The Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest are important global biodiversity hotspots that are highly diverse in geological structure, soil, and climatic conditions, all of which directly affect vegetation diversity. The conservation of these biomes depends on recognizing variations in their humidity levels. Given the correlation between water access and plant health, as illustrated by NDVI, we assessed the feasibility of building an NDVI-based model to detect variations in habitat moisture. Using various statistical algorithms, the correctness of the NDVI-based habitat moisture assessment model was confirmed. In addition, it was determined that UMAP was the most favourable of the algorithms employed. Our method provides a practical, efficient tool for assessing habitat moisture that can benefit fields such as ecology, conservation biology, and land management.

The distribution of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), similar to other tree species, depends on habitat conditions (climate, soil, and location), which are further affected by forest management. The analysis of forest ecosystems utilizes the link between the knowledge of habitat requirements of forest trees and their share in plant communities described via the phytosociological method. There is a significant knowledge gap in this regard, namely the lack of plant communities with the natural participation of pine and beech. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify the variability of plant communities involving Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica within its northeastern range. Our research resulted in the identification of two new phytosociological units described as a Fago-Pinetum association and a subassociation within the existing Leucobryo-Pinetum plant community (Leucobryo-Pinetum fagetosum). Leucobyro-Pinetum fagetosum is characterized by the constant presence of beech in the herb and seedling layer or by a share of beech in the shrub and small-tree layer up to 10% cover. Fago-Pinetum is characterized by a greater share of beech in the shrub and small-tree layer (covering 10%-30% area) and by the presence of beech in the lower understory.

The pressure of human activity in river valley environments has always been high. Even today, despite the increasing awareness of societies around the world regarding the need to protect water and biodiversity, there are concerns that the current river valley management systems are insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the state of knowledge about the soils and forest ecosystems of river valleys in terms of the possibility of protecting river valley environments. This study used data obtained from the Forest Data Bank (FDB) database, which focuses on forests in Poland. After analyzing 17,820 forest sections where the soils were described as fluvisols, it was found that forest areas associated with fluvisols (typical, fertile soils of river valleys) are quite well recognized and protected in Poland. Most (55%) forested fluvisols are located in Natura 2000 sites (an important European network of biodiversity hotspots), 4% in nature reserves, and 1% in national parks. Additionally, the main forest habitat type associated with fluvisols is riparian forest, composed mainly of Quercus, Ulmus, and Fraxinus, which is protected as Natura 2000 habitat type 91F0. Preserving the sustainability of the forest is also a form of soil protection. Despite the identification of soils and forests in river valleys, as well as appropriate legal tools, their protection may be ineffective due to the fragmentation of forms of protection and the lack of a coherent system for managing river valleys. Because the conservation status of the river valleys is also influenced by the management of areas located outside the river valleys, in order to protect river valley ecosystems, integrated conservation plans for entire catchments should be implemented. Due to potential conflicts related to the management of areas with diverse expectations of local communities, it would be advisable for such plans to be created by local experts but under the supervision of a specialist/specialists from outside the area covered by a given river basin.

The aim of this study was to determine the tolerance to metals (Zn, Cu) and drought of male and female Salix × fragilis L. under isolated and combined treatments, and to assess the metal uptake and profiling of metabolic plant responses. The 14-day experiment was performed in a hydroponic system, and metals were applied at 1.5 mM in a Knop’s solution. Drought simulation was achieved by adding sorbitol at a moderate level (200 mM). Isolated Zn treatment enhanced plant growth, more pronouncedly in females. Equimolar Cu treatment caused diverse reactions, and females exhibited significantly higher tolerance. Male specimens were less tolerant to isolated drought and to combined drought and metal presence. The highest contents of Cu and Zn were found in roots, compared to the aboveground tissues (wooden rods and leaves), of both female and male metal-treated plants. Simultaneously applied drought limited Zn accumulation in roots and elevated its translocation to leaves while increasing Cu accumulation, predominantly in females showing higher tolerance. Both isolated and combined drought and metals reduced leaf water content, caused the allocation of mineral nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and affected metabolism in a stressor-specific and sex-dependent manner. For males, Cu accumulation in the leaves was significantly correlated with the majority of metabolites, while for both sexes, kaempferol and salicylic acid were strongly correlated, indicating their role in tolerance against the metal. The obtained results are an excellent starting point for the practical use of male and female Salix × fragilis L. in areas heavily polluted with Cu or Zn and exposed to drought, for the purpose of their recultivation.

