Article
Forestry
Christopher J. Fettig, Leif A. Mortenson, Jackson P. Audley
Summary: After thinning and prescribed burning in ponderosa pine forests in Oregon, USA, causes of tree mortality mainly included prescribed fire and various species of bark beetles. Tree mortality levels were significantly higher in high density stands compared to the untreated control.
Article
Ecology
Vanessa Agbulu, Rashaduz Zaman, Guncha Ishangulyyeva, James F. Cahill, N. Erbilgin
Summary: This study showed that host defense metabolites impact the suitability of hosts to bark beetles by influencing their fungal symbionts, and different species of fungal symbionts respond differently to host monoterpene blends.
Article
Forestry
Paul J. Chisholm, Camille S. Stevens-Rumann, Thomas Seth Davis
Summary: In temperate coniferous forests, the probability of tree mortality during bark beetle outbreaks is influenced by factors such as tree diameter, stand density, and elevation. The study found that mortality rates were lower in trees with higher live crown ratios, and rose with increasing tree diameter, stand basal area, and elevation. The association between elevation and mortality risk was buffered by precipitation, with dry high-elevation stands experiencing more mortality than moist high-elevation stands. Tree diameter, crown ratio, and stand density affected tree mortality independent of precipitation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nadir Erbilgin, Leila Zanganeh, Jennifer G. Klutsch, Shih-hsuan Chen, Shiyang Zhao, Guncha Ishangulyyeva, Stephen J. Burr, Monica Gaylord, Richard Hofstetter, Ken Keefover-Ring, Kenneth F. Raffa, Thomas Kolb
Summary: The research showed that only trees that were both root-trenched and attacked by bark beetles depleted carbohydrates and died during the first year of attacks. Live trees contained higher carbohydrates than dying trees, but levels of diterpenes did not vary between the two groups. This suggests that reallocation of carbohydrates to diterpenes during early stages of beetle attacks is limited in drought-stricken trees, and combination of biotic and abiotic stress leads to tree death.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Charlotte C. Reed, Sharon M. Hood, Daniel R. Cluck, Sheri L. Smith
Summary: An extreme drought and bark beetle outbreaks in California caused widespread tree mortality. The study explored the patterns of mortality, needle retention, and snag fall across tree species, as well as the impact on fuel loading and fire hazard. The findings suggested that the tree mortality event significantly changed fuel loads and could affect fire behavior and emissions.
Article
Forestry
Joseph L. Crockett, Matthew D. Hurteau
Summary: Climate change and disturbance are affecting forest regeneration in the southwestern USA by altering the survival of tree seedlings. Hot and dry conditions have a greater impact on mesic species, while xeric species are projected to experience seedling-killing conditions earlier in the 21st century. By the end of the century, extensive areas of each species' range could experience climate conditions that increase the likelihood of seedling mortality.
Article
Forestry
Jackson P. Audley, Christopher J. Fettig, A. Steven Munson, Justin B. Runyon, Leif A. Mortenson, Brytten E. Steed, Kenneth E. Gibson, Carl L. Jorgensen, Stephen R. McKelvey, Joel D. McMillin, Jose F. Negron
Summary: The study identified factors influencing the fall rates of lodgepole pines killed by bark beetles, with slope aspect having the strongest influence. Northern aspects, increased canopy cover, and taller snag heights decreased the probability of snag fall, while southern aspects and increased height:dbh ratios increased the probability. The predicted half-life for snag fall was around 16 years since death, with a gradual decline in snag survival probability beyond that point.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Victor J. Lieffers, Julie Benedik, Ken Stadt, S. Ellen Macdonald
Summary: The expansion of mountain pine beetle into northern boreal pine forests in Alberta, Canada has caused dramatic changes in tree regeneration conditions. A study showed that pine regeneration was very poor after 6-9 years, primarily due to high levels of cone serotiny, unsuitable regeneration microsites, and competition from other vegetation. Without intervention, many of these stands will likely transition away from pine to other species.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Kendall M. L. Becker, James A. Lutz
Summary: Global increases in large-tree mortality and multiple disturbances such as fire, drought, and pestilence increase the importance of understanding how large-tree growth responds to changes in competitive neighborhoods. Using spatially mapped trees within a burned area, the study investigated the growth of two species of surviving large trees in response to changes in tree neighborhoods. The results showed that density reduction had a positive effect on tree growth, with fire or mechanical damage having a stronger impact on Pinus lambertiana than Abies concolor. The interaction between tree diameter and density reduction was significant for P. lambertiana, with smaller-diameter trees showing a larger increase in growth under density reduction due to fire or mechanical damage.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Michael A. Blazier, Thomas Hennessey, Laurence Schimleck, Scott Abbey, Ryan Holbrook, Joseph Dahlen
