In the Great Lakes region, little data exist on the distribution of exotic earthworm species or their relative impacts to soil structure and plant communities in forest types other than those dominated by sugar maple. Our objective was to document the earthworm populations in relation to their proximity to human development (e.g., campgrounds, boat landings, roads) in beech-maple dominated fore...

Earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus and Octolasium lacteum) and gut homogenates did not produce CH(inf4), and methanogens were not readily culturable from gut material. In contrast, the numbers of culturable denitrifiers averaged 7 x 10(sup7) and 9 x 10(sup6) per g (dry weight) of gut material for L. rubellus and O. lacteum, respectively; these values were 256- and 35-fold larger than the numbers of...

We compared the tolerance of hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae Makino), beech (Fagus crenata Blume) and oak (Quercus serrata Thunb.) to creep and glide pressures of snow. The top/root (T/R) ratio of hiba trees ranged between 7.1 and 41.4 compared with 3.6-10.9 and 1.0-12.4 for beech and oak, respectively. However, if prostrate stems bearing adventitious roots were included in the root compo...

In this study, the impact bending strengths and specific impact bending strengths were determined for solid wood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) produced from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden), poplar (Populus x euramericana I-214), and beech (Fagus orientalis L.) woods using urea formaldehyde (UF), melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), and phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesives. The ...

The objective of this study was to quantify the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nanoZnO) on the water repellency and dimensional stability of beech wood. Beech wood blocks were treated with a nano-ZnO solution at four treatment levels (0, 10,000, 20,000, and 40,000 ppm) using a modified dip method. Also, a thermal treatment was performed at 60 and 120°C. After conditioning the samples, w...

We studied 11 gaps covered with beech saplings (< 1.30 m tall) in a reserve compartment (compartment 139, district one, Langa forest, watershed 36: Kazemrood) of the Caspian beech forest in N Iran. Two transects, each 2 m wide, were laid along the longest (N-S) and shortest (E-W) axis of each gap. Five micro sample plots, each 4 m2, were established: one at the center, and one at each corner. Q...

The aim was to analyze functional changes in the mycorrhizosphere (MR) of juvenile spruce and beech grown in a mixture under ambient and twice ambient ozone and inoculated with the root pathogen Phytophthora citricola. The phytotron experiment was performed over two vegetation periods, adding the pathogen at the end of the first growing season. Root biomass data suggest that the combined treatm...

We analysed climate change impacts on the growth and natural mortality of forest tree species and forest carbon (C) balance along an elevation gradient extending from the Pannonian lowland to the West Carpathian Mountains (Central Europe). Norway spruce Picea abies, European beech Fagus sylvatica, and oak Quercus sp. were investigated for 2 future time periods: 2021–2050 and 2071–2100. The peri...

Drought is a major environmental constraint to trees, causing severe stress and thus adversely affecting their functional integrity. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a key species in mesic forests that is commonly expected to suffer in a future climate with more intense and frequent droughts. Here, we assessed the seasonal response of leaf physiological characteristics of beech saplings t...

The decomposition and fate of 15N-labeled beech litter was monitored in three European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests (Aubure, France; Ebrach, Germany; and Collelongo, Italy) for 3 years. Circular plots around single beech trees were isolated from roots of neighboring trees by soil trenching, and annual litterfall was replaced by 15N-labeled litter. Nitrogen was continuously released from t...