Theses (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Includes vita. Document formatted into pages: contains ix, 146 pages. Bibliography: p. 118-121.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of British Columbia, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-133).

Métodos de amostragem no levantamento da comunidade arbórea em floresta estacional semidecidual foram comparados. Primeiro foi testado o método de Bitterlich a fim de selecionar o fator de área basal mais adequado para o estudo da comunidade arbórea. O critério de inclusão adotado foi todas as árvores com DAP > 10 cm. Os fatores de área basal de 2, 3 e 4 m 2 ha -1 amostraram 596, 408 e 297 indivíduos e 59, 57 e 50 espécies, respectivamente. As estimativas de área basal, DAP médio, diversidade e equabilidade não apresentaram diferenças significativas. O fator de área basal igual a 3 foi selecionado porque mostrou melhor resultado em relação ao tempo gasto e facilidade de campo. Em uma segunda análise, os métodos de parcelas de área fixa (100 parcelas contíguas), pontos quadrantes e pontos de Bitterlich foram comparados para o levantamento da comunidade arbórea. O critério de inclusão adotado foi todas as árvores > 10cm. As 100 parcelas contíguas de 10x10m amostraram 59 espécies. Os 177 pontos de quadrantes amostraram 69 espécies e os 45 pontos de Bitterlich (fator de área basal = 3 m 2 ha -1 ) amostraram 57 espécies. Ocotea indecora foi favorecida pelo método de Bitterlich. O método de Bitterlich apresentou dificuldades no trabalho de campo devido a falta de visibilidade em algum pontos. Entretanto esse método apresentou melhor resultado na amostragem de espécies quando o esforço amostral é analisado por unidades amostrais. O método de quadrantes foi melhor na análise do esforço amostral por tempo. Na terceira análise o efeito de desvios da completa aleatoriedade espacial sobre a estimativa de densidade produzida pelo método de quadrantes foi analisada através de simulação de Monte Carlo. Foram geradas florestas hipotéticas com padrão espacial regular e agrupado com diferentes densidades. O efeito do tamanho da amostra também foi analisado, porém não mostrou efeito significativo na redução do viés. Os valores de viés relativo da estimativa da densidade variaram desde +70,3% (florestas regulares) até -75,7% (florestas fortemente agrupadas). A densidade de árvores não causou efeito na estimativa do viés, com exceção para as florestas completamente aleatórias e regulares em lattice aleatorizado. O método de quadrantes superestima a densidade arbórea para as florestas com padrão regular e subestima a densidade para as florestas com padrão espacial agrupado. É importante saber a priori o padrão espacial da floresta a fim de se aplicar o método de quadrantes e saber interpretar os seus resultados. / Sampling methods for surveying in tree species community in a semideciduos forest were compared. First was applied the angle count sampling method and select the best basal area factor to study the tree community. The criterion of inclusion adopted was all trees with DBH > 10cm. The basal factors 2, 3 and 4 m 2 ha -1 sampled 596, 408 and 297 individuals and 59, 57 and 50 species. The estimates of basal area, mean DBH, density, diversity and equability are not significantly differents among basal area factors. The basal area factor 3 was selected because showed better performance in terms of time spent and field operation. In a second analysis three sampling methods were compared for survey tree species community: fixed area plot (100 contiguos plots), point centered quarter method and Bitterlich method. The criterion of inclusion adopted was all trees with DBH > 10cm. The 100 contiguous plots of 10x10m showed 59 species. The 177 centered quarter method sampled 69 species and the 45 angle count points (basal area factor = 3 m 2 ha -1 ) showed 57 species. Ocotea indecora was favored by the Bitterlich method. Bitterlich method presented difficulty in field operation due to the lack of visibility in some sample points. However it better presented performance in the sampling of species in the amostral effort for plots. The centered quarter method was better in the amostral effort for time. In a third analysis the effect of deviation from the complete spatial randomness on point centered quarter method estimate of forest density was analysed through Monte Carlo simulation of hypothetical forests with regular and clustered spatial patterns and with diferent densities. The influence of sample size was also analysed, but showed no marked effect on estimation biases. The relative bias on the tree density estimation varied from +70.3% (regular lattice spatial pattern) to -75.7% (strongly clustered spatial pattern). Tree density did not affected estimation bias, except for completely spatial pattern and randomized regular lattice pattern. Point-centered quarter method overestimate (positive bias) tree density for regular patterns and underestimate (negative bias) for clustered patterns. Knowledge of tree spatial pattern in a forest is necessary for correct implementation and results interpretation in this method.

Rigorous statistical examination of the population dynamics of a number of long-lived perennial plant species permitted an interpretation of changes in those populations and the establishment of potentially important causal agents. Survival and recruitment of six species from the mulga-zone rangelands of Western Australia varied across three climatically different periods following the removal of domestic livestock. Two species' populations (Eragrostis xerophila and Maireana glomerifolia) had their rates of increase reduced by kangaroo and euro grazing. Both survival and recruitment of Eragrostis xerophila were reduced by this grazing while Maireana glomerifolia suffered reduced recruitment during all periods. These negative effects were most pronounced during the post-drought period of more "normal" rainfall. Three other species populations responded positively to grazing. Recruitment and survival of Eremophila spectabilis, were affected by grazing, particularly on a poor condition site, while differences in recruitment were more important for Eremophila leucophylla. Frankenia pauciflora had increased recruitment and survival during the postdrought period. The sixth species (Ptilotus obovatus) suffered increased mortality and reduced recruitment during the post-drought period. Relative rates of change in management related groups of 18 species, including the six examined in more detail, were presented as a viable addition to the analysis of trend in rangeland vegetation. Grazing by kangaroos significantly reduced the rate of recovery of destocked rangeland pastures. Site and seasonal factors affected all species populations examined. Site induced differences affected survival of all six species examined, highlighting the difficulty of replicating large scale experiments in rangeland vegetation. Different seasonal sequences (very wet, very dry, and more "normal") produced different species population responses. Populations of most species increased during the very wet, and more "normal", post-drought period, but declined, or remained static, during the drought. Potentially competitive relationships were examined at one site where the complexity of juvenile plant survival responses to seasonal conditions, treatment and to neighbor-free-space suggest potential competition, but more importantly reflect a need for more detailed study. A re-examination of Danthonia caespitosa population data collected by O.B. Williams in rangeland areas of New South Wales indicates the importance of grazing by merino sheep, seasonal conditions, and the cohort within which a plant is recruited. The extreme variability of the data highlights the need for experimental designs that take account of the frequency and importance of causal agent impact, and are related to the dynamism of the population.

