The consequence of the differentiation of a care of forest ecosystems in NP Šumava is the existence of localities where timber harvesting causes damage to forest ecosystem. One of the most affected ecosystems is the soil ecosystem. The surface is usually disrupted by numbers of passing over the same path the machines. Forwarders are the harvesting machineries that execute the largest number of passes in the forest. The aim of the diploma work is to gain and analyse data dealing with harvesting technologies, and to evaluate their impact on soil ecosystems. The impact was determinate from measuring of the recessing of the track in the surface, of the soil compaction and of the soil sampling for determination of an amount of the water in the soil. The data were measured in different selected localities in NP Šumava. The negative influences of the harvesting technologies were defined for both {--} water and air regime of soil. Recommendation for reduction of negative consequences of the harvesting on soil are parts of diploma work as well.

A Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) O. Ktze. é uma espécie de elevado valor sócio-econômico e ambiental, característica da floresta subtropical brasileira. Por sua excelente qualidade e ampla utilização de sua madeira ela tem sido uma das espécies nativas mais exploradas no Brasil. Atualmente, encontra-se presente na lista oficial de espécies da flora brasileira ameaçadas de extinção, exigindo emprego imediato de tecnologias visando sua manutenção e recuperação. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estabelecer as alterações da comunidade da macrofauna edáfica decorrentes do manejo e da ação do fogo em ecossistemas com araucária nativa e ecossistemas com araucária introduzida, no município de Campos do Jordão (SP). A macrofauna foi coletada em superfície amostral de 25 x 25 cm, nas profundidades do solo de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm e na serapilheira. Os pontos de amostragens ficaram distanciados 10 metros entre si, ao longo de um transecto determinado ao acaso. Foram coletadas dez amostras por ecossistema, nos meses de outubro de 2002 e março de 2003, caracterizados como sendo de período seco e período chuvoso, respectivamente. Alterações na densidade e diversidade da macrofauna do solo foram observadas nos ecossistemas que sofreram intervenção na sua cobertura vegetal. A ocorrência do fogo acarretou em baixa qualidade da serapilheira, tendo sido esta agravada na época seca. Os resultados demonstraram que a fauna está correlacionada com os parâmetros químicos da serapilheira e do solo nestes ecossistemas. As características químicas do solo e da serapilheira, aliadas às condições climáticas, contribuiram para as alterações nesta comunidade. / Araucaria angustifolia (Bertoloni) O. Ktze. is a species with a high socialeconomical and envirommental value, and it is characteristic of the subtropical Brazilian forest. Due to the excellent quality of the wood, it has been one of the most exploited native species in Brazil. Today this tree is considered an endangered species, requiring maintenance and recuperation through an immediate use of technologies. This study had the objective to evaluate the changes in the soil macrofauna community in an ecosystem with native araucaria and in replanted areas in Campos do Jordão, São Paulo, Brazil. The macrofauna was collected in 25 x 25 cm areas, at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depth and in the litter. Along the transect determined at random, the sampling points were distributed with 10 meter distance from one another. Was collected ten sampling points por ecossistema. in october 2002 and in march 2003, which represent the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Changes in density and diversity of the soil macrofauna due to an intervention in the litter layer were observed. The litter was partially eliminated by the fire and its quality was even worse in the dry season. The results suggest that there is a great influence of soil chemical parameters as well as of the climatic conditions upon the soil macrofauna.

