Underplanting is a practical silvicultural method for regenerating and diversifying conifer stands in Britain

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Stokes ◽  
Gary Kerr ◽  
Thomas Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Canopy Density ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Forest Resilience ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Lower Light ◽  
Noble Fir ◽  
Microclimate Conditions

Abstract There is a strong policy move in Britain to improve forest resilience to climate change by increasing stand structural and species diversity. Although currently little used in Britain, the technique of underplanting allows regeneration and diversification of stands while avoiding some of the disadvantages of clearfelling. Two experiments were examined: (1) the growth and survival of five underplanted conifer species of differing shade tolerance in a shelterwood and (2) compared performance of underplanted and open-grown Douglas-fir seedlings on restocking sites. Underplanted Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, noble fir, European silver fir and Douglas-fir were all able to survive and grow. However increased exposure following overstorey removal resulted in some damage and ‘socketing’, especially to taller seedlings, particularly Douglas-fir. This may be linked to poor root development when growing under an overstorey. Microclimate conditions on some underplanted sites were more sheltered from extreme climatic conditions, and in some cases this improved survival of Douglas-fir seedlings. However, seedling growth rates were reduced compared with those on open sites probably due to lower light levels. Underplanting may help to improve establishment success of some species, particularly in exposed areas. However, the shelter benefits of underplanting must be carefully balanced against the trade-off with lower light, and underplanting is likely to be more successful where low canopy density is maintained.

scholarly journals Surprising Drought Tolerance of Fir (Abies) Species between Past Climatic Adaptation and Future Projections Reveals New Chances for Adaptive Forest Management

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 821
Author(s):  
Csaba Mátyás ◽  
František Beran ◽  
Jaroslav Dostál ◽  
Jiří Čáp ◽  
Martin Fulín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Species Differentiation ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Future Performance ◽  
Moisture Deficit ◽  
Climatic Scenarios ◽  
Unique Potential

Research Highlights: Data of advanced-age provenance tests were reanalyzed applying a new approach, to directly estimate the growth of populations at their original sites under individually generated future climates. The results revealed the high resilience potential of fir species. Background and Objectives: The growth and survival of silver fir under future climatic scenarios are insufficiently investigated at the xeric limits. The selective signature of past climate determining the current and projected growth was investigated to analyze the prospects of adaptive silviculture and assisted transfer of silver fir populations, and the introduction of non-autochthonous species. Materials and Methods: Hargreaves’ climatic moisture deficit was selected to model height responses of adult populations. Climatic transfer distance was used to assess the relative drought stress of populations at the test site, relating these to the past conditions to which the populations had adapted. ClimateEU and ClimateWNA pathway RCP8.5 data served to determine individually past, current, and future moisture deficit conditions. Besides silver fir, other fir species from South Europe and the American Northwest were also tested. Results: Drought tolerance profiles explained the responses of transferred provenances and predicted their future performance and survival. Silver fir displayed significant within-species differentiation regarding drought stress response. Applying the assumed drought tolerance limit of 100 mm relative moisture deficit, most of the tested silver fir populations seem to survive their projected climate at their origin until the end of the century. Survival is likely also for transferred Balkan fir species and for grand fir populations, but not for the Mediterranean species. Conclusions: The projections are less dramatic than provided by usual inventory assessments, considering also the resilience of populations. The method fills the existing gap between experimentally determined adaptive response and the predictions needed for management decisions. It also underscores the unique potential of provenance tests.

Growth ofPseudotsuga menziesiiandTsuga heterophyllaseedlings along a light gradient: resource allocation and morphological acclimation

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1424-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mailly ◽  
J. P. Kimmins
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Morphology ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Western Hemlock ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Relative Light Intensity

