Dreyfusia nordmannianae (silver fir adelges).

Several conifer aphids of the family Adelgidae were probably introduced on nursery stock from Asia to Europe in the nineteenth century on imported fir (Abies spp.) and most of them were unknown before reaching Europe (Kenis et al., 2007). D. nordmannianae was introduced in Europe in the 1840s on imported Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) and moved onto a new host, the European silver fir, Abies alba, where it has since caused important damage on young silver fir trees and Nordmann fir plantations (Bejer, 1981; Nierhaus-Wunderwald and Forster, 1999; Kenis et al., 2007).

Complete Genome Sequence of Paenibacillus sp. Strain 37, a Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann Fir)

ABSTRACT We report the complete genome sequence of Paenibacillus sp. strain 37, a plant growth-promoting bacterium (PGPB) isolated from the rhizosphere of Abies nordmanniana (Stev.) Spach; it contains a single chromosome of 7.08 Mbp and one plasmid of 54.33 kbp, including 6,445 protein-coding genes, 107 tRNAs, and 13 rRNA loci.

Differentiation of ecological niches of the forest-forming species in the Caucasus

Adaptations of Abies nordmanniana, Picea orientalis, Pinus sylvestris, Fagus orientalis, and Carpinus betulus to the abiotic environmental conditions of the study area largely determined their predicted distribution in the Caucasus. The ecological niches of the species mostly coincided in two analyzed complex environmental factors (characteristics of water regime and topographic parameters). The complex humidity factor was the main factor determining the potential distribution the forest-forming species in the Caucasus (65% of the contribution in the Maxent models). Topographic ENVIREM predictors were also significant in the species distribution (20% of the contribution in the models). Abies nordmanniana and Fagus orientalis were the most sensitive to the humidity factor, while Pinus sylvestris depended largely on the topographic factors. The similarity of the distribution potential of the studied species in the Caucasus was explained largely by a high degree of overlap of ecological niches (Schoener’s D = 0.55-0.79) and their visual overlap in the orthogonal space of the analyzed ecological factors. The largest Schoener’s D indexes were observed for the pairs Pinus sylvestris – Picea orientalis, Abies nordmanniana – Picea orientalis, Fagus orientalis – Picea orientalis, and Fagus orientalis – Carpinus betulus. Carpinus betulus, Fagus orientalis and Pinus sylvestris had the widest ecological niches.

Communities of broadleaved woodlands of the lower part of the forest belt of the Belaya river basin (North-Western Caucasus)

The study of phytocoenotic diversity of oak and oak-hornbeam forests of the lower part of the forest belt in the Belaya river basin (Western Caucasus) was performed using the Braun-Blanquet approach. Five floristically different groups of releves were identified based on quantitative classification (Ward's method, Jaccard Distance Measure). An association rank was established for each group. According to the results of comparative syntaxonomic analysis, three associations of moderately masic oak and oak-hornbeam forests - Geranio sanguinei-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Pinus sylvestris, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Rhododendron luteum, Geranium sanguineum, Vaccinium arctostaphylos), Inulo salicinae-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Brachypodium pinnatum, Inula salicina, Dorycnium graecum, Laser trilobum, Trifolium medium, Viola alba, Stachys officinalis, Pyrethrum poteriifolium, Phleum phleoides, Teucrium chamaedrys, Genista patula) and Acero tatarici-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Phalacroloma annuum, Thalictrum minus, Torilis japonica, Prunus divaricata, Physalis alkekengi, Lamium maculatum, Acer tataricum) were included in the alliance Crataego-Carpinion Passarge 1981, order Lathyro-Carpinetalia Passarge 1981, class Carpino-Fagetea Jakucs et Passarge 1968. The correct syntaxonomic position of two associations of mesic hornbeam and oak-hornbeam forests - Dryopterido filicis-maris-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Dryopteris filix-mas, Circaea lutetiana, Aegopodium podagraria, Paris incompleta, Abies nordmanniana, Impatiens noli-tangere, Festuca gigantean, Symphytum grandiflorum, Dipsacus pilosus, Aconitum orientale, Asperula caucasica, Moehringia trinervia, Polygonatum orientale) and Vincetoxico scandentis-Carpinetum betuli ass. nova hoc loco (diagnostic species: Viola hirta, Vincetoxicum scandens, Ligustrum vulgare, Lathyrus vernus, Polygonatum multiflorum, Rubus caucasicus, Euphorbia squamosa) has not been determined, however their relations to beech and beech-hornbeam forests of the order Rhododendro-Fagetalia orientalis Passarge 1981 were noted. The described associations of oak-hornbeam forests correspond to the regional ecological series of communities along the moisture gradient.