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Water in Wood: A Review of Current Understanding and Knowledge Gaps
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Contribution of Dry Forests and Forest Products to Climate Change Adaptation in Tigray Region, Ethiopia
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Variation of Cones Production in a Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.) Clonal Seed Orchard
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Tree Information Modeling: A Data Exchange Platform for Tree Design and Management
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Economic and Ecological Impacts of Adjusting the Age-Class Structure in Korean Forests: Application of Constraint on the Period-to-Period Variation in Timber Production for Long-Term Forest Management
Journal Description
Forests
Forests
is a peer-reviewed, open access journal of forestry and forest ecology published monthly online by MDPI.
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- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Forestry) / CiteScore - Q1 (Forestry)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 18.3 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2022).
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Impact Factor:
3.282 (2021);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.292 (2021)
Latest Articles
An Ensemble Model for Forest Fire Occurrence Mapping in China
Forests 2023, 14(4), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040704 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
Assessing and predicting forest fires has long been an arduous task. Nowadays, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies have provided a novel solution to forest fire occurrence assessment and prediction. In this research, we developed a novel hybrid machine-learning-technique
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Assessing and predicting forest fires has long been an arduous task. Nowadays, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies have provided a novel solution to forest fire occurrence assessment and prediction. In this research, we developed a novel hybrid machine-learning-technique algorithm to improve forest fire prediction based on random forest (RF), gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT), support vector machine (SVM), and other machine learning models. The dataset we employed was satellite fire point data from 2010 to 2018 from the Chinese Department of Fire Prevention. The efficacy and performance of our methods were examined by validating the model fit and predictive capability. The results showed that the ensemble model LR (logistic regression)-RF-SVM-GBDT outperformed the single RFSVMGBDT model and the LR-RF-GBDT integrated framework, displaying higher accuracy and greater robustness. We believe that our newly developed hybrid machine-learning algorithm has the potential to improve the accuracy of predicting forest fire occurrences, thus enabling more efficient firefighting efforts and saving time and resources.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Fires Prediction and Detection)
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Impact of City Forests on Haze Reduction—Implementation of the National Forest City Policy in China
Forests 2023, 14(4), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040703 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
The construction and development of China’s forest cities revolves around the goal of building an environmentally friendly society and achieving harmonious development between human beings and nature, which is essentially the implementation of the concept of green development and helps promote the sustainable
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The construction and development of China’s forest cities revolves around the goal of building an environmentally friendly society and achieving harmonious development between human beings and nature, which is essentially the implementation of the concept of green development and helps promote the sustainable development of sustainable cities. Based on the panel data of 263 prefecture-level cities in China from 2001 to 2020, the National Forest City Policy (NFCP) is used as a quasi-natural experiment to assess the effect of NFCP on haze pollution management and their heterogeneity using a time-varying DID (difference-in-differences) model, and a mediating effect model is used to analyze the mechanism of the effect of NFCP on haze pollution. The research found that (1) the NFCP can reduce urban haze pollution, and this finding remained robust after placebo tests and the replacement of explanatory variables; (2) the NFCP is more conducive to reducing haze pollution in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration, Type II large cities, cities in the eastern region, and cities east of the Hu Huanyong line; (3) the NFCP will improve urban green space coverage, raise residents’ awareness of environmental protection, and promote the development of tertiary industries, thereby promoting urban haze reduction.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest, Trees, Human Health and Wellbeing)
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Changing Relationships between Water Content and Spectral Features in Moso Bamboo Leaves under Pantana phyllostachysae Chao Stress
by
, , , , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040702 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
Leaf water content (LWC) is very important in the growth of vegetation. LWC and leaf spectra change when the leaves are under pest stress; exploring the change mechanism between LWC, leaf spectra, and pest stress can lay the foundation for pest detection. In
