Woody plant secondary chemicals increase in response to abundant deer and arrival of invasive plants in suburban forests

Plants in suburban forests of eastern North America face the dual stressors of high white-tailed deer density and invasion by nonindigenous plants. The combination of chronic deer herbivory and strong competition from invasive plants could alter a plant’s stress- and defense-related secondary chemistry, especially for long-lived juvenile trees in the understory, but this has not been studied. We measured foliar total antioxidants, phenolics, and flavonoids in juveniles of two native trees, Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash) and Fagus grandifolia (American beech), growing in six forests in the suburban landscape of central New Jersey, USA. The trees grew in experimental plots that had been subject for 2.5 years to factorial treatments of deer access/exclosure X addition/no addition of the nonindigenous invasive grass Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass). As other hypothesized drivers of plant secondary chemistry, we also measured non-stiltgrass herb layer cover, light levels, and water availability. Univariate mixed model analysis of the deer and stiltgrass effects and multivariate structural equation modeling (SEM) of all variables showed that both greater stiltgrass cover and greater deer pressure induced antioxidants, phenolics, and flavonoids, with some variation between species. Deer were generally the stronger factor, and stiltgrass effects were most apparent at high stiltgrass density. SEM also revealed that soil dryness directly increased the chemicals; deer had additional positive, but indirect, effects via influence on the soil; in beech PAR positively affected flavonoids; and herb layer cover had no effect. Juvenile trees’ chemical defense/stress responses to deer and invasive plants can be protective, but also could have a physiological cost, with negative consequences for recruitment to the canopy. Ecological implications for species and their communities will depend on costs and benefits of stress/defense chemistry in the specific environmental context, particularly with respect to invasive plant competitiveness, extent of invasion, local deer density, and deer browse preferences.

Ecological and stabilizing value and problems оf suburban forests use in Ivano-Frankivsk region

The role of suburban forests is revealed, the main problems of their use by the population are described and the main ways of solving problematic issues are suggested. The legal aspects of the use and management of suburban forests are revealed. The recreational and ecologically sanitizing potential of suburban and urban forests, the range and possibilities of providing them with ecosystem functions are described on the example of Ivano-Frankivsk city territorial community. The general characteristics of the forest cover of Ivano-Frankivsk region are given, the key threats to nature related to human activities in urban and suburban forests are outlined. Based on a critical analytical review of literature data and own observations, key threats to the ecologically balanced functioning of suburban forests of Ivano-Frankivsk city TG have been identified and systematized.

Growth of Vegetative Organs of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in Anthropogenic Environment

The studies were carried out in stands of various degree of devastation: in the city, suburban forests and forests of the green zone. Recreational loads strongly affect the sanitary condition of spruce forests. The number of healthy trees decreases to 30–42 % with increasing recreational digression, while the number of declining and dead trees increases to 15–36 %. The state of tree stands in the forests of the green zone is estimated at 1.2–1.5 points, and 2.1–2.7 points in the suburban forests. No declining and dead trees were found in the forests of the green zone, and in the suburban forests their share was 15 and 36 % of the total number, respectively. Therefore, generally, spruce suburban forests are classified as weakened. Approximately 59 % of the area of suburban forests is in the III stage of recreational digression, and 19 % – in the IV stage. Growth studies of P. abies showed that the features of these processes are determined mainly by the seasonal variability of climatic factors. Studies have shown that the features of growth processes of P. abies are determined mainly by seasonal variation of meteorological factors. It was found that the earliest growth of shoots and needles begins and ends in the urban environment. The year-by-year variability in the timing of these phenophases reaches 1–2 weeks. Soil compaction as a result of recreational loads has a particularly negative effect on the intensity of tree growth and annual growth of vegetative organs. Shoots of P. abies in green forests (undisturbed stands) are longer than in suburban and urban plantations by 2–30 % and 6–17%, respectively. The longest needles (16.6–19.7 mm) are formed in the forests of the green zone. In urban plantations this value is 12.8–15.0 mm. The smallest needle packing was found in the city conditions, characterized by the maximum degree of recreational digression. Here, the annual radial increment of the trunk of P. abies under the influence of recreational loads decreases by 16–20 % compared to the forests of the green zone. The sequence in the growth phenophases does not depend on the degree of environmental disturbance. The shoots are the first to grow (in May), young needles after 1 or 2 weeks, and then the formation of wood in the lower part of the trunk begins. The sequence in stopping the growth processes is as follows: shoots, needles, trunks. For citation: Kishchenko I.T., Olkhina E.S. Growth of Vegetative Organs of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in Anthropogenic Environment. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 3, pp. 59–72. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-3-59-72

