El fuego constituye un elemento clave en la configuración del paisaje mediterráneo. Sin embargo, desde hace unos treinta años, se vienen registrando importantes incrementos en la frecuencia, intensidad y dimensiones máximas alcanzadas por los incendios en este ámbito bioclimático, por lo que la regeneración postincendio actual de muchas de sus masas boscosas resulta dificultosa. Para algunas especies llega a suponer, incluso, una reducción importante de su área de distribución. Este es el caso del Pinus nigra en Cataluña, cuya distribución se ha visto reducida recientemente en un 30% por los dos mayores incendios registrados hasta la fecha en esta comunidad (1994 y 1998). Pinus nigra es una especie germinadora, que dispersa durante el invierno y cuyas semillas perduran poco tiempo, por lo que su reclutamiento depende cada año de nueva producción. Sin embargo, en incendios muy grandes, todo el plantío joven es devastado y la supervivencia de árboles es generalmente muy baja.En esta tesis hemos tratado de recabar el máximo de información empírica posible sobre cada etapa del reclutamiento de los bosques de Pinus nigra afectados por estos dos incendios y, posteriormente, hemos elaborado con toda esa información un modelo mecanicista que nos permita simular la regeneración más probable a un plazo de tiempo dado.En el primer capítulo evaluamos la supervivencia y la capacidad para producir piñas de los árboles afectados en mayor o menor medida por el fuego durante los tres primeros años posteriores a él. La supervivencia resultó ser mayor en los árboles más grandes y en los menos afectados por fuego de copa. La producción de piñas fue mayor y más frecuente en los árboles grandes y en las "islas verdes" de árboles supervivientes, especialmente las pequeñas. Por ello, destacamos el interés de preservar los árboles mayores supervivientes y las "islas verdes" como probables focos de dispersión que mejoren las posibilidades de regeneración de la especie.En el segundo capítulo exploramos los patrones de variación espacio-temporal de la depredación post-dispersión del banco de semillas del suelo. Los resultados muestran que al inicio del periodo de dispersión, los roedores son los principales depredadores mientras que a partir de la primavera lo son las hormigas, resultando ambos grupos muy eficaces. Teniendo en cuenta la corta viabilidad de los piñones diseminados, esta elevada depredación hace que la probabilidad de que alguna semilla siga disponible para germinar en otoño sea prácticamente nula.El tercer capítulo estudia el establecimiento de las plántulas, mediante un experimento bajo condiciones controladas de luz y agua, y otro bajo diferentes condiciones naturales de campo. Los resultados sugieren que el establecimiento de plántulas tras el incendio es muy escaso en condiciones de campo y bajo un rango amplio de grados de cobertura. A pesar de ello, Pinus nigra se comporta como una especie más tolerante a la sombra que otros pinos, pero, dado que ésta es una condición muy poco frecuente en las áreas recientemente quemadas, su regeneración se ve muy condicionada por los incendios.En el capítulo cuarto, desarrollamos un modelo de simulación que integra toda la información recabada acerca de la biología de la regeneración de esta especie, procendente en parte de los capítulos anteriores. El estudio muestra que es posible calibrar un modelo mecanístico que simule el reclutamiento de una especie arbórea a partir de información empírica obtenida para los distintos procesos, incluso cuando las bases de datos disponibles carezcan de series temporales o espaciales amplias. Las posibilidades de este modelo como herramienta de trabajo son muy valiosas a la hora de tomar decisiones sobre la gestión de las áreas quemadas. / Fire constitutes a key factor in the configuration of Mediterranean landscapes. Nevertheless, from nearly thirty years ago, an important increment in the frequency, intensity and size of fires has been registered in this bioclimatic environment. For this reason, the postfire regeneration of many burned areas may be difficult, representing, for some species, an important reduction of their distribution areas. This is the case of Pinus nigra in Catalonia (NE Spain), whose distribution area has been reduced in 30% due to the two largest wildfires (1994 and 1998) occurred historically in this region. Pinus nigra is a seeder species, which disperses its seeds in winter, but they remain viable for a short period of time. Thus, the recruitment of this species depends on the year-to-year seed production. However, in very large fires, all seedlings and saplings are burned and tree survival is usually very low.In this Ph. D. Thesis, we have compiled the maximum empirical information concerning the different stages of the recruitment process of Pinus nigra in burned areas. Afterwards, we have elaborated a mechanistic model with all this information to simulate the potential regeneration at the mid-term.In the first chapter, we have evaluated tree survival and cone production of burned and unburned trees, during the tree years after fire. Tree survival was higher in the largest and less affected trees. Cone production was higher and more frequent in the large trees, and also in the "green islands" of vegetation, particularly in the small ones. For this reason, we enhance the interest to keep the largest trees and the "green islands" as possible seed dispersal sources, for improving the regeneration of this species. In the second chapter, we explore the spatial and temporal patterns of post dispersal seed predation. The results show that in winter, at the beginning of dispersal period, rodents are the main seed predators, while in spring ants become dominant as seed predators. The two groups are very efficient. Taking in account that seed viability is very short on the ground, this high predation rate makes that the probability of P. nigra seeds to germinate in autumn is almost nil.The third chapter studies the establishment of seedlings, by means of an experiment of controlled conditions of light and water, and another field experiment in natural conditions. The results suggest that seedling establishment after fire is very scarce in natural conditions and in a extensive range of cover degrees. In spite of it, Pinus nigra behaves as a more shade-tolerant species than other pines. However, as this situation is rare in recently burned areas, its regeneration is very conditioned by fires.In the fourth chapter, we develop a simulation model integrating all the information obtained about the regeneration stages of this species, in part obtained in the previous chapters. The study shows that it is possible calibrate a mechanistic model to simulate the recruitment of a tree species, using empirical information obtained for the different processes, even though when the databases available do not always have extensive temporal or spatial series. The possibilities of this model as an interesting tool may be very interesting for the management of burned areas.

