Late glacial and postglacial productivity changes in a new England pond

During the late glacial and postglacial the productivity of Berry Pond in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, underwent a number of significant oscillations. This is suggested by data on sedimentary chlorophyll degradation products, diatoms, and Cladocera. The productivity changes were. apparently controlled by changes in weathering, terrestrial vegetation in the watershed, litter production, and runoff. There are associated changes in cladoceran community structure.     

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage associated with a granulosa-thecal cell neoplasm in a mare

A 9-year-old American Saddlebred mare was referred because of abdominal distention and signs of abdominal pain. Copious peritoneal fluid obtained by abdominocentesis appeared to be frank blood. Rectal and ultrasonographic evaluation of the abdomen revealed a large mass at the distal tip of the right uterine horn. The mare was euthanatized and necropsied and the mass was determined to be a granulosa-thecal cell neoplasm. The most common clinical sign of granulosa-thecal cell neoplasm is infertility or abnormal sexual behavior. Hemoperitoneum is infrequently associated with neoplasms in horses.     

NURSERY RESPONSE OF ACACIA KOA SEEDLINGS TO CONTAINER SIZE,IRRIGATION METHOD,AND FERTILIZATION RATE

Planting koa (Acacia koa A. Gray) in Hawai‘i, USA aids in restoration of disturbed sites essential to conservation of endemic species. Survival and growth of planted seedlings under vegetative competition typically increases with initial plant size. Increasing container size and fertilizer rate may produce larger seedlings, but high fertilization can lead to surface and groundwater pollution and relatively low fertilizer use efficiency. Subirrigation systems may help mitigate this problem. Our study objective was to evaluate koa seedling growth with overhead or subirrigation over a range of container volumes (50 to 656 mL) and fertilizer rates (0 to 9.6 kg·m^?3). Increasing container volume from 50 to 656 mL yielded koa seedlings with 200% more height and stem diameter growth. Subirrigation resulted in less nutrient leaching losses and yielded seedlings of similar vigor as overhead irrigated seedlings. Subirrigation helps optimize fertilizer delivery, which may improve fertilizer use efficiency and reduce environmental contamination.     

Prediction of planted seedling survival of five Mediterranean species based on initial seedling morphology

Field performance can be predicted by evaluating nursery stock quality, but optimal morphological variables for use in these assessments may vary by species especially under dry Mediterranean conditions. Our objective was to identify initial seedling morphological characteristics that successfully predict field performance of five Mediterranean species (Pinus halepensis, Quercus ilex, Quercus coccifera, Ceratonia silqua and Pistacia lentiscus). Container seedling morphology was evaluated following the nursery phase, and then seedlings were outplanted in the field where field survival was monitored for two successive years. Results indicate that survival can successfully be predicted from seedling initial morphological characteristics for all these species, yet not all the initial characteristics were good predictors. Survival of P. halepensis and Pist. lentiscus seedlings was positively correlated to initial seedling root-collar diameter, total dry weight and Dickson’s quality index, and can be reliably predicted by these variables. In contrast, seedling field survival of the two Mediterranean evergreen oak species was correlated with few initial morphological attributes; initial diameter provided an accurate index to predict second-year outplanting survival for both species while height/diameter was a good survival predictor for Q. coccifera seedlings. For C. siliqua seedlings, seedlings with larger initial diameter and total biomass survive better in the field. Thus, diameter was the common variable that accurately predicted survival for all species, which should be >5 mm for P. halepensis seedlings and >7 mm for the remaining species.     

Fertilization at planting influences seedling growth and vegetative competition on a post-mining boreal reclamation site

Reclamation of post-mining sites is challenged by limiting factors including adverse soil chemical and physical properties, along with weed competition. Fertilization may alleviate nutrient deficiencies, but broadcast fertilization with immediately available fertilizers (IAF) results in generally low rates of nutrient recovery for planted trees. Directed application of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) to the rhizosphere offers an alternative to extend nutrient longevity while reducing nutrient leaching or uptake by competing vegetation. We evaluated white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) development on a mine reclamation site in the Oil Sands Region of northern Alberta in response to IAF and polymer-coated CRF (3–4 and 8–9 month release). IAF and CRF (each NPK plus other macro- and micro-nutrients) were applied at 20 and 40 g N seedling^?1 and 2 and 4 g N seedling^?1, respectively. No effect on seedling survival occurred. White spruce year-1 height and diameter growth responded positively to both IAF and CRF relative to non-fertilized controls, but in year-2 seedlings treated with CRF (i.e., 8–9 month) outperformed those fertilized with IAF, which were similar to controls. Aspen height growth did not respond strongly to fertilization in either year, but diameter growth showed positive responses to all fertilizer treatments in year-1 and to all CRF treatments and the high IAF rate in year-2. Responses were attributed to a pronounced increase in vegetative competition observed for IAF relative to CRF or controls following the first growing season, and generally higher levels of foliar N in year-1 for CRF compared to IAF or unfertilized trees. Thus, directed root zone application of CRF promoted seedling growth responses similar to or better than those induced by broadcast IAF applications, but at 90–95 % lower N application rates.     

Effects of microclimatic variables on the availability and movement of third-stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi on herbage

Assessments were made of the influence of several microclimatic variables on the availability of third-stage larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi, on pasture herbage. Variables most closely related to recovery of larvae from the lower herbage samples were: maximum air, mat and dung temperatures. Recovery of larvae from the upper portion of the herbage was closely correlated with dung temperature, sampling-time air temperature and maximum air temperature. Bearing in mind that the moisture threshold was maintained throughout the trial the results of this study suggest that under field conditions, larval movement of third-stage O. ostertagi larvae on herbage is regulated primarily by temperature.     

Changes in soil properties under Eucalyptus relative to Pinus massoniana and natural broadleaved forests in South China

The ecological effects of eucalypt plantations(EPs) have garnered increasing attention.To understand their effect on soil quality at a landscape scale,and to determine whether soil quality parameters differ due to different stand types,we evaluated soil characteristics in twenty-one groups of EPs,Pinus massoniana Lamb.plantations(PMPs) and natural broadleaved forests(NBFs)across Guangdong Province,China.Both the physical characteristics of soil hydrology and the properties of soil nutrients in A and B horizons were determined.Results showed that,compared to NBFs,EPs and PMPs produced a shallower litter layer,reduced canopy density,higher soil bulk density,significantly lower total porosity,non-capillary porosity,total water volume,and hygroscopic water in the A horizon(P0.05).Moreover,total N,available K,and soil organic carbon(SOC) in EPs and PMPs were significantly lower than in NBFs.EPs and PMPs did not differ significantly in N,P or K content,but PMPs had significantly lower SOC and boron in the A horizon than EPs.Low p H and poor capacity to buffer acidification generally occurred in all cover types.Both EPs and PMPs showed a decline in soil properties relative to NBFs,but EPs and PMPs exhibited no significant difference.These results indicate that actions are needed to ameliorate the potential negative effects on soil quality in forestry plantations.