Assessment of How Natural Stand Structure for Narrow Endemic Cedrus brevifolia Henry Supports Silvicultural Treatments for Its Sustainable Management

Cedrus brevifolia Henry is a narrow endemic tree species of Cyprus flora. The objectives of this study are to develop silvicultural treatments for the conservation of the species formations based on the stand structure analysis of C. brevifolia natural forest and to present the characteristics of the first application of the treatments through silvicultural interventions. Six structural types were distinguished in C. brevifolia formations in the study area located in the state forest of Paphos. For each structural type, six circular plots of approximately 500 m2 were established. In each plot, various measurements and estimations were recorded. Then, silvicultural interventions were applied in the plots of the mixed C. brevifolia formations. In the formations of C. brevifolia a great number of trees grow in the understory. In the very productive and in the poorly productive sites C. brevifolia occurs only in pure formations. The basal area of C. brevifolia in pure formations ranges from 19.04 m2·ha-1 in poorly productive sites to 38.49 m2·ha-1 in fairly productive sites. Cedrus brevifolia is the most competitive species of the study area as a result of both shade tolerance and the wide range of its site sensitivity behavior. The climax of the study area are the pure stands of C. brevifolia having an understory of Quercus alnifolia Poech and a sparse occurrence of Pinus brutia Ten., mainly in moderately productive sites. Forest practice has to, as much as possible, unite species formations in order to create extensive areas of C. brevifolia formations

Microsatellite markers datat of Cedrus brevifolia in Cyprus

The file "Data fine-scale structure of Cedrus bevifolia .xlsx" contains the microsatellites and geographical data used in the study " Significant patterns of fine-scale spatial genetic structure in a narrow endemic wind-dispersed tree species, Cedrus brevifolia Henry.", by Eliades N-G H, Fady B, Gailing O, Leinemann L, Finkeldey R, published in ???

Artificial Water Troughs Use by the Mountain Ungulate Ovis gmelini ophion (Cyprus Mouflon) at Pafos Forest

For large herbivores inhabiting arid/semi-arid environments, water can be a limiting resource affecting their distribution and abundance for periods when water requirements are not met via forage. The Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is such a species, which is endemic to the mountain habitats of Cyprus. Recognizing water scarcity to be a major pressure to the mouflon, and with global warming projected to intensify hot and dry periods in the region, the Game and Fauna Service has been maintaining a network of locally designed watering troughs in Pafos Forest—the mouflon’s stronghold—since 1997. This study describes the mouflon’s use of the water troughs and examines whether visitation rates differed at the daily or weekly scale in response to environmental, climatic or anthropogenic parameters. Using camera traps, ten troughs were monitored from September 2017 to March 2018 (1,065 days; range 29–164 days per trough). Mouflon were detected at seven troughs (mean herd size 1.5 ± 1.2) during 373 independent detections (≥30 min interval between photographs), with visits peaking during late morning and midday hours. Generalized mixed-effect models showed mouflon visiting water troughs more frequently during hotter days, regardless of recent precipitation. Visits were also more frequent at water troughs located close to tar roads. Moreover, there was no evidence of mouflon avoiding water troughs used by predators (red foxes, feral dogs) at either daily or weekly scale, or during hunting days. The study supports the value of artificial water troughs for mediating, partially at least, the effects of climate change on mountain ungulates such as the Cyprus mouflon. Additional studies are proposed that will examine both mouflon drinking patterns across all seasons and ways of improving the effectiveness of the current water trough grid

An approach for the mass propagation of Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae), for quality propagule production

The scenarios of climate change in Mediterranean regions bring back the need for tree species tolerant to drought and disease, for agro- and urban-forestry purposes, landscape rehabilitation, as well as for post-fire and quarry restoration plans. Therefore, forest industries focus on selecting, propagating and growing superior trees. The Cupressus sempervirens L. is such a coniferous tree species, with a fundamental ecological, financial and ornamental role in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient macropropagation protocol, which would lead to mass-selected genotypes or phenotypes of C. sempervirens f. sempervirens. For this purpose the axillary shoot multiplication method was used, by adopting both cutting propagation and intermittent mist methods. These methods were used for the first time in the macropropagation of C. sempervirens f. sempervirens. For shoot proliferation, 24 different modified macropropagation treatments at different concentrations and combinations were tested: shoot cuttings, concentrations of K-IBA and rooting systems. The elongation and root induction was carried out in an intermittent mist system for 50 days, then the new plantlets were moved for acclimatization for 15 days in a greenhouse. The current workflow presents an effective preliminary protocol with clear steps and treatments for macropropagation of C. sempervirens f. sempervirens. The developed protocol for macropropagation of tree species ensures cost- and time-efficient propagation. Produced plantlets were developed efficiently under in vivo conditions, allowing to propagate and store genetic material for conservation and domestication. This protocol can be generated for other tree species of the Cupressus genus and the Cupressaceae family

Anthropogenic and natural causes influencing population genetic structure of Juniperus procera Hochst. ex Endl. in the Ethiopian highlands

