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Understanding how different tree species affect soil microbial communities is crucial for sustainable forestry and ecosystem management practices. Despite Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) forestry having a rich history, the overall comprehension of how this hardwood species influences soil remains incomplete. In earlier studies, we examined the effects of hardwood plantations on soil chemical properties and their interaction with microbial biomass, however, we highlight the importance of studying the soil microbial communities and their relationship with soil properties in greater depth. Building on this foundation, our research focused on evaluating microbiome compositions beneath J. nigra and another hardwood, Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) after a decade of establishment. We uncovered intriguing patterns within the soil bacterial/archaeal and fungal structures by conducting meticulous analyses utilizing amplicon sequencing alongside soil chemical properties. Our findings underscore that tree species play a pivotal role in shaping soil microbial structures, a role that surpasses even seasonal and depth influences. Most notably, J. nigra stands out for its ability to enhance microbial diversity, as evidenced by increased alpha-diversity indices compared to baseline values. Conversely, Q. rubra tends to decrease these indices. Significant disparities in microbial composition between the two tree species were evident, with J. nigra exhibiting enrichment in certain taxa such as Nitrospira , Geobacter , and Bacillus while Q. rubra showed enrichment in others like Acidobacteriota and ectomycorrhizal fungi. Furthermore, we also observed differences in co-occurrence networks by delving deeper into the interconnections within the soil microbiota. In both fungal and bacterial/archaeal communities, J. nigra and Q. rubra notably decreased the number of connections within their networks, while Q. rubra increased some, suggesting a more interconnected network. These differences were further highlighted by network metrics with Q. rubra displaying a higher mean degree and clustering coefficient. Additionally, our analysis revealed that tree species influence soil chemical properties, either directly or indirectly, thereby affecting soil bacterial and fungal communities. In conclusion, our study elucidates the intricate interplay between tree species and soil microbiota, emphasizing the need to consider these relationships in forestry and ecosystem management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Increasing evidence indicates gene flow commonly occurs between closely related species in diverse plant genera and can involve numerous species. Here, we present a simple method to quantify and characterize the potential for gene flow among "sympatric" species (they share some part of their geographic distribution), using oaks as a case study. The resulting sympatry networks provide insight into potential interspecific gene flow, from the perspective of each species and across the entire suite of interfertile species. In a rapidly changing world, interspecific gene flow will play an increasingly important role in the conservation of endangered species, both positive and negative. Summary: We provide a simple method, using geographic distribution data, to quantify and characterize sympatry networks among a suite of interfertile species to assess potential routes for introgressive hybridization (IH). Sympatry is a necessary condition for IH and is easily determined from widely available geographic distribution data.Oaks, famous for hybridization, present an excellent case study. We use county‐level data for 94 oak species in the contiguous US states to determine patterns of sympatry of species within the four sections, assumed to be interfertile. The pairwise sympatry relationships can generate species‐centric local networks or a syngameon‐wide network. Two different measures of sympatry are used: proportional and relative.Most oak species are exposed to IH from many species, with red oaks having slightly higher local levels of sympatry (5.7 vs. 3.8 spp per county) than white oaks but lower total numbers of sympatric species (13.7 vs. 14.8). The nature of potential IH generally differs for threatened species, which are often embedded in the much larger distributions of widespread species.Potential IH within oak sections is widespread and disproportionately affects rare species. Given that IH has potentially positive or negative impacts on species cohesion, persistence, and adaptation, the geographic connections among species and the 'local sympatry effect' can serve as a springboard for hypothesis generation and genetic investigation of introgression patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest assisted migration (FAM) is the movement of tree species or genotypes to locations that are projected to be climatically suitable for future growth and survival. FAM can be an integral component of climate adaptation projects. An example of such a project is the Red Pine Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (Red Pine ASCC) experiment in northern Minesota, USA. The experiment includes planting seedlings of northern red oak and bur oak from two different seed sources south of the study area. The primary source for both species was central Minnesota, one seed zone south of the local zone. However, due to the number of seedlings needed, a secondary source was also used that included red oak from southwest Michigan and bur oak from eastern Iowa. Known planting locations and densities of the seed sources allowed comparison of survival and growth to assess if the primary seed sources out-performed the secondary sources. For both species, densities after five growing seasons were not significantly different between seed sources, suggesting similar survival. Heights and diameters of bur oak were nearly identical for the two seed sources, suggesting similar growth rates. For northern red oak, seedlings of the Minnesota seed source were taller and larger in diameter than the Michigan seed source, but differences were small. Our results suggest managers can be opportunistic when acquiring seedlings of these species for similar FAM projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red oak is an important species within the North American landscape, with climate change projections indicating a potential northward shift in its distribution. However, understanding the factors influencing its regeneration success at the northern limit remains limited. Site conditions and seed provenance adaptability may play critical roles. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a seed transfer study in two northern red oak stands in Quebec. We firstly investigated stand regeneration history through dendrochronological characterization. Then, we monitored the survival and growth of saplings for four red oak provenances across a south-to-north gradient in field and greenhouse settings, with varying soil nutrient levels due to fertilization, and with or without protection from large herbivores. Results indicated that stands have similar age structures with red oak establishment coinciding with the last major fire disturbance in the early 1920s. However, tree species composition and density differed, suggesting differences in fire disturbance regime or ecological succession status prior to fire. Site had the largest influence on red oak regeneration, with the highest tree density and soil water availability site exhibiting a 29% higher survival rate. Protection against large herbivores also significantly impacted red oak seedling performance, leading to a 16% higher survival rate. Germination, survival and growth also significantly differed between provenances. The local (northernmost) provenance exhibited the poorest overall performance with 28 to 42% lower germination, survival