DOCSLIB.ORG

Seedling Growth in Conifers and Angiosperms: Impacts of Contrasting Xylem Structure

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Seedling Growth in Conifers and Angiosperms: Impacts of Contrasting Xylem Structure CSIRO PUBLISHING www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ajb Australian Journal of Botany, 2005, 53, 749–755 Seedling growth in conifers and angiosperms: impacts of contrasting xylem structure T. J. BrodribbA,B,D, N. M. HolbrookB and R. S. HillC ADepartment of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, PO Box 252-55, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia. BDepartment of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA, USA. CDepartment of Environmental Biology, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. DCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. Competitive interaction between conifers and angiosperms has moulded the structure of global vegetation since the Cretaceous. Angiosperms appear to enjoy their greatest advantage in the lowland tropics, an advantage often attributed to the presence of vessels in their xylem tissue. By monitoring the seedling growth of three members of the pan-tropical conifer family Podocarpaceae and three tropical angiosperm tree species, our aim was to determine whether these conifer and angiosperm seedlings showed distinct patterns of growth and light adaptation that might be attributed to the presence/absence of vessels. Angiosperm seedlings were consistently more efficient in terms of leaf area carried per unit stem investment, as well as more responsive to light climate than the conifer seedlings. Apparently linked to this were larger growth rate, stem hydraulic conductivity and stomatal conductance in the angiosperm sample. Stem hydraulic conductivity and maximum stomatal conductance were highly correlated among species and light treatments explaining the association between highly conductive vessel-bearing wood and high rates of gas exchange. We conclude that xylem vessels contribute to higher rates of gas exchange and more efficient production of leaf area in our sample angiosperms than in conifers. However, this advantage is limited by shade. Introduction The feature most likely to differentiate conifers and The Cretaceous radiation in angiosperm diversity has been angiosperms in terms of assimilation and growth potential proposed as having a major influence on the subsequent is the absence of vessels in conifer wood. Conifer wood is decline in gymnosperm diversity (Stebbins 1974; Knoll comprised solely of tracheids, generally <30 µm in lumen 1986). A popular theory accounting for gymnosperm decline diameter and ∼1–3 mm in length (Panshin and De Zeeuw invokes displacement of conifers by angiosperms, putitively 1980), whereas angiosperm wood typically contains large superior in both reproductive and vegetative potential (see lumen cells (commonly 100–200 µm in diameter) joined Bond 1989 for review). There are good reasons to suspect in series with degraded end walls that form tubes often that vegetative innovations in the angiosperm lineage have metres in length (Zimmermann and Jeje 1981). Because the contributed to their success, and that these characters hydraulic conductivity of tubes is proportional to the fourth (namely vascular and leaf morphological traits) enable power of their radius, these vessels enable angiosperms to angiosperm seedlings to overwhelm conifer competitors produce wood which is many times more conductive (per (Bond 1989; also see review by Feild et al. 2004). However, cross-sectional area) to water than conifer xylem (Tyree et al. it is important to bear in mind that conifer families dominate 1991). The benefits of highly conductive xylem are clear, many temperate and most boreal regions, and that it given the evidence for a general correlation between xylem is only in lowland subtropical and tropical forests that conductance and photosynthetic capacity (Brodribb and Feild conifers tend to be absent. In order to understand which 2000; Hubbard et al. 2001). However, large conduits can aspects of angiosperm physiology may be responsible for also become a liability under freezing conditions because of conifer displacement, it is most informative to compare freeze–thaw embolism of xylem vessels (Sperry et al. 1994). tropical angiosperms and conifers, and to contrast their This process is highly sensitive to conduit size, meaning performance in an environment where angiosperm traits have that that most (but not all; see Pittermann and Sperry 2003) proven superior. conifer tracheids are immune from freeze embolism during © CSIRO 2005 10.1071/BT05049 0067-1924/05/080749 750 Australian Journal of Botany T. J. Brodribb et al. winter freezing. Angiosperm xylem composed of vessels can a greater optimisation of conductance and support functions suffer almost complete deactivation after freezing, leading to in angiosperms. Such optimisation should become most winter