Life cycle assessment of forest biomass energy feedstock in the Northeast United States

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was combined with primary data from nine forest harvesting operations in New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont, from 2013 to 2019 where forest biomass (FB) for bioenergy was one of several products. The objective was to conduct a data‐driven study of greenhouse gas emissions associated with FB feedstock harvesting operations in the Northeast United States. Deterministic and stochastic LCA models were built to simulate the current FB bioenergy feedstock supply chain in the Northeast US with a cradle‐to‐gate scope (forest harvest through roadside loading) and a functional unit of 1.0 Mg of green FB feedstock at a 50% moisture content. Baseline LCA, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty analyses were conducted for three different FB feedstock types—dirty chips, clean chips, and grindings—enabling an empirically driven investigation of differences between feedstock types, individual harvesting process contributions, and literature comparisons. The baseline LCA average impacts were lower for grindings (4.57 kg CO_2eq/Mg) and dirty chips (7.16 kg CO_2eq/Mg) than for clean chips (23.99 kg CO_2eq/Mg) under economic allocation, but impacts were of similar magnitude under mass allocation, ranging from 24.42 to 27.89 kg CO_2eq/Mg. Uncertainty analysis showed a wider range of probable results under mass allocation compared to economic allocation. Sensitivity analysis revealed the impact of variations in the production masses and total economic values of primary products of forest harvests on the LCA results due to allocation of supply chain emissions. The high variability in fuel use between logging contractors also had a distinct influence on LCA results. The results of this study can aid decision‐makers in energy policy and guide emissions reductions efforts while informing future LCAs that expand the system boundary to regional FB energy pathways, including electricity generation, transportation fuels, pellets for heat, and combined heat and power.     

Fine root growth and element concentrations of Norway spruce as affected by wood ash and liquid fertilisation

A field experiment to test various management practices of sustainable forestry was conducted in a Swiss spruce forest for two growing seasons. Treatments were a control (C), yearly application of 4000 kg ha^–1 wood ash (A), daily irrigation with a steady state fertilisation as `optimal nutrition` (F) and irrigation with a water control (W). Samples were taken on a 5 × 5 m grid once a year with a soil corer to determine fine root biomass ( 2 mm) and soil pH of the topsoil. A subset of the fine root samples was further analysed for its nutrient composition by CN and ICP-AES analyses. The dynamics of root growth were observed with the aid of ingrowth-cores after 1, 1.5, and 2 years of treatment and the growth pattern was analysed in terms of biomass, tips, forks, length and root diameter of the samples. The A, F and also the W treatment resulted in a significant increase of soil pH in the topsoil. The fine root density increased over the two growing seasons, irrespective of the treatment. The root growth was only slightly different between the treatments with a initially faster growth under the A treatment. The W treatment reduced the number of root tips and forks, and the root length, while the A treatment increased the number of root tips, forks and the root length, but reduced the diameter. The differences between the three harvesting times (March 1999, October 1999, March 2000) of the ingrowth-cores stressed seasonal differences in root growth and the development of quasi `steady state' root dynamics. The root turnover was not changed by the treatments. The elements in the fine roots were strongly affected by the treatments A and F and sometimes by W. Fine root N increased with the F treatment, while C concentrations decreased under the A, F and W treatments. The Ca and Mg concentrations were strongly enhanced by A but also by the F treatment. The K and P concentrations in the fine roots were improved by all three applications. Due to the pH increase Al, Fe and Mn concentrations in the fine roots were decreased by the A and F treatments. S and Zn concentrations showed inconsistent changes over the growing seasons. The results of this study were comparable with those of other studies in Europe and confirm the abilities of the fine roots as indicators of forest nutrition, to some extent more sensitive than the commonly used foliar analysis.     

