Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains x, 78 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of steam conditioning immediately after drying to reduce internal checking resulting from high-temperature drying of Pacific Coast hemlock lumber. Three different levels of conditioning time, 2, 4 and 6 hours, were carried out on 2 inches wide by 4 inches thick by 3 feet long (51 mm by 102 mm by 0.91 m) , and on 4 inches wide by 4 inches thick by 3 feet long (105 mm by 105 mm by 0.91 m), specimens. For comparison purposes, controls of both sizes of specimens were also high-temperature dried without conditioning. Analysis of the results indicated that internal checking was not significantly reduced by steam conditioning and was more likely to develop afterwards during storage at room temperature, and that total degrade observed in the "4x4" specimens was more excessive than that in the "2x4" ones. The defective "4x4" specimens were found over-dried (below the targeted 12% moisture content) with high core-shell moisture content differences. More internal checking was found when the specimens' final moisture content ranged from 7 to 8%. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1994. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [136]-145).

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae [Annand]) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) is a non-native lethal pest to eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis [L.] (Pinales: Pinaceae), and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana [Engelmann]) (Pinales: Pinaceae). In the early 2000's, a robust biological control initiative using Laricobius spp. (Insecta: Coleoptera) was launched with the goal of decreasing HWA's impact to hemlock and the associated ecosystems on landscape level. Since then, two Laricobius agents, Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) and Laricobius osakensis Montgomery and Shiyake (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) have been evaluated, approved, and released. The production and subsequent release of these agents has largely occurred through mass rearing efforts by Virginia Tech. A descriptive analysis of these rearing and release data over the past 16 years at Virginia Tech revealed that the mass production of these agents has been consistently limited by: 1) excessively high rates of subterranean mortality and 2) early subterranean emergence. Very little is known about the subterranean life cycle of these species in the field in terms of survivorship and timing of emergence. Additionally, the thermal limits and rates of development are unknown for L. osakensis and were thus further investigated. In 2019, surveys within the urban environment in two counties in southwest Virginia were conducted to determine if these agents have dispersed from their original release location. Laricobius nigrinus was documented to have established outside of release sites in 100 and 75% of the surveyed grids containing HWA infested hemlocks. The establishments of these species in easily accessible locations allowed for the use of field-caught larvae, in addition to laboratory-produced larvae, for experiments. Experiments were conducted in 2019-2020 to determine the overall subterranean survivorship in relation to site condition, differences in survivorship between field-caught vs. laboratory-reared, and the seasonal timing of emergence. We found that the average field subterranean survivorship (17.1 ± 0.4%) was significantly less than the historical production of these agents in the laboratory (37.5 ± 13.6%). We found that as soil pH and organic matter depth increased, survivorship decreased. While the majority of emergence occurred as expected in the fall, a surprising amount of emergence also occurred in spring and summer. The rate of development and the minimum threshold temperature for each life stage were determined through constant temperature experiments, and were used in the construction of a phenological forecast model. Laricobius osakensis minimum threshold temperature (3.6°) from egg to adult was similar to that of other Laricobius spp., but completed development at higher a constant temperature (22°C). Our results suggest L. osakensis can handle the same colder climates as L. nigrinus, but may be better adapted for warmer locations than L. nigrinus. Laboratory rearing, establishment, subterranean survivorship, and thermal requirements of Laricobius spp. (Coleoptera: Derodontidae), biological control agents released for Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) / Doctor of Philosophy / Eastern and Carolina hemlocks are long lived, shade tolerant evergreen tree species that support a unique ecological assemblage of plants and animals. However, following the accidental introduction of a highly invasive aphid-like insect pest first found in the 1950s, known as the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), significant mortality of hemlocks in the eastern U.S. was eventually observed. In order to mitigate this pest's impact and to prevent the further collapse of this unique ecological system, a robust management program was initiated. Today, the primary management strategy to reduce HWA's deleterious effects is through the use of chemical and biological treatments. Biological treatments in the form of insect biological control agents, have focused on the use of two closely related beetle species in the genus Laricobius spp. These species were imported from their respective native ranges, biologically evaluated, and approved for release by federal and state agencies. Since then, the beetles have been mass-produced by multiple governmental and academic agencies and released on infested landscape on mostly public land. Key aspects of these species' biology in terms of their population patterns, development, distribution capabilities, and potential supplementary diet remains unknown. Therefore, investigations into these aforementioned aspects were conducted from 2018-2021 in both laboratory and field experiments. In order to supply beetle larvae for field experiments and to better understand how well these predatory beetles were establishing across the landscape, we investigated heavily urbanized areas for their presence. We found that L. nigrinus was established outside of release locations, in 100 and 75% of the surveyed grids containing HWA in southwest Virginia. Laricobius spp. spend a significant amount of their lives in a presumed dormant state beneath the soil during the summer months. Observations over the past 17 yrs. of rearing Laricobius spp. revealed relatively high rates of subterranean mortality and subterranean early emergence, both of which are substantial mortality factors. Through field experiments, the survivorship of these beneficial beetles was found to be 17.1 ± 0.4% and their seasonal emergence was not limited to fall.Comparing the average survivorship from our field study (17.1 ± 0.4% ) to that of the past 17 yrs. of laboratory production (37.5 ± 13.6%), there was significantly less survivorship. The developmental and phenological biology of one of the two Laricobius spp., L. osakensis was determined and found to be similar to that of other beetles. However, L. osakensis was able to complete development at 22°C, the highest developmental temperature recorded for any Laricobius spp. The similar phenological biology of these two predators will allow for precise larval sampling as a metric for establishment. Results and conclusions from these data have provided further knowledge to scientists, land managers, and public stakeholders regarding the benefits of Laricobius spp.

