Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) is a type of forest management that is based on ecological, environmental, and biological principles. Specific definitions of CCF greatly vary and the concept usually includes a number of tenets or criteria. The most important tenet of CCF is the requirement to abandon the practice of large-scale clearfelling in favour of selective thinning/harvesting and natural regeneration

Understanding local variation in forest biomass allows for a better evaluation of broad-scale patterns and interpretation of forest ecosystems’ role in carbon dynamics. This study focuses on patterns of aboveground tree biomass within a fully censused 20 ​ha forest plot in a temperate forest of northern Alabama, USA. We evaluated the relationship between biomass and topography using ridge and valley

Understanding competition between trees is essential for sustainable forest management as interactions between trees in uneven-aged mixed forests play a key role in growth dynamics. This study investigated nine competition indices (CIs) for their suitability to model the effects of neighboring trees on silver fir (Abies alba) growth in Dinaric silver fir-European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. Although

This research aimed to obtain accurate estimates of the productivity of eucalyptus plantations under different climate change scenarios without the need for additional fieldwork. Thus, we used tree growth data from 1,102 research plots, existing spatially continuous environmental data, and the random forest (RF) algorithm to construct raster-based models. We constructed models to predict site index

Understanding the phenology and productivity of Populus species is crucial for effective management and conservation strategies amid climate change. We investigated leaf budbreak timing, susceptibility to cold damage, leaf dynamics, and biomass production of 168 Populus genotypes with diverse provenances in the southeastern United States. Our study revealed significant variation in budbreak timing

Soil water content (SWC) and meteorological conditions, as key environmental variables influencing tree water use, vary highly within the growing season, hindering a better understanding of environmental control mechanisms on canopy transpiration (Ec). Disentangling the effects of these variables on Ec across growing-season stages is crucial for Ec estimation and forest management. In this study, 43-year-old

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a crucial role in mangrove blue carbon formation, yet the differences in microbe-mediated underlying SOC sequestration between introduced and native mangroves remain unclear. Here, we compared the SOC pool, including recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC) and labile carbon pools, as well as three residual carbon sources (amino sugars, lignin phenols, and lipids) in sediments

The sensitivity of soil respiration (Rs) to temperature (Q10) is a key parameter for benchmarking the carbon (C) cycle and climate feedbacks in the context of global warming. However, previous studies on the factors that drive forest soil Q10 have focused mostly on abiotic factors, such as climate and soil, while the role of biotic factors has been less examined. Here, we compiled a global dataset

As the impact of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance continues to intensify around the world, the ecological integrity (EI) of forest ecosystems is compromised in various ways. This study aims to quantify ecological integrity, explore its latitudinal patterns, and identify the potential determinants behind it. We selected 15 indicators of forest composition, structure, and function and used

Tree growth synchrony serves as a valuable ecological indicator of forest resilience to climate stress and disturbances. However, our understanding of how increasing temperature affects tree growth synchrony during rapidly and slowly warming periods in ecosystems with varying climatic conditions remains limited. By using tree-ring data from temperate broadleaf (Fraxinus mandshurica, Phellodendron amurense

Global forest cover is undergoing significant transformations due to anthropogenic activities and natural disturbances, profoundly impacting hydrological processes. However, the inherent spatial heterogeneity within watersheds leads to varied hydrological responses across spatiotemporal scales, challenging comprehensive assessment of logging impacts at the watershed scale. Here, we developed multiple

Symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF and ANF), two forms of biological nitrogen (N) fixation, are the main pathways for external N inputs into natural terrestrial ecosystems. However, the regulatory mechanisms of SNF and ANF, particularly in response to changing environmental conditions, remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated changes in SNF and ANF rates along two altitudinal gradients

A key property of the boreal forest is that it stores huge amounts of carbon (C), especially belowground in the soil. Amounts of C stored in the uppermost organic layer of boreal forest soils vary greatly in space due to an interplay between several variables facilitating or preventing C accumulation. In this study, we split C stocks into the organic layer and charcoal C due to their difference in

Soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition in high-latitude boreal forests exhibits heightened sensitivity to climate change. However, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying drivers governing soil microbial decomposition responses to warming in these ecosystems remains elusive, especially regarding the roles of mineral protection and microbial genomic traits. In this study, we examined the temperature

