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The paper describes the policy, legislative and organisational context and structure of financing the forestry from public funds in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Slovenia in the 90's. The first half of the nineties was the period of the most significant changes, whereas more stable and systematic financing of forestry was generally started in the second half of the nineties. The supported activities reflected main problems and challenges facing the forestry in individual countries. In the Czech Republic the substantial support was designed for protective measures and restitution of damaged stands. In Poland, the increase of forest area and restitution of forest stands damaged by air-pollution were the priority. Slovenian budget supported mainly the improvement of road infrastructure, forest management planning, as well as sustainable utilisation of forests through marking of trees for cutting. Estonian forestry received the relatively lowest subsidies allocated mainly to the preparation of management plans and extension services. Subsidies were the most important instruments of support. In Poland, however, tax exemptions and concessions were significantly higher than the value of financial means allocated from the public funds.

In any activity, thus at work as well, there is an influence of the environment on a human being. This environment, to which every worker has his own individual relationship, becomes a part and background of the worker's life. The realization of these interactions and relationships markedly affects achieved working results. The ecologically harmless technologies will not be used in forestry considerately towards the environment if forestry workers do not change their negative attitudes to their environment. In this project we tried to map out environmental knowledge of forestry workers.

By means of Sörensen's index and Renkonen's number, the differences in species composition and abundance of the ground beetles (Carabidae) were specified in 5 forest altitudinal zones (3^rd, 5^th-8^th) and also the faunal similarity in the linking-up forest altitudinal zones. The entry of some species (Carabus coriaceus, Carabus violaceus, Pterostichus niger and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus) into higher altitudes was much more marked than is mentioned in hitherto published information. The objective of the present study was to explore the potential use of the ground beetles as an ancillary component of the geobiocoenological typological system.

The objectives of this study are to determine a trend of the radial growth at breast height (b.h.) and to compare the radial growth of trees of younger and older generations in the XX century for fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park. In the investigated area fir, 41 to 200-300 years of age at breast height, gradually regenerated its radial growth after a very strong decline during 1971-1990, and most likely the process of vitality reduction and death of its stands of various age is slowly coming to an end. Pine showed a systematic decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994, and there were no distinct symptoms indicating a change of this unfavourable trend. Beech showed no significant decrease in the radial increment during 1885-1994. In the Świętokrzyski National Park the differences in the radial growth between younger and older generations were noticeable only in the case of beech. The radial growth of trees of different ages was very similar in the case of fir and pine.

Dothistroma needle blight caused by Mycosphaerella pini E. Rostrup was observed for the first time in the Czech Republic on an imported Pinus nigra Arnold in 1999. In 2000, it was also found in the open planting. During three years, it became an important pathogen of pines in the Czech Republic. Its occurrence was noticed in more than 50 localities, above all in the region of Moravia and Silesia and eastern Bohemia. In total, it was found on 10 species of pine (P. nigra Arnold, P. banksiana Lamb., P. contorta Loudon, P. mugo Turra, P. leucodermis Ant., P. sylvestris L., P. cembra L., P. aristata Engelm., P. ponderosa P. et C. Lawson and P. jeffreyi Grev. et Balf.). Also Picea pungens Engelm. was noticed as a host species. In the Czech Republic, Pinus nigra is the most frequent host species of M. pini (80% localities) followed by Pinus mugo (27% localities). On Scots pine P. sylvestris, M. pini was noticed at two localities. The critical period for infection is in the Czech Republic from the second half of May until the end of June. The incubation period lasts about 2-4 months depending on climatic conditions. The first symptoms on the needles infected in the current year appear in August being clearly expressed from September to November.In the CR, Dothistroma needle blight spread probably with infected planting stock obtained from import at the end of the 80s and at the beginning of the 90s.

Social functions of forests were evaluated at Židlochovice Forest Enterprise by applying the method of Vyskot et al. (1996-2002). Real potentials of social forest functions were determined for all stand groups included in a forest management plan (FMP). The results of evaluation were processed in a database and projected in GIS. Tables and charts were used for the evaluation of results. We can claim on the basis of the results that the forest stands of the examined area are characterized by a very high potential to fulfil a bio-production social function. On the contrary, they have a low potential to fulfil social functions of ecological stabilization and edaphic soil conservation and hydric-hydrological function. The results of evaluation of the real potentials of social forest functions at Židlochovice Forest Enterprise are represented by the forest stands of management group No. 19 of forest management plan area Židlochovice.