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Leaf water content (LWC) is very important in the growth of vegetation. LWC and leaf spectra change when the leaves are under pest stress; exploring the change mechanism between LWC, leaf spectra, and pest stress can lay the foundation for pest detection. In this study, we measured the LWC and leaf spectra of moso bamboo leaves under different damage levels, used the Pearson–Lasso method to screen the features, and established a multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest regression (RFR) model to estimate the LWC. We analyzed the relationship between LWC and spectral features of moso bamboo leaves under Pantana phyllostachysae Chao (PPC) stress and their changes. The results showed that: (1) the LWC showed a decreasing trend as the pest level increased. (2) The spectra changed substantially when the leaves were under pest stress. (3) The number and significance of response features associated with the LWC were diverse under different damage levels. (4) The estimation of LWC under different damage levels differed significantly. LWC, leaf spectra, response features, and the model estimation effect were diverse under different damage levels. The correlation between LWC and features was higher for healthy leaves than for damaged and off-year leaves. The two models were more effective in estimating the LWC of healthy leaves but less effective for damaged and off-year leaves. This study provides theoretical support for the prediction of PPC stress and lays the foundation for remote sensing monitoring.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Health)
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Difference in Response of Caragana intermedia Photosynthesis to Soil Water Content in Different Afforestation Years and Related Threshold Effects in Alpine Sandy Lands
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, , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040701 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
This study was carried out to clarify the response of photosynthesis physiology of Caragana intermedia, an excellent tree species for wind protection and sand fixation, to soil water content (SWC) and to determine the relevant threshold ranges in the sandy lands of
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This study was carried out to clarify the response of photosynthesis physiology of Caragana intermedia, an excellent tree species for wind protection and sand fixation, to soil water content (SWC) and to determine the relevant threshold ranges in the sandy lands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study, based on the three-year forest experiment from 2017a to 2019a, C. intermedia in different afforestation years (2013a, 2011a, 2008a, 2006a, 2001a and 1986a) were selected for experimental analysis, the response process of leaf photosynthesis of C. intermedia to SWC changes was studied, and the physiological mechanism and growth suitability of C. intermedia to adapt to an alpine desert environment were clarified. The results showed that SWC played a critical role in the photosynthesis of C. intermedia in the sandy lands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Afforestation years are negatively correlated with Pn, gs and Tr, but positively correlated with WUE; the longer the afforestation years, the higher demand for soil moisture. Regarding the relative roles of SWC and photosynthetic parameters, we demonstrated that this showed a significant square relationship (p < 0.001), while stomatal closure induced by the photosynthesis decline was important under dryness stress. The no-productivity and no-efficiency water (NPNEW) for the photosynthesis physiology of trees in different afforestation years were 3.31–3.64%; 3.33–4.06%; 3.08–3.63%; 3.36–3.85%; 1.45–4.02% and 3.39–5.50%, and the highest productivity with the highest availability of water (HPHAW) were 6.65–7.19%; 6.74–7.36%; 7.36–7.91%; 6.10–7.51%; 6.57–8.19% and 6.52–8.35%. Plantations in different afforestation years could survive safely in the sandy lands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, the productivity of trees decreased with the increase length of afforestation years; thus, we should pay attention to their growth status and make timely management adjustments in the future. These results provide important information for theoretical support for the diagnosis of ecological adaptability and field water management of C. intermedia in the sandy lands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and provide a reference for the adaptability evaluation and water–carbon cycle simulation of plantations in the sandy lands of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau against the background of global climate change.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Hydrology)
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Ecological Evaluation of the Sustainability of City Forests
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, , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 700; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040700 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
The Košutnjak forest in the city of Belgrade, Serbia, with an area of 259 ha, provides ecological and social benefits to its inhabitants, but its composition has changed in the last 20 years: forest areas have decreased, people have become irresponsible towards the
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The Košutnjak forest in the city of Belgrade, Serbia, with an area of 259 ha, provides ecological and social benefits to its inhabitants, but its composition has changed in the last 20 years: forest areas have decreased, people have become irresponsible towards the forest and forest soil, and forest degradation is evident. The question is whether the forest has the potential to regenerate and survive. The horizontal assessment of attributes was carried out using data from the official forest database of the administrative unit “Košutnjak (2007–2016)”, which, in conjunction with the basic forest, defines indicators of change, stability, and self-renewal, which assume sustainability and can be a useful tool for sustainable forest management. The attributes and indicators are processed on a three-level alphanumeric scale in Microsoft Excel, and the data collected and analyzed are mapped using ArcGis 9.3. The ability of forests to survive without human intervention was evaluated using the EEFS method of ecological assessment of forest sustainability, which was used for the first time in this study. The results showed that forest change was significant, stability was medium, and self-renewal was low on most sections, so forest sustainability was rated as unlikely. The EEFS method used provided results that can form the basis for a forest management strategy in the city and a platform for the long-term monitoring of forest condition.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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Leaf Litter Breakdown and Soil Microbes in Catalpa bungei Plantations in Response to Various Fertilization Regimes
