Dissemination of the conifer seed fungus Caloscyphafulgens by small mammals

1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-137
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Sullivan ◽  
Jack R. Sutherland ◽  
T. A. D. Woods ◽  
Druscilla S. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Conifer Seed

Field studies showed that the seed-pathogenic fungus Caloscyphafulgens (Pers.) Boudier was present in squirrel caches in 25% of the white spruce, Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, stands in an area near Prince George, B.C. and in duff in 17 and 8% of the lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta Dougl., clear-cuts there and at Williams Lake, respectively. In the laboratory, deer mice (Peromyscusmaniculatus Wagner), chipmunks (Eutamiastownsendii Bachman), and Douglas squirrels (Tamiasciurusdouglasii Bachman) consumed C. fulgens infested seeds of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, lodgepole pine, and white spruce as readily as noninfested seeds. Squirrels also ate C. fulgens ascocarps and passed intact ascospores, but these were not observed to germinate. Red squirrels, T. hudsonicus Erxleben, moved, and ate seeds from, both infested and noninfested Douglas-fir cones in the field. It is proposed that C. fulgens is disseminated by squirrels, and perhaps other rodents, and that the fungus may preserve seeds in caches thereby ensuring squirrel food supplies between cone crops. Caloscyphafulgens may also prevent seed germination in direct seeding trials.

DECAY IN WHITE SPRUCE AT THE KANANASKIS FOREST EXPERIMENT STATION

1953 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. G. Denyer ◽  
C. G. Riley
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Sample Plot ◽  
Experiment Station ◽  
Forest Experiment Station

1. One hundred and four white spruce were analyzed for decay at the Kananaskis Forest Experiment Station. Lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and alpine fir occurring on the sample plot with the spruce were also analyzed.2. On a board foot basis, cull in white spruce averaged 12.5 per cent. Percentages of cull in other species were: lodgepole pine 41.7, Douglas fir 28.3, and alpine fir 0.4.3. Gross and net volume tables for white spruce in board feet and total cubic feet are presented.4. POLYPORUS CIRCINATUS var. DUALIS Peck and FLAMMULA CONNISSANS Fr. were the most important causes of root rot and were responsible for 30 per cent of the total decay volume.5. FOMES PINI (Thore) Lloyd and STEREUM SANGUINOLENTUM Alb. & Schw. ex Fr. were the most important causes of trunk rot and were responsible for more than 50 per cent of the total decay volume.

Changes in drought resistance and root growth capacity of container seedlings in response to nursery drought, nitrogen, and potassium treatments

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Root Growth ◽  
Drought Resistance ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Growth Capacity ◽  
Root Growth Capacity ◽  
N Treatment

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.), and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings, each represented by two seed lots, were grown in Styroblock containers in a greenhouse and plastic shelter house from February 1989 to January 1990. The seedlings were exposed to two nitrogen (N) treatments and three potassium (K) treatments arranged factorially within three drought treatments. After winter storage, seedlings from a complete set of treatments were planted into hygric, mesic, and xeric sand beds during 12–14 March. Increasing nursery drought stress increased survival of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine after planting, and high N treatment level increased survival of lodgepole pine and white spruce. Under xeric conditions, combined nursery drought and high N treatments increased survival of lodgepole pine by 33%, indicating the importance of nursery cultural regime for stock quality. Increase in nursery drought decreased seedling size relatively little, but increase in N increased seedling size one season after planting. A positive relationship between shoot/root ratio and survival in lodgepole pine and white spruce indicated that increase in N increased both shoot growth and drought resistance over the N range investigated. Only Douglas-fir showed an interaction between drought and N treatment and a small response in both survival and dry weight to K. Root growth capacity, measured at the time of planting, showed an approximate doubling in all species due to high N treatment, and was also increased in white spruce by drought stress. Survival and root growth capacity were poorly correlated, but dry-weight growth in sand beds was well correlated with root growth capacity. Shoot dry weight and percent N in shoots measured after nursery growth were correlated with root growth capacity. Manipulation of root growth capacity by changing nursery treatment was apparently possible without altering resistance to drought stress after planting.