and growth rates, while the two southernmost provenances exhibited superior germination and sprout survival. An increase in soil nutrient availability was beneficial to red oak in the greenhouse, but only marginally benefited survival and growth in the field, suggesting that this factor is of less importance than other factors (e.g., water and light availability) for red oak early regeneration. The findings of this study suggest that silvicultural efforts to favor red oak should focus on site and provenance selection, and that water availability is currently limiting red oak regeneration success at acorn and early seedling life stages (i.e., 1 year old seedlings) near its northern distribution limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding tree transpiration variability is vital for assessing ecosystem water‐use efficiency and forest health amid climate change, yet most landscape‐level measurements do not differentiate individual trees. Using canopy temperature data from thermal cameras, we estimated the transpiration rates of individual trees at Harvard Forest and Niwot Ridge. PT‐JPL model was used to derive latent heat flux from thermal images at the canopy‐level, showing strong agreement with tower measurements (R2 = 0.70–0.96 at Niwot, 0.59–0.78 at Harvard at half‐hourly to monthly scales) and daily RMSE of 33.5 W/m2 (Niwot) and 52.8 W/m2 (Harvard). Tree‐level analysis revealed species‐specific responses to drought, with lodgepole pine exhibiting greater tolerance than Engelmann spruce at Niwot and red oak showing heightened resistance than red maple at Harvard. These findings show how ecophysiological differences between species result in varying responses to drought and demonstrate that these responses can be characterized by deriving transpiration from crown temperature measurements. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how forests use water, especially during droughts, is crucial for a changing climate. We developed a method using thermal cameras to estimate individual tree water loss (transpiration), something traditional methods lack. These cameras capture temperature data from the tree crown, which is then used to estimate transpiration rates. Tests in two forests showed this method aligns well with existing water use measurements. The study also revealed fascinating differences in how species handle drought. For instance, lodgepole pine outperformed Engelmann spruce in one forest, while red oak proved more resistant than red maple in the other. This shows that the thermal cameras can help assess how different trees resist drought conditions. This thermal camera technique has the potential to become a valuable tool for monitoring forest health as our climate evolves. Key Points: Canopy‐level evapotranspiration derived from thermal cameras agreed well with eddy covariance measurementsCrown temperature measurements facilitated the estimation of individual‐tree transpiration of co‐occurring species using the same approachThe results show interspecific differences in water use and response to drought that align with species traits [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed for predicting the effects of wood species, density, modifying time, and temperature on the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) and swelling of six different thermally modified hardwood species, as previously published by the authors. Lumber of Yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), red oak (Quercus borealis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), red maple (Acer rubrum), hickory (Carya glabra), and black cherry (Prunus serotina) were selected. Treatment type, species, temperature, time, and density were used as inputs for the models. Using Keras and Pytorch libraries in Python, different feed forward and back propagation multilayer ANN models were created and tested. The best prediction models, determined based on the errors in training iterations, were selected and used for testing. Based on the performance analysis, the prediction ANN models were accurate, reliable, and effective tools in terms of time and cost-effectiveness, for predicting the EMC and swelling characteristics of thermally modified wood. The multiple-input model was more accurate than the single-input model and it provided a prediction with R2 of 0.9975, 0.92, and MAPE of 1.36, 7.77 for EMC and swelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots contribute a large fraction of CO2 efflux from soils, yet the extent to which global change factors affect root‐derived fluxes is poorly understood. We investigated how red maple (Acer rubrum) and red oak (Quercus rubra) root biomass and respiration respond to long‐term (15 years) soil warming, nitrogen addition, or their combination in a temperate forest. We found that ecosystem root respiration was decreased by 40% under both single‐factor treatments (nitrogen addition or warming) but not under their combination (heated × nitrogen). This response was driven by the reduction of mass‐specific root respiration under warming and a reduction in maple root biomass in both single‐factor treatments. Mass‐specific root respiration rates for both species acclimated to soil warming, resulting in a 43% reduction, but were not affected by N addition or the combined heated × N treatment. Notably, the addition of nitrogen to warmed soils alleviated thermal acclimation and returned mass‐specific respiration rates to control levels. Oak roots contributed disproportionately to ecosystem root respiration despite the decrease in respiration rates as their biomass was maintained or enhanced under warming and nitrogen addition. In contrast, maple root respiration rates were consistently higher than oak, and this difference became critical in the heated × nitrogen treatment, where maple root biomass increased, contributing significantly more CO2 relative to single‐factor treatments. Our findings highlight the importance of accounting for the root component of respiration when assessing soil carbon loss in response to global change and demonstrate that combining warming and N addition produces effects that cannot be predicted by studying these factors in isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene flow affects the genetic diversity and structure of tree species and can be influenced by stress related to changing climatic conditions. The study of tree species planted in locations outside their natural range, such as arboreta or botanical gardens, allows us to analyse the effect of severe fragmentation on patterns and distances of gene flow. Paternity analysis based on microsatellite marker genotyping was used to analyse how fragmentation affects gene flow among individuals of Quercus rubra L. distributed in a small isolated group of trees (15 trees) planted in the arboretum on the North Campus of the University of Göttingen. For paternity analysis, 365 seedlings from four seed parents were selected and genotyped using 16 microsatellites. The analysis revealed the majority of pollen (84.89%) originated from trees within the site and identified three large full-sib families consisting of 145, 63 and 51 full-sibs. The average pollen dispersal distance for the four seed parents ranged from 17.3 to 103.6 meters. We observed substantial genetic differentiation among effective pollen clouds of the four seed parents (G"ST = 0.407) as a result of cross pollination between neighboring trees. No self-fertilization was observed. Gene dispersal via pollen followed the expected distance-dependent pattern, and we observed a significant influx of external pollen (15.11%, ranging from 8.64 to 26.26% for individual seed parents) from a diverse set of donors (30). Long-distance pollen dispersal could explain the presence of significant genetic variation even in isolated natural Q. rubra populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey conducted in the 1920s, prior to the chestnut