Forestry Ideas

289–292

Authors: Zheko Radev

Lipids are main components of bee pollen grains, and vary among different pollen taxa. The objective of this study was to determine the lipid content in pollen of 20 popular bee plants and the impact of lipids to honey bees. The analysis showed, that the percentage of the total lipid content in the examined bee pollen ranged from 0.87 % for Zea mays L. to 13.6 % for that of Echinops ritro L., and the average was 3.91 %. The average level of lipids for the entomophilous plants was 4.20 % and 1.31 % for anemophilous, for Asteraceae was 5.42 % and 1.88 % for Fabaceae. The average weight of one hundred worker bees fed on pollen from Z. mays was 8208.2 mg, whereas it was 9882.2 mg for the bees fed on pollen from E. ritro. The weight of bees that consumed pollen with higher lipid content is higher compared to that consumed pollen with lower lipid content.

298–308

Authors: Gradimir Gruychev

Modern agriculture often leads to a reduction in small game species and loss of biodiversity. The study area includes MG-14 (35 T) square of the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). The density of hares during the study period varied between 0.7–2.7 ind./km2. Their number reported in 2014–2015 is significantly higher than in the other years. In 2018, the lowest hare density was reported in the study area. Most were counted in May. The density of hares was positively related to habitat diversity and negatively to Wild cat density.

318–331

Authors: Neda Amiri(1)* and Soleiman Mohammadi Limaei(1,2)

The aim of this study was to estimate the aboveground carbon sequestration and the amount of CO2 emissions at logging operation in Hyrcanian forests of Iran. Required data, such as forest standing stock, annual growth increment of trees, wood density and timber harvesting, were collected from secondary sources. Allometric equation was used for estimating the carbon sequestration. The amount of CO2 emission was calculated. Results showed that the annual growth per hectare and the amount of carbon sequestration per growth were 3.37 m3·yr-1 and 1.14 t·ha-1, respectively. Results also indicated that the value of aboveground sequestrated carbon and its net present value were 71,217.63 (10,000 IRR∙ha-1) and 12,668.28 (10,000 IRR∙ha-1), respectively. Finally, the amount of carbon emission per hectare was calculated, as it was 0.01078 t∙h-1 per year. The results of emission and carbon sequestration per hectare of the forest show that not only logging per hectare of forest will eliminate annual carbon sequestration, but also leads to an increase in CO2 into the atmosphere due to harvest activity.

343–353

Authors: Youlin Tepeliev(1), Radka Koleva(1)*, and Ventzeslav Dimitrov(2)

The high-resolution layers (HRLs) are Pan-European land cover datasets aimed at monitoring soil sealing (imperviousness, forest, grasslands, wetness and water, and small woody features. The main purpose of this article is to present the methodology and results from verification of two Forest HRL products for the 2015 reference year for Bulgarian territory: Dominant Leaf Type (DLT) and Tree Cover Density (TCD). The verification task aims at identifying systematic classification errors and the results are supposed to be used for improvement in future product updates. Qualitative approach for assessment of the HRL quality is applied in two steps, called General overview of data quality and Look-and-feel verification. The latter is performed within dedicated strata through non-random sampling, checking HRLs for omission and commission errors. We show results from a verification at country level based on local expertise and best available in situ data. We also provide comments and recommendations concerning commission and omission strata. Several cases of both of the above types of errors are identified and analysed in the DLT and TCD high resolution layers. Despite of errors found, both DLT and TCD receive a ‘good’ mark, and the same rating prevails in the strata level evaluation.