灵芝菌诱变育种与深层培养的研究

采用紫外线对灵芝菌进行了诱变处理,选育到一株高产菌株ＵＶ－６０Ｓ,其菌体干重达１３．１ｇ／Ｌ,粗多糖含量为６４０ｍｇ／Ｌ,分别比原菌株提高了２１．３％和３０．６％;并研究了培养基组成和培养条件对菌体生长的影响,优化了深层培养的工艺条件,使菌体产量与胞外多糖含量比优化前分别提高了１５．３％和１８．８％。     

Survival of Wood Duck Ducklings and Broods in Mississippi and Alabama

ABSTRACT Although North American wood ducks (Aix sponsa) are well-studied throughout their range, researchers know little about demographic and environmental factors influencing survival of ducklings and broods, which is necessary information for population management. We studied radiomarked female and duckling wood ducks that used nest boxes and palustrine wetlands at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (NNWR) in Mississippi, USA, in 1996–1999, and riverine wetlands of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Rivers and Waterway (TTRW) system in Alabama in 1998–1999. We estimated survival of ducklings and broods and evaluated potentially important predictors of duckling survival, including age and body mass of brood-rearing females, hatch date of ducklings, duckling mass, brood size at nest departure, inter-day travel distance by ducklings, site and habitat use, and daily minimum air temperature and precipitation. At NNWR, survival of 300 radiomarked ducklings ranged from 0.15 (95% CI = 0.04-0.27) to 0.24 (95% CI = 0.13-0.38) and was 0.21 (95% CI = 0.15-0.28) for 1996–1999. Our overall estimate of brood survival was 0.64 (n = 91; 95% CI = 0.54-0.73). At TTRW, survival of 129 radiomarked ducklings was 0.29 in 1998 (95% CI = 0.20-0.41) and 1999 (95% CI = 0.13-0.45) and was 0.29 (95% CI = 0.20-0.40) for 1998–1999. Our overall estimate of brood survival was 0.71 (n = 38; 95% CI = 0.56-0.85). At NNWR, models that included all predictor variables best explained variation in duckling survival. Akaike weight (w_i) for the best model was 0.81, suggesting it was superior to other models (<0.01 < w_i < 0.18). We detected 4 competing models for duckling survival at TTRW. Inter-day distance traveled by ducklings was important as this variable appeared in all 4 models; duckling survival was positively related to this variable. Patterns of habitat-related survival were similar at both study areas. Ducklings in broods that used scrub-shrub habitats disjunct from wetlands containing aggregations of nest boxes had greater survival probabilities than birds remaining in wetlands with such nest structures. Managers may increase local wood duck recruitment by promoting availability of suitable brood habitats (e.g., scrub-shrub wetlands) without aggregations of nest boxes that may attract predators and by dispersing nest boxes amid or adjacent to these habitats. We did not determine an optimal density of nest boxes relative to local or regional population goals, which remains important research and conservation needs.     

灰树花深层培养的生长动力学与计算机模拟

研究了灰树花的生长特性,建立了灰树花的生长速率模型和基质消耗动力学模型;并运用SIMULINK仿真环境,建立了灰树花在培养过程中的主要因素通气量和pH对菌丝生物影响的模型,结果表明,模拟结果较理想。     

广州市风水林群落空间异质性及其对区域物种多样性的贡献

以广州地区村边风水林为研究对象,选取了67个风水林斑块,并在每个斑块内建立了一个20m×20m的样方,调查了其胸径大于1cm的植物组成。首先以种面积关系外推法和非参数法估计了风水林群落对区域生物多样性的贡献;然后以加法准则拆分了gamma多样性,以分析风水林群落物种组成的异质性;最后根据每个风水林群落的物种丰富度、稀有种(在所有群落中只出现一次的物种)数目和谱系多样性分析了在保护中需要优先考虑的区域。结果发现：（1）广州地区风水林群落至少保存了32.74%的区域物种多样性;（2）gamma多样性(184)中绝大部分由beta多样性(163.43)构建,只有很小部分来自于alpha多样性(20.57)。这表明风水林群落在物种组成上具有较高的空间异质性,要想尽可能多地保护风水林内物种多样性,就需要尽可能多地保护风水林群落斑块;（3）相对于平原地区,位于山区的风水林群落具有更高的物种丰富度和谱系多样性以及更多的稀有种数目。在保护资金和土地资源有限的情况下,位于山区的风水林群落应该给予优先考虑。     

