Forests

22 pages, 5189 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Disturbance Alters the Relative Importance of Topographic and Biogeochemical Controls on Microbial Activity in Temperate Montane Forests

by Rebecca A. Lybrand, Rachel E. Gallery, Nicole A. Trahan and David J. P. Moore

Forests 2018, 9(2), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020097 - 24 Feb 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5105

Abstract

Fire and pathogen-induced tree mortality are the two dominant forms of disturbance in Western U.S. montane forests. We investigated the consequences of both disturbance types on the controls of microbial activity in soils from 56 plots across a topographic gradient one year after [...] Read more.

Fire and pathogen-induced tree mortality are the two dominant forms of disturbance in Western U.S. montane forests. We investigated the consequences of both disturbance types on the controls of microbial activity in soils from 56 plots across a topographic gradient one year after the 2012 High Park wildfire in Colorado. Topsoil biogeochemistry, soil CO₂ efflux, potential exoenzyme activities, and microbial biomass were quantified in plots that experienced fire disturbance, beetle disturbance, or both fire and beetle disturbance, and in plots where there was no recent evidence of disturbance. Soil CO₂ efflux, N-, and P-degrading exoenzyme activities in undisturbed plots were positively correlated with soil moisture, estimated from a topographic wetness index; coefficient of determinations ranged from 0.5 to 0.65. Conversely, the same estimates of microbial activities from fire-disturbed and beetle-disturbed soils showed little correspondence to topographically inferred wetness, but demonstrated mostly negative relationships with soil pH (fire only) and mostly positive relationships with DOC/TDN (dissolved organic carbon/total dissolved nitrogen) ratios for both disturbance types. The coefficient of determination for regressions of microbial activity with soil pH and DOC/TDN reached 0.8 and 0.63 in fire- and beetle-disturbed forests, respectively. Drivers of soil microbial activity change as a function of disturbance type, suggesting simple mathematical models are insufficient in capturing the impact of disturbance in forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Topography Impacts Forests under Global Change?)

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18 pages, 2621 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of GIS to Empirical Windthrow Risk Model in Mountain Forested Landscapes

by Lukas Krejci, Jaromir Kolejka, Vit Vozenilek and Ivo Machar

Forests 2018, 9(2), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020096 - 22 Feb 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4736

Abstract

Norway spruce dominates mountain forests in Europe. Natural variations in the mountainous coniferous forests are strongly influenced by all the main components of forest and landscape dynamics: species diversity, the structure of forest stands, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and other ecosystem services. This [...] Read more.

Norway spruce dominates mountain forests in Europe. Natural variations in the mountainous coniferous forests are strongly influenced by all the main components of forest and landscape dynamics: species diversity, the structure of forest stands, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and other ecosystem services. This paper deals with an empirical windthrow risk model based on the integration of logistic regression into GIS to assess forest vulnerability to wind-disturbance in the mountain spruce forests of Šumava National Park (Czech Republic). It is an area where forest management has been the focus of international discussions by conservationists, forest managers, and stakeholders. The authors developed the empirical windthrow risk model, which involves designing an optimized data structure containing dependent and independent variables entering logistic regression. The results from the model, visualized in the form of map outputs, outline the probability of risk to forest stands from wind in the examined territory of the national park. Such an application of the empirical windthrow risk model could be used as a decision support tool for the mountain spruce forests in a study area. Future development of these models could be useful for other protected European mountain forests dominated by Norway spruce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Landscape Ecology: Linking Past, Present, and Future Data)

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14 pages, 2011 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Enhancing the Estimation of Stem-Size Distributions for Unimodal and Bimodal Stands in a Boreal Mixedwood Forest with Airborne Laser Scanning Data

by Christopher Mulverhill, Nicholas C. Coops, Joanne C. White, Piotr Tompalski, Peter L. Marshall and Todd Bailey

Forests 2018, 9(2), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020095 - 18 Feb 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6380

Abstract

Stem size distribution (SSD), which describes tree frequencies in diameter classes within an area, has a variety of direct and indirect applications that are critical for forest management. In this study, we evaluated which structural characteristics derived from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data [...] Read more.

Stem size distribution (SSD), which describes tree frequencies in diameter classes within an area, has a variety of direct and indirect applications that are critical for forest management. In this study, we evaluated which structural characteristics derived from Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data were best able to differentiate between unimodal and bimodal stands in a managed boreal mixedwood forest in Alberta, Canada. We then used wall-to-wall ALS data to predict (for 20 m-by-20 m grid cells) the parameters of a Weibull SSD in unimodal cells, and a Finite Mixture Model (FMM) in bimodal cells. The resulting SSDs were evaluated for their fit to ground plot-measured SSDs using an Error Index (EI). We found that the variance of ALS return heights was the best metric for differentiating between unimodal and bimodal stands, with a classification accuracy of 77%. Parameters of both the Weibull and FMM distributions were accurately predicted (r² ~ 0.5, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) ~ 30%), and that differentiating for modality prior to estimating SSD improved the accuracy of estimates (EI of 49.13 with differentiation versus 51.31 without differentiation). Unique to our presented approach is the stratification by SSD modality prior to the modelling of distributions. To achieve this, we apply a threshold to an ALS metric that allows SSD modality to be distinguished for each cell at the landscape level, and this a priori information is then used to ensure that the appropriate distribution is modelled. Our approach is parsimonious and efficient, enabling improved accuracy in SSD estimation across diverse landscapes when ALS data is the sole data source. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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12 pages, 5785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resistance of a Local Ecotype of Castanea sativa to Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in Southern Italy

by Francesco Nugnes, Liberata Gualtieri, Carmelo Peter Bonsignore, Rita Parillo, Regina Annarumma, Raffaele Griffo and Umberto Bernardo

Forests 2018, 9(2), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020094 - 16 Feb 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4861

Abstract

The cynipid Dryocosmus kuriphilus is the most impactful invasive pest of Castanea sativa copse woods and orchards currently reported from many European countries. A low impact solution for the containment of this pest could be the use of resistant trees. We examined the [...] Read more.

