Bark Stripping Damage by Red Deer in a Sitka Spruce Forest in Western Scotland: II. Wound Size and Position

Wounds to bark were measured within a few months of being inflictedby red deer in Glenbranter Forest, Argyll. About 8000 treeson 240 permanent plots were monitored; all the wounds occurringover a period of seven years were examined. Wound length varied little between forest stages, averaging12 cm. Wound breadth was greater on older trees, averaging 5cm in Sitka spruce and 6 cm in Norway spruce for the pole andhigh-canopy^* forest stages. A few wounds were large, maximumlengths being 95 and 80 cm in Sitka spruce and Norway sprucerespectively, but less than 20 per cent of the Sitka sprucewounds exceeded 100 cm² in surface area. Seasonal variationin size was modest; wounds were longest in spring (April–June). Often a single tree received two or more wounds during the 3-or6-month-long observation periods. For Sitka spruce there were89 instances of multiple wounding and 142 of single wounding,but these single wounds contributed only 37 per cent of thetotal of 383 wounds observed. The area of trunk wounded wasmore dependent on the size of the largest wound than on woundnumber, multiple wounds often being small. Trunks received most damage between 50 and 100 cm above ground,the lower and upper limits of wounding being 2 and 150 cm. Thepeaking in the incidence of damage with regard to height wasmost marked in pole-stage forest, whereas wounds were spreadmore evenly up the trunks on younger trees. Wound height waslittle affected by season, mean basal heights being 68, 70,74 and 67 cm in winter, spring, summer and autumn. Woundingon the trunk was not correlated with aspect.     

Growth and Wood Properties of Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) in Nursing Mixtures Established on Nitrogen-deficient Mineral Soils

Rate of growth and wood properties of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) were investigated in triplet mixtures with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Loud.) (Alaskan provenance) and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.), established on nitrogen-deficient, iron pan soils. These ?nursing? mixtures were compared with pure stands of Sitka spruce that had been either regularly or periodically fertilized with nitrogen. Japanese larch promoted a growth rate in Sitka spruce greater than that achieved in the lodgepole pine-nursed spruce and equivalent to the two pure spruce treatments over the duration of the experiment (current age 28 yrs). Growth of regularly fertilized pure Sitka spruce was not significantly greater than that of periodically fertilized pure spruce. Alaskan lodgepole pine controlled branch size on the lower part of the spruce stems more effectively than the other treatments, although this may have been a function of tree size. Branch characteristics of Japanese larch-nursed spruce, however, were similar to those of the pure spruce treatments. Japanese larch caused an imbalance in crown development in the spruce, although it is unclear from the present study whether this will have an influence on stem and wood quality by the end of the rotation. Overall, the evidence from this study suggests that Japanese larch is an effective nurse of Sitka spruce on nitrogen-deficient iron pans, maintaining a rate of growth similar to that of pure Sitka spruce periodically fertilized with nitrogen and higher than that observed in spruce nursed by Alaskan lodgepole pine.     

Relationships between insect diversity and habitat characteristics in plantation forests

A methodological approach to the identification of biodiversity indicators in commercial forest stands is illustrated by analysis of the relationships between syrphid (hoverflies) and carabid (ground beetles) community composition and diversity, and stand structure and field layer vegetation. Data were collected from 12 commercial forest sites encompassing a range of climatic conditions and different crop types (Scots pine, Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and Corsican pine) across the UK. Comparisons were also made between unmanaged semi-natural Scots pine woods and Scots pine plantations. For both syrphids and carabids, no differences in species richness and diversity were recorded between semi-natural stands and plantations; one rare syrphid considered to be restricted to semi-natural pine stands was also found in spruce. Syrphid species diversity and richness was higher in southern spruce sites than in the northern sites. Northern sites had distinctive carabid communities, as did sites in the New Forest, a large ancient woodland in southern England. Of the measured habitat variables, vertical stand structure showed the best correlation with species richness and diversity of both carabids and syrphids. Richness and diversity were less in stands with high vertical cover values for canopy layers. Stands with higher field layer cover supported greater syrphid diversity, but lower carabid diversity. Measures of stand structure could be used as potential indicators of syrphid and carabid diversity, but additional habitat parameters also need to be tested.     

