Article
Forestry
Cezmi Ozel, Sukru Teoman Guner, Mehmet Turkkan, Selda Akgul, Ozdemir Senturk
Summary: This study has identified relationships between height growth of Corsican maritime pine plantations in Turkey and site characteristics, climate attributes, and soil properties. The multiple regression analysis accounted for 57.9% of variations in height growth, showing the significant impact of climate and soil on the productivity of maritime pine.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Forestry
de Frutos Sergio, Fortin Mathieu, Roig-Gomez Sonia, Ruiz-Peinado Ricardo, del Rio Miren, Bravo-Fernandez Jose Alfredo
Summary: Diversification of forests is crucial for their adaptation to climate change. Regeneration cuttings, particularly group selection cutting systems, are effective ways to promote diversity in adult stands. In the case of maritime pine, gaps created by small-scale cuts can enhance regeneration success and create more resilient stands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Magda Paula dos Santos, Marcio Jose de Araujo, Paulo Henrique Muller da Silva
Summary: This study aimed to verify the establishment potential of main species of Pinus genus planted in Brazil and broaden knowledge on conditions facilitating invasion. The results indicated that Pinus elliottii has the greatest invasion potential in the studied areas. Areas without established vegetation favored regeneration, with an increase in spontaneous regeneration near the seed source and a significant decrease between 50 and 100 meters away.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Pola Wartalska, Tomasz Oszako, Slawomir Bakier, Lassaad Belbahri, Tadeusz Malewski, Tom Hsiang, Elzbieta Popowska-Nowak, Justyna Nowakowska
Summary: The decline of pine stands in Europe, including Poland, is attributed to the emergence of the needle pathogen Dothistroma septosporum. Extensive molecular surveying in Southern Poland did not find the presence of D. septosporum in needle samples from P. sylvestris seed trees. The investigation revealed that the seed trees were free from the pathogen, making them suitable for seed collection and propagation for reforestation with pathogen-free pine seeds.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yafei Shen, Lei Lei, Wenfa Xiao, Ruimei Cheng, Changfu Liu, Xiaoyu Liu, Hu Lin, Lixiong Zeng
Summary: Soil microbial residues in Pinus massoniana plantations of different ages and depths were characterized using amino sugar biomarkers, revealing variations in their contributions. The age of the plantation and soil depth were found to influence the microbial residue patterns differently.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Angela Manrique-Alba, Santiago Begueria, Miquel Tomas-Burguera, Jesus Julio Camarero
Summary: Proper management practices, such as thinning treatments, can improve radial growth and water-use efficiency in afforestation in seasonally dry Mediterranean regions. Thinning reduces drought sensitivity and temporal dependence on previous growth, with positive effects lasting even over a decade after treatment.
Article
Forestry
Xiaoai Yin, Longshan Zhao, Qian Fang, Guijie Ding
Summary: With increasing age of Masson pine forest plantations, soil physicochemical properties change, such as significantly higher soil pH in 20-year-old forests and higher soil-available phosphorus in 60-year-old forests. The availability and efficiency of soil nutrients vary with forest age, with the intermediate age being a critical time point affecting soil properties.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Don A. White, Shiqi Ren, Daniel S. Mendham, Francisco Balocchi-Contreras, Richard P. Silberstein, Dean Meason, Andres Iroume, Pablo Ramirez de Arellano
Summary: The impact of Eucalyptus plantations on water balance is believed to be more severe compared to commercial alternatives like Pinus species. However, only a few studies have directly compared the effects of Eucalyptus species and commercial alternatives on water balance. This paper presents a meta-analysis of published data and finds that, for a given climate wetness index, Eucalyptus and Pinus have similar annual water use. This study also highlights the correlation between soil depth and residuals for Eucalyptus, suggesting that the model overestimates or underestimates vegetation evaporation efficiency based on soil depth.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Lasa, M. Angeles Guevara, Pablo J. Villadas, Maria Dolores Velez, Antonio J. Fernandez-Gonzalez, Nuria de Maria, Miriam Lopez-Hinojosa, Luis Diaz, Maria Teresa Cervera, Manuel Fernandez-Lopez
Summary: The structure, composition, and functional changes of the P. pinaster rhizosphere bacterial communities vary with seasons, without being influenced by the host genotype. Seasonal changes are reflected in the patterns of bacterial co-occurrence, suggesting potential disturbances for bacterial communities in the context of climate change.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Sergio Lopes, Sandra Santos, Nuno Rodrigues, Paulo Pinho, Domingos Xavier Viegas
Summary: This study investigated the sorption processes of dead Pinus pinaster branches (PPBs) to develop a moisture content prediction model for this fuel type. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine sorption curves, timelag, and equilibrium moisture content (EMC), and existing sorption models were used for modeling. Field tests in central Portugal validated the accuracy of the models. The developed model can be applied in early fire risk assessment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Review
Forestry
Tiziana Panzavolta, Matteo Bracalini, Alessandra Benigno, Salvatore Moricca
Summary: Forest health is greatly impacted by invasive alien pathogens and pests, driven primarily by human activities like global trade. Early detection, prevention, and control measures are critical in combating the spread of these invasions, with the government playing a key role in endorsing necessary actions.