The cynipid Dryocosmus kuriphilus is the most impactful invasive pest of Castanea sativa copse woods and orchards currently reported from many European countries. A low impact solution for the containment of this pest could be the use of resistant trees. We examined the resistance of the red salernitan ecotype (RSE) of C. sativa to D. kuriphilus and carried out a morphological characterization of this ecotype’s plants and fruits. From November 2015 to May 2017 we observed and recorded the percentage of infested buds, healthy leaves and shoots on about 50 chestnut trees, together with the number, size, and position of galls, and the number of eggs laid by the gall wasps into the buds and the number of larvae inside the galls. We showed a progressive mortality of cynipid larvae up to the starting point of galls development when almost total larval mortality was recorded. This suggests that RSE trees have a moderate resistance to D. kuriphilus; however, resistance acts at different levels, resulting in fewer eggs being deposited, a low number of larvae reaching the complete development, and a low number of galls on the branches. Moreover, the galls on resistant trees are smaller than the susceptible ones, so the larvae are more exposed to parasitization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Species in Forest Ecosystems)

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16 pages, 1410 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Charcoal Increases Microbial Activity in Eastern Sierra Nevada Forest Soils

by Zachary W. Carter, Benjamin W. Sullivan, Robert G. Qualls, Robert R. Blank, Casey A. Schmidt and Paul S.J. Verburg

Forests 2018, 9(2), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020093 - 16 Feb 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4283

Abstract

Fire is an important component of forests in the western United States. Not only are forests subjected to wildfires, but fire is also an important management tool to reduce fuels loads. Charcoal, a product of fire, can have major impacts on carbon (C) [...] Read more.

Fire is an important component of forests in the western United States. Not only are forests subjected to wildfires, but fire is also an important management tool to reduce fuels loads. Charcoal, a product of fire, can have major impacts on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in forest soils, but it is unclear how these effects vary by dominant vegetation. In this study, soils collected from Jeffrey pine (JP) or lodgepole pine (LP) dominated areas and amended with charcoal derived from JP or LP were incubated to assess the importance of charcoal on microbial respiration and potential nitrification. In addition, polyphenol sorption was measured in unamended and charcoal-amended soils. In general, microbial respiration was highest at the 1% and 2.5% charcoal additions, but charcoal amendment had limited effects on potential nitrification rates throughout the incubation. Microbial respiration rates decreased but potential nitrification rates increased over time across most treatments. Increased microbial respiration may have been caused by priming of native organic matter rather than the decomposition of charcoal itself. Charcoal had a larger stimulatory effect on microbial respiration in LP soils than JP soils. Charcoal type had little effect on microbial processes, but polyphenol sorption was higher on LP-derived than JP-derived charcoal at higher amendment levels despite surface area being similar for both charcoal types. The results from our study suggest that the presence of charcoal can increase microbial activity in soils, but the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycling in Forest Soils)

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24 pages, 3871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drought Impact on Phenology and Green Biomass Production of Alpine Mountain Forest—Case Study of South Tyrol 2001–2012 Inspected with MODIS Time Series

by Katarzyna Ewa Lewińska, Eva Ivits, Mathias Schardt and Marc Zebisch

Forests 2018, 9(2), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020091 - 16 Feb 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5241

Abstract

Ecological balance and biodiversity of the alpine forest is endangered by global and local climatic extremes. It spurs a need for comprehensive forest monitoring, including in depth analyses of drought impact on the alpine woodland ecosystems. Addressing an arising knowledge gap, we identified [...] Read more.

Ecological balance and biodiversity of the alpine forest is endangered by global and local climatic extremes. It spurs a need for comprehensive forest monitoring, including in depth analyses of drought impact on the alpine woodland ecosystems. Addressing an arising knowledge gap, we identified and analyzed 2002–2012 aridity related responses within the alpine mountain forest of South Tyrol. The study exploited a S-mode PCA (Principal Component Analysis) based synergy between meteorological conditions rendered by the scPDSI (self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index) and forest status approximated through MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) derived NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDII7 (Normalized Difference Infrared Index based on MODIS band 7) time series. Besides characterizing predominant forest temporal response to drought, we identified corresponding spatial footprints of drought impact, as well as examined aridity-related changes in forest phenology and biomass production. The latter was further evaluated in relation to forest type, elevation, aspect and slope. Recognized meteorological conditions highlighted: prolonged 2003–2007 mild to extreme drought, and overall regional drying tendencies. Arising remotely sensed forest responses accounted on localized decline in foliage water content and/or photosynthetic activity, but also indicated regions where forest condition improved despite the meteorological stress. Perceived variability in the forest response to drought conditions was governed by geographic location, species structure, elevation and exposition, and featured complexity of the alpine forest ecosystem. Among the inspected biophysical factors elevation had the strongest influence on forest phenology and green biomass production under meteorological stress conditions. Stands growing above 1400 m a.s.l. demonstrated initial increase in annual biomass growth at the beginning of the dry spell in 2003. Conversely, woodlands at lower altitudes comprising considerable share of hardwood species were more prone to biomass decline in 2003, but experienced an overall upturn in biomass production during the following years of the dry spell. Aspect showed moderate effect on drought-related phenology and green biomass production responses. Diverse forest ecosystem responses identified in this study were in line with known local and regional analyses, but also shed some new light on drought induced alternation of forest status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remotely Sensing of Drought-Induced Forest Change and Recovery)

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15 pages, 1243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Nuclear Microsatellite Loci for Evaluating Genetic Diversity of Selected Populations of Picea abies (L.) Karsten in the Czech Republic

by Pavlína Máchová, Olga Trčková and Helena Cvrčková

Forests 2018, 9(2), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020092 - 15 Feb 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3746

Abstract

DNA polymorphism at nine nuclear microsatellites of nine selected naturally-regenerated Norway spruce populations growing mainly within gene conservation units in different parts of the Czech Republic was studied. To verify the genetic quality of the selected gene conservation unit, we analyzed nine Norway [...] Read more.

DNA polymorphism at nine nuclear microsatellites of nine selected naturally-regenerated Norway spruce populations growing mainly within gene conservation units in different parts of the Czech Republic was studied. To verify the genetic quality of the selected gene conservation unit, we analyzed nine Norway spruce subpopulations from gene conservation unit GZ 102–Orlické hory. Genetic parameters can be used in state administrative decision making on including stands into gene conservation units. The level of genetic diversity within 17 investigated Czech Norway spruce units was relatively high. Mean values for the number of different alleles ranged from 12.2 (population SM 08) to 16.2 (subpopulation SM T4). The values of observed heterozygosity (H_o) ranged from 0.65 to 0.80 and expected heterozygosity (H_e) from 0.74 to 0.81. Pairwise population F_ST values ranging from 0.006 to 0.027 indicated low genetic differentiation between units, and values of Nei’s genetic distance among Norway spruce units ranged from 0.046 to 0.168, thus structuring of the investigated Norway spruce units was confirmed. Closer genetic similarity was seen in subpopulations from the gene conservation unit in Orlické hory than in the studied populations from other genetic conservation units. Additionally, the populations SM 01 and SM 05, both of Hurst ecotypes, were the closest to one another and the populations of mountain and alpine ecotypes were assembled into another group. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Genomics of Forest Trees)

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11 pages, 690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reducing Firewood Movement by the Public: Use of Survey Data to Assess and Improve Efficacy of a Regulatory and Educational Program, 2006–2015

by Andrea Diss-Torrance, Kim Peterson and Colleen Robinson

Forests 2018, 9(2), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020090 - 14 Feb 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4110

Abstract

This paper describes a program of policy management and research from 2006 through 2015. It focuses on regulator efforts to understand and address challenges presented by dispersal of forest diseases and invasive pests in firewood by the camping public. Five surveys conducted at [...] Read more.

