A novel approach to studying the effects of temperature on soil biogeochemistry using a thermal gradient bar

The temperature dependence of chemical reaction rates and microbial metabolism mean that temperature is a key factor regulating soil trace gas emissions and hydrochemistry. Here we evaluated a novel approach for studying the thermal response of soils, by examining the effects of temperature on gas emissions and hydrochemistry in (a) peat and (b) soil from a Sitka spruce plantation. A thermal gradient was applied along an aluminium bar, allowing soil to be incubated contemporaneously from 2 to 18 °C. The approach demonstrated clear differences in the biogeochemical responses of the two soil types to warming. The peat showed no significant emission of CH₄ at temperatures below 6 °C, while above 6 °C, a marked increase in the rate of release was apparent up to 15 °C (Q₁₀ = 2.5) with emissions being similar between 15 and 18 °C. Conversely, CH₄ emissions from the forest soil did not respond to warming. Nitrate availability in the peat decreased by 90% between 2 and 18 °C (P < 0.01), whereas concentrations in the forest soil did not respond. Sulphate availability in the peat decreased significantly with warming (60%, P < 0.01), while the forest soil showed the opposite response (a 30% increase, P < 0.01). Conventionally, thermal responses are studied by incubating individual soil samples at different temperatures, involving lengthy preparation and facilities to incubate samples at different temperatures simultaneously. Data collected on a given thermal response is usually limited and thus interpolated or extrapolated. The thermal gradient method overcomes these problems, is simple and flexible, and can be adapted for a wide range of sample types (not confined to soil). Such apparatus may prove useful in the optimization of management practices to mitigate the effects of climate change, as thermal responses will differ depending on land use and soil type.     

Management strategies to increase stand structural diversity and enhance biodiversity in coastal rainforests of Alaska

Coastal rainforests of southeast Alaska have relatively simple species composition but complex structures with high diversity of tree ages, sizes and forest canopy layers, and an abundant understory plant community. Wildlife and fisheries resources also play an important role in the ecological functioning of forest and aquatic systems. Clearcutting has greatly altered these forest ecosystems with significant decreases in structural diversity of forest stands and greatly reduced wildlife habitat. This paper synthesizes information on management options in older forests that have never been actively managed, and in younger forests to increase diversity of stand structures and their associated effects on biodiversity. Light to moderate levels of partial cutting in old-growth forests can maintain the original diversity of overstory stand structures and understory plant communities. In younger forests that develop after clearcutting, mixed alder-conifer stands provide more heterogeneous structures and significantly higher understory biomass than in pure conifer forests. Research has shown that red alder increases diversity and abundance of understory plants, and provides forage for deer and small mammals. Results also show a clear linkage between alder and improved invertebrate diversity in aquatic systems. A combination of light partial cutting in older forests along with inclusion of red alder in conifer-dominated forests could provide the greatest amount of diversity and maintain the complex stand structures that are an important component of these forest ecosystems.     

川西亚高山针叶林植物群落演替对土壤性质的影响

研究了川西亚高山针叶林人工重建过程中土壤物理性质,结果表明:随着人工云杉林龄的增加,土壤表层粉粒、粘粒、物理性粘粒、团聚度和结构系数降低,砂粒含量增高,土壤饱和持水量、毛管持水量及总孔隙和毛管孔隙在人工云杉林演替过程中表现出"U"型变化,即人工云杉从幼林向成熟林演替阶段,土壤饱和持水量、毛管持水量及总孔隙和毛管孔隙则减少,在40年生云杉林达最低值之后,随着云杉自疏而有上升的趋势,毛管持水量是决定林地土壤自然含水量的主要因子。为了加速该区域植被恢复和重建过程,建议营造针阔混交林和对人工成熟林和过熟林进行间伐抚育,增加物种多样性,减少水土流失,为植物生长创造良好的土壤物理环境。     

云杉落针病发病规律的研究

通过隔离接种和定点观察研究,在白龙江林区云杉散斑壳〔Ｌｏｐｈｏｄｅｒｍｉｕｍｐｉｃｅａｅ（Ｆｕｃｋｅｌ）Ｖ．Ｈｏｈｎ〕越冬场所有两种：一是在树上被侵针叶组织内以菌丝体越冬,二是在林地病落叶上以性子器越冬;子囊孢子为侵染源,只有初侵染;２ａ完成一个侵染循环;以气孔为主要侵入途径;主要靠气流、风、雨传播;病菌在４月下旬至７月上旬均可释放子囊孢子,释放的高峰期在５月中旬至６月下旬,侵染高峰期为５月下旬至６月下旬;降雨与子囊孢子关系密切;子囊孢子在空间分布是林缘多、林内少,随高度的增加而减少;７月底８月初,当年针叶出现初期症状,９月上旬以后,症状基本上无变化,病菌进入越冬,翌年３月底至５月中旬为病害症状明显期,病叶全部变为黄褐,逐渐干枯脱落。     

