Journal of Forest Science - Latest articles

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Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Robinia pseudoacacia L. populations using ISSR markers, ITS1 and trnL-F intergenic spacer sequences

Mehmet Emin Uras, Ertugrul Filiz, Ugur Sen, Ibrahim Ilker Ozyigit

J. For. Sci., 2024, 70(1):1-13 | DOI: 10.17221/95/2023-JFS  

Robinia pseudoacacia L. is a deciduous tree planted almost all around the world for a wide variety of uses such as ornamental in urban ecosystems and forest trees in afforestation. This study aims to evaluate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relations of R. pseudoacacia using some selected populations in Istanbul and Kocaeli cities. For this aim, molecular marker-assisted and DNA sequence-based analyses were performed. According to the results, nine of 15 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers gave clear and distinguishable bands with a total of 100 loci. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) was calculated as 100%...

Understanding the role of ecotypic factors in the early growth of Pinus sylvestris L.

Jakub Hejtmánek, Jan Stejskal, Daniel Provazník, Jaroslav Čepl

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(12):539-549 | DOI: 10.17221/102/2023-JFS  

The ecological significance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Europe, especially in areas devastated by bark beetles, has led to its consideration as a substitute for Norway spruce. This pioneering species boasts sun and drought tolerance, fast growth, and wood industry value. To gauge its potential, we examined two ecotypes across two test sites over two years, focusing on height and growth increment. Through statistical analysis employing R software and linear mixed models, we assessed heritability, genotype by environment interaction, and spatial correlations. Both ecotypes exhibited significant differences in height and increment, varying...

Thinning effects on growth and occurrence of rotting in aspen stands

Alina Nasibullina, Marieke van der Maaten-Theunissen, Ernst van der Maaten, Holger Fischer, Sven Wagner

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(12):525-538 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2023-JFS  

Poplar species such as aspen (Populus tremula L.) play a very important role in the forest formation process not only in Eastern European regions. Unfortunately, such aspen stands are often severely affected by fungal diseases, causing mainly core rot. In this study, the indirect effects of thinning on the phytosanitary condition of aspen by promotion of tree growth were investigated. Two thinning methods, manual (thinning from below) and mechanical thinning (schematic), were applied to young stands dominated by Eurasian aspen to study their effects on tree growth and health. All trees were measured at breast height and diameter frequency...

Development of Douglas fir merchantable stem volume model in the conditions of the Czech Republic

Radoslav Hlavica, Zdeněk Adamec

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(12):515-524 | DOI: 10.17221/92/2023-JFS  

A precise merchantable stem volume model of Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] is missing in the Czech Republic. The aim of this study was to fit a new model through the reparametrization of volume equations (used in the Czech Republic or in other countries). We tested four volume equations (two from the Czech Republic, one from France and one from British Columbia) in the form of a nonlinear least squares model (NLS), weighted least squares model (WLS), and nonlinear mixed effects model (NLME). In all the tested models, the diameter at breast height of a tree and the total height of a tree were used as independent variables....

Stand structure of a juvenile Paulownia Shan Tong plantation grown in the temperate dry climate zone in Hungary – A case study

Fruzsina Szabó, Károly Rédei, Tamás Ábri, Elza Kovács, Lajos Juhász

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(12):550-556 | DOI: 10.17221/90/2023-JFS  

In this paper, empirical relationships between diameter at breast height (DBH), crown diameter (CD), and stem number per hectare (N) were improved in a Paulownia Shan Tong plantation. Various functions of these variables were defined, focusing on growing space (G_s) and stem number per hectare. The linear crown index between CD and DBH seems to be particularly important in predicting stem number per hectare. Based on an analysis of the relationships, a CD-DBH (R² = 0.7254) and a DBH-N graphic model (R² = 0.7302) can be applied...

Modelling the tree height-diameter relationship of Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Gris.) forests in North Macedonia

Vladimir Tanovski, Bratislav Matović, Mihajlo Risteski, Pande Trajkov

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(11):497-513 | DOI: 10.17221/68/2023-JFS  

The most crucial individual tree variables in forest management are diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees (H). Projection of stand development over time relies on accurate height-diameter functions. The main aim of this paper is to define the best usable model for tree height prediction from diameter at breast height. We explore the place where the Macedonian pine was discovered in the Baba Mountain in the Pelister National Park in North Macedonia. Thus, we established 48 experimental plots (EP) with a circle shape, a radius of 12.62 m and an area of 500 m² each. The EP were established in pure Macedonian...

