Modeling individual tree height growth of Norway spruce and Scots pine from national forest inventory data in Norway

We developed individual tree height growth models for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Norway based on national forest inventory data. Potential height growth is based on existing dominant height growth models and reduced due to competition by functions developed in this study. Three spatially explicit and two spatially non-explicit competition indices were tested. Distance effects and diameter ratio effects were estimated from the data simultaneously with parameters of the potential modifier functions. Large height measurement errors in the national forest inventory data caused large residual variation of the models. However, the effects of competition on height growth were significant and plausible. The potential modifier functions show that height growth of dominant trees is largely unaffected by competition. Only at higher levels of competition, height growth is reduced as a consequence of competition. However, Scots pine also reduced height growth at very low levels of competition. Distance effects in the spatially explicit competition indices indicated that the closest neighbors are most important for height growth. However, for Scots pine also competitors at larger distance affected height growth. The five competition indices tested in this study explained similar proportions of the variation in relative height growth. Given that unbiased predictions can only be expected for the same plot size, we recommend a spatially explicit index, which describes the distance function with a negative exponential, for use in growth simulators.     

Basal area growth models for individual trees of Norway spruce, Scots pine, birch and other broadleaves in Norway

Distance-independent individual tree growth models based on about 30,000 observations from the National Forest Inventory and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute have been developed for the main tree species in Norway. The models predict 5-year basal area increment over bark for trees larger than 5 cm at breast height. Potential input variables were of four types: size of the tree, competition indices, site conditions, and stand variables including species, mixtures and layers. The squared correlation coefficient (R²) varied from 0.26 to 0.55. The accuracy of the models was tested by comparing the individual tree models with Norwegian diameter increment models. The accuracy is similar, but individual tree models forecast diameter distributions directly. The inclusion of species mixture and layer as variables increases the reliability of the models in mixed and in uneven-aged stands.     

Micromorphology and topochemistry of extractives in Scots pine and Norway spruce thermomechanical pulps: a cytochemical approach

Due to the increasing demand for Norway spruce as prime raw material for high-yield pulping, recent interest has focused on Scots pine as an alternative. However, the intrinsic properties of Scots pine, particularly the high amounts of extractives and the fiber properties, have been considered a disadvantage for thermomechanical pulping. A study was therefore conducted on the variations in the spatial distribution and redistribution of lipophilic extractives in spruce and pine wood and thermomechanical pulp (TMP) using cytochemical staining methods and chemical analysis. Chemical analyses showed chips from pine thinnings and sawmill slabs to contain three to five and two to three times, respectively, more extractives than found in spruce; in particular, the amount of triglycerides differed significantly. Results from staining techniques on the abundance and distribution of extractives (i.e., fats) between pine and spruce correlated with amounts detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Cytochemical observations revealed information pertaining to species-specific distribution and redistribution of extractives among TMP fines and fibers and indicated the presence of a molecular film of extractives. Results indicate that the high concentrations of extractives in pine ray parenchyma are released during TMP processing and are redistributed onto the surfaces of the pulps, negatively affecting energy usage during primary refining.     

Spatio-temporal perspectives of forest fires regimes in a maturing Mediterranean mixed pine landscape

It has been suggested that during the past several decades, the frequency and the intensity of wildfires have markedly increased in the Mediterranean basin. We came to assess this postulation in the forested region of Mount Carmel, Israel. This region is characterized by Quercus spp. and Pistacia spp. maquis and has been intensely afforested with Pinus spp. stands since the 1920s. We compiled a GIS-based database of the fires recorded in the region since 1983, in addition to archiving data beginning from the 1940s. The data were collected from land stewardship agencies’ archives, fire departments and aerial photographs. Prior to the early 1980s, no systematic documentation of the fires was available, rather just sporadic qualitative documentation of the large forest fires that occurred. Between 1944 and 1982, only 6 large fires were documented, while after that 11 large fires occurred. Analysis indicated that the spatial distribution of the fires does not occur at random, and their locations are significantly closer to roadsides compared to an expected random distribution. The annual number of fires and the areas burned during the last two decades were not correlated with annual precipitation in any manner. Accordingly, we suggest that the increased number of large forest fires during the last decades is associated with the maturation and senescence of the planted forest coupled with increased human activities.     