Leaf area index (LAI) is a key measure of forest stand physiology and biomass production, and is essential within ecosystem modeling. There are two common approaches to obtaining LAI: (i) terrestrial forest inventory-based “bottom–up”, and (ii) satellite-based “top–down” techniques. The purpose of this study is to compare terrestrial LAI from allometric functions applied to more than 30,000 trees of

Central Asia, located in the innermost part of the Eurasian continent, has experienced “warming and humidification” in recent decades, with potentially important implications for tree growth in alpine forests, which are critical for regional water reserves. We use nested principal component analysis to assess tree radial growth patterns and reveal significant positive trends since the 20th century

Stem volume estimation is crucial in forest ecology and management, particularly for timber harvesting strategies and carbon stock assessments. This study aimed to develop a variable-exponent taper equation specifically tailored to savanna tree species using close-range photogrammetry (CRP) data and to evaluate its performance against conventional volume equations for stem volume estimation. A dataset

Central Europe has faced major disasters causing fluctuations in salvage logging. These events, driven by natural or human factors, have damaged forest. Climate change is a key factor that cyclically affects these patterns. These forest disasters cause billions in financial losses due to lower wood prices and quality, but their regular cycles are poorly understood. The objective of this study is to

Droughts impact forests by influencing various processes such as canopy greenness, tree growth, and reproduction, but most studies have only examined a few of these processes. More comprehensive assessments of forest responses to climate variability and water shortages are needed to improve forecasts of post-drought dynamics. Iberian forests are well-suited for evaluating these effects because they

Forest carbon sinks are crucial for mitigating urban climate change. Their effectiveness depends on the balance between gross carbon losses and gains. However, quantitative and continuous monitoring of forest change/disturbance carbon fluxes is still insufficient. To address this gap, we integrated an improved spatial carbon bookkeeping (SBK) model with the continuous change detection and classification

Forest management planning faces uncertainties regarding future timber prices, tree growth, and survival. Future seed production is an additional source of uncertainty in Korean pine stands managed for the joint production of timber and edible seeds. Modern forest planning uses optimisation to determine the best possible cutting schedule. Optimisation can accommodate uncertainty by using decision rules

The leaf nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratio (N:P) is a critical indicator of nutrient dynamics and ecosystem function. Investigating temporal variations in leaf N:P can provide valuable insights into how plants adapt to environmental changes and nutrient availability. However, limited research has been conducted on long-term temporal leaf N:P variation over a range of temperature zones. Using long-term

The Mediterranean region in central Chile is experiencing a significant decrease in precipitation due to climate change and the dynamics of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Droughts have increased in recent decades, with the most severe and longest drought of the last millennium occurring since 2010 in central Chile. The impact of ongoing water scarcity is leading to significant drought-related

In this study, we used an extensive sampling network established in central Romania to develop tree height and crown length models. Our analysis included more than 18,000 tree measurements from five different species. Instead of building univariate models for each response variable, we employed a multivariate approach using seemingly unrelated mixed-effects models. These models incorporated variables

Soil microbial communities are key factors in maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF). However, the distribution patterns of bacterial diversity and how the different bacterial taxa and their diversity dimensions affect EMF remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated variation in three measures of diversity (alpha diversity, community composition and network complexity) among rare, intermediate

With the rapid economic development and continuous expansion of human activities, forest degradation—characterized by reduced forest stock within the forest including declining carbon storage—poses significant threats to ecosystem stability. Understanding the current status of forest degradation and assessing potential carbon stocks in China are of strategic importance for making forest restoration

The level of genetic variation within a breeding population affects the effectiveness of selection strategies for genetic improvement. The relationship between genetic variation level within Pinus tabuliformis breeding populations and selection strategies or selection effectiveness is not fully investigated. Here, we compared the selection effectiveness of combined and individual direct selection strategies

The full lifespan of long-lived trees includes a seedling phase, during which a seed germinates and grows to a size large enough to be measured in forest inventories. Seedling populations are usually studied separately from adult trees, and the seedling lifespan, from seed to sapling, is poorly known. In the 50-ha Barro Colorado forest plot, we started intensive censuses of seeds and seedlings in 1994

