Global climate change is a major challenge for forestry because it fundamentally alters the growth conditions of tree species. Sycamore maple ( Acer pseudoplatanus L.), often overlooked in forest management, is increasingly recognized as a valuable species for sustainable forestry in Central Europe. This tree species offers a unique combination of high economic and ecological value, characterized by rapid juvenile growth, abundant natural regeneration, and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including mountainous regions. Its contribution to biodiversity, nutrient cycling and soil stabilization underlines its ecological importance. Despite its many advantages, sycamore maple faces significant threats from global climate change, such as prolonged drought and increased susceptibility to pathogens. Nevertheless, its genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity allow it to thrive in diverse habitats, including areas affected by human activities. This review synthesizes current knowledge of the species distribution, site requirements, silviculture, and associated threats and provides an economic evaluation of sycamore maple wood assortments. Its wood is highly valued for its exceptional versatility and quality, underlining its economic attractiveness. To maximize its potential, effective forest management practices are essential. These include strategies such as establishing mixed stands and implementing careful regeneration techniques to ensure the species’ resilience in the face of climate change. By incorporating ecological, economic, and climate-resilience perspectives, this review demonstrates the vital role of sycamore maple in sustainable forestry and biodiversity conservation in Central Europe. The results highlight its ecological and adaptive capacity and economic viability as a resource for future forest ecosystems.

Pollen viability, dispersion ability and longevity during deep-freezer storage were studied in three Juniperus taxa distributed in Slovakia. All these characteristics of pollen are closely related to the pollination and/or fertilization success of the junipers in nature. Pollen viability varied considerably between the three populations of J. communis and one population of each, J. sibirica and J. communis var. intermedia. Pollen germination rate ranged between 40.75% and 75.06%, and pollen tube length between 30.32 and 40.41 µm. A clear tendency indicates a higher germination rate of J. communis pollen from lower altitudes and reduced germination of J. sibirica and J. communis var. intermedia pollen from higher altitudes. The dispersion potential of the J. communis pollen during its shedding seems relatively low. In 2021, pollen cloud density was diluted at 68.1% at the 4 m distance from the test shrub, in 2022 of 52.1% at the 17 m distance from the pollen source. A deep-freezer storage of juniper pollen in a double-walled polyethylene bag with silica gel was not efficient enough, as indicated by the drop of pollen germination rate of 31.2% in J. communis and of 79.4% in J. sibirica during a 1-year storage period at − 81 °C.

Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is a thermophilic oak species that is gaining importance in the context of ongoing climate change because of its better resistance to climatic extremes and drier conditions. Therefore, this article focuses on Turkey oak’s role and growth properties in the coppice forests of Southern Europe (Italy, Bulgaria) compared to similar site conditions in Central Europe (Slovakia, Czechia). The aims are to evaluate the basic dendrometry indicators, stand biodiversity, growth dynamics, and the effect of climatic factors on tree-ring increment on specific site chronologies. We found that the tree density in coppices of 50–60 years varied between 475 and 775 trees ha−1, and the stand volume ranged from 141 to 407 m3 ha−1. The complex stand diversity of all plots ranged from a monotonous to uniform structure. The size of tree-ring growth was closely related to indicators of stand density. The lowest influence of climatic factors on tree-ring growth was found in sites in Italy and the highest in Slovakia. The primary limiting factor for growth was the lack of precipitation during the growing season, especially in June and July. In contrast, temperature had a marginal effect on radial growth compared to precipitation. The radial growth in research plots in Southern Europe goes through longer 6 to 8-year growth cycles, and in Central European sites, it goes through shorter cycles of 2.4 to 4.8 years, which confirms better growth conditions in this region. The studied coppice stands exhibit a stable reaction to climate change. Yet, regarding cyclical growth, the Central European stands benefit from an advantageous climate and grow better than in Southern Europe. As part of the changing environmental conditions, Turkey oak is becoming an important tree species that can achieve high production potential even in drier habitats due to its regeneration characteristic as coppice and may play a critical role in its northerly introduction in Europe.

