Long-term monitoring of climatic and nutritional affects on tree growth in interior Alaska

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 1325-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Yarie ◽  
K. Van Cleve
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
State Factor

The comparative analysis of a large set of long-term fertilization and thinning studies in the major forest types of interior Alaska is summarized. Results indicate that nutrient limitations may only occur during the early spring growth period, after which moisture availability is the primary control of tree growth on warm sites. The temperature dynamics of both air and soil set seasonal bounds on the nutrient and moisture dynamics for all forest types. Air and soil temperature limitations are the primary control of intraseasonal growth in the colder topographic locations in interior Alaska. These locations are usually dominated by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns, Poggenb.) vegetation types. The seasonal progression of factors controlling growth is strongly tied to the state factor structure of the landscape.

Artificial regeneration of trees and tall shrubs in experimentally burned upland black spruce/feather moss stands in Alaska

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Zasada ◽  
Rodney A. Norum ◽  
Robert M. Van Veldhuizen ◽  
Christian E. Teutsch
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Artificial Regeneration ◽  
Balsam Poplar ◽  
Feather Moss ◽  
Interior Alaska

Fall seed-dispersing species, birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), alder (Alnuscrispa (Ait.) Pursh), and black spruce Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), and summer-seeding species, aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.), balsam poplar (P. balsamifera L.), feltleaf willow (Salixalaxensis (Anderss.) Cov.), Scouler willow (Salixscouleriana Barratt), and Bebb willow (Salixbebbiana Sarg.), were artificially sown on seedbeds created by experimental burning in the upland black spruce/feather moss forest types in interior Alaska. At least 40% of the seeds dispersed in the fall had germinated before dispersal of summer seeds began. Germination occurred on moderately and severely burned seedbeds but not on scorched and lightly burned surfaces. Seedling survival occurred almost exclusively on severely burned surfaces. After 3 years, 82% of the plots containing some severely burned surfaces and sown with seeds from species seeded in the fall were stocked whereas 32% of the plots sown with species seeded in the spring and with the same seedbed condition were stocked.

Productivity and nutrient cycling in taiga forest ecosystems

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 747-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Van Cleve ◽  
Lola Oliver ◽  
Robert Schlentner ◽  
Leslie A. Viereck ◽  
C. T. Dyrness
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Cycling ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Taiga Forest ◽  
Tree Production

This paper considers the productivity and nutrient cycling in examples of the major forest types in interior Alaska. These ecosystem properties are examined from the standpoint of the control exerted over them by soil temperature and forest-floor chemistry. We conclude that black spruce Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P. occupies the coldest, wettest sites which support tree growth in interior Alaska. Average seasonal heat sums (1132 ± 32 degree days (DD)) for all other forest types were significantly higher than those encountered for black spruce (640 ± 40 DD). In addition, black spruce ecosystems display the highest average seasonal forest-floor and mineral-soil moisture contents. Forest-floor chemistry interacts with soil temperature in black spruce to produce the most decay-resistant organic matter. In black spruce the material is characterized by the highest lignin content and widest C/N (44) and C/P (404) ratios. Across the range of forest types examined in this study, soil temperature is strongly related to net annual aboveground tree production and the annual tree requirement for N, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Forest floor C/N and C/P ratios are strongly related to annual tree N and P requirement and the C/N ratio to annual tree production. In all cases these controls act to produce, in black spruce, the smallest accumulation of tree biomass, standing crop of elements, annual production, and element requirement in aboveground tree components.

Bioassay of forest floor phosphorus supply for plant growth

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van Cleve ◽  
F. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Rooting Medium ◽  
Forest Floors ◽  
Work Supports ◽  
Plant Bioassays

This paper considers the extent to which phosphorus (P) supply for plant use is controlled by the chemical quality of forest floor organic matter, independent of climate. Using plant bioassays, forest floor materials from representative examples of each of the major forest types in interior Alaska were examined for nutrient supplying power. The work supports conclusions reached in earlier studies which indicated that black spruce forest floors were highly nutrient limited compared with those of other interior Alaska forest types. In addition, floodplain white spruce forests may experience marked P deficiency because of dilution of the element by periodic siltation. Potential phosphorus supply for seedling growth was best described by P concentration of the rooting medium. The supply also was related to the concentrations of lignin and tannin which control forest floor decomposition and recycling of P within the microbial population.

Long-term recovery of vegetation on two experimental crude oil spills in interior Alaska black spruce taiga

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1171-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles H. Racine
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Small Areas ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Dead Vegetation ◽  
Low Volume

Vegetation was sampled on two black spruce taiga sites in interior Alaska, 15 and 20 years after crude oil was experimentally applied as low-volume sprays or high-volume point spills. Low volume spray spills that uniformly covered the ground caused initial damage to vegetation, but after 20 years recovery of the understory vegetation was almost complete, with dramatic recovery and expansion of fruticose lichens. High-volume point spills created small areas of surface oil saturation with dead vegetation and little sign of recovery but spread out mostly belowground with little or no apparent effect on the shallowly rooted vegetation above even after 15–20 years. Because winter point spills created a much greater area of surface oil, their effects were more damaging. After 15 years on the saturated surface oiled areas, only Eriophorum vaginatum tussocks survive and grow. At both sites with surface oil, black spruce mortality was high, with no evidence of long-term recovery and with continuing chronic effects after 15 years. However, from a long-term perspective the black spruce taiga ecosystem appears to be able to recover from low volume spray spills and to retain large amounts of crude oil from high-volume point spills belowground with minimal damage to the vegetation. Because of the permafrost, removal of crude oil from this ecosystem by soil excavation is undesirable. In situ acceleration of oil breakdown using fertilizers and bacteria is a possible option; seeding or planting of E. vaginatum on surface-oiled areas may also provide some cover and belowground biomass. Key words: oil spills, taiga, black spruce, interior Alaska, vegetation recovery.

