Deadwood distribution in European forests

National forest inventories are a primary source of data for the assessment of forest resources and lastly more often biodiversity at national scales. The diversity of adopted sampling designs and measurements reduces the prospect for a reliable comparison of generated estimates. The ICP Forest dataset represents a unique opportunity for a standardized approach of forest estimates through Europe. This work aims to provide a distribution map of the mean deadwood volume in European forest. A total of 3243 ICP Forests plots were analysed and presented. The study area extends over 3,664,576 km2 interesting 19 countries. We observed that the highest percentage of plots show a deadwood volume lower than 50 m3 ha-1, with a few of forests attaining around the maximum of 300 m3 ha-1. Forests with more than 100 m3 ha-1 are concentrated in mountainous regions, central Europe and other regions, linked to high-forest management types, while coppices-derived forest systems (part of the Great Britain, Mediterranean region) show lower deadwood content. The map of deadwood volume on European Forests is of interests for scientists, land planners, forest managers and decision-makers, as a reference for further evaluation of changes, stratified sampling, ground reference for model validation, restoration and conservation purposes

The Legacy of the Past Logging: How Forest Structure Affects Different Facets of Understory Plant Diversity in Abandoned Coppice Forests

Predicting how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning requires a multifaceted approach based on the partitioning of diversity into its taxonomic and functional facets and thus redundancy. Here, we investigated how species richness (S), functional diversity (FD) and functional redundancy (FR) are affected by forest structure. Sixty-eight abandoned coppice-with-standards plots were selected in two mountain areas of the Apennine chain. We performed linear models to quantify the influence of structural parameters on S, FD and FR of clonal traits. Each diversity facet was affected differently by structural parameters, suggesting a complex interweaving of processes that influence the understory layer. Namely, tree layer density influences S, the height of the standards affects the lateral spread and persistence of clonal growth organs, and diameter of standards affects the FD of the number of clonal offspring. Opposite relationships compared to FD was found for the FR, suggesting how clonal traits play a key role in species assemblage. The observation that structural parameters exert opposite impact on FR seems to indicate a counterbalance effect on ecosystem stability. Multifaceted approaches yield a better understanding of relationship between forest structure and understory, and this knowledge can be exploited to formulate indications for more sustainable management practices

Unimodal Relationships of Understory Alpha and Beta Diversity along Chronosequence in Coppiced and Unmanaged Beech Forests

Patterns of diversity across spatial scales in forest successions are being overlooked, despite their importance for developing sustainable management practices. Here, we tested the recently proposed U-shaped biodiversity model of forest succession. A chronosequence of 11 stands spanning from 5 to 400 years since the last disturbance was used. Understory species presence was recorded along 200 m long transects of 20 × 20 cm quadrates. Alpha diversity (species richness, Shannon and Simpson diversity indices) and three types of beta diversity indices were assessed at multiple scales. Beta diversity was expressed by a) spatial compositional variability (number and diversity of species combinations), b) pairwise spatial turnover (between plots Sorensen, Jaccard, and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity), and c) spatial variability coefficients (CV% of alpha diversity measures). Our results supported the U-shaped model for both alpha and beta diversity. The strongest differences appeared between active and abandoned coppices. The maximum beta diversity emerged at characteristic scales of 2 m in young coppices and 10 m in later successional stages. We conclude that traditional coppice management maintains high structural diversity and heterogeneity in the understory. The similarly high beta diversities in active coppices and old-growth forests suggest the presence of microhabitats for specialist species of high conservation value

Biogeographic deconstruction of phylogenetic and functional diversity provides insights into the formation of regional assemblages

Evolutionary history and environmental filtering shape the phylogenetic and functional structure of regional assemblages. However, detecting the footprint of such eco-evolutionary drivers is challenging because these may often counter each other's signature. Here, we examined whether a biogeographic deconstruction approach of phylogenetic (PD) and functional diversity (FD) patterns may help in identifying eco-evolutionary signals in extant regional assemblages. As model system, we used forest understorey angiosperms found in three regions of Italy (Alpine, Mediterranean, Continental). We quantified PD and FD of all species inhabiting the three regions (regional assemblages). Then, we computed PD and FD for the subsets of species restricted to each region (biogeographic elements), also examining diversity patterns of species found across the three regions (widespread element). We used aboveground and belowground traits capturing major plant functions to calculate FD. Additionally, we assessed FD patterns decoupled from phylogeny. We found that species restricted to climatically harsh regions (Alpine and Mediterranean elements) were phylogenetically and functionally clustered, whereas widespread species were characterised by overdispersion. Species confined to the climatically intermediate (Continental) region were randomly sorted. By including all species occurring within a region, the patterns found for the region-restricted species blurred. Phylogenetically decoupled FD patterns were qualitatively similar to non-decoupled ones with the exception of the Alpine element, where we detected a clear signature of functional differentiation between closely related species. This suggests that recent speciation events contributed to shaping the Alpine flora. Compared to the belowground compartment, aboveground traits showed a more coherent pattern with that of all-trait FD – likely because most biomass is allocated aboveground in forest understoreys. This biogeographic deconstruction study illustrates which type of eco-evolutionary insights can be gained by implementing multifaceted and integrated approaches at the macroecological scal