Black alder (Alnus glutinosa [L.] Gaertn.) is an important component of riparian and wetland ecosystems in Europe. However, data on the growth of this significant broadleaved tree species is very limited. Presently, black alder currently suffers from the pathogen Phytophthora and is particularly threatened by climate change. The objective of this study was to focus on the impact of climatic variables (precipitation, temperature, extreme climatic events) on the radial growth of alder across its geographic range during the period 1975–2015. The study of alder stands aged 46–108 years was conducted on 24 research plots in a wide altitude range (85–1015 m) in 12 countries of Europe and Asia. The most significant months affecting alder radial growth were February and March, where air temperatures are more significant than precipitation. Heavy frost and extreme weather fluctuations in the first quarter of the year were the main limiting factors for diameter increment. Within the geographical setting, latitude had a higher effect on radial growth compared to longitude. However, the most important variable concerning growth parameters was altitude. The temperature’s effect on the increment was negative in the lowlands and yet turned to positive with increasing altitude. Moreover, growth sensitivity to precipitation significantly decreased with the increasing age of alder stands. In conclusion, the growth variability of alder and the number of negative pointer years increased with time, which was caused by the ongoing climate change and also a possible drop in the groundwater level. Riparian alder stands well supplied with water are better adapted to climatic extremes compared to plateau and marshy sites.

Forest management might be threatened by declining health status of oaks in the transition zone between oak and beech forests, where drought is the most limiting factor. The aim of the presented paper is to assess the influence of selected climatic characteristics on the radial growth of oak trees with different stem diameter status in the beech-oak and oak-beech forest altitudinal zones within the forest growth area of Polana Mt. and Zvolen Basin (Slovakia). Our results show that oaks with less favourable stem diameter position (Weisse's middle stems) show slower radial growth, have less pronounced climatic precipitation signal and milder response to extreme climatic events. The findings potentially suggest that not only favourable tree species composition of stands, but also the stand structure can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on forest growth.

Although millipedes are faunistically among the best studied groups of edaphon in Europe, there is still a lack of available information on the ecological requirements of particular species. Habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely controlled by soil properties, habitat structure and microclimate. In forests, habitat features are predominantly driven by the properties of woody tree species. Millipedes, like other saprophages, are influenced by the characteristics of litter and soil. However, the effect of tree species on millipede communities has not been investigated in forest stands consisting of several autochthonous or allochthonous tree species. Our study examines the effect of soil properties related to several autochthonous and allochthonous tree species on millipede communities. The research was carried out at 9 stands in the Arboretum Mlyňany (western Slovakia). Each stand represents a monoculture of one of 9 tree species: 4 autochthonous species (Picea abies, Taxus baccata, Quercus cerris, and Carpinus betulus) and 5 allochthonous species (Picea orientalis, Pinus nigra, Pinus ponderosa, Thuja occidentalis, and Castanea sativa). The results of this research confirmed relationships between (1) the soil pH and the total activity-density of millipedes, (2) the soil pH and the structure of the millipede communities, (3) the soil conductivity and the structure of the millipede communities, and (4) the leaf litter pH and the equitability of the millipede communities. In terms of the total activity-density and species richness of the millipedes, forest stands with autochthonous tree species provided more favourable conditions for millipedes than forest stands with allochthonous tree species. Millipedes achieved high abundance and diversity in these stands and can therefore contribute to the faster decomposition of dead organic matter and nutrient recycling in forest ecosystems.

The positive effects of habitat heterogeneity on biodiversity are well established, but it is unclear how the diversity of less frequently studied but ecologically important taxa such as harvestmen (Opiliones) may vary across habitat boundaries generated by fine-scale traditional land-use. We investigated how harvestmen community metrics (composition, abundance, and diversity) varied across forest-meadow ecotones in a protected and naturally highly biodiverse karst region where biodiversity conservation plays an important role. We sampled harvestmen across forest edges adjacent to hay meadows in the Veľká Fatra Mts. (Central Slovakia) during two vegetation seasons using pitfall traps. In total, 13 species from 4 families were collected. The total number of captured harvestmen was greatest in forests and lowest in meadows and species composition varied between these two habitats (with forest edges forming a transitional community). Species diversity (exponential of Shannon’s H´) was marginally greater within forest edges compared to forest and meadow habitats. Harvestmen epigeic activity-density (an abundance proxy) was correlated positively with tree canopy cover, and negatively with the cover of herbaceous layer. Our findings have implications for biodiversity conservation as they highlight the importance of forest habitats for the conservation of understudied taxa such as harvestmen in heterogenous landscapes modified by humans.

