Restoration of woodpasture on former agricultural land: The importance of safe sites and time gaps before grazing for tree seedlings

Woodpastures (open, grazed woodlands with a mosaic of grassland, shrub and tree patches) are of high biological and cultural value and have become a threatened ecosystem in Europe. Spontaneous tree regeneration in the presence of large herbivores, is an essential process for management and restoration of this structurally diverse habitat. We examined the suitability of five vegetation types (grasslands, ruderal vegetations, tall sedges, rush tussocks and bramble thickets), grazed by large herbivores, for tree regeneration. We hypothesized that bramble thickets and tall herb communities operate as safe sites for palatable tree species through the mechanism of associational resistance. We set up a field experiment with tree seedlings in grazed and ungrazed conditions and recorded mortality and growth of seedlings of two palatable tree species (Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior) during three growing seasons. In the same experiment, we studied the effect of a two year’s initial time gap before grazing.Bramble thickets were suitable safe sites for survival and growth of seedlings of both species. Tall sedges, soft rush tussocks and ruderal vegetations with unpalatable or spiny species provided temporal protection, allowing seedlings to survive. Tree regeneration in livestock grazed grassland was highly constrained. Rabbits may undo the nursing effects of bramble thickets. The first year’s survival is of major importance for the establishment of trees. Subsequent grazing affects growth rather than survival. A two year’s initial time gap before grazing, had positive effects on survival, but did not enhance outgrowth of unprotected trees.     

Tree girdling increases soil N mineralisation in two spruce stands

Tree girdling is a common practice in forestry whenever trees are to be killed without felling. The effect of tree girdling on soil nitrogen (N) mineralisation was estimated in both an old and a young spruce forest. The dynamics of mineral N (NO₃⁻–N and NH₄⁺–N) and soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and N (MBN) were determined for different seasons. The in situ net N mineralisation was measured by incubating soil samples in stainless steel cylinders and the gross N mineralisation rates were measured by ¹⁵N pool dilution method. Mineral N concentrations increased significantly in the girdled plots in both old and young spruce forests and showed variations between soil horizons and between sampling times. Tree girdling significantly increased net N mineralisation in both spruce forests. Annual net N mineralisation was 64 and 39 kg N ha⁻¹ in O horizon of the girdled plots in old and young forest plots, respectively, compared to 25 and 21 kg N ha⁻¹ in the control plots. Annual N mineralisation in A horizon was similar between girdled and control plots (31 kg N ha⁻¹) in the old forest whereas in the young forest A horizon N mineralisation was about 2.5 times higher in the girdled plots. As a result, the annual carbon budget was significantly more positive in the girdled plots than in the control plots in both old and young forests. However, we found significantly higher gross N mineralisation rates in both horizons in the control plots than the girdled plots in the old forest, but no differences between the treatments in the young forest. The MBC and MBN contents only showed significant changes during the first three months of the experiment and were similar later on. They first decreased as girdling removed the root carbohydrate, amino and organic acid exudation from the C sources for microorganisms then increased two months after the treatment root dieback acted as a new source of C. Mineralising microorganisms enhanced the mineral N concentrations in girdled plots as a result of greater activity rather than larger population size.     

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.     

盐胁迫下树木的K+和Na+含量变化特点及其耐盐性

通过几种主要造林树种在盐胁迫下体内Na+和K+含量变化的分析,对树木耐盐性及其机理进行了讨论.结果表明:不同树种的Na+和K+含量及在盐胁迫下的变化动态存在明显差异,说明其耐盐机制不同,树木的Na+和K+的质量比值,随NaCl的质量浓度的增加而上升、其上升幅度在耐盐性强的白榆中较小;在盐胁迫下,适当地增加Ca2+,可维持树木体内较低的Na+和K+的质量比,从而提高树木耐盐性.     

Using plant community uniqueness and floristic quality assessment in management decision-making in an urban park setting

