Postglacial climate changes and vegetation responses in northern Europe

Postglacial climate changes and vegetation responses were studied using a combination of biological and physical indicators preserved in lake sediments. Low-frequency trends, high-frequency events and rapid shifts in temperature and moisture balance were probed using pollen-based quantitative temperature reconstructions and oxygen-isotopes from authigenic carbonate and aquatic cellulose, respectively. Pollen and plant macrofossils were employed to shed light on the presence and response rates of plant populations in response to climate changes, particularly focusing on common boreal and temperate tree species. Additional geochemical and isotopic tracers facilitated the interpretation of pollen- and oxygen-isotope data. The results show that the common boreal trees were present in the Baltic region (~55°N) during the Lateglacial, which contrasts with the traditional view of species refuge locations in the south-European peninsulas during the glacial/interglacial cycles. The findings of this work are in agreement with recent paleoecological and genetic evidence suggesting that scattered populations of tree species persisted at higher latitudes, and that these taxa were likely limited to boreal trees. Moreover, the results demonstrate that stepwise changes in plant communities took place in concert with major climate fluctuations of the glacial/interglacial transition. Postglacial climate trends in northern Europe were characterized by rise, maxima and fall in temperatures and related changes in moisture balance. Following the deglaciation of the Northern Hemisphere and the early Holocene reorganization of the ice-ocean-atmosphere system, the long-term temperature trends followed gradually decreasing summer insolation. The early Holocene (~11,700-8000 cal yr BP) was overall cool, moist and oceanic, although the earliest Holocene effective humidity may have been low particularly in the eastern part of northern Europe. The gradual warming trend was interrupted by a cold event ~8200 cal yr BP. The maximum temperatures, ~1.5-3.0°C above modern values, were attained ~8000-4000 cal yr BP. This mid-Holocene peak warmth was coupled with low lake levels, low effective humidity and summertime drought. The late Holocene (~4000 cal yr BP-present) was characterized by gradually decreasing temperatures, higher lake levels and higher effective humidity. Moreover, the gradual trends of the late Holocene were probably superimposed by higher-frequency variability. The spatial variability of the Holocene temperature and moisture balance patterns were tentatively attributed to the differing heat capacities of continents and oceans, changes in atmospheric circulation modes and position of sites and subregions with respect to large water bodies and topographic barriers. The combination of physical and biological proxy archives is a pivotal aspect of this work, because non-climatic factors, such as postglacial migration, disturbances and competitive interactions, can influence reshuffling of vegetation and hence, pollen-based climate reconstructions. The oxygen-isotope records and other physical proxies presented in this work manifest that postglacial climate changes were the main driver of the establishment and expansion of temperate and boreal tree populations, and hence, large-scale and long-term vegetation patterns were in dynamic equilibrium with climate. A notable exception to this pattern may be the postglacial invasion of Norway spruce and the related suppression of mid-Holocene temperate forest. This salient step in north-European vegetation history, the development of the modern boreal ecosystem, cannot be unambiguously explained by current evidence of postglacial climate changes. The results of this work highlight that plant populations, including long-lived trees, may be able to respond strikingly rapidly to changes in climate. Moreover, interannual and seasonal variation and extreme events can exert an important influence on vegetation reshuffling. Importantly, the studies imply that the presence of diffuse refuge populations or local stands among the prevailing vegetation may have provided the means for extraordinarily rapid vegetation responses. Hence, if scattered populations are not provided and tree populations are to migrate long distances, their capacity to keep up with predicted rates of future climate change may be lower than previously thought.

