Journal Description
Forests
Forests
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on forestry and forest ecology published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, GEOBASE, PubAg, AGRIS, PaperChem, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Forestry) / CiteScore - Q1 (Forestry)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our editors and authors say about Forests.
Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Infrared/Visible Light Fire Image Fusion Method Based on Generative Adversarial Network of Wavelet-Guided Pooling Vision Transformer
Forests 2024, 15(6), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060976 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
To address issues of detail loss, limited matching datasets, and low fusion accuracy in infrared/visible light fire image fusion, a novel method based on the Generative Adversarial Network of Wavelet-Guided Pooling Vision Transformer (VTW-GAN) is proposed. The algorithm employs a generator and discriminator
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To address issues of detail loss, limited matching datasets, and low fusion accuracy in infrared/visible light fire image fusion, a novel method based on the Generative Adversarial Network of Wavelet-Guided Pooling Vision Transformer (VTW-GAN) is proposed. The algorithm employs a generator and discriminator network architecture, integrating the efficient global representation capability of Transformers with wavelet-guided pooling for extracting finer-grained features and reconstructing higher-quality fusion images. To overcome the shortage of image data, transfer learning is utilized to apply the well-trained model to fire image fusion, thereby improving fusion precision. The experimental results demonstrate that VTW-GAN outperforms the DenseFuse, IFCNN, U2Fusion, SwinFusion, and TGFuse methods in both objective and subjective aspects. Specifically, on the KAIST dataset, the fusion images show significant improvements in Entropy (EN), Mutual Information (MI), and Quality Assessment based on Gradient-based Fusion (Qabf) by 2.78%, 11.89%, and 10.45%, respectively, over the next-best values. On the Corsican Fire dataset, compared to data-limited fusion models, the transfer-learned fusion images enhance the Standard Deviation (SD) and MI by 10.69% and 11.73%, respectively, and compared to other methods, they perform well in Average Gradient (AG), SD, and MI, improving them by 3.43%, 4.84%, and 4.21%, respectively, from the next-best values. Compared with DenseFuse, the operation efficiency is improved by 78.3%. The method achieves favorable subjective image outcomes and is effective for fire-detection applications.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)
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Open AccessArticle
Improving Forest Above-Ground Biomass Estimation by Integrating Individual Machine Learning Models
by
Mi Luo, Shoaib Ahmad Anees, Qiuyan Huang, Xin Qin, Zhihao Qin, Jianlong Fan, Guangping Han, Liguo Zhang and Helmi Zulhaidi Mohd Shafri
Forests 2024, 15(6), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060975 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
The accurate estimation of forest above-ground biomass (AGB) is crucial for sustainable forest management and tracking the carbon cycle of forest ecosystem. Machine learning algorithms have been proven to have great potential in forest AGB estimation with remote sensing data. Though many studies
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The accurate estimation of forest above-ground biomass (AGB) is crucial for sustainable forest management and tracking the carbon cycle of forest ecosystem. Machine learning algorithms have been proven to have great potential in forest AGB estimation with remote sensing data. Though many studies have demonstrated that a single machine learning model can produce highly accurate estimations of forest AGB in many situations, efforts are still required to explore the possible improvement in forest AGB estimation for a specific scenario under study. This study aims to investigate the performance of novel ensemble machine learning methods for forest AGB estimation and analyzes whether these methods are affected by forest types, independent variables, and spatial autocorrelation. Four well-known machine learning models (CatBoost, LightGBM, random forest (RF), and XGBoost) were compared for forest AGB estimation in the study using eight scenarios devised on the basis of two study regions, two variable types, and two validation strategies. Subsequently, a hybrid model combining the strengths of these individual models was proposed for forest AGB estimation. The findings indicated that no individual model outperforms the others in all scenarios. The RF model demonstrates superior performance in scenarios 5, 6, and 7, while the CatBoost model shows the best performance in the remaining scenarios. Moreover, the proposed hybrid model consistently has the best performance in all scenarios in spite of some uncertainties. The ensemble strategy developed in this study for the hybrid model substantially improves estimation accuracy and exhibits greater stability, effectively addressing the challenge of model selection encountered in the forest AGB forecasting process.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Inventory Monitoring Based on Remote Sensing)
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Open AccessArticle
Phosphorous Fractions in Soils of Natural Shrub-Grass Communities and Leucaena leucocephala Plantations in a Dry-Hot Valley
by
Jun Jin, Yiyun Luo, Chengyu Liu, Jiajia Zhang, Mengxi Gao, Lingchen Yuan, Bin Hu, Defeng Feng and Wei Li
Forests 2024, 15(6), 974; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060974 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
Afforestation is an effective approach for restoring degraded ecological functions in the dry-hot valleys of southwest China. Afforestation can affect soil carbon and nitrogen storage; however, how it affects soil P fractions, and their driving factors. is poorly understood in this region. To
