Article
Forestry
Bengt Gunnar Jonsson, Jonas Dahlgren, Magnus Ekstrom, Per-Anders Esseen, Anton Grafstrom, Goran Stahl, Bertil Westerlund
Summary: Permanent plot data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI) in Sweden was analyzed to study changes in vegetation over a ten-year period. The results showed a significant decrease in many species and species groups, with the only increase observed in certain moss species in the southern regions.
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
Agronomy
Karolina Jorgensen, Gustaf Granath, Bjorn D. Lindahl, Joachim Strengbom
Summary: The study found that in boreal Pinus sylvestris forest plantations, abstention from thinning can significantly increase carbon (C) stock, while fertilization combined with abstention from thinning further increases C stock and reduces soil respiration rates. Although promising in increasing the C sink of forests, changed forest management practices may have undesired effects on economic revenue, timber quality, biodiversity, and delivery of other ecosystem services.
Article
Forestry
Saija Huuskonen, Timo Domisch, Leena Finer, Jarkko Hantula, Jari Hynynen, Juho Matala, Jari Miina, Seppo Neuvonen, Seppo Nevalainen, Pentti Niemisto, Ari Nikula, Tuula Piri, Juha Siitonen, Aino Smolander, Tiina Tonteri, Karri Uotila, Heli Viiri
Summary: Mixed forests in Fennoscandia appear to provide higher levels of ecosystem goods and services compared to monocultures, including increased biodiversity, improved risk management, and multiple-use values. However, browsing by cervids poses a significant challenge, requiring further research on silvicultural practices suited for mixed boreal forests.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Rosanise A. Odell, Richard Osei, Marcel Schneider, Lance P. Moore, Tanvir Ahmed Shovon, Charles A. Nock
Summary: Ecosystem-based Forest Management (EBM) is a global paradigm that has different implementations. A study in Alberta, Canada found that retention-created island remnants and fire-created island remnants have similar tree mortality rates. Edge effects and disturbance type did not significantly impact tree mortality. Aspen had higher mortality rates compared to spruce, and small-sized trees were more likely to die than large-sized trees.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Mackenzie E. Patrick, Catie T. Young, Andrew R. Zimmerman, Susan E. Ziegler
Summary: Boreal forests in Newfoundland and Labrador have a significant impact on global forest soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and its vulnerability to climate change. However, regional studies on the climate's relevant controls for this area are lacking. This study examines the relationship between mineral soil characteristics and other ecosystem parameters with SOC and N content, highlighting the potential role of seasonal hydrology on metal-stabilized C and N sequestration in boreal forests.
Article
Forestry
Songlin Shi, Guohua Liu, Zongshan Li, Xin Ye
Summary: The study shows that climate warming has a significant impact on the growth of alpine conifers in recent decades, leading to faster growth at higher elevations compared to lower elevations. Temperature plays a key role in tree growth, with higher temperatures promoting radial growth in most coniferous species, but causing significant growth decreases in species like P. yunnanensis.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jingwen Yang, Qiuliang Zhang, Wenqi Song, Xu Zhang, Xiaochun Wang
Summary: Boreal forests are experiencing the most warming among all forest biomes, and drought caused by warming has a significant impact on species in these forests. However, little is known about the consistent response of tree and shrub growth in boreal forests to warming and drought. This study analyzed tree-ring width data from northeastern China and found that shrub growth may benefit more than trees in the future climate warming. These findings are important for predicting changes in ecosystem composition and species distribution in vulnerable areas under extreme climate conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Juanita C. Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Nicole J. Fenton, Yves Bergeron, Steven W. Kembel
Summary: This study aims to understand the relationship between the structure of soil microbial communities in black spruce and trembling aspen forests and abiotic and biotic factors. The study found a high specificity of microbial communities in tree phyllosphere and soil. Furthermore, the legacy effects of each forest type defined the composition of soil bacterial and fungal communities.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jean C. Rodriguez-Ramos, Jonathan A. Cale, James F. Cahill, Nadir Erbilgin, Justine Karst
Summary: Disturbances in forests can impact mycorrhizal fungal communities, affecting plant establishment and growth. This study found that soil transfers from late-successional forests did not alter resident fungal communities or seedling growth in disturbed stands. The presence and abundance of ectomycorrhizal fungi should be assessed before considering soil transfers for forest restoration.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nadia Maaroufi, Astrid R. Taylor, Roswitha B. Ehnes, Henrik Andren, Petter Kjellander, Christer Bjorkman, Thomas Katterer, Maartje J. Klapwijk
Summary: In recent years, wild boar populations have expanded northwards and settled in boreal forests. The impact of wild boar rooting on soil organisms remains poorly understood. This study found that both natural and simulated rooting resulted in a decrease in adult soil mite abundance, while juvenile abundance and the proportion of adults and juveniles were not affected. The colonization of wild boars in boreal forests has negative effects on soil decomposers, potentially affecting ecosystem processes.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Christopoulou, C. Sazeides, N. M. Fyllas
