TY - JOUR AU - Hazhir, Shadi AU - Erfanzadeh, Reza AU - Ghelichnia, Hassan AU - Razavi, Bahar S. AU - Török, Péter TI - Effects of livestock grazing on soil seed banks vary between regions with different climates JF - AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT J2 - AGR ECOSYST ENVIRON VL - 364 PY - 2024 PG - 8 SN - 0167-8809 DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2024.108901 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34535613 ID - 34535613 AB - The influence of grazing on soil seed bank (SSB) characteristics determines the management of rangelands in different climates. Here we studied the responses of SSBs to livestock grazing in three regions with different climates – arid, semiarid and subhumid – in northern Iran. In each region 30 pairwise SSB samples were collected on 1 m2 plots, 15 in intensely grazed areas and 15 in ungrazed areas. The total SSB densities, their diversity and species richness and the densities of functional groups were compared between the grazed and ungrazed plots and between the climatic regions. Both climate and grazing as well as their interaction affected SSB character- istics. Although the results of the non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) showed noticeable differences in SSB species composition between grazed and ungrazed plots in all three regions, the magnitude of the grazing effect on the SSB was different between climatic regions. In total, 119 species germinated from the soil samples: 33 species in semiarid, 39 species in arid and 61 species in subhumid samples. The highest total SSB density, diversity (Shannon index) and richness were found in subhumid climate with an average of 138.90 seeds/m2, H = 2.27 and 17.83 species/sample, respectively. In ungrazed areas the average SSB density was 26.60 seeds/m2, 46.06 seeds/m2 and 195.90 seeds/m2 in arid, semiarid and subhumid climate, respectively. In grazed areas the corresponding figures were 12.40 seeds/m2, 7.00 seeds/m2 and 110.40 seeds/m2. Averages of SSB diversity in ungrazed areas were 1.24, 1.60 and 2.42 in arid, semiarid and subhumid climates, respectively, as compared to 1.27, 0.97 and 2.20 in grazed areas. The averages SSB richness in ungrazed areas were 5.21 species/sample, 7.54 species/sample and 21.25 species/sample in arid, semiarid and subhumid climate, respectively, whereas in grazed areas 4.00 species/sample, 2.86 species/sample and 16.15 species/sample were found on average. Overall, intensive grazing was linked to lower SSB characteristics in all three climatic regions, but the size of the effect differed between the climatic regions. Thus, we concluded that the impact of grazing on SSB density, diversity and richness is climate-dependent. Hence, the climatic conditions have to be considered when evalu- ating the effects of grazing on soil seed banks LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Erdős, László AU - Ho, Vu Khanh AU - Bede-Fazekas, Ákos AU - Kröel-Dulay, György AU - Tölgyesi, Csaba AU - Bátori, Zoltán AU - Török, Péter TI - Environmental filtering is the primary driver of community assembly in forest–grassland mosaics: A case study based on CSR strategies JF - JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE J2 - J VEG SCI VL - 35 PY - 2024 IS - 1 PG - 10 SN - 1100-9233 DO - 10.1111/jvs.13228 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34519844 ID - 34519844 N1 - Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary Faculty of Natural Resources-Environment, Kien Giang University, Kien Giang, Viet Nam Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary MTA-SZTE ‘Momentum’ Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary Polish Academy of Sciences, Botanical Garden – Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin, Warszawa, Poland Export Date: 1 March 2024 CODEN: JVESE Correspondence Address: Ho, K.V.; Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Hungary; email: hvkhanh@vnkgu.edu.vn AB - Aims: Ecological strategies can provide information about plant community assembly and its main drivers. Our aim was to reveal the dominant strategies of the vegetationtypes of forest–grassland mosaics and to deduce the assembly processes responsible for their species composition.Location: Hungary.Methods: We investigated eight vegetation types of Hungarian forest–steppes. The trade-off between three key traits related to leaf size and economics was used to calculate Grime's competitive–stress tolerance–ruderal (CSR) value for each species, based on which the mean value for each vegetation type was determined. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination was used to reveal the compositional dif -ferences among the vegetation types under study. To analyze how ecological strate-gies correlate with the compositional gradient, we used linear regression between plot ordination scores (the first DCA scores) and each strategy (C, S, and R). Linear mixed-effect models were used to evaluate the differences between the vegetation types regarding each strategy (C, S, and R).Results: Each vegetation type was dominated by the stress-tolerator strategy, indicat-ing the prominent role of environmental filtering in community assembly. However, ecological strategies differed significantly among the communities. The importance of LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Kókai, Zsuzsanna AU - Borics, Gábor AU - Csépes, Eduárd AU - Lukács, Áron AU - Török, Péter AU - Török-Krasznai, Enikő AU - Bácsi, István AU - Bácsiné Béres, Viktória TI - Role of microhabitats in shaping diversity of periphytic diatom assemblages JF - HYDROBIOLOGIA J2 - HYDROBIOLOGIA VL - 851 PY - 2024 SP - 959 EP - 972 PG - 14 SN - 0018-8158 DO - 10.1007/s10750-023-05336-x UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34126814 ID - 34126814 AB - Diverse macrovegetation can provide heterogeneous habitats for benthic diatoms. The removal of macrophytes as direct plant control, however, can be considered as a threat, which can even lead to remarkable microhabitat alterations. Lake Tisza (Hungary) has a high nature conservation value, but it is also an important recreation centre, which is why very delicate water management is necessary including vegetation thinning. Here, we studied the importance of microhabitat heterogeneity (emergent, submerged and floating macrophytes) in maintaining diverse periphytic diatom assemblages. We hypothesized that the substrate type has greater influencing role on the composition and diversity of diatoms than the lake heterogeneity related to basins. We also assumed that floating vegetation hosts the most different and least diverse diatom assemblages. Our results mostly proved these hypotheses. Heterogeneous assemblages were formed on the different substrates (support hypothesis), however, the basin level differences were also detected (reject hypothesis). Our results also highlighted, that macrophyte species with lesser morphological complexity hosted the least diverse periphytic assemblages (support hypothesis). However, many unique and red list taxa were found on floating plants (reject hypothesis). These findings emphasize the key role of microhabitat complexity in maintaining diverse and healthy functioning of microbial assemblages in a multi-purpose reservoir. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Török-Krasznai, Enikő AU - Bácsiné Béres, Viktória AU - Lerf, Verona AU - Várbíró, Gábor AU - Abonyi, András AU - Török, Péter AU - Borics, Gábor TI - Linear water column stratification and euphotic depth determine the number of phytoplankton taxa that create biomass peaks in a hypertrophic oxbow lake JF - HYDROBIOLOGIA J2 - HYDROBIOLOGIA VL - 851 PY - 2024 SP - 767 EP - 783 PG - 17 SN - 0018-8158 DO - 10.1007/s10750-023-05327-y UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34092097 ID - 34092097 N1 - Export Date: 20 September 2023 CODEN: HYDRB Correspondence Address: T-Krasznai, E.; Centre for Ecological Research, Bem Square 18/C, Hungary; email: torok-krasznai.eniko@ecolres.hu AB - The mixing regime, the spatial distribution of nutrients and light determine the distribution of phytoplankton in lakes to a large extent. Linear stratification is a unique phenomenon among the various forms the lakes can stratify, representing a continuous and gradual water temperature decrease with depth. Here, we aimed to understand how mixing, nutrient and light affect the vertical distribution of phytoplankton in the case of linear water column stratification using the taxonomic and functional group approaches. We sampled phytoplankton and physical and chemical variables in the Malom-Tisza oxbow lake (Hungary) monthly from May to September between 2007 and 2009. Our results revealed that multiple biomass peaks of taxa belonging to distinct phytoplankton functional groups could develop in response to the strong linear stratification of the water column. Although several different species represented the functional groups, only one or two species developed the peaks. Light irradiance did not influence the vertical distribution of biomass and taxonomic richness of phytoplankton, but the depth of the euphotic zone determined the number of distinct biomass peaks. We found that diversity indices could not reflect the phytoplankton compositional differences well in the case of linear stratification, but similarity indices calculated among water column layers. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Sonkoly, Judit AU - Tóth, Edina AU - Balogh, Nóra AU - Balogh, Lajos AU - Bartha, Dénes AU - Csendesné Bata, Kinga AU - Bátori, Zoltán AU - Békefi, Nóra AU - Botta-Dukát, Zoltán AU - Bölöni, János AU - Csecserits, Anikó AU - Csiky, János AU - Csontos, Péter AU - Dancza, István AU - Deák, Balázs AU - Dobolyi, Zoltán Konstantin AU - E-Vojtkó, Anna AU - Gyulai, Ferenc AU - Hábenczyus, Alida Anna AU - Henn, Tamás AU - Horváth, Ferenc AU - Höhn, Mária Margit AU - Jakab, Gusztáv AU - Kelemen, András AU - Király, Botond Gergely AU - Kis, Szabolcs AU - Kovacsics-Vári, Gergely AU - Kun, András AU - Lehoczky, Éva AU - Lengyel, Attila AU - Lhotsky, Barbara AU - Löki, Viktor AU - Lukács, Balázs András AU - Matus, Gábor AU - McIntoshné Buday, Andrea AU - Mesterházy, Attila AU - Miglécz, Tamás AU - Molnár V, Attila AU - Molnár, Zsolt AU - Morschhauser, Tamás AU - Papp, László AU - Pósa, Patrícia AU - Rédei, Tamás AU - Schmidt, Dávid AU - Szmorad, Ferenc AU - Takács, Attila AU - Tamás, Júlia AU - Tiborcz, Viktor AU - Tölgyesi, Csaba AU - Tóth, Katalin AU - Tóthmérész, Béla AU - Valkó, Orsolya AU - Virók, Viktor AU - Wirth, Tamás AU - Török, Péter TI - PADAPT 1.0 – the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits JF - SCIENTIFIC DATA J2 - SCI DATA VL - 10 PY - 2023 IS - 1 PG - 8 SN - 2052-4463 DO - 10.1038/s41597-023-02619-9 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34217510 ID - 34217510 N1 - Funding Agency and Grant Number: NKFIH [PD 137747, KH 130320, K 119225, FK 142428, K 137573, KKP 144068, PD 138859, PD 137828, PD 138715, UNKP-21-3-SZTE-389, RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014]; Bolyai Janos Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences [129167, KKP 144209, BO/00587/23/8]; New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology of Hungary [BO/00713/19]; UNKP-23-5 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; Climate Change Hungarian National Laboratory [BO/00298/21]; HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network Funding text: We are very grateful for the detailed comments of our reviewers and especially for the helpful input and suggestions of the Chief Editor. We are grateful for Patricia Diaz Cando, Kata Frei, Alexandra Tomasovszky and Viktoria Toer & odblac;-Szijgyarto for their help in trait measurements. The authors and/or the dataset building project were supported by NKFIH: PD 137747 (JS), KH 130320 (ET), K 119225 (PT), FK 142428 (ZB), K 137573 (PT), KKP 144068 (PT), PD 138859 (AL), PD 137828 (AT) and PD 138715 (VL). JS, AK and ZB were supported by the Bolyai Janos Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (BO/00587/23/8, BO/00713/19 and BO/00298/21, respectively). AAH was supported by the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology of Hungary (UNKP-21-3-SZTE-389). JS was supported by the UNKP-23-5 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. The work of GJ was supported by the Climate Change Hungarian National Laboratory RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014, the project NKFIH 129167 and KKP 144209. This project has received funding from the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network. AB - The existing plant trait databases’ applicability is limited for studies dealing with the flora and vegetation of the eastern and central part of Europe and for large-scale comparisons across regions, mostly because their geographical data coverage is limited and they incorporate records from several different sources, often from regions with markedly different climatic conditions. These problems motivated the compilation of a regional dataset for the flora of the Pannonian region (Eastern Central Europe). PADAPT, the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits relies on regional data sources and collates data on 54 traits and attributes of the plant species of the Pannonian region. The current version covers approximately 90% of the species of the region and consists of 126,337 records on 2745 taxa. By including species of the eastern part of Europe not covered by other databases, PADAPT can facilitate studying the flora and vegetation of the eastern part of the continent. Although data coverage is far from complete, PADAPT meets the longstanding need for a regional database of the Pannonian flora. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Bede-Fazekas, Ákos AU - Török, Péter AU - Erdős, László TI - Empirical delineation of the forest-steppe zone is supported by macroclimate JF - SCIENTIFIC REPORTS J2 - SCI REP VL - 13 PY - 2023 IS - 1 PG - 13 SN - 2045-2322 DO - 10.1038/s41598-023-44221-4 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34193879 ID - 34193879 N1 - Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány u. 2-4., Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary Department of Environmental and Landscape Geography, Faculty of Science, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., Budapest, 1117, Hungary HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Egyetem tér 1., Debrecen, 4032, Hungary Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1., Debrecen, 4032, Hungary Export Date: 25 October 2023 Correspondence Address: Bede-Fazekas, Á.; Institute of Ecology and Botany, Alkotmány u. 2-4., Hungary; email: bfakos@ecolres.hu AB - Eurasian forest-steppes form a 9000-km-long transitional zone between temperate forests and steppes, featuring a complex mosaic of herbaceous and woody habitats. Due to its heterogeneity regarding climate, topography and vegetation, the forest-steppe zone has been divided into several regions. However, a continental-scale empirical delineation of the zone and its regions was missing until recently. Finally, a map has been proposed by Erdős et al. based on floristic composition, physiognomy, relief, and climate. By conducting predictive distribution modeling and hierarchical clustering, here we compared this expert delineation with the solely macroclimate-based predictions and clusters. By assessing the discrepancies, we located the areas where refinement of the delineation or the inclusion of non-macroclimatic predictors should be considered. Also, we identified the most important variables for predicting the existence of the Eurasian forest-steppe zone and its regions. The predicted probability of forest-steppe occurrence showed a very high agreement with the expert delineation. The previous delineation of the West Siberia region was confirmed by our results, while that of the Inner Asia region was the one least confirmed by the macroclimate-based model predictions. The appropriate delineation of the Southeast Europe region from the East Europe region should be refined by further research, and splitting the Far East region into a southern and northern subregion should also be considered. The main macroclimatic predictors of the potential distribution of the zone and its regions were potential evapotranspiration (zone and regions), annual mean temperature (regions), precipitation of driest quarter (regions) and precipitation of warmest quarter (zone), but the importance of climatic variables for prediction showed great variability among the fitted predictive distribution models. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Ho, Vu Khanh AU - Ćuk, Mirjana AU - Šikuljak, Tijana AU - Kröel-Dulay, György AU - Bátori, Zoltán AU - Tölgyesi, Csaba AU - Fűrész, Attila AU - Török, Péter AU - Hábenczyus, Alida Anna AU - Hegyesi, Anna AU - Coşgun, Ladin Z. AU - Erdős, László TI - Forest edges revisited: species composition, edge-related species, taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity JF - GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION J2 - GLOB ECOL CONSERV VL - 46 PY - 2023 PG - 13 SN - 2351-9894 DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02625 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34132347 ID - 34132347 N1 - Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary Faculty of Natural Resources-Environment, Kien Giang University, Kien Giang, Viet Nam University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad, Serbia Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Vácrátót, Hungary University of Szeged, Department of Ecology, Szeged, Hungary MTA-SZTE ‘Momentum’ Applied Ecology Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Agronomy, Department of Botany, Gödöllő, Hungary University of Debrecen, Department of Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Debrecen, Hungary Polish Academy of Sciences, Botanical Garden - Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin, Warszawa, Poland Export Date: 16 November 2023 Correspondence Address: Vu Ho, K.; Doctoral School of Environmental Sciences, Hungary; email: hvkhanh@vnkgu.edu.vn AB - Although edges are usually considered key areas for biodiversity, previous studies have focused on anthropogenic edges, usually studied edges in relation to forest interiors (disregarding the adjacent non-woody vegetation), and used simple taxonomic indices (without considering functional or phylogenetic aspects). We studied the species composition as well as taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of north- and south-facing edges and the two adjacent habitats (forest and grassland) in near-natural forest–grassland mosaics in the Kiskunság Sand Ridge (Hungary) and the Deliblato Sands (Serbia). We found that the species composition of edges was significantly different from that of forests and grasslands, and included species that were rare or absent in habitat interiors. This indicates that the contact of adjacent forest and grassland habitats results in the emergence of a new habitat that deserves scientific attention in its own right. In the Kiskunság, species richness and Shannon diversity were generally higher at edges than in forests or grasslands. In the Deliblato, edges were taxonomically not more diverse than grasslands. Thus, increased taxonomic diversity at edges should not be considered a general phenomenon. In the Kiskunság, forests and edges had higher functional diversity than grasslands, while there were no significant differences among the habitats in the Deliblato. It seems that functional diversity is strongly influenced by canopy openness and the traits of the dominant species. The phylogenetic diversity of woody habitats was higher than that of grasslands both in the Kiskunság and the Deliblato, which probably reflects the different evolutionary age of the habitats. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Lyons, Kelly G. AU - Török, Péter AU - Hermann, Julia-Maria AU - Kiehl, Kathrin AU - Kirmer, Anita AU - Kollmann, Johannes AU - Overbeck, Gerhard E. AU - Tischew, Sabine AU - Allen, Edith B. AU - Bakker, Jonathan D. AU - Brigham, Christy AU - Buisson, Elise AU - Crawford, Kerri AU - Dunwiddie, Peter AU - Firn, Jennifer AU - Grobert, Devin AU - Hickman, Karen AU - Stradic, Soizig LE AU - Temperton, Vicky M. TI - Challenges and opportunities for grassland restoration: A global perspective of best practices in the era of climate change JF - GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION J2 - GLOB ECOL CONSERV VL - 46 PY - 2023 PG - 16 SN - 2351-9894 DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02612 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34126637 ID - 34126637 AB - Grasslands are ubiquitous globally, and their conservation and restoration are critical to combat both the biodiversity and climate crises. There is increasing interest in implementing effective multifunctional grassland restoration to restore biodiversity concomitant with above- and belowground carbon sequestration, delivery of carbon credits and/or integration with land dedicated to solar panels. Other common multifunctional restoration considerations include improved forage value, erosion