Canopy reduction as a possible measure for adaptation of young Scots pine stand to insufficient precipitation in Central Europe

Climate change towards a warmer and dryer vegetation period may negatively impact growing conditions for Scots pine monocultures situated on dry, sandy soils in Central Europe. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of thinning on precipitation throughfall in young Scots pine stands on typical pine sites. In 1992, observation of precipitation and throughfall started at the Tyniště research site (lowland of Eastern Bohemia) in a 7-year-old pine stand planted in rows at a stocking of ca 10,000 trees ha⁻¹. Throughfall was measured at weekly intervals during the growing season (April-September) by gauges randomly located in two treatments - variant 1C - Control without thinning and variant 2T - Thinned - and compared to precipitation at an open space outside of the canopy. The results demonstrated the positive effects of heavy low thinning (removal of 47% of the total number of trees and 31% of total pre-treatment basal area) on the water supply of young Scots pine stands. On the Thinned treatment, throughfall increased by 2-8% compared to Control plot. This positive effect persisted for six years after the first canopy reduction and the differences were significant for the first four years after thinning. After the second treatment (high thinning), throughfall on the Thinned treatment showed a nominal, but statistically insignificant increase. The likely reason for this result is that the application of a different type of thinning increased the variability of the canopy and, consequently, the effect of released crowns could not be detected.     

Modelling annual individual-tree growth and mortality of Scots pine with data obtained at irregular measurement intervals and containing missing observations

An individual-tree growth model was developed with data from 54 permanent plots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) located in Galicia (northwestern Spain). The study involved two model fitting approaches, one considering constant growth and mortality rates in the period between two consecutive inventories, and another considering variable growth and mortality rates in the same period. The individual-tree growth model was based on annual basal area growth, height growth and survival probability. The model included variables from groups pertaining to tree size, competition and age. Weighted regression was used as a tool for dealing with missing height observations in model fitting. Evaluation of the model via simulation of growth and mortality in the period between inventories showed that the variable growth rate approach provided slightly better results than the constant growth rate approach. The final model was consistent with expected diameter growth, height growth, dominant height growth, stand basal area growth and reduction in number of stems per hectare.     

Decomposition of Scots pine fine woody debris in boreal conditions: Implications for estimating carbon pools and fluxes

Litter quality and environmental effects on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) fine woody debris (FWD) decomposition were examined in three forestry-drained peatlands representing different site types along a climatic gradient from the north boreal (Northern Finland) to south (Southern Finland) and hemiboreal (Central Estonia) conditions. Decomposition (percent mass loss) of FWD with diameter ≤10 mm (twigs) and FWD with diameter >10 mm (branches) was measured using the litter bag method over 1–4-year periods. Overall, decomposition rates increased from north to south, the rate constants (k values) varying from 0.128 to 0.188 year⁻¹ and from 0.066 to 0.127 year⁻¹ for twigs and branches, respectively. On average, twigs had lost 34%, 19% and 19%, and branches 25%, 17% and 11% of their initial mass after 2 years of decomposition at the hemiboreal, south boreal and north boreal sites, respectively. After 4 years at the south boreal site the values were 48% for twigs and 42% for branches. Based on earlier studies, we suggest that the decomposition rates that we determined may be used for estimating Scots pine FWD decomposition in the boreal zone, also in upland forests. Explanatory models accounted for 50.4% and 71.2% of the total variation in FWD decomposition rates when the first two and all years were considered, respectively. The variables most related to FWD decomposition included the initial ash, water extractives and Klason lignin content of litter, and cumulative site precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration. Simulations of inputs and decomposition of Scots pine FWD and needle litter in south boreal conditions over a 60-year period showed that 72 g m⁻² of organic matter from FWD vs. 365 g m⁻² from needles accumulated in the forest floor. The annual inputs varied from 5.7 to 15.6 g m⁻² and from 92 to 152 g m⁻² for FWD and needles, respectively. Each thinning caused an increase in FWD inputs, up to 510 g m⁻², while the needle inputs did not change dramatically. Because the annual FWD inputs were lowered following the thinnings, the overall effect of thinnings on C accumulation from FWD was slightly negative. The contribution of FWD to soil C accumulation, relative to needle litter, seems to be rather minor in boreal Scots pine forests.     

Individual-tree diameter growth models for black spruce and jack pine plantations in northern Ontario

Individual-tree distance independent diameter growth models were developed for black spruce and jack pine plantations. Data used in this study came via stem analysis on 1170 black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) and 800 jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees sampled from 75 stands of 25 even-aged monospecific plantations for each species in the Canadian boreal forest region of northern Ontario. Of the 75 stands, 50 were randomly selected for each species and all trees from these stands were used for model development. Trees from the remaining stands were used for model evaluation.A nonlinear mixed-effects approach was applied in fitting the diameter growth models. The predictive accuracy of the models was improved by including random effects coefficients. Four selection criteria - random, dominant or codominant, tree size close to quadratic mean diameter, and small sized - were evaluated for accuracy in predicting random effects for a new stand using the developed models. Random effects predicted based on trees selected using the random selection criterion provided more accurate diameter predictions than those using trees obtained via other selection criteria for both species. The models developed here are very important to forest managers as the diameters predicted by these models or, their stand-level summaries (i.e., basal area, average diameter), are used as inputs in any forest growth and yield models. In addition, individual-tree diameter growth models can be used to directly forecast changes in diameter distribution of stands.     

