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Larix Decidua (larix + decidua)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	80%

Selected Abstracts

Conifers as invasive aliens: a global survey and predictive framework

DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 5-6 2004
David M. Richardson
ABSTRACT We summarize information on naturalized and invasive conifers (class Pinopsida) worldwide (data from 40 countries, some with remote states/territories), and contrast these findings with patterns for other gymnosperms (classes Cycadopsida, Gnetopsida and Ginkgoopsida) and for woody angiosperms. Eighty conifer taxa (79 species and one hybrid; 13% of species) are known to be naturalized, and 36 species (6%) are ,invasive'. This categorization is based on objective and conservative criteria relating to consistency of reproduction, distance of spread from founders, and degree of reliance on propagules from the founder population for persistence in areas well outside the natural range of species. Twenty-eight of the known invasive conifers belong to one family (Pinaceae) and 21 of these are in one genus (Pinus). The Cupressaceae (including Taxodiaceae) has six known invasive species (4%) in four genera, but the other four conifer families have none. There are also no known invasive species in classes Cycadopsida, Gnetopsida or Ginkgoopsida. No angiosperm family comprising predominantly trees and shrubs has proportionally as many invasive species as the Pinaceae. Besides the marked taxonomic bias in favour of Pinaceae, and Pinus in particular, invasiveness in conifers is associated with a syndrome of life-history traits: small seed mass (< 50 mg), short juvenile period (< 10 year), and short intervals between large seed crops. Cryptomeria japonica, Larix decidua, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta, Pinus strobus, and Pseudotsuga menziesii exemplify this syndrome. Many rare and endangered conifer species exhibit opposite characters. These results are consistent with earlier predictions made using a discriminant function derived from attributes of invasive and noninvasive Pinus species. Informative exceptions are species with small seeds (< 4 mg, e.g. Chamaecyparis spp., Pinus banksiana, Tsuga spp. , mostly limited to wet/mineral substrates) or otherwise ,non-invasive' characters (e.g. large seeds, fleshy fruits, e.g. Araucaria araucana, Pinus pinea, Taxus baccata that are dependent on vertebrates for seed dispersal). Most conifers do not require coevolved mutualists for pollination and seed dispersal. Also, many species can persist in small populations but have the genetic and reproductive capacity to colonize and increase population size rapidly. The underlying mechanisms mediating conifer invasions are thus easier to discern than is the case for most angiosperms. Further information is needed to determine the extent to which propagule pressure (widespread dissemination, abundant plantings, long history of cultivation) can compensate for low ,inherent invasiveness'. [source]

Experiments on the susceptibility of conifers to Heterobasidion annosum in Great Britain

FOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001
Greig
During the period 1960,71, experimental plantings were established at three sites in western Britain that were infested with Heterobasidion annosum: Ceri in mid-Wales, Lael in north-west Scotland and Red Marley in the West Midlands of England. At each site a randomized block experiment involving at least four species was supplemented with an ancillary trial of other species. In two of the experiments various treatments were applied to the previous stand of trees before or at felling, but only stump removal reduced the amount of disease in the succeeding crops. At Ceri, the incidence of H. annosum in stems removed at first thinning was: Picea sitchensis, 14%; Pseudotsuga menziesii 11%; Pinus contorta 3% and Abies procera 1%. At Lael, the figures were Larix decidua 59%; P. menziesii 51%; Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 37%; Abies amabilis 33% and Tsuga heterophylla 21%. There was negligible disease in A. procera;Abies grandis and Pinus sylvestris. At Red Marley, the incidence of disease was: P. menziesii 28%; T. heterophylla 18%; A. grandis 7%; Picea abies 1% and Pinus nigra var. maritima 0%. In the ancillary trial at Lael, the incidence of H. annosum in P. sitchensis was 55% and in P. abies 16%. The mean height of colonization by H. annosum within the diseased stems removed at first thinning at Lael (age 21,22 years) was 2.1 m for L. decidua, 1.4 m for P. sitchensis and 1.3 m for P. abies. Armillaria sp. caused mortality and decay in two of the experiments and these data are also presented. The results are discussed in relation to other information on the susceptibility of these species to H. annosum in the UK and elsewhere. Expérimentations sur la sensibilité des conifères à Heterobasidion annosum Entre 1960 et 1971, des plantations expérimentales ont été installées dans trois sites infectés par Heterobasidion annosum dans l'ouest de la Grande-Bretagne: à Ceri (centre du Pays de Galles), à Lael (nord-ouest de l'Écosse), et à Red Marley (ouest des Midlands, Angleterre). Dans chaque site, un essai en blocs randomisés comprenant au moins quatre espèces a été complété avec des espèces supplémentaires. Dans deux des essais, divers traitements ont été appliqués au peuplement antérieur ou au moment de son exploitation, mais seul l'arrachage des souches avait réduit la quantité de maladie. A Ceri, l'incidence de H. annosum dans les tiges enlevées à la première éclaircie était la suivante: Picea sitchensis, 14%; Pseudotsuga menziesii, 11%; Pinus contorta, 3% et Abies procera, 1%. A Lael: Larix decidua, 59%; Pseudotsuga menziesii, 51%; Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, 37%; Abies amabilis, 33%; Tsuga heterophylla, 21%. La maladie était négligeable chez A. procera, A. grandis et Pinus sylvestris. A Red Marley, l'incidence était la suivante: Pseudotsuga menziesii, 28%; Tsuga heterophylla, 18%; Abies grandis, 7%; Picea abies, 1% et Pinus nigra var. maritima, 0%. Chez les espèces supplémentaires à Lael, l'incidence était de 55% chez Picea sitchensis et de 16% chez P. abies. La hauteur moyenne de colonisation des tiges infectées par H. annosum, prélevées à la première éclaircie à Lael (age: 21,22 ans) était de 2,1 m chez Larix decidua, 1,4 m chez Picea sitchensis et 1,3 m chez P. abies. Armillaria sp. provoquait des mortalités et des altérations dans deux des essais et ces données sont également présentées. Les résultats sont discutés en relation avec d'autres informations sur la sensibilité de ces espèces àH. annosum au Royaume-Uni et ailleurs. Versuche zur Anfälligkeit von Nadelgehölzen gegen Heterobasidion annosum in Grossbritannien Während der Jahre 1960,71 wurden an drei Standorten im Westen Großbritanniens Versuchspflanzungen angelegt, die von Heterobasidion annosum befallen waren (Ceri in Mittelwales, Lael in Nordwest-Schottland und Red Marley im westlichen Mittelland von England). An jedem Standort wurde ein randomisierter Blockversuch mit mindestens vier Baumarten angelegt. Ergänzend wurden zusätzliche Arten getestet. Auf zwei Versuchsflächen wurden unterschiedliche Behandlungen des Vorbestandes bzw. der Fläche durchgeführt. Das Auftreten der Krankheit im Folgebestand konnte nur durch die Rodung der Stümpfe reduziert werden. In Ceri wurden bei den in der ersten Durchforstung entnommenen Stämmen folgende Infektionshäufigkeiten festgestellt: Picea sitchensis 14%, Pseudotsuga menziesii 11%, Pinus contorta 3% und Abies procera 1%. In Lael ergab sich folgendes Bild: Larix decidua 59%, Pseudotsuga menziesii 51%, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 37%, Abies amabilis 33% und Tsuga heterophylla 21%. Der Befall von Abies grandis, A. procera and Pinus sylvestris war vernachlässigbar gering. In Red Marley betrug die Infektionshäufigkeit bei Pseudotsuga menziesii 28%, bei Tsuga heterophylla 18%, Abies grandis 7%, Picea abies 1% und Pinus nigra var. maritima 0%. In dem Ergänzungsversuch in Lael waren Picea sitchensis zu 55% und P. abies zu 16% von H. annosum infiziert. Die mittlere Höhe der Ausbreitung von H. annosum in den erkrankten Stämmen, die bei der ersten Durchforstung entfernt wurden, betrug in Lael (Alter 21,22 Jahre) 2,1 m bei Larix decidua, 1,4 m bei Picea sitchensis und 1,3 m bei P. abies. Auch Armillaria sp. verursachte Mortalität und Fäule. Diese Daten werden ebenfalls präsentiert. Die Ergebnisse werden im Vergleich mit der verfügbaren Information zur Anfälligkeit dieser Baumarten diskutiert. [source]

