Climate response of tree-ring width in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix sibirica</Emphasis> growing in the drought-stressed forest-steppe ecotone of northern Mongolia

• Introduction   

Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) has its southern distribution limit in Mongolia in an area of rapidly rising temperatures. Direct effects of climate on tree-ring formation due to drought stress or indirect effects via the control of insect herbivore populations are little studied.     

Effects of varying thinning regimes on carbon uptake,total stem wood growth,and timber production in Norway spruce (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Picea abies)</Emphasis> stands in southern Finland under the changing climate

• Introduction  

Based on previous studies, it is assumed that the growth of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in southern Finland (61°N) may decrease under the changing climate due to the increasing soil water deficit, without management.     

Variation in black spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea mariana</Emphasis> (Mill.) BSP) wood quality after thinning

• Introduction   

Commercial thinning (CT) could contribute to increase short-term tree growth and be beneficial in a cold climate, as in boreal regions. Thus, growth rate, ring density and flexural modulus of elasticity (MOE) of trees may change after CT. Moreover, mechanical wood properties vary with position in the tree, and there is a need to develop optimal log allocation strategies in order to allocate logs to their best use.     

Present and forecasted xeric climatic limits of beech and sessile oak distribution at low altitudes in Central Europe

• Introduction   

Xeric (trailing) forest range limits are particularly vulnerable to impacts of predicted climate change. Regional modelling studies contribute to the identification of potential local climatic threats and may support appropriate management strategies.     

A review of decision-making approaches to handle uncertainty and risk in adaptive forest management under climate change

• Context  

This review paper provides an overview of approaches to which we may resort for handling the complex decision problems involving uncertainty and risk that climate change implies for forest managers. Modelling approaches that could support adaptive management strategies seem to be called for, not only as climate change denotes increased economic uncertainty but also because new and more reliable information becomes available as time passes and climate changes.     

Climatic controls of a keystone understory species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sasamorpha borealis</Emphasis>, and an impact assessment of climate change in Japan

Introduction   

The aims of this study were to identify the climatic conditions controlling the distribution of Sasamorpha borealis and to assess the impact of climate change on the species in Japan.     

Genetic variation in traits affecting sawn timber recovery in plantation-grown <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus nitens</Emphasis>

• Introduction   

There is increasing interest in managing Eucalyptus nitens plantations for sawn timber production.     

Genetic variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus taeda</Emphasis> wood properties predicted using non-destructive techniques

• Background   

Tree breeders have been reluctant to include wood traits in tree improvement programs owing to logistic difficulties and the cost associated with the assessing the traits.     

Drought induces opposite changes in the concentration of non-structural carbohydrates of two evergreen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus</Emphasis> species of differential drought resistance

• Introduction   

One current explanation for worldwide drought-induced tree mortality states that reduced photosynthesis and continued respiration lead to carbon depletion and eventually to carbon starvation.     

Carbon in heartwood,sapwood and bark along the stem profile in three Mediterranean <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus</Emphasis> species

• Context   

Understanding biological processes in forests is necessary to orientate ecosystem management towards potential C sequestration. To achieve this, information is required about changes in forest biomass C pools, including the stem components (bark, sapwood and heartwood).     

Embolism induced by winter drought may be critical for the survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L. near its southern distribution limit

Introduction   

Scots pine populations in the SE “Sistema Ibérico” range suffered a severe defoliation in the S face of the crown in isolated trees of thinned stands. This process was detected at the end of the winter 2001–2002.     

Effects of foliar nutrients and environmental factors on site productivity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Ait. stands in Asturias (NW Spain)

• Background   

The effects of foliar nutrients and environmental variables on site productivity in Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands in Asturias (NW Spain) were studied.     

Clonal variation in heartwood norlignans of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>: evidence for independent control of agatharesinol and sequirin C biosynthesis

• Introduction   

In Cryptomeria japonica, heartwood properties are considered to be affected by specific extractives. It remains unclear whether traits of specific heartwood compounds are under genetic control.     

A case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> fingerprinting for breeding

• Introduction  

Tree genetic improvement programs usually lack, in general, pedigree information. Since molecular markers can be used to estimate the level of genetic similarity between individuals, we genotyped a sample of a Portuguese Eucalyptus globulus breeding population—a reference population of 125 individuals—with 16 microsatellites (SSR).     

Genetic variation of natural durability traits in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus cladocalyx</Emphasis> (sugar gum)

• Introduction  

We present a study on genetic variation in natural durability traits of young-aged Eucalyptus cladocalyx, a species adapted to temperate, low rainfall regions. Our motivation was the production of naturally durable posts for applications such as vine trellises, a sector dominated by heavy metal preservative-treated wood in some of the world’s main wine-producing countries.     

Effects of thinning intensity on radial growth patterns and temperature sensitivity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus canariensis</Emphasis> afforestations on Tenerife Island,Spain

• Context   

The suitability of thinning to prevent forest growth decline as a result of global warming has not been tested extensively in Macaronesian Canary pine (Pinus canariensis Sweet ex Spreng.).     

Molecular cytogenetics and flow cytometry reveal conserved genome organization in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus mugo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. uncinata</Emphasis>

• Introduction   

The most common representatives of the European mountain pine complex (Pinus mugo s.l.) are P. mugo s.s. and Pinus uncinata.     

Genetic variation of chemical and mechanical traits of maritime pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Aiton). Correlations with wood density components

• Background   

Genetic selection for one trait can have an impact on other important traits for final use; thus, it is important to assess the correlation between traits.     

Ectomycorrhizal communities in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem dominated by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis>: seasonal dynamics and response to drought in the surface organic horizon

• Introduction   

Millions of hectares of Quercus ilex forests dominate disturbed landscapes in the western part of the Mediterranean basin. Although these forests are very widespread, little is known about the composition and structure of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities.     

Estimation of tree biomass,carbon pool and net primary production of an old-growth <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus kesiya</Emphasis> Royle ex. Gordon forest in north-eastern India

• Background  

The data on carbon pool and biomass distribution pattern of old-growth Pinus kesiya Royle ex. Gordon forests are not available.