Este trabalho diz respeito à diversidade genética de Myrciaria floribunda (West ex Willdenow) Berg (cambuí), uma espécie arbórea de sub-bosque, em paisagem fragmentada da Serra da Mantiqueira, MG. A diversidade genética foi estudada a partir dos dados de análises eletroforéticas de isoenzimas. Foram coletadas folhas de indivíduos jovens em duas populações dentro de um fragmento controle (5810,27 ha) e em dois fragmentos menores (18 e 10 ha), sendo quarenta plantas por fragmento. Através da análise de sete locos isoenzimáticos foi avaliada o número médio de alelos por loco (Â), número médio de alelos por loco polimórfico (Âp), porcentagem de locos polimórficos ( $ P ), heterozigosidade média esperada ( $ He ), heterozigosidade observada ( $ Ho ) e freqüências alélicas, utilizando-se alelos de baixa freqüência. A heterozigosidade observada para os quatro fragmentos foi elevada (entre 0,288 a 0,386). A variação genética intrapopulacional, avaliada pela riqueza alélica foi menor nos fragmentos menores que nas populações contida no fragmento controle. Alguns alelos encontrados em menor freqüência no fragmento controle tiveram suas freqüências reduzidas nos fragmentos menores, sendo que um alelo foi perdido nos fragmentos menores, provavelmente devido à redução do tamanho populacional durante a fragmentação, ou à deriva genética após a fragmentação ou a amostragem realizada. O índice de diversidade gênica de Nei (heterozigosidade esperada) não foi muito diferente entre as quatro populações, apesar de mostrar uma tendência à diminuição nos fragmentos menores. Os indivíduos jovens analisados apresentaram valores de f ˆ = 0,0864, sugerindo que estas populações tem vindo de cruzamentos panmíticos, provavelmente anteriores ao processo de fragmentação. Estas quatro populações apresentaram pequena diferenciação genética entre elas ( p q ˆ = 0,0555), o número estimado de migrantes foi relativamente alto (Nm= 4,25). Este trabalho desta forma não foi capaz de detectar o efeito da fragmentação na endogamia desta espécie. / This research is about effects of forest fragmentation on the genetic diversity of Myrciaria floribunda (West ex Willdenow) Berg (cambuí), a tropical tree species from the Atlantic Forest (Mantiqueira hills), State of Minas Gerais. This work is about genetic diversity studies of de Myrciaria floribunda (cambuí), a late successional species from fragmented landscapes of the Mantiqueira hills. Genetic diversity was assessed using electrophoresis of isozymes. Leaves from juveniles trees were collected from four populations, two within a control fragment (5810,27 ha) and from two other small fragments (18 e 10 ha). Forty plants were sampled per populations. Seven loci were studied regarding the average number of alleles per locus (Â), the average number of alleles per polymorphic loci (Âp), percentage of polymorphic loci ( $ P ), expected ( $ He ) and observed heretozigosity ( $ Ho ), and allelic frequency, using alleles of low frequency. The observed heterozigosity was high for all fragments (from 0,288 to 0,386). Within population genetic diversity, measured by allelic richness was lower in small fragments compared with the large fragment. Low frequency alleles found in the large fragment showed an even lower frequencies in the two small fragments. One allele was lost in the small fragments, probably due to a reduction in population size because of the fragmentation process, and probably due to genetic drift or sampling strategy. Nei’s diversity index (expected heterozigosity) did not differ among populations, although lower in the small fragments. The result for f ˆ = 0,0864 indicated that the current populations probably were originated from panmmitic populations, established before the fragmentation process. Little genetic differentiation was detected among populations ( p q ˆ = 0,0555), however the number of migrants was considerably high (Nm= 4,25). Therefore this work was not able to detect the effects of endogamy due to the forest fragmentation on the studied species.