367–379

Authors: Panagiotis Lattas(1)*, Pavlos Chasilidis(2), Aggeliki Tsakona(3), Natalia Golfinopoulou(4), and Theocharis Zagas(5)

The oak forests in Mediterranean are widespread and dynamic natural ecosystems. For millennia, oak forests have provided vital ecosystem services to humans in the Mediterranean including social, economic and environmental services and goods; however, in parallel, human exploitation has altered their structure. Consequently, targeted management approaches are required to optimize the production. In the current study we analyzed the structural characteristics of the Foloi oak forest (Quercus frainetto) in the wider area of Ancient Olympia, Peloponnese, Greece. An extensive fieldwork was applied in 29 randomly located plots in order to collect dendrometric characteristics of 938 individual trees. The collected data were used to build models for estimating tree age, tree height and canopy length from diameter at breast height (DBH). All models were found to have an adequate fit and provide useful tool for the assessment of site structural and growth characteristics. Furthermore, we present a model for assessing site quality from topographic characteristics such as slope and exposition. Finally, we employed a stand visualization tool to get a graphical representation of the stand structure, which can be used in order to adopt appropriate silvicultural practices. We believe our findings will provide useful tools to forest managers and practitioners for the sustainable management and restoration of oak forests.

396–411

Authors: Sagar Dhakal* and Prem Kumar Khosla

Taxus contorta Griff. is an endangered conifer tree species. It is found in patchy habitats throughout its natural occurrences along with certain altitudinal ranges in the Himalayan region. The present study involves the stand structure, regeneration status and biomass of Taxus species in the Narkanda forest that occupies an area of 11.4 km2 with an altitudinal range of 2400 m to 3000 m a.s.l. in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. A total of 24 square plots, each plot of area 0.16 ha, were laid in four main geographical directions (i.e., north, northeast, southwest and southeast) with equal six plots in each slope exposure. The result showed that T. contorta is found only in three slopes (north, northeast and southwest) exposures with the main association of Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle species. The absence of Taxus species occurrences slope exposure (southeast) was dominated by Quercus semecarpifolia Sm. Based on the results, this study documented that conservation of an endangered species should be done through silvicultural practices for its sustainable regeneration in northern slope exposure. Additionally, the adult tree of T. contorta must be conserved specially for pollination purposes, fertile seed production and dispersion of seeds exposing the open canopy closure through the thinning of common and dominated species. Finally, it is recommended that any kind of human disturbances should be strictly prohibited inside Taxus occurrence forest.

427–435

Authors: Jens Hepper

This study analyses the implementation of forest education in 13 German federal states in combination with the number of applicants for a vocational education in forestry, as well as the number of students at the faculties of forestry in Germany. Obtained results show that establishing the basics of forest didactics and taking into account educational topics beside the classical knowledge of woodland species, furthers the interest in forests and forest professions in general. The number of students in the university can be considered to be a suitable indicator for a good establishment of forest didactics and a general interest in forests, while the number of applicants in vocational education can be considered to be an indicator for a holistic and sustainable approach to forest education, according to this study.

446–458

Authors: Tatyana Fomicheva(1), Alexander Adamovsky(1), Ion Dubovich(1), Yuriy Tunytsya(1), Khrystyna Vasylyshyn(1)*, Anatoliy Deyneka(2), and Maryana Vyniarska(3)

To optimize the use and management of Ukrainian Carpathians forest fund territories, ecological tourism is actively promoted by the government and reflected in the leisure sector. The attention of economists is mainly drawn to the market value of forest areas and forest resources. However, the trend is changing as the non-market values of forests are increasingly assessed and measured. This case study assessed the potential value of ecological tourism development using the contingent valuation method. A total of 235 respondents were interviewed in four regions of Ukraine. The results showed that most visitors to the Ukrainian Carpathians are willing to pay for ecological tourism on these territories. The average value was 35 USD per day in the conditions of organised ecological tourism and 10 USD per day in the conditions of individual ecological tourism on the territories of Ukrainian Carpathians forest fund. The results may justify financial support from the state for the development of ecological tourism and the adoption of relevant regulations. Prospects for it depend on the level of well-being and education of citizens, as well as the distance from the place of residence of the respondents to the territories of Ukrainian Carpathians forest fund. Regarding organised ecological tourism, the prospects for the development depend on certification of tour operators providing services.