Silvicultural alternatives that differ in the degree of overstory removal may create shady environments that will be problematic for the regeneration of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Gradients of light in the field were used to compare mortality, growth, and leaf morphological acclimation of two conifer species of contrasting shade tolerances: Douglas-fir and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). Results after two growing seasons indicated that Douglas-fir mortality occurred mainly at relative light intensity (RLI) below 20%, while western hemlock mortality was evenly distributed along the light gradient. Height, diameter, and biomass of the planted seedlings increased with increasing light for both species but at different rates, and maximum biomass accumulation always occurred in the open. Douglas-fir allocated more resources to stem biomass than western hemlock, which accumulated more foliage biomass. Increases in specific leaf area for Douglas-fir seedlings occurred at RLI ≤ 0.4 and red/far red (R/FR) ratio ≤ 0.6, which appear to be the minimal optimum light levels for growth. Conversely, western hemlock seedlings adjusted their leaf morphology in a more regular pattern, and changes were less pronounced at low light levels. These results, along with early mortality results for Douglas-fir, suggest that the most successful way to artificially regenerate this species may be by allowing at least 20% of RLI for ensuring survival and at least 40% RLI for optimum growth. Key words: light, light quality, leaf morphology, acclimation.

Bigleaf maple seedling establishment and early growth in Douglas-fir forests

1988 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1226-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Fried ◽  
John C. Tappeiner II ◽  
David E. Hibbs
Keyword(s):  
Seed Predation ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Stand Development ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Canopy Density ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
Survival Of Seedlings

Survival, age and height distributions, and stocking of bigleaf maple (Acermacrophyllum Pursh) seedlings were studied in 1- to 250-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stands in western Oregon to identify the stages in stand development in which bigleaf maple is most likely to establish successfully from seed. Maple seedling emergence averaged 30–40% where seeds were planted and protected from rodents but was typically <2% for unprotected seeds. Seedling survival after 2 years was highly dependent on canopy density, measured by percent sky. Average 1st-year survival of seedlings originating from planted, protected seeds was highest in clearcuts (1–2 years old, 36% survival, 56% sky) and pole-size stands (41–80 years old, 30% survival, 17% sky) with sparse understories and canopies. It was lowest in young stands with dense canopies (20–40 years old, 4% survival, 8% sky) and old stands (81–250 years old, 14% survival, 13% sky) with dense understories. Naturally regenerated populations of bigleaf maple seedlings, which occurred in aggregations (0.005–0.04 ha in area), were most abundant (up to 10 000/ha) in pole-size Douglas-fir stands. Although seedling size distributions within stands had a strongly inverse J shaped form, size distributions within aggregations appeared more normal (bell-shaped). Seedling age rarely exceeded 15 years. Seedlings grew slowly in the understory, often reaching only 25 cm in height after 8–10 years, and were intensively browsed by deer. Naturally regenerated seedlings were virtually absent from clearcuts, probably because of dense competing vegetation and lack of seed caused by poor dispersal and seed predation. The "window" for the most successful establishment of bigleaf maple seedlings appears to begin after canopy thinning and end before forbs and shrubs invade.

A field experiment informs expected patterns of conifer regeneration after disturbance under changing climate conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 1607-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica T. Rother ◽  
Thomas T. Veblen ◽  
Luke G. Furman
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Tree Regeneration ◽  
Colorado Front Range ◽  
Front Range ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Treatment Type

Climate change may inhibit tree regeneration following disturbances such as wildfire, altering post-disturbance vegetation trajectories. We implemented a field experiment to examine the effects of manipulations of temperature and water on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex P. Lawson & C. Lawson) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings planted in a low-elevation, recently disturbed setting of the Colorado Front Range. We implemented four treatments: warmed only (Wm), watered only (Wt), warmed and watered (WmWt), and control (Co). We found that measures of growth and survival varied significantly by treatment type. Average growth and survival was highest in the Wt plots, followed by the Co, WmWt, and Wm plots, respectively. This general trend was observed for both conifer species, although average growth and survival was generally higher in ponderosa pine than in Douglas-fir. Our findings suggest that warming temperatures and associated drought are likely to inhibit post-disturbance regeneration of ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir in low-elevation forests of the Colorado Front Range and that future vegetation composition and structure may differ notably from historic patterns in some areas. Our findings are relevant to other forested ecosystems in which a warming climate may similarly inhibit regeneration by dominant tree species.

scholarly journals Sero-prevalence of Leptospira spp. in Household and Stray Dogs by Microscopic Agglutination Test

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Ali Shabestari Asl ◽  
Mohammad Bafandehzendeh ◽  
Gholamreza Abdollahpoor
Keyword(s):  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Agglutination Test ◽  
Microscopic Agglutination Test ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Leptospira Serovars ◽  
Micro Organisms