Prosopis, an Alien among the Sacred Trees of South India

The problematic of invasive species in an alien environment has aroused the attention of scientists all over the world for quite some time. One of the exotic tree species that has provoked special attention in the tropical drylands is Prosopis juliflora. Originating in South America, prosopis (hereafter referred to as prosopis) has been introduced in the hot and semi-arid zones of the world particularly to provide fuelwood, to stabilize sand dunes and to combat desertification. The tree has become an essential source for fuelwood and a provider of several other products and services in areas where it has become established. However, despite the numerous benefits the tree provides to rural people, in several regions prosopis has become a noxious weed with a negative impact on the environment and to the economy of farmers and landowners. In India, prosopis was introduced in Andhra Pradesh in 1877. The tree was then proclaimed as the precious child of the plant world by scientists and local people alike. The purpose of this study was to investigate the overall impact of prosopis on local rural livelihoods in the drylands of South India. Of particular interest was the examination of the different usages of the tree, especially as fuelwood, and people s perceptions of it. Furthermore, the study examined the negative impacts of the uncontrolled invasion of prosopis on croplands, and its occupation of the banks of irrigation canals and other water sources. As another central theme, this study analysed the Hindu classification system for nature and for trees in particular. In India, several tree species are regarded as sacred. This study examined the position of the exotic prosopis among sacred trees, such as the bodhi, banyan and neem trees. The principle method for collecting the field data was by using individual and thematic group interviews. These interviews were semi-structured with open ended questions. Moreover, unstructured interviews as well as general observations provided complementary information. The data were gathered during two fieldwork periods in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in South India. The results confirmed that prosopis both provides benefits and causes hazards to different stakeholders. Farmers and agriculturalists suffer economic losses in areas where prosopis has invaded crop fields and competes with other plants for water and nutrients. On the other hand, for a significant number of poor rural people, prosopis has become an important source of livelihood benefits. This tree, which grows on government wastelands, is commonly a free resource for all and has thus become a major local source of fuelwood. It also provides several other goods and services and cash income that contributes to improve livelihoods in rural communities. Prosopis ranked lowest in the tree classificatioin system of the Hindus of South India. Although it is appreciated for many benefits it provides for poor people, it has remained an outsider compared with the indigenous tree species. On the other hand, the most sacred trees, such as the bodhi or the banyan, are completely excluded from extraction and it is seen as a sacrilege to even cut branches from any of these trees. An unexpected finding was that, in a few cases, prosopis had also been elevated to the status of a sacred tree. Goods and services from prosopis are not utilized in the most beneficial way. Silvicultural management practices are suggested that would provide additional income and employment opportunities. Interventions are recommended to control further invasion of the tree that might cause serious negative effects in the future. For Hindus, the sacred always ranks highest, even above economic gain. The conservation of sacred groves and sacred trees is a tradition that has its roots in ancient history. These socio-religious practices need to be respected and continued. Successful management of tree and forest resources depends on the willingness of the local people to manage their natural resources, and this willingness exists and has always existed in South India. Keywords: South India, drylands, livelihood, fuelwood, invasive, resource, silviculture.

