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Annals of Forest Research
Journal Prestige (SJR): 0.4  Citation Impact (citeScore): 1 Number of Followers: 0  Open Access journalISSN (Print) 1844-8135 - ISSN (Online) 2065-2445 Published by Forest Research and Management Institute ICAS  [1 journal]
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- How accurate is the remote sensing based estimate of water
physico-chemical parameters in the Danube Delta (Romania)'
Authors: Marian Necula; Iris Maria Tușa, Manuela Elisabeta Sidoroff, Corina Ițcuș, Daniela Florea, Alexandru Amărioarei, Andrei Păun, Octavian Pacioglu, Mihaela Marinela Păun
Abstract: The current paper estimated the physico-chemical properties of water in the Danube Delta (Romania), based on Sentinel 2 remote sensing data. Eleven sites from the Danube Delta were sampled in spring and autumn for three years (2018-2020) and 21 water physico-chemical parameters were measured in laboratory. Several families of machine learning algorithms, translated into hundreds of models with different parameterizations for each machine learning algorithm, based on remote sensing data input from Sentinel 2 spectral bands, were employed to find the best models that predicted the values measured in laboratory. This was a novel approach, reflected in the types of selected models that minimised the values of performance metrics for the tested parameters. For alkalinity, calcium, chloride, carbon dioxide, hardness, potassium, sodium, ammonium, dissolved oxygen, sulphates, and suspended matter the results were promising, with an overall percentage bias of the estimates of +/- 10% from the observed values. For copper, magnesium, nitrites, nitrates, turbidity and zinc the estimates were fairly accurate, with percentage biases in the interval +/- 10% - 20%, whereas for detergents, led, and phosphates the percentage bias was higher than 20%. Overall, the results of the current study showed fairly good estimates between remote sensing based estimates and laboratory measured values for most water physico-chemical parameters.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 15:12:22 +000
- Monitoring tree mortality in Ukrainian Pinus sylvestris L. forests using
remote sensing data from earth observing satellites
Authors: Oleh V. Skydan; Tetiana P. Fedoniuk, Оleksandr S. Mozharovskii, Оleksandr V. Zhukov, Anastasiia A. Zymaroieva, Viktor М. Pazych, Vitaliy V. Hurelia, Taras V. Melnychuk
Abstract: This article considers the application of remote sensing data to solve the problems of forestry in the Polissia zone (Ukraine). The satellite remote sensing was shown to be applicable to monitoring the damage caused by diseases and pests to forest resources and to assessing the effects of fires. During the research, a detailed analysis and optimization of the information content of Sentinel-2 long-term data sets was performed to detect changes in the forest cover of Polissia, affected by pests and damaged by fires. The following classification algorithms were used for automated decryption: the maximum likelihood method; cluster classification without training; Principal Component Analysis (PCA); Random Forest classification. The results of this study indicate the high potential of Sentinel-2 data for application in applied problems of forestry and vegetation analysis, despite the decametric spatial resolution. Our proposed workflow has achieved an overall classification accuracy of 90 % for the Polissia region, indicating its reliability and potential for scaling to a higher level, and the proposed forecast model is stationary and does not depend on time parameters. To improve the classification results, testing of different combinations of bands emphasized the importance of Band 8 in combination with red edge bands, as well as other bands with a resolution of 10 m for summer scenes. The red margin shows clearly visible differences in the spectral profiles, but bands with a higher resolution of 10 m were crucial for good results.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 12:59:02 +000
- Gender inequalities in Transylvania's largest peri-urban forest usage
Authors: Romulus Florian Oprica; Nicu Constantin Tudose, Șerban Octavian Davidescu, Mihai Zup, Mirabela Marin, Adina Nicoleta Comănici, Maria Nicoleta Criț, Diana Pitar
