زهرا هاشمی خبیر

Because of the increasing demand for wood and finding an alternative source for forest areas, developing planting and forestry with fast-growing tree species such as poplar and willow is critical. Pests and diseases are among the most essential damaging factors in the cultivation and development of poplar (Populusspp.) and willow (Salix spp.) trees. Due to the damage caused by these harmful factors, the quantity and quality of wood have decreased. This research was conducted to monitor, collect, and identify pests of fast-growing trees in West Azarbaijan province during 2020-2022. A total of 25 species of pests were collected from willow and poplar trees in the studied sites. Seventeen pests were collected from willow trees, and 11 pests were collected from poplar trees. Among the poplar pests, Zeugophora flavicollis, Lithocolletis populifoliella, Phloeomyzus passerinii, Melanophila picta, and among the willow pests, Aculus tetanothrix, Melanophila picta, Pontania sp1., Rhabdophaga rosaria caused moderate to severe damage to their hosts.

This research was designed to investigate the dieback of oak (Quercus infectoria; Q. libani) trees in the northern Zagros forests in West Azerbaijan Province. Characteristics of the stand were investigated in a one-hectare sample plot with dimensions of 100 × 100 meters. To monitor dieback, inside the sample, a sub-plot with a floating surface was determined where 100 oak trees could be placed. The dieback was monitored over four years (2019-2022) using a five-level scale: 1) healthy, 2) dieback, 3) crown dieback up to 50%, 4) crown dieback exceeding 50%, and 5) tree cut down. The results showed a decrease in the number of healthy trees from 94% to 71% between 2019 and 2022, with 9% of trees ultimately being cut down. To investigate the relationship between leaf surface and the dimensions and weight of seeds of trees, 20 leaves were selected from five permanent trees, and their surface was calculated annually for three years (2019-2021). Additionally, 25 seeds were harvested, and the dimensions and weight of the seeds were determined annually. The results of calculating the average leaf area over three years showed a significant decreasing trend. Except for seed weight, other dimensions in the seed showed a significant decreasing trend during the monitoring years. Overall, the results showed that despite the absence of oak charcoal disease in the province, the trend of decreasing healthy trees and increasing trees with different levels of dieback is very worrying.

This research was conducted in 2020 in order to investigating the species diversity and abundance of oribatid mites in the oak and hornbeam forests of Arasbaran (Ahar and Kaleibar) in East Azerbaijan Province. Soil sampling was carried out in May and June. Oribatid mites present in soil samples were separated using Berlese funnels and clarified in relative solution, followed by preparation of microscope slides. After identification, counting, diversity and evenness indices (Shannon and Simpson), as well as species richness were calculated using Ecological Methodology 6.0 software. In general, 29 species of Oribatid mites from 27 genera and 23 families were identified in this study: Cosmochthonius lanatus Michael, Sphaerochthonius splendidus Berlese, Steganacarus (Tropacarus) carinatus Koch, Papillacarus pseudoaciculatus Mahunka, Rhysotritia ardua Koch, Nothrus biciliatus Koch, Hermanniella septentrionalis Berlese, Plesiodamaeus ornatus Pérez-Íñígo, Belba sp., Xenillus setosus Grobler, Ozman & Cobanoglu, Fosseremus quadripertitus Grandjean, Rhinoppia obsoleta Paoli, Ramusella (Ramusella) puertomonttensis Hammer, Ramusella (R.) sengbuschi Tokyoensis, Ramusella (R.) sengbuschi Str., Graptoppia (G.) sundensis acuta Ayyildiz, Rectoppia sp., Suctobelella sp., Austrocarabodes (Austrocarabodes) foliaceisetus Murvanidze & Weigmann, Tectocepheus velaus Michael, Eupelops acromios Haman, Berlesezetes aegypticus Balogh & Mahunka, Oribatula (O.) tibialis allifera Subías, Protoribates (P.) paracapucinus Mahunka, Scheloribates fimbriatus Thor., Ceratozetes conjunctus Mihelčič, Punctoribates angulatus Bayartogtokh, Grobler & Cobanoglu, Galumna sp., Pilogalumna sp. The highest abundance of mites in Ahar and Kaleibar belonged to Scheloribtes fimbriatus and Oribaiula tibilis, respectively. The calculated species diversity indices in the Kaleibar region during June were higher than those in May. The diversity and species richness of oribatid mites were higher in Kaleibar with oak vegetation, which could be due to the higher humidity and acidity of the soil compared to Ahar.