Climate change has significant natural and economic implications, but its extent is particularly challenging to assess in forest management, a field which combines both of the previous aspects and requires the evaluation of the impact of climate change on tree species over a 100-year timeframe. Oaks are among the tree species of significant natural and economic value in Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze all oak stands in Poland and verify the hypothesis regarding differences between Quercus robur and Quercus petraea stands in terms of soil type, annual total precipitation, average annual air temperature, and the length of the growing season. Additionally, this study aimed to analyze the impact of these differences on the growth rates of both oak species and test whether climate change may affect oak stands. A database containing 195,241 tree stands, including different oak species with varying shares in the stand (from 10% to 100%), was analyzed. A particular emphasis was placed on Q. robur and Q. petraea. The results show that, although both oak species have a wide common range of occurrence, there are clear differences in their habitat preferences. Based on the ordinal regression analysis of selected oak stands, it was concluded that an increase in air temperature of 1 °C could impair the growth of Q. robur and slightly improve the growth of Q. petraea. This may indicate the possibility of expanding the geographic range of sessile oaks towards the east and northeast under warming climatic conditions, provided that appropriate moisture conditions are maintained.

The anatomical characteristics of ectomycorrhizal exploration types in response to soil variability remain insufficiently understood. We examined the root anatomy of contact and long-distance exploration types in Pinus sylvestris and Quercus petraea, species with distinct ecological needs, across different soil horizons. The diameter of ectomycorrhizal roots, the root absorptive traits i.e. proportion of cortex and mantle area, the percentage stele in the diameter, and the weighted average diameter of vessels (Ra) in the ectomycorrhizas were measured within ectomycorrhizas collected from organic and mineral soils across the soil profile. The absorptive traits varied along soil horizons, in which water and nutrient availability changed inversely. The proportion of cortex was associated with exploration type, but was not specific to tree species. However, the ectomycorrhizal diameter and the percentage of mantle within the root forming contact exploration type of P. sylvestris showed no variation among soil horizons. In contrast, the soil horizon significantly influenced all root anatomical traits in the contact exploration type of Q. petraea by enhancing the contribution of the absorption area of the root area, mainly in the illuvial horizon, but reaching the smallest value in the organic horizon. The Ra and the cell wall thickness of the vessels were strongly dependent on tree species. With increasing soil depth, Ra in Q. petraea increased, and stele proportion in root diameter decreased. The results suggest that water acquisition traits differ among tree species, but traits associated with nutrient absorption (proportion of cortex and mantle area) within specific soil horizons are closely related to the ectomycorrhizal exploration type.

Combining different diverse data on human and environmental history during the Anthropocene is an extremely challenging task, particularly, if one wants to compare written or cartographic data with a whole range of environmental data recorded for more than the past 200–300 years. In this article, our objective was to demonstrate that one of the keys to facilitating syntheses for the study of forest landscape dynamics was to conduct a thorough investigation into the historical phenomena of modernization. We believe that a comprehensive understanding of the advancements in post-enlightenment thought and contextualizing them within the evolution of the state apparatus during the 18th and 19th centuries will empower us to formulate new research questions and broaden our understanding of the mutual relations between nature and humans in the past.

This study investigates the prospects for preserving the main Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) ecotypes in Poland, considering the habitat conditions of their occurrence. Scots pine is known for its wide distribution and natural adaptability to various habitats. However, there is an increasing vulnerability of pine forests to damage from biotic factors and a decrease in natural regeneration, particularly in areas under legal protection. Additionally, projected climate change has raised concerns about the future of Pinus sylvestris, placing it in the “losing” group of tree species. The aim of the study was to analyze the habitat conditions of the seven main selected Pinus sylvestris L. ecotypes to assess the sustainability of pine stands in their natural habitat conditions. Out of the seven populations of studied pine ecotypes, only one grows under conditions representing a typical form of pine forest (Leucobryo–Pinetum plant association). Two populations grow under conditions corresponding to potential deciduous forests (Galio sylvatici–Carpinetum and Calamagrostio arundinaceae–Quercetum petraeae). The remaining populations represent potentially mixed oak–pine forests. Such a distribution of plant communities, except for Leucobryo–Pinetum, does not guarantee the continuity of the studied pine stands as a result of their natural regeneration. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve the offspring of the studied populations outside their occurrence sites, but the studied pine stands should be preserved until their natural death in their natural habitats. In the conducted research, the NDVI turned out to be very useful, showing a high correlation with the trophicity of habitat expressed in the diversity of plant communities, as well as with the height and diameter of the studied stands.

