Moisture-related distortion of timber boards of radiata pine: Comparison with Norway spruce

Based on material data obtained by several researchers at Forest Research in New Zealand, with respect to variations in the main material properties from pith to bark, the distortion model developed earlier for Norway spruce has been further modified for radiata pine. Numerical simulations were performed for both pine and spruce to investigate how different sawn pattern options affect the shape stability of individual boards. Results for spruce presented earlier have shown clearly that warping of the timber products is strongly influenced by the annual ring patterns within the individual boards. Comparisons between the two species were performed to study how the radial variations in the basic properties such as shrinkage parameters, stiffness parameters, and spiral grain have influence on the warping. Generally, the intrinsic patterns of variation in wood properties within stems were similar, and both species show a tendency to distort with changing moisture environment. There are strong indications that intelligent re-combination of material in glued products may overcome many of the inherent problems in using biological material with predictable variation in material properties

Moisture-related distortion of timber boards of radiata pine: Comparison with Norway spruce

Based on material data obtained by several researchers at Forest Research in New Zealand, with respect to variations in the main material properties from pith to bark, the distortion model developed earlier for Norway spruce has been further modified for radiata pine. Numerical simulations were performed for both pine and spruce to investigate how different sawn pattern options affect the shape stability of individual boards. Results for spruce presented earlier have shown clearly that warping of the timber products is strongly influenced by the annual ring patterns within the individual boards. Comparisons between the two species were performed to study how the radial variations in the basic properties such as shrinkage parameters, stiffness parameters, and spiral grain have influence on the warping. Generally, the intrinsic patterns of variation in wood properties within stems were similar, and both species show a tendency to distort with changing moisture environment. There are strong indications that intelligent re-combination of material in glued products may overcome many of the inherent problems in using biological material with predictable variation in material properties

Acorn consumption improves the immune response of the dung beetle Thorectes lusitanicus

Thorectes lusitanicus, a typically coprophagous species is also actively attracted to oak acorns, consuming, burying them, and conferring ecophysiological and reproductive advantages to both the beetle and the tree. In this study, we explored the possible relation between diet shift and the health status of T. lusitanicus using a generalist entomopathogenic fungus (Metarhizium anisopliae) as a natural pathogen. To measure the health condition and immune response of beetles, we analysed the protein content in the haemolymph, prophenoloxidase (proPO) content, phenoloxidase (PO) activity and mortality of beetles with diets based on either acorns or cow dung. Protein content, proPO levels and PO levels in the haemolymph of T. lusitanicus were found to be dependent on the type of diet. Furthermore, the beetles fed with acorns developed a more effective proPO-PO system than the beetles fed with cow dung. Furthermore, a significant decrease in mortality was observed when infected individuals were submitted to an acorn-based diet. In addition to enhancing an understanding of the relevance of dietary change to the evolutionary biology of dung beetles, these results provide a more general understanding of the ecophysiological implications of differential dietary selection in the context of fitness.Financial support was provided by the Projects CGL2008/03878/BOS and CGL2011-25544 of the Secretaría de Estado de Investigación-Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia e Innovación (http://www.mecd.gob.es/portada-mecd/) and OAPN 762/2012, Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/)