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Climate change entails shifts in the ranges of woody plants along both latitudinal and altitudinal gradients in the boreal forest biome. In this study, dendrochronological and GIS technologies have been used to evaluate shifts in the upper distribution limits of trees and shrubs in the Eastern Sayan Mountains. The results show that upward expansion along the altitudinal gradient and increase in projective cover against the background of climate warming reach a maximum in shrubs (Betula spp., Salix spp.); then follow Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour), and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb). The abundance of P. sibirica undergrowth in the mountain forest–tundra ecotone has increased, which is due to a rise in May–August air temperatures (r = 0.97). In zones with sufficient moisture supply (high mountains), warming stimulates radial growth of trees and shrubs and promotes their expansion to the mountain forest–tundra.

Traditional husbandry fostered rich semi-open oakwood communities composed of forest and non-forest species. In the eastern Carpathian region, silvo-pastoralism was commonplace by the mid-1900s. This study aimed to determine the state of the preservation of the ecotonal character of grassland-woodland interfaces in formerly pastured cultural landscapes of SE-Polish Carpathian foothills and W-Ukrainian Ciscarpathia in the context of land-use change. In the first region, despite the long-lasting history of forest grazing amongst mainly arable land, the post-WWII collapse of husbandry and the imposed ban on forest grazing, has led to swift development of dense undergrowth and establishment of impermeable ecological woodland-open habitat barrier. As a result, former silvo-pastoral oakwoods developed the features of the Tilio-Carpinentum forest community although some forest species have not yet moved in due to their poor dispersibility. The much younger oakwoods in the Ukrainian study region are remnants of the sparsely treed grasslands, some of which had been ploughed in the mid 20th century. Their semi-open canopy structure, maintained through repetitive grass burning, contributes to the communities ecotonal character, but without regular livestock-led plant “spill-over” from the grassland, the oakwoods remain species-poor. The restoration of species-rich semi-open oak woods requires “unsealing” the forest-grassland interface, reducing the degree of canopy closure, and opening that zone up to extensive grazing—an important seed dispersal vector.

Being able to persist in deep shade is an important characteristic of juvenile trees, often leading to a strong dominance of shade-tolerant species in forests with low canopy turnover and a low disturbance rate. While leaf, growth, and storage traits are known to be key components of shade tolerance, their interplay during regeneration development and their influence on juveniles' survival time remains unclear. We assessed the ontogenetic effects of these three traits on the survival time of beech (Fagus sylvatica), and Norway and sycamore maples (Acer pseudoplatanus, Acer platanoides) in a primeval beech forest. Biomass allocation, age, and content of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) were measured in the stems and roots of 289 seedlings and saplings in high- and low-vitality classes. Saplings experienced a trade-off between absolute growth rate (AGR) and storage (NSC) as the leaf area ratio (LAR) decreases with biomass development. High LAR but low AGR and low NSC corresponded to beech with a marked ability to persist in deep shade while awaiting canopy release. In turn, a comparably small LAR in combination with a high AGR and higher storage (NSC), as observed in Norway maple and sycamore maple, reduced sapling survival time, thus offering an explanation for beech dominance and maple disappearance in the undergrowth of old-growth beech forests., Ecology and Evolution, 11 (15), ISSN:2045-7758

Background Forest management affects the habitat conditions for many forest-dwelling species. Among them, the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is a rare forest grouse inhabiting old, mature forests. We compared the structure of forest habitat among 9 active and 9 abandoned leks in the Augustów Forest (North-Eastern Poland), within a radius of 1 km of the leks, defined as the Key Areas for the capercaillie in lowland temperate forest. Habitat measurements were conducted on 1779 circular plots. Assessments made on all plots related to 13 habitat variables measured or noted in the field, including stand structure, canopy closure, stand developmental stage, percentage of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), soil fertility and soil moisture, the share of undergrowth, the cover of shrubs, the cover of bilberry (Vaccinium sp.), and the presence of certain habitat elements important to the capercaillie. Results To compare the still-occupied and the abandoned KAs for the capercaillie, a logistic regression model was developed. The variables best explaining differences between these two categories were: the occurrence of undergrowth layers, canopy closure in the second canopy layer, and stand age. According to the model, with the increase of the shrub-layer cover as well as the density of trees, the probability of the presence of the capercaillie decreased. The capercaillie in the area of the Augustów Forest occupy mainly dry and poor, middle-aged, pine-dominated forests, with a moderate extent of stand canopy closure and only weakly-developed layers of undergrowth. Conclusions The filling-in of mature stands with sub-canopy trees and shrubs (the process which is stimulated by climate change and site eutrophication) causes structural changes, which are unfavourable to the capercaillie. This might explain why in the course of the recent decades the capercaillie has abandoned the oldest stands, distinguished by the presence of bigger shares of undergrowth. The capercaillie has shifted to younger stands, which reveal a lesser extent of canopy closure and a more limited development of understorey vegetation.

Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia (RP) has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants (UH), soil properties and their relationships, which may be related to the vegetation zone. However, few studies have tested effects of RP on UH and soil over a large-scale area of the Loess Plateau. Methods The study area consisted of three vegetation zones (the steppe, forest-steppe and forest zone). Two canopy plant types were selected: RP stands and adjacent native vegetation. We measured five leaf functional traits: leaf carbon content (LC), leaf nitrogen content (LN), leaf phosphorus content (LP), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf tissue density (LTD). The functional diversity, species diversity and community-weighted mean (CWM) traits were calculated. Important Findings (i) CWM.LN, CWM.LP and CWM.SLA increased significantly, whereas CWM.LC and CWM.LTD decreased significantly in the three vegetation zones, compared with the native communities. (ii) Species diversity, functional diversity and community biomass decreased in the steppe zone, increased in the forest zone, and did not differ significantly in the forest-steppe zone. (iii) We found only soil organic carbon (P < 0.05) and soil total nitrogen (P < 0.05) in the forest zone decreased significantly compared with the native plots. (iv) The relationship between UH and soil properties was affected by RP and the vegetation zone. Overall, the effect of RP on UH and soil properties was associated with the vegetation zone. This result is of great significance to the planning of restoration and reconstruction of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau.

Martins, Gustavo de Melo, Ferreira, Dalila de Fátima, Pacheco, Sérgio, Ribon, Rômulo, Lopes, Leonardo Esteves (2021): Territorial behaviour and breeding in the Southern Antpipit Corythopis delalandi (Aves: Rhynchocyclidae) in southeastern Brazil. Journal of Natural History 54 (29-30): 1827-1844, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1830193, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2020.1830193

Extensive tall-trunk orchards, an important element of the central European landscape since the Middle Ages, conserve potential for the future regarding their biodiversity, land use policy and agricultural value. For these reasons, extensive tall-trunk orchards are interesting with regard to nature conservation. Once the management of these low-productivity vegetation sites ceases, the habitat is threatened by successive overgrowth by shrub vegetation. Taking abandoned tall-trunk cherry orchards with dry/mesophilous grassland undergrowth in the locality of Kaňk as an example, the degree of colonization of orchards by woody species and differences in the structure of vegetation cover in different periods after abandonment were monitored. The results showed that the cover of cherry trees in orchards abandoned before 1990 was approximately 30% lower than in orchards abandoned after 2000. The cover of the herb layer in orchards abandoned before 1990 was approximately 60% lower than in orchards abandoned after 2000. The species diversity of orchards abandoned before 1990 was statistically significantly lower than that of orchards abandoned after 2000. The total cover of all species in habitat in areas of medieval ore extraction was approximately 50% lower than that in land originally used for farming.