Determining the natural range of Acer pseudoplatanus and the future directions of its spread is not clear. Modern technological achievements, including tools related to remote sensing, provide new opportunities to assess the degree of spread and adaptation of species to a changing climate. The aim of the work was to demonstrate the possibility of using NDVI to assess the habitat conditions of sycamore in Poland and the possibility of its natural expansion. The data analysis was divided into 2 parts. The first covered the characteristics of all sycamore stands occurring in Poland. In the second part, the analysis of sycamore stands using NDVI was made. The results of the study show that the highest average NDVI values are found in sycamore stands in the northern part of Poland, which has so far been considered less favorable for sycamore. This may suggest the potential for an increase in the share of sycamore towards the north. The results also confirm the forecasts given in the literature regarding the spread of sycamore towards Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The results also point to Denmark and the western part of the British Isles as potentially favorable habitats for sycamore.

Oryginalne prace naukowe publikowane w czasopiśmie Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria dotyczą wiedzy z leśnictwa i drzewnictwa: od hodowli, ochrony, urządzania i użytkowania lasu, przez gospodarkę łowiecką, zagadnienia inżynieryjno-techniczne i ekonomiczno-organizacyjne do problematyki surowcowej oraz chemicznej i mechanicznej technologii drewna.

Measurement of water content in forest habitats is considered essential in ecological research on forests, climate change, or forest management. In the traditional forest habitat classification, two systems of habitat conditions analysis are found: single factor and multifactor methods. Both are laborious and therefore costly. Remote sensing methods provide a low-cost alternative. The aim of the presented study was to find the relationship between the spectral indices obtained from satellite images and the forest habitats moisture indices used traditionally in the Polish forest habitats classification. The scientific hypothesis of the research is as follows: it is possible to assess the variation in the humidity of forest habitats on the basis of spectral indices. Using advanced geographic information system (GIS) technology, 923 research plots were tested, where habitat studies performed with the traditional methods were compared with the analysis of 191 spectral indices calculated for Sentinel-2 image data. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) has proved to be the most useful to the assessing of moisture of forest habitats. The ranking of the most correlated indices was calculated as Eintg—the product of the absolute value of the slope and the mean square error complement, and for the top five indices was as follows: NDVI = 0.248619, EXG = 0.242112, OSAVI = 0.239412, DSWI-4 = 0.238784, and RDVI = 0.236995. The results also highlight the impact of water reservoirs on the humidity and trophicity of forest habitats, showing a decrease in the fertility of habitats with an increase in distance from the water reservoir. The results of the study can be used to preparing maps of the diversity of forest types, especially in hard-to-reach places, as well as to assess changes in the moisture status of habitats, which may be useful, for example, in the assessment of the fire risk of forest habitats. We have proved that NDVI can be used in applications for which it was not originally designed.

Of the many environmental factors that modulate the phytoextraction of elements, little has been learnt about the role of metal interactions. The study aimed to show how different concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn in the cultivation medium influenced the biomass, plant development and phytoextraction abilities of Acer platanoides L. seedlings. Additionally, the impact on the content and distribution of Ca, K, Mg and Na in plant parts was studied with an analysis of phenols. Plants treated with a mixture of two metals were characterised by lower biomass of leaves and higher major elements content jointly than those grown in the salt of one element. Leaves of A. platanoides cultivated in Pb 5 + Zn 1 , Pb 1 + Zn 1 and Pb 1 + Zn 5 experimental systems were characterised by specific browning of their edges. The obtained results suggest higher toxicity to leaves of Pb and Zn present simultaneously in Knop solution than Cu and Pb or Cu and Zn, irrespective of the mutual ratio of the concentrations of these elements. Antagonism of Cu and Zn concerning Pb was clearly shown in whole plant biomass when one of these elements was in higher concentration (5 mmol L −1 ) in solution. In the lowest concentrations (1 mmol L −1 ), there was a synergism between Cu and Zn in plant roots. Plants exposed to Zn 5 , Cu 1 + Pb 5 , Pb 5 + Zn 1 and Cu 1 + Zn 1 were characterised by higher total phenolic content than the rest plants. Both the presence and the concentration of other elements in the soil are significant factors that modulate element uptake, total phenolic content, and plant development. Graphical Abstract