This paper describes a program of policy management and research from 2006 through 2015. It focuses on regulator efforts to understand and address challenges presented by dispersal of forest diseases and invasive pests in firewood by the camping public. Five surveys conducted at two-year intervals informed these efforts. The first survey in 2006 benchmarked campers’ awareness of forest threats by invasive species, their evaluations of firewood supplied at and near Wisconsin state parks, and their compliance with firewood movement rules which had been implemented that year. The 2008 survey tested for improvements in awareness and compliance and investigated campers’ motivations. The motivation research showed that calculated, normative, and social motivations are all important to rule compliance in the camping context. Surveys in 2010, 2012, and 2014 confirmed these results and guided education and outreach efforts, adjustments to firewood movement rules for Wisconsin state parks and forests, and improvements to firewood supplies at state campgrounds. The survey sequence as a whole revealed that: (1) compliance improves dramatically in early program years and then levels off, suggesting that it may be unrealistic and cost ineffective to strive for 100% compliance in similar regulatory contexts; (2) persistence in messaging is important in building awareness and motivation; and (3) regulation and persuasion based on motivational principles can extend beyond specific situations where informing and regulating take place, suggesting that public properties can be useful venues for encouraging other types of environmentally responsible behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Managing Emerald Ash Borer Impacts on Ash Forests)

18 pages, 2096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Ecosystem Services for Park Trees: Sensitivity of i-Tree Eco Simulations to Light Exposure and Tree Species Classification

by Rocco Pace, Peter Biber, Hans Pretzsch and Rüdiger Grote

Forests 2018, 9(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020089 - 13 Feb 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 10321

Abstract

Ecosystem modeling can help decision making regarding planting of urban trees for climate change mitigation and air pollution reduction. Algorithms and models that link the properties of plant functional types, species groups, or single species to their impact on specific ecosystem services have [...] Read more.

Ecosystem modeling can help decision making regarding planting of urban trees for climate change mitigation and air pollution reduction. Algorithms and models that link the properties of plant functional types, species groups, or single species to their impact on specific ecosystem services have been developed. However, these models require a considerable effort for initialization that is inherently related to uncertainties originating from the high diversity of plant species in urban areas. We therefore suggest a new automated method to be used with the i-Tree Eco model to derive light competition for individual trees and investigate the importance of this property. Since competition depends also on the species, which is difficult to determine from increasingly used remote sensing methodologies, we also investigate the impact of uncertain tree species classification on the ecosystem services by comparing a species-specific inventory determined by field observation with a genus-specific categorization and a model initialization for the dominant deciduous and evergreen species only. Our results show how the simulation of competition affects the determination of carbon sequestration, leaf area, and related ecosystem services and that the proposed method provides a tool for improving estimations. Misclassifications of tree species can lead to large deviations in estimates of ecosystem impacts, particularly concerning biogenic volatile compound emissions. In our test case, monoterpene emissions almost doubled and isoprene emissions decreased to less than 10% when species were estimated to belong only to either two groups instead of being determined by species or genus. It is discussed that this uncertainty of emission estimates propagates further uncertainty in the estimation of potential ozone formation. Overall, we show the importance of using an individual light competition approach and explicitly parameterizing all ecosystem functions at the species-specific level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Growth and Ecosystem Services of Urban Trees)

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22 pages, 3975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Analysis of Gene and microRNA Expression in Diploid and Autotetraploid Paulownia fortunei (Seem) Hemsl. under Drought Stress by Transcriptome, microRNA, and Degradome Sequencing

by Zhenli Zhao, Suyan Niu, Guoqiang Fan, Minjie Deng and Yuanlong Wang

Forests 2018, 9(2), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020088 - 13 Feb 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5304

Abstract

Drought is a common and recurring climatic condition in many parts of the world, and it can have disastrous impacts on plant growth and development. Many genes involved in the drought response of plants have been identified. Transcriptome, microRNA (miRNA), and degradome analyses [...] Read more.

Drought is a common and recurring climatic condition in many parts of the world, and it can have disastrous impacts on plant growth and development. Many genes involved in the drought response of plants have been identified. Transcriptome, microRNA (miRNA), and degradome analyses are rapid ways of identifying drought-responsive genes. The reference genome sequence of Paulownia fortunei (Seem) Hemsl. is now available, which makes it easier to explore gene expression, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional in this species. In this study, four transcriptome, small RNA, and degradome libraries were sequenced by Illumina sequencing, respectively. A total of 258 genes and 11 miRNAs were identified for drought-responsive genes and miRNAs in P. fortunei. Degradome sequencing detected 28 miRNA target genes that were cleaved by members of nine conserved miRNA families and 12 novel miRNAs. The results here will contribute toward enriching our understanding of the response of Paulownia fortunei trees to drought stress and may provide new direction for further experimental studies related the development of molecular markers, the genetic map construction, and other genomic research projects in Paulownia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Genomics of Forest Trees)

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17 pages, 4547 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transcriptome Analysis of the Biosynthesis of Anthocyanins in Begonia semperflorens under Low-Temperature and High-Light Conditions

by Yanpeng Dong, Ying Qu, Rui Qi, Xue Bai, Geng Tian, Yang Wang, Jiawan Wang and Kaiming Zhang

Forests 2018, 9(2), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020087 - 13 Feb 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4326

Abstract

Anthocyanins are considered a stress indicator due to their involvement in the response to many stresses including high light (HL) and low temperature (LT). With the development of transcriptomics, it is necessary to find the different and common points in the mechanisms of [...] Read more.

Anthocyanins are considered a stress indicator due to their involvement in the response to many stresses including high light (HL) and low temperature (LT). With the development of transcriptomics, it is necessary to find the different and common points in the mechanisms of LT-induced and HL-induced anthocyanin biosynthesis. In the present study, we determined the transcriptomes of Begonia semperflorens leaves under three different conditions (normal growing conditions (CK), HL, and LT). To validate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we selected four core genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis to perform real-time reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and then determined anthocyanin content. In total, 94,880 unigenes with a mean length of 635 bp were assembled. The N50 values of the transcripts and unigenes were 2286 bp and 1064 bp, respectively. The functional annotations of the unigenes were analysed against five protein databases. DEGs related to anthocyanin biosynthesis, transportation, and regulation were identified. We also analysed the enrichment pathway, and the differences in mechanisms of anthocyanin induced under low-temperature and high-light conditions are discussed in this paper. This study is the first to examine broad-scale gene expression in Begonia semperflorens. By identifying DEGs regulated by both LT and HL conditions, we found that anthocyanin accumulation was employed as a common strategy by Begonia seedlings in resisting LT and HL stress. By identifying DEGs regulated differently by LT and HL conditions, we found that Begonia seedlings also had some different strategies for resisting LT and HL stresses: anthocyanins were biosynthesized under HL condition, while lignin, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins were biosynthesized under LT condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecophysiology and Biology)

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13 pages, 2995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships between Wood Formation and Cambium Phenology on the Tibetan Plateau during 1960–2014

by Minhui He, Bao Yang, Vladimir Shishov, Sergio Rossi, Achim Bräuning, Fredrik Charpentier Ljungqvist and Jussi Grießinger

Forests 2018, 9(2), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020086 - 13 Feb 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5103

Abstract

The variability of tree stem phenology plays a critical role in determining the productivity of forest ecosystems. Therefore, we aim to identify the relationships between the timings of cambium phenology, and forest growth in terms of tree-ring width over a long-term scale. A [...] Read more.

