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Gedalof Z, Davy LE, Berg A. Exotic Grasses Reduce Infiltration and Moisture Availability in a Temperate Oak Savanna. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:2577. [PMID: 36235443 PMCID: PMC9571120 DOI: 10.3390/plants11192577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biological invasions represent one of the most urgent conservation challenges. Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) savannas, a complex of grassland and transitional forest, are especially sensitive to these invasions. These ecosystems have been severely degraded and fragmented over the past century and are being encroached by conifers, and oak seedlings are failing to emerge from the understory at many locations. Understanding competitive interactions between Oregon white oak and associated native and exotic vegetation would provide insight into forest-grassland dynamics and the role of exotic grasses in the decline of native species, the processes that maintain temperate savanna ecosystems, and the role of soil water uptake by individual savanna species in contributing to overall species assemblages. In this study, we quantified the soil moisture budget for invaded and uninvaded oak-associated ecosystems. From February to October 2007 we used a split paired plot experiment in Duncan, British Columbia, Canada to measure soil moisture on treatment sites where exotic grasses were removed with herbicide and control plots where they were not, using three depths (5, 20, and 35 or 50 cm) in the soil profile. Our results show that the plots that contained exotic vegetation had a faster rate of soil drying following precipitation events at the 5 cm depth than plots with the predominantly native species. We attribute this difference to the capacity of exotic vegetation to exploit soil moisture more rapidly than native vegetation at times of the year when native vegetation cannot. These results provide insight into one mechanism by which exotic grasses affect associated native plants and could help guide restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze’ev Gedalof
- Climate & Ecosystem Dynamics Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Lesley E. Davy
- Climate & Ecosystem Dynamics Research Laboratory, Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Aaron Berg
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Deterioration in the Quality of Recalcitrant Quercus robur Seeds during Six Months of Storage at Subzero Temperatures: Ineffective Activation of Prosurvival Mechanisms and Evidence of Freezing Stress from an Untargeted Metabolomic Study. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12080756. [PMID: 36005628 PMCID: PMC9413681 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) is an economically important forest-forming species in Poland that produces seeds that are sensitive to desiccation; therefore, short-lived seeds are classified as recalcitrant. Such seeds display active metabolism throughout storage. Acorns stored under controlled conditions (moisture content of 40%, temperature −3 °C) maintain viability for up to 1.5–2 years. Meanwhile, oaks only produce large numbers of seeds every few years during so-called mast years. This results in a scarcity of good-quality seeds for continuous nursery production and restoration. The recalcitrant storage behavior and the requirements of foresters make it necessary to develop a new protocol for longer acorn storage at lower temperatures. Two storage temperatures were tested: −3 °C (currently used in forest practice) and −7 °C. Our results showed that acorns stored for six months exhibited deterioration and reduced germination capacity, as well as reduced seedling performance, particularly when acorns were stored at −7 °C. To elucidate the decrease in quality during storage, an untargeted metabolomics study was performed for the first time and supported with the analysis of carbohydrates and percentages of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Embryonic axes were characterized by a lower C:N ratio and higher hydration. A total of 1985 metabolites were detected, and 303 were successfully identified and quantified, revealing 44 known metabolites that displayed significantly up- or downregulated abundance. We demonstrated for the first time that the significant deterioration of seed germination potential, particularly in seeds stored at −7 °C, was accompanied by an increased abundance of phenolic compounds and carbohydrates but also amino acids and phosphorylated monosaccharides, particularly in the embryonic axes. The increased abundance of defense-related metabolites (1,2,4-Benzenetriol; BTO), products of ascorbic acid degradation (threonic and isothreonic acid), as well as antifreezing compounds (sugar alcohols, predominantly threitol), was reported in seed stored at −7 °C. We hypothesize that seed deterioration was caused by freezing stress experienced during six months of storage at −7 °C, a decline in antioxidative potential and the unsuccessful rerouting of the energy-production pathways. Additionally, our data are a good example of the application of high-throughput metabolomic tools in forest management.
