Mite communities (Acari,Mesostigmata) associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Scolytidae) in managed and natural Norway spruce stands in Central Europe

Previous studies have suggested that forest management practices can influence bark beetle populations as well as those of some associated insects. However, the impact on bark beetle-associated mites, which occur in bark beetle galleries in large numbers, have not yet been studied. The objective of this study was to compare mesostigmatid mite communities associated with the Norway spruce pest Ips typographus in managed and natural forest stands separated by spruce-free belt. The study sites were located in Białowieża National Park (NE Poland) as well as in the Izery Mountains (Szklarska Poręba Forest District — SW Poland), which were destroyed in 1981–1987 by an ecological disaster. In total, 30 Borregard pipe traps containing the commercial attractant Ipsodor W (Chemipan, Poland) were set up at each study site and collected in August 2010. In total, 7214 bark beetles and 1804 mites were collected which were classified into 16 species. We observed differences in the total abundance of mites as well as the total number of recorded mite species. The communities were quite similar, and were generally dominated by populations of Trichouropoda polytricha, Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus and Uroobovella ipidis. The Shannon and Evenness indexes as well as the mean number of mites per sample were not significantly different between forests.     

The Finnish forest site type approach: ordination and classification studies of mesic forest sites in southern Finland

A.K. Cajander's forest site type classification system is based on definition of plant communities typical to certain climatical and edaphical site conditions, but the structure and composition of the tree stands in Finland are considered sensitive to random variation and are therefore not used as primary classification criteria. The system has often received criticism, usually that the effects of the tree stand and successional stage of the stand have been underestimated. Most of the present-day forest stands in Finland represent young successional stages and are subjected to intensive management. This should result in an additional difficulty in the application of the forest site types in the field.The present study is based on three independent data sets representing forests on mineral soil in southern part of Finland. TWINSPAN classification, DCA ordination and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) techniques were applied in successive stages of the data analysis. It was found that the definition of the intermediately fertile, mesic site types was clearly confused by the effects of the tree species and age of the stand. The analyses also revealed that the succession pathways on mesic forest sites are largely determined by the tree species composition. In stands dominated by Pinus sylvestris, the succession follows the competitive hierarchy model, whereas in stands dominated by Picea abies, severe shading of the tree canopy governs the development of understorey vegetation.Abbreviations CCA Canonical correspondence Analysis - DCA Detrended correspondence Analysis - TWINSPAN Two-way indicator species analysis     

Long‐term successional forest dynamics: species and community responses to climatic variability

Question: Are trees sensitive to climatic variability, and do tree species differ in their responses to climatic variability? Does sensitivity of forest communities to climatic variability depend on stand composition? Location: Mixed young forest at Walker Branch Watershed near Oak Ridge, East Tennessee, USA. Methods: Using a long‐term dataset (1967–2006), we analyzed temporal forest dynamics at the tree and species level, and community dynamics for forest stands that differed in initial species composition (i.e., chestnut oak, oak–hickory, pine, and yellow poplar stands). Using summer drought and growing season temperature as defined climate drivers, we evaluated relationships between forest dynamics and climate across levels of organization. Results: Over the four‐decade study period, forest communities underwent successional change and substantially increased in biomass. Variation in summer drought and growing season temperature contributed to temporal biomass dynamics for some tree species, but not for others. Stand‐level responses to climatic variability were related to the responses of component species, except in pine stands. Pinus echinata, the dominant species in pine stands, decreased over time due to periodic outbreaks of pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis). These outbreaks at Walker Branch could not be directly related to climatic conditions. Conclusions: The results indicate that sensitivity of developing forests to climatic variability is stand type‐dependent, and hence is a function of species composition. However, in the long term, direct effects of climatic variability on forest dynamics may be small relative to autogenic successional processes or climate‐related insect outbreaks. Empirical studies testing for interactions between forest succession and climatic variability are needed.     