Metsikön rakenteen vaikutus säteilyn sammumiskertoimeen

Kasvuston G-funktio kuvaa säteilyn vähenemistä tai ”sammumista” auringon eri korkeuskulmissa varjostavan lehtialan suhteen. Sen vuoksi sitä kutsutaan sammumiskertoimeksi. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää vaihteleeko G-funktion muoto eri puulajien metsiköissä, ja voidaanko puulajit erottaa toisistaan G-funktion muodon avulla. Arvioin lisäksi G-funktioiden muodossa kasvukaudenaikana tapahtuvia muutoksia. Muita tutkimuksen kannalta mielenkiintoisia tutkimuskysymyksiä olivat voidaanko ryhmittymistä tai latvusmuotoa arvioida G-funktion muodon avulla. Maastomittaukset suoritettiin 3.5.2010 -30.9.2010 välisenä aikana. Tutkimusalueena oli Hyytiälän metsäaseman (68?59`N, 35?72`E) ympäristö, jonka metsät edustavat tyypillistä boreaalista havu- ja lehtimetsää. Tutkimusta varten perustettiin kuusi yhden puulajin koealaa, kaksi kutakin puulajia kohden. Tutkittavat puulajit olivat mänty (Pinus sylvestris), kuusi (Picea abies) ja rauduskoivu (Betula pendula). Koealaparit valittiin niin, että kullekin puulajille muodostui varttuneesta metsästä ja taimikosta muodostuva pari tai vaihtoehtoisesti tiheämpi ja harvempi koeala. Koealoille perustettiin 81 mittauspistettä sisältävä mittaushila, jossa kunkin pisteen aukkoisuustiedot mitattiin kahden viikon välein. Mittaukset suoritettiin kahdella LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer -laitteella. Laitteiden tulosteista koealoille saatiin aukkoisuustiedot T(?) ja LAI, joiden avulla saatiin laskettua tarkasteltavat G-funktiot. Saman puulajin G-funktiota vertailtiin toisiinsa puulajityypillisten trendien havaitsemiseksi. Keskikesällä eri puulajien G-funktioita verrattiin toisiinsa. Teoreettisten simulointien avulla tutkittiin latvuksen dimensioiden (latvuksen pituus ja säde) ja sisäisen ryhmittäisyyden vaikutusta puulajikohtaiseen G-funktioon. Simuloinneissa käytettiin hyväksi tietoa koealojen puustotunnuksista, lehtialasta sekä runkoluvusta. Puulajikohtaiset G-funktiot ovat erotettavissa toisistaan funktion minimi- ja maksimiarvojen sijoittumisen sekä suhteellisen vaihteluvälin perusteella. Havupuualojen G-funktiot eivät juuri muuttuneet kasvukauden aikana. Koivualoilla G-funktion kasvukaudenaikaiset muutokset (pelkät oksat, hiirenkorvat ja täysikasvuiset lehdet) olivat sitä vastoin helposti havaittavissa. G-funktion muodon avulla voidaan myös arvioida latvusmuotoa ja ryhmittymistä. Mäntyjen latvusmuoto on approksimoitavissa parhaiten ympyräkartion avulla. Kuusien ja koivujen latvusmuodon approksimointiin parhaana vaihtoehtona voidaan pitää ellipsoidia. Teoreettisten simulointien perusteella nuori kuusikko on muita havupuualoja ryhmittyneempi. Tutkimuksen mukaan säteily sammuu satelliittien yleisimmässä kuvaussuunnassa tehokkaammin kuin kaikkien suuntien yli laskettu keskiarvo (0,5) antaa olettaa. Puulajikohtaisten G-funktioiden avulla voidaan epäsuorasti arvioida sekä metsästä tapahtuvaa heijastusta että metsikön sisäisiä säteilyolosuhteita, sillä puulaji yhdessä metsikön rakenteen kanssa vaikuttaa metsästä heijastuvaan säteilyyn. Puulajikohtainen G-funktio on parametri, jonka avulla voidaan kalibroida malleja, joissa tarvitaan tietoa säteilyn kulusta erilaisissa kasvustoissa.

Evaluation of the profitability of fast-growing tropical trees.

The profitability of fast-growing trees was investigated in the northeastern and eastern provinces of Thailand. The financial, economic, and tentative environmental-economic profitability was determined separately for three fast-growing plantation tree species and for three categories of plantation managers: the private industry, the state (the Royal Forest Department) and the farmers. Fast-growing tree crops were also compared with teak (Tectona grandis), a traditional medium or long rotation species, and Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) which presently is the most common cultivated tree in Thailand. The optimal rotation for Eucalyptus camaldulensis pulpwood production was eight years. This was the most profitable species in pulpwood production. In sawlog production Acacia mangium and Melia azedarach showed a better financial profitability. Para rubber was more profitable and teak less profitable than the three fast-growing species. The economic profitability was higher than the financial one, and the tentative environmental-economic profitability was slightly higher than the economic profitability. The profitability of tree growing is sensitive to plantation yields and labour cost changes and especially to wood prices. Management options which aim at pulpwood production are more sensitive to input or output changes than those options which include sawlog production. There is an urgent need to improve the growth and yield data and to study the environmental impacts of tree plantations for all species and plantation types.

Heating values of mature trees.

The effective heating values of the above and below ground biomass components of mature Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies), downy birch (Betula pubescens), silver birch (Betula pendula), grey alder (Alnus incana), black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and trembling aspen (Populus tremula) were studied. Each sample tree was divided into wood, bark and foliage components. Bomb calorimetry was used to determine the calorimetric heating values. The species is a significant factor in the heating value of individual tree components. The heating value of the wood proper is highest in conifers. Broad-leaved species have a higher heating value of bark than conifers. The species factor diminishes when the weighted heating value of crown, whole stems or stump-root-system are considered. The crown material has a higher heating value per unit weight in comparison with fuelwood from small-sized stems or wholetrees. The additional advantages of coniferous crown material are that it is a non-industrial biomass resource and is readily available. The variability of both the chemical composition and the heating value is small in any given tree component of any species. However, lignin, carbohydrate and extractive content were found to vary from one part of the tree to another and to correlate with the heating value.

Lexicon forestale.

592 s.