Biogeographic deconstruction of phylogenetic and functional diversity provides insights into the formation of regional assemblages

Evolutionary history and environmental filtering shape the phylogenetic and functional structure of regional assemblages. However, detecting the footprint of such eco-evolutionary drivers is challenging because these may often counter each other's signature. Here, we examined whether a biogeographic deconstruction approach of phylogenetic (PD) and functional diversity (FD) patterns may help in identifying eco-evolutionary signals in extant regional assemblages. As model system, we used forest understorey angiosperms found in three regions of Italy (Alpine, Mediterranean, Continental). We quantified PD and FD of all species inhabiting the three regions (regional assemblages). Then, we computed PD and FD for the subsets of species restricted to each region (biogeographic elements), also examining diversity patterns of species found across the three regions (widespread element). We used aboveground and belowground traits capturing major plant functions to calculate FD. Additionally, we assessed FD patterns decoupled from phylogeny. We found that species restricted to climatically harsh regions (Alpine and Mediterranean elements) were phylogenetically and functionally clustered, whereas widespread species were characterised by overdispersion. Species confined to the climatically intermediate (Continental) region were randomly sorted. By including all species occurring within a region, the patterns found for the region-restricted species blurred. Phylogenetically decoupled FD patterns were qualitatively similar to non-decoupled ones with the exception of the Alpine element, where we detected a clear signature of functional differentiation between closely related species. This suggests that recent speciation events contributed to shaping the Alpine flora. Compared to the belowground compartment, aboveground traits showed a more coherent pattern with that of all-trait FD – likely because most biomass is allocated aboveground in forest understoreys. This biogeographic deconstruction study illustrates which type of eco-evolutionary insights can be gained by implementing multifaceted and integrated approaches at the macroecological scal

Guided implant surgery and sinus lift in severely resorbed maxillae: A retrospective clinical study with up to 10 years of follow-up

Objectives In the posterior maxilla, due to the presence of maxillary sinus, residual bone height lower than 3mm is a critical factor that can affect implant stability and survival. The use of guided surgery may facilitate the surgical procedures and the implant insertion in case of severely resorbed maxillae. Moreover, it may have beneficial effects on the long-term survival and success of implant-supported restorations. This study aimed to evaluate implant supported restorations on severely resorbed maxilla (<3 mm) after sinus lift with collagenated xenograft and guided surgery. Methods Forty-three patients with need for implant rehabilitation and residual bone height between 1 and 3 mm were recruited. Surgical and prosthetical aspects were planned following digital approach with the use of Realguide 5.0 (3diemme, Varese, Italy). Lateral window sinus lift was performed and implants were placed simultaneously to the augmentation procedure with a tooth-supported pilot drill surgical template. A pre-hydrated collagenated porcine bone matrix was adopted as regenerative material. Computer-aided-design/computer-aided-manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorations were delivered after six months of healing. Milled titanium chamfer abutments with CAD/CAM crowns were used. Bone height at implant site level was measured using an image software analysis applied to the pre- and post-surgical radiographs and at the follow-up. Biological and technical complications were recorded during all the follow-up periods. Results Fifty-four sinus were treated. After a mean follow-up time of 5.11 years (SD: 2.47), no implants were lost nor showed signs of disease. The mean pristine bone height was 2.07 mm (SD: 075). At the final evaluation the augmented sinus height was 12.83 mm (SD: 1.23). Two cases experienced minor perforation of the membrane, while five patients developed minimal post-operative complications, completely resolved with pharmacologic therapy. No mid-term biological complications were experienced by the patients. No cases experienced peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis during the whole follow-up period. Four patients (7.4%) faced an unscrewing of the prosthesis. Conclusions The present study showed the efficacy in the mid-term of the digital planning and the guided surgery in restoring severely resorbed posterior maxilla with dental implants

