Forest Institute

Bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) play a dual ecological role in forest ecosystems as disturbance agents and vectors of symbiotic fungi, including blue-stain taxa that affect wood quality and tree health. This study assessed fungal communities specific to four bark beetle species—Ips acuminatus (Gyllenhal, 1827), Ips sexdentatus (Börner, 1776), Ips typographus (Linnaeus, 1758), and Pityogenes chalcographus (Linnaeus, 1761)—colonizing Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Slovakia. Fungal DNA was extracted from beetle surfaces and analyzed using ITS2 metabarcoding on the Illumina MiSeq platform to characterize the diversity and structure of associated mycobiota. Alpha- and beta-diversity analyses revealed a taxonomically and functionally rich fungal assemblage dominated by Ascomycota, comprising over one thousand operational taxonomic units. Fungal richness and diversity varied among beetle species: I. typographus and P. chalcographus supported the most diverse communities, I. sexdentatus harbored the least diverse assemblages, and I. acuminatus showed contrasting patterns depending on the index used. Beta-diversity analysis indicated that community composition was primarily structured by beetle species identity, with weaker effects of locality and sampling method. Ophiostomatoid fungi, particularly Geosmithia pallida (G. Sm.) M. Kolařík, Kubátová & Pažoutová, Ophiostoma distortum (R.W. Davidson) de Hoog & R.J. Scheff., and Ophiostoma minus (Hedgc.) Syd. & P. Syd., were consistently prevalent and formed the core mycobiome. Random forest classification and differential abundance analyses confirmed host-specific enrichment of several ophiostomatoid and yeast taxa. Yeasts (e.g., Kuraishia, Candida, Yamadazyma), saprotrophic molds (e.g., Penicillium, Davidiella), and the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. also occurred frequently. These findings provide the first DNA-based evidence of host-specific fungal assemblages in Scots pine bark beetles in Slovakia and emphasize their ecological significance for beetle–fungus symbioses and pine forest health.

Climate change is projected to cause significant and irreversible losses in mountain regions, severely impacting both people and ecosystems. Assessing adaptation in mountain regions is crucial to address diverse sectoral challenges and to mitigate the risks of maladaptation. Despite increasing awareness of the need to integrate adaptation across all sectors affected by climate change, the understanding of multi-sectoral solutions remains limited. Here we analyzed 118 research articles on human adaptation published between 2012 and 2022 and found disparities and commonalities across different regions, adaptation types and sectors. Behavioural/cultural responses, primarily reactive and linked to agriculture and pastoralism sectors, are most prevalent in Africa and Asia, particularly within rural settings. In contrast, technological/infrastructural and institutional responses, often anticipatory and associated with disaster-risk management, tourism, transportation and water sectors are highly prominent in Europe, especially in urban areas. Our findings underscore the need for collaborative efforts across multiple sectors and regions to effectively address these challenges.

Sterilizing biomaterials before implantation is crucial, but this process can sometimes alter the physical, chemical, and morphological properties of collagen-based biomaterials, potentially leading to weaknesses. To address this issue, we propose a method that combines crosslinking and sterilization of collagen-based composite scaffolds through gamma-ray irradiation. In this study, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/collagen composite scaffolds were fabricated using an electrospinning technique and exposed to gamma rays at doses ranging from 15 to 45 kGy. The radiation dose was optimized to enhance mechanical properties, which indicated a higher degree of collagen crosslinking. Additionally, we demonstrated that both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were completely and effectively sterilized during the crosslinking process. In conclusion, gamma-ray irradiation shows great promise as a method for simultaneously inducing crosslinking and sterilization in collagen-based scaffolds, offering substantial potential for biomedical applications.

Taphrorychus bicolor (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) is emerging as a potential threat to European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Central Europe, particularly under recurrent drought and a warming climate. We review its ecology, damage symptoms, monitoring methods, and management strategies, integrating published research with recent observations from Slovakia. Regarded as a secondary pest of dead or dying wood, T. bicolor has also been observed infesting living beech trees, producing characteristic lesions that degrade timber quality and may accelerate tree decline. These injuries marked by sap exudation, blister-like bark, and black fluid-filled lesions occur more frequently in drought-stressed stands, especially along forest edges and south-facing slopes. Monitoring trials demonstrated that pheromone-baited traps and felled beech trap trees effectively attract large numbers of beetles, although outbreak thresholds for this species are not yet defined. We recommend preventive management through timely removal and treatment of logging residues and weakened trees to reduce breeding sites. Biological control options, including the predator Nemozoma elongatum and entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana, show promise but require further study. A critical knowledge gap remains regarding the role of secondary infections in lesion development following beetle infestation. Whether T. bicolor represents a persistent threat or a transient response to climatic stress remains unclear, but proactive monitoring and management are essential to mitigate its impact on beech forests. This review provides an updated basis for forest managers, researchers, and policymakers confronting the challenges posed by T. bicolor.

Currently, the existing concepts of waqf management and forest management are still separated. It creates an opportunity to develop the concept of waqf-based forest management. This study aims to develop a National Waqf-based Forest Index (NWFI) as a standardized tool to measure the performance of waqf-based forest management practices. This research is a quantitative study that began with preliminary research and was followed by interviews with seven experts using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Based on preliminary research, the index comprises five dimensions: institution (with three aspects), process (with three aspects), system (with three aspects), outcome (with twelve aspects), and impact (with three aspects). It is found in the AHP analysis that the institution and process dimension is considered the most important aspect for waqf-based forests, with an importance score of 0.227, followed by the system and impact dimension (0.197), and the outcome dimension (0.152). Based on the consistency rate, all experts' assessments were consistent. Regarding rater agreement, the outcome dimension and several indicators related to the environment and social facilities achieved the highest level of agreement (W ~0.400–0.500), whereas other dimensions and aspects, such as expert opinions, showed significant dispersion. In conclusion, this waqf-based forest index has the potential to strengthen the role of Islamic finance in supporting sustainable projects by providing the basic practical tool for the waqf-based forest nazhir and policy-makers to assess waqf-based forest management and construct future good nazhir governance. Further research and pilot projects are important to evaluate its effectiveness in measuring waqf-based forest management practically.