1. In recent years, climate change has led to drought and severe bark beetle infestations, affecting Norway spruce (Picea abies) across Europe, with detrimental consequences for forest owners, the forestry sector and associated industries. As a result, silviculture now faces the challenge of identifying tree species more resilient to these stressors to mitigate the impacts on forest management, forest-dependent

While numerous allometric models exist for estimating biomass in trees with single stems, models for multi-stemmed species are scarce. This study presents models for predicting aboveground biomass (AGB) in European hazel (Corylus avellana L.), growing in multi-stemmed shrub form. We measured the size and harvested the biomass of 30 European hazel shrubs, drying and weighing their woody parts and leaves

Cultural ecosystem services (CES), which encompass recreational and aesthetic values, contribute to human well-being and yet are often underrepresented in forest management planning due to challenges in quantifying these services. This study introduces the Recreational and Aesthetic Values of Forested Landscapes (RAFL) index, a novel framework combining six measurable recreational and aesthetic components:

Neighborhood competition is a critical driver of individual tree growth, and aboveground biomass (AGB) accumulation, which together play key roles in forest dynamics and carbon storage. Therefore, accurate biomass estimation is essential for understanding ecosystem functioning and informing forest management strategies to mitigate climate change. However, integrating neighborhood competition into biomass

Temperate rainforests have historically been considered highly vulnerable to disturbance. Climate change, which is expected to increase the intensity, frequency, and impacts of disturbance events, is consequently a significant threat to their long-term persistence. However, data describing the long-term response of temperate rainforests to disturbance is rare. In the cool temperate rainforests of northern

A growing recognition that uneven-aged silviculture can offer multiple benefits to forested ecosystems has encouraged some landowners in the southern region of the United States to convert even-aged pine stands into multi-aged stands. For shade-intolerant pines of the southern United States, however, few studies have examined residual tree growth following silvicultural treatments that convert even-aged

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) provided by urban green infrastructure are essential for enhancing social well-being and resilience. Identifying and mapping CES at a local scale is crucial for informed land-use decisions that align with citizens' perceptions. However, research on ecosystem services in Romania has been limited, with a notable gap in the assessment of CES provided by urban green spaces

Droughts pose significant threats to forest ecosystems globally. Effective forest management strategies, adapted to local conditions, are needed to mitigate negative drought impacts. One proposed strategy is competition reduction to increase water availability and, as a result, alleviate drought stress. This study investigates the effect of competition intensity on drought stress and tree growth in

Foliar resorption is a principal nutrient conservation mechanism in terrestrial vegetation that could be sensitive to ongoing changes in climate and atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. We quantified N resorption in northern hardwood forests along an elevation gradient of decreasing temperature and increasing soil N availability to evaluate how this critical nutrient cycling process can be expected

The Miombo ecoregion covers eastern and southern Africa, with variations in plant species composition, structure, and biomass across a broad precipitation gradient. Most studies of woody plant communities focus exclusively on larger overstorey trees (≥5 or ≥10 ​cm stem diameter), overlooking the contribution of small trees and shrubs in the understorey, which can comprise a significant portion of total

Extreme weather events pose an ever-greater threat to people, infrastructure, and nature. Forest ecosystems are highly sensitive to extreme cold events that can disrupt ecosystem functions, especially in montane regions. Ice storms can be particularly destructive, with rapid ice accretion causing tree branches to break, even snapping or uprooting entire trees. In March 2022, the Shennongjia forest

Branch size is a crucial characteristic, closely linked to both tree growth and wood quality. A review of existing branch size models reveals various approaches, but the ability to estimate branch diameter and length within the same whorl remains underexplored. In this study, a total of 77 trees were sampled from Northeast China to model the vertical distribution of branch diameter and length within

Accurate, reliable, and regularly updated information is necessary for targeted management of forest stands. This information is usually obtained from sample-based field inventory data. Due to the time-consuming and costly procedure of forest inventory, it is imperative to generate and use the resulting data optimally. Integrating field inventory information with remote sensing data increases the value

Critical Height Sampling (CHS) estimates stand volume free from any model and tree form assumptions. Despite its introduction more than four decades ago, CHS has not been widely applied in the field due to perceived challenges in measurement. The objectives of this study were to compare estimated stand volume between CHS and sampling methods that used volume or taper models, the equivalence of the