Effect of elevated [CO2] on stem wood properties of mature Norway spruce grown at different soil nutrient availability

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of elevated [CO₂] and soil nutrient availability on secondary xylem structure and chemical composition of 41‐year‐old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees. The nonfertilized and irrigated‐fertilized trees were, for 3 years, continuously exposed to elevated [CO₂] in whole‐tree chambers. Elevated [CO₂] decreased concentrations of soluble sugars, acid‐soluble lignin and nitrogen in stem wood, but the effects were not consistent between sampling height and/or fertilization. The effect of 2*ambient [CO₂] on wood structure depended on the exposure year and/or fertilization. Radial lumen diameter decreased and annual ring width increased in the second year of exposure (1999) in elevated [CO₂]. In the latter, the CO₂ effect was significant only in the nonfertilized trees. Stem wood chemistry and structure were significantly affected by fertilization. Fertilization increased the concentrations of nitrogen and gravimetric lignin, annual ring width, and radial lumen diameter. Fertilization decreased C/N ratio, mean ring density, earlywood density, latewood density, cell wall thickness, cell wall index, and latewood percentage. We conclude that elevated [CO₂] had only minor effects on wood properties while fertilization had more marked effects and thus may affect ecosystem processes and suitability of wood for different end‐use purposes.     

麻竹材化学成分的变异

麻竹(ＤｅｎｄｒｏｃａｌａｍｕｓｌａｔｉｆｌｏｒｕｓＭｕｎｒｏ)是我国南方著名笋竹两用竹种,竹秆粗大通直,大量用于制浆造纸,是我国纸浆材培育的主要竹种之一。化学成分是研究竹材材性的基础和竹材利用的依据。有关麻竹材化学成分的研究未见报道。本文应用正交试验方?..     

Bursts of CO2 released during freezing offer a new perspective on avoidance of winter embolism in trees

MethodsCO₂ efflux measurements were conducted during freezing experiments for saplings of three Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and three Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees under laboratory conditions, and the magnitudes of the freezing-related bursts of CO₂ released from the stems were analysed using a previously published mechanistic model of CO₂ production, storage, diffusion and efflux from a tree stem. The freezing-related bursts of CO₂ released from a mature Scots pine tree growing in field conditions were also measured and analysed.ConclusionsAll gases dissolved in the xylem sap are not trapped within the ice in the stem during freezing, as has previously been assumed, thus adding a new dimension to the understanding of winter embolism formation. The conduit water volume not only determines the volume of bubbles formed during freezing, but also the efficiency of gas efflux out of the conduit during the freezing process.     

Not all management is equal: a comparison of methods to increase wood turtle population viability

Management generally targets the most tractable life stage to rescue declining populations; however, that stage may not have the largest influence on recovery. Freshwater turtles are declining globally and early stages are frequently targeted for management, although the effectiveness of these actions on population growth are relatively unknown because of incomplete demographic data. We estimated the hatchling yearly survival rate for a freshwater turtle in the field using in situ enclosures to collect missing demographic information. We used these data to develop demographic models to calculate growth rate for a hypothetical, declining population of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in Wisconsin, USA, 2014–2019. We modeled growth for populations across a range of scenarios from no management to combinations of nest protection and head-starting at varying levels of effort. Nest protection alone did not increase population growth rate, while head-starting alone increased population growth by 0.07, with the largest increase in growth rate, 0.11, resulting from combinations of both approaches. No combination of nest protection and head-starting, without an increase in adult survival rate from the observed 0.88 to ≥0.95, led to population stabilization or increase. Populations of freshwater turtles, like the wood turtle, will likely only recover with a multi-faceted approach that targets multiple life stages simultaneously.