Effects of density and anatomical feature on mechanical properties of various wood species in lateral tension

This study is focused on what factor mainly affects the mechanical properties of each wood species in the lateral direction. At first, the influence of the density which is closely related to mechanical properties in the longitudinal direction was also researched in the lateral direction. Thus, the elastic modulus, strength, and failure strain in the lateral tension were measured using thin cross-sectional samples of softwoods and hardwoods, having wide varieties in the density and anatomical features. The results obtained are as follows. The linear relationship between the density and the elastic modulus which has been verified in the longitudinal direction was not observed in the lateral tension for the samples with the annual ring inclination of 90°, which samples were influenced by ray arranged parallel to the tensile direction. However, samples with the annual ring inclination of 45° showed the high correlation between the density and the elastic modulus due to the shearing deformation of the cell shape. On the other hand, the proportional relationship between the elastic modulus and strength which has been verified in the longitudinal direction was not observed in the lateral tension except for the samples with the annual ring inclination of 90°. From the results obtained, it was revealed that the mechanical properties of wood in the lateral direction were significantly affected not only by the density but also by the structural features such as deformation of cell shapes, arrangement of ray or vessels, and the degree of the transition from the earlywood to the latewood.     

Fitness costs associated with infections of secondary endosymbionts in the cassava whitefly species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bemisia tabaci</Emphasis>

We investigated the dual effects of bacterial infections and diseased cassava plants on the fitness and biology of the Bemisia tabaci infesting cassava in Africa. Isofemale B. tabaci colonies of sub-Saharan Africa 1-subgroup 3 (SSA1-SG3), infected with two secondary endosymbiotic bacteria Arsenophonus and Rickettsia (AR+) and those free of AR infections (AR?), were compared for fitness parameters on healthy and East African cassava mosaic virus-Uganda variant (EACMV-UG)-infected cassava plants. The whitefly fecundity and nymph development was not affected by bacterial infections or the infection of cassava by the virus. However, emergence of adults from nymphs was 50 and 17% higher by AR? on healthy and virus-infected plants, respectively, than AR+ flies. Development time of adults also was 10 days longer in AR+ than AR?. The whiteflies were further compared for acquisition and retention of EACMV-UG. Higher proportion of AR? acquired (91.8%) and retained (87.6%) the virus than AR+ (71.8, 61.2%, respectively). Similarly, the AR? flies retained higher quantities of virus (~ninefold more) than AR+. These results indicated that bacteria-free whiteflies were superior and better transmitters of EACMV-UG, as they had higher adult emergence, quicker life cycle and better virus retention abilities than those infected with bacteria.     

Conspecific negative density dependence in a long-lived conifer,yew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus baccata</Emphasis> L.

Conspecific negative density dependence in tree species can have major consequences for structuring of communities, yet in temperate forests this phenomenon remains largely unexplored. We investigated density-dependent recruitment in the long-lived conifer yew (Taxus baccata L.), for which low levels of regeneration have been linked with reduced light availability beneath conspecific canopies and speculative autotoxic effects. We combined in situ assessment of yew regeneration in a temperate forest in southwest Ireland with ex situ pot experiments to assess whether light and/or beneath conspecific canopy conditions inhibit the germination and early growth of yew. In field experiments, recruitment was related to distance from adult conspecifics, with higher levels of regeneration found in areas not beneath yew canopies. However, reduced light availability beneath the dense yew canopy was not responsible for this pattern, with abundant seedlings found in areas of equivalent or even lower light availability. Pot experiments showed that seedling survival was highest in deep shade treatments. Experiments also demonstrated that the addition of yew needles negatively affected seedling growth, but not seed germination. Together, our results suggest that under natural forest conditions, the absence of regeneration beneath mature yew canopies, often attributed to low light availability, may at least be partly related to substances in yew canopy or leaf leachates.     

北京市3种道路防护林春季滞尘规律研究

[目的]研究不同道路防护林的滞尘能力及滞尘的动态变化和空间分布规律。[方法]在春季对3种道路防护林(油松林、圆柏林、银杏林)距道路不同宽度的滞尘量进行连续观测,对比3种道路防护林滞尘能力,分析降雨、极大风速、相对湿度、PM10等因子对滞尘动态的影响以及3种道路防护林滞尘的空间分布特征。使用单位叶干质量滞尘量(mg·g-1)表征叶面滞尘能力。[结果]表明:(1)3种植物叶面滞尘能力差异显著,圆柏银杏油松,分别为4.79±0.20、2.48±0.07、1.42±0.04 mg·g-1,单株和单位林分面积滞尘量均为圆柏林油松林银杏林;(2)3种道路防护林在外界影响下滞尘量处于动态变化之中,油松林具有比银杏和圆柏林更高的滞尘稳定性;(3)降雨量较低时3种道路防护林滞尘量均增加,降雨量较高时3种道路防护林滞尘量均降低,油松和银杏林的滞尘量更容易受降雨影响而降低;随着风速增大,3种道路防护林滞尘作用不断加强,风速继续增大时,油松和圆柏林滞尘量均有减少,银杏林滞尘量仍有显著增加。(4)3种道路防护林滞尘量在五环路侧(北)均高于香山路侧(南),油松和圆柏林均呈现为道路防护林中间位置为最低点,银杏林中间位置滞尘量最高。(5)油松和圆柏林滞尘量外部比内部变化大,银杏林滞尘量内部比外部变化大。[结论]道路防护林的滞尘效益受树种、林分结构、所处环境、天气条件等多方面因素共同影响,在营建和管理过程中应充分考虑各种因素,充分发挥滞尘作用。     

