Spruce Branches Research Articles

Growth and acclimation dynamics in reintroduced Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M.Jørg., a critically endangered cyanolichen in boreal rainforest

This study focuses on the critically endangered Erioderma pedicellatum, a sexually reproducing cyanolichen. The species’ decline is primarily attributed to habitat loss and extinction debts. The aim is to understand the possibilities of reintroduction via transplantation on Picea abies (L.) H.Karst. and gain insights into the species' growth response to environmental gradients in its boreal rainforest habitat. The source population of E. pedicellatum found on open, sun-exposed spruce branches within a waterfall spray zone, underwent a significant environmental shift when transplanted to the rainforest. The shift induced shade acclimation, which was marked by an increased maximal photosystem II efficiency (FV/FM), reduced thallus thickness and reduced apparent electron transport rate (ETRapp). However, stochastic fragmentation impacted 57 % of thalli, causing significant losses, particularly in sections with numerous apothecia, suggesting a trade-off between growth and reproduction. Unfragmented thalli with positive relative growth rate (RGR) exhibited increased growth correlated with base cation availability (high soil and bark pH) and light availability. Thalli that were already shade-adapted at the start (low ETRapp at high light) displayed the fastest growth in the rainforest. The best subset regression model of unfragmented thalli accounted for 72.8 % of the variation in RGR. The reintroduction of E. pedicellatum into the boreal rainforest is possible, but challenging, given that well-lit spruce branches with high base cation availability in humid canopy layers are rare.

Rotational 3D printing spruce-inspired helical structural material with tunable mechanical properties

Spruce branches have a continuous gradient in the microfibril angle of helically entwined cellulose fibrils in their internal cell walls, which confers the modulation of the site-specific mechanical properties. This paper draws inspiration from the microstructure within spruce branches and successfully fabricates a biomimetic structural material assembled from stiff and soft resins in a double-helix distribution using rotational co-extrusion 3D printing. The tunability of the mechanical properties of the helical structural material can be achieved by regulating the helical degree and ratio of two resins in the extrusion filament in real-time. Additionally, a strategy for controlling failure is proposed through dynamic programming of the local structure within the printed sample. Furthermore, compared with the homogeneous beam, the prepared spruce-like beam can effectively mitigate stress concentration during the loading process, achieving greater deformation capacity. This helical structural material is expected to meet customized mechanical performance requirements and enrich the bionic structural material system.

Characterisation of hygroelastic properties of compression and opposite wood found in branches of Norway spruce

The differential swelling seen between softwood opposite wood (OW) and its neighbouring compression wood (CW) developed in branches prompts several engineering issues such as dimensional instability and cracking. For a more efficient use of resources, the inevitable CW and OW should not be discarded or used as fuel, but incorporated into engineered wood products. Swelling is a hygroelastic phenomenon, where both the swelling and elastic properties of CW and OW are needed in order to make proper structural predictions. In this paper, swelling coefficients and moisture dependent elastic moduli for both CW and OW in the three principal material directions are provided along with measurements of moisture content, density, and microfibril angle. The small deformations necessitate the use of precise X-ray micro-computed tomography for measurements. The results indicate that CW and OW from Norway spruce branches differ in swelling, especially in longitudinal direction at low moisture content. It is noted that CW is a wood type with less pronounced anisotropic behaviour than both OW and normal wood from the stem, with the elastic moduli less sensitive to moisture changes in both longitudinal and transverse directions.

Cutting with Circular Saw of Traversal-Structured Panels Obtained from Spruce (Picea abies L.) Branches

Finding new wood resources is a permanent challenge nowadays, especially due to the fact that there is a crisis of these resources through the continuous degradation of forest areas that can be exploited. In this general context, the use of spruce (Picea abies L.) branches to create panels with a transverse texture becomes the main purpose of this research. Going beyond the current stage of research in the field, this research highlights the particularities of cutting panels with a transverse texture made from spruce branches, especially due to the cutting direction compared to the wood grain. In addition to the activities of collecting and sorting the branches, processing and joining, in order to obtain dimensionally stable panels, the workability of these panels with a transverse texture represents a new challenge in this field. The work methodology was based on the effective measurement of the cutting and advance power during cutting with a circular blade. The obtained results referred to the comparison of 10 working regimes from the point of view of the electrical power consumed, according to the two main parameters taken into account, which are the rotational speed of the circular blade and the advance speed. The final conclusion of the work highlighted the fact that the processing of panels with a transverse structure requires specific work regimes, namely an optimal regime of electric consumption of 2.2 kW, at a cutting speed of 79.2 m/s and an advance speed of 3.7 m/min.

