Production, Application, and Field Performance of AbietivTM, the Balsam Fir Sawfly Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Beginning in the early 1990s, the balsam fir sawfly (Neodiprion abietis) became a significant defoliating insect of precommercially thinned balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stands in western Newfoundland, Canada. In 1997, a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV) was isolated from the balsam fir sawfly and, as no control measures were then available, NeabNPV was developed for the biological control of balsam fir sawfly. In order to register NeabNPV for operational use under the Canadian Pest Control Products Act, research was carried out in a number of areas including NeabNPV field efficacy, non-target organism toxicology, balsam fir sawfly ecology and impact on balsam fir trees, and NeabNPV genome sequencing and analysis. As part of the field efficacy trials, approximately 22 500 hectares of balsam fir sawfly-infested forest were aerially treated with NeabNPV between 2000 and 2005. NeabNPV was found to be safe, efficacious, and economical for the suppression of balsam fir sawfly outbreak populations. Conditional registration for the NeabNPV-based product, Abietiv(, was received from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (Health Canada) in April 2006. In July 2006, Abietiv was applied by spray airplanes to 15 000 ha of balsam fir sawfly-infested forest in western Newfoundland in an operational control program.     

Production, Application, and Field Performance of AbietivTM, the Balsam Fir Sawfly Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Beginning in the early 1990s, the balsam fir sawfly (Neodiprion abietis) became a significant defoliating insect of precommercially thinned balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) stands in western Newfoundland, Canada. In 1997, a nucleopolyhedrovirus (NeabNPV) was isolated from the balsam fir sawfly and, as no control measures were then available, NeabNPV was developed for the biological control of balsam fir sawfly. In order to register NeabNPV for operational use under the Canadian Pest Control Products Act, research was carried out in a number of areas including NeabNPV field efficacy, non-target organism toxicology, balsam fir sawfly ecology and impact on balsam fir trees, and NeabNPV genome sequencing and analysis. As part of the field efficacy trials, approximately 22 500 hectares of balsam fir sawfly-infested forest were aerially treated with NeabNPV between 2000 and 2005. NeabNPV was found to be safe, efficacious, and economical for the suppression of balsam fir sawfly outbreak populations. Conditional registration for the NeabNPV-based product, Abietiv?, was received from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (Health Canada) in April 2006. In July 2006, Abietiv was applied by spray airplanes to 15 000 ha of balsam fir sawfly-infested forest in western Newfoundland in an operational control program.     

Effect of Sucrose Concentration, Charcoal, and Indole-3-Butyric Acid on Germination of Abies Numidica Somatic Embryos

The dependency of radicle elongation in Abies numidica somatic embryos on germination media has been studied. No significant differences were detected between the Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium. The addition of 10 g dm^–3 activated charcoal or 0.05 mg dm^–3 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) into both media had positive influence on embryo germination. Difference between activated charcoal and IBA effects were significant. The high rooting percentage (85 %) was recorded on half SH medium with 10 g dm^–3 sucrose and activated charcoal. After IBA addition rooting percentage was increased to 95 %. During 7 months 73 % of plantlets survived transfer to soil and in 54 % of plantlets shoot growth was observed.     

杉木、火力楠纯林及其混交林生态系统C、N贮量

研究比较第2代连载杉木纯林、杉木与火力楠混交林以及火力楠纯林3种人工林生态系统的C、N贮量。结果表明,杉木与火力楠混交林生态系统C贮量要高于杉木纯林和火力楠纯林,而生态系统N贮量是火力楠纯林和杉木与火力楠混交林高于杉木纯林;生态系统C和N贮量的空间分布基本一致,土壤层占主要部分,其次为乔木层,再次是根系,林下植被层和凋落层所占比例最小;相关分析表明,土壤C、N贮量分别和林下植被生物量以及与森林凋落物现存量之间都具有良好的线性关系,说明林下植被和森林凋落物对土壤C、N贮量有着深刻的影响。     

