Issues

Abstract

Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca Meisner, 1804) is endemic to Europe, occurring only in the
Alps, the Apennines, Sicily and the Balkans. It is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly,
particularly in the Balkans which hold a substantial proportion of the species population and
range, based on a balanced assessment of the available evidence. Survival rates of 50 released
rock partridges in typical habitats in ‘Vrachanski Balkan’ Nature Park were studied during the reintroduction
program. Almost all released birds were monitored for 110 days. Twenty of them were
marked with radio transmitters, which allowed the survival rate to be determined, dispersion and
habitat preferences. Birds mortality reached 70 % at the end of survey period and only 6 (30 %) of
them survived and bred in the next spring. Most birds (65 %) died in the first month after release
due to predation. The main predators were mammals (92 % of mortality) while the avian raptors
caused an insignificant part of mortality (8 % of mortality). In cold winter days with temperatures
lower than -25 °C only one dead bird was found. The survival rates of Rock Partridges did not
depend on sex (χ2 = 0.05, p = 0.82, df = 1) and age (χ2 = 0.1, p = 0.9, df = 1). The birds’ dispersion
varied from 35 m to 1.3 km. However only single birds moved more than 1 km away from the
release point.

Abstract

A species-specific initial response of gas-exchange and water use efficiency of Norway maple
and Silver lime saplings were observed after a forest thinning. The photosynthetic rate increased
significantly both in Norway maple and Silver lime leaves. The transpiration rate of Norway maple
increased more intensively, in comparison to Silver lime. Norway maple saplings suffer both from
intensive light and moisture deficit, while Silver lime saplings were more resistant to the patch
opening. Stable water use efficiency in Silver lime leaves in response to the thinning may result
from the better ability of this species to keep available water, which could be considered as the
greater resistance to patch opening. These results may serve as a basis for improvement of forestry
approaches in mixed deciduous forests with the presence of Norway maple and Silver lime.

Abstract

Many natural disturbances accrue in Iran because of its geographical condition. Mostly the recovery
of this damage is impossible or requires a lot of time and cost. The general purpose of this
research is to find out the relationship between slope of the terrain and the vegetation cover from
one side and the mass movement of land from the other and to finally illustrate applicable data in
the field of forest road construction. In this research, 39 cluster samples at a distance of 700 m
along the 28 km of road were taken by systematic random method. In each cluster, the first sample
was taken 50 m upward from the road; the second sample was taken 50 m downward from
the road and the third sample was taken 10 m off the road. The number of landslides in each area
and its relationship with road construction was analyzed in dependence of the terrain slope and
the percentage of vegetation cover. Results showed that a road construction could be an effective
factor for increasing mass movements. Moreover, excavated slope causes an increase of mass
movement, too. Results of the research also indicated that there was an inverse relationship
between an increased percentage of vegetation cover and the frequency of landslide occurrence.

Abstract

This study attempts to value the biodiversity and landscape services provided by four river
spots: Khalkaei, Ghaleeroodkhan, Pasikhan and Shemroud of the North region of Iran, Guilan.
The Contingent Valuation Method were used for estimation willingness to pay (WTP) for conserving
these areas. This method tries to define the individual’s WTP of given hypothetical market. It
was estimated with a logit model for which indices were obtained based on a maximum precision
criterion. The results show that 79.45 % of people were willing to pay for the landscape and biodiversity
value of the rivers. Among the variables of the model presented, monthly expenditure
and gender had a negative impact and age, education, environmental opinion and income had a
positive impact on the WTP at 1 % level. The average monthly WTP per visitors was calculated as
21,913 Rials (0.74 $). The annual landscape and biodiversity value in terms of WTP for the landscape
and biodiversity was estimated for Khalkaei, Ghaleeroodkhan, Pasikhan and Shemroud as
2 milliard, 15 milliard, 2 milliard and 8 million Rials, respectively. One unit change in descriptive
variables (Education and Environmental opinion) showed the highest change in the probability
of a positive response to the WTP among individuals. Therefore, in order to facilitate individual’s
involvement in public decision-making policies, improvement in perceptions of environmental
awareness and educational level would seem desirable.

Abstract

Recent dust and droughts caused stress to physiological weakness of oak trees, so that insect
outbreaks and pathogens lead to decline of oak trees in the Zagros forests. In addition to evaluate
the effects of physiographic factors (elevation, slope and aspect) on the amount and distribution
of decline, the objective of present study was to make a model of decline of Quercus brantii species
in semi-arid forests of Iran. For this purpose, 509 hectares of Zagros forests, known as Dalab
forests in Ilam province, were selected. Based on systematic-random sampling method, 100
circular plots (2000 m2) were measured in grid inventory of 200×250 m dimensions. In each plot,
physiography factors and percentage of decline were measured. ANOVA and Duncan tests were
used to compare the decline of oak trees in different physiography factors. Then, an individual
tree decline models were developed with a data set from a total of 1370 oak trees. To evaluate
the effects of physiographic factors on the decline of oak trees, a logistic regression model was
used. Omnibus test, log-likelihood, and pseudo r-square coefficients were used to evaluate the
logistic regression model. The results showed that physiography factors had significant effects
on the decline of oak trees. Also, the results showed that with increasing slope and elevation,
the decline of oak trees was increased. Lowest and highest declines belonged to east and south
aspects, respectively. Values of both statistics related to the pseudo determination coefficient are
acceptable (0.395 and 0.584), and these values indicated that the three independent variables
of this study had the power of a relatively high explanation of the variance and changes in the
dependent variable of trees decline. The results of this study can be effective in the oak decline
area conservation.

