Quantifying the aesthetic benefits of urban forestry

All the usual methods for valuing non-market benefits and costs may be applied to the aesthetic values of urban trees. However, evaluation has most usually been undertaken by one of two apparently dissimilar methods. The expert approach uses a mixture of measurement and judgement. Different versions of the approach have different quantitative input, produce divergent results, and theoretical justifications of their cash value are lacking. The hedonic approach attempts to derive cash values from house prices. Here too problems of quantification arise, in choice of appropriate variables, in the form of relationships and in interaction of variables. An approach using the human eye's ability to synthesise disparate variables may overcome these problems, but there remain problems of collinearity between environmental and demographic variables. At least explicit recognition of judgement in the process allows open discussion of these problems.     

Structural diversity and height growth models in urban forest plantations: A case-study in northern Italy

Current knowledge on the growth models of urban forest plantations several years after their establishment still remains poor and fragmentary. Furthermore few studies have assessed the growth of urban plantations on reclaimed land, such as brownfield sites.This paper assesses urban forest plantations in terms of tree height growth, crown width and vertical structural using as a case study tree inventory-data collected in an urban forest plantation (Parco Nord Milano, PNM northern Italy). In this research tree inventory-data was used to achieve the following objectives: (i) to develop a series of tree height-growth models and tree crown-width models for the main taxonomic units in the study-area; (ii) to analyse the temporal pattern of current increments of tree height; (iii) to assess the vertical stratification of tree crowns using a method developed by Latham et al. (1998).The results suggest that during the earlier stage after planting, trees reach high levels of growth (tree height and crown width) regardless of the taxonomic unit. Evidence is found to support a high level of spatial competition between individual trees of different taxonomic units in as little as 15–18 years. Competition between trees appears to be mainly affected by diametrical differentiation rather than hypsometric variation: trees grow more in diameter than in height. Furthermore a decrease in longitudinal growth was observed for most tree species while the radial growth tends to be constant over time. The research at PNM shows that in temperate climates this can be achieved in less than 30 years. We believe that these analyses could provide important data supporting the planning of new urban forest plantations on reclaimed land and inter alia provide some answers to the questions around plantations growth evaluation and management.     

Feasibility study on the estimation of the living vegetation volume of individual street trees using terrestrial laser scanning

As an important part of urban greening, the canopy of street trees has ecological benefits, such as oxygen production, noise reduction, and dust reduction. The living vegetation volume (LVV) can reflect the spatial structure of the canopy intuitively and enables the estimation of the ecological service value of street trees. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has shown excellent performance for providing three-dimensional data of individual trees with high precision, enabling the accurate quantification of the LVV. In this study, we divided the LVV into the total living vegetation volume (tLVV) and the effective living vegetation volume (eLVV); the latter does not include branches. The eLVV of 40 ginkgo trees separated in two roads in Nanjing was calculated from TLS data. A novel method named LAIM for accurate eLVV calculation based on point cloud data was proposed. The point cloud data of individual tree was segmented along the Z-axis and image processing methods were used. With this, eLVV of each tree was obtained. The results were compared with data obtained from a clustered point cloud generated using convex hulls. The Bland-Altman analysis was used to investigate the consistency of the two methods. Furthermore, we used correlation analysis and all-subsets regression to choose the variables, and the eLVV was fitted using six models. Finally, we evaluated O₂ production, CO₂ and SO₂ absorption by the street trees based on eLVV, the ecological benefits of street trees were quantified. The results showed the following: (1) The number of layers and the dilation size of the point cloud were crucial parameters in the LAIM. (2) For ginkgo trees, the mean difference between the eLVV obtained from the LAIM and the convex hull method was − 0.53–0.19 m³, indicating that the results were highly consistent for the two methods. (3) The eLVV fitting performance was better for the exponential function model (R² =0.8523, RMSE=0.6838 m³) and linear model (R² =0.8361, RMSE=0.7224 m³). The tree height and crown width significantly affected the eLVV estimation. (4) The evaluation about ecological benefits of Zhaoyang Road was better than Cuizhu Road. The quantified ecological benefits were conducive to road ecological evaluation. This study quantified the eLVV of individual trees using TLS, highlighting the importance of live vegetation in urban greening. The results can provide technical support for estimating the ecological service value of urban street trees.     