blight, indicated that chestnuts and oaks were codominant canopy species in White Oak Canyon, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. A second survey in 1977 suggested that chestnuts were being replaced by tree species present before the blight, particularly oaks. In 2021, we resurveyed the 10 sites included in our 1977 survey and also recorded canopy and understory trees that grew above remnant chestnut sprouts. The canopy changed more substantially during the second interval (since 1977). Birch and maples were now more abundant. Hemlock declined, and oaks were less common in the canopy. In general, the trees considered as early to mid-successional have replaced oaks and hemlock. Chestnut sprouts have become much less common since 1977, presumably as repeated cycles of diebacks have weakened rootstocks. Those sites where chestnut sprouts have persisted until 2021 differed from neighboring sites without them. Chestnut sprouts were rare in sites with birch and hemlock; chestnut has persisted in locations with red oaks in the canopy and with few other understory competitors. This survey has been conducted over a longer time interval than previous studies that asked similar questions and our results suggest that changes to the forest composition following the loss of the American chestnut may be greater than previously recognized although the relative contribution of losing this codominant species is unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Featured Application: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of various vinification techniques, including prolonged maceration, pre-fermentation heating, and barrel aging, on the volatile aroma profile and sensory characteristics of Teran red wine. Teran (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widespread red autochthonous variety in Istria, traditionally grown in the north Adriatic area, including the Croatian Istria viticultural subregion. As a key grapevine variety in viticulture across these regions, understanding the impact of the investigated techniques is crucial for enhancing its unique characteristics and market value. These insights can be directly applied by winemakers to optimize and tailor wine production processes, enhancing desirable aroma attributes and sensory qualities to meet specific market demands. The findings offer practical guidelines for producing wines with distinct and appealing aromatic profiles, aiding in product differentiation and improving overall wine quality. This study investigates the effect of prolonged maceration, pre-fermentation heating, and barrel aging on the volatile aroma profile and sensory characteristics of Teran wine. The vinification processes included a control treatment (7-day maceration, TM7-Y; Y—young wine), 10-day maceration (TM10-Y), 21-day post-fermentation maceration (TM21-Y), and 48-h pre-fermentation heating at 45 °C followed by 8-day maceration (TPHT-Y). All wines were then aged in oak barrels for six months, resulting in TM7-A, TM10-A, TM21-A, and TPHT-A wines (A—aged wine). Volatile compounds were extracted using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while sensory profiles were evaluated using quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA). TPHT-Y and TM21-Y treatments reduced several groups of free volatile compounds while enhancing sensory properties, with TM21-Y wines notably exhibiting pronounced dried fruit notes, likely due to high β-damascenone concentrations. Conversely, TM10-Y and TM7-Y treatments resulted in significantly higher concentrations of the most volatile aroma compounds. Aging in oak barrels significantly increased the levels of particular free volatile compounds like C13-norisoprenoids, volatile phenols, furans, and lactones. It also enhanced sensory quality, with fruity aromas prominent across all treatments, and TM21-A and TPHT-A wines showing strong dried fruit, jam, and liqueur notes. This study offers valuable insights into tailoring wine aromas and sensory attributes through specific vinification techniques, contributing to a more refined approach to optimizing wine production. In conclusion, the findings highlight the importance of maceration and aging techniques in developing complex and desirable wine profiles, offering practical guidance for improving Teran wine quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of tree volume typically focuses on excurrent forms, with less attention given to decurrent forms. Species with a decurrent form, particularly hardwoods, lack a dominant stem and have large diameter branches that can be included in the merchantable wood volume. We developed a preliminary two-equation system comprising a taper equation and a merchantable whole-tree volume (stem and branches) equation for Quercus rubra L. growing in Navarra (Northern Spain). The equation system includes the diameter at breast height and total tree height as independent variables, along with merchantable height—the height up to which the stem maintains a well-defined excurrent form—as an additional variable. After estimating the stem volume, the branch volume is estimated by subtracting the stem volume from the merchantable whole-tree volume. A second order continuous autoregressive error structure was used to correct for autocorrelation between residuals from the fitted taper equation. The equations explained 90% of the observed variability in diameter and 86% of the observed variability in merchantable whole-tree volume. Both equations have been implemented in the Cubica Navarra 3.0 software for use as a system of equations. These equations are considered preliminary and will be refitted or validated as additional data becomes available from new locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current wood identification struggles to differentiate white and red oak (Quercus alba and Quercus rubra) due to highly similar microstructures, as demonstrated by morphological microscope analysis. The present research explores lignin composition as a potential discriminating factor. Here, a rapid and sustainable method for extracting high‐quality lignin from oak samples using acidic γ‐valerolactone (GVL) under mild conditions is described. As‐extracted lignin is thoroughly characterized using various analytical methods, and results reveal a distinct structural difference between the lignin from the two species. White oak lignin possesses a unique “Hibbert ketone” unit detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), which is absent in red oak lignin. In addition, infrared spectroscopy differentiates the species based on specific carbonyl groups present in their lignin. These findings suggest that identifying the presence of the Hibbert ketone unit in lignin may offer a highly efficient and reliable method for differentiating white and red oak, opening new avenues for wood identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Forest assisted migration has been proposed as a means to align tree populations with shifting climate habitats under climate change. Here we report on the growth and survival of oak species and seed sources at five assisted migration trials in southern Ontario -- an important transition zone between boreal and temperate ecosystems. Methods: Each trial featured one or more oak species -- including red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Q. alba), burr oak (Q. macrocarpa), and swamp white oak (Q. bicolor) -- and seed sources from Ontario, Pennsylvania, and/or Tennessee. The trials were measured for survival and height at between 7 and 13 years after planting. Results: For several trials and species, southern seed sources performed nearly as well as local sources. However, southern seed sources of burr oak performed significantly worse than local sources at 2 trials in eastern Ontario. These outcomes may have been influenced by reduced quality of southern seed source planting stock at these trials. Discussion: Our findings