Thinning increases cone production of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) stands in the Northern Plateau (Spain)

Context

Edible stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) nut is a forest product which provides the highest incomes to the owners of stone pine forests.

Aim

The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of first thinning on growth and cone production in an artificially regenerated stand in order to determine optimum intensity.

Methods

A thinning trial was installed in 2004 to compare two thinning regimes (heavy and moderate) and a control treatment. From 2004 to 2012, six inventories of forest attributes were carried out, and the cone crop was harvested annually. We evaluated the effect of thinnings on growth using repeated measures analysis of variance with a mixed model approach. With regards to cone production, we first estimated the probability of finding cones in a tree by applying a generalized mixed model and then estimated cone production by using a mixed model, including climatic variables.

Results

We found that thinning had a positive influence on tree diameter increment. Thinning increased the probability of finding cones and cone production. However, significant differences between heavy and moderate thinnings were not found.

Conclusion

We recommend early silvicultural treatments in stone pine stands to favor the development of trees and larger edible pine nut production.     

Optimising the management of even-aged Pinus sylvestris L. stands in Galicia, north-western Spain

The study developed management instructions for even-aged Pinus sylvestris stands in Galicia (north-western Spain). Although these stands are highly productive, no silvicultural management schedules have been proposed so far for them on the basis of systematic analyses. This study used data from 2160 optimisation runs to develop the management instructions. Land expectation value was used as the objective function. Different prices of timber assortments were considered and the discounting rate was varied from 0.5 to 5%. The method employed to find the optimal management schedules of stands was the combination of a stand simulator and an optimisation algorithm. The simulator uses an earlier growth and yield model for Pinus sylvestris in Galicia to predict the future development of the stand with a given management schedule while the optimisation algorithm seeks the best management schedule among all the possible alternatives. The results show that optimal rotation lengths vary widely between 42 and 170 years, high discounting rates and good site quality resulting in the shortest rotations. Four thinnings were found to be suitable for all sites and discounting rates. With discounting rates higher than 1% the commercial thinnings should gradually decrease the stand basal area towards the end of the rotation.     

Response of aspen stands to forest tent caterpillar defoliation and subsequent overstory mortality in northeastern Ontario,Canada

Overstory mortality, understory tree recruitment, and vegetation development were assessed in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands following two recent episodes of forest tent caterpillar defoliation (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) in northeastern Ontario. The results suggest that poplar (aspen and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.)) mortality increased with consecutive years of insect defoliation occurring from the mid-1980s to mid-2000s and the proportion of poplars in the overstory, but decreased with improved pre-defoliation tree vigour (DBH increment). The first outbreak, which lasted from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, was more severe in terms of insect defoliation and contributed more to poplar mortality and decline. The decline began in the late 1990s and peaked in early 2000s. Poplar regeneration and understory shrubs responded rapidly to foliage loss to insect defoliation and mortality of overstory poplars. The regenerated poplars were able to maintain their growth under developing shrubs and residual overstory canopy and numbers were sufficient to compensate for the poplar trees lost to insect infestation. The defoliation-induced overstory decline will accelerate the transition of aspen stands to conifer dominance through enhanced conifer recruitment and growth, and reduced hardwood overstory in aspen-dominated stands, while hardwood dominance will persist in pure aspen stands. From a timber supply perspective, the decline caused by forest tent caterpillar defoliation could delay the availability of aspen stands for harvesting by 40–50 years.     

Modelling mortality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations in the northwest of Spain

Mortality is an important element of growth and yield models, especially if only low intensity silvicultural treatments are carried out. The objective of the present study was to develop a model for predicting tree number decline in planted even-aged stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Galicia (northwestern Spain). The model was constructed using data from two inventories of a trial network involving 68 permanent plots located in unthinned stands, or stands thinned lightly from below. Two alternatives were tested. In one alternative, a two-step modelling strategy was applied. First, a binary response function predicting the survival probability of all the trees in the stand was constructed, and an equation for reduction in tree number was developed, using only data where death had occurred over the period analyzed. Three different approaches were then used to compare the application of the above-mentioned functions together. In the other alternative, a mortality function for directly predicting the reduction in tree number was fitted, including all plots (with and without occurrence of mortality). Both alternatives provided similar results, showed logical behavior, and performed satisfactorily in evaluation tests. However, in choosing the best strategy for inclusion in a stand-level simulator, the use of the second alternative is recommended because it possesses the path invariance property required in a mortality model.     

