Forestry Ideas

15-29

Authors: Victoria D. Gorbunova, Sergei L. Menschikov, and Sezgin Ayan

Latitude and altitude affect the geographical distribution of plant communities on Earth from the equator to the poles. While latitude has influence on the horizontal distribution, the altitude confines the vertical range of plant communities, shaping the floral composition and their eco-physiological features such as macronutrients that control the growth. In this research, the effects of different altitude gradients on plant macronutrients (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na) content in leaves of two different birch species (Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) distributed in the Northern Urals region were investigated for two years. Tree leaves were collected in growing seasons in 2006 and 2008, and all measured macronutrients concentration levels were compared according to altitude and year, respectively. As a result, leaf concentration of N and P were increased by altitude in Downy birch (B. pubescens), while the macronutrient concentration levels were decreased in Silver birch (B. pendula) species. In addition, although concentration of N, P, and K levels changed in both species, the N concentration level was not significantly changed in two years. Moreover, N, P, K, and Mg concentration levels in the leaves of Silver birch increased from 2006 to 2008. This reason was likely due to the later start of the growing season and higher percentage of humidity in 2006. Consequently, altitude gradients played a significant role on macronutrient contents of birch species’ leaves.

46-64

Authors: Stoyan Stoyanov

The expansion of golden jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in Europe in the last decades has triggered research interest. Many aspects of jackal’s ecology, diet, population density, genetics, legal implications of range expansion and management have been studied thoroughly. However, very few studies have focused on body morphometrics. Bulgarian territory is considered the core area of golden jackal distribution in Europe with the highest population density, but morphometric studies including data about Bulgarian population were very scarce and local so far. The present study proposes the first comprehensive analysis of golden jackal morphometrics in Bulgaria, trying to clarify body shape and size related variability and differentiation. Morphometric data were analysed by applying recently developed statistical tools to respond to the following questions: (i) is there geographic variation in body size and shape among golden jackal population in Bulgaria, (ii) are there age-related differences and at what age jackals reach full growth of the body, and (iii) how pronounced is the sexual dimorphism in body shape and size among adult jackals? The body measurements of 87 golden jackals, collected all over the country were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. Body size and shape of golden jackal in Bulgaria show considerable individual variability, but weak intrapopulation differentiation. The differences in shape and size of the jackal body, as far as they exist, are age-related, but only 5–6 months old animals could be easily distinguished. Body growth ends at 10 months of age, but even 7–9 months old jackals are difficult to distinguish from the adults in the field. Sexual dimorphism in jackal’s body is weakly pronounced, with older males a little bit larger than females. The results are consistent with recent genetic and morphological studies and give further insights on patterns in variability and population structure of golden jackal in Bulgaria.

77-96

Authors: Teodora Marius Teofilova and Nikolay Dyankov Kodzhabashev

The present study adds new data to the list of Carabidae species from the Eastern Rhodope Mts. of Bulgaria, and reveals some patterns of the species composition from zoogeographic, ecological and conservation point of view. A total of 5915 specimens of 138 species belonging to 50 genera and 19 tribes are found, including 13 endemic species and subspecies, one relict and some rare and stenotopic species. This represents, respectively, 18.5 % of all established for the Bulgarian carabid fauna species and 40 % of the genera. Eleven genera (Acupalpus Latreille, 1829, Anchomenus Bonelli, 1810, Anisodactylus Dejean, 1829, Carterus Dejean & Boisduval, 1829, Demetrias Bonelli, 1810, Elaphrus Fabricius, 1775, Gynandromorphus Dejean, 1829, Olisthopus Dejean, 1828, Parophonus Ganglbauer, 1891, Tachys Dejean, 1821 and Tachyura Motschulsky, 1862) are new for the Eastern Rhodope Mts. Two of the genera (Carterus and Gynandromorphus) are also new for the whole Rhodope Mts. The subgenus Philochthus Stephens, 1828 is new for the Eastern Rhodopes and subgenus Phyla Motschulsky, 1844 is new for the whole Rhodope Mts. Among the species, 60 species are new for the Eastern Rhodopes, and 24 species of them are new for the whole Rhodope Mts. The richest tribes are Harpalini (46 species), Amarini (14 species), Lebiini (11 species) and Carabini and Sphodrini (10 species each). Pterostichini and Bembidiini are represented with nine species each. Zoogeographical analysis shows that the Mediterranean faunal type prevailed. In relation to their life forms, zoophagous carabids predominate, presented by 78 species (56.5 %). Mixophyitophagous are 60 species (43.5 %). Most of the ground beetles are mesoxerophilous (51 species, 37 %).