generally support previous work that suggests northward movements of seed sources of several hundred kilometers may be safe for assisted migration efforts involving broadleaf tree species. Notably, the trial sites were located at the northern range limits of two oak species in this study (Q. alba and Q. bicolor), suggesting the potential for modest range expansions in this boreal-temperate transition zone. These findings help forest managers to better understand potential assisted migration outcomes under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is raising concerns about how forests will respond to extreme droughts, heat waves and their co-occurrence. In this greenhouse study, we tested how carbon and water relations relate to seedling growth and mortality of northeastern US trees during and after extreme drought, warming, and combined drought and warming. We compared the response of our focal species red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) with a common associate (paper birch, Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and a species expected to increase abundance in this region with climate change (northern red oak, Quercus rubra L.). We tracked growth and mortality, photosynthesis and water use of 216 seedlings of these species through a treatment and a recovery year. Each red spruce seedling was planted in containers either alone or with another seedling to simulate potential competition, and the seedlings were exposed to combinations of drought (irrigated, 15-d 'short' or 30-d 'long') and temperature (ambient or 16 days at +3.5 °C daily maximum) treatments. We found dominant effects of the drought reducing photosynthesis, midday water potential, and growth of spruce and birch, but that oak showed considerable resistance to drought stress. The effects of planting seedlings together were moderate and likely due to competition for limited water. Despite high temperatures reducing photosynthesis for all species, the warming imposed in this study minorly impacted growth only for oak in the recovery year. Overall, we found that the diverse water-use strategies employed by the species in our study related to their growth and recovery following drought stress. This study provides physiological evidence to support the prediction that native species to this region like red spruce and paper birch are susceptible to future climate extremes that may favor other species like northern red oak, leading to potential impacts on tree community dynamics under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive differentiation of traits and underlying loci can occur at a small geographical scale if natural selection is stronger than countervailing gene flow and drift. We investigated this hypothesis using coupled quantitative genetic and genomic approaches for a wind‐pollinated tree species, Quercus rubra, along the steep, narrow gradient of the Lake Superior coast that encompasses four USDA Hardiness Zones within 100 km. For the quantitative genetic component of this study, we examined phenotypic differentiation among eight populations in a common garden, measuring seed mass, germination, height, stem diameter, leaf number, specific leaf area and survival. For the genomic component, we quantified genetic differentiation for 26 populations from the same region using RAD‐seq. Because hybridisation with Quercus ellipsoidalis occurs in other parts of the species' range, we included two populations of this congener for comparison. In the common garden study, we found a strong signal of population differentiation that was significantly associated with at least one climate factor for nine of 10 measured traits. In contrast, we found no evidence of genomic differentiation among populations based on FST or any other measures. However, both distance‐based and genotype–environment association analyses identified loci showing the signature of selection, with one locus in common across five analyses. This locus was associated with the minimum temperature of the coldest month, a factor that defines the climate zones and was also significant in the common garden analyses. In addition, we documented introgression from Q. ellipsoidalis into Q. rubra, with rates of introgression correlated with the climate gradient. In sum, this study reveals signatures of selection at the quantitative trait and genomic level consistent with climate adaptation, a pattern that is more often documented at a much broader geographical scale, especially in long‐lived wind‐pollinated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soilless vegetable production in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is spreading since it is perceived as an alternative that requires much less water than open field soil production. However, strong competition between mining and urban use for human population consumption exists, forcing growers to use alternative water sources. Fog is commonly present in the coastal areas of Northern Chile; however, little information exists with regards to its chemical composition and the effect on nutrient quality of the produce. To address this knowledge gap, a set of experiments was carried out in Chañaral, a small town located in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile. There, a 200 m2 greenhouse equipped with twenty deep flow pools was used in two consecutive growing cycles. Water for the mixing of the nutrient solution was collected from the fog using fog-catchers and later stored in 2000-L tanks. Fog water quality (electrical conductivity, pH and mineral content) was monitored directly from the storage tanks. Two types of lettuce, green butterhead and red oak leaf, were compared on their yield and accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals. The results indicate that fog water is of good quality for soilless production, with an electrical conductivity value of 0.65 ± 0.18 and low content of heavy metals. Plants' heavy metal accumulation is below the recommendation of Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization. Fog water presents as a viable water source for soilless production in Northern Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights: Environmental abiotic stressors generate secondary stresses in plants, such as osmotic and oxidative stresses, which negatively influence their normal growth, development, and metabolism. Research about other non-enzymatic components with antioxidant capacity has recently focused on polyphenols. However, their role as indicators of drought and shade tolerance in woody species leaves and roots has been poorly explored or was limited to leaves only. Background and Objectives: Under a scenario of increasing drought, understanding the seedling responses in terms of total polyphenols and their antioxidant activity, in particular at the fine root system level, may help to elucidate the native–alien species interaction. Materials and Methods: At the beginning of July, 5-month-old native Quercus robur and alien Quercus rubra seedlings were transferred indoors to the growth chamber and subjected to progressive soil drying for 21 days. Results: The decrease in soil water content was more pronounced for Q. robur (9%) than for Q. rubra (34% of field capacity). Leaf water potential significantly decreased over time in Q. robur but did not differ from the control in Q. rubra. The total polyphenol concentration in Q. robur was markedly lower in the leaves and significantly higher in the fine roots than in Q. rubra. For the leaves, both species showed markedly higher values if well-watered, and the values significantly decreased in response to drought only in Q. rubra. In contrast, the fine root values for both species were markedly higher if droughted and decreased significantly in time only in Q. robur. Differently from the polyphenol concentration, the antioxidant capacity of Q. rubra was always higher in both the leaves and fine roots. Conclusions: The