西班牙加泰罗尼亚林分风景优美度预测(英文)

通过互联网络,调查了网友对90幅林分图像(照片和虚拟实际图像)的相对偏好,发展了两个在林分水平上风景优美度评价的量化模型。用成对比较回归法分析了259份问卷对林分偏好的相对优先顺序。模型量化结果表明,林分偏好随灌木和乔木数量增加而增加,还与乔木平均直径正相关。另一方面,林分偏好又因大量的松树和小树而降低。与虚拟真实图像相比,网友更偏好林木照片。此外,参与问卷调查者的背景(性别,国籍或者职业)并未对模型结果造成显著影响。     

Epidemiology of Heterobasidion abietinum and Viscum album on silver fir (Abies alba) stands of the Pyrenees

In the last two decades, stand decline and increased mortality has affected silver fir (Abies alba) forests in the Spanish Pyrenees. Simultaneously severe occurrences of the root rot fungus Heterobasidion annosum s.l. and of the mistletoe Viscum album have been reported. We aimed to improve the understanding of the epidemiology of both pathogens in our region. All H. annosum isolates found on silver fir were typed as H. abietinum. H. abietinum was more frequently observed where cuttings had targeted fir trees rather than other species. H. abietinum fruiting bodies were observed in the most recently cut stumps. V. album was more abundant on more dominant fir trees, and in southern aspect stands. The number of V. album colonies in the stand correlated (R² = 0.40) with silver fir mortality. Stands with a high level of V. album infection tended to have a smaller percentage of basal area in species other than silver fir, and they tended to be located on more south‐facing slopes. H. abietinum was widespread in silver fir forests of the Pyrenees. Our data suggest that, in the Pyrenees, the observed H. abietinum incidence may represent a combination of both primary and secondary spread of the pathogen. Favouring mixed forests should be tested as a potential control method for V. album. The correlation between silver fir mortality and V. album infection warrants further study, as the observed tree mortality could have occurred due to other factors than V. album, such as drought damage.     

Effects of thinning on nutrient content pools in two Pinus sylvestris forests in the western Pyrenees

Abstract

Nutrient content [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)] in needles, branches and stems before (P0, not thinned) and after thinning (P20 and P30, 20% and 30% of basal area removed, respectively) was studied in 37- and 32-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. forests in the western Pyrenees: Garde and Aspurz. Thinning significantly decreased all nutrient pools in P20 and P30 relative to P0 on both sites, but no significant differences were found between P20 and P30 owing to low statistical power. Thinning increased the differences between the two forests for total above-ground content of P and Mg, and for the content of N, P and K in the 1999 needles cohort. The former result was due in part to the higher concentration of P (needles and branches) and Mg (needles) in Garde. Therefore, the importance of needles relative to the other nutrient pools increased for N and P after thinning. This may have resulted from the fact that the removal of dead trees with low needle biomass was greater in Garde than in Aspurz. Based on the percentage of basal area removed, nutrient removal in Garde for P30 was higher than expected, apparently owing to an increase in branch removal relative to P20. These results indicate that effects of thinning on nutrient pools were influenced by differences in stand structure and nutrient tissue concentrations between sites.     

Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from Quercus suber in Catalonia (NE Spain)

Summary Thirty‐four fungal species isolated from cork oak (Quercus suber) in Catalonia (NE Spain) during 1992–95 were tested for pathogenicity either in stem, leaf or root inoculations. Eleven species were found to be pathogenic on stem: Biscogniauxia mediterranea, Botryosphaeria stevensii, Diatrype cf. stigma, Endothia gyrosa, Fusarium solani, Graphium sp., Ophiostoma quercus, Phomopsis sp., Phytophthora cinnamomi, Sporendocladia bactrospora and an unidentified Coelomycete. Three fungi showed pathogenic effects on leaves: Dendrophoma myriadea, Lembosia quercina and Phomopsis quercella. No clear pathogenic effects were detected in the root inoculation experiment. Trunk pathogens were differentiated into two groups according to the effects induced in the inoculated plants; B. stevensii, Phomopsis sp. and P. cinnamomi caused the death of the inoculated plants and induced the formation of large cankers and vascular necroses. The other pathogenic species also produced severe cankers and vascular lesions, but no significant mortality was detected. Water stress increased the lesions caused by B. mediterranea and Phomopsis sp., but limited those of P. cinnamomi and the rest of the inoculated fungi. However, water stress did not significantly affect the damage caused by B. stevensii, which was the most virulent of the species tested. Leaf pathogens only showed their effects if the leaf cuticle was previously damaged. Lembosia quercina caused small dark lesions whereas D. myriadea and P. quercella produced large necrotic areas in well‐watered plants. The lesions caused by the last two fungi were reduced by water stress.     

