Past forest composition, structures and processes – How paleoecology can contribute to forest conservation

The importance of long-term historical information derived from paleoecological studies has long been recognized as a fundamental aspect of effective conservation. However, there remains some uncertainty regarding the extent to which paleoecology can inform on specific issues of high conservation priority, at the scale for which conservation policy decisions often take place. Here we review to what extent the past occurrence of three fundamental aspects of forest conservation can be assessed using paleoecological data, with a focus on northern Europe. These aspects are (1) tree species composition, (2) old/large trees and coarse woody debris, and (3) natural disturbances. We begin by evaluating the types of relevant historical information available from contemporary forests, then evaluate common paleoecological techniques, namely dendrochronology, pollen, macrofossil, charcoal, and fossil insect and wood analyses. We conclude that whereas contemporary forests can be used to estimate historical, natural occurrences of several of the aspects addressed here (e.g. old/large trees), paleoecological techniques are capable of providing much greater temporal depth, as well as robust quantitative data for tree species composition and fire disturbance, qualitative insights regarding old/large trees and woody debris, but limited indications of past windstorms and insect outbreaks. We also find that studies of fossil wood and paleoentomology are perhaps the most underutilized sources of information. Not only can paleoentomology provide species specific information, but it also enables the reconstruction of former environmental conditions otherwise unavailable. Despite the potential, the majority of conservation-relevant paleoecological studies primarily focus on describing historical forest conditions in broad terms and for large spatial scales, addressing former climate, land-use, and landscape developments, often in the absence of a specific conservation context. In contrast, relatively few studies address the most pressing conservation issues in northern Europe, often requiring data on the presence or quantities of dead wood, large trees or specific tree species, at the scale of the stand or reserve. Furthermore, even fewer examples exist of detailed paleoecological data being used for conservation planning, or the setting of operative restorative baseline conditions at local scales. If ecologist and conservation biologists are going to benefit to the full extent possible from the ever-advancing techniques developed by the paleoecological sciences, further integration of these disciplines is desirable.

Barry Saltzman and the Theory of Climate

Barry Saltzman was a giant in the fields of meteorology and climate science. A leading figure in the study of weather and climate for over 40 yr, he has frequently been referred to as the "father of modern climate theory." Ahead of his time in many ways, Saltzman made significant contributions to our understanding of the general circulation and spectral energetics budget of the atmosphere, as well as climate change across a wide spectrum of time scales. In his endeavor to develop a unified theory of how the climate system works, lie played a role in the development of energy balance models, statistical dynamical models, and paleoclimate dynamical models. He was a pioneer in developing meteorologically motivated dynamical systems, including the progenitor of Lorenz's famous chaos model. In applying his own dynamical-systems approach to long-term climate change, he recognized the potential for using atmospheric general circulation models in a complimentary way. In 1998, he was awarded the Carl-Gustaf Rossby medal, the highest honor of the American Meteorological Society "for his life-long contributions to the study of the global circulation and the evolution of the earth's climate." In this paper, the authors summarize and place into perspective some of the most significant contributions that Barry Saltzman made during his long and distinguished career. This short review also serves as an introduction to the papers in this special issue of the Journal of Climate dedicated to Barry's memory.

Jüdisches Fremdenrecht, antisemitische Polemik und jüdische Apologetik : kritische Blätter für Antisemiten u. Juden

von Gustaf Marx [d.i. Gustaf Herman Dalman]

Der leidende und der sterbende Messias der Synagoge im ersten nachchristlichen Jahrtausend

von G. H. Dalman

Jesaja 53 : das Prophetenwort vom Sühnleiden des Gottesknechtes mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der jüdischen Literatur

erörtert von Gustaf H. Dalman

Christentum und Judentum

von Gustaf Dalman

Zinzendorf und Lieberkühn : Studien zur Geschichte der Judenmission

von Gustaf Dalman u. Adolf Schulze

Kurzgefasstes Handbuch der Mission unter Israel

von Gustav H. Dalman. Mit Beiträgen von P. P. E. Gottheil u. P. R. Bieling

Aramäische Dialektproben : Lesestücke zur Grammatik des jüdisch-palästinischen Aramäisch zumeist nach Handschriften des Britischen Museums ; mit Wörterverzeichnis

hrsg. von Gustaf Dalman

Die Tötung Ungläubiger nach talmudisch-rabbinischen Recht

quellenmäßig dargest. von Gustaf Marx [d.i. Gustaf Herman Dalman]

Grammatik des jüdisch-palästinischen Aramäisch : nach den Idiomen des palästinischen Talmud und Midrasch, des Onkelostargum (cod. Socini 84) und der jerusalemischen Targume zum Pentateuch

von Gustaf Dalman

Grammatik des jüdisch-palästinischen Aramäisch : nach den Idiomen des palästinischen Talmud und Midrasch, des Onkelostargum (cod. Socini 84) und der jerusalemischen Targume zum Pentateuch

von Gustaf Dalman

Jesaja 53, das Prophetenwort vom Sühnleiden des Heilsmittlers, mit bes. Berücksichtigung d. synagogalen Litteratur

erörtert von Gustaf H. Dalman