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Extensive forest areas decreased and fragmented during anthropogenic development of the zone of broad-leaved forest tree species in Russia. The pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and the European white elm (Ulmus laevis Pall.), important key components of these ecosystems, suffered last few centuries of extreme climate events, attacks of insects and diseases. Using ISSR genetic markers, we compared expected heterozygosity and allelic diversity of these two species in natural and artificial stands, planted and naturally regenerated progeny. Weak differences in the genetic diversity in Q. robur and U. laevis were revealed in areas with different forest cover and participation of the species in a stand composition. Overall, we found that the genetic diversity of parent natural and artificial stands is well reproducing in natural offspring and planted saplings. But the tree species studied express both higher and lower heterozygosity in planted trees in comparison to natural stands.

Pedunculate oak is seen as an alternative to other tree species for reforestation and mitigation programs in the face of climate change. Thus, the identification of suitable, well-adapted seed sources is of high priority. We perform a genetic inventory on 970 trees from 97 locations in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Latvia representing the eastern part of the natural species range. All samples were screened with a set of 348 gene markers covering the nuclear (n = 327) and the organelle genomes (chloroplast: n = 14, mitochondria: n = 7) using a genotyping-by-sequencing method. We identified 10 plastidial haplotypes, which showed a strong spatial pattern with a highly significant autocorrelation up to a range of 600 km. After excluding 47 potentially selected markers, significant spatial genetic structure up to 800 km was also observed at the selectively neutral nuclear loci. Bayesian clustering analysis indicated a sub-division into two gene pools present at all locations but with a shift of proportion from West to East. The genetic diversity was negatively correlated with longitude, showing higher values in the West and Centre and lower values at the northern, eastern and southeastern edges of the natural distribution range. We sub-divided the sampled area into six geographic regions and used the genetic composition of all samples in each region as a genetic reference for assignment tests. Self-assignment of groups of 10 individuals to their region of origin showed an average assignment success of 93 per cent. Samples of three artificial plantations of pedunculate oak in Siberia could be clearly assigned to the East–North and Centre–South regions. We discuss the implications of our results for the forest practice and in particular the proofing of seed sources.

The aim of this study is to determine the genetic variability and differentiation among populations of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) at the eastern margin of the species distribution range. We applied new set of 95 geographically informative nuclear SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) loci developed using Double Digest Restriction Site Associated DNA (ddRAD), a new generation DNA sequencing technology. The study area is located in the basins of the Volga River and its two main tributaries, Kama and Belaya. Despite the strong reduction and fragmentation of pedunculate oak forests over the last several centuries and comparatively small sizes of present stands, a relatively similar genetic diversity of seven populations was observed (on average, allelic diversity υа = 1.472–1.603, observed heterozygosity HO = 0.305–0.358, expected heterozygosity HE = 0.272–0.343). The genetic distances between populations vary between 0.102 and 0.170 (on average, d0 = 0.128). We have identified the absence of a spatial genetic structure and the existence of genetically peculiar populations in the territory studied. The genetic distances of Gregorius between populations vary between 0.102 and 0.170 (on average, d0 = 0.128). Genetic differentiation among populations was statistically significant with a mean of the fixation index FST of 0.075. Populations from the Privolzhye Upplands and from northern parts of the study area make the most contribution to overall inter-population differentiation (d0 = 0.137). No significant differences exist among the samples at lowlands along the Volga river (d0 = 0.110). It was concluded that the multiplicity and different ages of local populations and the complexity of migration routes of the pedunculate oak from Pleistocene refugia and secondary Holocene shelters can cause this phenomenon.

The development of the mining industry has led to the appearance in many parts of the world of vast technogenic territories from which toxic heavy metals enter the environment and food chains. Physical, chemical, and biological methods of cleaning industrial land due to technological complexity and high cost are relatively little used on a large scale. Natural forest overgrowth of mining sites and the removal of heavy metals by woody plants can be an effective form of recovery. Therefore, the study of this process is of significant scientific and practical interest. The analysis of the annual growth in height and width of the annual rings of the stem of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in 2004–2019 was made on the territory of the Uchalinsky mining and processing plant (South Ural, Russia) contaminated with heavy metals. Relatively high concentrations of copper and zinc were found in soils, roots, bark, young shoots, comparable to exceeding the maximum allowable concentrations. Despite the spatial uniformity of the heavy metal content in the stands, the tree samples significantly differed in terms of annual growth. Results suggest that the lack of nutrients and not stress from exposure to heavy metals is the main reason for relatively low growth rates on slopes of industrial wastes. It was confirmed by studying the annual growth in height of the undergrowth in habitats with different soil cover conservation. The data prove the relatively high potential of Scots pine for the natural recovery of industrial lands polluted with heavy metals by mining enterprises.