Summary: This study examines the impact of long-term drought conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin on the growth and mortality patterns of Pinus brutia trees. The researchers developed a chronology using tree rings from the largest continuous P. brutia forest on the Aegean islands and found that water availability positively affects tree growth and survival, while temperature has a size-mediated effect on growth.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Samuel B. Case, Katherine Postelli, Donald R. Drake, Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni, Jeffrey T. Foster, Jinelle H. Sperry, J. Patrick Kelley, Corey E. Tarwater
Summary: This study investigated the roles of two galliform species as seed dispersers and seed predators in Hawaiian forests. The results showed that these birds not only prey on seeds of native plants but also seeds of non-native plants. Additionally, gut passage significantly affected the germination ability of the seeds. Therefore, the introduced galliforms have both positive and negative impacts on conservation efforts.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Maija Salemaa, Juha-Pekka Hotanen, Jari Oksanen, Tiina Tonteri, Paivi Merila
Summary: Understorey vegetation in boreal forests plays a significant role in biodiversity. Introducing broadleaved trees in coniferous forests can enhance vascular plant abundance, but high stand density has a counteractive effect. The proportion of broadleaved trees and stand density affect the number and cover of vascular plant species. The response of understorey vegetation to increasing shrub cover often follows a unimodal shape. Increasing the proportion of broadleaved trees can improve nutrient availability in the soil and promote species richness and herb cover. Forest management regimes can determine the characteristics of understorey biodiversity. Habitat and zone-specific instructions in forest management practices can help conserve understorey vegetation and its ecosystem services.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Clydecia M. Spitzer, Bjorn Lindahl, David A. Wardle, Maja K. Sundqvist, Michael J. Gundale, Nicolas Fanin, Paul Kardol
Summary: The fine root economics spectrum is important for predicting broader groups of soil microorganisms (i.e. fungi and bacteria), while individual root traits may be more important for predicting soil microbial taxa and functional guilds.
Article
Forestry
Franziska Bandau, Benedicte Riber Albrectsen, Kathryn M. Robinson, Michael J. Gundale
Summary: Nitrogen enrichment from atmospheric deposition and industrial fertilization can intensify interactions with natural antagonists, with high-tannin plants showing better growth in enriched environments. Investment in tannin production has a positive effect on growth under nitrogen-rich conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Theresa S. Ibanez, David A. Wardle, Michael J. Gundale, Marie-Charlotte Nilsson
Summary: The study shows that high fire severity hampers seedling regeneration, while low burn severity promotes growth and regeneration of conifers. Different tree species respond differently to changes in soil properties following fire, affecting potential regeneration and species dominance in boreal forests. This highlights the importance of plant-soil-microbial feedbacks in promoting successful establishment in the face of increasingly severe fire regimes due to climate change.
Editorial Material
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael J. Gundale
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Clydecia M. Spitzer, David A. Wardle, Bjorn D. Lindahl, Maja K. Sundqvist, Michael J. Gundale, Nicolas Fanin, Paul Kardol
Summary: This study found that PSFs tended to be more negative with more acquisitive root trait values across 18 species, and also more negative with higher root nitrogen content and root forks per root length; however, PSF was more positive with higher root dry matter content. Additionally, certain fungal orders were identified to be negatively related to PSF, but no evidence was found linking root traits to PSF through these fungal orders.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Melissa R. A. Pingree, Paul Kardol, Marie-Charlotte Nilsson, David A. Wardle, Nadia I. Maaroufi, Michael J. Gundale
Summary: Although the addition of biochar can promote soil fertility, it may not have the same stimulatory effect on microbial biomass and activity in typical boreal soils as observed in other ecosystems. Therefore, the enhanced plant growth observed in response to biochar addition in boreal environments is likely due to other mechanisms, such as direct nutrient supply from biochar or amelioration of soil pH.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francoise Cardou, Alison D. Munson, Laura Boisvert-Marsh, Madhur Anand, Andre Arsenault, F. Wayne Bell, Yves Bergeron, Isabelle Boulangeat, Sylvain Delagrange, Nicole J. Fenton, Dominique Gravel, Benoit Hamel, Francois Hebert, Jill F. Johnstone, Bright B. Kumordzi, S. Ellen Macdonald, Azim Mallik, Anne C. S. McIntosh, Jennie R. McLaren, Christian Messier, Dave Morris, Bill Shipley, Luc Sirois, Nelson Thiffault, Isabelle Aubin
Summary: Intraspecific trait variability plays a role in species' adaptation to environmental changes, but different species have varying degrees of sensitivity to these changes.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Clydecia M. Spitzer, Maja K. Sundqvist, David A. Wardle, Michael J. Gundale, Paul Kardol
Summary: Elevational gradients have significant effects on the root traits of plants, but the responses vary among different traits and plant species. The coefficient of variation of root traits at the community level increases with elevation, and intraspecific variation plays a more important role. Intraspecific trait variation may drive plant community composition under global warming.