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, , , , , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040699 - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
Litter decomposition propels the geochemical cycle by returning nutrients to soil. Soil microbial communities play an important role during litter breakdown wherein various fertilization regimes are conducted. In this study, we carried out a five-year fertilization experiment in a young Catalpa bungei plantation
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Litter decomposition propels the geochemical cycle by returning nutrients to soil. Soil microbial communities play an important role during litter breakdown wherein various fertilization regimes are conducted. In this study, we carried out a five-year fertilization experiment in a young Catalpa bungei plantation in northern China. The fertilization strategies employed mainly included the integration of water and fertilizer (WF), hole fertilization (HF), and no fertilization (CK) as a control. We tracked the decomposition dynamics of leaf litter and identified the major microbial communities involved in litter breakdown for each fertilization regime. The results showed that fertilization increased the biomass and C content of leaf litter, and the C storage in the HF forest was higher than that in the WF forest. Fertilization significantly decreased leaf litter decomposition and nutrient release and prolonged the duration of breakdown. The breakdown of litter in the WF stand was slower than that in the HF stand, but the diversities of bacteria and fungi were higher in the WF soil. The community structures of bacteria and fungi in the WF soil showed obvious differences compared to those in the CK and HF soils. Fertilization strengthened competitive relationships but decreased cooperative interaction among microbes. The abundances of saprophytic fungi and decomposing bacteria in the WF soil were lower than those in the HF soil. The key flora, including Arthrobacter and Neocosmospora, regulated litter breakdown in the HF and WF forests. In addition, Arthrobacter, Filobasidium, and Coprinopsis were mainly involved in the decomposition process in the nonfertilized forests. Thus, studying the biomass and initial quality of litter treated with different fertilization measures and exploring the characteristics of nutrient release during litter decomposition are both of significant value with regard to deepening understanding of the effects of different fertilization methods on litter breakdown and their associated response mechanisms.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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The Impact of Predation of Laricobius nigrinus (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) on Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) and Tsuga canadensis (Pinales: Pinaceae) Tree Health
Forests 2023, 14(4), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040698 - 29 Mar 2023
Abstract
The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae, has threatened the sustainable management of Tsuga canadensis in the eastern United States. Biological control efforts have led to the establishment of Laricobius nigrinus, a specialist predator of HWA. Although L. nigrinus has a
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The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae, has threatened the sustainable management of Tsuga canadensis in the eastern United States. Biological control efforts have led to the establishment of Laricobius nigrinus, a specialist predator of HWA. Although L. nigrinus has a significant impact on HWA populations, its effect on the health of HWA’s host is unknown. In 2020, 14 eastern hemlocks at one site in Virginia were selected to determine whether predation of L. nigrinus at different densities on HWA populations had an effect on tree health. Laricobius nigrinus predation significantly impacted the HWA sistens generation, resulting in significantly more new shoots produced on treatment branches with the greatest density of L. nigrinus adults. Final HWA density was lowest on treatment branches with L. nigrinus, followed by the negative control, and the treatment without L. nigrinus. In June, the photosynthetic rate was significantly greater for the negative control, followed by L. nigrinus treatments. There were no statistical differences among measured tree physiological parameters in July and October, indicating a temporary effect from L. nigrinus predation on hemlock tree physiology.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Pathology and Entomology—Series II)
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Growth, Xylem Vulnerability to Cavitation and Leaf Cell Response to Dehydration in Tree Seedlings of the Caribbean Dry Forest
Forests 2023, 14(4), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040697 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
The characterisation of ecological strategies to predict drought response is still lacking for Caribbean dry forest seedlings. This study documents growth characteristics and tolerance to drought via xylem hydraulic and leaf cell properties of three dominant native species of the Caribbean dry forest.
