An Integrality Model for Teaching

For Christian educators working in secular institutions, or for those who are required to teach curricula based on secularist philosophy, it can be confusing as to how to faithfully integrate faith and learning. This essay suggests an appropriate and biblically-grounded way to regard this problem and effectively use knowledge from secular sources. This process starts with a reconsideration of the definitions for integration, faith, and knowledge. It also entails the purposing of all truth, which belongs to God, within the classroom

Researching the Teaching Context: Faithful Practice

Christian teachers are called to a teaching practice that is biblically grounded or based on a biblical world and life view, but can the same imperative be applied to those wishing to conduct research in Christian education contexts? This paper considers one approach to qualitative methodologies that considers the ultimate goal of truth-seeking in research in the sciences to be a deeply religious activity. The ultimate goal of biblically grounded research is proposed as being greatest-commandment driven, and to accomplish this, an epistemological base that is holistic and relational is proposed. This epistemology moves from a biblically oriented sense of both being and purpose to bring a level of redemptive engagement with social phenomena. Such research is seen in the context of unhiding and/or reclaiming God’s truth to bring transformation and reformation to research subject individuals and communities. The paper includes references to philosophical bases such as reformed critical realism and methodological constructions such as critical ethnography

Ice storm effects on the canopy structure of a northern hardwood forest after 8 years

Ice storms can cause severe damage to forest canopies, resulting in differential mortality among tree species and size classes and leading to long-lasting changes in the vertical structure and composition of the forest. An intense ice storm in 1998 damaged large areas of the northern hardwood forest, including much of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire (USA). Following up on detailed poststorm assessments, we measured changes in the vertical structure of the forest canopy 8 years poststorm. We focused on how the presence of disease-induced advance regeneration of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) has affected canopy structure in the recovering forest. We measured foliage-height profiles using a point-quadrat approach and a pole-mounted leaf area index (LAI) sensor. Although the total LAIs of damaged and undamaged areas were similar, areas damaged in 1998 showed an increased proportion of total leaf area between 6 and 10 m above the ground. The foliage at this height is largely (54%) beech. To the extent that this heavily beech-dominated understory layer suppresses regeneration of other species, these findings suggest that rare disturbances of mature northern hardwood forests affected by beech bark disease will increase the importance of damage-prone and economically marginal beech

Environmental change impacts on the C- and N-cycle of European forests: a model comparison study [Discussion paper]

Forests are important components of the greenhouse gas balance of Europe. There is considerable uncertainty about how predicted changes to climate and nitrogen deposition will perturb the carbon and nitrogen cycles of European forests and thereby alter forest growth, carbon sequestration and N2O emission. The present study aimed to quantify the carbon and nitrogen balance, including the exchange of greenhouse gases, of European forests over the period 2010–2030, with a particular emphasis on the spatial variability of change. The analysis was carried out for two tree species: European beech and Scots pine. For this purpose, four different dynamic models were used: BASFOR, DailyDayCent, INTEGRATOR and Landscape-DNDC. These models span a range from semi-empirical to complex mechanistic. Comparison of these models allowed assessment of the extent to which model predictions depended on differences in model inputs and structure. We found a European average carbon sink of 0.160 ± 0.020 kgC m−2 yr−1 (pine) and 0.138 ± 0.062 kgC m−2 yr−1 (beech) and N2O source of 0.285 ± 0.125 kgN ha−1 yr−1 (pine) and 0.575 ± 0.105 kgN ha−1 yr−1 (beech). The European average greenhouse gas potential of the carbon source was 18 (pine) and 8 (beech) times that of the N2O source. Carbon sequestration was larger in the trees than in the soil. Carbon sequestration and forest growth were largest in central Europe and lowest in northern Sweden and Finland, N. Poland and S. Spain. No single driver was found to dominate change across Europe. Forests were found to be most sensitive to change in environmental drivers where the drivers were limiting growth, where changes were particularly large or where changes acted in concert. The models disagreed as to which environmental changes were most significant for the geographical variation in forest growth and as to which tree species showed the largest rate of carbon sequestration. Pine and beech forests were found to have differing sensitivities to environmental change, in particular the response to changes in nitrogen and precipitation, with beech forest more vulnerable to drought. There was considerable uncertainty about the geographical location of N2O emissions. Two of the models BASFOR and LandscapeDNDC had largest emissions in central Europe where nitrogen deposition and soil nitrogen were largest whereas the two other models identified different regions with large N2O emission. N2O emissions were found to be larger from beech than pine forests and were found to be particularly sensitive to forest growth