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Afforestation is an effective approach for restoring degraded ecological functions in the dry-hot valleys of southwest China. Afforestation can affect soil carbon and nitrogen storage; however, how it affects soil P fractions, and their driving factors. is poorly understood in this region. To address these questions, we conducted a field study of Leucaena leucocephala plantations at three different stand age sites (3, 10, and 20 years) and an adjacent natural shrub-grass community control site to investigate changes in soil total phosphorus (Pt), Pi (inorganic phosphorus), Po (organic phosphorus), and phosphorus (P) fractions and their driving factors. Soil Pt, Po, labile P, and moderately labile P significantly increased in the Leucaena leucocephala plantation compared with the natural shrub grass site, and the Leucaena leucocephala plantation increased soil Pt content by significantly increasing soil Po. Soil Pt, Po, Pi, labile P, moderately labile P and non-labile P were not significantly different among the different stages of the Leucaena leucocephala plantation, and soil Pt and its fractions were all significantly higher in the middle-age forest stage of the Leucaena leucocephala plantation. These results indicate that Leucaena leucocephala plantations increased the soil P transformation ability, and soil Po played a critical role in sustaining soil P availability. The middle-age forest stage of Leucaena leucocephala plantations had the best conditions for P stocks and P conversion capacity. The abundance of actinomycetes and fungi showed significant positive relationships with soil Pi fractions (NaHCO3-Pi, NaOH-Pi, and NaOHu.s.-Pi); soil Pt and moderately labile P were significantly and directly influenced by fungal abundance. Soil organic carbon (SOC), NH4+-N, and NO3−-N showed significant and positive relationships with the soil Pi fractions (NaHCO3-Pi, NaHCO3-Po, and HCl-Po). SOC and NO3−-N were the key drivers of soil Pt, labile P, moderately labile P and non-labile fractions. These results indicate that abiotic and biotic factors differently affected the soil P fractions and Pt in Leucaena leucocephala plantations in the dry-hot valley.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Soil)
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Open AccessArticle
Microbial Fertilizers and Shading Contribute to the Vegetation Assembly and Restoration of Steep-Slope after Soil Spray-Sowing in the Yuanjiang Dry-Hot Valley Region
by
Gaojuan Zhao, Jinrong Li, Xiong Li, Yulin Yang, Jianbo Yang, Xinyu Wang, Tianliang Li, Aurele Gnetegha Ayemele, Jianchu Xu and Zijiang Yang
Forests 2024, 15(6), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060973 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
Road construction and strip mining in mountainous regions inevitably causes the destruction of vegetation and soil, leading to large ranges of exposed slopes. Although soil spray-sowing has become a promising method to accelerate community assembly in humid regions, the application of microbial fertilizers
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Road construction and strip mining in mountainous regions inevitably causes the destruction of vegetation and soil, leading to large ranges of exposed slopes. Although soil spray-sowing has become a promising method to accelerate community assembly in humid regions, the application of microbial fertilizers and shading in slope recovery during soil spray-sowing are rarely reported in dry-hot valleys. This study compared the effectiveness among artificial seeding, arch column + planting bags, and soil spray-sowing by slope restoration trials in the Yuanjiang dry-hot valley, southwest China. Additionally, we explored the effect of slope degrees, shade, and microbial fertilizers on seedling survival and growth after soil spray-sowing. Results indicated that soil spray-sowing displayed better species survival and growth performance than artificial seeding and arch column + planting bags. The richness, density, and height of seedlings dropped dramatically with the increasing of slope degrees after soil spray-sowing, especially when the slope degree was greater than 1. Although shading observably improved the species density, it inhibited the growth of Albizia julibrissin and Crotalaria pallida. Moreover, microbial fertilizers Penicillium chrysogenum and Bacillus aryabhattai markedly enhanced the density and growth of species Azadirachta Indica, Cajanus cajan, Indigofera cassioides, and Sophora xanthanth. Soil spray-sowing, combined with shading and microbial fertilizers, contributes to species survival and growth when the slope degree is less than 1.73 and the soil spray-sowing process coincides with the rainy season, which provides the theoretical basis and technical support for ecological restoration in the dry-hot river valley.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contribution of Forestry Ecological Restoration Projects to the Realization of Sustainable Development Goals)
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Open AccessArticle
Anomalous Warm Temperatures Recorded using Tree Rings in the Headwater of the Jinsha River during the Little Ice Age
by
Chaoling Jiang, Haoyuan Xu, Yuanhe Tong and Jinjian Li
Forests 2024, 15(6), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060972 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
As a feature of global warming, climate change has been a severe issue in the 21st century. A more comprehensive reconstruction is necessary in the climate assessment process, considering the heterogeneity of climate change scenarios across various meteorological elements and seasons. To better