Juniperus procera is economically highly important but threatened tree species. It is the only species among 67 taxa in the genus Juniperus that naturally grows in Africa and south of the equator extending up to 18°S in Zimbabwe. Ethiopia is assumed to host the largest J. procera populations, which are also believed to have high genetic variation owing to their wide ecological amplitude. This study assessed genetic variation at AFLPs of J. procera populations in the Ethiopian highlands. In the study six populations, namely Chilimo, Goba, Menagesha-Suba, Wef-Washa, Yabelo and Ziquala were included. A total of 20-24 trees from each population were investigated based on 128 AFLP band positions. AMOVA revealed that most of the variation (94%) resided within populations of J. procera suggesting extensive gene flow among populations which is attributable to the outcrossing mating system and effective gene transport mechanisms of the species. However, genetic differentiation among populations was still significant (P \u3c 0.05), and the differentiation was significantly (P \u3c 0.05) correlated with geographic distance. All population pairs were significantly (P \u3c 0.05) differentiated except for Menagesha-Suba and Wef-Washa. These two populations also showed the highest gene diversity (Hj = 0.301 and Hj = 0.297, respectively). These results are in accordance with historical records that claim the establishment of the Menagesha-Suba juniper population as plantation of seedlings from Wef-Washa back in fifteenth century. © 2010 The Author(s)

Mediterranean Islands Hosting Marginal and Peripheral Forest Tree Populations: The Case of Pinus brutia Ten. in Cyprus

Mediterranean islands have served as important Tertiary and glacial refuges, hosting important peripheral and ecologically marginal forest tree populations. These populations, presumably harboring unique gene complexes, are particularly interesting in the context of climate change. Pinus brutia Ten. is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean Basin and in Cyprus in particular it is the most common tree species. This study evaluated genetic patterns and morphoanatomical local adaptation along the species geographical distribution and altitudinal range in Cyprus. Analysis showed that the Cyprus population of P. brutia is a peripheral population with high genetic diversity, comprised of different subpopulations. Evidence suggests the presence of ongoing dynamic evolutionary processes among the different subpopulations, while the most relic and isolated subpopulations exhibited a decreased genetic diversity compared to the most compact subpopulations in the central area of the island. These results could be the consequence of the small size and prolonged isolation of the former. Comparing populations along an altitude gradient, higher genetic diversity was detected at the middle level. The phenotypic plasticity observed is particularly important for the adaptive potential of P. brutia in an island environment, since it allows rapid change in local environmental conditions

High genetic diversity and significant population structure in Cedrus brevifolia Henry, a narrow endemic Mediterranean tree from Cyprus

Endemic island plant species with a narrow distribution are often, but not always, linked to low genetic variation within populations and a lack of differentiation among populations. Cedrus brevifolia is a narrow endemic island tree species of Cyprus. Its range is restricted to a single forest, divided into five neighbouring sites. This study, using biparentally inherited nuclear microsatellites and paternally inherited plastid (chloroplast) microsatellites, assessed the genetic variation of C. brevifolia within its sole population and the level of genetic differentiation among formed sites. The results from both markers showed high diversity (nuclear HT = 0. 70; plastid HT = 0. 93), strongly suggesting that the species did not experience severe bottleneck events or extensive genetic drift. Besides, the maintenance of a high genetic diversity in C. brevifolia may suggest that it originates from a widespread congener species. Significant genetic differentiation at nuclear (GST = 0. 052) and plastid (GST = 0. 119) markers was found among the formed sites. Remarkably, the relatively high genetic differentiation found at plastid markers was comparable to values observed in two widespread congener cedar species. The genetic differentiation probably occurred due to fragmentation of a previously uniform population. This would lead to the shaping of different genetic groups (Bayesian analysis) and to significant population substructure. Furthermore, significant values observed for both isolation by distance and large-scale spatial genetic structure could indicate ineffective gene flow among sites and the early geographical isolation of the more isolated sites from the core population. © 2011 The Author(s)

Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Different Types of Tissue of Cedrus brevifolia Henry Extracts

This study aimed to determine the chemical composition of different types of tissue of Cedrus brevifolia Henry (Pinaceae) methanolic extracts, namely needles, twigs, branches, and bark. Cedrus brevifolia is a narrow endemic coniferous tree species of Cyprus, growing in a sole population in the mountainous area of Paphos Forest. Chemical analysis of the extracts was performed using liquid chromatography combined with time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF/HRMS). The majority of the 36 compounds tentatively identified belonged to the flavonoids family. The extract of needles was the richest extract in terms of secondary metabolites. The extracts were studied for their antioxidant activity using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Additionally, the antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining both the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. All extracts demonstrated antioxidant property, while bark gave the highest antioxidant capacity (IC50 value of 0.011 mg/mL) compared to the other tissues. Antibacterial activity was observed against both types of bacteria, with the extract of branches presenting the strongest activity against S. aureus (MIC, 0.097 mg/mL and MBC, 0.195 mg/mL). This is the first time that extracts of needles, twigs, branches, and bark of C. brevifolia are compared regarding their chemical composition as well as their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties