Wolves, elk, willows, and trophic cascades in the upper Gallatin Range of Southwestern Montana, USA

We summarized the status of wolves (Canis lupus), elk (Cervis elaphus), and woody browse conditions during the 20th century for the upper Gallatin elk winter range in southwestern Montana, USA. During this period, wolves were present until about the mid-1920s, absent for seven decades, and then returned to the basin in 1996. A chronosequence of photographs, historical reports, and studies indicated willows (Salix spp.) along streams became heavily browsed and eventually suppressed following the removal of wolves, apparently due to unimpeded browsing by elk. However, after wolf establishment in 1996, browsing intensity on willows lessened in some areas and we hypothesized that, at both a landscape and fine scale, browsing pressure reflects terrain configurations influencing predation risk (nonlethal effects), in conjunction with lower elk densities (lethal effects). We measured browsing intensity and heights of Booth willow (S. boothii) along 3000 m reaches of the Gallatin River and a tributary to examine the potential influence of wolf/elk interactions upon willow growth. Where the Gallatin Valley is relatively narrow (high predation risk), willows began releasing in 1999 and by 2002 were relatively tall (150–250 cm). In contrast, willow heights along a wider portion of the Gallatin Valley, along the open landscape of the tributary, and an upland site (all low predation risk) generally remained low (<80 cm). We identified terrain and other features that may contribute to the perceived risk of wolf predation, by elk for a given site. Although alternative mechanisms are discussed, changes in willow communities over time following wolf removal and their subsequent reintroduction were consistent with a top-down trophic cascade model involving nonlethal and possibly lethal effects. If similar top-down effects upon vegetation hold true in other regions of North America and other parts of the world where wolves have been extirpated, wolf recovery may represent a management option for helping to restore riparian plant communities and conserve biodiversity.     

东莞蕨类植物区系研究

采用野外调查与查阅标本相结合的方法,对东莞蕨类植物区系及其分布特点进行研究,结果表明:东莞市有蕨类植物37科66属125种,其区系特点为:①分布区类型在科、属、种的水平上皆以热带、亚热带性质为主,占各自总数的64.87%、75.76%与61.60%。②科与属的分布区类型显示出东莞蕨类植物区系从热带向亚热带过渡的性质,与温带蕨类植物区系的联系较弱;在种的水平上,温带成分占总数的28.80%,呈现出热带蕨类植物区系向温带蕨类植物区系过渡的特点。③在种的水平上热带亚洲分布及东亚分布类型构成了东莞蕨类植物区系的主体,各占38.40%和20.80%。④与周边4个地区的比较中,与深圳的相似性为最高,与乐昌的相似性为最低;总体上,东莞蕨类植物区系与周围地区关系较为密切。     

Survival,growth, wood basic density and wood biomass of seven-year-old Casuarina species/provenances grown at Kongowe,Kibaha, Tanzania

A performance comparison of seven-year-old individuals of 13 Casuarina species/provenances in terms of survival, growth (diameter, height and volume), wood basic density and wood biomass was undertaken at Kongowe, Kibaha, Tanzania. The trial was laid out using a randomised complete block design with four replications. The results showed significant differences (P < 0.0001) in all parameters. Casuarina equisetifolia from Montazah National Park, Egypt, had the lowest untransformed survival (48.8%), whereas C. equisetifolia from Wagait Tower (North Timor), Indonesia, had the highest survival (87.5%). Casuarina equisetifolia from Montazah National Park, Egypt, had the lowest mean diameter (8.6 cm) while the C. junghuhniana provenance from Timor, Indonesia (seedlot no. 19489) had the highest diameter (14.8 cm). Casuarina equisetifolia from Montazah National Park, Egypt, had the lowest mean height (16.2 m), volume (22.1 m³ ha^?1) and biomass production (23.5 t ha^?1), whereas C. equisetifolia from Hadsamira Songkhla, Thailand, had the highest mean height (24.3 m), volume (66.4 m³ ha^?1) and biomass production (72.9 t ha^?1). In terms of wood basic density, the C. junghuhniana provenance from Timor, Indonesia (seedlot no. 19489) had the lowest (617 kg m^?3), whereas C. equisetifolia from Wagait Tower (North Timor), Indonesia, had the highest (731 kg m^?3). Ordinal ranking for the best-performing species/provenances revealed that the best two provenances were C. equisetifolia from Hadsamira Sonkhla, Thailand, and C. junghuhniana from Timor, Indonesia (seedlot no. 19491). The two poorest-performing provenances were C. equisetifolia from Montazah National Park, Egypt, and C. equisetifolia from Cotonou, Benin. The outstanding species/provenances are recommended for pilot planting at Kibaha and similar sites.     

