DOCSLIB.ORG

Effectiveness of Five Fungal Isolates As Mycorrhizal Inoculants of Birch Seedlings

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Effectiveness of Five Fungal Isolates As Mycorrhizal Inoculants of Birch Seedlings ICEL. AGRIC. SCI. 25 (2012), 51-58 Effectiveness of five fungal isolates as mycorrhizal inoculants of birch seedlings ÚLfur óskarsson Agricultural University of Iceland, Reykir, IS-810 Hveragerði, Iceland ([email protected]) ABSTRACT Five fungal isolates were tested under nursery and field conditions as potential ectomycorrhizal inoculants for Downy birch (Betula pubescens) seedlings for a harsh site. Thirteen inoculum treatments, along with non-inoculated control seedlings, were randomly selected for the experiment. In the nursery, inocula- tion treatments were variably effective in enhancing mycorrhization and the inclusions of either Laccaria laccata, Paxillus involutus or Thelephora terrestris into inoculum treatments increased mycorrhization. Mycorrhization increased seedling height and reduced seedling root collar diameter relative to seedling height. In the field, mycorrhization and the inclusion of L. laccata into inoculation treatments in the nursery had positive effects on seedling survival while the isolate diversity and the inclusion of Cadophora finlandica into inoculation treatments in the nursery had negative effects. Furthermore, the isolate diversity and the inclusion of T. terrestris into inoculation treatments in the nursery had negative effects on shoot growth in the field. The results indicate that three of the isolates tested: Hebeloma velutipes, L. laccata and P. involutus, could potentially be used as mycorrhizal inoculants of birch seedlings for reclamation areas in Iceland, but further studies are needed. Keywords: Container seedlings, Betula pubescens, ectomycorrhiza, forest nursery, reclamation. YFIRLIT Áhrif af smitun fimm svepprótamyndandi sveppa á birkiplöntur Svepprótamyndun fimm sveppastofna og áhrif þeirra á vöxt og lífslíkur birkiplantna (Betula pubescens) var könnuð í gróðrarstöð og á erfiðu uppgræðslusvæði. Þrettán tilviljunarvaldar smitmeðferðir voru prófaðar ásamt ósmituðum samanburðarplöntum. Svepprótamyndun í gróðrarstöð var breytileg eftir smitmeðferðum. Þær meðferðir sem ollu marktækt aukinni svepprótamyndun innihéldu ýmist Laccaria laccata, Paxillus involutus eða Thelephora terrestris. Vöxtur plantna jókst við aukna svepprót í gróðrarstöð. Eftir gróðursetningu juku svepprótamagn og meðferðir með L. laccata lifun, en Cadophora finlandica og fjölbreytni sveppa í upphaf- legum smitmeðferðum höfðu neikvæð áhrif. Fjölbreytni sveppasmits og smitmeðferðir sem innihéldu T. terrestris drógu úr sprotavexti plantna eftir gróðursetningu. Niðurstöðurnar sýna að þrír af þeim sveppastofn- um sem prófaðir voru: Hebeloma velutipes, L. laccata og P. involutus gætu komið til greina til að smita plöntur sem ætlaðar eru í landgræðsluskógrækt, en þörf er á frekari rannsóknum. 52 ICELANDIC AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES INTRODUCTION nogaster tener Berk., Inocybe spp., Laccaria Mycorrhizal seedlings raised in forest nurser- spp., Lactarius spp., Leccinum spp., Paxillus ies generally have greater chances of becom- spp., Peziza spp., Ramaria spp., Russula spp., ing established in the field than those without Scleroderma spp., Thelephora terrestris Ehrh. mycorrhizae (Khasa et al. 2009). This is be- and Tricholoma spp. form mycorrhizae with cause the mutualistic association forms an birch, (Dighton & Mason 1985, Atkinson essential root interface with the surrounding 1992). Of these, Hebeloma spp., Inocybe spp., soil. Systematic mycorrhizal management Laccaria spp., Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. should, therefore, be a key part of forest seed- and T. terrestris are able to form mycorrhiza ling production. This is possible to achieve if on young birch seedlings under unsterile con- the chemical and biological conditions in the ditions (Flemming 1985, Fox 1986). These rooting substrate are set to promote fungal fungi are commonly found in forest nurseries growth and mycorrhizal development in forest and are often used for inoculating forest seed- nurseries (Quoreshi & Timmer 1998, Óskars- lings. In addition, Cadophora