The Influences of Rooting Volume – Seedling Espacement and Substratum Density on Greenhouse Growth of Lodgepole Pine, White Spruce, and Douglas Fir Grown in Extruded Peat Cylinders

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Hocking ◽  
D. L. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Growth Restrictions

Seedlings of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss var. albertiana (S. Brown) Sarg.), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were grown in closely packed, extruded peat cylinders (sausages) of different lengths, diameters, and densities within a range practical for operational use. The highest density (0.23 g/cm3) was limiting to all growth parameters for all species in all rooting volumes – espacements. In lower densities, all growth parameters were linearly correlated to rooting volume. In the smaller rooting volumes – seedling espacements, growth restrictions were partially relieved by compression of the peat up to density 0.20 g/cm3.

Influence of container nursery regimes on drought resistance of seedlings following planting. I. Survival and growth

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van den Driessche
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Reduced Height ◽  
Growth Increase ◽  
Sand Beds ◽  
Container Nursery

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl.), and white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings were grown in Styroblock containers in a container nursery from February to July 1988 and then exposed to three temperatures and three levels of drought stress applied factorially during 18 July to 29 September 1988. Mean temperatures of 13, 16, and 20 °C were imposed in growth chambers, in a cooled plastic house, and in an ambient plastic house, respectively. Control, medium, and severe levels of drought stress were imposed in a series of eight cycles, resulting in mean xylem pressure potentials of −0.32, −0.50, and −0.99 MPa, respectively. Seedlings were kept in the ambient plastic house until January, when they were lifted and cold-stored until planting. Between 11 and 18 April 1989, seedlings were planted in 0.5 m deep sand beds, which provided hygric, mesic, and xeric conditions for testing all species and treatments. At the end of nursery growth, increase in nursery temperature increased height and height:diameter ratio in all species and shoot:root dry weight ratio in Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine. Increase in temperature also increased the number of seedlings with large well-formed buds in white spruce, but reduced the number in Douglas-fir. Drought stress reduced height and dry weight in all species and bud length in lodgepole pine. After 9 weeks in sand beds, low nursery temperature increased survival (19% for lodgepole pine and white spruce grown in the xeric bed), except for Douglas-fir grown in the xeric bed. Nursery drought stress also increased survival (16% for Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine in the xeric bed), but had little effect on white spruce. Low temperature and drought stress treatments that increased survival also reduced height and dry weight of lodgepole pine and white spruce after one growing season in sand beds. Survival showed significant negative correlations with height, dry weight, and height:diameter and shoot:root weight ratios. Low nursery temperature continued to affect growth after planting, increasing relative growth rate and allometric ratio (K) of Douglas-fir and decreasing K of white spruce.

scholarly journals NOTES ON FOOD HABITS OF SMALL MAMMALS OF THE WHITE SPRUCE FOREST

1963 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Bruce Wagg
Keyword(s):  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Food Habits ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Microtus Spp

Cage feeding of deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, and red-backed mice, Clethrionomys gapperi, showed a daily maximum seed consumption of lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia, of about 1,000 seeds and of white spruce, Picea glauca, of 2,000 seeds. There was no difference in the amount of seed consumed by the two species of mice. Lodgepole pine seed was preferred over white spruce.Meadow voles, Microtus spp., readily ate lodgepole pine and white spruce seedlings following germination. Red-backed mice also ate seedlings but not to the same degree as the meadow voles. The deer mouse was not tested.

Upgrading germinability and vigour of jack pine, lodgepole pine, and white spruce by the IDS technique

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1124-1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Downie ◽  
Ben S.P. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Jack Pine ◽  
Accelerated Ageing ◽  
Fresh Weight ◽  
Surface Fraction ◽  
Conifer Seed ◽  
Bottom Fraction ◽  
The Mean

The IDS (incubation–desiccation–separation) technique, designed to upgrade germinability and vigour of conifer seed lots, was tested on various seed lots of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss), lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta var. latifolia Engelm.), and jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.). The effect on germinability of redrying separated seeds to storage moisture content (approx. 5% fresh weight) and of accelerated ageing was also investigated. Separation resulted in significant increases in germinability for four of five lodgepole pine, three of four jack pine, and two of five white spruce seed lots. Redrying usually had no significant effect on germinability of separated seeds, and its effect was not predictable. Accelerated ageing decreased the mean germinability of all seed lots and fractions. Although the mean index of ageing was usually not significantly different between the control and bottom fraction (live seeds) for any species, the surface fraction (dead and dying seeds) usually had a significantly higher index of ageing. The IDS technique is effective for upgrading the germinability of a portion of a seed lot of lodgepole pine and jack pine but must be modified if it is to work well with white spruce.

