Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research

Oak Ecology

Special feature of Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research: Oak ecology 

The Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research invites submissions to a Special Feature on oak ecology, with an emphasis on how oaks underpin biodiversity conservation and climate‑resilient forestry across Northern Europe. Oak forests are among the most species‑rich temperate habitats. European oaks support high diversity across multiple trophic levels—lichens, saproxylic beetles, cavity‑nesting birds, ectomycorrhizal fungi, and soil biota—making oak‑rich woodlands true biodiversity hotspots in human‑dominated landscapes. In Nordic and northern Central European regions, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea) structure some of the last remnants of semi‑open, long‑continuity woodlands where veteran trees and dead wood sustain specialized species and red‑listed taxa. 

At the same time, oaks are emerging as candidate species for climate‑smart forestry. High genetic and phenotypic diversity in pedunculate oak—including variation in drought tolerance and phenology—signals strong adaptive potential under ongoing climate change. Evidence suggests pedunculate oak can perform well under present and end‑of‑century climates across large parts of Europe, supporting adaptation, carbon storage, risk‑spreading in mixed stands, and long‑term resilience to storms, droughts, and pest outbreaks. 

This Special Feature will gather empirical, experimental, and modelling studies that advance understanding of oak ecology from genes to landscapes and inform evidence‑based conservation and silviculture. 

Topics of Interest 

• Oaks and multi‑trophic biodiversity: forest insects (e.g., saproxylic beetles), birds, epiphyteslichens, fungi (including ectomycorrhizal networks), ground flora, soil biota, and ecosystem functions in oak‑dominated systems. 

• Regeneration and stand dynamics: natural regeneration, recruitment bottlenecks, browsing and competition, stand development, and management to secure long‑term oak continuity. 

• Silviculture and management for resilience: climate‑smart forestry approaches, mixed‑species stand design, dead‑wood retention, veteran tree management, and restoration of semi‑open oak woodlands. 

• Adaptive capacity and genetics: provenance trials, common gardens, genomic and phenotypic variation in traits linked to temperature and moisture extremes; local adaptation and assisted gene flow. 

• Biogeography and climate change: species distribution models, projected range shifts, refugia, and landscape connectivity for oaks under future climate scenarios. 

• Disturbance ecology: responses of oaks and associated communities to storms, drought, fire, and pests/pathogens; resilience mechanisms and management implications. 

• Conservation planning: prioritization for red‑listed species tied to old‑growth oaks, monitoring frameworks, policy and practice interfaces in Northern Europe. 

• Methods and data resources: novel monitoring approaches, long‑term datasets, and open data that inform oak ecology and management. 

Article Types 

• Original Research Articles (observational, experimental, or modelingmodelling) 

• Reviews and Syntheses (systematic, scoping, or narrative) 

• Short Communications or Notes (novel datasets, methods, or results) 

• Perspectives or Policy Analyses (practice‑relevant insights grounded in evidence) 

For pre‑submission questions or to discuss fit, please contact the journal office via the Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research website.