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The characterisation of ecological strategies to predict drought response is still lacking for Caribbean dry forest seedlings. This study documents growth characteristics and tolerance to drought via xylem hydraulic and leaf cell properties of three dominant native species of the Caribbean dry forest. Twenty morphological and physiological traits were assessed in Citharexylum spinosum, Guaiacum officinale and Guapira fragrans in greenhouse conditions. The seedlings displayed contrasting growth rates, which were positively correlated with the capacity to quickly develop a large leaf area and root fraction. The three species had a similar xylem tolerance to embolism (P50: −4 MPa) but differed in leaf cell tolerance to dehydration, which was negatively correlated with RGR (R2 > 0.87). The slowest-growing, G. officinale, had high leaf tolerance to cell dehydration due to low ΨTLP and πo, but displayed a narrow hydraulic safety margin. The leaves of the fast-growing C. spinosum were sensitive to leaf dehydration but exhibited a surprisingly wide stem hydraulic safety margin. G. fragrans had intermediate traits. Our results showed that dry forest seedling growth in similar environments can exhibit distinct carbon growth strategies as well as contrasting water-use strategies, primarily as they relate to drought resistance, due to variation in root development and leaf cell resistance to dehydration. Our study thus provides an approach to estimate species performance under drought conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Tolerance Traits and Growth in Trees)
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PIP2;10 Enhances Drought Tolerance via Promoting Water-Retaining Capacity in Populus
Forests 2023, 14(4), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040696 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
Drought is an adverse environmental factor for plant growth and development. Aquaporins play an influential role in water uptake and transport in plants. However, the function of PagPIP2;10 in response to drought stress remains largely unclear. Here, we report that the plasma membrane
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Drought is an adverse environmental factor for plant growth and development. Aquaporins play an influential role in water uptake and transport in plants. However, the function of PagPIP2;10 in response to drought stress remains largely unclear. Here, we report that the plasma membrane intrinsic protein PagPIP2;10 was in the cell membrane and induced by dehydration in the poplar 84K hybrids. The overexpression of PagPIP2;10 in poplars enhanced drought tolerance. The PagPIP2;10ox lines maintained a higher water retention content, photosynthetic rate, and proline content. Meanwhile, a lower content of MDA and transpiration and stomatal conductance were observed under drought stress than in that of the WT plants. A further analysis found that the PagPIP2;10ox lines decreased the stomatal aperture and accumulated more ROS in guard cells compared with WT after ABA treatment with the exception that the root hydraulic conductance of the PagPIP2;10ox lines was higher than that of the WT plants. These results imply that PagPIP2;10 played a positive role in enhancing drought stress via enhancing water-retaining capacity under drought stress.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress in Tree Species)
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A Contribution to Knowledge of Russula Section Ingratae (Russulales, Russulaceae) in China: Two New Taxa and Amended Descriptions of One Known Species
Forests 2023, 14(4), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040695 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
Russula, one of the main genera of Russulaceae (Russulales), is both ecologically and economically important. It is a large and complex genus including eight subgenera. Although many studies have focused on Russula in China, the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In the
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Russula, one of the main genera of Russulaceae (Russulales), is both ecologically and economically important. It is a large and complex genus including eight subgenera. Although many studies have focused on Russula in China, the diversity still remains incompletely understood. In the present study, several collections of Russula subgen. Heterophyllidiae sect. Ingratae from China were studied based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Three species were recognized, two of them described as new, R. fujianensis and R. oraria, and one of them already a known taxon, R. rufobasalis. Detailed descriptions, color photos of fresh basidiomata, and line-drawings of microstructures of the three species are presented.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity, Systematics, and Evolution)
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Changes in Plant Diversity and Soil Factors under Different Rocky Desertification Degrees in Northern Guangdong, China
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, , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040694 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
Revegetation is an important restoration strategy for the control of rocky desertification. However, few studies have focused on the effects of different rocky desertification degrees (RDDs) on plant diversity and soil fertility in northern Guangdong over long periods of time. In this study,