Background Liriope muscari (Decne.) L.H. Bailey is a valuable horticultural and medicinal plant that grows under a range of light intensities, from high to low, in the understories of shrubs. To understand how this species adapts to these various environments, we selected two groups of lilyturf growing under poplar trees at two different spacings. Each group was divided into three types, open field, forest edge and shaded forest with high, medium and low irradiance levels, respectively, and then we examined their photosynthetic characteristics, physiology and biomasses. Results Light saturation point, light compensation point and in situ net photosynthetic rate (PN) were highest in lilyturf growing under high light. In contrast, lilyturf growing under low light had a higher apparent quantum yield and Chl a and b contents, indicating that they adapted to low light. Although the leaves of lilyturf growing under low light were small, their root tubers were heavier. Conclusions The research demonstrates the eco-physiological basis of lilyturf’s shade adaptation mechanism as indicated by photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll fluorescence, Chl a, Chl b and Car contents when grown under different irradiances. We believe that lilyturf is a shade-tolerant plant suitable for planting in undergrowth, but attention should be paid to the canopy density of the forest when interplanting. The findings presented here advance our understanding of the photosynthetic characteristics of understory plants and may assist in the optimization of irradiances in the future.

A recent re-evaluation of the Noronhia species from the Guineo-Congolian forests resulted in a much more restricted circumscription of N. mannii. A part of the specimens excluded from N. mannii represents the two new species described here. Both new species, N. silvatica from Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana, and N. cameroonensis from Cameroon, have red fruits, while N. mannii has dark purplish fruits. Both new species are small trees or shrubs found in the undergrowth of evergreen forest.

A new subspecies of Epipactis microphylla, proposed as subsp. cossyrensis is described and illustrated from Pantelleria, a volcanic island near Sicily. It differs from subsp. microphylla mainly in the shape and size of leaves and bracts and several floral traits. This taxon, previously attributed to E. pollinensis, a species currently treated as a synonym of E. purpurata, grows in the undergrowth of thermophilous woodlands occurring on the top of the island, where it numbers a few tens of individuals. The conservation status, phenology and taxonomic remarks are provided. Keys for the species belonging to the Epipactis atrorubens group (= subsect. Atrorubensae), including E. microphylla, are presented.

The aim of this study was to test the sensitivity of epiphytic and epixylic bryophytes and lichens as indicators of forest naturalness, by comparing their diversity patterns with forest structural, compositional and historical features associated with different management/protection regimes and protection time spans. The study was carried out in the Bialowieza Forest (Poland). Out of 1370 pre-existing inventory plots established all across the Polish part of the Bialowieza Forest, we randomly selected 10 plots for each of the 18 plot aggregation groups resulting from the combination of 3 management/protection regimes and 6 habitat types, for an overall number of 180 plots. At each of them, we carried out bryophyte and lichen sampling on four substrates (coarse woody debris – CWD, standing dead trees, stumps, living trees). The management/protection regimes exemplifying the gradient of forest naturalness were: the 100 years-old Bialowieza National Park (BNP), a set of more recently established nature reserves and managed forests. We tested differences in mean species richness values among management/protection regimes, protection time spans, habitat types and stand age classes by analysis of variance and calculated coefficients of correlation with 45 selected structural and compositional features of forest stands. Differences in species composition of epiphytic and epixilic bryophytes and lichens among management/protection regimes were tested by ordination methods. Lastly, we compared frequency of red-listed species and primeval forest relics among management/protection regimes. Species richness of lichens was significantly correlated with the degree of forest naturalness assessed by structural and historical features along the naturalness gradient, with the highest number of species recorded in BNP and the lower in managed stands, while bryophyte number did not exhibit a clear dependence on the management regimes. Relic species of primeval forests and red-listed species occurred with significantly higher frequency in protected areas than in managed forests for both lichens and bryophytes, with the highest frequency observed in BNP for lichens and in nature reserves for bryophytes. Volume of deadwood, particularly of CWD in advanced decays stage, species richness of undergrowth vascular plants, tree layer diversity, shrub cover and herb layer cover exhibited the strongest correlation with cryptogam species richness and cover on the various substrates. Response to light availability strongly differenciated bryophyte and lichens optimal niches. The results of this study clearly show that cryptogams, and lichens in particular, are indeed reliable ecological indicators of forest status, since they sensibly intercepted the environmental changes observable along the tested naturalness gradient.

Acer negundo L., the invasive tree species of North American origin, is naturalizing in the floodplain forests of Orenburg oblast. Now A. negundo has created an extensive secondary range on the territory of Orenburg oblast and occupies an area of more than 20 000 ha. On the right and left sides of the Tok River in Krasnogvardeysky and Grachevsky districts in the northwest of Orenburg oblast, four test areas of 20 × 2000 m were laid, and inside each test area, 40 sample plots of 20 × 50 m were laid. Nine tree species were considered; the data of records were recalculated per 1 ha. In tree communities of the floodplain of the River Tok, an absolute dominance of A. negundo, which in abundance exceeded all other floodplain tree species (281.13 and 383.25 specimens/ha), was noted. The share of invasive species in the floodplain forests of this area on average was 66.39%. The performed calculation of natural renewal of woody vegetation showed the considerable superiority of undergrowth of A. negundo (130 833.50 and 178 831.50 specimens/ha). Naturalization of A. negundo in floodplains of Orenburg oblast influenced negatively the height, development, and renewal of local forest-forming species, leading to irreversible consequences of degeneration of the floodplain forests.