Interception of precipitation by pole-stage Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine and mature Sitka spruce at Kielder Forest, Northumberland

Interception loss was measured indirectly for 3 years in adjacentunthinned 25-year-old stands of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pineand for 2 years in a 63-year-old selectively thinned stand ofSitka spruce. For each stand measurements were made of grossprecipitation, throughfall and stemflow. Interception loss wasderived by subtracting the sum of throughfall and stemflow (netprecipitation) from gross precipitation. For the years 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80,interception losses in the pole-stage Sitka spruce were 32,28 and 27 per cent of gross precipitation respectively whilethose in the lodgepole pine were 33, 29 and 26 per cent. For1979–80 and 1980–81 interception losses in the matureSitka spruce were 44 and 53 per cent of gross precipitation.The average interception loss was 29 per cent for both pole-stagecrops and 49 per cent for mature Sitka spruce. The proportions of net precipitation reaching the ground asstemflow and throughfall were 0.18 and 0.82 respectively forthe pole-stage Sitka spruce, 0.14 and 0.86 for the pole-stagelodepole pine and 0.02 and 0.98 for the mature Sitka spruce.     

Mycorrhizal and associated fungi of Sitka spruce in Irish forest mixed stands

Identity of mycorrhizas and isolation of symbionts and associated fungi from Sitka spruce growing in pure and mixed stands with either Japanese larch or Lodgepole pine are described and compared. More mycorrhizal types and sporocarps of the Agaricales were collected from mixed stands. Mycorrhizas of Lactarius rufus, Paxillus involutus and Suillus spp. were more prevalent on roots from mixed stands. The most common unidentified mycorrhizal type (type B) had features similar to synthesized mycorrhizas of two Basidiomycete isolates. Suillus grevillei and three un-identified types were associated specifically with Japanese larch. The main associating fungi were Oidiodendron sp. and Mycelium radicis atrovirens. The association of a “nurse” tree with Sitka spruce provides a more diverse mycorrhizal flora, the majority of which are shared between the tree species.     

The Effects of Clear Polythene Cloches on Conifer Seedling Growth and Shoot Morphology

Nursery seedbeds sown with lodgepole pine, Scots pine, Douglasfir, Japanese larch and Sitka spruce were covered with clearpolythene cloches for 0, 8, 13 or 18 weeks from sowing. Sitkaspruce germinated poorly and was not studied further. In bothpine species longer durations of cloche cover increased thenumber and length of stem units resulting in taller 1 + 0 seedlings.The number of internodes held at the apex for elongation inthe second season was also increased but transplant shock preventedfull expression of this potential such that differences betweenthe treatments were reduced. Only when covered for 18 weeksdid Douglas fir and Japanese larch produce 1 + 0 seedlings whichwere taller than the uncovered treatments. Through the productionof ‘summer shoots’ in their second season Douglasfir and Japanese larch were able to compensate partially forthe reduction in ‘spring shoot’ length caused bytransplanting.     

The spreading of the S type of Heterobasidion annosum from Norway spruce stumps to the subsequent tree stand

The occurrence of Heterobasidion annosum in stumps and growing trees was investigated on 15 forest sites in southern Finland where the previous tree stand had been Norway spruce (Picea abies) infected by H. annosum, and the present stand was either Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), Siberian larch (Larix siberica), silver birch (Betula pendula) or Norway spruce 8–53 years old. Out of 712 spruce stumps investigated of the previous tree stand, 26.3% were infected by the S group and 0.3% by the P group of H. annosum. The fungus was alive and the fruit bodies were active even in stumps cut 46 years ago. In the subsequent stand, the proportion of trees with root rot increased in spruce stands and decreased in stands of other tree species. On average, one S type genet spreading from an old spruce stump had infected 3.0 trees in the following spruce stand, 0.5 trees in lodgepole pine, 0.3 trees in Siberian larch, 0.05 trees in Scots pine and 0.03 trees in silver birch stand. Although silver birch generally was highly resistant to the S type of H. annosum, infected trees were found on one site that was planted with birch of a very northern provenance.     

A case of habitat complementation in forest pests: Pine processionary moth pupae survive better in open areas

Little attention has been given to the relevance of habitat complementation concept to the population dynamics of insect herbivores. Late instar larvae of the pine processionary moth (PPM) Thaumetopoea pityocampa move in late winter from pine stands, their feeding habitat, to neighbouring habitats where they pupate until next summer. They search for sunny exposed soil which they can find in open areas. We investigated the effect of both forest cover and soil origin, with three matching types (pine stand, broadleaved stand and open area) on the survival of PPM pupae. The microclimatic soil variables which significantly differentiated cover types and soil origins were the maximum temperature and the mean relative humidity in spring, soon after pupation has occurred. A significant effect of the cover type, but not of the soil origin, was detected on the proportion of dead, emerged or diapausing pupae. Open areas were more suitable for pupae survival than forest covers (pine or broadleaved stands), due to warmer and more humid soil conditions. In this study, we provide one of the first examples of habitat complementation for an insect herbivore, as PPM population can benefit from the combination of pine habitats for the feeding of larvae with open habitats for pupation. The presence of broadleaved stands next to pine stands might also represent an ecological trap for PPM pupae, as broadleaved habitats may turn to be less suitable for pupae survival in spring when the apparition of leaves creates cooler conditions.     

Comparative susceptibility of pine,spruce and larch to sapstain

Summary This study compared the susceptibility of five UK‐grown conifer species to colonization by sapstain fungi in two trials carried out in consecutive years. The conifers consisted of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Freshly cut 1‐m logs were exposed to the available inoculum of sapstain fungi from April to August in a woodland environment in the south east of England. Logs of each species were removed after 1‐, 2‐ and 4‐month exposure and sampled destructively to assess the amount of sapstain. In the second trial, per cent moisture content and concentrations of nitrogen, carbohydrate and phenolic compounds in the sapwood were also measured at the start and end of the trial. After 2 months, only the sapwood of both pine species had significant levels of sapstain; mean values of 37% and 19% for lodgepole pine (year 1 and year 2 respectively) and 12% and 1% for Scots pine. After 4 months, the levels of sapstain in both pine species exceeded 60% in both years. By contrast, very little sapstain developed in the other conifer species with maximum mean values of 10% for Norway spruce, 3.5% for larch and less than 1% for Sitka spruce. Overall, the moisture content of the logs decreased progressively in all species over the length of the trial. However, pine logs tended to retain higher levels of moisture throughout the trial compared with spruce or larch. The relatively higher moisture content of pine sapwood may be closer to the optimal moisture content that sapstain fungi require for infection and colonization, thereby contributing to the increased susceptibility of pine compared with the other conifer species. The pine logs also suffered from some colonization by bark beetles (Ips sexdentatus), which increased the inoculum potential and the opportunity for colonization by sapstain fungi. In addition, particular phenolic compounds in conifer sapwood may play a role in determining the resistance of some species to sapstain. Notably the most resistant species, Sitka spruce, was the only softwood that still retained detectable levels of phenolics in the sapwood to the end of the trial.     

Soil Solution Chemistry and Throughfall Under Adjacent Stands of Japanese Larch and Sitka Spruce at Three Contrasting Locations in Britain

Soil solution and throughfall chemistry were investigated inadjacent stands of Japanese larch and Sitka spruce at threesites in Britain. Throughfall was collected in open funnel collectorsand soil solution was collected using tensionless tray lysimetersat the base of the H horizon and ceramic cup suction samplersat the base of the B horizon. Sampling took place fortnightlyfor 14 months and samples were analysed for the major ions anddissolved organic carbon. Most ions were present in higher concentrationsunder spruce than larch. Most notably under the spruce at allsites SO₄ in throughfall and NO₃ Ca and Al in the B horizonwere present in greater concentrations. However there were notrends in fortnightly concentrations of any ion, associatedwith the presence and absence of needles on the larch. Whensolutes are expressed as fluxes the only consistent effect ofspecies on the B horizon is higher quantities of NO₃ and NH₄under spruce. The study suggests that in areas exposed to atmosphericpollution, thinned stands of larch could have a beneficial rolerelative to Sitka spruce, in the maintenance of low acidityand aluminium concentrations in drainage water.     

Selection of feeding trees by capercaillie Tetrao urogallus in winter

Selection of winter feeding trees by capercaillie Tetrao urogallus was studied by sampling of needles of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris trees browsed by capercaillie and closely situated unbrowsed trees in 5 localities situated in the southern half of Norway. Browsed trees contained higher concentrations of N than unbrowsed trees but no differences in P were found among browsed and unbrowsed samples. Needles eaten by capercaillie were significantly lower in resin content than needles from unbrowsed trees. For tannin, no differences between browsed and unbrowsed trees were found. Results give evidence that capercaillie select needles richest in N when the resin content is low, but when high, the birds select needles low in resin. Thus, both N and resin play an important role in selection of winter browse by capercaillie.     