A abertura de clareiras no dossel das florestas ocorre periodicamente pela queda ou morte de árvores, acarretando a formação de uma paisagem em mosaico de áreas com diferentes idades, condições ambientais e composição florística. A principal modificação que ocorre no ambiente de clareira é o aumento da intensidade de luz, interferindo no estabelecimento, crescimento e sobrevivência de muitos indivíduos. O objetivo desse estudo foi caracterizar a estrutura de habitat e descrever a composição florística de espécies arbustivo-arbóreas de 0,50 a 2m nas clareiras naturais em Floresta de Restinga na parcela permanente localizada no Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso e as acompanhar as modificações na comunidade após um ano. Durante um ano os indivíduos foram acompanhados em relação à sobrevivência, o crescimento e o recrutamento. As espécies foram classificadas em categorias sucessionais com base na literatura. Foram analisadas onze clareiras com áreas entre 30,5 e 398,4m2, das quais 6 foram consideradas pequenas (<150m2) e 5 grandes (>150m2). Foram analisados 1.316 indivíduos pertencentes a 99 espécies arbustivo-arbóreas. O fator determinante do número de espécies e indivíduos encontrados nas clareiras foi o tamanho da área atingida pela abertura do dossel. As espécies mais abundantes foram: Euterpe edulis, Rudgea villiflora, Miconia sp1, Myrcia bicarinata, Dendropanax cuneatum e Astrocaryum aculeatissimum. Apenas Euterpe edulis foi encontrado em todas as clareiras. Do total de plantas amostradas nas clareiras, 42 (3,2%) foram consideradas pioneiras distribuídas em 7 espécies, 579 (46,1%) secundárias iniciais distribuídas em 26 espécies, 419 (33,4%) climáxicas distribuídas em 40 espécies e 215 (17,1%) não classificadas pertencentes a 26 famílias. Nas clareiras consideradas pequenas houve destaque no número de indivíduos pertencentes à categoria clímax (46,3%), enquanto nas clareiras grandes houve predominância das secundárias inicias (52%). Houve diferença na abundância de algumas espécies em relação ao tamanho das clareiras. Nas clareiras pequenas Myrcia bicarinata foi a espécie com maior densidade, já nas clareiras grandes Euterpe edulis foi a espécie de maior densidade. Na remedição dos indivíduos observou-se que apenas 671 indivíduos apresentaram crescimento, os outros indivíduos não apresentaram crescimento, principalmente devido à alta taxa de herbivoria. Euterpe edulis foi a única espécie que apresentou diferença nas taxas de crescimento entre as duas classes de tamanho de clareira. Após um ano foi observada a mortalidade de 84 indivíduos e o recrutamento de 105 indivíduos. Os indivíduos ingressantes pertencem, principalmente, as categorias secundárias iniciais (27%) e clímax (22%). Não há indícios de uma convergência das comunidade presentes nas diferentes clareiras em direção à uma comunidade que fosse típica ou exclusiva de clareira, ao contrário, mostraram-se inicialmente distintas e permaneceram distintas após um ano. / Canopy gap openings periodically occurs when a tree dies or falls, creating a mosaic landscape which result into patches with different ages, environmental conditions and floristic composition. Light enhancement is the main modification within a gap environment, causing modifications on the establishment, development and survival of many individuals. The purpose of this study was to describe shrub and tree species? composition from 0,5 to 2cm height, point out habitat structure and follow community modifications within a year under light gaps in a Restinga Forest, located in a permanent plot at Parque Estadual da Ilha do Cardoso. For an entire year these individuals were studied regarding their survival, growth and recruitment. Species were classified into sucessional categories as suggested by literature. Eleven gaps were analyzed and their total area ranged from 30,5 to 398,4m2, with 6 gaps considered as small (<150m2) and 5 as large (>150m2). The overall number of individuals analyzed in this study was of 1316, representing 99 tree and shrub species. The main factor acting on the species and individuals quantity within a gap was the area size affected by the canopy opening. The most abundant species were: Euterpe edulis, Rudgea villiflora, Miconia sp1, Myrcia bicarinata, Dendropanax cuneatum e Astrocaryum aculeatissimum. The only species sampled in every gap was Euterpe edulis. Regarding sucessional categories, 42 individuals (3,2%) of 7 species were classified as pioneers, 579 individuals (46,1%) of 26 species as early secondary species, 419 individuals (33,4%) of 40 species as climax and 215 individuals remained non-classified (17,1%), representing 26 botanical families. Small gaps presented a remarkable quantity of climax species (46,3%), while on the larger ones early secondary species prevailed (52%). Species abundance varied according to gap size. Myrcia bicarinata showed the highest densities within smaller gaps, while in the larger ones the dominant species was Euterpe edulis. Height measurements indicated growth for only 671 individuals, mainly because of herbivory attacks. Euterpe edulis was the only species with significant growth rate differences between small and large gaps. After a year, 84 individuals were dead, while 105 recruits were accounted. The latter ones were mainly represented by early secondary species (27%) and climax (22%). The communities present in the different sized gaps did not bring any evidence of convergence towards a typical or exclusive gap community. On the contrary, these communities appeared to be dissimilar either on initial phase or after a year.

