The Effects of Rehabilitation Treatments on Landscape Function Within a Softwood Plantation After Fire: Implications for Catchment Management

There is global interest in enhancing the ecosystem services provided by landscapes and catchments dominated by plantation (monoculture) forestry. Partial reversion of plantations to locally native species (reforestation) is one option. However, the ecological outcomes of this kind of plantation reversion are poorly known. The partial reforestation of a pine plantation (Pinus radiata D. Don 1836) in the Australian Capital Territory with native species following a wildfire provides a rare case study of the environmental consequences of such a reversion. We estimated changes in landscape functionality by measuring indices of water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and soil surface stability across five landscape-scale treatments after the 2003 Lower Cotter Catchment bushfire: (1) natural regeneration of a native forest burned in 2003, (2) burned pine plantation replanted to pines, (3) burned plantation replanted to native trees and shrubs, (4) burned plantation allowed to naturally regenerate, and (5) forest roads rehabilitated by planting native trees and shrubs. At 14 years after the fire, we found that the regenerating native forest had the highest indices of water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and soil surface stability. The burned pine plantation that was replanted to pines in 2005 had indices of functionality that were higher than the burned plantation areas that were either allowed to naturally regenerate to native eucalypt forest or were planted with native forest species. These two types of native forest rehabilitation treatments had only minor differences in functionality. The rehabilitated closed roads were the least functional. We found that a pine plantation at the closed canopy stage can supply regulating services of water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and soil surface stability comparable to a native forest at a similar stage postfire; however, a significant limitation of the plantation was its low ecosystem resilience. It required massive soil disturbance to replant postfire and long-term maintenance of an extensive unpaved road network. The active or passive rehabilitation of native forest is justified to improve the natural resilience to wildfire. However, this rehabilitation of a native forest following use as a pine plantation is a multidecade process in this relatively low-rainfall environment. Study Implications The 2003 Canberra bushfire destroyed the entire pine plantation at Lower Cotter Catchment, a water catchment in Australian Capital Territory, but also provided an opportunity to examine and quantify changes in ecosystem functions with different restoration treatments. Landscape Function Analysis, including three indices (water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and soil surface stability), was used in this study. Findings suggest that both native eucalyptus forests and pine plantations recovered to relatively high levels of functionality within just 15 years after the bushfire, compared with all other restoration treatments, but plantations of Pinus radiata are not resilient to wildfire from a commercial perspective. These results help to justify the controversial decision to restore the majority of the catchment with native species in 2005. However, long-term monitoring is needed to determine how long it will take for the replanted and natural regeneration treatments to approach the functionality of the native forest.

Utilization of the Hollies (Ilex L. spp.): A Review

The hollies (Ilex L., Aquifoliaceae) form a large (>669 spp.) genus of forest trees and shrubs, which is almost cosmopolitan in mesic environments but most diverse in subtropical China and montane South America. Throughout the range of the genus, Ilex species have been utilized as beverages, medicines, ornamentals, honey plants, timber, and for various other minor uses. Recent studies on the genomics, evolution, and biogeography of Ilex now make it possible to take a systematic approach to understanding and expanding the economic importance of the genus, but information on existing uses is scattered among numerous published and unpublished sources. We therefore review the existing literature on utilization of Ilex species, supplementing this with information from the grey literature and product websites. We show that, despite the number and diversity of known uses, most Ilex species are not known to be utilized at present, suggesting considerable unrealized potential. We highlight gaps in our knowledge and opportunities for expanded usage. Finally, we discuss how the availability of a new phylogeny and whole genome can assist screening of additional wild species for economic potential and facilitate breeding programs for species already under cultivation.

BIODIVERSITY OF TREES AND SHRUBS OF URBAN PLANTATIONS IN ARID REGIONS

Trees and shrubs are essential components in the production of ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to evaluate the biodiversity of plantations in arid regions. A floristic inventory was carried out in three biotopes using an exhaustive sampling approach. Diversity parameters were calculated to assess phytodiversity in each biotope. A total of 23 plants species belonging to 17 families, with a dominance of eudicots at 95.65% were recorded. The dominant families were Fabaceae (17.38%), Arecaceae, Lythraceae and Tamaricaceae (8.69%). The flora was mixed with 56.52% of exotic plant species. The most predominant plant species were Phoenix dactylifera L, Tamarix aphylla (L.) H. Karst, Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq, and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, these species accounted for 72.74% of all individuals inventoried. Shannon’s diversity index and Piélou index of evenness range from 2.68 to 2.95 bits and 0.64 to 0.69, respectively. Simpson’s index range from 0.78 to 0.82. Hamming distance range from 21 to 43. Plantations provide ecosystem services with great importance on ornamental interest. The data collected in this study should be used for creating a floristic database. This database will be regularly updated for monitoring urban plantations. The information resulting from the monitoring will help to improve the urban forest management projects in the development plan.

Naturalization of alien woody plants in Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi) region (on the example of the dendrological park in Novoselytsia village)

In 2021, an inventory of arboretum plantations in the village Novoselytsia, Golovanivskyi district, Kiro- vohrad region. The subject of the study was the naturalization of foreign trees and shrubs in culture. Among 50 alien taxa, 29 had the ability to reproduce freely by seed. It was found that the highest rates of naturalization are characteristic of: Kolkwitzia amabiliз, Maluз зieboldii, Prunuз paduз, P. зerotina, Tilia × europaea and spontaneous hybrid Maluз ×purpurea × M. зieboldii. These naturalized plants should be considered as part of the spontaneous regional flora.