Curly birch (Betula pendula Roth. var. carelica [Merklin] Hämet-Ahti) is a disappearing representative of the Betula genus facing a regeneration failure in a large part of its natural distribution in Europe. The unique long-term study of clonal replications originating in heterogeneous environments enabled the evaluation of long-term survival and phenotypic stability of progenies in seed orchard to assess the conservation and commercial potential of heterovegetative propagation. Seventy-eight geographic sources (95 clone origins) representing the south distribution edge in East-Central Europe were analysed for species variation in survival, growth form, bark colour, and stem quality of parent trees and their vegetative progeny, and the effects of four parental site origin characteristics. The survival rate was 73% after 28–33 years of growth. Retention of curly-grained wood was high, the curly-grained wood structure is heritable and thus clonally efficiently achievable (only 3.5% of grafted individuals showed no occurrence of figured wood structure). The phenotypic expression of curliness manifested on the trunks as bulges, stem growth forms (tree/shrub) and stem technical quality showed a lower degree of stability (coincidence) between the parent trees and heterovegatively propagated progenies. Despite this, the conservation potential of seed orchard is very high, especially when stabilization of the stem growth forms affecting the survival and commercial value of progenies can be probably achieved by a more careful selection of scions. Overall, heterovegetative orchards seem to be a very promising method for the long-term conservation of curly birch populations, which, in addition to their great biological and ecological value, have considerable commercial potential.

Bark cankers accompanied by symptoms of decline and dieback are the result of a destructive disease caused by Phytophthora infections in woody plants. Pathogenicity, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and volatile responses to P. cactorum and P. plurivora inoculations were studied in field-grown 10-year-old hybrid poplar plants. The most stressful effects of P. cactorum on photosynthetic behaviour were found at days 30 and 38 post-inoculation (p.-i.), whereas major disturbances induced by P. plurivora were identified at day 30 p.-i. and also belatedly at day 52 p.-i. The spectrum of volatile organic compounds emitted at day 98 p.-i. was richer than that at day 9 p.-i, and the emissions of both sesquiterpenes α-cubebene and germacrene D were induced solely by the Phytophthora inoculations. Significant positive relationships were found between both the axial and the tangential development of bark cankers and the emissions of α-cubebene and β-caryophyllene, respectively. These results show that both α-cubebene and germacrene D are signal molecules for the suppression of Phytophthora hyphae spread from necrotic sites of the bark to healthy living tissues. Four years following inoculations, for the majority of the inoculated plants, the callus tissue had already closed over the bark cankers.

The positive influence of heterogeneity in vegetation and land-use on animal diversity is generally well established, but it has not been conclusively confirmed yet in millipede communities inhabiting karst canyons where biodiversity is to large extent determined by variation in topography (e.g., elevation). We studied how millipede assemblages (Diplopoda) vary between forest, forest edge, and meadow habitats in this specific karst environment. We sampled millipedes by pitfall trapping during two vegetation seasons (from March to October in 2001 and 2002) in approximately monthly intervals across nine sites in Central Slovakia (Veľká Fatra Mts). In total, 951 individuals belonging to 12 species from 6 families and 10 orders were collected. The dominant species was Unciger foetidus, which was also one of the two most frequent species along with Polydesmus complanatus. Although the total number of captured millipedes was greatest on forest edges (395 individuals), intermediate in meadows, and lowest in forests (214 individuals), millipede abundance and species composition varied considerably within each habitat type among the sites. Total millipede species richness in meadow and forest edge habitats was the same (11 species) and it was lower in forest habitats (7 species), while species diversity (Shannon's H′) and equitability (E) were greatest in meadows. Millipede diversity measures (species richness or equitability) were correlated positively with species richness of herb layer and negatively with shrub layer equitability, soil conductivity, and soil phosphorus. Thus, we found complex patterns of heterogeneity in millipede community composition and richness across studied habitats and elevations that were driven by habitat type and plant community and soil characteristics. While millipede abundance patterns varied, open habitats supported most species-rich millipede communities at lower elevations, while forest edges were most species-rich at the high elevation.

Although Carabidae is among the best-studied families of beetles in Europe from the faunistic point of view, there is still a lack of available information on the ecological requirements of the particular carabid species. The habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely influenced by habitat structure and microclimate. In addition to other factors, these habitat parameters are influenced by the nature of the vegetation. Therefore, our study investigated the influence of tree species on carabid beetle communities. We conducted the research at 9 stands in the Borová Hora Arboretum (Zvolen, Central Slovakia). Each studied site represents a monoculture of one of nine tree species. At each site, some soil and leaf litter attributes (pH, conductivity, and content of H, C, N and P) were evaluated. Ground beetles were collected by pitfall trapping during the vegetation periods in 2008–2011. In total, 3012 individuals of 29 species were obtained. Significant differences in the total dynamic activity and species richness of the carabid beetle communities among the compared forest stands were revealed. The results of the research confirmed statistically significant relationships among 1) the soil conductivity and both the richness and Shannon diversity of the ground beetle communities, 2) the litter and soil N content and richness, the Shannon diversity and the species composition of the ground beetle communities. The Shannon diversity and richness were negatively related to the soil conductivity and positively related with the N content. Our research showed that dominant tree species indirectly influence diversity and composition of carabid communities via the soil properties.

