Effect of wide spacing on tree growth, branch and sapwood properties of young Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] in south-western Germany

The influence of stand density on Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] is conceptually understood, but for wide spacings not well quantified, particularly in Europe. This study used 41 trees from 7 different locations in south-western Germany to compare important tree- and branch-level attributes across three different densities, namely 100, 200, and 1,200 stems ha⁻¹. In general, there were only a few tree and branch attributes that were significantly different between the 100 and 200 ha⁻¹ densities. Crown projection area and diameter of the thickest branches were the most important differences between the 100 and 200 ha⁻¹ densities. The most obvious and significant differences in this study were between 100 and 1,200 ha⁻¹ densities, where nearly every examined tree and branch attributes were statistically significant. However, relative sapwood area, the number of branches, branch angle, and the occurrence of spike knots were insensitive to stand density. Although the two lowest stand densities in this study represent rather extremely wide spacings, these results still have important implications for the development of effective thinning regimes for Douglas-fir in south-western Germany. Important management recommendations from this study include thinned stands should be maintained to at least 200 stems ha⁻¹ to maintain high log quality and stand stability. Furthermore, even at stand densities exceeding more than 1,200 trees ha⁻¹ planted trees, artificial pruning may even be necessary to produce high quality logs.     

Incorporation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica seed meal</Emphasis> soil amendment and wheat cultivation for control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrophomina phaseolina</Emphasis> in strawberry

Macrophomina. phaseolina is the cause of charcoal rot, a disease of emerging importance in strawberry production systems. Brassicaceae seed meals (SM) and prior cultivation of soils with wheat were evaluated for the capacity to suppress charcoal rot of strawberry and to determine the relative contribution of seed meal derived chemistry and soil biology in disease control. Brassicaceae seed meal amendments suppressed the abundance of M. phaseolina detected in soil systems, but optimal SM-induced pathogen suppression required a functional soil biology. Suppression of M. phaseolina was obtained with SM sourced from various Brassicaceae species and was not associated with a biologically active chemistry such as that generated by Brassica juncea SM amendment (e.g. allyl isothiocyanate). Disease control observed in natural soil was abolished when SM amended soils were pasteurized prior to infestation with M. phaseolina, suggesting a functional role of soil biology in disease suppression that was observed. Cultivation of soils with wheat prior to pathogen infestation resulted in a level of disease control superior to SM amendment, however no additive effect on disease suppression was observed with integration of the two treatments. In small scale field trials, SM amendment induced phytotoxicity was observed and may have contributed to a lack of apparent control of charcoal rot. In the same trials, significant weed control was achieved in response to SM amendment. Across trials conducted in controlled and field environments there has been a lack of consistent association between the effect of SM amendment or wheat cultivation on M. phaseolina soil density and resulting level of root infection. This suggests that the observed disease control may have a greater dependence upon microbial interactions that transpire in the rhizosphere than that which occurs in the bulk soil environment.     

How well will stacked transgenic pest/herbicide resistances delay pests from evolving resistance?

Resistance has evolved to single transgenic traits engineered into crops for arthropod and herbicide resistances, and can be expected to evolve to the more recently introduced pathogen resistances. Combining transgenes against the same target pest is being promoted as the solution to the problem. This solution will work if used pre‐emptively, but where resistance has evolved to one member of a stack, resistance should easily evolve for the second gene in most cases. We propose and elaborate criteria that could be used to evaluate the value of stacked traits for pest resistance management. Stacked partners must: target the same pest species; be in a tandem construct to preclude segregation; be synchronously expressed in the same tissues; have similar tissue persistence; target pest species that are still susceptible to at least two stacked partners. Additionally, transgene products must not be degraded in the same manner, and there should be a lack of cross‐resistance to stacked transgenes or to their products. With stacked herbicide resistance transgenes, both herbicides must be used and have the same persistence. If these criteria are followed, and integrated with other pest management practices, resistance may be considerably delayed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparison of hydrophobic and amphiphilic fractions of dissolved organic matter from a water reservoir by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Purpose

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition is influenced by and modulates biogeochemical processes, yet DOM characterization techniques are challenged by its heterogeneous properties and structures. In this paper, ultrahigh electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry is used to characterize previously isolated and well-characterized four DOM fractions from a water reservoir in the southwestern part of the USA.

