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Fröhlich A, Przepióra F, Drobniak S, Mikusiński G, Ciach M. Public safety considerations constraint the conservation of large old trees and their crucial ecological heritage in urban green spaces. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174919. [PMID: 39038686 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Large old trees in urban public green spaces deliver a diversity of values essential for human well-being, including biodiversity conservation. Yet, the conservation of large old trees bearing key wildlife microhabitats interferes with safety considerations. This intuitive notion, however, is backed by an insufficient and scattered body of evidence. Here, we empirically examined this process using data on 5974 trees across 510 sample plots, organized as quintuplets within 102 sample sites, including urban parks, cemeteries, recreational forests, and historic reserves in the urban agglomeration of Kraków, Poland. Our analyses demonstrate that trees situated in areas frequently visited by people, or those near walking paths, benches, or playgrounds, have elevated accident hazards and, therefore, necessitate intensive tree surgeries (pruning and logging) to remain harmless. Large old trees, which bear the most diverse microhabitats and pose greater risks when they collapse, are especially affected by these measures. Accordingly, we found that the co-occurrence of large trees with elevated accident hazards results in significant losses of dead and sloped trees, and trees with cavities, injuries, crown deadwood, fungal fruiting bodies, or epiphytes, particularly in parks and, to a lesser extent, in recreational forests. Apparently, some tree-related microhabitats, such as injuries, cavities, and microsoils, also emerge in risky spots after pruning. Our findings underscore that the conservation of large old trees and their ecological functions faces significant challenges due to safety considerations. To address conservation challenges and harmonize human coexistence with biodiversity, we recommend enhancing environmental awareness and reevaluating arboricultural and planning policies. This would involve establishing strategic and pocket reserves on city peripheries and interiors, allowing larger older trees to thrive and develop important microhabitats without compromising public safety. Otherwise, we risk losing many large old trees and/or their superior value for wildlife, which will regenerate over decades, if not centuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Fröhlich
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Kraków 31-425, Poland; Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31-120, Poland.
| | - Fabian Przepióra
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Kraków 31-425, Poland
| | - Szymon Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków 30-387, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Mikusiński
- School for Forest Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skinnskatteberg 739 21, Sweden
| | - Michał Ciach
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture, Kraków 31-425, Poland
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Liu L, Yang A, Liu T, Liu S, Hu P, Chen C, Zhou H, Wu J, Yu F. Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses of Leaves from Cutting Rejuvenation of Ancient Cinnamomum camphora. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7664. [PMID: 39062907 PMCID: PMC11277138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Rejuvenation refers to the transition from the state of mature to juvenile. Many ancient Cinnamomum camphora have aged and died due to climatic and anthropic factors. Vegetative propagation can protect valuable germplasm resources. In this study, a 2000-year-old ancient C. camphora and its 2-year-old cutting plantlets were selected as experimental materials. The results indicated that the number of leaves with palisade tissue (Pal) cell layers was different between samples, with two layers in the rejuvenated leaves (RLs) and one layer in the mature leaves (MLs) and young leaves (YLs). Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), isopentenyladenine (iP) and isopentenyladenosine (iPR) concentrations were significantly higher in RLs than in MLs and YLs, but the abscisic acid (ABA) concentration was lower. Targeted metabolome analysis identified 293 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Meanwhile, a total of 5241 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome sequencing. According to the KEGG analysis, there were seven important enriched pathways in the MLs, RLs and YLs, including plant hormone signal transduction (57 DEGs), plant-pathogen interaction (56 DEGs) and MAPK signaling pathway-plant (36 DEGs). KEGG enrichment conjoint analyses of DEGs and DAMs identified 16 common pathways. Integrated analyses of cytological, hormone, metabolome and transcriptome elements can provide a research basis in regard to the rejuvenation regulatory mechanism of ancient C. camphora.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Faxin Yu
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Breeding and Efficient Utilization of Native Tree Species (NO.2024SSY04092), Institute of Biological Resources, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, No. 7777, Changdong Road, Nanchang 330096, China; (L.L.); (A.Y.); (T.L.); (S.L.); (P.H.); (C.C.); (H.Z.); (J.W.)
