Influences of anthropogenic disturbances on the dynamics of white birch (Betula platyphylla) forests at the southern boundary of the Mongolian forest-steppe

We investigated the effects of disturbances on the dynamics of white birch-dominated forests at the southern boundary of the Mongolian forest-steppe. Dendroecological techniques were used to assess regeneration patterns and recent mortality trends in three stands with no evidence of recent anthropogenic disturbance (undisturbed) and four stands with evidence of cutting or fire (disturbed). In the undisturbed stands, only one distinct stem establishment was observed in the period between 1910 and 1950, and no establishment has been observed since then. In the disturbed stands, however, high establishment mainly by sprouting was observed in the period between 1960 and 1980. Percentages of standing dead stems were higher in the undisturbed stands than in the disturbed stands. Mean ages at death in the undisturbed stands were ≥70 years old. The high mortality was likely induced by the death of smaller stems due to light competition, whereas the mortality of larger stems was likely the result of tree senescence. In summary, the undisturbed stands seem to be in danger of decline due to a lack of regeneration during the last half of the previous century and recent high mortality rates of older stems, while the disturbed stands may be maintained for the next several decades by the younger cohort established between 1960 and 1980. White birch-dominated forests at the southern boundary of Mongolian forest-steppe have probably relied on relatively short disturbance intervals in the past because of the disturbance-dependent regeneration trait and relatively short longevity of Betula species.     

Artificial neural network modeling for predicting final moisture content of individual Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) samples during air-drying

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) lumber is known to have a large variability in final moisture content (MC_f) and is difficult to dry. This study assessed the capability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the MC_f of individual wood samples. An ANN model was developed based on initial moisture content, basic density, annual ring orientation, annual ring width, heartwood ratio and lightness (L ^* in the CIE L ^* a ^* b ^* system). The performance of the ANN model was compared with a principal component regression (PCR) model. The ANN model showed good agreement with the experimentally measured MC_f with a higher correlation coefficient (r) and a lower root mean square error (RMSE) than the PCR model, demonstrating the importance of nonlinearity of the variables and the higher capability of the ANN model than the PCR model. By adding redness (a ^* ) and yellowness (b ^* ) and drying time to the input variables of ANNs, r and RMSE values were improved to 0.98 and 1.2 % for the training data set, and 0.85 and 2.2 % for the testing data set, respectively. Although the developed ANNs are available under the limited conditions of this study, our results suggest that the ANNs proposed offer reliable models and powerful prediction capability for the MC_f, even though wood properties vary considerably and their complex interrelations are not fully elucidated.     

Variations in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in a young blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) plantation subjected to different weed control regimes

Foliar gas exchange and carbon (delta(13)C) and oxygen (delta(18)O) isotope ratios were measured in a young blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis Sm.) plantation subjected to four weed control treatments defined by the width of the weed-free strip maintained for the first 12 months after planting. Treatments were: 2-m-wide weed-free strip (50% of plot area, 2.0MWC), 1.5-m-wide weed-free strip (37.5% of plot area, 1.5MWC), 1-m-wide weed-free strip (25% of plot area, 1.0MWC) and no weed control (NWC). Our objectives were to determine (1) if decreasing the width of the weed control strip (decreasing herbicide use) affected growth and leaf photosynthesis of the plantation, and (2) the effects of the weed control regimes on variations in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to photosynthesis. Trees in the 1.0MWC treatment had lower foliar light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A(sat)) than trees in the 2.0MWC treatment. An increase in metabolic limitation was responsible for the decrease in A(sat) in the 1.0MWC trees, which was also partly confirmed by the isotopic data. Compared with trees in the 1.0MWC, 1.5MWC and 2.0MWC treatments, A(sat) of NWC trees was significantly lower, a difference that was attributable mainly to stomatal limitation and to a lesser extent to biochemical limitation. The results support the conclusion that different weed control regimes cause differences in relative stomatal and biochemical limitations to plantation photosynthesis. This report contributes to a growing body of literature on competition for soil resources between trees and weeds. Our results highlight the usefulness of the stable isotopic method in supporting analysis of the response of net photosynthesis to varying intercellular CO(2) concentration for determining the relative stomatal and non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis under experimental conditions in the field.     

Leaf water relations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc. on different soil moisture conditions

To elucidate the differences in the leaf water relations of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. growing in different soil moisture conditions, we examined the pressure-volume curve and the diurnal changes in the stomatal conductance, the transpiration rate, and the leaf water potential. The leaf water relations were compared using field-grown 40-year-old pine trees growing on the upper and lower parts of a slope. We also compared the leaf water relations of potted 4-year-old saplings growing at pF 4.2 and pF 1.8 soil moisture levels for almost 1 year. The values of the ratio of symplasmic water at turgor loss point to symplasmic water at saturated point (V_p/V_o) and bulk modulus of elasticity () of both the adult trees on the upper part of the slope and the potted saplings growing on pF 4.2 soil moisture were higher than those values of both the adult trees on the lower part of the slope and the potted saplings growing on pF 1.8 soil moisture, respectively. The field-grown adult tree and the potted saplings growing under long-term water stress tended to reduce their stomatal conductance in response to the acute soil drying. It is suggested that P. densiflora growing under long-term water stress rapidly closed its stomata in response to soil drying and avoided losing water, and could also rapidly absorb water with reducing water loss because of the decrease in the leaf pressure potential derived from the high values.     