云斑天牛产卵刻槽在杨树树干上的分布规律

通过标准地及样树调查，查明云斑天牛产卵刻槽在杨树树干上的垂直分布规律．其垂直分布位置随树龄增大而逐年上移．在2～5a生幼树上，主要分布在离地1m以下．树皮厚度是影响产卵刻相垂直分布变化及产生空槽的主要因子．     

The status and conservation of whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) in China

There are five species of swan in the world. Three of them were recorded in China. They are whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), whistling swan (Cygnus columbianus) and mute swan (Cygnus olor). Among them. whooper swan is the most famous in China. Whooper swan is a resident bird in China. They breed in Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region. Inner Mongol Autonomous Region. Heilongjiang Province. etc., and winter in Qinghai. Shandong. Henan Province, etc, and the lower reaches of the Changjiang River. The total number in China is about 5.000 in breeding grounds and 15.000 in wintering grounds. Higher number were found in 1960s. Because of the changes in environment and hunting, of picking up eggs and of catching nestlings, their population is being reduced rapidly. They are in danger now. In order to protect the whooper swans, some protection measures must be taken, such as strengthening public education and scientific research, estabilshing a base of raising and breeding: developing international cooperation, strengthening the construction of natural reserves in the breeding and wintering grounds. Up to the end of 1993. 34 natural reserves have been established in China. (Responsible Editor: Sun Yueqi)     

中密度纤维板的尺寸稳定性改良技术

中密度纤维板(MDF)是目前家具、室内装修等最常用的木质复合材料之一,其尺寸稳定性直接影响到产品的使用性能、使用寿命以及产品应用领域的拓展和附加值的提高.笔者概述了中密度纤维板尺寸稳定性的影响因素以及中密度纤维板尺寸稳定性方面的相关研究进展,并在此基础上提出今后研究的方向.     

筋骨草内昆虫蜕皮激素类似物对杨干象的杀虫作用

从不同地点、不同时间采集的多花筋骨草植株不同部位中提取出昆虫蜕皮激素类似物,通过向幼虫人工饲料中添加昆虫蜕皮激素类似物的方法,研究了筋骨草中植物源蜕皮激素对杨干象2龄幼虫的杀虫作用。实验结果表明:(1)在人工饲料中加入1-3 ml的筋骨草提取物,在24天内可以杀死 58%~100%的幼虫;(2)从开花前的筋骨草中提取出的物质的杀虫效果明显优于从花期和开花后的植物中提取出的物质的杀虫作用, 其1 mL、2 mL和3 mL剂量全株提取物的杀虫效果分别达到65.22%、85.07%和98.11%(幼虫校正死亡率);(3)植株的根部提取的昆虫蜕皮激素类似物的杀虫效果要比茎部或叶部提取的好,1 mL、2 mL、3 mL剂量提取物的杀虫效果分别达到100%、98.20%和98.32%;(4)筋骨草提取物的杀虫速度较慢,处理杨干象2龄幼虫16天后杀虫率才超过50%;(5)幼虫取食加有筋骨草提取物的饲料时间长短直接影响幼虫死亡率,16天的取食,幼虫死亡率达到80%以上。筋骨草采集地点和填加植物源蜕皮激素的方式对杀虫效果的影响较小。图3表3参21。     

Soil biological properties under different tree based traditional agroforestry systems in a semi-arid region of Rajasthan,India

An investigation was carried out in an Entisol at farmers’ field in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, India during 2002–2004 to evaluate the effect of traditionally grown trees on soil biological characteristics. Traditionally grown trees in farm lands for study consisted of Prosopis cineraria (L.), Dalbergia sissoo (Roxb.) ex DC, Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) and Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. having a canopy diameter of 8 m. Results revealed significant and substantial improvement in soil biological activity in terms of microbial biomass C, N and P, dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity under different tree based agroforestry systems as compared to a no tree control (cropping alone). Soil microbial biomass C, N and P under agroforestry varied between 262–320, 32.1–42.4 and 11.6–15.6 μg g⁻¹ soil, respectively, with corresponding microbial biomass C, N and P of 186, 23.2 and 8.4 μg g⁻¹ soil under a no tree control. Fluxes of C, N and P through microbial biomass were also significantly higher in P. cineraria based land use system followed by D. sissoo, A. leucophloea and Acacia nilotica in comparison to a no tree control. Thus, it is concluded that agroforestry system at farmers’ field enhance soil biological activity and amongst trees, P. cineraria based system brought maximum and significant improvement in soil biological activity.     

Pine wilt disease: a short review of worldwide research

This article summarizes the results of the research papers presented at the International Symposium on pine wilt disease (IUFRO Working Party Meeting 4.04.03) held in July 2009, at Nanjing, China. The general topics covered were on pine wilt disease (PWD), its causal organism, the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, plus other PWN-associated microorganisms that play a significant role in PWD such as bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas fluorescens). Most of the papers that are reviewed are based on work on PWD-PWN in East Asia and Russia. Specific topics covered include: 1) the fundamental conceptions of PWD development, 2) pathogenicity, 3) host-parasite relationships including the histopathology of diseased conifers and the role of toxins from bacteria-nematode ecto-symbionts, 4) PWN life cycle and transmission, 5) B. xylophilus dissemination models, 6) associations (with other nematodes), 7) diagnostics, 8) quarantine and control of the PWN and 9) biocontrol of the PWN.