Pinewoods Of Scotland Research Articles

Testing sampling effort and relative abundance descriptors of belowground ectomycorrhizal fungi in a UK planted scots pine woodland

ABSTRACT The native Caledonian pinewoods of Scotland, UK contain a unique and unexplored biodiversity of below-ground ectomycorrhizal fungi which may constitute a valuable source of microbial genetics resources for woodland restoration. In this study we test the sampling effort, taxa detection (ectomycorrhiza morpho-anatotyping) and relative abundance measurements (ectomycorrhizal root tip number vs. dry weight) of below-ground ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in a planted Pinus sylvestris Caledonian woodland. A total of 18 replicated sampling points were set up at differential distance along a 125 m transect, in a 50-yr-old, stem exclusion: thicket phase, Pinus sylvestris pinewood stand. A total of 11 ectomycorrhizal morpho-anatotypes were detected from 6689 ectomycorrhizal root tips counted and weighing 992.6 mg dry weight. The major ectomycorrhizal taxa were Meliniomyces bicolor and Cortinarius spp. accounting ~50% of total pine roots. A highly significant relationship (r2 = 0.16, p < 0.000) was found between Sørensen dissimilarity in soil cores and distance apart. In this study, the spatial arrangement of samples indicated that over short distances the dissimilarity was lower in contrast with the longer distances along the transect.

Ecological survey of the native pinewoods of Scotland 1971

Abstract. In 1971, a comprehensive ecological survey of the native pinewoods of Scotland was carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. The survey was initiated as a consequence of growing concern about the status of the pinewood resource. Since the twentieth century, this unique habitat is widely recognised, not only by ecologists for its inherent biodiversity but also by the general public for its cultural and amenity value. The survey, utilising demonstrably repeatable methods, collected information on ground flora, soils, forest structure and also general site information from the major 27 sites of the 35 sites identified as truly native pinewoods in Scotland. The results from the survey prompted the organisation of an international symposium in 1975, which set the conservation agenda for the old Caledonian pinewoods. The data collected during the 1971 survey are now publicly available via the following DOI: doi:10/7xb ("Habitat, vegetation, tree and soil data from Native Pinewoods in Scotland, 1971"). Although the data are now 44 years old, the repeatable methods will allow for a resurvey to take place, in order to assess changes in the vegetation, habitats and tree composition in a statistically robust manner.

Are Ireland's reintroduced Pinus sylvestris forests floristically analogous to their native counterparts in oceanic north-west Europe?

Pinus sylvestris has undergone extirpation and reintroduction in several countries in north-western Europe. In Ireland, the species' native status is disputed and the conservation value of reintroduced pinewoods is unclear. To clarify the implications of this reintroduction for biodiversity conservation, we evaluated the level of floristic similarity between reintroduced and native stands. Plots recorded in reintroduced stands in Ireland and native stands in Scotland were compared using cluster analysis and Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling. A synoptic table was prepared incorporating floristic data from native stands in south-western Norway. The reintroduced plots were classified in terms of the British National Vegetation Classification and compared with Irish fossil pinewood assemblages. Four groups were identified by cluster analysis; three were floristically similar to Irish fossil pinewood assemblages and three corresponded, to varying degrees, to extant native pinewoods in Scotland or Norway. Irish bog pinewoods corresponded to the EU Habitats Directive Annex I priority habitat bog woodland. This suggests that reintroduced P. sylvestris is an important resource for Ireland's native botanical and habitat diversity, given Ireland's low cover of native woodland. For practical conservation purposes, P. sylvestris should be retained and managed as a native species in woodland habitats in Ireland.

Understanding the evolution of native pinewoods in Scotland will benefit their future management and conservation

Summary Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a foundation species in Scottish highland forests and a national icon. Due to heavy exploitation, the current native pinewood coverage represents a small fraction of the postglacial maximum. To reverse this decline, various schemes have been initiated to promote planting of new and expansion of old pinewoods. This includes the designation of seed zones for control of the remaining genetic resources. The zoning was based mainly on biochemical similarity among pinewoods but, by definition, neutral molecular markers do not reflect local phenotypic adaptation. Environmental variation within Scotland is substantial and it is not yet clear to what extent this has shaped patterns of adaptive differentiation among Scottish populations. Systematic, range-wide common environment trials can provide insights into the evolution of the native pinewoods, indicating how environment has influenced phenotypic variation and how variation is maintained. Careful design of such experiments can also provide data on the history and connectivity among populations, by molecular marker analysis. Together, phenotypic and molecular datasets from such trials can provide a robust basis for refining seed transfer guidelines for Scots pine in Scotland and should form the scientific basis for conservation action on this nationally important habitat.