Materials and methods

About 50–60 L water samples were collected from Lake Pleasant (a water reservoir of Colorado River) and isolated and fractionated using a sequential isolation and fractionation procedure. DOM was firstly fractionated to the colloids and soluble permeate, then hydrophobic acids (HPO-A) and neutrals (HPO-N) plus amphiphilic acids (AMP-A) and neutrals (AMP-N) were fractionated using the resin-in-tandem procedure. Approximately 0.7 mg sample was dissolved in 250 μL methanol/water mixture (1:1, v/v) and diluted twice with 0.1 % (by volume) NH₄OH (in 1:1 methanol/water, v/v) and measured by ESI-FTICR in negative ion mode.

Results and discussion

In the m/z range of <700, among the sum of 4107 peaks, HPO-N contained the most assigned 1763 molecules and HPO-A, AMP-N, and AMP-A contained 971, 990, and 293, respectively. Acid fractions were relatively more oxygenated than the corresponding neutrals. Except for the major assigned CHO molecules, a high portion of heteroatom-containing molecules were assigned in the neutral fractions. Van Krevelen and Venn diagrams analyses showed significant molecular differentiation among the fractions. Among the assigned formulas, the Venn diagram indicated only a small portion (<4 %) of distinct formulas overlapped. S-containing molecules were efficiently ionized and identified in the neutrals. Some of the S₁-containing compounds with high signal magnitudes are tentatively assigned to alkylbenzene sulfonates and their biodegradation and biotransformation derivatives indicating anthropogenic input on site.

Conclusions

By using the XAD resin-in-tandem approach and FTICR-MS, numbers of DOM molecules in fractions were distinctly separated, accordingly the complexity of DOM was reduced. Furthermore, to a great extent, the compositions and structures of each fraction in the molecular level are remarkably different as evidenced by only small portion of molecules overlapping.

     

Effects of formaldehyde on nitrification in biofilters of small‐scale recirculating systems

Florfenicol (Aquaflor®) is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug for treating diseased fish reared in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Treating diseased fish in RAS is challenging because of the potential to damage nitrifying bacteria in the biofilters. Impaired nitrification can lead to concentrations of ammonia and nitrite that compromise fish welfare. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a FDA‐approved parasiticide and fungicide, Parasite‐S^® (formalin), on biofilter nitrification. Stable biofilters were exposed once to 0, 9.25, 18.5, 37, or 55.5 mg/L formaldehyde. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) and nitrite nitrogen were monitored daily before and throughout the study to quantify biofilter function. Formaldehyde concentrations ≥37 mg/L increased TAN and nitrite nitrogen concentrations, and nitrification did not recover to pre‐exposure concentrations up to 8 day postexposure. On the basis of those results, a second trial was conducted. Stable biofilters were exposed once or on four consecutive days to 9.25 or 18.5 mg/L formaldehyde. Biofilters repeatedly exposed to formaldehyde showed signs of impairment and had variable recovery relative to single exposures. Results of this study may help identify formaldehyde concentrations that can be safely applied to RAS when treating diseased fish.     

Bird Responses to Removal of Western Juniper in Sagebrush-Steppe

We investigated bird abundance in response to western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) removal using a short-term chronosequence approach and generated estimates of density and responses to management for the most abundant species. Stands targeted for tree removal were primarily in the middle stages of juniper encroachment (Phase II, 7 851 ha). Trees were removed using hand felling combined with either lop and scatter, single tree burning, or jackpot burning, which were carried out to minimize loss of shrub cover. Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella breweri) density was greater at treated versus untreated portions of the study area. At sites in the third year following tree removal, Brewer’s sparrow density was 23.6 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.4–27.8) territories per km² higher than locations that had not yet been treated. This equates to a net increase of 1 212 ? 1 737 nesting pairs within the project area. Green-tailed towhee increased by 4.6 (95% CI: 3.1–6.1) territories per km² for an estimated project-wide increase of 194–381 nesting pairs, and vesper sparrow (Poocetes gramineus) increased by 6.5 (95% CI: 4.6–8.4) territories per km² corresponding to an estimated increase of 460–559 nesting pairs within the project area. Density of gray flycatcher (Empidonax wrighti) was lower in cut areas, and over the entire project area we estimate a net loss of 183–486 nesting pairs as a result of juniper tree removal. This study demonstrates that conifer removal projects designed to retain shrub cover and structure can have benefits to multiple species of ground and shrub nesting birds, including several species of conservation concern.     