finlandica son 2010). Ideally, tree seedlings leaving the (C.J.K. Wang & H.E. Wilcox) T.C. Harr. & nursery should be equipped with a variety of McNew is among numerous less known ecto- mycorrhizal fungi which offer functional bene- mycorrhizal fungi that can be common in for- fits both in the nursery and the field (Perry et est nurseries (Menkis et al. 2005). al. 1987). In the present study, five fungal isolates, The selection of fungal isolates (different belonging to five fungal species that common- species or different strains within species) for ly form ectomycorrhizae with birch seedlings inoculation can influence growth and health of and were commercially available, were tested nursery seedlings and their subsequent field as potential mycorrhizal partners of birch dur- survival and growth (Stenström & Ek 1990, ing seedling production and after planting in Pera et al. 1999, Brundrett et al. 2005). Certain the field. The object of the study was to com- isolates are better suited than others for ham- pare the effectiveness of the fungi to increase pering root diseases or are better capable of mycorrhization in the nursery and to improve improving nutrient and water acquisition for seedling survival and growth after planting at a given tree species and conditions (Thomas et difficult reclamation site in Iceland. al. 1983, LeTacon & Bouchard 1986, Sousa et al. 2012). The fungal isolates chosen can also MATERIALS AND METHODS be very variable in their ability to form mycor- Four week old Downy birch seedlings (seed rhizae and to compete with each other under source Næfurholt, 64°00’ N, 19°53’W; eleva- the conditions in which the seedlings are grow- tion 132 m), a total of 210 plants, were trans- ing (Parlade et al. 1996, Jonsson et al. 2001). planted into 1.5 L pots, three seedlings per pot. This ability depends, at least partly, on the The potting substrate was local sedge peat fungal carbohydrate requirements. Plants can (source location: 64°00’N, 21°10’W) mixed control mycorrhizal colonization by control- with rhyolitic pumice (1 part pumice in 2 parts ling carbon allocation to short roots, depend- peat; pumice grain size 0.5-0.7 cm). The ac- ing on the efficiency of the symbionts (Hoek- idity of the substrate mixture was pH 5.2. sema & Kummel 2003). Thus, fungi with low Thirteen randomly chosen inoculation treat- carbohydrate requirements are often best suit- ments out of 21 possible arrangements of five ed for inoculation in forest nurseries. fungal isolates were tested in the experiment Theoretically, the choice of potential inocu- (Table 1). During transplanting into the pots, lants is large for each tree species, for ex- two millilitres of diluted ectomycorrhizal ino- ample, several fungi: Amanita spp., Boletus culum (1 part vegetative mycelium [Plant- spp., Cenococcum spp., Cantharellus spp., Works Ltd., Sittingbourne, UK] in 4 parts tap Cortinarius spp., Hebeloma spp., Hyme- water; v:v) were injected into the planting FIVE FUNGAL ISOLATES 53 Table 1. Relative amounts of each fungal isolate and the resulting diversity of fungal isolates in each inocula- tion treatment. Inoculation treatments Isolates 1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 C. finlandica 0.5 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 H. velutipes 1 0.5 0.33 0.33 0.25 L. laccata 1 0.5 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.25 P. involutus 1 0.5 0.5 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.25 T. terrestris 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.33 0.33 0.25 Isolate diversity 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 * Non-inoculated control seedlings holes, a method adapted from Boyle et al. g L-1 P and 0.40 g L-1 K. Every day the pots (1987). A few seedlings, not included in the were watered with the nutrient solution, study, were also inoculated with each of the through a drip watering system, until the field isolates separately for examination of ectomy- capacity of the potting mixtures was exceeded corrhizae. Non-inoculated seedlings served as and excess water seeped through the underside controls. The isolates tested included Hebe- drain holes of the pots. loma velutipes Bruchet (isolate PW Hv1; Each pot represented one treatment unit, rep- belonging to the H. crustuliniforme [Bull.] licated five times in blocks. After cessation of Quel.) complex, Laccaria laccata (Scop. ex shoot growth, the root systems of plants in Fr.) Berk. & Bromme (isolate PW Lal1), Pax- each pot were carefully separated and during illus involutus (isolate PW Pax1), Thelephora the process most of the potting substrate fell terrestris and Cadophora finlandica (syn. off the roots. Seedling height and root collar Phialophora finlandia C.J.K. Wang & H.E. diameter were measured. Random samples (ca. Wilcox; Mycelium radicis atrovirens Melin). 