A preliminary study on the effects of line and selective thinning on bird communities in Hokkaido, northern Japan

In Japan, selective thinning is a common thinning method, though line thinning receives much attention because of its economic merits. In this study, we examined effects of the two thinning methods on bird communities in Todo fir (Abies sachalinensis) plantations in Hokkaido, Japan. We surveyed bird species in forests under four different management types — unthinned, selectively thinned, line-thinned plantation, and naturally regenerated forest (here after referred to as natural forest) stands — using a line-transect method. We also investigated vegetation structure (canopy tree and understory) of these stands. Bird species richness did not differ between natural forests and plantations, while bird total abundance was greater in plantations than in natural forests. Bird species richness and total abundance were comparable among the three management types for plantations. Abundances of 10 bird species were different among the four management types, and five species were more abundant in line-thinned plantations. However, two species were more abundant in selectively thinned stands than in line-thinned stands, and they frequently appeared in natural forests. There were no distinct differences in vegetation structure among the management types for plantations. Our results suggest that line thinning could be beneficial for some bird species in plantations.     

Close linkage of a blast resistance gene,Pias(t), with a bacterial leaf blight resistance gene,Xa1-as(t), in a rice cultivar ‘Asominori’

It has long been known that a bacterial leaf blight-resistant line in rice obtained from a crossing using ‘Asominori’ as a resistant parent also has resistance to blast, but a blast resistance gene in ‘Asominori’ has not been investigated in detail. In the present study, a blast resistance gene in ‘Asominori’, tentatively named Pias(t), was revealed to be located within 162-kb region between DNA markers YX4-3 and NX4-1 on chromosome 4 and to be linked with an ‘Asominori’ allele of the bacterial leaf blight resistance gene Xa1, tentatively named Xa1-as(t). An ‘Asominori’ allele of Pias(t) was found to be dominant and difference of disease severity between lines having the ‘Asominori’ allele of Pias(t) and those without it was 1.2 in disease index from 0 to 10. Pias(t) was also closely linked with the Ph gene controlling phenol reaction, suggesting the possibility of successful selection of blast resistance using the phenol reaction. Since blast-resistant commercial cultivars have been developed using ‘Asominori’ as a parent, Pias(t) is considered to be a useful gene in rice breeding for blast resistance.     

Natural Resistance of Two Plantation Woods Populus × canadensis cv. and Cunninghamia lanceolata to Decay Fungi and Termites

Natural durability of two plantation woods, Chinese fir and I-214 poplar, was investigated thoroughly by three testing methods, namely an accelerated laboratory decay test, a fungus cellar test and a field test. Aft er the decay test using Postia placenta and Trametes versicolor, Chinese fir and the I-214 poplar showed 34% and 69% of mass loss, respectively, indicating they should be classified as slightly durable and non-durable wood. This conclusion was confirmed by the fungus cellar test and the field test. Like the performance in the decay test, I-214 poplar showed no resistance to termites either in the laboratory or in the field,whereas Chinese fir would be classified as moderately resistant.     

Multiresolutional image analysis of wood and other materials

The gloss of wood is a unique texture compared to that of other materials. To express it quantitatively, two digital-image analyses were performed. One method was multiresolutional contrast analysis, which was the new method developed in this study. The other method was fractal image analysis. Twenty-four specimens, including solid woods, wood-plastic composites (WPCs), printed grains, and granites, were prepared. Digital images of specimens were obtained in five sizes and in two illuminant directions (perpendicular and parallel to the grain). The multiresolutional contrast values of perpendicular illuminated images were calculated and compared among specimens. The result of this quantitative analysis was that the gloss of wood was characterized by bright spots in a relatively small area. Using fractal analysis, the fractal dimension of a digital image was used as an index of brightness changes, not for expressing the self-similarity. These indices showed results similar to those of the multiresolutional contrast analysis.Part of this paper was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Kochi, April 1997     

用城市规划方法来建造一个儿童化城市——对中国和日本几个不同居住区儿童游戏活动的调查研究( Ⅰ)(英文)

