Bi Tra Aimé Vroh (1)*, Kouassi Bruno Kpangui (2), and Abdoulaye Cissé (1)

1. UFR Biosciences, University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Côte d’Ivoire. 
*E-mail: vrohbitra@gmail.com
2. UFR Environnement, University of Jean Lorougnon Guédé, Côte d’Ivoire.

With the loss of most of Côte d’Ivoire’s forests, it is time to focus conservation and protection strategies on the remaining fragments scattered throughout agro-systems. However, these forests remain neglected and little known in terms of their value for biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study was to report the overall ecological value of different fragments of riparian forests scattered in the agro-systems of Southern Côte d’Ivoire. The level of floristic diversity, the conservation interest of these forests, the structural characteristics of the vegetation and the aboveground biomass were assessed. Trees with a diameter of at least 2.5 cm were counted in 222 plots in dry-land forests and periodically or permanently flooded forests. Qualitative and quantitative diversity indices, density and aboveground biomass were calculated. The results showed that these forests are home to 267 species, 94 % of which are present in dry-land forests, compared to 28–32 % in permanently and periodically flooded forests, respectively. The high abundance of Alchornea cordifolia (18 to 23 % of the stems) leads to an imbalance in the distribution of stems between species. Despite the low levels of aboveground biomass (5.6 to 20.3 t·ha-1), the abundance of species from the Guinean-Congolese phytogeographic region (67.10 to 75.3 %) and the presence of 37 rare, threatened and/or endemic species are encouraging signs for the conservation of these remnant forests. These forests therefore deserve a census and the development of a specific strategy for their conservation.

Received: 09 April 2025 / Accepted: 12 May 2025 / Available online: 04 June 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Taras Bondarenko (1), Andrii Sasyuk (2), Volodymyr Zaika (3), Vasyl Pavlyuk (4),
Yurii Olifir (5), and Marek Trenčiansky (6)*

1. Maria Curie-Sklodovska University in Lublin, pl. Marii Curie-Skladovskiej 5, Lublin 20-031,
Poland. E-mail: taras.bondarenko@mail.umcs.pl
2. National Natural Park ‘Small Polissya’, 30300 Khmelnytsky region, Izyaslav, 32 Mykhelska Str.,
Ukraine. E-mail: malepolisja@ukr.net
3. Department of Forestry and Agricultural Management, Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National
University of Ukraine, 76018 Ivano-Frankivsk, 57 Shevchenko Str., Ukraine.
E-mail: vkzaika@ukr.net
4. Department of Forestry, National Forestry University of Ukraine, 79057 Lviv, 103 General
Chuprynky Str., Ukraine. E-mail: pww1960@i.ua
5. Institute of Agriculture of Carpathian Region, National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of
Ukraine, 5 Hrushevskoho Str., Obroshyne village, 81115 Lviv region, Ukraine.
E-mail: olifir.yura@gmail.com
6. Department of Forest Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, 24 T. G. Masaryka, 96053 Zvolen, Slovakia. *E-mail: trenciansky@tuzvo.sk

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of undergrowth species on forest litter formation and agrochemical soil properties in pure Scots pine forest stands. Research was conducted in 56- to 90-year-old pine forest stands of Minor Polissya region (Ukraine). Based on the analysis of 14 forest stands with undergrowth species and 1 stand without undergrowth species (control), the dynamics, stock and decomposition of forest litter over one year was evaluated. The main part of the research was assessment of the impact of forest litter of undergrowth species on agrochemical soil indicators. From a dynamic point of view, the most forest litter was in the summer-autumn period. Total forest litter stocks in the stands with undergrowth species was significantly lower than in control one. Pine forest stands in Minor Polissya, characterised by variable density and species composition of underwood species, predominantly grow on highly acidic soils, exhibiting low levels of base saturation, exchangeable calcium and magnesium, moderate to high organic matter, and very low to low levels of mobile phosphorus and readily hydrolysable nitrogen. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, we can confirm that the influence of understorey litterfall on various agrochemical soil properties was heterogeneous. The positive impact of undergrowth species litter is significant in the case of nitrogen, pH and potassium.