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide significance in human beings and many animals. This zoonotic disease causes infection in dogs and other pet animals and these animals can influence human’s health. Given the unknown prevalence of leptospirosis in dogs in our area, this study was performed to investigate the sero-epidemiology of leptospirosis and evaluate the seroprevalence of Leptospira serovars in both household and stray dogs by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Methods: Serum samples of 90 dogs in two household and stray groups (45 dogs for each group) were collected. Specimens were examined by MAT (in accordance with the procedure recommended by WHO) against antigens of serovars Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona, Hardjo, Autumnalis, and Ballum. Results: In total, 6.7% of (n=6) dogs (1 stray and 5 household dogs) had a serum titer of 1:100 or more against Leptospira serovars. Dominant serovars were Canicola (8.9%), Grippotyphosa (2.2%), and Pomona (2.2%), respectively. The antibody titer against more than one serovar was observed only in one dog. The sero-prevalence was 11.1% in household dogs and 2.2% in stray dogs. Since 4 pet dogs had been vaccinated recently, it seems that the actual percentage of infection in household dogs must be just 2.2% and actual infection in dogs including stray dogs is approximately 4.4% in Tabriz. Conclusion: Fortunately, the rate of infection in Tabriz is low and this can be due to special geographical and climatic conditions, regular and annual vaccination of household dogs against this disease, and lack of suitable conditions for the growth and survival of such micro-organisms in the environment

Copper requirements of container-grown conifer seedlings

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 848-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Lambert ◽  
T. C. Weidensaul
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Growth ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Optimum Growth ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Eastern White Pine ◽  
Conifer Seedlings ◽  
Blue Spruce ◽  
Noble Fir ◽  
Fertilizer Rates ◽  
Nutrient Solutions

Blue spruce (Piceapungens Engelm.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Noble fir (Abiesprocera Rehd.), and eastern white pine (Pinusstrobus L.) seedlings grown in the greenhouse in peat–vermiculite medium were fertilized with nutrient solutions containing 0.00–0.64 ppm Cu. Maximum growth generally occurred at levels higher than the conventional fertilizer rates of 0.02–0.06 ppm, particularly for Douglas-fir, with subsequent shoot or needle concentrations of 3 or more ppm. Optimum growth of Douglas-fir in a peat–vermiculite medium treated with a single initial drench of 0–100 ppm Cu/L mix occurred over a broad range of foliar Cu concentrations greater than 4 ppm. Supplemental Cu for container-grown conifers thus appears necessary in some cases, but not harmful in others.

Palynology and Paleoecology of Postglacial Sediments from the Lower Fraser River Canyon of British Columbia

1975 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 745-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Mathewes ◽  
G. E. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Fraser River ◽  
Pollen Assemblage ◽  
Glacial Ice ◽  
Transitional Area ◽  
Postglacial History ◽  
History Of Vegetation ◽  
History Of

The postglacial history of vegetation in the Yale area of the lower Fraser River Canyon is described from sediments of two lakes using percentage pollen analysis supplemented with macrofossil evidence and radiocarbon dating. Deposition of postglacial sediments, ranging from basal clays to gyttjas, began about 11 500 y B.P. Three distinct pollen assemblage zones are distinguished, reflecting in part the main climatic conditions for the intervals. The oldest zone, with high percentages of pine (Pinus) and alder (Alnus) pollen, suggests cool and moist conditions following withdrawal of glacial ice. This is followed by marked increases in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga), grasses and other nonarboreal pollen, suggesting in part, warmer and drier conditions. The third zone, ranging from about the Mt. Mazama ash at 6600 y B.P. to the present, is marked by high alder and Douglas-fir, and increasing cedar (Thuja-Chamaecyparis type), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), fir (Abies) and birch; an assemblage indicating a return to wetter conditions. This sequence contrasts with previously described successions that recognized the classical Hypsithermal in adjacent areas. The sequence of inferred vegetational changes, although similar to those described for the Haney area to the west, suggests that the Yale area has been a biogeoclimatically transitional area for much of postglacial time.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the provenance plot “Hrubá Skála” (Northern Bohemia) with grand fir at the age of 36 years