Comparison of stand dynamics after dieback caused by pine wilt disease among pine forests with different management regimes in western Japan

In pine forests damaged by pine wilt disease, in western Japan, the effect of protection regimes of pine trees on the stand dynamics were examined in the following four stands: (1) lightly damaged stand (age 30–40 years) with no procedure in operation for protecting pine trees; (2) severely damaged stand (age 30–40 years) with no procedure in place for protecting pine trees; (3) severely damaged stand (age 50 years) with a selective cutting of infected trees; (4) severely damaged stand (age 30–40 years) with a selective cutting of infected trees. All the stands had been abandoned before the pine wilt disease damage. The understory structure of the severely damaged stand with no protection procedure was similar to that of the lightly damaged stand. Frequent invasion by tree species and acceleration in the growth of understory trees occurred after the dieback in the selective cutting stand. These results suggest that a deficiency in the canopy layer caused by the dieback resulted in low disturbance intensity in the early stages after the dieback, but the selective cutting increased the intensity by the reduction in the understory as well as the canopy layer. The intensity of the disturbance in the selective cutting stands was larger in the younger stand because it had a higher density of selectively cut pine trees. The different stand structure of pine forests occurred after the dieback because the intensity of the disturbance varied as a result of the selective cutting operation and the stand age.     

Effects of single-tree and group selection harvesting on the diversity and abundance of spring forest herbs in deciduous forests in southwestern Ontario

Selection harvesting, by mimicking natural disturbance regimes of eastern deciduous hardwood forests, has been applied as a sustainable management practice that combines wood production with biodiversity conservation. However, the effects of this technique on understory herbs are unclear, particularly for spring ephemerals which have been suggested as sensitive to disturbance. Here, we experimentally assess the immediate effects of single-tree and group selection harvesting on spring ephemeral richness, diversity and abundance in deciduous forests of southwestern Ontario, Canada. Spring herbs were quantified in 4 m² plots before and one growing season after harvesting and compared to similar uncut, reference stands. The percent of species lost was significantly higher in reference than harvested plots. Mean species richness significantly increased after harvesting, predominately due to an increase in spring–summer species. Increases in the diversity of early spring flowering species were significantly greater in the group selection plots than reference plots. At the community level, no species appeared to be vulnerable to harvesting, and ordination analysis indicated that post-harvest communities were primarily determined by pre-harvest community composition. Furthermore, no species declined in abundance in response to harvesting, and overall percent cover increased proportionately more in single-tree selection plots than in group selection or reference plots. While harvesting appears to have negligible effects on spring ephemerals immediately following harvest, we recommend additional studies over longer time frames to assess possible successional effects and to discriminate treatment induced changes from naturally high yearly variation in species composition.     

Pollinator-dependent food production in Mexico

Animal pollination is one of the essential services provided by ecosystems to humans. In the face of a potential worldwide pollination crisis it is important to assess which countries may be more vulnerable in order to prioritize pollinator conservation efforts. The poverty level, the population density and the level of pollinator dependence for food provisioning are key aspects to identify vulnerable countries. We evaluate these aspects and determine the level of human food provisioning dependence on pollinators in Mexico, a developing and highly populated country. The diversity of crop species in Mexico is exceptionally high. Nearly 85% of fruit and/or seed consumed species depend to some degree on pollinators for productivity. Overall, pollinator-dependent crops generate larger income but cover a lower cultivated area and produce less volume compared to non-pollinator-dependent crops. Volume per unit area, however, as well as revenue per unit area, is much higher for pollinator-dependent crops. Native wild pollinators also play a key role in fruit or seed production of Mexican domesticated plant species and in the reproduction of many useful wild species. Thus, assuring free pollination services is particularly important in Mexico as the livelihood of a large proportion of the population exclusively and directly depends on ecosystem services for subsistence. Feasible conservation strategies involve the payment of environmental services to Ejidos (communal land tenure systems) making efforts to protect or restore plant resources and native pollinators, and the creation of new protected natural areas, which ensures food provision, mating and nesting sites for pollinators.     

Personal finance. Young scientists need firm plan to make up for a late start

After what may seem like endless on-the-job training, scientists need to move quickly to map out a sound, long-term financial strategy.     

乌蒙山系东方蜜蜂的形态学及分类地位研究*

 从云南水富县太平乡（4群）和贵州六盘水市盘县（3群）共采集了7群东方蜜蜂Apis cerana样本,每群测定分析15只工蜂,每只工蜂总共有38个测定的形态特征。测定的性状特征数据进行主成分分析,聚类分析和因素分析,并与云南省内其它县东方蜜蜂A.cerana的相关数据进行比较。结果发现,水富东方蜜蜂A.cerana个体较大,体色较浅,贵州六盘水东方蜜蜂A.cerana个体较小, 体色较浅,与云南省内南部东方蜜蜂A.cerana分开,与德钦东方蜜蜂A.cerana形成一个类群。