Cedar Trees Research Articles

Discovery of the genus Mirodryinus Ponomarenko, 1972 (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Dryinidae) associated with salt cedar trees in the eastern part of Iran

In 2015 and 2016 a survey was carried out on the parasitoids of leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha) feeding on salt cedar trees (Tamarix spp.) growing around Hamoon Lake in the Sistan region (Iran). Among the collected material, a series of dryinid specimens belonging to Mirodryinus atlanticus Olmi, 1984 (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae, Bocchinae) was captured on branches of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. and Tamarix stricta Boiss., infested by Opsius versicolor (Distant) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). The subfamily Bocchinae and the genus Mirodryinus Ponomarenko, 1972 are new records for Iran. Diagnostic characters and notes on the morphological variability of the newly collected specimens are presented and discussed.

BIO-ECOLOGY OF CEDAR SCALE INSECT TOROSASPIS CEDRICOLA (BALACHOWSKY & ALKAN) (HEMIPTERA DIASPIDIDAE) IN ANKARA, TURKEY

Lebanon cedar, Cedrus libani A. Rich. (Pinaceae) is a significant tree from the historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific and economic perspectives. It is presently found primarily in the Taurus Mountains with extensive and magnificent forests. Also, it has been frequently used as ornamental tree in urban areas in Turkey and abroad. Cedar scale, Torosaspis cedricola , (Balachowsky & Alkan) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) is one of the important pests of cedar trees particularly in urban ecosystem. The bio-ecology of T. cedricola on C. libani is examined four localities during the years 2008 and 2009 in Ankara. T. cedricola has two generations in a year and overwinters as mated females. The sex ratio of T. cedricola is changed 1.8:1-4.8:1 (♀:♂) all study areas in both generation and the sex ratio is strongly biased towards female that occur on cedar needles only. The first generation crawlers emerged in late May but the second brood L1 in late July. Adalia bipunctata (L.), Chilocorus bipustulatus (L.), Exochomus quadripustulatus (L.), Harmonia quadripunctata (Pont) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Cybocephalus fodori minor (Endrody) (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) were determined as predator of the scale, while Diaspiniphagus moeris (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was only parasitioid species as natural enemy of T. cedricola . Natural enemies had a negligible effect on populations of T. cedricola in Ankara.

Radiocarbon Releases from the 2011 Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

Radiocarbon activities were measured in annual tree rings for the years 2009 to 2015 from Japanese cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica) collected at six sites ranging from 2.5–38 km northwest and north of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The 14C specific activity varied from 280.4 Bq kg−1 C in 2010 to 226.0 Bq kg−1 C in 2015. The elevated 14C activities in the 2009 and 2010 rings confirmed 14C discharges during routine reactor operations, whereas those activities that were indistinguishable from background in 2012–2015 coincided with the permanent shutdown of the reactors after the accident in 2011. High-resolution 14C analysis of the 2011 ring indicated 14C releases during the Fukushima accident. The resulted 14C activity decreased with increasing distance from the plant. The maximum 14C activity released during the period of the accident was measured 42.4 Bq kg−1 C above the natural ambient 14C background. Our findings indicate that, unlike other Fukushima-derived radionuclides, the 14C released during the accident is indistinguishable from ambient background beyond the local environment (~30 km from the plant). Furthermore, the resulting dose to the local population from the excess 14C activities is negligible compared to the dose from natural/nuclear weapons sources.

Measure of Temporal Variation of P-Band Radar Cross Section and Temporal Coherence of a Temperate Tree

This paper deals with a ground experiment based on a P-band scatterometer that measured the evolution of the radar cross section (RCS) and coherence of a temperate tree in HV polarization, during four periods spread over nine months, over a cedar tree. Watering of the tree has limited influence in time on the RCS, i.e., limited to around 30 min, but impacts the coherence over a longer period of time. Analysis of the series shows that according to the season considered, clear daily cycles from 1 to 2 dB may appear on the coherence only (autumn) or on both coherence and RCS (spring), whereas in winter, they are absent on both results. It was analyzed in the literature that the variations in RCS are strongly correlated to the variations in the dielectric constant in trunks and branches. In addition, it was shown that the HV RCS presents seasonal trends with a yearly cycle of roughly 3 dB following similar trends reported for trunk moisture content time series.

Etude Eco-Dendrométrique Du Dépérissement Du Cèdre De l’Atlas Dans Le Parc National De Theniet El Had “Algérie”

This study aims to search the relationship between the decline of the Atlas cedar and the eco-dendrometrique factors in the National Park of Theniet El Had located in the north-west of Algeria. This study takes place throughout 30 circular plots of 1.000m2 area in which, a dendrometric measures and ecological data are taken in addition to descriptive data for Atlas cedar trees. The descriptive data shows that 34% of inventoried Atlas cedar have damaged leaves and 30% have more then 25% of their crowns damaged. The analysis of variance shows that there is no relationship between the rate of the Atlas cedar decline ant the ecological factors, components of the soil and dendrometric parameters except for the average circumference witch is influenced by the competition between trees. Therefor, a particular management plan for the regulation of competition is a necessity for this park.

Cesium absorption through bark of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)

Absorption of radiocesium (137Cs and 134Cs) through bark, and its subsequent translocation into wood and needles, has been suggested as a potential source of tree contamination, but the process is not well understood. Field experiments were conducted to confirm whether Cs could enter a Japanese cedar tree through the bark and how Cs moves within a tree. Stable Cs (133Cs) was applied to the bark at 1.2-m height on 10- and 26-year-old Japanese cedars. The 133Cs concentrations were determined in the bark, sapwood, and heartwood (for 26-year-old cedar only) of stem disks from several heights, as well as in current-year needles from the canopy. The 133Cs concentrations were considerably higher in the sapwood and heartwood of stem disks from 1.2-m height in treated trees than in untreated trees, suggesting that 133Cs penetrated the bark to enter the wood. The average 133Cs concentrations were higher in the heartwood than the sapwood, indicating 133Cs accumulation in the heartwood. High 133Cs concentrations in the needles of treated trees implied acropetal movement of 133Cs to actively growing organs. Our results demonstrate that Cs can enter Japanese cedar trees through the bark and that Cs is transported radially to the heartwood and vertically to the apex.

Fantastic Realism in “The City which Died under Cedar Trees”

Fantastic Realism in “The City which Died under Cedar Trees”

Seeing the forest for its multiple ecosystem services: Indicators for cultural services in heterogeneous forests

The ecosystem service (ES) framework is gaining traction in ecosystem management as a means to recognize the multiple benefits that ecosystems provide. In forested ecosystems, many structural attributes (trees, understory plants and woody debris) create heterogeneous ecosystems that provide numerous ecosystem services, including many that are culturally important. However, application of the ES framework to forest management is challenged by difficulties measuring and comparing multiple ES across diverse and heterogeneous forest conditions. Indicators can help bring the ES approach to forest management by providing a means for accurate ES inventory and mapping. We measured 10 forest ES in contrasting forest types to investigate the effects of past forest harvesting in coastal temperate rainforest of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Our objectives were to build a systematic set of ES indicators for coastal temperate forests based on forest structural features, including trees, coarse woody debris, and understory plants. To achieve this, we 1) analyzed field data to compare the effects of forest age (old-growth vs. second-growth) and ecological site conditions (riparian vs. upland forest) on the bundle of ES provided by different forest types; and 2) worked with a local indigenous wood carver to identify attributes of cedar trees (Thuja plicata) essential for traditional uses, including canoe carving. Forest age and forest type had significant and major effects on bundles of ES. Old-growth forests provided three times higher carbon storage, nine times higher wood volume, and eighteen times higher canopy habitat services than recovering forests. Within old-growth forests, the proportion of trees suitable for traditional indigenous wood carving was significantly higher in riparian stands. Yet of 456 trees measured, only 17 were cedar with potential traditional uses. Of those, trees for canoe carving were the least frequent (n=3), which we identified as large (>110cm DBH) trees of exceptional quality. In general, old-growth riparian forests were a hotspot of ES, providing for example nearly three times as much carbon storage as old-growth forests on upland sites and 12 times the amount of carbon storage as found in second-growth forests on upland sites. These results indicate that typical inventories of forest ES, which usually generalize across heterogeneity, may oversimplify dramatic variations in ES bundles in forested landscapes. Our novel set of stand-level ES indicators can improve the accuracy of ES assessments, incorporate important cultural ES, and help address the role of landscape heterogeneity in influencing ES.