As droughts become more frequent and severer, understanding tree resilience and its role in mediating drought legacy effects (LEs) is critical for predicting forest ecosystem responses to future droughts and informing forest management. Both Pinus tabuliformis and Populus davidiana are widely distributed in the Loess Plateau region of western China and play important roles in provision of ecosystem

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) can be considered a hydrological ecosystem engineer as it shapes environmental characteristics through its building activities and feeding behaviour. Even if several studies have so far reported beaver impact on multi-taxon biodiversity and forest regeneration, there is a lack of research on forest stand structure evolution following beaver direct activity

Droughts have caused tree growth decline and high tree mortality across temperate forests, however, how to manage planted forests to alleviate drought stress is still challenging. We used tree-ring and forest inventory data from different density stands to investigate how competition, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), tree age, and their interactions influence drought sensitivity and resistance

It is well established that species mixtures could enhance ecosystem functioning in diverse ecosystem types, with these benefits increasing over time. However, the impact of tree mixtures on Collembola communities following stand development in natural forests remains unclear, despite the critical roles Collembola plays in litter decomposition and nutrient cycling. We investigated the effects of tree

Natural forests are the primary carbon sinks within terrestrial ecosystems, playing a crucial role in mitigating global climate change. China has successfully restored its natural forest area through extensive protective measures. However, the aboveground carbon (AGC) stock potential of China's natural forests remains considerably uncertain in spatial and temporal dynamics. In this study, we provide

The tolerance of tree growth to drought in diverse mixed forests subjected to seasonal water shortage is understudied despite their ecological and economic relevance. By combining intra- and inter-annual analyses of radial growth responses to climate and drought at daily and monthly scales, different strategies to acclimate to hydroclimate variability of coexisting conifers and broadleaves were unveiled

Forest ecosystems function as the largest carbon (C) sink in terrestrial ecosystems, and nearly half of the C in forest ecosystems is stored in forest soils. However, the patterns of two main fractions of soil organic C, particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC), across various types of forest ecosystems remain unclear. In this study, soil samples were collected from depths

The consequences of climate change continue to threaten European forests, particularly for species located at the edges of their latitudinal and altitudinal ranges. While extensively studied in Central Europe, European beech forests require further investigation to understand how climate change will affect these ecosystems in Mediterranean areas. Proposed silvicultural options increasingly aim at sustainable

The symbiotic relationships between trees and different mycorrhizal fungi affect the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships within forest communities, particularly across different strata from the understorey to the overstorey. However, current research on this relationship has not yet reached a definitive conclusion. In this study, we used regression analyses and structural equation modelling

Herbivorous ungulates are vital elements of forest ecosystems, yet their impact on tree regeneration and forest dynamics is challenging to assess. Despite their significant influence, few studies measure browsing pressure independently of precise ungulate population data. This study aimed to determine the regeneration mechanisms of palatable tree species in natural forest ecosystems by measuring the

Understanding the impacts of climate change on the future growth of tree species is particularly important for conserving endemic species with limited geographic distributions, such as Serbian spruce (Picea omorika (Pančić) Purk.). This study describes an approach to assessing the effects of future climate conditions on the growth and the implications for future management to conserve this endangered

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests are a vital resource in subtropical China, known for their high carbon (C) sequestration capacity. However, the dynamic processes of C fluxes within each component (canopy, culm, and soil) and their individual contributions, particularly during on- and off-years, remain unclear. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the dynamics of C fluxes

In the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States, forests include extensive portions of standing dead trees. These regions showcase an intriguing phenomenon where the combined biomass of standing dead trees surpasses that of fallen and decomposing woody debris. This stems from a suite of factors including pest disturbances, management decisions, and a changing climate. With

We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park (SE Poland) to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure. We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century. The

The article deals with forest communities that develop on small surfaces on steep gradients of the geomorphologically diverse landscape of the Kras plateau. They appear in small depressions called dolines, where a steep gradient of ecological conditions appears over a small spatial scale. We tried to detect the turnover of forest communities on this small scale and steep gradient with small plots (microplots)