Restoration and stress relief through physical activities in forests and parks

A field survey assessed the restorative effects of visiting an urban forest and a city park in Zurich, Switzerland. Respondents rated their headaches, level of stress, and how balanced they felt both prior to visiting the outdoor location and at the time of being interviewed. Suffering from headaches and stress decreased significantly, and feeling well-balanced increased significantly. The recovery ratio for stress was 87%, and the reduction in headaches was 52%, in terms of the possible improvements on five-point rating scales. With respect to feeling well-balanced, the observed changes amounted to 40% of the possible enhancement. Positive effects increased with length of visit, and individuals practising sports (e.g., jogging, biking, playing ball) showed significantly higher improvements than those engaged in less strenuous activities (e.g., taking a walk or relaxing). These findings support previous research on how exercise in green spaces promotes well-being and recovery from stress.     

Molecular characterization of the incitant of cowpea bacterial blight and pustule, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola (Xcv), isolated from cowpea leaves with blight or minute pustules and collected from various geographic areas, were selected on the basis of pathological and physiological features. All strains were analyzed for genotypic markers by two methods: ribotyping with EcoRI endonuclease, and RFLP analysis with a plasmid probe (pthB) containing a gene required for pathogenicity from Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis. Ribotyping revealed a unique pattern for all the strains that corresponded to the previously described ribotype rRNA7. Based on polymorphism detected by pthB among Xcv strains, nine haplotypes were defined. The observed genetic variation was independent of the geographic origin of the strains and of pathogenic variation. Some haplotypes were widely distributed, whereas others were localized. In some cases, we could differentiate strains isolated from blight symptoms and pustules according to haplotypic composition. However, in most cases, no significant differences were observed. Our results and the previous pathogenic and biochemical characterizations suggest that the strains isolated from leaves with blight symptoms or minute pustules belong to the same pathovar. We provide information on pathogen diversity that can be used to identify and characterize resistant germplasm.     

Studies on the effect of deltamethrin sprays on the numbers of epigeal predatory arthropods occurring in arable fields

The effect of spraying winter rape and winter wheat with deltamethrin on the numbers of epigeal Carabidae, Staphylinidae and Linyphiidae caught in pitfall traps was studied in Northern Germany in 1980 and 1981. Two experiments were performed with each crop, deltamethrin being sprayed at 7.5 g a.i. ha^?1 in 300 litres of water in springtime on rape, and in midsummer on wheat. Sprayed plots were rectangles of 2 and 3 ha; unsprayed plots were squares of 0.5 ha each (two replicates). Ten pitfall traps were placed per replicate at least 3 weeks before spraying and were left for at least 3 weeks after spraying, the traps being emptied weekly. Beneficial Carabid species which have been shown already to have an economic significance, were rare during this study, but four other species (three of them were autumn breeders) were not affected by deltamethrin. At the spraying dates the autumn breeders were hidden in the soil as pupae. Three Staphylinid species, studied in only one experiment each, appeared to be strongly reduced in numbers by deltamethrin. The Linyphiid spiders were affected most heavily by deltamethrin sprayed in spring or in midsummer; the initial mortality of more than 92% lasted longer than 4 weeks, and an adverse effect was still significant in winter wheat 6 weeks after spraying. Overall, deltamethrin appears to have a broad spectrum effect concerning the epigeal predatory arthropods.     