The effect of thinning on the structure and accumulation of litterfall and holorganic horizons (L, F, H) in young Norway spruce stands was investigated. The research was conducted on a Norway spruce thinning experiment Polom (established in 1980) in the Orlické hory Mts. (north-eastern part of the Czech Republic). In 1992, the monitoring of litterfall started on an unthinned control stand (plot 1) and on a comparative stand with very heavy thinning from below (plot 3). During the period of observation (age of the stand 27-37 years), the total weight of litterfall ranged between 1,800 and 4,800 kg/ha. The amount of litterfall was partly influenced by climatic factors (precipitation and temperature), growth processes (basal area increment) and thinning regimes in individual years. The results of the investigations showed that dry biomass accumulated under a 36 years old Norway spruce stand ranged from 9,200 to 11,300 kg/ha in horizon L, from 37,000 to 38,200 kg/ha in horizon F and from 138,300 to 146,400 kg/ha in horizon H. The quality (content of basic nutrients) of litterfall and material from holorganic horizons are discussed.

The influence of the date of cutting collection and cutting position in the crown on rooting quality was evaluated in cuttings taken from seven-year ortets. The evaluation of various dates of cutting collection in spring demonstrated a possibility of successful propagation by cuttings during a relatively long period from full bud dormancy to flushing onset. The relationship between the development of aboveground parts (flushing, shoot and bud formation) and rooting quality was not established. The exposure of cuttings in the crown of parent tree with respect to the cardinal points did not influence rooting percentage and quality. A somewhat higher rooting ability was observed in cuttings from lower parts of the crown in comparison with cuttings taken from the highest whorls. Differences were more perceivable in generally weak-rooting clones. The comparison of rooting quality in cuttings from seven- and eight-year mother plantations with cuttings from a sixteen-year mother plantation confirmed that not only the rooting of cuttings collected from older mother plantations is weaker but also their growth is slower and their plagiotropic growth continues for a longer time.

In changing growth conditions, methodical procedures should concentrate on the investigation of processes currently under way in forests. Many studies have shown that present models of forest growth parameters differ from previous surveys as far as for instance the height is concerned. Causes of these phenomena have not been satisfactorily explained although various hypotheses are investigated. In our study, we present partial results of the investigation of height growth within a sixty-five-year period, based on the analysis of data obtained from seven forest management plans in the management-plan area of Kostelec nad Černými lesy (Kostelec n. Č. l.) and continuous measurements on pilot research plots in the period of 1965-1994. The comparison of mean height growth curves obtained by the curve fitting of the values of empirical data signifies by their different course and increasing kurtosis a dependence on the calendar year when the measure was taken. It signifies an increasing height growth trend of both species in the given area.

Activity of fungi participating in the dead wood decomposition was studied in the Velký Polom Nature Reserve, Protected Landscape Area Železné hory. Two game-proof fences of an area of 0.30 ha (570 m alt.) and 0.19 ha (620 m alt.) were used as permanent sample plots. In both the plots, activities were monitored of wood-destroying fungi in 126.82 m³ dead wood, 104.05 m³ of which were in beech. After conversion to an area, the volume amounts to 258.82 m³ per ha. In the whole reserve, almost 220 species of macromycetes were recorded in the course of a mycological survey. Wood-destroying fungi are the dominant component of mycoflora representing more than 50% identified taxa of in the period under study. The proportion of mycorrhizal fungi amounted to 14%. A series of macromycetes considered to be saprophytes is bound to products of wood decomposition. Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr., Fomitopsis pinicola (Sowerby) P. Karst., Ustulina deusta (Fr.) Petrak, Hypoxylon fragiforme (Pers.) Kickx, Ganoderma lipsiense (Batsch) Atk. and the genus Armillaria were the predominant species of wood-decaying fungi. As for rare macro-fungi, it is possible to mention Ascotremella faginea (Peck) Seaver, Stropharia albocrenulata (Peck) Kreisel and Tricholomopsis decora (Fr.) Singer.