Summary: Changes in ownership and forest product use patterns have led to a trend of growing loblolly pine in shorter rotations in the southeastern United States. This study found that planting density significantly affects wood properties and different genotypes can also impact wood quality. Optimum planting density ranges were provided, and it was suggested that forest managers have flexibility in managing loblolly pine stand density without altering wood properties.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Antonio J. Molina, Maria Gonzalez-Sanchis, Carme Biel, Antonio D. del Campo
Summary: This study analyzed the forest-water relationships of an Aleppo pine plantation where experimental thinning was conducted at different intensities ten years prior. The impact of thinning on soil water content remained significant after ten years, but differences between thinning intensities decreased compared to the short-term. High-thinning led to stronger competition for water in the understorey, counterbalancing the higher tree transpiration observed in the short-term.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Adele Muscolo, Giovanna Settineri, Federico Romeo, Carmelo Mallamaci
Summary: This study identified that different thinning intensities had varying effects on the abundance, species richness, and diversity of arthropods, fungi, bacteria colonies, and soil properties in different seasons. Intense thinning was found to promote the highest biodiversity and reduce competitive exclusion among soil organisms, thus enhancing species richness and diversity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melanie Mullin, J. G. Klutsch, J. A. Cale, A. Hussain, S. Zhao, C. Whitehouse, Nadir Erbilgin
Summary: The study revealed that elevation had a significant influence on terpenes and carbohydrates of lodgepole pine trees, while latitude had no impact. There was a positive correlation between starch and total terpenes and diterpenes in the elevation study, whereas no correlation was found in the latitude study. The results suggest that biotic and abiotic factors likely drive the patterns of primary and secondary metabolite profiles of lodgepole pine along geographical gradients.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Yuanchun Li, Huipeng Li, Wei Zhang, Baolin Chen, Lei Yang, Mengfan Li, Jianxiao Zhu, Qiong Cai
Summary: In Chinese pine plantations on the Loess Plateau, thinning was found to promote tree growth, particularly radial growth, while it had no effect on stand biomass. These findings provide valuable guidance for forest management and highlight the importance of reasonable thinning treatments.
Article
Forestry
Guillaume Moreau, Catherine Chagnon, Alexis Achim, John Caspersen, Loic D'Orangeville, Martina Sanchez-Pinillos, Nelson Thiffault
Summary: The review identifies the effects of thinning on stand- and tree-level resistance and resilience to various stressors. Thinning reduces the impact of drought and fire, and increases the growth and vigor of residual trees. However, the positive effects on insects and pathogens are limited, and root rot infection severity may be negatively affected. Thinning initially increases the risk of windthrow, but reduces the long-term risk by promoting structural roots and tree acclimation to high wind loads. Although not universally effective, thinning can still be an effective tool to reduce forest vulnerability and create opportunities for adaptive management strategies.
Article
Forestry
Sadadi Ojoatre, Jos Barlow, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Mariana C. Rufino
Summary: This study evaluates the changes in a forest complex in Kenya and finds that within 20 years of disturbance, there is rapid recovery of aboveground biomass and carbon accumulation, and the species diversity remains high in these previously disturbed fragments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Astor Torano Caicoya, Peter Biber, Miren del Rio, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado, Catia Arcangeli, Robert Matthews, Hans Pretzsch
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of site and climate on the self-thinning line in Scots pine forests in Europe. The results showed that species tolerance, temperature, and precipitation influenced the slope of the self-thinning line. In terms of the intercept, latitude and radiation had compensating effects. Time did not show significant trends in the self-thinning line. The study highlights the need to adapt management strategies and models based on self-thinning to different latitudes. Climate change has not yet significantly impacted the self-thinning trajectory, but a continuous rise in temperature and high precipitation may accelerate the self-thinning process and result in increased biomass accumulation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Haonan Zhang, Jianing Xu, Weiqi Meng, Zhonglin Li, Yanyan Ni, Weijie Li, Hao Chen, Xingshuo Zhang, Huanhuan Yuan, Zhi Wang
Summary: Secondary forests play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity recovery. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying secondary succession in a restored secondary forest and found that deciduous tree species transition from diversity accumulators to repellents as they progress through different life history stages, while evergreen tree species can act as accumulators or remain neutral. The study also revealed the effects of density dependence on the mortality and regeneration of different tree species, and highlighted the importance of early-arriving tree species in facilitating the establishment and diversity of late-arriving counterparts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Yierxiati Abulaiti, Zijian Huang, Guojiao Xie, Xiaojuan Zou, Qin Luo, Minhuang Wang, Qiong Yang, Ping Hu, Shixiao Yu