A Qualitative Multi-Attribute Model for The Multifunctional Assessment of ��Streuobst Stands�� in NE Slovenia

Streuobst stands, i.e., tall fruit trees on vigorous rootstock on traditional grassland, represent an important source of raw material for the processing industry and for traditional fruit processing on family-run farms. Apart from production aspects, the high-stem orchards also play a role in the conservation of the traditional landscape, and indirectly in maintenance of the viability of rural areas. In this paper, a qualitative multi-attribute model for the assessment of Streuobst stands with respect to their multifunctional characteristics is presented. The assessment is based on four groups of attributes: (1) production criteria (percentage of missing trees), (2) biodiversity (fruit species and varieties, artificial human intervention), (3) landscape diversity (visual appearance, eco-diversity and erosion protection), and (4) function of the stand (row or individual trees, countryside appearance). The assessment is based on the aggregation of input attribute values to an overall assessment through user-defined decision rules. The model was applied to 85 sample stands in NE Slovenia. The assessment shows that most of the stands (48) were rated as ??very poor?? or ??poor??, mainly as a result of poor cultivation and lack of maintenance.     

The Irrigation of Early Summer Cauliflower in Relation to Stage of Growth,Plant Spacing and Nitrogen Level

A group of small farms near Ibadan provided data on the annual yields of 2,480 cocoa trees for 18 years. These were entered on punch cards.

The correlation coefficient r (p, i, q) was calculated for the mean yields of units for an earlier period of p years and a later period of q years separated by an interval of i years. The units taken were single trees, one-thirtieth-acre plots and whole farms.

For all units r (1, i, 1) tends to decrease as i increases; but for single trees when i = 0 (and to a lesser extent when i = 2 and 4) it lies below the fitted curve for odd values of i. This is evidence of biennial bearing.

For plots and whole farms r was calculated for every combination of p = 1 or 2, q = 1, 2, 4 or 8, and i up to the maximum possible for each (p, q) combination for all possible years. The values obtained indicate that:

(a) One year’s pre-recording lessens the error variance of the first experimental year on average in the ratio of 0-5 : 1.

(b) The decrease is less for subsequent experimental years, the ratio being about 0-9 : 1 for an 8-year interval.

(c) The error variance of the mean yields over periods immediately following one or two years’ pre-recording is, after adjustment for pre-recording, mainly independent of the length of the period.

(d) Gain in accuracy from two years’ pre-recording is greater than from one, the difference generally more than justifying the cost of the extra year’s recording. But the extra pre-recording which delays the start of an experiment for a further year is not likely to be worth while.     

Air quality affected by trees in real street canyons: The case of Marylebone neighbourhood in central London

This paper discusses the combined influence of building morphology and trees on air pollutant concentrations in the Marylebone neighbourhood (central London). Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed with OpenFOAM using the k-ε model. Aerodynamic and deposition effects of Platanus acerifolia trees are considered. While aerodynamic effects are treated as typically done in the literature, i.e. as a porous media, for the deposition an enhanced model with an additional sink term was implemented. CFD results are compared with UK AURN (Automatic Urban and Rural Network) station concentrations. Several meteorological conditions are analysed based on London City Airport weather station data, with attention to prevailing winds.CFD simulations show that trees trap air pollution by up to about 7% at the Marylebone monitoring station in the spring, autumn and summer seasons, suggesting that the aerodynamic effects are similar over the different leaf seasons. Aerodynamic effects are more important at lower wind speeds causing little turbulent dispersion. Deposition effects are found to be 4 times less important with reductions of up to about 2%, with more deposition in summer due to a greater leaf area density. Furthermore, for winds parallel to Marylebone Road, the aerodynamic effects decrease concentrations suggesting that in such cases trees could be considered as a mitigation measures. This is different from perpendicular winds for which trees exacerbate trapping, as found in previous studies. The analysis of concentration levels obtained from CFD simulations across the whole street confirms a beneficial aerodynamic dispersive effect of trees of 0.7% in summer time for all wind directions averaged at a wind speed of 5 m/s (yearly average wind speed observed in the area). Results highlight the need to account for both aerodynamic and dispersion effects of trees in CFD modelling to achieve a comprehensive evaluation and help city planners with a sustainable design of trees in urban environments.     