Competitive balance and changes in individual plant growth parameters of eight pairs of plant species exposed to enhanced UV-B irradiation were determined under field conditions simulating ozone reductions of about 0.08 atm·cm. The levels of irradiance represented ozone decreases of about 25-30 percent from approximate ambient ozone concentrations for high solar altitudes on clear days during the study. A method for calculating and statistically analyzing relative crowding coefficients was developed and used to evaluate the competitive status of the species pairs sown in a modified replacement series. The effect of UV-B irradiance was generally detrimental to plant growth, and was reflected in decreased leaf area, biomass, height and density as well as changes in competitive balance for various species. For some species inter-specific competition apparently accentuated the effect of UV-B radiation, while intensive intraspecific competition may have had the same effect for other species.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 30, 2006). Includes bibliographical references.

The genus Eucalyptus has been planted extensively throughout the world in tropical and subtropical regions, primarily because of its economic importance and use in wood and pulp production. Due to the growing demands for timber, forestry companies need to increase the productivity of available forest land. The genetic improvement of forest trees through selection and breeding involves a lengthy process of scientifically controlled trials focused on short-term and long-term goals using breeding and production populations. This investigation focused on the use of Best Linear Prediction (BLP) and its application to: (1) the prediction of genetic gains for a breeding population and, (2) the selection of superior individuals for clonal production of E. grandis. A CSIR dataset for a 20-year-old progeny trial involving 90 open-pollinated families was obtained. Four traits, namely, diameter at breast height (DBH), stem form, splitting and density were identified for use in this investigation. Relevant data were extracted and a file termed, Dataset created. Dataset was edited, standardized and corrected for the fixed effect of replication using SAS® procedures. Precise and accurate population parameter estimates are fundamental in determining breeding strategies and thus, heritabilities of each trait and phenotypic correlations between traits in Dataset were estimated using SAS® procedures. DBH was found to have the highest heritability (0.600), followed by density (0.492). The estimated heritability for stem form was 0.401 and splitting had the lowest heritability at 0.214. A high positive phenotypic correlation of 0.83 was estimated between DBH and stem form. The phenotypic correlations between other traits were close to zero. An index provides a weighted score for individuals, which takes all relevant information into account and allows individuals or families to be chosen for breeding and production purposes. Consequently, Best Linear Prediction (BLP) of individual breeding values were calculated using MATGEN® (2003). Thereafter, BLP values were used to determine the rankings of individual trees for 15 different selection indices. In order to determine the effect of selection on the change in the population mean of a trait, the breeding population's response to selection was predicted and compared across three selection strategies, namely: (1) individual selection, (2) single-trait index selection, and (3) multiple-trait index selection. The top 8% of individuals in the breeding population were selected for and the genetic gains were predicted. It was found that the response to selection was greatest when using individual selection. Furthermore, DBH had the best selection response for all three strategies as compared to the other traits under investigation. Fifteen indices, considering different numbers and choice of traits, were compared for commonality among rankings of the top 30 individuals. Two methods, namely, (1) a rank-correlation matrix and (2) a manual assessment, were used. The commonality between indices showed that a simple index, considering two traits (DBH and density) was equally effective (93%) in identifying genetically-superior individuals as the more complex index that considered four traits. Furthermore, it was possible to select for only three traits (DBH, splitting, density) and identify the same top 30 individuals as using the index that considered four traits. The researcher's goal was to find the most desirable individuals in the population to be used for production purposes, such as clonal forestry. Consequently, various selection options, specifying certain trait requirements, were used to select superior individuals for use in production and deployment. The "commercial selection" option was the only option successful in obtaining an individual that met the required criteria for the four traits in the population of 475 individuals. The results suggested that breeders should consider large populations and only a few important traits in order to obtain a greater number of individuals suitable for mass propagation in clonal forestry. In order to further investigate the effect of population size on the number of individuals suitable for clonal forestry, a hypothetical population was generated. This was accomplished using between family and within family standard deviation values obtained from Dataset. The large hypothetical population of 1000 individuals produced twelve individuals suitable for production purposes, as opposed to only one in the real population of 475 individuals. This result further indicates that a larger population provides a greater number of individuals appropriate for use in production and deployment. This investigation successfully addressed the aims by: (1) calculating individual breeding values (BLP) and ranking individuals, (2) predicting the breeding population's response to selection, according to three strategies, for the four traits under investigation, and (3) identifying superior individuals for use in commercial clonal forestry. As the work of tree breeders is aimed at improving the growth and quality of trees by increasing the frequency of desirable genotypes in the population, further research could focus on (1) the effect of different sets of economic weightings on index rankings in a population and (2) the influence that population structure has on the optimal genetic gains obtained. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 241-260.

Thesis (M.A.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Directed by Roy Stine; submitted to the Dept. of Geography. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 13, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-64).