higher antioxidant activity of the alien species Q. rubra revealed by this work, combined with its isohydric behaviour, could further shed some light on our understanding of its competitive performance at the seedling stage against the native Q. robur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of surface finishing technology for floorboards can significantly influence the risk of slipping. This study aimed to assess the impact of surface finishing technology on the likelihood of slippage, focusing on lacquered floorboards made of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Four finishing methods were applied to the floorboard surfaces, with the primary distinction between the tested variants being the level of glossiness in the top layer, ranging from 3 to 20 gloss units (GU). To evaluate slip risk, tests were conducted using the British portable skid resistance tester (BSRT), providing numerical values in the form of the British pendulum number (BPN) and the slip resistance value (SRV) for qualitative comparisons. The analyses revealed that depending on the type of lacquered wood surface layer, the difference in BPN could vary from 46% to 77% for dry tests and from 48% to 60% for wet tests. Matte lacquer finishes, specifically at 19 GU, exhibited the smallest slip risk, while glossy finishes (4 GU) demonstrated the greatest slip risk, especially when the surface was wet. In terms of wet test results, the least slip risk, regardless of wood grain direction, was observed for variant No. 4 (low glossiness at 4 GU), with an SRV value ranging from 51 to 53. Conversely, variant No. 1 (high gloss at a mean of 19 GU) recorded the poorest slip resistance properties, with an SRV between 29 and 31. These findings suggest that matte lacquer finishes generally provide a safer option compared to glossy finishes, and the inclusion of brushing during production can enhance slip resistance. Furthermore, the direction of the wood grain was identified as a contributing factor to slip risk, with a 0° grain orientation presenting the highest risk. These insights can be valuable for flooring manufacturers and installers in selecting and applying finishes that effectively minimize the risk of slipping. These findings can be used by flooring manufacturers and installers to select and apply finishes that minimize slip hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Oak wilt disease, caused by Bretziella fagacearum is a significant threat to oak (Quercus spp.) tree health in the United States and Eastern Canada. The disease may cause dramatic damage to natural and urban ecosystems without management. Early and accurate diagnosis followed by timely treatment increases the level of disease control success. Results A rapid assay based on loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was first developed with fluorescence detection of B. fagacearum after 30-minute reaction time. Six different primers were designed to specifically bind and amplify the pathogen’s DNA. To simplify the use of this assay in the field, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were designed to bind to the DNA amplicon obtained from the LAMP reaction. Upon inducing precipitation, the AuNP-amplicons settle as a red pellet visible to the naked eye, indicative of pathogen presence. Both infected and healthy red oak samples were tested using this visualization method. The assay was found to have high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the B. fagacearum isolate studied. Moreover, the developed assay was able to detect the pathogen in crude DNA extracts of diseased oak wood samples, which further reduced the time required to process samples. Conclusions In summary, the LAMP assay coupled with oligonucleotide-conjugated gold nanoparticle visualization is a promising method for accurate and rapid molecular-based diagnosis of B. fagacearum in field settings. The new method can be adapted to other forest and plant diseases by simply designing new primers.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is crucial in plant metabolism and responses to various abiotic stresses. In the glycolysis pathway, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) is oxidized to 1,3-bisphosphate glycerate (1,3-BPG) through the catalytic action of GAPDH. However, the GAPDH gene family in Quercus rubra has been minimally researched. In this study, we identified 13 GAPDH-encoding genes in Q. rubra through a bioinformatics analysis of genomic data. Evolutionary studies suggest that these QrGAPDH genes are closely related to those in Glycine max and Triticum aestivum. We conducted a comprehensive whole-genome study, which included predictions of subcellular localization, gene structure analysis, protein motif identification, chromosomal placement, and analysis of cis-acting regions. We also examined the expression of GAPDH proteins and genes in various tissues of Q. rubra and under drought stress. The results indicated diverse expression patterns across different tissues and differential expression under drought conditions. Notably, the expression of Qurub.02G290300.1, Qurub.10G209800.1, and Qrub.M241600.1 significantly increased in the leaf, stem, and root tissues under drought stress. This study provides a systematic analysis of QrGAPDH genes, suggesting their pivotal roles in the drought stress response of trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oak wilt disease, caused by Bretziella fagacearum is a significant threat to oak (Quercus spp.) tree health in the United States and Eastern Canada. The disease may cause dramatic damage to natural and urban ecosystems without management. Early and accurate diagnosis followed by timely treatment increases the level of disease control success. Results: A rapid assay based on loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was first developed with fluorescence detection of B. fagacearum after 30-minute reaction time. Six different primers were designed to specifically bind and amplify the pathogen's DNA. To simplify the use of this assay in the field, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were designed to bind to the DNA amplicon obtained from the LAMP reaction. Upon inducing precipitation, the AuNP-amplicons settle as a red pellet visible to the naked eye, indicative of pathogen presence. Both infected and healthy red oak samples were tested using this visualization method. The assay was found to have high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the B. fagacearum isolate studied. Moreover, the developed assay was able to detect the pathogen in crude DNA extracts of diseased oak wood samples, which further reduced the time required to process samples. Conclusions: In summary, the LAMP assay coupled with oligonucleotide-conjugated gold nanoparticle visualization is a promising method for accurate and rapid molecular-based diagnosis of B. fagacearum in field settings. The new method can be adapted to other forest and plant diseases by simply designing new primers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents play a key role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds and interspecific differences in seed preferences could have important consequences for forest growth. The White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis) are 2 closely related species that can exploit Red Oak (Quercus rubra) acorns but may display different preference levels due to the high tannin concentration present in these acorns. Here we investigated how White-footed Mice and Deer Mice differ in their ability to exploit Red Oak acorns. We conducted a cafeteria-style experiment where we offered mice (n = 61) acorns of Red Oak and Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa ; control seed with lower tannin levels) and video-recorded their preference and the acorn fate (consumed or cached). Using mixed-effects models, we found that both mouse species selected and consumed Bur Oak