No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

<i>Brunchorstia pinea</i> (Karst.) Hohn [perfect = <i>Ascocalyx abietina</i> (Lagerb.) Morelet] causes shoot dieback in conifers. Damage of Scots pine plantations in Britain was first reported in the late 1970s, previously only Corsican pine was damaged. In both these species initial shoot tissue symptoms of water soaked and necrotic development in the buds and internodes were shown to develop earlier in the winter than they did in Europe and N.America. The milder winter conditons in Britain were thought to be invovled. Internode infections were relatively more frequent compared with bud infections in Scots pine than in Corsican pine. This leads to proportionally more shoot deaths due to internode girdling in Scots pine than in Corsican pine. In both species bud scales, proximal portions of the leaf scales and internode epidermis were proposed as sites of infection. Corsican pine was more susceptible to infection by <i>B.pinea</i> than Scots pine but not to development of necrosis in the tissue. Norway spruce was successfully infected which gives the first record of <i>B.pinea</i> on Norway spruce in Britain. Pyncidial production was greater on diseased Scots pines than Corsican pines and was believed to influence potential epidemic development. Variation in susceptibility within a Scots pine stand was associated with β-phellandrene levels of the cortical monoterpene component. High altitude favoured <i>B.pinea</i> as shoot vigour was low. It was proposed that prolonged periods of high humidity favoured <i>B.pinea</i> survival in shoot tissues as well as dissemination and germination of spores. Winter shading did not influence <i>B.pinea</i> development. Recent attacks of <i>B.pinea</i> in Britain were not due to increased pathogen virulence. Apothecia which are rare in Britain, were found in association with unusual environment conditions. Recent outbreaks of <i>B.pinea</i> were thought to be due to environmental conditions reducing host vigour and favouring <i>B.pinea</i> development.

The diet, habitat use and social organization of pine martens in Scotland was investigated by comparing data from marten populations at high and low density. Correction factors, determined from feeding trials with captive martens, were used to convert frequency of occurrence data, to estimates of the relative weight intake for each prey item in the scat. Spatial orientation and habitat utilization were determined from the radio tracking of 24 martens, 12 from each study area. In total 36 animals were caught, many of which were recaptured on a regular basis. All animals were aged by cross-sectioning of an extracted incisor and sexual activity in males was determined by measurements of blood hormones and abdominal scent gland activity. The density of martens in each area was assessed using an injection of radio isotope to label the scats of captured animals. The results showed that in both study areas the principal prey of martens were cervid carrion and field voles <i>Microtus agrestis</i> and that the preferred prey was field vole. The new method of interpreting the diet from prey remains in the scats suggests that the importance of invertebrates and fruit may have been over estimated by previous authors. A new method to analyse differential use of vegetation types form low resolution radio-fixes (fixes being assigned to grid cells likely to contain more than one vegetation type) is proposed. The results showed that martens selected vegetation types based on the cover each provided and that territories were established relative to a constant amount of woodland per individual: 126 + /- 40 Ha. Despite the high density of the preferred prey <i>Microtus</i> in open vegetation types, open vegetation was avoided within territories as well as in territory selection. It is suggested that selection for vegetation types, at this level, is driven by predator avoidance but that selection between different wooded vegetation types is determined by prey availability and to a lesser extent suitable den sites.

Thesis (Ph. D. - Watershed Management)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S. - Natural Resources)--University of Arizona, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-137).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State College, 1950. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-58). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Oregon State University, 1969. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-93). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State College, 1960. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-58). Also available on the World Wide Web.