The variability of tree stem phenology plays a critical role in determining the productivity of forest ecosystems. Therefore, we aim to identify the relationships between the timings of cambium phenology, and forest growth in terms of tree-ring width over a long-term scale. A meta-analysis was performed that combined the timings of xylem formation, which were calculated by a tree-ring formation model of the VS (Vaganov-Shashkin)-oscilloscope during the period 1960–2014, and a tree-ring width series at 20 composite sites on the Tibetan Plateau. Both the start and length of the growing season significantly affected the formation of wood at 70% of the 20 composite sites within the study region. A wider tree ring probably resulted from an earlier start and a longer duration of the growing season. The influence of ending dates on tree-ring width was less evident, and more site-dependent. Weak relationships were identified between the start and end of the growing season at 85% of the composite sites. Compared to the monitoring results, which could only detect the relationships between cambium phenology and xylem cell production from a limited number of trees and years, our long-term relationships deepened such connections, and therefore should be used to improve mechanism models for the accurate evaluating and predicting of wood production and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems under current and future climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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15 pages, 2942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation and Extrapolation of Tree Parameters Using Spectral Correlation between UAV and Pléiades Data

by Azadeh Abdollahnejad, Dimitrios Panagiotidis and Peter Surový

Forests 2018, 9(2), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020085 - 11 Feb 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6416

Abstract

The latest technological advances in space-borne imagery have significantly enhanced the acquisition of high-quality data. With the availability of very high-resolution satellites, such as Pléiades, it is now possible to estimate tree parameters at the individual level with high fidelity. Despite innovative advantages [...] Read more.

The latest technological advances in space-borne imagery have significantly enhanced the acquisition of high-quality data. With the availability of very high-resolution satellites, such as Pléiades, it is now possible to estimate tree parameters at the individual level with high fidelity. Despite innovative advantages on high-precision satellites, data acquisition is not yet available to the public at a reasonable cost. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the practical advantage of data acquisition at a higher spatial resolution than that of satellites. This study is divided into two main parts: (1) we describe the estimation of basic tree attributes, such as tree height, crown diameter, diameter at breast height (DBH), and stem volume derived from UAV data based on structure from motion (SfM) algorithms; and (2) we consider the extrapolation of the UAV data to a larger area, using correlation between satellite and UAV observations as an economically viable approach. Results have shown that UAVs can be used to predict tree characteristics with high accuracy (i.e., crown projection, stem volume, cross-sectional area (CSA), and height). We observed a significant relation between extracted data from UAV and ground data with R² = 0.71 for stem volume, R² = 0.87 for height, and R² = 0.60 for CSA. In addition, our results showed a high linear relation between spectral data from the UAV and the satellite (R² = 0.94). Overall, the accuracy of the results between UAV and Pléiades was reasonable and showed that the used methods are feasible for extrapolation of extracted data from UAV to larger areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Other Vegetation Parameters)

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42 pages, 3408 KiB

Open AccessReview

Tissue Culture of Corymbia and Eucalyptus

by Stephen J. Trueman, Cao Dinh Hung and Ivar Wendling

Forests 2018, 9(2), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020084 - 9 Feb 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 11992

Abstract

Eucalypts are among the world’s most widely planted trees, but the productivity of eucalypt plantations is limited by their often-low amenability to true-to-type propagation from cuttings. An alternative approach to cutting propagation is tissue culture, which can be used to micropropagate valuable genotypes [...] Read more.

Eucalypts are among the world’s most widely planted trees, but the productivity of eucalypt plantations is limited by their often-low amenability to true-to-type propagation from cuttings. An alternative approach to cutting propagation is tissue culture, which can be used to micropropagate valuable genotypes rapidly while simultaneously preserving germplasm in vitro. This review describes the use of tissue culture methods such as shoot culture, organogenesis, and somatic embryogenesis for micropropagating eucalypts. This review also discusses the use of cool storage, encapsulation, and cryopreservation methods for preserving eucalypt germplasm and delaying tissue maturation under minimal-growth conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Plant Tissue Culture Technology in Biodiversity Conservation—Selected Papers from the IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress)

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19 pages, 2646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mixing Effects in Norway Spruce—European Beech Stands Are Modulated by Site Quality, Stand Age and Moisture Availability

by Léa Houpert, Brigitte Rohner, David I. Forrester, Marco Mina and Markus O. Huber

Forests 2018, 9(2), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020083 - 9 Feb 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4557

Abstract

Although mixing tree species is considered an efficient risk-reduction strategy in the face of climate change, the conditions where mixtures are more productive than monocultures are under ongoing debate. Generalizations have been difficult because of the variety of methods used and due to [...] Read more.

Although mixing tree species is considered an efficient risk-reduction strategy in the face of climate change, the conditions where mixtures are more productive than monocultures are under ongoing debate. Generalizations have been difficult because of the variety of methods used and due to contradictory findings regarding the effects of the species investigated, mixing proportions, and many site and stand conditions. Using data from 960 plots of the Swiss National Forest Inventory data, we assessed whether Picea abies (L.) Karst–Fagus sylvatica L. mixed stands are more productive than pure stands, and whether the mixing effect depends on site- or stand-characteristics. The species proportions were estimated using species proportion by area, which depends on the maximum stand basal area of an unmanaged stand (BA_max). Four different alternatives were used to estimate BA_max and to investigate the effect of these differing alternatives on the estimated mixture effect. On average, the mixture had a negative effect on the growth of Picea abies. However, this effect decreased as moisture availability increased. Fagus sylvatica grew better in mixtures and this effect increased with site quality. A significant interaction between species proportions and quadratic mean diameter, a proxy for stand age, was found for both species: the older the stand, the better the growth of Fagus sylvatica and the lower the growth of Picea abies. Overyielding was predicted for 80% of the investigated sites. The alternative to estimate BA_max weakly modulated the estimated mixture effect, but it did not affect the way mixing effects changed with site characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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16 pages, 2551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Culture and Density Effects on Tree Quality in Midrotation Non-Thinned Loblolly Pine Plantations

by P. Corey Green, Bronson P. Bullock and Michael B. Kane

Forests 2018, 9(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020082 - 9 Feb 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3440

Abstract

Six non-thinned loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) culture × density study sites in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain of the Southeast U.S. were used to examine the effects of two cultural intensities and three planting densities on solid wood potential as [...] Read more.

