Tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) provide a quantitative indicator of habitat heterogeneity in forests, including beech (Fagus) forests. However, systematic analyses of the factors driving TreM ...diversity and composition in Fagus sylvatica and F. orientalis forests are lacking. In this study, the TreMs of beech forests on 203 plots of 22 forest sites (production and old-growth forest) across the full longitudinal range of both species were assessed following a standardized TreM protocol. A unified diversity and ordination framework based on Hill numbers was applied to account for unobserved TreM types and to extend the sensitivity of our findings focusing from rare to dominant TreMs. The composition of TreM assemblages was mostly determined by Fagus species and elevation, a surrogate for climate, and with focus on dominant TreMs by DBH, whereas old-growth versus production forest had no effect. The coverage of detected TreMs per plot increased with the number of trees assessed and DBH, but was lower in old-growth than in production forests. When standardized for sampling coverage, the diversity of rare and dominant TreM types was higher in old-growth than in production forests, but increased with elevation only focusing on dominant TreMs. These findings corroborate regional studies showing a higher TreM diversity in old-growth forests. Moreover, they demonstrate the importance of focusing conservation efforts on forests of both Fagus species and at different elevations, covering the full range of TreM assemblages. Future studies comparing TreM diversity in different forests should standardize diversity by sample coverage, as currently done in many biodiversity studies.
•New insights of Tree-related microhabitats (TreM) in conservation biodiversity•Hill numbers allow to focus on rare and dominant TreMs.•TreM diversity should consider non-random sample coverage at local scales.•TreM diversity is higher in unmanaged than in managed beech forests.•Fagus species, elevation and DBH influences TreM composition, not management.•Number of sampling trees and DBH increases the TreMs coverage, but more in managed forests.
This study was carried out in order to reveal the amount of litterfall according to the development stages in the oriental beech forests in the Marmara Region and the carbon stocks input into forest ...floor in this way. The research was conducted in a total of 18 sample plots, which differ in terms of aspect, elevation, slope, slope position and stand development stages namely the b (dbh=8.0-19,9 cm), c (dbh=20.0-35.9 cm) and d stages (dbh=36.0-51.9 cm). Five litter traps (50×50 cm) were set up each sample plot and litterfall material was collected monthly for three years. The litterfall materials taken from the field were separated into their components (leaf, branch, bark, miscellaneous) in the laboratory, dried at 65 °C until they reached a constant weight and weighed. Afterwards, carbon analysis was performed on the milled samples. The amount of litterfall in one-hectare area was determined by using the conversion coefficient to hectares of the masses of the litterfall components collected from the traps. Then, these values were multiplied by the carbon concentration obtained as a result of the analysis, and the carbon stocks into forest floor through litterfall in a hectare area were calculated. The data were evaluated with variance, correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyzes. According to the results of the research, the amount of litterfall increased depending on the growth of the development stage and the total litterfall ranged between 3959 and 5698 kg/ha/year. The weighted carbon concentration of the litterfall was determined to be 50.3%. C stock, which enters the forest floor with total litterfall, varies between 1988-2857 kg/ha/year according to the development stages. Total litterfall in beech forests was estimated by stand characteristics, climatic characteristics and physiographic factors. Using the models obtained, the amount of annual litterfall can be estimated in the beech stands in the region and in similar sites. The findings of this research can be used in modeling studies, which are among the long-term goals of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector.
Sepiolite is a silicate mineral that improves the fire properties in solid wood when mixed with a water-based coating. The present study was carried out to investigate and evaluate the effects of ...sepiolite addition to acrylic-latex paint on the pull-off adhesion strength, as an important characteristic of paints and finishes used in the modern furniture industry and historical furniture as well for preservation and restoration of heritage objects. Sepiolite was added at the rate of 10%, and brushed onto plain-sawn beech (Fagus orientalis L.) wood specimens, unimpregnated and impregnated with a 400 ppm silver nano-suspension, which were further thermally modified at 185 °C for 4 h. The results showed that thermal modification had a decreasing effect on the pull-off adhesion strength, primarily as a result of the thermal degradation of cell-wall polymers (mostly hemicelluloses). Still, a decreased wettability as a result of condensation and plasticization of lignin was also partially influential. Based on the obtained results,thermal modification was found to have a significant influence on pull-off adhesion strength. Sepiolite addition had a decreasing effectin all treatments, though the effect was not statistically significant in all treatments. The maximum and minimum decreases due to sepiolite addition were observed in the unimpregnated control (21%) and the thermally-modified NS-impregnated (4%) specimens. Other aspects of the sepiolite addition, and further studies that cover different types of paints and coatings, should be evaluated before coming to a final firm conclusion in this regard.
