Environmental Indicator Plants in Mountain Forests: A Review.

Plant indicators are important in studies related to the environment, and mountain forests are rich in such plants. We conducted this study using the Web of Science Core Collection tools and the VOSviewer program combined with a classic review, based on the specialty literature. The topic of indicator plants in mountain forests has been (the first article published in a prestigious journal dates back to 1980) and remains relevant (after 2015, between 40 and 60 articles were published annually), with the total number of publications found being 665 articles and 22 review articles.

Dealing With the Complexity of Effective Population Size in Conservation Practice.

Effective population size () is one of the most important parameters in evolutionary biology, as it is linked to the long-term survival capability of species. Therefore, greatly interests conservation geneticists, but it is also very relevant to policymakers, managers, and conservation practitioners. Molecular methods to estimate rely on various assumptions, including no immigration, panmixia, random sampling, absence of spatial genetic structure, and/or mutation-drift equilibrium.

Corrosion on cultural heritage buildings in Jordan in current situation and in future climate scenarios.

This study examines the impact of air pollution on Jordan's cultural heritage sites, focusing on key pollutants (SO, HNO, O, PM10) and climate conditions. Using 2019 data and future projections for 2040-2059 and 2080-2099, the research reveals significant material corrosion in urban areas like Amman and Irbid, driven by pollutants such as SO₂ and PM10. Random Forest Analysis identifies these pollutants as primary contributors to material degradation.

No Future Growth Enhancement Expected at the Northern Edge for European Beech due to Continued Water Limitation.

With ongoing global warming, increasing water deficits promote physiological stress on forest ecosystems with negative impacts on tree growth, vitality, and survival. How individual tree species will react to increased drought stress is therefore a key research question to address for carbon accounting and the development of climate change mitigation strategies. Recent tree-ring studies have shown that trees at higher latitudes will benefit from warmer temperatures, yet this is likely highly species-dependent and less well-known for more temperate tree species.

Early-successional species show higher tolerance of drought than late-successional species across Europe.

Climate change is exacerbating forest disturbances through more frequent and more intense droughts and fires, undermining their ability to recover from such disturbances. The response of fast-growing early-successional species to drought is poorly understood, despite their key role in ecological succession and their ability to enhance ecosystem resilience. Here, we compared the growth responses to drought events of three early-successional species (silver birch, black poplar, and Scots pine) with that of one late-successional species (European beech) across their natural distribution ranges in Europe.

Geochemical fingerprinting of Norway spruce from the Eastern Carpathians: Sr isotopic and multi-elemental signatures.

Ensuring efficient wood traceability within procurement chains is essential for establishing sustainable forest management and minimizing environmental damage in countries that produce and export timber. While some progress has been made with key legislative reforms to tackle this issue, the effectiveness of law enforcement still relies on the availability of appropriate analytical tools to determine the provenance of wood. This study documents the Sr isotopic and multi-elemental signatures of Norway spruce trees in the Eastern Carpathians, Romania - an area known for intensive forest logging.

Estimation of plant pollution removal capacity based on intensive air quality measurements.

This study investigated the role of present vegetation in improving air quality in Bucharest (Romania) by analyzing six years of air quality data (PM and NO) from multiple monitoring stations. The target value for human health protection is regularly exceeded for PM and not for NO over time. Road traffic has substantially contributed (over 70%) to ambient PM and NO levels.

The ongoing range expansion of the invasive oak lace bug across Europe: current occurrence and potential distribution under climate change.

In recent years, the oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata, has emerged as a significant threat to European oak forests. This species, native to North America, has in the last two decades rapidly extended its range in Europe, raising concerns about its potential impact on the continent's invaluable oak populations. To address this growing concern, we conducted an extensive study to assess the distribution, colonization patterns, and potential ecological niche of the oak lace bug in Europe.

Alien plant species distribution in Romania: a nationwide survey following the implementation of the EU Regulation on Invasive Alien Species.

Background: Biological invasions pose an increasing risk to nature, social security and the economy, being ranked amongst the top five threats to biodiversity. Managing alien and invasive species is a priority for the European Union, as outlined in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Alien plant species are acknowledged to impact the economy and biodiversity; thus, analysing the distribution of such species provides valuable inputs for the management and decision-making processes.

Non-linear response of Norway spruce to climate variation along elevational and age gradients in the Carpathians.

Climate change, namely increased warming coupled with a rise in extreme events (e.g., droughts, storms, heatwaves), is negatively affecting forest ecosystems worldwide.

Allocation of Nutrients and Leaf Turnover Rate in Poplar under Ambient and Enriched Ozone Exposure and Soil Nutrient Manipulation.

An excess of ozone (O) is currently stressing plant ecosystems and may negatively affect the nutrient use of plants. Plants may modify leaf turnover rates and nutrient allocation at the organ level to counteract O damage. We investigated leaf turnover rate and allocation of primary (C, N, P, K) and secondary macronutrients (Ca, S, Mg) under various O treatments (ambient concentration, AA, with a daily hourly average of 35 ppb; 1.

Harmonised statistics and maps of forest biomass and increment in Europe.

Forest biomass is an essential resource in relation to the green transition and its assessment is key for the sustainable management of forest resources. Here, we present a forest biomass dataset for Europe based on the best available inventory and satellite data, with a higher level of harmonisation and spatial resolution than other existing data. This database provides statistics and maps of the forest area, biomass stock and their share available for wood supply in the year 2020, and statistics on gross and net volume increment in 2010-2020, for 38 European countries.

Evaluation of the Main Macro-, Micro- and Trace Elements Found in Plants and Their Traceability in Its Honey: A Case Study from the Northwestern and Western Part of Romania.

(Japanese knotweed, or is considered an extremely invasive plant worldwide and a bioindicator of heavy metals. Yet, its potential as a crop for honeybees is still underevaluated. This study employs atomic absorption spectrometry to quantitatively analyze the concentration of macro-elements, namely, calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg); micro-elements, such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se); and trace elements, i.

Monitoring of species' genetic diversity in Europe varies greatly and overlooks potential climate change impacts.

Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat alteration due to climate change. We report an accounting of efforts to monitor population genetic diversity in Europe (genetic monitoring effort, GME), the evaluation of which can help guide future capacity building and collaboration towards areas most in need of expanded monitoring.

Early warning signals indicate climate change-induced stress in Norway spruce in the Eastern Carpathians.

Climate change is affecting forest ecosystems globally, in particular through warming as well as increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme events. Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.

Downed woody debris carbon emissions in a European temperate virgin forest as driven by species, decay classes, diameter and microclimate.

Downed woody debris (DWD) plays an important role as regulator of nutrient and carbon (C) cycling in forests, accounting for up to the 20 % of the total C stocks in primary forests. DWD persistence is highly influenced by microbial decomposition, which is determined by various environmental factors, including fluctuations in temperature and moisture, as well as in intrinsic DWD properties determined by species, diameter, or decay classes (DCs). The relative importance of these different drivers, as well as their interactions, remains largely unknown.

From Field Data to Practical Knowledge: Investigating the Bioecology of the Oak Lace Bug-An Invasive Insect Species in Europe.

, commonly known as the oak lace bug (OLB), is an insect species originally native to North America that has become an invasive species of significant concern in Europe. This invasive pest has been observed in various European countries, raising concerns about its impact on forest ecosystems. In 2015, it was first documented in Romania, further highlighting the need for research on its bioecology and life cycle.