Crimean Pine Research Articles

Determination of horizontal and vertical distribution of tree species in Turkey via Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) satellite data and geographic information system: the case of Crimean pine (Pinus nigra)

Forest areas in Turkey are generally spread on rugged terrain and different elevations. Site factors such as location, elevation from sea level, aspect and slope are effective on an ecosystem’s climate, soil characteristics, and hence vegetation. Description of such characteristics will allow for the description of forest ecosystems living on these sites and comparison of such ecosystems to each other. Factors such as elevation, aspect and slope can easily be generated from digital elevation models. In this study, using a digital elevation model obtained from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) satellite data and 1/100,000 scale Forest Information System database, horizontal and vertical distribution of Pinus nigra ( Crimean Pine ), which is geographically the largest spread needled tree species in Turkey, (to elevation classes) was determined and the generated results (map, table etc.) were presented. Key words: Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Geographic Information System (GIS), Forest Information System (FIS), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Crimean pine.

Age dynamics of the population gene pool of the Crimean pine (Pinus Pallasiana D. Don) in Crimea

Polymorphism of young (14-16 years), middle-aged (70-80 years) and old (120-150 years) plants and their seed embryos has been studied using 20 and 10 allozyme loci correspondingly in the population of Pinus pallasiana D. Don from Mountain Crimea. It was revealed that the old-aged trees had significantly lower level of expected heterozygosity than the young plants. The level of observed heterozygosity of embryos of the uneven-aged plants was slightly different among the embryo samples and significantly lower than in the samples of maternal trees. Supernumerary homozygotation of the embryos is caused by low level of cross-pollination in three studied samples of plants (t(m) = 0,537-0,637).

Using flotation in ethanol to separate filled and empty seeds of Pinus nigra ssp. pallasiana.

In this study, the separation of filled and empty seeds of Crimean pine (Pinus nigraArn. ssp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) by flotation in ethanol and the effect of this treatment on seed germination were investigated. Flotation tests in 96% ethanol by the density method and then germination tests were made on the seeds from three Crimean pine provenances of southern Turkey. In the flotation tests, 97.92% of the filled seeds sank in ethanol and 98.73% of the sunken seeds were filled seeds as the general mean values of all the provenances. Germination percentages of the flotation in ethanol and control treatments were 98.03 and 98.62%, and germination energies were 82.12 and 79.45%, respectively, in the general mean. While there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) between the flotation and control treatments in terms of germination percentage for all three provenances, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) for two provenances; however, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) for one provenance in favour of the flotation treatment in terms of germination energy. The results of the study indicated that filled seeds of Crimean pine could be separated from empty seeds at a very high proportion by flotation in ethanol and this treatment did not affect negatively the germination percentage and germination energy of the seeds. Key words: Crimean pine, filled seed, flotation method, ethanol, germination.

Usability of the Taurus Cedar and Crimean Pine in green belt afforestations in semiarid regions in Turkey: A case study in Konya Province Loros Mountain -Akyokus

n this study, root collar diameter and height development of 9 year-old saplings of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani) and Crimean Pine (Pinus nigra subsp. nigra var. caramanica) in the green belt afforestation areas were researched in Akyokus (130 ha) and Loros Mountain (140 ha) in Konya province. For this reason, root collar diameters and heights were measured at 4 temporary sample plots, each 450 m² (30 m × 15 m) containing randomized 5 experimental areas with 10 replicates. The data obtained from measurement were compared with ANOVA test. The root collar diameters of Crimean pines in Loros Mountain and heights of Taurus cedars in Akyokus were significantly different and higher. On the other hand, volumes of Crimean pines in Loros Mountain and Taurus cedar in Akyokus were significantly different in favor of these species. Thus, it might be suitable to use Crimean pine in Loros Mountain and Taurus cedar in Akyokus for green-belt afforestation studies in the future. Key words: Crimean Pine, green belt afforestation, height, root collar diameter, Taurus cedar.

The effects of the pine processionary moth on the increment of crimean pine trees in Bartin, Turkey

The pine processionary moth (PPM), causing significant damage on pine stands in Turkey, affects mainly crimean pine stands within the Ulus vicinity. To determine the damage, 20 sample plots of second site class crimean pine stands were measured; 10 of which were taken as the control sample and 10 of which were damaged by PPM. In all, 289 trees in the damaged areas and 316 trees in the control areas were measured. Consequently, it was ascertained that there was a loss of 22% in diameter increment, 29% at basal area increment, 43% in height, 24.5% at height increment, and 37.5% in volume increment of damaged trees based on their age (70 years) in comparison with the control trees.