deciduousness in many temperate species. evident in the comparison of sun and shade plants where The low hydraulic conductivity of conifer xylem has the roles of conduction and support are likely to be the been suggested as a primary cause of reduced conifer most variable. competitiveness in the tropics because of the restricted In this study, we compare the growth rate, allometry and distribution of water and nutrients to leaves (Bond 1989). hydraulic properties of conifer and angiosperm seedlings Although this argument oversimplifies the physiological from tropical and temperate climates to determine whether advantages of vessels over tracheids, it is appealing to patterns in stem and leaf-area growth are related to Ksp in imagine that the greater efficiency afforded by vesseliferous these species. We focus on conifer species from the most wood might enable more rapid growth of seedlings, successful conifer family in the tropics, the Podocarpaceae. particularly under carbon-limited (shady) conditions. Podocarps are known for expressing a diversity of The term ‘efficiency’ here refers to the volume of water mechanisms for producing flattened shoots functionally carried per mass of carbon invested in vasculature, and it analogous to angiosperm broad-leaves (Brodribb and Hill should be of great importance to plants as photosynthetic 1997), and two of the species chosen here produce rapid rates among species vary in proportion to the water- growth rates and broad (>5-cm-wide) leaves reminiscent carrying capacity of the xylem (Brodribb and Feild 2000; of angiosperm leaves. For comparison, we used a fast- Hubbard et al. 2001). growing tropical Meliaceae, a primary tropical forest species Given their lower xylem conductivity per cross-sectional (Rubiaceae), and a fast-growing Eucalypus species. Growth area (Ksp), conifers must either (1) carry less foliage of seedlings under contrasting light intensities is compared per branch, (2) produce lower rates of water loss (and in order to test the relative flexibility of seedling allometry in photosynthesis) per leaf or (3) compensate for lower these conifer and angiosperm trees. hydraulic conductivity with a larger water-potential gradient than angiosperms. First, it appears true that conifers Materials and methods compensate for low xylem conductivity by investing more Plant material xylem tissue per leaf, although hydraulic conductivity, when Within the large constraints of seed availability and germinability normalised to leaf area (Kl), is still generally lower in of the tropical Podocarps we were able to find three species that conifers than in associated angiosperms (Becker et al. 1999; served our criteria of fast-growing trees, two of which are tropical Brodribb and Feild 2000). Second, there is some evidence species. The three conifers chosen for this study are all rainforest that the stomatal conductance and photosynthetic rate of taxa, two from tropical South-east Asia (Nageia fleuryi from tropical conifer foliage are lower than those of angiosperms, both southern China and Podocarpus greyii from tropical north-eastern Australia) and one from New Zealand (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides). in comparisons among neighbouring species (Brodribb and Podocarpus was chosen because it is the most diverse conifer genus Feild 2000; Lusk et al. 2003) and in terms of maximum rates in the tropics, whereas Nageia is a fast-growing tree with broad, multi- (Korner¨ et al. 1979). Finally, there are few data to test the veined leaves. Dacrycarpus is also a highly successful tropical genus third hypothesis that conifer leaves operate at lower water and D. dacrydioides, although more temperate in origin than the other potentials (ψ ) than angiosperm leaves, thus enabling them conifers, is the fastest-growing conifer in New Zealand (Ebitt and Ogden l 1998). Both N. fleurii and P.greyii regenerate in the forest understorey, to maintain similar evaporative fluxes by increasing the water- whereas D. dacrydioides tends to regenerate in forest gaps or more potential gradient across the plant. However, there is evidence commonly in open riverine environments. that conifer wood is more resistant to dysfunction at low The three angiosperms chosen were from tropical (Toona australis, water potentials than associated angiosperms (Sperry et al. Meliaceae, and Flindersia breyleyana, Rutaceae) and temperate 1994; Tyree et al. 1998; Brodribb and Hill 1999), suggesting (Eucalyptus regnans, Myrtaceae) forest. Toona is a common pioneer tree in north-eastern Australia from the highly successful tropical that conifer leaves may operate at lower water potentials than family Meliaceae. It produces large compound leaves and rapid growth those of neighbouring angiosperms. (Herwitz 1993). Flindersia is a more shade-tolerant primary forest tree Another advantage of vessel-bearing wood
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Name in Thesis
    ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่อการกระจายของขนาด การงอก และความอยู่รอดของต้นกล้า และไม้หนุ่มของพืชวงศ์โปโดคาร์เปชีอี ณ อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่ ประเทศไทย นางสาวเจมิกา อัครเศรษฐนนท์ วิทยานิพนธ์นี้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของการศึกษาตามหลักสูตรปริญญาวิทยาศาสตรดุษฎีบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาชีววิทยาสิ่งแวดล้อม มหาวิทยาลัยเทคโนโลยีสุรนารี ปีการศึกษา 2557 FACTORS AFFECTING SIZE DISTRIBUTION, SEED GERMINATION, AND SEEDLING AND SAPLING SURVIVAL OF PODOCARPACEAE AT KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK, THAILAND Jemika Akkarasadthanon A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Biology Suranaree University of Technology Academic Year 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The grateful thanks and appreciation is given to my advisor, Dr. Paul J. Grote, for his consistent supervision, advice, encouragement, valuable suggestions, and support throughout my project. Special thanks are also extended to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nooduan Muangsan, Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongthep Suwanwaree, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Adcharaporn Pagdee for valuable suggestions and guidance given as thesis co- advisors. I would like to thank all my thesis committee members for their suggestions and criticisms. I am also grateful to all the faculty and staff members of the School of Biology and colleagues of the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment Building 1, 2 and 3, Suranaree University of Technology for their help and support throughout the period of this research work. I wish to thank Mr. Kunchit Srinopawan, and staff from Khao Yai National Park for their kind suggestions and helping for data collection according to the permit note number 0907.4/5923 on 31 March 2014 by the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation cited the National Research Council of Thailand 0002/1131 on 4 December 2013. I am grateful to Colin T. Strine and staff from Sakaerat Environmental Research Station for their helping me on data analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Distribution and Historical Dynamics of Threatened Conifers of the Dalat Plateau, Vietnam
    SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND HISTORICAL DYNAMICS OF THREATENED CONIFERS OF THE DALAT PLATEAU, VIETNAM A thesis Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School At the University of Missouri In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts By TRANG THI THU TRAN Dr. C. Mark Cowell, Thesis Supervisor MAY 2011 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the thesis entitled SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND HISTORICAL DYNAMICS OF THREATENED CONIFERS OF THE DALAT PLATEAU, VIETNAM Presented by Trang Thi Thu Tran A candidate for the degree of Master of Arts of Geography And hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Professor C. Mark Cowell Professor Cuizhen (Susan) Wang Professor Mark Morgan ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research project would not have been possible without the support of many people. The author wishes to express gratitude to her supervisor, Prof. Dr. Mark Cowell who was abundantly helpful and offered invaluable assistance, support, and guidance. My heartfelt thanks also go to the members of supervisory committees, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cuizhen (Susan) Wang and Prof. Mark Morgan without their knowledge and assistance this study would not have been successful. I also wish to thank the staff of the Vietnam Initiatives Group, particularly to Prof. Joseph Hobbs, Prof. Jerry Nelson, and Sang S. Kim for their encouragement and support through the duration of my studies. I also extend thanks to the Conservation Leadership Programme (aka BP Conservation Programme) and Rufford Small Grands for their financial support for the field work. Deepest gratitude is also due to Sub-Institute of Ecology Resources and Environmental Studies (SIERES) of the Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB) Vietnam, particularly to Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Chromosome Numbers in Gymnosperms - an Update