Na busca de critérios e indicadores hidrológicos que possam ter uma posterior utilização prática para o monitoramento do manejo sustentável dos recursos naturais, e considerando a bacia hidrográfica como unidade de manejo, o presente trabalho visa caracterizar o comportamento hidrológico da microbacia A, localizada no Núcleo Cunha do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, contendo vegetação natural em estágio avançado de regeneração, visando identificar indicadores de monitoramento ambiental, em termos de suas flutuações naturais em ecossistemas não perturbados. A turbidez, a cor aparente, e a concentração de sedimentos em suspensão, são parâmetros importantes para avaliar a qualidade da água do deflúvio. Assim, foram estes os escolhidos no presente estudo para que se pudesse analisar seu comportamento como indicadores para o monitoramento ambiental. Para a caracterização hidrológica quantitativa, foi necessário determinar previamente a curva chave do vertedor, sendo que a curva obtida está representada pela equação Q = 0,0561 H 2,3778 , com um r 2 = 0,9872. Da análise dos dados pluviométricos e fluviométricos de 8 anos, foram determinados os componentes do balanço hídrico anual. A precipitação média anual foi de 1832 mm, observando-se diferença entre a estação úmida (setembro a março), onde se produz o 84% das precipitações, e a estação seca (abril a agosto). O deflúvio médio anual foi de 1279 mm, as perdas médias anuais ocasionadas pela evapotranspiração foram de 553 mm, correspondendo a 32% da precipitação. Em razão da relativamente baixa evapotranspiração anual que prevalece na área, e a freqüente ocorrência de neblinas; analisou-se a possibilidade de estar havendo uma entrada adicional de água ao balanço hídrico da microbacia representada pelo processo de captura de neblinas pelo dossel florestal (precipitação oculta). Os resultados estariam indicando um acréscimo na precipitação próximo a 8%. Os resultados dos parâmetros de qualidade da água (turbidez, cor aparente e sedimentos em suspensão), indicam que as flutuações destes parâmetros estão altamente relacionadas com os picos de vazão ocasionados pelas precipitações estivais. Foram obtidos valores máximos de turbidez, cor aparente e sedimentos em suspensão de 173 FTU, 550 PtCo e 465,2 mg l, no mês de janeiro, e mínimos de 2 FTU, 6 PtCo e 0 mg l, respectivamente. Assim, pode-se considerar estes intervalos como válidos para uma área sem perturbação, podendo servir de referencial para o monitoramento do manejo florestal sustentável nesta região. / With the purpose of identifying hydrological indicators suitable for the environmental monitoring of sustainable forest management and taking into account the catchment as a systemic base of management planning, the aim of the present study is to characterize the hydrological functioning of an experimental catchment covered with undisturbed natural forest, located at the Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo, Brazil, and thus identify hydrological parameters, in terms of their natural range of variation in such conditions, which could be used as suitable indicators for environmental monitoring. Among the parameters potentially suitable for this purpose, this study was carried out with the following water quality parameters: turbidity, color and suspended sediment concentration. The data analyzed encompass a period of 8 years of precipitation and streamflow continuous measurements. Initially, a rating curve was developed for the weir, which gave the following calibration equation: Q = 0,0561 H 2,3778 , with r 2 = 0,9872. Average annual precipitation for the period was 1832 mm, 84 % of which occurred during the rainy season of September through March. Average annual streamflow for the period was 1279 mm. Considering the simplified water balance equation, this resulted in a total water loss of 553 mm. The relatively low value of evapotranspiration obtained, which was also observed in other experimental catchments in this mountain region, an attempt was done to measure the additional input of rainwater as fog drip in the area, which would also to be included in the water balance calculations. The results showed an approximate additional amount of 8 % of the average annual precipitation measured in the conventional rain gauges. The water quality results indicate that the fluctuations of turbidity, color and suspended sediments are correlated with the peak flows, with maximum values 173 FTU, 550 PtCo and 465,2 mg l -1 , respectively, occurring during the rainy month of January. On the other hand, the minimal values corresponded to 2 FTU, 6 PtCo and 0 mg l -1 , respectively. Therefore, such range of variation for these studied water quality parameters could be considered indicative of the natural range of variation of catchments well protected with undisturbed natural forest cover in the region.

Research leading to this thesis aims to assess the policy relevant mitigation potential of Indian forests as well as aims to assess the impact of climate change on carbon stocks, vegetation boundary shifts, Net Primary Productivity (NPP) and the mitigation potential of Indian forests. To project the impact of climate change we chose a dynamic global vegetation model ‘Integrated Biosphere Simulator’ (IBIS V.2.6b4). We selected A2 and B2 scenarios for projecting the impacts. Mitigation potential was assessed using the ‘Generalized Comprehensive Mitigation Assessment Process’ (GCOMAP) model. We assess the mitigation potential of Indian forests in the light of India’s long-term policy objective of bringing 33% of its total geographical area under forest cover. We analyzed the mitigation potential of this policy objective under two scenarios: the first comprising of rapid afforestation scenario with the target to achieving the goal by 2020 and the second a moderate afforestation scenario in which this goal is achieved by 2030. We estimate that afforestation could offset about 9% of India’s average national emissions over the 2010-2030 period, while about 6.7% could be mitigated under the moderate afforestation scenario over the same period. We analyze the impact of climate change on the four key attributes of Indian forests, i.e. impact on vegetation distribution, impact on forest productivity (NPP), impact on soil carbon (SOC) and impact on biomass carbon. IBIS simulations suggest that approximately 39% and 34% of forest grids are projected to experience change in vegetation type under A2 and B2 climate scenarios, respectively over the period 2070¬2100. Simulations further indicate that NPP is projected to increase by an average of 66% under the A2 scenario and 49% under the B2 scenario. The increase is higher in the northeastern part of India. However, in the central and western Indian forests NPP remains stable or increases only moderately, and in some places even decreases. Our assessment of the impact of climate change on Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) suggests a trend similar to NPP distribution, which is to be expected as increased NPP is the primary driver of higher litter input to the soil. However, the quantum of increase in this case is lower, around 37% and 30%, for the A2 and B2 scenario respectively (averaged over India). The biomass carbon is also projected to increase all over India on the lines similar to NPP gains. However, projected gains in biomass, NPP and SOC should be viewed with caution as IBIS tends to simulate a fairly strong CO2 fertilization effect that may not necessarily be realized under conditions of nutrient and water limitations and under conditions of increased pest and fire outbreaks. Further we analyzed the impact of climate change on the mitigation potential of Indian forests by linking impact assessment models to mitigation potential assessment model GCOMAP. Two impact assessment models BIOME4 and IBIS are used for simulating the impact of climate change. IBIS is a dynamic vegetation model while BIOME4 is an equilibrium model. Our assessment suggests that with the BIOME4 simulations the cumulative mitigation potential increases by up to 21% under the A2 scenario over the period 2008 to 2108, whereas, under the B2 scenario the mitigation potential increases only by 14% over the same period. However cumulative mitigation potential estimates obtained from the IBIS simulations suggest much smaller gains, where mitigation potential increases by only 6% and 5% over the period 2008 to 2108, under A2 and B2 scenarios respectively. To enable effective policy analysis and to build a synergy between the mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Indian forest sector, a vulnerability index for the forested grids is constructed. The vulnerability index is based on the premise that forests in India are already subjected to multiple stresses including over extraction, insect outbreaks, live¬stock grazing, forest fires and other anthropogenic pressures -with climate change being an additional stress. The forest vulnerability index suggests that nearly 39% of the forest grids in India are projected to be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change under the A2 scenario, while 34% of the forest grids are projected to be vulnerable under the B2 scenario. The vulnerability index suggests that forests in the central part of India, a significant part of the western Himalayan forests and northern and central parts of the Western Ghats are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Forests in the northeastern part of India are seemingly resilient to the impacts of climate change. It also suggests that given the high deforestation rate in northeast, this region be prioritized for reducing deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) projects under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) mechanisms.