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Meeussen C, De Pauw K, Sanczuk P, Brunet J, Cousins SAO, Gasperini C, Hedwall PO, Iacopetti G, Lenoir J, Plue J, Selvi F, Spicher F, Uria Diez J, Verheyen K, Vangansbeke P, De Frenne P. Initial oak regeneration responses to experimental warming along microclimatic and macroclimatic gradients. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:745-757. [PMID: 35373433 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Quercus spp. are one of the most important tree genera in temperate deciduous forests in terms of biodiversity, economic and cultural perspectives. However, natural regeneration of oaks, depending on specific environmental conditions, is still not sufficiently understood. Oak regeneration dynamics are impacted by climate change, but these climate impacts will depend on local forest management and light and temperature conditions. Here, we studied germination, survival and seedling performance (i.e. aboveground biomass, height, root collar diameter and specific leaf area) of four oak species (Q. cerris, Q. ilex, Q. robur and Q. petraea). Acorns were sown across a wide latitudinal gradient, from Italy to Sweden, and across several microclimatic gradients located within and beyond the species' natural ranges. Microclimatic gradients were applied in terms of forest structure, distance to the forest edge and experimental warming. We found strong interactions between species and latitude, as well as between microclimate and latitude or species. The species thus reacted differently to local and regional changes in light and temperature ; in southern regions the temperate Q. robur and Q. petraea performed best in plots with a complex structure, whereas the Mediterranean Q. ilex and Q. cerris performed better in simply structured forests with a reduced microclimatic buffering capacity. The experimental warming treatment only enhanced height and aboveground biomass of Mediterranean species. Our results show that local microclimatic gradients play a key role in the initial stages of oak regeneration; however, one needs to consider the species-specific responses to forest structure and the macroclimatic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Meeussen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - K De Pauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - P Sanczuk
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - J Brunet
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, Sweden
| | - S A O Cousins
- Biogeography and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Gasperini
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - P-O Hedwall
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, Sweden
| | - G Iacopetti
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - J Lenoir
- UMR CNRS 7058 « Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés » (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - J Plue
- Biogeography and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F Selvi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - F Spicher
- UMR CNRS 7058 « Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés » (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - J Uria Diez
- Biogeography and Geomatics, Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - K Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - P Vangansbeke
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - P De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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Gaytán Á, Moreira X, Castagneyrol B, Van Halder I, De Frenne P, Meeussen C, Timmermans BGH, Ten Hoopen JPJG, Rasmussen PU, Bos N, Jaatinen R, Pulkkinen P, Söderlund S, Covelo F, Gotthard K, Tack AJM. The co-existence of multiple oak leaf flushes contributes to the large within-tree variation in chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:1615-1628. [PMID: 35514157 PMCID: PMC9545873 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many plant species produce multiple leaf flushes during the growing season, which might have major consequences for within-plant variation in chemistry and species interactions. Yet, we lack a theoretical or empirical framework for how differences among leaf flushes might shape variation in damage by insects and diseases. We assessed the impact of leaf flush identity on leaf chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection on the pedunculate oak Quercus robur by sampling leaves from each leaf flush in 20 populations across seven European countries during an entire growing season. The first leaf flush had higher levels of primary compounds, and lower levels of secondary compounds, than the second flush, whereas plant chemistry was highly variable in the third flush. Insect attack decreased from the first to the third flush, whereas infection by oak powdery mildew was lowest on leaves from the first flush. The relationship between plant chemistry, insect attack and pathogen infection varied strongly among leaf flushes and seasons. Our findings demonstrate the importance of considering differences among leaf flushes for our understanding of within-tree variation in chemistry, insect attack and disease levels, something particularly relevant given the expected increase in the number of leaf flushes with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Gaytán
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversitySvante Arrhenius väg 20AStockholmSweden
| | - Xoaquín Moreira
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG‐CSIC)Apdo. 2836080Pontevedra, GaliciaSpain
| | | | | | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature LaboratoryGhent UniversityGeraardsbergsesteenweg 267BE‐9090Gontrode‐MelleBelgium
| | - Camille Meeussen
- Forest & Nature LaboratoryGhent UniversityGeraardsbergsesteenweg 267BE‐9090Gontrode‐MelleBelgium
| | - Bart G. H. Timmermans
- Department of AgricultureLouis Bolk InstituteKosterijland 3‐53981 AJBunnikthe Netherlands
| | | | - Pil U. Rasmussen
- The National Research Centre for the Working Environment2100CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Nick Bos
