Height–diameter equations for boreal tree species in Ontario using a mixed-effects modeling approach

Height–diameter relationships based on stand characteristics (trees/ha, basal area, and dominant stand height) were investigated for balsam fir, balsam poplar, black spruce, jack pine, red pine, trembling aspen, white birch, and white spruce using data from permanent growth study plots in northern Ontario, Canada. Approximately half the data were used to estimate model parameters with the rest used for model evaluation. Multiple Chapman–Richards functions with parameters expressed in terms of various stand characteristics were fit to determine the best models for predicting height.     

原条重心位置的测定与变化规律的研究

用缆索起重机测量了红松、云杉、冷杉、椴木、杨木、桦木、栬木和榆木等树种原条的重心位置。以数理统计理论和微机分析确定了原条重心距的变化规律与变动区间。     

云杉八齿小蠹对寄主、非寄主植物的嗅觉反应及发生机理

通过云杉八齿小蠹对植物挥发性化合物的嗅觉行为反应测试的结果表明:冷杉挥发物对云杉八齿小蠹有驱避作用;采用GC-MS方法在云杉和非寄主冷杉的挥发物中分析鉴定出28种化合物,在冷杉挥发物中鉴定出18种化合物,在云杉挥发物中鉴定出14种,同时发现非寄主挥发性化合物包括萜烯类、酯类、醛类、醇类和烃类5类物质,并以萜烯类化合物居...     

The importance of seedling competition in the segregation of spruce and fir in the southern Appalachians

Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) and red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) are codominants of southern Appalachian spruce-fir forests. Fraser fir generally dominates above 1740 m, while red spruce usually dominates below this elevation. This study was designed to determine whether the present segregation of the two species along elevational gradients is associated with seedling competition or contrasting physiological responses to environmental factors. Seedlings were grown for two years in a replacement series experiment along two elevational transects extending from 1300 m to 1900 m, and harvested for growth analysis.Competition increased with decreasing elevation and Fraser fir was apparently the stronger competitor. Mortality was inversely correlated with elevation and was most evident in red spruce in May, and in fir in late summer. Fir growth increased with elevation and red spruce grew most at the middle elevation (1600 m). Neither competitive interactions nor growth responses completely explained the elevational segregation of red spruce and Fraser fir. We hypothesize that the early-successional Fraser fir quickly dominates at higher elevations following disturbance and that continued disturbance will favor its dominance at higher elevations. However, the late-successional noncompetitive red spruce slowly establishes itself and, while consistently present, may only dominate in the absence of disturbance and where other species are at the margins of their distribution.     

Investigation of Carbohydrate Compositions for Poplar I-214 and Chinese Fir

Carbohydrates are main compositions for wood (Menachem et al. 1991). The chemical components of poplar I-214 and Chinese fir have been reported (Huang Luohua et al. 2002; Qin Tefu et al. 2003). Through the studies of carbohydrate compositions of poplar I-214 and Chinese fir, different composition of monosaccharides can be found in both poplar I-214 and Chinese fir. 1 MATERIALS AND METHODS 1.1 Materials Wood samples of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lancedata) and poplar I-214 (Populus…     

3种不同处理方法对木材渗透性影响的研究

本文通过对长白鱼鳞云杉和臭冷杉生材分别进行普通气干处理和酒精置换处理以及对其气干材进行水浸处理,研究了这３种不同处理方法对木材气渗透性的影响及其影响机理。研究结果表明,长白鱼鳞云杉边材、心材和臭冷杉心村的生材经普通气干处理后,其气体渗透性较低,分别约为０．１１４、０．０４５和０．１１１ｄａｒｃｙ;长白鱼鳞云杉边材、心材和臭冷杉心材的生材经酒精置换处理后,其气体渗透性分别约为１１．７１３、０．０７４和０．１４４ｄａｒｃｙ,比普通气干处理对照组试样的平均渗透性分别增加约１０１．５倍、６２％和３０％,ｔ检验表明,前者差异非常显著,但后两者差异不显著;已气干１８个月的长白鱼鳞云杉边材、心材和臭冷杉心材经水浸处理后,其平均气体浸透性较处理前分别增加约８５％、４９％、６５．５％,ｔ检验表明差异均显著。长白鱼鳞云杉生材边材经     

Ecophysiology and growth of advance red spruce and balsam fir regeneration after partial cutting in yellow birch-conifer stands

