<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Fern-rich forest communities are presented in Estonia in mesic or moderately humid nutrient-rich habitats, in areas of drained mire forests, on floodplains and lower parts of talus slopes of the North-Estonian limestone escarpment (klint). In the recent official forest typology only one site type has been distinguished and labelled by the ferns: the <italic>Dryopteris</italic> site type in the scope of boreo-nemoral forests. The aims of the current study were (i) to clarify whether distinguishing between two fern-rich forest site types, one among the full-drained forests group and another in the boreo-nemoral forests group, is reasonable, and if so, then (ii) what the main characteristics of both considered forest site types are, (iii) what the main environmental factors determining the structure of these communities are, and (iv) what the mutual relationship between those forests and other fern-rich forest communities is. Our results asserted a distinct difference between the full-drained and undrained <italic>Dryopteris</italic> site type forests distinguished by the former scholars. The undrained boreo-nemoral fern-rich stands have developed in the same place in harmony with habitat conditions, while drained forests have significantly changed. It seems that despite some vagueness due to long-lasting post-drainage succession, it is nevertheless justified to recognise the fern-rich drained stands in Estonian forest typology as representing an autonomous forest site type in the group of full-drained forests. To avoid confusion in nomenclature, in the future, the undrained fern-rich boreo-nemoral forests site type could be named according to the most conspicuous indicator species as the <italic>Athyrium</italic> (<italic>filix-femina</italic>) site type and fern-rich stands on full-drained peat soils as the <italic>Dryopteris</italic> (<italic>expansa</italic>) site type.</abstract>

Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

On <italic>Dryopteris</italic> site type forests in Estonia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Songbirds are facing rapid population declines in Connecticut due to habitat loss. Man-made habitats such as powerline corridors are one of the few remaining ideal habitats for songbirds in the state. This study aims to determine if the abundance and variety of song-birds in four selected forests (i.e. Naugatuck State Forest, Sharon Audubon Society, Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, and Great Mountain Forest Species Variety) in Connecticut show patterns of decline from 2005 to 2014. This study also compares the physical condition of songbirds captured along a powerline corridor in the Naugatuck State Forest with those captured in the rest three non-fragmented forests in Northwestern Connecticut using Mann-Whitney U tests. Weight and wingspan are used as indicators of bird physical condition. The results demonstrate that the three non-fragmented forests experienced a steady decline in the variety of songbirds between 2005 and 2014. In addition, songbirds’ abundance decreased steadily during the same period, except that of the ovenbird (<italic>Seiurus aurocapilla</italic>) and wood thrush (<italic>Hylocichla mustelina</italic>) in Miles Wildlife Sanctuary. The results from the Mann-Whitney U test have shown that after sex- and age-controlled features, the physical conditions of the three selective songbirds – veery (<italic>Catharus fuscescens</italic>), ovenbird, and wood thrush – tend to be better in the Naugatuck State Forest than in the three non-fragmented forests – Sharon Audubon Society, Miles Wildlife Sanctuary, and Great Mountain Forest Species Variety. Given are recommendations on how to protect the shrubland habitat along powerline corridors and how to create the shrubland habitat in non-fragmented forests.</abstract>

The changing trend in songbirds’ abundance, variety and physical condition in Connecticut’s forestry habitat

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Incursions of <italic>Mimosa pigra</italic> L., a super-invasive plant, were detected in Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city, Vietnam. This invasive species posed threats to the local agricultural and natural areas, especially to Ba Na - Nui Chua Nature Reserve located in the district. In this study, a habitat model was developed to predict potential areas for the upcoming occurrences of the plant. Detected locations of the species were analyzed in association with seven environmental layers (15 m spatial resolution), which characterized the habitat conditions facilitating the plant incursion, to calculate a multivariate statistic, Mahalanobis distance (<italic>D2</italic>). Mimosa occurrences were divided into subsets of modelling (for model construction) and validating data (for selecting the best model from replicate runs). The model performance was tested using a null model of 1,000 random points and indicated a significant relationship between <italic>D2</italic> values and mimosa occurrence. The <italic>D2</italic> model performed markedly better than the random model. The null model in combination with the entire dataset of mimosa locations was also used to identify the threshold <italic>D2</italic> value. Using that threshold value, 99.5% of existing mimosa locations were detected and 20.3% of the study area was determined as high-risk areas for mimosa occurrence. These identified high risk areas would make an important contribution to the local alien invasive species management. Given the potential threats to these species from illegal harvesting, that information may serve as an important benchmark for future habitat and population assessments. The spatial modelling techniques in this study can easily be applied to other species and areas.</abstract>

