Estimates of genetic parameters for growth and wood properties in Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. to support tree breeding in Vietnam

Key message Eucalyptus pellita demonstrated good growth and wood quality traits in this study, with young plantation grown timber being suitable for both solid and pulp wood products. All traits examined were under moderate levels of genetic control with little genotype by environment interaction when grown on two contrasting sites in Vietnam. Context Eucalyptus pellita currently has a significant role in reforestation in the tropics. Research to support expanded of use of this species is needed: particularly, research to better understand the genetic control of key traits will facilitate the development of genetically improved planting stock. Aims This study aimed to provide estimates of the heritability of diameter at breast height over bark, wood basic density, Kraft pulp yield, modulus of elasticity and microfibril angle, and the genetic correlations among these traits, and understand the importance of genotype by environment interactions in Vietnam. Methods Data for diameter and wood properties were collected from two 10-year-old, open-pollinated progeny trials of E. pellita in Vietnam that evaluated 104 families from six native range and three orchard sources. Wood properties were estimated from wood samples using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Data were analysed using mixed linear models to estimate genetic parameters (heritability, proportion of variance between seed sources and genetic correlations). Results Variation among the nine sources was small compared to additive variance. Narrow-sense heritability and genetic correlation estimates indicated that simultaneous improvements in most traits could be achieved from selection among and within families as the genetic correlations among traits were either favourable or close to zero. Type B genetic correlations approached one for all traits suggesting that genotype by environment interactions were of little importance. These results support a breeding strategy utilizing a single breeding population advanced by selecting the best individuals across all seed sources. Conclusion Both growth and wood properties have been evaluated. Multi-trait selection for growth and wood property traits will lead to more productive populations of E. pellita both with improved productivity and improved timber and pulp properties.

Vegetation structure and floristic composition of a tropical dry deciduous forest in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, India

A permanent 2 ha (200 m x 100 m) plot was established for long-term monitoring of plant diversity and dynamics in a tropical dry deciduous forest of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, southern India. Enumeration of all woody plants >= 1 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) yielded a total of 1766 individuals that belonged to 46 species, 37 genera and 24 families. Combretaceae was the most abundant family in the forest with a family importance value of 68.3. Plant density varied from 20 - 90 individuals with an average 35 individuals/quadrat (20 m x 20 m). Randia dumetorum, with 466 individuals (representing 26.7 % of the total density 2 ha(-1)) with species importance value of 36.25, was the dominant species in the plot. The total basal area of the plot was 18.09 m(2) ha(-1) with a mean of 0.72 m(2) quadrat(-1). The highest basal area of the plot was contributed by Combretaceae (12.93 m(2) 2 ha(-1)) at family level and Terminalia tomentosa (5.58 m(2) 2 ha(-1)) at species level. The lowest diameter class (1-10 cm) had the highest density (1054 individuals 2 ha(-1)), but basal area was highest in the 80 - 90 cm diameter class (5.03m(2) 2 ha(-1)). Most of the species exhibited random or aggregated distribution over the plot. This study provides a baseline information on the dry forests of Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.

Microsite occupancy and spatial structure of regeneration in three late-successional Norway spruce forests in northern Europe

A comparison of microsite occupancy and the spatial structure of regeneration in three areas of late-successional Norway spruce dominated forest. Pallas-Ylläs is understood to have been influenced only by small-scale disturbance; Dvina-Pinega has had sporadic larger-scale disturbances; Kazkim has been affected by fire. All spruce and birch trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ?10 cm were mapped in five stands on 40 m x 400 m transects, and those with DBH < 10 cm on 2 or 4 m x 400 m subplots. Microsite type was inventoried at 1m intervals along the centre line and for each tree with DBH < 10 cm. At all study areas small seedlings (h < 0.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) preferentially occupied disturbed microsites. In contrast, spruce saplings (h ? 1.3 m, DBH <10 cm) at all study areas showed less, or no, preference. At Pallas-Ylläs spruce seedlings (h < 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) and saplings (h ? 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) exhibited spatial correlation at scales from 32-52 m. At Dvina-Pinega saplings of both spruce and birch exhibited spatial correlation at scales from 32-81 m. At Kazkim spatial correlation of seedlings and saplings of both species was exhibited over variable distances. No spatial cross-correlation was found between overstorey basal area (DBH ? 10 cm) and regeneration (h ? 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) at any study area. The results confirm the importance of disturbed microsites for seedling establishment, but suggest that undisturbed microsites may sometimes be more advantageous for long-term tree survival. The regeneration gap concept may not be useful in describing the regeneration dynamics of late-successional boreal forests.