Potential of Morus nigra in Central Europe focused on micropropagation: A short review

Pavel Švagr, Josef Gallo, Jan Vítámvás, Vilém Podrázský, Martin Baláš

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(11):463-469 | DOI: 10.17221/73/2023-JFS  

This paper is focused on the description of the black mulberry (Morus nigra), its ecology and the possibilities of its in vitro propagation for quick and efficient obtaining of a large quantity of clones in a relatively short time for subsequent planting or sale. Due to ongoing climate change, it is considerable to use mulberry trees in horticulture, agroforestry and forestry under the conditions of Central Europe. The use of the mulberry is conditioned by the availability of planting stock. A proven and successful method of mulberry propagation is in vitro cultivation. Based on literature review, the recommended composition of planting...

Simulating differences between forwarding short and normal-length timber

Simon Berg

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(11):485-496 | DOI: 10.17221/41/2023-JFS  

Normal log lengths in Norway are 3–6 m (NL), but occasionally there is a demand for short timber with a 2.5 m log length (ST). There are concerns that ST could reduce the forwarders' productivity. Six type stands were created based on harvester data. Different assortment distributions, conditions, and forwarders were simulated in each type stand. It was found that an additional ST assortment almost always decreased productivity (from –15.5 to +4%). Increased forwarding distance (m), more difficult driving conditions, and increased log concentration [m³·(100 m strip road)^–1] decreased the...

Potential of mixed Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. forests in lowland areas of Central Bohemia

Pavel Brabec, Jakub Brichta, Zdeněk Vacek, Stanislav Vacek, Václav Šimůnek, Vojtěch Hájek

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(11):470-484 | DOI: 10.17221/76/2023-JFS  

Mixed forests play a key role in terms of stability, production potential, and adaptation to climate change. In addition, the studied Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) belong to the most economically important tree species in Europe. The objectives were to determine the effect of the species composition of these two tree genera on the production, structure, diversity, and growth of mixed stands at lower elevations in the Czech Republic. Based on dendroecological samples, research was also carried out on the influence of climatic factors and climate change on the radial growth of these trees of interest....

Forest as a source of renewable material to reduce the environmental impact of buildings

Hana Svobodová, Petra Hlaváčková

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):451-462 | DOI: 10.17221/65/2023-JFS  

Construction sector has high environmental impact throughout entire life cycle of buildings. One way to reduce the impact is to use building materials with the lowest possible environmental impact – such as wood. The use of wood-based building materials can improve the overall environmental balance of buildings. Compared to other materials, wood probably has the best environmental performance. These findings are particularly significant in the context of the environmental and legislative situation in Europe and the Czech Republic and may be one of the reasons for the increasing number of new wood-based buildings. The main reason for the...

Estimation of Fagus orientalis Lipsky height using nonlinear models in Hyrcanian forests, Iran

Mohammad Rasoul Nazari Sendi, Iraj Hassanzad Navroodi, Aman Mohammad Kalteh

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):415-426 | DOI: 10.17221/93/2022-JFS  

Tree height is one of the most important variables in describing forest stand structure. However, due to difficulty in height measurement, especially in dense and mountainous forests, the common approach is to invoke the height-diameter (H-D) models. The oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is one of the most important species of Hyrcanian forests, over the mid to high-altitudes (400–1 800 m a.s.l.), in northern Iran. In this study, the H-D relationship of beech trees was investigated separately for mid-altitude and high-altitude in Shafaroud forests of Guilan using 14 nonlinear H-D models and an artificial neural network...

The forest land tax systems in Slovakia and Portugal

Klára Báliková, Natacha Jesus-Silva, Noémia Bessa Vilela, Michaela Korená Hillayová, Jaroslav Šálka

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):427-437 | DOI: 10.17221/51/2023-JFS  

Forests cover almost one half of European land. Therefore, land taxes, including taxes from forests, are essential for a municipality's income. The land tax system is implemented on different levels, mainly nationally and locally. Therefore, many land tax features are settled by federal law, and others differ according to the local tax administrators. The objective of the paper is to compare the current laws and principles and the implementation process of forest land in Slovakia and Portugal. We have selected countries from different geographical areas of Europe. Even though the forest compositions and forest ownership differ, we aimed to identify...

