The Effects of Different Intensity of Thinning on the Development in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Stands in Kazakh Uplands

The search for more accurate methods of predicting the growth and development of forest stands became the most urgent task set for foresters of Kazakhstan to determine the permissible interventions in the natural course of the life of plantings, provide high durability and resilience in forests. The aim of the study was to identify the effects of diameter and density of Scots pine stands of Kazakh Uplands on their growth and productivity and the related productivity of single plantation stands taking into account the conditions of growth and development of internal factors as well as further study of the methodology for assessing the forestry cost-effectiveness and improvement thinning. To achieve this aim, effects of varied felling intensities on Scots pine stands were studied. The most common two forest types in upland Scots pine forests were chosen as permanent sample plots; the dead pine-lichen and moss pine-grass. The results showed that improvement thinning of moderate and severe intensity which are more profitable should be done in Scots pine forests of Kazakh Upland as well as carrying out such thinning increases the yield of the larger logs and increases the value of the left stand

\u3ci\u3eTomicus Piniperda\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) Reproduction and Development in Scots, Jack, Red and Eastern White Pine Under Laboratory Conditions

The pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), is an exotic bark beetle in North America that was first found in the Great Lakes region in 1992. We evaluated T. piniperda reproduction and development in one Eurasian pine (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L.) and three North American pines (jack pine, P. banksiana Lamb.; red pine, P. resinosa Ait.; and eastern white pine, P. strobus L.) under laboratory conditions. We introduced one pair of adults into individual pine bolts, allowed development, collected brood, and later debarked all bolts and measured galleries. Reproduction and development occurred in all pine species tested. Mean phloem thickness varied significantly among the bolts used to represent the four pine species; it was thickest in red pine (1.3 mm) and thinnest in jack pine (0.6 mm). Linear regression analysis indicated that initial brood production (larval galleries per cm of egg gallery) increased significantly with increasing phloem thickness (r2 = 0.36), using the pooled data set for all four pine species. Using phloem thickness as a covariate, mean initial brood density (larval galleries per cm of gallery) was significantly highest on red pine, intermediate on Scots pine and white pine, and lowest on jack pine. Overall brood survival was highest on Scots pine (86%) and lowest on jack (72%) and white pine (76%); phloem thickness was not a significant covariate in this analysis

Interpopulation genetic-ecological variation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Serbia

The genetic-ecological variation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Serbia was studied in the populations at five localities in western and south-western Serbia. Three groups of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations were differentiated based on genetic research (seed protein analysis) and plant community research. The first group consists of Scots pine populations on Šargan (FMU “Šargan“) and on Tara (FMU “Kaluderske Bare”), where the forests belong to the community of Scots pine and Austrian pine (Pinetum sylvestris-nigrae Pavlovic 1951). The second group covers the localities Stolovi (FMU “Radocelo-Crepuljnik“) and Zlatar (FMU “Zlatar I“), where the forests belong to the community of Scots pine and spruce (Piceo abietis-Pinetum sylvestris Stefanovic 1960). The third group comprises the Scots pine population on Pešter (FMU “Dubocica-Bare“) which belongs to the community of Scots pine with erica (Erico-Pinetum sylvestris Stefanovic 1963). Cluster analysis was performed on the basis of seed protein data and showed that there are three groups of Scots pine populations. The three populations coincide with plant communities. The community of Scots pine with erica (Erico-Pinetum sylvestris Stefanovic 1963) recorded on Pešter at the locality “Dubocica- Bare“ in the area of FE “Golija“ Ivanjica, is a special Scots pine population displayed at the greatest distance from all other populations in the cluster analysis dendrogram

Surface characteristics of scots pine wood heated at high temperatures after weathering

This study was conducted to investigate some surface properties of wood specimens of heat treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) after weathering such as surface hardness, surface roughness, gloss, and color changes. Heat treatment of Scots pine wood was carried out by hot air in an oven for 1, 2, and 3 hours at 210, 220, and 230°C. The results showed that generally surface hardness losses of heat treated Scots pine wood were lower than that of un-heated Scots pine wood after weathering. Heat treated Scots pine wood gave smooth surface after weathering. Except for heat treatment at 230°C for 1 and 2 hours, heat treatment resulted in better glossiness compared to un-heated Scots pine wood after weathering. According to the test results, while heat treated Scots pine wood become lighter after weathering, un-heated wood become darken after weathering. In general, heat treated wood surface to become reddish and yellowish after weathering.No sponso

Genetic differentiation in Scottish populations of the pine beauty moth Panolis flammea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Pine beauty moth, Panolis flammea (Denis & Schiffermüller), is a recent but persistent pest of lodgepole pine plantations in Scotland, but exists naturally at low levels within remnants and plantations of Scots pine. To test whether separate host races occur in lodgepole and Scots pine stands and to examine colonization dynamics, allozyme, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and mitochondrial variation were screened within a range of Scottish samples. RAPD analysis indicated limited long distance dispersal (FST = 0.099), and significant isolation by distance (P < 0.05); but that colonization between more proximate populations was often variable, from extensive to limited exchange. When compared with material from Germany, Scottish samples were found to be more diverse and significantly differentiated for all markers. For mtDNA, two highly divergent groups of haplotypes were evident, one group contained both German and Scottish samples and the other was predominantly Scottish. No genetic differentiation was evident between P. flammea populations sampled from different hosts, and no diversity bottleneck was observed in the lodgepole group. Indeed, lodgepole stands appear to have been colonized on multiple occasions from Scots pine sources and neighbouring populations on different hosts are close to panmixia.A.J. Lowe, B.J. Hicks, K. Worley, R.A. Ennos, J.D. Morman, G. Stone and A.D. Wat

Surface characteristics of scots pine treated with chemicals containing some copper compounds after weathering