Long term monitering of vegetation in a tropical deciduous forest in Mudumalai,southern India

As part of an international network of large plots to study tropical vegetation dynamics on a long-term basis, a 50-hectare permanent plot was set up during 1988-89 in the deciduous forests of Mudumalai, southern India. Within this plot 25,929 living woody plants (71 species) above 1 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) were identified, measured, tagged and mapped. Species abundances corresponded to the characteristic log-normal distribution. The four most abundant species (Kydia calycina, Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Terminalia crenulata and Helicteres isora) constituted nearly 56% of total stems, while seven species were represented by only one individual each in the plot. Variance/mean ratios of density showed most species to have clumped distributions. The population declined overall by 14% during the first two years, largely due to elephant and fire-mediated damage to Kydia calycina and Helicteres isora. In this article we discuss the need for large plots to study vegetation dynamics.

Contrasting fire regimes in a seasonally dry tropical forest and a savanna ecosystem in the western Ghats, India

Tropical dry forests and savannas constitute more than half of all tropical forests and grasslands, but little is known about forest fire regimes within these two extensive types of ecosystems. Forest fire regimes in a predominantly dry forest in India, the Nilgiri landscape, and a predominantly savanna ecosystem in the Sathyamangalam landscape, were examined. Remote sensing data were applied to delineate burned areas, determine fire size characteristics, and to estimate fire-rotation intervals. Belt transects (0.5 ha) were used to estimate forest structure, diversity, and fuel loads. Mean area burned, mean number of fires, and mean fire size per year were substantially higher in the Nilgiri landscape compared to the Sathyamangalam landscape. Mean fire-rotational interval was 7.1 yr in the Nilgiri landscape and 44.1 yr in the Sathyamangalam landscape. Tree (>= 10 cm diameter at breast height) species diversity, tree density, and basal area were significantly higher in the Nilgiri landscape compared to the Sathyamangalam landscape. Total fuel loads were significantly higher in tropical dry and moist deciduous forests in the Nilgiri landscape, but total fuel loads were higher in the tropical dry thorn forests of the Sathyamangalam landscape. Thus, the two landscapes revealed contrasting fire regimes and forest characteristics, with more and four-fold larger fires in the Nilgiri landscape. The dry forests and savannas could be maintained by a combination of factors, such as fire, grazing pressures, and herbivore populations. Understanding the factors maintaining these two ecosystems will be critical for their conservation.

Assembleia de aves consumidoras de frutos de sub-bosque em diferentes altitudes em uma área de Mata Atlântica no estado do Rio de Janeiro