Vegetation analysis and tree population structure of tropical wet evergreen forests in and around Namdapha National Park,northeast India

Species composition, diversity and tree population structure were studied in three stands of the tropical wet evergreen forest in and around Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Three study stands exposed to different intensities of disturbances were identified, viz., undisturbed (2.4 ha) in the core zone of the park, moderately disturbed (2.1 ha) in the periphery of the park and highly disturbed (2.7 ha) outside the park area. In total 200 plant species belonging to 73 families were recorded in three stands. Tree density and basal area showed a declining trend with the increase in disturbance intensity. The densities of tree saplings and seedlings were lower in the disturbed stands than in the undisturbed stand. Species like Altingia excelsa, Olea dioica, Terminalia chebula, Mesua ferrea and Shorea assamica in the undisturbed stand and Albizia procera alone in the moderately disturbed stand contributed more than 50% of the total tree density in respective stands. The undisturbed stand contained young tree population. In the highly disturbed stand, the tree density was scarce, but had uncut trees of higher girth class (>210 cm GBH). Low shrub density was recorded in both disturbed stands due to frequent human disturbances; the broken canopy and direct sunlight enhanced the abundance of herbs in these stands. With a species rarity (species having <2 individuals) of ca. 50%, the tropical wet evergreenforests of the Namdapha National Park and its adjacent areas warrant more protection from human intervention and also eco-development to meet the livelihood requirements of the local inhabitants in the peripheral areas of the Namdapha National Park in order to reduce the anthropogenic pressure on the natural resources of the park.     

Hurricane Disturbance Alters Secondary Forest Recovery in Puerto Rico

Land-use history and large-scale disturbances interact to shape secondary forest structure and composition. How introduced species respond to disturbances such as hurricanes in post-agriculture forest recovery is of particular interest. To examine the effects of hurricane disturbance and previous land use on forest dynamics and composition, we revisited 37 secondary forest stands in former cattle pastures across Puerto Rico representing a range of exposure to the winds of Hurricane Georges in 1998. Stands ranged from 21 to>80 yr since agricultural abandonment and were measured 9 yr posthurricane. Stem density decreased as stands aged, while basal area and species richness tended to increase. Hurricane disturbance exerted contrasting effects on stand structure, contingent on stand age. In older stands, the basal area of large trees fell, shifting to a stand structure characteristic of younger stands, while the basal area of large trees tended to rise in younger stands with increasing hurricane disturbance. These results demonstrate that large-scale natural disturbances can alter the successional trajectory of secondary forest stands recovering from human land use, but stand age, precipitation and soil series were better predictors of changes in stand structure across all study sites. Species composition changed substantially between census intervals, but neither age nor hurricane disturbance consistently predicted species composition change. However, exposure to hurricane winds tended to decrease the abundance of the introduced tree Spathodea campanulata, particularly in smaller size classes. In all sites the abundance of the introduced tree Syzygium jambos showed a declining trend, again most strongly in smaller size classes, suggesting natural thinning through succession.     

Riverscape-level patterns of riparian plant diversity along a successional gradient, Willamette river, Oregon

Riparian forest communities dominated by Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocarpa L. (Torr. and Gray ex Hook.) Brayshaw are important contributors to biodiversity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Western United States. Species composition along a successional gradient from stand initiation to late-succession of P. balsamifera-dominated riparian forests was investigated along 145 km of the Willamette River, Oregon. There were 151 total species encountered across 28 stands and a mean species richness of 33.3 species per stand. Young stands were dominated by P. balsamifera and Salix tree spp. and opportunistic herbaceous species. Understory trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species as well as late-successional tree species established 12–15 years after stand initiation. Fraxinus latifolia Benth. was the dominant late-successional tree species. Vertical structural diversity, P. balsamifera mean diameter at breast height, large tree biomass, and stand age were strongly correlated with understory species presence and abundance based on non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination. There were no young stands on mid and high terraces and this was reflected in geomorphic position being strongly correlated with the stand age gradient. Abundance of Phalaris arundinacea L. an invasive grass species, was also significantly correlated with plant species composition and abundance. This study indicates that Willamette River riparian forests are diverse and therefore important to the biodiversity of the Willamette River valley and that their presence as a mosaic of communities of different successional stages may be threatened by human interventions, including influences exerted by introduced plant species.     