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As a feature of global warming, climate change has been a severe issue in the 21st century. A more comprehensive reconstruction is necessary in the climate assessment process, considering the heterogeneity of climate change scenarios across various meteorological elements and seasons. To better comprehend the change in minimum temperature in winter in the Jinsha River Basin (China), we built a standard tree-ring chronology from Picea likiangensis var. balfouri and reconstructed the regional mean minimum temperature of the winter half-years from 1606 to 2016. This reconstruction provides a comprehensive overview of the changes in winter temperature over multiple centuries. During the last 411 years, the regional climate has undergone seven warm periods and six cold periods. The reconstructed temperature sensitively captures the climate warming that emerged at the end of the 20th century. Surprisingly, during 1650–1750, the lowest winter temperature within the research area was about 0.44 °C higher than that in the 20th century, which differs significantly from the concept of the “cooler” Little Ice Age during this period. This result is validated by the temperature results reconstructed from other tree-ring data from nearby areas, confirming the credibility of the reconstruction. The Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition method (EEMD) was adopted to decompose the reconstructed sequence into oscillations of different frequency domains. The decomposition results indicate that the temperature variations in this region exhibit significant periodic changes with quasi-3a, quasi-7a, 15.5-16.8a, 29.4-32.9a, and quasi-82a cycles. Factors like El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and solar activity, along with Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), may be important driving forces. To reconstruct this climate, this study integrates the results of three machine learning algorithms and traditional linear regression methods. This novel reconstruction method can provide valuable insights for related research endeavors. Furthermore, other global climate change scenarios can be explored through additional proxy reconstructions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Response of Tree Rings to Climate Change and Climate Extremes)
Open AccessArticle
Introducing Native Tree Species Alter the Soil Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Fine Roots in Moso Bamboo Plantations
by
Yilin Ning, Zedong Chen, Hongdi Gao, Chuanbao Yang, Xu Zhang, Zijie Wang, Anke Wang, Xuhua Du, Lan Lan and Yufang Bi
Forests 2024, 15(6), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060971 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Bamboo and wood-mixed forests are management models that remarkably enhance the balance and productivity of bamboo ecosystems. However, the effects of this model on soil nutrients and enzyme activities remain largely unknown. This study compared the soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and enzyme
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Bamboo and wood-mixed forests are management models that remarkably enhance the balance and productivity of bamboo ecosystems. However, the effects of this model on soil nutrients and enzyme activities remain largely unknown. This study compared the soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and enzyme activity, along with the characteristics of fine roots in pure Moso bamboo plantations (CK) and those mixed with Liriodendron chinense (ML), Sassafras tzumu (MS), Cunninghamia lanceolata (MC), and Pseudolarix amabilis (MP). The results showed that mixed forests improve carbon pools in 0–40 cm soil layers, increasing the total organic C(TOC), free particulate organic C (fPOC), occluded particulate organic C (oPOC), hot-water-extractable organic C (DOC), and mineral-associated organic C (MOC). They also increase soil total N, total P, available N, available P, NH4+-N, NO3−-N, inorganic P, organic P, and microbial biomass N. Bacterial and fungal abundances, along with enzyme activities (urease, acid phosphatase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and β-glucosidase), also improved. MP and MS were the most effective. Moreover, MS and MP supported a higher biomass and length of fine root and increased the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake of Moso bamboo. In conclusion, Sassafras tzumu and Pseudolarix amabilis are optimal for mixed planting, offering substantial benefits to soil nutrient dynamics and preventing soil quality decline in Moso bamboo forests, thereby supporting better nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. This research offers insights into enhancing soil quality through diversified Moso bamboo forestry.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
Open AccessArticle
Forest Biological Disaster Control Behaviors of Forest Farmers and Their Spatial Heterogeneity in China
by
Qi Cai, Bowen Sun, Xufeng Zhang, Wenjing Bo, Guangyu Wang and Zefeng Zhou
Forests 2024, 15(6), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060970 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
With more and more loss caused by forest biological disasters (FBDs) in China, forest farmers, as one of the most important stakeholders, are participating in the control. In this study, the ordinary least squares model, simultaneous equation model, and propensity score matching method
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With more and more loss caused by forest biological disasters (FBDs) in China, forest farmers, as one of the most important stakeholders, are participating in the control. In this study, the ordinary least squares model, simultaneous equation model, and propensity score matching method were used with the data from 818 surveys conducted in the typical FBD outbreak provinces, to reveal the FBD control behaviors of forest farmers and their differences between western and eastern regions of China. The results indicated the following. (1) Household factors: forest farmers could timely take control measures. An increase of 1 ha in the area of occurrence would increase the control measures by 3.26 ha. However, the control measures can only reduce 50% of the economic loss caused by FBDs and cannot effectively control the spread trend of FBDs. There are issues, including an insufficient and old labor force, insufficient technology support, and low consciousness of ecology protection. (2) External factors: forest farmers would increase control when the temperature rises, and reduce control when rainfall increases. After village committees unify organizing the control, their participation enthusiasm would increase, which would have a substitution relationship with the household investment. (3) Regional difference: the eastern region of China has higher figures than the western in terms of outbreak area, economic losses, control measures, and pesticide cost. If the western forest farmers have the control funds as the eastern forest farmers have, and the eastern forest farmers have the control intensity as the western forest farmers have, the overall FBD control effect would be better.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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Open AccessArticle
