Scotch Pine Forest Research Articles

Estimation of heavy metals content and regularities of its migration within a soil profile during pyrogenic soil formation in the context of the Scotch pine forest in Togljatty city

Abstract Forest fires are among the most significant disturbances on a global scale. Affecting biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles, forest fires play an important role in atmospheric chemical processes and the global carbon cycle. Using the example of the pyrogenic landscapes of the Samara region, this article reviews changes in the accumulation regularity of heavy metal content and its migration within a soil profile during pyrogenic soil formation. In the case of surface forest fires, the studied postpyrogenic soils are characterized by increased cadmium, nickel and zinc content in the Opyr pyrogenic horizon. In contrast, the content of all analyzed heavy metals decreases compared to the control for crown forest fires, indicating active element emissions into the atmosphere.

Drought resilience of Mongolian Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) at the southernmost edge of its natural distribution: A comparison of natural forests and plantations

Global warming has increased the frequency and intensity of climatic drought events, intensifying the vulnerability of forest ecosystems, especially at the marginal habitats. The resilience of marginal forests to drought stress is a critical issue of sustainable forest management. In this study, the post-drought resilience of natural and planted populations of Mongolian Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica), the most widely planted conifers in the semiarid temperate China, was compared at the southernmost of the species’ natural range. Three drought events in this region were identified in time series of SPEI data during last 40 years. i.e. in 1986–1987, 2003–2004, and 2007–2008. We calculated the individual-level detrended Basal Area Index before, during, and after the three drought events, and compared the resistance (Rt), recovery (Rc), and resilience (Rs) of natural and planted populations to the droughts. The results showed a negative relationship between Rt and Rc. Both natural and planted Mongolian Scotch pine forests showed positive Rs and could revert to their pre-drought growth levels within 3 years after the most severe drought. Nevertheless, we found a more stable Rs in natural forests than plantations to drought events of different severities, and a high pre-drought growth could weaken the Rs for both natural forests and plantations. The pre- and post-drought precipitation levels were both critical for the Rt and Rc of Mongolian Scotch pine to a drought. Forest age significantly reduced Rs and population density weakened Rc in natural forests. Our results revealed the joint influence of climate, site, and population characteristics on the resilience components of Mongolian Scotch pine to drought stress in the marginal habitats, which provided references for plantation planning and sustainable forest management in arid regions.

Agricultural Crops Grown in Laboratory Conditions on Chernevaya Taiga Soil Demonstrate Unique Composition of the Rhizosphere Microbiota.

Chernevaya taiga in West Siberia is a unique environment, with gigantism of grasses and shrubs. Exceptionally high productivity of plants is determined by the synergistic interaction of various factors, with a special role belonging to microorganisms colonizing the plant roots. This research explored whether agricultural plants can recruit specific microorganisms from within virgin Chernevaya Umbrisol and thus increase their productivity. Radish and wheat plants were grown on the Umbrisol (T1) and control Retisol of Scotch pine forest stand (T3) soils in the phytotron, and then a bacterial community analysis of the rhizosphere was performed using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. In laboratory experiments, the plant physiological parameters were significantly higher when growing on the Umbrisol as compared to the Retisol. Bacterial diversity in T1 soil was considerably higher than in the control sample, and the principal coordinate analysis demonstrated apparent differences in the bacterial communities associated with the plants. Agricultural plants growing in the T1 soil form specific prokaryotic communities, with dominant genera Chthoniobacter, Pseudomonas, Burkholderia, and Massilia. These communities also include less abundant but essential for plant growth nitrifiers Cand. Nitrosocosmius and Nitrospira, and representatives of Proteobacteria, Bacilli, and Actinobacteria, known to be gibberellin-producers.

Seasonal variations of canopy spectra and their indications to carbon fluxes in a temperate forest in northeast China