acorns at a high rate; however, White-footed Mice were 6.67 times more likely to select and consume Red Oak acorns than Deer Mice. Furthermore, White-footed Mice tended to cache Red Oak acorns near the surface where there is a higher chance of germination, while they usually consumed Bur Oak acorns. Our results suggest that Red Oaks have a better strategy for avoiding predation than Bur Oaks (i.e. high tannin levels leading to caching), and the strong interaction between the White-footed Mouse and Red Oak might be an important mechanism behind the current range expansion of both species in response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global change has created less stable forest systems and given urgency to understanding limitations to the establishment of tree seedlings beyond current range boundaries. We quantified trends in 13 years of annual northern red oak (QURU) seedling survival data for 1733 marked individuals at a local species distribution boundary within the northern hardwood forest in New Hampshire, USA. Over the study period, the median distance of seedlings into the valley did not change, although there was a net gain of 89 plots (5 m2) occupied. For a subset of seedlings that were marked in their year of birth (N = 937), we examined relationships among terrain, vegetation community, and initial individual seedling traits, and evaluated their effects on time to seedling mortality using a parametric accelerated failure time model. The year of seedling germination had the largest effect on survival with increasing mortality rates for seedlings from more recent cohorts. Seedlings had longer survival times where oak seedling densities were lower, shrub cover was higher, and when the acorn remained attached. Additionally, survival time was increased in higher elevation plots, which were also located further into the valley. Interannual seedling survival (N = 1580) was strongly impacted by seedling condition in the previous year, particularly leaf number and amount of leaf damage. Most seedling deaths occurred over winter, and seedlings failed to break bud the following spring. Interannual variation in seasonal climate, particularly deep, heavy snowpack in 2019 followed by drought conditions in 2020, coincided with recent elevated mortality. Overall, the median survival time of 3–4 years and the rapid turnover of the oak seedling population currently limit ability for expansion, although the net gain of occupied plots and increase in survival at higher elevation plots with lower QURU densities present some mechanisms that could promote expansion if the current suboptimal understory conditions shift to favor QURU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing temperatures, prolonged drought, the increased severity and intensity of storms, and other effects of climate change are being felt globally, and long-lived forest tree species may struggle in their current ranges. Oaks (Quercus spp.) have evolved a range of adaptations to dry and hot conditions and are believed to be a "climate change winner" by increasing their suitable habitat. However, a mixture of life history traits and increasing susceptibility to herbivores and xylovores as well as secondary pathogen infections still put oaks at risk of decline. Oak species found in the Midwestern, Great Lakes, and Northeastern United States and Canada are important keystone species with high ecological and economical importance. They are also vulnerable to existing, new, and emerging threats that have the potential to cause mortality across entire stands quickly. Current examples of insect threats include the Lymantria dispar (spongy moth), Agrilus bilineatus (twolined chestnut borer), and Nitidulidae (sap beetles) as disease vectors. Examples of emerging insects of concern include Cynipidae (oak gall wasps) and Enaphalodes rufulus (red oak borer). This study describes these insects, explains their mechanisms of action and the effects on oaks, and explores mitigation strategies for each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals benefit from scatterhoarding, storing food around their home range for use during a period of scarcity, by later eating the stored food. Seedlings may be used as cues of belowground food. We investigated whether scatterhoarders such as eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788) and eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus (Linnaeus, 1758)) use characteristics of seedlings and their seeds as physical cues of the value of the seed. We buried 176 germinating seeds (white oak (Quercus alba L.) and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.)) in a hardwood forest in Alabama, USA. Seeds were recovered faster with longer leaves (rate ratio (RR) = 0.68, 0.58–0.78, 95% confidence limits (C.L.)) and taller stems (RR = 0.91, 0.88–0.93, 95% C.L.) during spring 2022, and with a smaller number (RR = 1.15, 1.04–1.27, 95% C.L.) of longer leaves (RR = 0.81, 0.70–0.93, 95% C.L.) during fall 2022 (both P < 0.0001). For all seeds, we found that longer roots increased the likelihood of seeds being used (rather than ignored; odds ratio = 1.45, 1.00–2.09, 95% C.L., P = 0.05). We found new evidence suggesting that hoarders use aboveground cues from the seedling to dig it up and belowground seedling cues to assess seed value. These findings add to our understanding of assessing food availability for hoarding animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree growth is a key mechanism driving carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. Environmental conditions are important regulators of tree growth that can vary considerably between nearby urban and rural forests. For example, trees growing in cities often experience hotter and drier conditions than their rural counterparts while also being exposed to higher levels of light, pollution, and nutrient inputs. However, the extent to which these intrinsic differences in the growing conditions of trees in urban versus rural forests influence tree growth response to climate is not well known. In this study, we tested for differences in the climate sensitivity of tree growth between urban and rural forests along a latitudinal transect in the eastern United States that included Boston, Massachusetts, New York City, New York, and Baltimore, Maryland. Using dendrochronology analyses of tree cores from 55 white oak trees (Quercus alba), 55 red maple trees (Acer rubrum), and 41 red oak trees (Quercus rubra) we investigated the impacts of heat stress and water stress on the radial growth of individual trees. Across our three‐city study, we found that tree growth was more closely correlated with climate stress in the cooler climate cities of Boston and New York than in Baltimore. Furthermore, heat stress was a significant hindrance to tree growth in higher latitudes while the impacts of water stress appeared to be more evenly distributed across latitudes. We also found that the growth of oak trees, but not red maple trees, in the urban sites of Boston and New York City was more adversely impacted by heat stress than their rural counterparts, but we did not see these urban–rural differences in Maryland. Trees provide a wide range of important ecosystem services and increasing tree canopy cover was typically an important component of urban sustainability strategies. In light of our findings that urbanization can influence how tree growth responds to a warming climate, we suggest that municipalities consider these interactions when developing their tree‐planting palettes and when estimating the capacity of urban forests to contribute to broader sustainability goals in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forests are an important element of nature in highly urbanised areas. Due to their specificity (e.g. fragmentation, disturbances, alien propagule pressure), they are particularly susceptible to the penetration of alien species. The aim of this study was to