Article
Plant Sciences
Roger Grau-Andres, Paul Kardol, Michael J. Gundale
Summary: This study measured trait spectra in bryophytes and found trade-offs in carbon, nutrient, and water conservation strategies. The architectural traits of moss shoots and canopies formed a secondary axis of trait variation in contrast to vascular plants. Resource-conservative strategies dominated moss canopies in open and wet habitats.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nicolas Fanin, Karina E. Clemmensen, Bjoern D. Lindahl, Mark Farrell, Marie-Charlotte Nilsson, Michael J. Gundale, Paul Kardol, David A. Wardle
Summary: The study found that the removal of ericaceous shrubs and associated ERI changed the composition of EMF communities, with larger effects occurring at earlier stages of the chronosequence. Removal of shrubs was associated with enhanced N availability, litter decomposition, and enrichment of the recalcitrant OM fraction. Increasing abundance of slow-growing ericaceous shrubs and the associated fungi contributes to increasing nutrient limitation, impaired decomposition, and progressive OM accumulation in boreal forests, particularly towards later successional stages.
Article
Ecology
Cory C. Cleveland, Carla R. G. Reis, Steven S. Perakis, Katherine A. Dynarski, Sarah A. Batterman, Timothy E. Crews, Maga Gei, Michael J. Gundale, Duncan N. L. Menge, Mark B. Peoples, Sasha C. Reed, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Benton N. Taylor, Monica G. Turner, Nina Wurzburger
Summary: Biological nitrogen fixation is the largest natural process that introduces new nitrogen into terrestrial ecosystems, supporting the primary productivity of natural and agricultural systems. However, cryptic nitrogen fixation, which occurs through mutualistic or free-living microorganisms in soil, litter, roots, and other sources, is still not well understood. This literature review highlights the variability in cryptic nitrogen fixation rates and calls for more comprehensive measurements and investigations to identify controlling factors and generate new hypotheses.
Article
Ecology
Leticia Perez-Izquierdo, Jan Bengtsson, Karina E. Clemmensen, Gustaf Granath, Michael J. Gundale, Theresa S. Ibanez, Bjorn D. Lindahl, Joachim Strengbom, Astrid Taylor, Maria Viketoft, David A. Wardle, Marie-Charlotte Nilsson
Summary: A study in Sweden found that wildfires in boreal forests have a greater impact on belowground communities than on vegetation composition. Severe fires resulted in tree mortality and destruction of soil organic matter, affecting the regeneration of vegetation and diversity of soil biota. Soil-related fire severity had less impact on vegetation composition, fungal communities, and soil animals.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Ruirui Zhao, Yong Liu, Michael J. Gundale
Summary: Biochar and manure can enhance wood decomposition by increasing the decomposition rate, moisture content, and abundance of operational taxonomic units. However, the richness and diversity of fungi are influenced by wood stake position, species, and sampling dates.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefan F. Hupperts, Kazi Samiul Islam, Michael J. Gundale, Paul Kardol, Maja K. Sundqvist
Summary: The study found that climate warming affects the exchange of carbon and nitrogen between Ericaceous shrubs and root-associated fungi. The effects of warming on this exchange depend on the form of nitrogen. In the short term, warming decreases the amount of carbon allocated to root-associated fungi per unit of glycine assimilated by the shrubs, but increases it per unit of moss assimilated.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Miriam Segura-Totten, Bryan Dewsbury, Stanley M. Lo, Elizabeth Gibbons Bailey, Laura Beaster-Jones, Robert J. Bills, Sara E. Brownell, Natalia Caporale, Ryan Dunk, Sarah L. Eddy, Marcos E. Garcia-Ojeda, Stephanie M. Gardner, Linda E. Green, Laurel Hartley, Colin Harrison, Mays Imad, Alexis M. Janosik, Sophia Jeong, Tanya Josek, Pavan Kadandale, Jenny Knight, Melissa E. Ko, Sayali Kukday, Paula Lemons, Megan Litster, Barbara Lom, Patrice Ludwig, Kelly K. McDonald, Anne C. S. McIntosh, Sunshine Menezes, Erika M. Nadile, Shannon L. Newman, Stacy D. Ochoa, Oyenike Olabisi, Melinda T. Owens, Rebecca M. Price, Joshua W. Reid, Nancy Ruggeri, Christelle Sabatier, Jaime L. Sabel, Brian K. Sato, Beverly L. Smith-Keiling, Sumitra D. Tatapudy, Elli J. Theobald, Brie Tripp, Madhura Pradhan, Madhvi J. Venkatesh, Mike Wilton, Abdi M. Warfa, Brittney N. Wyatt, Samiksha A. Raut
Summary: The tragic murder of Mr. George Floyd has sparked discussions on racial justice and equity, leading professional organizations like SABER to introspect and take concrete actions to increase People of Color representation and amplify their voices within the organization. These initiatives aim to make SABER more antiracist and inclusive, while also serving as a model for other professional societies to follow suit in promoting diversity and equality.
FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION
(2021)