden boards in construction, in nurseries and horticulture, etc. The research was conducted on 225 butt-logs of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) ranging in diameter classes from 27.5 cm to 67.5 cm from even-aged forests in the central part of Croatia. Deduction of double bark thickness caused a higher average loss in the volume when using Huber’s equation at 14% and when using Riecke-Newton’s equation at 13.5%. In both volume estimation methods, the loss due to double bark thickness was slightly reduced exponentially as the diameter of but-logs increased. The determined dependence of the bark thickness on diameter of butt-logs over bark indicates the need for correction of the bark deduction tables that are in operational use in Croatian forestry and are provided by trading practices, and since they are not the result of scientific research, they lead to unfair payment between sellers and buyers of round wood. Comparison analysis of the simulation of butt-logs indicated that the introduction of Riecke-Newton’s equation for estimating the volume of commercially important assortments in Croatian forestry is justified. The use of Riecke-Newton’s equation in these terms leads on average to a 6.6% higher volume of butt-logs than the use of Huber’s equation for estimating the volume of assortments.

Oil Palm covers nearly 9600 hectares of Sri Lanka. The replacement process occurs once for 25-30 years creates nearly 200 tons of agricultural waste per hectare. The normal procedure of uprooting un- economical plantations is by using bachore machine. Conventional methods of clearing oil palm trunks after remaining materials in the field cause problems such as increasing breeding places for pests like rhinoceros beetles and rats increase the disease incidents in immature plants, hindering field operations and taking long time to decompose remains. Therefore, sustainable utilization of oil palm trunk bio mass is important. Oil palm trunks from Elpitiya plantation were used for the experiment. A trunk has an average biomass of 1550kg with an 8m mean length. The average number of trees per hectare is 125 per one replacement cycle. Bark is removed from trunks and cut into pieces and chopped by using an electrical chopper. The chopped pulp (initial pulp) was grinded by mortar and pestle and blender separately to produce pulp 1 and pulp 2 respectively. Molasse produced using pulp 1 and pulp 2, give final brix values of 58 and 54.4 respectively. Vinegar was produced using pulp1 and pulp 2 shows an undesirable light brown suspension with an alcohol percentage of 2%. Pots and planting containers for nurseries prepared from initial pulp can be used for nurseries and effective in direct field planting. The study revealed there is a possibility of preparing molasse and planting containers from oil palm trunks. Vinegar production process needed to be further studied.

Introduction Wildfires are the most dangerous destabilizing factor for forest ecosystems. Due to the increasing climate aridity, the risk remains high for the growth of forest fires frequency. Therefore, developing science-based forest practices to mitigate the ecological, economic and social losses caused by forest fires is an urgent topic. More than 90% of the total forest fires occur in pine forests. The rapid health deterioration of damaged pine trees leads to significant economic losses due to the changes in their marketability and reduction in the wood technical quality. Therefore, timely diagnosis and accurate prediction of the tree mortality probability are vital tasks to reduce negative ecological and economic effects caused by forest fires. Materials and Methods The post-pyrogenic development of the stands was analysed on 11 sample plots laid out in the middle-aged pine forests within the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe during 2013–2017. The stands in the sample plots were of different ages, mensuration rates and had different damage intensity. The study was conducted within Kharkiv Region in the forests of the State Enterprises “Zhovtneve Forest Economy” and “Zmiyivske Forest Economy”. The condition of the damaged trees was determined according to the Sanitary Forests Regulations in Ukraine. Both the correlation and regression analyses, as well as ANOVA were done using generally accepted methods. Multiple regression analysis and logistic regression analysis (binary regressions) were used to construct predictive models of the individual tree mortality probability. The quality of logistic regressions was checked by the ROC analysis. Results The indicators describing visual manifestations of tree damage after surface fires and middle-aged Pinus sylvestris L. trees fire resistance have been improved and refined. It was found that with an increase of average bark char height, the number of dead trees in the studied tree groups also increases (r = 0.87, tf = 5.80, t0.01 = 3.17). It was determined that the fire resistance of trees increases with the natural degree of tree thickness in the pine stand (statistically significant correlation was found between the natural degree of thickness and the health condition of damaged trees: r = -0.54; p = 0.05). A prognostic mortality model to determine the probability of the mortality of individual trees damaged by surface summer fires has been developed. It includes the average height of bark char and natural degree of tree thickness (the forecast model accuracy is over 78%) as predictors. Conclusions The proposed tree mortality model should be used to classify the trees damaged by surface fires, in the shortest possible time after a forest fire, as trees that will die within one year after they would have been damaged. Using this approach in forestry management will minimize the losses caused by changes in the marketability of tree stands damaged by fires. It is advisable to use the proposed critical damage values when planning forest measures (sanitation felling planning) in pine forests damaged by surface fires. 2 Figs., 2 Tables, 9 Refs.