Forests for Health Promotion: Future Developments of Salutogenic Properties in Managed Boreal Forests
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Jonathan Stoltz, Daniel Burgas, Maria Potterf, Rémi Duflot, Kyle Eyvindson, Birgit M. Probst, Astor Toraño-Caicoya, Mikko Mönkkönen, Mats Gyllin, Patrik Grahn and Tord Snäll
Forests 2024, 15(6), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060969 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Visits to forests can improve human health and well-being through various mechanisms. They can support the immune system, promote physical activity, and restore stress and attention fatigue. Questions remain about how perceived qualities in forests important to support such salutogenic, i.e. health-promoting, benefits
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Visits to forests can improve human health and well-being through various mechanisms. They can support the immune system, promote physical activity, and restore stress and attention fatigue. Questions remain about how perceived qualities in forests important to support such salutogenic, i.e. health-promoting, benefits can be represented in forest simulation tools to allow quantitative analyses, e.g., long-term projections or trade-off analyses with other forest functions, such as biodiversity conservation, wood production, etc. Questions also remain about how different forest management regimes might impact such perceived qualities in forests. Here, we defined three types of salutogenic forest characteristics (SFCs), referred to as Deep, Spacious, and Mixed forest characteristics, respectively. We did so by using the perceived sensory dimension (PSD) model, which describes and interrelates more fundamental perceived qualities of recreational outdoor environments that are important to support people’s health and well-being. We identified proxy variables for the selected PSD models in boreal forest stands and compared the effect of five different management regimes on both individual PSD models and the derived SFCs when projecting a forest landscape 100 years into the future. Our results suggest combinations of protection (set-aside) and variations of continuous cover forestry as the most promising strategies to achieve these salutogenic properties in the long-term future. Depending on the SFC in focus and the specific management regime used, between 20% and 50% of the landscape could support associated properties in the long term (100 years). This might impact how forests should be managed when salutogenic outcomes are considered alongside, e.g., wood production and other forest contributions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest, Trees, Human Health and Wellbeing)
Open AccessReview
Classification Systems Applied to Forest Road Planning: Research Gap Analysis
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Daniela Rodrigues, Margarida Pinho-Lopes and Joaquim Macedo
Forests 2024, 15(6), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060968 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Forest road planning incorporates crucial strategies essential for sustainable timber extraction, minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring safe access to forest regions. This paper presents a literature review conducted to examine publications related to forest roads to ultimately filter and evaluate the information on
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Forest road planning incorporates crucial strategies essential for sustainable timber extraction, minimizing environmental impacts and ensuring safe access to forest regions. This paper presents a literature review conducted to examine publications related to forest roads to ultimately filter and evaluate the information on the incorporation of classification systems in the planning strategies for forest roads. Using the Scopus database to gather publications, various data points were mapped, such as temporal distribution of publications, citation metrics, keyword inputs and other bibliometric markers. Through the bibliometric visualization software VOSviewer 1.6.19, this study determined that over the years, the forest road research subject has gained increasing attention with different shifts in focus. However, upon investigating the application of systems of classification implemented on forest road networks, it became evident that this approach is not a recent innovation and there is scarce documentation and development regarding this planning strategy. The information collected also reveals that this type of classification can be found more in technical documents, like design manuals. This outcome suggests that the subject under study is not relevantly covered in forest-related journals, but rather by institutions aiming to identify region-specific needs and develop corresponding systems accordingly.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Operations and Engineering)
Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Forest Fire Risk Assessment: An Ontology-Based Approach with Improved Continuous Apriori Algorithm
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Yumin Dong, Ziyang Li and Changzuo Xie
Forests 2024, 15(6), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060967 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Forest fires are sudden and difficult to extinguish, so early risk assessment is crucial. However, there are currently a lack of suitable knowledge-mining algorithms for forest fire risk assessment. This article proposes an improved continuous Apriori algorithm to mining forest fire rules by