470–482

Authors: Ihor F. Buksha, Tetiana S. Pyvovar, Maksym I. Buksha, Volodymyr P. Pasternak*, and Taras I. Buksha

In Ukraine and elsewhere on the planet, study of climate change effects on forests is ofgreat public interest. The study aimed to evaluate climate humidity dynamics in the 21st century according to Vorobiev indicator under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios. E-OBS and EURO-CORDEX project climate data were used. Climate humidity indicator by Vorobiev was used to assess the suitability of climatic conditions for forests (suitable conditions are from fresh to wet forest types). In the current climate condition in Ukraine the climate humidity varies from very dry in the south to very wet in the Carpathians. Dry (30 %) and fresh (40.1 %) types dominate. Comparing to 1961–1990, aridity has increased, boundaries of climatic zones shifted by 1 class to the north for the plains of Ukraine and to higher elevation for the Carpathians. In the Forest and the Forest-Steppe zones the fresh climate prevails, wet climate becomes less represented. Climate condition suitable for forests covers about 50 % of the country area. Both scenarios show a further aridity increase and climate zones shift to the north. Under the RCP 4.5, the areas of wet and fresh climate are expected to decrease with substitution by dry climate. In 2040–2060 the area of conditions suitable for forests will decrease to 37 % of the country area, and to 30 % in 2080–2100. Favourable conditions for the forest will remain only in the Carpathians, the western Forest-Steppe and partly in Forest zones. Under the RCP 8.5 scenario, the process of climate aridization will accelerate: dry climate types are expected to dominate. The area suitable for forest conditions will decrease significantly to 30 % in the middle and to 10 % at the end of the century.

496–515

Authors: Pandu Yudha Adi Putra Wirabuana(1)*, Budi Mulyana(1), Alnus Meinata(2), Fahmi Idris(2), and Ronggo Sadono(1)

Understanding the essential contribution of community forests for industrial development or climate change mitigation principally requires the accurate measurement of merchantable wood and aboveground biomass. However, the quantification of those parameters using the destructive method requires high cost and time consuming. To anticipate these constraints, allometric equations development has a potential contribution to facilitate a more efficient estimation of wood and biomass production without disturbing forest regeneration capacity. Therefore, this study aimed to develop allometric equations for quantifying merchantable wood and aboveground biomass of community forest tree species. The destructive sampling was carried out on 45 trees from three species (15 trees each), namely Swietenia macrophylla King, Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) Barneby et J.W.Grimes, and Tectona grandis L.f. Furthermore, three general allometric equations were examined using some predictor variables, i.e. diameter at breast height (D), quadrat diameter at breast height combined with tree height (D2∙H), as well as D and H separately. The results showed the highest average of merchantable wood and aboveground biomass recorded in S. macrophylla (0.41 ±0.10 m3; 0.33 ±0.07 t), followed by T. grandis (0.20 ±0.07 m3; 0.18 ±0.06 t) and F. moluccana (0.16 ±0.05 m3; 0.06 ±0.02 t). Meanwhile, the relative contribution of foliage biomass to total aboveground biomass gradually declined along with the increasing diameter classes. In contrast, a fluctuating trend was observed in the stem and branch. Also, equation ln Y = lna + b∙lnD was best in quantifying the wood and biomass. The addition of H as a predictor variable in the equations did not show a meaningful influence to increase accuracy estimation in the species. Based on these results, it was concluded that the development of allometric equations was reliable to facilitate more efficient estimation of merchantable wood and aboveground biomass for community forest tree species with over 95 % accuracy.