Long-term response of planted conifers, natural regeneration, and vegetation to harvesting, scalping, and weeding on a boreal mixedwood site

This study reports 14th-year response of a boreal mixedwood stand to different harvest intensities (uncut, 50% partial cut with and without removal of residuals after 3 years, and clearcut), spot site preparation treatments (none and scalped), and chemical weeding frequencies (none, single, and multiple) in northeastern Ontario. The response variables include the survival and growth of planted white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), height and density of natural regeneration and shrubs, and cover of shrubs and non-woody vegetation. Harvesting and weeding generally improved survival and growth of planted trees, although white spruce survival did not significantly differ among the three weeding frequencies. Harvesting tended to increase heights of hardwood (mostly trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)) and conifer (largely balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.).) natural regeneration, cover and density of shrubs, and cover of herbs, lichens, and ferns. Chemical weeding reduced height, density and cover of shrubs, height and density of hardwood regeneration, and fern cover, but increased moss and lichen cover. Spot scalping did not significantly affect planted seedling, natural regeneration, or the vegetation.Maximum survival and growth of planted white spruce and jack pine were achieved using a combination of clearcutting and multiple weeding. However, partial cutting followed by a single weeding produced acceptable survival and reasonable growth of planted trees, particularly for white spruce. Partial canopy removal alone substantially reduced the amount of hardwood regeneration, relative to clearcutting, but did not adequately suppress understory shrubs. Significant improvement in seedling growth following multiple weedings was evident primarily in the complete canopy removal treatments: 50% partial cut with removal of residuals after 3 years and clearcut. While the effects of harvesting and weeding on planted crop trees found in the 5th-year assessments generally persisted at year 14, survival decreased, likely due to light competition from developing hardwood and shrubs.     

Planting cost,survival, and growth one to three years after establishing loblolly pine seedlings with straight,deformed, or pruned taproots

To provide an objective approach for comparing various planting methods likely to differ in cost, seedling performance, and cost efficiency, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings were dug-hole or slit planted with either straight, deformed, or pruned taproots, and planting rate (seconds per seedling) and three-year survival and growth of seedlings were measured. The per-hectare cost of dug-hole planting seedlings to ensure straight taproots ($273) was over five times that of slit planting seedlings with intentionally deformed or pruned taproots ($50). Although third-year pine survival did not differ significantly among treatments (74% to 87%), yield index was 58% higher for seedlings dug-hole planted with straight taproots (1152 dm³ stem volume/ha) versus that for seedlings slit planted with deformed or pruned taproots (730 dm³/ha). Third-year cost efficiency (yield index ÷ planting cost) of slit planted seedlings with deformed or pruned taproots (11.7 dm³/$) was over three times that of dug-hole planted seedlings with straight taproots (3.5 dm³/$). These short-term results suggest that the higher values of yield index resulting from straight-root planting do not justify its considerably greater cost.     

