The global forest carbon (C) stock is estimated at 662 Gt of which 45% is in soil organic
matter. Thus, comprehensive understanding of the effects of forest management practices on …

Temperate forests cover 16% of the global forest area. Within these forests, the understorey
is an important biodiversity reservoir that can influence ecosystem processes and functions …

Microbes inhabiting the above-and belowground tissues of forest trees and soils play a
critical role in the response of forest ecosystems to global climate change. However …

During the summer of 2022, an acute drought once more afflicted central and southern
Europe. This marked the third episode (after 2015 and 2018) of severe aridity in large parts …

Understory vegetation accounts for a large proportion of floral diversity. It provides various
ecosystem functions and services, such as productivity, nutrient cycling, organic matter …

Plant interactions play a key role in forest ecosystem dynamics. The tallest plants, namely
the overstorey trees, are obvious major drivers, particularly in competition for light. This …

Forest ecosystems with long-lasting human imprints can emerge worldwide as outcomes of
land-use cessation. However, the interaction of these anthropogenic legacies with climate …

Climate-induced tree mortality became a global phenomenon during the last century and it
is expected to increase in many regions in the future along with a further increase in the …

Understory plants have an important role in regulating various functions and processes in
forest ecosystems. However, the overall consequences of understory plant losses on soil …

Ongoing climate warming is increasing evapotranspiration, a process that reduces plant-
available water and aggravates the impact of extreme droughts during the growing season …