The seasonal variations of forest canopy spectral characteristics are critical to improving the utilization of remote sensing methodology to quantify forest physiology, especially forest carbon sink. However, the seasonal variations of forest canopy spectra are poorly understood. Combined field survey and EO-1 Hyperion imageries, we extracted the spectral curves of seven forest types of Changbai Mountain in China in seven periods. We also calculated various remote sensing indexes and analyzed their seasonal change of spectral characteristics among different forest types. Optimal indexes were selected to indicate the seasonal variation of forest carbon fluxes. Our results showed that there were differences in spectral curves among forest types. The reflectance of coniferous forests was lower than that of broad-leaved forests in growing season. Changbai Scotch pine forest owned the lowest spectral reflectance, whereas the reflectance of Mongolian oak forest was the highest, especially in the near-infrared region. The red edge slope (RES) of broad-leaved forest was higher than coniferous forest in spring and summer. The RES of broad-leaved and coniferous forests was similar in autumn. The red edge position of various forest types showed slight shift in different seasons. Four typical forest types showed different spectral characteristics with seasonal changes. The seasonal variation of coniferous forest spectral curves was not obvious. The seasonal variation of broad-leaved forest spectra was the largest. Most of the spectral indexes can indicate the seasonal variation characteristics of each forest type. Enhanced vegetation index (EVI) is better than normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to indicate the forest phenology. Seasonal curves of spectral indexes were different in all forest types. Spectral indexes of coniferous forests were most stable throughout the year. The curves of each index in broad-leaved forests showed significant difference in autumn, which may be influenced by the understory vegetation after their defoliation. For broad-leaved Korean (BK) pine forest, the scaled value of photochemical reflectance index (SPRI)*EVI owned the highest correlation with gross primary productivity (R = 0.99 and P < 0.01) and net ecosystem exchange (R = − 0.77 and P < 0.05), respectively. SPRI*NDVI showed the highest correlation with ecosystem respiration (R = 0.96 and P < 0.01). The seasonal variation of carbon fluxes of different forest types retrieved from the optimal remote sensing index were consistent, but their peaks occurred at different times.

Characteristics of humic acids isolated from burned and unburned topsoils in sub-boreal Scotch pine forests by 13C-NMR spectroscopy

Postpyrogenic soil dynamics is an informative tool for studying soil elementary processes in extreme temperature conditions and for predicting short time environmental changes in conditions of catastrophic landscape changes. Soil organic matter (SOM) system evolution is the most rapid process of postpyrogenic soil development. In this relation, the focus on humus structure is important for understanding these important dynamics. Soil restoration after spontaneous forest fires near Togljatty City (Samara Region, Russia) was abandoned in 2010 and further monitoring over the next ten years was organised to evaluate the speed of humus accumulation dynamics. The aim of this study was to apply the 13C-NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy to analyse the effect of forest fires on SOM degradation in Scotch pine forests on Psamment Entisols of the fragmented steppe in the Samara Region. Three key soil plots were studied for estimating SOM quality changes under the forest fire effect: surface forest fire, crown forest fire and control, i.e. 18 soil samples of top soil horizons were analysed in three replicates. The data obtained indicate that the humus molecular composition was substantially affected by the wildfires. Investigation of the humic acids’ (HAs) molecular structure by 13C-NMR showed a relative increase in aromatic compounds and decrease in aliphatic ones. The aromaticity degree of HA molecules increases in 5.7 and 3.8 times in cases of surface and crown forest fires, correspondingly. In general, crown and surface fires plots are not very different in terms of 13C-NMR spectra of HAs (p = 0.34); however, HAs of control plot have essential differences from pyrogenic ones (p &amp;lt; 0.05). 13C NMR spectra have shown a change in the proportion of oxygen-containing functional groups as well. One of the most important effects observed in wildfire-affected SOM is that the proportion of lignin-like structures increases as a concomitant effect of depletion of C,H-alkyl groups, especially in the case of crown fires.

Long-term effects of liming on soil physico-chemical properties and micro-arthropod communities in Scotch pine forest

We tested the long-term effects of liming on soil micro-arthropods in a stand of Scotch pine on former drift sand in the Netherlands. To counteract the effects of acidification, liming was applied in increasing quantities from 0 (control), 3, 6, 9 and 18 ton ha−1 on experimental plots over the course of 1985 and 1986. Soil samples for chemical analyses and those for extraction of soil micro-arthropods were taken in October 2017, 32 years after application. Liming did restore the buffer capacity of the soil and did increase pH and increased plant biomass of the understory. Liming, however, also created P limitation, due to Al precipitation and an excess of free Ca to bind on. The consequence of the observed P limitation was a significant decrease in herbivorous and herbofungivorous micro-arthropods, whereas fungivorous and opportunistic herbofungivores were unaffected. P availability in acidified soils had become limited, due to higher N input that also caused acidification and due to remediation with added buffer material. Decomposition of organic matter was accelerated and increased N release to the system. The forest ecosystem had become P limited, where it originally was N limited or N and P co-limited.