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Forest fires are sudden and difficult to extinguish, so early risk assessment is crucial. However, there are currently a lack of suitable knowledge-mining algorithms for forest fire risk assessment. This article proposes an improved continuous Apriori algorithm to mining forest fire rules by introducing prior knowledge to classify input data and enhance its ability to process continuous data. Meanwhile, it constructs an ontology to provide a standardized expression platform for forest fire risk assessment. The improved continuous Apriori algorithm cooperates with ontology and applies the mining rules to the forest fire risk assessment results. The proposed method is validated using the forest fire data from the Bejaia region in Algeria. The results show that the improved continuous Apriori algorithm is superior to the raw Apriori algorithm and can mine the rules ignored by the raw Apriori algorithm. Compared to the raw Apriori algorithm, the number of generated rules increased by 191.67%. The method presented here can be used to enhance forest fire risk assessments and contribute to the generation and sharing of forest-fire-related knowledge, thereby alleviating the problem of insufficient knowledge in forest fire risk assessment.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildfire Monitoring and Risk Management in Forests)
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Open AccessArticle
Estrogen-like Cell Proliferation Abilities of Korea Forest Plant Resources on MCF-7 Cells and Analysis of Active Compounds
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Hyejin Cho, Gia Han Tran, Hee Woon Ann, Hak-Dong Lee, Chung Ho Choi, Sanghyun Lee and Sullim Lee
Forests 2024, 15(6), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060966 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of functional substances and explored their biological activities using colorimetric and chromatographic techniques to identify high-value materials from 14 species of forest plants native to Korea. Comparative analysis between plant species included calculating the total polyphenol and
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This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of functional substances and explored their biological activities using colorimetric and chromatographic techniques to identify high-value materials from 14 species of forest plants native to Korea. Comparative analysis between plant species included calculating the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemical compounds caffeic acid (1), p-coumaric acid (2), and quercetin (3) using HPLC, and antioxidant activity tests (DPPH and ABTS+) and menopausal symptom relief tests (E-screen assay) to investigate their biological activities. The results highlighted Cercidiphyllum japonicum (FR 4), Aruncus dioicus (FR 6), and Pseudocydonia sinensis (FR 8) as excellent forest plant resource materials among the 14 forest plant resources. Notably, FR 4 exhibited significant activity in the E-screen assay. On the basis of these findings, we propose the use of FR 4 as a valuable material. Further analysis identified the phytochemical compounds maltol (4), chlorogenic acid (5), ellagic acid (6), and quercitrin (7) in FR 4 and analyzed their biological activities. Compounds 2–6 found in FR 4 were confirmed to possess strong antioxidant activity, and an E-screen assay revealed an excellent cell proliferation rate for quercitrin (7). This suggests that quercitrin (7) in FR 4 may be a significant indicator of the alleviation of menopausal symptoms.
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(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)
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Open AccessArticle
Cunninghamia lanceolata Canopy Relative Chlorophyll Content Estimation Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Multispectral Imagery and Terrain Suitability Analysis
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Luyue Zhang, Xiaoyu Su, Huan Liu, Yueqiao Zhao, Wenjing Gao, Nuo Cheng and Riwen Lai
Forests 2024, 15(6), 965; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060965 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to streamline the determination of chlorophyll content in Cunninghamia lanceolate while achieving precise measurements of canopy chlorophyll content. Relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) in the Cunninghamia lanceolate canopy were assessed in the study area using the SPAD-502 portable chlorophyll meter, alongside
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This study aimed to streamline the determination of chlorophyll content in Cunninghamia lanceolate while achieving precise measurements of canopy chlorophyll content. Relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) in the Cunninghamia lanceolate canopy were assessed in the study area using the SPAD-502 portable chlorophyll meter, alongside spectral data collected via onboard multispectral imaging. And based on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral collection of spectral values in the study area, 21 vegetation indices with significant correlation with Cunninghamia lanceolata canopy SPAD (CCS) were constructed as independent variables of the model’s various regression techniques, including partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forests (RF), and backpropagation neural networks (BPNN), which were employed to develop a SPAD inversion model. The BPNN-based model emerged as the best choice, exhibiting test dataset coefficients of determination (R2) at 0.812, root mean square error (RSME) at 2.607, and relative percent difference (RPD) at 1.942. While the model demonstrated consistent accuracy across different slope locations, generalization was lower for varying slope directions. By creating separate models for different slope directions, R2 went up to about 0.8, showcasing favorable terrain applicability. Therefore, constructing inverse models with different slope directions samples separately can estimate CCS more accurately.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UAV Application in Forestry)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Drivers of Plant Invasion in Stream Restoration
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Douglas A. DeBerry and Dakota M. Hunter
