Article
Geography, Physical
Yun-Li Yin, Zaw Zaw, Xin-Hua Peng, Hui Zhang, Pei-Li Fu, Wen-Li Wang, Achim Braeuning, Ze-Xin Fan
Summary: High-resolution paleoclimate proxy records are lacking in southwest China's subtropical region. In this study, we constructed a tree ring-width chronology of Tsuga dumosa in central Yunnan Province to gain insights into hydroclimate variability. Our reconstruction of the March-June Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) from 1826 to 2020 CE showed inter-annual to inter-decadal variations and an increasing occurrence of severe dry or wet events in recent years. The high frequency cycle of 2-8 years in our drought reconstruction series captures hydrological signals over a larger area.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
N. K. Davi, M. P. Rao, R. Wilson, L. Andreu-Hayles, R. Oelkers, R. D'Arrigo, B. Nachin, B. Buckley, N. Pederson, C. Leland, B. Suran
Summary: Climate warming in Central Asia has been accelerating over the past three decades and is expected to continue intensifying through the end of this century. Research shows a significant cooling response in the year following major volcanic events and up to five years post-eruption. Future projections suggest further warming in summer temperatures by the end of the century.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Jiangfeng Shi, Hui Wang, Jinbao Li, Shiyuan Shi, Jiarui Xu, Yaping Zhang, Huayu Lu
Summary: In this study, two tree-ring width chronologies were developed to understand the temperature change on the Tibetan Plateau. The recent two decades were found to be the warmest in the past three centuries, with human influence being a significant contributor. Additionally, the study highlighted the influence of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation on regional climate change in the study area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Violette Geissen, Vera Silva, Esperanza Huerta Lwanga, Nicolas Beriot, Klaas Oostindie, Zhaoqi Bin, Erin Pyne, Sjors Busink, Paul Zomer, Hans Mol, Coen J. Ritsema
Summary: This study investigated pesticide residues in EU agricultural soils, revealing significantly lower residue concentrations in organic farms compared to conventional farms, and calling for the prompt establishment of safety benchmarks. There is a severe knowledge gap regarding the effects of accumulated and complex mixtures of pesticide residues on soil biota and soil health.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Jingyun Zheng, Zhixin Hao, Quansheng Ge
Summary: Proxy-based precipitation reconstruction is crucial for understanding the variability and mechanisms of climate beyond the instrumental period. Using tree rings and historical documents, this study has successfully reconstructed the inter-annual to decadal precipitation variability in Asia, providing valuable information for climate modeling and prediction.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Vaclav Simunek, Zdenek Vacek, Stanislav Vacek, Francesco Ripullone, Vojtech Hajek, Giuseppe D'Andrea
Summary: The impact of solar cycles on the radial growth of European beech in southern Italy and central Europe was evaluated in this study, showing a significant influence of solar cycles on radial growth. Precipitation and temperature were also reflected in the growth process of European beech.
Article
Forestry
Anastasia Christopoulou, Nikolaos M. Fyllas, Barbara Gminska-Nowak, Yasemin Ozarslan, Margarita Arianoutsou, Robert Brandes, Tomasz Wazny
Summary: Long Bosnian pine chronologies are influenced by different climatic parameters and can help identify past drought events. The growth of Pinus heldreichii is mainly correlated with growing degree days and temperature, while annual precipitation has a weaker impact on tree growth. The newly developed chronology can capture severe drought events and correlate well with chronologies developed from neighboring mountains.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiufang Cai, Yu Liu, Congxi Fang, Mei Xie, Hanyu Zhang, Qiang Li, Huiming Song, Changfeng Sun, Ruoshi Liu, Taoyuan Di, Erwen Sun, Yong Wang
Summary: This study presents a precipitation reconstruction for the eastern Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) based on hydrological-year data from the Heichashan Mountains since 1773 CE. The reconstruction reveals a wetting trend since the early 2000s and identifies the second wettest period in the past 248 years. Comparing with previous reconstructions, the study finds synchronous hydroclimate changes between the eastern and western CLP over the past two centuries, although some regional differences exist.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Karel Silhan, Ivan Ruzek
Summary: This study used dendrogeomorphological methods to analyze landslide movements in a landslide hot spot in Central Europe. By analyzing tree-ring eccentricity and anatomical growth responses, the researchers successfully reconstructed 13 landslide events over the past 49 years and provided an effective evaluation of the spatial extent of landslide activity.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Silvia Fornasaro, Francesco Ciani, Alessia Nannoni, Guia Morelli, Valentina Rimondi, Pierfranco Lattanzi, Claudia Cocozza, Marco Fioravanti, Pilario Costagliola
Summary: Trees can serve as valuable long-term monitors of atmospheric pollution by storing trace elements in their tree rings, which are influenced by environmental changes. In this study, chestnut tree trunk sections were examined to track the yearly evolution of atmospheric mercury in a mining district in Central Italy. Results showed a significant decrease in mercury contents in heartwood tree rings, likely due to mine closure. However, recent measurements still indicate higher mercury levels compared to a reference area. Chestnut barks, on the other hand, consistently exhibit higher mercury concentrations than sapwood, suggesting current pollution. These findings highlight the potential of tree rings as a low-cost biomonitoring method for managing and minimizing the impacts of mining and geothermal activities.