Larval performances and life cycle completion of the Siberian moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrolimus sibiricus</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), on potential host plants in Europe: a laboratory study on potted trees

The Siberian moth, Dendrolimus sibiricus, Tschtv. is the most harmful defoliator of coniferous forests in North Asia. The pest has already spread over the Urals and continues moving westwards. Recently, it has been recommended for quarantine in member countries by European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). The performances of the pest on coniferous species planted in Europe were assessed on a range of potted trees corresponding to the spectrum of economically important conifers in the EU: European larch Larix decidua, Norway spruce Picea abies, Scots pine Pinus sylvestris, European black pine Pinus nigra, and the North American species: Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii and grand fir Abies grandis. Larvae showed a potential to survive and complete the development on all these host tree species. Favorable hosts were grand fir, European larch, and Douglas fir that allowed higher survival, better larval development, and as a result, yielded heavier pupae and adult moths with higher longevity. Black pine was a poor host but, however, could still support larval and pupal development. Norway spruce and Scots pine had an intermediate behavior. If accidentally introduced to Europe, the Siberian moth may become especially damaging in forest stands predominated by European larch and by the North American firs. Norway spruce and especially the two-needle pines will be less prone to intensive defoliation by this species. The fact that the pest may damage the range of economically important coniferous species should be taken into account in the pest risk assessment for Europe and also for North America where the Siberian moth occurrence is considered likely.     

Live storage and drying of storm-felled Norway spruce (Picea abies,L. Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees

Storm-felled trees left in the forest for a shorter or longer period, affect the quality of the logs. The change in quality is mainly because of attack of fungi and insects, which in turn depends on the moisture content (MC) of the sapwood. The purpose of this study was to receive more knowledge about drying of storm-felled trees by investigating how fast winter storm-felled Norway spruce and Scots pine dried when left in the forest. Sixteen storm-felled spruces with part of the roots still in ground contact were selected from three stands and in addition to 10 pines from one of the stands. The trees were examined for MC in the sapwood until 21 months after the storm. This study indicates that wind-thrown trees with roots still connected to the soil can survive one summer without any value loss caused by draught, fungi and insects. The stand conditions can be of importance as the storm-felled trees in the stand, with scattered windthrow, were in best condition after one year, as they were shadowed by the trees still standing. Comparing spruces and pines with the stand with scattered windthrow, pines were more sensitive to drought and reached critical MC earlier.     

Stand Structure in Pine,Spruce and Deciduous Forests: A Comparison Between Finnish and Russian Karelia

This study investigated the stand structure in pine, spruce and deciduous forests in the border district of Finland and Russia. A total of 46 mature forest stands was selected as pairs, the members of each pair being as similar as possible with respect to their forest site type, age, moisture and topography. The stands were then compared between the two countries by means of basal areas and number of stems. The proportions of dominating tree species were 2-12% lower, and correspondingly the proportions of secondary tree species higher, in Russian forests. The density of the forest stock was also higher in each forest type in Russia. The forests in the two countries differed most radically in terms of the abundance of dead trees. The amount was two to four times higher in Russian deciduous and spruce forests, and in pine forests the difference was 10-fold. The stand structures indicated that Russian coniferous stands, in particular, were more heterogeneous than intensively managed pine and spruce stands in Finland.     

Tree Mortality,Foliage Recovery and Top-kill in Stands of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Subsequent to Defoliation by the Pine Looper (Bupalus piniaria)

In 1996, the pine looper (Bupalus piniaria) (L.) defoliated 7000 ha of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest at Hökensås, in southern Sweden. To study tree mortality, foliage recovery and top-kill, plots were laid out in stands with varying levels of defoliation in autumn 1997. Tree mortality peaked 2 yrs after defoliation, and amounted to 25% in stands suffering from 90–100% defoliation. Suppressed trees suffered higher mortality than intermediate and dominant trees. In stands suffering <90% defoliation, tree mortality did not exceed 8%. Foliage recovery in moderately and severely defoliated stands was not complete at the end of the 4 yr study period, whereas slightly defoliated stands had regained full foliage in 1998. Top-kill was most frequent in severely defoliated stands, and 50% of all trees in these stands suffered from top-kill at the end of the study period in spring 2001.     