Testing prescribed fire as a tool to promote Scots pine Pinus sylvestris regeneration

Techniques for encouraging natural tree regeneration are of increasing interest to managers of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris forests. We tested prescribed fire at a management scale, with deer present or excluded, as a means of increasing rates of Scots pine forest expansion on heathland. At a semi-natural pinewood in Scotland, ten experimental blocks were established, within range of pine seed-fall. Each block comprised four, 100 m2 plots. Two plots at each site were burnt and two fenced, allowing the effects of burning on pine regeneration to be measured at two levels of deer abundance. We monitored pine seedlings, seed-fall, deer dung and vegetation for 5 years following treatment. Differences in seedling detection rates between treatments were quantified using dummy seedlings, and analyses corrected accordingly. Mean new pine seedling establishment was 9.8 times higher on burnt ground than unburnt ground (confidence intervals 3.2–30). Differences were even more pronounced in a year of high seed-fall, and following fires with low rates of spread. Establishment rates varied strongly between experimental blocks. Exclusion of deer increased establishment rates, but only in the first 2 years after fire. There was evidence that both seedling survival, and cumulative recruitment of older (over 12 months) seedlings, were improved by prescribed burning. Our results support the use of prescribed fire as a tool to promote increased Scots pine seedling establishment. This technique is likely to give strong fine-scale variation in seedling densities, and so would most suit areas where a variable spatial pattern of regeneration is sought, for landscape or naturalness reasons.

Breeding numbers and stand type preferences of Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus and Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis in a Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris wood

Capsule Old‐growth stands within an ancient native pinewood in Scotland provide an important habitat for both species. Aims To obtain estimates of densities and total numbers of male Redstarts and Tree Pipits in a native pinewood, and to describe forest stand type preferences. Methods Singing males were recorded along transects in Abernethy Forest, comprising ancient native pinewood and Scots Pine plantations, to estimate densities and numbers (by distance sampling), and to assess stand type selection (using Manly and Jacobs’ indices). A check was made to ensure that singing was sustained throughout the survey period. Results The density and total numbers for Redstarts were 7.6 males per km2 (95% CL 5.8–10.1) and 290 males (95% CL 220–380). For Tree Pipits, there were 7.3 males per km2 (5.5–9.8) and 275 males (210–370). Higher densities occurred in the stands of preferred old‐growth woodland: 15.1 Redstart males per km2 (95% CL 10.7–21.3) and 15.6 Tree Pipit males per km2 (95% CL 10.6–22.9). Redstarts selected stands of high crown trees, mature open and old open woodland and bog pines. Tree Pipits selected stands of high crown trees and old open woodland. Conclusion The old‐growth stands of Scots Pine were preferred by Redstarts and Tree Pipits. This study supports the current management to protect and expand such stands within Abernethy Forest, but more old‐growth woodland is required elsewhere in Scotland.

Age structure and history of stand types of Pinus sylvestris in Abernethy Forest, Scotland

Abernethy Forest comprises the largest area of semi-natural (native) pinewood in Scotland. It also has plantations of various ages. This study describes the sizes and ages of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the main stand types as a basis for future management, which aims to develop woodland of natural character. The interpretation of the current age structure is based on historical records of past management [commercial forestry, crofting (subsistence farming) and red deer Cervus elaphus (L.) management for sport shooting] and fires. The main plantation stand types had trees with median ages ranging from 20 to 67 years. The main stand types of semi-natural pinewood (old open, high crown and bog woodland) had median ages of 149, 120 and 126 years and peaks at 121–130, 111–120 and 141–150 years, respectively. The establishment of trees in these stands largely coincided with the removal of crofters and their livestock in 1869, when the upper forest was designated as a sporting estate. This probably allowed a pulse of tree regeneration, before the growing red deer population and pasturing of sheep and cattle inhibited further regeneration through much of the twentieth century. After 1988, sheep and cattle were removed and the number of red deer was reduced, allowing previously suppressed pine saplings to grow. Exploitation for timber over the past 400 years has meant that few trees are over 200 years old. This contrasts with natural Scots pine forests in Fennoscandia where trees typically attain this age, and where the structure is often determined by fire.

Stand selection by birds in Scots pinewoods in Scotland: the need for more old‐growth pinewood

A study at Abernethy Forest, Scotland, examined stand selection by some of the birds of conservation concern that inhabit pinewoods. Abernethy Forest was ideally suited for the study because all four main stand types of forest development (stand initiation, stem exclusion, understorey reinitiation and old‐growth) were represented. Capercaillies Tetrao urogallus(both males and females) and crossbills Loxiaspp. preferred old‐growth pinewood in winter, and Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurusand Tree Pipits Anthus trivialispreferred old‐growth in summer. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major selected snags in old‐growth to excavate nest and roost sites. In winter, Crested Tits Parus cristatus had a weak selection for old‐growth stands and Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhulapreferred stands at initiation. Possible reasons for these preferences are put forward. Although the area of conifer woodland in Scotland is 888 000 ha, it largely comprises North American species destined to be cut before reaching old‐growth. Old‐growth pinewood in Scotland is largely confined to the fragments of ancient native pinewood, amounting to only 16 000 ha. To conserve some pinewood birds of conservation concern, a mechanism to allow more Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris woods to reach and remain in an old‐growth state needs to be pursued.

Native pinewoods in Scotland: perspectives on policy and management

Achievements in pinewood management over recent decades are reviewed, focusing particularly on attainment of UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets and the delivery of Scottish Forestry Strategy and Scottish Biodiversity Strategy objectives. Future challenges for the management of native pinewoods are outlined which include the need for effective landscape-scale planning, deer management, habitat restoration and enhancement and monitoring. The contribution that pinewoods can make to rural development and economic prosperity is also highlighted and discussed.