Dwarf pine (Pinus mugo Turra) thickets are a substantial land cover in high-elevation mountain ecosystems in Europe, where they fulfill important functions in soil conservation and as wildlife habitat. In many areas across Europe these thickets have rapidly expanded over the past decades because of changing climate and land use, highlighting the need to better understand how species spread relates to growth traits and changing environmental conditions. We quantified changes in dwarf pine cover by elevation on 2 mountains in the Western Carpathians (Central Europe) over 64 years (Babia hora) and 40 years (Pilsko), and we linked them to species growth responses to climate using archival photogrammetry and stem length measurements. We correlated mean growth chronologies with mean monthly temperature and precipitation to assess the main climatic factors driving growth. The total expansion of dwarf pine cover was substantial (28.6% in Babia hora and 57.1% in Pilsko), but the rate of expansion varied with elevation, site, and intra- and interspecific competition. The largest expansion occurred in the open stands of the high elevations (1550–1650 m). Statistically significant positive correlations between growth and temperature were recorded for the most recent growing season and for the preceding growing season. However, despite rising temperatures over time, mean species growth during the last 20 years decreased slightly. The correlation of growth with precipitation was mostly positive but not statistically significant. Thus, the impact of changing climate appeared too weak to overcome other influential factors (eg decline in grazing and intra- and interspecific competition).

Background and purpose. The zigzag elm sawfly, Aproceros leucopoda (Hymenoptera), originating from Asia is being considered as one of the major pests of elm trees (Ulmus spp.) within Europe where it was first recorded in 2003. Recent investigations document the fast spread of this invasive species in many European countries. In Slovakia, A. leucopoda was first recorded in 2009 but its occurrence here has not been reported since 2009. Herein, we summarize the data from the two consecutive years about the current distribution of A. leucopoda and its hosts in Slovakia, Central Europe, focusing on infestation of elm trees by this successful invader in different altitudes.Material and methods. In 2014 and 2015 the investigations of A. leucopoda were conducted at 101 different plots across the country. At each plot, characteristic symptoms of leaf damage, occurrence of larvae, cocoons or adults were recorded along with the geographical coordinates and the altitude, and the host trees of A. leucopoda were identified at the species level. The distribution map of A. leucopoda was drawn using the field data. The infestation of elm trees along the altitudinal gradient was analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric analysis of variance followed by post-hoc Dunn's test for multiple comparisons.Results and conclusions. The zigzag elm sawfly A. leucopoda was observed at 31 plots (30.7%, n = 101). In elm trees examined, generally, a low level of infestation by this pest was observed. A. leucopoda was found at plots between 107 and 701 m a.s.l. The result show that the infestation level of elm trees was decreasing with increasing altitude. Although we had only a small sample of data, we assume that the altitude has a significant effect on distribution of this pest. The field elm (Ulmus minor Mill.) was the most frequently utilized host. Data collected document the establishment of this successful invader in Slovakia.

The increasing probability of Taxus baccata (L.) decline given climate change brings forth many uncertainties for conservation management decisions. In this article, the authors present the effects of applying regeneration cuttings since the year 2000 on the viability of the understory yew population. By collecting data from a stand located at the centre of the largest population of European yew in Slovakia, containing approximately 160,000 individuals, and analysing tree-ring records from 38 sampled trees, the improved performance of yews, including stem growth, seed production, and number of regenerated individuals, was revealed. Thinning the canopy by removing 15% of the growing stock volume per decade, combined with the subsequent irregular shelterwood cuttings, was assessed as a useful strategy. Moreover, lower radial growth of females compared to males, but simultaneously their similar response to climate, suggests a possible trade-off between reproduction and growth. Release cuttings of up to 30% of the standing volume in the vicinity of the female trees, executed in the rainy summers following warmer winters, and consistent elimination of deer browsing, can further enhance the positive effects of applied cuts on yew viability. Overall, the suggested active measures could be considered as an effective option to preserve the unique biodiversity of calcareous beech-dominated forests in Central Europe.