天山云杉林分树高测定的灰色动态模型

本文据根天山云杉林分树干解析资料,应用灰色系统理论建模方法,依树高和胸径的定期生长量随时间的增长而变化的数据序列,建立了测定树高的GM(1,2)灰色动态模型,求得模型计算值,进而以模型计算值作为蓄积量测定的要素之一,参予了林分蓄积量计算,并与实测值分别进行了对照检验,结果表明:所建模型拟合效果较好,其树高和蓄积量计算值,具有较高的精度。     

云杉、落叶松等树种种子发芽对水分胁迫的反应

云杉、落叶松等树种种子发芽对水分胁迫的反应马常耕，王建华关键词云杉，落叶松，聚乙二醇，水分胁迫聚乙二醇（ＰＥＧ）是一种中性长链多聚化合物，可配成预定水势溶液，用来模拟土壤的自然水势，造成水分胁迫，以研究植物对水分胁迫的反应［１，２］，揭示其抗旱能力。...     

Growth and yield models for uneven-sized forest stands in Finland

Uneven-sized forestry is gradually gaining popularity and acceptability also in the Nordic countries. This is because of the willingness of the public and some forest owners to avoid clear-fellings and pursue more near-nature forest structures. It has also been realized that the profitability of uneven-sized forestry may be competitive with even-aged forestry. In Finland, management of uneven-sized stands is hampered by the lack of information about the dynamics of such stands, and about the yield and profitability of uneven-sized forestry. This study developed models which allow managers to simulate the growth and yield of uneven-sized stands in Finland, making it possible to predict the yield and analyze the sustainability of different management options. The model set consists of individual-tree diameter increment, height and survival models, and a model for ingrowth. The modeling data consisted of two long-term field experiments of uneven-sized forest management, a set of temporary sample plots measured earlier for growth modeling purposes, and the sample plots of the third National Forest Inventory of Finland. The application area of the models covers all growing sites, all main tree species, and the whole surface area of Finland. According to the models, the sustainable harvest of a fertile (Oxalis-Myrtillus site) uneven-sized Norway spruce forest varies between 5.5 and 7 m³ ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ in Central Finland, depending on the length of the cutting cycle, stand density, and shape of the diameter distribution. It is profitable to harvest large diameter classes more heavily than small ones. Due to the large amount of data the models for diameter increment are highly significant and reliably show the growth level of trees in uneven-sized stands. The weakest models are the ingrowth models, which are based on a clearly smaller data set than the other models.     

Atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment reduces carbohydrate and nitrogen reserves in overwintering Picea mariana

Abstract

Elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) can directly affect the cold hardening process in evergreens through their effect on the accumulation of carbon and nitrogen reserves. This study investigated the biochemical responses of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] seedlings to CO₂ enrichment during growth, cold hardening and dehardening. Seedlings were grown under 350 (ambient) or 710 (elevated) ppm of CO₂ for 12 months in eight mini-greenhouses. Photoperiod and temperature were gradually lowered in autumn to induce cold hardening, and the conditions were reversed in spring to promote dehardening. At regular intervals, cold tolerance was assessed and sugars, starch and amino acid concentrations were measured. The freezing tolerance differed between the two treatments only in early autumn, with seedlings growing under high CO₂ being more tolerant. The northern ecotype was more cold tolerant with concomitant higher concentrations of sucrose, fructose, pinitol, glucose and total soluble sugars. The concentration of soluble sugars increased in needles and roots of black spruce along with cold hardening, and the concentrations of the cryoprotective sugars sucrose and raffinose were lower under elevated CO₂. Amino acid concentrations were also lower under elevated than under ambient CO_2. The lower level of reserve did not translate into a lower level of freezing tolerance.     

Effects of early cleaning on young Picea abies stands

Young Norway spruce stands (Picea abies [L.] Karst) are typically cleaned of non-crop species on one or several occasions during young stand stage. In order to objectively evaluate the perceived benefits of early cleaning (EC), we studied the effects of EC on three study sites 2–2.5 years after receiving the treatment. Experiments were established as a randomised complete block design with a total of 40 blocks. Although height growth and mortality were not significantly affected, we found that EC substantially reduced canopy competition and, consequently, the mean diameter of released spruce grew 21–32% faster depending on the site. Furthermore, non-crop trees that were cleared during EC had fewer sprouts in two of the three sites and the sprouts were substantially smaller than the corresponding non-crop trees on control in all sites. EC can reduce the cost of pre-commercial thinning because EC reduced the estimated time needed for subsequent management by 18–49%. Thus, EC offers forest owners and managers an economically viable young stand management option.     

Changes in wettability of wood surface using electron beam irradiation

ABSTRACT

This study deals with the influence of electron beam irradiation (EBI) on the wettability of Norway spruce surface samples. To evaluate this possible effect in detail, the changes in chemistry and wood structure were analysed using the methods of IR spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The surface wettability was determined by the contact angle measurement method. The results of infrared spectra show decreased relative numbers of available hydrophilic groups (e.g. hydroxyl and carbonyl groups) in the wood surfaces due to the electron beam irradiation. This behaviour is consistent with the values from the surface wettability measurements. Structural differences of the wood surfaces after electron beam irradiation were not detectable. Based on these findings pre-treatment of wood surfaces for industrial usages can be a potential field of application of this technology.