Universal Robotic Platform for Diagnosis and Spot Spraying of Trees and Shrubs

The number of threats to the plants is constantly increasing. The harmful impact of pests and plant diseases costs billions of dollars to the global economics each year. Chemical protection of plants from diseases and insects became an urgent problem in crop production, forestry and parks. The study aimed to develop an effective mobile robot for treating trees and shrubs from insects and diseases by spraying with chemicals. The work used monographic and general scientific research methods. A review of existing designs and technologies, as well as an analysis of publications in leading scientific journals, led to the conclusion that there is no one generally accepted technology for remote diagnosis and spot spraying of single trees and shrubs. Most of the technical means used have significant technical and environmental limitations. Currently, there is no unambiguous decision about which machine and technology to choose for solving the problems of remote diagnostics and spot spraying of single plant objects with a height of 2 to 4 meters. Taking into account the identified requirements, a robotic platform was developed for diagnosing and spot spraying of ornamental and fruit trees and tall shrubs. The developed robot is equipped with the necessary set of equipment for moving around the territory and spraying objects, has an increased cross-country ability, works according to a given program, has a minimal environmental impact, and can record data for diagnosing problems on plants. The proposed universal robot can work in agricultural, forest and urban areas, in warehouses and production facilities.

Taxonomic composition and condition of tree plantations of roadside strips in Kyiv

Aim. The analysis of the taxonomic composition and living condition of tree plantations of roadside strips in Kyiv. Methods. Determination of the species composition and viability of trees and shrubs was carried out by route survey on test areas along the routes with different traffic intensity. The plants living condition was established according to the methodology developed by us, which provides an integrated vitality assessment based on a set of morphometric, reproductive and phenological features. Results. It is established that in the conditions of traffic flow of high intensity 23, of moderate 27 and of low 29 species of trees and bushes were found on the test areas. The tree plants of most common genera and species of roadside plantations are identified. The plants living condition analysis showed, that in the conditions of traffic flow of high intensity, plants of moderate and low vitality predominate; while in the conditions of moderate and low traffic intensity, the predominant numbers of plants have high vitality. Conclusions. Analysis of the range of roadside plantations indicates its limited and almost complete absence of conifers. The species composition is not optimal and is not always determined by the degree of resistance to transport pollution specific conditions. The woody plants vitality is largely determined by the traffic intensity and compliance with care technology.

Secondary Metabolites Found among the Species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd

Plant-derived products may represent promising strategies in the treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). From this perspective, it is observed that the Amazon phytogeographic region contains the tribe Canarieae of the Burseraceae family, composed of trees and shrubs supplied with resin channels. Its uses in folk medicine are related to aromatic properties, which have numerous medicinal applications and are present in reports from traditional peoples, sometimes as the only therapeutic resource. Despite its economic and pharmacological importance in the region, and although the family is distributed in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, most of the scientific information available is limited to Asian and African species. Therefore, the present work aimed to review the secondary metabolites with possible pharmacological potential of the species Trattinnickia rhoifolia Willd, popularly known as “Breu sucuruba”. To this end, an identification key was created for chemical compounds with greater occurrence in the literature of the genus Trattinnickia. The most evident therapeutic activities in the consulted studies were antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, anesthetic and antiparasitic. An expressive chemical and pharmacological relevance of the species was identified, although its potential is insufficiently explored, mainly in the face of the NTDs present in the Brazilian Amazon.

Natural Phenomena, Geoactive Zones and Their Use in Landscape Design

The research was carried out in the Vishersky Nature Reserve and in the adjacent territories (Perm Krai). We used methods of phyto- and bioindication and decoding of satellite images with the allocation of 8 types of geoactive zones with diameters 1, 3, 8, 16, 32, 55, 76 and 110 m. Such zones are favorable for biota and are studied by the biolocation method, the data of which have been confirmed by contact photography since 2009. It is shown that the studied 25 natural phenomena were formed on a combination of 2-3 “junior” zones with dimensions of 1–8 m when they were placed inside 2–3 “senior” zones with a size of 16–110 m. A hypothesis is put forward explaining the appearance of natural phenomena by the action of the Earth’s energies and their synergetic when radiating through geoactive zones. Distances from the centers of zones forming comfortable belts in the form of rings for biota are recommended for use in landscape design. For the most numerous zones of 1 and 3 m in size, this belt is located between radii of 0.31–0.48 m. For a zone of 8 m in size, the comfort ring is located between radii of 0.91–3.20 m; for a zone of 16 m — within a radius of 1.45 m and further to the zone border; for a zone of 32 m — from 1.75 m and to its border. For large zones 55, 76 and 110 m, they are determined from single observations and start from about a distance of 5.3 m; at the same time, there are additional belts identified in space images. The use of comfort rings of geoactive zones will help to create compositions of trees and shrubs directly on the rocks, as well as to grow different types of plants in dense biogroups.

High latitude vegetation changes will determine future plant volatile impacts on atmospheric organic aerosols

Strong, ongoing high latitude-warming is causing changes to vegetation composition and plant productivity, modifying plant emissions of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs). In the sparsely populated high latitudes, climatic feedbacks resulting from BVOCs as precursors of atmospheric aerosols could be more important than elsewhere on the globe. Here, we quantitatively assess the linkages between vegetation changes, BVOC emissions and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) under different climate scenarios and show that warming-induced vegetation changes determine the spatial patterns of BVOC impacts on SOA. The northward advances of boreal needle-leaved trees and shrubs result in an increase of up to 45% in regional SOA optical depth, causing a cooling feedback. In contrast, areas dominated by temperate broad-leaved trees show a large decline in monoterpene emissions and SOA formation, causing a warming feedback. We highlight the necessity of considering vegetation shifts when assessing radiative feedbacks on climate following the BVOC-SOA pathway.