Micropropagated plants experience significant stress from rapid water loss when they are transferred from an in vitro culture to either greenhouse or field conditions. This is caused both by inefficient stomatal control of transpiration and the change to a higher light intensity and lower humidity. Understanding the physiological, vascular and biomechanical processes that allow micropropagated plants to modify their phenotype in response to environmental conditions can help to improve both field performance and plant survival. To identify changes between the hybrid poplar [Populus tremula × (Populus × canescens)] plants propagated from in vitro tissue culture and those from root cuttings, we assessed leaf performance for any differences in leaf growth, photosynthetic and vascular traits, and also nanomechanical properties of the tracheary element cell walls. The micropropagated plants showed significantly higher values for leaf area, leaf length, leaf width and leaf dry mass. The greater leaf area and leaf size dimensions resulted from the higher transpiration rate recorded for this stock type. Also, the micropropagated plants reached higher values for chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and for the nanomechanical dissipation energy of tracheary element cell walls which may indicate a higher damping capacity within the primary xylem tissue under abiotic stress conditions. The performance of the plants propagated from root cuttings was superior for instantaneous water-use efficiency which signifies a higher acclimation capacity to stressful conditions during a severe drought particularly for this stock type. Similarities were found among the majority of the examined leaf traits for both vegetative plant origins including leaf mass per area, stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, hydraulic axial conductivity, indicators of leaf midrib vascular architecture, as well as for the majority of cell wall nanomechanical traits. This research revealed that there were no drawbacks in the leaf physiological performance which could be attributed to the micropropagated plants of fast growing hybrid poplar.

Although harvestmen (Opiliones) are among the best studied groups of arachnids in Europe from the faunistic point of view, there is still lack of available information on ecological requirements of the particular species. Habitat preferences that determine the distribution of species are largely determined by the habitat structure and microclimate. Besides other factors, these characteristics of habitats are also influenced by the nature of the vegetation. Therefore, our study dealt with the influence of tree species on harvestmen communities. We conducted the research on nine sites in the Borová hora arboretum (Zvolen town, Central Slovakia). Each studied site represents a monoculture of one of nine tree species. On each site also some attributes of soil and leaf litter (pH, conductivity, content of H, C, N and P) were evaluated. Harvestmen were collected by pitfall trapping during vegetation periods in 2008–2012. In total, 2515 individuals of 17 species and 3 families were obtained. Significant differences were revealed between the compared forest stands in terms of total epigeic activity and species richness of harvestmen. The hierarchical cluster analysis divided harvestmen communities into two main clusters (except community of the site with European hornbeam). The first one represented four sites with relatively lower canopy (< 50%) and with the higher number of captured individuals, the second cluster grouped four sites with higher canopy (> 50%) and with the lower number of captured individuals. The results of research confirmed statistically significant relationships between the litter conductivity and equitability and between the litter pH and equitability of harvestmen communities.

This article deals with quantitative and qualitative expressions of curly birch origins which were found in the Nizke Beskydy Mts. and then grafted and planted or sown in the Borova hora Arboretum (Slovakia). Main goals are (i) to evaluate quantitative characteristics of all individuals with the vegetative and generative origin, and (ii) to assess transfer and development of heritable traits, especially colour of bark, swirls and type of growth. We find out that quantitative characteristics are significantly influenced only by growing type (0.05, ANOVA). Transfer of qualitative characteristics on next generation is assessed through pivot tables. In contrast to the colour of the bark, hereditary transmission of swirls highly varies and it appears to be independent of the original form. Despite the high phenotypic variability and linkage of curly birch to extreme environmental factors, our results show that it is possible to grow its high-quality subsequent generations in non-original conditions.

This paper deals with selected production characteristics (crown volume, maximum height, and canopy closure) of spruce natural forest NNR Pilsko. Data used for determination of production characteristics were collected on transects (10 x 60 m) of three permanent research plots in years 1977, 1997, 2007 Permanent research plots were establish in three developmental stages of natural forests and three altitudinal zones. Relation between crown and stem volume and utilization of available growth space were analyzed. The results confirmed that the competition of trees in crown space is significantly higher in growth-up and optimal stage and therefore the assimilatory area of tree crowns has a lesser influence on production characteristics of stem. The analysis of maximum height values of the stand confirmed its high dependence on altitude. The results showed that for each 100 m increment of altitude, maximum spruce height decreased by 7.6 m.