Microscopic computed tomography aided finite element modelling as a methodology to estimate hygroexpansion coefficients of wood: a case study on opposite and compression wood in softwood branches

Abstract Microscopic X-ray computed tomography (XµCT) aided finite element (FE) modelling is a popular method in material science to relate material properties to heterogeneous microstructures. Recently, a methodology was developed for the XµCT aided FE modelling of wood, which characterises the process from specimen preparation to estimation of material properties. In the current research, this methodology is tested on branches of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to estimate the hygroexpansion coefficients of opposite (OW) and compression wood (CW). These properties are largely unknown and have engineering implications. The study is complemented by measurements of density, moisture content (MC) and elastic moduli. Results showed that the methodology assisted in the design of an integrated process and the identification of bottlenecks. It was seen that the level of detail of the numerical model had a strong influence on the obtained hygroexpansion properties. CW from branches showed higher density and longitudinal shrinkage coefficients, and elastic moduli less affected by MC. These differences are unlikely caused by MC, but more likely by the characteristics of the microstructure.

A double-pointed wooden throwing stick from Schöningen, Germany: Results and new insights from a multianalytical study.

The site of Schöningen (Germany), dated to ca. 300,000 years ago, yielded the earliest large-scale record of humanly-made wooden tools. These include wooden spears and shorter double-pointed sticks, discovered in association with herbivores that were hunted and butchered along a lakeshore. Wooden tools have not been systematically analysed to the same standard as other Palaeolithic technologies, such as lithic or bone tools. Our multianalytical study includes micro-CT scanning, 3-dimensional microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, supporting a systematic technological and taphonomic analysis, thus setting a new standard for wooden tool analysis. In illustrating the biography of one of Schöningen's double-pointed sticks, we demonstrate new human behaviours for this time period, including sophisticated woodworking techniques. The hominins selected a spruce branch which they then debarked and shaped into an aerodynamic and ergonomic tool. They likely seasoned the wood to avoid cracking and warping. After a long period of use, it was probably lost while hunting, and was then rapidly buried in mud. Taphonomic alterations include damage from trampling, fungal attack, root damage and compression. Through our detailed analysis we show that Middle Pleistocene humans had a rich awareness of raw material properties, and possessed sophisticated woodworking skills. Alongside new detailed morphometrics of the object, an ethnographic review supports a primary function as a throwing stick for hunting, indicating potential hunting strategies and social contexts including for communal hunts involving children. The Schöningen throwing sticks may have been used to strategically disadvantage larger ungulates, potentially from distances of up to 30 metres. They also demonstrate that the hominins were technologically capable of capturing smaller fast prey and avian fauna, a behaviour evidenced at contemporaneous Middle Pleistocene archaeological sites.

Manufacturing and Testing the Panels with a Transverse Texture Obtained from Branches of Norway Spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.)

As a result of the imbalances in the forestry market and the increased demand for wood products worldwide, the resource of branches resulting from the exploitation of a forest has attracted special attention from researchers, in order to use these secondary resources judiciously and obtain an added value superior to classic uses. In this context, the current research took into consideration the use of spruce branches to obtain panels with a transverse structure. The work methodology has focused on the process of obtaining panels with a transverse texture and on determining the physical–mechanical properties of the created panels. The results regarding the panel density (determined as a ratio between mass and volume of specimens) showed about 693 kg/m3, static bending resistance parallel to the face of 5.5 N/mm2, resistance of adhesion of 5.6 N/mm2, shear strength parallel to face of 4.1 N/mm2, and screw pull-out resistance perpendicular to the face of 31.3 N/mm2, highlighting that the properties were in accordance with the European standards and that the panels obtained were suitable for obtaining furniture products with a special aesthetic aspect. As a general conclusion of the research, it can be stated that spruce branches are a sustainable wood resource with great possibilities to add more value in the form of panels with a traverse texture.

