Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Sliacka Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Krištín Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Name: L. Naďo Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Title: Orthoptera assemblages of beech stand plots during early succession stages after clearcutting - Abstract: Open habitats in closed forests are formed by various biotic and abiotic factors. These new habitats differ from their former parent stands in light conditions and vegetation structure facilitating their colonisation by heliophilous insects. We studied interseasonal differences (2010 and 2011) in the Orthoptera assemblages on eight clearcuts in beech forests. Using a sweeping method, altogether 20 species were recorded on the clearcuts in the first year, 26 in the second. In the second year, species number and abundance were higher in all orthopterans and also in the suborder of grasshoppers (Caelifera). In the crickets (Ensifera), interseasonal differences in the species number and abundance were not significant. The species composition differed among the plots also within individual years. In the second year, the frequency increased in 22 species (84.6%) while it decreased in four. We suggest that the ground-dwelling Caelifera species are better bioindicators of the deforested plot colonisation than the arbusticolous Ensifera. Keywords: deforestation, Ensifera, Caelifera, deciduous forest, corridors, central Europe Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 93-100 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/48/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/48/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:48-2012-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Brožek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Study of briquette properties at their long-time storage Abstract: The paper presents the results of laboratory tests aimed at the study of storage place, storage manner and storage time in relation to mechanical properties of briquettes made from spruce shavings. A BrikStar 50 briquetting press with a pressure chamber 65 mm in diameter of the Briklis firm was used for the briquette production. All briquettes were made at the constant adjustment of all parameters of the briquetting press. The briquette properties were evaluated by determination of their density and rupture force. Moreover, mechanical durability, gross calorific value, total mois­ture and ash content were determined. It follows from the results of tests that at briquette storage in a well closed plastic bag neither place nor storage time influenced significantly their life time. At briquette storage in a net plastic bag various intensive damage to briquettes occurred, mainly depending on their storage place and storage time. Keywords: spruce shavings, gross calorific value, density, rupture force, moisture content Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 101-106 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/27/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/27/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:27-2012-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Novák Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Slodičák Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Dušek Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Kacálek Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Opočno Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Title: Norway spruce litterfall and forest floor in the IUFRO thinning experiment CZ 13 - Vítkov Abstract: The effect of thinning on litterfall and decomposition of biomass was investigated in Norway spruce IUFRO thinning experiment (CZ-13), Czech Republic. The experiment was established in 1971 in an 8-year-old spruce stand on former farmland. Quantity and quality of litterfall and biomass from humus horizons were analysed in two treatments (1C - no thinning, 2T - heavy thinning at the young age). Forest floor was investigated in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2009 and litterfall was observed in the period 2002-2009. Accumulated dry mass in forest floor after 39 years of existence of spruce stands continually decreased until the age of 46 years (from 80-100 to 30-50 Mg.ha-1). Under thinned stand, a lower amount of dry mass was observed compared to the control. Although mean total annual litterfall was the same in both treatments (5.3 Mg.ha-1), the observed trend indicates a possible effect of thinning on the higher rate of decomposition. With the exception of calcium (2002-2005 samples) we found the forest floor lower in nutrients and litterfall higher in nutrients in thinned plot compared to the control. Our results supported the theory that early thinning is an appropriate silvicultural strategy helping spruce to cope with growth conditions on sites naturally dominated by broadleaves. Keywords: forest-floor layers, litterfall, Norway spruce, thinning Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 107-116 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/76/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/76/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:76-2012-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: F.K. Behjou Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture Technology and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Author-Name: O.G. Mollabashi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture Technology and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Title: Assessment of coarse woody debris following selective logging in Caspian forests: implications for conservation and management Abstract: Information on the amount, distribution, and characteristics of coarse woody debris (CWD) in forest ecosystems is highly demanded by wildlife biologists, fire specialists and ecologists. Owing to its important role in wildlife habitats, fuel loading, forest productivity, and carbon sequestration, coarse woody debris is an indicator of forest health. Two sampling methods including fixed-area plot and line intersect sampling were compared for accuracy and efficiency in measuring CWD. Data were selected from mature beech stands following selective logging in Caspian forests. Line intersect sampling consistently provided estimates similar to the results of a 100% survey (high accuracy). This method also took the least amount of time and effort to map the layout and field line location (high efficiency). Finally, line intersect sampling as an easy and fast survey method is suggested to monitor coarse woody debris (CWD) in Caspian forests. Keywords: line intersect method, fixed-area plot, beech forest Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 117-124 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/78/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/78/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:78-2012-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Heiskanen Author-Workplace-Name: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Suonenjoki unit, Suonenjoki, Finland Author-Name: P. Tammeorg Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Author-Name: R.K. Dumroese Author-Workplace-Name: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Moscow, Idaho, USA Title: Growth of Norway spruce seedlings after transplanting into silty soil amended with biochar: a bioassay in a growth chamber Abstract: Biochar (BC), the carbon-rich by-product resulting from pyrolysis of biomass, is used for bioenergy and increasingly as a soil additive for carbon sequestration and soil improvement. However, information about the effects of BC on forest productivity and reforestation success, especially on boreal and temperate forest soils, is scant. We examined the effects of two BC types (Canadian and Finnish) added in proportions up to 60 vol.% into a common alluvial silty soil on the growth of transplanted Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) seedlings in a growth chamber. We found no marked differences in seedling growth among the binary growing media mixes used. Seedling growth attributes (seedling height, terminal shoot growth, root volume) differed consistently only between the BC types in the highest proportion used. The terminal shoot growth differed overall among the two BC types. These results suggest that BC may be applied into mineral soils without detrimental chemical effects on tree plantation success. Our results provide foundation for further field research on the longer-term impacts of adding BCs to boreal forest soils. Keywords: carbon sequestration, forest soils, soil additives, outplanting success, pyrolysis Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 125-129 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/44/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/44/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:44-2012-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Carella Title: First observation of Quercus pedunculiflora C. Koch in the Italian Peninsula Abstract: A few individuals of Grayish oak have been observed in the Low Murgia Plateau, Puglia Region. This is the first time that Quercus pedunculiflora C. Koch has been found in Italy. The territory is dominated by olive trees, where spontaneous vegetation occurs only in residual patches in particular along an important old dry erosion stream, Lama Lamasinata. Individuals of Grayish oak are located along a rural road and in a closed abandoned park which is in the vicinity of Lama Lamasinata, near Balsignano, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Low Murgia Plateau. In the area other deciduous oaks such as Italian pubescent oak, the most common spontaneous oak in the western district of the Murgia Plateau, and Hungarian oak, which is very rare in the Low Murgia Plateau, have been observed. Keywords: Grayish oak, Low Murgia Plateau, Lama Lamasinata, ecology, refuge area Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 130-135 Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/58/2012-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/58/2012-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201303-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:59:y:2013:i:3:id:58-2012-JFS