Context Forest fires are key ecological factors affecting pine forests globally. Understanding impacts of varying fire intensities on forest ecosystem components is crucial for predicting recovery and informing management. Objectives This study aimed to assess effects of different surface fire intensities on structural components of pine forests, including tree canopy, herbaceous layer, and surface soil horizons, and identify relationships between fire intensity and ecosystem parameters. Methods The study examined three areas with different fire intensities (severe, moderate, mild) 1 year after a surface fire in Ukraine's Volyn-Polissia region, using vegetation surveys, soil analyses, and statistical methods. Results Fire intensity significantly influenced tree mortality and the vitality structure of Pinus sylvestris stands. Scorch height correlated strongly with stem diameter in mild and moderate intensity zones (P < 0.0001). Herbaceous layer composition showed significant variations in all life-form traits across different fire intensities. Species diversity, dominance, and evenness indices varied with fire intensity, as did species distribution by ecological strategies. Soil physicochemical properties, including surface layer density, ash content, moisture capacity, and pH, also changed. Correlations were found between the condition index of P. sylvestris and soil pH, as well as between herbaceous cover dominance/evenness indices and P2O5 content in surface soil layers. Weaker associations were identified between herbaceous cover diversity and soil density/hygroscopic moisture. The study was conducted over a 1-year period following the fire event, focusing on the short-term responses of vegetation and soil properties. Conclusions Surface fires of varying intensities alter multiple forest ecosystem components. Severely damaged areas may require restoration efforts, including active interventions such as artificial reforestation or other measures to accelerate recovery processes. Moderately and mildly affected zones, on the other hand, show potential for natural self-regulation. These findings have important implications for post-fire forest management strategies.

Knowledge of the health condition of urban trees is fundamental for making decisions regarding management and resource allocation. The objective of this study was to determine the current health status of the trees at the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics (INAOE) in San Andres Cholula, Mexico. Five health indicators previously used in urban forests were assessed. The structure and diversity indicator indicated the existence of 2210 trees, mostly (58.8 %) of small size ( 40 %) in some of its species and low percentages of dieback. Live crown ratio and crown density were moderate in eight and six species, respectively. The tree damage indicator showed the existence of 44 damaging agents in 956 trees (43.3 % of the total), highlighting the ball moss ( Tillandsia recurvata ), the felt fungus of evergreen ash ( Septobasidium sp.) associated with an armored scale, the same fungus also affecting white cedar ( Hesperocyparis lusitanica ) in association with another scale (a new record), and two bark beetles, Hylesinus aztecus in evergreen ash, and Phloesinus sp. in white cedar. Regarding the mortality indicator, 75 trees (3.3 %) were recorded. Finally, the soil condition indicated that the pH was close to neutral, with electrical conductivity values above 2 dS m(-1) and a low beneficial mycoflora population. All these factors, together with the imbalance in tree diversity, high planting density, compacted soils, and the presence of risky trees, are negatively affecting the health of INAOE's tree community.

Millet/cowpea intercropping is a promoted practice in Sub-Saharan agriculture. However, because cowpea is known as a host for plant-parasitic nematodes that may also infect millet, we examined whether intercropping may increase the risk of nematode-mediated millet damage, and if this risk may be controlled by organic amendments. In twelve Senegalese farmers' fields which had been either non-manured or regularly manured over the past 10 years at least, we assessed the effects of intercropping millet and cowpea on the abundance of free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes, ecological indices, and land equivalent ratios (LER). Six fields were manured, and six non-manured. Each field included four plots: millet and cowpea as pure stands, and two plots with millet intercropped with cowpea sown at two densities. Soil nematofauna was evaluated before sowing and at cowpea flowering. Soil nematofauna was dominated by plant-parasitic nematodes. Before manure application and crop sowing, regularly manured fields had higher structure indices of nematofauna than non-manured ones, and Pratylenchus was almost absent. At crop flowering, abundance of Pratylenchus increased and was drastically higher in pure cowpea (149 individuals 100 g(-1) dry soil) than in intercropping and pure millet (18 and 17 individuals 100 g(-1) dry soil, respectively), regardless of the manuring regime. Manuring had significant positive effects on various bacterivorous families, on fungivorous and plant-parasitic trophic groups, but not on Pratylenchus. Millet and cowpea yields of manured fields were the highest, regardless of cropping pattern. LER averaged 1.7 and 1.5 in manured and non-manured intercropping, respectively. Regardless of the treatments, ecological indices indicated that the soil food web was undisturbed, with moderate enrichment, and suppressive against crop pests. Intercropping millet with cowpea, even in poorly manured fields and with high cowpea density, constitutes an appropriate way to improve productivity without increasing Pratylenchus pressure in nutrient-poor soils of central Senegal.