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Revegetation is an important restoration strategy for the control of rocky desertification. However, few studies have focused on the effects of different rocky desertification degrees (RDDs) on plant diversity and soil fertility in northern Guangdong over long periods of time. In this study, variance analysis, correlation analysis, and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) were used to examine plant diversity, soil physicochemical properties, and their correlations in various rocky desertification areas in northern Guangdong. The results showed that the Pinaceae, Lauraceae, and Fagaceae species were relatively abundant in the rocky desertification areas of northern Guangdong. Additionally, Cinnamomum camphora, Schima superba, Pinus massoniana, Quercus stewardiana, and Acer camphora could be used as indicators for rocky desertification. There were significant differences in plant community compositions and diversity characteristics between the five RDDs, and the vegetation exhibited the trend of initial destruction and then gradual improvement and stabilization. There were significant differences in soil bulk density, mechanical composition, organic matter, total nitrogen, alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen, and available potassium between the different RDDs. Except for pH, the soil chemical characteristics all had clear aggregation effects. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total potassium, and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen all exhibited degradation–improvement cycles. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between soil physicochemical properties and species diversity. The CCA analysis showed that the most important soil factors affecting plant community structures were total phosphorus and available phosphorus. In conclusion, some achievements have been made in the restoration of rocky desertification in northern Guangdong; while the plant community structure improved, some soil nutrients also improved. Vegetation and soil have a strong coupling relationship. In the later stages of recovery, suitable species for rocky desertification could be considered in varying degrees and P and K could be supplemented appropriately. Our study will have implications for the revegetation of rocky desertification.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant–Soil Interactions in Karst Regions)
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Elucidating SNP-Based Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Savigny in Thailand
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, , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 693; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040693 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Savigny is one of the most important and widespread mangrove species in the Indo-West Pacific region. Here, the population structure and genetic diversity of B. gymnorhiza along the coastlines of Thailand were examined. A total of 73 B. gymnorhiza accessions
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Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Savigny is one of the most important and widespread mangrove species in the Indo-West Pacific region. Here, the population structure and genetic diversity of B. gymnorhiza along the coastlines of Thailand were examined. A total of 73 B. gymnorhiza accessions in 15 provinces were sequenced using RAD-seq to generate their SNPs. Based on the high-quality SNPs, the topology of the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree clearly presented two genetically distinct groups corresponding to two geographic regions, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea coasts. The results for the population structure provided by STRUCTURE and PCA also showed two main genetic clusters and their genetic admixture. A moderate genetic diversity was observed among the accessions, with average observed and expected heterozygosity values of 0.397 and 0.317, respectively. A high genetic differentiation (FST = 0.16, p < 0.001) between the two subpopulations was significantly found. An analysis of molecular variance revealed 83.95% of the genetic variation within populations and 16.05% of the genetic variation among populations. A high genetic variation within the populations and admixture may facilitate adaptation to local environments and climate changes. These results provide important information on the population genetic structure and genetic diversity of B. gymnorhiza in Thailand for further mangrove management.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Diversity and Conservation of Forest Species)
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The Effect of Human Trampling Activity on a Soil Microbial Community at the Urban Forest Park
Forests 2023, 14(4), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040692 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
Soil degradation resulting from human trampling in urban forest parks can negatively impact the taxonomic diversity and function of soil microbial communities. In this study, we established long-term, fixed large plots in Zijin Mountain Urban Forest Park in Nanjing, China, to assess the
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Soil degradation resulting from human trampling in urban forest parks can negatively impact the taxonomic diversity and function of soil microbial communities. In this study, we established long-term, fixed large plots in Zijin Mountain Urban Forest Park in Nanjing, China, to assess the level of trampling pressure. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm for light trampling (LD), moderate trampling (MD), severe trampling (SD), extreme trampling (ED), and a no-trampling control (CK). The effects of different trampling pressures on soil were studied, including soil nutrient indices, microbial biomass, and the taxonomic diversity of fungi and bacteria. ANOVA and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to investigate the impacts of human trampling on the microbial community structure and function. The results indicated that soil organic carbon, ammonium, and acid phosphatase activity were the primary driving factors of microbial community change. Soil microbial diversity initially increased and then decreased with increasing trampling intensity. The changes in soil microbial function and classification were found to be associated with the intensity of trampling. Moderate trampling could enhance the diversity of the soil microbial community. The succession pattern of the fungi and bacteria communities was distinct, and the composition of the bacteria community remained relatively stable. Trampling impacts vegetation and soil structure, which then affects the structure and function of the microbial community. This study provides an essential foundation for the restoration of compacted soil in urban forest parks through targeted monitoring and management efforts.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Disturbances on Forest Soil Biochemistry)