Biological and chemical (fertilising, liming) amelioration are among the principal tools used to restore degraded sites. These techniques were also used on the Ore Mts. plateau on plots prepared by bulldozing. We evaluated the impact of these amelioration techniques by measuring tree species primary production and humus form restoration. Begun in 1983-1985, this project studied growth reaction of forest stands by measuring height and diameter increment, for the following species (blue spruce Picea pungens Engelm., European larch Larix decidua Mill., lodgepole pine Pinus contorta Dougl., Eastern white pine Pinus strobus L., alder Alnus incana Moench., European beech Fagus sylvatica L.) during the period 1994-2000. The growth potential by species decreases in the following order: larch, alder, lodgepole pine, white pine, blue spruce. Beech was almost exterminated by red deer browsing and the harsh climate; pines suffered heavily from browsing and bark stripping. Holorganic horizons were measured and basic soil chemical and mechanical characteristics were determined - pH, soil adsorption complex characteristics (using Kappen's methodology), content of the humus and total nitrogen, exchangeable acidity and plant available macronutrients, granulometric composition of mineral soil horizons. Our results confirmed the relatively long-lasting effects of soil amendments, as well as the amelioration effects of alder, and the relatively inhibiting effects of larch and blue spruce.

The study is already the 5^th account on the production potential and stability of mixed forest stands in uplands. A spruce/beech stand established in the mid-30s of the 20^thcentury is assessed. The stand is situated at an altitude of 470 m and since 1960, it is left to its spontaneous development. At that time, the stand was characterized as a silviculturally neglected dense spruce young growth to a small pole-stage stand with an admixture of beech (spruce 71%, beech 13%). In the course of 41 years, spruce proportion in the stand without intentional thinning measures decreased from 71 to 56% and, vice versa, beech proportion increased from 13 to 31%. Present dominant and co-dominant position of spruce in the stand, its health condition and development in recent years indicate that the ecosystem under evaluation is stabilized fulfilling all functions on the given site at an age of 65 years. The stand is permanently fully stocked and its initial standing volume of 109 m³/ha at an age of 24 years in 1960 increased to 560 m³/ha at an age of 65 years in 2001.

We examined the impacts of variation in overstory structure and burning regime on understory vegetation in the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forest of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Georgia, U.S.A. On sandy upland sites surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp and on islands, we established five randomly-located 0.04-ha plots within each of six study areas. The plots varied in overstory density, past management and fire regime. We measured overstory tree size of longleaf pines in the 0.04-ha plots and percent cover of ground cover species in five 1-m2 subplots nested within each 0.04-ha plot. We also calculated diversity indices for the ground cover species. There was no significant relationship between overstory basal area and any diversity measure. Even at the subplot level, there was no significant relationship observed between the diversity measures and distance to the nearest tree, presumably a surrogate for overstory density. The diameter (DBH) of the nearest tree exhibited a slight influence over the Shannon Index, and the nearest tree's height was significantly related to evenness in each subplot. There were varied relationships between individual species and fire regime or nearest tree measurements. There was a definite, but statistically insignificant, trend of decreasing diversity with increasing years since the last burn. Height of the nearest tree positively influen­ced evenness, probably reflecting the influence of stochasticity and amount of needle deposition (influencing fire behavior) over a wide area. Within the generally equal fire-return interval across sites, individual fire-events and site-specific behavior apparently influence understory diversity. It is not surprising that the last burn would affect species richness, even more so than the number of growing-season burns, other studies support this observation. The presence of obligate seeding and (clonal) sprouting as dominants in the ground cover suggests that the fire-return interval is not regular. The cycling of fire-return intervals, even within the manage­ment-prescribed 2- to 4-year range, and the variation by microsite appear to provide sufficient variability of disturbance to create diversity in the ground-level cohort. Site-specific relationships between particular species and the nearest tree suggest that even a narrowly-prescribed fire management regime can provide sufficient diversity.

