林火对景观格局的影响及其应用

运用林火生态和景观生态学理论,通过林火生态特性、生态过程及景观研究方法,阐述了林火对景观格局的影响;分析了林火与景观结构、功能、动态、格局和景观多样性的相互关系;简要概括了目前对林火与景观格局的研究和应用现状。     

Screening method for wood extractives: direct cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate

A method for screening wood extractives was developed using cellulose thin-layer chromatography plate (Cell-TLC) separation and was directly applied to bioassays. Wood meal (60 mesh) from nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk) heartwood was extracted with hot methanol. The crude extract was separated using a Cell-TLC plate (50 × 50mm). Two broad bands with R_f values of 0.46 and 0.96 were found, and the bands showed completely different effects against the pest termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and the decay fungus Fomitopsis palustris. The band with R_f 0.46 was preferentially consumed by workers of C. formosanus, and it did not show any growth inhibition against F. palustris when the Cell-TLC plate was directly exposed to the organism. In contrast, the band with R_f 0.96 appeared to repel strongly the feeding by C. formosanus and inhibited the growth of F. palustris. It was concluded that the Cell-TLC system was applicable for screening wood extracts consisting of many compounds.     

Analysis of sawn lumber production from logging residues of branchwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aningeria robusta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terminalia ivorensis</Emphasis>

One way of meeting the supply demands of the wood industry is through the reduction of waste in timber processing. It has been estimated in Ghana that for every tree felled, nearly 50% of the tree volume is left in the forest in the form of branches, crownwood, and stumps. In this study, the potential of utilizing branchwood as raw material from logging residues to help meet the timber demands of the downstream processing sector was analyzed experimentally. The sawing characteristics of the branchwood of Aningeria robusta and Terminalia ivorensis with diameters in the range 10–25 cm using live sawing and cant sawing methods were determined using a randomized complete block design, 2 × 4 factorial with three replications. Experimental results indicate that, the relative lumber value yields for first and second grade boards of A. robusta and T. ivorensis branches were 25 and 20%, respectively, while the green lumber volume yields were 40 and 32%, respectively. A high proportion of sapwood and the occurrence of washboarding in T. ivorensis contributed to that species’ relatively low lumber value and volume yield. The experimental results further indicate that the sawing technique used had no significant influence on lumber yields. However, at 5% level of significance, significant differences in lumber yield existed between some of the diameter classes.     

Composition and diversity of five major forest types in moist temperate climate of the western Himalayas

The present study was undertaken in five major forest types (dominated by Quercus semecarpifolia, Quercus floribunda, Acer acuminatum, Abies pindrow and Aesculus indica, respectively) between 2400 and 2850 m a.s.l. in a moist temperate forest of the Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim was to assess the variation in composition and diversity in different vegetation layers, i.e., herb, shrub and tree, among these five forest types. Diversity indices, such as the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, density, total basal cover, Simpson’s concentration of dominance index, Simpson’s diversity index, Pielou’s equitability, species richness, species heterogeneity and β-diversity, were calculated to understand community structures. Dominance-diversity curves were drawn to ascertain resource apportionment among various species in different forest types.     

Reproductive investment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pseudostrobus</Emphasis> along an altitudinal gradient in Western Mexico: implications of climate change

Climate varies along altitudinal gradients and species performance may be affected in response to these variations. Climate change can modify these gradients and, at the lower limit of species distributions, individuals may become stressed and their general health and reproductive performance may decrease. Study and prediction of the effects of climate change on the distribution of species along these gradients is therefore necessary. Our model study species, Pinus pseudostrobus, is a widely distributed pine in Mexico, ranging from 1600 to 3200 masl in altitude. In order to explore changes in health condition and reproductive investment along an altitudinal gradient, ten reproductive trees were selected in each of four populations (at 2300, 2400, 2700 and 2900 masl). As a proxy of individual health, we conducted a rapid visual assessment for each tree, based on crown defoliation, dead branches and foliage discoloration. This stress condition index (SCI) ranges from zero to fifteen, and lower values indicate low stress and therefore better health conditions. We also evaluated reproductive (cone weight, number/weight of seeds) and progeny (germination/seedling growth) traits. In addition, the relationships between SCI and the reproductive/progeny traits were assessed. The lowest altitude population presented poor health, with higher values of SCI (mean ± SE = 6.3 ± 0.9) that reduced up to 4.8-fold in higher-altitude populations. Cone weight also differed among altitudes, with lighter cones in the lower population (mean ± SE = 38.2 ± 4.3 g), and 1.5-fold heavier cones found in the higher populations. In general, all of the reproductive/progeny traits differed among altitudes. The population of intermediate altitude (2700 masl) presented the highest values for all traits evaluated, indicating higher performance at this altitude. Finally, a negative relationship was found between stress condition and cone weight. Based on our results and climate change models and their predictions, an increase in physiological stress can be expected in individuals of low altitude populations. Furthermore, possible increases in pests and pathogens are likely to contribute to the decline of this population. It is therefore necessary to maintain efforts of stress condition assessment and population dynamics, as well as to permanently monitor the climate along altitudinal gradients.     