The structure and dynamics of old-growth Pinus sylvestris (L.) stands in the Wigry National Park,north-eastern Poland

The paper describes the structure and the developmental trends of old-growth Pinus sylvestris stands in the Wigry National Park, in north-eastern Poland. The stands represent a transitional zone between deciduous forests of Central Europe and boreal, coniferous forests of north-eastern Europe. Besides P. sylvestris, the most important tree species are Picea abies and Quercus robur. Among the subcanopy species, Corylus avellana and Sorbus aucuparia occur most frequently. On the basis of the data from 6 permanent sample plots (total size: 1.90 ha), several parameters and stand indices are analysed including species composition of the canopy and the regeneration, diameter distribution, age structure of main tree species, and the relationship between canopy and spatial dispersion of woody regeneration. The most striking feature of the stands studied is the almost complete absence of natural regeneration of P. sylvestris. This seems to be in contradiction with the apparently natural origin of this species in the stands, and a common occurrence of natural disturbances resulting in openings and gaps in forest canopy. The main tree species replacing P. sylvestris in the canopy are P. abies and Q. robur. Also increasing are some broad-leaved species typical of high fertility sites: Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Ulmus glabra, and Fraxinus excelsior. A shrub C. avellana occurs extensively competing with tree species and delaying tree replacement processes. While no direct data on the changes in the site conditions can be provided and the recovery hypothesis appears to be the most straightforward explanation of the changes in P. sylvestris stands, the possible role of the allogenic changes in environmental conditions (climate warming, nitrogen deposition) is also discussed.     

Tree and stand level variables influencing diversity of lichens on temperate broad-leaved trees in boreo-nemoral floodplain forests

Tree and stand level variables affecting the species richness, cover and composition of epiphytic lichens on temperate broad-leaved trees (Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus robur, Tilia cordata, Ulmus glabra, and U. laevis) were analysed in floodplain forest stands in Estonia. The effect of tree species, substrate characteristics, and stand and regional variables were tested by partial canonical correspondence analysis (pCCA) and by general linear mixed models (GLMM). The most pronounced factors affecting the species richness, cover and composition of epiphytic lichens are acidity of tree bark, bryophyte cover and circumference of tree stems. Stand level characteristics have less effects on the species richness of epiphytic lichens, however, lichen cover and composition was influenced by stand age and light availability. The boreo-nemoral floodplain forests represent valuable habitats for epiphytic lichens. As substrate-related factors influence the species diversity of lichens on temperate broad-leaved trees differently, it is important to consider the effect of each tree species in biodiversity and conservation studies of lichens. Nomenclature Randlane et al. (2007) for lichens; Leht (2007) for vascular plants.     

乔木根系和凋落物对南亚热带3种人工林土壤线虫群落的差异化影响

根系分泌物和凋落物为土壤食物网提供了基础的养分资源。然而,不同树种纯林和混交林地下根系和地上凋落物对土壤线虫群落的影响机制尚不清楚。2019年9月在广西凭祥热带林业实验中心选取格木(Erythrophleum fordii Oliv.)纯林、马尾松(Pinus massoniana Lamb.)纯林和格木×马尾松混交林3种林分类型,分别设置对照、阻断乔木根系、去除地上凋落物和阻断乔木根系并去除地上凋落物四组实验处理,于2021年3月对3种林分类型不同处理下的土壤线虫群落和土壤理化性质进行了调查。研究结果表明,无论哪种林分类型,阻断根系改变了土壤线虫群落的营养类群组成,显著降低了食真菌线虫相对多度,增加了植物寄生线虫相对多度;去除凋落物显著降低了土壤线虫密度、类群数、线虫通路比值和结构指数,增加了基础指数,表明去除凋落物降低了土壤食物网的稳定性。无论哪种林分类型,人工林中树木地下根系输入是构建土壤线虫群落营养类群组成的主要驱动因素,地上凋落物在维持土壤食物网稳定性方面发挥着重要的作用。此外,阻断根系和去除凋落物对混交林中土壤线虫群落没有显著的影响,表明含固氮树种的格木×马尾松混交林比人工...     