The effect of dissolved char on microbial activity in an extract from the forest floor

Abstract Climate change is associated with an increased risk in the occurrence of wildfires. Forests store large amounts of carbon (C), which are threatened by these wildfires. Pyrogenic material produced after a wildfire constitutes an important part of the soil organic carbon pool in forest soils. Microorganisms play an important role in the cycling of C. This study investigated microbial activity in dissolved char from burned wood from two tree species in different stages of decay. The char from branches of beech and Norway spruce was produced under laboratory fire conditions and extracted in water after which microbial activity was measured for a 4-week period. Further stages of decay resulted in increased flammability with higher peak temperatures and combustion completeness. For the beech samples, further decay also resulted in a decrease of extractable C but a higher proportion of stable C. Further decay resulted in less respiration for beech and more for Norway spruce. With less C being respired, this points towards an increased C sequestration potential in the form of microbial C and microbial derived products for beech compared to Norway spruce. This study provided a workflow to assess the effects of dissolved char on microbial activity by mimicking natural fire conditions. It also indicated the need for future research to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms explaining why fire-originated dissolved char of wood in different decay stages influences microbial respiration with diverging effects per species.

Treatment of patients with rare bronchial foreign body - spruce branch

Spruce branch is a rare radiolucent bronchial foreign body. Despite modern imaging tests and endoscopic examination, this foreign body is often detected only intraoperatively. This study enrolled 4 patients with spruce branch aspiration. In the 4th case, spruce branch was removed during rigid bronchoscopy that was associated with «lodging» type of foreign body. In two cases, spruce branch migrated to peripheral bronchial segments («extrusive» type) that required surgical treatment (thoracoscopy with resection of the right basal pyramid segments and wedge resection of the right lower lobe). The 3rd case was the most interesting. Initially, the foreign body was «underlying», but it migrated after partial endoscopic removal that finally required right-sided lower lobectomy. This report describes the peculiarities of clinical course and management of patients with a rare type of radiolucent bronchial foreign body - spruce branch.

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ МЕТОДА СЕТОЧНОГО КАРТОГРАФИРОВАНИЯ ДЛЯ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ ЛИШАЙНИКОВ РОДА УСНЕЯ НА ПРИМЕРЕ ПОДМОСКОВЬЯ

The literature review and analysis of a herbarium of fruticose epiphytic lichens Usnea (genus: Usnea Dill. Ex Adans.) from 450 points located in the Moscow region (Moscow Oblast – MO) showed the presence of five species in the territory. These species can be found on branches of spruce and pine, less often – birch, some finds are noted on black and gray alder, rowan, and willow. The emergence and development of Usnea in MO is possible strictly in the presence of certain conditions. Firstly, certain microclimatic parameters are required such as sufficiently high humidity of the surface air layer and minimal indicators of tropospheric pollution (absence of harmful compounds and of a high content of dust particles). Secondly, certain groups of plant communities, old-growth forests, and suitable phorophyte must be present. Schemes provided in the article demonstrate the locations of maximum diversity and individual finds of Usnea species per 100 km2 on the study area. The richest diversity of Usnea species is found in the Lotoshino and Taldom districts and at the intersection of the Volokolamsk, Ruza, and Istra districts, where there are no large polluting industrial objects and, according to ecomonitoring data, the air quality is the highest (with the lowest levels of harmful substances and dust particles). Usnea hirta and U. dasopoga are most widespread species of the genus Usnea in MO. Usnea lapponica and U. glabrescens are the rarest species, U. subfloridana is relatively rare. The reliability of the habitat of U. florida, U. glabrata in MO has not been confirmed yet. Usnea species are mainly present in the western and north-western portions of MO. These lichens are rarely found in the south-eastern portion of MO and on sites near big cities. Ecologically Usnea lichens gravitate toward wet and waterlogged old-growth coniferous forests, glades, and small foliar trees along river valleys, as well as edge parts of forested marshes and raised bogs. In these landscapes, the thallus of Usnea reaches the maximum size. Usnea species occur frequently and cover abundantly tree branches and trunks with multi-species sets of 2–4 epiphyte lichens (including species from other taxa). Thus, the ecological situation in the western and north-western portions of Moscow Oblast can be concluded to be favorable.