SUBREGIONS AND SITE SECTION GROUPS ON BEYŞEHİR WATERSHED

West and sought parts of Beysehir Lake is called Dedegul mountains subregion. The other parts are called Sultan mountains subregion. Dedegul mountains subregion is affected by north and east wind coming from Beysehir Lake. Therefore, Dedegul mountains subregion is more humid climate than Sultan mountains supregion. The subregions come into being from site section groups which has different climate properties. Dedegul mountains subregions was discriminated to Gedikli Site Section Groups, Dumanli Site Section Groups and Gencek Site Section Groups. Sultan mountains subregions was discriminated to Doganbey Site Section Groups, Cariksaraylar Site Section Groups and Orenkoy Site Section Groups. The section groups were discriminated to altitude belts which has different climate properties. Subsections being present at the altitude bents were discriminated according to landform and main rocks characters. Crimean juniper (Juniperus exelsa), Crimean pine (Pinus nigra), Cupper oak (Quercus cerris), Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani), Cilician fir (Abies cilicica) has the most widespread distribution in Beysehir watershed. The climate is not important influencing the distribution of Crimean juniper which has widespread distribution on the soils come into being from limestone. Crimean pine is not prefer with low altitude, but it has widespread with the soils come into being from schistes. Cupper oak is prefer to the soils come into being from schistes and ophiolite. Lebanon cedar and Cilician fir have generally more widespread with the altitudes between 1400 m and 1900 m and sink–hole. Keywords: Beysehir watershed, Forest site classification, Crimean juniper, Cupper oak, Crimean pine, Taurus cedar.

Effects of defoliation caused by the processionary moth on growth of Crimean pines in western Turkey

An outbreak of the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), began in spring 1998 and lasted 6 years in a Crimean pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) plantation in western Turkey. The effects of PPM on the radial, height and volume growth of Crimean pine trees were investigated by examining the increment losses for three defoliation intensities (groups). PPM activity in Crimean pine stand was assessed through radial increment analysis of cores extracted at breast height. In 2004, increment cores were collected from moderate and high defoliation and low defoliation dominant or co-dominant trees. Based on the sample, annual radial growth indices from 1998 to 2004 were calculated. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height and volume increment graphically compared between Crimean pine defoliation group sample trees. The sample trees are the same subspecies and varieties. After the defoliations, radial, height and volume growth of low defoliation group trees was found to be significantly greater than that of the other affected groups. During the 1998–2004 period the total radial growth of low, moderately affected and highly affected trees was, respectively, 49, 33 and 31 mm; the total height growth was 3.1, 1.8 and 1.0 m; and the total volume growth was 50, 14 and 10 dm3.

Sphaeropsis sapinea Dyko &amp; Sutton Associated with Shoot Blight on Pinus brutia Ten. in Southwestern Turkey

This study was conducted in order to determine the agents of shoot blight and dieback of Calabrian pines at Asagı Gökdere, Isparta province, in 2005 and 2006. Ninety trees were selected systematically in the stand. One dead branch from each tree was cut and the shoots were investigated under the stereomicroscope for the presence of fungal structures. Sphaeropsis sapinea Dyko &amp; Sutton and Truncatella hartigii (Tubeuf) Steyaert were common fungi, with the observation frequencies of 21.1% and 46.7%, respectively. Pathogenicity of two fungi was investigated by winter and spring inoculations on Calabrian and Crimean pine. After eight months incubation period, the lesion sizes were measured. S. sapinea was found to be quite aggressive and large lesions formed on both hosts while lesions caused by T. hartigii did not differ significantly from the control.

A Yield Prediction Model for Crimean Pine Plantations

Crimean pine is one of the most important plantation and natural species in Turkey. In spite of this importance, information on the growth and yield of this species is lacking. For this reason, a model for growth and yield in crimean pine plantations is described, in which stand development is derived from relation to age and site index. Data were collected from 115 temporary sample plots from plantations ranging in age from 3 to 50 years. Site index curves and empirical yield tables were developed and presented. Site index curves were used to classify plantations into site classes of I, II and III, in order of decreasing productivity. Yield functions indicate that crimean pine can be grown on biologically optimum rotations of 35, 36 and 37 years on site classes I, II and III, respectively. The models can be calibrated on permanent field plot data and tested against independent long term growth and yield records.

