Estimation of scots pine defoliation by the common pine sawfly (Diprion pini L.) using multi-temporal radar data

In 1998-2001 Finland suffered the most severe insect outbreak ever recorded, over 500,000 hectares. The outbreak was caused by the common pine sawfly (Diprion pini L.). The outbreak has continued in the study area, Palokangas, ever since. To find a good method to monitor this type of outbreaks, the purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of multi-temporal ERS-2 and ENVISAT SAR imagery for estimating Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) defoliation. Three methods were tested: unsupervised k-means clustering, supervised linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and logistic regression. In addition, I assessed if harvested areas could be differentiated from the defoliated forest using the same methods. Two different speckle filters were used to determine the effect of filtering on the SAR imagery and subsequent results. The logistic regression performed best, producing a classification accuracy of 81.6% (kappa 0.62) with two classes (no defoliation, >20% defoliation). LDA accuracy was with two classes at best 77.7% (kappa 0.54) and k-means 72.8 (0.46). In general, the largest speckle filter, 5 x 5 image window, performed best. When additional classes were added the accuracy was usually degraded on a step-by-step basis. The results were good, but because of the restrictions in the study they should be confirmed with independent data, before full conclusions can be made that results are reliable. The restrictions include the small size field data and, thus, the problems with accuracy assessment (no separate testing data) as well as the lack of meteorological data from the imaging dates.

Responses of Scots pine to nickel and copper exposure and herbivory

The goal of this thesis was to examine the ecophysiological responses of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), with an emphasis on the oxidative enzyme peroxidase and plant phenolics to environmental stresses like elevated levels of nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu), and herbivory. The effects of Ni and Cu were studied in a gradient survey at a sulphur dioxide contaminated site in the Kola Peninsula, and with experiments in which seedlings were exposed to Ni mist or to Ni and Cu amended into the soil. In addition, experimental Ni exposure was combined with disturbance of the natural lichen cover of the forest ground layer. Pine sawfly attack was simulated in the early season defoliation experiment, in which mature Scots pine were defoliated (100 %) during two successive years in a dry, nutrient-poor Scots pine stand. In addition, the effect of previous defoliation on the growth of sawfly (Diprion pini L.) larvae was studied. Apoplastic peroxidase activity was elevated in the needles of pine in a Ni- , Cu- and SO2- polluted environment, which indicated an increased oxidative stress. Increased foliar peroxidase activity due to Ni contamination was shown in the experiment, in which Ni was added as mist. No such response was found in peroxidase acitivity of the roots exposed to elevated Ni and/or Cu in the soil. Elevated Ni in the soil increased the concentration of foliar condensed tannins, which are able to bind heavy metals in the cells. Addition of low levels of Ni in the soil appeared to benefit pine seedlings, which was seen as promoted shoot growth and better condition of the roots. Wet Ni deposition of 2000 mg m-2 reduced growth and survival of pine seedlings, whereas deposition levels 200 mg m-2 or 20 mg m-2 caused no effects in a 2-y lasting experiment. The lichen mat on the forest floor did not act as an effective buffer against the adverse impacts of heavy metals on pine seedlings. However, some evidence was found indicating that soil microbes profited from the lichen mat. Artificial defoliation increased peroxidase activity in the Scots pine needles. In addition, defoliation decreased nitrogen, diamine putrescine and glucose concentrations in the needles and increased the concentrations of several phenolic compounds, starch and sucrose. Previous artificial defoliation led to poor growth of sawfly larvae reared on the pines, suggesting delayed induced resistance in Scots pine. However, there was no consistent relationship between inducibility (proportional increase in a compound following defoliation) and adverse effects on the growth of pine sawfly larvae. The observed inducible responses in needle phenolics due to previous defoliation thus appear to represent non-specific responses against sawflies.

Männyn neulaskadon arviointi laserkeilauksella

Leaf and needle biomasses are key factors in forest health. Insects that feed on needles cause growth losses and tree mortality. Insect outbreaks in Finnish forests have increased rapidly during the last decade and due to climate change the damages are expected to become more serious. There is a need for cost-efficient methods for inventorying these outbreaks. Remote sensing is a promising means for estimating forests and damages. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usability of airborne laser scanning in estimating Scots pine defoliation caused by the common pine sawfly (Diprion pini L.). The study area is situated in Ilomantsi district, eastern Finland. Study materials included high-pulse airborne laser scannings from July and October 2008. Reference data consisted of 90 circular field plots measured in May-June 2009. Defoliation percentage on these field plots was estimated visually. The study was made on plot-level and methods used were linear regression, unsupervised classification, Maximum likelihood method, and stepwise linear regression. Field plots were divided in defoliation classes in two different ways: When divided in two classes the defoliation percentages used were 0–20 % and 20–100 % and when divided in four classes 0–10 %, 10–20 %, 20–30 % and 30–100 %. The results varied depending on method and laser scanning. In the first laser scanning the best results were obtained with stepwise linear regression. The kappa value was 0,47 when using two classes and 0,37 when divided in four classes. In the second laser scanning the best results were obtained with Maximum likelihood. The kappa values were 0,42 and 0,37, correspondingly. The feature that explained defoliation best was vegetation index (pulses reflected from height > 2m / all pulses). There was no significant difference in the results between the two laser scannings so the seasonal change in defoliation could not be detected in this study.