<p>U&nbsp; okviru&nbsp; ove&nbsp; doktorske&nbsp; disertacije&nbsp; vr&scaron;eno&nbsp; je istraživanje&nbsp; zajednica&nbsp; makrogljiva&nbsp; u&nbsp; okviru&nbsp; 5 &scaron;umskih&nbsp; stani&scaron;ta&nbsp; na&nbsp; Vidliču,&nbsp; Kopaoniku&nbsp; i&nbsp; Tari. Ispitivan&nbsp; je&nbsp; mikodiverzitet&nbsp; sa&nbsp; morfolo&scaron;kog, funkcionalnog i genetskog stanovi&scaron;ta. U istraživanju morolo&scaron;kog&nbsp; i&nbsp; funkcionalnog&nbsp; diverziteta,&nbsp; kori&scaron;ćene su&nbsp; različite&nbsp; klasične&nbsp; metode&nbsp; čiji&nbsp; rezultati&nbsp; su<br />omogućili procenu stanja posmatranih mikocenoza, kao&nbsp; i&nbsp; samih&nbsp; &scaron;umskih&nbsp; stani&scaron;ta.&nbsp; Za&nbsp; analizu&nbsp; sastava vrsta&nbsp; u&nbsp; okviru&nbsp; mikocenoza,&nbsp; kao&nbsp; i&nbsp; procenu&nbsp; uticaja abiotičkih faktora na brojnost i sastav vrsta u okviru različitih funkcionalnih grupa, kori&scaron;ćeno je nekoliko<br />statističkih&nbsp; metoda&nbsp; (PCA,&nbsp; PLS,&nbsp; CA&nbsp; i&nbsp; CCA).&nbsp; Osam vrsta,&nbsp; koje&nbsp; su&nbsp; pripadale&nbsp; najrasprostranjenijim&nbsp; i najzastupljenijim&nbsp; vrstama&nbsp; su&nbsp; odabrane&nbsp; za molekularne&nbsp; analize,&nbsp; koje&nbsp; su&nbsp; podrazumevale sekvenciranje&nbsp; ITS&nbsp; regiona&nbsp; rDNK,&nbsp; analizu&nbsp; njihovih<br />polimorfizama&nbsp; kao&nbsp; i&nbsp; filogenetske&nbsp; analize&nbsp; u&nbsp; okviru vrste/roda.&nbsp; U&nbsp; cilju&nbsp; procene&nbsp; zagađenja&nbsp; stani&scaron;ta,&nbsp; u plodnim telima makrogljiva i njihovom supstratu je određen&nbsp; sadržaj&nbsp; metala&nbsp; (atomskom&nbsp; apsorpcionom spektrofotometrijom)&nbsp; i&nbsp; radionuklida<br />(gamaspektrometrijom).&nbsp; Dobijeni&nbsp; rezultati&nbsp; ukazuju na&nbsp; to&nbsp; da&nbsp; diverzitet&nbsp; makrogljiva&nbsp; oslikava&nbsp; stanje samog&nbsp; stani&scaron;ta&nbsp; i&nbsp; da&nbsp; dugoročnim&nbsp; monitoringom mogu ukazati na promene u njemu.</p> / <p>Within the framework of this doctoral dissertation, monitoring&nbsp; of&nbsp; macrofungal&nbsp; communities,&nbsp; within&nbsp; 5 forest habitats on&nbsp; Vidlič, Kopaonik and Tara, was done. &nbsp; Mycodiversity&nbsp; was&nbsp; investigated&nbsp; from&nbsp; the morphological,&nbsp; functional&nbsp; and&nbsp; genetic&nbsp; point&nbsp; of view. Various classical methods&nbsp; used,&nbsp; enabled the assessment&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; condition&nbsp; of&nbsp; macrofungal communities,&nbsp; as&nbsp; well&nbsp; as&nbsp; the&nbsp; observed&nbsp; forest habitats. &nbsp; Several&nbsp; statistical&nbsp; methods&nbsp; (PCA,&nbsp; PLS, CA&nbsp; and&nbsp; CCA)&nbsp; were&nbsp; used&nbsp; to&nbsp; analyze&nbsp; the composition of&nbsp; species within the&nbsp; mycocenosis, as well&nbsp; as&nbsp; the&nbsp; assessment&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; effects&nbsp; of&nbsp; abiotic factors&nbsp; on&nbsp; the&nbsp; species&nbsp; richness&nbsp; and&nbsp; species composition&nbsp; within&nbsp; different&nbsp; functional&nbsp; groups.Some&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; most&nbsp; represented&nbsp; species&nbsp; have&nbsp; been selected&nbsp; for&nbsp; molecular&nbsp; analyzes,&nbsp; which&nbsp; includedsequencing&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; ITS&nbsp; region,&nbsp; the&nbsp; analysis&nbsp; of polymorphisms,&nbsp; as&nbsp; well&nbsp; as&nbsp; phylogenetic&nbsp; analyzes within&nbsp; the&nbsp; species/genus.&nbsp; In&nbsp; order&nbsp; to&nbsp; assess&nbsp; the pollution of habitats, the content of metals (atomic absorption&nbsp; spectrophotometry)&nbsp; and&nbsp; radionuclides (gamma&nbsp; spectrometry)&nbsp; was&nbsp; determined&nbsp; in&nbsp; the sporocarps&nbsp; of&nbsp;&nbsp; macrofungi&nbsp; and&nbsp; their&nbsp; substrate.&nbsp; The obtained&nbsp; results&nbsp; indicate&nbsp; that&nbsp; diversity&nbsp; of macrofungi&nbsp; reflects&nbsp; the&nbsp; state&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; habitat&nbsp; itself and that long-term monitoring can indicate changes in it.</p>

