Genetic diversity in oak populations under intensive management for fuelwood in the Sierra de Zongolica,Mexico

Firewood and charcoal are used on a daily basis both in rural areas and in cities. This type of energy is produced by one of the most ancient traditional methods, known as coppice, which harvest tree sprouts. There is controversy about its effects on forests: it preserves populations and tree cover of species used, but reduces density, inhibits sexual reproduction and generates genetic erosion. We inquired if it was possible to identify a loss of genetic diversity in oak populations traditionally used for charcoal by the Zongolica Nahuas in Veracruz state, Mexico. We studied populations of Quercus laurina, Quercus calophylla and Quercus rugosa in three different altitudes. Molecular analysis with eight nuclear codominant microsatellites was performed to determine the diversity, structure and gene flow of these species. Results for Q. laurina were Na = 8.458, I = 1.766, Ho = 0.679, polymorphism = 100%, Fis = 0.079, with intraindividual variation of 81.55%. For Q. calophylla: Na = 7.250, I = 1.563, Ho = 0.646, polymorphism = 91.67%, Fis = 0.083, with intraindividual variation of 83.80%. For Q. rugosa: Na = 6.958, I = 1.510, Ho = 0.574, polymorphism = 91.67%, Fis = 0.204, with intraindividual variation of 81.99%; this species shows signals of an early genetic isolation process. Our findings indicate that Quercus genetic diversity for the three species is high and comparable with oak species in Mexico and worldwide. We conclude that at the present, coppice is preserving a historical diversity in adult trees kept alive through sprouting. Nonetheless, problems with coppice systems elsewhere, unregulated harvesting and expansion of pine plantation in the region suggest that further studies, hand in hand with a landscape management approach that improve charcoal and firewood production, may be valuable for Sierra de Zongolica genetic biodiversity conservation.     

Tree seed germination and seedling establishment in treefall gaps and understorey in a subtropical forest of northeast India

Abstract Seed germination, and survival and growth of seedlings of four dominant tree species, Quercus dealbata, Quercus griffithii, Quercus glauca and Schima khasiana were studied in the treefall gaps and forest understorey of an undisturbed mature-phase humid subtropical broadleaved forest in northeast India. Three important microenvironmental factors namely photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), soil moisture and litter depth, were also measured in the forest understorey and gaps and correlated with seedling mortality. Seed germination of S. khasiana was significantly higher in the treefall gaps than in the understorey; among the tree species studied, it had the highest germination. Quercus seedlings were abundant in the understorey and small gaps, while S. khasiana seedlings were more numerous in the large gaps. The survivorship curves for the seedling populations revealed that the three Quercus species survived better in the understorey, while S. khasiana did so in the gaps. PAR and soil moisture were positively correlated with tree seedling mortality, which occurred mainly during the winter months. The Quercus seedlings grew better in the forest understorey and small gaps and S. khasiana seedlings in the large gaps. The differential performance of the tree seedlings to the conditions prevailing in the understorey and gaps of two sizes indicates that different species were adapted to different light environments depending upon their optimum requirements. This could be an effective mechanism for promoting species coexistence in the forest community.     

Differential ecophysiological responses to seasonal drought of three co-existing oak species in northern Greece

Oaks (Quercus spp.) represent the most important broadleaf genus with respect to forest-shaping tree species in the Mediterranean. Considering future climate scenarios (increased drought conditions), the identification of drought tolerant oak species is of great importance for future forest management in this region. The objective of the study was the comparison of physiological status of three economically and ecologically valuable oak species (Quercus ilex, Quercus frainetto and Quercus pubescens) co-existing in natural coppice stands in NE Greece, in response to seasonal drought stress. Measurements were conducted between June and September 2016, every 15–20 days until leaf falling. The parameters studied were predawn leaf water potential and fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves (OJIP test), chlorophyll content, and relative water content. Meteorological data from the area were also collected. Photosynthetic parameters such as performance indices (PI_abs and PI_tot) reacted to summer drought conditions, with Q. frainetto showing the lowest values. The discrepancy between species increased with duration of drought period. Q. frainetto revealed the lowest predawn water potential values. The results indicate that Q. frainetto is less suitable for future forestry applications in the studied climate/elevation zone than Q. pubescens and Q. ilex.     

两种饲料植物对天蚕饲育的效果(英文)

通过五个处理的一系列比较,白栎Quercus fabri叶片作为珍贵绢丝昆虫——天蚕Antheraea yamamai的饲料,无论幼虫存活率、化蛹率、二至四眠蚕体重、五龄幼虫体重增长曲线及理论极限体重K值、取食量、相对摄食速率、消化量、结茧率、全茧量、蛹重、茧层量等均明显高于过去普遍采用并认为理想的麻栎Q. acutissima的饲育结果,从而证实白栎是饲育天蚕的最佳饲料植物。     

