Natural plant revegetation on reclaimed coal mine landscapes in Agacli-Istanbul

In this study, natural vegetation development was compared on one abandoned open coal mine spoil and three reclaimed coal mine areas with umbrella pine-Pinus pinea L., maritime pine-Pinus pinaster Ait. and leguminous black locust-Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Agacli-Istanbul. Soil data of these sample areas were determined in previous studies. These properties demonstrate physically and nutritionally poor conditions and some rehabilitative effects after tree species were introduced. The plant species composition and total coverage for each species (vertical projection onto the ground) was estimated visually and recorded on each sample plot. Naturally revegetated plant species, species composition, Shannon-Wiener diversity index values, species richness, evenness, total abundance and their coverabundance scales were evaluated by comparing each other. Generally, the best-represented species belong to Rosaceae in all investigated plots. Shannon diversity index and its components give the different results among sample plots. However, higher values were found on reclaimed sites. Highest Shannon diversity index (H') was found on the sample area reclaimed with maritime pine. Plant species richness (S) was highest under umbrella pine and plant species evenness (J') was highest on black locust sample plot. Despite the sample area reclaimed, black locust has the more fertile soil conditions, it has only the highest plant species evenness (J') value among areas.Key words: Coal mine, plant composition, reclamation, revegetation, species richness, species diversit

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BARK BEETLE DIVERSITY AND HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS IN PINE FORESTS OF SOUTH MARMARA, TURKEY

The bark beetles are of particular importance in the evolution and biodiversity of forest stands. To contribute to the knowledge on the biodiversity and ecology of bark beetles on pine species, we performed this research in South Marmara, Turkey. During 2014, Scolytinae species were obtained from baiting logs, which were 1.5 m long, and 0.2 m in diameter located at 8 sites in total in the research area. In total, 1100 individuals were collected representing 6 tribes, 11 genera, and 24 species. Orthotomicus erosus was the most abundant species and occurred in all areas. Our study demonstrated that black pine is associated with high diversity of beetles while brutian pine is correlated with high abundance of Scolytinae. In addition, stone pine has lowest diversity and abundance of bark beetles. Pinus brutia, which showed strong correlation with temperature, had relationship with O. erosus and P. pennidens. Pinus nigra showed a strong correlation with altitude, additionally it had relationship with I. sexdentatus. Our results indicate that these abiotic factors affect the composition and the number of bark beetles

Interactions among white spruce tannins, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp kurstaki, and spruce budworm (Lepidoptera : Tortricidae), on larval survival, growth, and development

The interactions among white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, purified acetone tannin extracts (hydrolyzable and condensed tannin), Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki CrylA(c) delta-endotoxin strain HD-73 (Btk), and spruce budworm, Chotistoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on larval survival, growth, and development were investigated over the whole larval feeding period by using artificial diet supplemented with three concentrations of Btk toxins per milliliter of diet (0, 0.021, and 1.72 mu g/ml) and three concentrations of foliar tannin extract (0, 8, and 15% dry mass basis). At high Btk concentration, tannin antagonized Btk potency against spruce budworm by lowering Btk-related larval mortality from 83 to 43%. At moderate Btk concentration tannin did not affect Btk potency. Host tree tannins antagonized not only the lethal effects of Btk toxin but also sublethal Btk-related impacts in terms of larval development, pupal weight, relative consumption rate, and growth rate. When alone in the diet, tannin negatively affected larval survival, growth, and development. Maximum potency of tannins against spruce budworm larvae (60% mortality) was reached at dietary concentrations corresponding to what is found in the plant (8% dry mass). The addition of Btk toxin in food containing tannin reduced percentage of larval mortality by one-third, indicating that Btk toxin can antagonize tannin potency against the insect. Development of Btk transgenic spruce trees should consider the antagonistic effect the toxin may have on the resistance conferred by tannins that have evolved naturally in spruce trees

Bird composition and diversity in oak stands under variable coppice management in Northwestern Turkey

Coppice management results in profound differences in forest structure and composition, which in turn can modify habitat value for bird species. We measured bird species richness and composition at 50 sample plots in pure oak forest stands in northwestern Turkey, which differed in age, cover and height in association with coppice management. We recorded a total of 38 bird species and 699 individuals across all stands. Regression-based multimodel inference showed that structural features of forest stands strongly affect bird diversity and abundance. While canopy cover and tree height affect bird diversity positively, elevation of sampling plots, tree density and tree diameter at breast height (DBH) had a negative effect. In addition, constrained ordination analyses revealed that canopy cover was the most important factor influencing bird species composition. Forest stands that have 42-85% canopy cover, i.e., a few (2009-2580 oak trees) large tall (13.36-15.78 m) trees, were the most preferred habitat by bird species. However, we also found that different bird species favor different stand structural features. Thus, variation in stand structure from maintaining some coppice management across the landscape may be beneficial for rare or endangered species and result in greater landscape level biodiversity