Ecology and conservation of bryophytes and lichens on Fagus sylvatica

Environmental factors related to the occurrence of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens were examined in beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests in the Province of Halland, Sweden. Patterns in species composition and species number at different temporal and spatial scales were analyzed with emphasis on species of conservation concern (i.e. red-listed and indicator species). (I) At stand level, the availability of substrate, a high stand age and forest continuity were the most important factors explaining high species number of epiphytes of conservation concern. The difference in species number between stands with and without forest continuity was probably related to the presence of old trees and the time available for species colonization. (II) Within stands, plots containing old trees, at the base of slopes and with low recent forestry impact had the highest species number. At tree level, age, size and moss cover were primary factors in explaining both species number and species composition of all species. Red-listed lichens were associated with damaged beech trees older than 180 years, whereas the few red-listed bryophytes were also recorded on younger stems in dense stands. (III) The vertical distribution of epiphytes, recorded on newly fallen beech stems, could also be related to tree age. Some red-listed lichens were recorded only from above 2 m in height on trees older than 250 years. The presence of any species of conservation concern at 2-5 m height on standing living beech trees correlated positively to moss cover and bark structure, which in turn was dependent on tree age. (IV) The effect of bark and tree characteristics on species occurrence was studied. It was found that the combination of high bark pH, high tree age and damaged stem best explained the number of species of conservation concern. The link between old beech trees and high bark pH was partly explained by a positive effect of tree age on stemflow pH. (V) At microhabitat level, the type of stem damage rot hole was found to positively influence bark pH and the occurrence of species of conservation concern. Old and slow-growing trees with rot holes are, however, often removed from managed beech forests. A spatial separation between managed and retention areas is therefore recommended in shelterwood forestry

Auswirkungen der Einbringung von Buche (Fagus sylvatica L.) auf die Artendiversität und Naturnähe von Nadelholzbeständen in Niedersachsen

The promotion and extension of continuous cover mixed stands with a simultaneous reduction of conifer-monocultures play a major role in current silvicultural practices in Central Europe. It is assumed that the admixture of the natural dominant beech (Fagus sylvatica) in pure non site-specific conifer stands automatically indicates better conditions in terms of nature conservation and forest management. To test this hypothesis three different conifer-beech-comparisons of pure and mixed stands in Lower Saxony are studied, analyzing plant species diversity and naturalness of understory vegetation as one important indicator for the ecological status of forests. Each comparison includes pure coniferous stands (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii), mixed coniferous-beech-stands, and pure beech stands on similar acidic mineral soils where the potential natural vegetation will be an oligotrophic beech forest (L u z u l o - Fa g e t um). The age of stands varies between 50 and 150 years. To specify tree species influence on site conditions and vegetation, the study also includes light climate and soil data of the stands. It is observed that, with regard to all comparisons, the admixture of beech reduces plant species diversity but increases naturalness of the stands. The intensity of beech admixture effects differs. While in Scots pine stands the impact of admixed beech is very noticeable, with the mixed stands being nearly identical with pure beech stands, the species change in Douglas-fir and Norway spruce stands proceeds more slowly. Assuming that the status in nature conservation and forest management is improving with increasing plant species diversity and increasing naturalness, the results of this study show a contrary development on a stand scale, as the potential natural vegetation of the L u z u l o - F a g e t u m is in its self very species poor on vascular plants.Die Förderung und Ausweitung von Mischwäldern bei gleichzeitiger Reduktion reiner Nadelholz-Bestände spielt aktuell eine große Rolle im mitteleuropäischen Waldbau. Gemeinhin wird angenommen, dass die Beimischung der standortsgemäßen Buche (Fagus sylvatica) in standortsfremden Nadelholz Monokulturen die Bedingungen im Sinne des Naturschutzes und der Forstwirtschaft verbessert. Diese Hypothese wird auf der Grundlage von drei unterschiedlichen Nadelholz- Buchen-Versuchsreihen geprüft. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei die Bodenvegetation als wichtiger und sensitiver Indikator für den ökologischen Zustand von Wäldern. Jede Versuchsreihe umfasst reine Nadelholz-Bestände (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii), Nadelholz-Buchen- Mischbestände und reine Buchen-Bestände auf sauren Mineralböden, auf denen von Natur aus nährstoffarme Buchenwälder (L u z u l o - Fa g e t um) vorherrschen würden. Das Alter der Bestände variiert zwischen 50 und 150 Jahren. Schwerpunkte der Analyse sind die Artenvielfalt und Naturnähe der Bodenvegetation. Um den Einfluss der Baumarten auf den Standort und die Vegetation zu bewerten, werden die Licht- und Bodenverhältnisse der Bestände charakterisiert. Es zeigt sich, dass mit der Beimischung der Buche in allen Versuchsreihen die Pflanzenartenvielfalt abnimmt und die Naturnähe zunimmt. Unterschiedlich ist dabei die Intensität der Veränderungen. Zwischen den Kiefern-Buchen-Mischbeständen und den Kiefern-Reinbeständen bestehen sehr deutliche Unterschiede im Aufbau der Bodenvegetation, so dass die Mischbestände den Buchen-Reinbeständen bereits sehr ähnlich sind. In den Douglasien- und Fichten-Versuchsreihen vollzieht sich der Artenwechsel vergleichsweise unauffällig und kontinuierlich. Wenn man davon ausgeht, dass der naturschutzfachliche und waldbauliche Status sich sowohl mit zunehmender Phytodiversität als auch bei zunehmender Naturnähe verbessert, so zeigen diese Ergebnisse auf Bestandesebene eine gegenläufige Entwicklung, da das in der Region der potenziell natürlichen Vegetation entsprechende L u z u l o - Fa g e tum von Natur aus sehr artenarm an Gefäßpflanzen ist