Article
Political Science
Maciej Gorny
Summary: The article discusses parallels between the social and political realities of East Central Europe around 1917-1923 and the current state of affairs. While there is little comparison in terms of political and social reality between these two periods, there are similarities in the language of politics and popular sentiments. Fear of radical change is utilized by conservatives as the main tool of mobilization, posing the sole actual danger to the existing social and political order, similarly to the interwar period in East Central Europe.
TALTECH JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ingmar R. Staude, Henrique M. Pereira, Gergana N. Daskalova, Markus Bernhardt-Roemermann, Martin Diekmann, Harald Pauli, Hans Van Calster, Mark Vellend, Anne D. Bjorkman, Jorg Brunet, Pieter De Frenne, Radim Hedl, Ute Jandt, Jonathan Lenoir, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Kris Verheyen, Sonja Wipf, Monika Wulf, Christopher Andrews, Peter Barancok, Elena Barni, Jose-Luis Benito-Alonso, Jonathan Bennie, Imre Berki, Volker Blueml, Marketa Chudomelova, Guillaume Decocq, Jan Dick, Thomas Dirnboeck, Tomasz Durak, Ove Eriksson, Brigitta Erschbamer, Bente Jessen Graae, Thilo Heinken, Fride Hoistad Schei, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Martin Kopecky, Thomas Kudernatsch, Martin Macek, Marek Malicki, Frantisek Malis, Ottar Michelsen, Tobias Naaf, Thomas A. Nagel, Adrian C. Newton, Lena Nicklas, Ludovica Oddi, Adrienne Ortmann-Ajkai, Andrej Palaj, Alessandro Petraglia, Petr Petrik, Remigiusz Pielech, Francesco Porro, Mihai Puscas, Kamila Reczynska, Christian Rixen, Wolfgang Schmidt, Tibor Standovar, Klaus Steinbauer, Krzysztof Swierkosz, Balazs Teleki, Jean-Paul Theurillat, Pavel Dan Turtureanu, Tudor-Mihai Ursu, Thomas Vanneste, Philippine Vergeer, Ondrej Vild, Luis Villar, Pascal Vittoz, Manuela Winkler, Lander Baeten
Summary: The study reveals a pattern of species turnover across different habitats, with smaller-ranged species being replaced by larger-ranged species, and communities shifting towards more nutrient-demanding species. Species from nutrient-rich habitats tend to have larger ranges.
Article
Ecology
Jiri Dolezal, Kirill Korznikov, Jan Altman, Pavel Fibich, Klara Rehakova, Elias Ndive Lltonga, Lubos Majesky, Martin Dancak
Summary: Understanding the environmental factors affecting tropical organisms' distribution and ecological niches is crucial for predicting their response to deforestation. This study shows that temperature and humidity, as well as canopy structure and edaphic conditions, play important roles in shaping the abundance and richness of epiphyllous bryophytes in Mount Cameroon. The study highlights the complex interplay of multiple drivers in shaping ecological niches and emphasizes the importance of this knowledge for predicting the impacts of habitat loss on tropical species.
Article
Forestry
Kirill Korznikov, Tatyana Petrenko, Dmitry Kislov, Pavel Krestov, Jiri Dolezal
Summary: Spruce taiga forests in Northeast Asia are economically and ecologically important. Climate warming may greatly alter their distribution. Using predictive and retrospective species distribution models, researchers estimated the potential range change of Jezo spruce, a dominant taiga conifer, based on different climatic scenarios. They found that projected climate warming will lead to significant changes in the distribution of Jezo spruce, with certain regions serving as refugia. Establishing artificial forest stands in future climate suitable regions could be important for preserving genetic diversity.
Article
Agronomy
Lucia Hederova, Martin Macek, Jan Wild, Josef Bruna, Vit Kaspar, Tereza Klinerova, Martin Kopecky
Summary: Canopy openness determines forest biodiversity, radiation regime and understorey microclimate. Traditional methods of calculating canopy openness from 180-degree photographs are being replaced by narrower angles of view provided by photographic equipment. However, it is still uncertain how well canopy openness estimated from restricted angles of view predicts different forest characteristics.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Pierre Liancourt, Jiri Dolezal
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stef Haesen, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Pieter De Frenne, Jonathan Lenoir, Juha Aalto, Michael B. Ashcroft, Martin Kopecky, Miska Luoto, Ilya Maclean, Ivan Nijs, Pekka Niittynen, Johan van den Hoogen, Nicola Arriga, Josef Bruna, Nina Buchmann, Marek Ciliak, Alessio Collalti, Emiel De Lombaerde, Patrice Descombes, Mana Gharun, Ignacio Goded, Sanne Govaert, Caroline Greiser, Achim Grelle, Carsten Gruening, Lucia Hederova, Kristoffer Hylander, Juergen Kreyling, Bart Kruijt, Martin Macek, Frantisek Malis, Matej Man, Giovanni Manca, Radim Matula, Camille Meeussen, Sonia Merinero, Stefano Minerbi, Leonardo Montagnani, Lena Muffler, Roma Ogaya, Josep Penuelas, Roman Plichta, Miguel Portillo-Estrada, Jonas Schmeddes, Ankit Shekhar, Fabien Spicher, Mariana Ujhazyova, Pieter Vangansbeke, Robert Weigel, Jan Wild, Florian Zellweger, Koenraad Van Meerbeek
Summary: Microclimate research has gained renewed interest in the past decade, and its importance for ecological processes is increasingly recognized. To improve ecological models, there is a growing need for high-resolution microclimatic temperature grids across broad spatial extents. In this study, we present a new set of open-access bioclimatic variables for microclimate temperatures of European forests at a resolution of 25 x 25 m(2).
