Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Dimitrios Tsalagkas Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Hanuš Vavrčík Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Vladimír Gryc Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kyriaki Giagli Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Age-related phenological and anatomical response of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) under severe summer drought conditions Abstract: The year 2018 was distinguished by a warm summer with extended periods of low or no precipitation. In this context, we investigated the intra-annual dynamics of xylem differentiation phases and quantitative vessel anatomy to analyse the age effect on the xylem formation response of younger (50 years) and older (135 years) mature European beech trees under summer drought conditions. The xylem formation dynamics of young and old trees were performed on microcores collected at weekly intervals in the Rájec-Němčice ecological station in the South Moravia region (Czech Republic). The onset of xylem formation was found identical in both age trees, and most of the trees ceased their enlargement by the end of July, which is attributed to the harsh environmental conditions of this month. Young trees were characterised by a 10-day extended enlargement period and a higher growth rate, resulting in more vessels and a wider tree-ring width. No significant linkage was found between intra-annual environmental conditions of the 2018 year or age effect and the vessel anatomy traits. Keywords: climate change, vessel morphology, wood formation, xylem phenology, xylogenesis Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 458-475 Volume: 70 Issue: 9 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/16/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/16/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202409-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:9:id:16-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jan Kadavý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jana Kneiflová Author-Workplace-Name: University Enterprise Masaryk Forest in Křtiny, Křtiny, Czech Republic Author-Name: Michal Kneifl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Barbora Uherková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Using marteloscope in selection forestry - Study case from 'Pokojná hora' (Czech Republic) Abstract: In today's forestry practices, integrated management is the prevailing approach. One method gaining traction is retention forestry, where certain trees, known as biotope trees providing microhabitats (TreMs), are preserved during harvesting operations. This article delves into hands-on training for marking interventions using marteloscope plots, focusing specifically on 'Pokojná hora,' a 1-hectare plot situated in the southeast of the Czech Republic. Field surveys were conducted using FieldMap technology, capturing essential data for all trees: coordinates, species, diameter, height, and health status. Additionally, details such as wood quality, economic value, microhabitats, and habitat value were documented for each tree. Forestry engineering students virtually mapped out interventions on the marteloscope plot, testing 11 solution variants across 2 scenarios to strike a balance between economic goals and biodiversity conservation. The plot hosts 155 microsites, predominantly on Fagus sylvatica (common beech) with 108 microsites. The likelihood of TreMs increases with tree diameter, while the correlation between a tree's economic value and its diameter was confirmed. Optimal management suggests maintaining 10 habitat trees per ha to reconcile economic and ecological objectives during harvesting operations. In essence, we contend that the adoption of retention forestry practices coupled with marteloscope training can play a pivotal role in arresting biodiversity decline within forest ecosystems. Keywords: continuous cover forestry, ecological value, economic value, optimisation, tree microhabitat, virtual tree selection Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 447-457 Volume: 70 Issue: 9 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/29/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/29/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202409-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:9:id:29-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Līga Pentjuša Author-Workplace-Name: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Toms Artūrs Štāls Author-Workplace-Name: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Arta Bārdule Author-Workplace-Name: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Zane Lībiete Author-Workplace-Name: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Salaspils, Latvia Author-Name: Linda Gerra-Inohosa Author-Workplace-Name: Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava, Salaspils, Latvia Title: Vegetation composition, chemical element flows and their interactions in the forested riparian zone: An example from a small stream in Latvia Abstract: Riparian vegetation plays a major role in maintaining biodiversity and reducing the negative impact of nutrient leaching into aquatic ecosystems. However, the knowledge on the interactions between riparian vegetation and other environmental factors is still incomplete for planning sustainable riparian forest management. The aim of this study was to explore interactions between riparian forest ecosystem components along a small stream. Interactions between vegetation structure, chemical composition of soil and groundwater, as well as chemical element flows via litterfall and precipitation were studied in seven 50 m long transects located in the riparian forest of different characteristics along a 1.4 km river section in the northern part of Latvia. Our results showed that throughfall input of total nitrogen (TN) and potassium (K) was higher in transects with predominantly deciduous tree stands, but the concentration of TN in forest floor was higher in coniferous tree stands. At some soil layers, a positive correlation between organic soil carbon (OC) and the concentration of TN in groundwater was detected. The concentration of TN and nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO3-) in groundwater correlated positively with the deciduous tree basal area. The obtained results suggested that element flows are strongly dependent on tree species' composition and a comparatively small riparian area is able to provide diverse ecological conditions. Keywords: above-ground litter, ground flora, groundwater, input flows, soil, throughfall precipitation Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 476-491 Volume: 70 Issue: 9 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/32/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/32/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202409-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:9:id:32-2024-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Antonín Martiník Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Zdeněk Adamec Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: David Březina Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest and Wood Product Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jiří Krásenský Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Preliminary results from simultaneous planting of Fagus sylvatica and pioneer species on calamity clearings Abstract: We compared the biological and economic effects of simultaneous artificial regeneration of mixtures of pioneers (birch - Betula pendula Roth or aspen - Populus tremula L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with plots of monospecific beech. During the period of two years, the height of young beech trees, their mortality, and the regeneration cost were analysed in the following treatments: monospecific beech (9 000 pcs.ha-1), monospecific beech (5 000 pcs.ha-1), beech/birch (5 000/2 500 pcs.ha-1) and beech/aspen (5 000/2 500 pcs.ha-1). Four plots (differing in soil and altitude) were established in the region of the Czech Republic in autumn 2021. The positive biological effect of these pioneers was detected only in the treatments where the initial planting stock of the pioneers was substantially higher than in that of beech (on average 39 cm vs. 100 cm, respectively). However, the expenses of simultaneous regeneration were about 15% lower compared to plots with monospecific beech in densities like 9 000 pcs.ha-1, and around 35% higher than in the monospecific beech plots with a density of 5 000 pcs.ha-1. Keywords: early growth, European aspen, nurse crop, regeneration cost, silver birch Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 492-500 Volume: 70 Issue: 9 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/39/2024-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/39/2024-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-202409-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:70:y:2024:i:9:id:39-2024-JFS