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) dieback affects both overstory trees and natural regeneration. The decline of ash caused by severe crown defoliation and branch mortality has a high impact on ash natural regeneration. The site factors affecting the disease symptoms vary significantly and are not fully understood. Hence, we aimed to assess the joined effects of soil fertility and moisture (expressed by soil pH, CaCO3 content, and summer ground-water table level), herbivory, and health conditions connected with Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (T. Kowalski) Baral, Queloz, and Hosoya infestation on natural regeneration of F. excelsior. We examined 32 ash stands in Western Poland across soil fertility gradient. We established randomly selected circular plots (400 m(2)) in forests with >= 60% of ash in overstory species composition. We assessed natural regeneration density, the proportion of browsed trees, and trees damaged by ash dieback using generalized mixed-effects models. We found a higher proportion of damaged trees in neutral and base soils than in acid soils. Moreover, we found a low proportion of damaged trees in sites with low groundwater table levels. High CaCO3 content decreased the proportion of browsed trees, similarly as high shrub cover. The density of F. excelsior natural regeneration depended on groundwater table level, canopy cover, and proportion of damaged trees. We also found a positive relationship between density and deer browsing. The factor responsible for the higher infestation of saplings (low groundwater table level) also influenced natural regeneration density. This way, our study revealed how soil properties influence ash natural regeneration directly and indirectly. We showed that ash dieback will have a more severe impact on ash regeneration in ash typical sites. This is essential for predicting forest recovery and the ability to resilience after disturbances caused by H. fraxineus. Capsule: Joined effects of ash dieback, soil pH, and CaCO3 content, together with soil moisture, as well as deer browsing, affect ash regeneration. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a widespread species in Eurasia, but its natural range can be significantly altered by a variety of stressors. The ability of pine to regenerate naturally is significantly reduced by its occurrence in unsuitable habitats. The processes of natural selection of pine from select habitats can be followed in stands of national parks where forestry activities are excluded. The possibility of pine regeneration is influenced by the following factors: characteristics of produced seeds, competition, and genetic characteristics. In the present study, selected factors associated with limiting the natural regeneration potential of pine were analysed. The present work generated important information related to the natural regeneration potential of pine in Central and Eastern Europe. The main objective of the analyses was to discuss the possibility of the natural regeneration of pine stands without human intervention. In addition, the genetic diversity of naturally germinating seedlings was analysed. The obtained results confirmed the high reproductive potential of pine despite the advanced age of the studied trees. The obtained seeds produced by old growth Scots pine trees had high viability, while a significant difference was observed in terms of the average number of cones per dominant tree between studied stands. Thus, the number of cones was the main element determining the regeneration potential of the stands. It should be emphasised that the number of cones did not influence the occurrence of natural regeneration. Based on the obtained results, the regeneration potential of pine stands depends mainly on the habitat and the competitive pressure. In addition, a correlation between genetic parameters and the regeneration potential of stands should be established, which may be the beginning of further research on the process discussed in this publication.

Biodiversity at the species and individual levels is one of the fundamental elements characterizing an ecosystem. It is assumed that the greater the level of biodiversity, the more tolerant the environment is to changes in external conditions. In recent years, dynamic climate change has negatively impacted the health of many forest trees across Europe, in particular Scots pine. Tree health is commonly characterized by crown defoliation. The study presented here describes and correlates crown defoliation with biodiversity indicators at the species and individual tree levels. Research was conducted in two national parks in Poland (Kampinoski and Bory Tucholskie). Since stands have been under legal protection for many years and forest management is not practiced there, stand development processes taking place there are similar to natural ones. This study provided empirical data on ecosystem response to external stresses based on species and genetic structure. The results confirm differing health of the populations, which results from, among other factors, stand age and the environmental conditions in which they grow. Pine stands in both national parks are genetically diverse but with low genetic variability. Differences in stand health are related to the number of alleles forming the genetic pool. This conclusion is supported by a high correlation coefficient for interactions between defoliation, the number of alleles, and the Shannon index for genotypes. This suggests that greater gene diversity is likely to provide a wider range of phenotypic responses to environmental change.

Pollinators are important to wild and cultivated plants, and the same plants are important to pollinators as well. A very important source of pollen and nectar to pollinators are willows (Salix spp.). The aim of this study was to demonstrate which Apoidea species are attracted by a species-diverse willow plantation (Poznań University of Life Sciences Willow Collection, Poland), the proportion of the number of honeybees to other species from the Apoidea superfamily visiting willow plantations, and whether the flowering date of male and female willow individuals affect the species composition and number of pollinators. Observations of willow phenology were carried out in the second year of willow growth, from March 9 to December 7, 2012. The insects were observed between April 6 and May 11, 2012. The results of this study showed 30 Apoidea species. Among 1591 Apoidea individuals, only 17 honeybee individuals were noted. The results show that the willow pollen production optimum occurred when the minimum air temperatures stopped dropping below zero. This parameter and this period are also related to the intensification of the occurrence of the noted insects. It can also be concluded that the pollen production season precedes the flowering optimum of female flowers and that the optimum flowering of female flowers is correlated with a significant increase in air temperature.