10% of root systems) were removed from each The H. velutipes and C. finlandica isolates plant and then pooled per pot to estimate the were isolated in Iceland from a sporocarp asso- amount of mycorrhizae. The number of myc- ciated with a 2 year old birch transplant and a orrhizal short roots was counted and expressed mycorrhizal short root in natural birch wood- as a ratio of total number of short roots in each land, respectively. Information on the origins sample (Brundrett et al. 1996). of the other isolates was not available. In October 2005, all bare root seedlings were Inoculation treatments were arranged ran- planted in a reclamation area (Óskarsson 2012) domly in a heated greenhouse and grown for near Hekla volcano in south Iceland (64°05’ 75 days (14°C night and ≥16°C day) from N, 19°41’ W; elevation 260 m). The site was a June to September 2005. Fertilizers were fed pumice field that had been seeded with Ber- through the watering system. For the first 20 ing’s tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia beringen- days, seedlings were fed with a dilute (0.2 sis Hultén) a few years earlier to stabilize the g L-1) Superex (Nursery Stock Superex [19-10- soil surface. The experiment in the field had 24], Kekkila Oyj, Finland) solution along with the same layout as in the greenhouse. At 0.08 g L-1 monopotassiumphosphate (0-52-34; planting, each seedling received 0.17 g of Haifa Chemical Ltd, Israel).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Fertility-Dependent Effects of Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Communities on White Spruce Seedling Nutrition
    Mycorrhiza (2015) 25:649–662 DOI 10.1007/s00572-015-0640-9 ORIGINAL PAPER Fertility-dependent effects of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities on white spruce seedling nutrition Alistair J. H. Smith II1 & Lynette R. Potvin2 & Erik A. Lilleskov2 Received: 14 January 2015 /Accepted: 6 April 2015 /Published online: 24 April 2015 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (outside the USA) 2015 Abstract Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EcMF) typically colonize manganese, and Atheliaceae sp. had a negative relationship with nursery seedlings, but nutritional and growth effects of these P content. Findings shed light on the community and species communities are only partly understood. To examine these ef- effects on seedling condition, revealing clear functional differ- fects, Picea glauca seedlings collected from a tree nursery natu- ences among dominants. The approach used should be scalable rally colonized by three dominant EcMF were divided between to explore function in more complex communities composed of fertilized and unfertilized treatments. After one growing season unculturable EcMF. seedlings were harvested, ectomycorrhizas identified using DNA sequencing, and seedlings analyzed for leaf nutrient concentra- Keywords Stoichiometry . Ectomycorrhizal fungal tion and content, and biomass parameters. EcMF community community effects . Nitrogen . Phosphorus . Micronutrients . structure–nutrient interactions were tested using nonmetric mul- Amphinema . Atheliaceae . Thelephora terrestris . tidimensional scaling (NMDS) combined with vector analysis of Greenhouse foliar nutrients and biomass. We identified three dominant spe- cies: Amphinema sp., Atheliaceae sp., and Thelephora terrestris. NMDS+envfit revealed significant community effects on seed- Introduction ling nutrition that differed with fertilization treatment. PERM ANOVA and regression analyses uncovered significant species Seedlings regenerating naturally or artificially are influenced by effects on host nutrient concentration, content, and stoichiometry.