Biodiversity,exotic plant species,and herbivory: The good,the bad,and the ungulate

Invasion of natural ecosystems by exotic plant species is a major threat to biodiversity. Disturbance to native plant communities, whether natural or management induced, is a primary factor contributing to successful invasion by exotic plant species. Herbivory by both wild and domestic ungulates exerts considerable impact on structure and composition of native plant communities. Intensive herbivory by ungulates can enhance exotic plant invasion, establishment, and spread for three reasons: (1) many exotic plants are adapted to ground disturbances such as those caused by ungulate feeding, trampling, and movements; (2) many exotic plants are adapted for easy transport from one area to another by ungulates via endozoochory and epizoochory; (3) many exotic plants are not palatable or are of low palatability to ungulates, and consequently, their survival is favored as ungulates reduce or eliminate palatable, native plants. Ungulate herbivory is a chronic, landscape-scale disturbance capable of influencing plant communities as much as episodic events such as fire. Consequently, ungulate herbivory has the potential to facilitate the invasion and establishment of exotic plants in the interior Pacific Northwest where ungulates occupy nearly every ecosystem. Moreover, ungulate herbivory has intensified in many ecosystems, owing to the addition of domestic ungulates with that of existing, wild ungulates, coupled with the reduction or elimination of migratory movements and predators that previously regulated wild ungulate populations and influenced their distributions. Despite the observational evidence for ungulate herbivory as a strong facilitator of exotic plant invasion and establishment, current knowledge of cause–effect relations is severely limited by a lack of manipulative experiments. Most studies have been observational, unreplicated, and lack the experimental controls needed to eliminate or account for confounding sources of variation. Heightened attention to conservation of biodiversity will increase the importance of managing ungulates in balance with the plant communities that support them.     

Effects of alkali,mild steam,and chitosan treatments on the properties of pineapple,ramie, and sansevieria fiber bundles

This study focused on the effects of treatments of alkali, mild steam, and chitosan on the surface morphology, fiber texture, and tensile properties of pineapple, ramie, and sansevieria fiber bundles. The fibers were treated with NaOH (2%), mild steam (0.1 MPa), and chitosan solutions (4% and 8%). The properties of these treated fibers were characterized and compared with the untreated fibers. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to observe the surface morphology of those fibers. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy was used to observe the fiber textures. Tensile properties of the treated and untreated fibers were also recorded. SEM micrographs showed that the surfaces of the NaOH-treated fibers were more damaged than those of the steam-treated fibers. The 4% chitosan solution covered the fiber surface more uniformly than the 8% chitosan solution. The steam-treated fibers had higher values of degree of crystallinity, crystallite orientation factor, and crystallite size than the NaOHtreated fibers. Ramie fiber showed greater mechanical properties than the other fibers. The values of tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness of the steamtreated fibers, which were similar to those of the 4% chitosan-coated fibers, were higher than those for the other treatments.     

Growth, nutrition, photosynthesis and transpiration responses of longleaf pine seedlings to light, water and nitrogen

Early growth and physiology of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) seedlings were studied in response to light, water and nitrogen under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was conducted with 1-year-old seedlings grown in 11.3 l pots. The experimental design was a split-plot factorial with two levels (low and high) of each of the factors, replicated in three blocks. The four factorial combinations of water and nitrogen were randomly applied to 15 pots (sub-plots) in each of the light treatment (main plot). Data were collected on survival, root collar diameter (RCD), and height on a monthly basis. Biomass (shoot, root and needle), leaf area index, specific needle area, and needle nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) concentrations were determined following final harvest after 16 months. Physiological data (net photosynthesis and transpiration) were collected monthly from March to July during the second growing season.

Height and RCD were significantly influenced by nitrogen and water and by the interaction between them with no apparent effect of light. Seedlings grew 93% taller in the high nitrogen and well watered (HNWW) treatment compared to the low nitrogen and water stressed (LNWS) treatment. Similarly, a significant increase (78%) in RCD was observed for seedlings in the HNWW treatment over the LNWS treatment. Light, along with water and nitrogen, played an important role in seedling biomass growth, especially when water was not limiting. Biomass partitioning (as measured by root:shoot ratio) was affected only by nitrogen and water. Nutrient stress had a greater influence on carbon allocation (69% increase in root:shoot ratio) than water stress (19% increase). Net photosynthesis (P_net) was significantly higher for seedlings in the high resource than in the low resource treatments with significant light×water and nitrogen×water interactions. Transpiration rate was higher (75%) under the WW treatment compared to the WS treatment. Longleaf pine seedlings grown under the LNWW treatment had the lowest foliar nitrogen (0.71%) whereas seedlings in the HNWS treatment had the highest (1.46%). Increasing the availability of light (through larger canopy openings or controlling midstory density) and soil nitrogen (through fertilization) may not result in greater P_net and improved seedling growth unless soil water is not limiting.     