Neste estudo, investigamos a distribuição altitudinal da composição, riqueza, abundância das espécies de aves consumidoras de frutos em cinco altitudes e avaliamosa influência da estrutura da vegetação nas diversidades de aves. O estudo foi realizado na Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) contígua ao Parque Estadual dos Três Picos (PEPT), no município de Cachoeiras de Macacu, RJ. Coletamos os dados das aves em 24 excursões a campo, incluindo seis bimensais (jul./2010 a maio/2011) e 18 mensais (jul./2011 a dez./2012). Para amostragem das aves, utilizamos o método de captura-marcação-recaptura com redes de neblina, expostas durante sete h/dia em cinco altitudesao longo de uma variação altitudinal de 1000 m. O esforço amostral foi de 8400 h-rede. Para amostragem da estrutura da vegetação, sorteamos três parcelas de 100 m2 adjacentes às linhas das redes em cada altitude, nas quais foram analisadas as densidades de diferentes hábitos de vida. Das árvores, arvoretas e arbustos coletamos as medidas de altura total e diâmetro da altura (no caso dos arbustos, o diâmetro foi coletado a 50 cm do solo). Capturamos 448 indivíduos correspondentes a 35 espécies de aves, distribuídas em 16 famílias. Destas, 26% são endêmicas de Mata Atlântica, incluindo quatro espécies categorizadas com algum grau de vulnerabilidade. Dezesseis espécies foram classificadas como frugívoras enquanto 19 como insetívoras-frugívoras. Leptopogon amaurocephalus, Mionectes rufiventris, Lanio melanops, Chiroxiphia caudata foram capturadas nas cinco altitudes, sendo as últimas duas espécies as mais abundantes. Registramos maior riqueza e abundância de aves nas altitudes de 370 e 770 m. A composição de aves diferiu entre as altitudes, sendo 170 e 1000 m as mais dissimilares. As espécies de aves insetívoras-frugívoras predominaram nos sub-bosques das cinco altitudes. Registramos deslocamento altitudinal de cinco espécies de aves, sendo o maior deslocamento realizado por um indivíduo de Attilarufus, capturado a 770 m e, recapturado a 370 m. Encontramos maior densidade de plantas no sub-bosque nas altitudes 170, 370 e 1000 m. Bambus foram registrados apenas a 1000 m, enquanto que as ervas foram limitadas às altitudes de 170 e 370 m. A estrutura da vegetação apresentou baixa similaridade entre as altitudes, principalmente devido a diferentes densidades das formas de vida e altura das plantas. Três altitudes, 170, 370 e 1000 m, apresentaram alta densidade de indivíduos no sub-bosque, sendo que esta última evidenciou uma estrutura da vegetação relativamente mais simples devido ao alto número de árvores de baixa altura, ao maior número de arvoretas e à presença de bambus. A diversidade de aves foi sensível à estrutura da vegetação, em especial à altura das árvores que apresentou um decréscimo da altura com o aumento da altitude. Esta relação entre a diversidade de aves e a estruturada da vegetação destaca a importância da preservação da estrutura da vegetação para a manutenção da diversidade de aves consumidoras de frutos da REGUA e do PETP