Six non-thinned loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) culture × density study sites in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain of the Southeast U.S. were used to examine the effects of two cultural intensities and three planting densities on solid wood potential as well as the proportion and position of product-defining defects (forks, crooks, broken tops). A tree quality index (TQI) was used to grade stems for solid wood potential. The results show that an operational management regime exhibited a higher proportion of trees with solid wood product potential than did a very intensive management regime. Trees subject to operational management exhibited product-defining defects higher on the stem; however, the proportion of stems with defects was not significantly different from the intensive management. Planting densities of 741, 1482, and 2223 trees per hectare (TPH) exhibited a relatively narrow range of the proportion of trees with solid wood product potential that were not significantly different. Density did not have a significant effect on the heights of the product-defining defects. These results show that management intensity and less so planting density, affect the solid wood product potential indicators evaluated and should be considered when making management decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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21 pages, 854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Fire Behaviour Data Obtained from Wildfires

by Alexander I. Filkov, Thomas J. Duff and Trent D. Penman

Forests 2018, 9(2), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020081 - 9 Feb 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5721

Abstract

Organisations that manage wildfires are expected to deliver scientifically defensible decisions. However, the limited availability of high quality data restricts the rate at which research can advance. The nature of wildfires contributes to this: they are infrequent, complex events, occur with limited notice [...] Read more.

Organisations that manage wildfires are expected to deliver scientifically defensible decisions. However, the limited availability of high quality data restricts the rate at which research can advance. The nature of wildfires contributes to this: they are infrequent, complex events, occur with limited notice and are of relatively short duration. Some information is typically collected during wildfires, however, it is often of limited quantity and may not be of an appropriate standard for research. Here we argue for a minimum standard of data collection from every wildfire event to enhance the advancement of fire behaviour research and make research findings more internationally relevant. First, we analyse the information routinely collected during fire events across Australia. Secondly, we review research methodologies that may be able to supplement existing data collection. Based on the results of these surveys, we develop a recommended list of variables for routine collection during wildfires. In a research field typified by scarce data, improved data collection standards and methodologies will enhance information quality and allow the advancement in the development of quality science. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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11 pages, 6072 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Common Silvicultural Treatments Affect Wood Density of Mediterranean Montane Pines?

by Daniel Moreno-Fernández, Andrea Hevia, Juan Majada and Isabel Cañellas

Forests 2018, 9(2), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020080 - 9 Feb 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3971

Abstract

Wood density is one of the most important and well documented wood quality attributes. However, studies focusing on the effects of thinning combined with pruning on wood density in Mediterranean areas are scarce, even though both are recommended practices in forests managed for [...] Read more.

Wood density is one of the most important and well documented wood quality attributes. However, studies focusing on the effects of thinning combined with pruning on wood density in Mediterranean areas are scarce, even though both are recommended practices in forests managed for the production of high-quality timber. We assess the effects of both silvicultural interventions on wood density traits (tree-ring, earlywood, and latewood) and on the percentage of latewood, on an annual scale, for the main timber species Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus nigra Arnold (subsp. nigra and subsp. salzmannii) in Mediterranean mountains. To this end, three trials (one species per trial) were established in monospecific reforestations in the 1990s. Three silvicultural treatments were applied: thinning, thinning combined with pruning, and a control. At the time of installation, stand ages ranged from 26 to 37 years. Small differences were found among treatments in regard to the wood density attributes, with no significant effects of thinning and pruning on the studied wood traits in either timber species. The two subspecies of P. nigra presented comparatively denser wood than P. sylvestris. Our results suggest that thinning and pruning treatments can be applied without causing unfavourable changes to wood density. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wood Property Responses to Silvicultural Treatments)

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15 pages, 1714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Renewable Energy from Forest Residues—How Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets Can Make Fossil Fuel Substitution More Attractive

by Denys Yemshanov, Daniel W. McKenney, Emily Hope and Tony Lempriere

Forests 2018, 9(2), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020079 - 8 Feb 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5055

Abstract

Burning forest biomass from renewable sources has been suggested as a viable strategy to help offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the energy generation sector. Energy facilities can, in principle, be retrofitted to produce a portion of their energy from biomass. However, supply [...] Read more.

Burning forest biomass from renewable sources has been suggested as a viable strategy to help offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the energy generation sector. Energy facilities can, in principle, be retrofitted to produce a portion of their energy from biomass. However, supply uncertainties affect costs, and are an important impediment to widespread and sustained adoption of this strategy. In this paper, we describe a general approach to assess the cost of offsetting GHG emissions at co-generation facilities by replacing two common fossil fuels, coal and natural gas, with forest harvest residue biomass for heat and electricity production. We apply the approach to a Canadian case study that identifies the price of GHG offsets that could make the use of forest residue biomass feedstock attractive. Biomass supply costs were based on a geographical assessment of industrial harvest operations in Canadian forests, biomass extraction and transportation costs, and included representation of basic ecological sustainability and technical accessibility constraints. Sensitivity analyses suggest that biomass extraction costs have the largest impact on the costs of GHG emission offsets, followed by fossil fuel prices. In the context of other evaluations of mitigation strategies in the energy generation sector, such as afforestation or industrial carbon capture, this analysis suggests that the substitution of fossil fuels by forest residue biomass could be a viable and reasonably substantive short-term alternative under appropriate GHG emission pricing schemes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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10 pages, 2742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Historic Frequency and Severity of Fire in Whitebark Pine Forests of the Cascade Mountain Range, USA

by Michael P. Murray and Joel Siderius

Forests 2018, 9(2), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020078 - 7 Feb 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4994

Abstract

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is a foundation species of high elevation forest ecosystems in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We examined fire evidence on 55 fire history sites located in the Cascade Range. To estimate dates [...] Read more.

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) is a foundation species of high elevation forest ecosystems in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We examined fire evidence on 55 fire history sites located in the Cascade Range. To estimate dates of historic fires we analyzed 57 partial cross-sections from fire-scarred trees plus 700 increment cores. The resulting 101 fire events indicate fire has been a widespread component of Cascadian whitebark pine stands. Results are site specific and vary considerably. Whitebark pine stands appear to burn in a variety of severities and frequencies. Sites where fire intervals were detected ranged from 9 to 314 years, with a median of 49 years, and averaging 67 years. Fire intervals shortened significantly with higher latitudes. In assessing the most recent fire event at each site, overall, 56 percent burned as stand replacing events. In the 20th century, the number of fires diminished significantly. Due to conservation imperatives, re-introducing fire should be undertaken with extreme care to avoid substantial mortality of this endangered species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Restoration of Whitebark Pine)

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24 pages, 5747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing Wood Supply Scenarios from Forest Inventories with Stratified Predictions

by Philipp Kilham, Gerald Kändler, Christoph Hartebrodt, Anne-Sophie Stelzer and Ulrich Schraml

Forests 2018, 9(2), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020077 - 6 Feb 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4795

Abstract

Forest growth and wood supply projections are increasingly used to estimate the future availability of woody biomass and the correlated effects on forests and climate. This research parameterizes an inventory-based business-as-usual wood supply scenario, with a focus on southwest Germany and the period [...] Read more.