Responses of swamp bay,Persea palustris,and avocado,Persea americana,to various concentrations of the laurel wilt pathogen,Raffaelea lauricola

Laurel wilt, caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola and transmitted by the exotic ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus, has killed members of the Lauraceae plant family throughout the southeast United States. A series of experiments were conducted to examine the effects of inoculum concentration on the development of laurel wilt in swamp bay, Persea palustris, and avocado, Persea americana. In each experiment, host plants were inoculated with aqueous suspensions of 10², 10³, 10⁴ or 10⁵ conidia of R. lauricola, and plants were rated periodically for external symptom development (wilting and foliar dieback). At the end of experiments, plants were rated for internal symptoms of the disease (discoloration of sapwood) and assayed for R. lauricola on a semi‐selective medium. Symptom severity in swamp bay was significantly lower for the 10² treatment than at higher (10³–10⁵) concentrations, whereas 10² and 10³ conidia caused less disease than 10⁴ and 10⁵ conidia in avocado. At the lowest inoculum concentration, 67% of the swamp bay plants and 20% of the avocados died by the time the respective experiments were terminated. The pathogen was recovered from a high proportion of the symptomatic sapwood of swamp bay (100%) and avocado (94%), and sapwood discoloration and recovery of R. lauricola from inoculated stems of swamp bay were highly correlated with recovery of the pathogen and symptom development in roots. Clearly, swamp bay and avocado are very sensitive to R. lauricola. The ability of only 100 conidia of this pathogen to kill these hosts suggests that few individuals of X. glabratus or other ambrosia beetles that carry low levels of the pathogen would be sufficient to transmit conidia that infect and lead to disease development. The results are also relevant to the development of disease‐tolerant host selections, as they indicate levels of the pathogen appropriate for use in screening plants for disease resistance.     

Plant communities, species diversity, richness, and regeneration of a traditionally managed coastal forest, Kenya

The Kenyan coastal forests make up one of the World 25 Biodiversity Hotspots. They consist of over 140 fragments (the majority with areas less than 0.5 km²) of the once extensive Zanzibar-Inhambane lowland moist forest. The over 60 known Mijikenda sacred Kaya forests and groves scattered along the coastal hinterland form the greater part of this ecosystem. The forests are of biological and cultural significance, and this has been recognized nationally and internationally, with some now listed as World Heritage Sites. The forests are protected by councils of Kaya elders who regulate use of their resources. Increasing human population and subsequent rise in demand for forest products and land for settlement has put a strain on these relic forests. Farm encroachment and extraction of forest products in different Kaya forests have affected the vegetation ecology at varying levels. This study investigated the spatial species distribution, association and regeneration potential of commonly utilized plants in one of these traditionally managed ecosystems. A modified nested plot method was used to collect data in the field.Using TWINSPAN multivariate, and indicator species analysis, two plant communities (Asteranthe and Bridelia) and an undifferentiated vegetation type were identified. Species association in Asteranthe consisted largely of forest dependant species, with a significant presence of woody climbers. It was comprised of two sub-communities namely Manilkara and Scorodophloeos. In contrast the second plant community, Bridelia, was dominated by light demanding species. It comprised one sub-community (Catunaregam) and a seral stage (Keetia). The species diversity and richness was higher in the Asteranthe community compared to Bridelia. Some of the forest species commonly utilized by the local people were observed to regenerate both in open and closed forest habitats while others had seedling recruitment confined to closed forest.Despite some coastal forests showing physiognomic similarity, detailed study shows intra-variation linked to topography, exposition, type and intensity of human perturbation both currently and in the distant past. Clearly, vegetation patterns of coastal forests of eastern Africa change at fairly short intervals.Recruitment of forest specialists is likely to decline if closed forests are opened up by farm encroachment, however their less specialized counterparts can pioneer in re-colonization of disturbed sites if conservation is strengthened. There is need to invigorate traditional management systems of forests with cultural significance by recognizing and giving increased legal mandates to the local custodians.     