川西亚高山针叶林主要针叶树种年轮生态学研究

米亚罗地区是四川西部较为典型的亚高山针叶林区域之一。为建立该地区主要针叶树种岷江冷杉、云杉、紫果云杉和红杉的年轮宽度年表资料，了解不同海拔高度岷江冷杉原始林和不同恢复过程的人工针叶林及次生混交林树木径向生长规律，结合样地调查，用生长锥钻取了树木芯样做年轮生态学分析。芯样经过标准化程序固定和打磨抛光后，用WinDENDRO图像分析系统测量年轮宽度序列，用COFECHA程序交叉定年和控制测量数据质量，用ARSTAN程序建立了4个主要针叶树种的地区年表和不同海拔高度岷江冷杉林及人工针叶林和次生混交林针叶树的样地年表。 4个主要针叶树种年轮宽度年表的平均敏感度低于0.2，而其晚材宽度年表都具相对较高的平均敏感度。早材宽度与年轮总宽度标准化年表间的相关系数均在0.9以上；晚材宽度与年轮总宽度标准化年表间的相关系数则种间差异较大，红杉的最高，岷江冷杉的最低。岷江冷杉晚材宽度与年轮总宽度的相关性从1970年以后明显下降，而其他种的相关系数则随时间变化较小。树种之间标准化年表显著正相关，而云杉与紫果云杉和红杉与岷江冷杉之间相关系数明显较高。年表序列的第1主分量表达了4个树种树木共同径向生长变化格局；第2至第4主分量分别表达了云杉属和冷杉属、常绿针叶树种和落叶针叶树种以及云杉和紫果云杉树木径向生长变化差异。 不同海拔高度的8个岷江冷杉样地年轮宽度年表序列敏感度大体上随海拔高度升高而降低。各样地早材宽度与年轮总宽度年表之间的相关系数均在0.9以上，且随海拔高度变化不大；晚材宽度与年轮总宽度之间的相关系数随海拔高度的变化较大，并有随海拔升高而降低的趋势。样地年表序列之间相关系数差异很大，高海拔样地年表间多为显著正相关；低海拔样地年表间的相关系数变化不一；高海拔和低海拔样地年表之间相关性较差，且多不显著。样地年表的第1主分量能解释年表序列总方差的37.5%，反映了不同海拔高度岷江冷杉林木共同的径向生长变化格局；第2和第3主分量分别解释总方差的24.5%和18.2%，表现出明显的高海拔和低海拔样地树木间不同的径向生长变化，除一些样地例外，它们一般与低海拔样地年表有正相关，与高海拔样地年表有负相关。在那些另外的样地，海拔以外的其他因素可能也影响了树木径向生长变化。不同海拔高度样地林木的生长抑制和生长释放频率在不同时期表现出较大的差异，表明了不同的干扰历史和林木补充时间。 人工针叶林和次生混交林各样地林木早材宽度与其年轮总宽度年表之间相关系数均高达0.9以上；晚材宽度与年轮总宽度年表之间也都显著正相关，但人工针叶林样地的明显较高。样地年表序列之间的相关关系表现为，林分起源和经营管理相似的样地年表之间的相关系数明显较高，如人工针叶林与人工针叶林尽管树种不同，但样地年表之间显著正相关，而与次生混交林样地年表间关系不显著；反之亦然。综合比较各项生长参数及不同时期的树木径向生长速率，人工针叶林树木的胸径增长至少在40年以内是优于次生混交林的同种（或不同种）针叶树的。不同样地林木生长释放和生长抑制及人工针叶林树木胸高断面积增长分析表明，除严重的人为干扰外，林分郁闭后林木密度过大是造成高频率生长抑制的主要原因，在林分发育的适当时期通过抚育间伐等措施调控林分密度，是保证林木胸高断面积在一定时期内保持较高的连年增长的关键。日本落叶松作为引进的树种，在海拔3100 m左右种植表现良好，近30年来各项生长指标均高于林龄相近的云杉人工林，因此，适当用其作为川西亚高山针叶林采伐迹地快速恢复是合理的。 Miyaluo area is one of the typical regions covered by subalpine coniferous forests in western Sichuan province of southwestern China. To develop the regional tree-ring width chronology series for the dominant conifers such as Abies faxoniana, Picea asperata, P. purpurea and Larix potaninii, and to understand the radial growth patterns of conifers in Abies faxoniana natural forest stands at different altitudes, and in coniferous plantations and natural regenerated mixed stands in their different restoring processes as well, increment cores were sampled in the field together with conventional plots investigations for dendroecological analyses. After the increment cores being prepared according to standard procedures, the ring widths (total-ring and intra-ring widths) were measured with a WinDENDRO image-analysis system, and the measured tree-ring sequences were crossdated and quality-controlled with the software COFECHA. Using the software ARSTAN, we developed tree-ring width based chronology series of the four dominant conifers, eight site-specific Abies faxoniana chronologies, and seven site-specific chronologies of conifers in coniferous plantations and natural regenerated mixed stands. Mean sensitivities for total ring width chronologies of the four sampled dominant conifers were all below 0.2, while those for the latewood width chronologies of the same species were relatively much higher. Correlation coefficients between standard earlywood and total ring width chronologies of the four conifers were all above 0.9, but those between standard latewood and total ring width chronologies exhibited differences among species, with the coefficient of Larix potaninii the highest and that of Abies faxoniana the lowest. Correlation coefficients between latewood and total ring width of A. faxoniana obviously decreased from 1920-1970 for successive 50-year segments with 10-years lag analyses, though the same for the other three species changed unnoticeably with time. Tree-ring standard chronologies among species showed significant positive correlations, with the correlation coefficients between chronologies of Picea asperata and P. purpurea, and of Larix potaninii and Abies faxoniana relatively much higher. The first principal component of tree-ring chronologies represented the common radial growth patterns of the four conifers in Miyaluo area. The second, third and fourth PCs expressed the differences in radial growth responses for the genus Picea and Abies, for the evergreen and deciduous