Pan-European sustainable forest management indicators for assessing Climate-Smart Forestry in Europe

The increasing demand for innovative forest management strategies to adapt to and mitigate climate change and benefit forest production, the so-called Climate-Smart Forestry, calls for a tool to monitor and evaluate their implementation and their effects on forest development over time. The pan-European set of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management is considered one of the most important tools for assessing many aspects of forest management and sustainability. This study offers an analytical approach to selecting a subset of indicators to support the implementation of Climate-Smart Forestry. Based on a literature review and the analytical hierarchical approach, 10 indicators were selected to assess, in particular, mitigation and adaptation. These indicators were used to assess the state of the Climate-Smart Forestry trend in Europe from 1990 to 2015 using data from the reports on the State of Europe's Forests. Forest damage, tree species composition, and carbon stock were the most important indicators. Though the trend was overall positive with regard to adaptation and mitigation, its evaluation was partly hindered by the lack of data. We advocate for increased efforts to harmonize international reporting and for further integrating the goals of Climate-Smart Forestry into national-and European-level forest policy making

Effects of the lack of forest management on spatiotemporal dynamics of a subalpine Pinus cembra forest

Knowledge about the stand structure and dynamics of subalpine forests is crucial to preserve their multifunctionality. In the present study, we reconstructed the spatiotemporal dynamics of a subalpine Pinus cembra forest in the eastern Italian Alps in response to natural disturbances and forest management. We adopted a concurrent point pattern, dendroecological and growth dominance (GD) analysis. We mapped and measured all trees of Pinus cembra and Larix decidua in a 1 ha plot. We analyzed intra- and interspecific spatial patterns and spatial autocorrelation of tree size and age. We explored establishment dynamics and shifts in competition by analyzing growth suppression/release patterns and GD trends. Results showed a clumped, uneven-aged, multilayered structure where pine was dominant. The synergic action of ecological and human-induced factors is discussed to explain the prevalence of pine over time. Spatial pattern and autocorrelation analyses suggest a different colonization strategy of the two species, in which pine established after small-scale perturbations and experienced a stronger inter- and intra-specific competition. The interruption of tree establishment and shift in GD toward large trees resulting from the lack of forest management are the most important findings of this research. This highlights the importance of an active management to avoid the homogenization of the forest structure that is generally associated with a reduction in biodiversity and protective ability of forests

Representativeness of European biochar research : Part I - field experiments

A representativeness survey of existing European Biochar field experiments within the Biochar COST Action TD1107 was conducted to gather key information for setting up future experiments and collaborations, and to minimise duplication of efforts amongst European researchers. Woody feedstock biochar, applied without organic or inorganic fertiliser appears over-represented compared to other categories, especially considering the availability of crop residues, manures, and other organic waste streams and the efforts towards achieving a zero waste economy. Fertile arable soils were also over-represented while shallow unfertile soils were under-represented. Many of the latter are likely in agroforestry or forest plantation land use. The most studied theme was crop production. However, other themes that can provide evidence of mechanisms, as well as potential undesired side-effects, were relatively well represented. Biochar use for soil contamination remediation was the least represented theme; further work is needed to identify which specific contaminants, or mixtures of contaminants, have the potential for remediation by different biochars.Peer reviewe

Representativeness of European biochar research: part I–field experiments

A representativeness survey of existing European Biochar field experiments within the Biochar COST Action TD1107 was conducted to gather key information for setting up future experiments and collaborations, and to minimise duplication of efforts amongst European researchers. Woody feedstock biochar, applied without organic or inorganic fertiliser appears over-represented compared to other categories, especially considering the availability of crop residues, manures, and other organic waste streams and the efforts towards achieving a zero waste economy. Fertile arable soils were also over-represented while shallow unfertile soils were under-represented. Many of the latter are likely in agroforestry or forest plantation land use. The most studied theme was crop production. However, other themes that can provide evidence of mechanisms, as well as potential undesired side-effects, were relatively well represented. Biochar use for soil contamination remediation was the least represented theme; further work is needed to identify which specific contaminants, or mixtures of contaminants, have the potential for remediation by different biochars. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by VGTU Press and Informa UK Limited, [trading as Taylor & Francis Group]

The Ramazzini Institute 13-week study on glyphosate-based herbicides at human-equivalent dose in Sprague Dawley rats: Study design and first in-life endpoints evaluation

Background: Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely used pesticides worldwide, and glyphosate is the active ingredient of such herbicides, including the formulation known as Roundup. The massive and increasing use of GBHs results in not only the global burden of occupational exposures, but also increased exposure to the general population. The current pilot study represents the first phase of a long-term investigation of GBHs that we are conducting over the next 5 years. In this paper, we present the study design, the first evaluation of in vivo parameters and the determination of glyphosate and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in urine. Methods: We exposed Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats orally via drinking water to a dose of glyphosate equivalent to the United States Acceptable Daily Intake (US ADI) of 1.75 mg/kg bw/day, defined as the chronic Reference Dose (cRfD) determined by the US EPA, starting from prenatal life, i.e. gestational day (GD) 6 of their mothers. One cohort was continuously dosed until sexual maturity (6-week cohort) and another cohort was continuously dosed until adulthood (13-week cohort). Here we present data on general toxicity and urinary concentrations of glyphosate and its major metabolite AMPA. Results: Survival, body weight, food and water consumption of the animals were not affected by the treatment with either glyphosate or Roundup. The concentration of both glyphosate and AMPA detected in the urine of SD rats treated with glyphosate were comparable to that observed in animals treated with Roundup, with an increase in relation to the duration of treatment. The majority of glyphosate was excreted unchanged. Urinary levels of the parent compound, glyphosate, were around 100-fold higher than the level of its metabolite, AMPA. Conclusions: Glyphosate concentrations in urine showed that most part of the administered dose was excreted as unchanged parent compound upon glyphosate and Roundup exposure, with an increasing pattern of glyphosate excreted in urine in relation to the duration of treatment. The adjuvants and the other substances present in Roundup did not seem to exert a major effect on the absorption and excretion of glyphosate. Our results demonstrate that urinary glyphosate is a more relevant marker of exposure than AMPA in the rodent model

Effects of erythropoietin administration on blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion in rats

The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration on blood pressure and urinary albumin excretion were studied in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and in SHR rats treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (SHR-ACEi). Rats were housed in metabolic cages and treated with rHuEPO (150 U/kg body weight [bw] three times a week) for 6 weeks. Control animals received the vehicle only (0.25 mL of physiological saline). An angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor was administered in the drinking water for 6 weeks (spirapril 5 mg/kg bw). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), and 24 h urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured once a week. No significant differences in SBP were observed between rHuEPO and vehicle-treated normotensive animals at the end of the treatment (171.9 +/- 4.9 v 172.1 +/- 5.6 mm Hg, respectively). After 6 weeks, SBP was significantly higher in SHR and SHR-ACEi groups treated with rHuEPO than in control groups (239.8 +/- 7.3 and 243.0 +/- 7.3 mm Hg v 218.1 +/- 6.0 and 187.9 +/- 4.6 mm Hg, respectively); UAE was significantly higher in groups treated with rHuEPO than in control groups (WKY: 265.9 +/- 19.5 v 127.0 +/- 12.3 microg/100 g bw, SHR: 1668.4 +/- 564.6 v 234.8 +/- 22.9 microg/100 g bw, and SHR-ACEi: 1522.7 +/- 448.3 v 143.0 +/- 18.9 microg/100 g bw, respectively). We concluded that erythropoietin treatment causes an increase in arterial pressure in SHR only, and an increase in UAE in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. The albuminuric effect was not entirely dependent on increased blood pressure. The treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor did not modify either the proteinuric or the pressor effects

Biochars in soils : towards the required level of scientific understanding

Key priorities in biochar research for future guidance of sustainable policy development have been identified by expert assessment within the COST Action TD1107. The current level of scientific understanding (LOSU) regarding the consequences of biochar application to soil were explored. Five broad thematic areas of biochar research were addressed: soil biodiversity and ecotoxicology, soil organic matter and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, soil physical properties, nutrient cycles and crop production, and soil remediation. The highest future research priorities regarding biochar's effects in soils were: functional redundancy within soil microbial communities, bioavailability of biochar's contaminants to soil biota, soil organic matter stability, GHG emissions, soil formation, soil hydrology, nutrient cycling due to microbial priming as well as altered rhizosphere ecology, and soil pH buffering capacity. Methodological and other constraints to achieve the required LOSU are discussed and options for efficient progress of biochar research and sustainable application to soil are presented.Peer reviewe

Patterns of variation in reproductive parameters in Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)

Detailed knowledge of the variation in demographic rates is central for our ability to understand the evolution of life history strategies and population dynamics, and to plan for the conservation of endangered species. We studied variation in reproductive output of 61 radio-collared Eurasian lynx females in four Scandinavian study sites spanning a total of 223 lynx-years. Specifically, we examined how the breeding proportion and litter size varied among study areas and age classes (2-year-old vs. >2-year-old females). In general, the breeding proportion varied between age classes and study sites, whereas we did not detect such variation in litter size. The lack of differences in litter sizes among age classes is at odds with most findings in large mammals, and we argue that this is because the level of prenatal investment is relatively low in felids compared to their substantial levels of postnatal care

The effects of sex, age, season and habitat on diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in northeastern Poland

The diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes was investigated in five regions of northeastern Poland by stomach content analysis of 224 foxes collected from hunters. The red fox is expected to show the opportunistic feeding habits. Our study showed that foxes preyed mainly on wild prey, with strong domination of Microtus rodents, regardless of sex, age, month and habitat. Voles Microtus spp. were found in 73% of stomachs and constituted 47% of food volume consumed. Other food items were ungulate carrion (27% of volume), other mammals (11%), birds (9%), and plant material (4%). Sex- and age-specific differences in dietary diversity were found. Adult males and juvenile foxes had larger food niche breadths than adult females and their diets highly overlapped. Proportion of Microtus voles increased from autumn to late winter. Significant habitat differences between studied regions were found. There was a tendency among foxes to decrease consumption of voles with increasing percentage of forest cover. Based on our findings, red foxes in northeastern Poland can be recognized as a generalist predators, consuming easily accessible and abundant prey. However, high percentage of voles consumed regardless of age, sex, month, or habitats may indicate red fox specialization in preying on Microtus rodents