Prehistoric fire area and emissions from California's forests,woodlands, shrublands,and grasslands

In the majority of US political settings wildland fire is still discussed as a negative force. Lacking from current wildfire discussions are estimates of the spatial extent of fire and their resultant emissions before the influences of Euro-American settlement and this is the focus of this work. We summarize the literature on fire history (fire rotation and fire return intervals) and past Native American burning practices to estimate past fire occurrence by vegetation type. Once past fire intervals were established they were divided into the area of each corresponding vegetation type to arrive at estimates of area burned annually. Finally, the First Order Fire Effects Model was used to estimate emissions. Approximately 1.8 million ha burned annually in California prehistorically (pre 1800). Our estimate of prehistoric annual area burned in California is 88% of the total annual wildfire area in the entire US during a decade (1994–2004) characterized as “extreme” regarding wildfires. The idea that US wildfire area of approximately two million ha annually is extreme is certainly a 20th or 21st century perspective. Skies were likely smoky much of the summer and fall in California during the prehistoric period. Increasing the spatial extent of fire in California is an important management objective. The best methods to significantly increase the area burned is to increase the use of wildland fire use (WFU) and appropriate management response (AMR) suppression fire in remote areas. Political support for increased use of WFU and AMR needs to occur at local, state, and federal levels because increasing the spatial scale of fire will increase smoke and inevitability, a few WFU or AMR fires will escape their predefined boundaries.     

Trees and windbreaks in the Sahel: establishment,growth, nutritive,and calorific values

Tree and windbreak species considered for the Southern Sahelian Zone (SSZ) of West Africa have to be evaluated following multiple criteria such as fast establishment, shelter efficiency, production of feed for livestock, and firewood. An on-station experiment was conducted on a sandy soil in southwest Niger between 1988 and 1993 to assess the establishment, growth, nutritive, and calorific values of seven species considered for windbreaks:Andropogon gayanus, Bauhinia rufescens, Acacia holosericea, Acacia nilotica, Acacia senegal, Faidherbia albida, andAzadirachta indica. Mortality and stem diameter were monitored twice a year. From 20 months after planting (MAP) onwards, species were annually trimmed to 2 m height and to 1 m sidewards of the main stem. Fresh and dry weight of leaves, twigs, wood, and fruits were recorded. Leaves were analyzed for crude protein (CP) and metabolizable energy (ME) content. Wood was analyzed for its gross calorific value and its ash content. At 56 MAP, all species had less than 5% morality, except forA. holosericea, which had a mortality rate of 15.9%.A. indica andA. holosericea showed the highest stem diameter among species with 12.2 and 11.8 cm, respectively, at 56 MAP.A. senegal had the highest dry matter production with 22.3 t ha^–1 at 56 MAP, followed byA. indica (12.0 t ha^–1),A. holosericea (11.7 t ha^–1) andB. rufescens (11.2 t ha^–1), butA. holosericea was most productive at earlier harvests. OnlyA. senegal (6.4 t ha^–1) andA. indica (5.1 t ha^–1) had a significant wood production, whereasA. holosericea (5.7 t ha^–1) had the highest phyllodes production. Leaves ofA. senegal andA. indica had highest CP contents of 258 and 214 g kg^–1, respectively. The leaves of all species exceptA. gayanus had a higher CP:ME ratio than natural pasture in the region. The calorific values of firewood did not differ significantly among the species.A. nilotica, the species with one of the lowest firewood production, had the highest Fuelwood Value Index of 6.6. The choice of species for planting trees and windbreaks in the SSZ must be oriented along these criteria. Further research should be directed towards cost-benefit analyses, land tenure and property rights in combination with surveys on local knowledge of rural people.     