confers, and for the two species of the genus Picea, respectively. In general, mean sensitivities of the eight Abies faxoniana site-specific tree-ring width chronologies decreased with increasing altitude. The correlation coefficients between earlywood and total ring width chronologies for all sites reached 0.9, which did not change much with altitude; but those between latewood and total ring width chronologies diversified, with a decreasing tendency from lower altitudinal sites to higher altitudinal sites. Correlation coefficients among site chronologies varied considerably, with significant positive correlations among higher site chronologies, mixed results among lower site chronologies, and poor and insignificant correlations between chronologies of higher site and lower site. The first PC, which represents 37.5% of the total variance, reflected a common radial growth response at sites of different altitudes, and it showed a tendency of explaining more variance with increasing altitude. The second and the third PCs contributed to 24.5% and 18.2% of the total variance, respectively, exhibiting distinctive differences in radial growth responses between low- and high-altitudinal sites. With some exceptions, the radial growth represented by the second and third PCs had a positive correlation with that at the low-altitudinal sites and a negative correlation with that at the high-altitudinal sites. For those exceptional sites, factors other than altitude might also play a role in affecting tree-ring growth variations. Trees in stands of different altitudes showed great differences in frequencies of growth suppressions and releases through times, suggesting different disturbance histories and periods when trees recruiting to the canopy. Correlation coefficients between earlywood and total ring width chronologies for all sites of coniferous plantations and natural regenerated mixed stands were also above 0.9; and the same between latewood width and total ring width chronologies all positively correlated, too, with the coefficients of the coniferous plantations obviously much higher. Correlations among site chronologies showed that the coefficients among sites with similar stand origin and management regimes were much higher than those among sites with different stand origin and management regimes. For example, significant positive correlations were found for chronologies among different coniferous plantations, irrespective of species differences; while insignificant correlations between chronologies of the same conifer from a coniferous plantation and a natural regenerated mixed stand, and vise versa. Integrative comparisons of different tree growth parameters and radial growth rates at different stages indicated that the diameter at breast height (DBH) increments for trees in coniferous plantations were faster than those for trees of the same (or different) species in the natural regenerated mixed stands, at least within their first 40 years of stand development. Analyses of growth releases and suppressions, and basal area increments of trees in different stands demonstrated that over-dense individuals after canopy closure was the main factor resulting in high frequencies of radial growth suppressions, with some exceptions of severe man-made disturbances. Therefore, to ensure a continuous basal area current annual increment in certain periods, tree density controlling through thinning in due time during the stand development process are necessary. It should be mentioned that, as an introduced conifer to Miyaluo area, Larix kaempferi grew quite well at altitude of ca. 3100 m after planting in 1970s. In their near 30 years of stand development, Larix kaempferi trees exhibited faster growth in various parameters than Picea asperata trees of the similar stand age did. Thus we think it reasonable to use Larix kaempferi as a fast restoring species at appropriate sites of cutting blanks of subalpine coniferous forests in western Sichuan.