Recovery trends for multiple ecosystem services reveal non-linear responses and long-term tradeoffs from temperate forest harvesting

A major challenge for forest management is to reduce unintended tradeoffs resulting from timber harvesting. However, few empirical studies provide quantitative evidence for how ecosystem service trade-offs in forests persist over longer timeframes. Here, we examine the long-term recovery of multiple ecosystem services following harvest of old-growth forest stands on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. We used a novel 212-year forest chronosequence approach to estimate recovery of a coastal temperate forest’s capacity to provide eight ecosystem services. We examined: wood volume, carbon storage for climate regulation, potential nesting habitat for an old-growth associate bird species the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), coarse woody debris, habitat provided by standing dead trees, large heritage trees, wild edible berries, and large redcedar (Thuja plicata) trees used traditionally by First Nations for carving canoes and totem poles. Ecosystem service recovery trajectories followed u-shaped or s-shaped trajectories with varying times to reach old-growth conditions. Some services remained high post-harvest (e.g., habitat services of coarse woody debris) or recovered quickly in the first 100years (e.g., carbon storage). However, cultural ecosystem services such as the large cedar trees used in traditional First Nations carving, had 200+ year delays in recovery. Our empirically-derived ecosystem services recovery trajectories demonstrate the complexity of long-term dynamics of harvest tradeoffs and help identify strengths and limitations of management approaches for sustaining multiple forest ecosystem services.

Inspection and Evaluation of Decay Damage in Japanese Cedar Trees Through Nondestructive Techniques

The purpose of this study was to investigate the standard values of living, undamaged Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trees through different nondestructive techniques. This study also detects the stress wave velocity (V) and tomogram (VT), and resolves corresponding V maps of Japanese cedar trees with and without decay damage for tree risk assessment. A visual tree inspection form, with seven categories of tree damage, is proposed for tree hazard assessment. Different nondestructive evaluation parameters can serve as an index for diagnosing standard values (with or without decay). The VT and corresponding stress wave velocity maps of decay-damaged and damaged Japanese cedar trees can detect the general location and area of wood deterioration. The transversal acoustic velocity values increased with increasing diameter in undamaged trees, and the difference between the maximum and minimum V value of the trunks in undamaged trees fell within a range of constants. The proposed approach can be combined with other non-destructive techniques to better examine and confirm the situation of trees.

Biological screening of selected Pacific Northwest forest plants using the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) toxicity bioassay.

The brine shrimp (Artemia salina) bioassay was used to screen 211 methanol extracts from 128 species of Pacific Northwest plants in search of general cytotoxic activity. Strong toxicity (LC50 < 100 µg/ml) was found for 17 extracts from 13 species, with highest activity observed for Angelica arguta roots at <10 µg/ml. Notably, four species of cedar trees and one of juniper in the family Cupressaceae dominated this group with LC50 for heartwood extracts ranging from 15 to 89 µg/ml. Moderate toxicity (LC50 100–500 µg/ml) was found in 38 extracts from 27 species, while weak toxicity (LC50 500–1000 µg/ml) was detected for 17 extracts in 16 species. There were 139 extracts from 99 species that were non-toxic (LC50 > 1000 µg/ml). Our subsequent studies of conifer heartwoods with strong activity confirm the assay’s value for identifying new investigational leads for materials with insecticidal and fungicidal activity.

Microclimate and development of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon under different shading levels promoted by Australian cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem. var. Australis)

Coffee growers are searching for more sustainable production systems. Shaded cultivation is presented as a management option to attenuate coffee environmental stresses. This work aims at to evaluate the microclimate and coffee plant (Coffea canephora cv. Conilon Clone 02) development under different shading levels promoted by the intercropping with Australian cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem. var. Australis) or under unshaded conditions. Australian cedar and Conilon coffee were planted in 15 × 2m and 3 x 1.2 m spacing, respectively, resulting in five rows of coffee to one row of Australian cedar. The closer the coffee rows were in relation to the Australian cedar trees the higher shade level was obtained. Climatic variables (temperature, irradiance and relative humidity) and leaf areas were evaluated over four seasons, and the internode lengths of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches were evaluated monthly. The 2013yield was also measured. There was a decrease in both the irradiance and temperature and an increase in the relative humidity at all times under shaded cultivation (closer to the Australian cedar row). The highest growth of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches and leaf expansion were found under shaded cultivation; however, the number of nodes per branch and the yields were similar among treatments. Growing Conilon coffee intercropped with Australian cedar showed a good yield potential.

Vertical Distribution of Termites on Trees in Two Forest Landscapes in Taiwan.

Termites are a key functional group in the forest ecosystem, but they damage trees. To investigate the termite infestation pattern on the whole tree, we cut 108 blackboard trees, Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., and 50 Japanese cedars, Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. Don, into sections. The bark surface and cross sections of the tree trunk were examined along the axes. A high percentage of blackboard trees (92.6%) was infested by fungus-growing termites, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki), but damage was limited to the bark surface at a 2-m height. The infestation rate of dampwood termites, Neotermes koshunensis (Shiraki), was only 4.6% (5/108), and all infestations were associated with trunk wounds. N. koshunensis was found at significantly higher portion of a tree than O. formosanus. Among 50 Japanese cedars, 20 living trees were not infested by any termites, but 26 of the 30 dead trees were infested by subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flaviceps (Oshima), which excavated tunnels in the trunk. The infestation rate at basal sections was higher than that at distal sections. Only one Japanese cedar tree was infested by another dampwood termite, Glyptotermes satsumensis (Matsumura). The two dominant termite species, O. formosanus and R. flaviceps, had subterranean nests and infested trees from bottom up. The two primitive termites N. koshunensis and G. satsumensis had low infestation rates and are most likely to infest trees by alates from top down. The niche segregation in trees of three termite families, Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae, was distinct.