Forest undergrowth plants are tightly connected with the shady and humid conditions that occur under the canopy of tropical forests. However, projected climatic changes, such as decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature, negatively affect understory environments by promoting light‐demanding and drought‐tolerant species. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the influence of climate change on the spatial distribution of three selected forest undergrowth plants, Dracaena Vand. ex L. species, D. afromontana Mildbr., D. camerooniana Baker, and D. surculosa Lindl., simultaneously creating the most comprehensive location database for these species to date. A total of 1,223 herbarium records originating from tropical Africa and derived from 93 herbarium collections worldwide have been gathered, validated, and entered into a database. Species‐specific Maxent species distribution models (SDMs) based on 11 bioclimatic variables from the WorldClim database were developed for the species. HadGEM2‐ES projections of bioclimatic variables in two contrasting representative concentration pathways (RCPs), RCP2.6 and RCP8.5, were used to quantify the changes in future potential species distribution. D. afromontana is mostly sensitive to temperature in the wettest month, and its potential geographical range is predicted to decrease (up to −63.7% at RCP8.5). Optimum conditions for D. camerooniana are low diurnal temperature range (6–8°C) and precipitation in the wettest season exceeding 750 mm. The extent of this species will also decrease, but not as drastically as that of D. afromontana. D. surculosa prefers high precipitation in the coldest months. Its potential habitat area is predicted to increase in the future and to expand toward the east. This study developed SDMs and estimated current and future (year 2050) potential distributions of the forest undergrowth Dracaena species. D. afromontana, naturally associated with mountainous plant communities, was the most sensitive to predicted climate warming. In contrast, D. surculosa was predicted to extend its geographical range, regardless of the climate change scenario.

A new blind species, Folsomides cariocus sp. nov., which belongs to the F. parvulus group sensu Fjellberg (1993), is described and illustrated based on material collected in compacted clay soil covered by undergrowth and no litter around the bee nest holes at the Botanical Garden, located in Rio de Janeiro City. The new species is very similar to F. parvulus Stach, 1922 but differs mainly due to the absence of eyes. Synonymies based on ocular variations and pigmented spots were discussed and a table for the group parvulus species is present.

A study on the effects of prescribed burning on rodent community ecology was conducted in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The study aimed at generating ecological knowledge about the changes in rodent communities when areas of the park are intentionally burned to regulate grasslands or reduce undergrowth that can lead to uncontrolled forest fires. A completely randomized design (CRD) factorial layout with two treatments (burned and unburned) and two replications was applied. A total of 148 animals comprising six species of rodent and one insectivore were captured over 2,940 trap nights. Among the trapped individuals, 41.9% were adults, 16.1% juveniles and 41.9% sub-adults. Males and females were at parity between treatments. Species abundance was estimated using the minimum number alive (MNA) method for different rodent species and was found to vary with treatment where Mastomys natalensis declined in burned plots whilst Arvicanthis niloticus increased. However, species diversity did not differ across treatments (F1, 10 = 0.15, p = 0.70). Differences in the reproductive condition of female M. natalensis (z = 4.408, df = 15, p < 0.001) and A. niloticus (z = 2.381, df = 15, p = 0.017) were observed between treatments showing that higher numbers of reproductively active females were observed in burned plots in March, whilst in unburned plots more were observed from November to February. Conservation strategies involving periodic habitat burning should, therefore, consider small mammal reproductive periods to ensure that species potentially at risk are not adversely affected and able to rapidly recover from the effects of burning in temporarily lowering food resources and longer term impacts of increased predation caused by reduced cover.

Gryllotalpa weisei Simeu-Noutchom & Kekeunou sp. nov. was collected only in Tombel in the South-West region of Cameroon, during a survey conducted from March 2016 to March 2018 in the West, South-West and Centre regions of Cameroon. This species is close to Gryllotalpa microptera, collected for the first time in Cameroon during these investigations, only in the West region. G. weisei is different from G. microptera due to the hind wings that are vestigial; average fore wings length of 5.85±0.56 mm in male and 5.34±0.45 mm in female, not reaching the fifth abdominal segment; anal end of fore wings slightly concave; a stridulatory file with 54±8.02 teeth (47–71) in average, fairly spaced, with an average of 30±5.06 teeth per millimeter; hind tibia bearing 11 spines; internal process of ectophallus quite short. G. weisei abounds in mixed crop fields, followed by cocoa agro-forests; it is scarce in grassy fallows and in forest undergrowth. G. microptera was present in all types of vegetations in Bafoussam, Babeté and Bangoulap in the West region where it has been abundant in mixed crop fields, grass-fallow and coffee agro-forest but rare in forest undergrowth.

Методом ISSR-анализа изучена генетическая принадлежность подроста Pinus sylvestris L. в реликтовых островных борах, занимающих пограничное положение с культурными насаждениями P.sylvestris. В ходе исследования установлено, что для островных боров Бузулукского, Бугурусланского и Адамовского р-нов Оренбургской области характерен высокий уровень генетического разнообразия. Согласно анализу главных компонент, выборки реликтовых сосен и подроста делятся на 2 группы, одна из которых (группа А) присутствует во всех изучаемых районах, другая (группа В) – только на территории Адамовского р-на. Группа А отличается высоким генетическим разнообразием и состоит из трех генетических кластеров. Обособленное положение выборки Адамовского р-на и перекрываемое положение популяций Бузулукского и Бугурусланского р-нов, предположительно, обусловлено разностью ботанико-географических зон и почвенно-экологическими условиями. Кластерный анализ (UPGMA), основанный на степени сходства популяций по ISSR-маркерным признакам, а также определение генетической дистанции при помощи программы Mega 7.0, выявило, что в Бузулукском и Бугурусланском р-нах подрост генетически близок реликтовому древостою. Исследование последовательности отдельных фрагментов ДНК не выявило филогенетических связей между подростом и реликтовым древостоем в Адамовском р-не, что может свидетельствовать об отсутствии перекрестного опыления реликтового древостоя с культурным., Using the method of ISSR analysis, the genetic affiliation of Pinus sylvestris L. undergrowth was studied in relic island forests that occupy a borderline position with P. sylvestris cultivated plants. The study found that the island burs of the Buzuluk, Buguruslan and Adamovsky districts of the Orenburg Region are characterized by a high level of genetic diversity. According to the analysis of the main components of the sample of relic pines and undergrowth, they are divided into 2 groups, one of which (group A) is present in all the studied areas, the other (group B) – only in the Adamovsky district. Group A is characterized by high genetic diversity and consists of three genetic clusters. The isolated position of the sampling of the Adamovsky district and the overlapping position of the populations of the Buzuluk and Buguruslan districts are presumably due to the difference in botanical and geographical zones and soil and environmental conditions. Cluster analysis (UPGMA), based on the degree of similarity of populations by ISSR-marker characteristics, as well as determination of genetic distance using the Mega 7.0 program, revealed that in the Buzuluk and Buguruslan districts the undergrowth is genetically close to relic forest stands. Presumably, there is no cross-pollination of the relic stand with the cultivated one due to the mismatch in the phenological dates of pine dusting. As a result of the study of the sequence of individual DNA fragments, phylogenetic relationships were not established between the undergrowth and relic forest stand in the Adamovsky district.