Relationships between CO2 evolution from soil, substrate temperature, and substrate moisture in four mature forest types in interior Alaska

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Schlentner ◽  
Keith Van Cleve
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Temperature ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soda Lime ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Response Surfaces ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Mature Forest ◽  
Interior Alaska

A soda lime technique was used to measure CO2 evolution at the soil surface in four mature forest types (aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moeneh) Voss)) in interior Alaska. Surface temperature, 15-cm depth temperature, and soil moisture were measured concurrently with CO2 evolution. Accumulated CO2 evolution ranged from 1315 to 1654 g CO2•m−2 for the period May 1 – September 30 in 1981 and 1982 in the four stands. Data were used to develop three-dimensional response surfaces and test mathematical models of respiration in relation to substrate temperature and moisture. GRESP, a biologically based model, provided a fairly accurate simulation of the seasonal course of respiration as a function of substrate temperature and moisture. In an attempt to better define the observed response surface trends, a best-fit equation model, BRESP, was formulated. BRESP includes the moisture portion of the GRESP equation, and an altered temperature equation which more adequately defines the upper and lower thresholds of respiration in relation to substrate temperature. GRESP and BRESP each produced similar r2 values; however, higher order polynomial equations gave a better-fit model. The weakest area of all models for simulating seasonal trends was during the periods of peak respiration in June.

Browning of the landscape of interior Alaska based on 1986-2009 Landsat sensor NDVI

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1371-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Baird ◽  
David Verbyla ◽  
Teresa N. Hollingsworth
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Populus Balsamifera ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Climatic Regime ◽  
North And South

We used a time series of 1986–2009 Landsat sensor data to compute the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for 30 m pixels within the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest of interior Alaska. Based on simple linear regression, we found significant (p < 0.05) declining trends in mean NDVI of three dominant landscape types of floodplains, lowlands, and uplands. At smaller patch sizes, similar declining trends occurred among topographic classes of north- and south-facing slopes and valley bottoms and among forest classes, including black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.). Significant positive trends in mean NDVI occurred only in areas that were recently burned, whereas wetlands had no significant trend. The greatest departure from the NDVI trend line occurred following the 2004 drought for all forest classes except black spruce, which dominates the coldest sites, and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), which occurs on low, moist terraces within the Tanana River floodplain. The consistent long-term declining trend at several spatial scales may be due to a regional climatic regime shift that occurred in the mid-1970s.

scholarly journals Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 841
Author(s):  
Iveta Desaine ◽  
Annija Kārkliņa ◽  
Roberts Matisons ◽  
Anna Pastare ◽  
Andis Adamovičs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Spruce Stands ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Whole Tree Harvesting ◽  
Whole Tree ◽  
Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

Long-term outcomes after corrective cartilaginous joint resection based on arthrographic findings of duplicated thumbs

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-372
Author(s):  
Kousuke Iba ◽  
Akira Saito ◽  
Megumi Hanaka ◽  
Toshihiko Yamashita
Keyword(s):  
Growth Period ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Scoring Method ◽  
Joint Congruency ◽  
Thumb Duplication ◽  
Age At Surgery ◽  
Joint Connection

We report greater than 10-year outcomes in duplicated thumbs following corrective cartilaginous resection during the growth period. We have undertaken corrective resection of cartilaginous joint connections based on intraoperative arthrographic findings to reconstruct favourable alignment in six Wassel Type II and IV thumb duplication in six patients. The age at surgery was 13 months (range 10–15), and the average post-surgical follow-up was 134 months (range 120–160). We observed five excellent and one good outcome using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand scoring method. Favourable joint congruency and alignment were preserved, and no growth plate arrest or joint space narrowing was present more than 10 years after surgery. We conclude that corrective resection of the cartilaginous joint based on intraoperative arthrographic findings has long-term reliability for duplicated thumbs, especially those of Wassel Type II and IV, which have a cartilaginous joint connection. Levels of evidence: IV

Evidence of temperature control of production and nutrient cycling in two interior Alaska black spruce ecosystems

1981 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Van Cleve ◽  
Richard Barney ◽  
Robert Schlentner
Keyword(s):  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
North Slope ◽  
Nutrient Pools ◽  
Soil Biological Activity ◽  
Nutrient Mineralization ◽  
Interior Alaska ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
And Function

Selected indices of structure and function were used to evaluate the effect of differing soil thermal regimes on soil-permafrost-dominated (muskeg) and permafrost-free (north-slope) black spruce ecosystems in interior Alaska. The poorly drained, permafrost site displayed cooler soil temperatures and higher soil moisture content than were encountered on the well-drained north slope. Mineral soil nutrient pools generally were largest on the permafrost site. However, low soil temperature acted as a negative feedback control, suppressing soil biological activity, nutrient mineralization, and tree primary production to lower levels on the soil-permafrost-dominated site as compared with the permafrost-free site. Forty percent larger accumulation of tree biomass and 80% greater annual tree productivity occurred on the warmer site.

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