determine the share of alien species in the tree stand structure of urban forests in the city of Katowice (Upper Silesian Industrial Region). A total of 50 woody species were recorded in the analysed stands, including 31 native species and 19 of alien origin. The share of alien species in the stands of individual forests was significant, as they constituted from 15% to 44% of the total number. Among the 20 trees most frequently included in the stand, as many as six are species of alien origin (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Padus serotina (Ehrh.) Borkh., Acer negundo L., Quercus rubra L., Juglans regia L. and Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall). The most abundant species were Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus rubra and Padus serotina. The local potential of alien woody species was determined using the index of their abundance in the understory; the highest value of the average abundance index was obtained by Padus serotina, Robinia pseudoacacia, Acer negundo and Quercus rubra. Most alien tree species were more likely to inhabit forest edges (ecotone zone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant properties of Lactuca sativa var. crispa L. (green oak and red oak lettuce) grown under hydroponic and organic cultivation systems were compared using water and ethanol extraction. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was implemented to explore the cytotoxicity of hydroponically grown green oak and red oak lettuce ethanolic extracts toward the human liver cancer HepG2 cell line. Total flavonoid content (TFC) in hydroponic green and red oak lettuce aqueous and ethanolic extracts was higher than in organically grown lettuce. The TFC of hydroponic red oak lettuce extracted with ethanol was 2.92±0.10 mg GAE/g DW, higher than organically grown (1.73± 0.09 mg GAE/g DW). The total phenolic content (TPC) of organic lettuce was higher than lettuce grown hydroponically. Antioxidant potential was assessed by the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The antioxidant potential of organic lettuce extracts was higher than hydroponically grown lettuce, indicating that the action of the hydroponic system enhanced flavonoid contents, with hydroponic extracts inhibiting cancer cell growth. The green oak lettuce extract had a moderate cytotoxic effect (IC50= 93.81±1.94 µg/mL), significantly stronger than the extract of red oak (IC50= 347.50±8.39 µg/mL) exhibiting a very weak effect. Results showed that the hydroponic cultivation system stimulated the production of flavonoids and enhanced the cytotoxicity of plant extracts toward the HepG2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red oak is an important species within the North American landscape, with climate change projections indicating a potential northward shift in its distribution. However, understanding the factors influencing its regeneration success at the northern limit remains limited. Site conditions and seed provenance adaptability may play critical roles. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted a seed transfer study in two northern red oak stands in Quebec. We firstly investigated stand regeneration history through dendrochronological characterization. Then, we monitored the survival and growth of saplings for four red oak provenances across a south-to-north gradient in field and greenhouse settings, with varying soil nutrient levels due to fertilization, and with or without protection from large herbivores. Results indicated that stands have similar age structures with red oak establishment coinciding with the last major fire disturbance in the early 1920s. However, tree species composition and density differed, suggesting differences in fire disturbance regime or ecological succession status prior to fire. Site had the largest influence on red oak regeneration, with the highest tree density and soil water availability site exhibiting a 29% higher survival rate. Protection against large herbivores also significantly impacted red oak seedling performance, leading to a 16% higher survival rate. Germination, survival and growth also significantly differed between provenances. The local (northernmost) provenance exhibited the poorest overall performance with 28 to 42% lower germination, survival and growth rates, while the two southernmost provenances exhibited superior germination and sprout survival. An increase in soil nutrient availability was beneficial to red oak in the greenhouse, but only marginally benefited survival and growth in the field, suggesting that this factor is of less importance than other factors (e.g., water and light availability) for red oak early regeneration. The findings of this study suggest that silvicultural efforts to favor red oak should focus on site and provenance selection, and that water availability is currently limiting red oak regeneration success at acorn and early seedling life stages (i.e., 1 year old seedlings) near its northern distribution limit.

The task of tree species classification through deep learning has been challenging for the forestry community, and the lack of standardized datasets has hindered further progress. Our work presents a solution in the form of a large bark image dataset called CentralBark, which enhances the deep learning-based tree species classification. Additionally, we have laid out an efficient and repeatable data collection protocol to assist future works in an organized manner. The dataset contains images of 25 central hardwood and Appalachian region tree species, with over 19,000 images of varying diameters, light, and moisture conditions. We tested 25 species: elm, oak, American basswood, American beech, American elm, American sycamore, bitternut hickory, black cherry, black locust, black oak, black walnut, eastern cottonwood, hackberry, honey locust, northern red oak, Ohio buckeye, Osage-orange, pignut hickory, sassafras, shagbark hickory silver maple, slippery elm, sugar maple, sweetgum, white ash, white oak, and yellow poplar. Our experiment involved testing three different models to assess the feasibility of species classification using unaltered and uncropped images during the species-classification training process. We achieved an overall accuracy of 83.21% using the EfficientNet-b3 model, which was the best of the three models (EfficientNet-b3, ResNet-50, and MobileNet-V3-small), and an average accuracy of 80.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological research in temperate-deciduous forests typically focuses on upper canopy trees, due to their overwhelming influence on ecosystem productivity and function. However, considering that shrubs leaf out earlier and remain green longer than trees, they play a pivotal role in ecosystem productivity, particularly at growing season extremes. Furthermore, an extended growing season of non-native shrubs provides a competitive advantage over natives. Here, we report spring phenology, budburst, leaf-out, and full-leaf unfolded (2017–2021) of a range of co-occurring species of tree (ash, American basswood, red oak, white oak, and boxelder) and shrub (native species: chokecherry, pagoda dogwood, nannyberry, American wild currant and Eastern wahoo, and non-native species: buckthorn, honeysuckle, European privet, and European highbush cranberry) in an urban woodland fragment in Wisconsin, USA, to determine how phenology differed between plant groups. Our findings show that all three spring phenophases of shrubs were 3 weeks earlier (p < 0.05) than trees. However, differences between shrubs groups were only significant for the later phenophase; full-leaf unfolded, which was 6 days earlier (p < 0.05) for native shrubs. The duration of the spring phenological season was 2 weeks longer (p < 0.05) for shrubs than trees. These preliminary findings demonstrate that native shrubs, at this site, start full-leaf development earlier than non-native species suggesting that