Abstract: Urban green spaces (public gardens, parks, urban and peri-urban forests) offer multiple-use opportunities and spaces for recreational activities and played a key role in supporting mental and physical health of dwellers during covid-19 pandemic, being ones of few places where outdoor and social activities where allowed. This study was conducted in Brașov city (also known as Kronstadt, by its German name), the second largest metropolitan area of Romania and surrounded by a significant area of peri-urban forests in Transylvania. Brașov city own just 5.62 sqm of urban green space/inhabitant, one of the lowest in the country, so the presence of a large peri-urban forest area become very valuable for locals and tourists visiting the area. Due to its importance and because understanding visitors' expectations and perceptions is a key element to support decision-makers and ensure proper management of these forests, the Brașov’s forests administrator (Kronstadt Local Public Forest District – RPLPK) decided to investigate how dwellers generally interact with the peri-urban forests and to identify opportunities for improving the capacity of forests in providing social and recreational services. Data were collected through the administration of CAWI (computer assisted web interview) to 314 respondents at beginning of 2021, at exactly one year distance after the pandemic lockdown was imposed all around the country. Analyzing the participants responses, a surprising fact become evident: the use of peri-urban forest is not gender equal, women being less able than men to access these green natural spaces and, therefore, to uptake the benefits provided by the peri-urban forests.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 12:56:02 +000
- Emissions of CO2 from downed logs of different species and the surrounding
soil in temperate forest
Authors: Ewa Błońska; Wojciech Piaszczyk, Jarosław Lasota
Abstract: The decomposition of deadwood plays a very important role in the functioning of the forest ecosystem. The present study was conducted with the objectives to: (1) determine the amount of deadwood respiration depending on species and degree of decomposition; (2) determine the extent of the impact of decomposing wood on the amount of respiration in surrounding soil; (3) find a relationship between the amount of respiration and the chemical fractional composition of soil organic matter. Our research has shown that respiration of decaying wood samples was 2-3 times lower compared to soil, regardless of the type of wood and the degree of wood decomposition. The conducted analyses confirmed the influence of the species of wood and the degree of decomposition on the respiration rate in wood samples. More decomposed wood (4th and 5th degree of decomposition) releases more CO2 compared to less decomposed wood and the highest CO2 emissions were recorded for aspen and alder wood. Better understanding of the mechanisms and factors affecting CO2 emissions in forest ecosystem can help reduce climate change.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 12:54:40 +000
- Above-ground biomass allocation and potential carbon sink of black pine
– a case study from southern Poland
Authors: Wojciech Ochał; Bogdan Wertz, Stanisław Orzeł
Abstract: Biomass allocation is a key factor for understanding the forest carbon balance and reflects plants’ ecological strategies in different environmental conditions. Allocation patterns and biomass models outside of the native range of black pine have not been analyzed in the context of the observed climate changes. The study's goals were to develop biomass equations for mature black pine from southern Poland and assess biomass and carbon allocation patterns and the potential of trees of different social statuses for carbon sequestration. A total of 129 felled black pine trees were measured, among which 14 were destructively sampled to determine biomass and carbon content in tree components. The developed set of biomass equations provided allocation patterns and accumulation of trees of different social statuses.Biomass and carbon allocation patterns were different but related to tree social status. The introduction of diameter at crown base significantly improved the accuracy of the developed models. The analyzed trees allocated relatively more in stem than in crown in comparison with that observed in other studies.Biomass and carbon allocation patterns of the analyzed black pines differ from those of the native range. They should be considered in biomass modeling with factors influencing social status structure.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 12:50:08 +000
- Different responses of Monochamus galloprovincialis and three non-target
species to trap type, colour, and lubricant treatment
Authors: Tomasz Jaworski; Radosław Plewa, Aleksander Dziuk, Lidia Sukovata
