Minimum blue intensity is a reflected light imaging technique that provides an inexpensive, robust and reliable surrogate for maximum latewood density. In this application it was found that temperature reconstructions from resin-extracted samples of Pinus sylvestris (L.) from Fennoscandia provide results equivalent to conventional x-ray densitometry. This paper describes the implementation of the blue intensity method using commercially available software and a flat-bed scanner. A calibration procedure is presented that permits results obtained by different laboratories, or using different scanners, to be compared. In addition, the use of carefully prepared and chemically treated 10-mm-diameter cores are explored; suggesting that it may not be necessary to produce thin laths with the rings aligned exactly perpendicular to the measurement surface.

Several studies carried out in boreal forests have found significant edge effects in Scots pine although, none of them in southern Sweden. The aim of this study was to investigate edge effects in adjacent Scots pine stands and its influence on tree growth and field vegetation composition. This was carried out in 10 selected forest edges in southeastern Sweden. Results showed reduced number of stems, height, diameter and basal area growth among young trees in particular within 2 m from the forest edge. In the older stands number of stems, diameter and basal area growth increased within the first 2 m from the edge. Field vegetation inventory showed differences in composition in the adjacent stands. In the older stands lichens, lingonberry and blueberry were more frequent, while heather and grasses showed a higher appearance in young stands.

One of the largest challenges humanity faces today is reducing CO₂-emissions to mitigate climate change. Part of the solution might be to increase the use of wood products. To do this, the efficiency of forestry has to be improved. In Sweden, a large obstacle for improving the efficiency of forestry is moose, or rather the damages its browsing causes on Scots pine. The aim of this study was to investigate how stand size and stand isolation affects the intensity of moose browsing damage on Scots pine. In addition, effects from tree density, stand age, and interactions between the different factors were investigated. This was done by using data from forest companies and field data collected from 29 Scots pine stands in central Sweden. The data were analysed in a multiple regression analysis, selecting the model that best explained variation in browsing damage. Results show that browsing damage was lower in more isolated stands. Stand size, however, did not have an effect on browsing damage. The factors stand age and Scots pine density had positive effects on the amount of browsing damage, but effects from stand age decreased with increasing pine density. In total, 77% of the variance in browsing damage was explained by the best model. In order to decrease browsing damage on Scots pine, I suggest that land owners take coordinated action to avoid creating large areas of young pine stands within the same area.

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Magistro darbe tiriama tolimųjų paprastosios pušies populiacijų spyglių žiotelių skaičiaus geografinio kintamumo dėsningumai. Darbo objektas – Prokazin serijos paprastosios pušies tolimųjų kilmių bandomieji želdiniai Kazlų Rūdos MMU. Darbo metodai – ištirtos 34 populiacijos, kilusios iš rytinės pušies arealo dalies. Kiekvienoje populiacijoje atsitiktinai atrinkta po 5 medžius – iš viso 170 medžių. Medžiai įvertinti pagal pasirinktus rodiklius (skersmuo, šakų kampas, šakų skaičius menturyje ir žievės forma). Nuo kiekvieno medžio paimti ūgliai analizei, po 6 spyglius nuo kiekvieno medžio (viso 1020 spygliai). Spygliai buvo analizuoti mikroskopu pagal parinktus tokius morfologinius rodiklius: spyglio ilgis, žiotelių skaičius lygioje spyglio pusėje, žiotelių eilių skaičius lygioje spyglio pusėje. Darbo rezultatai. Atlikus tyrimus Prokazin serijos paprastosios pušies tolimųjų kilmių bandomuosiuose želdiniuose ir apdorojus duomenis statistinėmis programomis gauti tokie rezultatai: žiotelių vidutinis skaičius 2 mm spyglio segmente yra 195 žiotelės; žiotelių skaičius ir spyglių ilgis priklauso nuo medžių kilmės: populiacijos kilusios iš Europos šiaurės rytų pasižymi trumpesniais spygliais ir mažesniu žiotelių skaičiumi nei kilusios iš pietų; medžių skersmuo nėra susijęs su žiotelių skaičiumi spyglio ploto vienete, tačiau yra susijęs su spyglio ilgiu ir bendru žiotelių skaičiumi spyglyje. / This Master's thesis investigated the geographical diversity patterns of Scots pine populiations on the number of needle stomata. Object of the work – Scots pine provenance trials known as the Prokazin series in Kazlu Ruda training forest enterprise. Method of the work – 34 populations of Scots pine which represent the eastern range of the species distribution, were tested. Each population represented by 5 trees, for a total of 170 trees. The trees were evaluated with regard to the following traits: diameter, branch angle, number of whorls of branches, bark in the form. Shoots were cut from the each tree and subsequently 6 needles (for a total of 1020 needles) were taken from each tree for analysis. Each needle was analyzed under a binocular microscope separately in regard to the following seven morphological traits: needle length, number of stomatal rows on the flat side of a needle, number of stomata per 2 mm of needle length on the flat side. The results of the work. The results of this study showed that the average number of stomata is 195 per 2 millimeters segment; the number of stomata and needle length in Scots pine depends on the tree of origin: the Northeast European populations have shorter needles and fewer stomata than populations from the south; tree diameter is not associated with the number of stomata per unit area, however is related to the needle length and the total number of stomata.