Soil microbial biomass and functional diversity in urban forest parks and suburban forests of various biomes in European Russia

<p>Forest parks play an important role in the sustainable functioning of urban ecosystems. In contrast to natural forests, urban forests are under continuous anthropogenic pressure, affecting the soil microbial community functioning and its capacity to provide many ecosystem services. Moreover, another significant factor determining such functioning is bioclimatic conditions, i.e., city geographic location. Our study aims to examine the effect of urbanization on soil microbial biomass and functional diversity along a latitudinal gradient of European Russia. Urban forest parks (UFP) were chosen in Moscow, Tula, and Belgorod cities located in mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests, deciduous forests, and forest-steppe biomes of European Russia, respectively (17 sites). Outside of the cities the reference suburban forests (SUF) were selected (12 sites). When selecting sites, we considered the following criteria: i) same soil reference group within the biome (Retisols, Luvisols, Phaeozems in mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests, deciduous forests, and forest-steppe, respectively), ii) loam parent materials, and iii) forest aged ≥60 years. In each UFP and SUF, five spatially distributed plots were chosen, in which soil samples were taken from the upper 10 cm layer without litter (totally 85 and 60 for UFP and SUF). For freshly collected soil samples, microbial biomass carbon content (MBC, substrate-induced respiration method) and basal respiration (BR; rate of CO<sub>2</sub> release) were measured, then the ratio BR / MBC = <em>q</em>CO<sub>2</sub> was calculated. The community level physiological profile of soil microorganisms (CLPP, MicroResp<sup>TM</sup> technique) indicating the microbial ability to utilize different organic substrates (carbohydrates, acids: amino, carboxylic, phenolic, 14 totally) was tested. CLPP data were used to calculate the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H<sub>CLPP</sub>).</p><p>It was found that soil BR decreased on average from SUF to USP in all studied biomes, while the MBC content did not change significantly. A significant increase of MBC in USP and SUF soils was observed from north to south (from mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests to forest-steppe), and for <em>q</em>CO<sub>2</sub> – decreasing. The CLPP of the studied soils were dominated by microorganisms consuming carboxylic acids (ascorbic and citric) and carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, galactose). Cluster analysis identified two groups that differed by soil CLPP: i) mixed coniferous-broadleaved forests and deciduous forests (Moscow, Tula) and ii) forest-steppe (Belgorod). Soil H<sub>CLPP</sub> index didn’t significantly differ between SUF and UFP in all studied biomes. Two-way ANOVA showed that soil MBC, <em>q</em>CO<sub>2</sub>, and H<sub>CLPP</sub> changes were more associated with bioclimatic conditions (18-47% of explained variance, P <0.05) than urbanization (P> 0.05). On contrary, soil BR was more sensitive to urbanization (4% of explained variance, P <0.05) than to the change of bioclimatic conditions (P> 0.05). Notably, driving factors of spatial variation for the studied soil microbial properties within each city (53-92% unexplained variance) have yet to be identified.</p><p> </p><p>This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-04-00148.</p>

FOREST TERRITORIES IN THE PLANNING STRUCTURE OF LVIV

The sphere of life of a large city includes forests as a natural resource and areas of its expansion and now they serve to implement modern eco-trends. In the evolution of Lviv we can distinguish several stages of relation to forested areas: 1 - exemption from forests of areas suitable for farming, horticulture and construction; 2 – the early 19th century. - planting of new forests for economic and rehabilitation purposes; 3 - the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - the development of the recreational function of forests under the influence of hygienists, especially at water sources; 4 - the end of the 19th century and before 1939 - the development of the city of Lviv with new streets and compact plots according to the urban concepts of "villa in the park" and "garden city", which are wedged into the forest park areas; 5 - the second half of the 20th century. The rapid territorial development of industrial Lviv causes the emergence of large residential areas on the outskirts of the city. According to strict regulatory requirements for providing residents with green areas, part of the suburban forests were allocated for the establishment of local parks. A trade union recreation centers are developing around the city; 6 - 1980s - under the influence of the concept of a polarized landscape in conditions of state ownership of land and its resources, in suburban forests and in the city, separate plots with unique characteristics are distinguished, on the basis of which objects of nature reserve fund are created; 7 - from the 1990s and until now - the spreading of the city and the defragmentation of forests are observed. At the same time, the creation of new nature reserve facilities in Lviv and in the suburban area were performed as well as the formation of new reserves and their inclusion into European ecological networks. At the same time, the process of permanent alienation of forest areas in favor of the spread of development is intensifying. The most vulnerable are the territories of Bryukhovychi and Vynnyky forest parks, which are fully included in the united territorial community of Lviv approved in 2020.