Deadwood is a hotspot of microbial diversity and its decomposition contributes to carbon and nitrogen cycling in temperate forests. The historically recognized importance of fungi in the decomposition of deadwood has recently been complemented by the description of bacterial functions thanks to the rapid progress of culture-independent methods based on the analysis of nucleic acids. To study different aspects of deadwood decomposition, a temperate mixed forest in Zofinsky prales National Nature Reserve was selected as a site with rich historical forestry data where deadwood decomposition represents an important process in wood turnover. The aim of this thesis is to describe role of bacteria in deadwood decomposition at fine scale resolution with respect to community composition, enzyme transcription, and metabolic potential of dominant species. Effects of deadwood age together with pH and water content on the bacterial community composition proved to be more important than tree species identity. Bacteria showed distinct composition between early and late community in decomposing deadwood. The bacterial community was also under a significant influence of fungal community composition. Despite being in a close contact, bacterial and fungal communities differed significantly between deadwood and the...

<p>White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter deer) are a keystone herbivore within forest ecosystems. While deer rely on plant species for growth, reproduction, and survival, multiple external factors can dictate browsing behavior. These factors ultimately drive browsing selection, browsing intensity, and diet composition, which in turn can shape the influence deer have on forest ecosystems. To better understand the complex relationship between deer populations, their habitat, and public perception of deer, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources partnered with Purdue University to initiate the Integrated Deer Management Project (IDMP). As part of the IDMP, this dissertation evaluated the ecological condition of deer habitat to assess the influence deer have on woody and herbaceous plant species within Indiana forests. Our study aimed to i) rank woody species according to their selection by deer and evaluate how the ranking of individual species varies across the state (Chapter 2); ii) evaluate variables and spatial extents associated with differences in browsing intensity, and evaluate different indices used to assess differences in browsing intensity (Chapter 3); iii) quantify winter deer diet composition using DNA barcoding to evaluate how diets vary across a gradient of deer densities, browsing intensities, non-native plant densities, and landscape characteristics (Chapter 4); and iv) evaluate the interactive effects of deer, non-native plant species, and landscape characteristics on the herbaceous layer of forests, while further evaluating the spatial extent at which landscape characteristics are most strongly related to herbaceous-layer composition and diversity (Chapter 5). To do this, I sampled 152 woodlots over three years across three regions of Indiana, collecting data on the browsing selection of individual woody species, the browsing intensities on all woody species, and the composition of vegetation communities (Chapters 2, 3, and 5, respectively). To address diet composition (Chapter 4), we collected deer pellet groups to analyzed diet components. We ranked a total of 63 woody species regarding their browsing selection by deer. While most of these remained consistent from region to region, 16 varied greatly in selection, as deer often showed increased selection for a given species when it resided in an area that provided greater browsing opportunities. Browsing intensity was most associated with food availability, however, it was also influenced by deer density in the region with the lowest forest cover. The twig age index of browsing intensity showed promise as the most efficient and effective index for use in Indiana woodlots. Although diet composition did not differ across regions of Indiana, we found 16 that deer consumed several uncommon taxa when the greater landscape exhibited homogenous patch composition. Similarly, deer consumed different native taxa in forested landscapes with greater deer densities in comparison to agricultural landscapes with lower deer densities. Lastly, though browsing varied within and across regions landscape characteristic, and not deer, were