Föryngringen av skog på Gotland har historiskt sett varit problematisk under lång tid och i dagsläget används främst markberedning följt av plantering av tall. Förutsättningen för föryngring under skärm samt naturlig föryngring under fröträd som föryngringsmetod har studerats i denna rapport då det råder brist på skriftliga sammanfattningar om dessa båda metoder. Föryngringsmetoderna studerades genom fältstudier på 16 lokaler och intervjuer med verksamma inom branschen på Gotland. Naturlig föryngring visade sig ha viss framgång på norra Gotland samt fungera väl på nordöstra Fårö. Förutom på Fårö visade emellertid föryngring med markberedning och plantering bäst resultat. Plantering under skärm och självföryngring under skärm verkade fungera på norra Gotland på jordar av grus och sand. Att resultatet skiljer sig åt beror sannolikt på olika markstrukturer för de olika delarna av ön där vissa av norra Gotlands jordar med sand, grus och mindre stenstruktur har större nytta av en högskärm samt lämpar sig bättre för naturlig föryngring.

The effects of lichen ground cover (predominantly Cladina stellaris) on the growth of Picea mariana at Schefferville, Quebec and Pinus sylvestris at Kevo, Finland, was investigated in situ. Effect on seedling establishment was inferred through examining status quo conditions. While contiguous mat cover precluded establishment, its margins provided ameliorated conditions suitable for establishment. Moss covered areas were the most preferred sites. At Schefferville, ten perturbations involving fertilization, lichen removal, polyethylene overlays, and aqueous lichen extract application were effected on sixteen experimental plots. Branch elongation, needle nitrogen and bole diameter were statistically analyzed as functions of various monitored edaphic conditions. Leader elongation and needle nitrogen was measured at Kevo. Lichen presence over the term of both studies showed net beneficial effect on the trees; lichen extracts had significant detrimental effects. Seed germination was suppressed by lichen presence but enhanced by lichen induced low soil pH when in contact with the soil.

Tez (Yüksek Lisans) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Orman Mühendisliği Anabilim Dalı, 2008. / Bibliyografya var.

This thesis focuses on reconstructing past temperatures using Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) tree-ring chronologies developed from Scotland. The research aims to fill a spatial and temporal gap in understanding northwest European climate dynamics, thus providing the context for assessing future climate changes in this region. Development of both a spatially complete reconstruction from an extensive network of 44 'living' Scottish tree-ring chronologies for the last few centuries, but also a near-millennium length chronology from central Scotland using mainly lake-derived 'subfossil' wood material was undertaken. Before reconstruction development, a combination of treegrowth modelling and disturbance removal methodologies was utilised in order to understand the drivers of pine growth in the Scottish Highlands, and to assess and remove anthropogenic disturbance and other non-climatic influences on growth. The advantages and limitations of utilising the relatively new 'Blue Intensity' (BI) parameter was also explored and assessed, particularly in relation to its possible utilization as a more affordable surrogate for maximum latewood density in the development of temperature reconstructions and for crossdating validation of undated samples. Although BI showed much promise for dendroclimatology, elimination of low frequency biases resulting from sample discolouration still requires further attention. Chronologies from the Cairngorms in central Scotland were identified as most suitable for reconstruction development, while reconstructions based on chronologies from other areas in the west were found to be weaker due to a range of factors including disturbance. In order to maximise reconstruction strength, BI and ring width (RW) data were combined to produce composite high-frequency BI / low-frequency RW chronologies. Although it was possible to develop an ~800 year reconstruction of temperature from central Scotland, there is substantial potential to further extend this reconstruction back in time.

For several decades, Moose population (Alces alces) in Sweden has been growing considerably. This increase has resulted in a greater impact and damage in trees, especially in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) which is the basis of Swedish forestry and, therefore the economical losses are considerable. For this reason, for several years, to know Moose feeding behaviour and to look for measures to reduce it is impact on forestry have marked the guidelines of research. The Moose damages the pine mainly in winter, when there are no herbaceous plants and deciduous trees to eat. This project has focused on reducing the moose damage from a biodiversity point of view, following a line similar to the "Optimal forage theory". According to this theory, a moose selects the food according to the composition and the richness of the species. Results have conducted to relation plant-richness with Moose Browsing Damage on Scots pine and with more abundance of trees around a Scots pine, Moose Browsing Damage decreases considerably. In this project I also study the association between Moose activity and the plant-richness. Both (Moose Browsing damage on Scots pine and Moose activity) were tested with Shannon´s and Simpson´s index, two biodiversity indexes. The amount of different plants species nearby a Scots pine were measured and studied, as well. Also, I did the Pearson´s coefficient as an initial relationship between the variables (and observed if it is negative or positive) and ANOVA analysis. Although the conclusions weren´t as clear as I expected, in my opinion this study offered another tool to reduce the before mentioned impact.