This study aimed to estimate leaf litter decomposition rates in eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) mixed stands in Akcakoca in the province of Duzce, ...located in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey. The sampling areas represent four different elevations and two aspects at each elevation. Amounts of annual beech and chestnut litterfall were estimated at 5.19 and 4.61 Mg * ha.sup.-1, respectively. Litter decomposition was examined over five time periods (0.25, 0.50,1.25, 2.25, and 4.25 years) by using the litterbag method. The mass of remaining beech leaf litter was found to be 1.1, 1.2, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.3 times greater than the mass of chestnut leaf litter, respectively. However, estimated values for the decomposition rate constant (k) of chestnut for all time periods were found to be approximately 1.5 times greater than those of beech leaf litter. Litter in beech stands decomposed more rapidly at higher elevations during the first year but at lower elevations during the second year, likely due to increased temperature and precipitation for the corresponding years. Leaf litter in chestnut stands decomposed more rapidly at lower elevations in the second and fourth years, reflecting higher precipitation for those years.
This study aims to determine the effects of the evaluation of beech woods obtained from thinning, which are in the firewood class, and also beech cupulas as a filler in the manufacturing of wood ...plastic composite (WPC) on the technological properties of the composites. For this purpose, polypropylene (PP) based WPC production was carried out with the usage of 2 different fillers rate (0 or 50%) and three different types of lignocellulosic fillers (50% beech, 25% beech + 25% cupula or 50% cupula). In addition, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) in 2 different ratios (0% and 3%) was used as a compatibilizing agent and the effects of MAPP usage were investigated. The mechanical (tensile strength, elongation at break, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity and impact strength) and physical (density and hardness) properties of the produced WPCs were determined in accordance with the relevant standards. As a result, when the lignocellulosic fillers were compared within themselves, it was seen that the highest mechanical properties were obtained with the usage of beech wood flour. The mechanical strength properties were negatively affected by the addition of cupula flours into the composite materials, and the mechanical properties were negatively affected by the increase in the cupula rates. Generally, the usage of MAPP has improved the mechanical properties of the WPCs. In Composite groups produced by using only beech wood flour together with MAPP, the highest values were obtained in all mechanical properties except elongation at break, and significant increases were observed compared to the control group. As a result of the study, PP-based WPC productions, in which beech wood flours and cupula flours are used as fillers, have been successfully carried out. It is thought that better performance will be achieved when beech wood flours are used alone or their cupulas are used together with beech wood flours and less than 25%.
Species distribution models can help predicting range shifts under climate change. The aim of this study is to investigate the late Quaternary distribution of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) and to ...project future distribution ranges under different climate change scenarios using a combined palaeobotanical, phylogeographic, and modelling approach. Five species distribution modelling algorithms under the R-package `biomod2`were applied to occurrence data of Fagus orientalis to predict distributions under present, past (Last Glacial Maximum, 21 ka, Mid-Holocene, 6 ka), and future climatic conditions with different scenarios obtained from MIROC-ESM and CCSM4 global climate models. Distribution models were compared to palaeobotanical and phylogeographic evidence. Pollen data indicate northern Turkey and the western Caucasus as refugia for Oriental beech during the Last Glacial Maximum. Although pollen records are missing, molecular data point to Last Glacial Maximum refugia in northern Iran. For the mid-Holocene, pollen data support the presence of beech in the study region. Species distribution models predicted present and Last Glacial Maximum distribution of Fagus orientalis moderately well yet underestimated mid-Holocene ranges. Future projections under various climate scenarios indicate northern Iran and the Caucasus region as major refugia for Oriental beech. Combining palaeobotanical, phylogeographic and modelling approaches is useful when making projections about distributions of plants. Palaeobotanical and molecular evidence reject some of the model projections. Nevertheless, the projected range reduction in the Caucasus region and northern Iran highlights their importance as long-term refugia, possibly related to higher humidity, stronger environmental and climatic heterogeneity and strong vertical zonation of the forest vegetation.
Abstract
Autotrophic (root) and heterotrophic respiration components respond differently to environmental variables, and each component behaves differently at different time scales, so it is ...necessary to partition total soil respiration into its components. The aims of this study were determine soil respiration and its root and heterotrophic components in beech stands, examine the relationship between respiration and biogeochemical factors, and assess seasonal variation in soil respiration. Trenching was applied to separate soil respiration components 6 months before measurements. Monthly soil respiration, temperature and moisture measurements, and seasonal soil and root sampling were carried out in Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) stands located in Artvin Saçinka, Turkey from April 2018 to November 2018 and also (except soil sampling) from May 2019 to November 2019. The average contribution of root respiration and heterotrophic respiration to total soil respiration were 58.8% and 41.2%, respectively. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics explained variations of soil respiration with significant models. This study indicates that soil respiration and its components are associated with biogeochemical factors as well as environmental climatic conditions, and each component of respiration responds differently to changes in them.