109-118

Authors: Stoyan Stoyanov

Hunting exhibitions are valuable sources of morphometric data. Although considering only two craniometric measurements, i.e. maximum length and zygomatic breadth, a huge data base has been created. Trophies from almost all predator species are presented at hunting exhibitions and measured, thus making it possible to collect much more craniometric data in addition to the standard trophy evaluation. However, the CIC (Conseil International de la Chasse) have firmly established and appropriate criteria for awarding medals for only a very few carnivore species. Golden jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) is hunted as a game species in many European countries, following its ongoing expansion, but still very few trophies are presented and measured at hunting exhibitions. Often different criteria have been applied for awarding medals to jackal trophies decided on an ad hoc basis by the evaluation committees. Recently, new criteria for awarding jackal trophies were officially adopted by CIC in the latest edition of the Handbook for the Evaluation and Measurement of Hunting Trophies. However, not so many trophies of jackal skulls were measured since then and it seems that these criteria are determined arbitrarily and are not based on research or large amounts of data. Bulgarian territory is considered the core area of Golden jackal distribution in Europe with the highest population density, but morphometric studies, including skulls from Bulgaria, are very scarce and local so far. In the present research an extensive morphometric data of jackal skulls from Bulgaria and Romania was analysed to suggest and justify new criteria for awarding medals to jackal trophies. Statistical distribution of trophy scores was approximated by normal distribution with mean and variance calculated from the large Bulgarian sample. According to the results, gold medals must be awarded to a trophy scoring 27.00 CIC points and above, silver – from 26.50 to 26.99 and bronze – from 26.00 to 26.49.

132-152

Authors: Gabriela Petrova and Rossen Tzonev

A new classification approach of the forest vegetation in Etropolska Stara Planina Mt. is applied in the paper. The dominant and most widespread forest stands in the region have been investigated. They are represented mostly by Fagus sylvatica, Carpinus betulus, Quercus petraea, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, etc. In total, 71 relevés collected according to the Braun-Blanquet’s methodology have been analyzed. As a result, five associations and three forest communities without phytosociological rank were identified. They were classified into four alliances and two classes: Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae with Luzulo-Fagion sylvaticae, Fagion sylvaticae and Carpinion betuli, and Alno glutinosae-Populetea albae represented by the alliance Alnion incanae. The vegetation of the studied area demonstrates high similarity with the mesophilous to mesohygrophilous deciduous forests typical to Southeastern and Central Europe.

165-176

Authors: Vasyl Yukhnovskyi and Olha Zibtseva

Based on the data of the StateGeoCadastre of Ukraine and the General development plans of towns, a comparative analysis of the structure of the land fund of small towns of Kyiv region has been carried out with the following ecological indicators: ratio of different types of land use, level of greening, population/green plantings ratio. Data analysis of the level of greening of towns and the availability of green public landscapes for general population has been conducted and it revealed that the current state of land use of small towns, as well as other urbanized territories, does not meet the requirements of environment management. Results of the analysis suggest that small towns are characterized by an excessive proportion of property development areas and suboptimal areas of natural territories, as well as insufficient greenery plantings, which require further balancing. In most of the studied small towns ecological situation can be considered satisfactory. Due to the extraordinary diversity of ecological and geographical conditions, individual approach to the development and improvement of greenery systems of small towns has been deemed feasible.