竹叶青冈学名评注

竹叶青冈为我国南方及中南半岛常绿阔叶林常见树种,为该区域的重要材用树种。中国植物志中文版采用Cyclobalanopsis bambusifolia(Hance)Chun ex Y.C.HsuH.W.Jen作为其学名,但是基源名Quercus bambusifolia Hance由于错误鉴定1857年并未合格发表,随后基于同一模式和不同的模式,这一种加词先后多次被发表,其中涉及多个裸名、晚出同名、新名称、新组合,学名变化复杂,但其正确学名在国际权威植物分类数据库中并未采纳,正确学名在生态学等研究中亦未采用。因此,对竹叶青冈而言,其学名还存在众多疑问。为了澄清该种的学名,作者通过文献考证和标本核实查阅,对竹叶青冈学名变更历史进行追溯并根据最新的《藻类、真菌、植物国际命名法规》(简称墨尔本法规)对各变更学名进行了评述。本研究结果支持Q.neglecta(Schott.)Koidz作为竹叶青冈正确的学名。但由于国内植物学名仍以中国植物志为主要依据,而中国植物志仍采用狭义栎属Quercus s.s.的概念,为避免造成更多学名混乱,竹叶青冈的学名可沿用中国植物志英文版中学名Cyclobalanopsis neglecta,但中文版所采用C.bambusifolia为错误学名,应该弃用。     

THE EFFECT OF TWO FODDER PLANTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE JAPANESE OAK SILKWORM, ANTHERAEA YAMAMAI

Abstract  The Japanese oak silkworm, Antheraea yamami , is a precious wild silkworm. Through comparing survival rate, stadium, bodyweight, nutritional indexes, coconing rate and cocoon quality of the larvae reared on Quercus fabri fresh leaves with those on Q. acutissima , it was concluded that Q . fabri is a better fodder plant for this silkworm than Q. acutissima in East China.     

The South Hesse Oak Project (SHOP): Species- and site-specific efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus of Mediterranean and Central European Oaks

In three experimental sites in Southern Hesse, differing in management procedures, one- to three-year-old saplings of Quercus robur, Q.pubescens, and Q.ilex were planted to study their performance under Central European climate conditions. Toward the end of the growth period (mid–late September 2011), during a very dry period, we measured JIP transients of photosystem II chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves to evaluate the effects of abiotic site factors on the photosynthetic apparatus by comparing them to data from well-watered saplings measured before the onset of senescence processes. In all three sites, Q. robur saplings in September showed the strongest deviation from the measurements in August, followed by Q. pubescens. Q. ilex, in general, was nearly unaffected by September climate conditions or performed better than plants measured in August. Differences in the behavior between species and sites could be explained by the species’ different drought susceptibility and by differential induction of early leaf senescence (in Q. robur and Q. pubescens). We conclude that measurement of the JIP transient is a feasible method in forestry to compare adverse microclimatic site effects and genetically fixed reactions of the photosynthetic apparatus in the field.     

宝天曼落叶阔叶林样地栓皮栎种群空间格局

种群空间格局分析有利于更好地理解格局形成的潜在生态过程.本研究在温带-亚热带过渡区的宝天曼自然保护区内选择两个1 ha固定监测样地,以栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)为研究对象,采用单变量和双变量g(r)函数分析了两个典型样地中栓皮栎种群空间分布格局、4个不同生长阶段的空间分布格局和空间关联性,以及栓皮栎活立木与残干间的空间关联性.结果表明:(1)栓皮栎种群分布格局以聚集为主,样地Ⅰ的聚集性更强,而样地Ⅱ则表现出较大的随机性;(2)在两个样地中,早期阶段的个体均表现为聚集分布格局,而后期阶段的个体则表现为随机分布格局;(3)样地Ⅰ中栓皮栎种群不同生长阶段均表现为空间正相关,样地Ⅱ中栓皮栎种群的早期阶段与其后的两个阶段间均表现为空间负相关;(4)样地Ⅰ中栓皮栎活立木与残干之间为空间正相互作用,样地Ⅱ中栓皮栎活立木与残干之间无空间关联性.宝天曼自然保护区栓皮栎种群空间分布格局可能受环境异质性的作用,并对自身的天然更新产生影响.     

Woodland on the western fringe: Irish oak wood diversity and the challenges of conservation

Summary

Irish oakwoods are sparsely distributed and generally small in extent. The woodland flora is depauperate compared to Great Britain in terms of flowering plants but quite rich in Oceanic ferns, bryophytes and lichens. It includes a few distinctive species, e.g. the Mediterranean-Atlantic Arbutus unedo. Remnants of ancient woodland survive at scattered locations; they usually contain old coppice stools, or occasionally pollards. Variation in the woodland plant community reflects an edaphic gradient from strongly acid to base-rich, a hydrological gradient from well-drained to waterlogged and a climatic gradient in degree of Oceanicity. The greatest conservation problems facing Irish oak-woods are overgrazing and invasive alien species, chiefly Rhododendron ponticum; to tackle these effectively, greater public concern is required.     

广西落叶栎林的分类研究

广西的落叶栎林属亚热带落叶阔叶林的一个群系组, 常见有栓皮栎林、麻栎林和白栎林３ 个群系。主要论述其类型划分和生境特点, 为其经营管理和合理利用提供基本材料和依据。