    Rastogi and Ohri . Silvae Genetica (2020) 69, 13 - 19 13 Chromosome Numbers in Gymnosperms - An Update Shubhi Rastogi and Deepak Ohri Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Research Cell, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Malhaur (Near Railway Station), P.O. Chinhat, Luc know-226028 (U.P.) * Corresponding author: Deepak Ohri, E mail: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract still some controversy with regard to a monophyletic or para- phyletic origin of the gymnosperms (Hill 2005). Recently they The present report is based on a cytological data base on 614 have been classified into four subclasses Cycadidae, Ginkgoi- (56.0 %) of the total 1104 recognized species and 82 (90.0 %) of dae, Gnetidae and Pinidae under the class Equisetopsida the 88 recognized genera of gymnosperms. Family Cycada- (Chase and Reveal 2009) comprising 12 families and 83 genera ceae and many genera of Zamiaceae show intrageneric unifor- (Christenhusz et al. 2011) and 88 genera with 1104 recognized mity of somatic numbers, the genus Zamia is represented by a species according to the Plant List (www.theplantlist.org). The range of number from 2n=16-28. Ginkgo, Welwitschia and Gen- validity of accepted name of each taxa and the total number of tum show 2n=24, 2n=42, and 2n=44 respectively. Ephedra species in each genus has been checked from the Plant List shows a range of polyploidy from 2x-8x based on n=7. The (www.theplantlist.org). The chromosome numbers of 688 taxa family Pinaceae as a whole shows 2n=24except for Pseudolarix arranged according to the recent classification (Christenhusz and Pseudotsuga with 2n=44 and 2n=26 respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Palaeo Leaf Economics Reveal a Shift in Ecosystem Function Associated with the End-Triassic Mass Extinction Event
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318473239 Palaeo leaf economics reveal a shift in ecosystem function associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction event Article in Nature Plants · July 2017 DOI: 10.1038/nplants.2017.104 CITATIONS READS 7 428 7 authors, including: Wuu Kuang Soh Karen Bacon University College Dublin University of Leeds 14 PUBLICATIONS 79 CITATIONS 15 PUBLICATIONS 167 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Margret Steinthorsdottir Andrew C Parnell Swedish Museum of Natural History Maynooth University 30 PUBLICATIONS 408 CITATIONS 103 PUBLICATIONS 5,129 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Mid-Cretaceous south polar forests View project Response of pan-Arctic permafrost peatlands to rapid climate warming View project All content following this page was uploaded by Wuu Kuang Soh on 24 March 2019. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. ARTICLES PUBLISHED: XX XX 2017 | VOLUME: 3 | ARTICLE NUMBER: 17104 Palaeo leaf economics reveal a shift in ecosystem function associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction event W. K. Soh1*,I.J.Wright2,K.L.Bacon3, T. I. Lenz2, M. Steinthorsdottir4,5,A.C.Parnell6 and J. C. McElwain1 Climate change is likely to have altered the ecological functioning of past ecosystems, and is likely to alter functioning in the future; however, the magnitude and direction of such changes are difficult to predict. Here we use a deep-time case study to evaluate the impact of a well-constrained CO2-induced global warming event on the ecological functioning of dominant plant communities.
    [Show full text]
  • Vietnamese Conifers and Some Problems of Their Sustainable Utilization Ke Loc Et Al
    Vietnamese conifers and some problems of their sustainable utilization Ke Loc et al. Vietnamese conifers and some problems of their sustainable utilization Phan Ke Loc 1, 2, Nguyen Tien Hiep 2, Nguyen Duc To Luu 3, Philip Ian Thomas 4, Aljos Farjon 5, L.V. Averyanov 6, J.C. Regalado, Jr. 7, Nguyen Sinh Khang 2, Georgina Magin 8, Paul Mathew 8, Sara Oldfield 9, Sheelagh O’Reilly 8, Thomas Osborn 10, Steven Swan 8 and To Van Thao 2 1 University of Natural Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; 2 Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources; 3 Vietnam Central Forest Seed Company; 4 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; 5 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 6 Komarov Botanical Institute; 7 Missouri Botanical Garden; 8 Fauna & Flora International; 9 Global Trees Campaign; 10 Independent Consultant Introduction Vietnam is now recognized as one of the top ten global conifer conservation ‘hotspots’, as defined by the Conifer Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Vietnam’s conifer flora has approximately 34 species that are indigenous to the country, making up about 5% of conifers known worldwide. Although conifers represent only less than 0.3% of the total number of higher vascular plant species of Vietnam, they are of great ecological, cultural and economic importance. Most conifer wood is prized for its high value in house construction, furniture making, etc. The decline of conifer populations in Vietnam has caused serious concern among scientists. Threats to conifer species are substantial and varied, ranging from logging (both commercial and subsistence), land clearing for agriculture, and forest fire. Over the past twelve years (1995-2006), Vietnam Botanical Conservation Program (VBCP), a scientific cooperation between the Missouri Botanical Garden in Saint Louis and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in Hanoi, has conducted various studies on this important group of plants in order to gather baseline information necessary to make sound recommendations for their conservation and sustainable use.
