The importance of host characteristics and canopy openness for pest management in urban forests

Urban forests are important for the health of cities. These forests face high anthropogenic pressure, including demands on their multi-functional role. Therefore, the impact of pests-induced disturbances may be greater for urban forests than forests outside of cities. Monitoring of pests in their native environment is an important tool for the management of urban forests. To better understand how pest population density is affected by the forest environment, we used the Oak bark beetle, Scolytus intricatus, as a model organism. The study was carried out in 2014–2015 in the urban forests of Pardubice City, Czech Republic. Pest population density was studied at three levels: branch, tree and patch. The increasing branch diameter was identified as an important variable with a threshold of 70 mm for entrance holes and 45 mm for emergence holes. Increasing host tree diameter at breast height with a threshold of 46.8 cm was statistically significant at the tree level in terms of the number of entrance holes. Increasing spring canopy openness was identified as an important variable at the patch level with a threshold of 50.78% and had a decreasing trend for the number of reared adults and their total body size. Big oak trees with thick branches under closed spring canopy are the most susceptible to attack by S. intricatus. Based on our findings, we propose that the maintenance of mature oaks under open canopies is important for urban forest management. Avoiding mixed plantings of oaks and conifers should promote these open canopies and lead to multiple advantages regarding oak silviculture.     

Comparison of selected statistical distributions for modelling the diameter distributions in near-natural <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus</Emphasis> forests in the Świętokrzyski National Park (Poland)

The aim of the study is to compare selected theoretical distributions (normal, lognormal, Weibull, gamma, logistic, and exponential) in describing the tree diameter (DBH) distributions of mixed near-natural forests consisting of fir Abies alba Mill. and beech Fagus sylvatica L. growing in various vertical structures. Tree DBH data were collected between 1997 and 2008 from 51 sample plots established in the Świętokrzyski National Park in Poland. The empirical data represent differentiated DBH distributions, ranging from almost symmetric to extremely asymmetric ones. The chi-square test and the modified Kolmogorov–Smirnov test were chosen for the goodness-of-fit testing. In addition to the test statistics, the bias (B), the root mean square error (RMSE) and the graphical method (quantile–quantile plots) were used. In one-storied stands, the most suitable distributions were the normal and logistic distributions; in two-storied and multilayered stands, the Weibull and gamma distribution were the most suitable; and in selection stands, the exponential distribution was the most appropriate to describe the DBH distribution. The order of precision of the tested distributions (from the highest to the lowest) was Weibull, gamma, logistic, normal, exponential, and lognormal. The normal and exponential distribution should be applied only to one-storied and selection forests, respectively. The least suitable distribution for DBH distribution modelling was the lognormal one.     

The feasibility of remotely sensed data to estimate urban tree dimensions and biomass

Accurately measuring the biophysical dimensions of urban trees, such as crown diameter, stem diameter, height, and biomass, is essential for quantifying their collective benefits as an urban forest. However, the cost of directly measuring thousands or millions of individual trees through field surveys can be prohibitive. Supplementing field surveys with remotely sensed data can reduce costs if measurements derived from remotely sensed data are accurate. This study identifies and measures the errors incurred in estimating key tree dimensions from two types of remotely sensed data: high-resolution aerial imagery and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). Using Sacramento, CA, as the study site, we obtained field-measured dimensions of 20 predominant species of street trees, including 30–60 randomly selected trees of each species. For each of the 802 trees crown diameter was estimated from the aerial photo and compared with the field-measured crown diameter. Three curve-fitting equations were tested using field measurements to derive diameter at breast height (DBH) (r² = 0.883, RMSE = 10.32 cm) from the crown diameter. The accuracy of tree height extracted from the LiDAR-based surface model was compared with the field-measured height (RMSE = 1.64 m). We found that the DBH and tree height extracted from the remotely sensed data were lower than their respective field-measured values without adjustment. The magnitude of differences in these measures tended to be larger for smaller-stature trees than for larger stature species. Using DBH and tree height calculated from remotely sensed data, aboveground biomass (r² = 0.881, RMSE = 799.2 kg) was calculated for individual tree and compared with results from field-measured DBH and height. We present guidelines for identifying potential errors in each step of data processing. These findings inform the development of procedures for monitoring tree growth with remote sensing and for calculating single tree level carbon storage using DBH from crown diameter and tree height in the urban forest.     

北京市13 个常见树种胸径估测研究

随着高分辨率遥感数据、LiDAR 技术在森林资源调查中应用的日益普遍,以及自动快速提取树木冠幅、树高 方法的日益成熟,需要建立新的树木模型来估测其他林分因子,以适应林业调查手段更新和发展的需求。在参考 国内外大量文献的基础上,选择常用的胸径鄄冠幅模型和树高鄄胸径曲线模型,根据北京市178 块森林样地调查数 据,建立了北京市13 个常见树种的胸径鄄冠幅模型,胸径鄄树高模型,胸径鄄冠幅、树高综合模型。结果表明:并不是 所有树种的冠幅、树高都与胸径有高相关性;13 个树种中,只有臭椿、雪松、栾树和加杨的胸径鄄冠幅模型的R2 大于 0郾7,胸径鄄树高模型R2 大于0郾5,胸径鄄冠幅、树高综合模型达到0郾8 以上;油松、杨树、槲栎、圆柏4 个树种的胸径鄄 冠幅模型的R2 小于0郾3;核桃、油松、火炬树、柳树、国槐5 个树种的胸径鄄树高模型R2 低于0郾3。并提出在下一步工 作中,把林龄,林分密度,立地条件如坡度、坡向、海拔、地位级等林分因子与树木冠幅、树高联合建立估测模型来提 高胸径估测的精度。该方法可用于现代遥感技术快速获取树木冠幅、树高之后,根据已有的数据库资料,用树种的 冠幅、树高估测胸径,再推算其他林分因子,实现森林资源的快速调查与更新。      