基于AHP法的高职校园植物景观评价——以陕西职业技术学院为例

运用定量植物景观AHP评价模型,依据物种、观赏特性、开花季节、生活类型和空间类型等5个多样性指标对陕西职业技术学院2个校区的植物景观进行了评价,结果表明,2个校区的植物景观水平都为较好等级,并发现了2个校区绿化现状中在开花季节、生活型多样性方面存在的不足,可以通过增加秋季、冬季开花及常绿和落叶针叶树的种类来改善。     

Characterisation of citrus rootstock germplasm introduced as seeds to Australia from the People's Republic of China

Seeds were collected from a range of citrus rootstock types in China and sent to Australia for evaluation. Before evaluation proceeded, however, the seeds and their seedlings were characterised for uniformity and trueness-to-type. The seeds were cultured in vitro and/or germinated in sand beds to assess whether or not they were mono- or polyembryonic. Seedlings were then rogued on the basis of vigour and morphology before isozyme profiles were developed from leaf extracts to assess seedling uniformity within introductions. Isozyme profiles were also compared to those of the source trees, as well as hybrids generated between some of them in China, to assess and verify trueness-to-type. The degree of variability between the seedlings propagated from the imported seeds and their source trees in China differed between accessions, which highlighted some of the issues that need to be considered when importing citrus germplasm as seeds. Regardless of whether the seedlings could be shown to be identical to their source tree in China, three uniform seedlings of polyembryonic types were established in arboreta as Australian source trees to provide propagules for evaluation and possibly commercial use.     

健全农民专业合作组织，促进果树产业化发展

实施果树产业化发展是当前实现果农增收的必然选择,农民专业合作组织在果树产业化发展中的作用日益凸现,正在逐步成为果树产业化发展中的主角。为此,着重阐述我国果树产业化发展现状及存在问题,农民专业合作组织及其在果树产业化中的作用,针对目前农民专业合作组织所存在的问题提出建议。     

Effect of NCA on excitation-contraction coupling of cardiac muscle from phospholamban knockout mice

AIM: Nitroxyl(HNO) increases myofilament Ca²⁺ responsiveness relative to increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ in cardiac muscle. In this study, we further investigated this effect of HNO on trabecular muscles from phospholamban knockout(PLB-KO) and wide-type(WT) mice using a novel HNO donor, 1-nitrosocyclohexyl acetate(NCA). METHODS: Trabecular muscles were dissected from the right ventricles of the rat hearts and mounted between a force transducer and a motor arm. The muscles were superfused with K-H solution(pH 7.4) at room temperature. Fura-2 was loaded into the trabecular muscles via electrophoresis. The length of the sarcomere was set to 2.2~2.3μm. During steady-state activations, the maximal Ca²⁺-activated force and Ca²⁺ required for 50% activation were measured. RESULTS: The intracellular Ca²⁺ transients and force of the PLB-KO muscles at baseline were higher than those of the WT muscles and exhibited a negative force-frequency relationship(FFR). NCA(2.5μmol/L) increased systolic force in both PLB-KO group and WT group at any given[Ca²⁺]_o. However, there was more dramatic increase in the force development due to moderate increases in the intracellular Ca²⁺ transients in the WT muscles when external Ca²⁺ increased from 1.5 to 4.5 mmol/L under NCA. NCA did not affect the negative FFR in PLB-KO muscle. Steady-state force-Ca²⁺ relations obtained from skinned muscles were not different between the 2 groups, while NCA increased Ca²⁺ responsiveness in skinned muscles from both PLB-KO and WT mice.CONCLUSION: HNO increases force development in both PLB-KO and WT muscles as a result of increases in myofilament Ca²⁺ responsiveness. The increased intracellular Ca²⁺ transients are accompanied by greater force development in WT mice, suggesting that HNO improves Ca²⁺ activation and establishes HNO as a positive inotropic agent with novel mechanisms.     