    [Show full text]
  • Mycorrhization Helper Bacteria Associated with the Douglas Fir-Laccaria Laccata Symbiosis: Effects in Aseptic and in Glasshouse Conditions R Duponnois, J Garbaye
    Mycorrhization helper bacteria associated with the Douglas fir-Laccaria laccata symbiosis: effects in aseptic and in glasshouse conditions R Duponnois, J Garbaye To cite this version: R Duponnois, J Garbaye. Mycorrhization helper bacteria associated with the Douglas fir-Laccaria laccata symbiosis: effects in aseptic and in glasshouse conditions. Annales des sciences forestières, INRA/EDP Sciences, 1991, 48 (3), pp.239-251. hal-00882751 HAL Id: hal-00882751 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00882751 Submitted on 1 Jan 1991 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Original article Mycorrhization helper bacteria associated with the Douglas fir-Laccaria laccata symbiosis: effects in aseptic and in glasshouse conditions R Duponnois J Garbaye 1 BIOSEM, Laboratoire de Technologie des Semences, Avenue du Bois de l’Abbé, F-49070 Beaucouzé; 2INRA, Centre de Recherches Forestières de Nancy, Champenoux, F-54280 Seichamps, France (Received 8 October 1990; accepted 19 December 1990) Summary — A range of bacterial isolates from Laccaria laccata mycorrhizas and sporocarps were tested for their effect on ectomycorrhizal development of Douglas fir with L laccata. The experiments were carried out in aseptic conditions and in the glasshouse under summer and winter conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • An Ectomycorrhizal Thelephoroid Fungus of Malaysian Dipterocarp Seedlings
    Journal of Tropical Forest Science 22(4): 355–363 (2010) Lee SS et al. AN ECTOMYCORRHIZAL THELEPHOROID FUNGUS OF MALAYSIAN DIPTEROCARP SEEDLINGS Lee SS*, Thi BK & Patahayah M Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52109 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia Received April 2010 LEE SS, THI BK & PATAHAYAH M. 2010. An ectomycorrhizal thelephoroid fungus of Malaysian dipterocarp seedlings. The ectomycorrhizal Dipterocarpaceae are among the most well-known trees in the tropics and this is the most important family of timber trees in Malaysia and South-East Asia. Recent studies and molecular data reveal that members of the Thelephoraceae are common ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with the Dipterocarpaceae. The suspected thelephoroid fungus FP160 was isolated from ectomycorrhizal roots of a Shorea parvifolia (Dipterocarpaceae) seedling and kept in the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) culture collection. In subsequent inoculation experiments it was able to form morphologically similar ectomycorrhizas with seedlings of two other dipterocarps, namely, Hopea odorata and S. leprosula, and the exotic fast-growing legume, Acacia mangium. A taxonomic identity of this fungus would benefit its possible use in inoculation and planting programmes. This information is also important to expand our limited knowledge of Malaysian mycodiversity. In this paper the morphological characteristics of the ectomycorrhizas formed by FP160 with H. odorata and A. mangium are described and the fungus identified using molecular methods as a member of the family Thelephoraceae, most likely a Tomentella sp. It was not possible to identify the fungus more precisely due to the limited number of sequences available for tropical Thelephoraceae in the public databases. Keywords: Acacia mangium, Dipterocarpaceae, ectomycorrhizas, ITS, Thelephoraceae LEE SS, THI BK & PATAHAYAH M.
    [Show full text]
  • Low Soil Temperature and Efficacy of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi
    LOW SOIL TEMPERATURE AND EFFICACY OF ECTOMYCORRHIZAL FUNGI by LYNN HUSTED B.Sc, University of British Columbia, 1969 M.Sc., University of British Columbia, 1982 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOREST SCIENCE DEPARTMENT We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA September 1991 (c) Lynn Husted, 1991 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada Date DE-6 (2/88) ABSTRACT The influence of root-zone temperature on the efficacy of various ectomycorrhizal fungi, i.e., their ability: (1) to colonize roots in a nursery environment, (2) to persist and colonize new roots in the field and (3) to improve the growth, nutrition, and physiology of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings, was examined in controlled environment experiments using water baths to regulate root-zone temperature. Eight-week-old non-mycorrhizal seedlings were inoculated with 13 different inocula (1 forest floor inoculum, 12 specific fungi), then transplanted into 6, 16, or 26°C peat:vermiculite mixes for 8 weeks.
