Distribution, Dominance Structure, Species Richness, and Diversity of Bats in Disturbed and Undisturbed Temperate Mountain Forests

The increase in mean annual temperature and reduction in summer rainfall from climate change seem to increase the frequency of natural and human-made disturbances to forest vegetation. This type of rapid vegetation change also significantly affects bat diversity. The aim of our study was to document differences in the ecological parameters of bat assemblages in different types of temperate mountain forests, particularly between disturbed and undisturbed coniferous and deciduous forests. Additionally, these issues were considered along an elevation gradient. We mist netted bats on 73 sites, between 931 and 1453 m elevation, in the forests of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland. During 2016–2020, 745 bats, representing 15 species, were caught. The most abundant were Myotis mystacinus (Kuhl, 1817) (53.0%) and M. brandtii (Eversmann, 1845) (21.5%). We observed differences in species diversity, elevational distribution, and dominance between different types of forests and forest zones. Species richness peaked at around 1000–1100 m elevation. The highest species richness and other indices were observed in undisturbed beech stands, although they constituted only about 2.7% of the forest area. The lowest species diversity was observed in disturbed coniferous forests, in both the lower and upper forest zone. The species richness and dominance structure of bat assemblages were also found to depend on the location above sea level. In some bat species, the sex ratio was higher at higher elevations, and differences in the sex ratio in a few bat species, between different types of forests, were observed. Our findings suggest that disturbed, beetle-killed spruce forests are an unsuitable environment for some bat species.

Seseli salsugineum (Apiaceae), a new species from Central Anatolia, Turkey

A new species, Seseli salsugineum A.Duran & Lyskov (Apiaceae), is described from Lake Tuz Gölü area, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The new species is related to S. transcaucasicum and S. libanotis and differs in stem features (up to 200 cm tall and 5‒15 mm ⌀ vs. up to 80 cm tall and up to 6 mm ⌀ or up to 150 cm tall and 10‒20 mm ⌀), stem base pubescence (glabrous vs. densely pubescent or sometimes pubescent), leaf blades pubescence (glabrous with scabrid margin vs. entirely scabrid or glabrous), bracts 0.3‒0.8 mm wide, without membranous margin (vs. 1‒3 mm wide, with membranous margin), umbellules (tight, 5‒12 mm ⌀ vs. not tight 13‒15 mm ⌀ or 5‒6 mm ⌀), stylopodium depressed (not conical), mericarp ridges (finely ridged vs. distinctly ridged), fruit anatomy (vallecular vittae 3 vs. vallecular vittae solitary or 1‒2), habitat (salty marshes and salt steppes vs. grassy meadows, sparse forests, clearings in mountain forests, and subalpine meadows), and distributional range. In addition, S. salsugineum is recognized as a closely related to S. transcaucasicum and S. libanotis species by molecular analysis of nrITS/ETS.

Two new species of Rubus L. (Rosaceae) from the western Andes of Ecuador

Two new species of Rubus (Rosaceae) from the western Andes of northern Ecuador are described. Rubus longistipularis D.A. Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a scandent or climbing shrub found in the mountain forests of Chocó Andino from northern Ecuador. Rubus maquipucunensis D.A. Espinel-Ortiz & Romol. is a vine or climbing shrub found in the rainforests of Chocó Andino from Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The species mentioned here are morphologically differentiated from all the Rubus species from Ecuador with a detailed botanical description, illustrations and photographs. We also report, for the first time, possible hybridisation between R. longistipularis and R. boliviensis Focke, as the samples reviewed showed mixed characteristics from both species.

Typification and correction of forest vegetation syntaxa of the Western Caucasus

The article presents the typification and correction of mountain forests’ syntaxa established by one of the authors for the Western Caucasus. Unvalid classification units are validated according to the International Code of the Phytosociological Nomenclature (Theurillat et al., 2021): 2 associations of mesophytic deciduous forests of the order Lathyro–Carpinetalia and 3 associations of fir-beech forests of the order Rhododendro pontici–Fagetalia orientalis of the Carpino–Fagetea class, as well as 2 associations of oak pubescent forests and juniper woodland communities of the class Quercetea pubescentis. The main reasons of the invalidity of original publications are the absence of a nomenclature type or the ineffectiveness of the publication.

Dinochloa Scandens (Poaceae-Bambusoideae): Distribution, Habitat Preference, and Notes on Synonymy

The distribution of Dinochloa scandens is unclear. World bamboo checklists suggest it is relatively widespread in Malesia. Here we clarify issues with herbarium specimen identification. Besides, a synonym name of D. scandens, namely D. macrocarpa collected from the Philippines, needs to be reviewed. The study aims to provide information on distribution and to review the synonym of D. scandens. The habitat preferences of D. scandens are also presented. We carried out targeted fieldwork at Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park in West Java in 2019 and extensive examination of herbarium specimens from Herbarium Bogoriense and online portals to accurately circumscribe this species. All data were analyzed descriptively. Distribution, altitude, and rainfall maps for D. scandens were produced with ArcGIS Pro. Our examination on the specimens suggests that D. scandens is indeed endemic to West Java and Banten Provinces in Indonesia. This bamboo species can be found in lowland to mountain forests with an altitude of 20-1400 m, in areas with annual rainfall between 3000-4000 mm. We support D. macrocarpa as an accepted name for a bamboo species from the Philippines and remove it from synonymy with D. scandens due to clear differences in the fruit compared to specimens of D. scandens across its range.

Efficacy of Trans-geographic Observational Network Design for Revelation of Growth Pattern in Mountain Forests Across Europe

Understanding tree and stand growth dynamics in the frame of climate change calls for large-scale analyses. For analysing growth patterns in mountain forests across Europe, the CLIMO consortium compiled a network of observational plots across European mountain regions. Here, we describe the design and efficacy of this network of plots in monospecific European beech and mixed-species stands of Norway spruce, European beech, and silver fir.First, we sketch the state of the art of existing monitoring and observational approaches for assessing the growth of mountain forests. Second, we introduce the design, measurement protocols, as well as site and stand characteristics, and we stress the innovation of the newly compiled network. Third, we give an overview of the growth and yield data at stand and tree level, sketch the growth characteristics along elevation gradients, and introduce the methods of statistical evaluation. Fourth, we report additional measurements of soil, genetic resources, and climate smartness indicators and criteria, which were available for statistical evaluation and testing hypotheses. Fifth, we present the ESFONET (European Smart Forest Network) approach of data and knowledge dissemination. The discussion is focussed on the novelty and relevance of the database, its potential for monitoring, understanding and management of mountain forests toward climate smartness, and the requirements for future assessments and inventories.In this chapter, we describe the design and efficacy of this network of plots in monospecific European beech and mixed-species stands of Norway spruce, European beech, and silver fir. We present how to acquire and evaluate data from individual trees and the whole stand to quantify and understand the growth of mountain forests in Europe under climate change. It will provide concepts, models, and practical hints for analogous trans-geographic projects that may be based on the existing and newly recorded data on forests.