    [Show full text]
  • Broadleaf Evergreens Cocculus Laurifolia, Or Available
    Acca Sellowiana Acca sellowiana, or pineapple BROADLEAF guava, has been used in the Central Florida area for years and EVERGREENS can form the backbone of the garden as it is drought tolerant, FOR CENTRAL grows in sun or shade, is cold FLORIDA hardy, can be sheared for a hedge or grown loose as a specimen and also has attractive flowers vergreens are divided into two followed by an edible fruit. The groups: Broadleaf and needle. plant has recently been renamed, E Our concentration will be on the as many people will recognize it first group, as Leu Gardens is aware of as Feijoa. the vast variety of broadleaf evergreens Cocculus laurifolia, or available. A good number has been snailseed, is another good choice planted to show the visitor how they can for screening as the plant can get be used in the landscape. Most are easy to to be fifteen feet tall. Snailseed is grow, require little care and maintenance parviflorum, are both Florida natives, tolerant of almost any location, will and have a relatively long life span. grow five to fifteen feet tall and are used grow in sun or shade, needs little care One of the most important evergreens for hedges or large screens. The yellow and its glossy leaves provide a good at Leu Gardens is, of course, the camellia. anise has fragrant foliage backdrop for There are over 400 species and cultivars and pale greenish-yellow plants with throughout the Gardens in most areas flowers. The Florida anise lighter colored that provide dappled shade. Harry P.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Pollen Records Indicate That Patagonian Desertification Was Not Solely a Consequence of Andean Uplift
    ARTICLE Received 25 Oct 2013 | Accepted 4 Mar 2014 | Published 28 Mar 2014 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4558 Fossil pollen records indicate that Patagonian desertification was not solely a consequence of Andean uplift L. Palazzesi1,2, V.D. Barreda1, J.I. Cuitin˜o3, M.V. Guler4, M.C. Tellerı´a5 & R. Ventura Santos6 The Patagonian steppe—a massive rain-shadow on the lee side of the southern Andes—is assumed to have evolved B15–12 Myr as a consequence of the southern Andean uplift. However, fossil evidence supporting this assumption is limited. Here we quantitatively estimate climatic conditions and plant richness for the interval B10–6 Myr based on the study and bioclimatic analysis of terrestrially derived spore–pollen assemblages preserved in well-constrained Patagonian marine deposits. Our analyses indicate a mesothermal climate, with mean temperatures of the coldest quarter between 11.4 °C and 16.9 °C (presently B3.5 °C) and annual precipitation rarely below 661 mm (presently B200 mm). Rarefied richness reveals a significantly more diverse flora during the late Miocene than today at the same latitude but comparable with that approximately 2,000 km further northeast at mid-latitudes on the Brazilian coast. We infer that the Patagonian desertification was not solely a consequence of the Andean uplift as previously insinuated. 1 Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’, Angel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2 Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK. 3 Universidad de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ciencias Geolo´gicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Intendente Gu¨iraldes 2160 (C1428EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    [Show full text]