In human‐modified landscapes, important ecological functions such as predation are negatively affected by anthropogenic activities, including the use of pesticides and habitat degradation. Predation of insect pests is an indicator of healthy ecosystem functioning, which provides important ecosystem services, especially for agricultural systems. In this study, we compare predation attempts from arthropods, mammals, and birds on artificial caterpillars in the understory, between three tropical agricultural land‐use types: oil palm plantations, rubber tree plantations, and fruit orchards. We collected a range of local and landscape‐scale data including undergrowth vegetation structure; elevation; proximity to forest; and canopy cover in order to understand how environmental variables can affect predation. In all three land‐use types, our results showed that arthropods and mammals were important predators of artificial caterpillars and there was little predation by birds. We did not find any effect of the environmental variables on predation. There was an interactive effect between land‐use type and predator type. Predation by mammals was considerably higher in fruit orchards and rubber tree than in oil palm plantations, likely due to their ability to support higher abundances of insectivorous mammals. In order to maintain or enhance natural pest control in these common tropical agricultural land‐use types, management practices that benefit insectivorous animals should be introduced, such as the reduction of pesticides, improvement of understory vegetation, and local and landscape heterogeneity., Arthropods were the most dominant predators, followed by mammals and birds. Predation by mammals was considerably higher in fruit orchards and rubber tree than in oil palm plantations. Natural predators should be promoted as an alternative to chemical insecticides.

International audience; Phytoliths, unlike pollen and charcoal, are frequently conserved in sediments in the Maya lowlands but are rarely used as paleoenvironmental proxies. To better interpret and reconstruct paleoecological signatures and changes, it is necessary to provide current analogues of fossil assemblages. To do so, we selected six modern ecosystems and differentiated them by their soil phytolith assemblages in the ancient Maya city of Naachtun (northern Petén, Guatemala). We studied the plant communities and relative phytoliths frequencies in surface soils on four north-south vegetation transect, composed of 43 quadrats. These transects cross forests and savannahs in low swampy areas North and South of the site, and hill forest in its center, where the city was built. Quadrats were statistically compared using multivariate analyses (CA). Six types of plant communities were characterized by their phytolith assemblages, as well as on the presence of siliceous bioindicators such as diatoms and sponges. The D/P and LU indexes developed for these assemblages allow us to provide a precise signature of the current vegetation cover, and identify the presence of undergrowth in forest areas, or forest edges in savannah areas. This first modern phytolith reference for the Maya area will contribute to the development of paleoecological reconstructions for this zone.

Ariopsis macrosperma sp. nov. from Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, is described and illustrated. It differs from the other two species in the genus, A. peltata and A. protanthera, in having a typical terrestrial habit, growing on the soil as undergrowth below the forest canopy, thick, leathery leaves and lower number of larger, ovoid and ribbed seeds.

Although most studies exploring the vertical distribution of arthropods in forests have been limited to discrete comparisons between understorey and canopy, few have sampled across multiple heights. We studied vertical distribution of scolytine beetle flight activity in temperate lowland broadleaf and montane beech-fir forests using flight interception traps arranged in vertical transects with traps placed 0.4, 1.2, 7, 14, and 21 m above ground. In each forest type 15 vertical transects (75 traps) were used. The assemblages sampled at 0.4 and 1.2 m above ground (undergrowth) clearly differed from those at 7, 14, and 21 m (midstorey and canopy). Ambrosia-fungi feeder abundance peaked at 1.2 m in the mountains, whereas in the lowland they were almost evenly distributed from 1.2 to 21 m. Phloem feeders were significantly more abundant in the midstorey and canopy than in the undergrowth. Height preferences of eleven species were identified. Four species were associated with traps exposed at 7, 14, or 21 m, whereas seven species were associated with the height of 1.2 m. No species was associated with the 0.4 m height. To cover entire scolytine assemblages of forest stands, sampling should thus not be restricted to the usually sampled understorey level, but also cover the canopy.

The larval stages of the genus Kempynus Navas, 1912 (probably K. falcatus Navas, 1912 based on the presence of synchronic and sympatric adults) are described for the Neotropical Region for the first time, and the larval stages of Isostenosmylus pulverulentus (Gerstaecker, 1893) are redescribed. The external morphology of third-instar larvae of both species and their habitats are described and compared. Kempynus sp. is a water-dependent species and can be considered semi-aquatic, whereas I. pulverulentus larvae are terrestrial and live in undergrowth vegetation. The first key to identification of Neotropical Osmylidae larvae is provided, based on third-instar larvae of both species.

An invasion of non-native plant species represents the most serious environmental problem threatening the biodiversity and changing the nature of the landscape. A chemical elimination is one of the methods used to fight neophytes. It was carried out in the study area of the Moravka River flowing beneath the Beskydy Mountains between 2007 and 2010. The elimination of Reynoutria spp. was implemented as a part of the ‘Preservation of alluvial forest habitats in the Moravka River basin’ project. The population of the invasive neophyte Reynoutria spp. was eliminated by using a combination of mechanical and chemical treatment. Roundup Biaktiv herbicide was used for the chemical elimination. We investigated the consequences of the areal chemical elimination of Reynoutria spp. on the herbaceous undergrowth of the forest of the alluvium of the Moravka River. A multivariate analysis was employed to examine responses of the spring herbaceous plant species and native and non-native summer plant species composition to the chemical treatment. The hypothesis that consequences of the chemical elimination are not reflected in the spring plant species composition, whereas the applications of the herbicide and their frequency is one of crucial factors for the variability of the summer plant species composition was confirmed. The chemical elimination affected plant species composition of the non-native plant species more significantly than the plant species composition of the native plant species. A higher frequency of herbicide application caused increased diversity of both native and non-native plant species, although more noticeably in the case of the latter ones.

Root foraging behavior in heterogeneous patterns of soil nutrients is not well understood for undergrowth in alpine forests, where light spectra may generate an interactive effect on root foraging precision. A dwarf alpine species, Pinus pumila (Pall.) Regel., was cultured in pots where nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) nutritional granules (N–P2O5–K2O, 14–13–13) were added to both halves of an inner space at a rate of 67.5 mg N (homogeneous) or 135 mg N to a random half (heterogeneous). Potted seedlings were subjected to either a green-and-blue light spectrum with a red-to-green light ratio of 4.24 (15.3% red, 64.9% green, and 19.8% blue) or a red-light enriched spectrum (69.4% red, 30.2% green, and 0.4% blue) both at irradiations of 200.43 µmol m−2 s−1. The root foraging precision was assessed by the difference in the fine root morphology or weight between the two halves. The foraging precision was assessed by both fine root length and surface area and was promoted in seedlings subjected to the heterogeneous pattern in the red-light enriched spectrum. Seedlings subjected to the green-and-blue light spectrum showed lower shoot growth, biomass, and root morphology but had higher shoot and root N and P concentrations. The heterogenous pattern resulted in greater seedling growth and fine root morphology as well as N and P concentrations compared to the homogeneous pattern. We conclude that P. pumila has a strong ability to forage nutrients in heterogenous soil nutrients, which can be further promoted by a spectrum with higher red-light proportions.