Modelling primary branch frequency and size for five conifer species in Maine,USA

Quantitative models of crown structure have been developed for several conifer species, but these studies have rarely simultaneously fit the models across multiple species. This study used extensive crown structure data for the five primary conifer species in Maine to test for species differences in maximum branch diameter profile, branch density, and relative branch diameter distribution. The species included balsam fir [Abies balsamea (L.) Mill], northern white-cedar [Thuja occidentalis (L.)], eastern hemlock [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.], eastern white pine [Pinus strobus (L.)], and red spruce [Picea rubens (Sarg.)]. After accounting for key covariates, significant species differences were found in all crown structural attributes examined in this study. Profiles for the mean tree indicated that northern white-cedar had the smallest maximum branch diameters throughout the crown and white pine had the largest, except near the base of the crown where the species switched in rank. The density of live branches in a crown had the widest range of variation of the examined crown structural attributes. Red spruce had a significantly higher density of primary branches than the other conifers, particularly in the upper crown. The relative branch diameter distribution indicated that balsam fir had a distribution more skewed towards larger relative branch sizes, while eastern hemlock and red spruce had distributions shifted towards smaller relative branches. This study highlights the range of variability in key crown structural attributes due to inherent species differences, but indicates that models fit across multiple species can perform quite well as the amount of explained variation was relatively high.     

Pollutants in drainage channels following long‐term application of Mancozeb to banana plantations in southeastern Mexico

The aim of this study was to investigate how long‐term Mancozeb application to banana plantations affects the occurrence of pollutants in drainage‐channel sediment and water under tropical conditions. We estimated the possible accumulation of Mancozeb's principal metabolite ethylenethiourea (ETU), as well as manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) as components in channel sediment and water. We took samples during the tropical‐rainfall season and the low‐rainfall season. For sediment samples, we determined the contents of ETU, Mn, and Zn. For water samples, we determined the concentration of ETU. Additionally, we took water samples from a runnel that is the receiving body of hydraulic flow from the system. In both seasons, ETU in the sediment was near the detection limit (0.01 mg kg^–1) and did not show any accumulation. However, Mn in sediment at all sampling sites exceeded the threshold values for aquatic life of 630 mg kg^–1 with values between 635 and 7256 mg kg^–1. The Zn concentrations in sediment varied from 87 to 190 mg kg^–1 and exceeded the threshold values for aquatic life of 98 mg kg^–1 at several sites. Furthermore, we determined an accumulation of these heavy metals in the sediments of the banana‐planted zone in comparison with sediments in pasture reference sites. In contrast to the low concentration of ETU in sediment, its concentration in drainage and runnel water (5.9–13.8 μg L^–1) exceeded the EU threshold value for drinking water (0.1 μg L^–1) by up to nearly 140 times. However, the threshold value for aquatic life was not exceeded. We conclude that long‐term Mancozeb application does lead to a severe accumulation of Mn in sediments and of ETU in surface water. New strategies should be used to control black Sigatoka, including integrated methods of pest control so that long‐term negative effects on the environment can be avoided.     

The importance of ecosystem‐based management for conserving aquatic migratory pathways on tropical high islands: a case study from Fiji

• 1. Tropical, high islands of the Pacific have developed unique freshwater fish faunas that are currently threatened by a range of human activities. This paper documents distinct differences in life history strategies from fish communities found in streams of Fiji compared with fish assemblages in freshwater systems on larger continental land masses. While river systems of northern Australia and Papua New Guinea have a high proportion of freshwater residents, the Fiji fauna is dominated by amphidromous gobiids that migrate across a broad range of habitats throughout their life cycle.
• 2. The number of amphidromous fish species and the number of all fish species in mid‐reaches of Fiji rivers are significantly affected by loss of catchment forest cover and introductions of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). On average, stream networks with established Oreochromis spp. populations have 11 fewer species of native fish than do intact systems. The fish that disappear are mostly eleotrid and gobiid taxa, which have important dietary and economic value.
• 3. Based on the strong links between catchment land clearing, non‐native species introductions and loss of migratory pathways for freshwater fish, spatial information was compiled on a national scale to identify priority areas for conservation in Fiji with intact connectivity between forests, hydrologic networks and coral reefs. Areas with high connectivity included remote, largely undeveloped regions of Vanua Levu (Kubulau, Wainunu, Dama, Udu Point, Natewa, Qelewara) and Taveuni, as well as smaller mapping units (Naikorokoro, Sawakasa) of Viti Levu with low density of roads and high relative amounts of mangroves and reefs.
• 4. These priority areas for conservation can only be effectively protected and managed through cross‐sectoral collaboration and ecosystem‐based approaches. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

A field guide for aging passerine nestlings using growth data and predictive modeling

Background: Accurate nestling age is valuable for studies on nesting strategies, productivity, and impacts on repro-ductive success. Most aging guides consist o...