- Section for Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of Copenhagen2200CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Raimo Jaatinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Haapastensyrjä Breeding StationFI‐16200LäyliäinenFinland
| | - Pertti Pulkkinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Haapastensyrjä Breeding StationFI‐16200LäyliäinenFinland
| | - Sara Söderlund
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversitySvante Arrhenius väg 20AStockholmSweden
| | - Felisa Covelo
- Departamento de Sistemas FísicosQuímicos y NaturalesUniversidad Pablo de OlavideCarretera de Utrera km. 141013SevilleSpain
| | - Karl Gotthard
- Department of ZoologyStockholm UniversitySvante Arrhenius väg 18BSE‐106 91StockholmSweden
| | - Ayco J. M. Tack
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant SciencesStockholm UniversitySvante Arrhenius väg 20AStockholmSweden
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Predictors of the Success of Natural Regeneration in a Himalayan Treeline Ecotone. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13030454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The sensitivity and response of climatic treelines in the Himalayas to climate change is still being debated. Regeneration of tree species in the treeline ecotone is considered a sensitivity indicator and thus of great scientific interest. The aim of this study is to detect predictor variables for regeneration densities of the major tree species in central Himalayan treeline ecotones (Abies spectabilis, Betula utilis, Rhododendron campanulatum), analysing five development stages from seedling to mature tree. We applied negative binomial generalized linear models with predictors selected from a wide range of soil, topography, climate and stand characteristic variables. We found considerably varying predictors across the tree species and their stages of development. Soil conditions, topography and climate, as well as competing and facilitating tree species, had high predictive power for population densities. These predictors were clearly species- and development stage-specific. Predictors’ spatial- and development-specific heterogeneity induce a high degree of complexity and diversify any potentially linear response of tree population densities and treeline position to changing climatic conditions.
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Pham VV, Ammer C, Annighöfer P, Heinrichs S. Tree regeneration characteristics in limestone forests of the Cat Ba National Park, Vietnam. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:6. [PMID: 35033001 PMCID: PMC8761296 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01957-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability of overstory tree species to regenerate successfully is important for the preservation of tree species diversity and its associated flora and fauna. This study investigated forest regeneration dynamics in the Cat Ba National Park, a biodiversity hotspot in Vietnam. Data was collected from 90 sample plots (500 m2) and 450 sub-sample plots (25 m2) in regional limestone forests. We evaluated the regeneration status of tree species by developing five ratios relating overstory and regeneration richness and diversity. By examining the effect of environmental factors on these ratios, we aimed to identify the main drivers for maintaining tree species diversity or for potential diversity gaps between the regeneration and the overstory layer. Our results can help to increase the understanding of regeneration patterns in tropical forests of Southeast Asia and to develop successful conservation strategies. RESULTS We found 97 tree species in the regeneration layer compared to 136 species in the overstory layer. The average regeneration density was 3764 ± 1601 per ha. Around 70% of the overstory tree species generated offspring. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, only 36% of threatened tree species were found in the regeneration layer. A principal component analysis provided evidence that the regeneration of tree species was slightly negatively correlated to terrain factors (percentage of rock surface, slope) and soil properties (cation exchange capacity, pH, humus content, soil moisture, soil depth). Contrary to our expectations, traces of human impact and the prevailing light conditions (total site factor, gap fraction, openness, indirect site factor, direct site factor) had no influence on regeneration density and composition, probably due to the small gradient in light availability. CONCLUSION We conclude that the tree species richness in Cat Ba National Park appears to be declining at present. We suggest similar investigations in other biodiversity hotspots to learn whether the observed trend is a global phenomenon. In any case, a conservation strategy for the threatened tree species in the Cat Ba National Park needs to be developed if tree species diversity is to be maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Vien Pham
- Forestry Faculty, Northeast College of Forest and Agriculture, 207657, Quangninh, Vietnam. .,Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Christian Ammer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter Annighöfer
- Forest and Agroforest Systems, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-v.-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Steffi Heinrichs
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Bertić M, Schroeder H, Kersten B, Fladung M, Orgel F, Buegger F, Schnitzler JP, Ghirardo A. European oak chemical diversity - from ecotypes to herbivore resistance. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 232:818-834. [PMID: 34240433 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is increasing insect pressure and forcing plants to adapt. Although chemotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity in spatially separated tree populations are known for decades, understanding their importance in herbivory resistance across forests remains challenging. We studied four oak forest stands in Germany using nontarget metabolomics, elemental analysis, and chemometrics and mapped the leaf metabolome of herbivore-resistant (T-) and herbivore-susceptible (S-) European oaks (Quercus robur) to Tortrix viridana, an oak pest that causes severe forest defoliation. Among the detected metabolites, we identified reliable metabolic biomarkers to distinguish S- and T-oak trees. Chemotypic differentiation resulted in metabolic shifts of primary and secondary leaf metabolism. Across forests, T-oaks allocate resources towards constitutive chemical defense enriched of polyphenolic compounds, e.g. the flavonoids kaempferol, kaempferol and quercetin glucosides, while S-oaks towards growth-promoting substances such as carbohydrates and amino-acid derivatives. This extensive work across natural forests shows that oaks' resistance and susceptibility to herbivory are linked to growth-defense trade-offs of leaf metabolism. The discovery of biomarkers and the developed predictive model pave the way to understand Quercus robur's susceptibility to herbivore attack and to support forest management, contributing to the preservation of oak forests in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Bertić
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Hilke Schroeder
- Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics, Sieker Landstrasse 2, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Birgit Kersten
- Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics, Sieker Landstrasse 2, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Matthias Fladung
- Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics, Sieker Landstrasse 2, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Franziska Orgel
- Thünen-Institute of Forest Genetics, Sieker Landstrasse 2, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Franz Buegger
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology (BIOP), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jörg-Peter Schnitzler
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Ghirardo
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation (EUS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany
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Martin-Benito D, Pederson N, Férriz M, Gea-Izquierdo G. Old forests and old carbon: A case study on the stand dynamics and longevity of aboveground carbon. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 765:142737. [PMID: 33572037 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Most information on the ecology of oak-dominated forests in Europe comes from forests altered for centuries because remnants of old-growth forests are rare. Disturbance and recruitment regimes in old-growth forests provide information on forest dynamics and their effects on long-term carbon storage. In an old-growth Quercus petraea forest in northwestern Spain, we inventoried three plots and extracted cores from 166 live and dead trees across canopy classes (DBH ≥ 5 cm). We reconstructed disturbance dynamics for the last 500 years from tree-ring widths. We also reconstructed past dynamics of above ground biomass (AGB) and recent AGB accumulation rates at stand level using allometric equations. From these data, we present a new tree-ring-based approach to estimate the age of carbon stored in AGB. The oldest tree was at least 568 years, making it the oldest known precisely-dated oak to date and one of the oldest broadleaved trees in the Northern Hemisphere. All plots contained trees over 400 years old. The disturbance regime was dominated by small, frequent releases with just a few more intense disturbances that affected ≤20% of trees. Oak recruitment was variable but rather continuous for 500 years. Carbon turnover times ranged between 153 and 229 years and mean carbon ages between 108 and 167 years. Over 50% of AGB (150 Mg·ha-1) persisted ≥100 years and up to 21% of AGB (77 Mg·ha-1) ≥300 years. Low disturbance rates and low productivity maintained current canopy oak dominance. Absence of management or stand-replacing disturbances over the last 500 years resulted in high forest stability, long carbon turnover times and long mean carbon ages. Observed dynamics and the absence of shade-tolerant species suggest that oak dominance could continue in the future. Our estimations of long-term carbon storage at centennial scales in unmanaged old-growth forests highlights the importance of management and natural disturbances for the global carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neil Pederson
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA, USA
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Unuofin JO, Lebelo SL. UHPLC-QToF-MS characterization of bioactive metabolites from Quercus robur L. grown in South Africa for antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. ARAB J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2020.102970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Abstract
With the process of urbanization, cities are expanding, while forests are declining. Many conditions in the urban habitats are modified compared to those in the rural ones, so the organisms present reactions to these changes. To determine to what extent the habitat type influences insects, we tested the differences in the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) leaf-mining insect community between urban and rural habitats in Serbia. Lower species richness, abundance, and diversity were determined on trees in the urban environment. Due to the differences in the habitat types, many of the species disappeared, while most of the remaining species declined. The seasonal dynamics of species richness, abundance, and diversity differed between the habitat types. Both rural and urban populations started with low values in May. Subsequently, rural populations gained higher species richness, abundance, and diversity. As about 60% of the leaf miners’ species present in the rural habitats survive on the trees in urban areas, those trees are of great importance as a species reservoir. This is why we need to preserve and strive to improve the condition of urban areas where the pedunculate oak is present.