Protection of forests, rangelands and other natural ecosystems in Iran is facing challenges and currently the natural areas of the country are not in favorable conditions. Some of the problems and mega global challenges that affect various natural areas in the world. This group of challenges include climate change, desertification, land degradation, global warming, deficiency of fresh water and increasing demand for energy. The second group of challenges that are specific to Iran at the national level and have affected the natural environments include lakes drying up, land subsidence, salinity and alkalinity of underground water, desertification and consequently the particulate matter air pollution. Also, the breakdown of the natural hydrology systems of the watersheds and changes in the usage of the natural areas are two man-made super challenges affecting the natural environments of Iran. In this article, the major challenges related to Iran's natural areas and the relevant national and regional challenges at the level of natural ecosystems are discussed. Finally, in order to deal with the challenges raised, the necessary solutions to protect and support Iran's natural areas as better as possible are presented. This includes paying attention to these challenges as one of the basic requirements for applying and implementing ecosystem-based management in the natural areas.

The project of studying pests of different Salix species in West Azarbaijan Province was started in 2011 for five years. Samplings were carried out at 15–30 day intervals in growing seasons in seven natural selected sites, and willow collection design in Saatloo Research Station. Pest arthropods were collected using hand picking, collecting of infected tree branches, as well as rearing immature stages of some pests inside jars in the controlled conditions. The density of population and also damage of six important pests were surveyed in randomized complete designe in Saatloo Research Station for two years. The data were analysed by the SPSS 19 software and comparison of means conducted by Tukey ̓ s test.Totally, 40 species of harmful arthropods, belonging to26 families, were collected and identified, among them, Monosteira unicostata, Pontania sp.1, Chaitophorus niger, Tuberolachnus salignus,Melanophila picta and Tetranychus urticae were recognized as the important pests.Among the willow species, S.excelsa and S. alba were considered as the important hosts of many pests, on which the densities of pests were higher during the samling period.Moreover, S. aegyptiacahad the lowest density of the above-mentioned pests.

Gall forming is one of the various damage forms of insects and mites on plants. This study carried out in collecting and identification of willow pests and their natural enemy’s fauna in West Azerbaijan province in a research project during 2010 -2014. The fauna of willow gall makers were evaluated at 15 day intervals starting in May to October. In order to sampling, 4 branches of each tree were studied in four geographical directions. All statistical procedures were performed using the SPSS 19 software. Susceptibility and resistance of willow species to two important gall pests were determined in Saatloo station. A total of 10 species of gall inducing pests on willow trees were collected. The results showed that Salix excelsa S. G. Gmel and Salix triandra Linnaeus were susceptible species to Pontania vesicator Bremi-Wolf and Rabdophaga heterobia Loew., respectively. The highest similarity indexes (Sorensen and Jacard) of gall inducing factors of willow trees were recorded between Salmas and Darre Khan (Urmia – Ghasemloo).

A faunistic study on the tribes Tychiini and Mecinini (Curculionidae, Curculioninae) was carried out during the years 2010-2013 in different ecological regions of Iran. Twenty nine species belonging to the genera Mecinus Germar, 1821, Gymnetron Schoenherr, 1825, Rhinusa Stephens, 1829, Cleopomiarus Pierce, 1919, Tychius Germar, 1817 and Sibinia Germar, 1817 were collected. Localities and ecological notes on each species are provided. Among these, The following 11 species are new to the Iranian fauna: Mecinus crassifemur (Arzanov, 1991), Mecinus simus (Mulsant & Rey, 1859), Gymnetron linkei Reitter, 1907, Rhinusa antirrhini (Paykull, 1800), Rhinusa brondelii (H. Brisout de Barneville, 1862), Rhinusa florum (Rübsaamen, 1895), Tychius reitteri Faust, 1889, Tychius tridentinus Penecke, 1922, Sibinia aureofulva (Desbrochers des Loges, 1875), Sibinia pellucens (Scopoli, 1772), Sibinia unicolor Fảhraeus, 1843, whereas all other 18 species are new for one or more provinces. Host plants of several species reported for the first time and commented as well.