Distribution, naturalization status, invasion history and plant communities of Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Balsaminaceae) in Siberia

All available data on the distribution of Impatiens glandulifera Royle in Siberia was analyzed. The species appeared in Siberia as an unpretentious ornamental plant around the middle of the 20th century. Cases of withdrawal from culture have been recorded since the 1970s and 1980s; mass naturalization began at the end of the 20th century. Currently, the species is common in many regions of Siberia, but the most active in the Altai Territory, the Altai Republic, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Irkutsk Regions. It is common in anthropogenic habitats; it can also often be found in suburban forests, ravines, along the banks of water bodies. It shows tolerance to habitat conditions, but is especially active in areas with a close occurrence of groundwater on humus-rich soils. The species richness of I. glandulifera communities is from 10-15 to 40 species. In total, about 100 species of vascular plants were recorded in I. glandulifera communities in Siberia

A brief review: the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in urban and suburban areas

Ticks are widely distributed blood-sucking ectoparasites and vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens that cause infectious diseases in humans and animals. The increase in the incidence of tick-borne diseases (TBD) is partially associated with climatic changes, such as shorter and warmer winters, prolonged growing seasons, and also with increasing urbanisation. In recent decades, a rising number of established populations of medically important ticks have been reported in urban and suburban areas such as city parks or suburban forests over many regions in Europe. The transformation of natural ecosystems into urban areas becomes actual significant problem because it could affect the circulation of tick-borne pathogens and increase the risk of infection for humans and domestic animals. Tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi s. l., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp., have been detected in urban tick populations in Europe. Such places as parks, leisure-time areas, green spaces, and gardens become endemic zones of tick-borne pathogens. This review describes the investigations on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in urbanised areas conducted in Europe during the last fifteen years (2005–2020).

Structure of forestry fund plots of the green belt of Zhytomyr city

The city of Zhytomyr is one of the settlements of Ukraine with large areas of green forestry. Due to the lack of up-to-date integrated information on the characteristics of the city's suburban forests, the forestry fund of three enterprises was analysed, the forests of which actually form a green belt. According to the results of the analysis of forest management information, it was determined that about 58% of the area of suburban forests belongs to the forestry-based part. Accordingly, the share of areas of parklands of the green belt of the city is 42%. For each of the parts, the area of plots was divided into categories, predominant species, age groups, forest types, the presence of features in the sections. Areas of forest parks are mostly covered with forests, the share of which reaches 91% against 89% in the forestry part. By age, the forest stands in parklands are slightly older. It is established that the species and typological structure of forests of both zones differ. Forest vegetation conditions in the forestry part of the green belt forests are richer, which has led to the allocation of more forest types, more diverse species composition of plantations, the predominance of oak forest stands. In the suburban forests, due to the drying up of hayfields and more than half of the swamps, over a third of their area was found to be overgrown with trees and shrubs. The areas of hayfields and swamps were divided according to their types and uses. Areas with important features for recreation include areas with species, drinking water sources, monuments, landscaping elements, age-old trees, small lawns, biotechnical facilities, as well as tracts that constitute monuments of landscape art, places of memorable events, settlements of rare animals and birds. It is discovered that in the forests of the green belt of Zhytomyr, there are significant areas with actual berrying grounds (430 ha) and medicinal plants of industrial importance (179 ha). Berries are represented only by blueberries and strawberries, the projective coverage of which varies from 5% to 35%. In the future, the studies on determination of the level of recreational use of sites that have features valuable for recreation, improvement elements and berry fields are considered to be promising