  • 2. DACRYCARPUS (Endlicher) De Laubenfels, J. Arnold Arbor. 50: 315
    Flora of China 4: 79. 1999. 2. DACRYCARPUS (Endlicher) de Laubenfels, J. Arnold Arbor. 50: 315. 1969. 鸡毛松属 ji mao song shu Podocarpus L’Héritier ex Persoon sect. Dacrycarpus Endlicher, Syn. Conif. 221. 1847; Bracteocarpus A. V. Bobrov & Melikyan. Trees or shrubs evergreen, dioecious (very rarely monoecious); trunk straight; main branches spreading or drooping; branchlets drooping or ascending, dense. Leaves dimorphic: juvenile leaves 2-ranked and forming an oblong-ovate branchlet outline, linear, not scalelike; adult leaves needlelike or scalelike, falcate, bilaterally or bifacially flattened, or not flattened, 0.8–1.5 mm. Pollen cones lateral (rarely terminal), solitary or few together; microsporophylls numerous, imbricate; microsporangia 2, abaxial. Seed-bearing structures terminal and often borne on short, lateral branchlets, pedunculate, with appressed or spreading, bractlike leaves at base of peduncle; apical 1 or 2 bracts fertile; basal bracts fused to form a succulent, warty receptacle; ovule inverted. Epimatium wholly enveloping seed, united with fertile bract(s) and together bearing a short, free apex forming an asymmetrically projecting crest on immature seed-bearing structure. Seed large. Nine species: from China and Myanmar to Fiji Islands and New Zealand; one species in China. 1. Dacrycarpus imbricatus (Blume) de Laubenfels var. patulus de Laubenfels, J. Arnold Arbor. 50: 320. 1969. 鸡毛松 ji mao song Bracteocarpus kawaii (Hayata) A. V. Bobrov & Meli- kyan; Podocarpus kawaii Hayata. Trees to 40 m tall; trunk to 2 m d.b.h.; bark superficially dark brown or blackish, weathering gray, red-brown and granular fibrous within, flaking in thin strips; crown spreading; branchlets stiff, erect. Juvenile leaves borne at 60–75° to branchlet axis, 0.2– 0.7 mm apart (branchlets 3–4 × 1.2–1.6 cm in outline), sessile, green or ± glaucous, linear, falcate to “S”- shaped, 6–10(–17) × 0.9–1.2 mm, stomata arranged in 2 whitish rows on abaxial surface, base decurrent, margin entire, apex obliquely incurved-apiculate, apiculus 0.2–0.3 mm.
    [Show full text]
  • Beetles in a Suburban Environment: a New Zealand Case Study. The
    tl n brbn nvrnnt: lnd td tl n brbn nvrnnt: lnd td h Idntt nd tt f Clptr n th ntrl nd dfd hbtt f nfld Alnd (4-8 GKhl . : rh At SI lnt rttn Mnt Albrt rh Cntr rvt Alnd lnd • SI lnt rttn prt • EW EAA EAME O SCIEIIC A IUSIA ESEAC 199 O Ο Ν Ε W Ε Ν ttr Grnt rd Τ Ε Ρ Ο Ι Ο Τ ie wi e suo o a oey Sciece eseac Ga om e ew eaa oey Gas oa is suo is gaeuy ackowege Ρ EW EAA SI ' EAME O lnt SCIEIIC A rttn IUSIA Wāhn ESEAC Mn p Makig Sciece Wok o ew eaa KUSCE G eees i a suua eiome a ew eaa case suy e ieiy a saus o Coeoea i e aua a moiie aias o yie Aucka (197-199 / G Kusce — Aucka SI 199 (SI a oecio eo ISS 11-1 ; o3 IS -77-59- I ie II Seies UC 5957(93111 © Cow Coyig uise y SI a oecio M Ae eseac Cee iae ag Aucka ew eaa eceme 199 ie y Geea iig Seices eso ew eaa Etiam pristina in aua Asο i a aua seig summa securitas et futura sweet tranquility and nature ., OISIECE e oe-eeig emoyci eee ioycus uuus (ou o is aie ooca os kaikaea (acycaus acyioies om e yie eee suey aea Aucka ew eaa e wie gaues o e eee ae oe cuses a ass ees is eee as a eic saus o uike a o e uaaa (Seoo as ossi eiece sows a e weei gou was iig i uassic imes way ack i e ea o e iosaus a gymosems moe a 1 miio yeas ago OEWO As a small boy in the 1930s I used to collect butterflies on the South Downs in southern England.