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Petersson LK, Dey DC, Felton AM, Gardiner ES, Löf M. Influence of canopy openness, ungulate exclosure, and low-intensity fire for improved oak regeneration in temperate Europe. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2626-2637. [PMID: 32185007 PMCID: PMC7069284 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Failed oak regeneration is widely reported in temperate forests and has been linked in part to changed disturbance regimes and land-use. We investigated if the North American fire-oak hypothesis could be applicable to temperate European oaks (Quercus robur, Quercus petraea) using a replicated field experiment with contrasting canopy openness, protection against ungulate browsing (fencing/no fencing), and low-intensity surface fire (burn/no burn). Survival, relative height growth (RGRH), browsing damage on naturally regenerated oaks (≤300 cm tall), and changes in competing woody vegetation were monitored over three years. Greater light availability in canopy gaps increased oak RGRH (p = .034) and tended to increase survival (p = .092). There was also a trend that protection from browsing positively affected RGRH (p = .058) and survival (p = .059). Burning reduced survival (p < .001), nonetheless, survival rates were relatively high across treatment combinations at the end of the experiment (54%-92%). Most oaks receiving fire were top-killed and survived by producing new sprouts; therefore, RGRH in burned plots became strongly negative the first year. Thereafter, RGRH was greater in burned plots (p = .002). Burning altered the patterns of ungulate browsing frequency on oaks. Overall, browsing frequency was greater during winter; however, in recently burned plots summer browsing was prominent. Burning did not change relative density of oaks, but it had a clear effect on competing woody vegetation as it reduced the number of individuals (p < .001) and their heights (p < .001). Our results suggest that young, temperate European oaks may respond similarly to fire as their North American congeners. However, disturbance from a single low-intensity fire may not be sufficient to ensure a persistent competitive advantage-multiple fires and canopy thinning to increase light availability may be needed. Further research investigating long-term fire effects on oaks of various ages, species-specific response of competitors and implications for biodiversity conservation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda K. Petersson
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Daniel C. Dey
- Northern Research StationUSDA Forest ServiceColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Annika M. Felton
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
| | - Emile S. Gardiner
- Center for Bottomland Hardwoods ResearchUSDA Forest ServiceStonevilleMSUSA
| | - Magnus Löf
- Southern Swedish Forest Research CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarpSweden
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12
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Half-Sib Lines of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Respond Differently to Drought Through Biometrical, Anatomical and Physiological Traits. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11020153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Quercus robur L. is one of the most valued tree species of deciduous temperate forests. However, in the last decade, serious oak declines and loss of adaptation plasticity have been reported throughout Europe as a consequence of drought. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to define the adaptation potential of five Q. robur half-sib lines from the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube to drought, using physiological, anatomical and biometrical traits. Half-sib lines that exhibited drought tolerance had particular suites of trait expression regarding biometrical traits (seedling height, root length, root to shoot ratio of dry mass and specific leaf area), leaf stomatal traits (stomatal density per mm2, stomata guard cell length and width, stomatal aperture length and width) and leaf structural traits (adaxial epidermis thickness, palisade parenchyma thickness, spongy parenchyma thickness, lamina thickness). All of the observed parameters of chlorophyll a fluorescence were shown to be good indicators of short-term and severe drought. For the selection of drought-tolerant half-sib lines, all studied chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters associated with the heat dissipation of light energy (coefficient of non-photochemical quenching, quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation, Stern-Volmer type non-photochemical fluorescence quenching) and one parameter related to photochemical dissipation of light energy (effective quantum yield (efficiency) of PS II photochemistry) were proven to be suitable. On the other hand, the coefficient of photochemical quenching, coefficient of photochemical fluorescence quenching assuming interconnected photosystem II antennae and electron transport rate were not suitable for distinguishing the different responses of the studied half-sib lines under drought. The importance of results of the present study is in the selection of drought-tolerant Q. robur half-sib lines for future reforestation programs, particularly in protected areas with sensitive forest management and restricted activities for mitigation of the adverse effects of climate changes.
