Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jozef MINĎAŠ Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Central Europe, Skalica, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Martin BARTÍK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Jana ŠKVARENINOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Richard REPISKÝ Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Central Europe, Skalica, Slovak Republic Title: Functional effects of forest ecosystems on water cycle - Slovakia case study Abstract: The paper presents the results from three different experimental plots in mountain areas in Slovakia. Annual interception losses varied in mature forest stand in Poľana Mts. (850 m a.s.l.) in mixtured (spruce, fir, beech) from 10.6 to 23.5%, in spruce from 20.5 to 35.5% and in beech forest from 8.8 to 26.9%. Horizontal precipitation reduces long-term average of interception loss by 3.2% (mixtured and spruce) and 2.9% for beech forest. Decline process in supramontane spruce forest has significant influence on interception process in climax spruce stand in Červenec. Mean biweekly interception loss in the central crown zone near the stem during growing seasons was 76.9% in living and 69.2% in dead forest. In the gap canopy interception loss was observed 11.7% in living and 17.9% in dead forest, in the dripping zone under the crown periphery 11.1% in living and 25.7% in dead forest. Results from the experimental catchment Lomnistá dolina showed that forest ecosystems increase the variability of rainfall amounts infiltrated to the soil environment in mountain watersheds, interception loss varied in a wide range: from 42 up to -10% due to altitudinal influence, tree species composition, stand age, and horizontal precipitation occurence. Keywords: precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, interception, mountain watersheds Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 331-339 Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/46/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201808-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:8:id:46-2018-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Svitlana ADAMENKO Author-Name: Volodymyr SHLAPAK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Landscape Gardening, Uman National University of Horticulture, Uman, Ukraine Author-Name: Iryna KOZACHENKO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Landscape Gardening, Uman National University of Horticulture, Uman, Ukraine Author-Name: Margaryta PARUBOK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry and Landscape Gardening, Uman National University of Horticulture, Uman, Ukraine Title: Peculiarities of seasonal growth of Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold under the conditions of introduction in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine Abstract: Generalization of scientific studies and analysis of experimental data on the peculiarities of seasonal growth of vegetative organs of Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, their compliance with the climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine are reported. Studies showed that the mechanisms of regulating growth processes are directly affected by the air temperature. P. nigra belongs to the species that begin their vegetation early in spring. The first shoots to start growing are the ones which require a small amount of heat. Studies showed that the needle growth begins on the 30th-35th day after the onset of shoot growth. During the study period it was also noted that the growth intensity of shoots is gradually increasing from the base of the crown to its top. Keywords: invasive plants, temperature, phenological development, shoots, needles Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 340-344 Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/63/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/63/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201808-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:8:id:63-2018-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Aristotelis MARTINIS Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, Panagoula, Greece Author-Name: Evgenia CHAIDEFTOU Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, Panagoula, Greece Author-Name: Charikleia MINOTOU Author-Workplace-Name: IFOAM AgriBioMediterraneo, Athens, Greece Author-Name: Konstantinos POIRAZIDIS Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Ionian Islands, Panagoula, Greece Title: Ecological assessment of Juniperus turbinata Guss. forest on the Strofades Islands, Ionian Sea, Greece Abstract: The Strofades Islands form part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos. Juniperus turbinata Gussone (syn. Juniperus phoenicea Linnaeus) forests are one of the few remaining high forest forms in Mediterranean. Here, the ecological status and the state of forest regeneration on the Strofades were evaluated to contribute information to their preservation. Seventeen sampling sites were established in the most representative locations. Fourteen sites were dominated by J. turbinata, while the predominant species was Quercus coccifera Linnaeus, accompanied by Phillyrea latifolia Linnaeus and Pistacia lentiscus Linnaeus, in the remaining three sites. Our results showed the presence of poorly formed juniper populations dominated by individuals with multiple trunks and rotting heartwood. Various factors contributed to the absence of regeneration, including poor soil, rocky substrate and grazing activity by a large number of free ranging goats. The broadleaf evergreen species dominated over J. turbinata along the juniper forest boundaries. Our results demonstrate that broadleaved shrubs are favoured, limiting the regeneration of juniper, stressing the importance for implementing forest conservation measures and expanding our knowledge about juniper regeneration processes. Keywords: protected area, ecological status, growth trees, regression model Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 345-352 Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/52/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/52/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201808-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:8:id:52-2018-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ilze MATISONE Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Amanda ZUMBERGA Author-Workplace-Name: Latvia University of Agriculture, Jelgava, Latvia Author-Name: Zane L'BIETE Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Linda GERRA-INOHOSA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Jurgis JANSONS Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Salaspils, Latvia Title: The impact of forest infrastructure reconstruction on expansion of potentially invasive plant species: First results from a study in Latvia Abstract: Today, when anthropogenic pressure on natural ecosystems promotes degradation of natural habitats and facilitates distribution of alien species, local disturbances such as forest management become more significant in relation to alien plant species expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of forest road and drainage network reconstruction on the vegetation composition focusing on the expansion of invasive alien plant species. The occurrence and coverage of vascular plant and bryophyte species were recorded within 160 sample plots along four forest roads and four drainage ditches. This paper summarises the first results of this study. The main results indicate that small-scale linear corridors like forest roads and drainage networks can promote the expansion of invasive alien plant species. Keywords: forest management, forest roads, forest drainage network, species richness Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 353-357 Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/28/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/28/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201808-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:8:id:28-2018-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Javad ESHAGHI RAD Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Gelare VALADI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Osman SALEHZADEH Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran Author-Name: Hosein MAROOFI Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Sanandaj, Iran Title: Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on plant composition, plant diversity and soil properties in oak forests, Iran Abstract: Three sites including "less disturbed", "moderately disturbed" and "severely disturbed" were selected in Zagros forests in Kurdistan province (Iran). Three forest stands with similar physiographic conditions of each site were selected and three 400 m2 plots were assessed in each stand to record the floristic information and soil sample (0-30 cm). Different diversity indices were calculated for each sample. Cluster analysis and to collect soil samples detrended correspondence analysis were applied to categorize and investigate the vegetation trend. Indicator species analysis was used to determine the characteristic species. Tukey test was used to compare the variables amongst sites. The results showed that 47, 25, 15 species were exclusively observed in less disturbed, moderately disturbed and severely disturbed sites, respectively. Furthermore, cluster analysis illustrated the distinction amongst sites and detrended correspondence analysis result showed that the vegetation of the regions was ordinated by disturbance gradient. 21, 5, 7 characteristic species were respectively indicated in less disturbed, moderately disturbed and severely disturbed sites. In general, plant composition, plant diversity and soil quality were decreased dramatically along the disturbance gradient. Keywords: Quercus brantii, richness, understory species, Zagros forests, canopy cover Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 358-370 Volume: 64 Issue: 8 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/13/2018-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/13/2018-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201808-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:8:id:13-2018-JFS