A faunistic survey of crypto stigmatic mites of rangelands in West Azerbaijan province، Iran، was conducted by soil sampling in the year 2012 on three different occasions (mid-May، mid-August and mid-October). The Mites were extracted by a Berlese funnel and cleared in Nesbitt’s solution، then mounted in Hoyer’s medium on microscopic slides. In general، 70 species belong to 48 genera in 34 families and 22 super families were collected and identified. Among them، 64 species are new records for West Azerbaijan Province mite fauna that marked by an asterisk and two genera and four species were recorded as new to Iran mite fauna that marked by two asterisks: Phthiracarus lentulus*، Atropacarus striculus*، Steganacarus carinatus*، Rhysotritia ardua*، Sphaerochthonius splendidus*، Cosmochthonius lanatus*، Papillacarus pseudoaciculatus*، Nothrus anauniensis*، Nothrus borussicus*، Neoliodes ionicus**، Plesiodamaeusornatus*، Aleurodamaeus setosus*، Licnodamaeus fissuratus*، Licnodamaeus pulcherrimus*، Belba daghestanica**، Eupterotegaeus ornatissimus*، Fosseremus quadripertitus*، Damaeolus ornatissimus*، Eremaeus cordiformis*، Adoristes ovatus*، Xenillus setosus*، Xenillus singularis*، Carabodes paraspinosus*، Carabodes willmanni*، Austrocarabodes foliaceisetus*، Tectocepheus minor*، Tectocepheus velatus*، Ramusella puertomonttensis*، Anomaloppia iranica*، Rhinoppia obsoleta*، Rhinoppia subpectinata*، Rhinoppia bipectinata*، Microppia minus*،Ramusella insculpta*، Ramusella sengbuschi s. str. *، Ramusella tokyoensis*، Discoppia cylindrica*،Graptoppia sundensis*، Oppiella nova nova*، Neoppia sp. **، Dissorhina ornata*، Scutovertex minutus*، Microzetes baloghi*، Berlesezetes aegypticus*، Passalozetes africanus*، Bipassalozetes striatus*، Bipassalozetes sabulosus*، Oribatula undulata، Oribatula debilitranslamellata*، Oribatula skrjabini*، Oribatula connexa connexa، Oribatula connexa ucrainica*، Oribatula pallida*، Oribatula exarata*، Oribatula tibialis allifera*، Liebstadia similis*، Protoribates paracapucinus*، Scheloribates fimbriatus*، Grandjeanobates sp. **، Eupelops acromios*، Hemileius ovalis*، Hemileius robustus*، Punctoribates angulatus*، Punctoribates punctum*، Lauritzenia fusifer*، Galumna iranensis*، Galumna karajica*، Pergalumna sp. **، Tectoribates sp. **، Hermanniella septentrionalis*

The cecidomyiid species Rabdophaga heterobia (Loew) induces gall on willow''s male catkins، and causes small rosettes at the extremities of shoots and swollen lateral buds or lateral rosettes on some species of willow. During the years 2006-2007، a study on willow pests in the West Azarbaijan province (Saatloo Poplar Research Station) was conducted. The following nine willow species were used in this study: Salix elborsiensis، S. triandra، S. excelsa، S. elaegnosa، S. babylonica، S. alba، S. aegyptiaca، S. pycnostachya، and S. matsudana. The willow species S. triandra was found to be the only host for the gall-inducing cecidomyiid. This is the first record of R. heterobia from Iran.

In a survey of various pest's infestation, associated with willow species and clones in Alborz and Saattloo research stations in Karaj and Uromiya respectively, a new thrips was found in leaf buds of some willow trees. The species was identified as Thrips viminalis.Thrips viminalis (Thy.:Thripidae) occurs on the leaves of various Salix and some other tree species such as Poplars and Alder, especially on young leaves. It also survives on the understory plants and weeds. The length of the femaleindividuals varied from 1440 to 1680 µm. The Metanotum contain two Campaniform sensilums. There are three tiny sensillums in the center of the front edge of sternite one. Body and front wings are brown to deep-brown with bright base. The third and fourth segments of antenna; flagellums are yellow, and the fifth is basally yellow.The species is fairly common in Europe where it is widely distributed up to western Siberia. This is the first report of T.viminalis from Iran. In Alborz research station, T.viminalis occurrs on S.triandra, S.issatisseusis, S.excelsa, S.alba, Salix and in Saatloo station, they are on S. elaegnosa, S.babaylonica, S.alba, S.excelsa between June and October.