Literarische Berichte

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Pflanzenschutz und Schädlingsbekämpfung — Rechtsvorschriften

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Einige neue Erkenntnisse über die Bionomie der europäischen Monochamus-Arten (Col. Cerambyc.)1)

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag gehalten beim ersten Südtiroler Entomologentag in Dietenheim, 22. September 1970.I 39042 Brixen, Prov. Bozen/Italien, Rienzdamm 38     

Nitrogen uptake from 15N-enriched fertilizer by four tree crops in an Amazonian agroforest

Mixed tree cropping systems have been proposed for sustainable nutrient management in the humid tropics. Yet, the nutrient interactions between intercropped trees have not been addressed sufficiently. In the present study we compare the temporal and spatial patterns of the uptake of applied ¹⁵N by four different tree crops in a mixed tree cropping system on a Xanthic Ferralsol in central Amazônia, Brazil, during one year. Most of the N uptake occurred during the first two weeks. Very little N was recovered by peach palm (Bactris gasipaes), more by cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) and annatto (Bixa orellana) and most by Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). Due to tree pruning the total accumulation of applied ¹⁵N in the above-ground biomass of annatto decreased throughout the year. It remained constant in cupuassu and peach palm and increased in Brazil nut. Brazil nut showed an extensive root activity and took up more fertilizer N applied to neighboring trees than from the one applied under its own canopy in contrast to the other three tree crops. Therefore, trees with wide-spread root systems may not need to receive N fertilizer directly but can take up N applied to other trees in the mixed cropping system. This means that such trees may effectively decrease N leaching when intercropped with trees that have dormant periods or places with low N uptake, but also exert considerable resource competition.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Untersuchungen über das Auftreten und die Lebensweise des WellenbockesSemanotus undatus L.(Col., Cerambycidae)

Zusammenfassung Anhand der Analyse einer stark befallenen Fichte(Picea excelsa), wurde eine eingehende Untersuchung über die Bionomie vonSemanotus undatus L. durchgeführt. Die Art befällt zusammen mit verschiedenen Borkenkäfern. der GattungPityogenes, Pityophthorus undPolygraphus, kürzlich abgestorbene Nadelhölzer. Die Weibchen legen im Frühjahr an die 30 weißliche, 1,6 mm lange Eier einzeln unter Rindenschuppen ab, aus denen nach 1–2 Wochen die Eilarven schlüpfen. Die Larven minieren zwischen Rinde und Splint (Abb.) und gehen nach Abschluß ihrer 2–4 monatigen Fraßtätigkeit zur Verpuppung mit einem Hakengang (Abb.) 2–8 cm tief ins Holz. Der Großteil der Larven verpuppt sich schon im August/September, der nach dreiwöchiger Puppenruhe schlüpfende Käfer überwintert dann in der Puppenwiege, die er erst im kommenden März/April verläßt. Etwa 1/3 der erwachsenen Larven ü berwintert jedoch im Larvenstadium und verpuppt sich erst im nächsten Frühjahr. Dieses unterschiedliche Verhalten in der Überwinterungsform ist zum Teil temperaturbedingt und führt im Mai/Juni zu einer zweiten verspäteten Erscheinungswelle der Käfer. Die Käfer haben eine Aktivitätsperiode von 1–3 Wochen, während der sie keinerlei Nahrung zu sich nehmen. Der durch die Hakengänge verursachte technische Schaden gleicht dem derTetropium-Arten, reicht aber durch das viel sporadischere Auftreten dieser boreomontanen Art in seiner Bedeutung bei weitem nicht an den vonTetropium verursachten heran.     

A comparison of two stand table projection methods for young Eucalyptus nitens (Maiden) plantations in Chile

The study compares two methods of stand table projection based on data from young Eucalyptus nitens (Maiden) plantations in Chile. The projected diameter distributions were estimated using the methods proposed by Nepal and Somers (1992) [For. Sci. 38 (1992) 120] and Cao and Baldwin (1999) [For. Sci. 45 (1999) 506]. The evaluation compared the observed and estimated diameter distributions for different projection intervals, using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and an error index called ‘relative discrepancy’. The evaluation showed that both methods are suitable for application in the Eucalypt plantations. However, the method proposed by Nepal and Somers proved to be more accurate, especially when the projection period extends over 4 years or more. Expected error and bias for the observed and estimated total and merchantable volumes at stand level were also evaluated. The observed error and bias were relatively low for both methods; however, some differences were detected when the volume distributions were analyzed at diameter class level.