3-18

Authors: Vasyl Gumeniuk, Dmytrii Holiaka, Olexandr Soshenskiy, and Volodymyr Koren

The study presents the assessment of fire effect produced by surface forest fires on the herbal plants, the possibility of natural forest regeneration and Scots pine stands of the Poliskyi Nature Reserve. Five-year succession of forest herbs following the fire of 2009 was evaluated by analyzing its species’ composition, cоenotic structure, similarity, constancy and dominance of species in the burned area and comparison with similar unburned forest. The consequences for herbal plants mostly depend on the type and intensity of a wildfire. The response of the herbal layer to fire factor varies from small revertible short-term changes to degradation or even complete distinction. Surface fires stimulate emergence of Scots pine regeneration. On stand level, fires cause the deterioration of trees’ health and the reduction of stand growth. The mathematical model for severity of fire and tree health was developed. Key words: fire severity, natural regeneration, post

29-45

Authors: Dmitry A. Danilov and Dmitry A. Zaytsev

We studied the influence of average temperatures and precipitation of the growing season on the formation of macrostructural elements of radial growth in Scots pine and Norway spruce stands of Leningrad region located in the boreal zone of the European part of Russia. Denroclimatic studies were carried out using the results of wood samples analysis from forest stands on two-layer soils collected during 60 years. The digitized parameters of wood samples were processed in a GIS system, which made it possible to obtain an array of generalized dendrochronologies. A rank correlation analysis of the data obtained was carried out using the Spearman’s test. To simulate the combined effect of the amount of precipitation and average temperatures on the formation of the structural elements of radial growth, the method of the quadratic function was used. Depending on the composition of a stand, there was a different response to the selected meteorological factors during the study period. In pine stands, the effect of the average temperature of the growing season on the amount of annual radial growth was greater than in spruce stands. In spruce and pine stands with the participation of deciduous species, the structural elements of wood were more meteosensitive. The use of the quadratic function method made it possible to assess the combined effect of the total precipitation and average temperature of the growing season on the elements of radial growth of pine and spruce in the stands under study over the period of the experiment. Stands with various proportions of pine predominantly responded in the same way to changes in external factors associated with the climatic features of the region, which indicates the priority of their use in dendrochronological studies.

59-67

Authors: Alexey Andreychev

A new method of studying the activity of European mole Talpa europaea (Linnaeus, 1758) with use of digital portable voice recorders is developed. European mole demonstrates polyphasic activity pattern – three peaks of activity alternate three peaks of relative rest. Moles are found to have activity peaks from 23:00 to 3:00 h, from 6:00 to 9:00 h and from 15:00 to 18:00 h, and three periods of rest: from 3:00 to 6:00 h, from 9:00 to 15:00 h and from 18:00 to 23:00 h. Mole’s rest is relative since animals show low activity during periods of rest. Average daily interval between mole passes is 2.5 h. Duration of audibility of continuous single European mole pass by the microphone varies from 11 to 120 seconds. On average, it is 37.5 seconds.

74-88

Authors: Kateryna Myronchuk, Yaroslav Henyk, and Marta Kurnytska

Object of the study are hedgerows in settlements of Ukrainian Bukovynian Carpathian region (Chernivtsi region of Ukraine). The species and quality composition, spatial, age and ecological structure and ornamental value of hedges. The formation of hedges as an element of landscaping the urban ecosystems of the Ukrainian Bukovynian Carpathian region occurred due to the influence of a number of objective (natural and anthropogenic) and subjective factors (traditions, socio-economic conditions and long-term plans for the development of the region, financing of activities for the formation and care of plantings in green spaces). The dendroflora of hedges of urban areas is represented by 32 species of woody plants from 24 genera and 15 families. Carpinus betulus L., Buxus sempervirens L., Cornus alba (L.) Opiz. and Ligustrum vulgare L. are most often used to form hedges. The vast majority of hedges is formed from one species (Chernivtsi – 98.3 %, other towns and villages – 71.1 %), and they are mainly single-row (Chernivtsi – 83.8 %, other towns – 58.2 %, villages – 70.2 %). In the settlements of the region, trimmed hedges predominate (Chernivtsi – 92.1 %, other towns and villages – 75.5 %). Most hedges are mean-height hedges (Chernivtsi – 65.8 %, other towns and villages – 66.9 %). For the formation of a curb hedge, Sріraea media Schmidt., Buxus sempervirens, Ligustrum vulgare are most often used. For first time, comprehensive studies of hedges in the settlements of Chernivtsi region of Ukraine (Bukovynian Carpathian region) were carried out according to their species composition, system, age and environmental structure, height and constitution. The features of functioning in urban ecosystems are established. A comprehensive assessment was made regarding the quality status and ornamental value of hedges in the green zones.