Temporal measurement of the loss of native pinewood in Scotland through the analysis of orthorectified aerial photographs

The aim of this study was to develop a methodology where information on forest cover can be determined by comparing contemporary and historical aerial photographs. The paper describes the role of aerial photography in the production of orthorectified aerial photographs for measuring changes in the presence of individual trees. To test the technique, orthophotographs were compared for two native pinewoods located in north Scotland at Glenfeshie (photographed in 1946 and 1988) and Ballochbuie (photographed in 1965 and 1997). The study demonstrated that the relative loss of individual trees can be measured by mapping trees at different dates. Results suggest that about 18% of the mature tree cover at Glenfeshie was lost between 1946 and 1988. Recruitment into the canopy over the same period was about 2% giving an overall loss over the period of the study of 16% or about 0·4% per annum. Losses at the Ballochbuie native pinewood, between 1965 and 1997 were 2·7% with a recruitment rate of 0·8% giving an overall loss of 1·9% or 0·06% per annum. Losses appeared to increase with decreasing elevation although this was only statistically significant at Glenfeshie. The rate of loss may well be greater given that the present average age of the pine trees is around 200 years. While losses at Ballochbuie appear to be smaller, an evaluation of the current age class structure suggests that the existing population, with 43% of trees between 251 and 300 years old, will disappear at a higher rate than that measured.

The lengths of fences in Highland woods: the measure of a collision hazard to woodland birds

Birds die due to collisions with many static man-made objects, particularly wires (powerlines, ski-tows and fences) (Avery, 1978; Faanes, 1987; Bevanger, 1990; Alonso et al., 1994). Although these events are common, the effect that fatal collisions have on bird populations has rarely been studied. Catt et al. (1994a) found that capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) living in native pinewoods in Scotland collided at a rate of 3 collisions km' a~' against 1.8 m high deer fences. This led to an annual mortality of 32 per cent, higher than all other causes of mortality combined. Further work showed that collisions against deer fences, particularly by gamebirds, were widespread in the Highlands of Scotland. In one year, 115 red grouse Lagopus lagopus (L.), 25 black grouse Tetrao tetrix L. and 31 capercaillie collided with 134.8 km of fences in and around woods, primarily conifer plantations. Smaller numbers of owls, pigeons and passerines also died (Petty, 1995; Baines and Summers, 1997). These mortalities are of conservation concern, particularly because capercaillie and black grouse are two of 23 species which have declined by over 50 per cent in

Genetic variability and population structure in the canker pathogen Crumenulopsis sororia

Single ascospore isolates of the Scots pine canker pathogen Crumenulopsis sororia were sampled from each of six native pinewoods in Scotland and scored for their genotype at four isozyme loci. Gene diversity was high both within the total collection (HT = 0·26) and within individual populations (&-Hs = 0·25). Levels of genetic differentiation among populations were low (GST = 0·041) and mean genetic distances between populations were small (&-D = 0·0146). Genetic analysis of families from individual apothecia support previous suggestions that C. sororia practises random biparental outcrossing. Within populations the degree of non-random association between alleles at different isozyme loci is small. The results are interpreted in the light of knowledge about the population biology of C. sororia.

Indicator Species Analysis, A Divisive Polythetic Method of Classification, and its Application to a Survey of Native Pinewoods in Scotland

Indicator species analysis is a divisive polythetic method of numerical classification applicable to large sets of qualitative or quantitative data. It incorporates a key which enables new data to be assigned to the classificatory framework. Each dichotomy is established in several steps. First, a one-dimensional reciprocal averaging ordination is computed. The stands are then divided into two groups according to whether they fall on one side or the other of the centre of gravity of the ordination. Five indicator species are then identified which discriminate as well as possible between the two groups of stands. These are then used to construct a secondary ordination. The balance between the indicator species in the secondary ordination provides an objective and easily applied criterion for identifying the two groups of stands which can be used conveniently in the form of a key. The method has been applied to a survey of the native pinewoods of Scotland. The main floristic variation in these woods is related to two gradients: wetness and pH. The indicator species analysis helped to highlight the gradients, and provided a means of pigeon-holing the stands into acceptably homogeneous groups as a basis for further, more detailed, studies

Ecology of Scots Pine in the Scottish Highlands

The recent publication by Steven & Carlisle (1959) on the native pine woods of Scotland presents a great deal of information basic to the study of Scots pine ecology in the Highlands. In particular, it concentrates upon the world distribution of the species, the distribution of native forest fragments in the Highlands, the history and prehistory of pine in Britain and the morphological variation to be found, especially within Pinus sylvestris ssp. scotica. The present paper, while not a comprehensive review of the subject, seeks to expand the third chapter of the above work on the general ecology and regeneration of the native pine woods in Scotland.

Cryptothallus mirabilis in a native pinewood in Scotland

Cryptothallus mirabilis in a native pinewood in Scotland

The Native Pinewoods of Scotland.

The Native Pinewoods of Scotland.