In 1986, the UN ECE established the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (hereinafter ICP Forests) to respond on the growing concern about forest damage caused since the beginning of eighties by air pollution load. Pan-European grid of the (ICP Forests) monitoring plots represents one of the most important systems of forest ecosystems assessing and checking. The Czech Republic is unfortunately well known due to this problem and so the country joined ICP Forest Programme since the very beginning. The paper presents general information on Czech forest stand condition that gained through various methods in the past as well as in the frame of ICP Forests. The participation in the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) represents a contribution of the EU candidate country to the fulfillment of the Reg. (EEC) No. 3528/86. However it seems that effects and importance of air pollution are decreasing, a lot of new stress situations exists and there is a need for continuing the programme.

The applied skidding technology strongly influences the impact of harvest on the ecosystem and success of natural regeneration. The impact of skidder SLKT 81 and high-lead system Larix 3T on forest soil and natural regeneration was compared under analogical site and stand conditions in a production beech forest in the environs of Brno, Czech Republic. The skidder was found to have greater effects on the soil surface consistency, soil properties and natural regeneration than the high-lead system operations. Although high-lead system operations are more friendly to all parts of forest ecosystem, the skidder may not cause excessive damage when applied under suitable terrain and climatic conditions.

Inoculation experiments were carried out on a set of trees with imagoes of Ips typographus L. which origin from the Šumava Mts. and the Křtiny Training Enterprise. The objective of back inoculations was to determine whether species found on the surface of Ips typographus imagoes spread after the inoculation also through host tissues. It the vicinity of inoculation by Ips typographus imagoes, marked necrotic zones are evident including symptoms of the penetration of vascular pathogens through phloem and sapwood. The most marked reactions were observed in case of inoculation by an untreated Ips typographus imago. Treatment of Ips typographus imagoes by Ibefungin and Fundazol preparations did not demonstrate expected effects in full scale. The spores of several ophiostomoid fungi like Ceratocystis polonica (Siem.) C. Moreau were observed on the surface of bark beetles and at the same time were re-isolated from wounds inoculated by Ips typographus imagoes. The other fungi like Ophiostoma bicolor Davidson & Wells, Leptographium cf. lundbergii Lagerberg & Melin., Pezicula eucrita Karst., Phomopsis sp. and other were found in wounds with the imagoes artificial infection.

Extensive forest areas were ameliorated by large-scale liming in the last years in order to prevent proceeding acidification and degradation of forest soils. The hitherto knowledge of liming effects on the function of forest soils still appears insufficient for an unambiguous evaluation. Sorption properties of soils and acidity are favourably affected by liming and the favourable effect is usually manifested in the layer of forest floor humus and in mineral soil within ten years. Reduction of soil acidity stimulates development of a bacterial component of microflora, soil edaphon, and good prerequisites are formed for a release of nutrients from soil organic matter. Improvement of some physical parameters of soils and negative effect of liming on the depth of rooting in spruce, availability of nutrients at some sites and in connection with mechanical soil preparation were also described. A key point of liming effect on forest soils is nitrogen dynamics. Mineralization of nitrogen is stimulated at nitrogen-rich sites with C/N < 30. Nitrogen-limited sites show nitrogen mineralization inhibited by liming with signs of pronounced deficiency in spruce nutrition. A positive effect of liming on nutrition with bases is generally accompanied by an adverse influence on N dynamics in acidic soils under spruce monocultures. Therefore it is possible to state that liming induces relatively marked changes in the soil but the actual growth response of woody species cannot be derived only from these changes.

In vitro propagation of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. has been achieved by axillary shoot proliferation and somatic embryo-genesis. The influence of tree age, explant source, genotype, and phytohormones on micropropagation of juvenile and mature trees of Tilia platyphyllos has been investigated. Nodal segments and shoot tips were used as initial explants for axillary shoot proliferation. Low concentration of cytokinin (BA, BPA, TDZ) plus auxin (IBA) stimulated fast shoot multiplication. Microshootsexcised from proliferating cultures were rooted on low salt medium and produced trees were planted in the field. Embryo-genic tissues were initiated from zygotic embryos cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D. After transfer of embryogenic tissues with developing embryoids on media lacking 2,4-D and supplemented with low concetration of IBA, the development of somatic embryos was enhanced. Secondary somatic embryogenesis led to the formation of new adventive somatic embryos. Trees produced from somatic embryos were planted in the field and exhibited normal growth and morphology.