    [Show full text]
  • Fossil Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Ancient Diversity and the Rise of Modern Lineages
    Myrmecological News 24 1-30 Vienna, March 2017 Fossil ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): ancient diversity and the rise of modern lineages Phillip BARDEN Abstract The ant fossil record is summarized with special reference to the earliest ants, first occurrences of modern lineages, and the utility of paleontological data in reconstructing evolutionary history. During the Cretaceous, from approximately 100 to 78 million years ago, only two species are definitively assignable to extant subfamilies – all putative crown group ants from this period are discussed. Among the earliest ants known are unexpectedly diverse and highly social stem- group lineages, however these stem ants do not persist into the Cenozoic. Following the Cretaceous-Paleogene boun- dary, all well preserved ants are assignable to crown Formicidae; the appearance of crown ants in the fossil record is summarized at the subfamilial and generic level. Generally, the taxonomic composition of Cenozoic ant fossil communi- ties mirrors Recent ecosystems with the "big four" subfamilies Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Myrmicinae, and Ponerinae comprising most faunal abundance. As reviewed by other authors, ants increase in abundance dramatically from the Eocene through the Miocene. Proximate drivers relating to the "rise of the ants" are discussed, as the majority of this increase is due to a handful of highly dominant species. In addition, instances of congruence and conflict with molecular- based divergence estimates are noted, and distinct "ghost" lineages are interpreted. The ant fossil record is a valuable resource comparable to other groups with extensive fossil species: There are approximately as many described fossil ant species as there are fossil dinosaurs. The incorporation of paleontological data into neontological inquiries can only seek to improve the accuracy and scale of generated hypotheses.
    [Show full text]
  • Republic of Fiji: the State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources
    REPUBLIC OF FIJI This country report is prepared as a contribution to the FAO publication, The Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources. The content and the structure are in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines given by FAO in the document Guidelines for Preparation of Country Reports for the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources (2010). These guidelines set out recommendations for the objective, scope and structure of the country reports. Countries were requested to consider the current state of knowledge of forest genetic diversity, including: Between and within species diversity List of priority species; their roles and values and importance List of threatened/endangered species Threats, opportunities and challenges for the conservation, use and development of forest genetic resources These reports were submitted to FAO as official government documents. The report is presented on www. fao.org/documents as supportive and contextual information to be used in conjunction with other documentation on world forest genetic resources. The content and the views expressed in this report are the responsibility of the entity submitting the report to FAO. FAO may not be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained in this report. STATE OF THE FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES IN FIJI Department of Forests Ministry of Fisheries and Forests for The Republic of Fiji Islands and the Secreatriat of Pacific Communities (SPC) State of the Forest Genetic Resources in Fiji _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents Executve Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 5 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 6 Chapter 1: The Current State of the Forest Genetic Resources in Fiji ………………………………………………………………….…….
    [Show full text]
  • Examples of Totara Sapwood Resisting Attack by the Common Household Wood Borer (Anobium Punctatum)
    EXAMPLES OF TOTARA SAPWOOD RESISTING ATTACK BY THE COMMON HOUSEHOLD WOOD BORER (ANOBIUM PUNCTATUM) A Report Prepared by Paul Quinlan for Tāne’s Tree Trust 31st January 2017 1 EXAMPLES OF TOTARA SAPWOOD RESISTING ATTACK BY THE COMMON HOUSEHOLD BORER (ANOBIUM PUNCTATUM) 31 January 2017 Paul Quinlan Paul Quinlan Landscape Architect Ltd. [email protected] PH.: (09) 4050052 A report prepared on behalf of the Northland Totara Working Group. Purpose of report. Presently, the NZ Standards NZS 3602 committee is undertaking a review of aspects of the New Zealand Building Code. To assist with that process, this report documents evidence that members of the Northland Totara Working Group can verify regarding examples where tōtara sapwood timber has shown resistance to the common household borer (Anobium punctatum). Disclaimer: In producing this report, reasonable care has been taken regarding the accuracy of the information presented. However, no guarantee as to the truth, accuracy or validity of any of the comments, implications, recommendations, findings or conclusions are made by the author, the Northland Totara Working Group, Tāne’s Tree Trust, or any other party. Therefore, neither the authors, nor any of the supporting organisations, shall not be liable for, or accept any responsibility for, any loss, damage or liability incurred as a result of direct or indirect result of any reliance by any person upon information or opinions or recommendations expressed in this work. Users of any of this information, whether contained or inferred, in or arising from this report do so at their own risk. 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]