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Vegetation Extraction from Airborne Laser Scanning Data of Urban Plots Based on Point Cloud Neighborhood Features
Forests 2023, 14(4), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040691 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
This study proposes an accurate vegetation extraction method used for airborne laser scanning data of an urban plot based on point cloud neighborhood features to overcome the deficiencies in the current research on the precise extraction of vegetation in urban plots. First, the
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This study proposes an accurate vegetation extraction method used for airborne laser scanning data of an urban plot based on point cloud neighborhood features to overcome the deficiencies in the current research on the precise extraction of vegetation in urban plots. First, the plane features in the R-neighborhood are combined with Euclidean distance clustering to extract the building point cloud accurately, and the rough vegetation point cloud is extracted using the discrete features in the R-neighborhood. Then, under the building point cloud constraints, combined with the Euclidean distance clustering method, the remaining building boundary points in the rough vegetation point cloud are removed. Finally, based on the vegetation point cloud after removing the building boundary point cloud, points within a specific radius r are extracted from the vegetation point cloud in the original data, and a complete urban plot vegetation extraction result is obtained. Two urban plots of airborne laser scanning data are selected to calculate the point cloud plane features and discrete features with R = 0.6 m and accurately extract the vegetation point cloud from the urban point cloud data. The visual effect and accuracy analysis results of vegetation extraction are compared under four different radius ranges of r = 0.5 m, r = 1 m, r = 1.5 m and r = 2 m. The best vegetation extraction results of the two plots are obtained for r = 1 m. The recall and precision are obtained as 92.19% and 98.74% for plot 1 and 94.30% and 98.73% for plot 2, respectively.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Monitoring of Urban Green Space)
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Niche Dynamics Below the Species Level: Evidence from Evaluating Niche Shifts within Quercus aquifolioides
Forests 2023, 14(4), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040690 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
The role of ecological niches in lineage diversification has been the subject of long-standing interest of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Specific responses to climate change can arise below the species level, resulting in differentiated adaptation or movement patterns within a given species. Thus,
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The role of ecological niches in lineage diversification has been the subject of long-standing interest of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Specific responses to climate change can arise below the species level, resulting in differentiated adaptation or movement patterns within a given species. Thus, the urgent need to model potential responses to ongoing climate changes among genetically distinct populations within a species is increasingly recognized. In this study, we utilize the information of intraspecific variation within Quercus aquifolioides as a priori, and then focus on the potential distribution ranges and niche dynamics of its three intraspecific lineages (WSP, HDM, and Tibet) under current environmental conditions via ecological niche models (ENMs) and PCA-env ordination method, respectively. Our results indicated that the three lineages have occupied differentiated climatic niches. Although the three lineages have distinctly adaptive strategies for homogeneous environmental conditions, some lineages had sympatric projecting areas. The PCA-env demonstrated that the lineage pair WSP vs. HDM had the largest niche overlap while Tibet vs. HDM showed the smallest one. Moreover, the hypothesis of the niche was indistinguishable within the three lineages rejected, indicating the presence of niche divergence rather than niche conservatism below the species level. Our findings highlight the potential of modeling intraspecific responses to climate change and provide insights into lineage diversification within Q. aquifolioides, permitting the exploration of the information determined by niche evaluations and comparisons to understand plant diversification processes below the species level in biodiversity hotspots.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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Unlocking Digitalization in Forest Operations with Viewshed Analysis to Improve GNSS Positioning Accuracy
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, , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040689 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
This study evaluated the positioning accuracy of moving forest harvesters using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals under a forest canopy, and developed approaches for forecasting accuracy under a mature spruce canopy cover. Real-time kinematic positioning with a Trimble R12 receiver on top