Article
Biology
Alejandra G. Vovides, Marie-Christin Wimmler, Falk Schrewe, Thorsten Balke, Martin Zwanzig, Cyril Piou, Etienne Delay, Jorge Lopez-Portillo, Uta Berger
Summary: Root grafts, the union of roots of different trees, are common and may reduce stress and facilitate resource exchange. Research shows that the probability and frequency of root grafting increase with environmental stress, leading to smaller group sizes of trees within grafted groups.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Pauline Defossez, Fanjamalala Rajaonalison, Alexandre Bosc
Summary: Anthropic and natural disturbances in Pine pinaster forests can lead to changes in tree wind exposure and resource availability. Tree wind acclimation has significant consequences for P. pinaster growth, comparable to resource acquisition after sudden changes in micro-environmental conditions.
Article
Ecology
Wan Mamat Wan Zaki, Muhammad Syafiq Yahya, Ahmad R. Norhisham, Ruzana Sanusi, Peter J. van der Meer, Badrul Azhar
Summary: Large-scale deforestation in the tropics has a negative impact on biodiversity. This study measured the diversity of butterfly species in three agricultural landscapes and found that agroforestry orchards supported the highest number of butterfly species. Factors such as tree height, undergrowth coverage, and elevation influenced butterfly diversity. Management practices, such as ground vegetation management and retaining adjacent forest areas, should be considered to enhance butterfly species richness in agricultural landscapes.
Article
Forestry
Jorge Carvalho Martins, Richardson Barbosa Gomes da Silva, Rafaele Almeida Munis, Danilo Simoes
Summary: This study examines the value of Pinus elliotti plantation investment projects using real options analysis and finds that this approach increases the value and returns. The investment project with land purchase yields higher financial returns compared to the one with land lease.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Juan J. Minguez, Yasmin El Bouyafrouri, Jose A. Godoy, Antonio Rivas, Jesus Fernandez, Victoria Asensio, Rodrigo Serra, Maria J. Perez-Aspa, Valentina Lorenzo
Summary: This study focused on describing the clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of juvenile epilepsy in Iberian lynx. The results showed that most lynx cubs stopped having seizures after starting treatment, but some required long-term antiepileptic drug therapy.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Elisabeth Morales-Gonzalez, Jesus Fernandez, Ricardo Pong-Wong, Miguel Angel Toro, Beatriz Villanueva
Summary: A main objective in conservation programs is to maintain genetic variability, and different genomic coancestry matrices can impact both the maintained genetic variability and the change in allele frequencies. The study found that using one matrix can increase genetic variability but also result in allele frequencies closer to those in the base population.
Article
Plant Sciences
Manuel de Pedro, Maria Mayol, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Ingrid Regalado, Miquel Riba
Summary: This study investigates the adaptive factors constraining adaptation in Leontodon longirostris, a short-lived species, along an expansion route. The study finds that phenological patterns play a crucial role in shaping adaptive clines for major life-history stage transitions, and the observed genetic load does not seem to hinder adaptation to climatic variability.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Silvia Garcia-Ballesteros, Jesus Fernandez, Miguel Angel Toro, Beatriz Villanueva
Summary: This study examined the benefits of genomic evaluation (GBLUP) compared to traditional BLUP in aquaculture selective breeding programs in the presence of common environmental effects. The results showed that GBLUP was less affected by these effects, with increasing benefits seen with larger family sizes and higher levels of linkage disequilibrium. In the absence of common environmental effects, GBLUP outperformed BLUP in terms of genetic gain, while in their presence, the advantage of GBLUP was even greater.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Kleinman-Ruiz, Maria Lucena-Perez, Beatriz Villanueva, Jesus Fernandez, Alexander P. Saveljev, Miroslaw Ratkiewicz, Krzysztof Schmidt, Nicolas Galtier, Aurora Garcia-Dorado, Jose A. Godoy
Summary: Deleterious mutations continuously accumulate in populations, but can be reduced through genetic purging. This study shows that the endangered Iberian lynx has undergone historical purging due to its smaller population size compared to the Eurasian lynx. The findings contribute to the understanding of the relationship between deleterious burden and population size, and the impact of genetic factors on endangered species viability.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Alejandra Lorena Goncalves, Maria Victoria Garcia, Maria Eugenia Barrandeguy, Santiago Cesar Gonzalez-Martinez, Myriam Heuertz
Summary: Gene dispersal processes play a significant role in shaping the demographic and microevolutionary dynamics of tree species. This review examines the drivers of gene dispersal, including the mating system, population density, propagule dispersal, and successional stage, and their consequences for gene dispersal in tree species from seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF). Understanding these determinants can inform management actions for the conservation and restoration of SDTF.