Comparisons of Mayan forest management, restoration, and conservation

Numerous communities associated with at least five distinct ethnic Mayan groups in southern Mexico and Central America continue to rely upon forested areas as integral components of their agricultural systems. They carefully manage these areas so that forests provide food, raw materials, and animals. Management practices include removing and planting of woody and herbaceous species, apiculture, and seed harvest. Mayan agroforestry systems in geographically and ecologically distinct areas of Mesoamerica were evaluated to better understand traditional agroforestry system components and how indigenous Mayan agroforestry could be a part of regional forest conservation and restoration. Systems were within Mexican land grant areas (ejidos) or on contested land. Although these systems rely upon different woody species and management techniques, common among them are: (1) the use of multi-stage and successional pathways with forest as a part of the larger system, (2) species that are believed by traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to accelerate forest regeneration - more than 30 tree species are recognized and managed as potential facilitators of forest regeneration and (3) direct human consumption of forest products at all stages of regeneration.     

Fate of walnut seeds,Juglans airanthifolia,hoarded by Japanese squirrels,Sciurus lis

Walnut seeds (Juglans ailanthiforia Carr.) hoarded by Japanese squirrels (Sciurus lis Temminck) were tracked using miniature radio transmitters. A total of 100 seeds with transmitters were provided on the feeding stands in the walnut forest from September to December, 1992. Squirrels ate 35 seeds without hoarding, and 60 were scatter-hoarded. Five seeds were eaten by wood mice (Apodemus speciosus Temminck). The distance from the feeding stand to cache sites ranged from 1 to 62 m with the mean 18 m. Of 60 hoarded seeds, 38 were retrieved by squirrels later, but 15 were stolen by wood mice. After all, 7 seeds were not retrieved until May 1993.     

Forest landscape models: Definitions,characterization, and classification

Previous model classification efforts have led to a broad group of models from site-scale (non-spatial) gap models to continental-scale biogeographical models due to a lack of definition of landscape models. Such classifications become inefficient to compare approaches and techniques that are specifically associated with forest landscape modeling. This paper provides definitions of key terminologies commonly used in forest landscape modeling to classify forest landscape models. It presents a set of qualitative criteria for model classification. These criteria represent model definitions and key model implementation decisions, including the temporal resolution, number of spatial processes simulated, and approaches to simulate site-level succession. Four approaches of simulating site level succession are summarized: (1) no site-level succession (spatial processes as surrogates), (2) successional pathway, (3) vital attribute, and (4) model coupling. Computational load for the first three approaches is calculated using the Big O Notation, a standard method. Classification criteria are organized in a hierarchical order that creates a dichotomous tree with each end node representing a group of models with similar traits. The classified models fall into various groups ranging from theoretical and empirical to strategic and tactical. The paper summarizes the applications of forest landscape models into three categories: (1) spatiotemporal patterns of model objects, (2) sensitivities of model object to input parameters, and (3) scenario analyses. Finally, the paper discusses two dilemmas related to the use of forest landscape models: result validation and circular reasoning.     

Occurrence of Diplodia corticola,including new oak host records,in Wisconsin,USA

In the United States, diseased oaks (Quercus species) exhibit tip blight, branch and stem cankers, and dieback often attributed to Diplodia species or related fungi. Emergence of Diplodia corticola as a pathogen of European oaks, and reports of this fungus in the eastern and western United States, prompted re‐examination of strains from Wisconsin. These had been obtained in the late 1990s and early 2000s and previously identified only as Diplodia species. Nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences were obtained from the Wisconsin strains and analysed with other sequences from GenBank. Wisconsin strains confirmed as D. corticola were from northern red oak (Q. rubra), black oak (Q. velutina), white oak (Q. alba) and bur oak (Q. macrocarpa). Other strains from oaks in Wisconsin were D. mutila and D. seriata. Wound inoculation of northern red, white and bur oak seedlings with D. corticola in a greenhouse resulted in shoot death and stem lesions, from which the pathogen was reisolated. We conclude that D. corticola has been present in the northcentral United States for at least two decades and report two previously unrecognized hosts of this pathogen: white oak and bur oak. The roles of D. corticola, related fungi and influences of other environmental factors in deterioration of oak health in North America merit additional investigation.     