Se estudiaron los efectos de la recurrencia del fuego en comunidades vegetales Mediterráneas dominadas por el árbol germinador P.halepensis Mill. (pino carrasco) a nivel regional en Cataluña. Entre 8 y 11 años tras la ocurrencia del fuego, se compararon la estructura y la composición florística de las comunidades vegetales, las poblaciones de P.halepensis, los horizontes orgánicos del suelo y el crecimiento de tres especies leñosas (Q.ilex, P.lentiscus, and R.officinalis) entre áreas quemadas una vez (en 1994) y dos veces (entre 1975 y 1993, y de nuevo en 1994) a lo largo de dos décadas. Se observó un patrón general de pérdida de resiliencia en las comunidades de P.halepensis quemadas dos veces a intervalos entre incendios menores de 17 años. / This work assessed the effects of fire recurrence on Mediterranean plant communities dominated by the seeder tree Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) at a regional level in Catalonia. It compared structure and floristic composition of plant communities, P.halepensis populations, soil organic horizons and plant growth of three woody species (Q.ilex, P.lentiscus, and R.officinalis) between areas burnt once (in 1994) and twice (between 1975 and 1993, and again in 1994) along 2 decades in the medium term after fire (between 8 and 11 years). A general trend of resilience loss was observed in P.halepensis communities burnt twice at fire intervals shorter than 17 years.

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Tez (Yüksek Lisans) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Orman Mühendisliği Anabilim Dalı, 2006. / Kaynakça var.

New Zealand grown Pinus radiata is limited in its application for structural purposes by its stiffness deficiencies. This dissertation aims to estimate potential improvements in stem value through selection for improved stiffness. A new method to model and value volumes of structural wood grades within a stem was used to calculate these value improvements. Data for each stem from a stand in Kaingaroa Forest bred for improved wood quality was used to perform this analysis. This data was from a stand bred for improved wood quality and included information on the stiffness, density and width of each growth ring for each stem. The data was in the form of cores. Height and volume data was not recorded and therefore needed to be modelled. The volumes of MSG8, MSG11 and MSG13 wood were estimated by modelling the stem volume at the age when wood is produced that is stiff enough to qualify for each grade. The majority of stems had merchantable volumes between 1-2.5m3 with the largest stems containing 3.6m3. Average stiffness ranged between 5.2GPa and 11.3GPa with the stand average being 8.4GPa. There was no relationship between average stiffness and merchantable volume. Stem values were found to range between $60-$131/m3 with the stand average being $91/m3. The 10 most valuable stems had a total stem value ($318) twice that of the stand average ($157). The most valuable stem ($411) showed a 160% increase in stem value from the average. The increases in value/m3 were caused by large increases in the proportion of MSG11 and MSG13 wood held within the merchantable volume. These potential gains in stem value could help tree breeders assign an accurate economic weighting to stiffness improvements. Forest managers wanting to justify using a more expensive, improved stiffness seedlot may also find these results valuable.