Forests 2024, 15(6), 964; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060964 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This study characterized important environmental factors that contribute to plant invasion in the forested riparian zones surrounding stream restoration sites. We sampled vegetation and environmental variables (light availability, soil physiochemistry, and site age) across invasion gradients at multiple sites in Virginia, USA. Data
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This study characterized important environmental factors that contribute to plant invasion in the forested riparian zones surrounding stream restoration sites. We sampled vegetation and environmental variables (light availability, soil physiochemistry, and site age) across invasion gradients at multiple sites in Virginia, USA. Data analysis involved a multimetric statistical approach combining correlation and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to arrive at a plausible model for invasion risk by species. We targeted three of the most problematic invaders in these systems: Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), and Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass). Our analysis revealed species-specific environmental drivers of invasion, with certain factors consistently important across all targeted invaders—notably, canopy cover, nitrogen availability, soil texture, and bioavailable phosphorus, as indicated by the importance of certain proxies (e.g., metal cations). The results of this research have been used to develop a suite of best practices that can be implemented at the outset of a stream restoration project to reduce the risk of invasion in the riparian forests surrounding these sites.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Invasions in Forest Ecosystems: Understanding Arrival, Expansion and Management)
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Open AccessArticle
Evaluation of Deterioration Degree of Archaeological Wood from Luoyang Canal No. 1 Ancient Ship
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Weiwei Yang, Wanrong Ma and Xinyou Liu
Forests 2024, 15(6), 963; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060963 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This study provides a detailed investigation of archaeological wood samples from the Luoyang Canal No. 1 site, focusing on wood species identification, physical properties, mechanical property analyses, and morphological examination. The identified wood species, belonging to the Ulmus genus, exhibited a 43% decline
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This study provides a detailed investigation of archaeological wood samples from the Luoyang Canal No. 1 site, focusing on wood species identification, physical properties, mechanical property analyses, and morphological examination. The identified wood species, belonging to the Ulmus genus, exhibited a 43% decline in compressive strength in waterlogged environments. Further, the wood exhibited increased moisture content, higher porosity, reduced basic density, and elevated shrinkage rates, indicating a mild level of degradation. X-ray diffraction was employed for the observation of cellulose structure, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated significant removal of cellulose and hemicellulose components. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding wood degradation mechanisms to evaluate structural integrity and durability in guiding the development of effective preservation strategies for archaeological wood artifacts. Continued research and conservation are crucial to deepen our knowledge of wood deterioration processes and enhance the implementation of preservation techniques.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical and Mechanical Properties of Wood- and Bamboo-Based Materials)
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Open AccessArticle
Effects of Canopy Nitrogen Addition and Understory Vegetation Removal on Nitrogen Transformations in a Subtropical Forest
by
Saif Ullah, Wenfei Liu, Jawad Ali Shah, Fangfang Shen, Yingchun Liao, Honglang Duan, Guomin Huang and Jianping Wu
Forests 2024, 15(6), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060962 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The management of understory vegetation and anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has significantly resulted in a nutrient imbalance in forest ecosystems. However, the effects of canopy nitrogen addition and understory vegetation removal on N transformation processes (mineralization, nitrification, ammonification, and leaching) along with seasonal
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The management of understory vegetation and anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has significantly resulted in a nutrient imbalance in forest ecosystems. However, the effects of canopy nitrogen addition and understory vegetation removal on N transformation processes (mineralization, nitrification, ammonification, and leaching) along with seasonal variations (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) remain unclear in subtropical forests. To fill this research gap, a field manipulation experiment was conducted with four treatments, including: (i) CK, control; (ii) CN, canopy nitrogen addition (25 kg N ha−1 year−1); (iii) UR, understory vegetation removal; and (iv) CN+UR, canopy nitrogen addition plus understory vegetation removal. The results revealed that CN increased net mineralization and nitrification by 294 mg N m−2 month−1 in the spring and 126 mg N m−2 month−1 in the winter, respectively. UR increased N mineralization and nitrification rates by 618 mg N m−2 month−1 in the summer. In addition, CN effectively reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn, while UR increased it in the spring and winter. UR increased annual nitrification rates by 93.4%, 90.3%, and 38.9% in the winter, spring, and summer, respectively. Additionally, both net N ammonification and annual nitrification rates responded positively to phosphorus availability during the autumn. Overall, UR potentially boosted nitrification rates in the summer and ammonification in the spring and winter, while CN reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn. Future research should integrate canopy nitrogen addition, understory vegetation removal, and phosphorus availability to address the global N deposition challenges in forest ecosystems.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Organic Matter and Soil Multifunctionality in Forest Ecosystems)