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Pasques O, Munné-Bosch S. Ancient trees are essential elements for high-mountain forest conservation: Linking the longevity of trees to their ecological function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317866121. [PMID: 38315840 PMCID: PMC10873607 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317866121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mature forests and their extremely old trees are rare and threatened ancient vestiges in remote European high-mountain regions. Here, we analyze the role that extremely long-living trees have in mature forests biodiversity in relation to their singular traits underlying longevity. Tree size and age determine relative growth rates, bud abortion, and the water status of long-living trees. The oldest trees suffer indefectible age-related constraints but possess singular evolutionary traits defined by fitness adaptation, modular autonomy, and a resilient metabolism that allow them to have irreplaceable roles in the ecosystem as biodiversity anchors of vulnerable lichen species like Letharia vulpina. We suggest that the role of ancient trees as unique biodiversity reservoirs is linked to their singular physiological traits associated with longevity. The set of evolutionarily plastic tools that can only be provided by centuries or millennia of longevity helps the oldest trees of mature forests drive singular ecological relationships that are irreplaceable and necessary for ecosystem dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ot Pasques
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
- Research Institute in Biodiversity, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
| | - Sergi Munné-Bosch
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
- Research Institute in Biodiversity, University of Barcelona, Barcelona08028, Spain
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Mu Y, Lindenmayer D, Zheng S, Yang Y, Wang D, Liu J. Size-focused conservation may fail to protect the world's oldest trees. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4641-4649.e3. [PMID: 37820721 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Old trees are irreplaceable natural resources that provide multifaceted benefits to humans. Current conservation strategies focus primarily on large-sized trees that were often considered old. However, some studies have demonstrated that small trees can be more than thousands of years old, suggesting that conventional size-focused perceptions may hamper the efficiency of current conservation strategies for old trees. Here, we compiled paired age and diameter data using tree-ring records sampled from 121,918 trees from 269 species around the world to detect whether tree size is a strong predictor of age for old trees and whether the spatial distribution of small old trees differs from that of large old trees. We found that tree size was a weak predictor of age for old trees, and diameter explained only 10% of the total age variance of old trees. Unlike large-sized trees that are mainly in warm, wet environments and protected, small old trees are predominantly in cold, dry environments and mostly unprotected, indicating that size-focused conservation failed to protect some of the oldest trees. To conserve old trees, comprehensive old-tree recognition systems are needed that consider not only tree size but also age and external characteristics. Protected areas designed for small old trees are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Mu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - David Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Shilu Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yongchuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment of Three Gorges Region, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Deyi Wang
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jiajia Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming, Shanghai 202183, China.
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Shipley JR, Gossner MM, Rigling A, Krumm F. Conserving forest insect biodiversity requires the protection of key habitat features. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:788-791. [PMID: 37331912 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Loss of insect biodiversity is widespread, and in forests habitat loss is one of the major drivers responsible. Integrative forest management must consider the preservation and promotion of key habitat features that provide essential microhabitats and resources to conserve biodiversity alongside ecosystem functions and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ryan Shipley
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ITES, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Rigling
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems ITES, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Krumm
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Huang L, Jin C, Pan Y, Zhou L, Hu S, Guo Y, Meng Y, Song K, Pang M, Li H, Lin D, Xu X, Minor J, Coggins C, Jim CY, Yan E, Yang Y, Tang Z, Lindenmayer DB. Human activities and species biological traits drive the long-term persistence of old trees in human-dominated landscapes. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:898-907. [PMID: 37169855 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01412-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Old trees have many ecological and socio-cultural values. However, knowledge of the factors influencing their long-term persistence in human-dominated landscapes is limited. Here, using an extensive database (nearly 1.8 million individual old trees belonging to 1,580 species) from China, we identified which species were most likely to persist as old trees in human-dominated landscapes and where they were most likely to occur. We found that species with greater potential height, smaller leaf size and diverse human utilization attributes had the highest probability of long-term persistence. The persistence probabilities of human-associated species (taxa with diverse human utilization attributes) were relatively high in intensively cultivated areas. Conversely, the persistence probabilities of spontaneous species (taxa with no human utilization attributes and which are not cultivated) were relatively high in mountainous areas or regions inhabited by ethnic minorities. The distinctly different geographic patterns of persistence probabilities of the two groups of species were related to their dissimilar responses to heterogeneous human activities and site conditions. A small number of human-associated species dominated the current cohort of old trees, while most spontaneous species were rare and endemic. Our study revealed the potential impacts of human activities on the long-term persistence of trees and the associated shifts in species composition in human-dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Huang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingji Pan
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Lihua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siwei Hu
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yanpei Guo
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Meng
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Song
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyue Pang
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Li
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dunmei Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jesse Minor
- Department of Geography and Environmental Planning, University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington, ME, USA
| | - Chris Coggins
- Faculty in Geography and Asian Studies, Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington, MA, USA
| | - C Y Jim
- Department of Social Sciences, Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, China
| | - Enrong Yan
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongchuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Zhiyao Tang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
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