Learning from practices — implications of the “practice based approach” for forest and environmental policy research

With the book publication “Forest and Nature Governance — A practice based approach” (Arts et al., 2013, Eds.) the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group of Wageningen University, The Netherlands demonstrates its high aspirations of developing a new research approach. This article aims at discussing the methodological and conceptual contributions of the book to the field of forest and environmental policy research and proposes perspectives for further developing this methodological approach. It finds the “practice based approach” being an innovative, theoretically sound concept, which is able to produce valuable and “thick” empirical results. The approach is also found offering a plethora of possibilities to link up to analytical policy research. Yet, the approach will require further elaboration, especially on questions regarding the role of definitions, its contribution towards explaining social phenomena, and concerning the use of normative orientations in some of the empirical cases. The future challenges of the approach lie in either moulding a niche for further developing it independent from other schools, or in influencing mainstream approaches through theoretical innovations or surprising empirical results.     

Dynamic changes of telomeric restriction fragment (TRF) lengths in cells during the developmental process from embryos to seedlings and a comparison with the embryonal calli in Ginkgo biloba L.

Telomeres are the structures that locate at the terminals of linear eukaryotic chromosomes. They can play essential roles in many cellular processes. The terminal location of Arabidopsis-type TTTAGGG tandem repeats were thought to be highly conserved. The terminal location of Ginkgo biloba L. consisting of TTTAGGG tandem repeats, were confirmed by Bal31 exonuclease degradation and Southern blotting. By comparing telomeric restriction fragment (TRF) lengths at different developmental stages from embryos to seedlings, a fluctuant tendency towards variation was found in these samples. The TRF length of embryos was also compared with that of embryonal calli and an upward trend was discovered in callus culture. The results suggest that there should be a telomerase mechanism or/and ALT mechanism for the maintenance of telomere length.     

A New Record of the Genus Leptus Latrerille 1796 (Acari:Erythraeidae) from Japan

ＴｈｅｍｉｔｅｏｆｔｈｅｇｅｎｕｓＬｅｐｔｕｓｉｓｗｏｒｌｄ－ｗｉｄｅｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｅｄａｎｄｅｃｔｏｐａｒａｓｉｔｅｄｏｎｉｎｓｅｃｔｓａｎｄｏｎｓｐｉｄｅｒｓ．ＩｎＪａｐａｎ，ｎｉｎｅｓｐｅｃｉｅｓｏｆｔｈｉｓｇｅｎｕｓｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｒｅｃ...     

Current distribution of older and deciduous forests as legacies from historical use patterns in a Swedish boreal landscape (1725–2007)

We combine historical maps and satellite derived data to reconstruct the development of a Swedish boreal landscape over the past 300 years. The aim is to understand legacies from past use patterns in present-day forest composition and consequences for conservation objectives from a landscape perspective. We analyze landscape development in cross-tabulation matrixes, building change trajectories. These trajectories are tested in linear models to explain the distribution of present-day landscape composition of coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests >110 years. Of 49 tested change trajectories, 11 showed a significant association. Associations for mixed and coniferous forests were similar and linked to characteristics such as forest continuity, which characterized the studied landscape. Deciduous older forests did not show any association to forest continuity but were more likely to occur on areas that specifically shifted from forests with grazing in the 1720s to open impediment (likely indicating low tree coverage) in the 1850s. There were large shifts and spatial redistribution in ownerships over time. Use patterns and legacies varied between small- and large-scale ownership categories as well as within small-scale categories. The legacies found in the study indicate a complex origin of heterogeneous landscape elements such as older deciduous forests. Additionally, the origin of the legacies indicates a potential need to diversify conservation management based on the influence of past use patterns. Despite large inconsistencies in historical and contemporary data we argue that this type of analysis could be used to further understand the distribution of landscape elements important for conservation objectives.     

The chemical characteristics of squeezable sap from silver birch (Betula pendula) logs hydrothermally treated at 70 °C: the effect of treatment time on the concentration of water extracts

Wood Science and Technology - In order to study the detailed water extract of wood components in birch under hydrothermal treatment, xylem sap obtained by mechanical...     

Studies on the egg parasitism inThaumetopoea pityocampa over a period of four years (1991–1994) at marikostino/bulgaria

In Bulgaria near Marikostino, in a forest ofPinus nigra Arn. 239 egg batches were sampled over four generations ofThaumetopoea pityocampa (Den. &; Schiff.) (Lep., Thaumetopoeidae) in various seasons. Directly after collection the batches were singled in test tubes, closed with cotton stoppers and stored under laboratory conditions at 20–22°C. Oviposition always started from the base towards the tip of the needles. The emergence of egg parasitoids was observed daily, and the parasitoids were counted and identified. The eggs from which parasitoids emerged were marked for further studies. After removing the adults and opening the eggs, the impact of the species of parasitoids was evaluated by identifying the meconia and other rests (left overs). Ooencyrtus pityocampae (Mercet) was the most abundant egg parasitoid, followed byAnastatus bifasciatus (Fonsc.). Only few individuals ofBaryscapus servadeii (Dom.) were collected. The hyperparasitoidBaryscapus servadeii (Dom.) were collected. The hyperparasitoidBaryscapus transversalis Graham, was found at low densities. Only a few eggs were parasitised byTrichogramma embryophagum Htg. Total mortality of the host eggs varied from 34.7 to 79.7% depending on the period of parasitism and on the numbers of sterile eggs. The impact of the parasitoids was calculated to be 9.3–38.9%, depending on the period when parasitism had taken place. The mean number of eggs per batch varied from 203 to 253. The rate of parasitism was reduced by early sampling of the egg batches. In some cases, a very high percentage (up to 29.2%) of undeveloped eggs was found. In all samples a small percentage of empty eggs was always observed.     