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Gap Structure and Regeneration in the Mixed Old-Growth Forests of National Nature Reserve Sitno, Slovakia. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Forest management mimicking natural processes represents an approach to maintain mixed, uneven-aged stands at small spatial scales. The reliance on natural processes, especially on natural regeneration leads to the use of gap-based regeneration as a fundamental silvicultural technique. As a baseline for such management, we investigated mixed forest in unmanaged National Nature Reserve Sitno in the Western Carpathians, which harbours extraordinary diversity on a rather small scale. To quantify the impact of gaps on gap-filling processes and to assess the role they play in recently observed changes in tree species composition we established a large (2.5 ha) permanent research plot and surveyed the status of natural regeneration, forest structure, tree species composition, and disturbance regime. Our research highlights the long-term and contemporary difficulties in the establishment of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl and Fagus sylvatica (L.). Based on the provided evidence, the native tree species diversity in one of the few preserved old-growth multi-species beech-oak forest remnants is not likely to persist, what could have many implications for future ecosystem functioning. Our results suggest that variation in gap size is an important factor contributing to composition of tree species composition of natural regeneration. The recent intermediate-scale disturbance pattern dominating the old-growth beech-oak forest is beneficial to canopy recruitment of species less shade-tolerant than Fagus sylvatica, as Acer pseudoplatanus (L.), Acer platanoides (L.), and Fraxinus excelsior (L.). We discuss possible factors behind observed shifts in tree species composition and limitations for application of gap dynamics to forest practice in managed beech-oak forest systems. Overall, results of this study may help to design silvicultural measures promoting mixed-species forests to deliver a range of desired ecosystem services.
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14
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Annighöfer P, Seidel D, Mölder A, Ammer C. Advanced Aboveground Spatial Analysis as Proxy for the Competitive Environment Affecting Sapling Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:690. [PMID: 31191589 PMCID: PMC6546886 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tree saplings are exposed to a competitive growth environment in which resources are limited and the ability to adapt determines general vitality and specific growth performance. In this study we analyzed the aboveground spatial neighborhood of oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) saplings growing in Germany, by using hemispherical photography and terrestrial laser scanning as proxy for the competitive pressure saplings were exposed to. The hemispherical images were used to analyze the light availability and the three-dimensional (3D) point clouds from the laser scanning were used to assess the space and forest structure around the saplings. The aim was to increase the precision with which the biomass allocation, growth, and morphology of the saplings could be predicted by including more detailed information of their environment. The predictive strength of the models was especially increased through direct neighborhood variables (e.g., relative space filling), next to the light availability being the most important predictor variable. The biomass allocation patterns within the more light demanding oak were strongly driven by the space availability around the saplings. Diameter and height growth variables of both species reacted significantly to changes in light availability, and partly also to the neighborhood variables. The leaf morphology [as leaf-area ratio (LAR)] was also driven by light availability and decreased with increasing light availability. However, the branch morphology (as mean branch weight) could not be explained for oak and the model outcome for beech was hard to interpret. The results could show that individuals of the same species perform differently under constant light conditions but differing neighborhoods. Assessing the neighborhood of trees with highly precise measurement devices, like terrestrial laser scanners, proved to be useful. However, the primary response to a dense neighborhood seemed to be coping with a reduction of the lateral light availability aboveground, rather than responding to an increase of competition belowground. The results suggest continuing efforts to increase the precision with which plant environments can be described through innovative and efficient methods, like terrestrial laser scanning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Annighöfer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dominik Seidel
