No effect of invasive tree species on aboveground biomass increments of oaks and pines in temperate forests

Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.

Forest land use discontinuity and northern red oak Quercus rubra introduction change biomass allocation and life strategy of lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Background:Multi-purpose use of forests in a sustainable way forces a recognition of how introduction of alien woody species in forests with different land use histories affect native plants other than trees.Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea is an important understory component of temperate and boreal forests and provider of valuable non-wood forest products.Here we studied effects of land use changes and introduction of Northern red oak Quercus rubra on lingonberry in mesic Scots pine forests(in central Poland).We measured lingonberry cover,height of shoots,biomass of stems and leaves,and fruit productivity.Shoots were collected within 200 research plots located in recent and ancient Scots pine forests,with and without Q.rubra.Results:We found that V.vitis-idaea reached lower cover,aboveground biomass and fruit production in recent than ancient forests and in forests with than without Q.rubra.The fruit production in recent pine forest was only 2%of that reported in ancient pine forest,and V.vitis-idaea did not reproduce generatively in forests with Q.rubra.Biomass and carbon sequestration of V.vitis-idaea in forests with alien(invasive)trees decreased by 75%compared to ancient pine forest.Effects were also clear at the individual shoot level–in less suitable conditions we found taller heights and higher biomass allocation into stems than foliage.Biomass allocation in fruiting and non-fruiting shoots in pine forests was also different–less of the dry biomass of fruiting shoots was allocated to leaves than to stems.Conclusions:In the age of high interest in ecosystem services and discussions about usage of alien tree species as alternatives in forest management,our results clearly indicate disruption of ecosystem services provided by V.vitisidaea in the presence of Q.rubra.Lingonberry benefited from the continuity of forest land use,however,regardless of land-use legacy,alien tree introduction led to decline in abundance of species crucial for ecosystem functioning.Therefore,to maintain valuable native species and for conservation of ecosystem services delivery,we suggest limiting the introduction of Q.rubra in areas with abundant V.vitis-idaea,especially in forests with continuous forest land-use history.

Spatial niche segregation between bird species in the Białowieża primeval forest(NE Poland)

Drivers of bird niche separation in temperate primeval forests have not yet been determined,due to the low number of intact forest sites.Here,we analyzed the general patterns of niche usage on trees by birds’assemblages.We tested how tree species affect the sharing of space in an assemblage of birds and their level of specialization.We conducted our study in the Białowieża primeval forest(NE Poland).During two breeding seasons,we observed bird positions on trees,divided into three vertical and six horizontal zones in 768 observation points.Based on the interaction networks framework we calculated the Kullback-Leibler distance d′as a metric of species specialization and the resource range RR index,which estimates the species’specificity based on the fraction of space utilized with a non-zero performance.The d′index was the highest in the lower understory for all parts of the tree on the basis of the position from the trunk.The RR index was the highest in the lower understory for all parts based on the position from the trunk.Regarding the tree species,the lowest d′index was observed in all tree species together,and hornbeam,whereas the highest in oak.At the tree species level,the RR index was the lowest for hornbeam.We show tree species importance in forest space sharing in the case of bird assemblages.Hornbeam,alder,and spruce are universal species that were used by birds almost entirely.In contrast,oak,lime,and maple were only partially used.Tree species with less complex structures could shape bird assemblages,as they could offer birds much fewer niches to realize.Therefore,we showed that high specialization and niche separation are drivers of high bird diversity.Consequently maintaining a diverse stand structure is crucial for biodiversity conservation.

Fungal diversity notes 1387-1511:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa

This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series,wherein 125 taxa from four phyla,ten classes,31 orders,69 families,92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated,demonstrating worldwide and geographic distri-bution.Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera,69 new species,one new com-bination,one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions.Three new genera,Cylindrotorula(Torulaceae),Scolecoleotia(Leotiales genus incertae sedis)and Xenovaginatispora(Lindomycetaceae)are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies.Newly described species are Aspergillus lan-naensis,Cercophora dulciaquae,Cladophialophora aquatica,Coprinellus punjabensis,Cortinarius alutarius,C.mammil-latus,C.quercoflocculosus,Coryneum fagi,Cruentomycena uttarakhandina,Cryptocoryneum rosae,Cyathus uniperidiolus,Cylindrotorula indica,Diaporthe chamaeropicola,Didymella azollae,Diplodia alanphillipsii,Dothiora coronicola,Efibula rodriguezarmasiae,Erysiphe salicicola,Fusarium queenslandicum,Geastrum gorgonicum,G.hansagiense,Helicosporium sexualis,Helminthosporium chiangraiensis,Hongkongmyces kokensis,Hydrophilomyces hydraenae,Hygrocybe boertmannii,Hyphoderma australosetigerum,Hyphodontia yunnanensis,Khaleijomyces umikazeana,Laboulbenia divisa,Laboulbenia triarthronis,Laccaria populina,Lactarius pallidozonarius,Lepidosphaeria strobelii,Longipedicellata megafusiformis,Lophiotrema lincangensis,Marasmius benghalensis,M.jinfoshanensis,M.subtropicus,Mariannaea camelliae,Mel-anographium smilaxii,Microbotryum polycnemoides,Mimeomyces digitatus,Minutisphaera thailandensis,Mortierella solitaria,Mucor harpali,Nigrograna jinghongensis,Odontia huanrenensis,O.parvispina,Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii,Par-afuscosporella niloticus,Phaeocytostroma yomensis,Phaeoisaria synnematicus,Phanerochaete hainanensis,Pleopunctum thailandicum,Pleurotheciella dimorphospora,Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense,Pseudodactylaria albicolonia,Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora,Russula paravioleipes,Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi,Seriascoma honghense,Synandromyces makranczyi,Thyridaria aureobrunnea,Torula lancangjiangensis,Tubeufia longihelicospora,Wicklowia fusiformispora,Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora.One new combination,Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is pro-posed.A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated.New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici,Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis,Camarosporidiella laburni,Canalisporium caribense,Chaetoscutula juniperi,Chlorophyllum demangei,C.globosum,C.hortense,Cladophialophora abundans,Dendryphion hydei,Diaporthe foeniculina,D.pseudophoenicicola,D.pyracanthae,Dictyosporium pandanicola,Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus,Ernakula-mia tanakae,Eutypa flavovirens,E.lata,Favolus septatus,Fusarium atrovinosum,F.clavum,Helicosporium luteosporum,Hermatomyces nabanheensis,Hermatomyces sphaericoides,Longipedicellata aquatica,Lophiostoma caudata,L.clematidis-vitalbae,Lophiotrema hydei,L.neoarundinaria,Marasmiellus palmivorus,Megacapitula villosa,Micropsalliota globocys-tis,M.gracilis,Montagnula thailandica,Neohelicosporium irregulare,N.parisporum,Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum,Phaeoisaria aquatica,Poaceascoma taiwanense,Saproamanita manicata,Spegazzinia camelliae,Submersispora variabi-lis,Thyronectria caudata,T.mackenziei,Tubeufia chiangmaiensis,T.roseohelicospora,Vaginatispora nypae,Wicklowia submersa,Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis.The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens,coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.

Invasive oaks escape pre-dispersal insect seed predation and trap enemies in their seeds

Species introduced to habitats outside their native range often escape control by their natural enemies.Besides competing with native species,an alien species might also affect the native herbivores by introducing a new source of different quality food.Here,we describe the case of northern red oak(Quercus rubra)invasion in Europe.We collected data on insect(moth Cydia spp.and weevil Curculio spp.)seed predation of northern red oak in its native(USA,North America)and invasive(Poland,Europe)range,as well as for sessile oaks(Quercus petrea)in Europe.We also evaluated the quality of acorns as hosts for weevil larvae by collecting infested acorns and measuring weevil developmental success,and quantifying acorn traits such as seed mass,tannins,lipids and protein concentration.We used DNA barcoding to identify insects to the species level.The predation by moths was similar and very low in both species and in both ranges.However,red oaks escape pre-dispersal seed predation by weevils in Europe.Weevil infestation rates of northern red oak acorns in their invasive range were 10 times lower than that of sessile oaks,and also 10 times lower than that of red oaks in North America.Furthermore,even when weevils oviposited into northern red oaks,the larvae failed to develop,suggesting that the exotic host created a trap for the insect.This phenomenon might gradually decrease the local abundance of the seed predator,and further aid the invasion.

Intersexual differences in leaf size and shape in dioecious Adriana tomentosa

Aims Leaf size and shape as objects of natural selection can play adaptive roles,and can change with the age of leaves.They can differ between sexes in dioecious species,and in most cases,females have larger leaves.Previous studies showed that sexes of Adriana tomentosa differed in their leaf lobing.In this study,we investigated whether there were other differences between sexes in leaf size,shape and ecophysiology,and if those differences were connected with adaptations and reproductive roles in the sexes of A.tomentosa.Methods Physical and chemical features of young and old leaves originating from female and male A.tomentosa plants growing in two disjunct populations in eastern Australia were measured.We determined leaf area,perimeter length,serration,circularity,aspect ratio(AR),roundness and the ecophysiological factors:specific leaf area,dry matter content,leaf moisture,relative water content,δ^(13)C,δ^(15)N isotope compositions,carbon and nitrogen contents and C:N ratio.Leaf lobing,the degree of lamina damage and the content of photosynthetic pigments were also determined.Important Findings In both populations studied,the sex of plants significantly influenced almost all parameters connected with leaf morphology such as area,perimeter length,circularity,AR and roundness.Contrary to expectations,males from both populations had a greater leaf area that was independent of leaf age.Male leaves were more lobed with a longer perimeter,but they were less elongated and less serrated.Only small differences between female and male leaves were observed for the ecophysiological factors.The degree of leaf damage differed between sexes but also with population.Differences between sexes in leaf area and shape were not compensated by measured ecophysiological factors.However,leaf area may be compensated by other ecophysiological mechanisms related to leaf morphology,because females had greater leaf serration in comparison to males despite the smaller leaf area.