Summary: In this study, the resistance to pest infestation of native and exotic mangrove species was compared based on their traits and spectral reflectance. The results showed that exotic species exhibited higher resistance to pest infestation compared to native species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Feiss, Vincent Robin, Delphine Aran, Joseph Levillain, Thierry Paul, Jean-Luc Dupouey
Summary: Fagus sylvatica L. is a competitive tree in European temperate deciduous forests, but often sporadic or absent in present-day stands where Quercus spp. are dominant. Through soil charcoal analysis in the Lorraine Plateau in France, the presence of Fagus and Quercus in mature Quercus stands was confirmed. Radiocarbon dating results indicated that historical forest management caused the replacement of Fagus by Quercus, starting from the Bronze Age.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Paula Halbig, Anne-Sophie Stelzer, Peter Baier, Josef Pennerstorfer, Horst Delb, Axel Schopf
Summary: The incidence of oak processionary moth in Central Europe has been increasing, posing severe threats to oak trees, humans, and animals. To address this issue, researchers have developed an online early warning system that provides phenological forecasts and decision support for the protection of oak trees and human health.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Jean-Baptiste Ndamiyehe Ncutirakiza, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Philippe Lejeune, Xavier Bry, Catherine Trottier, Frederic Mortier, Adeline Fayolle, Francois Muhashy Habiyaremye, Leopold Ndjele Mianda-Bungi, Gauthier Ligot
Summary: This study examines the influence of canopy structure on tropical tree growth using data collected through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field measurements. The results show that combining UAV and field data can improve the prediction of tree diameter increment. Diameter at breast height and crown area are complementary predictors, and crown-based competition indices significantly enhance prediction models. The calibrated model at one site can accurately predict growth at another site.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Abebe Damtew, Emiru Birhane, Christian Messier, Alain Paquette, Bart Muys
Summary: Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading and species diversity can improve seedling survival and vitality. Shaded conditions led to higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content, while increasing species richness improved seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Francois Hebert, Isabelle Delisle, Marc Tremblay, Pascal Tremblay, Jean- Francois Boucher, Yan Boucher, Daniel Lord
Summary: Regeneration failures in the closed-crown boreal forest, resulting in the creation of open lichen woodlands, can be restored through clear-cutting, scarification, and natural seeding. Clear-cutting combined with scarification promotes seedling establishment, and scarification creates suitable microsites for germination. Seedling growth in lichen woodlands is higher when logging and scarification are combined, but lower compared to feather moss stands. Afforestation through natural seeding following scarification could be a cost-effective option for restoring lichen woodlands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bianca Wulansari Kassun, A. Maarit I. Kallio, Erik Tr Omborg, Meley Mekonen Rannestad
Summary: Mapping and analyzing forest ecosystem services in dry and mountain forests can provide valuable knowledge for sustainable forest management strategies.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Michael Premer, Eric Turnblom, Aaron Weiskittel
Summary: Managed forests serve as a natural climate change solution by sequestering carbon and storing it in harvested wood products, while also providing ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. This study focused on the stem sinuosity of juvenile coastal Douglas-fir and found that genetic improvement, silviculture practices, and local growing conditions can impact stem sinuosity. Factors such as tree spacing, vegetation control, and climate variables also affect the severity of stem sinuosity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Rhea Herpel, Peter Karasch, Jorg Mueller, Dominik Thom, Claus Baessler
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of different forest management strategies, dead wood types, and microclimates on Fomes fomentarius. The results showed that the occupancy of Fomes fomentarius was lower in control stands, while the percent cover occupied on snags under a closed canopy was higher. Increasing the number of snags and maintaining dense forest canopies could enhance the presence of Fomes fomentarius as well as provide important microhabitats for various arthropods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Di Liu, Chaofan Zhou, Xiao He, Xiangdong Lei, Huiru Zhang, Xianzhao Liu
Summary: Canopy structure plays a significant role in the distribution and growth of saplings. Traditional canopy metrics are inadequate in irregular stands. The innovative framework of canopy triangular units provides a comprehensive understanding of the canopy's three-dimensional attributes. Through this framework, we can analyze the differences in various triangular unit types and the spatial dispersion of saplings.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Amalia Valeria Ibanez Moro, Fabian Borghetti, Leonardo Galetto, Juan M. Cellini, Sandra J. Bravo
Summary: This study evaluated the size and persistence of soil seed banks (SSB) of six native woody species in dry subtropical forests of the western Argentine Chaco region. The results showed that SSB size was influenced by different sites and sampling years, and forest disturbances had varying effects on SSB.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)