Earticle

Species diversity is one of the most important indices that used to evaluate the sustainability of forest communities. In the present study, three variables including number of individuals (frequency of species), basal area and volume of tree species were compared to estimate tree species diversity in broadleaves forests of Iran. Based on systematic random design, 30 plots (circle plot, 1000 m2) was selected. Type of species, number of species, DBH and height of trees were measured. Simpson (1-D), Hill (N2), Shannon-Wiener (H’), Mc Arthur (N1), Smith-Wilson (Evar) and Margalef (R1) indices used to estimate tree species diversity. Species diversity was calculated in each plot. ANOVA test showed that there was a significant difference between of three variables used for estimation of species diversity. Number of trees variable has more precision than basal area and volume variables to estimate of species diversity. But Duncan test revealed that there were significant difference between of basal area and volume variables with number of trees. Therefore, basal area and volume variables were selected as more suitable variables in order to estimate of biodiversity indices in northern forests of Iran.

We have investigated the impact of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on regeneration, composition and diversity in some temperate forests of Bhagirathi Catchment Area of Garhwal Himalaya. The forests were categorized on the basis of canopy cover and magnitude of disturbance into highly, moderately and least disturbed classes. The dominant tree species at lower elevation were Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora, while Abies pindrow, Q. semecarpifolia and Rhododenron arboreum were the dominant species at the upper elevational forests. Cythula tomentosa and Indegophera heterentha were the dominant shrub species present in all the forests. Similarly, Circium wallichii and Oxalis corniculata were the dominant herb species found in all forests (except Q. leucotrichophora forest), whereas Thalictrum foliolosum and Viola pilosa were noticed in each forest (except P. roxburghii forest). The tree density values oscillated between 400±10 trees ha-1 to 750±89.1 trees ha-1 which generally decreased from lower to higher disturbance regimes however, the total basal cover value was highest (88.1±23.6 m2 ha-1) in highly disturbed forest and lowest (25.8±2.2 m2 ha-1) in moderately disturbed forest. The shrub and herb densities were maximum in least disturbed forest, while the young regenerating individuals i.e., sapling and seedling were observed increasing from high to low disturbed forests which reflected that the forest fragmentation adversely affected the regeneration. However, A. pindrow and P. roxburghii were found invariably encroaching the habitats of R. arboreum and Q. leucotrichophora at various altitudes, respectively. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis clearly indicated that the elevation and lopping intensity have more impact on trees, while shrub and herbs were more influenced by elevation, canopy cover, light attenuation and soil erosion. Pinus roxburghii was the only species which was affected by heavy litter removal and forest fire.

The composition of artificial soil in a containerized seedling production plays an important role in seedling quality as well as environmental issues. We investigated the effects of different types of biomaterials and mixed ratio with artificial soil on the growth of Fraxinus rhynchophylla seedlings. Soil medium was supplemented with 3 levels (0%, 10%, 20%) of pine bark, mushroom sawdust and rice husk. Root collar diameter (RCD), height growth, and biomass have significantly increased when rice husk was applied. Compared with the control, RCD and height growth showed highest in 20% rice husk treatment with an increase of 5.7% and 17.6%, respectively. In contrast, the treatments of pine bark and mushroom sawdust showed lower results in growth parameters (RCD, height growth, and total biomass) than control. Seedling quality index was also highest at the 20% rice husk treatment, but there was not statistically different among treatments. Our results suggested rice husk can be substituted up to 20% of substrates for containerized F. rhynchophylla seedling production system.

Daphne pseudomezereum var. koreana is an endangered deciduous shrub distributed in mountain areas that is vulnerable to climate change. The purpose of this study was to provide foundational data on the physical characteristics, soil environment, and vegetation structure of habitats of Daphne pseudomezereum var. koreana habitat in Korea in order to help with management decisions on ecosystem restoration. Rock exposure was 15 to 35%, with an average of 24%. The native habitat of D. pseudomezereum included 129 taxa consisting of 46 families and 95 genera. Two-way cluster analysis divided the habitat into three plant communities: Community I (dominaterd by Tilia amurensis and Quercus mongolica), Community II (dominaterd by Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Acer pseudosieboldianum), and Community III (dominaterd by Ulmus davidiana var. japonica). The diversity indices for Communities I, II, and III were 1.124, 1.047 and 0.932, respectively. The soils were loam or clay loam. Soil pH, organic matter content, and available phosphoric acid were 5.40, 14.38%, and 31.08 ppm, respectively. Ordination analysis resulted that most significant factors influencing D. pseudomezereum distribution were magnesium content of soil, shrub layer, and altitude.