Inferring the chemical form of 137Cs deposited by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident by measuring 137Cs incorporated into needle leaves and male cones of Japanese cedar trees

We hypothesized that the water-soluble (ionic) and water-insoluble (stable) radiocesium from the initial fallout of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident was distributed in various proportions in the surrounding areas and that this distribution was reflected in the trees that suffered deposition from the initial fallout. This study attempted to evaluate local variations in the chemical form of 137Cs derived from the initial fallout of the FDNPP accident and whether its chemical form affected the radiocesium concentration in the tissues currently growing in trees, even after the initial fallout ceased. For these estimations, the ratio between the 137Cs concentration in Cryptomeria japonica needle leaves in the tree crown, which existed before the FDNPP accident and subsequently directly exposed to the initial fallout (137Cspre-accident N), and the amount of 137Cs in the initial fallout itself (137Csfallout) was determined (137Cspre-accident N/137Csfallout) at 66 sites. In addition, the 137Cs ratios between the male cones produced in 2012 (137Csmale cone) and needle leaves that had elongated in the spring of 2011 (137Cs2011N) was determined at 82 sites (137Csmale cone/137 Cs2011N). Most of the sites with lower 137Cspre-accident N/137Csfallout ratios were distributed in eastern Fukushima, relatively close to the Pacific Ocean coastline. Lower 137Cspre-accidentN/137Csfallout and higher 137Csmalecone/137Cs2011N were found to be associated with higher proportions of 137Cs in ionic forms. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis, and likely reflect regional variations in the chemical form of the deposited radiocesium.

Effects of Temperature and Duration of Heat Treatment on the Physical, Surface, and Mechanical Properties of Japanese Cedar Wood

This study investigated the application of heat to wood samples from Japanese cedar trees (Cryptomeria japonica) of small and medium diameters to evaluate the effects of both the temperature and duration of treatment on its surface, physical, and mechanical properties. The results indicate that the density, moisture content, and hygroscopicity of the wood samples decreased as the treatment temperature and duration increased, and the mass loss increased under the same conditions. Additionally, the dimensional stability of the wood improved in response to increased temperatures and prolonged durations. These results suggest that heat treatment can be used to improve the dimensional stability of wood. The surface color of the wood darkened progressively with increasing treatment temperature and duration, and the hydrophobicity of the wood sample improved as a result of the heat treatment. In contrast to the untreated wood, the heat-treated wood exhibited decreased mechanical properties with an increase in the treatment temperature and duration.

Review: British Columbia's Inland Rainforest: Ecology, Conservation, and Management

Stevenson, Susan K., Armleder, Harold M., Arsenauly, Andre, Coxson, Darwyn, Delong, S. Craig and Jull, Michael. British Columbia's Inland Rainforest: Ecology, Conservation, and Management. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia Press, 2011. 456 pp. ISBN: 9780774818506, paperback. US$ 41.95, illustrated. Also available in hardcover format ISBN 9780774818490.A fact-filled and extremely useful offering from silvicultural and ecosystem professionals, biologists, ecologists, systems scientists and others, British Columbia's Inland Rainforest provides a snapshot, a look at the present conditions of this unique ecosystem in light of past and future management choices. Included are 128 figures, color plates and illustrations, 20 tables, three appendices, a species index, glossary and various exposes that highlight features of the text, which itself includes more than 50 sections detailing everything from carbon stocks to soil horizons to forest edge effects on plant and animal life to native medicine and many others. The book grew from a project with scientific goals-to supplement a government forestry report with data so that managers and other stakeholders could make well-informed choices. The authors made a wonderful choice to expand their scope and offer the work to the public.British Columbia's inland rainforest is unique. There is no other place on the planet where a temperate rainforest exists so far from the coast, with much of its biome determined by continental rather than coastal geography. For example, many of the species in the inland rainforest migrated from elsewhere in continental North America during the end of the last glaciation, or from the coast via specific vectors. They continue to survive in a setting that includes thousand-year-old red cedar trees and lichen species (e.g. cyanolichen) that are not found elsewhere or nowhere else in such great diversity and abundance. Snowmelt during the summer promotes groundwater abundance and a humidity level unrivaled in a continental forest setting.Here, ancient red cedar and western hemlock make unique rotted-out settings for fungus, bryophyte, lichen, vascular plants, invertebrates and vertebrate animals, dens in hollowed out trees for martens and black bears. Yet in human terms, the same trees providing the substrate for such a rich ecology have also driven management choices that have led to their destruction.Historically, such immense trees with internal voids are called decadent and forest management has opted to harvest these old landscapes to allow planting of young plantation stands that replace them, often with changes to species for a standardized harvest regime. Ironically, the work is done in winter when the marshy rainforest soil has frozen and ice roads or other means of transport can be constructed. …