Factors affecting nutrient concentration and stoichiometry of forest trees in Catalonia (NE Spain)

Although some studies have observed significant correlations between latitude and climate gradients and tree leaf nutrient concentration and stoichiometry, others have not. This study examined the nutrient concentrations of tree leaves in 3530 plots of the Catalonian Forest Inventory. Catalonia is a Mediterranean region located in NE Iberian Peninsula. It has a long land-use history and includes the large industrial-urban area of Barcelona but still contains a large forest area (42%). In the forests of Catalonia, leaf nutrient concentration increased and leaf C:nutrient ratios decreased from south to north, which paralleled the increase in MAP (mean annual precipitation) and the decrease in MAT (mean annual temperature), which was expected in a Mediterranean climate where the availability of water is the most limiting factor for plant nutrient uptake. In addition, the availability of water, which influences productivity, was associated with low leaf N:P content ratios, which is consistent with the Growth Rate Hypothesis. At a regional scale, the results support the Soil-Age Hypothesis because the youngest soils in the Pyrenees had the lowest leaf N:P ratios. Furthermore, the type of forest (evergreen, deciduous, or coniferous) explained some of the variation in leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry. Nutrient concentrations were highest in deciduous trees and lowest in coniferous trees. Leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry were mainly correlated with climate, but other factors such as the chemical properties of soil and rock, phylogenetics, and different ecological histories and anthropogenic factors such as pollution, had an effect.     

Modelling the diameter distribution of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra and Pinus halepensis forest stands in Catalonia using the truncated Weibull function

Parameter prediction models for the diameter distribution ofPinus sylvestris L., Pinus nigra Arn. and Pinus halepensis Mill.in Catalonia were developed using the truncated Weibull functionas the theoretical distribution. The parameter models allowone to use individual-tree models in the simulation of standdevelopment when only stand-level data are collected in forestinventories. Parameter models for the diameter distributionof stand basal area were developed. The data consisted of permanentsample plots from the Spanish National Forest Inventory in Catalonia.A total of 1780 empirical distributions of P. sylvestris, 1204distributions of P. nigra and 1535 distributions of P. halepensiswere used as modelling data. The empirical data represent left-truncateddistributions, as the smallest diameter measured in the fieldwas 7.5 cm. Two different approaches, namely, regression (two-stepmethod) and optimization approach (one-step method), were usedto find the coefficients of the parameter models. In the two-stepmodelling method, the Weibull parameters were first estimatedseparately for every empirical distribution by maximizing thelog-likelihood function of the Weibull density function. Inthe second-step, regression analysis was used to find the relationshipbetween Weibull parameters and stand basal area, number of treesper hectare and elevation of the site. The one-step method usedoptimization to find such coefficients for the parameter models,which minimized the mean of the squared differences betweenempirical and predicted cumulative tree frequencies in the wholemodelling data. The one-step optimization method performed betterthan the two-step regression method for all tree species. Theparameter prediction models developed in this study enable theprediction of the diameter distribution of P. sylvestris, P.nigra and P. halepensis in Catalonia from limited stand information.     

Dieback of cork oak (Quercus suber) in Catalonia (NE Spain) caused by Botryosphaeria stevensii

Botryosphaeria stevensii Shoemaker (anamorph: Diplodia mutila Fr. apud Mont.) is reported as the cause of canker and dieback of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in Catalonia (NE Spain). It also causes wilting of trees after cork is removed for industrial purposes. Symptomatology and details of morphology for both anamorph and teleomorph are given.     

Simulated effects of browsing on the production and economic values of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands

Effects of browsing damage on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) production and economic value were simulated on sites ranging in fertility from relatively poor to relatively high. Effects of browsing damage on growth and survival after trees had exceeded browsing-height were estimated using data from a browsing study. Stem lists were produced when stems had reached a height of about 4?m. Individual tree data were then imported into the Heureka simulation system to generate predictions about stand production and economic value. Six browsing levels were simulated: 0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 27% browsing damage annually. The 2% and 5% browsing levels had only minor effects on production, whilst higher browsing levels significantly reduced production. However, the effect on economic value was more pronounced and even the 2% browsing level had significant effects on estimated land expectation values. Results from this simulation may support discussions about acceptable browsing levels in young Scots pine stands.     

Probability models for pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in Finland

Factors affecting the probability that pine twisting rust (Melampsora pinitorqua) damage occur in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stand were analysed using the 7th Finnish National Forest Inventory data (NFI7) from southern Finland in 1977–1983. The inventory was based on systematic sampling. The NFI7 data was measured in clusters, each of which consisted of 21 sample plots. In addition to the stand and site characteristics measured for forest management planning purposes, the data included records of damage by pine twisting rust and occurrence of aspens (Populus tremula, the other host plant of the pathogen) in the stands. Two multilevel logit models were developed for predicting the overall probability of pine twisting rust damage and the probability of severe pine twisting rust damage. Site and stand characteristics were used as explanatory variables in the models. Residual variance in the models was studied on the inventory crew, cluster and year levels. The occurrence of aspens and site fertility were the most important factors increasing the probability that pine twisting rust damage will occur in a stand. The damage probability also decreased with increasing effective temperature sum calculated for the location. The overall damage probability was equally high on peatlands and on mineral soil if there were aspens in the stand. If, however, there were no aspens in the stand, the probability of damage was higher on mineral soils than on peatlands. In addition, the overall probability was lower in naturally regenerated stands than in planted or sown stands, and it decreased with increasing mean age of pines. In both models, the residual variance was significant on the both the inventory crew and the cluster levels.     