101-113

Authors: Salomo Mbai, Epson Ndawedapo Noses, and Yonas Tesfamariam Bahta

Analysing and understanding the timber sector export performance is essential for value chain role players to formulate strategies and policies to enhance the competitive export position and ensure forest sustainability. This study’s main objective was to measure the export competitiveness of the Namibian timber (HS440799, HS4401, HS4402, and HS4403) and assess its implication for Forestry using secondary data (2001–2018), Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), and Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage indices (RSCA). The result shows that Namibia had a revealed comparative advantage for 17 years; however, all below one (except for commodity HS4402 from 2010–2018) means that Namibia timber exports are not internationally competitive. Comparing the four categories of timber, in 2007, the sub-sector (HS4402) recorded the lowest RCA (0.00001) and the lowest RSCA (0.99998) for timber (HS4402) in 2007, the same year. On the other hand, the same categories of timber (HS4402) score the highest RCA with a value of 2.73 in 2015 and the highest RSCA (0.46) for timber (HS4402) in the same year compared to the other categories of timber. RSCA indices results for all commodities show that Namibia’s timber exports are not competitive for the study period. Timber’s comparative export pattern heavily depends on export volumes and values of timber exports. Timber export competitiveness is not sustainable, given the heavy dependence on natural forests. Namibia should re-structure timber harvesting protocols to include replacement or replanting every tree species harvested for timber production to ensure timber and forest sustainability. The country’s timber export sub-sector should focus more on adding value to timber than exporting to improved competitiveness. Further, the government should regulate the harvested wood and protect over-grazing, to promote timber and forest resources’ sustainable utilization.

119-127

Authors: Gradimir Gruychev

The study area is a low mountain; nevertheless it has substantial biodiversity, due to its specific location, xerothermic vegetation and positive average monthly temperatures. The study was conducted in the period 2014-2020. It determinates 35 percent of the avifauna and 58 percent of the breeding birds of Sakar Mountain. This study reports two new species for the area. It informs about 89 species assigned to a specific breeding category. Seven species assigned to a breeding category are new to the quadrant and have not been reported by previous studies. The breeding density of 13 bird species was established. The density decreases in two common birds in study area.

136-144

Authors: Panagiotis Michopoulos and Alexandra Solomou

The relations and the statistical comparisons of the available micronutrients Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe (DTPA extractable) were examined in alkaline soils of three forest ecosystems, i.e. pine, fir and maquis forest. Through a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) it was found that Mn and Zn had identical dependence on soil parameters. Both concentrations of these metals had negative relationship with pH, percentage of CaCO3 and positive one with the concentrations of organic C, N and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) values. With the exception of CaCO3, Fe had the same dependence. Copper had a negative relation with CaCO3 and a positive one only with clay content and not with the organic carbon as would be expected. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that the soil under fir had the highest concentrations of Mn probably due to the lowest pH values and CaCO3 percentages. The soil in the maquis plot had the lowest concentrations of Zn and Fe because of the highest pH and lowest amount of organic C. Despite the lowest amount of organic C, the soil in the maquis plot had the highest concentration of Cu because of the nature of parent material.