    [Show full text]
  • Ectomycorrhizal Fungal Community Structure in a Young Orchard of Grafted and Ungrafted Hybrid Chestnut Saplings
    Mycorrhiza (2021) 31:189–201 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00572-020-01015-0 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Ectomycorrhizal fungal community structure in a young orchard of grafted and ungrafted hybrid chestnut saplings Serena Santolamazza‑Carbone1,2 · Laura Iglesias‑Bernabé1 · Esteban Sinde‑Stompel3 · Pedro Pablo Gallego1,2 Received: 29 August 2020 / Accepted: 17 December 2020 / Published online: 27 January 2021 © The Author(s) 2021 Abstract Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal community of the European chestnut has been poorly investigated, and mostly by sporocarp sampling. We proposed the study of the ECM fungal community of 2-year-old chestnut hybrids Castanea × coudercii (Castanea sativa × Castanea crenata) using molecular approaches. By using the chestnut hybrid clones 111 and 125, we assessed the impact of grafting on ECM colonization rate, species diversity, and fungal community composition. The clone type did not have an impact on the studied variables; however, grafting signifcantly infuenced ECM colonization rate in clone 111. Species diversity and richness did not vary between the experimental groups. Grafted and ungrafted plants of clone 111 had a diferent ECM fungal species composition. Sequence data from ITS regions of rDNA revealed the presence of 9 orders, 15 families, 19 genera, and 27 species of ECM fungi, most of them generalist, early-stage species. Thirteen new taxa were described in association with chestnuts. The basidiomycetes Agaricales (13 taxa) and Boletales (11 taxa) represented 36% and 31%, of the total sampled ECM fungal taxa, respectively. Scleroderma citrinum, S. areolatum, and S. polyrhizum (Boletales) were found in 86% of the trees and represented 39% of total ECM root tips. The ascomycete Cenococcum geophilum (Mytilinidiales) was found in 80% of the trees but accounted only for 6% of the colonized root tips.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Survey of Ex Situ Betulaceae Collections Global Survey of Ex Situ Betulaceae Collections
    Global Survey of Ex situ Betulaceae Collections Global Survey of Ex situ Betulaceae Collections By Emily Beech, Kirsty Shaw and Meirion Jones June 2015 Recommended citation: Beech, E., Shaw, K., & Jones, M. 2015. Global Survey of Ex situ Betulaceae Collections. BGCI. Acknowledgements BGCI gratefully acknowledges the many botanic gardens around the world that have contributed data to this survey (a full list of contributing gardens is provided in Annex 2). BGCI would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the following organisations in the promotion of the survey and the collection of data, including the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Yorkshire Arboretum, University of Liverpool Ness Botanic Gardens, and Stone Lane Gardens & Arboretum (U.K.), and the Morton Arboretum (U.S.A). We would also like to thank contributors to The Red List of Betulaceae, which was a precursor to this ex situ survey. BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (BGCI) BGCI is a membership organization linking botanic gardens is over 100 countries in a shared commitment to biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and environmental education. BGCI aims to mobilize botanic gardens and work with partners to secure plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet. BGCI provides the Secretariat for the IUCN/SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. www.bgci.org FAUNA & FLORA INTERNATIONAL (FFI) FFI, founded in 1903 and the world’s oldest international conservation organization, acts to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human needs. www.fauna-flora.org GLOBAL TREES CAMPAIGN (GTC) GTC is undertaken through a partnership between BGCI and FFI, working with a wide range of other organisations around the world, to save the world’s most threated trees and the habitats which they grow through the provision of information, delivery of conservation action and support for sustainable use.
    [Show full text]
  • Niche Analysis and Conservation of Bird Species Using Urban Core Areas
    sustainability Article Niche Analysis and Conservation of Bird Species Using Urban Core Areas Vasilios Liordos 1,* , Jukka Jokimäki 2 , Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki 2, Evangelos Valsamidis 1 and Vasileios J. Kontsiotis 1 1 Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, Greece; [email protected] (E.V.); [email protected] (V.J.K.) 2 Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, 96101 Rovaniemi, Finland; jukka.jokimaki@ulapland.fi (J.J.); marja-liisa.kaisanlahti@ulapland.fi (M.-L.K.-J.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Knowing the ecological requirements of bird species is essential for their successful con- servation. We studied the niche characteristics of birds in managed small-sized green spaces in the urban core areas of southern (Kavala, Greece) and northern Europe (Rovaniemi, Finland), during the breeding season, based on a set of 16 environmental variables and using Outlying Mean Index, a multivariate ordination technique. Overall, 26 bird species in Kavala and 15 in Rovaniemi were recorded in more than 5% of the green spaces and were used in detailed analyses. In both areas, bird species occupied different niches of varying marginality and breadth, indicating varying responses to urban environmental conditions. Birds showed high specialization in niche position, with 12 species in Kavala (46.2%) and six species in Rovaniemi (40.0%) having marginal niches. Niche breadth was narrower in Rovaniemi than in Kavala. Species in both communities were more strongly associated either with large green spaces located further away from the city center and having a high vegetation cover (urban adapters; e.g., Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), European Greenfinch (Chloris Citation: Liordos, V.; Jokimäki, J.; chloris Cyanistes caeruleus Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki, M.-L.; ), Eurasian Blue Tit ( )) or with green spaces located closer to the city center Valsamidis, E.; Kontsiotis, V.J.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change and Primary Birch Forest (Betula Pubescens Ssp