The mechanism of drought resistance in the seedlings of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and Brutia pine (Pinus brutia) was investigated. Both species showed anatomical and morphological adaptations to conserve moisture. Aleppo pine had a thicker cuticle, fewer stomata per unit length, per unit area, and per needle than Brutia pine. A significant number of Aleppo pine stomata were sealed with a waxy layer. Brutia pine had shorter needles, smaller needle surface area, a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio, and longer main root length. The two species were similar in height growth and in the seasonal trend of total non-structural carbohydrates (reducing sugars and starch). Brutia pine had more reducing sugars and less starch in its shoots than Aleppo pine. The latter had a greater amount of total non-structural carbohydrates and starch when the seedlings were subjected to dry down moisture stress. Electron microscopy techniques were used to monitor ultrastructural changes in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells. Aleppo pine was found to contain chloroplasts exhibiting water stress-related damage at a relative water content of 62 percent, where as Brutia pine chloroplasts were disrupted. It is suggested that future investigations examine the physiological manifestation of drought mechanism at the cellular and molecular levels of both species.

No description available.

Embryogenic tissue of Pinus patula Scheide et Deppe was initiated from immature green female cones during the months of November 1996 to February 1997 and December 1997 to January 1998. Tissue was maintained on MSG3 medium (BECWAR, NAGMANI and WANN 1990) supplemented with maltose. A comparison of various sugars as a carbohydrate source for maintaining embryogenic tissue showed that maltose was far superior to sucrose and the other sugars tested. Embryogenic tissue was successfully cryopreserved for up to 8 weeks using 0.3 M sorbitol and 5 % DMSO. Recovered tissue initially underwent a lag phase in tissue regrowth, but by the end of 5 weeks post-thaw, tissue proliferation was as vigorous as the unfrozen, untreated control. Fluoresceine diacetate (FDA) staining revealed that the embryonal head survived cryopreservation, but the highly vacuolated suspensor tissue had ruptured and died. Embryogenic tissue from two different families and four genotypes were successfully cryopreserved using this protocol. A comparison of commonly used cryopreservation techniques was conducted. It was found that the slow addition of the cryoprotectants over two days slowed the recovery rate of the tissue and increased the chances of contamination. Embryogenic tissue did not respond well to cryopreservation using a combination of the cryoprotectants PEG, glucose and DMSO (10-8-10%). Only a small proportion of the tissue survived, and initial tissue regrowth took up to 5 weeks. Embryogenic tissue was also set in gel and immersed directly in liquid nitrogen in an effort to cryopreserve tissue using the process of vitrification. However, none of the tissue survived, possibly due to insufficient dehydration prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen. Tissue recovery was highest when the tissue was precooled to -70°C in a container filled with isopropyl alcohol placed in a static freezer prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen. Recovery of tissue was improved by suspending the tissue on polyester grids and removing the liquid medium prior to placing onto MSG3 medium. Recovered tissue was bulked up using suspension cultures, and then paced onto MSG5 (BECWAR, NAGMANI and WANN 1990) or 240 medium (PULLMAN and WEBB 1994) to mature. Mature embryos were isolated from both media and germinated. Somatic plantlets were successfully hardened-off under greenhouse conditions. The successful cryopreservation of a number of genotypes and lines, and the maturation of recovered tissue has been achieved. This technique is now being actively incorporated into P. patula somatic embryo research, enabling the long-term storage of juvenile reference tissue while field trials are carried out and evaluated. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.