To better understand the habitat requirements of sika deer in the Taohongling National Nature Reserve, transect lines were set out to collect data on bed sites used by sika deer during the autumn. The results showed that sika deer displayed a preference for bed sites with a moderate height of grass fallow and brush fallow, lower shrub density, higher herb density, lower canopy coverage, and higher undergrowth coverage. The bed sites were also characterized as being located on sunny slopes, gentle slopes, and upper slopes, with high elevation. In addition, most bed sites were located far away from human disturbance (more than 1000 m). A logistic regression analysis model indicated that undergrowth coverage, slope location, canopy coverage, and height of undergrowth were important factors that contributed to the difference between used and non-used plots. The habitat–animal relationship is one of the most important types of information, which could provide important references for the conservation and management of sika deer and their habitats in the Taohongling reserve.

International audience; Animals can cope with spatiotemporal variation in their environment through mobility and selective habitat choice. Intra-specific variation in habitat choice has been documented especially for host plant preferences and cryptic habitat selection in insects. Here, we investigated the genetic variation in light sensitivity and light-dependent habitat choice in the eyeless Collembola Folsomia candida with a choice test under four different lighting conditions (control dark condition, two simulations of undergrowth natural light conditions and red light). We tested twelve clonal strains from diverse geographical origins that are clustered in two evolutionary clades with contrasting fast or slow life-history strategies. The clones differed in their mean movement probabilities in the dark treatment. These differences were related to the two different phylogenetic clades, where fast-life history clones are on average more mobile than slow-life history counterparts as predicted by the ‘colonizer syndrome’ hypothesis. We found behavioural avoidance of light in the three light conditions. Moreover, photophobia was stronger when the simulated light spectrum was brighter and included non-red light. Photophobia was similar among all clonal lineages and between the two clades, which suggests that this behaviour is a shared behavioural trait in this species. We discuss the use of light as an environmental cue for orientation, displacement and habitat choice under natural conditions.

Mining activities will reduce species diversity, whereas forest reclamation would restore the species diversity, which was previously a forested area. This research was conducted in PT Bukit Asam area, in 6 locations, and in natural forest, as a comparison. The objective of this research was identifying biodiversity of plants and birds in a reclamation area which had different planting years through an approach of diversity indices of vegetation and birds (H'), index of species similarity of plants and birds, and leaf area index (LAI). Research results showed that secondary succession occurred in the reclamation area. The value of plant diversity index in reclamation area of 1995 planting year exhibited diversity values which approached that of natural forest, except for undergrowth vegetation. Index of plant species similarity between reclamation area and natural forest did not show any presence of similar communities, but the reclamation area of 1995 planting year exhibited values of plant species similarity indices at all strata, ranging from undergrowth vegetation, seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees. Index of bird diversity in reclamation area of planting the year 1998 possessed the highest value and approached that of natural forest, namely 2.43. Reclamation area of 1998 planting year possessed the highest similarity index of bird species, namely 50%. Reclamation area of the planting year 1995 possessed LAI which approached natural forest, namely 1.89. The older the planting year, the larger was the value of LAI, except for the disturbed reclamation area, namely reclamation area of 1996 planting year and reclamation area of 2001 planting year.

The State Forest Inventory (SFI) in the Russian Federation is a relatively new project that is little known in the English-language scientific literature. Following the stipulations of the Forest Act of 2006, the first SFI sample plots in this vast territory were established in 2007. The 34 Russian forest regions were the basic geographical units for all statistical estimates and served as a first-level stratification, while a second level was based on old inventory data and remotely sensed data. The sampling design was to consist of a simple random sample of 84,700 circular 500 m2 sample plots over forest land. Each sample plot consists of three nested concentric circular subplots with radii of 12.62, 5.64 and 2.82 m and additional subplots for assessing and describing undergrowth, regeneration and ground vegetation. In total, 117 variables were to be measured or assessed on each plot. Although field work has begun, the methodology has elicited some criticism. The simple random sampling design is less efficient than a systematic design featuring sample plot clusters and a mix of temporary and permanent plots. The second-level stratification is mostly ineffective for increasing precision. Qualitative variables, which are not always essential, are dominant, while important quantitative variables are under-represented. Because of very slow progress, in 2018 the original plan was adjusted by reducing the number of permanent sample plots from 84,700 to 68,287 so that the first SFI cycle could be completed by 2020.

En la selva, la dinámica de disturbios de origen natural o humano genera cambios en la cobertura arbórea y en la cantidad y la calidad de luz que llega al sotobosque. Los cambios debidos a los disturbios representan un continuo de condiciones microambientales que garantizan la coexistencia de las especies. El conocimiento de los requerimientos de las especies y la evaluación de los microambientes óptimos para su supervivencia y crecimiento permite planificar estrategias de manejo a fin de recuperar áreas forestales degradadas. Trabajamos en un bosque nativo ubicado en San Antonio, Misiones, con una especie nativa de alto valor ecológico y maderero: Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart. (cancharana). El objetivo fue evaluar el establecimiento de esta especie bajo diferentes intensidades de cobertura de dosel del bosque. Se establecieron 2 ensayos: uno en macetas, en el que se evaluó la supervivencia y el crecimiento de plantas expuestas a dos condiciones de cobertura natural contrastantes, y otro con plantación a campo en un gradiente de cobertura generado por claros naturales. En ambos ensayos, más de 90% de las plantas de cancharana se establecieron inicialmente en un gradiente muy amplio de cobertura. En macetas, las plantas sin cobertura (sol pleno) fueron afectadas por heladas durante el invierno. A 4 años de realizada la plantación en los claros, la supervivencia fue de 70% y la mayor mortalidad se registró en microambientes con menor incidencia de luz. Concluimos que se puede enriquecer el bosque nativo con cancharana, que el microambiente no afecta la supervivencia durante el primer año, pero que el crecimiento posterior es mayor en posiciones con menor cobertura. La especie tolera cambios abruptos de cobertura, por lo que la limpieza del sotobosque y la apertura de claros benefician su crecimiento., The natural dynamic of the rainforest generates changes in the canopy coverage and, consequently, in the quality and quantity of light that reaches the understory. Similar effects can be achieved by the anthropogenic selective extraction of trees. The microsites produced by the disturbances represent a continuum of environmental conditions that ensures the coexistence of many species. The knowledge of the requirements of the species and the evaluation of the optimal microenvironments to plant growth are useful to build tools to restore degraded areas. We worked in a native rainforest in San Antonio, Misiones, Argentina, focused in a species that has high timber and ecological value: Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart. (cancharana). The aim was to evaluate the establishment of cancharana under different coverage conditions. Two experiments were carried out: a pot experiment in which survivor and growth under two extreme natural coverage were evaluated, and a field experiment in which cancharana was planted in a gradient of coverage produced by natural gaps. In both experiments, more than 90% of the cancharana plants were initially established in a wide gradient of coverage. In the pot experiment, plants without forest coverage (full sun) were damaged by the frost in winter. Four years after the plantation, 70% of the plants survived in the field experiment and mortality was observed mostly in microenvironments with lower light incidence. We conclude that cancharana can establish and survive in many microenvironmental conditions within the rainforest, it acclimates in few months to sudden changes in coverage and, one year after planting, its growth arises with higher availability of light. The species tolerates sudden changes in coverage, therefore the remove of the understory or gap opening stimulate cancharana growth., Instituto de Fisiología Vegetal