157-168

Authors: Anzhela Dzyba

The paper considers the introduction of Pinus strobus L. to the Ukrainian Polissya for 200 years. The purpose of the study was to conduct an inventory of P. strobus in protected territories of the Ukrainian Polissya and to analyze its distribution, stand age structure, regeneration patterns, and application in different types of plantings. The study covers 26 protected man-made objects and natural areas and objects (botanical garden, 3 dendrological parks, 6 parks-monuments of landscape art, 8 natural monuments, 3 national natural parks, regional landscape park, 3 reserves, protected tract) in Ukrainian Polissya (Volyn, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Khmelnytsky regions). The age of Pinus strobus ranges from 35 to more than 200 years. In the protected areas grow 120- to 200-year-old ancient Pinus strobus trees, with a number of its specimens ranging from 1 to 16. In 80 % of protected entities, Pinus strobus was represented by one specimen as a solitary or in groups mainly mixed with Pinus sylvestris L.; in 5 objects Pinus strobus grows in pure and mixed plantations of natural monuments. The condition of plants in 19 objects is good, in 5 - satisfactory, in two - unsatisfactory (harmed by the pest Pineus strobi Htg.). By self-seeding, P. strobus regenerated on 24 % of the territories of nature-protection entities; in one entity it has naturalized. It is proposed to use the best specimens of Pinus strobus as genetic material for further application in forestry and park gardening.

182-194

Authors: Heorhiy H. Hrynyk, Leonid S. Osadchuk, Liubov M. Kondratiuk, Olena M. Hrynyk, Volodymyr M. Gryb, Victoriia I. Melnyk, and Artur F. Likhanov

The task of the study is to establish and justify the required amount of sawn timber, which must be measured to determine the conformity of the entire batch of sawn wood to the specified size on the basis of statistical processing of a sample of sawn timber from the total batch. It is established that the batch is homogeneous in width and thickness, and differs in length of a sawn timber. The values of variation coefficients for length of a sawn timber are much lower than similar values for thickness and width. Given the nature of the grouping of sawn timber particles around the central stage in terms of thickness, width and length, it can be argued that the samples are similar. Student’s t-test was used at the p-level to check the difference between the mean values of individual samples. Measurement error (ME) for almost all indicators of the studied sawn timber is in the range of 0.1-5.0 %, which indicates that the experiment was performed with sufficient accuracy. In fact, 144 units of lumber were selected from 5 packages, which is more than 125 of the minimum required to establish the batch conformity of size and quality characteristics. Using the values of SE, ME and SD, calculated for individual samples, it was found that to correctly determine the deviations, including measurement accuracy and appropriate moisture content errors, it is sufficient to use from each individual sample no more 24 pieces of the appropriate sawn timber types. Using the recommendations for checking the conformity of sample to acceptable quality level for the total batch of a sawn timber, which was 2207 pcs in 5 packages, was confirmed the sufficiency of usage of the sample of 125 pieces from 5 packages.

210-232

Authors: Christine Wulandari, Samsul Bakri, Melya Riniarti, and Supriadi Supriadi

