Study supported by the Latvian Council of Science
In recent years, both the area of forests and the structure of forest stands have changed radically, with an increase in the proportion of clear-cuts and young stands, therefore empirical models on the interaction of forest ecosystem elements and water resources are reviewed: the effect of the area's forest cover on the amount of precipitation, the amount of runoff along rivers, total evaporation; the influence of the forest and its structural elements on the smoothing of the water flow regime along the rivers throughout the year; the impact of forestry measures on the circulation of biogenic elements in meliorated forest ecosystems. The raw material for modeling the processes taking place in the forest and forecasting the consequences of economic activity is the data of long-term and continuous measurements, which we obtain at the Forest Ecology Station in Vesetnieki, as well as in permanent sample plots in other regions of Latvia (for the implementation of this study in 2010 in Eastern Latvia).
Analyzing the structure of the living ground cover, the distribution of mosses has so far been mapped for a relatively small number of species – mainly in cases where the publications provide information about newly found or rare species in the bryoflora of Latvia, to illustrate their location. Even more rarely, mosses in Latvia are mapped using the dot square method, which is convenient both for mapping and for using maps. So far, it has been successfully used for mapping the distribution of vascular plants, as well as fungi and lichens. Mapping of rare and protected species is especially important. The so-called critical species, the research of which is insufficient in Latvia so far, but the determination is difficult, because it is related to the application of microscopic methods (families Lophoziaceae, Cephaloziellaceae, Cephaloziaceae, Grimmiaceae, Orthotrichaceae, Bryaceae, etc.) should be evaluated with increased attention. Systematic research of representatives of these families can be done in parallel with mapping.
When studying the development of Latvian game mammal populations and their influencing factors, changes in the status of large game mammal populations (elk, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolves, lynx) are followed, linking the population's demographic structure, feeding conditions, mortality factors and sizes with economic activity, in the context of this study mainly for recreation and hunting. As a result of the study, it is planned to draw conclusions about the primary and secondary causes of changes in the state of populations, predict further development and provide practical recommendations for the management of usable and protected species.