species composition must be considered when generalizing whether phenologies differ between vegetation groups. A longer time series would be necessary to determine future implications on ecosystem phenology and productivity and how this might impact forests in the future, in terms of species composition, carbon sequestration, and overall ecosystem dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oak wilt, caused by the pathogen Bretziella fagacearum , is a destructive disease on oak (Quercus) species in the United States. Established methods to control the belowground spread of oak wilt are not appropriate in all circumstances; thus, forest health managers have a strong need for alternative methods for disease control. We evaluated the effectiveness of operational stump excavation treatments (i.e. "root rupture" method) applied between 2004 and 2014 to control belowground spread of oak wilt on two forests in northeast Wisconsin, USA. The root rupture method achieved a high level of disease control (≥85% of evaluated disease infection centers) for 5 years by harvesting red oak trees within infection centers and uprooting the stumps and associated root mass. The likelihood of disease control success depended on the initial size of the infection center that was treated, with larger infection centers being less likely to be contained with a single treatment than small infection centers. This study highlights the importance of early detection and prompt management in oak wilt suppression programs. Study Implications: Forest management agencies and organizations in the North Central United States continue to face oak wilt epidemics. No single tool or treatment method ensures complete containment of oak wilt; thus, most managers carefully consider all the tools and techniques available to them and determine what best suits their budget and land use priorities. Stump excavation (i.e. "root rupture" method) is a cost-effective treatment for halting belowground spread of the oak wilt fungus, Bretziella fagacearum , that can achieve a high level of disease control. In northern red oak (Quercus rubra) stands with high economic value, this treatment can be applied as a group selection, with the value of the timber potentially offsetting the cost of treatment. The opportunity for complete disease control decreases as oak wilt infection centers increase in size; thus, monitoring and early control actions are critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A previous study on the encroachment of North American northern red oak Quercus rubra L. into the mesic Scots pine forest (in central Poland) revealed high abundances of seedlings and saplings under shrubs, with lower abundances in open areas or clumps of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. It was unclear whether the regeneration success of Q. rubra is enhanced by the presence of shrubs due to their "nurse effect", and how burying acorns of different sizes in soil or moss affects the survival of oak seeds and seedlings (a "burial effect"). Results of a previous observational study were verified in an experimental study: a pool of 900 large‐, medium‐, and small‐sized acorns was sown under moss cover in open areas and within bilberry clumps and in soil under shrubs in 2018 and monitored for 3 years in natural conditions. The majority of sown acorns were lost, mainly due to acorn pilferage, lack of germination and the death of sprouting acorns. However, acorn and seedling survival depended significantly on acorn size and differed among the microsites studied. Viable seedlings were twice as likely to develop from large‐ and medium‐sized as from small‐sized acorns, and they grew mainly from acorns sown under moss cover, confirming a positive "burial effect." Seedling survival was three times higher in bilberry and open areas, than under shrubs; however, seedlings "nursed" by shrubs were less threatened by large ungulates. Only a small part of the pool of sown acorns contributes to the reproductive success of Q. rubra in the mesic Scots pine forest. Microsites characteristic to this type of forest are suitable for northern red oak regeneration; however, bilberry favors acorn survival and germination and early seedling growth, moss cover favors acorn survival and germination, while shrubs protect surviving seedlings from herbivory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, billions of people burn fuels indoors for cooking and heating, which contributes to millions of chronic illnesses and premature deaths annually. Additionally, residential burning contributes significantly to black carbon emissions, which have the highest global warming impacts after carbon dioxide and methane. In this study, we use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze fine-particulate emissions collected on Teflon membrane filters from 15 cookstove types and 5 fuel types. Emissions from three fuel types (charcoal, kerosene, and red oak wood) were found to have enough FTIR spectral response for functional group (FG) analysis. We present distinct spectral profiles for particulate emissions of these three fuel types. We highlight the influential FGs constituting organic carbon (OC) using a multivariate statistical method and show that OC estimates by collocated FTIR and thermal–optical transmittance (TOT) are highly correlated, with a coefficient determination of 82.5 %. As FTIR analysis is fast and non-destructive and provides complementary FG information, the analysis method demonstrated herein can substantially reduce the need for thermal–optical measurements for source emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the resistance and adaptive potential of tree species and provenances is needed to select suitable planting material in times of rapidly changing climate conditions. In this study, we evaluate growth responses to climatic fluctuations and extreme events for 12 provenances of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) that were tested across three trial sites with distinct environmental conditions in Germany. Six provenances each were sourced from the natural distribution in North America and from introduced stands in Germany. We collected increment cores of 16 trees per provenance and site. Dendroecological methods were used to compare provenance performance and establish climate-growth relationships to identify the main growth limiting factors. To evaluate the provenance response to extreme drought and frost events, three site-specific drought years were selected according to the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and 2010 as a year with an extreme late frost event. Resistance indices for these years were calculated and assessed in relation to overall growth performance. We observed a high variation in growth and in the climate sensitivity between sites depending on the prevailing climatic conditions, as well as a high intra-specific variation. Overall, summer drought and low temperatures in the early growing season appear to constrain the growth of red oak. The resistance of provenances within sites and extreme years showed considerable rank changes and interaction effects. We did not find a trade-off between growth and resistance to late frost, namely, fast growing provenances had a high frost hardiness. Further, there was no evidence for a trade-off between growth and drought hardiness. Still, responses to drought or late frost differ between provenances, pointing to dissimilar adaptive strategies. Provenances from introduced (i.e. German) stands represent suitable seed sources, as they combine a higher growth and frost hardiness compared to their North American counterparts. Drought hardiness was slightly higher in the slow-growing provenances. The results provide a better understanding of the variable adaptive strategies between provenances and help to select suitable planting material for adaptive forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]