New records of fungal pathogens of invertebrates from endemic pine forests in Mexico

We report fungal pathogens of invertebrates (FPI) (Entomophthorales, Hypocreales, and Orbiliales) from roots of an endemic Mexican pine, Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl., at four primary montane forests using next-generation sequencing. We found twenty-nine OTUs from 18 genera of FPI associated to the roots of P. greggii. New records for Mexico are: Beauveria felina (DC.) J.W.Carmich., Dactylella mammillata S.M. Dixon, Dactylella ramosa Matsushima, Drechslerella brochopaga (Drechsler) M. Scholler, Hagedorn & A. Rubner, Hirsutella minnesotensis Chen, Liu & Chen, Leptobacillium leptobactrum (W.Gams) Zare & W.Gams, Metapochonia variabilis Z.F.Zhang, F.Liu & L.Cai, Monacrosporium leptosporum (Drechsler) A. Rubner, and Simplicillium aogashimaense Nonaka, Kaifuchi & Masuma. A largely unknown array of fungal pathogens of invertebrates are likely to be found in Mexican forests.  This work facilitates future analyses of fungal diversity in these primary forests, as well as basic and applied research in biological control.

Ökse Otu (Viscum album ssp. austriacum) Yaprak ve Tomurcuk Ekstraklarının Antioksidan Kapasitelerinin Belirlenmesi

In this study, it was determined that total phenolic and flavonoid substance amounts and antioxidant capacity of methanol extracts obtained from leaves (Y) and buds (T) of mistletoe (V. album ssp. Austriacum) collected from Northeast Anatolian Yellow Pine forests (Pinus sylvestris L). The amount of total phenolic substance was determined as 19.55 ±4.68 mg GAE/g in Y and 16.88 ±2.77 mg GAE/g in T, while amount of total flavonoid substance 17.56 ±2.53 mg QE/g in Y and 17.17 ±3.29 mg QE/g in T. IC50 values were calculated as 476.26 ±22.54 μg/mL in Y and 778.57±25.61 μg/mL in T. In addition, the reducing antioxidant powers of Fe3+-Fe2+ were calculated as 303.00 ±1.73 μg AAE/mL in Y and 307.01±1.05 μg AAE/mL in T, equivalent to ascorbic acid. As a result, it was seen that mistletoe which is considered harmful for yellow pines, has antioxidant properties. It has been concluded that the evaluation of mistletoe collected during the struggle with mistletoe as a natural antioxidant source may contribute economically.

Electrocutions of Bids on Power Lines in the Altai Kray (Russia) in 2021

In September 2021, 126 km of 6-10 kV power lines were surveyed in Altai Kray, Russia. The survey encompassed different types of habitat from pine forests to the foothills of Altai mountains. Out of 126 km, 27.94 km of power lines were equipped with bird-protection devices to prevent bird death from electrocution. We uncovered 515 cases of bird death on unsafe lines. Raptors make 21% and endangered species – 1.94%. The density of dead birds was equal to 5.6 ind./km of non-safe power lines, and of raptors – 1.18 ind./km. The observed damage to the ecosystem was estimated as 6.1 million of Rub (equal to $83 350 or € 73 600), and the damage calculated per one electric pole was 3 925 Rub. The estimation of the death rate of birds on the observed length of power lines through the whole migration and breeding seasons makes 8.63 ind./km. Approximation to the presumptive total length of bird unsafe power lines in the Altai Kray makes 50 700 birds possibly die every year in the region from April till October. The highest level of bird mortality was observed on power lines stretching through open undisturbed habitats (i.e. steppe biotope). We also noted 2.9 times higher mortality on push brace poles compared with intermediate ones for all species, and 4.9 times higher for raptors only.

Current State of Pineries in Zhytomyr Polissia Under the Influence of Environmental Factors

Recently, there has been a massive drying of conifers all over the world. In North America and Siberia, there are millions of hectares of shrunken plantings; in Europe, pines and firs have been drying up over the past two decades. Furthermore, considerable damage is caused to woody plants by phyto-pest and phyto-diseases, since mass reproduction of Ips typographus Linnaeus, Ips acuminatus Gyllenhal has been observed in Europe in recent years, Dendroctonus micans Kud – in North America, Polygraphus proximus Blandford – in East Asia. Nematodes also cause significant damage to pine forests. Among phyto-diseases, Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. harmfully affects Pinus sylvestris L. The appearance of foci of shrunken trees in different parts of the globe indicates the global nature of processes associated with cyclical planetary processes and climate change. This study describes climate changes in the research region for 1961-2020. According to the analysis, it was found that for 2009-2020, considerable damage to pine plantations in Zhytomyr Polissia is caused among needle-eating insects – Panolis flammea Denis & Schiffermuller, Diprion pini L., Neodiprion sertifer Geoffroy; among other pests – Aradus cinnamomeus Panz, Dendrolimus pini L., Bupalus piniarius L. The greatest harmful effect that pineries have recently sustained has been caused by Diprion pini L. It was also found out that among phyto-diseases suffered by the pine forests, significant damage has been done by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref., with the damaged area of 13.0-14.2 thousand hectares. Hydrothermal analysis was performed for 2009-2020. The influence of solar activity on the number of phyto-pest and diseases is analysed. This paper provides the estimate of the amount of CO2 emissions is given for 2009-2020. It was found that since 2014, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions has decreased from 1.5 million tonnes to 0.6 million tonnes. Correlation analysis of all indicators indicated a high mutual influence between the area of trees damaged by insect pest, root sponge, the Wolf number, and CO2 emissions to the environment. Mathematical dependences are obtained to predict the influence of the W number on damage to pineries by forest pests and diseases in the conditions of Zhytomyr Polissia