The Use of Whole Plot Data from Progeny Trials with Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) in Ghana

Comparison of yields and growth of cocoa in whole plots with those from guarded core plots showed that the advantage gained in increasing precision by using more trees often outweighed the disadvantage from effects attributable to inter-progeny competition. However, this was not the case in a trial where there were no external guard trees.     

灵芝孢子粉改善运动生理机能的评估系统构建

建立了运动生理机能模糊评价模型,详细介绍了评价指标体系的建立过程,权重系数的确定和模糊统合评价的具体方法,对灵芝孢子粉改善运动生理机能的效果进行评估。该系统可以为运动训练和运动恢复提供科学依据,验证了灵芝孢子粉在改善提高免疫力、人体运动机能方面的作用。     

A computer-based tool to link decay information to 3D architecture of urban trees

We present a software application suitable for studies of the decay in trees. The application implements the storage of measurements of stem characteristics (related to decay) and visualization of the three-dimensional (3D) structural model of tree stems and branches built using this material. The application has been constructed on the basis of an existing architectural model of trees. A set of photographs taken from discs cut from felled trees works as the input for the application. The user will define, using the application, the contours of the areas of interest (e.g. healthy wood, decayed wood and cavity) manually in the photographs of stem or branch cross sections. The application then builds a 3D structural model of stem and/or branches on the basis of the input. It is possible to study visually the composition of the stem and/or branches of different types of wood. This helps to evaluate the location of potential hazard and its relation to existing damage in tree stems and branches.     

Contributions of landscape trees in public housing estates to urban biodiversity in Hong Kong

Public housing estates (PHEs) in Hong Kong, accommodating 3.3 million of the 7-million population, have generous landscape planting in their grounds. The independent tree management regime generates a tree stock that deviates from the general urban-tree population. This study evaluated species composition, floristic diversity, importance value, and spatial distribution of trees in 102 PHEs (half of the total) occupying 8.31 km² (territory land area of 1104 km²), assessed their contribution to urban biodiversity, and developed a species selection strategy to enrich urban biodiversity. 48,823 trees belonged to 232 species, 151 genera and 59 families. Natives contributed 69 species and 10,837 trees. Species profile was skewed toward exotic species and trees. The species were divided into six frequency groups. The signature group had 45 species each with >200 trees. The dominant, common and occasional groups had 20, 26 and 48 species, respectively. 59 species in the rare group and 34 in the solitary group denoted changing and diverse species selections, respectively. Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) found that species distribution in PHEs was strongly associated with species diversity, estate area and estate age. However, district and region were not correlated with NMDS. Some 98 species were significantly correlated (Spearman) with one or both NMDS axes. Species groups were analyzed to inform a species selection strategy to improve future planting program and enrich urban biodiversity. The methods and findings could be applied to south-China and other cities to rationalize urban-forest programs with the help of objective research data.     

基于层次分析法的食用菌电商平台营销系统的改进模型

针对食用菌电商平台营销策略的改进问题,基于层次分析法,设计了食用菌电商平台营销策略评价指标体系,并结合模糊综合评价模型对该评价体系进行了定量和定性分析,构建了评价模型。该评价模型能够科学、全面地反映食用菌电商平台的营销能力和发展情况,对提高食用菌企业和电商平台的营销能力具有重要意义。     

Absorptive root areas of large pedunculate oak trees differing in health status along a road in South Bohemia,Czech Republic

The health status of 200- to 400-year-old trees growing in an area alongside a road was described in detail on the basis of evaluation of hazard trees in urban areas and analyzed using the acoustic scanning and modified earth impedance (MEI) methods. Acoustic analysis was used to characterize tree trunks and coarse roots; MEI was used to characterize the active absorptive root surfaces (the electric impedance of soils and sapwood were also included). Several groups of trees were distinguished according to the extent of damage (slight, serious or extreme), which was easily detectable from the MEI results. It was confirmed that both methods gave similar results, which also corresponds to the detailed observations. Instrumental measurements provided additional information about trunk and root injuries, which cannot be directly observed. A combination of both methods is recommended to achieve the most reliable results. This unique approach is applicable for testing eventual threats by old ill trees for safety reasons over the landscape.     