Abstract: With the increasing threat to forests in Europe from the invasive pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, effective methods are needed to monitor and reduce populations of its insect vector, the pine sawyer beetle Monochamus galloprovincialis. In the present study, we tested the effectiveness of different trap types (multiple-funnel, cross-vane, and triangular), colours (black, white and clear), and lubricant (polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE) treatments (different PTFE formulations and timing of trap treatment) on the catches of M. galloprovincialis and three most commonly captured non-target beetle species (the xylophagous Spondylis buprestoides and two predators, Thanasimus formicarius and T. femoralis) in Poland. Of the traps not treated with PTFE, the white and black 6-funnel traps were most effective in trapping M. galloprovincialis beetles, while the catches in the cross-vane traps (both white and clear) were low. Trap treatment with PTFE significantly increased trap effectiveness, regardless of PTFE type and time of application. The catches of S. buprestoides were affected by trap type, while those of T. formicarius depended on trap colour and size. Both species seem to respond positively to ethanol and/or α-pinene in the lure composition. PTFE treatment had a significant effect on the catches of T. femoralis. In conclusion, for the monitoring of M. galloprovincialis, we recommend the white cross-vane traps treated with dry PTFE. They are less but still effective in catching the target species, while their use, together with lures containing no ethanol and α-pinene, greatly reduces the catches of non-target insects S. buprestoides and T. formicarius.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:35:01 +000
- Biomass, carbohydrate, and leakage conductance in buds of six ornamental
tree species subjected to a “false spring” in Northeast China
Authors: Xiaopei Wang; Lingquan Meng, Hongxu Wei
Abstract: Information is highly scarce about the possible effect of a late spring frost on physiological response of buds in ornamental trees. In this study, spring temperature of Changchun at Northeast China was recorded to identify the characteristics of a false spring by detecting extraordinary warming and sudden freeze in early April of 2017. Buds of six local ornamental tree species were investigated for their dynamics in biomass, non-structural carbohydrates, frost resistance on days of 7, 14, 21, and 28 April 2017. According to a comparison with spring temperature records historically from 2007 to 2016, a false spring was determined. Black pine (Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis) had greater bud biomass than apricot (Prunus sibirica L.). Peach (Prunus persica L. var. persica f. rubro-plena Schneid.) reserved greater non-structural carbohydrate content in post-chilling buds than black pine, and apricot and willow (Salix babylonica L.) had greater soluble sugars and starch contents in buds, respectively. Cumulative number of days with temperature below 12°C had a negative relationship with relative conductance in sorbus (Sorbus pohuashanensis [Hance] Hedl.). Chokecherry (Padus virginiana ‘Canada Red’) had greatest bud starch content on 21 April. Overall, a late spring frost imposed interruption on carbohydrate metabolism rather than direct damage on buds of ornamental trees before late April. Advanced warming induced more pronounced negative impact of a false spring than the sudden decline of minimum temperature.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:18:03 +000
- Effects of two different thinning methods on the diameter and basal area
increments of silver lime (Tilia tomentosa Moench) target trees in Fruška
Gora (Serbia)
Authors: Nikola Šušić; Martin Bobinac, Siniša Andrašev
Abstract: This paper analyses the cumulative effects of selective thinning and thinning from below on diameter and basal area increments of target trees after 25/26 years in 52, 69- and 86-year-old silver lime (Tilia tomentosa Moench) stands. Two target tree collectives were analysed: (1) elite trees selected between 1993–1994 from permanent sampling plots (selective thinning method), and (2) a ‘comparable collective’ of target trees selected in 2019 (25/26 years later) according to the same criteria as the elite trees, in the same stands thinned from below. Elite trees that were selectively thinned had: higher diameter, basal area and volume per tree, higher diameter and basal area increment for a given time period, and lower slenderness coefficients compared to the target trees that were thinned from below at 52 and 69 yr. While diameter increment decreases with age, and differences between elite trees of different ages are clearly delineated, diameter increments of trees thinned from below are not significantly different at 52 and 69 yr. In addition, basal area increment of trees is highest at 69 yr with selective thinning. When thinning from below, there were no significant differences in basal area increments between trees at 69 and 86 yr. Silver lime shows a strong growth response after selective thinning at ages 25/26 and 44 yr. However, our results show that this response is less pronounced when selective thinning begins at 61 yr.
PubDate: Fri, 30 Dec 2022 08:10:43 +000