The University of Da Nang - University of Science and Technology

GIS-based habitat model to predict potential areas for the upcoming occurrences of an alien invasive plant, <italic>Mimosa pigra</italic> L.

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This study assessed the potential of natural regeneration (NR) of forests in Western Siberia, dominated by Siberian fir (<italic>Abies sibirica</italic> Ledeb.) and damaged due to the invasion of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (<italic>Polygraphus proximus</italic> Blandf.). The leading methods for investigating this problem are the sample plot method and the transect method, which allow revealing the features of NR, their morphological structure and spatial distribution. Analysis of the occurrence and structure of NR revealed a correlation between the degree of stand damage and sapling state. The spatial structure was highly heterogeneous, testifying the group location of NR and the variable density. For 63% of the sample plots, a decrease in saplings was recorded as a result of the impact of the four-eysouthern ed fir bark beetle. Most of the dead saplings were large (95%), and dead saplings accounted for 10–50%. A positive correlation was found between the decrease in saplings and the state of the fir forest. The number of saplings varied from 1,233 to 19,200 plants ha−1, with fir being the dominant species. Fir forests of Western Siberia, damaged by the four-eyed fir bark beetle, have the potential for regeneration.</abstract>

Natural regeneration in Siberian fir (<italic>Abies sibirica</italic> Ledeb.) forests subjected to invasion of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (<italic>Polygraphus proximus</italic> Blandf.)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Stem form is the short name of the tree trunk shape. Stem form determines the quantity and quality of trunk volume, and affects forest timber volume and stand merchantable volume. Based on <italic>Populus deltoides</italic> Bartr. ex Marsh. in the Dongting Lake region of Hunan Province in China, changes in the breast-height form factor (<italic>f</italic>1.3) and experimental form factor (<italic>f</italic>a) under different waterlogging durations and stand ages were analyzed using the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the differences in waterlogging duration for <italic>f</italic>1.3 were not significant, but were significant for <italic>f</italic>a. Tree age has significant effects on <italic>f</italic>1.3 and <italic>f</italic>a. In addition, the <italic>f</italic>a of <italic>P. deltoides</italic> grown in stands with a waterlogging duration of 24 days and 33 days were slightly larger than the other three 50, 64, 86 days, which indicated that trees grown in these stands (24, 33 days) had larger tree volumes. In addition, the waterlogging duration of longer than 86 days was not suitable for the growth of <italic>P. deltoides</italic>.</abstract>

Effects of tree age and waterlogging duration on the form factors of eastern cottonwood (<italic>Populus deltoides</italic> Bartr. ex Marsh.)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">One of the problems that may arise when conducting long-term monitoring of bird populations in forest landscapes may be discrepancies between data obtained by different researchers. Using acoustic monitoring may solve this problem. To establish the suitability of the acoustic method for monitoring the state of forest ecosystems, studies were conducted in May and June 2018 on seven plots different from each other by stand age and species composition in a maple-linden-oak forest in northeastern Ukraine. The species composition of birds, the structure and composition of the stand and the values of six acoustic indices were calculated. Differences were found in all acoustic indices at different sites. The smallest values of the indices were noted in the overgrown clear-cut. Four acoustic indices in the May survey and five of the six in the June survey show significant correlations with the species richness of birds. All indices correlate with the values of several stand variables, which characterize the size and species composition of the stand, understorey and field vegetation, the closeness of various vegetation tiers, and with the distance to the edges and the nearest populated areas. The results suggest the possibility of using an acoustic approach to monitoring the bird population and the state of forest ecosystems.</abstract>

Impact of stand variables on characteristics of avian soundscape in common oak (<italic>Quercus robur</italic> L.) forests

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Hemispherical photography provides permanent records of forest canopy structure. We analysed digital hemispherical images taken during the period of 2007–2018 in a mature silver birch stand located in Järvselja, Estonia. The stand was thinned in 2004. Understory trees were removed in the spring of 2018. Images were processed using the LinearRatioSC method. Effective plant area index <italic>L</italic>eff during the leafless phenophase increased as a result of tree growth from 0.92 to 1.24 and understory cutting was not detectable. During the full foliage condition <italic>L</italic>eff increased from 3.6 in 2008 to 5.8 in 2017. After removal of understory trees from the stand <italic>L</italic>eff decreased, and repeated measurements in the summer of 2018 estimated the plant area index range 4.5 &lt; <italic>L</italic>eff &lt; 4.8. The results are in agreement with the expected changes following forest growth and demonstrate that LinearRatioSC is a suitable method for the estimation and long-term monitoring of forest canopy properties from digital hemispherical images.</abstract>

Tartu Observatory, Faculty of Science and Technology

Chair of Forest Management Planning and Wood Processing Technologies, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering

Tracking the long-term structure changes of a mature deciduous broadleaf forest stand using digital hemispherical photography

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">With the rapid development in data acquisition and presentation, there is a growing interest in virtual forests and computer visualization tools. Forest owners have become more aware about their property and are interested in applying different forest management methods and silvicultural techniques. The tools are also applicable in assessment of the changes to the landscape as a result of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Virtual reality offers a good opportunity to test and compare different management options before implementing decisions which can lead to irreversible consequences. Advances in spatial and temporal data collection enable new and practical solutions for analysis and visualization of long-term natural processes with new forestry applications. In the near future, forest owners and managers will have the possibility to make management decisions without the direct need to exit the office. Furthermore, the learning process is more enthralling and also more profound through augmented reality, helping to foster better working practices even before starting a job in the forest sector.</abstract>

A narrative of virtual and augmented reality in the forest sector

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Forestry Studies

 Forestry Studies | Metsanduslikud Uurimused is a peer-reviewed journal managed by the Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences. The journal publishes original research articles, reviews, technical reports and short communications. Papers are published in English or Estonian with English summary. Authors whose mother tongue is not English are strongly urged to have their manuscripts reviewed linguistically before submission. Submission of an article is understood to imply that the article is original and is not being considered for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts generally should not exceed 25 one-sided 1.5-spaced printed pages, including tables, illustrations, references and abstract. Reviews must not exceed 20 pages, technical reports 5 pages. The authors should aim to submit their work as concisely as possible and longer papers will be accepted under exceptional circumstances. Suitable manuscripts are considered by at least two independent referees before acceptance.   Why subscribe and read   the journal publishes research papers on all aspects of forestry (silviculture, dendrology, tree physiology and genetics, forest products, forest operation and techniques, forest economics and policy, etc.), and also close subjects (environmental protection, ecology, botany, zoology, entomology, pathology, soil science, etc.),  the journal is published twice a year in paper and electronic versions,  peer reviewed journal by experts from Europe and US,  publishing history since 1939.   Why submit   submissions accepted in a wide range of categories: original research articles, reviews, technical reports and short communications,  rapid review (by two independent referees) and fast editing process,  coverage by major abstracting and indexing services,  publishing without charge,  accessibility through MetaPress platform.   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Forestry Studies

Volume 70 (2019): Issue 1 (June 2019)

On Dryopteris site type forests in Estonia

The changing trend in songbirds’ abundance, variety and physical condition in Connecticut’s forestry habitat

GIS-based habitat model to predict potential areas for the upcoming occurrences of an alien invasive plant, Mimosa pigra L.

Natural regeneration in Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) forests subjected to invasion of the four-eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus Blandf.)

Effects of tree age and waterlogging duration on the form factors of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.)

Impact of stand variables on characteristics of avian soundscape in common oak (Quercus robur L.) forests

Tracking the long-term structure changes of a mature deciduous broadleaf forest stand using digital hemispherical photography

A narrative of virtual and augmented reality in the forest sector

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