1. Ecological factors affecting the recent Picea abies decline in Slovenia : the importance of bedrock type and forest naturalnessJanez Kermavnar, Lado Kutnar, Anže Martin Pintar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) has been at the centre of controversy for many decades. Recent evidence of its profound disturbance-induced damage and consequent stock depletions across forest landscapes in Europe has reinforced doubts regarding the sustainability and prospects of this tree species in the future. Like many other European countries, Slovenia has experienced significant Norway spruce mortality and a decrease in growing stock primarily as the result of several disturbance agents (bark beetle outbreaks, an ice storm, windthrows). We investigated a countrywide spruce growing stock decline based on data between 2010 and 2018. Particular focus was placed on identifying the main ecological drivers of this decline, namely geological conditions, climatic parameters, soil attributes, topographic factors and forest stand characteristics. The effects of potential predictors on the relative change (%) in spruce volume (m3 ha-1) during the period 2010-2018 were analysed with Generalized Additive Models. Based on a national dataset including forest compartments (n = 6355) with a spruce growing stock decline > 10%, we found mixed support for ecology-based hypotheses. While spruce decline responded to bedrock type as predicted (i.e., greater relative decline in carbonate compared to silicate compartments), higher forest naturalness (preservation of tree species composition) was not associated with a lower decline. Spruce decline was amplified by higher potential evapotranspiration and soil clay content but showed a strong negative relationship with spruce proportion in the year 2010. General trends along the gradients of other selected predictors (stoniness/rockiness and heat load index) were less pronounced. The results suggest that most of these ecological predictors interact with geology and forest naturalness in affecting Norway spruce decline. Our analysis reveals that bedrock type can play an important role due to its mitigating effects. However, forest naturalness is of secondary significance as intensified large-scale forest disturbances likely override its buffering potential.
Keywords: Norway Spruce, bark beetle outbreaks, ice storm, soil-geology, relationship, tree species composition, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 05.04.2023; Views: 747; Downloads: 216
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2. Non-native forest tree species in Europe : ǂthe ǂquestion of seed origin in afforestationParaskevi Alizoti, Jean-Charles Bastien, Debojyoti Chakraborty, Marcin Miroslav Klisz, Johan Kroon, Charalambos Neophytou, Silvio Schueler, Marcela van Loo, Marjana Westergren, Monika Konnert, Robert Brus, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Non-native forest tree species have been introduced in Europe since the 16th century, but only in the second half of the 20th century the significance of the seed source origin for their economic use was recognized, resulting in the establishment of numerous provenance trials at a national, regional, European and International level, as those led by IUFRO. Breeding programs have also been launched in the continent for the most economically important species. Aim of this work is the formulation of provenance recommendations for planting of five non-native tree species in Europe (Douglas fir, grand fir, Sitka spruce, lodgepole pine and black locust), based on the information obtained from twenty countries, in the frame of the EU FP-1403 NNEXT Cost Action. The survey revealed that official and non-official national recommendations, based on provenance research results, have been elaborated and followed at a different level and extend for the above five species, but only for Douglas fir recommendations exist in almost all the participating to the survey countries. The compilation of provenance recommendations across Europe for each species is presented in the current work. Besides the recommended introduced seed sources, European seed sources are also preferred for planting, due to ease of access and high availability of forest reproductive material. European breeding programs yielding genetic material of high productivity and quality constitute currently the seed source of choice for several species and countries. Consolidation of trial data obtained across countries will allow the joint analysis that is urgently needed to draw solid conclusions, and will facilitate the development of ‘Universal-Response-Functions’ for the species of interest, rendering possible the identification of the genetic material suitable for global change. New provenance trial series that will test seed sources from the entire climatic range of the species, established in sites falling within and outside the environmental envelopes of their natural ranges, are urgently needed to pinpoint and understand the species-specific climate constraints, as well as to correlate functional traits to the seed origin and the environmental conditions of the test sites, so that the selection of suitable forest reproductive material of non-native tree species in the face of climate change can be feasible.