Relationships Between Different Growth Parameters and Damage of Harmful Insects in Crimean Pine of Ilgaz Mountain, Cankiri, Turkey

Relationships Between Different Growth Parameters and Damage of Harmful Insects in Crimean Pine of Ilgaz Mountain, Cankiri, Turkey

Bülbülpınarı (Eldivan-Çankırı) Yöresi Meşcere Kuruluşları Üzerine Araştırmalar.

In this study; Stand compositions of Eldivan-Bulbulpinari forest district within the boundaries of Cankiri divisional forest were studied. In order to realize this, 20 sample plots with dimensions 40x10 m2 and 6 stand profiles with dimensions at 50x10 m2, which give the best representation of the interrelated community, were taken to determine district's stand compositions and silvicultural properties. Each sample plots' aspect, elevation (m), inclination (%), shape, canopy of layers (%), dominant species' height (m), dbh (cm), stand crown height (m), stand middle dbh (cm), age, mixing ratio of species, stand properties and in sample plots' plant species were determined. In the district, Anatolian Crimean pine, Anatolian Crimean pine-oak species stand compositions are existing. In addition, 30 species belong to 19 families from spermatophyta by 3 species belong to 2 families from the byrofit were determined. Key Words: Stand, Stand Structure and texture, Bulbulpinari, Eldivan-Cankiri

Tree‐ring reconstruction of Crimean drought and lake chronology correction

The first verifiable reconstruction of spring (April–July) precipitation is presented for Crimea, Ukraine. It is derived from Crimean pine (Pinus hamata) ring‐width data spanning A.D. 1620–2002. The reconstruction accounts for 37% of the variance in observed precipitation over 1896–1988. Most droughts recorded in Crimean historical documents in the 17th–19th centuries coincide with below‐average reconstructed precipitation in the concurrent or following year. An 11‐year filtered version of the reconstruction correlates with an annually‐laminated sediment‐thickness record from Saki Lake (4188 years in length), once this record is shifted backward by 15 years. The offset may be explained by anthropogenic changes at the lake in the late 19th century. The significant relationship between the lake sediments and reconstruction suggests that the lake record is also a moisture indicator. If so, the wettest period of the past 1500 years (∼AD1050–1250) broadly coincides with the “Medieval Warm Period” (MWP) in Crimea.

Impact of defoliation by the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) on radial, height and volume growth of calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) trees in Turkey

An outbreak of the pine processionary moth (PPM),Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff. (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae), began in spring 1998 and lasted 5 years in aPinus brutia Ten. (Calabrian pine) stand. Tree volume and volume elements increments were examined throughout a PPM outbreak cycle from 1981 to 2003, for an even aged, pure, undisturbed, young Calabrian pine stand. Tree ring chronologies of ‘control’ Calabrian pine, which was not defoliated by PPM during the period of 1998–2003, were used to estimate potential growth characteristics in the ‘host’ Calabrian pine (moderate and high defoliation groups) for current and past outbreaks. Increment cores were collected from 70 host and 78 control dominant or co-dominant trees and annual radial growth indices from 1981–2003 were calculated for each defoliation group in a 41 point sampling. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height, and volume increment, and graphically compared between host Calabrian pine (3 moderate and one high), four control Calabrian pine and one host Crimean pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) sample trees. At least three severe outbreak periods were identified (from 1981–86; 1992–97; and 1998–2003), much of the study area being severely affected by PPM. Tree ring evidence suggests that large scale (in 1981, 1992, 1998) and partial (in 1988) outbreaks occurred in the study area. Negative inflections of host radial growth curves relative to control height and volume indicated PPM activity. The periodic average diameter growth reductions (in %) in 1981, 1988, 1992 and 1998, respectively, were 0, 13, 5 and 0 for control, 12, 8, 7 and 2 for moderate, and 18, 5, 0 and 7 for high defoliation groups. Outbreaks appear to be associated with dry winter and spring weather prior to the autumn and winter in which feeding occurs.

Dehydroabietane from the oleoresin of Pinus pallasiana

The known diterpene hydrocarbon dehydroabietane has been isolated from a natural source — the oleoresin of the Crimean pine — for the first time.