The Richit-Richards family of distributions and its use in forestry

Johnson's SB and the logit-logistic are four-parameter distribution models that may be obtained from the standard normal and logistic distributions by a four-parameter transformation. For relatively small data sets, such as diameter at breast height measurements obtained from typical sample plots, distribution models with four or less parameters have been found to be empirically adequate. However, in situations in which the distributions are complex, for example in mixed stands or when the stand has been thinned or when working with aggregated data, then distribution models with more shape parameters may prove to be necessary. By replacing the symmetric standard logistic distribution of the logit-logistic with a one-parameter “standard Richards” distribution and transforming by a five-parameter Richards function, we obtain a new six-parameter distribution model, the “Richit-Richards”. The Richit-Richards includes the “logit-Richards”, the “Richit-logistic”, and the logit-logistic as submodels. Maximum likelihood estimation is used to fit the model, and some problems in the maximum likelihood estimation of bounding parameters are discussed. An empirical case study of the Richit-Richards and its submodels is conducted on pooled diameter at breast height data from 107 sample plots of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.). It is found that the new models provide significantly better fits than the four-parameter logit-logistic for large data sets.

The relationship between stem-form, stand-closure and site -conditions : the influence of environmental conditions on tree allometry and forest structure in west-central Alberta

Changes in the configuration of a tree stern result insignificant differences in its total volume and in the proportion of that volume that is merchantable timber. Tree allometry, as represented by stem-fo~, is the result of the vertical force of gravity and the horizontal force of wind. The effect of wind force is demonstrated in the relationship between stem-form, standclosure and site-conditions. An increase in wind force on the individual tree due to a decrease in stand density should produce a more tapered tree. The density of the stand is determined by the conditions that the trees are growing under. The ability of the tree to respond to increased wind force may also be a function of these conditions . This stem-form/stand-closure/site-conditions relationship was examined using a pre-existing database from westcentral Alberta. This database consisted of environmental, vegetation, soils and timber data covering a wide range of sites. There were 653 sample trees with 82 variables that formed the basis of the analysis. There were eight tree species consisting of Pinus contorta, Picea mariana, Picea engelmannii x glauca, Abies lasiocarpa, Larix laricina, Populus tremuloides, Betula papyrifera and Populus balsamifera plus a comprehensive all-species data set. As the actual conformation of the stern is very individual, stem-fo~was represented by the diameter at breast height to total height r~tio. The four stand-closure variables, crown closure, total basal area, total volume and total number of stems were reduced to total basal area and total number of stems utilizing a bivariate correlation matrix by species. Site-conditions were subdivided into macro, meso and micro variables and reduced in number 3 using cross-tabulations, bivariate correlation and principal components analysis as screening tools. The stem-fo~/stand-closure relationship was examined using bivariate correlation coefficients for stem-fo~ with total number of stems and stem-fo~ with total basal area. The stem-fo~/site-conditions and the stand-closure/site- conditions relationships were examined using multiple correlation coefficients. The stem-form/stand-closure/site-conditions relationship was examined using multiple correlation coefficients in separate analyses for both total number of stems and total basal area. An increase in stand-closure produced a decrease in stem-form for both total number of stems and total basal area for most species. There was a significant relationship between stem-form and site-conditions and between stand-closure and site-conditions for both total number of stems and total basal area for most species. There was a significant relationship between the stemform and site-conditions, including the stand-closure, for most species; total number of stems was involved independently of the site-conditions in the prediction of stem-form and total basal area was not. Larix laricina and Betula papyrifera were the exceptions to the trends observed with most species. The influence of both stand-closure (total number of stems in particular) and site-conditions (elevation in particular) suggest that forest management practices should include these- ecological parameters in determining appropriate restocking levels.

The investigation of edge effects within ragmented forest islands in Short Hills Provincial Park

It has been well documented, within the field of landscape ecology, that terrestrial fragmentation contributes to increased heterogeneity at the landscape level. It has also been observed that elevated areas of edge habitat occur within fragmented landscapes. Spatial and temporal edge effects were investigated in four areas designated as Nature Reserve Zones within Short Hills Provincial Park, near St. Catharines, Ontario. Random sampling along exposed edges was performed on trees and saplings, at 5 and 25 ill edge depths, using the point-centred quarter method. Diameter at breast height (dbh) and distance from point measurements were used to establish relative density, dominance, frequency and importance value. One-way analyses of variance were used on dbh measurements of tree species and Chi-Square contingency tables were used on size class distributions of saplings species to determine significant differences between 5 and 25 metres. Qualitative comparisons of importance values were also used to determine differences between 5 and 25 metres as well as between trees and saplings. These statistical and qualitative comparisons suggest that a significant overall spatial edge effect is currently exhibited by fragmented wooded islands within the park. The major species of the park, Acersaccharuln, may be exhibiting a temporal edge effect. The heterogeneous nature of the park may be of importance in understanding this area as a complex, ecological system. It is possible that the remaining forest tracts of the park have been affected, and continue to be affected by previous disturbances. Based on these findings, recommendations are made to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources concerning the management of Short Hills Provincial Park in accordance with their 1990 proposed Management Plan.

Agroforestry systems of timber species and cacao: survival and growth during the early stages

In recent times, increased emphasis has been placed on diversifying the types of trees to shade cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) and to achieve additional services. Agroforestry systems that include profitable and native timber trees are a viable alternative but it is necessary to understand the growth characteristics of these species under different environmental conditions. Thus, timber tree species selection should be based on plant responses to biotic and abiotic factors. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate growth rates and leaf area indices of the four commercial timber species: Cordia thaisiana, Cedrela odorata, Swietenia macrophylla and Tabebuia rosea in conjunction with incidence of insect attacks and (2) to compare growth rates of four Venezuelan Criollo cacao cultivars planted under the shade of these four timber species during the first 36 months after establishment. Parameters monitored in timber trees were: survival rates, growth rates expressed as height and diameter at breast height and leaf area index. In the four Cacao cultivars: height and basal diameter. C. thaisiana and C. odorata had the fastest growth and the highest survival rates. Growth rates of timber trees will depend on their susceptibility to insect attacks as well as to total leaf area. All cacao cultivars showed higher growth rates under the shade of C. odorata. Growth rates of timber trees and cacao cultivars suggest that combinations of cacao and timber trees are a feasible agroforestry strategy in Venezuela.