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This study evaluated the positioning accuracy of moving forest harvesters using global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals under a forest canopy, and developed approaches for forecasting accuracy under a mature spruce canopy cover. Real-time kinematic positioning with a Trimble R12 receiver on top of a harvester achieved high positioning accuracy, with 86% of observations meeting a maximum precision of 8 mm. However, the presence of a canopy cover hampered the GNSS’s performance as there were fewer satellites available, leading to an increased number of inaccurate positions and larger values of the dilution of precision in geometry (GDOP), position (PDOP), vertical (VDOP) and horizontal directions (HDOP). The canopy cover estimated from the viewshed analysis of the digital surface model (DSM) was found to be a significant predictor of the dilution of precision and maximum deviation from the true position. These findings suggest that viewshed analysis provides more precise results than a mere canopy cover percentage for evaluating the impact of canopy cover on the GNSS’s positioning of a harvester, despite its computational demands. Developing intelligent algorithms for precise positioning under the canopy can facilitate autonomous harvesting and forwarding, allowing for the implementation of digitalization in forest operations.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Operations and Engineering)
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Economic Efficiency of Pine Wood Processing in Furniture Production
Forests 2023, 14(4), 688; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040688 - 28 Mar 2023
Abstract
The wood industry faces challenges due to rising prices and limited wood availability, putting pressure on material efficiency in wood processing. This justifies the analysis of the relationship between efficiency and economy in pine wood processing. The study aimed to measure the impact
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The wood industry faces challenges due to rising prices and limited wood availability, putting pressure on material efficiency in wood processing. This justifies the analysis of the relationship between efficiency and economy in pine wood processing. The study aimed to measure the impact of variations in the thickness of logs, changes in the technology of their further processing, and changes in prices of raw materials and products on the material efficiency in the context of large-scale production of furniture elements made of pinewood. The raw material input consisted of three categories of log sizes, from which the specialized purpose lumber was produced. The lumber was then processed into semi-finished furniture elements with three technologies: without detecting natural wood defects, with human detection, and with automatic detection. The study was conducted in Poland from 2020 to 2022. The material efficiencies in every stage of the analyzed wood processing and the cost efficiencies were calculated and analyzed based on the results obtained under real industrial conditions. The main findings are as follows: (1) when comparing the logs in the three tested diameter ranges (14–23 cm, 23–30 cm, and more than 30 cm), it can be observed that the overall material efficiency of sawing is in the range of 70%–85% and increases with the thickness of the log; (2) the share of 38 mm specialized sawn timber in the total amount of sawn timber was 41%–58% and increased with increasing log diameter; (3) the economic efficiency of the technological process is 170%–290%, based on the log size and the technology of further processing employed. The determining factor affecting cost efficiencies is unexpected changes in raw material prices and product demand in 2022. The findings suggest that while improvements in processing technology can boost efficiency, they cannot fully offset the rise in raw wood material prices.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Assessment, Modelling and Management in a Changing World)
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Open AccessArticle
Towards an Inclusive Approach to Forest Management: Highlight of the Perception and Participation of Local Communities in the Management of miombo Woodlands around Lubumbashi (Haut-Katanga, D.R. Congo)
by
, , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 687; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040687 - 27 Mar 2023
Abstract
The misappropriation of sustainable forest programs by local communities and the under-utilization of their knowledge are major impediments to the mitigation of deforestation. Within this context, participation has become a principle used in almost all interventions. It is important to evaluate the practices
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The misappropriation of sustainable forest programs by local communities and the under-utilization of their knowledge are major impediments to the mitigation of deforestation. Within this context, participation has become a principle used in almost all interventions. It is important to evaluate the practices in this area to ensure better involvement of local communities. This survey examined the perception and participation of local communities in the management of miombo woodlands, based on semi-structured questionnaire surveys involving 945 households in 5 villages in the Lubumbashi rural area. The results reveal that local communities perceive soil fertility loss and deforestation as major environmental challenges in their area. This perception remains largely influenced by their socio-demographic factors such as respondents’ age, seniority in the villages, and level of education. To mitigate deforestation, the rare actions of provincial public services and non-governmental organizations are focused on the sustainable exploitation of miombo woodlands through the development of simple management plans, reforestation, and forest control. These activities are sparse and poorly inclusive of scientific findings and the priorities of local communities. These justify poor community participation, particularly in the actions of provincial public services. For a better appropriation of sustainable forest management plans and to reinforce miombo woodlands’ resilience to anthropogenic pressures, based on these findings, we recommend a concerted and inclusive approach to forest planning.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reimagining Conservation and Management: Prioritizing Human Dimensions in Sustainable Forestry)