Introduction Elm leaf beetle (Galerucella luteola Muller, 1766: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is one of the most significant phyllobionts of the genus Ulmus. It is spread widely, particularly in the Steppe and Forest-Steppe zone. The damaged trees here have weakened, the branches have been damaged by frost, colonized by bark beetles and infected by Dutch elm disease. The aim of the research was to reveal the features of elm leaf beetle development in green stands of Kharkiv. Materials and Methods The trees of Ulmus laevis Pall., U. glabra Huds., U. minor Mill. and U. pinnato-ramosa Dieck. were inspected in 2018–2019 in parks, squares, along highways and city streets. Insect identification and rearing were carried out in the Laboratory of Forest Protection of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration named after G. M. Vysotsky. Results The highest population density rates of elm leaf beetle were recorded in Molodizhny Park and in the square of the House of Culture of the Kharkiv Electromechanical Plant, as well as in the Forest Park, along Zhuravlivsky Descent and Kharkiv Regional Ring Road. Adult beetles overwinter in the litter, sometimes in soil, in the bark cracks or hollows. They began feeding at the time of elm foliage blooming, namely in early May in 2018 and in late April in 2019. The beetles damage young foliage, using it as maturation feeding. They browse the holes of different shapes and sizes, sometimes consume secondary veins, at that, they always leave the main vein. The egg masses were found in the 3rd decade of May in 2018 and in the 2nd-3rd decades of May and in the 1st decade of June in 2019. The larvae appeared at the end of the 1st decade of June in 2018 and in the 3rd decade of May in 2019. The larvae could be found up to the beginning of July. They skeletonize leaves for 18–29 days and molt twice. The larvae pupate in the litter, sometimes in the tree crown. It develops for about 10 days. The beetles of the 1st generation appeared in the trees in the first decade of July in 2018 and at the end of June in 2019 and carried on maturation feeding up to the end of August. Then they mated and laid eggs. In 2018, the beetles of the 2nd generation were found in the 2nd decade of August, and in 2019 the eggs of the 3rd generation were laid in the 1st decade of August. The larvae appeared in the middle of August and pupated on September, 2. The beetles of the 3rd generation were found on September, 8. Conclusions Depending on weather conditions, 2–3 generations of elm leaf beetle per year may develop in Kharkiv. Beetles hibernate in bark crevices, hollows, or in the litter. They leave the wintering places during elm leaves blooming (in late April – early May). The egg-laying period is extended, generations overlap. Development of eggs lasts for 6–10 days, larvae develop during 18–29 days, pupae – about 10 days. The phenological calendar for elm leaf beetle is compiled as the result of the research. 4 Figs., 1 Table, 6 Refs.

Manabí is a province rich in cultural traditions. Its cuisine makes it a province visited by national and foreign tourists. The salprieta is one of the delicacies that identify the province, however the tradition of making salprieta is being lost, that made with tagua that despite not being so widespread became a typical dish of the areas where the crop del Cade constituted the economic support of its inhabitants (Chone, Calceta, Junín, San Plácido, Paján and Jipijapa), because from this plant many by-products are obtained such as the cade used for the construction of roofs of houses and agricultural constructions; the tagua, for the elaboration of crafts, and the bark of this one is used for food of the cattle in the form of flour; and for the elaboration of salprieta in replacement of the corn. The research problem is centered on the loss of ancestral knowledge in the peasant communities to elaborate salprieta using an available resource such as the tagua bark, available raw material that is not used due to ignorance, whose nutritional properties are excellent, as we indicate the tables attached to the document.

Bark beetles can cause epidemic outbreaks and kill millions of cubic meters of economical and ecologically important forests around the world. It is well known what attracts and what repels different species of bark beetle, and these chemical cues can be used to protect trees and catch the beetles without using pesticides. Applying this knowledge, we investigated the use of push–pull strategies with trap logs along susceptible edges of a Swedish boreal spruce forest. The repellents (push) used were non-host volatiles (NHV) attached to tree trunks at the forest edge, and the attractants (pull) was a commercial aggregation pheromone attached to trap logs. The aim was to test whether the Ips typographus catch could be significantly increased by combining a push–pull system with traditional trap logs, thereby providing additional protection. The experiment was performed over two years and included the main flight period of I. typographus. The study sites were clear-cuts that had been harvested the preceding winter, and sun-exposed forest edges of mature spruce were targeted for protection. A full factorial setup was used comprising two treatments (repellent and attractant) and a control. Seven replicates of the trap logs were used, three during the first year and four during the second. The number of established I. typographus maternal galleries per square meter of log surface was used as the response variable. The trap logs captured large numbers of I. typographus, at an average density of 353 and 169 maternal galleries per m2 during year 1 and year 2, respectively, over all treatments. Based on the catch data, with a sufficient number of trap logs, the risk of tree mortality at forest edges may be reduced and we recommend its general use. However, we did not see any significant effect of either the repellent or the attractant on the density of maternal galleries. Hence, we cannot recommend the addition of chemical cues to improve the efficiency of trap logs. Although trap logs are efficient in capturing bark beetles and hence may protect forest edges, it does not imply that they can provide protection on a larger scale. In line with other studies, we hence recommend that forest management to target nature-based solutions that strengthen the resilience of forest stands, by using mixed forest stands and resistant plant species, and nurture habitats for natural predators of I. typographus.

Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana) is in high demand due to the presence of taxol in its bark, needles, and seeds. This metabolite is used for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. In addition, Himalayan yew wood is used to prepare slabs (Tabai), coffins (Taabut), for graveyards. Due to illegal cutting of plant parts and other anthropogenic pressures, Himalayan yew is endangered, and threatened with extinction, in Himalaya. This species grows slowly and regenerates poorly, primarily due to low production and delayed germination (1.5–2 years) of its seeds. The study being reported here was conducted to assess the factors (natural and anthropogenic) threatening this species. Nine valleys (Miandam, Kalam, Shinko, Beha, Lalku, Shahgram, Bishigram, Gurnai, and Daral) in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, have stands of Himalayan yew that were selected for the study. Before the survey was conducted, five informal discussions were carried out to identify people to be interviewed. A survey was conducted with 225 key informants in these valleys concerning the threats associated with this species. Nineteen percent of the respondents felt that the main problem was lack of awareness, while 17% indicated over-harvesting (peeling bark, lopping branches, etc.), and 13% thought it was slow growth. Other reasons for Himalayan yew decline included various anthropogenic pressures, such as: overgrazing, 15%; agriculture, 11%; roof construction, 9%; fuelwood, 7%; decoration, 5%; medicinal use, 3%; and other, 1% (e.g., utility poles, as blades in water turbine because of its hard nature). The results of this study suggest that there is an immediate need to protect T. wallichiana by increasing awareness of its importance and the threats from over-grazing; cuttings (peeling bark, lopping branches, etc.); and other damaging, anthropogenic activities. Biotechnological tools, such as vegetative propagation and in-vitro regeneration, could be practiced in nurseries and laboratories to produce large numbers of healthy, juvenile plants. In addition to in-situ and ex-situ conservation and management, there is a need for local community involvement in the large-scale reforestation efforts. Keywords: Assessment, Conservation, Extinction, Taxol, Taxus wallichiana, Threats

During decomposition of organic matter, microbial communities may follow different successional trajectories depending on the initial environment and colonizers. The timing and order of the assembly history can lead to divergent communities through priority effects. We explored how assembly history and resource quality affected fungal dead wood communities and decomposition, 1.5 and 4.5 years after tree felling. Additionally, we investigated the effect of invertebrate exclusion during the first two summers. For aspen (Populus tremula) logs, we measured initial resource quality of bark and wood, and surveyed the fungal communities by DNA metabarcoding at different time points during succession. We found that a gradient in fungal community composition was related to resource quality and discuss how this may reflect tolerance-dominance trade-offs in fungal life history strategies. As with previous studies, the initial amount of bark tannins was negatively correlated with wood decomposition rate over 4.5 years. The initial fungal community explained variation in community composition after 1.5, but not 4.5 years, of succession. Although the assembly history of initial colonizers may cause alternate trajectories in successional communities, our results indicate that the communities may easily converge with the arrival of secondary colonizers. We also identified a strong invertebrate-induced priority effect of fungal communities, even after 4.5 years of succession, thereby adding crucial knowledge to the importance of invertebrates in affecting fungal community development. By measuring and manipulating aspects of assembly history and resource quality that have rarely been studied, we expand our understanding of the complexity of fungal community dynamics.

El objetivo de este trabajo es proveer información sobre las principales aportaciones que ha hecho el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) en materia de plagas y enfermedades forestales, durante sus primeros 35 años de existencia. El estudio se basa en una revisión bibliográfica que comprende el periodo desde la fundación del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, antecesor del INIFAP, hasta el presente. Destaca la aportación de ambos institutos sobre el conocimiento taxonómico, biológico y de control de insectos descortezadores de coníferas (Dendroctonus spp. e Ips spp.), moscas sierra de las coníferas (Zadiprion spp., Neodiprion spp. y Monoctenus spp.), así como de otros defoliadores del orden Lepidoptera y algunas plagas exóticas. En cuanto a enfermedades forestales, son notables los estudios de diagnóstico de los agentes causales de pudriciones y royas, principalmente hongos (Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Cronartium spp, Colletotrichum spp.) y el diagnóstico, impacto y control de plantas parásitas, tanto en bosques naturales como en arbolado urbano y plantaciones. En los últimos años, sobresale la contribución del INIFAP con conocimientos que fundamentan la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-019-SEMARNAT 2017, alusiva a la prevención y control de insectos descortezadores; y el estado del arte sobre las moscas sierra de las coníferas. Este esfuerzo se ha dirigido, fundalmente, al diagnóstico y control de plagas y enfermedades forestales; sin embargo, los investigadores del INIFAP enfrentan el reto de generar información y tecnología que permita prevenir y mitigar los efectos del cambio climático en la salud de los bosques.

The United Nation’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030 aims to halt ecosystem degradation to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In Malaysia, the concept of sustainable forest management (SFM) has been practiced since 1901. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of the native dipterocarp timber tree Shorea acuminata in a rehabilitated area at Kenaboi Forest Reserve (Kenaboi FR). The rehabilitated area was formerly a degraded forest managed with the taungya restoration system for 50 years. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) of 5 cm and over were measured, tagged and identified in a one-hectare study plot. A total of 132 inner bark samples were collected for DNA extraction. Four SSR markers (Sle280, Sle392, Sle475 and Sle566) and two EST-SSR markers (SleE07 and SleE16) were used to analyse 95 good-quality DNA samples. Genetic diversity parameters including maternal contribution were determined for 75 samples. The genetic diversity of big trees (He = 0.656 ± 0.19) and small trees (He = 0.652 ± 0.17) were high and both were in genetic equilibrium, with Fis values of the big trees being 0.035 and small trees being 0.164. Clustering analysis based on Jaccard’s similarity values (at 95% confidence level) confirmed that big trees in the Kenaboi FR rehabilitated area had originated from genetically diverse seed trees of the Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve which were used as the planting stock for the taungya restoration system. Maternal contribution showed that the allele contribution of the small trees came from the planted S. acuminata trees within the study area. The high genetic diversity of small trees in this study provides strong evidence that the existing big trees would be suitable for a genetically diverse seed collection to rehabilitate other degraded forests. Sustainable forest management must emphasise genetic diversity in order to ensure the resilience of rehabilitated forest ecosystems.