    International Journal of Research in Geography (IJRG) Volume 2, Issue 2, 2016, PP 36-47 ISSN 2454-8685 (Online) http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-8685.0202004 www.arcjournals.org Climate Change and Primary Birch Forest (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) Succession in the Treeline Ecotone of the Swedish Scandes Leif Kullman Department of Ecology and Environmental Science Umeå University, SE 901 87 Umeå, Sweden [email protected] Abstract: In a context of recent climate change, the conversion of treeless alpine tundra to mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) forest was studied by repeat photography, demographic and growth surveillance in permanent plots. In addition, flora change was recorded within the emerging birch forest stand. The study was initiated in 1980, when a large snow bank covered the site well into mid-July. Climate warming and associated enhanced snow melt since the early 20th century had made the snow disappear earlier during most summers. In response, a fairly dense population of seed-regenerated low-growing birch saplings gradually emerged. During subsequent decades, this population grew substantially in numbers. The population stagnated in average height until the early 1980s, when height growth and recruitment accelerated. Thereafter, a dense stand of tree-sized birches emerged. Concurrently, the character of the ground cover transformed from alpine to forest, as the presence of a tree layer governs the composition of the lower vegetation strata. Possibly, the course of elevational subalpine forest expansion in a hypothetical case of further climate warming is suggested by the present study. The establishment of this forest stand bears some resemblance to the first Holocene mountain birch forests.
    [Show full text]
  • The Value of Birch in Upland Forests for Wildlife Conservation Gordon Patterson
    Forestry Commission M iH Bulletin 109 The Value of Birch in Upland Forests for Wildlife Conservation Gordon Patterson Forestry Commission ARCHIVE FORESTRY COMMISSION BULLETIN 109 The Value of Birch in Upland Forests for Wildlife Conservation Gordon S. Patterson Forest Ecologist, Wildlife and Conservation Research Branch Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY LONDON: HMSO © Crown copyright 1993 Applications for reproduction should be made to HMSO ISBN 0 11 710316 0 FDC 907 : 176.1 : 151 : (410) KEYWORDS: Birch, Forests, Wildlife conservation, Uplands Enquiries relating to this publication should be addressed to: The Technical Publications Officer, The Forestry Authority, Forest Research Station, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Famham, Surrey, GU10 4LH. Front cover: Semi-natural woodland dominated by downy birch (Betula pubescens, ssp. pubescens) alongside the River Add in Kilmichael Forest, Argyll. Contents Page Summary iv Resume V Zusammenfassung vi 1. Introduction 1 2. Birch woodland 3 3. Effects of birch on soils 8 Birch-conifer mixtures 9 4. Wildlife associated with birch 11 Ground flora 11 Epiphytes 14 Fungi 15 Invertebrate animals 15 Birds 18 M ammals 21 Summary of birch: wildlife associations 22 5. Encouraging birch in upland forests 24 Linking new birch to existing semi-natural woodland 25 Birch in rides, roadsides, streamsides and glades 25 Birch within plantations 26 Methods of increasing birch cover 27 Effects of deer 28 Conclusions 29 Acknowledgements 30 References 30 The Value of Birch in Upland Forests for Wildlife Conservation Summary Broadleaved trees and shrubs are frequently scarce in upland forests in Britain, and national policy is to increase the proportion of broadleaves because of their value as wildlife habitat.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Downy Birch (Betula Pubescens Ehrh.) Coppice Stands During Nine Years
    Article Development of Downy Birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) Coppice Stands during Nine Years Jyrki Hytönen Natural Resources Institute Finland, Natural Resources, Teknologiakatu 7, FI-67100 Kokkola, Finland; Jyrki.hytonen@luke.fi; Tel.: +35-82-9532-3405 Received: 6 August 2020; Accepted: 31 August 2020; Published: 1 September 2020 Abstract: Growing of dense, naturally regenerated downy birch stands using rotations of 24–26 years has been shown to be profitable. Coppicing would be a low-cost regeneration method, however, knowledge on the development of birch coppices is scarce. The height, stem number, and biomass development of sprouts originating from six clearcut stands in three age classes (A: 10–12 years, B: 15–16 years, C: 22–24 years) located in northern Finland was studied. Equations for estimating the aboveground biomass from height were developed for sprouts. The number of sprouts, and their height and biomass were measured annually during nine growing seasons. In addition, sprout damage was assessed. The number of sprouts per hectare was highest in the youngest age class (A) throughout the study period, even though the decrease in the number of stems due to self-thinning was also fastest (from 591,000 sprouts per ha to 105,000 sprouts per ha). The stand age class did not have an effect on either the mean (2.7 m) or dominant height (5.4 m) of birch sprouts. The total leafless above-ground biomass, the mean annual increment (MAI), and the current annual increment (CAI) were highest in the youngest stand age class (A) and lowest in the oldest age class (C).