The research was carried out in the coniferous-deciduous forests of the northwestern Caucasus, growing in similar climatic and soil-orographic conditions. Three types of forests of different ages were studied: aspen-hornbeam (50-70 years), beech-fir-hornbeam (80-110 years) and fir-beech forests (over 450 years). The studies were performed on the territory Krasnodar Krai (upper reaches of the Pshekha river, State Nature Reserve Chernogor'e) and the Republic of Adygea (upper reaches of the Belaya river, the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve) in the summer seasons 2016 and 2019. The research involves geobotanical, population-ontogenetic, and soil-zoological methods. It has been established that in the canopy gaps of all forest types species density of plants is almost twice as high as in under-crown areas or even higher due to good light factor and high soil moisture since the tree stand does not intercept precipitation. Regeneration of tree cenopopulations in all forest types is much more effective in canopy gaps compared to under-crown areas. The undergrowth density of different types of trees is 10 and more times higher in gaps than in the under-crown areas. The maximum number of ecological-coenotic groups of plants is observed in the canopy gaps in all types of forest. All major trophic groups of macrofauna inhabit canopy gaps and under-crown areas, but their biomass in gaps is significantly exceeds that in under-crown areas. Due to the fact that soil moisture supply is an essential factor for moisture-loving saprophages’ activity, biomass of saprophages is on average twice as high in gaps than under-crown areas of all forest types. Only canopy gaps have high biomass of anecic earthworms – there are important ecosystem engineers, which contribute a lot to plant litter processing and the formation of soil porosity.

Human modification of landscapes is one of the greatest threats facing biodiversity worldwide and conversion of native habitat to agricultural land is widely perceived as contributing significantly to biodiversity declines. However, some species have proven to be adaptable to human-induced habitat change. Here, we show that over the course of the relatively short period of co-existence between badgers (Meles meles) and humans in Ireland, badgers have adapted to using the man-made field boundaries that have replaced native woodland. Our study population, which was located in an intensively managed agricultural landscape, predominantly located their setts and latrines in or alongside hedgerows. In addition, for the first time, we show that badgers selectively foraged along field boundaries, with this behaviour perhaps linked to a greater diversity of dietary items in hedgerows and the potential cover from perceived threats offered by dense undergrowth. This preferential use of man-made landscape features has implications for how we assess habitat use in this species and perhaps also for modelling studies of bovine tuberculosis transmission in agricultural landscapes.

We modeled the ecological niche of the Yucatan Rattlesnake (Crotalus tzabcan) to map its environmental suitability, estimate its potential distribution, and identify the environmental factors that limit its geographic range within the Yucatan Peninsula (YP). Niche models were built to evaluate, separately and together, the ability of different sets of environmental predictors to explain the distribution of this species. The relative contribution percentage from each variable was calculated from the models with better predictive ability. Response curves were also constructed to observe the influence of predictors on the estimated environmental suitability for C. tzabcan. According to our niche models, even though the distribution of this species covers a large part of the YP, the northwest portion is likely the most environmentally suitable region. By contrast, populations from the north of Guatemala and Belize (south of the YP) are placed within the limits of the species' niche, and the environmental conditions toward the base of the peninsula are not suitable for this species. Precipitation was consistently the most important factor to explain the distribution of C. tzabcan. Although unlikely to directly affect the physiology of C. tzabcan, precipitation affects other factors (e.g., predator, prey, and competitor densities; undergrowth coverage; and relative humidity) that influence survival. Our study contributes new and detailed knowledge of the distribution ecology of a species that was once the most culturally valued in the YP.

Forests play an important role in the terrestrial carbon balance, with most being in a carbon sequestration stage. The net carbon releases that occur result from forest disturbance, and windthrow is a typical disturbance event affecting the forest carbon balance in eastern Asia. The CO2 flux has been measured using the eddy covariance method in a deciduous broadleaf forest (Japanese white birch, Japanese oak, and castor aralia) in Hokkaido, where incidental damage by the strong Typhoon Songda in 2004 occurred. We also used the biometrical method to demonstrate the CO2 flux within the forest in detail. Damaged trees amounted to 40 % of all trees, and they remained on site where they were not extracted by forest management. Gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re), and net ecosystem production were 1350, 975, and 375 g C m−2 yr−1 before the disturbance and 1262, 1359, and −97 g C m−2 yr−1 2 years after the disturbance, respectively. Before the disturbance, the forest was an evident carbon sink, and it subsequently transformed into a net carbon source. Because of increased light intensity at the forest floor, the leaf area index and biomass of the undergrowth (Sasa kurilensis and S. senanensis) increased by factors of 2.4 and 1.7, respectively, in 3 years subsequent to the disturbance. The photosynthesis of Sasa increased rapidly and contributed to the total GPP after the disturbance. The annual GPP only decreased by 6 % just after the disturbance. On the other hand, the annual Re increased by 39 % mainly because of the decomposition of residual coarse-wood debris. The carbon balance after the disturbance was controlled by the new growth and the decomposition of residues. The forest management, which resulted in the dead trees remaining at the study site, strongly affected the carbon balance over the years. When comparing the carbon uptake efficiency at the study site with that at others, including those with various kinds of disturbances, we emphasized the importance of forest management as well as disturbance type in the carbon balance.

Allium istanbulense, a new species of Allium sect. Codonoprasum, is described and illustrated from Istanbul surroundings (European Turkey). It is a late-flowering diploid species (2n = 16), occurring in the undergrowth of oak or pine woods mainly on sandy or incoherent soils. Its morphology, karyology, leaf anatomy, seed micromorphology, ecology, conservation status and taxonomic relationships are examined. A taxonomic comparison with the most allied late flowering species of sect. Codonoprasum and identification keys of the group are also provided.