The springtail, Tetrodontophora bielanensis, dwells in the litter and upper soil layers. This arthropod mainly inhabits humid litter and soil and prefers a cold climate. We determined the main factors influencing this springtail in forests at the landscape level in Krkonoše and site level in Orlické hory in the Czech Republic. We used passive trunk-tree traps. These traps are highly effective for sampling flightless fauna. We used 128 traps in Krkonoše and 17 traps in Orlické hory. The springtail was significantly positively influenced by the presence of Norway spruce (Picea abies) at the landscape level. Springtails’ abundance was, furthermore, influenced by the spatial distribution of the sampling sites. The negative influence of bark coverage and the presence of fungi, and positive influence of an increasing dimension of trees were significant at the site level. We argue for a more diversified management of mountainous forests with respect to forest history. This appears to be also important for mountainous forests in protected areas.

Previous studies have shown that vocalizations of dogs can provide information to human companions. While acoustic signals of dogs have been intensively studied during the last decade, barking during hunting activities remains unstudied. The experiences of hunters indicate that owners can recognize what animal species has been found based on the bark of their dog. Such a phenomenon has never been tested before. We tested such an ability by comparing barks that were produced when dogs encountered four different animal species: wild boar, red fox, rabbit and fowl. Classification results of a discrimination analysis showed, that based on barks of dachshunds and terriers, it is possible to categorize towards which animal species barks were produced. The most distinctive barks were produced during encounters with the most dangerous of these animals, the wild boar. On the contrary, barks evoked by red fox encounters were classified similarly as those towards other smaller and non-dangerous animals like rabbits and fowl. Although the red fox represents a potentially dangerous species, the barking provoked was not classified with a much higher result than barking at animals that pose no threat. This might indicate that the key parameter could be the body size of the animal the dog meets. We further tested whether the degree of threat from the species of animal the dog encounters is reflected in the structure of the acoustic parameters based on the valence-arousal model. We found that barks produced in contact with a wild boar showed significantly lower frequency parameters and longest duration compared to other barks. According to these results, it seems that the variability of barking depending on the species of animal a dog encounters is an expression of the dogʼs inner state rather than functionally reference information.

Bark beetles vector symbiotic fungi and the success of these mutualisms may be limited by competition from other microbes. The outcome of fungal competition is strongly influenced by the physical and chemical conditions of the wood they inhabit. These conditions are in turn subject to climatic variation. In particular, wood moisture content (MC) influences fungal competition and, therefore, could help determine environmental suitability for thousand cankers disease (TCD) caused by Geosmithia morbida and its vector Pityophthorus juglandis. We conducted competition experiments in Juglans nigra wood that was naturally or artificially colonized by G. morbida and other fungi over a range of wood MC expected across prevailing United States climatic conditions. G. morbida outcompeted antagonistic fungi Clonostachys and Trichoderma spp. at Aspergillus spp. outcompeted G. morbida at low moisture in wood from Indiana. We fit a logistic regression model to results of the competition experiments to predict survival of G. morbida across the United States. Expected survival of G. morbida was highest in historical TCD epicenters and accounted for the low incidence and severity of TCD in the eastern United States. Our results also predict that under future climate scenarios, the area impacted by TCD will expand into the native range of J. nigra. Given its role in emergent forest health threats, climate change should be a key consideration in the assessment of risks to hardwood resources.

Tree damage is one of the destructive behaviors of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus G. (Baron) Cuvier, 1823), and this type of damage causes great economic loss to the forest. A survey about Himalayan white pine (Pinus wallichiana (A. B) Jacks, 1836) damages was conducted at Kaghan Valley, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out within five major sites of Kaghan Valley, including Manshi reserve forest, Kamal Bann reserve forest, Malkandi reserve forest, Noori Bichla reserve forest, and some Guzara forests. Line transects and diameter at breast height (DBH) methods were selected for data collection. Eighteen transects were placed in different sites of the valley. A total of (n = 201) affected trees were observed from eighteen transects, along with a total population of 1081 trees with the encounter rate (ER: 0.657) and the mean DBH is x¯ = 71.97 cm. Among total damages, the most severe (n = 39: 19.4%) were fully damaged with a greater encounter rate. Bark stripping was made during the late winter season and used as foodstuff when natural food is limited in the area. In severe cases, the bear-stripped bark encircles from the entire tree trunk, which results in the drying of trees and, finally, falls. Among all five sites, Manshi reserve forest was greatly affected, where the highest number (n = 76) of tree damage, and (n = 21) the entire diameter of trunks were damaged. People of the study area claimed that the black bear causes great forest damage, as well as crop destruction that leads to high economic loss.

