Effect of increased ambient temperature on the growth rate of young pine forests in the impact zone of a petroleum gas flare

The effect of increased ambient temperature on the vertical, radial, and volume increments of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees has been studied in the zone of thermal impact from a burning petroleum gas flare. Regular age-dependent changes in the pattern of increment dependence on the distance from the flare and ambient temperature have been revealed. The mechanisms of these changes are explained. It is concluded that an increase in ambient temperature by 1.0–1.5° C has a favorable effect on the dynamics of Scots pine growth.     

Photosynthesis, chloroplast pigments, and antioxidants in Pinus canariensis under free-air ozone fumigation

High O₃ levels, driving uptake and challenging defense, prevail on the Canary Islands, being associated with the hot and dry summers of the Mediterranean-type climate. Pinus canariensis is an endemic conifer species that forms forests across these islands. We investigated the effects of ozone on photosynthesis and biochemical parameters of P. canariensis seedlings exposed to free-air O₃ fumigation at Kranzberg Forest, Germany, where ambient O₃ levels were similar to those at forest sites in the Canary Islands. The twice-ambient O₃ regime (2xO₃) neither caused visible injury-like chlorotic or necrotic spots in the needles nor significantly affected violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin levels and the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle. In parallel, stomatal conductance for water vapour, net photosynthesis, intercellular CO₂ concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, as well as antioxidant levels were hardly affected. It is concluded that presently prevailing O₃ levels do not impose severe stress on P. canariensis seedlings.     

Bioindication-based Estimation of Technogenic Impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L. Populations in the Vicinity of a Radioactive Waste Storage Facility

The spectrum and frequency of cytogenetic aberrations in the reproductive (seeds) and vegetative (foliage) organs of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) have been studied in the vicinity of the LSK Radon facility for radioactive waste storage and processing and in a 30-km zone around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The results indicate that the pine populations of these regions are exposed to mutagenic factors. In contrast to the 30-km Chernobyl zone, the increased environmental mutagenicity in the vicinity of LSK Radon and in the center of the city of Sosnovyi Bor is mainly accounted for by chemical factors. The results of additional acute γ-irradiation have shown an increased radiation resistance of Scotch pine seeds from the LSK Radon and Sosnovyi Bor populations. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the cytogenetic aberration rate in plants from the experimental plots throughout the study period (1997–2002).__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 275–285.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Geras’kin, Vasil’ev, Dikarev, Udalova, Evseeva, Dikareva, Zimin.     

Specific Karyological Features of Siberian Stone Pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) in Western Siberian Bogs

The results of a karyological study on Siberian stone pines growing in the bog demonstrated differences from the populations of this species studied earlier with respect to sizes of chromosomes and location of secondary constrictions. The number of nucleolar organizer regions in the chromosomes of Siberian stone pine trees growing in the bog was larger than in other populations. A wide spectrum of chromosome aberrations was revealed, which had not been observed in this species before. These were genome and chromosome aberrations of various types, as well as structural aberrations accompanied by changes in the number of chromosomes. It is assumed that the aberrations in the karyotype of Siberian stone pine resulted from stressful conditions.     

Effect of emissions from petroleum gas flares on the reproductive state of pine stands in the northern taiga subzone

Characteristics of the adaptive response of the female generative system of Scotch pine to air pollution caused by petroleum gas burning in flares during oil production in Western Siberia have been studied. The relationship between the individual and endogenous variations of the quantitative parameters of pine cone morphology has been analyzed in different zones of deterioration.     

Plasticity in physiological traits in conifers: Implications for response to climate change in the western U.S.

Population variation in ecophysiological traits of four co-occurring montane conifers was measured on a large latitudinal gradient to quantitatively assess their potential for response to environmental change. White fir (Abies concolor) had the highest variability, gross photosynthetic rate (Pg), and foliar carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content. Despite low water use efficiency (WUE), stomatal conductance (gs) of fir was the most responsive to unfavorable environmental conditions. Pinus lambertiana exhibited the least variability in Pg and WUE, and is likely to be the most vulnerable to environmental changes. Pinus ponderosa had an intermediate level of variability, and high needle growth at its higher elevational limits. Pinus Jeffreyi also had intermediate variability, but high needle growth at its southern latitudinal and lower elevational limits. The attributes used to assess tree vigor were effective in predicting population vulnerability to abiotic (drought) and biotic (herbivore) stresses.     

Dynamic growth model for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations in Galicia (north-western Spain)

In this study we developed a dynamic growth model for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations in Galicia (north-western Spain). The data used to develop the model were obtained from a network of permanent plots, of between 10 and 55-year-old, which the Unidade de Xestión Forestal Sostible (Sustainable Forest Management Unit) of the University of Santiago de Compostela has set up in pure plantations of this species of pine in its area of distribution in Galicia. In this model, the initial stand conditions at any point in time are defined by three state variables (number of trees per hectare, stand basal area and dominant height), and are used to estimate stand volume, classified by commercial classes, for a given projection age. The model uses three transition functions expressed as algebraic difference equations of the three corresponding state variables used to project the stand state at any point in time. In addition, the model incorporates a function for predicting initial stand basal area, which can be used to establish the starting point for the simulation. This alternative should only be used when the stand is not yet established or when no inventory data are available. Once the state variables are known for a specific moment, a distribution function is used to estimate the number of trees in each diameter class, by recovering the parameters of the Weibull function, using the moments of first and second order of the distribution (arithmetic mean diameter and variance, respectively). By using a generalized height–diameter function to estimate the height of the average tree in each diameter class, combined with a taper function that uses the above predicted diameter and height, it is then possible to estimate total or merchantable stand volume.     

人为干扰对马尾松次生林多样性的影响

利用Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ多样性指数和均匀度来分析人为干扰对马尾松次生林木本植物多样性的影响，结果表明：马尾松次生林木本植物多样性指数为２左右（１．８５７９～２．１９４６），均匀度为０．７左右（０．７２４４～０．７７４６），物种多度分布符合对数级数分布，不同干扰强度对多样性和均匀度有一定影响，对物种多度分布没有影响，对马尾松林的更新有重要作用。     

大气中多环芳烃(PAHs)在松针和SPMD上的分布

通过松针监测与半渗透膜被动式采样技术 (SPMD ) ,分析了我国珠江三角洲地区大气中多环芳烃的含量特征、来源及其分布 ,同时对这两种被动式采样技术进行了比较 松针及SPMD主要富集气态多环芳烃 (2— 4环 ) ,气态多环芳烃在松针和SPMD样品中的总含量分别为 313 9— 30 4 3 5ng·g-1和 14 5—116 9ng·SPMD-1·d-1 大气中多环芳烃含量的区域差异明显 ,珠江三角洲中部地区 (广州、佛山和东莞 )大气中多环芳烃的含量高 ,沿海地区的珠海、香港偏低 ,分子标志物指数表明 ,珠江三角洲大气中的多环芳烃主要是热成因 (燃烧 )来源 松针和SPMD对气态多环芳烃的监测具有很好的一致性 ,是进行区域大气污染评价的良好生物指示物