The African nocturnal primates (galagos, pottos, and angwantibos: suborder Strepsirrhini) are the result of the first major primate radiation event in Africa, and are found in different primate communities spread across the entire sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, they represent an interesting group of taxa to investigate community strategies to avoid interspecific competition. Here, we present the result of the first study on nocturnal primate communities in western Angola. We aimed to identify habitat factors influencing strepsirrhine abundance, collect evidence of spatial niche segregation, and discuss possible indications of competitive exclusion in this region. We conducted nocturnal surveys at four study sites: Kumbira, Bimbe, Northern Scarp, and Calandula. At each encounter we recorded species, group size, height of animals above ground, and GPS location. We sampled vegetation using the point-centered quarter method and collected data on canopy cover, disturbance, and undergrowth density. We observed a total of five strepsirrhine species with varying community structures. We did not encounter Galagoides thomasi but we recorded a new species Galagoides sp. nov. 4. Levels of disturbance, canopy cover and undergrowth density were the habitat factors that most influenced variation in abundance of Galagoides demidovii and Perodicticus edwardsi, the latter also preferring the habitat with higher tree density. Vertical separation between sympatric strepsirrhines was strongest in Northern Scarp, where overall relative abundance was also highest. Competitive exclusion between G. thomasi and G. sp. nov. 4 may explain why the former was not present within the Angolan Escarpment sites. We observed coexistence between mainly allopatric Otolemur crassicaudatus and P. edwardsi in Kumbira, and of Galago moholi and G. demidovii in Calandula. Both unusual combinations showed some levels of spatial segregation. Habitat characteristics of the Escarpment region are likely to allow for unique nocturnal primate species assemblages. We urge immediate conservation interventions in the Angolan Escarpment.

The purpose of the research was to study the invasions of plants into communities of initial stages of regenerative successions in landscapes of the southeast of Belarus (by the example of Solidago canadensis L.). Intrusion of Solidago canadensis L. into the plant succession had the following consequences: decrease in specific abundance, suppression of arboreal undergrowth, long preservation of high level of synanthropization, and inhibition of the directed changes in plant communities.

The role of Polygraphus proximus Blandf., an invasive bark beetle of Far Eastern origin, in the transformation of taiga ecosystems of the plains of Western Siberia is evaluated. It is shown that this species is currently one of the main factors of degradation of the Siberian fir forests and various changes in their ecosystems. The consequences of invader outbreaks in fir forests of the region are massive mortality of forest stands, reduction in the number of and deterioration in the vitality of fir undergrowth, and significant changes in the species composition and structure of the vegetation cover and xylophilous insect fauna.

To avoid the possible extinction of the last native population of western Hermann’s tortoise in the Iberian Peninsula it is essential to make sound management decisions. Knowledge of macro and microhabitat use and home range size has considerable practical value for land managers. With this aim we first studied the home range and habitat preferences in western Hermann’s tortoises by radio tracking 15 adults weekly from March 2008 to May 2009 in three localities within the Albera population range (NE Iberian Peninsula). We estimated home ranges with Fixed Kernel estimator (FK) and Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) after checking tortoise site fidelity. We observed that home range size did not differ significantly between males and females (mean FK = 2.01 ha, mean MCP = 3.01 ha). Secondly, we studied macrohabitat selection using a vegetation map. Preferred habitats were open shrubland, open forest and barren land during the activity period, and dense forest, dense shrubland and open shrubland during the hibernation. Next, we assessed microhabitat selection along five periods of the annual cycle: hibernation, emergence from hibernation, spring, summer and autumn. We then located marked tortoises weekly and classified the plant species observed in each location. Principal component analyses showed that tortoises selected shrubs with trees during hibernation, bramble during summer and herbaceous habitat during the breeding season. All these results can provide guidelines for management programs that set aside areas of habitat critical to conserve viable populations, although it is also important to prevent mortality from forestry works. We therefore tested a new brush cutter head accessory to achieve tortoise-safe undergrowth clearing. To this aim we distributed 52 frozen hybrid tortoises among eight plots of 100 m2, cleared six of these plots with the accessory and two without it, and evaluated the scars of the blade on caparaces. We observed no damage in plots that were cleared with the accessory but scars in most carapaces in the plots cleared without it (with potential mortality ranging from 40% in neonates to 100% in adults). These results outline the importance of supporting habitat management decisions with proper field studies.

The problem of natural regeneration of forests, in general, is essential especially under the climate change scenario. The canopy influence on the establishment and growth of oak seedlings supposes an approximation to the still lack of knowledge of oak forests heterogeneity. The management directly concerns the radiation that absorbs the canopy and, therefore, to the undergrowth radiation. The aim of the study was to research the existing relationships between the light percentage that crosses the canopy and comes up to the natural regeneration in native stands of Quercus robur L. in Galicia, in NW Spain. After making the stratification of the stands according to their canopy, data collection was based on the percentage of available light in the undergrowth estimated by means of hemispherical photography. The results show that in areas with a better light percentage, there is a greater regeneration density, which is justified by presenting largest development of the vegetation in the partial opening. The most important conclusion is that San Fitoiro forest is the one with better conditions for seedling establishment, because, the percentage of light reaching the understory are the lowest, providing shade conditions turn out to be a clave factor in the germination of acorns and further development of them.

A set of characters has been used to evaluate transformations in forest phytocenoses and their small mammal communities affected by urbanization, compared to conditionally undisturbed phytocenoses (communities). In park forests of the city of Yekaterinburg, the understory and subordinate shrub and herb- dwarf shrub layers of phytocenosis are transformed to a greater extent. The undergrowth of conifer forest� forming species is as a rule sparse or absent, and that of deciduous trees often consists mainly of invasive spe� cies. Small mammal communities in pine forests transformed under the effect of urbanization also undergo changes leading to the formation of relatively stable (for an urbanized environment) zoocenoses differing both in species composition and in parameters characterizing community diversity.

The often highly elevated stocks of ungulates (red and roe deer and chamois) in the Alps shape the composition of the woody vegetation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ungulates on the mixed deciduous and coniferous mountain forest in the district of Reutte, which boasts the highest density of ungulates in Tyrol (Austria), with a special focus on the effect of browsing by ungulates on plant diversity of the herb layer, different shrub layers. and the tree layer. Our results showed that within the fenced ungulate exclosures, (1) the composition of trees shifted towards fir (Abies alba) and various deciduous trees, whereas outside the fences, spruce became the dominant species; (2) the cover of dwarf shrubs and upper and lower shrub layers (1.3–5.0 and 0.5–1.3 m, respectively) increased significantly; (3) the cover of grasses decreased significantly and (4) the diversity decreased as an increase in the diversity of the tree and shrub layer was overcompensated by a significant decrease in the diversity of the undergrowth vegetation. Browsing by ungulates benefited grass species in the understory and altered the relative abundance of tree species in the lower layer which could, over time, result in compositional shifts in the canopy.

The European Common Agricultural Policy has promoted the intensification of productive olive orchards and the abandonment of the unproductive ones. This strategy has resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functionality of this type of agroecosystem. Here, we studied the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, a common frugivorous bird species, in an olive-dominated agroecosystem of southern Spain to assess the effects of the abandonment of olive groves and undergrowth structure on habitat selection in this species. By means of radiotelemetry, we determined habitat selection of blackcaps during both the breeding (N = 30) and the non-breeding (N = 27) seasons of 2011 and 2012. We found that outside the breeding season, olive groves were widely used by blackcaps, which invariably preferred abandoned olive groves over intensively managed ones. Additionally, deciduous woods and poplar plantation were positively selected, whereas open habitats and Pinus forests were avoided. Generally, woody habitats without undergrowth or with herbaceous undergrowth were avoided. During the breeding season, the species selected mainly riverine habitats and poplar plantations, favoring habitats with well-developed undergrowth. Our results suggest that the blackcap could benefit from maintaining patches of abandoned olive groves freely left to natural succession within intensive olive groves. In such a landscape, ecological services (i.e., seed dispersal provided by frugivorous birds) and functioning could also improve as a consequence of these measures.