Descriptions of Two New Species and One Unknown Female of the Genus Sinophasma from Guangdong Province, China(Phasmatodea : Heteronemiidae)

１三棘华枝ＳｉｎｏｐｈａｓｍａｔｒｉｓｐｉｎｏｓｕｍＣｈｅｎｅｔＣｈｅｎ，ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．本新种与臀沟华枝ＳｉｎｏｐｈａｓｍａｌａｔｉｓｅｃｔｕｍＣｈｅｎｅｔＣｈｅｎ近似，但本种雄性臀节端部较窄，纵沟浅裂．背面具有３个排列成倒三角形的锥形突，第９节背板隆起成直角下垂等不同，可相区别．模式标本保存在中山大学．２单棘华枝ＳｉｎｏｐｈａｓｍａｕｎｉｓｐｉｎｏｓｕｍＣｈｅｎｅｔＣｈｅｎ，ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．本新种与三棘华枝ＳｉｎｏｐｈａｓｍａｔｒｉｓｐｉｎｏｓｕｍＣｈｅｎｅｔＣｈｅｎ近似，但本种雄性臀节较狭长，两侧端叶扩展成瓣状；端部无纵沟，背面具有１个明显的锥形突，下生殖板形状以及第９节背板明显不同等，可相区别．模式标本保存在中山大学．３拟异尾华枝（雌性）ＳｉｎｏｐｈａｓｍａｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｉｒａｂｉｌｅＣｈｅｎｅｔＣｈｅｎ本种发表于１９９６年，当时仅报道其雄性，近在中山大学昆虫标本馆发现１对雌雄，其雌性与异尾华枝ＳｉｏｎｐｈａｓｍａｍｉｒａｂｉｌｅＧüｎｔｈｅｒ雌性相似．但本种头部形状，第７腹节腹板与腹瓣伸至的位置，以及尾须的形状等明显不同，可与之区别．模式标本保存在北京林业大学和中山大学．     

Emissions of saturated C6-C10 aldehydes from poplar(Populus simonii×P.pyramidalis ‘Opera 8277’) cuttings at different levels of light intensity

Aldehydes play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and plant direct and indirect defense against environmental stresses.In this study,the emissions of saturated C6-C10 aldehydes from Populus simonii × P.pyramidalis 'Opera 8277' cuttings were examined by using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS) technique at three levels of light intensity(400,800 and 1 200 μmol·m-2·s-1).A positive correlation between the emissions of these aldehydes and light intensity was found.Moreover,nordi-hydroguaiaret...     

Description of a new species of the genus Rhynchina Guene′ e, 1854 (Lepidoptera,Erebidae, Hypeninae) from Southeastern Tibet,China

A new species of the genus Rhynchina Guene′e, 1854, R. tongmaia Pan and Han, sp. n. is described from China. This species is compared with a supercially similar congener, R. rivuligera Butler, 1889 wit...     

In vitro anther culture and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the AP1 gene from Salix integra Linn. in haploid poplar(Populus simonii × P. nigra)

A reliable,efficient anther culture system,the dominant technique for generating haploid plants in breeding programs,that can be used for generating transgenic poplar plants has been needed.In the present study,therefore,an anther culture system was developed using isolated mid-and late-uninucleate anthers of poplar(Populus simonii x P.nigra).From a combination of SSR and ploidy analyses,six double haploid and two haploid lines were characterized from 86 plants grown from 16 regenerated anther cultured lines.After 48 months of development,two plant lines from the regenerated plants maintained their haploid level in vitro for over 2 years.A number of haploid plants from the different lines weretransferred to soil.The leaves of these transplants were then used as explants for transformation with the APETALA1(AP1) gene using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.Overexpression of AP1 in haploid poplar induced early flowering with obvious petals when ectopically expressed.To our knowledge,this is the first report on changes in flowering time in AP1-trangenic poplar,which is important for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of tree flower development.     

Emissions of saturated C6–C10 aldehydes from poplar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus simonii</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. pyramidalis</Emphasis> ‘Opera 8277’) cuttings at different levels of light intensity

Aldehydes play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and plant direct and indirect defense against environmental stresses.In this study,the emissions of saturated C6-C10 aldehydes from Populus simonii × P.pyramidalis ’Opera 8277’ cuttings were examined by using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS) technique at three levels of light intensity(400,800 and 1 200 μmol·m-2·s-1).A positive correlation between the emissions of these aldehydes and light intensity was found.Moreover,nordi-hydroguaiaretic acid(NDGA),a special inhibitor of lipoxygenase(LOX),significantly inhibited the emissions of C6-C9 aldehydes at three levels of light intensity,but did not influence the emission of decanal(C10).The emissions of C6-C10 aldehydes in NDGA treated poplar cuttings,exhibited the same positive correlation with light intensity.The results indicated that LOX pathway contributes to the emissions of C6-C9 aldehydes,whereas some pathways regulated by light intensity might be a universal mechanism for emissions of C6-C10 aldehydes.