We investigated ecophysiological and growth responses of short (0.4 to 1.3 m in height) advance regeneration of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea L.) six years after removal of 0, 40, 50, 60 and 100% of the overstory basal area (BA) in two yellow birch-conifer stands. Partial cuts significantly increased stomatal conductance of red spruce only. Light-saturated photosynthesis (leaf-area basis) of both species increased with BA removal, but unlike red spruce, specific leaf area (SLA) of balsam fir decreased with increased cutting intensity. Partial cuts appreciably increased the concentration of N and Ca in red spruce and balsam fir foliage, respectively, and resulted in decreased foliar concentrations of K in red spruce and Mg in balsam fir. The height and lateral growth of both species increased with BA removal, although partial cuts were more beneficial to balsam fir. The data suggest that short advance regeneration of red spruce and balsam fir can coexist under partial overstory conditions, but balsam fir has physiological characteristics and a capacity for morphological adjustment (SLA) that places it at an advantage when in competition with red spruce.     

Studies on pre-treatment by compression for wood impregnation I: effects of compression ratio,compression direction,compression speed and compression-unloading place on the liquid impregnation of wood

To improve the impregnation of wood, the pre-treatment by compression was systematically studied in terms of effects of compression ratio, compression direction, compression speed and compression-unloading place on the liquid impregnation in poplar and Chinese fir. The results showed: the impregnation increased 0.0065 or 0.0074 g/cm³ for every 1% increase of compression ratio when the compression ratio was lower or equal to 50 and 40% for poplar and Chinese fir, respectively; it continued to increase afterwards while the variation was quite big. There existed a significant difference of the impregnation of wood compressed at different directions in Chinese fir, but not in poplar. There existed a significant difference of the impregnation of wood compressed at different speed in both species. The impregnation of wood is likely to be in favor of radial compression in terms of the amount of impregnation. 5 and 10 mm/min were recommended as a compromise of impregnation and pre-treatment efficiency. The impregnation of wood that the compression unloaded in water was about 18.2 (poplar) and 9.2% (Chinese fir) higher in amount and was much quicker in speed than that the compression unloaded in air, and the difference between them was significant, suggesting that compression unloaded in water is significant to improve the impregnation.     

Liquefaction and product identification of main chemical compositions of wood in phenol

To clarify liquefaction ratios and their construction variations of the main chemical compositions of wood in phenol using phosphoric acid as a catalyst, the chemical ingredients of wood such as holocellulose, cellulose and lignin, were measured and extracted according to GB methods. With Fourier transform infrared （FTIR）, the product identification of reactant before and after liquefaction in phenol was investigated. The molecular weights and their distributions of the liquefaction results （acetone soluble parts） were studied by gel permeation chromatography （GPC）. Results show that the molecular weights and their distributions of poplar and Chinese fir are almost the same. In poplar, the distribution of cellulose is the largest, and that ofholocellulose the smallest after liquefaction. For Chinese fir, the distribution of holocellulose is the largest, and that of cellulose the smallest. After liquefaction of poplar cellulose, the change bands of FTIR spectrum observed below 1 600 cm^-1, can be attributed to new substitute groups. The same is true for poplar lignin. For Chinese fir, the spectra of liquefaction results of all chemical compositions differ from that of wood meal. This reveals the more activity groups were produced because of the reactions between Chinese fir and phenol. The research shows that the liquefaction ratios of poplar decrease in the following order： holocellulose 〉 lignin 〉 cellulose, and those of Chinese fir in the order： lignin 〉 cellulose 〉 holocellulose.     

Lamellation in the S2 layer of softwood tracheids as demonstrated by scanning transmission electron microscopy

Summary Ultrathin cross sections of the tracheid wall in black spruce and silver fir have been examined at high resolution by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and by conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For both softwoods, lamellation of the S2 layer was evident but the lamellae were seen more clearly in the STEM photomicrographs. The interlamellar distance was 7.1 nm in the case of spruce and 8.4 nm for silver fir.     

Natural Resistance of Two Plantation Woods Populus × canadensis cv. and Cunninghamia lanceolata to Decay Fungi and Termites

Natural durability of two plantation woods, Chinese fir and I-214 poplar, was investigated thoroughly by three testing methods, namely an accelerated laboratory decay test, a fungus cellar test and a field test. Aft er the decay test using Postia placenta and Trametes versicolor, Chinese fir and the I-214 poplar showed 34% and 69% of mass loss, respectively, indicating they should be classified as slightly durable and non-durable wood. This conclusion was confirmed by the fungus cellar test and the field test. Like the performance in the decay test, I-214 poplar showed no resistance to termites either in the laboratory or in the field,whereas Chinese fir would be classified as moderately resistant.     