猪粪发酵饲料的菌种筛选

以平菇(Agaricus tabularis)、猴头(Hericium erinaceus)和滑菇(Pholiota nameko)等食用菌为菌种,对其猪粪发酵生产饲料的效果进行了比较筛选研究。结果表明,以滑菇为菌种对猪粪进行发酵生产饲料,菌丝生长速度快,菌丝致密且粗壮发达,发酵时间短,对猪粪的除臭效果较好。发酵饲料的蛋白质、脂肪、总糖含量分别达18．9%、0．77%、16．14%。     

Segmentation applied to weather-disease relationships in South American leaf blight of the rubber tree

South American leaf blight (SALB) is a severe threat to world rubber production. One way of controlling it is to set up plantations in zones not conducive to the disease. Such zones are known once a plantation has been set up, but few data are available on how climate affects the disease, especially in the Amazon region. With better knowledge of conditions that are favourable to SALB epidemics it would be possible to more accurately identify risk zones in Asia and Africa, continents that are still SALB-free. Based on a trial design involving detailed and frequent observations, and with a method rarely used in plant epidemiology, the segmentation method, the results presented in this article make it possible to list, in order of importance, climatic factors that influence disease severity under conditions where the climate varies little over the year.     

Construction of a crop—wild hybrid population for broadening genetic diversity in cultivated sunflower and first evaluation of its combining ability: the concept of neodomestication

The genetic base of sunflower elite lines is very narrow, due to many years of selection and breeding. To broaden the genetic diversity of the cultivated sunflower, in 1995 73 wild sunflower populations were crossed with 3 cultivated lines (Testers), and 219 hybrid offspring’s were evaluated in the field. GCA and SCA effects were computed suggesting for all traits a genetic potential for improvement through selection. Study of the hybrids revealed that the wild accessions bear different genetic abilities to combine with the testers for traits of morphological architecture, phenology and yield (seed weight and seed oil). The variance due to GCA and SCA showed that gene action was additive for days to flowering, branching and plant height. Genotypes derived from the same geographic origin may have either good or poor general combing ability. The correlation between GCA and per se genotype performance was positive for all traits except for seed oil content. This was the first attempt to evaluate wild-cultivated hybrids in sunflower on a large scale and will be the starting point for the management of hybrid Helianthus annuus populations for breeding. GCA and SCA estimations will facilitate the definition of strategies to manage and exploit the natural diversity for this crop.     

Testing assumptions of cost surface analysis—a tool for invasive species management

Applied ecology could benefit from new tools that identify potential movement pathways of invasive species, particularly where data are sparse. Cost surface analysis (CSA) estimates the permeability (friction) across a landscape and can be applied to dispersal modelling. Increasingly used in a diversity of applications, several fundamental assumptions that might influence the outputs of CSA (cost surfaces and least-cost pathways) have yet to be systematically examined. Thus, we explore two issues: the presumed relationship between habitat preferences and dispersal behaviour as well as the degree of landscape fragmentation through which an organism moves by modelling a total of 18 sensitivity and dispersal scenarios. We explored the effect of fragmentation by altering the friction values (generally assigned using expert opinion) associated with patch and linear features. We compared these sensitivity scenarios in two sites that differed in fragmentation. We also used eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) as an example invading species and compared diffusion models and two contrasting cost surface dispersal scenarios. The diffusion model underestimated spread because squirrels did not move randomly through the landscape. Despite contrasting assumptions regarding dispersal behaviour, the two cost surfaces were strikingly similar while the least-cost paths differed. Furthermore, while the cost surfaces were insensitive to changes in friction values for linear features, they were sensitive to assumptions made for patch features. Our results suggest that movement in fragmented landscapes may be more sensitive to assumptions regarding friction values than contiguous landscapes. Thus, the reliability of CSA may depend not only on the range of friction values used for patches but also the degree of contiguity in the landscape.     

Relationships of dead wood patterns with biophysical characteristics and ownership according to scale in Coastal Oregon,USA

Dead wood patterns and dynamics vary with biophysical factors, disturbance history, ownership, and management practices; the relative importance of these factors is poorly understood, especially at landscape to regional scales. This study examined current dead wood amounts in the Coastal Province of Oregon, USA, at multiple spatial scales. Objectives were to: (1) describe current regional amounts of several characteristics of dead wood; (2) compare dead wood amounts across ownerships; (3) determine the relative importance, according to spatial scale, of biophysical and ownership characteristics, to regional dead wood abundance. Dead wood plot data were evaluated with respect to explanatory variables at four spatial scales of resolution: plots, subwatersheds, watersheds and subbasins. The relationships of dead wood characteristics with biophysical attributes and ownership were diverse and scale-specific. Region-wide dead wood abundance and types varied among ownerships, with public lands typically having higher amounts of dead wood and more large dead wood than private lands. Regression analysis of total dead wood volume indicated that ownership was important at the subbasin scale. Growing season moisture stress was important at plot, subwatershed, and watershed scales. Topography was important at the two coarser scales. Multivariate analysis of dead wood gradients showed that ownership was important at all scales, topography at the subbasin scale, historical vegetation at watershed and subbasin scales, and current vegetation at plot and subwatershed scales. Management for dead wood and related biodiversity at watershed to landscape scales should consider the distinct dynamics of snags and logs, the importance of historical effects, and the relevance of ownership patterns.