Forest growth and wood supply projections are increasingly used to estimate the future availability of woody biomass and the correlated effects on forests and climate. This research parameterizes an inventory-based business-as-usual wood supply scenario, with a focus on southwest Germany and the period 2002–2012 with a stratified prediction. First, the Classification and Regression Trees algorithm groups the inventory plots into strata with corresponding harvest probabilities. Second, Random Forest algorithms generate individual harvest probabilities for the plots of each stratum. Third, the plots with the highest individual probabilities are selected as harvested until the harvest probability of the stratum is fulfilled. Fourth, the harvested volume of these plots is predicted with a linear regression model trained on harvested plots only. To illustrate the pros and cons of this method, it is compared to a direct harvested volume prediction with linear regression, and a combination of logistic regression and linear regression. Direct harvested volume regression predicts comparable volume figures, but generates these volumes in a way that differs from business-as-usual. The logistic model achieves higher overall classification accuracies, but results in underestimations or overestimations of harvest shares for several subsets of the data. The stratified prediction method balances this shortcoming, and can be of general use for forest growth and timber supply projections from large-scale forest inventories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Inventory, Modeling and Remote Sensing)

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16 pages, 3665 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing the Quantity and Structure of Deadwood in Selection Managed and Old-Growth Forests in South-East Europe

by Srđan Keren and Jurij Diaci

Forests 2018, 9(2), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020076 - 5 Feb 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 5536

Abstract

The knowledge about the impact of selection silviculture on deadwood components is fairly scarce. This study compared two Dinaric old-growth forests (OGFs) with adjacent managed forests (MFs) in which the single-tree selection system has been applied for a century. The comparisons were made [...] Read more.

The knowledge about the impact of selection silviculture on deadwood components is fairly scarce. This study compared two Dinaric old-growth forests (OGFs) with adjacent managed forests (MFs) in which the single-tree selection system has been applied for a century. The comparisons were made in terms of the current amounts of coarse woody debris (CWD), distribution of its decay stages, and diameter structure of different CWD types (snags, logs, stumps). The relationship between the volume of live and dead trees was also examined. In both OGFs and MFs, the most snags were found in the third decay stage, while the volume of logs and stumps increased from the first to fifth decay class. The study showed the clear advantage of OGFs over adjacent selection MFs in terms of CWD volume, whereas the basal area of live trees and growing stock were not always reliable indicators for distinguishing between MFs and OGFs. The diameter distribution of individual CWD types (snags, logs, stumps) also differed significantly between selection MFs and OGFs in all tested pairs. This fact, along with the significant differences in CWD volume, indicates that selection silviculture should be amended to incorporate practices that ensure more natural management of deadwood components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Old Growth Temperate and Boreal Forests: Processes, Functions, and Dynamics)

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17 pages, 2001 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Encroachment Dynamics of Juniperus virginiana L. and Mesic Hardwood Species into Cross Timbers Forests of North-Central Oklahoma, USA

by Daniel L. Hoff, Rodney E. Will, Chris B. Zou and Nathan D. Lillie

Forests 2018, 9(2), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020075 - 3 Feb 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5402

Abstract

Cross Timbers forests, typically dominated by Quercus stellata Wangenh. and Q. marilandica Muenchh., are the transition zone between eastern deciduous forest and prairie in the southern Great Plains. Fire exclusion beginning in the mid-1900s has led to increasing stand density and encroachment of [...] Read more.

Cross Timbers forests, typically dominated by Quercus stellata Wangenh. and Q. marilandica Muenchh., are the transition zone between eastern deciduous forest and prairie in the southern Great Plains. Fire exclusion beginning in the mid-1900s has led to increasing stand density and encroachment of fire-intolerant Juniperus virginiana L. and mesic hardwood. We measured current forest structure and tree ages of 25 stands (130 plots) in north-central Oklahoma to characterize the extent and dynamics of encroachment. The respective basal area and stand density of the overstory (diameter at breast height; dbh > 10 cm) were 19.0 m² ha⁻¹ and 407 trees ha⁻¹ with Q. stellata comprising 43% of basal area and 42% of stand density. Quercus marilandica represented only 3% of basal area and 4% of overstory density. Juniperus virginiana represented 7% of basal area and 14% of stand density while mesic hardwoods, e.g., Celtis spp., Ulmus spp., Carya spp., 33% of basal area and stand density. The sapling layer was dominated by mesic hardwoods (68%) and J. virginiana (25%) while the seedling layer was dominated by mesic hardwoods (74%). The majority of Quercus recruited into the overstory between 1910–1970, while recruitment of J. virginiana and mesic hardwoods began more recently (post 1950s). Growth rate, based on the relationship between age and dbh, was faster for mesic hardwoods than for J. virginiana and Q. stellata. These results indicate that removal of recurrent surface fire as a disturbance agent has significantly altered forest composition in the Cross Timbers region by allowing encroachment of J. virginiana and fire-intolerant, mesic hardwoods. This increases wildfire risk because J. virginiana is very flammable and will alter how these forests respond to future drought and other disturbance events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Species in Forest Ecosystems)

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25 pages, 23154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Night Light-Adaptation Strategies for Photosynthetic Apparatus in Yellow-Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) Exposed to Artificial Night Lighting

by Myeong Ja Kwak, Sun Mi Je, Hyo Cheng Cheng, Se Myeong Seo, Jeong Ho Park, Saeng Geul Baek, Inkyin Khaine, Taeyoon Lee, Jihwi Jang, Yang Li, Haenaem Kim, Jong Kyu Lee, Jieun Kim and Su Young Woo

Forests 2018, 9(2), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020074 - 2 Feb 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7805

Abstract

Plants can undergo external fluctuations in the natural light and dark cycle. The photosynthetic apparatus needs to operate in an appropriate manner to fluctuating environmental factors, especially in light. Yellow-poplar seedlings were exposed to nighttime artificial high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting to evaluate night [...] Read more.

