Analiza wyników 59-letniego doświadczenia proweniencyjnego z sosną zwyczajną (Pinus sylvestris L.) w Lubieniu w Polsce

In 1992 and 1997 there measurements were made on an experimental area which is a part of an international provenance experiment with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), established by IUFRO in 1938. This paper presents results obtained in these measurements. It is shown that best provenances are from Baltic countries and Central Europe. The most productive provenances had the most crooked stems. Scandinavian provenances had straight trees but low survival and productivity.W 1992 i 1997 przeprowadzono kolejne pomiary na jednej z powierzchni badawczych doświadczenia proweniencyjnego z sosną zwyczajną, założonej z inicjatywy Międzynarodowej Unii Leśnych Placówek Badawczych (IUFRO) w 1938 roku w Polsce. Dane przedstawione w tej pracy wskazują, że sosny środkowoeuropejskie i z krajów bałtyckich dają duży przyrost masy w połączeniu z dobrą jakością. Najbardziej produktywne są proweniencje z Niemiec i południowo- zachodniej Polski, ale jakość drzew jest niska. Proweniencje skandynawskie mają natomiast proste drzewa, lecz niską przeżywalność i produktywność. Obie grupy pochodzeń nie powinny być rozprzestrzeniane w Polsce

Variation in growth and survival among European provenances of Pinus sylvestris in a 30-year-old experiment

Provenance trials with forest trees provide valuable information about growth and adaptability of populations often transferred over large geographical and climatic distances. In this study we evaluated growth and survival of 19 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations representing most of the natural range of the species in Europe, growing in a 30-year-old provenance trial in the northeastern Poland. We used cluster analysis to investigate differentiation among those populations in growth and survival. We also used published data on needle morphology and allozyme and DNA marker variation for those same populations to compare groupings of populations based on growth and needle traits and markers. We found significant variation among tested populations in all investigated traits – the largest variation was found for stand volume which integrates information on growth and survival. Variation in growth traits was related to the latitude of population origin with populations from the latitudinal band between 49° N and 54° N showing the best performance. Populations originating from both north and south off of that region showed lower productivity, which for southern provenances resulted from their particularly low survival, reflecting the lack of adaptation to the environment of the research site. Grouping of populations based on growth traits revealed three clusters corresponding to the three latitudinal regions – northern, central and southern. Needle morphological traits were not appropriate as markers of productivity. Clustering of populations based on needle morphology, and especially based on biochemical and molecular markers, did not correspond to the grouping based on growth traits

Adaptation of trees, forests and forestry to climate change

Ongoing climate change will likely expose trees and forests to new stresses and disturbances during this century. Trees naturally adapt to changes in climate, but their natural adaptive ability may be compromised by the rapid changes projected for this century. In the broad sense, adaptation to climate change also includes the purposeful adaptation of human systems, which includes forestry. In this article, we briefly review the expected impacts of projected climate change on trees and forest ecosystems in Poland. We further provide a framework for designing adaptive strategies to sustain or enhance forest growth, health, and ecosystem services in new climates. Within this framework, we distinguish two related objectives: (1) adaptation of decision−making process in forest management and (2) adaptation of forest ecosystems. Each of these objectives may be achieved through strategies and options whose applicability is discussed in relation to major forest functions – ecological and societal, commercial, and multiple−use. Knowledge gaps and research needs are also identified. We conclude that the recent emphasis on sustainable multifunctional forestry and the current ownership structure in Poland will facilitate adaptation of Polish forests to future climates. However, much remains to be learned about the impacts of climate change, especially at the ecosystem level. Cooperation between researchers and forest managers is critical for developing better management strategies for adapting forests to climate change

Provenance variability of black alder in Poland

European black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) is a widespread tree species associated with wetlands and riparian ecosystems, thus it plays an important ecological role. Due to its fast growth and favorable wood properties it also has a potential to satisfy a growing demand for wood and fiber. However, its growth potential is not fully realized in Poland. In this study we investigated variation in growth traits, productivity, and stem straightness among 11 populations of European black alder originating from the lowland distribution of the species in Poland. The common−garden experiment located in 1968 in Kórnik (mid−western Poland) has been so far the only provenance experiment with this species in our country. We measured height and diameter of all trees at the site, assessed stem straightness in a 5−step scale (1−crooked; 5−straight), and calculated productivity at age of 50 years, which should be considered close to the rotation age. We found significant variation among populations in all investigated traits. The difference in productivity between the best and the worst provenance reached 75%. Using published and unpublished data from previous measurements at this site we also analyzed a trend in provenance ranking through time. The best and worst provenance could be identified at age 16 years, but many ranking shifts took place afterwards at the intermediate rank positions. We conclude that growth, productivity and stem quality of black alder could be improved through selection of favorable provenances within the species. Selection decisions can be made at the age below the half the rotation age, although decisions at 3/4 of rotation age would be more precise

Productiviy of aboveground and belowground biomass in an experiment with provenances and half-sib families of pedunculate oak

The biomass productivity of individual trees at age 14 years was investigated in the experiment with 8 provenances and 186 half−sib families of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). The aim of the study was to develop allometric equations and estimate heritability of tree biomass. We sampled 28 model trees and measured dry mass of their components, including roots (on 14 trees). A decreasing share of aboveground biomass was allocated to stems, and an increasing share to branches and foliage with increasing tree size. Also a decreasing share of total tree biomass was found in roots with increasing tree dimensions. Allometric equations involving diameter at breast height in combination with tree height were developed to model biomass of all components and whole tree. We used those equations to estimate tree biomass on the subset of research area, involving all provenances and 180 half−sib families. Heritability coefficients for tree biomass were the greatest for provenances (0.84), average for families (0.58) and the lowest for individual trees (0.18). However, estimates of family heritability varied by provenance (from 0.18 to 0.74). These findings suggest that the most efficient strategy for improvement of productivity in pedunculate oak would be selection of provenances and families within provenances

Asociaciones de quistes de dinoflagelados de agua salobre a dulce de la formacion la colonia (Paleoceno?), Noreste de Patagonia, Argentina

A palynological analysis of the section of La Colonia Formation exposed at Estancia San Miguel yielded conspicuous assemblages of organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) and green algae. The monotypic palaeoperidinioid dinocyst assemblage of ?Ginginodinium sp. in the basal beds of this section indicates low-salinity water conditions in a restricted shallow marine paleoenvironment. The green-algae-dominated assemblages together with specimens of ?Morkallacysta spp., Dinocysts type P and ?Vesperopsis sp. recorded in the middle and upper part of the San Miguel section indicate brackish to freshwater and freshwater depositional conditions, respectively. The changes in the composition of the palynological assemblages, in agreement with the analysis of the sedimentary facies, reflect a salinity-drop in the water bodies and a progressive upward-shallowing trend. The occurrence of specimens of the neritic open marine Cribroperidinium spp., Apteodinium sp., Circulodinium sp. and Areoligera sp. cf. A. circumsenonensis Fensome et al. is here considered as reflecting contemporaneous transported material from the adjacent shelf. The marine part of the La Colonia Formation is associated to Late Cretaceous and Paleocene ages. Nevertheless, palynomorphs together with a stratigraphical criterion suggest an age non older than Paleocene for the deposits of the unit at the San Miguel section