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Population Dynamics of Ips sexdentatus (Börner) in the Czech Republic
by
Daniela Hlávková, Markéta Davídková, Jana Koudelková and Petr Doležal
Forests 2024, 15(6), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060961 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Recently, an outbreak of Ips sexdentatus (Börner, 1776) has caused considerable damage in the pine forests of the Czech Republic. As historical data on the biology of this pest are scarce due to its rare occurrence in recent decades, our work focused on
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Recently, an outbreak of Ips sexdentatus (Börner, 1776) has caused considerable damage in the pine forests of the Czech Republic. As historical data on the biology of this pest are scarce due to its rare occurrence in recent decades, our work focused on monitoring flight activity and voltinism and investigating methods for monitoring its activity during the growing season. Observations were conducted from March to September 2021 and 2022 at three sites using 12 Theysohn traps with four types of pheromone lures (ACUMIPROTECT, ACUWIT, SEXOWIT and Pheagr IAC) together with data loggers to record weather conditions. The first beetles occurred in early May (daily mean temperatures above 13 °C). After the first egg laying stage, females re-emerged to establish a sister brood. The maximum flight activity appeared between late June and mid-July (daily mean temperatures about 20 °C), and the offspring occurred at the turn of June/July and in the first half of August. Since then, flight activity had a downward trend and quietened in September. According to the data, monitoring of I. sexdentatus should be conducted between May and September using the ACUMIPROTECT pheromone bait exhibiting the highest capturing efficacy. In future, however, the behavior of I. sexdentatus might alter due to climate change.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecology of Organisms Associated with Woody Plants)
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Discrepancies and Evaluation of Needle-Leaf and Tracheid Traits of Qinhai Spruce in Qilian Mountains, Northwest China
by
Hu Zhao, Erwen Xu, Dong Lv, Yanxia Wang, Xingpeng Zhao, Na Wei, Zhengzhong Zhang, Hao Yuan, Xuee Ma, Xiurong Wu and Xiande Liu
Forests 2024, 15(6), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060960 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Phenotypic variation analysis and comprehensive evaluation are important tools for selecting provenances of forest trees, which, in turn, is crucial for genetic improvement of forest trees. The study analyzed eight needle-leaf and fourteen tracheid trait indexes of ten provenances of Qinghai spruce forest
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Phenotypic variation analysis and comprehensive evaluation are important tools for selecting provenances of forest trees, which, in turn, is crucial for genetic improvement of forest trees. The study analyzed eight needle-leaf and fourteen tracheid trait indexes of ten provenances of Qinghai spruce forest stands. Multiple comparisons, correlation analysis, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the differences in needle-leaf and tracheid traits among the different provenances. The study found significant differences in the needle-leaf and tracheid traits among the provenances. All traits included 50 pairs of positive and 26 pairs of negative correlations. The coefficient of variation for the tracheid trait (18.86%) was higher than that for the needle-leaf trait (17.20%). A comprehensive evaluation of needle-leaf and tracheid traits was conducted using principal component analysis. The study demonstrated that the degree of variation in needle-leaf and tracheid traits among the provenances of Qinghai spruce was extensive, with a multitude of sources of variation. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen the selection of good provenances in the early seed selection process. The results of the comprehensive evaluation can be utilized as a foundation for the selection of good provenances for carbon sequestration and timber properties.
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(This article belongs to the Section Genetics and Molecular Biology)
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Functional Segregation of Resource Utilization Strategies between Invasive and Native Plants and Invasion Mechanisms in the Water Level Fluctuation Zone: A Case Study of Pengxi River in Three Gorges Reservoir, China
by
Lideng Cheng, Xingzhong Yuan, Kuo Sun and Peiwu Li
Forests 2024, 15(6), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060959 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The ecosystem of the water level fluctuation (WLF) zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is highly vulnerable and sensitive due to its unique cyclical flooding and drought conditions. The ecological impact of biological invasion in this area is particularly severe, making it
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The ecosystem of the water level fluctuation (WLF) zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is highly vulnerable and sensitive due to its unique cyclical flooding and drought conditions. The ecological impact of biological invasion in this area is particularly severe, making it crucial to study the differences in resource utilization strategies between invasive plants (IPs) and native plants (NPs) using functional traits to explore the mechanisms of invasion. We selected the WLF zone of Pengxi River in the TGR area and conducted a multi-scale study along the elevation gradient. The results reveal that at the regional scale, IPs have a larger height and specific leaf area, smaller leaf tissue density, and specific root length compared to NPs, showing a preference for enhancing aboveground resource acquisition over leaf defense capabilities. They allocate more tissue construction resources to their roots to withstand environmental pressures, which may be the key to their successful intrusion, highlighting the role of niche differentiation. On the community scale, the H and SLA of IPs and NPs are positively correlated with elevation, while the LTD of IPs shows a negative correlation. At elevations of 175 m and below, IP and NP exhibit functional convergence, while above 175 m, functional divergence was observed. This indicates that although the different resource utilization strategies are crucial for successful IP invasion, the environmental filtering from periodic floods and drought pressures play a significant role in community assembly in the WLF zone, allowing IP to integrate into habitats with similar functional characteristics already inhabited by NP and establish their own communities.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Invasion)
