Contrasting tree-ring data with fire record in a pine-dominated landscape in the Komi Republic (Eastern European Russia) : recovering a common climate signal

Abstract

Reduced simple ratio better than NDVI for estimating LAI in Finnish pine and spruce stands

Abstract

Leaf-cutting ant attack in initial pine plantations and growth of defoliated plants

The objective of this work was to evaluate the natural attack by Acromyrmex crassispinus in initial Pinus taeda plantations without control measures against ants, as well as the effect of defoliation in seedlings of P. taeda. Evaluations of the attack of leaf-cutting ants on P. taeda plantations were done monthly in the first six months, then 9 and 12 months after planting. The percentages of plants that were naturally attacked by ants were registered. The effect of defoliation was evaluated by artificial defoliation, simulating the natural patterns of attack by A. crassispinus on P. taeda seedlings. The natural attack of A. crassispinus was greater during the first months after planting, being more intense in the first 30 days. Artificial defoliation indicated that there were no significant losses in diameter and height in plants with less than 75% defoliation. However, there were significant losses in diameter and height in plants with 100% defoliation, independently of the cut of the apical meristem, and also plant death. The control of leaf-cutting ants in P. taeda plantings, in which A. crassispinus is the most frequent leaf-cutting ant, should be intense only at the beginning of planting, since the most severe attacks occur during this time.

Does phylogeographic structure relate to climatic niche divergence? A test using maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.)

Aim To disentangle the effects of environmental and geographical processes driving phylogenetic distances among clades of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). To assess the implications for conservation management of combining molecular information with species distribution models (SDMs; which predict species distribution based on known occurrence records and on environmental variables). Location Western Mediterranean Basin and European Atlantic coast. Methods We undertook two cluster analyses for eight genetically defined pine clades based on climatic niche and genetic similarities. We assessed niche similarity by means of a principal component analysis and Schoener's D metric. To calculate genetic similarity, we used the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean based on Nei's distance using 266 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We then assessed the contribution of environmental and geographical distances to phylogenetic distance by means of Mantel regression with variance partitioning. Finally, we compared the projection obtained from SDMs fitted from the species level (SDMsp) and composed from the eight clade-level models (SDMcm). Results Genetically and environmentally defined clusters were identical. Environmental and geographical distances explained 12.6% of the phylogenetic distance variation and, overall, geographical and environmental overlap among clades was low. Large differences were detected between SDMsp and SDMcm (57.75% of disagreement in the areas predicted as suitable). Main conclusions The genetic structure within the maritime pine subspecies complex is primarily a consequence of its demographic history, as seen by the high proportion of unexplained variation in phylogenetic distances. Nevertheless, our results highlight the contribution of local environmental adaptation in shaping the lower-order, phylogeographical distribution patterns and spatial genetic structure of maritime pine: (1) genetically and environmentally defined clusters are consistent, and (2) environment, rather than geography, explained a higher proportion of variation in phylogenetic distance. SDMs, key tools in conservation management, better characterize the fundamental niche of the species when they include molecular information.

Building wood debris piles benefits avian seed dispersers in burned and logged Mediterranean pine forests

Salvage logging is a common practice carried out in burned forests worldwide, and intended to mitigate the economic losses caused by wildfires. Logging implies an additional disturbance occurring shortly after fire, although its ecological effects can be somewhat mitigated by leaving wood debris on site. The composition of the bird community and its capacity to provide ecosystem services such as seed dispersal offleshy-fruited plants have been shown to be affected by postfire logging. We assessedthe effects of the habitat structure resulting from different postfire management practices on the bird community, in three burned pine forests in Catalonia (western Mediterranean). For this purpose, we focused on the group of species that is responsible for seed dispersal, a process which takes place primarily during the winter in theMediterranean basin. In addition, we assessed microhabitat selection by seed disperser birds in such environments in relation to management practices. Our results showed a significant, positive relationship between the density of wood debris piles and the abundance of seed disperser birds. Furthermore, such piles were the preferredmicrohabitat of these species. This reveals an important effect of forest management on seed disperser birds, which is likely to affect the dynamics of bird-dependent seed dispersal. Thus, building wood debris piles can be a useful practice for the conservation of both the species and their ecosystem services, while also being compatible with timber harvesting

METHANE DRY REFORMING OVER Ni SUPPORTED ON PINE SAWDUST ACTIVATED CARBON: EFFECTS OF SUPPORT SURFACE PROPERTIES AND METAL LOADING

The influence of metal loading and support surface functional groups (SFG) on methane dry reforming (MDR) over Ni catalysts supported on pine-sawdust derived activated carbon were studied. Using pine sawdust as the catalyst support precursor, the smallest variety and lowest concentration of SFG led to best Ni dispersion and highest catalytic activity, which increased with Ni loading up to 3 Ni atoms nm-2. At higher Ni loading, the formation of large metal aggregates was observed, consistent with a lower "apparen" surface area and a decrease in catalytic activity. The H2/CO ratio rose with increasing reaction temperature, indicating that increasingly important side reactions were taking place in addition to MDR.