Community Forestry Program in Indonesia (called HKm: Hutan Kemasyarakatan) as the scheme for recovering forest degradation from encroachment has been operating for 13 years now, but until nowadays there is no available guideline for fostering its sustainability (SUST). HKm Authority, however, still have 22-24 years remain to foster the program before the scheme due. It is in needing both economic and tree biodiversity indicators of every HKm’s member land as the guidance for sustaining the program. The income as the economic indicator itself is commonly affected by the endogenous and exogenous variables. This research aimed at determining the roles of: (i) endogenous and exogenous variables on income agroforestry yield (INCM), (ii) INCM on tree biodiversity performance (BIODV), and (iii) BIODV on the HKm’s SUST. Data collected by interviewing 230 members of HKm Jaya Lestari located in Way Kanan Regency-Lampung, Indonesia in February-May 2018. These HKm members consisted of four ethnic groups which the two are as the native (Semendonese and Lampungese) that more adaptive to agroforestry cultivation, whereas the remains (Javanese and Sundanese) are the offspring of people moved from Java Island under colonization program by Dutch Administration since 1905. We employed Ordinary Least Square regression postulate model to investigate the first purpose and Loglinear Regression to examine the second and the third purposes. Minitab Version 16 software was applied for the models’ goodness-fits test and parameter optimization at 90 and 95% confident level. The research suggests: (i) endogenous variables with positive effect on INCM were the family size, participation in extension activities, land holding acreage, the tribes whose Sundanese and Semendonese were higher than Javanese, and with negative effect was the land elevation; whereas the exogenous variable affected negatively the rural facility construction and nursery demonstration plot activities; (ii) the higher INCM the higher BIODV, but (iii) the better BIODV the lower SUST will be. For the sake of pursuing SUST, it recommends to continue fostering HKm members by managing the endogenous variables in order to rise up INCM, and then multiply BIODV as well as to broaden HKm members’ awareness on voluntary planting some wooden trees that have been adaptive or endemic at local region such as iron wood (Fagraea fragrans Roxb), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl), and Shorea javanica.

245-255

Authors: Silvena Boteva, Anelia Kenarova, Viktoriya Kancheva, Michaella Aleksova, Roumen Dimitrov, and Galina Radeva

Heavy metal pollution of soils may change their chemical and microbiological status. Changes in the function of decomposer communities may cause disruption in soil nutrient cycling and primary productivity of an ecosystem. In the present study, bacterial capacity to utilize different carbon substrates under heavy metal stress was evaluated by using community level physiological profiling technique and Biolog EcoPlate™ method. Soil samples were taken from the vicinity of mine Chelopech along Cu gradient and co-pollutants Zn and Pb. Soil texture was classified as loam, soil pH was defined as acidic, and soils were determined as well nutrient abundant. Soil concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb varied in the range of 51-860 mg.kg-1, 44-180 mg.kg-1 and 31-175 mg.kg-1, respectively. Both, the capacity of impacted bacterial communities to utilize organic carbon substances and bacterial functional diversity decreased under the heavy metal stress. Bacteria from un-polluted soils preferentially utilized carbohydrates and polymers, whereas the heavy metal stressed bacterial communities preferentially used proteinogenic and non-proteinogenic carboxylic acids. The highest levels of adverse impacts were recorded both at seriously polluted soil, and on the utilization of amines and carbohydrates. Local variability of soil properties might modify the effects of heavy metals. It can be concluded that the EcoPlate™ method can be used to evaluate community functional variability in relation to different levels of heavy metal stress, as statistically significant results have been obtained.

271-279

Authors: Olena Demchenko

Under Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, 11 Viburnum species and 5 cultivars of different geographical origin are cultivated. The vast majority of species is property of a limited number of botanical gardens. There is no information about the ecological properties of most of the introduced taxa of genus Viburnum L. in condition of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Therefore, the study of the ecological properties of various species of this genus under these conditions is relevant. The purpose of the study is a comparative analysis of the ecological properties of species belonging to the genus Viburnum L. in relation to the formation of their taxonomic composition in collections and rational use in greening and gardening. The following ecological indicators of the species were investigated: the duration of the dormant period, winter hardiness, drought resistance and water retention capacity. It was established that the winter hardiness of the species is satisfactory and does not depend on the duration of the period of deep dormancy. Monitoring the winter hardiness of uneven-aged plants of the same species made it possible to trace the change in resistance in ontogenesis. An increase in winter hardiness in all species is observed during the transition from juvenile to mature state, which is reflected by the value of the winter hardiness coefficient. Drought resistance of most species is high, exceptions are Viburnum lantana Aureum' and Viburnum burejaeticum Rgl. et Herd. Water retention is higher in evergreen species and resistance to dehydration is higher in V. opulus L. and V. rufidulum Raf. The studied species are promising and quite suitable for further implementation under Right-bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.