scholarly journals Pest Damage Incidence in Natural and Thinned Lodgepole Pine in Alberta

1985 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. Bella
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Pest Damage ◽  
West Central ◽  
Snowshoe Hares ◽  
Management Implication

Thinned stands of young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) in west-central Alberta had a higher incidence of attack by common pest organisms than unthinned stands. Based on a sample of nearly 3000 potential crop trees (on 240 temporary plots) growing on 120 naturally regenerated cut blocks, the rate of attack in thinned vs. unthinned stands was 30% and 18% for western gall rust (Endo-cronartium harknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka) and 25%. and 16% for leader damage due to terminal weevil (Pissodes terminalis Hopp.) and pitch twig moth (Petrova spp.) Damage from other agents, including that from small mammals, was low and little affected by thinning. Forest management implication of these results are discussed. Key words: western gall rust terminal weevil, pitch twig moth, snowshoe hares, red squirrels.

Conifer-seed preferences of small mammals

2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. 773-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Lobo ◽  
M. Duong ◽  
J. S. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Peromyscus Maniculatus ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Deer Mouse ◽  
White Spruce ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Seed Selection ◽  
Subalpine Fir ◽  
Phenacomys Intermedius

The preferences of the deer mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845)), southern red-backed vole ( Myodes gapperi (Vigors, 1830)), heather vole ( Phenacomys intermedius Merriam, 1889), long-tailed vole ( Microtus longicaudus (Merriam, 1888)), and meadow vole ( Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord, 1851)) for lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.), white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss), and subalpine fir ( Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) seeds were investigated using cafeteria-style feeding experiments. Seed selection by P. maniculatus and M. gapperi in the field was also studied. Peromyscus maniculatus, M. gapperi, M. longicaudus, and M. pennsylvanicus showed a distinct preference for lodgepole pine seeds and avoidance of subalpine fir seeds, and consumed the different species of seeds in similar relative proportions. Phenacomys intermedius behaved very differently from the other rodent species in that it did not show a preference among seed species, and consumed very few seeds in total. Findings from the field seed selection trials were consistent with laboratory results. We suggest that postdispersal seed predation by small mammals could limit the recruitment success of lodgepole pine and white spruce, but would not be a major problem in the regeneration of subalpine fir stands. This could provide an advantage for subalpine fir over neighbouring competitive species.

scholarly journals Differences in Depredation by Small Predators Limit the Use of Plasticine and Zebra Finch Eggs in Artificial-Nest Studies

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Maier ◽  
Richard M. Degraaf
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Zebra Finch ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Peromyscus Leucopus ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Neotropical Migrant ◽  
Passerine Species

Abstract Small mammals, such as mice and voles, have been implicated as major egg predators of Neotropical migrant passerines by field studies using soft plasticine eggs or the very small eggs of Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata). Nevertheless, the effort required to depredate these commonly used egg surrogates may be less than that required to depredate the larger, thicker-shelled eggs of most passerine species. To compare the depredation of these surrogates to that of the eggs of a mid-sized passerine by a ubiquitous small predator, we exposed dissimilar pairs of plasticine, Zebra Finch, and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) eggs to captive white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Plasticine eggs were marked by mice more than either kind of real egg, and Zebra Finch eggs were breached more often than House Sparrow eggs. We conclude that the use of either plasticine or Zebra Finch eggs may lead to overestimation of the ability or proclivity of small mammals to actually depredate the eggs of most passerines.

The Effect of High Concentrations of Ethylene on Seed Germination of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco)

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carey Borno ◽  
Iain E. P. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Germination Percentage ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
High Concentrations

Stratified, imbibed Douglas fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seeds were exposed to 100% ethylene for times between 0 and 366 h. Germination rate and germination percentage were increased by treatments up to 48 h. The 12-h treatment gave largest stimulation; 30% enhancement of final germination percentage over control. Treatment for 96 h caused increased germination rate for the first 5 days but reduced the germination percentage. Germinants were subject to continuous exposure to atmospheres containing 0.1 – 200 000 ppm ethylene in air, but it did not stimulate growth, and the gas was inhibitory above 100 ppm. Although some effects of high concentrations of ethylene may have been due to the lowering of oxygen supplies, this alone was insufficient to account for the full inhibitory effect. The mechanism of stimulation by short-term exposure to ethylene is discussed.

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