The basic principle of the economic reform of state forests of the CzechRepublic after 1990 was to separate ma­nagement in forests from the implementation of production activities. A state enterprise Forests of the Czech Republic with its headquarters in Hradec Králové was charged to manage state forests. From the former 7 enterprises of state forests 78 joint-stock companies have been established that carry out silvicultural and logging activities in state forests and in forests of other owners under the conditions of competition environment and on the basis of contracts. The paper deals with the exact evaluation of partial and present results of the development of forestry economic reform, aimed at the study of the behaviour of transformed and privatised forest joint-stock companies.

The analyses of the activity of cambium and the study of the increment of wood during one growing season of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) under conditions of a floodplain forest is provided. The following parameters were studied: the beginning and end of the cambial activity, differentiation of wood fibres (libriform) and vessels and analysis of the total increment of wood during vegetation in dominant (D), co-dominant (CD) and subdominant (SD) trees in relation to ecological factors of the environment. The course of wood formation corresponds to typical growth curves which are modified by factors of the environment (mean daily temperature, precipitation, soil water supply). The rate of growth is limited by factors of the environment and under the lack of some of them it is reduced resulting in the decrease in the total production of cells. Oak is a species sensitively responding to the period of drought which is particularly manifested in wood increment in subdominant trees. Sufficient supplies of water during spring months accelerate the formation of early wood including differentiation of spring vessels as corroborated by the results. The total formation of wood is dependent not only on the characteristics of the respective growing season but particularly on the social position of trees in the stand.

Physical, chemical and microbiological properties of soils were studied in black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) stands and compared with those in stands of natural species composition, in mixed stands of black walnut with linden and in pure oak stands. The objectives were to consider a possibility of black walnut planting at floodplain sites in the alluvial area of Southern Moravia. The first results did not show any worsening of soil properties and soil production potential. A positive amelioration effect of soil- improving species was proved in black walnut stands.

Yellowing of Norway spruce is a relatively common problem in many regions of the Czech Republic. At some places, it is also connected with forest decline. This unfavourable phenomenon is initiated by several ecological as well as anthropogenic processes. One of the most important is the imbalance of forest stand nutrition. Particular reasons lead to nutrient deficiency, especially deficiency of magnesium. Solution to this undesirable trend is a profound ecological analysis and cause-oriented treatments. Besides decreasing air pollution impacts, fertilisation with deficient nutrients represents a successful treatment in the forest stand management in affected areas. In the area of interest, application of relatively small amounts of appropriate fertiliser (SILVAMIX Mg) led to considerable improvement in the defoliation dynamics and yellowing progress since the first year after application.

Using Moericke's yellow dishes we studied the Hymenoptera (Aculeata) fauna (with the exception of Formicoidea) in spruce (Picea abies) stands of the colder region of Northern Bohemia. We collected 103 species and the most important species in this spectrum were Vespula vulgaris (56.4%), Vespula rufa (4.7%), Dolichovespula norvegica (3.1%), Dolichovespula saxonica (4%), Nysson spinosus (1.8%), Andrena lappona (1.9%), Cleptes semiauratus (5.9%), Halictus sp. (6.7%) and Trypoxylon minus (2.2%). Comparisons made in 1990-1994 and 1995-1999 indicated a recession of species of the genus Halictus, of Andrena nitida (Apidae), Pemphredon lugubris, Trypoxylon clavicerum and T. minus (Sphecidae), and an increased abundance of Cleptes semiauratus (Cleptidae), Nysson spinosus (Sphecidae), Vespula vulgaris and V. rufa (Vespidae). Compared to closed stands, open spruce stands had a greater species diversity and lower number of captured specimens.