Three scenarios for tree species composition and stand age in new and permanent forest areas: A case study of Latvia

Zigmārs Rendenieks, Līga Liepa

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(10):438-450 | DOI: 10.17221/25/2023-JFS  

Land abandonment and the emergence of new forest areas create novel dynamics for forest ecosystems and landscapes. Modelling is often used to forecast tree species composition, age group distribution and spatial patterns in the future. The aim of this study was to develop three scenarios for changes in tree species composition, stand age distribution and spatial patterns of new forest areas and permanent forests using Latvia as a case study. We selected 19 study areas of the size 10 km × 10 km to sample the variety of forest cover patterns, tree species, and stand age. Using GIS tools, we developed three scenarios: baseline, commercial...

Distribution and environmental impact of alien woody species in lowland riparian forest habitats: Case study in the protected areas of Georgia, South Caucasus

Giorgi Kavtaradze, Lado Basilidze, Jan Pergl, Elizaveta Avoiani, Petr Vahalik, Besarion Aptsiauri, Nani Goginashvili, Margalita Bachilava, Zurab Manvelidze, Nato Kobakhidze

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):401-414 | DOI: 10.17221/3/2023-JFS  

Biological invasions are globally recognised as a significant threat to native biodiversity, as they can change the structure, composition, and functioning of the native ecological system. The riparian forest is considered a habitat highly invaded by invasive plants since rivers serve as corridors for alien species through the terrestrial ecosystem or may simply harbour exotic species that cannot survive elsewhere. The riparian forest, as a high conservation value forest, is an important part of the lowland forests of Georgia. These forests are distributed along large rivers, including the Mtkvari, Alazani, Iori, Aragvi, Ksani, Algeti, and Great...

Impact of protection methods and abiotic factors on Nothofagus pumilio seedlings mortality in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Martin Smola, Josef Cafourek, Antonín Kusbach, Martin Šenfeldr, Josef Střítecký, Petr Maděra

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):389-400 | DOI: 10.17221/45/2023-JFS  

National parks (NP) are the last refugia of forests dominated by the Nothofagus species in Chile. However, frequent, careless human-caused fires are destroying these forests even within the national parks. After large-scale fires, N. pumilio stands are unable to recover naturally neither in generative nor in vegetative ways and artificial regeneration must be resorted to in order to maintain their extent. However, even artificial regeneration is not successful without protection against browsing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to experimentally test a range of repellents and other methods of mechanical protection of seedlings...

Reducing costs, improving profits: A low-cost culture media for woody plants micropropagation

Ricardo Castro-Camba, Jesús María Vielba, Purificación Covelo, Nieves Vidal, Conchi Sánchez

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):377-388 | DOI: 10.17221/56/2023-JFS  

Micropropagation has enormous potential in the forestry industry for the mass production of elite genotypes. A limiting factor that hinders a wider adoption of this technique is its high associated cost, dissuading small producers and laboratories from its use. Thus, it is important to develop low-cost protocols to increase the competitiveness of micropropagation. The goal of the present study was to elaborate a low-cost culture medium that would allow plant growth without diminishing plant quality and production. The replacement of laboratory sucrose with commercial sugar as a carbon source, and laboratory agar with locally produced agar as a gelling...

Effect of bioengineering treatments on reduction of soil erosion from road cut slope and fill slope

Aidin Parsakhoo, Seyed Ataollah Hosseini

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(9):367-376 | DOI: 10.17221/55/2023-JFS  

The efficiency of different conservation practices on soil loss from road side slopes is scarcely identified in the Hyrcanian forests of Iran, which could retard the implementation of these management practices. Sediment of 48 plots on the cut slopes and fill slopes of forest roads were collected to explore their responses to soil conservation practices, including straw bale (SB), living hedge (LH), dead hedge (DH), geo-cell (GC), geotextile (GT), and bare soil (BS). Moreover, the efficiency of conservation practices was evaluated to find a cost-effective approach. Sediment traps were installed at the toe of side slopes in the ditch and end of each...

Sap flow modelling based on global radiation and canopy parameters derived from a digital surface model

Tomáš Mikita, Zdeněk Patočka, Elizaveta Avoiani

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):348-359 | DOI: 10.17221/191/2022-JFS  

Sap flow represents water transport from roots to leaves through the xylem and is used to describe tree transpiration. This paper proposed and tested a procedure to estimate sap flow by calculating global radiation in a digital model of the tree canopy surface obtained by unmanned aerial vehicle imaging. The sap flow of nine trees was continuously measured in the field. In the digital surface model, individual canopies were automatically delineated, their parameters were determined and the global radiation incident on their surface on specific days was calculated. A polynomial relationship was found between sap flow and the calculated incident solar...