Received: 18 February 2025 / Accepted: 03 June 2025 / Available online: 24 June 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Bakayoko Hillihase (1, 2*), N’Gouan Emmanuel-Joël Abrou (1),
Venance-Pâques Gniayou Kouadio (3), Adjo Estelle Genevieve Adiko (1),
and Constant Yves Adou Yao (1, 2, 4)

1. Natural Environments and Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, UFR Biosciences, Felix
Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. E-mails: hillihase@gmail.com*(BH)
2. Biology, Environment, Health doctoral school, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan,
Côte d’Ivoire. E-mail: edbes@ed-bio-env-sante.edu.ci (BH)
3. Department of Plant Biology, UFR Biological Sciences, Péléforo Gon Coulibaly University,
Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire. E-mail: info@upgc.edu.ci (V-PGK)
4. Swiss Center for Scientific Research in Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
E-mail: communication.csrs@csrs.ci (CYAY)

Mega-trees, although representing a small proportion of the flora of forest ecosystems, provide the bulk of ecosystem services. However, their degradation, accentuated by strong and changing climatic and ecological constraints, is intensifying under the action of anthropogenic activities. To assess the diversity, biomass and conservation value of these mega-trees in natural forests, this study was carried out in three vegetation types: old-growth forests, secondary forests and crop/fallow mosaics, in Azagny National Park, in Côte d’Ivoire. Inventories were undertaken in 71 plots of 2500 m² each. Within these plots, the diameter at breast height (DBH ≥ 70 cm) and the height of each tree were recorded to estimate total plant biomass. The study identified 49 mega- tree species, of which two are endemic to the Upper Guinea forest block and eight are listed as vulnerable or near threatened on IUCN Red List. Furthermore, old-growth forests were found to be the most productive in terms of biomass, reaching an average of 125.79 ±76.29 t·ha-1, well above the other two vegetation types mentioned above. This underlines their excellent biomass storage capacity in the protected area. In addition, the density and basal area of mega-trees in these old-growth forests are higher than in the other forest types.

Received: 29 April 2025 / Accepted: 19 June 2025 / Available online: 15 July 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Nexhat Balaj, Vezir Januzi*, and Hyzer Rizani

Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Engineering, University for Business and Technology
(UBT), 56 Rexhep Krasniqi Str., 56 Prishtina, Kosovo. *E-mail: vezir.januzi@ubt-uni.net

The rose species and cultivars are considered one of the most valued ornamental shrubs in urban landscape design due to its aesthetic role, positive impact on biodiversity enhancement, high adaptability to various climatic and environmental conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the vegetative growth and flowering stage of selected Floribunda and Grandiflora rose cultivars and to assess their adaptive potential and aesthetic impact within urban environments in Suhareka, Kosovo. Ten rose cultivars – eight Floribunda (‘Angel Face’, ‘Sunsprite’, ‘Amber Queen’, ‘Bonica 82’, ‘English Miss’, ‘Scentimental’, ‘Betty Boop’ and ‘Iceberg’) and two Grandiflora (‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Love’s Promise’) – were analysed under the climatic conditions of Kosovo. The most intensive flowering stage occurred in June, with the ‘Queen Elizabeth’ cultivar producing an average of 35 flowers per plant, followed by the ‘Loves Promise’ cultivar with 34 flowers per plant. The lowest number of flowers was recorded in the ‘Angel Face’ cultivar, with 22 flowers per plant, and in the ‘Bonica 82’ cultivar, with 23 flowers per plant. The cultivars ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Sunsprite’ demonstrated best performance under climatic and environmental conditions of Kosovo. The Grandiflora group of roses blooms more abundantly, which is proven by the effect of additional hybridizations that have been made between hybrid tea roses and the Floribunda group.

Received: 25 April 2025 / Accepted: 02 July 2025 / Available online: 15 July 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Vasil Kolev* and Gradimir Gruychev

Department of Wildlife Management, University of Forestry, 10 St. Kl. Ohridski Blvd., 1797
Sofia, Bulgaria. E-mails: vassilie@abv.bg*, gradi.val@gmail.com

This study investigates the population dynamics of river trout (Salmo labrax) in the Strugarnitsa River, a protected tributary of the Ogosta River in North-Western Bulgaria. Utilising electrofishing across two transects in winter 2023 and summer 2024, the study assessed abundance, biomass, size structure, and age composition. The calculations were made using the Seber and Le Cren (1967) removal method based on two-pass electrofishing. The objective of the study is to quantify and evaluate the population dynamics of river trout in the Strugarnitsa River. The average trout density was 368 ind.·ha-1, and the biomass was 15.2 kg·ha-1, with a notable 50 % higher abundance in summer compared to the breeding season in November. The population consisted primarily of one- two three-year-old fish, with no zero-year-olds observed in the lower trout zone during summer, suggesting spatial segregation of juveniles. These values are among the lowest reported in Bulgaria, likely due to low summer water flow and water diversion. The absence of stocking and presence of natural reproduction indicate a self-sustaining population, albeit with limited fish production capacity. The findings provide baseline data for future management, recommending minimal exploitation and catch-and-release fishing to maintain population equilibrium.

Received: 23 April 2025 / Accepted: 09 July 2025 / Available online: 17 July 2025

Open Access: This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.