This paper examines carbon stocks in the forests of the Ural region forest fund. Carbon deposition in forest biomass, the average, average annual and annual carbon absorption were assessed by age groups and dominant species. The average annual rates of forest destruction were estimated depending on the territory of forest fires and burnt areas. Carbon losses in the biomass pool after continuous logging were estimated according to the methodology "On approving guidance to calculate greenhouse gas emissions” developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. Carbon storage indicators were calculated from the groundwood of coniferous, hard-leaved and soft-leaved forests for all age groups. Changes in carbon stocks are shown for the period 2007-2018. The forests of the study area, the Republic of Bashkortostan, were found to sink carbon in 3,618.9 thousand tons/year. Pinus sylvestris L. forests accumulate the largest amount of carbon, 58,384.3 thousand tons, among coniferous forests. The difference between carbon absorption and its budget was 3,124.4 thousand tons/year. Soft-leaved stands that dominate in the republic accumulate the largest total carbon stock being 195,900.2 thousand tons. However, their average level of carbon stock is lower than that of coniferous and hard-leaved forests. Maintaining the level of carbon dioxide uptake is a strategic task of the republic's forestry sector, with compensatory reforestation being one solution. Keywords: absorption; carbon; coniferous forests; deciduous forests; storage; wood harvesting

We used Double Digest Restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) and Miseq to develop new geographically informative nuclear and plastid SNP and indel loci in Quercus robur and Q. petraea. Genotypes derived from sequence data of 95 individuals and two pools of 20 individuals each of Q. robur and Q. mongolica covering the distribution range of the species, were analysed to select geographically informative and polymorphic loci within Germany and Russia. We successfully screened a selected set of 431 nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism (nSNP), six nuclear Indel, six mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism (mtSNP) and ten chloroplast single nucleotide polymorphism (cpSNP) loci with a SeqSNP genotyping platform on 100 individuals Quercus petraea from 10 locations in Germany, 100 individuals Quercus robur from ten locations in Germany and 100 individuals Quercus robur from ten locations in Russia. The newly developed loci are useful for species identification and genetic studies on the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of Quercus robur and Quercus petraea in Europe.

As for most other temperate broadleaved tree species, large-scale genetic inventories of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) have focused on the plastidial genome, which showed the impact of post-glacial recolonization and manmade seed transfer. However, how have pollen mediated gene flow and introgression impacted the large-scale genetic structure? To answer these questions, we did a genetic inventory on 1970 pedunculate oak trees from 197 locations in 13 European countries. All samples were screened with a targeted sequencing approach on a set of 381 polymorphic loci (356 nuclear SNPs, 3 nuclear InDels, 17 chloroplast SNPs, and 5 mitochondrial SNPs). In a former analysis with additional 1763 putative Quercus petraea trees screened for the same gene markers we obtained estimates on the species admixture of all pedunculate oak trees. We identified 13 plastidial haplotypes, which showed a strong spatial pattern with a highly significant autocorrelation up to a range of 1250 km. Significant spatial genetic structure up to 1250 km was also observed at the nuclear loci. However, the differentiation at the nuclear gene markers was much lower compared to the organelle gene markers. The matrix of genetic distances among locations was partially correlated between nuclear and organelle genomes. Bayesian clustering analysis revealed the best fit to the data for a sub-division into two gene pools. One gene pool is dominating the west and the other is the most abundant in the east. The western gene pool was significantly influenced by introgression from Quercus petraea in the past. In Germany, we identified a contact zone of pedunculate oaks with different introgression intensity, likely resulting from different historical levels of introgression in glacial refugia or during postglacial recolonization. The main directions of postglacial recolonization were south to north and south to northwest in West and Central Europe, and for the eastern haplotypes also east to west in Central Europe. By contrast, the pollen mediated gene flow and introgression from Q. petraea modified the large-scale structure at the nuclear gene markers with significant west–east direction.

The management of beekeeping on forest lands is a vivid manifestation of the multifunctional use of forests, which is based on its target cultivation. The work shows the development of beekeeping, identifies factors affecting the sustainable development of this industry, sets priorities for increasing the efficiency of utilization of forest honey resources of the Southern Urals, including the main melliferous - Tilia cordata Mill. The nature and characteristics of the influence of weather and climatic factors on the growth of bee colonies, their physiological state, composition, age representation of natural melliferous woody plants, the onset dates and the duration of their flowering were determined. It was found that, of the silvicultural and inventory indicators, the composition and age, density and type of forest most strongly influence the yield of honey. The activities of forest care are close to them in terms of importance. A system of organizational measures has been proposed, through which high efficiency of using forest feed resources and sustainable development of beekeeping can be achieved: keeping an optimal number of bee colonies in an apiary - up to 150 hives, based on providing one bee colony of 50-60 thousand individuals with at least 130 kg of nectar; the location of apiaries in the 3-kilometer zone of growth of forest melliferous plants, taking into account the productive emergence of bees in the 2.5-3.0 km; establishing clear nomadic routes based on a geobotanic inventory of forest and agricultural melliferous plants. Increasing the target indicator - the nectar productivity of forests without a gap in their use both in space and in time - can be achieved by growing multi-tiered forests of different age from Tilia cordata Mill.