In this study, it was aimed to investigate surface hardness, gloss, and color changes of Scots pine treated with chemicals containing some copper compounds after six months weathering. Adolit KD-5 (AD KD-5), celcure AC-500 (CAC-500), and wolmanit CX-8 (WCX-8) were used as impregnation chemicals containing copper compounds. Scots pine wood specimens were treated with 2 % aqueous solution of chemicals according to ASTM D1413-07e1 (2007) standard. Results showed that while surface hardness and gloss values of untreated Scots pine wood specimens were decreased after weathering, they increased treated Scots pine wood specimens after weathering. The decrease in L* of untreated and treated wood indicates that the specimens became darker after weathering. While weathering caused less green and less yellow for untreated control specimen, it caused less red and less yellow for treated wood. Treated Scots pine wood specimens showed better color stability compared to untreated Scots pine after weathering. In terms of surface hardness, gloss, and color stability values CAC-500 treated Scots pine gave the best results after weathering

Review of investigation of variability of nad1 gene intron B/C of mitochondrial genome in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Background and Purpose: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the most extensively distributed pine, covering the whole Eurasian continent. The detection of genetic variability of Scots pine is of greate importance from the evolutionary point of view as well as for genetic conservation. Mitochondrial genome in Scots pine is maternally inherited and dispersed through seeds. Molecular studies have indicated high genetic diversity in Scots pine genome, allowing the detection of variation between and within population. Mitochondrial genome possesses variable regions in the gene encoded NADH dehydrogenase. The variable region is nad1 B/C intron. The different haplotypes of nad1 B/C intron allowed confirming the Iberian refugia in Holoecen and confirming the genetic diversity between different stands of Scots pine in Poland. The purpose of this study was to find out the genetic variability of nad1 B/C intron in two International Scots pine provenance experiments and native Scots pine provenance in Croatia in order to detect multiple origin and haplotype variation between provenances. Material and Methods: The samples of Scots pine were taken from two International experiments of provenances, one established in Croatia (22 provenances) and the other established in Hungary (20 provenances) and Croatian native provenance (Forest office Vrhovine, Forest administration Gospić). The samples of needles were collected from randomly chosen trees of each provenance. Eight samples per provenance were collected for haplotype analyses. DNA was extracted and amplified with specific primers for nad1 B/C intron of the mitochondrial DNA. PCR products were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis on the bioanalyzer Agilent 2100. Results and Conclusion: We investigated samples from 42 provenances of Scots pine that originated from a broad range in Eurasia and were included in two international provenance experiments, and samples from native Croatian population. A total of 344 individual trees of Scots pine were analyzed. The datawere analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and by capillary electrophoresis. We did not detect variability in mitochondrial nad1 B/C region in analyzed samples. All analyzed samples were haplotype a. Based on our data, we could conclude that none of the tested samples originated from the Iberian glacial refugia. All tested samples could have the origin in glacial refugia placed in Mediterranean, Balkan region or in the northeastern Europe. More variable region of the nuclear DNA and themitochondrial DNA should be tested on a greater number of samples to obtain more informative data

Forest floor bryophyte and lichen diversity in Scots pine and Norway spruce production forests

Bryophytes and lichens are two main components of the forest floor vegetation. They provide essential ecosystem services, including nutrient recycling and water regulation. Here, we contrast the species richness, cover and community composition of forest floor bryophytes and lichens in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) dominated production forests. The study sites were located in the hemiboreal zone of southern Sweden, and represented early-, mid- and late rotation stands. Our aim was to examine the potential consequences for forest floor biodiversity from the decreasing use of Scots pine production forests in this region.Whereas Scots pine and Norway spruce stands did not differ in bryophyte cover, we found a higher cover of lichens in Scots pine stands, and highest in the intermediate aged stands. Also the species richness of lichens was higher in the Scots pine stands, while bryophyte species richness was higher in the Norway spruce stands. Differences in canopy cover and associated light transmittance to the forest floor appears to be important drivers for distinctive different forest floor communities in the Scots pine and Norway spruce stands, as revealed by NonMetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS). Mean Ellenberg indicator values for bryophytes and lichens showed that species associated with Scots pine stands were characterized by their tolerance of brighter conditions, higher insolation, and better adaptation to a continental climate. Norway spruce stands instead had a comparably larger proportion of species tolerating lower light, but also indicators of higher available nutrient levels, humidity, and pH. The outcome of the Ellenberg indicator species analysis, as well as the larger cover of lichens,and adaptations to drought found among some mosses, revealed that forest floor communities are shaped by different environmental factors in Scots pine and Norway spruce production stands. These environmental differences, and the quantified shifts in forest floor communities identified in this study, indicate the large shifts in understory bryophyte and lichen species composition and abundance that is likely to occur if Scots pine stands are converted to Norway spruce

Weathering properties of scots pine treated with some chemicals

This study was aimed to investigate the gloss, surface hardness, surface roughness, and color changes of Scots pine that was treated with some chemicals after six months of weathering exposure. Chromated copper boron (CCB), vacsol aqua, and imersol aqua were used as the impregnation chemicals. Scots pine wood specimens were impregnated with 3% aqueous solutions of the chemicals according to ASTM standards. The results showed that while chemical treatment caused a decrease in surface hardness, gloss, and lightness of wood specimens, it increased the surface roughness of the wood before weathering. While the gloss values of all treated Scots pine specimens increased after weathering, the gloss loss was observed for the untreated specimen after weathering. All of the treated and untreated Scots pine wood surfaces were softened after weathering. The chemical treatment caused a decrease of surface roughness of wood after weathering. While in terms of the gloss, surface hardness, and surface roughness changes, the vacsol aqua-treated pine specimens gave the best results. The CCB-treated Scots pine showed the best color stability after weathering