    [Show full text]
  • Effect of Latitude and Mountain Height on the Timberline (Betula Pubescens Ssp
    Effect of latitude and mountain height on the timberline (Betula pubescens ssp. czerpanovii) elevation along the central Scandinavian mountain range ARVID ODLAND Odland, Arvid (2015). Effect of latitude and mountain height on the timberline (Betula pubescens ssp. czerpanovii) elevation along the central Scandinavian mountain range. Fennia 193: 2, 260–270. ISSN 1798-5617. Previously published isoline maps of Fennoscandian timberlines show that their highest elevations lie in the high mountain areas in central south Norway and from there the limits decrease in all directions. These maps are assumed to show differences in “climatic forest limits”, but the isoline patterns indicate that fac- tors other than climate may be decisive in most of the areas. Possibly the effects of ‘massenerhebung’ and the “summit syndrome” may locally have major effects on the timberline elevation. The main aim of the present study is to quantify the effect of latitude and mountain height on the regional variation of mountain birch timberline elevation. The study is a statistical analysis of previous pub- lished data on the timberline elevation and nearby mountain height. Selection of the study sites has been stratified to the Scandinavian mountain range (the Scandes) from 58 to 71o N where the timberlines reach their highest elevations. The data indicates that only the high mountain massifs in S Norway and N Swe- den are sufficiently high to allow birch forests to reach their potential elevations. Stepwise regression shows that latitude explains 70.9% while both latitude and mountain explain together 89.0% of the timberline variation. Where the moun- tains are low (approximately 1000 m higher than the measured local timber- lines) effects of the summit syndrome will lower the timberline elevation sub- stantially and climatically determined timberlines will probably not have been reached.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Health Care Recommendations for White-Barked Birch
    Plant Health Care Recommendations for White-barked Birch The beautiful white, peeling bark makes white barked birch a popular specimen plant in the landscape. Included in this group of “white-barked birches” are: European White Birch (Betula pendula) - The most commonly used birch native to the mountains of Europe and northern Asia. No longer recommended by most experts, European white birch is a short-lived tree easily stressed by heat and drought. This species is susceptible to many pests, particularly the bronze birch borer and the birch leafminer. Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) - A beautiful birch, native to northern North America, paper birch usually grows in mountainous regions following forest fires. Although paper birch occasionally becomes a relatively large tree, reaching heights of 100 feet, it is considered a short-lived species. Trees mature in 60-70 years, and few live longer than 140 years, even on ideal sites. Paper birch has reddish-brown bark when young, but this becomes creamy white by the fourth year. There is evidence that paper birch is a better landscape species than European white birch. Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla) - Several varieties are available for landscaping, with ‘Whitespire’ the most commonly recommended. Some studies have indicated that ‘Whitespire’ is more adaptable to landscape conditions than other white birches. ‘Whitespire’ appears to have some resistance to borers and leafminers. ‘Whitespire’ bark is not white when the trees are young. Some trees may be 5 - 8 years old before the bark begins to whiten. Many other birches are used in landscaping. Gray birch, Himalayan birch, Chinese paper birch and Monarch birch are all occasionally used.
    [Show full text]