Fomes annosus Butt Rot of Sitka Spruce: III. Losses in Yield and Value of Timber in Diseased Trees and Stands

Direct losses in yield and value sustained through the rejectionof butt-rotted wood either in the forest or at the sawmill werecalculated for 484 butt-rotted Sitka spruce trees, 23 to 50-years-old,from 27 stands in Britain. Losses were calculated followingthe rejection of either decayed or incipiently-decayed wood. The results suggest that approximate losses in a stand may notbe difficult to estimate since the average loss per tree (percent of tree volume or value) did not vary widely in standsof trees of different age or size and overall losses were closelyassociated with the numbers of affected trees. The mean lossper tree following rejection of butt lengths containing incipiently-decayedwood was 33 per cent of volume, and 43 per cent of value, comparedwith 22 per cent and 27.5 per cent respectively for losses followingrejection of butts containing decayed wood. These value losseswere estimated using the Forestry Commission 1977 price/sizecurve and depended on notional changes in the breast-heightdiameter of affected trees following rejection of rotted buttlengths in the forest. A computer-simulated sawmilling study of 202 trees of sawlogsize from the main study suggested that losses in value sustainedthrough the rejection of decayed or incipiently-decayed buttlengths might be reduced by about 10 per cent if such lengthswere converted into pallet boards instead. The consequences of these various methods for estimating directlosses due to F. annosus butt rot are considered in relationto their use in standard forest management financial appraisals.Aspects of indirect losses, i.e., the increased susceptibilityto windblow and possible reductions in increment of butt-rottedtrees, not considered in detail in this paper, are also discussed.     

CONIFEROUS LITTER AMENDMENTS AND THE GROWTH OF SITKA SPRUCE

The growth of semi-checked Sitka spruce (Picea sitcbensis Carr.)on heathland has been stimulated to different degrees by theannual application of litter of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestrisL.), Corsican pine (P. nigra var. calabrica Schneid), Lodgepolepine (P. contorta Dougl.), Japanese larch (Larix leptolepisGord.), and Sitka spruce, at rates corresponding to normal plantationconditions, following an initial heavier rate. Foliar analysissuggests that the response is at least partially attributableto the influence of the litters on the nitrogen nutrition ofthe spruce and differences between litters appear to be largelydetermined by their total nitrogen contents. In this respect,Japanese larch, with an annual needle fall generally greaterthan that of the pines and a higher nitrogen content, offersthe best promise as a nurse species for spruce.     

Stump infection by Armillaria in first-rotation conifers

Information about the entry of Armillaria into first-rotation pine and spruce stands was obtained by searching for infected stumps, rhizomorph systems or trees that had been killed. In pines Armillaria foci were very rare. In pure Norway spruce Armillaria lutea and A. mellea were detected in stumps but rhizomorphs did not extend into the soil; in Norway spruce mixed with oak, by contrast, A. lutea sometimes produced extensive rhizomorph systems. In Sitka spruce small groups of trees had been killed by A. ostoyae. All foci investigated in conifers contained different genotypes of Armillaria and probably originated from spore infection of stumps created by thinning. Some implications of these findings are discussed.     

Patterns of field layer invertebrates in successional stages of managed boreal forest: Implications for the declining Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus L. population

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) populations in Finland have decreased markedly during past decades. One of the assumed reasons is the decreased quality of brood feeding grounds since current forest management transfers mature forests to younger successional stages. We studied how different types of managed Finnish forests offer resources for capercaillie broods by comparing the vegetation and invertebrate fauna of four successional stages in the two most common forest types in Finland, spruce dominated Vaccinium myrtillus (MT) and pine dominated Vaccinium vitis-idaea (VT) type. Forest age class had a significant effect on the cover of bilberry. There was a positive correlation between bilberry cover and the biomass of larvae and of all invertebrates (including all developmental stages) both at the stand and the sample level. Both forest type and age class significantly affected the biomass of larvae. Mature stands and young stands had the highest biomass of larvae in both MT and VT. In both forest site types the sapling stands hosted the smallest biomass of larvae. The results suggest that successional stages that follow clear cutting seriously lowers the food availability for capercaillie chicks and also reduces the shelter that field layer might provide. However, already the young stages that follow sapling phases seem to provide both bilberries and invertebrates so it is quite unlikely that the bilberry abundance alone could explain the dramatic decline of the capercaillie.     

帽儿山主要森林类型凋落物层水文效应研究

对帽儿山地区不同林型的水文功能进行研究,通过分析不同林分凋落物层,得出人工林蓄水能力普遍比天然次生林强。在纯林中落叶松蓄水能力最强,水曲柳林最弱;混交林中红松水曲柳混交蓄水能力最强,云杉水曲柳林蓄水能力最弱;天然次生林蓄水能力较弱。蓄水能力总的排序：落叶松纯林〉红松纯林〉红松水曲柳混交林〉落叶松水曲柳混交林〉云杉纯林〉云杉水曲柳混交林〉天然次生林〉水曲柳纯林。蓄水能力与林分类型,枯落物分解状况及枯落物积累状况有关。