Succession in sub‐boreal forests of West‐Central British Columbia

Abstract. Structural and compositional changes were analysed over the course of 400+ yr of post‐fire succession in the sub‐boreal forests of west‐central British Columbia. Using a chronosequence of 57 stands ranging from 11 to 438 yr in age, we examined changes in forest structure and composition with complementary PCA and DCA ordination techniques. To determine stand ages and timing of tree recruitment, approximately 1800 trees were aged. Most early successional forests were dominated by Pinus contorta, which established rapidly following fire. Abies lasiocarpa and Picea glauca × engel‐mannii were also able to establish quickly, but continued to establish throughout the sere. Few Pinus contorta survived beyond 200 yr, resulting in major changes in forest structure. In some stands P. contorta never established, which led to considerable variation among stands less than 200 yr old. The oldest forests converged on dominance by Abies lasiocarpa. Vascular plant diversity decreased during succession whereas canopy structure became more complex as gap dynamics developed. Although these sub‐boreal forests contain few tree species, successional changes were pronounced, with structure changing more than composition across the chronosequence.     

Aspen succession and nitrogen loading: a case for epiphytic lichens as bioindicators in the Rocky Mountains,USA

Question: Can lichen communities be used to assess short‐ and long‐term factors affecting seral quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) communities at the landscape scale? Location: Bear River Range, within the Rocky Mountains, in northern Utah and southern Idaho, USA. Method: Forty‐seven randomly selected mid‐elevation aspen stands were sampled for lichens and stand conditions. Plots were characterized according to tree species cover, basal area, stand age, bole scarring, tree damage, and presence of lichen species. We also recorded ammonia emissions with passive sensors at 25 urban and agricultural sites throughout an adjacent populated valley upwind of the forest stands. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination was used to evaluate an array of 20 variables suspected to influence lichen communities. Results: In NMS, forest succession explained most variance in lichen composition and abundance, although atmospheric nitrogen from local agricultural and urban sources also significantly influenced the lichen communities. Abundance of nitrophilous lichen species decreased with distance from peak ammonia sources and the urban center in all aspen succession classes. One lichen, Phaeophyscia nigricans, was found to be an effective bioindicator of nitrogen loading. Conclusions: Lichen communities in this landscape assessment of aspen forests showed clear responses to long‐term (stand succession) and short‐term (nitrogen deposition) influences. At the same time, several environmental factors (e.g. tree damage and scarring, distance to valley, topography, and stand age) had little influence on these same lichen communities. We recommend further use of epiphytic lichens as bioindicators of dynamic forest conditions.     

Microfungal diversity associated with Kindbergia oregana in successional forests of British Columbia

Species richness and species composition of microfungi associated with Oregon beaked moss (Kindbergia oregana) were studied at two forest chronosequences on southeast Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The purposes were to investigate the effects of clear-cutting and the transformation of old-growth forests into secondary forests on microfungi and the succession of microfungi in relation to long-term stand development. Green and brown parts of moss were collected from the forest floor of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands of four age classes: post-harvest regeneration (13–14 years), immature (50–51 years), and mature (85–101 years) stands, and a control old-growth (296–324 years) stand, and used for the isolation of microfungi. A total of 49 microfungal species were recorded. Study site, stand age, and moss parts significantly affected the species richness and species composition of microfungi. The species richness of microfungi was significantly greater on brown than on green moss parts and lower in post-harvest regenerations than in forest stands of the other age classes. The species composition of major microfungal species changed gradually along the seral stages. Possible environmental and biological factors that could account for the succession of microfungi were discussed.     

Leaf litter decomposition in temperate deciduous forest stands with a decreasing fraction of beech (Fagus sylvatica)

