Seasonal dynamics of manganese accumulation in European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) over 10 years of monitoring

The article presents the results of the research pertaining to forest litter and the composition of peat topsoil microelements, as well as the composition and projection coverage of undergrowth, herbaceous and bryophyte species specific to the vicinity of the cement factory “Akmenes cementas” are presented. Increased amounts of strontium, barium, titanium, manganese, copper, chromium, nickel and boron in forest litter and the upper 10 cm peat layer (up to 6 km from the pollution source) were established. 53 plant species were observed. The greater part (75–81%) of them are vascular plants. It was indicated that the diversity of vegetation species at different distances (0.5–1.0, 3.0–3.5 and 5.5–6.0 km) from the pollution source varies. Species of broadleaved trees and shrubs (Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Roth., Frangula alnus Mill., Corylus avellana L.), resistant to the impact of alkaline dust, are more outspread near the pollution source. Nearby the pollution source (0.5–1.0 km), Campylium stellatum Lange and Campylium sommerfeltii Lange, were found. At the farthest distances from the plant, the typical for Myrtillo-oxalidosa site type moss Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (Hedw.) Warnst, and herbs Epilobium palustre L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Moehringia trinervia (L.) Clairv. were observed. Total coverage of vegetation species varied from 35.5±1.9% at the closest to the pollution source distance to 19.6±2.1% at the 3.0–3.5 km distance. It is significantly (p;<;0.05) less in comparison to the control (51.9±2.2%). The greatest part (43–72%) of the coverage in different squares of the vegetation study consisted of herbs and undergrowth plants. Santrauka Pateikami miško paklotės ir durpinio dirvožemio mikroelementinės sudėties, trako augalų , žolių bei samanų rūšių į vairovės bei projekcinio padengimo ”Akmenės cemento“ aplinkoje tyrimų rezultatai. Nustatyta, kad dėl cemento dulkių nusėdimo miško paklotėje ir durpėse (iki 6 km atstumu nuo gamyklos) yra padidėjęs mikroelementų (stroncio, bario, titano, mangano ir nikelio, chromo, vario, boro) kiekis; dėl cemento dulkių ir pelenų emisijos dirvožemis šarmejo. šis procesas lėmė augalijos rūšių sudėties skirtumus 0,5–1,0, 3,0–3,5 ir 5,5–6,0 kilometrų atstumu nuo gamyklos. Aptiktos 53 augalų rūšys; daugumą (75–81%) jų sudaro induočiai augalai. Arčiausiai (0,5–1,0 km) gamyklos gausiau išplitę šarminėms dulkėms atsparūs Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Roth., Frangula alnus Mill., Corylus avellana L. bei kalcifilinės žolės Campylium stellatum(Hedw.) Lange et C.E.O. Jensen, Campylium sommerfeltii (Myrin) Lange. Toliau nuo gamyklos randamos durpiniam mėlyngiriui būdingos samanos Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp. ir Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (Hedw.) Warnst.; gausėja šiam miško tipui būdingų žolių rūšių : Epilobium palustre L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Moehringia trinervia (L.) Clairv. Augalų rūšių projekcinis padengimas kinta nuo 35,5±1,9% (arčiausiai gamyklos) iki 19,6±2,2% 3,0–3,5 km atstumu nuo gamyklos, t. y.patikimai (p<0,05) mažiau už kontrolę (51,9±2,2%). Didžią ją dalį (43–72%) augalijos projekcinio padengimo sudaro žoliniai ir trako sumedėję augalai. Резюме Представлены результаты исследования состава микроэлементов в лесной подстилке и верхнем слое торфа, видового состава и проектного покрытия подлеска, трав и мхов в окружающей среде цементного завода «Акмянес цементас». Установлено увеличенное количество микроэлементов (стронция, бария, титана, марганца, свинца, хрома, никеля, бора) в лесной подстилке и верхнем (10 см) слое торфа на расстоянии до 6 км от завода. Обнаружено 53 вида растений, большую часть (75–81 %) которых составляют сосудистые растения. Разнообразие растительных видов на разном (0,5–1,0, 3,0–3,5 и 5,5–6,0 км) расстоянии от источника загрязнения меняется. Устойчивые к воздействию подщелачивающей пыли лиственные подлеска Corylus avellana L., Quercus robur L., Frangula alnus Mill., Betula pendula Roth распространены вблизи источника загрязнения. Там же найдены виды, характерные для более плодородных типов леса: Rubus idaeus L., Rubus caesius L., Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop, Poaceae травы. На более удаленном от завода расстоянии (5,5–6,0 км) найдены характерные для леса типа Myrtillo-oxalidosa мхи Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp. и Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus(Hedw.) Warnst. Увеличено число видов трав, характерных для этого типа леса: Epilobium palustre L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., Moehringia trinervia (L.) Clairv. Среднее проектное покрытие наземной растительности меняется от 35,5±1,9 % (вблизи завода) до 19,6±2,2 % на расстоянии 3,0–3,5 км от завода. Это достоверно (р < 0,05) ниже контрольных данных. Большую часть (43–72 %) составляет покрытие травянистых растений и подлеска.