En México, uno de los principales agentes de degradación forestal son los insectos descortezadores; entre ellos, Dendroctonus mexicanus es considerado uno de los más agresivos, ya que cada año afecta a varias especies de pino en México. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la distribución temporal y espacial de esta especie, a partir de las bases de datos de las notificaciones forestales oficiales, entregadas a la Secretaría de Recursos Naturales (Semarnat) de 2009 a 2018. Las bases de datos se revisaron, analizaron y depuraron. Se correlacionó la variable área ecológica (norte, centro y sur) en la superficie afectada mediante un modelo de efectos fijos. Durante el intervalo de años en estudio, el escarabajo de la corteza se distribuyó en 25 estados de la república mexicana, principalmente en la Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental y Eje Neovolcánico Transversal. Los años con mayor número de registros fueron de 2012 a 2014, con presencia en bosques de pino-encino y encino-pino. Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas y Michoacán tuvieron la mayor superficie afectada por D. mexicanus. Michoacán, Oaxaca, Durango, Estado de México, Nuevo León y Chihuahua fueron las entidades que presentaron una mayor cantidad de madera afectada por la plaga. El valor de la prueba global de F2,14 (efectos fijos) fue de 17.99, y el valor p fue de 0.0001. Entre las tres zonas analizadas existen diferencias altamente significativas en cuanto a la variable de respuesta.

Significance Amazonia is experiencing an increase in the frequency of extreme droughts and wildfires. However, the duration of their impacts on plant mortality and carbon stocks are poorly known, and it is unclear whether impacts are amplified in forests with a history of previous human disturbance. We show that plant mortality rates remain above baseline levels for over 3 y in forests affected by drought and 2.5 y in forests affected by both drought and fire. A history of human disturbance led to greater plant mortality in forests simultaneously affected by drought and fire. Our assessment of an area covering 1.2% of the Brazilian Amazon shows that regional drought and fires can have globally relevant impacts on the world’s carbon balance., With humanity facing an unprecedented climate crisis, the conservation of tropical forests has never been so important – their vast terrestrial carbon stocks can be turned into emissions by climatic and human disturbances. However, the duration of these effects is poorly understood, and it is unclear whether impacts are amplified in forests with a history of previous human disturbance. Here, we focus on the Amazonian epicenter of the 2015–16 El Niño, a region that encompasses 1.2% of the Brazilian Amazon. We quantify, at high temporal resolution, the impacts of an extreme El Niño (EN) drought and extensive forest fires on plant mortality and carbon loss in undisturbed and human-modified forests. Mortality remained higher than pre-El Niño levels for 36 mo in EN-drought–affected forests and for 30 mo in EN-fire–affected forests. In EN-fire–affected forests, human disturbance significantly increased plant mortality. Our investigation of the ecological and physiological predictors of tree mortality showed that trees with lower wood density, bark thickness and leaf nitrogen content, as well as those that experienced greater fire intensity, were more vulnerable. Across the region, the 2015–16 El Niño led to the death of an estimated 2.5 ± 0.3 billion stems, resulting in emissions of 495 ± 94 Tg CO2. Three years after the El Niño, plant growth and recruitment had offset only 37% of emissions. Our results show that limiting forest disturbance will not only help maintain carbon stocks, but will also maximize the resistance of Amazonian forests if fires do occur.*

The aim of the present work was to estimate the productivity and costs of timber harvesting and forwarding during the first commercial thinning of a Scots pine stand. Three harvesting models were introduced and compared: narrow trail, wide access trail, and schematic extraction. The analyzed harvesting equipment consisted of a track mini-excavator (34 kW) with a stroke harvester head (gripping range 4–30 cm), and a farm tractor coupled to a logging trailer with a hydraulic crane. Merchantable timber (roundwood with a minimum diameter of 5 cm inside bark) was harvested from a 25-year-old planted Scots pine stand growing on a grid of 1.4 m × 1.8 m. The study showed the productivity of the mini-harvester ranged from 3.09 to 3.47 m3/PMH15 (productive machine hours plus 15 min), and that of the forwarding equipment to be 4.07 m3/PMH15. The analyzed model of productivity as a function of tree volume and thinning intensity was statistically significant, but the intensity parameter was significant only on plots located along wide access trails (3.7 m) and insignificant on plots located along narrow access trails (2.5 m). The distance between trees was not found to be significant. The calculated net machine costs for the forwarding equipment and track mini-harvester were EUR 36.12 and 52.47 per PMH, respectively. An increase in the usage rate of the harvesting equipment to 80% would reduce the harvesting and forwarding costs to EUR 22.07/m3.

The population densities of I. typographus and P. chalcographus inside the Carpathian Mountains increasing mostly because of the non-synchronized and divers management strategies. The growing loss of trees from one year to another indicates assessment to determine the influence of the current management practices (or the absence of such) on bark beetle densities. A comprehensive tree-year assessment were made inside the Apuseni Natural Park, with a surface of 75,784 ha, to assess the population density of bark beetles. High abundance of both species were detected from one year to another, both in managed and unmanaged forests, the latter explained by the presence of scattered wind falling trees which represent favorable places for oviposition. General linear modelling revealed that the effect of environmental variables (forest mean age, forest density, altitude and slope) on I. typographus density were only significant under management systems, and only forest age has significantly negative effect on bark beetles densities. Overall, we conclude that there is little difference in population between non-intervention and intervention areas and even over a relatively short period of time (2011–2013), the population of both species expanded, and new uninfected habitats were infected both in unmanaged and managed forests, therefore a synchronized management system has to be developed. Climate variables as temperature and precipitations has more significant effects on population density than management.