We hypothesised that the decomposition rates of leaf litter will increase along a gradient of decreasing fraction of the European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and increasing tree species diversity in the generally beech-dominated Central European temperate deciduous forests due to an increase in litter quality. We studied the decomposition of leaf litter including its lignin fraction in monospecific (pure beech) stands and in stands with up to five tree genera (Acer spp., Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia spp.) using a litterbag approach. Litter and lignin decomposition was more rapid in stand-representative litter from multispecific stands than in litter from pure beech stands. Except for beech litter, the decomposition rates of species-specific tree litter did not differ significantly among the stand types, but were most rapid in Fraxinus excelsior and slowest in beech in an interspecific comparison. Pairwise comparisons of the decomposition of beech litter with litter of the other tree species (except for Acer platanoides) revealed a “home field advantage” of up to 20% (more rapid litter decomposition in stands with a high fraction of its own species than in stands with a different tree species composition). Decomposition of stand-representative litter mixtures displayed additive characteristics, not significantly more rapid than predicted by the decomposition of litter from the individual tree species. Leaf litter decomposition rates were positively correlated with the initial N and Ca concentrations of the litter, and negatively with the initial C:N, C:P and lignin:N ratios. The results support our hypothesis that the overall decomposition rates are mainly influenced by the chemical composition of the individual litter species. Thus, the fraction of individual tree species in the species composition seems to be more important for the litter decomposition rates than tree species diversity itself.     

Insular patterns of calicioid lichens in a boreal old-growth forest-wetland mosaic

Fragmentation of the forested landscape poses a threat to many aspects of biodiversity associated with old-growth forests Studies of the effects of forest fragmentation are often complicated by the variation in composition and age of patches and the matrix This study used a system of isolated stands where patch age and composition were similar and the matrix variability negligible The patches were composed of old-growth Picea abies stands of varying size and shape in a wetland matrix The study organisms were epiphytic crustose calicioid lichens (also known as Caliciales), many of which are very substrate-specific and restricted to old-growth stands The aim of the study was to measure the effect of patch size, patch isolation, habitat and substrate quality on the species riochness and composition of epiphytic calicioids Twenty-four patches ranging from 0 4 to 15 9 ha in size were studied All species of calicioid lichens were registered in 0 1 ha plots in each patch Isolation was measured as the percentage of available habitat within 400 m of a patch Twenty-two species were found with an average of 9 48 ± 0 26 (SE) species per patch and 292 ± 0 18 (SE) species per tree Species richness at patch level correlated with stand structure, primarily tree density, while number of species per tree (reflecting population size) was strongly correlated with island size and several stand variables There was no effect of isolation on species richness Species composition was influenced by both substrate variables and patch size The species composition on the islands showed a significant nestedness, i e species composition on species-poor islands constituted a non-random subset of the species composition on species-rich islands We propose that the explanation for the strong relationship between species richness at tree level and stand size is an edge effect which implies that unaffected interior areas only occur on large islands The different microclimate of the patch edge enables only the hardiest species to establish large populations there whilst shade and moisture demanding species are restricted to the interiors of larger islands     

Conservation value of timber quality versus associated non-timber quality stands for understory diversity in Nothofagus forests

Conservation strategies of forested landscapes must consider biodiversity of the included site types, i.e. timber-quality forests and associated non-timber-quality stands. The objectives were to characterize forest overstory structure in timber-quality versus associated non-timber-quality stands; and to compare their understory communities. Six forest types were sampled in Nothofagus forests of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina): two timber-quality N. pumilio forests, and four associated non-timber-quality stands (edge, N. antarctica, wetlands and streamside forests). Overstory structure and understory vegetation (species richness, frequencies, cover and biomass) were characterized during spring and summer seasons. Analysis of variance and multivariates were carried out. Overstory structure differed across the site types, with higher tree size, canopy closure and tree volume in timber-quality stands. Fifty-one understory plant species were observed, but understory variables varied with site types, especially wetlands (highest native and exotic richness, cover and biomass, and 25% of exclusive species). Site types were grouped in three: N. antarctica stands, streamside stands and the other N. pumilio forests according to multivariate analysis. Forty three percent of plants were distributed in all site types, and all timber-quality forest understory species were present in some associated non-timber-quality stands. Timber-quality N. pumilio forests have a marginal value for understory conservation compared to associated non-timber-quality stands, because these last include all the plants observed in timber-quality forests and also possess many exclusive species. Therefore, protection of associated non-timber-quality stands during forest management planning could increase understory conservation at landscape level, and these could be better reserves of understory diversity than retentions of timber-quality stands.     

