BACKGROUND Quantifying changes in forest bird diversity is an essential task for developing effective conservation actions. When subtle changes in diversity accumulate over time, annual comparisons may offer an incomplete perspective of changes in diversity. In this case, progressive change, the comparison of changes in diversity from a baseline condition, may offer greater insight because chan...

quantifying spatial structure is one of the most important components, describing natural ecosystems and their biodiversity. in this study, a set of indices and functions related to spatial structure using 102 established plots with an area of 1000 m2 were presented. to achieve spatial structure of carpinus-fagus type, a set of indices (clark & evans, uniform angle, shannon-wiener, mingling and...

Process-based simulation models of terrestrial ecosystem dynamics are increasingly being applied as practical tools in forest management. Regional applications of such models are, however, very limited to date. This study presents and tests the performance of a process-based regional ecosystem modelling framework, LPJ-GUESS, which incorporates forest management practices. The model is driven by...

The depletion of forest in developing countries due to extended pastures, agricultural land, fuel wood and etc. is a serious concern. Therefore planting trees for reforestation and extended forest area is a essential assignment. Forest plantation with a basic criterion affects to understory plant diversity. This effects may make some species absent or appear. The objective of this study is to a...

The aim of this thesis was to modify and apply a statistical growth and yield model for analysing forest resources and optimal management under a changing climate in Finland. Initially, the structural and functional properties of physiological and statistical growth and yield models were compared under the current climate to assess whether the physiological model could be utilised in the modifi...

We investigated three main niche components (diet composition, habitat use and diel activity rhythms) to examine how the weasel Mustela nivalis and the stoat M. erminea, both specialised predators of small rodents, could permanently coexist in Belarus. Our research was carried out in temperate forests of Belarus, in two study areas with different environmental conditions: 1) continuous dry-land...

Climate change is predicted to cause upward shifts in forest tree distributions, which will require seedling recruitment beyond current forest boundaries. However, predicting the likelihood of successful plant establishment beyond current species' ranges under changing climate is complicated by the interaction of genetic and environmental controls on seedling establishment. To determine how gen...