With the densification of cities, it is imperative to identify urban ecosystems that should be protected or restored. We aimed to determine the conservation and restoration needs in a large urban park (1,35 km²) in Quebec City (Canada), based on site history, current species richness, floristic uniqueness, and floristic quality assessment of its diverse ecosystems: forest, swamp, wooded peatland, open peatland, and marsh. We evaluated the cover of all vascular species in 70 plots (400 m²) and assessed 18 environmental variables. We found that forest and swamp plots were the richest while peatland plots were the poorest, with marsh plots showing intermediate values. Ecological uniqueness (LCBD) was not correlated with richness (ρ = 0.17; p > 0.05), with marsh and peatland plots showing the highest and lowest uniqueness, respectively. With a regression tree, we identified canopy openness as the most influential variable explaining plot uniqueness across all ecosystems, especially in the peatland, indicating that future recreational development should be avoided in open ecosystems. By plotting ecological uniqueness (LCBD) with tolerance to disturbance (Mean C) values, we identified areas that could benefit from conservation or restoration, and areas that could sustain future development for recreational use. For each area, floristic composition, site characteristics, and past land-use history were investigated further to identify appropriate actions. The open peatland was identified as the main conservation priority, but actions will be needed to limit rapid tree encroachment. Three marshes were identified as areas that would floristically benefit from restoration actions. Still, since they also act as natural retention basins hosting species adapted to the soil conditions, we suggested monitoring the expansion of exotic and invasive species. Approaches developed and lessons learned from this project will serve as guidelines for municipalities aiming to implement a restoration and management plan in urban parks.     

Evaluating the quality of street trees in Washington,D.C.: Implications for environmental justice

Urban street trees are part of the bundle of environmental amenities that support healthy social, economic, and environmental functions. In this study, we systematically evaluate the quality of 196,825 street trees at the US. Census tract level in Washington D.C., as well as related impacts from socioeconomic, landscape patterns and environmental factors using Ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression, geographically weighted regression (GWR) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Our results reveal that environmental and socioeconomic factors can explain most of the spatial variation of street tree quality in Washington, D.C. There is a substantial statistical negative relationship between median household income and the percent of street trees under stress, which provided the evidence of the inequities of street tree quality in Washington D.C. Higher-income neighborhoods exhibited a lower proportion of street trees under stress. In addition, the extreme summer temperature is positively associated with the proportion of street trees under stress. The quality of street trees is directly impacted by environmental and landscape pattern factors. There is also an indirect impact from socioeconomic factor toward quality of street trees. Our findings suggest that multiple variables, related to income, age, education, landscape pattern, and environment contribute to the quality of street trees in D.C. Based upon our findings, we identify strategies and insights for urban street tree management in DC to not only address environmental inequity and injustice, but also promote a more inclusive and resilient urban greenery system.     

Status,determinants and challenges of tree planting in Dodoma district,Tanzania

Climate change, human population growth, the energy crisis, and food insecurity negatively drive livelihoods in developing countries. The trend seems to be severe in arid and semi-arid areas where some livelihood strategies are naturally constrained. Tree planting is one of the mitigation and adaptation approaches applied to climate variability and change for sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa. The current study assessed the status, determinants, and challenges of tree planting in Nkuhungu, Msalato, and Hombolo villages in the Dodoma district, Tanzania. A household questionnaire survey (HQS) was used to collect data from 213 household respondents. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to supplement data from HQS. Results indicate that tree planting is practiced at household and institutional levels during the wet season and was promoted after the government shifted from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma. Approximately 5111 planted trees were recorded in the study villages, with an average of 24 ± 5 trees planted per household. Fruit and shade trees are widely planted in residential areas, and privately owned nurseries and the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) are the major sources of seedlings. Level of education (+), type of employment (-), seedling price (-), water availability (+), and the importance of the tree (+) were found to influence the number of trees planted by household respondents. The main challenges of tree planting are inadequate land size, water scarcity, high pricing of seedlings, lack of improved seeds, and insufficient extension services. Knowledge on tree planting determinants would be instrumental in strengthening the current governmental strategies for greening Dodoma. The study suggests increasing water sources such as boreholes and digging wells/ponds for watering trees; improvement of extension services; and provisioning of affordable improved and adaptive seeds to semi-arid areas.     

Optimization of tree locations to reduce human heat stress in an urban park

Trees provide cooling benefits through shading and evapotranspiration; they are regarded as an important measure in heat-resilient urban planning and policies. Knowing where to plant trees for maximum cooling benefits, given practical and resource constraints, remains a challenge in both practice and research. Literature in the field of tree modeling and location optimization is limited, either by the incompleteness in accounting for tree shading, evapotranspiration, and the modifying effect of wind, or by the slow-running speed of the Computational Fluid Dynamics model, making them less applicable in practice. This paper describes a novel method to search for the optimal locations for trees to maximize their cooling benefits in an urban environment. A rapid simulation model was applied to assess on-site heat stress under the influences of trees, which was evaluated using field measurements conducted under hot, temperate, and cool weather conditions in an urban park in Hong Kong. It was then linked to a genetic algorithm in search of a near-optimal tree layout. The proposed method was tested in the same park, and it can automatically identify locations to plant new trees to minimize heat stress, subject to practical constraints such as avoiding existing buildings and utilities. It can also identify the optimal locations to rearrange the existing 55 trees, hypothetically, which can cool the park by up to 0.3 ℃ in on-site average equivalent temperature compared with the worse scenario. Trees can cool the most if they are concentrated on the leeward side of the park, rather than spread evenly. The proposed method runs significantly faster than existing approaches, and it can inform research and landscape design practices concerning park cooling as a goal.     