湖南会同林区杉木人工林呼吸量测定

对杉木人工林的CO2排放动态和杉木各木质器官呼吸量进行了测定,结果表明,杉木树干呼吸的季节变化规律为3~7月份随着树木生长和气温的升高,树干呼吸呈上升的趋势,在7月份达年呼吸速率的最大值,CO2为0.376m g/(m3.m in)。8月至12月呈逐渐递减的趋势,在1~3月份树干呼吸基本上维持在一定数值上,并且杉木树干呼吸在杆材生长时期随着年龄的增大而减小;杉木树干呼吸的日变化规律为:一天中杉木树干呼吸基本上是随着温度升高而增大,随着温度降低而减小,中午前后出现午休现象。在杉木树干呼吸日变化曲线中出现两次高峰期,一次是在12:00~16:00时,另一高峰出现在24:00。根据测出的有关参数,用积分方法推导出杉木树干、树枝和树根的年呼吸量CO2分别为9.67t/(hm2.a)、2.21 t/(hm2.a)和2.12t/(hm2.a),结合叶片呼吸速率测定,计算出杉木林年呼吸量CO2为21.523 t/(hm2.a),其中,叶片年呼吸量CO2为7.523t/(hm2.a)。并初步确定杉木树干的维持呼吸占年呼吸的39.7%。     

西藏色季拉山林线冷杉种群结构与动态

急尖长苞冷杉(Abies georgei var.smithii)是西藏东南部地区高山林线森林群落的主要建群树种,主要分布在色季拉山海拔3600～4400m区域,并成为阴坡高山林线的优势树种。通过对色季拉山林线群落交错区域的定位调查,分析了急尖长苞冷杉的个体生长、种群结构与动态以及林线特征。分析结果表明:(1)西藏色季拉山海拔4320m处为森林郁闭上限,该区域存在两种类型的高山林线,阳坡为渐变型林线,林线树种为方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria);阴坡为急变型林线,林线树种为急尖长苞冷杉。阳坡与阴坡林线分布海拔上限分别为4570m和4390m,阳坡高于阴坡180m;阳坡与阴坡林线群落交错区垂直宽度分别为250m和70m,阳坡比阴坡宽180m。(2)阴坡海拔3700～3800m属急尖长苞冷杉分布的最适范围,种群径级结构表现为典型的反"J"型,种群密度约380株/hm2;种群年龄结构表现为"金字塔"型,属于扩展型种群。(3)静态生命表和种群存活曲线反映了急尖长苞冷杉种群在形成初期的20a和生长发育的60～160a分别经历了强烈的环境筛选和竞争自疏,以及后期与环境变化相关的死亡波动,200a左右为急尖长苞冷杉的生理寿命,种群后期基本稳定,400a左右为极限寿命。     

广西大青山杉木人工林碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

为研究杉木人工林生态系统植物、凋落物和土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量特征的差异和相互关系,以广西大青山杉木密度试验林为研究对象,测定了5种初植密度下杉木人工林针叶、草本、凋落物和土壤的C、N、P含量及其比值。结果表明:针叶的C、N、P含量最高,凋落物次之,土壤最低。C∶N、C∶P表现为凋落物针叶草本土壤,N∶P表现为凋落物草本针叶土壤。其中针叶的N∶P均值为16.69,凋落物C∶N显著高于N发生释放的C∶N的临界值(30)。杉木人工林针叶和草本N、C∶N呈显著负相关关系,针叶和土壤的C∶N、N∶P,草本和凋落物P含量、C∶P均呈显著正相关关系,体现了杉木生态系统内的C、N、P在针叶、草本、凋落物和土壤之间相互转化和循环。南亚热带杉木人工林植物生长受P限制,凋落物分解慢,土壤有机质的矿化作用慢,养分循环能力低,因此在人工林抚育管理中,应保护林下植被,适当施肥,提高土壤肥力,维持杉木林长期生产力。     

Nitrogen mineralization in high-elevation forests of the appalachians. II. Patterns with stand development in fir waves

Wave-like patterns of mortality and regeneration of balsam fir (Abies balsamea {L.} Mill.) and Fraser fir (A. fraseri {Pursh.} Poir.) forests at high elevations in the Appalachian Mountains offer a unique opportunity to study the effects of stand development on nitrogen cycling. We sampled two fir waves, one with Fraser fir on Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and one with balsam fir on Whiteface Mountain in New York. Net nitrogen mineralization for 3 summer months at Mt. LeConte was high in the dead fir zone (47 kg-N/ha), lower in the regeneration and juvenile zones (24 and 21 kg-N/ha), and highest in the mature zone (61 kg-N/ha). This sampling period probably accounted for about 60% of the annual total. The pattern was similar in the balsam fir wave on Whiteface Mountain, with N mineralization rates of 39 and 33 kg-N/ha over 2 months for the regenerating and juvenile zones, and 43 and 54 kg-N/ha for the mature and dead zones. Throughfall nitrogen followed a fairly similar pattern, with rates ranging from 4.5 to 10 kg-N/ha for 2 or 3 months across all zones at both sites. Tension-free lysimeters indicated very little leaching of nitrogen below 30 cm depth (the maximum was 2.6 kg-N/ha), but these estimates may be low. We conclude that nitrogen mineralization is high at all stages of stand development, perhaps exceeding the uptake capacity of the trees. Rates of nitrogen leaching may be high in these ecosystems and should receive further attention. Request for offprints     