Studio del ginandromorfismo negli Imenotteri Diprionidi

Il ginandromorfismo è il fenomeno per il quale un organismo manifesta contemporaneamente caratteristiche fenotipiche maschili e femminili. Per quanto riguarda la Classe degli Insetti, numerose segnalazioni di tale manifestazione sono reperibili in letteratura, ma un’ interpretazione generale sulle origini e sulle cause che la generano non è ancora stata fornita. Lo scopo di questa tesi è stato quello di studiare il fenomeno per quanto riguarda l’Imenottero Diprionide Diprion pini (Linnaeus, 1758) attraverso l’allevamento controllato dell’insetto, esperimenti di inincrocio, studio del cariotipo e la valutazione della comparsa e la distribuzione dei tessuti maschili e femminili negli individui ginandromorfi. Altri parametri biologici (quali i pesi degli individui) sono stati presi in considerazione nel tentativo di fornire una spiegazione riguardo i meccanismi genetici che regolano la determinazione del sesso in questa specie. Gynandromorphism is the phenomenon by which an organism manifests phenotypic characteristics both male and female. For the class of insects, numerous reports of this event can be found in the literature, but a general interpretation of the origins and causes that generate it has not yet been provided. The purpose of this thesis was to study the phenomenon with regard to the Diprionid wasp Diprion pini (Linnaeus, 1758) through the controlled rearing of the insect, inbreeding experiments, study of the karyotype and evaluation of the appearance and distribution of male and female tissue in gynandromorph specimens. Other biological parameters (such as the weights of individuals) were taken into account in an attempt to provide an explanation of the genetic mechanisms that regulate sex determination in this species.

Presencia de Phellinus pini en masas de pino silvestre en la Sierra de Guadarrama: influencia de factores estacionales y selvícolas

Los objetivos de este trabajo son analizar la relación entre factores estacionales y selvícolas y la presencia de P. pini en la masa de origen natural de pino silvestre localizada en la Sierra de Guadarrama, y realizar una evaluación de la capacidad de predecir las situaciones más vulnerables al ataque. Según el modelo, la probabilidad de presencia de P. pini disminuye de forma lineal con la altitud. La variación en la orientación apenas influye en la probabilidad de presencia de pies chamosos excepto en las zonas de solana pura en las que la probabilidad aumenta ligeramente. Tanto la densidad como el área basimétrica influyen positivamente en la probabilidad de presencia de P. pini. El efecto de ambas variables es de forma sigmoide, con valores máximos de probabilidad de presencia a partir de 35m2/ha y por debajo de 500 pies/ha. La evaluación interna (usando bootstrap) de la capacidad predictiva del modelo es aceptable para la discriminación (área bajo la curva ROC de 0.71) y muy buena para la calibración (pendiente= 0.95; constante= -0.04). A la espera de una validación del modelo con una muestra independiente, los resultados sugieren que el riesgo de daños por P. pini se puede pronosticar de forma fiable con el modelo desarrollado.

De novo biosynthesis of the aggregation pheromone components ipsenol and ipsdienol by the pine bark beetles Ips paraconfusus Lanier and Ips pini (Say) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae).

The California five-spined ips, Ips paraconfusus Lanier, produces the myrcene-derived acyclic monoterpene alcohols ipsenol (2-methyl-6-methylene-7-octen-4-ol) and ipsdienol (2-methyl-6-methylene-2,7-octadien-4-ol) as components of its aggregation pheromone. The pine engraver beetle, Ips pini (Say), produces only ipsdienol. Previous studies have shown that myrcene, a monoterpene in the pines colonized by these beetles, is a direct precursor to these pheromone components. In vivo radiolabeling studies reported here showed that male I. paraconfusus incorporated [1-14C]acetate into ipsenol, ipsdienol, and amitinol (trans-2-methyl-6-methylene-3,7-octadien-2-ol), while male I. pini incorporated [1-14C]acetate into ipsdienol and amitinol. Females of these species produced neither labeled nor unlabeled pheromone components. The purified radiolabeled monoterpene alcohols from-males were identified by comparison of their HPLC and GC retention times with those of unlabeled standards. HPLC-purified fractions containing the individual radiolabeled components were analyzed by GC-MS and were shown to include only the pure alcohols. To further confirm that ipsdienol and ipsenol were radiolabeled, diastereomeric ester derivatives of the isolated alcohols were synthesized and analyzed by HPLC and GC-MS. After derivatization of the radiolabeled alcohols, the HPLC analysis demonstrated expected shifts in retention times with conservation of naturally occurring stereochemistry. The results provide direct evidence for de novo biosynthesis of ipsenol, ipsdienol, and amitinol by bark beetles.

Der feṭer Pini miṭ der mume Reyzi : a naye mayśe, ergets nit gedruḳṭ ... /

Cover title.

Observationes de quibusdam Pini silvestris monstris.

Festschrift.

I. Sever. Pinæi Carnut. De integritatis et corruptionis virginum notis : graviditate item & partu naturali mulierum, opuscula ; II. Ludov. Bonacioli Ferr. Enneas muliebris ; III. Fel. Plateri Basil. De origine partium, earumque in utero conformatione ; IV. Petri Gassendi De septo cordis pervio, observatio ; V. Melchioris Sebizii De notis virginitatis ...

Extra engraved title-page, with imprint: Lugud. Batavor. : Apud Adrianum VVijngaerden, & Franciscum Moyarden, 1641.