Time and Eternity in Ivan Shmelev’s “Spruce Branches”: Axiological Perspective

Time and Eternity in Ivan Shmelev’s “Spruce Branches”: Axiological Perspective

Development of a qPCR-based method for counting overwintering spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) larvae collected during fall surveys and for assessing their natural enemy load: a proof-of-concept study.

BACKGROUNDIn eastern Canada, surveys of overwintering 2nd instar spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) larvae (‘L2s’) are carried out each fall to guide insecticide application decisions in the following spring. These surveys involve the collection of fir and spruce branches in selected stands, followed by the mechanical/chemical removal of larvae. The latter then are counted manually on filter papers, using a stereomicroscope. Considering the significant effort and difficulties which this manual counting entails, we developed a quantitative (q)PCR‐based ‘molecular counting’ approach designed to make this step less tedious.RESULTSUsing the C. fumiferana mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) gene as a target for qPCR DNA quantification, we show that the amount of DNA in a larval extract is strongly correlated with the number of larvae used to generate that extract, and that molecular estimates of L2 counts are comparable to those generated using the manual approach. In addition, we used the same DNA extracts to monitor the microsporidian pathogen Nosema fumiferanae, and the hymenopteran parasitoids Glypta fumiferanae and Apanteles fumiferanae in overwintering L2s employing a subset of a TaqMan assay developed by Nisole et al. (2020) for the identification of budworm natural enemies. We show that the proportion of individuals affected by each natural enemy in samples containing a known number of larvae can be estimated from presence/absence data through the binomial probability distribution.CONCLUSIONThe present proof‐of‐principle study shows that a molecular approach for counting L2s and assessing their natural enemy load is clearly possible and is expected to generate reliable results. © 2021 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada.

Interrelations of size and weight parameters of Norway Spruce tree branches

Studying the crown structure is an important element of both ecological and silvicultural research. Intensivereforestationinvolvesregular thinning and multiple pruning to produce high-quality knot-free timber. At the same time, the work productivity is associated with the quantitative parameters of the crown: the number of living and dry branches in a whorl, size and weight of the branches, etc. The size and weight parameters of Norway spruce (Picea abies) branches were studied in artificial stands of trees. Itwasfoundthat the intensity of branch growth, as well as the process of clearing the trunk from branches, largely depends on the biosocial position of trees.

The Magnificent Spruce

After its success in the Thirty Years’ War, Sweden harbored ambitions to establish an empire. To sustain its efforts, statesmen realized the need to generate more domestic wealth. The ensuing debates gave rise to an improvement discourse, centered on the harnessing of Sweden’s abundant natural resources. While most improvement writers were patronized by the state and offered state-centered analyses, the protagonist of this essay, Anders Kempe (1622–1689), was a staunch critic of Sweden’s warmongering state. In his mind, the state had become an obstacle to true human flourishing, which recent scientific development had put within humanity’s grasp. Free from wars, predatory taxation, and miseducation, the Swedish people would be in a position to create a society of abundance and righteousness. Kempe’s main recipe for progress was to use recent advancements in natural philosophy to transform nature into useable wealth. In his most famous publication, The Anatomized Spruce (1675), Kempe elaborated on the economic and medicinal benefits that a proper understanding of the spruce tree, its bark, branches, sap, roots, and needles might yield. In sharing the focus on the transformation of nature with other Swedish Cameralist writers, but wholeheartedly rejecting the state, Kempe can be categorized as an anarcho-Cameralist.