The 14C method is an approach used to determine the proportion of carbon derived from biomass and fossil fuel in the co-fired flue gas. Its accuracy is mainly limited by the deviations between the applied biomass fuels’ 14C activity reference value and virtual value. To enrich the theoretical basis of the 14C method when applied to a Chinese biomass and coal co-firing power station, this study performed field sampling experiments and established a new evaluation method based on domestic literature. Unlike previous studies, this study revealed that the 14C activity of biomass far away from fossil carbon sources was 0.7–1.3 pMC lower than the local atmosphere. The 14C activity laws between tree rings and barks, specifically between eucalyptus bark and poplar bark were different, due to different growth models and different bark regeneration cycles, respectively. According to the test results and renewal conclusions, this study proposed a reasonable idea for constructing the prediction equation of referential biomass fuels’ 14C activity. Following this equation, the biomass fuels’ 14C activities of biomass direct-fired power stations at different Chinese cities were obtained.

Microhabitat orientation and structure and the presence of conspecifics may strongly influence the choice of habitat. We studied how these variables influence retreat- and nest-site selection in gravid females of a globally successful invasive species, the Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus). When provided with various substrates (vertical and horizontal ceramic tiles, vertical and horizontal plywood tiles, horizontal bark over leaf litter, vertical bark over a log, and sand) gravid female geckos preferred to retreat to, and nest in, materials with crevices commonly found in urban habitats. When housed alone, gravid females most frequently retreated to vertical ceramic tile or wooden crevices, and 66.7% nested in vertical ceramic tiles. When housed with two other conspecifics, gravid females most frequently retreated to vertical ceramic tiles, but selected a wider range of nest sites. Overall, gravid geckos housed alone typically nested in the same substrates that they used as diurnal retreats; when housed in groups, however, females oviposited in locations different from those they selected as retreats. Thus, H. frenatus females use a wider range of substrates when conspecifics are present. Invasion success in this species might be driven, in part, by preferences for retreat and nest substrates that are common in human-dominated habitats.

Studies of the diversity of economically valuable traits in forest tree species are of great interest not only for forest selection and practical silviculture, but also important as a general biological problem. Among the objects of attention of breeders, a special place is occupied by cone-bearing species such as Siberian stone pine. Its cultivation through the forest tree plantations for wood and for cone-bearing will allow in the future to reduce the damage for natural ecosystems significantly. The purpose of this work was to analyze the structure of diversity in growth and generative development of the Siberian stone pine crown on a specially created plantation, where a low level of natural selection makes it possible to more efficiently select for early reproduction, growth and seed productivity. This plantation is located in the south of the area (Western Siberia, south of Tomsk region). It was created from stone pine seeds of the local population, that were sown in 1977 as forest crops with standard density (0,75 х 3 м). At the age of 10, they were planted out at a distance of 8 x 8 m. The vegetative and generative development of 89 trees aged 40 years was analyzed. We used a retrospective method that allows reconstructing of the tree organogenesis and growth on the scars on the bark of the shoots. The start of sexual reproduction has been reconstructed; a comparative characteristic of the vegetative and generative development of the tree crown has been carried out. The results show that, in general, the initial idea of the dependence of the efficiency of selection on the conditions in which the trees were formed is confirmed. In the natural dense stands, many of the leader trees in cone-bearing, which we found in our study, could fall behind due to slow growth and did not live to reproductive age. On the plantation where sparse tree planting was applied, they survived and became the leaders in cone-bearing. Early start of reproduction, even under conditions of sparse tree planting, is positively correlated with the growth rate in the pre-generative period of ontogenesis (r = + 0.65). The level of variations in the generative development of trees was much higher than in the vegetative one. The abundance of male shoots in the crown and the relative length of the male generative zone of crown were determined primarily by the height of the trees. On the contrary, the active growth of the tree in height did not have a noticeable influence on the development of the female shoots and the female generative zone of crown. Contrasting differences in the traits of male and female crown development with growth traits are very interesting result, in our opinion. Tall trees with a narrow crown are most promising for pollen productivity breeding, since they have a longer male generative zone and because of this they have more male shoots in the crown. Trees with a broad crown are promising for seed production breeding. Although seed productivity is not in all cases a direct function of the size of the crown, but depends on the specific genotype of the tree. This is confirmed by the fact that in each group (high, medium and low trees) there are individuals of high-cone-bearing and low-cone-bearing, which is promising for seed production breeding in groups of different growth levels. Using the calculated relative traits «1 m2 of the area of the horizontal projection of the crown onto the ground surface» made it possible to select the best trees for seed production (combining the minimum size of the crown with the number of cones per unit area of the crown) and growth (combining greater height and narrow crown).For citation: Velisevich S.N., Popov A.V. Pattern of diversity in the vegetative and generative crown structure of the siberian stone pine on a seed orchard with sparse tree planting. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Forestry Journal], 2019, no. 5, pp. 35–47. DOI: 10.17238/issn0536-1036.2019.5.35Funding: This work is supported by the Russian Science Foundation under grant no. 18-16-00058. The article is published within the framework of implementation of the scientific journals development program in 2019, based on proceedings of XIX International conference of the young scholars “Forests of Euro-Asia – The Southern Ural” (August 25-30, 2019. Chelyabinsk).