191-208

Authors: Andrii Churilov, Igor Goncharenko, Olha Kravchenko, Serhii B. Kovalevskyi, Yurii Marchuk, Konstantin Maevskyi, Serhii S. Kovalevskyi, Olha Marchuk, Maria Shevchuk , and Maria Dubchak

The article is presents results of studies on the vegetation of forest territories in the western part of Ukrainian Polissya, touched upon because of illegal amber mining. It has been established that the total species composition consists of 111 species, 80 genera and 30 families of vascular plants. Leading positions in the number of species occupy the families Poaceae and Asteraceae. According to the ratio of diagnostic species among the vegetation classes, representatives of the two classes Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Quercetea robori-petraeae occupy the leading positions in the phytosociological structure, and in general, the distribution of species of the Braun-Blanquet’s classes of the flora studied is consistent with the type of vegetation, which prevailed in the territories prior the violations. According to the Calinski-Harabasz criterion, clustering the relevés dataset into two groups (A and B) is most acceptable. The naturalness of species composition of cluster A is higher and is credibly different from cluster B. Phytoindication scores of most factors except humidity (Hd) are significantly different between clusters A and B. Additionally, the largest difference being observed in the nitrogen values, with the sites of the cluster A corresponding to soils with the lower nitrogen availability. The studied vegetation retaining sand is comprising some natural features of the surrounding type of vegetation of Ukrainian Polissya. Moreover, the relative remoteness from populated and industrial places, together with the conservation of the surrounding forests creates a potential for a substantial recolonization of the land by forest plant species. Despite this, it is advisable to conduct land restoration activities and monitor succession changes over longer period.

224-235

Authors: Iryna M. Koval, Svitlana V. Sydorenko, Serhii H. Sydorenko, Nadiya V. Maksymenko, and Nadiya I. Cherkashyna

This paper presents an analysis of climatic factors affecting radial increment in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in shelterbelt and forest stand in conditions of the Left Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Standard dendrochronological methods and methods of variational statistics have been used. Tree sensitivity over time was assessed in terms of Pearson’s correlation strength. Two periods (1965–1990 and 1991–2016) were compared to detect features of the response of latewood, earlywood, and total rings to climate change in the shelterbelt and forest stand. The following tendency was revealed: increase in the mean annual temperature by 1.1ºC (15 %), increase in the temperature in April-August by 1.1 °C (6 %), increase in March temperature by 1.4 °С (1470%), increase in winter temperature by 1.0 °С (25 %) in 1965–1990 by comparison with 1991–2016. Mean annual precipitation increased by 20 mm (4 %), precipitation in April-August increased by 10 mm (4 %) and winter precipitation decreased by 32 mm (10 %). For the shelterbelt, the significant negative correlations between the annual and latewood index series and temperatures for April, June, the average temperatures for April-August and average annual temperatures were detected for 1965–1990. Also, a significant negative correlation between the annual index series and temperature for April was revealed. Precipitation for June significantly restricted the annual increment. At the same time for forest stand only significant negative correlations between the annual and latewood index series and precipitation for April were found. In 1991–2017 significant negative correlations between latewood and September temperatures for the shelterbelt were found. Despite greater sensitivity of the oak radial growth to changes in environmental conditions and its lower stability in the shelterbelt compared to the forest stand, the radial growth of trees surviving after a severe drought in 1975 stabilized in 2010–2017.

254-261

Authors: Antoaneta Frantzova

During the last years new methodologies are developed for the natural hazards risk assessment. The presented work deals with the methodology firstly developed by several bodies at global and regional level (United Nations programs – ISDR, UNDP; Inter-American Development Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GTZ); ESPON 3.1.3 Hazards Project; Joint Research Centre (JRC), EC. Our goal is to further improve these methodologies including some new elements such as: building risk profiles, introduction of the qualitative and quantitative risk levels, combination of several hazards and the influencing factors, and application of the developed methodology to some selected objects in Bulgaria (forest fires around Etropole town surroundings). Presented methodology shows reasonable results and could be explored and exploited by the local authorities, civil defense and risk managers.