Preliminary assessment of chlorine reactivity with environmental materials accounting for boundary layer and maximum deposition effects

Many toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) such as chlorine and ammonia are very reactive with commonly encountered materials in the environment. The amount of TIC material reacted in the environment is an important factor in determining the impact of a release. Typically characterized with a dry deposition rate in atmospheric dispersion models, the reaction rate has predominately been studied in field scale experiments at concentration levels typical for air pollution (ppm levels). When considering the removal of chlorine by (dry) deposition in an episodic release, gas phase concentrations will be much higher than those associated with air pollution, and near-field reaction of chlorine with local vegetation will be strongly influenced by the response of leaves and other elements of the surface “canopy” to those high concentrations. In this work, standard engineering methods characterizing the rate of mass transfer from a fluid to a surface in conjunction with reaction at that surface are applied. Previous experimental programs that studied the removal of chlorine under conditions relevant to this study show that deposition of chlorine to plant material can reach a limiting maximum so that the plant material can no longer react with gaseous chlorine despite continued exposure. In the analysis presented here, it is shown that the effect of the maximum deposition can be treated using the same approach as has been used to model catalyst poisoning. This study developed a model to account for boundary layer resistance and the impact of maximum deposition in a framework that could be incorporated in atmospheric dispersion models. To test the efficacy of this model, the Controlled Environment Reactivity Test (CERT) apparatus was designed to expose selected environmental materials (substrates including soil, rye grass, white clover, maple leaves, and spruce branches) to chlorine with initial concentration of (nominally) 1000 ppm where the gas phase chlorine concentration can be measured as a function of time to determine relevant modeling parameters. The apparatus was built to control the flow velocity of the chlorine/air mixture over the experimental substrates with turbulence levels that are comparable to the atmosphere. Model parameters were found for the environmental materials tested.

Features of titanium and aluminum particles combustion

The results of the study of metal particles combustion process in free fall in air are presented. Titanium particles with a size of 120-540 microns and particles-aluminum agglomerates with a size of 540-660 microns were used. The characteristic times of the beginning and the end of fragmentation, the end of combustion were found with help of video filming. The laws of particles motion, in particular, their velocity and coordinate at the moment of the beginning of fragmentation, were determined. The size of titanium particles at which the fragmentation mode changes (“star” and “spruce branch”) were estimated. Condensed combustion products of particles were selected and investigated.

Effects of feeding graded levels of black spruce needles and branches on beef cow performance and health during mid to late gestation

Pregnant beef cows (56; 727 ± 102 kg body weight) in their second trimester were used to examine black spruce (BSP) needles and branches for replacing alfalfa silage in wintering cow diets. Five dietary treatments assessed BSP inclusion rates (0%, 15%, 22.5%, 30%, and 37.5% in the diet) for 92 d up until 2 wk before start of calving using a randomized complete block design (10–12 cows per treatment). There were linear decreases (P < 0.001) in total weight gain, average daily gain, and dry matter intakes (DMI) as amounts of dietary BSP increased. Low DMI feeding BSP may be attributed to palatability issues and lower rates of digestion. Changes in body condition score increased (P < 0.003) as dietary BSP increased. These effects are supported by corresponding linear decreases (P < 0.001) for changes in rump fat cover and increases (P < 0.001) in serum non-esterified fatty acids as dietary BSP increased. After feeding the test diets, there were no dietary treatment differences (P > 0.42) for calf birth and weaning weights as well as cow pregnancy and culling rates. Based on this study, incorporation of BSP into gestating cow diets cannot be recommended.