Abstract

Calluna vulgaris is an ornamental bush widespread from the Kola Peninsula in the north to
the Georgian ridges (Batumi) in the south. Today it is in considerable use for pharmacopoeial
purposes as it has a lot of bioactive substances in different parts (leaves, roots, shoots, flowers,
etc.). Having a wide habitat, the heather demonstrates minor range of morpho-anatomic feature
variability that is represented by its systematical characteristics. Heather is a monotype of Calluna.
This article presents brief results from morphological and anatomical analysis of four Calluna
vulgaris populations growing on the submeridional transect Murmansk – Batumi. The main aim
of the study was to investigate and clarify the mechanism of adaptive variation to the contrast
environment conditions. The discriminant analysis was performed using the complex of 22 morpho-
anatomic leaf characters. As a result it was found out that Calluna vulgaris populations growing
at the habitat boundary had some common features that led to growth of plant xeromorphism
(decrease of stomata number, trichome number increase, cuticle height rise). Calluna vulgaris
populations growing in the central part of the habitat on the Russian Plain, despite their sharp
isolation, also had one important similar feature – significantly smaller size of chlorenchyma cells
which is probably connected with growing of plants beyond the canopy.

Abstract

The paper presents the spectrum of the research of aesthetic assessment of the landscape
with the involvement of respondents (23 people), which was carried out during the summer-autumn
period directly in the park environment and with the use of photographs. When using different
methodological approaches and according to a comparative analysis of peculiarities of perception
of the scenery park environment, the interconnections between aesthetic assessment of
park landscape and features that affect its formation were revealed. It was discovered that while
evaluating the park environment directly in the place, the estimation is reduced in comparison
with the pictures, although at the same time the positive features of the landscapes noted by the
respondents are similar, and the negative ones have significant differences in the summer and
autumn periods, which are also present when using different methods of the research. Thus, the
relationship between the assessment of the aesthetic qualities of the landscape and the frequency
of references by respondents, both positive and negative features of the park environment are
determined primarily rather by the season, than by the method of conducting research. Despite
the significant difference in the frequency of references of the features of the park landscapes
under the different conditions and methods of conducting the research, it has been discovered
that the force of influence of a particular feature on the assessment of aesthetic quality of park
landscape does not determine its factor weight in the assessment, but it is related to it. At the
same time, the features (subliminal and compositional) are revealed and their influence on the
aesthetic evaluation is significant, which can be taken into account during green space planning.
It is revealed that conducting the research of park landscapes directly in the park is reasonable,
first of all, if it is necessary, to determine the positive features of the park environment, which influence
the formation of a subjective ‘general-landscape’ emotional reaction to a certain landscape,
which is revealed in the definition of subliminal features by the respondents.

Abstract

Two forest sub-regions at the western border of the country were selected as a study area
because a lot of coniferous forest stands were damaged by biotic and abiotic factors in the last
several years. Using the methodology, software and images of the CORINE Land Cover 2018
Project, a computer-assisted interpretation of the multitemporal satellite and aerial digital images
was performed. False color compositions were used, including NIR and SWIR spectral bands. All
coniferous forests in the study area (larger than 5 ha) damaged in the period 2012 – 2018 were
detected and mapped. The obtained results were compared with terrestrial data from the annual
reports of Forest Protection Station Sofia (FPS 2018), which are by years, by the affected areas
and by the factors for the damages. The comparison proved the appropriateness of the approach
and its advantages became obvious, compared to traditional ground observations, including in
terms of accuracy, time and money.

Abstract

A plant quantitative investigation was carried out at six oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A.
Camus) dominated stands in different locations of Gahrwal Himalaya. A total of 28 tree species
with 17 families, 41 shrub species with 21 families and 50 herb species with 22 families were
observed in all studied oak stands. In tree layer maximum 15 genera were recorded in Chaurangikhal
oak stand and minimum number of genera (11) was found in Chadrabadani, Diwalikhal
and Ghuttu oak stand. For shrub layer highest number of genera (25) was observed in Ghuttu
oak stand and lowest (18) – for Chadrabadani, Chaurangikhal and Makku oak stands. Herb layer
showed maximum 32 genera, found at Ghuttu oak stand and minimum genera (15) – at Chandrabadani
oak stand. Comparatively Quercus leucotrichophora have greater values of density,
basal area and Important Value Index (IVI) among all studied oak stands to the rest of associated
dominant tree species. Highest density (823.6 plant∙ha-1) and IVI (170.8) for Quercus leucotrichophora
was observed at Diwalikhal oak stand, while, lowest density (176.7 plants∙ha-1) and IVI
(126.3) was found at Makku and Chaurangikhal oak stands, respectively.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to establish the height growth response of Douglas-fir provenances
in different climatic conditions in provenance test in Bulgaria. The provenance test is located on
the lower part of the northern slopes of the Western Balkan Range (North-Western Bulgaria) and
includes 54 provenances originating from North America. The provenances were separated into
three groups – coastal, continental and Western Cascade Mountains. Regression models between
the average height at the age of 24 and some climatic indicators were developed to reveal
the correlation between climatic variables and height growth. The transfer distance was calculated
as a difference between the respective climatic indicator of planting site (provenance test)
and seed sources (provenances). For continental provenances, the transfer is to more humid
and warmer climate, but its height growth is poorer. The coastal and West Cascade Mountains
provenances were moved to more continental and drier climate but have a good height growth.