Forest plant diversity is threatened by Robinia pseudoacacia (black-locust) invasion

The effects of black-locust invasion on plant forest diversity are still poorly investigated. Vascular plants are likely to be influenced by increasing nutrient availability associated with the nitrogen-fixing activity of black-locust, whereas it is not clear if, along with stand aging, black-locust formations regain forest species. The main aim of the present study was to test whether the increase of black-locust stand age promoted a plant variation in mature stands leading to assemblages similar to those of native forests. Therefore, plant richness and composition of stands dominated by native trees were compared with pure black-locust stands of different successional stages. Our study confirmed that the replacement of native forests by pure black-locust stands causes both plant richness loss and shifts in species composition. In black-locust stands plant communities are dominated by nitrophilous species and lack many of the oligothrophic and acidophilus species typical of native forests. Plant communities of native forests are more diverse with respect to pure black-locust stands, suggesting that black-locust invasion also causes a homogenization of the plant forest biota. We did not detect differences across the successional gradient of black-locust stands, and mature stands do not recover the diversity of plant species which are lost by the replacement of the native forests by black-locust. Accordingly some efforts in reducing the negative impacts of black-locust invasion on plant forest biota should be focused at least in those areas where conservation is among management priorities, such in the case of habitats included in the Habitat Directive (92/43 ECE).     

Species diversity and community structure in sal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea robusta</Emphasis>) forests of two different rainfall regimes in West Bengal,India

Knowledge on the structure and composition of the plant communities has enormous significance in conservation and management of forests. The present study aimed to assess the community attributes, viz., structure, composition and diversity in the moist and dry sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the West Bengal province of India and compare them with the other sal forests of India. The phytosociological data from these forests were quantitatively analysed to work out the species richness, diversity, evenness, dominance, importance value, stand density and the basal area. The analysis showed that plant richness and diversity in moist sal forests of northern West Bengal are higher than the dry sal forests of south-west Bengal; a total of 134 tree (cbh ≥30 cm), 113 shrub and 230 herb species were recorded in the moist sal forest compared to 35 tree, 41 shrub and 96 herb species in dry sal forest. Papilionaceae was observed to be the dominant family. Dry sal forests had higher tree dominance (0.81) and stand density (1,006 stems ha⁻¹) but lower basal area (19.62 m²ha⁻¹) while moist sal forest had lower tree dominance (0.18) and stand density (438 stems ha⁻¹) but higher basal area (56.52 m²ha⁻¹). Tree species richness and stem density across girth classes in both the types decreased from the smallest to largest trees, while the occurrence rate of species increased with increase in girth class. A t-test showed significant differences in species richness, basal area and the stand density at 95% confidence level (p = <0.05) in the two forest types. The CCA indicated very low overall match (canonical correlation value = 0.40) between the two sets of variables from moist and dry sal types. The differences in these forests could be attributed to the distinct variations in climatic conditions- mainly the rainfall, disturbance regimes and the management practices.     

A review of gamasid mites (Parasitiformes,Mesostigmata) dwelling in the taiga of the Pechoro-Ilychskii Nature Reserve (northern Cis-Ural Region) with analysis of their assemblages in spruce forests