Modeling of urban trees’ effects on reducing human exposure to UV radiation in Seoul,Korea

A mathematical model is constructed for quantifying urban trees’ effects on mitigating the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the ground within different land use types across a city. The model is based upon local field data, meteorological data and equations designed to predict the reduced UV fraction due to trees at the ground level. Trees in Seoul, Korea (2010), produced average UV protection factors (UPF) for pedestrians in tree shade at solar noon (May to August) of 8.3 for park and cemetery land uses and 3.0 for commercial and transportation land uses. The highest daily UPF was 11.8 in the park and cemetery land uses, which has the highest percent canopy cover. This UV model is being implemented within the i-Tree modeling system to allow cities across the world to estimate tree effects on UV exposure. Understanding the impacts of urban trees on UV exposure can be used in developing landscape design strategies to help protect urban populations from UV exposure and consequent health impacts.     

Diversity and structure in California’s urban forest: What over six million data points tell us about one of the world's largest urban forests

Urban street trees provide many benefits to surrounding communities, but our ability to assess such benefits relies on the availability of high-quality urban tree data. While these data are numerous, they are not available in an easily accessible, centralized place. To fill this gap, we aggregated public and private data into a single, comprehensive inventory of urban trees in California called the California Urban Forest (CUF) Inventory. These data are offered to the public (aggregated to ZIP code) via an online data portal, which at the time of publication contained over 6.6 million urban tree records. In this study, we first describe the assembly and utility of the inventory. Then, we conduct the most comprehensive assessment of the diversity and structure of California’s urban forest to date at statewide, regional, and local spatial scales. These analyses demonstrate that California’s urban forests are highly diverse and among the most diverse urban forests in the world. We present a new and intuitive metric of species diversity, the top diversity or TD-50 index, which represents the cumulative number of species accounting for the top 50 % abundance of trees in an urban forest. We used species abundance data from 81 well-inventoried cities to demonstrate that the TD-50 index was a robust metric of diversity and a good predictor of comprehensive metrics like the Shannon Index. We also found that small-statured trees, such as crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia cv.) dominate California’s urban forests. This aggregated inventory of one of the world's largest urban forests provides the data necessary to assess the structure, diversity, and value of California’s urban forests at multiple spatial scales. The inventory’s presentation to the public and the information that can be gained from its analysis can be a model for urban forest management worldwide.     

Dendroctonus micans populations on Picea pungens in the center of a non-outbreak region contain few pathogens,parasites or predators: A new threat for urban forests?

In reviewing the occurrence of the bark beetle Dendroctonus micans in the Czech Republic over the past 100 years, we found that D. micans has been detected at 80 localities with elevations ranging from 158 to 1350 m a.s.l. During 2011–2012, we recorded three local outbreaks on Picea pungens, two of which involved isolated trees in urban areas between houses (always on sites <1 ha). From these locally abundant populations, 125 adults, 5 pupae, and 73 larvae of D. micans were obtained and dissected. Among these dissected specimens, nematodes in the hemolymph were detected in only 5 adults and 11 larvae. No other parasites or pathogens were found in the D. micans specimens. Low numbers of the beetle Rhizophagus grandis, which is a specific predator of D. micans, were detected, and none contained parasites or pathogens. Locally D. micans could constitute a new limited threat to urban trees, including P. pungens, in the Czech Republic and Central Europe. Special attention should be given to solitary P. pungens trees; if D. micans is detected on these trees, defensive measures must be taken to protect uninfested trees in the vicinity.