Open AccessArticle
Effects of the Cultivation Substrate pH and Ammonium-to-Nitrate Nitrogen Ratio on the C:N:P Stoichiometry in Leaves of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba
by
Cong Cheng, Jiaxiang Yu, Lidong Wang, Haiyan Liang, Yanru Wang and Xiaoli Yan
Forests 2024, 15(6), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060958 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
We aimed to clarify the nutrient allocation strategies of Cunninghamia lanceolata (CL) and Schima superba (SS) and their differences in N uptake and utilization under acidic stress and heterogeneous allocation of N. One-year-old seedlings of CL and SS were cultured in sands with
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We aimed to clarify the nutrient allocation strategies of Cunninghamia lanceolata (CL) and Schima superba (SS) and their differences in N uptake and utilization under acidic stress and heterogeneous allocation of N. One-year-old seedlings of CL and SS were cultured in sands with three pH levels (pH rate 4.5, 5.5, and 6.5) and five different N form ratios (NH4+-N to NO3−-N ratios 10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7, and 0:10) in the greenhouse. The C, N, and P contents and C:N:P stoichiometry in leaves, total biomass, and NH4+-N and NO3−-N contents in the cultivation substrate were analyzed after 160 days. At the pH rate of 4.5, the N contents of CL and SS significantly decreased. However, the N contents of SS increased at the pH rate of 5.5. At the pH rate of 5.5, the N content of CL and SS increased under the cultivation substrate, with ratios of 10:0 and 7:3, and 3:7 and 0:10, respectively. The N content of CL was significantly positively correlated with its P content. The C:P ratios of CL and SS were significantly positively correlated with their C:N ratios and N:P ratios. Under the same treatment, the differences in C:N:P stoichiometry were more significant between CL and SS at the pH rate of 5.5. The NH4+-N content of the cultivation substrate in CL and SS was higher than the NO3−-N content. At the ratio of 7:3, the C:N stoichiometric ratio of CL and C:N:P stoichiometric ratio of SS were negatively correlated with total biomass. At the pH rate of 5.5, cultivation environments with high NH4+-N and NO3−-N amount respectively increased the N content of CL and SS. The CL is susceptible to N limitation, and SS is susceptible to N and P limitation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Tree Improvement under Stress Conditions — 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Vertical Distribution of Mites (Acari) in a “Miniature Forest” of Sphagnum Mosses in a Forest Bog in Western Norway
by
Anna Seniczak, Juan Carlos Iturrondobeitia and Stanisław Seniczak
Forests 2024, 15(6), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060957 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The Sphagnum habitat is a ”miniature forest” to the mites, of which the layers offer different microenvironmental conditions. We studied the vertical distribution of the Oribatida, Mesostigmata, and Prostigmata groups in four layers (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–15 cm, and 15–20 cm) of
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The Sphagnum habitat is a ”miniature forest” to the mites, of which the layers offer different microenvironmental conditions. We studied the vertical distribution of the Oribatida, Mesostigmata, and Prostigmata groups in four layers (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm, 10–15 cm, and 15–20 cm) of a forest bog on Neshalvøya, Norway, to improve the knowledge of the ecology of these mites. The sampled bog was grazed by farm animals; thus, another aim was to investigate the vertical distribution of the oribatid species, which are intermediate hosts of tapeworms. The selected study site is known for its valuable yet increasingly endangered nature, so our aim was also to contribute to the knowledge on its diversity. We collected Sphagnum samples in four replicates and extracted them in the laboratory in modified Berlese funnels. In total, 16.880 mites were studied, including 16.384 Oribatida, 466 Mesostigmata, and 30 Prostigmata. The total abundance of mites, the Oribatida and Mesostigmata groups, was the highest in the upper layer of Sphagnum and decreased with depth, while the abundance of the Prostigmata did not follow any pattern. Among the Oribatida, at deeper layers, significant declines in abundance were observed in adults, but not in juveniles. Most oribatid species, e.g., Nothrus pratensis, preferred the upper layer of Sphagnum, whereas some preferred deeper layers. For example, Suctobelbella acutidens and Carabodes femoralis preferred the 5–10 cm layer, Quadroppia maritalis the 10–15 cm layer, and Ceratozetes gracilis and Eulohmannia ribagai preferred the deepest layer of Sphagnum. Adults and juveniles of the same species showed a preference for the same layer. In total, 62 species of the Oribatida were recorded, including 11 species that are known to be intermediate hosts of tapeworms. Most of them occurred in the upper layer of Sphagnum. Over 20% of the species were found exclusively in deeper layers, so sampling these layers is important for a better evaluation of the mites’ diversity. Studying the vertical distribution of the mites in bogs helps us to understand their ecology, including their role as intermediate hosts of tapeworms, as well as their diversity.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Biodiversity)
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