Reduced early growing season freezing resistance in alpine treeline plants under elevated atmospheric CO2

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
MELISSA MARTIN
Abstract The frequency of freezing events during the early growing season and the vulnerability to freezing of plants in European high-altitude environments could increase under future atmospheric and climate change. We tested early growing season freezing sensitivity in 10 species, from four plant functional types (PFTs) spanning three plant growth forms (PGFs), from a long-term in situ CO2 enrichment (566 vs. 370 ppm) and 2-year soil warming (+4 K) experiment at treeline in the Swiss Alps (Stillberg, Davos). By additionally tracking plant phenology, we distinguished indirect phenology-driven CO2 and warming effects from direct physiology-related effects on freezing sensitivity. The freezing damage threshold (lethal temperature 50) under ambient conditions of the 10 treeline species spanned from ,6.7±0.3 °C (Larix decidua) to ,9.9±0.6 °C (Vaccinium gaultherioides). PFT, but not PGF, explained a significant amount of this interspecific variation. Long-term exposure to elevated CO2 led to greater freezing sensitivity in multiple species but did not influence phenology, implying that physiological changes caused by CO2 enrichment were responsible for the effect. The elevated CO2 effect on freezing resistance was significant in leaves of Larix, Vaccinium myrtillus, and Gentiana punctata and marginally significant in leaves of Homogyne alpina and Avenella flexuosa. No significant CO2 effect was found in new shoots of Empetrum hermaphroditum or in leaves of Pinus uncinata, Leontodon helveticus, Melampyrum pratense, and V. gaultherioides. Soil warming led to advanced leaf expansion and reduced freezing resistance in V. myrtillus only, whereas Avenella showed greater freezing resistance when exposed to warming. No effect of soil warming was found in any of the other species. Effects of elevated CO2 and soil warming on freezing sensitivity were not consistent within PFTs or PGFs, suggesting that any future shifts in plant community composition due to increased damage from freezing events will likely occur at the individual species level. [source]

Performance of the potentially invasive Siberian moth Dendrolimus superans sibiricus on coniferous species in Europe

AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Natalia I. Kirichenko
Abstract 1,The native range of the Siberian moth extends from the Pacific Ocean (Russian Far East, Japan and Northern Korea) across Siberia, Northern China and Mongolia to the Ural Mountains. At the beginning of the 21st Century, this species was documented west of the Ural Mountains in the Republic of Mari El, indicating range extension toward the west. 2,The Siberian moth has recently been suggested for regulation as a quarantine pest for European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization member countries. However, no specific report on European host plants for this pest has been published so far. 3,In the present study, larval host plant choice and performance was tested for the first time on coniferous tree species that are widely distributed and of commercial value in Europe. 4,Based on dual-choice tests on neonates and mortality, developmental duration and relative growth rates of the first- to sixth-instar larvae, we found European larch Larix decidua to be the most suitable host for the moth larvae, whereas European black pine Pinus nigra and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris were the poorest hosts. The remaining conifer species tested, European silver fir Abies alba, Nordmann fir Abies nordmanniana, and Norway spruce Picea abies, were intermediate host plants. Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii, originating from North America, was chosen by the larvae to the same extend as European larch, and was also highly suitable for larval development. 5,If the moth is introduced to European countries, it will become damaging in stands of European larch and Douglas-fir, mixed stands of fir and spruce; however, it will be less damaging in forests dominated by two-needle pines. 6,We predict that Dendrolimus superans sibiricus will be able to survive and develop on the main European coniferous tree species, including non-native coniferous tree species, resulting in severe damage to large areas of forests. [source]