control, water management, pollinator services, and wildlife habitat provisioning. In addition, many grasslands are global biodiversity hotspots. Nonetheless, relative to their impact, and as compared to forests, the importance of preservation, conservation, and restoration of grasslands has been widely overlooked due to their subtle physiognomy and underappreciated contributions to human and planetary well-being. Ultimately, the global success of carbon sequestration will depend on more complete and effective grassland ecosystem restoration. In this review, supported by examples from across the Western world, we call for more strenuous and unified development of best practices for grassland restoration in three areas of concern: initial site conditions and site preparation; implementation of restoration measures and management; and social context and sustainability. For each area, we identify the primary challenges to grassland restoration and highlight case studies with proven results to derive successful and generalizable solutions. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Tölgyesi, Csaba AU - Bátori, Zoltán AU - Pascarella, John AU - Erdős, László AU - Török, Péter AU - Batáry, Péter AU - Birkhofer, Klaus AU - Scherer, Laura AU - Michalko, Radek AU - Košulič, Ondřej AU - Zaller, Johann G. AU - Gallé, Róbert TI - Ecovoltaics: Framework and future research directions to reconcile land-based solar power development with ecosystem conservation JF - BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION J2 - BIOL CONSERV VL - 285 PY - 2023 PG - 8 SN - 0006-3207 DO - 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110242 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34120646 ID - 34120646 N1 - Összes idézések száma a WoS-ban: 0 AB - Renewable energy production is gaining momentum globally as a way to combat climate change without drastically reducing human energy consumption. Solar energy offers the fastest developing solution. However, ground-mounted solar panels have a high land requirement, which leads to conflicts with other land use types, particularly agriculture and biodiversity conservation. The dual land use of agrivoltaics, i.e., continuing agricultural production under and between solar panels, may alleviate farmers’ concerns, but less effort has been made to reconcile solar development with biodiversity conservation. Here we provide a framework for creating a win-win situation for this growing challenge using recent literature on solar park habitats complemented with ecological theories. We also highlight important knowledge gaps that future research should address. Our framework uses a unique land-sharing approach and is based on five pillars that cover key aspects of solar park planning and maintenance: (1) eco-smart siting in the landscape, which considers ecological interactions with the landscape matrix and trade-offs between multiple small vs. fewer large solar parks; (2) eco-smart park layout to address the ecological aspects of the spatial configuration of solar park infrastructure; (3) creation of diverse, novel grassland ecosystems with high ecosystem service provisioning capacity using a trait-based ecosystem design approach; (4) management of the novel ecosystem throughout the lifespan of the solar parks; and (5) ensuring stakeholder engagement to integrate this in a viable business model with high community acceptance. With this framework, we open the way for a new multifunctional land use type: the ecovoltaic park. LA - English DB - MTMT ER - TY - JOUR AU - Erfanzadeh, Reza AU - Ansari, Ali AU - Jafari, Mohammad AU - Török, Péter TI - Effect of burning of evergreen savin juniper and herbaceous patches on soil: Seed banks, chemical and biological properties JF - GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION J2 - GLOB ECOL CONSERV VL - 46 PY - 2023 PG - 15 SN - 2351-9894 DO - 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02609 UR - https://m2.mtmt.hu/api/publication/34102969 ID - 34102969 AB - The coniferous shrub species Juniperus sabina (savin) is widespread in mountainous regions of Eurasia. The species produces large amounts of fire-prone plant mass in its habitats. The aim of this study was to assess the effect that burning of savin shrubs has on the soil seed bank (SSB), the microbial respiration and the amount of organic matter under its canopy. In each of three sampling areas, four individuals of savin were randomly selected. Under each of these individuals and on adjacent herbaceous control patches, soil samples were taken from 0 to 5 cm and 5–10 cm depths for SSB, biological and chemical analyses. The sampling was repeated after burning the canopy. We found that the immediate effects of burning on the SSB and on the biological and chemical soil parameters were significantly negative. In particular, SSB density, magnitude of microbial respiration and amount of organic matter were significantly decreased after savin canopy burning in 0–5 cm depth, while these changes were less pronounced on the burned herbaceous patches. Hence the restoration of gaps created by burning savin cannot rely on the SSB. Furthermore, alkalization of the soil and decreased soil quality caused by savin burning might hamper the vegetation recovery even in the medium to long run. LA - English DB - MTMT ER -