We studied the genetic composition of 200 pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) trees at nine nuclear microsatellite gene loci. We sampled nine locations in an area of 1100 km by 400 km in the South-Ural. The question was to analyse the genetic differentiation of the oaks at the south-east edge of the species distribution area. We observed relatively high values of genetic differentiation and fixation (delta=0.387, F ST =0.0652, F ST(Hedrick) =0.407) compared to values from the centre of the species distribution range. Bayesian clustering analysis revealed three genetic groups. Presence of all genetic groups was detected at all locations, but oak trees in the extreme east of the Ural Mountains were genetically most different. We hypothesise that genetic drift influenced the observed pattern.

We developed a new set of 25 nuclear (nc), 12 chloroplast (cp) and 7 mitochondrial (mt) SNPs and used it to genotype 371 Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.) trees from seven locations in a 200 km by 400 km area in the Russian Far East. One of the locations in an area of 15 km by 25 km east of the city Ussuriusk was analyzed more intensively with 188 collected trees. The genetic differentiation at the nuclear SNPs was small to moderate and for the plastid SNPs it was high when considering all trees from the seven locations. The gene pool distances between locations were for 19 out of 21 pairs statistically highly significant. There was no correlation of genetic and spatial distances. Only three different multilocus-haplotypes could be identified and 42 two-loci-combinations of plastid SNPs could be used to identify them. Conclusions for the practical application such as timber tracking and gene conservation are discussed.

We used double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) to develop new geographically informative nuclear SNP loci in Quercus robur and Quercus petraea. Genotypes derived from sequence data of 95 individuals covering the distribution range of the species were analysed to select geographically informative and polymorphic loci within Russia and Germany. We successfully screened a selected set of 119 loci on a MassARRAY® iPLEX™ platform on 190 individuals from 19 locations in Russia. The newly developed loci will be useful for genetic studies over the whole distribution range of both species.

Development of agriculture in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the vast East European plain over the past millennium has resulted to a significant decrease of broad-leaved forests habitat. It is expected that the disintegration of the forest tree species distribution ranges will lead to the erosion of the population genetic diversity of due to limited gene flow, impacts on gene pools of genetic drift and inbreeding. To investigate this threat, we analyzed the genetic diversity and differentiation among 20 populations of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) from the Ural Mountains (Russia) and neighboring lowlands and foothills. A set of 412 nuclear SNPs loci was used for our study. A positive correlation (r = 0.168, p

To detect and avoid illegal logging of valuable tree species, identification methods for the origin of timber are necessary. We used next-generation sequencing to identify chloroplast genome regions that differentiate the origin of white oaks from the three continents; Asia, Europe, and North America. By using the chloroplast genome of Asian Q. mongolica as a reference, we identified 861 variant sites (672 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); 189 insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism) from representative species of three continents (Q. mongolica from Asia; Q. petraea and Q. robur from Europe; Q. alba from North America), and we identified additional chloroplast polymorphisms in pools of 20 individuals each from Q. mongolica (789 variant sites) and Q. robur (346 variant sites). Genome sequences were screened for insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphisms to develop markers that identify continental origin of oak species, and that can be easily evaluated using a variety of detection methods. We identified five indel and one SNP that reliably identify continent-of-origin, based on evaluations of up to 1078 individuals representing 13 white oak species and three continents. Due to the size of length polymorphisms revealed, this marker set can be visualized using capillary electrophoresis or high resolution gel (acrylamide or agarose) electrophoresis. With these markers, we provide the wood trading market with an instrument to comply with the U.S. and European laws that require timber companies to avoid the trade of illegally harvested timber.

A geographically isolated population of an herbivorous insect (Tortrix viridana, Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in the Bashkir Transural region and 5 further populations were investigated for genetic variation using eight microsatellite markers. The sample size per population was between 48 and 62 individuals. The genetic variation was higher within the isolated population than within populations in the center of the distribution area. No bottleneck effects were discovered during analyses that could have formatted the gene pool of this population. Balancing or directed selection toward preservation of specific alleles or promotion of heterozygous individuals could be an explanation for the unexpected high genetic diversity within this small and isolated population.