the most influential suite of variables. Additionally, the spatial extent at which these variables exhibited their best fit varied depending on the dependent variable being evaluated and the region of analysis. Together, our results highlight that variables ranging from the woodlot to the landscape-scale influence browsing behavior. This showcases that deer respond to variables at varying scales when browsing and in general, browse more in areas that offer the greatest benefit, whether these areas offer greater food availability or quality, or offer lower risks associated with anthropogenic development. This suggests that when managing forests for deer both woodlot and landscape context should play a role in the decision process. Although differences in browsing were observed, deer had less impact on the herbaceous layer compared to other variables we examined. This suggests that, in contemporary forests, landscape characteristics may be the drivers of changes, and species composition may reflect a long-term history of deer herbivory with less variability resulting from differences in contemporary deer abundance within and across regions.  </p>

<p dir="ltr">Coastal ecosystems are critically important habitats for the services they provide on a global and local scale. Maritime forests are found within the southern Atlantic coast, and they serve as a boundary between the ocean and land. These forests stabilize coastlines, recharge groundwater, and provide a protective buffer against storm damage. Southern live oak (<i>Quercus virginiana</i>) was historically the dominant canopy species in maritime forests; however, previous land conversions to loblolly pine (<i>Pinus taeda</i>) plantations have shifted the abundance of loblolly pine to become the dominant canopy tree in maritime forests. Loblolly pines are fast growing, and they regenerate vigorously but they are not well adapted to coastal stressor. In recent decades, outbreaks of southern pine beetle (<i>Dendroctonus frontalis</i>) have provided restoration practitioners an opportunity to clear tracts of pine dominated maritime forest to restore live oak to the canopy. This research project is comprised of two experiments studying the performance of planted <i>Q. virginiana</i> seedlings on maritime forest restoration sites in coastal Georgia. The first experiment evaluated planting density (1-meter, 2-meters, 3-meters), mulch (with or without), and fertilizer (with or without). Overall seedling survival was 99% after four years. The application of fertilizer had an initial positive effect on seedling diameter after the first growing season. The application of mulch increased seedling height in the second to fourth growing seasons, diameter in third and fourth, and crown width in the fourth growing season. Planting density had no consistent effect over the first four years, and no biological significance was observed for foliar nutrient content. The second experiment examined eight different groupings of intra- and interspecific competition between <i>Q. virginiana</i> and <i>P. taeda</i> including: oak or pine alone; oak surrounded by oak, pine, or oak/pine; pine surrounded by pine, oak, or pine/oak at 0.5-m spacing between all seedlings. Two years after outplanting, survival did not vary by treatment. Oak centered competition plots were positively impacted by border tree height and diameter in year one and border height positively affected the center tree height in year two. Pine centered competition plots were positively impacted by border tree height in year one and year two. Oak centered competition plots with a mix of oak and pine on the border had significantly lower osmotic potential than other pine centric treatments after two years. Overall, oak centered treatments had lower osmotic potential than pine centered treatments. Ectomycorrhizal (EMF) species composition changed, and relative abundance increased from the initial planting to two years later but there was no variation between treatments and most EMF species were generalists. These results highlight the importance of mulch and fertilizer to reduce transplant shock and how competing seedlings can train seedlings to allocate photosynthate to shoot growth to help promote aboveground growth.</p>