Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: W. Żelazny Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Changes of forest abiotic environment in the Western Carpathians assessed using phytoindication Abstract: To avoid ecosystem degradation, forestry planning needs to be based on current information about the state of forest environment. Phytoindication is an inexpensive tool that allows tracking the environmental change at fine spatial scales. The present study uses this approach to assess changes within abiotic conditions of forests in the area of the Moravian-Silesian Beskids Mts. (Czech Republic). Phytosociological relevés collected in 2013 at 118 permanent plots were compared with records from the 1960s and 1970s. The changes were expressed using average Ellenberg's Indicator Values and units of the Czech Forest Typological System. Persisting soil acidification was detected, and linked to industrial deposition and planting of Norway spruce beyond its natural range. Conversion towards a higher share of broadleaved species was suggested to support soil recovery. Keywords: Beskids Mts., Ellenberg's indicator values, forest typology, Norway spruce, soil acidification Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 133-142 Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/8/2014-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/8/2014-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201404-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:60:y:2014:i:4:id:8-2014-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Nawrot Author-Workplace-Name: Gołąbki Forest Division, Regional Directorate of State Forests in Toruń, Rogowo, Poland Author-Name: W. Pazdrowski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Utilization, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland Author-Name: R. Walkowiak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Mathematical and Statistical Methods, Faculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering, Sub-department of Biometry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland Author-Name: M. Szymański Author-Workplace-Name: Wielkopolska' Agriculture Advisory Centre in Poznań, Poznań, Poland Author-Name: K. Kaźmierczak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management, Institute of Dendrometry and Forest Productivity Science, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland Title: Analysis of coniferous species to identify and distinguish juvenile and mature wood Abstract: We conducted to describe methods used to differentiate the zones of juvenile and mature wood in stems of coniferous species and to present the importance of good identification of the shares of both types of wood to ensure a rational use of the raw material and final quality of wood products. This study describes in more detail a novel method to separate the juvenile and mature wood tissue in stems of European larch using cluster analysis in the form of the k-means algorithm. Moreover, guidelines were also shortly described for forest management which could result in a reduction of the share of juvenile wood in stems of forest trees. Keywords: differentiation methods, k-means algorithm, forest management Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 143-153 Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/78/2013-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/78/2013-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201404-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:60:y:2014:i:4:id:78-2013-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Wagenhoff Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Department of Forest Protection, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Author-Name: R. Blum Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Department of Forest Protection, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Author-Name: H. Delb Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Department of Forest Protection, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany Title: Spring phenology of cockchafers, Melolontha spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in forests of south-western Germany: results of a 3-year survey on adult emergence, swarming flights, and oogenesis from 2009 to 2011 Abstract: Cockchafers are among the most dreaded insect pests in many European countries, causing economic losses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. In forests of south-western Germany, populations of the forest cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani) and also the field cockchafer (M. melolontha) have been increasing during the past three decades and, therefore, monitoring of these populations has been intensified. In the present field study, data on adult emergence from the soil, male swarming flights and female oogenesis, collected at three infestation sites by visual inspection, with soil eclectors and with light traps in early spring 2009-2011, are presented and discussed in the context of the current knowledge of cockchafer biology. Furthermore, three air temperature sum models for the prediction of the onset of the swarming flight period in spring, published in the early/mid 20th century, were validated in view of their applicability in forestry practice. Keywords: light trap, soil eclector, maturation feeding, temperature sum Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 154-165 Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/5/2014-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/5/2014-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201404-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:60:y:2014:i:4:id:5-2014-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Abdi Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Title: Effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability (Hyrcanian Forest, Iran) Abstract: Vegetation significantly affects hillslope mechanical properties related to shallow landslides and slope stability. The objective of this study was to investigate and quantify the effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability. A part of Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran was selected for the study area. To do the research, the Wu model (WM) was used and data related to the distribution and tensile strength of Oriental beech roots were collected. Root distribution was assessed using the concept of the root area ratio and trenching method. Laboratory tensile tests were conducted on fresh roots for strength characteristics. The factor of safety was calculated for two different soil thicknesses (1 and 2 m) and slope gradients between 10 and 45°. The results showed that the root distribution generally decreased with increasing soil depth and the mean root strength value was 38.23 ± 1.19 MPa for 0.35-5.60 mm diameter range. The results verified a power relationship between tensile strength and root diameter. The reinforcement effect (Cr) decreased with depth and the strongest reinforcement effect was in the second soil layer (10-20 cm) which showed a shear strength increase of 1.47 kPa. The increased factor of safety due to the presence of roots in one- and two-metre soil thicknesses was 27-44% and 15-26%, respectively. The improvement effect of roots was increased with increasing slope gradient and shallower soil thicknesses. Keywords: root distribution, slope stability, soil reinforcement, tensile strength, Wu model Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 166-173 Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/93/2013-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/93/2013-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201404-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:60:y:2014:i:4:id:93-2013-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Plhal Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Kamler Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Homolka Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Drimaj Author-Workplace-Name: Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Brno, Czech Republic Title: An assessment of the applicability of dung count to estimate the wild boar population density in a forest environment Abstract: Wild boar is a native species in the fauna of the Czech Republic. It is becoming a problematic game species both in the Czech Republic and in other European countries due to its harmful impacts. So far no suitable method of its sustainable management has been devised. Yet, a correct abundance estimate is essential for proper management, field crop damage prevention and proper hunting planning. This paper employed faecal pellet group count to estimate the wild boar density in a forest environment. The research was conducted in a study area covering 12.83 km2, which is surrounded by farmland. The count was done under ideal conditions in early spring, after snow had melted. The study area was organised into several differing environments in which different dung densities were expected. The presence of feeding sites, where wild boars concentrated, was taken into account. The conducted count confirmed differences in the utilization of different habitats within the study area. The resulting wild boar abundance was estimated at 64.3 (± 8.9; 95% CI) indd.km-2. Keywords: accumulation, defecation, distribution, faeces, Sus scrofa Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 174-180 Volume: 60 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/99/2013-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/99/2013-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201404-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:60:y:2014:i:4:id:99-2013-JFS