When making decisions on which areas to harvest in a sustained yield, even-flow manner in mountainous areas such those in coastal British Columbia, it is important to know how timber productivity changes with elevation. This information allows foresters to decide at what elevation to start increasing the rotation age and to decide at what elevation sustainable harvesting becomes infeasible due to low productivity. Since Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Dougl. ex Forbes) has an elevation range that extends from sea level nearly to the tree line (0 m to approximately 1,650 m; from the Coastal Western Hemlock zone, through the Mountain Hemlock zone; to the lower limits of the Alpine Tundra zone), productivity-elevation relationships are especially important. To acquire quantitative measures of productivity decrease with increasing elevation a regression equation relating site index (the height of the dominant trees at a base age of breast height age of 50 years) to elevation in southern coastal BC was developed. In turn, we used this regression as an input into the height driven yield model named the Variable Density Yield Prediction model (VDYP). The use of the VDYP model allows the site index values to be translated into actual productivity measures (e.g., volume per hectare, mean annual increment at culmination age).

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn) seedlings from four dormancy induction treatment(s) (DIT) (i.e. long-day dry, long-day wet, short-day dry, and short-day wet) were planted on a high available soil moisture field site in British Columbia and monitored for physiological response and morphological development over the first growing season. Stomatal conductance (gwv) and net photosynthesis (Pn) were recorded over an environmental matrix of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (0 - 2.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹ ) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) (0 - 2.5 or 4.0 kPa) on both first year grown and fully developed second year foliage. To compare stocktypes, physiological data were collected and analyzed in the following ways: (1) replicated data at stable environmental conditions once a month, (2) physiological response to one increasing environmental variable using boundary line analysis, and (3) physiological response surface to two simultaneously changing environmental variables. For western hemlock first year needles, short-day DIT had a higher gwv response to both increasing VPD and PAR. Both short-day and moisture stressed DIT improved Pn response to PAR, and the combination had the highest response. Short-day DIT seedlings initially were smaller, shorter, had a better seedling water balance ratio and lower shoot to root ratio. Short-day second year needles showed a slightly higher gwv response to both increasing VPD and PAR as compared to long-day seedlings; however, they showed no treatment differences for Pn versus PAR. All stocktypes had similar final morphological parameter values. For western red cedar first year foliage, moisture stressed DIT seedlings had greater Pn response to increasing PAR and VPD. Also, moisture stressed seedlings gwv response to increasing VPD and PAR was higher when compared to its' non moisture stressed daylength counterpart. The long-day wet seedlings initially had a larger root and shoot system as compared to the other stocktypes. Second year foliage exhibited no treatment differences for gwv and Pn response to PAR ' and VPD. All stocktypes had similar final morphological parameter values. Attempts to test stocktypes at stable environmental conditions proved, at times, difficult. Potentially large measurement variation due to atmospheric environmental changes, and not stocktype effect, could result. Boundary line analysis, when used correctly and with sufficient data, offers a good stocktype assessment method which enables the isolation of a physiological response to one environmental variable. Three dimensional surface response technique was required to provide a clear conceptual representation of two primary environmental variables' influence on seedling physiological response. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

The viscin coating of seeds from Arceuthobium tsugense was analyzed histochemically. The results indicated that the viscin is composed of two components. The first is a muculagenous pectic compound which surrounds the entire seed and accounts for a number of observed phenomenon such as stickiness, water holding capacity and the ability to undergo repeated drying and rehydration. The second component is made up of a large number of cellulose strands which are attached to the endocarp and run throughout the pectic coating. Scanning electron micrographs show that they are thought to be important in maintaining the integrity of the pectic coating. The significance of these findings is discussed with respect to establishment of the parasite.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1982. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-92). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Sc.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Restricted until June 2001. Bibliography: leaves 69-74.