In the plain taiga of the Pechoro-Ilychskii Nature Reserve, 91 species of gamasid mites have been revealed. Cheiroseius (7 species), Veigaia (6), Arctoseius (5), Dendrolaelaps (5), and Dinychus (4) are the most diverse genera. European (29%), Palaearctic (27%), and Holarctic species (30%) are represented in the fauna by somewhat equal fractions, whereas cosmopolitan and semicosmopolitan species constitute about 14%. Comparison of gamasid assemblages populating certain habitats allowed revealing two distinct groupings, namely, forest and floodplain ones. Forest assemblages are characterized by high population density (220–760 ind./dm²) and by predominance of Parazercon radiatus, Zercon forsslundi, Veigaia nemorensis, Gamasellus montanus, and Trachytes spp. Floodplain assemblages are less abundant (80–130 ind./dm²) and comprise mainly meadow and hydrophilic species (A. cetratus, Cheiroseius spp. Gaeolaelaps spp., and Gamasellodes bicolor). Low diversity of the family Parasitidae (4 species) and structural peculiarities of assemblages dwelling in coniferous forests (namely, the absence of Pergamasinae and significant fractions of Veigaia, Gamesellus, Trachytes, and also of representatives of the family Zerconidae) demonstrate similarities between the mesostigmatan population of this northern European region and that of the Siberian taiga. Solitary records of such Arctic species as Arctoseius ornatus and Zerconopsis labradorensis, and of the hypoarcto-montane species Iphidinychus gaieri within the taiga belt, seem to reflect the instability of range margin. Taking into account the literary data, we recognize a complex of boreal and borealmountain species (Trachytes edleri, Dinychus septentrionalis. D. crassus, Caurozercon duplex, Neozercon smirnovi, Zercon forsslundi, and Z. zelawaiensis) in the Palaearctic fauna. Their habitats, however, are not restricted only to dark coniferous forest along. The structure of gamasid mite assemblages in mesophytic spruce forests of the Palaearctic varies strongly. By contrast to vascular plants, where many species accompany the dark coniferous taiga everywhere, there is not a single mesostigmatic mite species common to all the spruce forests analyzed, ranging from Romania in the west to Sakhalin Island in the east. On the whole, changes in gamasid mite assemblages across the spruce forest belt seem to follow a succession of meridional changes in gamasid faunas regardless of an edificatory spruce species.     

Persistent soil seed banks in old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree (Buxus hyrcana) stands in northern Iran

Little is known about the soil seed bank and the influence of plant communities on the interaction between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation in the Hyrcanian temperate deciduous forest. We surveyed species composition and diversity of the persistent soil seed bank and the aboveground vegetation in six community types in old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree (Buxus hyrcana) stands in northern Iran. Fifty-two species with an average of 3,808 seeds/spores m⁻² germinated; forbs accounted for 64% of the seed bank flora. Thirty-four species in the aboveground vegetation were not presented in the seed bank, 32 species in the seed bank were not found in the vegetation, and 20 species were in both. The dominant tree species were Diospyros lotus and Alnus subcordata with an average of 17 and 4.6 seeds m⁻², respectively. Our results suggest that (1) vernal geophytes and shade-tolerant perennials are not incorporated in the seed bank, (2) early successional species are well represented in the seed bank, (3) plant community type has significant impacts on seed bank densities, and seed bank richness and diversity were significantly related to presence/absence of Box tree in the aboveground vegetation. The persistent seed bank contained species that potentially have a negative impact on the regeneration of forests, thus forest managers should retain old-growth Hyrcanian Box tree stands to conserve disturbance-sensitive indicator forest species.     

Ground beetle diversity in ancient woodland remnants in north-western Germany (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

We investigated ground beetle communities (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in ancient woodland remnants in north-western Lower Saxony, Germany. A total of 90 pitfall traps was exposed in a stratified design in 10 stands of mature oak–beech and oak–hornbeam forests in the year 2003. Overall, 47 species (10,676 individuals) were recorded. Among these were the two relict species Carabus glabratus and Abax parallelus, and 14 further eurytopic forest species. Eleven species exhibited a high frequency and were found in all of the ten stands. Multiple linear regressions showed several significant relationships at two scales for species richness of different groups of carabids and for several of the measured environmental factors. Forest area, litter depth, amount of dead wood, distance to forest edge, and soil moisture were found to be key factors determining species richness. Furthermore, recent disturbance by logging reduced the number of forest species. According to direct gradient analyses soil moisture and litter depth have greatest influence on species communities of both, forest species and widespread species. Habitat suitability models for the two recorded relict species, A. paralellus and C. glabratus, were developed using logistic regression. The presence of A. parallelus in the mature ancient woodland remnants depends mainly on higher values of soil moisture, whereas for C. glabratus none of the measured environmental variables appeared to be key factors. Implications for the conservation of carabid assemblages in mature ancient woodlands include the advice to spread out logging over long periods of time and over various woodlands in order to keep the stand disturbance at a long-term low level. Variation in logging practices may help to conserve diverse structures. Afforestation with non-native tree species should be avoided in the managed ancient woodlands. Finally, especially the preservation of a high soil moisture seems to be important to conserve typical carabid communities.