Drought has promoted large-scale, insect-induced tree mortality in recent years, with severe consequences for ecosystem function, atmospheric processes, sustainable resources and global biogeochemical cycles. However, the physiological linkages among drought, tree defences, and insect outbreaks are still uncertain, hindering our ability to accurately predict tree mortality under on-going climate change. Here we propose an interdisciplinary research agenda for addressing these crucial knowledge gaps. Our framework includes field manipulations, laboratory experiments, and modelling of insect and vegetation dynamics, and focuses on how drought affects interactions between conifer trees and bark beetles. We build upon existing theory and examine several key assumptions: (1) there is a trade-off in tree carbon investment between primary and secondary metabolites (e.g. growth vs defence); (2) secondary metabolites are one of the main component of tree defence against bark beetles and associated microbes; and (3) implementing conifer-bark beetle interactions in current models improves predictions of forest disturbance in a changing climate. Our framework provides guidance for addressing a major shortcoming in current implementations of large-scale vegetation models, the under-representation of insect-induced tree mortality.

Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a priority food tree species in West Africa, but its use pattern and conservation is little known across different sociocultural areas of Benin. In this study, we analyse the determinants of D. microcarpum traditional uses pattern and how these determinants influence the species’ conservation in Benin. Thus, 730 respondents were participated in semi-structure interview across the North and Central regions of Benin. The information related to local names, traditional uses of different plant parts, management systems and conservation of D. microcarpum was recorded from the respondents. Use value (UV), ethnobotanical use value (EUV) and organ use value (OUV) were calculated. These statistics were used to assess the structure and variability of traditional use categories of plant parts among the sociocultural groups, gender and age groups. Results indicated that local names were spatially structured and linked to local communities’ cultural origins, according to the recent human migration roads in West Africa. In total, 42 traditional uses of seven categories were gathered. UV in relation to sociocultural groups ranges from 7.62 (Idatcha and Fon) to 16.08 (Peulh and Lokpa); within the gender, UV ranges from 9.96 (women) to 11.15 (men); and within the age groups, UV ranges from 9.37 [18–30 years old] to 14.14 [65–100]. The species’ UV significantly depended on respondents’ sociocultural group, age and gender. Moreover, the age, gender and sociocultural groups significantly influenced the species’ use pattern. Ethnobotanical use value ranges from 0.35 (fodder) to 6.22 (traditional human medicine). OUV ranges from 2.62% (flower) to 42.38% (leaf). The various uses of the species’ roots, leaves and bark in traditional pharmacology and their high-quality firewood and tasty fruits determined the various local management systems. Thus, considering the current threats (intensive use of the roots, trunk, leaves and branches, and habitat degradation) conservation measures are needed to ensure the survival, conservation of distribution pattern and sustainable use of the species.

The taxonomic composition has been explored and the geographical analysis of P. nigra has been carried out in the street plantations of the City of Uman. To assess the feasibility of introducing a particular species into a particular area, along with its adaptive index, the preservation of those economic and valuable features, which are in the area of natural distribution and due to which it is desirable to cultivate, is of particular importance. On the basis of age parameters of the diameter and height of individual specimens, the high resistance of plants to the complicated conditions of the urbanized environment was noted and the prospect of using the species was established, under the influence of numerous anthropogenic factors on it. The increased interest in introduced plants in landscaping is due to the fact that in urban environments they are more stable and more durable than local species. The results show that all investigated P. nigra plants have high viability indicators and belong to the first group of availability. The significance of acclimatization numbers proves the promise of the introduction of P. nigra and the success of acclimatization in urban environments. In assessing the decorative qualities of P. nigra, it was basically found to stand out on the background of other species with its compact oval or cone crown, dark grey with different shades of cracked bark and long dark green needles. Due to these qualities, it retains an attractive appearance throughout the year, even in the winter. On the basis of the obtained results, the total annual decorative index of the main features of P. nigra is 4 points. It is established that medieval trees dominate in the age structure of street plantations of the city of Uman. Young trees under the age of 10 are absent at all, which suggests a low level of works for landscaping. According to the results of the evaluation of the success of P. nigra introduction in the urbanized environment, it is classified in the first group of promising plants, the degree of successful acclimatization is good, which indicates the normal acclimatization of this plant in the area of introduction. Thanks to its high decorative qualities, as well as its durability and unpretentiousness to the growth conditions, P. nigra perfectly adorns the streets of the city. It is grown both as a solitaire, and in combination with other plant species.