Effects of transformation processes in 'jubraka' agroforestry systems of the Nuba Mountains, Sudan, on plant diversity

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Origin and Availability of Large Cavities for Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), a Species at Risk Inhabiting the Eastern Canadian Boreal Forest

Large secondary-nesting birds such as ducks rely on appropriate cavities for breeding. The main objective of this study was to assess the availability of large cavities and the potential of a managed boreal coniferous landscape to provide nesting trees within the breeding area of the eastern population of Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica), a cavity-nesting species at risk in Canada. Woodpecker surveys were conducted in both conifer and mixed-wood landscapes, and cavities were sought in line transects distributed in unharvested and linear remnant stands of balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and black spruce (Picea mariana) as well as in cutblocks. No Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) were detected in the breeding area of Barrow’s Goldeneye, but the species was present in the nearby lowland area in which trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) is abundant. Only 10 trees (0.2% of those sampled) supported cavities considered suitable for Barrow’s Goldeneye in terms of dimensions and canopy openness. Most of the suitable cavities found during this study were nonexcavated apical (chimney) cavities in relatively short snags that showed advanced states of decay. A diameter-at-breast-height threshold was determined for each tree species, after which the probability of cavity occurrence was enhanced in terms of potential cavity trees for Barrow’s Goldeneye. Remnant linear forest sites had lower potential tree densities than did their unharvested equivalents. Large cavities were thus a rare component in this boreal landscape, suggesting that they may be a limiting factor for this population at risk. Current even-aged forest management that mainly relies on clear-cut practices is likely to further reduce the potential of this landscape to provide trees with suitable cavities.

Social bees and food plant associations in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India

The diversity of social bees was assessed at 15 sites across five locations of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India, from January to December 2007. We also conducted floristic analyses of local vegetation in each site using one-hectare sample plots. All woody species with a dbh (diameter at breast height) : 30 cm were recorded within the plots. A total area of 9.72 ha was assessed for floristic composition. Similarity of floristic composition between sites was determined using the Jaccard's distance measure and a dendrogram constructed based on the hierarchical clustering of floristic dissimilarities between sites. A Bee Importance Index (BII) was developed to give a measure of the bee diversity at each site. This index was a sum of the species richness of bee species in a site and their visitation frequencies to flowers, calculated as mean flower visits hour 1 within 2 focal patches within one hectare plots. The visits of bee species to flowers were also recorded. The Jaccard distance measure indicated that the montane sites were quite dissimilar to the low elevation sites in floristic diversity. The BII was 7-9 for the wet forest sites and ranged from 4-6 for drier forest sites. Seventy three plant species were identified as social bee plants and of them 45% were visited by one species of bee, 37% by two bee species and 18% by more than two bee species, indicating a certain degree of floral specialization among bees.

Effect of soil waterlogging on below-ground biomass allometric relations in Norway spruce

An increasing importance is assigned to the estimation and verification of carbon stocks in forests. Forestry practice has several long-established and reliable methods for the assessment of aboveground biomass; however we still miss accurate predictors of belowground biomass. A major windthrow event exposing the coarse root systems of Norway spruce trees allowed us to assess the effects of contrasting soil stone and water content on belowground allocation. Increasing stone content decreases root/shoot ratio, while soil waterlogging leads to an increase in this ratio. We constructed allometric relationships for belowground biomass prediction and were able to show that only soil waterlogging significantly impacts model parameters. We showed that diameter at breast height is a reliable predictor of belowground biomass and, once site-specific parameters have been developed, it is possible to accurately estimate belowground biomass in Norway spruce.