Optimisation of a thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the analysis of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes

Abstract. In this study, a thermal desorption–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TD–GC–MS) method following sorbent tube sampling was developed for the determination of monoterpenes (MTs), sesquiterpenes (SQTs) and diterpenes (DTs) in gas-phase samples. The analytical figures of merit were determined, and the method performance was tested by conducting experiments related to, for example, sampling recovery, storage stability and ozone reactivity. The limit-of-quantification values were 13–518 pg (0.5–9.3 pptv), intermediate precision was in the range of 3 %–10 % and the expanded measurement uncertainty was in the range of 16 %–55 % for terpenes. The sampling recoveries of terpenes were approximately within 100±20 % with different inlet lines (15 m long Teflon and 1 m long heated stainless steel) and branch enclosure cuvette (6 L Teflon bag) tested. Ozone is an important factor causing losses of the studied compounds during sampling. Therefore, losses of terpenes upon ozone exposure were studied and the reaction rate coefficients were estimated. The ozone reaction rate coefficient (kO3) of ent-kaurene was experimentally estimated to be 2 orders of magnitude greater than the respective literature kO3 value, demonstrating the potential underestimation of DT contribution to atmospheric reactivity. The preliminary comparison between offline- and online-mode TD–GC–MS sampling and analysis revealed that diterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes are lost in excessive amounts in online-mode sampling, hindering the online-mode applicability for the quantitative analysis of these compounds. A few applications to real samples were tested to identify DTs potentially emitted by boreal forest tree species. In dynamic headspace samples of pine needles and spruce twigs heated to 60 ∘C, five DTs and 13 DTs could be detected in emissions, respectively. The semi-quantitatively estimated emission rates of DTs were roughly 1 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than those of MTs and SQTs. Similarly, in spruce branch enclosure emissions from a living tree, six DTs were detected once the enclosure was heated to ca. 60 ∘C. In summary, the developed analytical procedure was demonstrated to be applicable for the analysis of MTs, SQTs and DTs. In addition, DTs could be detected in needles, twigs and branch enclosure emissions; however, high temperatures were required to promote the emissions and for obtaining detectable concentrations.

Peculiarities of cambial growth of some woody plants introduced in Kakheti region

The paper deals with the study of cambial growth of 32 species of woody plants, carried out in Kakheti region during six years. We have studied several plants and found out that they begin their cambial growth (with the exception of some oak species) after bud opening. According to calendar time, two groups of plants were distinguished: the first group of the plants began cambial growth in late March and at the beginning of April. These plants are as follows: Larix decidua Mill and Larix leptolepis Gord., Acer negundo L., Aesculus carnea Haine., Aesculus hippocastanum L. and 20 other species. The second group of the plants began cambium activity in May. These are plant species like Picea orientalis (L.) Link., Pinus griffithii Mc Cleland, Quercus occidentalis J. Gay., Magnolia grandiflora L. and others. The earliest completion of cambial growth was observed in the lateral branches of spruce, fir and other trees. The latest accomplishment (the first half of October) of cambial growth occurred in case of Cedrus atlantica Mannetti. and Cedrus deodara Loud., Pinus griffithii Mc Clel., Magnolia grandiflora L., Firmiana platanifolia Schott., etc. The endogenous rhythm of the investigated plants (with few exceptions) is in synchronous connection with the climate of Kakheti region, so we consider these plants to be interesting species for the decorative gardening and forestry of Telavi district, and deserve widespread distribution.

Ca, Cu, and Li in washed and unwashed specimens of needles, bark, and branches of the blue spruce (Picea pungens) in the city of Ankara.

The use of certain types of plants to determine the accumulation of HMs (heavy metals) has yielded quite consistent results in the research fields. Many researches have focused on particular types of HMs due to their common presence in the air (Pb, Cd, Ni, Co, Cr to name a few). However, it is equally as important to shed light on other types of HMs and the scale of their existence in our atmosphere, hence this paper. Blue spruce (Picea pungens) tree organs were used in an experiment to calculate the recent concentration of HMs. The research concentrates on Ca, Cu, and Li elements in the washed and unwashed needles, branches, and barks, and these organs were evaluated depending on the organ age. The study results showed that the concentration of the elements subjected to the research changed depending on the organ, washing status and organ age, and that the lowest concentrations of Ca and Cu elements were obtained in the barks in general. In relation to the organ age, it was found that there was an increase in the concentration of Ca with age, and that the concentration of Li element was inversely proportional to age.