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Mölder
- Department A (Forest Growth), Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Ammer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Arab L, Seegmueller S, Kreuzwieser J, Eiblmeier M, Rennenberg H. Atmospheric pCO 2 impacts leaf structural and physiological traits in Quercus petraea seedlings. PLANTA 2019; 249:481-495. [PMID: 30259170 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-3016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric p CO 2 impacts Quercus petraea biomass production and cell wall composition of the leaves in favor of cellulose at the expense of lignin, and enhances foliar non-structural carbohydrate levels and sucrose contents in a pCO 2 concentration-dependent manner. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.) was grown for ca. half a year from seeds at ambient control (525 ppm), 750, 900, and 1000 ppm atmospheric pCO2 under controlled conditions. Increasing pCO2 enhanced biomass production, modified the cell wall composition of the leaves in favor of cellulose at the expense of lignin, and enhanced the foliar non-structural carbohydrate level, in particular the sucrose content; as well as total N content of leaves by increased levels of all major N fractions, i.e., soluble proteins, total amino acids, and structural N. The enhanced total amino acid level was largely due to 2-ketoglutarate and oxalo acetate-derived compounds. Increasing pCO2 alleviated oxidative stress in the leaves as indicated by reduced H2O2 contents. High in vitro glutathione reductase activity at reduced H2O2 contents suggests enhanced ROS scavenging, but increased lipid peroxidation may also have contributed, as indicated by a negative correlation between malone dialdehyde and H2O2 contents. Almost all these effects were at least partially reversed, when pCO2 exceeded 750 or 900 ppm. Apparently, the interaction of atmospheric pCO2 with leaf structural and physiological traits of Q. petraea seedlings is characterized by a dynamic response depending on the pCO2 level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Arab
- Chair of Tree Physiology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Stefan Seegmueller
- Forschungsanstalt für Waldökologie und Forstwirtschaft, Hauptstraße 16, 67705, Trippstadt, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kreuzwieser
- Chair of Tree Physiology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Monika Eiblmeier
- Chair of Tree Physiology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heinz Rennenberg
- Chair of Tree Physiology, Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 53/54, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
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16
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Ectomycorrhizal Colonisation in Declining Oak Stands on the Krotoszyn Plateau, Poland. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We describe the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) root tips and the diversity of mycorrhizal fungal species at three English oak (Quercus robur) sites (two 120 year old sites and one 60 year old site). The three oak stands in decline, located in western Poland, were characterized by a low degree of vital ECM colonization: 30.2%, 29.1% and 25.6% at Krotoszyn (K), Piaski (P) and Karczma Borowa (KB), respectively. DNA (ITS) barcoding revealed a total of 18 ECM fungal species. Based on exploration types, ectomycorrhizae were classified with respect to ecologically relevant features. The contact type was significantly correlated with C:N and Corg, while the short distance type was correlated with Ca, phosphorus (P2O5) and pH. The medium distance exploration type was significantly correlated with fine-grained soil particle size fractions: coarse silt (0.05–0.02 mm) and fine silt (0.02–0.002 mm), and clay (<0.002 mm). The long distance type showed a similar pattern to the medium distance smooth type, but was also correlated with nitrate (N). The values of biometric root parameters of oak trees at the analysed forest sites were arranged as follows: K > P > KB, and were opposite to the condition of the tree crowns. A negative correlation of vital ECM root tip abundance with the crown health status of oaks was observed, whereas higher ECM diversity reflected better crown health in the oak stands studied.