金银花、连翘及其药对对马链球菌马亚种耐药基因和毒力基因的影响

【目的】 研究金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对(金银花-连翘1∶1)对北疆地区携带fneB毒力基因的马链球菌马亚种(Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, SEE)耐药基因和毒力基因的影响。【方法】 首先对1 g/mL的金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对(金银花-连翘1∶1)水提物进行中药配比浓度梯度试验, 然后与携带fneB毒力基因的L1菌株、lytA+fneB+ply毒力基因的D1菌株和qnrA+bla_TEM+fneB基因的Y1菌株3种SEE菌株共培养, 检测中药对SEE菌株耐药基因bla_TEM、qnrA及毒力基因ply、fneB的影响; 将192只SPF级昆明小鼠均分为16组: 空白对照组(生理盐水)、金银花组、连翘组、金银花-连翘1∶1组、阴性对照组(Y1、L1和D1菌株组)及3种菌株分别与金银花、连翘和金银花-连翘1∶1共培养组, 各组药物或菌液经腹腔注射0.5 mL进行小鼠体内抑菌试验, 检测药物对小鼠的致病性和fneB毒力基因的影响。【结果】 中药最适配比浓度为中药水提物∶THB培养基∶待测菌液(D_{600 nm}值均为0.6)为1 000 μL∶500 μL∶20 μL; 与中药水提取物共培养的3株SEE菌株均未检出耐药基因和毒力基因, 且菌株形态结构均未发生改变。小鼠致病性试验结果显示, 阴性对照组的小鼠成活率分别为16.7%、8.3%和0;而L1+连翘、L1+金银花共培养组小鼠存活率分别为83.3%、75.0%, 金银花-连翘1∶1药对与3株SEE菌株共培养组小鼠成活率分别为41.7%、16.7%、50.0%;小鼠病理解剖结果显示, 除接种SEE菌株的小鼠肝脏肿大淤血、边缘钝圆外, 其余各组肝脏均正常。小鼠体内fneB毒力基因检测结果显示, Y1+金银花、Y1+连翘、Y1+金银花-连翘1∶1、L1+金银花、L1+金银花-连翘1∶1、D1+金银花、D1+连翘、D1+金银花-连翘组均携带fneB毒力基因, L1+连翘组未检出fneB毒力基因, 表明小鼠体内SEE菌株有重新获得fneB毒力基因的能力, 出现菌种反毒复壮, 其机制有待进一步研究。【结论】 金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对能够减弱SEE菌株的毒力基因和耐药基因, 从而对马腺疫疾病的防治具有指导意义, 为减抗、替抗提供理论支撑。     

Fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O from drained organic soils in deciduous forests

We examined net greenhouse gas exchange at the soil surface in deciduous forests on soils with high organic contents. Fluxes of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O were measured using dark static chambers for two consecutive years in three different forest types; (i) a drained and medium productivity site dominated by birch, (ii) a drained and highly productive site dominated by alder and (iii) an undrained and highly productive site dominated by alder. Although the drained sites had shallow mean groundwater tables (15 and 18 cm, respectively) their average annual rates of forest floor CO₂ release were almost twice as high compared to the undrained site (1.9±0.4 and 1.7±0.3, compared to 1.0±0.2 kg CO₂ m⁻² yr⁻¹). The average annual CH₄ emission was almost 10 times larger at the undrained site (7.6±3.1 compared to 0.9±0.5 g CH₄ m⁻² yr⁻¹ for the two drained sites). The average annual N₂O emissions at the undrained site (0.1±0.05 g N₂O m⁻² yr⁻¹) were lower than at the drained sites, and the emissions were almost five times higher at the drained alder site than at the drained birch site (0.9±0.35 compared to 0.2±0.11 g N₂O m⁻² yr⁻¹). The temporal variation in forest floor CO₂ release could be explained to a large extent by differences in groundwater table and air temperature, but little of the variation in the CH₄ and N₂O fluxes could be explained by these variables. The measured soil variables were only significant to explain for the within-site spatial variation in CH₄ and N₂O fluxes at the undrained swamp, and dark forest floor CO₂ release was not explained by these variables at any site. The between-site spatial variation was attributed to variations in drainage, groundwater level position, productivity and tree species for all three gases. The results indicate that N₂O emissions are of greater importance for the net greenhouse gas exchange at deciduous drained forest sites than at coniferous drained forest sites.