速生杨不同修枝强度对胸径和树高生长量的影响

基于速生杨中黑防经营技术,进行了不同修枝强度对胸径和树高生长量的影响试验,结果表明：采用中度修枝强度有利于提高速生杨胸径生长量和立木蓄积量,而弱度修枝和重度修枝强度与中度修枝相比,无论树高还是胸径,均相对减少,冠幅随修枝强度的变大而减小,冠幅面积依次为未修枝>轻度修枝>中度修枝>重度修枝。掌握适宜的修枝强度在提高树干圆满度的同时,能够提高立木蓄积量及优质木材率。     

赤松纯林胸径结构对枯梢病发生的效应

目的 探究赤松纯林胸径结构对枯梢病发生效应,为合理采取森林经营措施调整林分胸径结构,防控赤松枯梢病的流行提供理论支持和技术支撑。 方法 以昆嵛山赤松纯林为研究对象,设置50块赤松纯林临时样地进行赤松胸径及枯梢病病情调查,应用Weibull分布拟合位置、尺度和形状参数并进行$ {x}^{2} $检验,然后将3参数和赤松平均胸径,感病赤松平均胸径,未感病赤松平均胸径,最大病级赤松平均胸径,最小病级赤松平均胸径表征为赤松胸径特征指标,分别与枯梢病病情指数进行Spearman秩相关性分析。 结果 各赤松纯林临时样地胸径结构均符合Weibull分布,其中胸径分布中心在9.66 ~16.25 cm,90.00%的样地胸径结构表现为正偏山状分布。赤松枯梢病病情指数与未感病赤松平均胸径、最大病级赤松平均胸径和最小病级赤松平均胸径呈负相关,但检验结果为不显著;与尺度参数、赤松平均胸径和感病赤松平均胸径呈显著负相关（p<0.05）,与形状参数呈极显著负相关（p<0.01）;与位置参数呈间接显著负相关。 结论 Weibull分布能够较好地拟合赤松纯林胸径结构。赤松纯林枯梢病病情指数与胸径结构分布中心、胸径结构分布曲线形状、赤松平均胸径和感病赤松平均胸径结构指标存在显著或极显著负相关,与所测赤松最小胸径存在间接显著负相关,可采取抚育间伐等森林经营措施增加林内优势木比重,降低赤松胸径分化程度,减少感病小胸径赤松,达到赤松枯梢病生态调控的目的。     

赤水市不同海拔麻竹生长情况分析

通过对赤水市不同海拔麻竹生长情况调查分析表明,不同海拔麻竹生长情况存在一定的差异,其中生长在海拔545m的麻竹生长情况较好,其次为生长在海拔270m的麻竹。另外,不同海拔麻竹胸径分布特征也存在一定的差异。     

30年生不同生长势杉木的胸径和树高的生长动态

采用树干解析法获取3种不同生长势（优势木、中庸木、被压木）杉木的胸径、树高生长数据,利用ForStat的生长曲线模拟杉木的胸径模型和树高模型,结果表明,Richards生长曲线是分析杉木胸径和树高的适宜生长曲线;3种不同生长势的杉木胸径生长曲线和树高生长曲线均呈“S”状曲线,有较高的相关性。     

基于加权Voronoi图的林木竞争指数

以福寿山林场25年生的杉木生态公益林为研究对象,通过分析林木竞争指数与胸径生长因子的相关关系,得出二者为负相关,从而确定加权Voronoi图的权重为胸径倒数(W),借助Arcgis软件里的加权Voronoi图工具,通过加权Voronoi图的方法来确定竞争单元,提出基于加权Voronoi图的W_V_Hegyi竞争指数,最后将W_V_Hegyi竞争指数与Hegyi、V_Hegyi竞争指数进行对比分析,结果表明:1) 3种竞争指数与胸径相关性强弱排序为:W_V_HegyiV_HegyiHegyi;2) 3种竞争指数与胸径服从幂函数关系,曲线拟合度排序为:W_V_HegyiV_HegyiHegyi;3) 样地竞争指数平均值排序均为:V_HegyiW_V_HegyiHegyi。通过以上比较分析证明,W_V_Hegyi竞争指数比Hegyi、V_Hegyi竞争指数能更准确地反映林木间的竞争关系。      

Identifying the biological effects of pre-commercial thinning on diameter growth in young Scots pine stands

Data from seven Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in central Sweden that had undergone pre-commercial thinning (PCT) were used to investigate the biological effect of PCT on the diameter at breast height (DBH) growth of the remaining trees. Two treatments were considered: a PCT treatment and a control (C) with no PCT. The DBH of the trees in each stand was measured on up to four occasions over 15 years. We examined mean DBH and DBH growth of the largest 300, 600, 900 and 1200 trees ha^?1. Two methods of selecting the trees used to calculate the mean DBH values for each measurement occasion were considered: the actual mean DBH (Dma), which is based on the DBH distribution of the trees on the measurement occasion in question, and the genuine mean DBH (Dmg), which is based on the DBH distribution of the trees on the final measurement occasion of the study and therefore focuses on the same set of trees for all measurement occasions. There was no clear difference between the Dma- and Dmg-based DBH increments, but the Dmg values tended to be somewhat larger both for the C and PCT treatments. Over a 15-year period, the relative mean yearly increments (Dma/Dmg) for different tree size classes ranged from 0.91 to 0.98, with lower values for the C treatment and larger DBH size classes. We found that PCT promotes DBH growth: over a 15-year period, the increased growth amounted to about 2.0 mm year^?1 compared to the trees in unthinned plots.