Dolomite and a micronutrient fertilizer are routinely incorporated into a pine bark-based soilless substrate when producing containerized nursery crops, yet the effect of these amendments on phosphorus (P) is not well understood. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer amendments on P partitioning among four P fractions (i.e., orthophosphate-P EOM non-orthophosphate dissolved P [NODP], total dissolved P [TDP], and particulate P (PPJ) and to model potential P species in leachate of pine bark substrate. Amendment treatments incorporated into bark at experiment initiation included (1) a control (no fertilizer, dolomite, or micronutrient fertilizer), (2) controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), (3) CRF and dolomite, (4) CRF and micronutrient fertilizer, or (5) CRF, dolomite, and micronutrient fertilizer. Phosphorus fractions in leachate of irrigated pine bark columns were determined at eight sampling times over 48 days. Amending pine bark with dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer reduced leachate OP concentrations by 70% when averaged across sampling dates primarily due to retention of OP in the substrate by dolomite. The NODP fraction was unaffected by amendments, and the response of TDP was similar to that of OP. Particulate P was present throughout the study and was strongly correlated particulate Fe and DOC concentrations. Visual MINTEQ indicated MnHPO4 and Ca-5(PO4)(3)(OH) were consistently saturated with respect to their solid phase in treatments containing CRF. Results of this study suggest amending pine bark with dolomite and micronutrients is a best management practice for reducing P leaching from containerized nurseries. Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture [SCRI 2014-51181-22372]; Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture [SCRI 2014-51181-22372]; US Dep. of Agriculture; Horticultural Research Institute; Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association The authors thank Julie Brindley, Velva Groover, Anna Birnbaum, and Doug Sturtz for technical assistance, as well as Pacific Organics for donating pine bark for this research. Funding was provided by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (including SCRI 2014-51181-22372), the US Dep. of Agriculture, the Horticultural Research Institute, and the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association. Public domain – authored by a U.S. government employee

Since the global financial crisis, the Anglo-American banking sector has been hit by revelation after revelation of mis-selling, fraud, and collusion. In response, state managers in the US and the ...

Human activity is one of the three main drivers of environmental changes in the mountains. Its influence on mountain natural environment is characterized by great spatiotemporal diversity. In the Tatras human impact started in the 12 th -13 th centuries and was related to mining and animal grazing, followed by metallurgy in the 18 th century. These activities developed in the 15 th -16 th and with the climax in the 18 th -19 th , except for the animal grazing which continued till the 1960s-1970s. Since the second half of the 19 th century tourism developed intensively. More than 3 million people per year visit the Polish part of the Tatras nowadays. Human activities, prior to tourism, were accompanied by a strong forest and dwarf pine shrubs extraction. They affected mainly relief and vegetation cover. Erosion in the slopes was triggered or intensified after deterioration of vegetation cover by grazing. Anthropogenic landforms like pits, mine roads, mine channels are still recognizable in landscape. Lowering of the upper forest and dwarf pine limits and changing of a natural structure of the forest into a monoculture are among the main influences on vegetation. Indirect effects of the changed forest structure are problems with bark beetles and windthrows. The later have been strongly affecting slope morphodynamics. Tourism-related impact manifest in gradual anthropogenic erosion along hiking trails. It is the major type of human impact n the Tatras now. The historical human impact until the 1960s-1970s was indeed spatial in nature. Currently, it is of a linear character or point-focused, and is relatively constant regarding particular locations.

Background Nest construction is a key element of avian reproductive behaviour and the result is often a complex structure that is used for incubation of eggs, which represents an extended phenotype. It is known that nest construction is a plastic behaviour but the extent to which plasticity is observed in a single species with a wide geographical distribution is largely unknown. This study sought to better understand variation in nest size and composition across a very wide geographical area. The hypothesis suggested that location would affect size but not composition of nests of the European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Methods Nests and reproductive data were collected from seventeen study sites, spread over 6° of latitude and 3.3° of longitude on the island of Great Britain. Dimensions of nests were measured before they were deconstructed to determine the masses and types materials used in the outer nest and the cup lining. Results Geographical variation was observed in base thickness of nests but not many other dimensions. Nests varied in composition but were mainly made of leaf, moss, bark, grass, root and fern. Moss was used more to the north and east of the study area compared with more leaf mass towards the south and west. The species of leaf and bark used in the nests varied between geographical locations. Additionally, the use of leaves or bark from a particular tree species did not reflect the incidence of the tree species in the immediate territory. Conclusions This study showed that nest composition was affected by geographical location over a wide area. Variation between nests at each location was high and so it was concluded that differences in nest composition reflect individual selection of materials but evidence is such that it remains unclear whether this is deliberate to fulfil a specific role in the nest, or simply opportunistic with birds simply picking up materials with the appropriate characteristics as they find them outside their nestbox.

Accurate estimates of tree stemwood volume are a fundamental requirement for sustainable forest management. As jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. BSP) are the p...

Introduction: In the United States of America, forest pests are associated with climate variability. Such studies are scarce in Mexico. Objectives: To create a data base of historical outbreaks of bark beetles and analyze their relationship with drought. Materials and methods: Historical records of outbreaks of bark beetles were obtained from official documents in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. Dendroclimatic indices were used as a climate proxy. The relationship between pest outbreaks and climate was analyzed with the Superpose Epoch Analysis (SEA). Results and discussion: A database of 120 years (1895-2015) of bark beetle outbreaks was created. The most frequent species were Dendroctonus mexicanus Hopkins, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann and Dendroctonus adjunctus Blandford. A total of 106 records of outbreaks in 15 states of Mexico were recorded during the period 1903-2015; 16 outbreaks in Guatemala during the period 1895-2013, and 15 outbreaks in Honduras during the period 1962-2015. Historically, outbreaks were recorded in years with below-average precipitation (550 mm) and have increased since 1970. The SEA determined that bark beetle outbreaks in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras were recorded during dry years (P 0.05) of NINO 3 and PDSI (Palmer Drought Severity Index) and significant negative indices (P Conclusion: A significant relationship was determined between bark beetle outbreaks and drought conditions for the last 120 years.