Signs and symptoms associated with Heterobasidion annosum and Armillaria ostoyae infection in dead and dying mountain pine (Pinus mugo ssp. uncinata)

Symptoms and signs associated with root rot caused by Heterobasidion annosum or Armillaria ostoyae in mountain pines (Pinus mugo ssp. uncinata) were investigated in the Swiss Alps. A sample of dying or recently dead mountain pine trees (≥12 cm d.b.h.) and saplings (<1.3 m height) was assessed for root pathogen infection by taking root samples followed by isolations in the laboratory. From a subsample, an additional core was taken from the butt of each tree and evaluated in the same fashion. A total of 157 dying or recently dead mountain pine trees and 184 saplings with roots infected by either of the two pathogens or which lacked infection were analyzed using logistic regression models. The main objectives were to determine the most prominent symptoms induced by the fungi (resinosis), signs of the fungi (mycelia, fruiting bodies and rhizomorphs), and tree characteristics (d.b.h./height and evidence of wounds) that would allow an easy and reliable determination of H. annosum and/or A. ostoyae infection of mountain pines in the field. Heterobasidion annosum caused both root and butt rot on mountain pine, whereas A. ostoyae was mostly restricted to the root systems of the trees sampled. The most discriminating sign for the presence of A. ostoyae infection was the presence of characteristic mycelial fans, and for H. annosum root rot the presence of H. annosum mycelia (sheets of paper‐thin mycelium and mycelial pustules). In addition, resinosis was a powerful predictor for A. ostoyae in trees. Symptoms and signs indicating A. ostoyae or H. annosum infections were more reliable for saplings than for mature trees. Armillaria rhizomorphs were not useful in detecting A. ostoyae infection and, if present, were often formed by saprophytic Armillaria species. Heterobasidion annosum fruiting bodies were rarely observed and poorly reflected the widespread occurrence of this pathogen in the mountain pine forests.     

A comparison of the medieval and the current fire regimes in managed pine forests of Catalonia (NE Spain)

We compared the fire regimes in Mediterranean pine forests during two periods, 1370–1466 and 1966–1996 A.D. Medieval fire regime was estimated from the ‘claveria’ books of the Tortosa city, which record the city expenditures, including those for fighting fires that were burning in the city forest. We used the amount spent as an estimate of fire magnitude. Current fire regime was estimated for the same area from the local environment agency data bank, which includes date, location and burned area. The mean number of recorded fires per year, which mostly occurred in summer, is not significantly different between the two periods. Time-since-fire distributions of both periods fitted the negative exponential model, and they were not significantly different. The probability of fire occurring within 1-year interval was 0.44 for the 1379–1466 period and 0.46 for the 1966–1996 period. In both cases, small fires were more abundant, although there are some differences in the medieval series, 13% of all documented fires accounted for 47% of the suppression effort, whereas in the 20th century series, one single fire accounted for 88% of the area burned. Analysis of extreme fire also indicates that in the medieval series the largest fire per year needed one or less days of suppression effort in 58% of the years, whereas in the current period, fires were smaller than 1 ha in 78% of the years. We found that fire suppression in the Middle Ages was associated with forest exploitation. Although we cannot compare the two data sets accurately, there is not evidence of differences in fire frequency between the medieval and the current periods. Differences in fire magnitude distributions of both series of records may be explained by the different purposes and technical resources involved in the fire suppression practices.     

Compositional and structural differences in two laurel forest stands (windward and leeward) on Tenerife, Canary Islands

The laurel forest of Anaga is the most emblematic community of the Canarian Archipelago. Restoration programs are being developed to increase laurel forest area on the island of Tenerife. Structural and spatial characteristics determine many aspects of the community, including regeneration patterns, disturbance level, stand history. In spite of the importance of this information for restoration, few quantitative studies have been conducted on laurel forest dynamics. We analyzed two stands of the Anaga laurel forest of different aspect. The main difference between the two sites was the wind exposure, one leeward and the other windward. Regeneration, spatial distribution of regeneration, tree species composition, asexual regeneration and environmental parameters were analyzed in three 50 × 50 m plots at each site. Both sites differ in important aspects such as species richness, species composition, asexual regeneration and dead tree composition, while they are not different in basal area, density, density of regeneration and density of dead trees. Both sites have had similar management in the last century. Asexual regeneration is able to maintain the present species composition, while sexual regeneration is able to offer future changes in the canopy composition. Regeneration strategies and the effect of some environmental characteristics should be considered in restoration programs.