Short-term pigment changes in Norway spruce needles

The photosynthetic pigment contents and the chlorophyll fluorescence induction in Norway spruce [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] needles were monitored at 3 h intervals over a 10 day period. This covered 6 days of high insolation, one day of low insolation, followed by three more days of high insolation. During the first six days only small changes in mean pigment contents were observed but we interpret them as suggesting a daily rhythm in total chlorophyll content with two maxima and minima. The day of low insolation was paralleled by larger pigment changes, mostly an increase in chlorophyll b along with a decrease in carotenoid content. With the resumption of high insolation, pigments gradually return to their previous levels. During the entire period chlorophyll a fluorescence induction remained relatively constant. These short-term responses may reflect features of thylakoid organization in relation to pigment content and suggest possible long-term adaptive mechanisms in non deciduous conifers.     

What explains landscape patterns of tree mortality caused by bark beetle outbreaks in Greater Yellowstone?

Aim Bark beetle outbreaks have recently affected extensive areas of western North American forests, and factors explaining landscape patterns of tree mortality are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of stand structure, topography, soil characteristics, landscape context (the characteristics of the landscape surrounding the focal stand) and beetle pressure (the abundance of local beetle population eruptions around the focal stand a few years before the outbreak) to explain landscape patterns of tree mortality during outbreaks of three species: the mountain pine beetle, which attacks lodgepole pine and whitebark pine; the spruce beetle, which feeds on Engelmann spruce; and the Douglas‐fir beetle, which attacks Douglas‐fir. A second objective was to identify common variables that explain tree mortality among beetle–tree host pairings during outbreaks. Location Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, Wyoming, USA. Methods We used field surveys to quantify stand structure, soil characteristics and topography at the plot level in susceptible stands of each forest type showing different severities of infestation (0–98% mortality; n= 129 plots). We then used forest cover and beetle infestation maps derived from remote sensing to develop landscape context and beetle pressure metrics at different spatial scales. Plot‐level and landscape‐level variables were used to explain outbreak severity. Results Engelmann spruce and Douglas‐fir mortality were best predicted using landscape‐level variables alone. Lodgepole pine mortality was best predicted by both landscape‐level and plot‐level variables. Whitebark pine mortality was best – although poorly – predicted by plot‐level variables. Models including landscape context and beetle pressure were much better at predicting outbreak severity than models that only included plot‐level measures, except for whitebark pine. Main conclusions Landscape‐level variables, particularly beetle pressure, were the most consistent predictors of subsequent outbreak severity within susceptible stands of all four host species. These results may help forest managers identify vulnerable locations during ongoing outbreaks.     

The electrolyte leakage method can be misleading for assessing the frost hardiness of roots

Abstract

The relative electrolyte leakage (REL) method is often used to assess the frost hardiness of plant organs. However, testing the frost hardiness of roots with REL yields different results when the roots are frozen while remaining in the soil or in some other substrate than when REL follows a freezing test made on excised root segments. In this study, we show that the electrolytes may already leak out of injured roots during freeze/thaw treatment and during washing of the roots after the treatment. In this case, the conductivities measured after the freezing test and killing of the tissue both give lower readings than expected for injured samples, and hence the results of the REL are incorrect. We suggest that roots should be washed free of soil and placed in test tubes prior to the freezing test. The leakage of electrolytes from injured roots to soil may also limit the use of the REL method for measuring root viability.     

白桦和水曲柳树干温度日变化的空间变异及其影响因子

植物温度是森林生态系统能量平衡和植被呼吸估算的重要参数.采用T型热电偶监测树皮和木材特性各异的2个阔叶树种(白桦和水曲柳)不同深度、高度和方位的树干温度(T_s),探索T_s日变化的空间变异及其影响因素.结果表明: T_s月平均日变化格局与空气温度呈相似的正弦曲线,但T_s变化滞后于空气温度,时滞从树皮表面处的0 h增加到6 cm深度处的4 h.随测定深度的增加和高度的降低,T_s日变化的峰值和日较差均逐渐减小.T_s周向差异不大,休眠季节白天南向、西向T_s日峰值略高.两树种树皮和木材的热学特性(比热容和导热系数)的差异,会通过影响树干表面与外界的热交换和树干内部热扩散而造成T_s径向变化的种间差异.白桦树皮较高的反射率削弱了太阳辐射对T_s的影响.多元逐步回归分析表明,环境因子可以很好地估测T_s日动态(R²>0.85),影响程度依次为空气温度>水汽压>净辐射>风速.估算生物量热储和树干表面CO₂通量时应考虑T_s径向、纵向和种间差异.     

Defoliation of Sitka spruce by the European spruce sawfly, Gilpinia hercyniae (Hartig): a retrospective analysis using the needle trace method

Abstract 1 During 1968–74, an outbreak of the European spruce sawfly Gilpinia hercyniae, defoliated many stands of Sitka spruce in commercial forests in mid‐Wales. The needle trace method was used to determine retrospectively the temporal pattern and intensity of defoliation in a stand of Sitka spruce in Hafren Forest that had been damaged severely at the time of the sawfly outbreak. 2 An initial calibration experiment, designed to test the reliability of the needle trace method when applied to Sitka spruce, indicated that artificially induced defoliation of up to 75% was detected by the technique with an accuracy of ±7%. Higher rates of defoliation were underestimated by up to 17%. 3 For the main sample of trees, the needle trace method demonstrated that retention of needle sets (average needle retention) was reduced by up to 33–38% over a 10‐year period coincident with the G. hercyniae outbreak and the years immediately afterward when the canopy was recovering. 4 Analysis of needle loss within separate needle cohorts and age‐classes revealed that 1‐year‐old needles were the most severely defoliated. The density of 1‐year‐old needles was reduced by 51–78% in 1970–73. 5 Defoliation at the time of the G. hercyniae outbreak was associated with reductions in annual height, radial, and volume increments of 24–49%, 30–59% and 32–56%, respectively. Radial and volume increments suffered their greatest reductions 1 year later than height increments. 6 The study demonstrates that the needle trace method can be applied successfully to Sitka spruce to quantify defoliation caused by an insect outbreak occurring many years previously, and that the technique can provide data on needle loss that is valuable for interpreting reductions in tree growth.     