Forest deadwood in Europe

This dataset considers information from 3,243 ICP-Forests Level I plots collected between 2006 and 2008 in 19 European Countries: France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Hungary, Poland, Slovak Republic, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia, Cyprus. The dataset provides standardized estimates of deadwood volume distinguished in five different deadwood components: standing and lying dead trees, snags, coarse woody debris, and stumps. The data allowed a traditional set of forest parameters to be extracted and that may be used to build relationship with other forest attributes, both quantitative and qualitative, to strength the knowledge of forest structure, diversity and species interactions naturally occurring in European forests. To the best of our knowledge it is the first dataset reporting measurements on deadwood at such large spatial scale in forest stands in Europe

A prospective case series on surgical treatment of circumferential and semi-circumferential defects due to peri-implantitis

Different surgical treatment strategies for peri-implantitis with the use of graft material and membranes have been suggested without any longitudinal remarkable success rate. The present preliminary study was aimed to analyze a new clinical approach based on the disinfection of the implant connection, the disinfection of the implant surface and GBR approach in the treatment of circumferential and semi-circumferential bony defect resulting from peri-implantitis. Six consecutive patients were selected for the present study. After removal of factors that could potentially influence peri-implant pathology, the prosthetic rehabilitation was always removed and a full thickness flap was elevated to allow access to the peri-implant defect and the exposed implant surface. Once the defect was degranulated and the implant surface cleaned, a mixture (50:50) of autogenous bone and allograft was used. Guided bone regeneration technique using membranes was adopted and the flaps were closed for a submerged healing. Six months thereafter, a new re-opening procedure was performed and cleaned superstructures and crowns were repositioned. Patients were followed for one year thereafter and recalled for a customized oral hygiene every three months. Radiological and periodontal analysis was performed before surgery and every six months. The studied procedure was associated with a pronounced increase in REC and CAL with stable peri-implant conditions at 6 and 12 months. PI, BOP and PD values were significantly reduced both at 6 and 12 months. At 12 months, a mean PD gain of 4.5 mm and a bone loss reduction of 5.1 mm was obtained. Within the limitation of the present preliminary study, the proposed technique might represent a promising result for treatment of circumferential and semi-circumferential bone defects around implants affected by peri-implantitis

comspat: an R package to analyze within-community spatial organization using species combinations

The diversity of species combinations observable in sampling units reflects a species' uneven distribution and preference for specific abiotic and biotic conditions – a phenomenon most commonly expressed in terms of ecological assembly rules of plant communities and other sessile organisms (e.g. subtidal algae, invertebrates and coral reefs). We present comspat, a new R package that uses grid or transect data sets to measure the number of realized (observed) species combinations (NRC) and the Shannon diversity of realized species combinations (compositional diversity; CD) as a function of spatial scale. NRC and CD represent two measures from a model family developed by Pál Juhász-Nagy based on information theory. Classical Shannon diversity measures biodiversity based on the number and relative abundance of species, whereas the specific version of Shannon diversity presented here characterizes biodiversity and provides information on species coexistence relationships; both measures operate at fine-scale within the sampling unit or within the community. comspat offers two commonly applied null models, complete spatial randomness and random shift, to disentangle the textural, intraspecific and interspecific effects on the observed spatial patterns. Combined, these models assist users in detecting and interpreting spatial associations and inferring assembly mechanisms. Our open-sourced package provides a vignette that describes the method and reproduces the figures from this paper to help users contextualize and apply functions to their data

Measurement of gap between abutment and fixture in dental conical connection implants. A focused ion beam SEM observation

The aim of the authors was to examine the abutment-fixture interface in Morse-type conical implants in order to verify gaps at this level using a new microscopical approach. In this in vitro study, 20 abutment-fixture complexes were prepared by sectioning (longitudinal and cross-sectional to the long axis) with a microtome and then with a focused ion beam (FIB). This is a micrometric machine tool that uses gallium ions to abrade circumscribed areas to dig deeper into the cuts obtained with the microtome in order to eliminate cut-induced artifacts. This is because the FIB abrasion is practically free from artifacts, which are normally generated by the action of the microtome blades or other techniques. Samples were then observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The observation of the abraded parts with the FIB permitted measurement of the real gap between the implant-abutment components. A variable amount of gap was retrieved (from 0 to 3 ?m) by the observations, confirming the non-hermetic nature of the connection. It has to be pointed out that in approximately 65% of cases, the gap accounted for less than 1 ?m. The reported data confirmed that the analyzed connection system allowed for minimal gap. However, from the evidence of the present analysis, it cannot be assumed that the 2 parts of a Morse-type conical implant are fused in 1 piece, which would create a perfectly matched hermetic connection