This study investigated the eVects of Ips typographus (L.) damage on initial litter quality parameters and subsequent decomposition rates of oriental spruce tree species [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]. The needle litter was collected from highly damaged, moderately damaged and control stands on two aspects (north and south) and two slope position (top and bottom) on each aspect. The litter was analyzed for initial total carbon, lignin and nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese) concentrations. The variability in nitrogen and calcium concentrations and ratios of C:N, lignin:N and lignin:Ca was signiWcantly aVected by the insect damaged levels. While nitrogen concentrations in needle litter increased with increasing insect damage (and consequently the ratios of C:N and lignin:N decreased), calcium concentrations decreased (and consequently the ratio of lignin:Ca increased). Aspect and slope positions explained most of the variability in carbon, lignin, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and manganese concentrations and lignin:P ratio between all studied stands. Litter decomposition was studied in the Weld using the litterbag technique. The litter from highly damaged stands showed highest decomposition rates followed by moderately damaged and control stands. The mass loss rates were signiWcantly positively correlated with initial nitrogen concentration and negatively with C:N and lignin:N ratios. The eVects of microclimate resulting from canopy damage on litter decomposition was also examined at the same time using standard litter with the same litter quality parameters, but they showed no signiWcant diVerences among the insect damage levels indicating that alteration of the litter quality parameters produced by I. typographus damage played a more important role than altered microclimate in controlling needle litter decomposition rates. However, changes in microclimate factors due to topography inXuenced decomposition rates.

The chestnut gall wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) is one of the most important insect pests of chestnut. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize bacteria from D. kuriphilus to obtain new microbial agents for both biological control and other biotechnological applications. D. kuriphilus larvae were collected from chestnut fields located in Bursa and Yalova provinces of Marmara Region of Turkey during May-July 2014. Four bacterial isolates were obtained from D. kuriphilus. According to their morphological, biochemical and molecular properties, these isolates were identified as Staphylococcus saprophyticus (Dk1), Paenibacillus sp. (Dk2), Pseudomonas flourescens (Dk3) and Paenibacillus sp. (Dk4). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the bacterial flora of D. kuriphilus. In our study, the potential of these isolates as a biological control agent against different hazardous pests and other possible biotechnological applications of importance were discussed under the light of literature.

Outbreaks of lesser spruce sawfly, Pristiphora abietina (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), on conifers regularly occur in Turkey and other European countries. Chemical pesticides have been used to contain outbreaks, but those may damage the forest and disturb natural enemies. To minimize the use of chemical pesticides in the management of this forest pest, we identified the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) that naturally occur on P. abietina and tested their efficacy against the pest under laboratory and semi‐field conditions. Using morphological and molecular techniques, 13 EPF isolates were obtained from the pest and identified as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill., Beauveria pseudobassiana S.A. Rehner & Humber, and Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch.) Zare & W. Gams. A laboratory screening test at 106 conidia ml−1 showed that all isolates caused 59‐100% mortality after 14 days. Further experiments were performed with the three most effective isolates, all belonging to B. bassiana. For these isolates, an increase in conidia dose increased pest mortality. Also, the ability of horizontal transmission in the pest population was shown. All three isolates were effective in killing P. abietina on spruce under semi‐field conditions. These data will contribute to the development of an integrated pest management program for P. abietina based on microbial biological control.

No abstract

Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) are distributed throughout the eastern Black Sea Mountains in Turkey. It is a native species. Oriental spruce forests have an above-and-beyond function of supplying water, soil protection, and preventing natural destruction. Some traditional utilization habits like frequent human transportation during summer to highlands through these forests, animal grazing, wounding trees, and dispersed settlements of forest villages cause fragmented forests in the region. These fragmented structures of the spruce forests have eased bark beetle epidemics. Quantitative