The effects of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on the growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine in Turkey

In this study, the effect of pine mistletoe (Viscum album subsp. austriacum) on basal area increment of Crimean pine and Scots pine was investigated. Dendrochronological data were collected from 223 (71 uninfected and 152 infected) Crimean pines and 195 (77 uninfected and 118 infected) Scots pines located in Kastamonu province of Turkey in 2014. Infected sample trees were classified as light, moderate or severe infection levels. Growth trends and basal area increment loses were compared between uninfected and infected trees for the periods of the last 10, 20 and 30 years. In addition, infection status of forest stands was investigated using temporary sample plots; 27 plots in Crimean pine stands and 26 plots in Scots pine. Results demonstrated that basal area increments were negatively affected by pine mistletoe for both species. Mean basal area increment losses of infected trees for the last decade were determined as 24% for Scots pine and 26% for Crimean pine. Basal area increment losses varied by infection levels (light, moderate and severe) as follows: 25%, 20% and 28% for Scots pines and 20%, 32% and 9% for Crimean pines. Scots pine stands were more severely infected by pine mistletoe than Crimean pine stands. There were negative correlations between number of infected trees and stand density for both species, while positive correlation was detected between the number of infected trees and mean diameter for Scots pine. The results of this study indicate that the pine mistletoe infection has negative effect on radial growth of Scots pine and Crimean pine trees. The results can be an important contribution to the forest management and protection activities in mistletoe-infected stands.     

Current growth differences of Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and birch (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens) in different regions in Sweden

Abstract

The choice of species in forestry is important, and a real issue as large areas of wind-damaged forest land in southern Sweden need to be regenerated. To compare the growth potential between the most common tree species in Sweden, ratios between site quality derived from site index values determined with site properties were used. A regression function to determine site index for birch from site properties was used to complement the known relationships between site properties and site index for spruce and pine. In large regions of Sweden the distribution of site quality classes was calculated to compare the special characteristics and demands of the three species. On average, the growth difference for pine compared to spruce was about 60% in southern Sweden and 95% in northern Sweden. Corresponding figures between birch and spruce were 40% and 60%. Birch was expected to produce around 60% of pine in northern Sweden and about 70% in southern Sweden. However, it must be stressed that the comparison is based on survey data encompassing mainly naturally regenerated birch, whereas spruce and pine are mainly planted.     

皖南丘岗地区火炬松人工林伴生树种的选择与配置

简要介绍了试验林地的概况,选择了25个树种进行试验,并按各树种林分平均胸径、平均树高、平均单株材积和平均单位面积蓄积的年平均生长量进行排序。对主要伴生树种的生长发育过程作了说明,指出伴生树种选择应遵循的原则以及混交形式,同时提出把建立林道和营造生态防火林带相结合。为皖南丘岗地区火炬松人工林提出可供选择的主要伴生树种。     

17个阔叶树种在退化马尾松林的早期生长表现

对东莞莲花山自然保护区退化马尾松林林分2002年种植的17个3年生阔叶树种的树高、胸径以及冠幅进行测量和分析。结果表明,各个树种之间树高、胸径和冠幅生长均存在极显著差异(P<0.01)。除红荷、桃花心木、仪花、格木和马占相思以外,其余12个树种树高与胸径生长表现出显著正相关(P<0.05)。综合树高、胸径和冠幅3个指标对17个阔叶树种的生长数据进行聚类分析,桃花心木、火力楠、铁冬青、尖叶杜英和仪花生长较慢;枫香、格木、红锥、米老排、樟树、木荷、木棉和南洋楹生长速度中等;红荷和黧蒴生长较快;千年桐和马占相思生长迅速。总体而言,试验的17个阔叶树种对退化马尾松林的景观恢复取得一定成效。     

Basal area growth and mortality of Betula maximowicziana affected by crown dieback in a secondary forest in Hokkaido, northern Japan

Since the late 1990s, decline of B. maximowicziana Regel has been observed in mature secondary forests in various parts of Hokkaido, northern Japan. To develop a method of thinning for large-timber production of B. maximowicziana, we measured basal area growth and the mortality of 217 trees during a four-year period (1999–2003) in a 90-year-old secondary forest with serious tree damage. We analyzed growth and mortality in relation to the degree of crown dieback (DC), symmetric and asymmetric competition from neighbors, and initial tree size. Individual basal area growth decreased with increasing DC, with increasing symmetric (two-sided) competition, and with decreasing initial tree size. During the four-year period, 4.1% of the observed trees died. Logistic regression analysis revealed that mortality rate increased with increasing DC and with increasing symmetric competition. These results suggest that both growth and mortality rates were affected by the same factors (i.e., DC and symmetric competition). We concluded that the resource for which individuals were competing at the study site was underground, most likely water. Modeled growth and mortality rates can be used to improve the management of damaged forests. A management plan for the damaged study site is proposed.     