Natural Resistance of Two Plantation Woods Populus × canadensis cv. and Cunninghamia lanceolata to Decay Fungi and Termites

Natural durability of two plantation woods, Chinese fir and I-214 poplar, was investigated thoroughly by three test- ing methods, namely an accelerated laboratory decay test, a fungus cellar test and a field test. After the decay test using Postia pla- centa and Trametes versicolor, Chinese fir and the I-214 poplar showed 34% and 69% of mass loss, respectively, indicating they should be classified as slightly durable and non-durable wood. This conclusion was confirmed by the fungus cellar test and the field test. Like the performance in the decay test, I-214 poplar showed no resistance to termites either in the laboratory or in the field, whereas Chinese fir would be classified as moderately resistant.     

Is Silver fir (Abies alba) less vulnerable to extraction damage than Norway spruce (Picea abies)?

Inspection of Norway spruce and Silver fir on experimental plots in south-western Germany showed that Silver fir had suffered significantly less bark injuries than Norway spruce. Data from both federal forest inventories (1987, 2002) showed a similar species-specific vulnerability. Additional visual inspections of the basal cross-sections of trees removed from the experimental plots showed rather high proportions of butt rot in uninjured Norway spruce (51%). The proportion further increased to 93% in trees, which had sustained bark injuries. In contrast, decay symptoms were almost absent in uninjured Silver fir and less enhanced in trees with bark injuries (27%). Management implications for risk rating of tree species, as well as the necessity of implementing low-damage harvesting regimes, are discussed.     

Susceptibility of Sitka spruce and grand fir trees to decay by Heterobasidion annosum

The susceptibility of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and grand fir (Abies grandis) to decay by Heterobasidion annosum was compared on a site with a previous history of serious disease. The incidence of decay 15–16 years after planting was 1.5% in grand fir, compared with 34.8% in Sitka spruce. These results are broadly similar to those reported from other trials. More information is required for older trees in Britain but the evidence so far available suggests that grand fir is more resistant to H. annosum than Sitka spruce. Planting grand fir on severely infested sites may therefore significantly reduce the serious losses that could be expected with Sitka spruce. In 14 out of 271 decayed Sitka spruce H. annosum was absent from the middle or base of the decay column but present at the top. Approximately 3% of infected spruce showed features suggesting some degree of resistance. Resin bleeding was observed at the base of 23.2% of the infected spruce, and the mean height of the decay column in these trees was significantly greater (0.96 m) than in those without this feature (0.66 m). The inoculum for infection was provided by stumps of the previous crop, and the genets of H. annosum that were present in some infected trees were also identified in stumps. The majority of infected trees contained only a single genet but three trees contained two genets. In this young crop individual genets were smaller than those found elsewhere; the largest extended to include six trees.     

Feinstrukturelle Untersuchungen an Nadeln geschädigter Tannen und Fichten aus Waldschadensgebieten im Schwarzwald

Fine structural studies on the needles of damaged fir (Abies alba Mill.) and spruce [Picea abics (L.) Karst.] trees from forest dieback areas in the Black Forest . The fine structural changes in the variously damaged needles of fir and spruce trees from forest dieback areas have been investigated with special reference to cytoplasmie organization in the vascular bundles, mesophyll tissue and cuticle. The results are compared with those available for a few plants affected both by natural and artificial stress factors, especially air pollutants.     

Temporal dynamics of snags and development of snag habitats in wet spruce–fir stands in east-central British Columbia

Patterns of tree mortality, rates and type of tree and snag fall, and relationships between snag characteristics and potential wildlife habitat value were estimated for hybrid spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss × engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) in east-central British Columbia in order to provide important parameters for deadwood modelling. We sampled 172 snags (52 spruce and 120 fir) for species, size, morphological, and habitat attributes, and used dendroecological techniques on a subsample of these (n = 158) to estimate year of death. Input of snags appeared to occur at a nearly constant rate in these stands. Estimated annual tree fall, including live trees and snags, was 5.3% for hybrid spruce and 6.1% for subalpine fir and stem breakage was more frequent than uprooting. Long-term annual snag fall rates were 4.6% for hybrid spruce and 2.9% for subalpine fir. Discriminant analysis based on time since death correctly classified snags into three decay classes for 85% and 72% of spruce and fir, respectively. Snags that potentially could provide important functions for wildlife habitat were more prevalent in fresh and intermediate classes for hybrid spruce and in intermediate and old classes for subalpine fir. The results provide valuable parameters for further development of deadwood models, which are an important tool for development of best practices for deadwood management.     