Smith fir population structure and dynamics in the timberline ecotone of the Sejila Mountain, Tibet, China

Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii), which grows on cool aspects with elevations ranging between 3600 m and 4400 m, is a major native dominant alpine tree species in Southeast Tibet, China. The smith fir population structure, dynamics and characteristics were investigated in the timberline ecotone of the Sejila Mountain. Results indicate that the minimum crown closure (≤20%) was reached at 4320 m above sea level, where two types of alpine species exist, smith fir and blackseed savin (Sabina saltuaria). On the warm aspects, blackseed savin is a dominant species. Forest line was formed gradually with a wider timberline ecotone. While on the cool aspects, smith fir is a dominant species. Forest line was formed clearly with a narrow timberline ecotone. Furthermore, the upper limits of the distribution of the alpine species were 4570 m and 4390 m on warm and cool aspects, respectively. The timberline ecotone widths of the two species on the warm and cool aspects were 250 m and 70 m, respectively. The optimal distribution of smith fir on the cool aspects was from 3700 m to 3800 m. The smith fir's diameter class distribution was of reversed “J” shape and its density was about 380 stem·hm?2, while the age structure appeared to be of pyramid-shape, suggesting an expanding population. Finally, the static life table and the survivorship curve showed that the populations had experienced severe environmental selection during their first 20 years, self-thinning between 60 to 100 years, and environmental changes related mortality at later stages. The smith fir's physiological life span was around 200 years, and its maximum age was about 400 years old.     

Smith fir population structure and dynamics in the timberline ecotone of the Sejila Mountain, Tibet, China

Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii), which grows on cool aspects with elevations ranging between 3600 m and 4400 m, is a major native dominant alpine tree species in Southeast Tibet, China. The smith fir population structure, dynamics and characteristics were investigated in the timberline ecotone of the Sejila Mountain. Results indicate that the minimum crown closure (≤20%) was reached at 4320 m above sea level, where two types of alpine species exist, smith fir and blackseed savin (Sabina saltuaria). On the warm aspects, blackseed savin is a dominant species. Forest line was formed gradually with a wider timberline ecotone. While on the cool aspects, smith fir is a dominant species. Forest line was formed clearly with a narrow timberline ecotone. Furthermore, the upper limits of the distribution of the alpine species were 4570 m and 4390 m on warm and cool aspects, respectively. The timberline ecotone widths of the two species on the warm and cool aspects were 250 m and 70 m, respectively. The optimal distribution of smith fir on the cool aspects was from 3700 m to 3800 m. The smith fir's diameter class distribution was of reversed “J” shape and its density was about 380 stem·hm?2, while the age structure appeared to be of pyramid-shape, suggesting an expanding population. Finally, the static life table and the survivorship curve showed that the populations had experienced severe environmental selection during their first 20 years, self-thinning between 60 to 100 years, and environmental changes related mortality at later stages. The smith fir's physiological life span was around 200 years, and its maximum age was about 400 years old.     

Historical dendroarchaeology of two log structures in the Valles Caldera National Preserve,New Mexico,USA

We used dendroarchaeological techniques to determine the year of construction of two historic structures in the Valles Caldera National Preserve of New Mexico, USA. Historical documents date some structures in the headquarters area of the Preserve, but the Commissary Cabin and Salt Barn were lacking conclusive construction dates. Both structures were originally thought to have been built by the Otero family who bought the property in 1899. We found that the structures were built from two tree species, white fir (Abies concolor (Gordon) Lindl. ex Hildebr.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), surprising given that ponderosa pines are also found in great numbers in the adjacent forest. Tree rings from 20 logs were confidently crossdated both graphically and statistically and provided cutting dates of trees in both structures of 1940 and 1941 when compared against the Fenton Lake reference chronology (Commissary Cabin: r = 0.69, t = 15.54, p < 0.0001, n = 263 years; Salt Barn: r = 0.77, t = 11.7, p < 0.0001, n = 232 years). By combining the cutting date years and terminal ring attributes, we suggest that both structures were built in the spring or early summer of 1941 using freshly cut logs and logs that had been cut the previous spring (1940, before or during the growing season) and stockpiled. The cutting dates of 1940 and 1941 indicate that these buildings were constructed during the Franklin Bond (1939–1945) era and associated with the transition from sheep ranching to more modern cattle grazing. These new dates provide a more distinct understanding of the cultural resources at the Valles Caldera National Preserve and provide interpretative staff with more accurate information that can be given to the public.     

