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GPR (Ground Penetration Radar) research in forest areas to identify archaeological sites (Mount Ślęża, Poland)
Regenerating oak trees with different techniques has long-lasting legacy effects on root development, stem growth and plant physiology
Abstract Regeneration methods can have legacy effects on tree physiology and growth via differential root development and affect forest climate sensitivity. However, there are few studies providing a long-term perspective on how forest regeneration techniques affect root development and physiology of established seedlings that have grown into trees. This study investigates leaf carbon (C), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) isotope composition (δ13C, δ18O, δ15N) and stem growth in ⁓20-year-old oak (Quercus robur L.) trees regenerated in two stands by three methods: direct acorn sowing in the field, bare-root planting preceded by root pruning and containerized planting with the root plug intact. Leaf isotopic values were measured three times during summer, together with tree-ring δ13C. Ground penetrating radar analyses indicated that acorn sowing resulted in deep root systems compared shallower root systems of bare-root and containerized trees. Higher annual basal area increment was observed in acorn-sown oaks than in bare-root or containerized oaks. Leaf δ13C, δ18O and δ15N values varied among regeneration origins. Trees with deeper root systems consistently showed lower leaf δ18O values, regardless of the season, which suggests higher uptake of water from deep soil horizons and better leaf hydration. In contrast, oaks with shallower root systems exhibited higher leaf δ18O values, which were positively related with δ13C. More negative leaf δ15N values in shallow-rooted oaks pointed to higher water stress. A lack of correlation between N concentration and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) for containerized trees suggests that variability in stomatal conductance rates governed iWUE in these shallow-rooted oaks. The lack of correlation between leaf and tree-ring δ13C supports that leaf physiological processes do not necessarily explain latewood isotopic composition. We conclude that regeneration techniques have long-lasting, carry-over effects on root development, plant physiology and tree growth. The findings underscore the importance of considering tree regeneration origin and root distribution when assessing the impact of climate change on tree performance and forest vigor.
The rationale for restoration of abandoned quarries in forests of the Ślęża Massif (Poland) in the context of sustainable tourism and forest environment protection
The manuscript presents the current state and proposals for the management of the old granite, quartz, and serpentinite quarries located in the Ślęża Massif (SW Poland, 50°51′51.22″ N; 16°42′26.80″ E), an area entirely covered by forests and protected by various legal protection measures. The quarries are abandoned and subjected to intense natural plant succession, so they are disappearing from the landscape. Nine quarries were analyzed regarding their natural and landscape characteristics. Due to the variety of their sizes, specific locations, geological–topographical traits, and forest and site conditions, the quarries may be turned into tourist attractions enhancing the social function of forests while, at the same time, ensuring their protective functions. If properly managed, they may contribute to the multifaceted development of tourism, performing scientific-cognitive, educational, sports, or cultural functions, and, as a result, to a partial reduction in the tourist pressure on biotic and abiotic natural resources along the presently most frequently used routes. This paper attempts to present arguments indicating that a former mining working site may be a positive and attractive landscape element in harmony with the vegetation cover, beneficial for both nature and humans.
The Impact of Road Investments on the Forest Environment - Case Study: The Impact of Asphalt Roads on the Health Condition and Growth of Trees
The study was conducted within the framework of the R&D project entitled “Environmental aspects of reconstruction and construction of forest roads using selected asphalt binders”. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of an asphalt road segment located in the Przymuszewo Forest District, the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Toruń, Poland (53°57′24.14″ N, 17°34′38.30″ E), on growth increments and health condition of trees in a 60-year-old pine stand. The first stage of the investigation required laboratory analyses and field observations to assess the impact of mineral filler and asphalt mixtures on roadside habitats. Chemical analyses were performed on samples of wood and soil collected from transects located at three distances from the asphalt road, as well as dendrological and dendrometric analyses in circular sample plots of 0.02 ha in analogous transects parallel to the selected asphalt pavement. Analyses of soils and wood showed no negative environmental impact associated with the road. Contents of all the assayed elements in wood were lower compared to their contents in soil, which indicates their markedly reduced phytoextraction. Statistical analyses showed that the asphalt road has an effect on the adjacent forest mass, but that this effect is statistically insignificant with respect to the mean annual increments diameter at breast height and the defoliation of trees growing at various distances from the road.
Potential Identification of Root System Architecture Using GPR for Tree Translocation as a Sustainable Forestry Task: A Case Study of the Wild Service Tree
Sustainable economic development serves society but requires taking over space, often at the expense of areas occupied by single trees or even parts of forest areas. Techniques for transplanting adult trees used in various conflict situations at the interface of economy and nature work as a tool for sustainable management of urbanized and industrial areas, as well as, in certain circumstances, forest or naturally valuable areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in determining the horizontal and vertical extent of tree root systems before transplantation. Employing this non-invasive method to map root system architecture aids in the appropriate equipment selection and helps define the dimensions and depth of trenches to minimize root damage during excavation. This study specifically focused on the root systems of wild service trees (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) found in a limestone mine area, where some specimens were planned to be transplanted, as the species is protected under law in Poland. The root systems were scanned with a ground-penetrating radar equipped with a 750 MHz antenna. Then, the root balls were dug out, and the root parameters and other dendrometric parameters were measured. The GPR survey and manual root analyses provided rich comparative graphic material. The number of the main roots detected by the GPR was comparable to those inventoried after extracting the stump. The research was carried out in problematic soil, causing non-standard deformations of the root systems. Especially in such conditions, identifying unusually arranged roots using the GPR method is valuable because it helps in a detailed planning of the transplanting process, minimizing root breakage during the activities carried out, which increases the survival chances of the transplanted tree in a new location.