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 75-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fulín Martin ◽  
Novotný Petr ◽  
Podrázský Vilém ◽  
Beran František ◽  
Dostál Jaroslav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The North ◽  
Oregon Cascades

The article aims to evaluate the research provenance plot established in 1980 in locality No. 214 – Hrubá Skála (in the north of the Czech Republic), where nine provenances of grand fir (Abies grandis (Douglas ex D. Don) Lindley) provided in the framework of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations project, and one provenance of grand fir, Norway spruce, silver fir and Douglas-fir from a standard commercial source are tested. We present the results of tree height, stem DBH, stem volume production and health status after 36 years. The results correspond with similar experiments in the Czech Republic and abroad and suggest that grand fir provenances from Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada) and the Washington (USA) State coastal region show the best production features, while the Oregon Cascades, Idaho and Montana provenances grow more slowly. Comparison with other tree species indicates that the production of grand fir at the investigated age exceeds the production of both Norway spruce and silver fir, and equalizes or gently exceeds even Douglas-fir.

scholarly journals Root Volume and Growth of Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-Fir Seedlings: A Summary of Eight Growing Seasons

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Rose ◽  
D. L. Haase ◽  
F. Kroiher ◽  
T. Sabin
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Root Volume ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Early Results

Abstract This is the final summary of two studies on the relationship between root volume and seedling growth; early results were published previously. Survival, growth, and stem volume were determined for 2+0 ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings after 8 growing seasons. For each species, seedlings from three seedlots were assigned to one of three root-volume categories [<4.5 cm3 (RV1), 4.5-7 cm3 (RV2), and >7 cm3 (RV3) for ponderosa pine; <9 cm3 (RV1), 9-13 cm3 (RV2), and >13 cm3 (RV3) for Douglas-fir]. On a dry harsh ponderosa pine site on the eastern slopes of Mt. Hood in Oregon, where gopher and cattle damage decreased the number of seedlings, more seedlings in the highest root-volume category survived (70%) than in the smaller root-volume categories (62% and 50%). Douglas-fir on a good site in the Coast Range of Oregon showed significantly greater height and stem volume for the largest root-volume category, whereas annual shoot growth and survival did not differ. Root volume is one of several potentially useful criteria for predicting long-term growth and survival after outplanting. West. J. Appl. For. 12(3):69-73.

Masting and regeneration dynamics of Abies cephalonica, the Greek endemic silver fir

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 227-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia N. Daskalakou ◽  
Katerina Koutsovoulou ◽  
Kostas Ioannidis ◽  
Panagiotis P. Koulelis ◽  
Petros Ganatsas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Cone Production ◽  
Regeneration Dynamics ◽  
Abies Cephalonica ◽  
Reproduction Process ◽  
First Time

AbstractMasting and regeneration dynamics were investigated in a long-term perspective using Abies cephalonica as a study tree species. Extensive fieldwork was implemented in Parnitha National Park, Greece, following a large-scale wildfire. Annual cone production was monitored for a 5-year period in 130 tagged trees, in 13 plots with 10 individuals each, established both within the unburned part of the forest and in surviving fragments of the burned area. In the most recent masting year, a high percentage (88%) of cone-bearing trees was recorded, along with a sizeable, average cone production (40.8 cones per tree). In the intermediate, non-masting years, the corresponding values ranged from 2% to 55% and 0.08 to 5.9 cones per tree, respectively. The reproduction process is affected by both tree density and regional climatic conditions, in particular temperature during spring of the maturation year and precipitation during spring and summer of the previous year. For the first time according to our knowledge, natural regeneration was recorded for a 4-year period, in 13 permanent transects within the monitoring plots, in relation with a masting event and the additional implications of a preceding wildfire. Highest mean density of seedlings and saplings (11.4 per m2) was observed during the first spring after masting. In the non-masting years, the corresponding value ranged from 2.1 to 2.9 per m2. Seedling survival during their first summer was considerable (30–76%) but stabilized afterwards (1–3 years) at a lower level (10–20%). The particular post-masting seedling flush was followed by an extremely high mortality rate (88.6%) and cannot represent a major recruitment event.

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