First report of Thanasimus femoralis (Zetterstedt, 1828) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) in forest nursery in the Western Black Sea Region of Türkiye

Nuray Öztürk, Beşir Yüksel

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):360-365 | DOI: 10.17221/50/2023-JFS  

In this study, the first observation of Thanasimus femoralis was conducted in Türkiye. Adults of T. femoralis and Thanasimus formicarius were collected from pheromone traps together with Ips sexdentatus, Ips acuminatus, Ips mannsfeldi and Scolytus intricatus in forest nurseries located in the Western Black Sea Region, between 2021 and 2022. The clerid and bark beetles were morphologically described. The aedeagus and antennae of T. femoralis were observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Comparison of nutrient and carbon stocks in the aboveground biomass of mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) stands

Tomáš Čihák, Monika Vejpustková

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):334-347 | DOI: 10.17221/37/2023-JFS  

The aim of the study was to compare the stock of essential nutrients and carbon in the aboveground biomass of mature stands of silver fir and Norway spruce. A comparison was carried out for 14 mixed stands of spruce and fir. The tree-level dendrometric characteristics were taken from experimental measurements or were generated using the SIBYLA growth simulator. The amount of biomass was calculated using allometric equations. Samples of stem wood, stem bark, and needles were taken and analysed for carbon, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and sulphur concentrations. Using biomass data, the concentrations of the elements were converted...

Responses in leaf water status of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey and Carpinus betulus L. exposed to cement dust pollution in Northern Iran

Jamshid Eslamdoust, Seyed Mohsen Hosseini, Fatemeh Kardel

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(8):325-333 | DOI: 10.17221/14/2023-JFS  

Industrial air pollution, particularly cement dust, affects the leaf water status and resource utilisation and finally decreases primary production. Evaluating the relative water content (RWC), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf water per unit area (LWA) helps selecting more tolerant species for dusty polluted areas. In this study, we compare two species of Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey and Carpinus betulus L. in a polluted site (PL) around a cement factory, and a unpolluted site (UPL) in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. Ten individual trees of each species were tagged at each...

A pilot study of continuous cover forestry in boreal forests: Do remaining trees affect forwarder productivity?

Jussi Manner, Back Tomas Ersson

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):317-323 | DOI: 10.17221/44/2023-JFS  

According to the literature, forwarding productivity depends chiefly on log concentration, the number of assortments, mean log volume, load-size, slope, and extraction distance. However, there is not much scientific knowledge available on forwarding in continuous cover forestry (CCF) in boreal forests, nor whether the presence of remaining trees actually affects forwarding productivity. Thus, the objective of our study was to isolate the effect of remaining trees (i.e. stand density) on forwarding productivity during CCF, specifically selection cutting. The results showed that productivity was explained mainly by the log concentration, while...

Assessment of the Ellenberg quotient as a practical tool for vertical vegetation zonation

Petr Dujka, Antonín Kusbach

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):305-316 | DOI: 10.17221/133/2022-JFS  

The Ellenberg quotient (EQ) is a climate index defined as a ratio of the hottest month's temperature and the average annual precipitation sum. The quotient indirectly expresses the relationship between climate and vegetation, and its application is related to the ecological niche of Fagus sp. Although the quotient was curated on the grounds of field research primarily on German vegetation, the possibilities of its utilisation are not limited to the Central European region. The objective of this study is (i) to compare the EQ values calculated for the forest vegetation zones in the Czech Republic with the published data using...

Assessment of aboveground biomass and carbon stock of subtropical pine forest of Pakistan

Nizar Ali, Muhammad Saad, Anwar Ali, Naveed Ahmad, Ishfaq Ahmad Khan, Habib Ullah, Areeba Binte Imran

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):287-304 | DOI: 10.17221/125/2022-JFS  

The presented study estimated the aboveground biomass (AGB) of Pinus roxburghii (chir pine) natural forests and plantations, and created biomass maps using a relationship (regression model) between AGB and Sentinel-2 spectral indices. The mean AGB and BGB (belowground biomass) of natural forests were 79.54 Mg·ha^–1 and 20.68 Mg·ha^–1, respectively, whereas the mean AGB and BGB of plantations were 94.48 Mg·ha^–1 and 24.56 Mg·ha^–1, respectively. Correlation showed that mean diameter at breast height (DBH) and mean...

Pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic fungi against Myllocerus fotedari Ahmad, 1974 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions in India

Shaziya Gull, Ahmad Tariq, Abdul Lateef Khanday, Sureshan Pavittu Meethal, Gowhar Rashid

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(7):277-286 | DOI: 10.17221/10/2023-JFS  

The weevil, Myllocerus fotedari Ahmad, 1974 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is widely recognised as one of the major walnut pests. Fungal pathogens have shown great potential for the management of some pest species. In the present study, the efficacy of three entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (Metchnikoff) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare and Gams were evaluated against the weevil, M. fotedari, under laboratory conditions. Each fungal suspension contained 1.0 × 109 spores of fungi in 1 mL. The experiment comprised of five treatments...

Analysis of the propensity of Italian and German forest owners towards forest certification for ecosystem services

Emanuela Lombardo

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):266-276 | DOI: 10.17221/193/2022-JFS  

This study analyses the perception of the relationship between forest certification and the production of ecosystem services by Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management (SFM) certification holders. In addition, the psychological constructs that govern the use of certification for ecosystem services are investigated. Specifically, online questionnaire surveys were submitted to a sample of Italian and German forest owners and managers to study reasons for and against and global motives to adopt certification for ecosystem services through the application of Behavioural...

Forest cover change detection using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index in the Oued Bouhamdane watershed, Algeria – A case study

Boubaker Khallef, Rabah Zennir

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):254-265 | DOI: 10.17221/192/2022-JFS  

The Algeria forest, particularly in the northeastern region, has undergone profound changes in recent years. The Oued Bouhamdane watershed has a great forest potential, which is threatened by several factors of natural and human origin, resulting in a decrease in forest cover. It requires adequate forest monitoring to support the sustainable forest management of this watershed, which is possible thanks to satellite imagery. The objective of this research is to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation cover of the Oued Bouhamdane watershed between 2013 and 2022 using remote sensing data. This study is based on the use of Landsat 8 and 9 images...

The beneficial role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on population rates of aboveground herbivory: Zyginella pulchra (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in plane trees

Hamed Aalipour, Ali Nikbakht, Jahangir Khajehali, Mohammad Taghizadeh

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):244-253 | DOI: 10.17221/158/2022-JFS  

Herbivorous pests and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) coexist on the same host plant, having an indirect effect on one another. We established an experiment in a randomised complete block design with four treatments and six replications to examine the impact of AMF on the population and the damage caused to plane trees by the leafhopper Zyginella pulchra. Manure, manure plus fertiliser, manure plus fertiliser plus AMF, and non-inoculated plants (control) were all of the treatments. The findings revealed that while the nutritional content and soluble carbohydrate content were significantly enhanced by all treatments, they largely reached...

Road network designing in a forested watershed using network connectivity indices

Mohsen Mostafa, Shaban Shataee Jouibary, Majid Lotfalian, Amir Sadoddin

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(6):229-243 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2023-JFS  

Designing and constructing a road network is one of the most critical steps of the development process in managing natural resources. The current research is going to investigate the application of network connectivity indices to the analysis of road networks in the forested watershed. First, the road network suitability map (RNSM) was created to emphasize the technical and physiographic criteria and integrated management scenarios using a weighted linear combination (WLC) and analytic network process (ANP). Subsequently, three road network alternatives (RNA) were assigned based on the priorities in the RNSM. In order to try to determine the appropriate...

Estimation of land cover changes and biomass carbon stock in north-eastern hill forests of Bangladesh

Tahmina Afroz, Md. Giashuddin Miah, Hasan Muhammad Abdullah, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Md. Mizanur Rahman

J. For. Sci., 2023, 69(5):217-227 | DOI: 10.17221/111/2022-JFS  

Forests are atmospheric CO₂ sinks, but their losses and degradation accelerate the emissions of carbon stored as a sink. Deforestation and forest degradation are widespread in Bangladesh, but their impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is unknown. We assess land use and land cover (LULC) change and forest loss in this study by classifying different Landsat satellite imagery with a focus on forest cover loss from 1989 to 2020. Tier 1 standards were used to estimate the carbon removal and emissions from a small-scale tropical forest. Over the last three decades, the forest area has decreased by 2.40%, 3.74% and 7.52%, respectively....