In the years 1999-2000, I studied damage to transplants in the planting and wildlings in the natural seeding at the locality Zamrlô in the Starohorské vrchy Mts. (750-1,000 m a.s.l., NE exposure, forest type Abieto-Fagetum). Damage to the woody plants by the mammals and birds in the planting was much higher (14%) than in the natural seeding (7%). All woody plant species were also more damaged in the planting (spruce 16%, larch 9%, fir 24%, beech 10%, and sycamore 10%) than in the natural seeding (spruce 7%, larch 6%, fir 10%, beech 7%, and sycamore 9%). There were found 8 mammals that damaged woody plants both in the planting and natural seeding (Apodemus sp., Capreolus capreolus L., Cervus elaphus L., Clethrionomys glareolus SCHREB., Lepus europaeus L., Microtus agrestis L., Microtus arvalis PALL., Sciurus vulgaris L.). Only one bird species was found to damage woody plants in the planting and natural seeding (Tetrao urogallus L.).

Models evaluating static stability (resistance to breaking or uprooting of trees caused by wind, snow or ice) of forest stands in the seventh altitudinal vegetation zone were determined. The empirical material came from 180 research plots (High Tatra and Low Tatra Mountains) established within the research project Research on methods for mountain forest management based on sustainable Development. Static stability was characterized by the slenderness ratio that was calculated from the mean height and diameter of target trees. Then the particular forest stands were categorized with regard to slenderness ratio, mean diameter and absolute site class using either tables or graphic models. Particularly, four static stability classes were made up: 1 - very good, 2 - good, 3 - sufficient, and 4 - insufficient. Practical application of the models is shown for forest stands grown in the area of Vajsková and Lomnistá valleys.

Soon after bark-beetle attack as well as after clear cutting, grown-up mountain Norway spruce forest cast the following mass of needles: 50-60 kg of dry matter per tree, or 18-20 tons per hectare, containing 8,800-10,000 kg/ha of carbon, 190 to 250 kg/ha of nitrogen, 13-16 kg/ha of phosphorus, 65-91 kg/ha of calcium, 9-13 kg/ha of magnesium and 56-67 kg/ha of potassium. These values were obtained by application of equations assessing needle mass from measured tree and plot parameters, and from chemical analyses of two types of needle material (from living and dead trees).

Chrysopids and Hemerobiids were studied using Malaise traps in young spruce forests in the eastern part of the Czech Republic. A total of 12 species were found. The most abundant species were eurytopic Chrysopa carnea, Chrysopa perla, Hemerobius humulinus and Hemerobius pini associated with conifers. The seasonal flight activity of these species is discussed.

The subject of this paper was to assess the effects of pulverised dolomitic limestone applications on prosperity of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) plantation and on the soil in extreme ecological conditions of the Jizerské hory Mts. The characteristics such as plant mortality, annual height increment, diameter of root collar (stem base diameter), crown diameter, nutrient analyses and some data from soil analyses are evaluated in this paper. An eleven-year period of observations is summarised. According to the observations and measurements carried out until now, the effect of limestone applications (1 kg per tree) on the spruce plantation prosperity seems to be positive without any serious negative impacts on the soil.

An analysis was made of the present situation concerning game appreciation in the Czech Republic. A study was conducted into effective laws and regulations related to the valuation of nature. There is no legally binding directive for game appreciation in the Czech Republic at the present time. A questionnaire method (Contingent Valuation Method - CVM) was used to survey the activities of all 87 authorised experts in game management currently registered in the Czech Republic. It was found out that the game is appreciated as property, which contradicts to its legal status (res nullius). The most frequently used methods of game appreciation are a yield (demand) method and a comparative method. It is necessary to establish legal conditions under which the social value of all game species and other wildlife could be determined in order to ensure their survival and to strengthen the tools of their protection. The legislation in force authorises the Ministries of Agriculture and of the Environment of the Czech Republic to issue a relevant decree.

In the area of southern Poland 33 pine stands growing at the altitudes from 350 to 1,200 m above sea level in the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains were selected as the object of studies. Thirty-three site chronologies of tree-rings, representing each site were constructed. A decrease in the similarity of dendrochronological signal chronologies occurred with the growing distance between the sites. Correlation and convergence analysis and the Principal Components Analysis permitted the differentiation of two chronology groups: the Western (Sudeten) and the Eastern (Carpathian) ones. On the basis of the site chronologies regional chronologies for the Carpathian and Sudeten Mts. were constructed. The investigated pines from the two regions manifested great sensitivity to winter frost and in summer to the deficiency of heat and water. The chronologies were strongly integrated by the pattern of air temperatures, being differentiated by the pluvial conditions.