Comparison of induction frequency, maturation capacity and germination of Abies numidica during secondary somatic embryogenesis

Efficiency of the method for improving repetitive somatic embryogenesis and plant recovery of Algerian fir (Abies numidica De Lann.) was investigated by evaluating of induction frequency, maturation capacity and germination. Individual zygotic embryos differed only slightly in induction frequencies (6.8 %) from somatic embryos of the first (5.7 %) and second cycle (5.5–9.0 %). The yield of mature embryos differed significantly among the cell lines of the same cycle and among cell lines of the different cycles. Percentage of abnormalities was lowest in the first cycle of somatic embryos, whereas the second and the third cycles of somatic embryos were branded by a higher frequency of abnormalities. The differences in germination of well developed somatic embryos depended on cell lines rather than on cycle of somatic embryos.     

不同栽植代数杉木林养分吸收、积累和利用效率的比较

利用第一代以及与第一代连栽的第二代杉木林的40多年定位连续测定的生物量和养分数据,分析了第一和第二代杉木林在养分吸收、积累、利用效率的差异。结果表明:同一生育阶段第二代杉木体内N、P、K、Ca、Mg浓度分别比第一代高2.85—3.48,0.16—0.25,1.86—2.72,2.10—2.50,0.77—1.31 g/kg;第一代7、20、25年生时的养分积累量分别比第二代多9.14%,2.01%,0.22%,而11、16年生时则分别比第二代少6.72%,3.44%,杉木连栽不一定导致第二代林乔木层养分积累减少;第一代1—7年生的年均吸收养分量比第二代多7.94%,8—11,12—16,17—18、21—25生分别比第二代少13.04%,2.52%,7.93%和14.58%;1—7,8—11,12—16,17—20,21—25年生时,每生产1 t干物质所需养分,第二代比第一代分别多1.28、3.19、4.28、4.09、4.09 kg;杉木连栽可导致第二代林的养分吸收量增多,养分利用效率降低。     

湖南会同地区森林植被转变对土壤微生物生物量碳和酶活性的影响

研究了湖南省会同县森林植被从地带性植被天然常绿阔叶林到杉木人工林再到杉木火力楠混交林的转变过程中土壤微生物生物量碳和酶活性的变化趋势。结果表明:杉木纯林和混交林土壤微生物生物量碳含量均显著低于常绿阔叶林,分别仅为常绿阔叶林的76.8%和71.5%;与天然阔叶林相比,杉木人工林土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性分别降低了35.8%、22.1%和45.1%,而多酚氧化酶活性增高了40.0%;相反,杉木火力楠混交林土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性比杉木纯林分别增加了20.3%、12.6%和67.8%,而土壤多酚氧化酶活性则降低了41.0%;表明森林植被转变对土壤微生物生物量碳和土壤酶活性能够产生较大的影响,不同的树种对土壤微生物生物量碳和土壤酶活性的影响差异较大。     

第2代杉木人工林微量元素的积累、分配及其生物循环特征

利用定位观测取得的数据 ,对第 2代杉木人工林 4种微量元素 ( Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn)的积累、空间分布及其生物循环进行了研究。结果表明 :杉木林生态系统中 4种微量元素总贮量为 30 72 89.70 8kg/ hm2 ,其空间分布表现为土壤层 >乔木层 >死地被物层 >草本层 >灌木层。土壤层中微量元素的贮量占绝对优势 ,4种微量元素贮量的排序为 Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu。杉木中 4种微量元素的积累量为 35 .971 kg/ hm2 ,排列顺序为 Mn >Fe >Zn >Cu,各器官中微量元素积累量排列顺序为树叶 >树根 >树枝 >树干 >树皮。杉木林生态系统中 4种微量元素的年存留量为 4.1 0 8kg/ ( hm2 · a) ,年归还量为 - 2 .2 0 9kg/ ( hm2 · a) ,其中凋落物归还量为 1 .2 5 7kg/ ( hm2·a) ,淋溶归还量为 - 3.446kg/ ( hm2·a) ,杉木林冠针叶、枝及树干对 Zn元素具有较强的吸附能力 ,年吸收量为 2 .0 84kg/ ( hm2 · a) ,尽管杉木对微量元素吸收数量不大 ,但为净吸收的。 4种微量元素的吸收系数排序为 Mn>Cu>Fe>Zn;利用系数的排序为 Cu>Fe>Mn>Zn;循环系数的顺序为 Zn>Fe>Mn>Cu;周转期大小顺序为 Mn>Cu>Fe>Zn。因此 ,该系统中 Zn、Fe存留比例较小 ,周转期短 ,流动性较大 ,而 Mn、Cu则相反 ,存留比例较大 ,周转期长 ,流动性较小。     

