The presented study aimed to explore the relationships between different indices of ambient ozone (O3) and tree defoliation, radial increment, and specific diversity and abundance of soil micro-arthropods, stream macro-invertebrates, small mammals (mainly rodents) in order to test the hypothesis that changes in the considered objects of forest ecosystem could be related to changes in ambient ozone concentration. The observations have been carried out on 3 integrated monitoring stations located in Aukstaitija (LT-01), Dzukija (LT-02) National Parks (NPs) since 1994, and Zemaitija (LT-03) NP since 1995. The obtained data revealed that only peak ozone concentrations (from 125 to 215 mug mE-3) had significant effect on changes in the considered components of forest biota. Radial increment and crown defoliation of Scots pine, a little lower the diversity of soil microarthropods, and the least diversity of small mammals were found to be the most sensitive to ozone exposure.

The experiment was carried out at the Research Centre of Organic Farming of Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2012 and 2013. The study was aimed to find out the effect of defoliation and humic acid application on the strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) plant growth, yield, and on the ascorbic acid, total phenolic and anthocyanin contents in ‘Darselect’ yield. Defoliation decreased significantly the number of leaves and inflorescences in both experimental years, while the fertilization effect was only in one experimental year. Fruit weight ranged from 19 to 42 g, being significantly decreased by defoliation in 2012, but increased in 2013. Yield was decreased due to defoliation up to 40% in 2012 and up to 51% in 2013, but humic acid application increased the yield of the defoliated plants in both experimental years. Defoliation in combination with humic acids had a significant effect on strawberry ascorbic acid content, but the effect was different for different fruit order. Tertiary fruits contained up to 46% more of total phenolics due to defoliation in both experimental years. Defoliation increased anthocyanins in primary and secondary fruits, but decreased it in tertiary fruits; while fertilizing increased the content up to 45% in defoliated plants in primary, but decreased about 13% in tertiary strawberries.