Forest: Journal of Forests and Open Land Management - Volume 16, June 2016

Dalit Gasul, Yechezkel Israeli
Department of Tourism and Hotel management, Kinneret College of the Sea of Galilee
dalit.gasul@kinneret.ac.il
 
During the last decade, there has been an impressive increase in the scope of mountain biking in Israel, particularly evident in the significant investments in open spaces and forest infrastructures, and the sociological changes of the cyclers themselves. Regarding global trends, issues have been raised concerning the degree to which the cyclers adopt ‘serious leisure’ patterns, and the degree to which the sport, which is usually identified with leisure activity, is developing as cycling tourism or cycling holidays.

This study was based on two cycling surveys conducted in Israel during two periods – 2005–2006 and 2013 – so that the scope of the surveys and the time gap between them enabled analysis of the cyclers’ characteristics, their perceptions, and needs, as well as comparison of changes in these aspects over time.

The results indicate that many characteristics found in the surveys, are similar to global trends. Comparison over years reveals that this phenomenon is gradually expanding, both regarding the attitude to cycling as a serious leisure activity with long-term commitment and the increase in cycling holidays whose main purpose is cycling.

However, the study also specifies the singularity of cycling in Israel compared to the rest of the world, namely the social aspect (cycling partners), the readiness to compete and the willingness to travel relatively far to cycling sites.

The study examined the attraction factors of cycling sites and found that they were concerned with the features of the site itself and its proximity to home.

The study also examined the psychological aspects perceived by the cyclers (aspects of control, meaning and belonging), which affect their self-image and their attitude to the sport as serious leisure, as well as viewpoints on sustainability and volunteering for the environment and community.

The conclusions indicate that cycling in Israel is undergoing continuous ‘professionalization’ and becoming similar to cycling in other countries, in which it is a long-standing tradition.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Nir Herr (1), Aviram Zuck (1), Shimona Sabag (1), Ilana Friedman (1), Shoshi Taragin (1) and Omri Bonneh (3)
(1) Northern region, KKL-JNF
(2) Legal Department, KKL-JNF
(3) Chief Scientist, KKL-JNF
NirH@kkl.org.il

The plan to expand Highway 65 in northern Israel and build the Nahal Amud interchange, threatened the integrity of Livnim Stream that serves as an important ecological corridor. It connects the Quercus calliprinos maquis that dominate in the upper Livnim Stream, through a Mediterranean forest in the middle, to the “savanna-like” open forest of Ziziphus spina-christi in the lower Livinim Stream just before it meets the Amud Stream. KKL objected to the plan and proposed construction of an elevated bridge, similar to those built on the Amud and Zalmon Streams. As part of the campaign to promote its proposal, which included appealing to the Supreme Court, an ecological survey was conducted in this section of the Livnim Stream. The site is the transition range between the Mediterranean forest to the savanna-like formation. The survey distinguished seven vegetation types in their singular habitats relative to rock-soil systems, slope direction and location relative to the stream.

Mediterranean forests include a type dominated by Styrax officinalis trees (Livnim in Hebrew) and few types dominated by Ceratonia siliqua that contain Pistacia palaestina and others. On deep soil near the river bed and on the slopes in the eastern part of the site there are open Ziziphus spina-christi forests. Biodiversity at the site is high, as is characteristic of transition zones. The struggle to change the plan failed, however the actual area that was eventually affected by the construction was reduced.

The ecological survey remained a memory of a unique habitat that was forever changed.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Gabriel Schiller (1), Nir Herr (2), Eugene David Ungar (1)
(1) Plant Sciences, Natural Resources, The Volcani Center, Beit Dagan
(2) Forest Department, Northern region, KKL-JNF
vcgabi@volcani.agri.gov.il

The best seed sources for afforestation of the Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) under different ecological conditions were selected from two research plots. The study plots were planted in 1989 using seeds collected in forests and gardens in Israel and in natural relicts overseas. Growth measures were conducted in two of the plots; the third one succumbed to unfavorable ecological conditions.

The results suggest that the best seed sources for planting in Mediterranean climatic zones (>400 mm annual rainfall) are the cypress grove on Mt. Tabor and ornamental trees in Kfar Gil’adi. Seeds from natural relict groves in Cyprus and the Samos Islands may also be used. For semi-arid zones (<400 mm rainfall) seeds collected from ornamental trees planted in the German Colony in Jerusalem, the German Colony Waldheim, the grove in Nazareth and from Cyprus are best.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Shilo Navon (1), Jaime Kigel (2), Nativ Dudai (3), Eugene David Ungar (1)
(1) Department of Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization – Volcani Center, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
(2) Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel
(3) Division of Aromatic Herbs and Medicinal Plants, Agriculture Research Organization, Newe Ya’ar Research Center, Ramat Yishai 30095, Israel
shilo.navon@gmail.com