Assessment of sugar maple tree growth in relation to the partitioning of elements in xylem along a soil acidity gradient

Partitioning of elements in tree xylem is being increasingly studied, as it suggests that elements are potentially mobile within the xylem long after their uptake. A recent study revealed that only the most mobile xylem fraction (water-soluble) of base cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and potassium [K]) increased at higher soil acidity, while the two mobile fractions (water- and acid-soluble) of acidic metals—potentially phytotoxic aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn)—were significantly enhanced on very acid soils. The current paper presents an investigation of soil-wood chemistry relationships with basal area tree growth. It was hypothesized that the growth of sugar maple would be reduced by low base cation and high acidic metal concentrations in the xylem mobile fractions. Sugar maple trees (n = 55) from six watersheds in southern Quebec, Canada were analysed by sequential chemical extractions for the water-soluble, acid-soluble and residual fractions of base cations (Ca, K, Mg) and acidic metals (Al, Cd, Mn) in xylem. Generally, tree growth was positively correlated to concentrations of base cations in wood (ρ = 0.27-0.50) and soil (ρ = 0.41-0.67), and negatively correlated to concentrations of acidic metals in wood (ρ = −0.33 to −0.52) and soil (ρ = −0.67). However, these relations differed depending on the element fraction considered. Water- and acid-soluble xylem concentrations of base cations and Al were among the best predictors of growth trends (R² = 0.46-0.51). The relationship between acidic metals and tree growth is further discussed.     

Assessing components of a competition index to predict growth in an even-aged Pinus nigra stand

The relationship between tree growth and competition may depend on some subjective choices that are commonly left to the researcher. Among these are the neighborhood radius, the number of years of growth that are integrated, and tree age. We have evaluated the importance of these factors when relating growth and competition in a forest stand with contrasted densities of the dominant tree species (Pinus nigra) and understory shrub species (Adenocarpus decorticans). Previous to this evaluation we performed a randomization test to assess the relationship between tree growth and neighbors. By using Daniels index of competition we found that the use of a fixed neighborhood radius underestimated the importance of tree competition. The coefficient of determination (r²) of the relationship between tree growth and Daniels index increased asymptotically with the number of years considered. Five years of growth gave high r² independently of the density of trees and shrubs. The intensity of competition was weakly affected by the characteristics of the plot (tree and shrub densities), and did not change with time. In contrast, the potential growth at equal competition – as represented by constant a in the allometric model – changed with time suggesting a gradual decrease in potential tree growth in the plots with higher tree density, and a gradual increase in those plots with high density of shrubs. These results may reflect tree canopy closure and the senescence of Adenocarpus decorticans. A method is suggested to select optimum neighborhood radius and growing period for the calculation of competition indices. By applying this method we were able to explain as much as 79–84% of the variability in tree growth of this stand.     

Recovery of canopy trees and root collar sprout growth in response to changes in the condition of the parent tree after a fire in a cool-temperate forest

The relationship between the recovery of canopy trees after fire and root collar sprout dynamics was investigated during 1998–2000 in a secondary cool-temperate broad-leaved forest consisting of Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata and Betula platyphylla var. japonica trees, in northern Hokkaido, Japan, which burned in April 1998. All of the Betula trees that were severely damaged, two-thirds of those slightly damaged, and half of those intact in 1998, died within three growing seasons after the fire. By contrast, half of the Quercus trees that were slightly damaged and half of those severely damaged recovered their foliage, and no slightly damaged or intact trees died during the three growing seasons after the fire. Many Betula trees developed several fruiting bodies of wood-destroying fungi on their stems, irrespective of damage severity. Fungi also infected some of the surviving Quercus, although the crowns tended to recover. Although many sprouting Betula were observed in 1998, the number of sprouts declined rapidly over the study period. Multiple regression analyses showed that the survival and growth of Betula sprouts were positively influenced by the number of sprouts in 1998, damage severity in 1998, and the degree of recover or decline during the study period, and were negatively influenced by parent tree size. On the other hand, a few sprouts of Quercus remained alive. Quercus remained dominant and the dominance of Betula was rapidly reduced after the fire. However, many Betula sprouts remained alive. Stand structure will change drastically for the time being.