The alteration of calling behaviour by female Choristoneura fumiferana when exposed to synthetic sex pheromone

The calling behaviour of 0-day-old and 2-day-old virgin female eastern spruce budworm moths, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) was observed during exposure to different concentrations of the synthetic female sex pheromone. Regardless of whether the females were exposed to pheromone or not, there were two daily peak periods of calling activity, one in the afternoon and the other after dusk. Those moths exposed to pheromone commenced calling at least 2 h earlier during their first peak of calling activity. Also, a greater number of moths engaged in calling when exposed to pheromone than those under control conditions.

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Résumé Des expériences ont été menées au laboratoire pour examiner si la phéromone sexuelle synthétique de C. fumiferana pouvait altérer le comportement d'appel de femelles vierges de la même espèce. Un appareil a été conçu pour libérer alternativement — à des intervalles déterminés — un courant d'air portant de la phéromone sexuelle ou un courant d'air pur, dans plusieurs flacons contenant des femelles vierges. Le comportement sexuel de mouches de 0 et 2 jours a ainsi été observé. Indépendamment de l'exposition des femelles à la phéromone, il y avait deux pics quotidiens d'activité d'appel, l'un dans l'après-midi et l'autre après le crépuscule. Des papillons exposés au 1×10^–6 mg ou 1×10^–3 mg de phéromone avaient un premier pic d'appel au moins antérieur de 2 heures par rapport aux témoins. Ainsiily a vait un plus grand nombre de papillons engagés dans une activité d'appel en présence de la phéromone que chez les témoins.

     

天山林区土壤真菌多样性及其群落结构

土壤真菌群落结构对森林生态系统功能的维持具有重要作用,目前对天山林区土壤微生物的种类和群落结构了解甚少。为了解天山不同植被类型下土壤真菌的群落动态及优势菌属,使用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术,研究天山林区根际土与非根际土中真菌群落组成及多样性。结果表明:(1)对有效序列进行OTU聚类(operational taxonomic unit)后共得到14121个OTUs,经注释划分为7个门、33个纲、109个目、255个科、444个属、677个种;(2)子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子囊菌门(Basidiomycota)是天山植物的优势菌门,灌丛中相对丰度较高的有帚枝霉属(Sarocladium)、鬼笔属(Lysurus)、Microidium;云杉林中相对丰度较高的属有镰刀属(Fusarium)、赤霉属(Gibberella)、丝盖伞属(Inocybe);(3)灌丛与云杉林土壤真菌的群落结构和丰富度有显著差异,灌丛土壤真菌的多样性和丰富度更高,云杉林中阴坡的土壤真菌丰富度较高而阳坡和林窗较低;(4)丝盖伞属(Inocybe)、被孢霉属(Mortierella)、赤霉属(Gibberella)、镰刀属(Fusarium)与云杉的生长可能具有密切的关系。本文推测,根际土壤真菌的多样性和丰富度较低可能是导致云杉幼苗成活率低等更新障碍的问题。     

Ectomycorrhizal community structure varies among Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones

In northern boreal forests, the diversity of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) species is much greater than that of their host trees. This field study investigated the role of individual trees in shaping the ECM community. We compared ECM communities of eight Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones planted in a clear-cut area in 1994 with a randomized block design. In 2003, the ECM fungi were identified from randomly sampled root tips using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence similarity. ECM diversity varied among clone groups, showing twofold growth differences. Moreover, according to detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), ECM community structure varied not only among but also within slow-growing or fast-growing clones. Results suggest that ECM diversity and community structure are related to the growth rate or size of the host. A direct or indirect influence of host genotype was also observed, and we therefore suggest that individual trees are partly responsible for the high diversity and patchy distribution of ECM communities in boreal forests.     

Photoactivation of the latent O2-evolving center in chloroplasts isolated from dark-grown spruce seedlings

The latent O₂-evolving center in chloroplasts isolated from spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] seedlings grown in the dark was readily activated by pre-illuminating the chloroplast suspension with weak white light. The photoactivation depended on pH with the optimum at pH 7–8, and was strongly stimulated by ascorbic acid. The optimal stimulation was also obtained at pH 7–8. The temperature dependence of the photoactivation suggested the involvement of some dark reaction in the activation process.     

Effects of preconditioning on electrolyte leakasge and lipid composition in black spruce (Picea mariand) stressed with polyethylene giycol

Black spruce ( Picea mariana Mill. B. S. P.) rooted cuttings were grown in solution culture and preconditioned by osmotically stressing plants with polyethylene glycol. After relief from preconditioning stress, water relations, membrane leakiness, and the composition of lipids and fatty acids were compared in preconditioned and control, unconditioned plants. Both groups of plants were subsequently subjected to a severe osmotic stress with polyethylene glycol and examined again. Osmotic stress decreased shoot water potentials and increased the leakage of electrolytes from shoots of stressed, compared with unstressed, plants. However, both unstressed and stressed preconditioned plants leaked less electrolytes compared with unconditioned plants. Changes in sterol, phospholipid and glycolipid composition were observed in preconditioned unstressed and stressed plants. Sterol and phospholipid levels de clined as a result of stress, and preconditioning resulted in a decline in sterol: phospholipid ratios in plants.