Mediterranean shrubland is a prominent biome in Israel that is well adapted to local conditions. In this paper we examined whether adjacent individuals of a shrub species can encompass consequential variability in important and ecologically-meaningful features. We focused on the profile of volatile compounds that together constitute the essential oil using Pistacia lentiscus L., one of the most prominent woody species in Mediterranean shrublands, as a model species. A shrubland plot of 9.2 dunams in the south of Mount Carmel was chosen and the variability in volatiles composition within the local P. lentiscus population was quantified. Two complementary gas chromatography analyses were used: extraction by solvent (measures the volatiles composition in the leaves) and SPME (measures the evaporated-volatiles composition in the airspace surrounding the shrub). We found that the chemical variability in the local population is not continuous and that P. lentiscus shrubs partitioned into four discrete, well-defined chemotypes. Most P. lentiscus shrubs in the plot belonged to the [Germacrene D, limonene] or [Germacrene D, a-pinene] chemotypes. One shrub had b-myrcene as the main component, and another had b-ocimene as one of its main volatiles. This study demonstrates for the first time the existence of distinct chemotypes within a small local population of a prominent shrub species in Mediterranean shrubland. It is speculated that other woody species in the shrubland may display significant chemical variability.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Dalia Lewinsohn
dalpitriot@gmail.com

Despite the semi-arid climate of Israel the mushrooms mycobiota is quite varied and has been studied over the years, particularly in the 2015 mushroom season. Due to the unusual temperatures and rain distribution this year, we found both early and late fruiting in mushroom species and even species that fruited twice yearly. Similar findings were also detected by researchers from Norway, England, France, Germany and other countries around the globe. Is this phenomenon related to the global warming changes? Our findings cannot answer this question. We conclude that due to the abnormal weather this year we could detect a fluctuation in the timing of mushroom appearance, which could be the result of global changes. In order to investigate the causes of these observations, we suggest examining and combining previous herbarium mushroom fruiting records and meteorological information.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Naftaly Goldshleger (1), Roey Egosi (1), Yossi Shachar (2)
(1) Soil Erosion Research Station
(2) Hebrew University of Jerusalem
goldshleger1@gmail.com

Understanding runoff connectivity in semi-arid cultivated slopes has great significance for developing suitable agriculture on the Northern Negev loess slopes. Hydropedological characteristics of the slopes were used as a substitute for direct runoff measurements and observations which are difficult to make. The hydropedological investigation included soil texture, soil chemistry parameters, and soil humidity, as well as rainfall and river discharge measurements. The results indicated a lack of classic catena along the slopes implying runoff flow disconnectivity.
The highest percentages of clay and salt were found at the top of the slope and the lowest sand percentage; a high percentage of sand was found at the middle of the slope. The trends of changes in the chemical elements were consistent with the changes in the texture. In addition, high soil water content and changes measured during the middle of the wet season are linked to specific rainfall events and the time passed between each event. Therefore the soil water capacity was not reached. This means no excess rainfall or no continual runoff flow to the channel.
Water discharge measurements indicated similar results: most frequent floods are characterized by small peak discharges and sharp rising and falling limbs of the hydrograph. This means local contribution only from areas adjacent to the stream and direct rainfall rather than a contribution from the entire watershed area, for both case studies.
These results indicate hydro-geomorphological fragmentation between the slope and the channel.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Zion Madar (1), Ami Zehavi (2), Roy Harel (3), Ailon Kalev (4), Nir Herr (5), Omri Bonneh (3)
(1) Former KKL entomologist, Forestry Department, KKL-JNF
(2) Former Tree improvement Unit, Forestry Department, KKL-JNF
(3) Chief Scientist, KKL-JNF
(4) Forest Department, KKL-JNF
(5) Northern Region, KKL-JNF Forest Department
zionmadar@gmail.com

In the last decades there has been significant mortality of maritime pine trees (Pinus pinaster Ait) in the forests along the coastal plain and on the mountainous regions in northern Israel. The mortality of the maritime pine trees was found on various soil types including: terra-rossa and brown rendzina, basaltic and sandy-loam soils. It is assumed that the reason for the decline is prolonged dry seasons without summer rains and sequences of dry years with less than average rainfall. Sudden mortality of well-developed trees occurred mainly following droughts, indicating that maritime pine cannot survive in the long run under the climatic conditions in Israel. It is recommended not to use maritime pine in afforestation programs in Israel.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)

Anat Madmony (1), Joseph Riov (2), Anna Godneva (3)
(1) Department of the environment and Agriculture, Beit Berl
(2) Faculty of Agriculture, the Hebrew University, Rehovot
(3) The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Jerusalem
anat@madmony.co.il

Using wildflowers for restoration of natural ecosystems and landscaping is becoming a common and important trend in the world, since urbanization and the effect of human activity on natural ecosystems are increasing. Recently, there is also a trend of using wildflowers for gardening. In Israel, there have been only a few projects aimed at utilizing wildflowers for the above purposes. The full potential of using wildflowers in Israel is far from being used, since there is only limited knowledge regarding the conditions that are required to ensure their successful utilization and propagation. The present project was aimed at narrowing this gap. We tested the potential of using several local perennial plants growing at the edge of the desert in northern Jerusalem, near the Pisgat Zeev-Neveh-Yaakov forest, during the years 2009 to 2013. Seeds were collected from 16 species and cuttings from 10 species.
We examined the conditions for seed germination, rooting cuttings, and growing seedlings in the nursery. The seedlings were planted in two plots in a nature reserve close to a nearby forest. The planted seedlings were
irrigated upon planting and during the first year after planting by drip irrigation and competing natural vegetation was removed. It was found that it is possible to propagate all species from seed and some species by cuttings. The success of utilizing attractive wildflowers for planting in the nature reserve depends on the following conditions: irrigation upon planting and during the first year after planting, control of the natural competing vegetation, suitable soil (non-calcareous), prevention of grazing by using tree shelters, and prevention of vandalism by proper information.

Tables and figures available in English in full Hebrew version (PDF below)