Terpenoid chemosystematic studies of Abies grandis

Cortial essential oil from 395 typical Abies grandis and Abies grandis-Abies concolor intermediate trees collected in 48 locations was analyzed for composition of its monoterpenoids. The monoterpenoids were composed primarily of α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, β-phellandrene and bornyl acetate, with tricyclene, 3-carene, myrcene and limonene in secondary quantities. Camphene, present in larger amounts in A. grandis and in smaller amounts in A. concolor var. lowiana, was used as a marker for studying intergradation of the two species in western and northwestern United States. A. grandis from northern Montana, Idaho and Washington, from British Columbia and Oregon and from Washington coastal areas could be classified as typical while the rest of the populations showed various degrees of intermediacy. The variability patterns agreed with the hypothesis that introgressive hybridization was the main reason for the intermediacy. Compared with morphological evaluations, the intermediate populations were chemically significantly more A. concolor-like. Typical A. grandis exhibited little population-to-population variability, in spite of its large geographic range. The results are correlated with and explained on the basis of existing paleobotanical records.     

The procyanidins of Douglas fir seedlings,callus and cell suspension cultures derived from cotyledons

While cotyledons of Douglas fir seedlings contain only 2–3% of their dry weight as procyanidins (mainly in an insoluble form), callus cultures and cell suspension cultures derived from them contain up to 40%. About 70–85% of the procyanidins isolated from these cell suspension cultures are soluble in 70% methanol, but insoluble in ethyl acetate. They can be separated into a minimum of 4 fractions, all of which have apparent molecular weights greater than that of a tetramer. Dimers, trimers or tetramers are absent or present in only trace amounts, but large amounts of catechin, and lesser amounts of epicatechin, are found in the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction.     

Characteristics of foliar chemistry in a commerical spruce-fir stand of northern New England,USA

Monthly foliage samples were evaluated for elemental composition from red spruce and balsam fir trees in a commercial, low elevation spruce-fir stand at Howland, Maine during the 1987 growing season. Balsam fir showed consistently higher concentrations in A1 and to a lesser extent N, Ca, Mg, and Fe when compared to red spruce. Red spruce exhibited consistently higher Mn and K concentrations. Both species showed a marked seasonal trend in the foliar concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in current year foliage. For N, P, and K current year foliar concentrations declined rapidly during the early part of the growing season. Calcium concentrations steadily increased during the growing season for both species and age class of needles. Foliar concentrations of N and P in both species suggests that the availability of these nutrients is limited for this site.     

Relationships among Abies nebrodensis,A. alba and A. cephalonica in the morphological and anatomical needle characteristics

We used 39 morphological and anatomical needle traits in the biometric comparisons Abies nebrodensis with A. alba and A. cephalonica. The multivariate analyses were utilised and a closer relationship of A. nebrodensis to A. cephalonica than to A. alba was detected, in contrast to what has been shown for cone characteristics.     

藏东南色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉(Abies georgei var. smithii)林线的生态气候特征

高山林线因其对气候因子的敏感性和自身结构的不稳定性而被视为气候变化的"监视器",通过自动微气象站对藏东南色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉(Abies georgei var. smithii)林线气象因子的连续监测,探讨了色季拉山高山林线的生态气候特征.结果表明:在色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉林线处,年平均温度为1.3℃,年平均相对湿度为79.4%,全年降水量为892.6 mm,主要集中在6、7、8、9月4个月份.林线最热月平均温度为9.4℃,最冷月平均温度为-6.4℃,年生物温度为3.1℃,温暖指数是11.6℃月,寒冷指数是-55.9℃月,生长季内平均温度为7.7℃,生长季长度为133d,大陆度指数为34.0,湿润指数为217.5.其温暖指数与我国两种山地森林树种祁连圆柏和喜马拉雅冷杉的分布上限较为接近.林线的最热月温度、年生物学温度和生长季平均温度与全国高山林线的平均值十分接近.从全球范围来看,色季拉山林线最热月平均温度9.4℃与全球均值10℃很接近.生长季内10cm深度的土壤均温为6.22℃,接近Krner观测的(6.7±0.8)℃全球均值.