Keywords: provenance recommendations, provenance testing, breeding programs, adaptation, exotic tree species, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, grand fir, lodgepole pine, black locust
Published in DiRROS: 09.02.2022; Views: 832; Downloads: 655
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3. Climate change and disturbances will shape future temperate forests in the transition zone between Central and SE EuropeLado Kutnar, Janez Kermavnar, Anže Martin Pintar, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: It is expected that climate change as well as abiotic and anthropogenic disturbances will strongly influence temperate forests. Besides changes in the main climate variables, various disturbance factors may significantly worsen conditions for mesic Slovenian forests (SE Europe) dominated by European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European silver fir (Abies alba). In Slovenia, the climate has warmed in recent decades, with an average annual rate of increase of about 0.4°C per decade or even more than 0.5°C per decade in summer. In addition, disturbances have caused considerable damage to trees in the most extensive forest types in Slovenia, starting with a widespread ice storm in 2014, followed by bark beetle outbreaks, windthrows and salvage logging interventions. After 2014, salvage logging increased from about one third to two thirds of the total annual felling. Over the last two decades, we have observed a decline in Norway spruce growing stock, with the highest rate of decrease in areas below 500 m a.s.l., and an increasing trend for European beech. Overall, the three dominant species (beech, spruce, silver fir), which together account for more than 70% of the total growing stock, have shown a declining trend over the last 20 years. The patterns observed are broadly consistent with earlier predictions developed for different climate change scenarios and with those reported in many other European countries. Adaptive forest management, which implements close-to-nature silviculture, has been traditionally practised in the region under study and has the potential to play an important role in reducing the risks associated with the impacts of climate change and disturbances in the future.
Keywords: climate warming, disturbance factors, ice storm, bark beetle outbreaks, spruce decline, salvage logging, tree species composition, temperate forest, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 03.01.2022; Views: 750; Downloads: 628
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4. Sensitivity analysis, calibration and validation of a phenology model for Pityogenes chalcographus (CHAPY)Nikica Ogris, Mitja Ferlan, Tine Hauptman, Roman Pavlin, Andreja Kavčič, Maja Jurc, Maarten De Groot, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: A phenology model of Pityogenes chalcographus was developed. The model quite accurately simulates the seasonal dynamics of P. chalcographus. Sensitivity analysis revealed the most influential parameters. CHAPY was calibrated and validated for Slovenia. Development of the model revealed several knowledge gaps.
Keywords: six-toothed spruce bark beetle, insect outbreak, population dynamics, voltinism, ecological modelling, pheromone trap, trap tree, monitoring
Published in DiRROS: 03.06.2020; Views: 2036; Downloads: 1168
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5. Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) damage in the Zasavje district of Slovenia evaluated by two methodsNatalija Vidergar-Gorjup, Andrej Strniša, Franc Batič, 2000, original scientific article Abstract: The Zasavje district has been heavily affected by air pollution due to mining,the presence of a coal-fired power plant, and industry. The extent of forest damage differs according to location because of specific climatic and orographic characteristics. Norway spruce damage was estimated by two methods at 10 locations in the Zasavje district using the Slovenian forestry method for the estimation of forest damage (KOVA et al. 1995), and a Czech method forestimation of damage to the branching system and needle loss and discoloration (CUDLIN & CHMELIKOVA 1995). Comparison of the results obtained by the two methods gave similar damage assessments at heavily polluted sites, although the data obtained by the two methods differ due to several environmental parameters. The Czech method did not give as good results as wasexpected. A possible reason might be that spruce trees in the investigated locations are less damaged than those in the Czech Republic, where the method was developed.
Keywords: air pollution, Norway spruce, Picea abies (L.), tree damage, Zasavje, propadanje gozda, poškodovanost drevja, gozdno drevje, onesnaženost zraka, Zasavje, smreka, Picea abies (L.) Karst.
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2017; Views: 4624; Downloads: 1910
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