Primeval forests in the temperate zone exist only as a few remnants, but theses serve as important reference areas for conservation. As key habitats, tree-related microhabitats (TreMs) are of intense ...interest to forest ecologists, but little is known about their natural composition and dynamics in different tree species. Beech forms a major part of the temperate forests that extend from Europe, home to European beech Fagus sylvatica L. (Fs), eastward to Iran, where Oriental beech Fagus orientalis Lipsky (Fo) is the dominant species. In this study, we compared TreMs in primeval forests of both species, using data from Fo growing in 25 inventory plots throughout the Hyrcanian forest belt in Iran and from Fs growing in a 9 ha permanent plot in the Uholka Forest of Ukraine. TreMs based on 47 types and 11 subgroups were recorded. Beech trees in the Hyrcanian forest had a higher mean diameter at breast height (dbh) than beech trees in Uholka and contained twice as many TreMs per hectare. Although the mean richness of TreMs per TreM bearing tree was similar in the two species, on the basis of the comparison single trees in two groups (n = 405 vs. 2251), the composition of the TreMs clearly differed, as the proportions of rot holes, root-buttress concavities, and crown deadwood were higher in the Hyrcanian Forest, and those of bark losses, exposed heartwood, and burrs and cankers higher in Uholka Forest. Estimates of TreMs dynamics based on dbh and using Weibull models showed a significantly faster cumulative increase of TreMs in Fo, in which saturation occurred already in trees with a dbh of 70–80 cm. By contrast, the increase in TreMs in Fs was continuous. In both species, the probability density was highest at a dbh of about 30 cm, but was twice as high in Fo. Because of limitations of our study design, the reason behind observed differences of TreM formation and composition between regions remains unclear, as it could be either result of the tree species or the environment, or their interaction. However, the observed differences were more likely the result of differences in the environment than in the two tree species. Nevertheless, our findings demonstrate that the Hyrcanian Forest, recently designated as a natural heritage site in Iran, is unique, not only as a tertiary relict or due to its endemic trees, herbs and arthropods, but also because of its TreMs, which form a distinct and rich habitat for associated taxa, including endemic saproxylic species.
The degradation capabilities of two white rot fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor, obtained from natural stands of Fagus orientalis (beech) in Northern Iran were studied. Fruiting ...bodies of P. ostreatus and T. versicolor were collected from fallen beech in the Alamdardeh forest, Iran. Beech wood samples were exposed to both fungi for 120 days according to EN113. Mass loss, resistance to compression parallel to grain, impact load resistance, as well as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose content were determined in the samples before and after fungal exposure. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to collect spectra after fungal decay. Light and electron microscopy were used to study white-rot decay patterns in wood and compare the mechanism of attack for both fungi. Both fungi reduced wood mass and chemical constituents in similar quantities. Chemical analyses indicated similar reductions in cellulose, lignin and total carbohydrates. Both fungi had negligible affect on the hemicelluloses, arabinan, galactan, and glucan. Patterns of white decay were the same for both fungi. Thinning of the cell walls, colonization of fungal hyphae as well as formation of bore holes on the cell wallswere also similar for both fungi. The results demonstrated that both fungi produced a simultaneous white rot in beech wood.
•The current research work was planned to study and compare white rot decays due to two fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor in beech wood.•The first fungus is widely extends in natural standing forests of Northern Iran.•Assessments and comparing the degradation capabilities and with rot decay patterns in beech wood due to fungi P. ostreatus and T. versicolor indicated that both fungi have similar degradation capabilities and hey decay beech wood in the same ways and mechanisms.•This is significant because for the first time, it is declared that P. ostreatus shows a simultaneous white-rot decay pattern in contrast to previous reports.•The paper should be of interest to readers in the areas of fungal decay of wood and trees.
Summary
Two populations of an aphelenchoidid nematode were recovered from natural forests in Golestan province, Iran. Both populations resembled each other morphologically. The females of the first ...population, from rotten wood of Fagus orientalis in Golestan National Park, measured 294-338 μm long, and females of the second population, from forests of Ramian county, measured 365-464 μm long. A reverse taxonomic approach, based upon SSU and LSU phylogenies using a maximal number of Aphelenchoididae genera, revealed the two isolates to be conspecific and representatives of a new species of Basilaphelenchus. Basilaphelenchus magnabulbus n. sp. is described and illustrated herein and is mainly characterised by the unique form of the metacorpus, this being elongate and filling the corresponding body region similar to the common form in other aphelenchoidids (vs smaller with well posteriorly located small valve in previously described species of the genus). The new species has an elevated lip region, fine stylet with three elongate posteriorly directed knobs, female tail elongate conoid and ventrally bent, and male tail short conical with three pairs of caudal papillae. It was morphologically compared with four previously known species of the genus, viz., B. persicus, B. brevicaudatus, B. gorganensis and B. grosmannae, and three species of Aphelenchoides having a broadly similar morphology.
PDF
