Research interests
Ecosystem ecology: biodiversity studies in intensively managed and relatively undisturbed (old-growth) forest ecosystems. Comparative metagenomic studies of the qualitative and quantitative composition of fungal communities in forest ecosystems. Molecular biology: DNA isolation, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, identification of micro-organism species from DNA sequences using specialized computer programs and electronic databases. Forest science, general forestry: ecology of forest trees (specifically the influence of intra- and inter-specific competition and climatic conditions on tree growth), forest protection, forest use.
Annotation of the dissertation
Protected areas in Lithuania are to be expanded (one of the main arguments is the loss of biodiversity in managed forests), where different interests clash and the loss of biodiversity is the subject of a lot of speculation. Although the loss of (macro-)biodiversity due to human activities is widely acknowledged, the world of microorganisms is still understudied (especially at community level). There is a lack of comprehensive comparative studies of communities of xylotrophic fungi (especially those inhabiting living wood) in intensively managed and undisturbed forest ecosystems. In Lithuania, mycobiota in general have been very little studied in this respect.
The main aim of the study: to compare communities of xylotrophic fungi inhabiting wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L. ), Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), common oak (Quercus robur L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula L.) in intensively managed and relatively undisturbed (old-growth) forest ecostystems.
The main objectives:
1. To compare the quantitative and qualitative composition of communities of the xylotrophic fungi inhabiting four economically important tree species growing under two different disturbance levels: in intensively managed and relatively undisturbed (old-growth) forests:
(a) by comparing fungal communities that inhabit living wood of sound-looking trees;
(b) by comparing fungal communities that inhabit dead wood (snags, fallen trees).
2. To compare communities of the xylotrophic fungi among forest stands (both intensively managed and relatively undisturbed) growing in three different regions of Lithuania (under different eco-climatic conditions).
3. To compare communities of the xylotrophic fungi inhabiting sound-looking and dead trees of Scots pine, Norway spruce, common oak and silver birch.
- Neteckis, Adomas; Paulauskas, Valdas; Kasiulienė, Alfreda & Junevičiūtė, Gerda (2019). Biomass bottom ash recycling as pavement base. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy” (ed. Raupelienė, A.); September 26-28, 2019; Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Kaunas, Akademija, Lithuania. DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2019.045
- Linkevičius, Edgaras & Junevičiūtė, Gerda (2020). Effect of Competition and Climatic Conditions on the Growth of Beech in the Mixed Pine Beech Stand: Lithuanian Case Study. Environmental Sciences Proceedings 3(1): 49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/IECF2020-07961
- Neteckis, Adomas; Paulauskas, Valdas; Kasiulienė, Alfreda & Junevičiūtė, Gerda (2019). Oral presentation “Biomass bottom ash recycling as pavement base”. 9th International Scientific Conference “Rural Development 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy”; September 26-28, 2019; Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Kaunas, Akademija, Lithuania.