在城市规划的发展过程中,从儿童游戏空间的角度来审视城市,是最近才开始的研究课题．在未来的城市范围内,保存和发展儿童游戏空间尤为重要．我们称之为城市中的游戏场地．城市的发展容易造成游戏场地的消失．本文将首先对北京市（ 中华人民共和国） 和东京（ 日本国） 的四个地区进行比较．在此基础上,对城市化进程中,与游戏有关的儿童年龄结构进行分析,得出一些与环境有关的主题     

Simulation method to generate the strength of glulam using correlated random variables

Many reports have been published about designing the strength of glulam using simulation methods. In simulation methods, one of the most important problems is how to deal with correlations among strength factors, i.e., modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), tensile strength (σ_T), and compression strength (σ_C). For example, in the case that the MOR criteria of glulam is σ _ni /f _ni + σ _bi /f _bi ≥ 1 (where σ _ni and σ _bi are the axial stress and the bending stress of the i-th lamina respectively, and f _ni and f _bi are the axial strength and the bending strength of the i-th lamina respectively), a correlation between f _ni and f _bi exists. How can we account for this correlation when calculating the strength of glulam, bearing in mind that it is very difficult to measure the correlation coefficients among MOR, σ_T, and σ_C? We developed a method by which these problems could be solved, and, using random variables generated by this method, the strengths of glulam were simulated. The simulated values were almost the same as the experimental values. The results indicated the usefulness of the method.     

Spectrophotometric assay of a wood preservative, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), in aqueous solution

A spectrophotometric assay based on the color reaction between didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) and 4-[4-(dipropylamino)phenylazo]-benzenesulfonic acid (propyl orange) was used for the determination of DDAC as a wood preservative. The assay was carried out using a propyl orange solution at pH 2.9. The visible absorbance spectrum of propyl orange showed an absorbance maximum at 510 nm, which decreased continuously with increasing DDAC concentration from 0 to 20 ppm. A linear correlation was observed at a DDAC concentration lower than 8 ppm. To apply this assay method to determine DDAC retention in treated wood, the influence of wood extractives on the assay was investigated. Wood extractives from sapwood and heartwood of Japanese cedar, Hinoki cypress, Japanese larch, and Western hemlock showed no influence on DDAC determination except in the case of heartwood from Japanese cedar and Hinoki cypress, which gave apparent DDAC concentrations higher than the actual values. However, it was also found that absorbance measurement at 477 nm solved this overestimation and gave precise values. It was concluded that this assay is a viable alternative to the current methods for DDAC determination.     

Development of a CO2 gas analyzer for monitoring soil CO2 concentrations

Measurement of soil CO₂ concentrations is important for investigating the dynamics and diffusion of CO₂ in soil. In this study, we developed a small CO₂ analyzer for measuring in situ-soil CO₂ concentrations. The CO₂ analyzer consists of a module containing an infrared CO₂ gas sensor, a temperature sensor, and a relative humidity sensor. These sensors are installed in a protective box with an air vent, which is suitable for burying in the soil. The output response time of the CO₂ analyzer was 349 s, as evaluated from the phase lag after input of known CO₂ concentrations. This response time is short enough to measure soil CO₂ concentrations, because variations in concentration are slower than the response time of the analyzer. In a field test, we used the CO₂ analyzer to measure soil CO₂ concentrations at five depths (0–50 cm) over 2.5 months. While the CO₂ concentration generally increased with depth, the amplitude of the variation in CO₂ concentration decreased with depth. The phase lag of the variations in soil CO₂ concentration also increased with depth, as did soil temperature. The tests confirm that the CO₂ analyzer is applicable to continuous monitoring of soil CO₂ concentrations.     

3种针叶材年轮宽度和管胞长度变异特性研究

对辽宁省章古台固沙造林研究所的油松、樟子松、赤松人工林木材年轮宽度与管胞长度的测定表明,油松和赤松直径生长旺盛期约为17a,樟子松直径生长旺盛期短于油松和赤松,但樟子松17a后的直径生长高于油松和赤松;3树种的未成熟材范围均大于20a,油松和赤松未成熟材范围基本相等,油松略大于樟子松;三者管胞长度在距离髓心第1～8年轮间基本相等,从距离髓心的第9年轮起,樟子松管胞长度小于油松和赤松;3树种管胞长度在距离地面0．2m高度处出现最小值,油松管胞长度在树干轴向呈“短-长-短”的变化模式,在距地面6m处管胞长度再度出现变短趋势。