Tannin-boron wood preservatives

Tannin-boron wood preservatives are alternative products to replace water-borne formulations based on copper. Interesting results in protection against fungus (pycnoporus sanguineus) were achieved with formulations based of 20% tannin solutions containing boric acid (Thevenon et al. 2009). In this paper two upgrades are introduced: extension of preservation properties to softwood species (scots pine) and analysis of the side-properties achieved after treatment. A detailed study on tannin penetration in beech and scots pine is presented. Microscope analysis demonstrates that impregnation in scots pine have two preferential directions: Longitudinal through tracheids and radial through parenchyma rays, while in beech the liquid penetrates the wood cell mainly longitudinally through large and easy accessible vessels. Commercialization of exterior-door wood preservative will be also dependent on the side-properties derived from the treatment. For this reason, properties such as mechanical resistance and behavior against fire have been investigated. The mechanical tests have shown a strong increasing of compression resistance and surface hardness for beech and scots pine samples. The tests against fire have been monitored considering ignition, flame and ember time. A broad positive effect on fire-repellence is shown when wood is treated with tannin-boron formulations. (Résumé d'auteur

Fir-dominated forests in Bavaria, Germany

The map of “Regional natural forest composition by main tree species” (WALENTOWSKI et al. 2001) depicts Bavaria as a region largely predominated by the European beech (Fagus sylvatica). Analyses of climatope, hygrotope and trophotope of fir-dominated regional natural units make evident that the reasons for the preponderance of the European silver fir (Abies alba) are edaphic. In terms of regeneration vigour, growth and yield the fir particularly dominates in habitats with a combination of humus cover, acid-oligotrophic topsoils and clayey or waterlogged subsoils, where the beech usually exhibits stunted and malformed growth forms. This ecological preference has the effect that Bavarian Abies alba-forests are restricted to small patches within a matrix of potential natural vegetation formed by mixed deciduous-coniferous mountain forests. Within European Natura 2000 areas Abies- forests should be recorded carefully as special habitats. Their transitional character between temperate beech forests (habitat type 9130) and boreal spruce forests (habitat type 9410), the ecological preference of Abies alba as an endangered tree species and their sensitivity against environmental stressors, including changes in forest structure, air quality, and climate, make them important objects for nature conservation

Reviews

Anne Brockbank, Ian McGill and Nic Beech, Reflective Learning in Practice, Aldershot: Gower Publishing, ISBN: 0 566 08377 9. £49.50