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Open AccessArticle
How Did the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy Affect the Life Satisfaction of Residents in National Forest Areas? A Case Study in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia
Forests 2023, 14(4), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040686 - 27 Mar 2023
Abstract
To protect the forest ecological environment, China implemented the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy (CCLBP), yet it has a major impact on forest residents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the CCLBP from the perspective of the satisfaction of residents. In this study,
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To protect the forest ecological environment, China implemented the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy (CCLBP), yet it has a major impact on forest residents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the CCLBP from the perspective of the satisfaction of residents. In this study, we used 242 questionnaires from residents in national forest areas in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia to evaluate satisfaction and its influencing factors by factor analysis combined with the entropy method and multiple linear regression, respectively. The results show that: (1) the overall policy satisfaction of residents in national forest areas is 60.9, which is lower than the theoretical neutral value of policy satisfaction. Increasing employment opportunities, transferring surplus employees and developing forest economy are important to improve the satisfaction of residents. (2) Life satisfaction was higher in the high-income group than in the low-income group. Increasing wage income can improve the satisfaction of residents in national forest areas. (3) The satisfaction of the worker group was significantly higher than that of the forest farmer group. Improving job stability and policy equity are important to promote life satisfaction of residents in national forest areas. (4) The satisfaction of the Yichun Forest Industry Group was significantly higher than the Inner Mongolia Forest Group. Natural resource endowment and adaptability to the CCLBP are the main factors affecting the satisfaction of different forest industry groups. At the same time, focusing on the institutional supply of external support policies in order to provide them access to information, employment advice and other services is very significant. This research provides a new approach to studying the CCLBP, which is of great practical significance for raising the wellbeing index of national forest areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Changes in the Value of Forest Resources: Impacts of Human Activities)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Microbial Communities on Elevational Gradient Adaptation Strategies of Pinus yunnanensis Franch. and Pinus densata Mast. in a Mixed Zone
by
, , , , , , , , and
Forests 2023, 14(4), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040685 - 27 Mar 2023
Abstract
Pinus densata Mast. is considered a homoploid hybrid species that originated from the putative parent species Pinus tabuliformis Carr. and Pinus yunnanensis Franch., but the mechanism of the adaptive differentiation of P. densata and its parents in native habitats has not been reported.
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Pinus densata Mast. is considered a homoploid hybrid species that originated from the putative parent species Pinus tabuliformis Carr. and Pinus yunnanensis Franch., but the mechanism of the adaptive differentiation of P. densata and its parents in native habitats has not been reported. Therefore, the overlapping distribution areas between P. densata and P. yunnanensis in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains were chosen. The adaptive differentiation mechanism of the homoploid hybrids and their parents with respect to the elevational gradient was studied based on the morphological features and the different strategies of recruiting endophytic microbial communities from the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that (1) the height and diameter at breast height were the greatest at 2600 m and 2900 m, and from 2700 m to 2900 m, three-needle pines (P. yunnanensis-like type) transitioned into two-needle pines (P. densata-like type). (2) The recruitment of rhizosphere microbial communities was driven by the C, N, P and pH values which showed significant elevation features. (3) There was a significant difference in the recruitment strategies of endophytes between the P. yunnanensis-like type and P. densata-like type. Pinus densata mainly reduced the recruitment of Mucoromycota (fungi) and increased the recruitment of Proteobacteria (bacteria), which may be related to environmental adaptability, quorum sensing and the metabolism of auxiliary factors and vitamins at high elevations. (4) The root endophytic microbiome was enriched in the rare groups from the rhizosphere soil microbial pool. The results of this study provide new insights and new ideas for environmental adaptability and differentiation in homoploid hybrid speciation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Composition and Function in Forest Soil)
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