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Mladenović S, Loskotová T, Boháč J, Pavlíček J, Brestovanský J, Horák J. The effects of within stand disturbance in plantation forests indicate complex and contrasting responses among and within beetle families. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 108:750-764. [PMID: 29307311 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485317001304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Plantation forests with timber production as the major function are highly fragmented and disturbed regarding the tree species composition and stand area. Their closed canopies also have different microclimatic conditions compared with better studied conservation areas. We studied three beetle families (click, longhorn, and rove beetles) with different ecological demands in lowland plantation forests dominated by Sessile oak and Norway spruce in the Czech Republic. Our main interest was how their species richness, abundance, diversity, body length, rarity, red-list status, species composition and individual species were driven by the main tree species, stand area and canopy openness. We analyzed 3466 individuals from 198 beetle species and the results revealed complex and contrasting responses of the studied beetle families - click beetles mostly preferred sun-exposure and spruce as the dominant tree species, longhorn beetles mainly preferred large stands, whereas rove beetles were mostly influenced by oak as the dominant tree species and increasing area. We also observed that some species had different preferences in plantation forests than is known from the literature. The main conclusions of our results are that the dominance of non-natural spruce plantations and a large stand area (both originating from artificially replanted large clear-cuts) did not affect the majority of the studied taxa as we expected. On the other hand, our results might have been influenced by other factor, such as the current small total area of the former vegetation, which in the past might have led to extinction debt; or a large area of other conifers in the surroundings that might have promoted conifer-associated fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mladenović
- Department of Forest Protection and Entomology,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,Kamýcká 1176, CZ-165 21 Prague,Czech Republic
| | - T Loskotová
- Department of Forest Protection and Entomology,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,Kamýcká 1176, CZ-165 21 Prague,Czech Republic
| | - J Boháč
- Department of Plant Production and Agroecology,Faculty of Agriculture,University Of South Bohemia,Studentská 13, CZ-37005 České Budějovice,Czech Republic
| | - J Pavlíček
- Department of Forest Protection and Entomology,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,Kamýcká 1176, CZ-165 21 Prague,Czech Republic
| | - J Brestovanský
- Department of Forest Protection and Entomology,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,Kamýcká 1176, CZ-165 21 Prague,Czech Republic
| | - J Horák
- Department of Forest Protection and Entomology,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences,Czech University of Life Sciences Prague,Kamýcká 1176, CZ-165 21 Prague,Czech Republic
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Schall P, Schulze ED, Fischer M, Ayasse M, Ammer C. Relations between forest management, stand structure and productivity across different types of Central European forests. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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19
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The Short-Term Effects of Experimental Forestry Treatments on Site Conditions in an Oak–Hornbeam Forest. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9070406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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Species and structural diversity affect growth of oak, but not pine, in uneven-aged mature forests. Basic Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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21
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Skarpaas O, Blumentrath S, Evju M, Sverdrup-Thygeson A. Prediction of biodiversity hotspots in the Anthropocene: The case of veteran oaks. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:7987-7997. [PMID: 29043050 PMCID: PMC5632640 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past centuries, humans have transformed large parts of the biosphere, and there is a growing need to understand and predict the distribution of biodiversity hotspots influenced by the presence of humans. Our basic hypothesis is that human influence in the Anthropocene is ubiquitous, and we predict that biodiversity hot spot modeling can be improved by addressing three challenges raised by the increasing ecological influence of humans: (i) anthropogenically modified responses to individual ecological factors, (ii) fundamentally different processes and predictors in landscape types shaped by different land use histories and (iii) a multitude and complexity of natural and anthropogenic processes that may require many predictors and even multiple models in different landscape types. We modeled the occurrence of veteran oaks in Norway, and found, in accordance with our basic hypothesis and predictions, that humans influence the distribution of veteran oaks throughout its range, but in different ways in forests and open landscapes. In forests, geographical and topographic variables related to the oak niche are still important, but the occurrence of veteran oaks is shifted toward steeper slopes, where logging is difficult. In open landscapes, land cover variables are more important, and veteran oaks are more common toward the north than expected from the fundamental oak niche. In both landscape types, multiple predictor variables representing ecological and human‐influenced processes were needed to build a good model, and several models performed almost equally well. Models accounting for the different anthropogenic influences on landscape structure and processes consistently performed better than models based exclusively on natural biogeographical and ecological predictors. Thus, our results for veteran oaks clearly illustrate the challenges to distribution modeling raised by the ubiquitous influence of humans, even in a moderately populated region, but also show that predictions can be improved by explicitly addressing these anthropogenic complexities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olav Skarpaas
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Oslo Norway.,Natural History Museum University of Oslo Oslo Norway
| | | | | | - Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Oslo Norway.,Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
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22
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Development of Sessile Oak and European Hornbeam Sprouts after Thinning. FORESTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/f8090308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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23
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SOM and Biomass C Stocks in Degraded and Undisturbed Andean and Coastal Nothofagus Forests of Southwestern South America. FORESTS 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/f7120320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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