scholarly journals Growth of Abies sachalinensis Along an Urban Gradient Affected by Environmental Pollution in Sapporo, Japan

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 707 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Moser-Reischl ◽  
Thomas Rötzer ◽  
Peter Biber ◽  
Matthias Ulbricht ◽  
Enno Uhl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Abies Sachalinensis ◽  
Urban Tree ◽  
Rural Sites

Urban tree growth is often affected by reduced water availability, higher temperatures, small and compacted planting pits, as well as high nutrient and pollution inputs. Despite these hindering growth conditions, recent studies found a surprisingly better growth of urban trees compared to trees at rural sites, and an enhanced growth of trees in recent times. We compared urban versus rural growing Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Mast.) trees in Sapporo, northern Japan and analyzed the growth differences between growing sites and the effects of environmental pollution (NO2, NOX, SO2 and OX) on tree growth. Tree growth was assessed by a dendrochronological study across a gradient from urban to rural sites and related to high detailed environmental pollution data with mixed model approaches and regression analyses. A higher growth of urban trees compared to rural trees was found, along with an overall accelerated growth rate of A. sachalinensis trees over time. Moreover, environmental pollution seems to positively affect tree growth, though with the exception of oxides OX which had strong negative correlations with growth. In conclusion, higher temperatures, changed soil nutrient status, higher risks of water-logging, increased oxide concentrations, as well as higher age negatively affected the growth of rural trees. The future growth of urban A. sachalinensis will provide more insights as to whether the results were induced by environmental pollution and climate or biased on a higher age of rural trees. Nevertheless, the results clearly indicate that environmental pollution, especially in terms of NO2 and NOX poses no threat to urban tree growth in Sapporo.

scholarly journals Biogeochemical plant site conditions in stream valleys after winter flooding: a phytometer approach

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 5203-5232 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Beumer ◽  
J. N. Ohm ◽  
G. van Wirdum ◽  
B. Beltman ◽  
J. Griffioen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Lythrum Salicaria ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Toxic Compounds ◽  
Nutrient Effects ◽  
Winter Flooding ◽  
Nutrient Changes

Abstract. Reintroduction of winter flooding events will have strong effects on the plant growth conditions in the parts of stream valleys that have not been accustomed to flooding in recent years. The major goal of this research is, firstly, to investigate the plant growth conditions in floodplain soils in the period after a winter flood and, secondly, to assess whether a phytometer setup is suitable for the evaluation of winter flooding on plant growth conditions. Soil cores of three agricultural and three semi-natural grassland sites have been exposed to a simulated winter flooding event. Then, cores were subjected to spring conditions in a growth chamber and were planted with seedlings of Anthoxantum odoratum and Lythrum salicaria. The growth conditions changed in opposite directions for our two phytometer species, expressed as biomass and nutrient changes. We discuss possible causes of an increase or decrease in biomass, such as (1) soil nutrient effects (N, P and K), (2) toxic effects of NH4, Fe and Al, and (3) possible shortage of other macro- and micronutrients. The conclusions are that plant growth after winter flooding was affected by enhanced nutrient and toxicant availabilities in agricultural sites and mainly by soil nutrients in the semi-natural sites. The use of the two species selected had clear advantages: Lythrum salicaria is well-suited to assess the nutrient status in previously flooded soils, because it is a well-known invader of wetlands and not easily hampered by potentially toxic compounds, while A. odoratum is less frequently found at wetland soils and more sensitive to toxic compounds and, therefore, a better indicator of possible toxic effects as a result of winter flooding than L. salicaria.

scholarly journals Urban Tree Growth & Longevity: Introduction

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
E. Gregory McPherson ◽  
Bryant Scharenbroch
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Special Section ◽  
Urban Forestry ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Urban Tree ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
New Information ◽  
Site Design ◽  
Research And Education

This special issue of Arboriculture & Urban Forestry contains a series of papers related to urban tree growth and longevity. Research and new information on urban tree growth and longevity is important for improved management of our urban trees and forests, as well as assessing their function and value. The papers in this issue were presented at the Urban Tree Growth & Longevity Conference held on September 12–13, 2011 at The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, Illinois, U.S.). This international conference brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss the current state of knowledge concerning urban tree growth and longevity. The conference covered four topic areas: 1) Descriptive studies of tree growth, longevity, and mortality, 2) Roles of tree production and sales on tree growth and longevity, 3) Roles of site design and tree selection on tree growth and longevity, and 4) Roles of tree and site management on tree growth and longevity. The objectives of the conference and these papers are to: develop collaboration among professionals and researchers to help identify important gaps in our knowledge, foster discussions about promising new methodologies, prioritize research and education needs, and outline a course of action for future research and outreach on urban tree growth and longevity. A few additional papers from the conference will be published in a special section of a future issue of this journal.

scholarly journals Towards sustainable management of the stock and ecosystem services of urban trees. From theory to model and application

Trees ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Pretzsch ◽  
A. Moser-Reischl ◽  
M. A. Rahman ◽  
S. Pauleit ◽  
T. Rötzer
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Urban Tree ◽  
Age Class ◽  
Sustainable Planning

Abstract Key message A model for sustainable planning of urban tree stocks is proposed, incorporating growth, mortality, replacement rates and ecosystem service provision, providing a basis for planning of urban tree stocks. Abstract Many recent studies have improved the knowledge about urban trees, their structures, functions, and ecosystem services. We introduce a concept and model for the sustainable management of urban trees, analogous to the concept of sustainable forestry developed by Carl von Carlowitz and others. The main drivers of the model are species-specific tree diameter growth functions and mortality rates. Based on the initial tree stock and options for the annual replanting, the shift of the distribution of the number of trees per age class can be predicted with progressing time. Structural characteristics such as biomass and leaf area are derived from tree dimensions that can be related to functions such as carbon sequestration or cooling. To demonstrate the potential of the dynamic model, we first show how different initial stocks of trees can be quantitatively assessed by sustainability indicators compared to a target stock. Second, we derive proxy variables for ecosystem services (e.g. biomass for carbon sequestration, leaf area for deposition and shading) from a given distribution of the number of trees per age class. Third, we show by scenario analyses how selected ecosystem services and functions may be improved by combining complementary tree species. We exercise one aspect (cooling) of one ecosystem service (temperature mitigation) as an example. The approach integrates mosaic pieces of knowledge about urban trees, their structures, functions, and resulting ecosystem services. The presented model makes this knowledge available for a sustainable management of urban tree stocks. We discuss the potential and relevance of the developed concept and model for ecologically and economically sustainable planning and management, in view of progressing urbanization and environmental changes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document