Dried powders of velvetbean and pine bark added to soil reduce Rhizoctonia solani-induced disease on soybean

Diseases induced by Rhizoctonia solani, like damping-off and root and stem rot on soybean (Glycine max), are a serious problem around the world. The addition of some organic material to soil is an alternative control for these diseases. In this study, benzaldehyde and dried powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean or mucuna (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine bark (Pinus spp.) were used in an attempt to improve soybean plant growth and to reduce the disease R. solani (AG-4) causes on soybean. Benzaldehyde (0.1-0.4 mL/kg of soil) and velvetbean (25-100 g/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced mycelial growth of R. solani in laboratory tests. In greenhouse experiments, the percentage of non-diseased plants was higher in treatments with pine bark and velvetbean (50-100 g/kg). In soil treated with kudzu (r²=0.91) or velvetbean (r²=0.94), increasing rates of these amendments tended to increase plant fresh mass. In microplot field conditions, soil amended with velvetbean (r²=0.85) and pine-bark (r²=0.61) significantly reduced disease on soybean. Numbers of Bacillus megaterium (r²=0.87) and Trichoderma hamatum (r²=0.92) and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (r²=0.91) were higher in soil amended with increasing rates of velvetbean, indicating an increase in microbial activity. From this study it is concluded that dried powders of velvetbean and pine bark added to soil can reduce Rhizoctonia-induced disease on soybean.

Powders of kudzu, velvetbean, and pine bark added to soil increase microbial population and reduce Southern blight of soybean

Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii) of soybean (Glycine max) is an important disease throughout the world. Some soil amendments can reduce disease levels by improving soil microbial activity. The main goals of this study were to investigate the effects of soil amendments such as dried powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine bark (Pinus taeda), on soil microbial population and disease caused by S. rolfsii on soybean. Pine bark, velvetbean (mucuna) and kudzu (25 g kg-1) added to soil were effective in reducing disease incidence [non-amended (NA) ~ 39%; amended (A) ~ 2 to 11%)]. Bacillus megaterium was the bacteria most frequently isolated in soils with velvetbean or kudzu (NA ~ log 5.7 CFU g-1 of dried soil; A ~ log 6.2). Soils with velvetbean and kudzu stimulated increase in population of Enterobacter aerogenes (NA ~ log 3; A ~ log 5.1-5.8). Pseudomonas putida population was higher in A than in NA (NA ~ log 4; A ~ log 5.5), and was negatively correlated (r = -0.83, P = 1%) to disease incidence. Soil amended with kudzu and pine bark stimulated increases in populations of Trichoderma koningii (NA ~ log 1.6; A ~ log 2.9) and Penicillium citreonigrum (NA ~ log 1.3; A ~ log 2.6), respectively. Penicillium herquei soil population increased with addition of kudzu (NA ~ log 1.2; A, ~ log 2.5). These microorganisms are antagonists of soil-borne pathogens. Powders of velvetbean, kudzu, and pine bark can increase antagonistic population in soil and reduce disease.

Thermoanalytical study and characterization of native starches of Paraná pine seeds (Araucaria angustiofolia, Bert O. Ktze) and European chestnut seeds (Castanea sativa, Mill)

Starch is the most important carbohydrate storage in plants. It is a raw material with diverse botanical origins, and is used by the food, paper, chemical, pharmaceutical, textile and other industries. In this work, native starches of Paraná pine seeds (pinhão) (Araucária angustiofolia, Bert O. Ktze) and european chestnut seeds (Castanea sativa, Mill) were studied by thermoanalytical techniques: thermo-gravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), as well as X-ray powder patterns diffractometry. Apparent and total amylose content was also determined.

Harvesting and wood transport planning with SNAP III program (Scheduling and Network Analysis Program) in a pine plantation in Southeast Brazil

The objective of this study was to verify the potential of SNAP III (Scheduling and Network Analysis Program) as a support tool for harvesting and wood transport planning in Brazil harvesting subsystem definition and establishment of a compatible route were assessed. Initially, machine operational and production costs were determined in seven subsystems for the study area, and quality indexes, construction and maintenance costs of forest roads were obtained and used as SNAP III program input data. The results showed, that three categories of forest road occurrence were observed in the study area: main, secondary and tertiary which, based on quality index, allowed a medium vehicle speed of about 41, 30 and 24 km/hours and a construction cost of about US$ 5,084.30, US$ 2,275.28 and US$ 1,650.00/km, respectively. The SNAP III program used as a support tool for the planning, was found to have a high potential tool in the harvesting and wood transport planning. The program was capable of defining efficiently, the harvesting subsystem on technical and economical basis, the best wood transport route and the forest road to be used in each period of the horizon planning.