Understanding patterns in plant and herbivorous insect diversity across spatial and temporal scales is fundamental to ecology, but comparative multi-taxonomic studies in tropical seasonally dry forests remain scarce. In 36 sites, distributed over three forest age classes (5–10 y, 10–30 y, >100 y) and three seasonal forest types (dry, intermediate, humid), we sampled plants of different stem diameter classes while caterpillars were sampled across vertically distributed forest layers during three seasons over the year. We recorded 299 plant species and 485 caterpillar morphospecies. For large woody plants, species numbers showed a gradually increasing trend with forest age in the intermediate and humid forest types, while the main portion of explained variation in overall species turnover was accounted for by the forest type × forest age interaction (21.3–23.1% of 44.4–48.7%). Ordinations and multivariate pairwise comparisons suggested a faster but also very distinct successional development of species diversity of large plants in the driest compared with humid and intermediate forest types. In contrast, highest species numbers of small plants in the undergrowth was often found in the 5–10 y-old vegetation across forest types, whereas forest type was the major factor in overall species turnover (contributing 24.2% of 48.7% explained variation). Caterpillar species turnover was most correlated to species turnover of small plants; however, variation in caterpillar species diversity appears to be mostly regulated by seasonal cues, and to a lesser extent by patterns of regional turnover and local diversity of undergrowth plant species.

Nest predation is the leading cause of reproductive failure in birds and thus it shapes their life history strategies. Intensities of nest predation appear to differ among nest locations and types in both temperate and tropical regions. However, there is limited knowledge of factors influencing susceptibility of avian nests to predation in Africa. The aim of our study was to investigate artificial nest predation rates of different ground and shrub nests located at different heights in the rainforest undergrowth. We placed artificial avian nests within a homogeneous lowland forest interior with sparse forest undergrowth in the Mount Cameroon National Park, Cameroon. We exposed three sets of nests: 50 bare-ground, 50 cup-ground and 50 cup-shrub nests, for 10 d. Predation was higher for cup-ground nests compared to cup-shrub nests, and bare-ground nests were more depredated than cup-ground nests. We concluded that the presence of a cup as well as higher nest position significantly increased probability of ar...

The cork oak forest (Quercus suber L.) of Hafir plays a vital role in the physical, biological and socio-economic balance of the area. The production of cork of the whole Tlemcen region depends mainly on the Hafir forest with 926 ha of productive area in cork oak. This cork oak forest is currently in an advanced state of degradation, the production of cork is relatively low and there is almost no natural regeneration of cork oaks, resulting from the aging of stands, from topographic constraints and from the influence of several factors of degradation (fires and grazing). The objectives of this work were, firstly, to study the dendrometric characteristics of Hafir cork oak stands to assess the production of cork and secondly to determine the characteristics of the surveyed plots likely to act on the production of cork. The estimated of production of the standing trees of cork was performed thanks to a mathematical method based on the cubing formula of Huber ; the dendrometric parameters used are : the lift height, the circumference at 1,30 m, the basal area, the shape coefficient and the thickness of cork. The ecodendrometric data was processed by a multivariate principal component analysis, which showed the effect of slope, of undergrowth competition, and especially of the exposure on variation in cork production., La forêt de chêne-liège (Quercus suber L.) de Hafir joue un rôle essentiel dans l’équilibre physique, biologique et socio-économique de la région d’étude. La production en liège de toute la région de Tlemcen dépend principalement de la forêt de Hafir avec 926 ha de superficie productive en chêne-liège. Cette suberaie est actuellement en état de dégradation, avec une production subéreuse relativement faible et l’absence quasi généralisée de régénération naturelle du chêne-liège résultant du vieillissement des peuplements, des contraintes topographiques et de l’influence de plusieurs facteurs de dégradations (incendies et pâturage). Les objectifs de ce travail sont, d’une part, d’étudier les caractéristiques dendrométriques du peuplement de chêne-liège de Hafir afin d’évaluer la production subéreuse, et d’autre part, de déterminer les caractéristiques stationnelles des placettes de sondage susceptibles d’agir sur cette production en liège. L’estimation de la production en liège des arbres sur pied a été réalisée grâce à une méthode mathématique basée sur la formule de cubage de Huber et dont les paramètres dendrométriques utilisés sont : la hauteur de démasclage, la circonférence à 1,30 m, la surface terrière, le coefficient de forme et l’épaisseur de liège. Le traitement des données éco-dendrométriques s’est fait par la méthode d’analyse multivariée en composante principale, qui a pu montrer l’effet de la pente, de la concurrence du sousbois et surtout de l’exposition, sur la variation de production en liège., Benabdellah Mohammed-Ali, Amrani Redouane. Étude des caractéristiques dendrométriques et productivité du chêne-liège de la forêt de Hafir (région de Tlemcen, Algérie occidentale). In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 40 n°2, 2014. pp. 65-75.

Aerial leaf litter is a vital resource for insectivorous birds in tropical forests, particularly those that rely on dietary litter-dependent arthropods. The present study quantified and determined aerial-leaf litter selection patterns of specialist and regular dead-leaf users. In total, 486 observation sessions were conducted in a lowland tropical forest from February 2014 to September 2015. At least two ‘specialist’ species (over 75% of the observations) and seven ‘regular users’ species (25–74% of the observations) were found foraging for arthropods among aerial curled dead leaves within the aboveground vertical vegetation layers. These species belonged to four genera of the family Timaliidae and Pellorneidae: Cyanoderma, Stachyris, Pellorneum, and Malacopteron. The chestnut-winged babbler (Cyanoderma erythropterum) and the black-throated babbler (Stachyris nigricollis) were two species that heavily exploited the aerial leaf litter, accounting for 89% and 76% of the observations, respectively. The present study indicates that aerial leaf litter could serve as a vital foraging resource for most gleaning forest babblers in Malaysian rainforests. Moreover, niche separation among these dead-leaf foragers occurred due to their differing vertical strata preferences. The variations in body and bill sizes among the studied species suggest that they consume various arthropod sizes and taxonomic groups. A morphological analysis identified Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Arachnida as the dominant litter-dependent arthropods, and a molecular analysis revealed the presence of additional insect groups in the aerial leaf litter (e.g. Diptera and Lepidoptera). This study highlights the importance of maintaining undergrowth vegetation that can intercept aerial leaf litter to provide important foraging opportunities for forest bird species. Keywords: Aerial dead leaves, Foraging niche, Insectivorous birds, Next-generation sequencing, Resource partitioning, Tropical forest