Plants can undergo external fluctuations in the natural light and dark cycle. The photosynthetic apparatus needs to operate in an appropriate manner to fluctuating environmental factors, especially in light. Yellow-poplar seedlings were exposed to nighttime artificial high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting to evaluate night light-adaptation strategies for photosynthetic apparatus fitness relative to pigment contents, photosystem II photochemistry, photosynthetic parameters, histochemical analysis of reactive oxygen species, and plant biomass. As a result, seedlings exhibited dynamic changes including the enhancement of accessory pigments, the reduction of photosystem II photochemistry, increased stomatal limitation, downregulation of photosynthesis, and the decreased aboveground and belowground biomass under artificial night lighting. Histochemical analysis with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) staining indicates the accumulation of in situ superoxide radicals (O₂⁻) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in leaves exposed to the lowest level of artificial night lighting compared to control. Moreover, these leaves exposed to artificial night lighting had a lower nighttime respiration rate. These results indicated that HPS lighting during the night may act as a major factor as repressors of the fitness of photosynthesis and growth patterns, via a modification of the photosynthetic light harvesting apparatus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Ecophysiology: Responses and Adaptation to a Changing Environment)

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21 pages, 13347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Global LAI/FPAR Products from VIIRS and MODIS Sensors for Spatio-Temporal Consistency and Uncertainty from 2012–2016

by Baodong Xu, Taejin Park, Kai Yan, Chi Chen, Yelu Zeng, Wanjuan Song, Gaofei Yin, Jing Li, Qinhuo Liu, Yuri Knyazikhin and Ranga B. Myneni

Forests 2018, 9(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020073 - 1 Feb 2018

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 7934

Abstract

The operational Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation absorbed by vegetation (FPAR) algorithm has been successfully implemented for Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) observations by optimizing a small set of configurable parameters in [...] Read more.

The operational Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation absorbed by vegetation (FPAR) algorithm has been successfully implemented for Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) observations by optimizing a small set of configurable parameters in Look-Up-Tables (LUTs). Our preliminary evaluation showed reasonable agreement between VIIRS and MODIS LAI/FPAR retrievals. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive investigation to assure continuity of multi-sensor global LAI/FPAR time series, as the preliminary evaluation was spatiotemporally limited. In this study, we use a multi-year (2012–2016) global LAI/FPAR product generated from VIIRS and MODIS to evaluate for spatiotemporal consistency. We also quantify uncertainty of the product by utilizing available ground measurements. For both consistency and uncertainty evaluation, we account for variations in biome type and temporal resolution. Our results indicate that the LAI/FPAR retrievals from VIIRS and MODIS are consistent at different spatial (i.e., global and site) and temporal (i.e., 8-day, seasonal and annual) scales. The estimate of mean discrepancy (−0.006 ± 0.013 for LAI and −0.002 ± 0.002 for FPAR) meets the stability requirement for long-term LAI/FPAR Earth System Data Records (ESDRs) from multi-sensors as suggested by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). It is noteworthy that the rate of retrievals from the radiative transfer-based main algorithm is also comparable between two sensors. However, a relatively larger discrepancy over tropical forests was observed due to reflectance saturation and an unexpected interannual variation of main algorithm success was noticed due to instability in input surface reflectances. The uncertainties/relative uncertainties of VIIRS and MODIS LAI (FPAR) products assessed through comparisons to ground measurements are estimated to be 0.60/42.2% (0.10/24.4%) and 0.55/39.3% (0.11/26%), respectively. Note that the validated LAI were only distributed in low domains (~2.5), resulting in large relative uncertainty. Therefore, more ground measurements are needed to achieve a more comprehensive evaluation result of product uncertainty. The results presented here generally imbue confidence in the consistency between VIIRS and MODIS LAI/FPAR products and the feasibility of generating long-term multi-sensor LAI/FPAR ESDRs time series. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Other Vegetation Parameters)

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11 pages, 1499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Susceptibility of Several Czech Conifer Provenances to Fusarium circinatum

by Jorge Martín-García, Aneta Lukačevičová, Juan Asdrúbal Flores-Pacheco, Julio Javier Diez and Miloň Dvořák

Forests 2018, 9(2), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020072 - 1 Feb 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5777

Abstract

Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, is considered among the most important diseases affecting pines in many locations throughout the world. In Europe, F. circinatum is currently present in the Iberian Peninsula, posing a high risk of its spread into [...] Read more.

Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, is considered among the most important diseases affecting pines in many locations throughout the world. In Europe, F. circinatum is currently present in the Iberian Peninsula, posing a high risk of its spread into currently disease-free countries in Europe. In the present study, the susceptibility of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, and Larix decidua originating in the Czech Republic to F. circinatum was tested. Furthermore, the presence of asymptomatic yet infected seedlings was also checked. This study demonstrated the pathogenicity of F. circinatum to the Czech provenance of P. sylvestris, whereas Picea abies and Larix decidua proved to be tolerant. The reisolation of F. circinatum beyond the inoculation point demonstrated that this quarantine pathogen is able to infect the three conifers tested, giving rise to asymptomatic seedlings for at least eight and a half months. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the presence of symptomless seedlings has been recorded in the genera Picea and Larix. This finding points out that the European legislation would fail to avoid the risk of new introductions via symptomless seedlings, since this legislation is only restricted to plants of the genus Pinus and the species Pseudotsuga menziesii. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pine Pitch Canker—Strategies for Management of Gibberella Circinata in Greenhouses and Forests (PINESTRENGTH))

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16 pages, 2531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intraspecific Variation in Pines from the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Grown under Two Watering Regimes: Implications for Management of Genetic Resources

by Andrés Flores, José Climent, Valentín Pando, Javier López-Upton and Ricardo Alía

Forests 2018, 9(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020071 - 30 Jan 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4149

Abstract

Management of forest genetic resources requires experimental data related to the genetic variation of the species and populations under different climatic conditions. Foresters also demand to know how the main selective drivers will influence the adaptability of the genetic resources. To assess the [...] Read more.

Management of forest genetic resources requires experimental data related to the genetic variation of the species and populations under different climatic conditions. Foresters also demand to know how the main selective drivers will influence the adaptability of the genetic resources. To assess the inter- and intraspecific variation and plasticity in seedling drought tolerance at a relevant genetic resource management scale, we tested the changes in growth and biomass allocation of seedlings of Pinus oocarpa, P. patula and P. pseudostrobus under two contrasting watering regimes. We found general significant intraspecific variation and intraspecific differences in plasticity, since both population and watering by population interaction were significant for all three species. All the species and populations share a common general avoidance mechanism (allometric adjustment of shoot/root biomass). However, the intraspecific variation and differences in phenotypic plasticity among populations modify the adaptation strategies of the species to drought. Some of the differences are related to the climatic conditions of the location of origin. We confirmed that even at reduced geographical scales, Mexican pines present differences in the response to water stress. The differences among species and populations are relevant in afforestation programs as well as in genetic conservation activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Genomics of Forest Trees)

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17 pages, 3053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Moderate Disturbance Has Similar Effects on Production Regardless of Site Quality and Composition

by Benjamin T. Sagara, Robert T. Fahey, Christoph S. Vogel, Alexander T. Fotis, Peter S. Curtis and Christopher M. Gough

Forests 2018, 9(2), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020070 - 30 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4718

Abstract

Moderate severity disturbances, which only kill a subset of canopy trees (e.g., via insects, pathogens, and windthrow), are increasingly widespread in North America, and can alter forest structure and production. Whether the net primary production (NPP) of forest stands differing in pre-disturbance site [...] Read more.