Ten-year responses of ponderosa pine growth,vigor, and recruitment to restoration treatments in the Bitterroot Mountains,Montana, USA

Little is known about ponderosa pine forest ecosystem responses to restoration practices in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. In this study, restoration treatments aimed at approximating historical forest structure and disturbances included modified single-tree selection cutting, with and without prescribed burning. We compared the effectiveness of restoration treatments on growth, vigor, and composition of recruitment responses with untreated controls. We used a randomized block design to detect treatment differences in mean individual tree basal area increment (BAInc10), growth efficiency (GE), and recruitment abundance between two restoration treatments (Cut-only and Cut-burn) and a Control. We further examined treatment effects by tree age-class (Young, Mature, Presettlement) using a spatial ANOVA model that incorporates the spatial autocorrelation among trees within experimental units. Ten years after implementing restoration treatments, mean individual tree BAInc10 and GE were significantly higher for treated units relative to Control units; all three age-classes benefited similarly from restoration treatments relative to the Control, with the greatest response in the Cut-only and moderate response in the Cut-burn. When treated units were compared, Cut-burn negatively affected BAInc10 and GE relative to Cut-only. Presettlement trees responded positively to treatment relative to the Control, particularly for BAInc10, demonstrating the potential of these old trees to respond to reduced competition. The Cut-burn treatment, in contrast, negatively affected the BAInc10 and GE response of postsettlement trees when compared to Cut-only. Restoration treatments did not reduce the amount of Douglas-fir recruits. In addition, the recruitment of both ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir species was associated with the proximate cover of woody debris in Cut-only and Control treatments. Finally, special consideration needs to be taken for spring Cut-burn treatments, which appeared to dampen growth and vigor, relative to Cut-only, particularly for Young and Mature trees, and increased recruitment of ponderosa pine and particularly Douglas-fir.     

Clonal variation in morphology, growth, physiology, anatomy and ultrastructure of container-grown white spruce somatic plants

We assessed clonal variation in morphological variables, mineral nutrition, root growth capacity, net photosynthesis, tannin distribution, and cuticle and epicuticular wax features within four families of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss). Seeds were collected from four families obtained through controlled crosses among selected genotypes. For each family, plants were produced either from seeds (zygotic) or by somatic embryogenesis (clones). Each family was therefore represented by its zygotic seedlings and three clones. Within a family and under similar growth conditions, several clones differed significantly from the zygotic seedlings in height, root-collar diameter, needle dry mass, branch density, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, and length of needles. Branch density (number of first-order branches per cm height) of zygotic seedlings and clones varied from 0.8 to 1.4 branches cm(-1) and from 0.6 to 1.3 branches cm(-1), respectively. Mean needle length of zygotic seedlings and clones ranged from 11 to 14 mm and from 11 to 17 mm, respectively. For many variables (height, dry mass of new roots, needle dry mass and branch density), differences among clones were significantly greater than differences among zygotic seedlings within a family. Tannins were more abundant in needles of clones than in needles of zygotic seedlings. In some clones, tannins occurred as a ribbon along the central vacuole, whereas in others they appeared as aggregates dispersed in the vacuole. Within a family, N, P and K showed considerable variations in their use efficiency. Interclonal variations were observed in root growth potential and net photosynthesis. Variations in growth and physiology reflect genetically determined differences among clones within a family.     

春夏秋冬主题园设

主题园为以某一特定主题为表达对象的观赏性游园。以太原市和平公园的春夏秋冬主题园为研究对象,比较分析我国古典园林（扬州个园、杭州西湖、佛山梁园）、国内现代园林（四盒园）和国外园林（米兰四季花园、日本Kitagata公寓、美国Oldfields四季花园、法国凡尔赛宫四季喷泉）的园林要素和象征意义,总结了春夏秋冬主题园春园、夏园、秋园、冬园的景观设计手法和技巧,并统计了主题园景观营造所运用的植物种类,以期为主题园的设计提供参考。