Stem Taper Equations for Estimating Merchantable Volume of Lebanon Cedar Trees in the Taurus Mountains, Southern Turkey

Stem Taper Equations for Estimating Merchantable Volume of Lebanon Cedar Trees in the Taurus Mountains, Southern Turkey

Changes in the distribution of radiocesium in the wood of Japanese cedar trees from 2011 to 2013

The changes in the distribution of 137Cs in the wood of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trunks within three years after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNP) accident in 2011 were investigated. Thirteen trees were felled to collect samples at 6 forests in 2 regions of the Fukushima prefecture. The radial distribution of 137Cs in the wood was measured at different heights. Profiles of 137Cs distribution in the wood changed considerably from 2011 to 2013, and the process of 137Cs distribution change in the wood was clarified. From 2011 to 2012, the active transportation from sapwood to heartwood and the radial diffusion in heartwood proceeded quickly, and the radial 137Cs distribution differed according to the vertical positon of trees. From 2012 to 2013, the vertical diffusion of 137Cs from the treetop to the ground, probably caused by the gradient of 137Cs concentration in the trunk, was observed. Eventually, the radial 137Cs distributions were nearly identical at any vertical positions in 2013. Our results suggested that the active transportation from sapwood to heartwood and the vertical and radial diffusion in heartwood proceeded according to the vertical position of the tree and 137Cs distribution in the wood approached the equilibrium state within three years after the accident.

Restaurarea și conservarea unei traiste ciobănești din colecția Muzeului Etnografic al Transilvaniei

The Shepherd`s bag, made by hand, at the beginning of the 19th century in the village Jucul de Mijloc, Cluj county, has been exhibited in a glass showcase in the main Hall of the Museum since 2006. The leather is dehydrated, some parts are detached, torn, some tacks and buttons are missing, and some of them are corroded. The restauration processes started with leather hydration by exposure in essential oils of cedar, savory and tea tree mixture dissolved in distilled water, in drying closet, at room temperature, about 1 month. The detached parts were assembled with rabbit glue, 3-5% in warm distilled water. Metal corrosion products were mechanically removed from buttons, tacks and other metallic decoration made from brass and conserved with Paraloid B 72, 3% in solvents mixture.

Aphid Species Colonizing Conifer, Juniper and Cedar Trees along Hungarian Motorways

Survey of aphids on dicotyledonous herbaceous plants along the Hungarian highways on 33 sampling points revealed the presence of 14 aphid species on gymnosperm trees. The most frequent conifer species was: Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold 1785 (21 locations) followed by Pinus sylvestris L.1753, Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. (4 locations), Juniperus communis L. 1753 (3 locations) and Juniperus virginiana L. 1753 (1 location), Thuja occidentalis L.1753 (2 locations), Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don (1 location). Eulachnus agilis (Kaltenbach, 1843) was the most frequently collected aphid species on Pinus nigra, followed by Cinara brauni Börner, 1940, Cinara schimitscheki Börner, 1940, Eulachnus rileyi (Williams, 1911) and Cinara acutirostris Hille Ris Lambers, 1956. The less frequent Cinara species was Cinara piniphila (Ratzeburg, 1844) which is a new record for the Hungarian fauna. Pinus sylvestris accommodated three aphid species: Cinara intermedia Pašek, 1954 was the most frequent, followed by Cinara pinea (Mordvilko, 1895) and Eulachnus agilis. Picea abies accommodated Cinara piceae, Cinara pruinosa (Hartig, 1841), Cinara piceicola (Cholodkovsky, 1896) and Sacchiphantes abietis L. 1758. Juniperus communis and J. virginiana most frequently hosted Cinara juniperi (De Geer, 1773). Eulachnus agilis occurred once on Juniperus communis. A single aphid species Cinara tujafilina was found on Thuja occidentalis and Thuja plicata.