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thinles Chondol, Adam Klimes, Jan Altman, Katerina Capkova, Miroslav Dvorsky, Inga Hiiesalu, Veronika Jandova, Martin Kopecky, Martin Macek, Klara Rehakova, Pierre Liancourt, Jiri Dolezal
Summary: Plant longevity is influenced by a combination of factors including habitat preferences, growth form, and physiological adaptations. This study found that plant lifespan in high elevation areas is related to habitat preferences and growth form, as well as plant growth rate and physiological processes.
Correction
Biology
Alan Crivellaro, Alma Piermattei, Jiri Dolezal, Paul Dupree, Ulf Buntgen
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Stef Haesen, Jonathan Lenoir, Eva Gril, Pieter De Frenne, Jonas J. Lembrechts, Martin Kopecky, Martin Macek, Matej Man, Jan Wild, Koenraad Van Meerbeek
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) traditionally use coarse-grained macroclimate data, which may lead to biased predictions due to the presence of most terrestrial species in the shade of trees. In this study, we compared conventional macroclimate-based SDMs with models corrected for forest microclimate buffering, and found that microclimate-based models at high spatial resolution performed better. Macroclimate-based models introduced systematic biases and failed to identify warm and cold refugia, highlighting the critical role of microclimate data in biodiversity conservation under climate change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucie Kupkova, Lucie Cervena, Marketa Potuckova, Jakub Lysak, Marketa Roubalova, Zaboj Hrazsky, Stanislav Brezina, Howard E. Epstein, Jana Mullerova
Summary: In this study, the potential of multi-temporal, multispectral, and hyperspectral data from a UAV and multi-temporal data from a spaceborne sensor was evaluated for monitoring vegetation at the species level in the arcto-alpine tundra. The results showed that the UAV data could accurately monitor dominant grass species, but had lower accuracy for small and sparse species, and the multi-temporal approach improved the accuracy of the data.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michela Perrone, Mirko Di Febbraro, Luisa Conti, Jan Divisek, Milan Chytry, Petr Keil, Maria Laura Carranza, Duccio Rocchini, Michele Torresani, Vitezslav Moudry, Petra Simova, Dominika Prajzlerova, Jana Mullerova, Jan Wild, Marco Malavasi
Summary: Biodiversity monitoring is important for ecosystem conservation, and remote sensing provides a convenient approach for collecting frequent and near-real-time information. This study investigates the applicability of spectral diversity (SD) metrics for monitoring plant diversity by comparing different types of SD metrics. The results show that SD is positively related to species richness and functional diversity, but only explains a small fraction of the variance in the models, and the strength of the relationship depends on habitat type.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Matej Man, Vojtech Kalcik, Martin Macek, Josef Bruna, Lucia Hederova, Jan Wild, Martin Kopecky
Summary: Microclimates are crucial in global change biology, but the lack of standardized workflows for microclimate data handling hampers progress. To address this issue, an R package called myClim was developed. It supports the complete workflow for microclimate data processing, storage, and analysis, facilitating large-scale syntheses and enhancing the comparability and reproducibility of microclimate studies.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kirill Korznikov, Dmitriy Kislov, Tatyana Petrenko, Violetta Dzizyurova, Jiri Dolezal, Pavel Krestov, Jan Altman
Summary: This study compares three neural networks for tree crown recognition using drone-borne imagery and highlights the strengths and limitations of each method. The results provide important insights for selecting appropriate tree recognition methods.
Editorial Material
Biology
Ulf Buntgen, Alma Piermattei, Jiri Dolezal, Paul Dupree, Alan Crivellaro
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Inga Hiiesalu, Johannes Schweichhart, Roey Angel, John Davison, Jiri Dolezal, Martin Kopecky, Martin Macek, Klara Rehakova
Summary: This study investigated the ecology of AM fungi in alpine environments using DNA metabarcoding. The results showed that the alpha diversity of AM fungal communities declined linearly with elevation, while the within-site taxon turnover was unimodally related to elevation. The composition of AM fungal communities was influenced by vegetation types, elevation, temperature, and precipitation.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2023)