Moderate severity disturbances, which only kill a subset of canopy trees (e.g., via insects, pathogens, and windthrow), are increasingly widespread in North America, and can alter forest structure and production. Whether the net primary production (NPP) of forest stands differing in pre-disturbance site quality and composition respond similarly to moderate severity disturbance, however, is unknown, but critical to understanding the disturbance response dynamics of patchy landscapes. We experimentally disturbed three, 2-ha stands varying in pre-disturbance primary production and community composition, temporarily reducing live stand basal area by 38% to 66% through the stem girdling of all mature early successional aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx. and Populus grandidentata Michx.) and birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall). Disturbance significantly altered stand-scale physical and biological structure and prompted a similar decade-long pattern of wood NPP decline and recovery. All stands exhibited an initial reduction in wood NPP, followed by a recovery period and eventual return to pre-disturbance levels within eight years, with the most productive stand exhibiting an increase in primary production following recovery. Following wood NPP recovery, more biologically diverse forest canopies with higher leaf area indexes intercepted more light, and, consequently, had higher rates of wood NPP. We conclude that, despite substantial pre-disturbance differences in productivity and community composition, relative wood NPP recovery patterns can be similar, though long-term post-recovery primary production may trend higher in more productive and compositionally diverse stands. We suggest that improved mechanistic understanding of different forest ecosystems’ responses to disturbances remains critical to informing management decisions across diverse landscape mosaics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disturbance, Succession, and Development of Forests)

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13 pages, 1849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coleopteran Communities Associated with Forests Invaded by Emerald Ash Borer

by Matthew B. Savage and Lynne K. Rieske

Forests 2018, 9(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020069 - 30 Jan 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5041

Abstract

Extensive ash mortality caused by the non-native emerald ash borer alters canopy structure and creates inputs of coarse woody debris as dead and dying ash fall to the forest floor; this affects habitat heterogeneity; resource availability; and exposure to predation and parasitism. As [...] Read more.

Extensive ash mortality caused by the non-native emerald ash borer alters canopy structure and creates inputs of coarse woody debris as dead and dying ash fall to the forest floor; this affects habitat heterogeneity; resource availability; and exposure to predation and parasitism. As EAB-induced (emerald ash borer-induced) disturbance progresses the native arthropod associates of these forests may be irreversibly altered through loss of habitat; changing abiotic conditions and altered trophic interactions. We documented coleopteran communities associated with EAB-disturbed forests in a one-year study to evaluate the nature of these changes. Arthropods were collected via ethanol-baited traps on five sites with varying levels of EAB-induced ash mortality from May to September; captured beetles were identified to the family level and assigned to feeding guilds (herbivore; fungivore; xylophage; saprophage; predator; or parasite). Over 11,700 Coleoptera were identified in 57 families. In spite of their abundance; herbivores comprised a relatively small portion of coleopteran family richness (8 of 57 families). Conversely, coleopteran fungivore richness was high (23 families), and fungivore abundance was low. Herbivores and fungivores were more abundant at sites where ash decline was most evident. The predatory Trogossitidae and Cleridae were positively correlated with ash decline, suggesting a positive numerical response to the increased prey base associated with EAB invasion. Ash forests are changing, and a deeper understanding of arthropod community responses will facilitate restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding and Managing Emerald Ash Borer Impacts on Ash Forests)

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22 pages, 10124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Pattern and Temporal Stability of Root-Zone Soil Moisture during Growing Season on a Larch Plantation Hillslope in Northwest China

by Zebin Liu, Yanhui Wang, Pengtao Yu, Ao Tian, Yarui Wang, Wei Xiong and Lihong Xu

Forests 2018, 9(2), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020068 - 29 Jan 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3907

Abstract

Soil moisture plays a decisive role for tree growth and forest ecosystems services supply in dryland regions. Hence, it is necessary to clarify the spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture under field conditions. This study selected a hillslope in the Liupan Mountains covered by [...] Read more.

Soil moisture plays a decisive role for tree growth and forest ecosystems services supply in dryland regions. Hence, it is necessary to clarify the spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture under field conditions. This study selected a hillslope in the Liupan Mountains covered by the plantation of Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr (larch), a main afforestation tree species in north and northwest China. The volumetric soil moisture (VSM) in root zone layers was monitored with a time interval of about 15 days during the growing season (from May to October) in 2016 at 48 points on this hillslope. The aim was to evaluate the spatial pattern and temporal stability of soil moisture at slope scale. The results showed a moderate spatial variability of VSM in each soil layer, with the variation coefficients range of 17.12–22.63%. The spatial variability of VSM showed a dependence on the soil wetness and a threshold effect, it increased with rising VSM until the VSM reached a threshold of about 15%, but thereafter decreased. The mean relative difference (MRD) among the 48 points ranged from −30.56% to 27.20%, −29.89% to 39.58%, and −28.13% to 33.71% for the soil layers of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm, respectively. The associated standard deviation (SDRD) (and range) was 11.38% (5.20–26.06%), 8.28% (4.64–15.63%), and 6.51% (2.00–14.16%) for the soil layers of 0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm, respectively. The high Spearman’s rank coefficients (p < 0.05) among the measuring dates at each soil layer indicated that the spatial distribution of VSM in the root zone had strong temporal stability. The decrease of Spearman’ rank correlation coefficient and mean SDRD with rising soil depth indicated an increasing temporal stability of VSM with rising soil depth. The mean VSM of the three soil layers on the entire hillslope can be estimated by the direct method (using representative points determined by the index of temporal stability (ITS)) successfully, and these representative points determined by ITS were mainly located at the points with a ratio of field capacity to leaf area index (LAI) close to the slope mean. Moreover, the mean VSM of the three soil layers on the entire hillslope can also be estimated by indirect method (using the time-stable points determined by mean absolute bias error (MABE) and considering the offset between slope mean VSM and observed VSM at time-stable points), and the prediction accuracy of the indirect method was better than the direct method. Significant correlation between MRD and soil bulk density, field capacity, capillary porosity, and LAI were observed for all soil layers, indicating that both the water-retention ability in root zone soil (expressed mainly by field capacity) and water-consumption ability of trees (expressed mainly by canopy LAI) are the main factors controlling the spatial pattern of root-zone VSM on the larch plantation hillslope studied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)

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