Impacts of hemlock looper defoliation on growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce and white birch in Newfoundland, Canada

Hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.)) is an economically damaging defoliator that undergoes periodic outbreaks in Newfoundland, Canada. It defoliates and causes extensive tree mortality to its primary host, balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.). We quantified tree survival using data from permanent sample plots (PSPs) and growth reduction or release using dendrochronology, and related these impacts to defoliation severity determined from annual aerial defoliation survey data. Such impact relationships are necessary as a fundamental input to a Decision Support System. Growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) were assessed from 1996 to 2008 in 48 Newfoundland Forest Service PSPs, selected based on four classes of defoliation severity. Two years of severe (71-100%) defoliation resulted in almost complete mortality for balsam fir, 10 years after defoliation, whereas survival was 70-80% for black spruce and white birch. Lower defoliation severity (1-2 years of moderate (31-70%) or 1 year of severe) resulted in approximately 60% survival for balsam fir and no reduction in survival for black spruce and white birch. Maximum growth reduction of balsam fir was 10-15% with 1 year of moderate-severe defoliation, 35-40% with 2 years of moderate defoliation, and about 50% with 2 years of severe defoliation. Growth recovered to pre-defoliation rates 5 years after defoliation ceased in all severity classes. Growth reduction and recovery of black spruce were more variable and lower than for balsam fir, and white birch exhibited only minor (<10%) growth reduction during the defoliation year or 1 year after defoliation. Control measures should focus on avoiding severe defoliation for two consecutive years.     

A comparison of red spruce and balsam fir shoot structures

I compared the shoot structures of high-elevation red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). Needle widths, thicknesses and perimeters were measured to estimate total leaf areas from measured projected leaf areas. Measured needle perimeter/needle width ratios differed significantly from estimated ratios that assumed needles were either rhomboidal or elliptical in cross section. The vertical and horizontal silhouette shoot area to total leaf area ratios (STAR(v) and STAR(h)) of the two species were negatively correlated with needle packing and canopy height. Red spruce had higher values of STAR(v) than balsam fir at each canopy height, but STAR(v) declined with canopy height at a similar rate in the two species. The STAR(h) values of the two species did not differ significantly at a given canopy height. Needle packing increased with canopy height at the same rate in the two species. Needle weight increased in red spruce and decreased in balsam fir with increased needle packing, but showed no significant dependence on canopy height. Red spruce had higher values of STAR(h) than balsam fir at low values of needle packing, but STAR(h) values converged at high values of needle packing. The generally comparable values of STAR, along with similar needle diameters, may imply that red spruce and balsam fir have similar collection efficiencies of wet and dry particles. Measurements of STAR may be used to estimate leaf area indices (LAI) more accurately when using indirect techniques.     

Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Measure Mechanical Properties of Solid Wood

The visible and near infrared （NIR） （350-2500 nm） spectra and the MOE of 438 small clear wood samples from Chinese fir, eucalyptus and poplar 72 were measured. Using partial least-square （PLS） modeling, the NIR spectra could be used to predict MOE and MOR of the clear-wood samples from Chinese fir and eucalyptus solid wood. NIR spectra could only be used to Predict MOE but not MOR of poplar clear-wood samples. With the exception of MoR of poplar clear-wood samples, the correlations between NIR and the mechanical properties are very strong, and the calibration and test correlation coefficients are both above 0.80.     

Effects of root trenching of overstorey Norway spruce (Piceaabies) on growth and biomass of underplanted beech (Fagussylvatica) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii) saplings

In Central Europe, the conversion of pure Norway spruce stands (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) into mixed stands with beech (Fagus silvatica L.) and other species like e.g. Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) is accomplished mainly by underplanting of seedlings beneath the canopy of overstorey spruce trees after partial cutting treatments what means exposure to shade and below-ground root competition by the overstorey to the seedlings. Particularly about the second factor, our knowledge is limited. Therefore, we carried out a below-ground competition exclusion experiment by root trenching and investigated the effects on soil resources, growth, and biomass partitioning of underplanted beech and Douglas fir saplings under target diameter and strip cutting treatments. The exclusion of overstorey root competition by trenching increased the soil water potential in the second year that had a fairly dry growing season and led to significantly higher foliar concentrations of most nutrients, particularly in Douglas fir, indicating an amended nutrient supply. Both improvements were accompanied by an increase in length and diameter increment of the underplanted saplings, appearing in both species only after having surpassed a species-specific threshold light value (Douglas fir 16% of above canopy radiation, beech 22%). We also found significant interactions between trenching and light for specific fine root length and further biomass and morphological parameters. Judged by the much steeper increase in height and diameter growth with increasing light after release from below-ground competition, Douglas fir saplings appeared to be more sensitive to root competition than beech saplings what conforms to older findings for beech. According to our results, a strip cutting seems to be more appropriate than a target diameter cutting treatment to replace a pure spruce stand by a mixed stand with beech and Douglas fir.