Concept for Genetic Monitoring of Hemiboreal Tree Dynamics in Lithuania

Abstract

In this review, we focus on the importance of the dynamics of hemiboreal trees in the existing forest landscape and habitats for the genetic monitoring of community phenology, in order to obtain characteristic plant cycles as well as their responses to seasonal and climatic changes. The goal of our review is to: (i) determine the regenerative behaviour of hemiboreal tree species, (ii) propose a concept for the genetic monitoring of tree dynamics in the main forest habitat types of Lithuania’s forest landscape based on field observations, e.g., community phenology, and (iii) discuss ways of forest self-regulation, natural regeneration, and reproduction. We have chosen Lithuania as a case study for this review because it is a Northern European country that falls completely within the hemiboreal forest zone, which is often overlooked in terms of climate change effects. Our review highlights the importance of understanding the genetic responses of individual tree species and how they interact in the forest community after disturbance, as well as the need to sustainably monitor them at habitat and landscape scales. To enhance the adaptive potential and associated ecosystem services of forests, we propose the development of landscape-genetic monitoring of the differential dynamic properties of ecosystems.

Deep Ecology, Biodiversity and Assisted Natural Regeneration of European Hemiboreal Forests

“…Usually, it ranges from tree genetic variation characteristics (in terms of regeneration vs. canopy compositions) to multi-population structures reflected in disturbance and management regimes. To enhance the adaptive potential and associated ecosystem services of forests, we proposed a conceptual framework for hemiboreal tree dynamics based on a dynamic typology of forest communities [13,14,18,19,[41][42][43][44][45][46] and forest sites defined by field layer-canopy dominants, on-site soil fertility and moisture [18,47], and four types of tree regeneration strategies [33][34][35][37][38][39]48] (Table 1). It follows the Lithuanian classification of forest types and the layer dominants: forest site type, forest type series (field flora), and dominant and secondary tree species [18].…”

“…Tree species regeneration in hemiboreal zone is generally rapid after large-scale short-term disturbances (e.g., forest fire) but slower after longer term disturbances such as repeated logging or forest conversion to monoculture plantations [48]. Restoration of the original forest ecosystem via natural regeneration can take several centuries as succession begins with early-successional herb, shrub, and tree species, and culminates with late-successional species.…”

“…In the context of global climate change and disturbances, the adaptive potential of forests lies in assisted natural regeneration (ANR) in the contiguous communities of trees. It ensures that the physical and biological conditions of the forest ecosystem can continue to self-regulate while supporting natural selection and native biodiversity [48]. ANR is applied to forest resources after harvesting with the aim to accelerate, rather than replace, natural successional processes by removing or reducing barriers to regeneration such as soil degradation, competition with weedy species, and recurring disturbances (e.g., fire, grazing and wood harvesting) [53].…”

“…Conceptual framework of hemiboreal tree dynamics in Lithuania[32,48,50]. Capital letters indicate the main tree species that form forest stands in gap dynamics (G), successional development (S), or multi-cohort succession (M), whereas small letters (g, s, and m) indicate secondary ones which are a valuable admixture in these stands.…”

Assessing Genetic Variation among Strychnos spinosa Lam. Morphotypes Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers

“…All molecular marker systems that are developed and applied for analyses of genetic diversity and relatedness have their strengths and weaknesses [10]. Molecular markers have become an important instrument for characterizing wild and cultivated germplasm during the last decades [11].…”