In vitro organogenesis system of the valuable ornamental species, Prunus yedoensis which is native to Korea, was established through callus culture derived from root tissues. Callus were induced on the medium supplemented with 2,4-D and BA or NAA and kinetin. Organogenesis was differ from the callus type, and NAA and kinetin combination was effective to induce organogenic callus. Growth of callus was influenced by sucrose concentrations. High level of sucrose (over 5%) had adverse effects such as decreased fresh weight and increased mortality of callus. Shoots developed from the callus when GA3 was treated with BA in the medium. Results showed that GA3 is essential for shoot development and elongation from callus in this species.

This study applies the concept of climate change vulnerability assessment in order to suggest climate change adaptation effects in a quantitative manner, given that previous studies have hitherto rely on qualitative assessment, as climate change adaptive policies are currently being implemented by local governments of Korea. The vulnerability assessment tool used in this study is VESTAP (“Vulnerability assESsment Tool to build a climate change Adaptation Plan”), which was developed by the Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change (KACCC), and applied to gauge the vulnerability of pine trees to diseases and pests within Chungcheongnam-do. The climate change adaptation project for vulnerability improvement was assessed only in terms of forest disaster prevention and change in regional climate change vulnerabilities within 16 regions of Chungcheongnam-do as the result of 2016 Climate Change Adaptation Project (Forest Disaster Prevention Project). As a result, it was observed that climate change adaptive capacity has improved according to change in the area of forestland with disaster prevention, and the vulnerability indicator decreased, confirming the impact of the climate change adaptation (forest disaster prevention) project. Also, analysis of regional climate change adaptation project scales and change in vulnerabilities allowed us to determine the regional propriety of climate change adaptation (forest disaster prevention) projects launched in 2016.

Plant tissue culture techniques offer quick methods of regeneration of plants of medicinal importance but the survival chances of such plants are always questionable when shifted to the in vivo conditions. The present study enumerates the micromorphological developments in the leaves of in vitro regenerated and field transferred plantlets of Oldenlandia umbellata. The leaves developed in vitro after 4th subcultures of multiplication phase and after 6 weeks of field transferred plants were used. Statistically significant differences in the number of stomata, veins, raphides, crystals and trichome density per square mm were observed. The improvements in stomatal apparatus and density (decreased from 41.85 to 32.20), developments in leaf architectural parameters and emergence of defense mechanism through increased numbers of raphides (8 to 15), crystals and trichomes (13.5 to 18.2) proved acclimation of tissue culture raised plantlets from in vitro to the in vivo environments lead to 100 % success in field establishment of the plantlets. The in vitro induced foliar abnormalities (changes in stomata, venation pattern, vein density, trichomes, crystals etc.) were repaired while hardening of plantlets in the greenhouse and finally in the field. The observed micromorphological response of leaves under altered environmental conditions could help in determination of proper stage of field transfer and prediction of survival percentage of in vitro regenerated O. umbellata plantlets.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the natural habitat of Hotaria unmunsana Doi, which was first discovered at Mt. Unmun also represents a landscape indicator species for Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces, and Luciola lateralis Motschulsky, which is the object of experiential activation at festivals in some cities in the region. The spatial range of this study is limited by Daegu City and Gyeongbuk province, and is used to predict the preference of firefly for altitude, slope, direction, shaded relief, riparian buffer zone, river environment, and farmland to analyze the area that best matches the habitat of fireflies. As a result, fireflies are highly influenced by altitude and there may be no large-scale habitats in some areas through the Nakdong and the Baekdu mountain ranges, which occur at high altitude. In most of the cities, we found major habitats around the streams and wetlands. By region, the sites were widely distributed around the cities focused on Nakdong River, and many habitats emerged around the Nakdong River tributary and gentle slopes. In order to preserve and spread the habitat of fireflies, the physical environment as well as their relationship with food chains and symbiotic organisms should be established, and excessive use of pesticides and herbicides in agricultural areas should be avoided.