TREE GENETICS & GENOMES
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ester Bartolome, Mercedes Valera, Jesus Fernandez, Silvia Teresa Rodriguez-Ramilo
Summary: Through study on the effects of 15 years of selection on the Caballo de Deporte Espanol (CDE), it was found that there is some degree of subdivision within the population and inbred matings. However, the offspring showed higher estimated breeding values (EBV) than the parents, indicating that genetic gain has occurred. The results highlight the need for improvement in population management and coordination among breeders to achieve higher responses while controlling the loss of genetic diversity in the CDE breed.
Article
Ecology
Juliette Archambeau, Marta Benito Garzon, Marina de Miguel, Benjamin Brachi, Frederic Barraquand, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez
Summary: This study empirically tested the effects of environmental selection and population admixture on genetic variation in maritime pine populations. The results showed that populations experiencing colder winters had lower genetic variation for early height growth, while within-population genetic variation was not influenced by environmental heterogeneity or admixture. These findings provide insights into the adaptive potential of populations to changing environments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisabeth Morales-Gonzalez, Beatriz Villanueva, Miguel a. Toro, Jesus Fernandez
Summary: The Optimal Contribution (OC) method is the consensus method for maintaining genetic diversity in both undivided and subdivided populations. In subdivided populations, this method maximizes global genetic diversity by determining the optimal contribution of each candidate to each subpopulation, while balancing coancestry levels between and within subpopulations. Inbreeding can be controlled by increasing the weight given to within-subpopulation coancestry (lambda).
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Yusuf Kurt, Burcu Cengel, Ercan Velioglu, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Delphine Grivet, Nuray Kaya
Summary: The aim of this study was to characterize and compare genetic resources of Aleppo pine and Brutia pine in the Mediterranean Basin. By analyzing 56 populations from eight countries, it was found that the genetic diversity of Brutia pine was slightly higher than that of Aleppo pine. Furthermore, Aleppo pine populations showed clear east-west differentiation, while Brutia pine populations did not exhibit any spatial genetic pattern.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marjana Westergren, Juliette Archambeau, Marko Bajc, Rok Damjanic, Adelaide Theraroz, Hojka Kraigher, Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio, Santiago C. Gonzalez-Martinez
Summary: This study examined the response of European beech to selection under field conditions. The results showed that larger trees with higher fruit production and early male flowering had higher total fecundity, while trees with longer growth season had lower total fecundity (directional selection). Stabilizing selection on spring phenology was found for female fecundity, indicating the impact of late frosts on selection. Compared to other studies, this research found relatively low to moderate heritability and evolvability for most traits. The study suggests that forest tree populations, such as European beech, can locally adapt even at short time scales.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Maria Saura, Armando Caballero, Enrique Santiago, Almudena Fernandez, Elisabeth Morales-Gonzalez, Jesus Fernandez, Santiago Cabaleiro, Adrian Millan, Paulino Martinez, Christos Palaiokostas, Martin Kocour, Muhammad L. Aslam, Ross D. Houston, Martin Prchal, Luca Bargelloni, Kostas Tzokas, Pierrick Haffray, Jean-Sebastien Bruant, Beatriz Villanueva
Summary: The study reveals that the current effective population size of commercial fish populations is small, posing a risk to their sustainability. Important drops in effective population size were detected about five to nine generations ago, likely due to domestication and selective breeding programmes in Europe. To ensure the sustainability of breeding programmes, it is crucial to broaden the genetic composition of base populations and implement measures to increase effective population size across farmed populations.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Beatriz Villanueva, Almudena Fernandez, Maria Saura, Armando Caballero, Jesus Fernandez, Elisabeth Morales-Gonzalez, Miguel A. Toro, Ricardo Pong-Wong
Summary: This study investigated measures of inbreeding obtained from five genomic matrices in a population of Iberian pigs, showing that except for the Nejati-Javaremi allelic relationship matrix, the evaluated measures do not match with the original definitions of inbreeding coefficient. When interpreted as indicators of variability gained or lost relative to a base population, the Nejati-Javaremi and Li and Horvitz matrices led to sensible results, while the VanRaden and Yang genomic relationship matrices did not.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Silvia Garcia-Ballesteros, Beatriz Villanueva, Jesus Fernandez, Juan Pablo Gutierrez, Isabel Cervantes
Summary: Genetic variance for weight uniformity was estimated in a farmed population of shrimp, indicating the potential for genetic improvement of this trait without decreasing weight. The strong genetic correlation of weight uniformity between the two environments suggests that selection for uniformity in the nucleus will have a positive impact on the commercial population if included in the breeding goal.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jesus Fernandez, Beatriz Villanueva, Miguel Angel Toro
Summary: In commercial fish, exploiting dominance effects through mate selection (MS) or minimum coancestry mating (MCM) based on genomic data can help maximize offspring phenotype and reduce inbreeding depression. Computer simulations showed that, especially for traits with substantial inbreeding depression, selecting on genomic breeding values and applying MCM may result in equal or higher mean phenotypic values compared to using MS. MCM leads to higher levels of heterozygosity across the entire genome, while MS specifically promotes heterozygosity for SNPs with detected dominance effects.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)