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Seasonal dynamics of changes in the morphological parameters of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves in the conditions of industrial impact (Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan)

Principles of the Ecology ◽

10.15393/j1.art.2019.8742 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 110-118

Author(s):

Olesya Tagirova ◽

Alexey Kulagin ◽

Gleb Zaitsev

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Dynamics ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Morphological Parameters ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Industrial Impact ◽

Republic Of Bashkortostan

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The Effect of Growth Rate on the Strength Properties of Sawn Beams of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth)

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1080/02827589950152250 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 18-26

Author(s):

R. A. Dunham ◽

A. D. Cameron ◽

J. A. Petty

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Betula Pendula Roth

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Towards Silviculture Guidelines to Produce Large-Sized Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Logs in Western Europe

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050599 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 599

Author(s):

Héloïse Dubois ◽

Hugues Claessens ◽

Gauthier Ligot

Keyword(s):

Betula Pendula ◽

Western Europe ◽

Forest Health ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Growth Potential ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Crown Diameter ◽

Birch Trees ◽

Timber Tree ◽

Northeastern France

Forest health problems arising from climate change, pests and pathogens are a threat to the main timber tree species. As a result, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) has become a precious asset for meeting oncoming forestry challenges in western Europe. However, silviculture guidelines to produce high-value birch logs in this region are lacking. Producing large-sized birch trunks requires crown release, i.e., removing crown competitors around selected target trees. These interventions are currently seldom carried out or else too late when the growth potential of the trees has already diminished. This study set out to ascertain the diameter at breast height (dbh) that could be reached by crown-released birch, determine dbh-associated crown diameters, and further characterize the gain obtained from early crown release on birch dbh growth. We measured 704 birch trees that had undergone crown release in 38 naturally regenerated pure birch stands in southern Belgium and in northeastern France. We then evaluated the variation in stem and crown diameter, and analyzed increments in response to the earliness of the interventions in three subsamples, also compared with control target birch. We found that trees with a dbh of 50 cm could be grown within 60 years. Based on crown diameter, to produce 40, 50 and 60 cm dbh trunk, the distance required between target birch trees at the end of the rotation was around 8, 10 and 12 m. With no intervention and in ordinary dense birch regenerations, the dbh increment was found to decline once the stand reached age 4–7 years. Starting crown release in stands aged 4–5 years can double the dbh increment of target trees and provide a continual gain that may last up to 20 years. When birch crowns are released after 9–12 years, it may already be too late for them to recover their best growth rate. Our contribution should help complete emerging guidelines in support of birch silviculture development.

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Evaluation of Antioxidative Mechanisms In Vitro and Triterpenes Composition of Extracts from Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Black Birch (Betula obscura Kotula) Barks by FT-IR and HPLC-PDA

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26154633 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (15) ◽

pp. 4633

Author(s):

Aleksandra Ostapiuk ◽

Łukasz Kurach ◽

Maciej Strzemski ◽

Jacek Kurzepa ◽

Anna Hordyjewska

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Biologically Active Substances ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Outer Bark ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Production Of Hydrogen ◽

Active Substances

Silver birch, Betula pendula Roth, is one of the most common trees in Europe. Due to its content of many biologically active substances, it has long been used in medicine and cosmetics, unlike the rare black birch, Betula obscura Kotula. The aim of the study was therefore to compare the antioxidant properties of extracts from the inner and outer bark layers of both birch trees towards the L929 line treated with acetaldehyde. Based on the lactate dehydrogenase test and the MTT test, 10 and 25% concentrations of extracts were selected for the antioxidant evaluation. All extracts at tested concentrations reduced the production of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, and 25% extract decreased malonic aldehyde formation in acetaldehyde-treated cells. The chemical composition of bark extracts was accessed by IR and HPLC-PDA methods and surprisingly, revealed a high content of betulin and lupeol in the inner bark extract of B. obscura. Furthermore, IR analysis revealed differences in the chemical composition of the outer bark between black and silver birch extracts, indicating that black birch may be a valuable source of numerous biologically active substances. Further experiments are required to evaluate their potential against neuroinflammation, cancer, viral infections, as well as their usefulness in cosmetology.

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