Co-occurrence pattern of ground beetle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) assemblages along pollution gradient in scotch pine forest

Over the last 30 years there has been a great deal of interest in investigating patterns of species co-occurrence across space and time, which may be shaped by interspecific competition for shared resources. A good model of co-occurrence mechanisms is developed among predatory animals along a pollution gradient, where shared resources become more limited in more contaminated areas and the energy budget for detoxification is much higher. Community disassembly by heavy metal pollution may occur when the presence of toxic elements shifts patterns of species co-occurrence from structured to random. On the other hand, limited resources on a pollution gradient should lead to higher competition between dominant species. Disassembly may entail the loss of existing co-evolved interactions among species, which has ramifications for community dynamics and the quality of the functioning of polluted ecosystems. We expect an assemblage dominated by competitive species interactions to exhibit a significant segregation of taxa, whereas one dominated by mutualistic or syntrophic interactions would exhibit an aggregation of taxa. Responses of Carabidae co-occurrence patterns and changes in body size measures to heavy metal concentrations were investigated in a zinc contamination gradient in a Scots pine forest in the vicinity of Olkusz (southern Poland), at 12 study sites. The zinc concentration in the humus layer varied between 108 mg kg−1 dw to 6150 mg kg−1 dw. We used the C-score index, between all possible species pairs in a matrix. The ground beetle assemblages from the reference sites showed a significant segregation pattern. Community disassembly occurred only among assemblages in heavily polluted sites. The average value of skewness and kurtosis were significantly higher in the highly contaminated sites, indicating the greater proportion of small-bodied species in contaminated areas. The Gini coefficient was highest in the low contaminated sites, indicating the body-size inequality of carabid assemblages was greatest in the uncontaminated areas. Our data suggest that increased pollution contributes to the extinction of sensitive forest specialists with large body size and higher competitive abilities, leading to replacement by less sensitive generalists, with smaller body size and that the co-occurrence of species on heavily polluted sites is a result of unstable interactions between species in communities.

Effects of Different LiDAR Intensity Normalization Methods on Scotch Pine Forest Leaf Area Index Estimation

Effects of Different LiDAR Intensity Normalization Methods on Scotch Pine Forest Leaf Area Index Estimation

Quantifying the Effects of Normalisation of Airborne LiDAR Intensity on Coniferous Forest Leaf Area Index Estimations

The range between a sensor and the target, the incidence angle, and the target reflectance, are known factors that can influence the intensity values of LiDAR data and consequently, its use in many applications. However, very few studies have provided a quantitative analysis of the effects of normalisation of these three factors on forest leaf area index (LAI) estimations. In this paper, using two coniferous tree species (i.e., Scotch pine and Larch pine) as a case study, the effects of intensity normalisation on coniferous forest LAI estimations have, for the first time, been systematically examined and quantified. It was found that the intensity normalisation had a generally positive effect on the improvement of coniferous forest LAI estimations. However, the improvements were very minor. Specifically, the range normalisation did not improve the accuracy of the LAI estimation for either of the two coniferous tree species. The incidence angle and reflectance normalisation improved the accuracy of the LAI estimation for Scotch pine forests; however, they had no effect on the improvement of the LAI estimation for Larch pine forests. This experimental study suggests that range normalisation is not required for forest LAI estimations in areas with small elevation differences (i.e., less than 114 m). The incidence angle and target reflectance normalisation can marginally improve the accuracy of coniferous forest LAI estimations. However, the extent of this improvement varies among species, depending on the choice of incidence angle and reflectance coefficient. Overall, the effects of normalisation of airborne LiDAR intensity on coniferous forest LAI estimations are closely related to topographic conditions (i.e., elevation and slope), the tree species composition, and its associated structural attributes. Therefore, further research should explore the effects of LiDAR intensity normalisation on forest LAI estimations in regions with large elevation differences and diverse forest structures.

Soil organic matter quality and composition in a postfire Scotch pine forest in Tolyatti, Samara region

Evaluation of humus accumulation and humification rates was conducted on soils affected by surface and crown fires during 2010 forest fires near Tolyatti (Samara region, Russia). Three key soil plots were studied for estimating SOM quality changes under the forest fire effect. Total carbon and nitrogen content, as well as Сhumic acids/Cfulvic acids (Cha/Cfa) ratios, were estimated to evaluate the dynamics of soil recovery. Humic acid powders were extracted from soils and analyzed by elemental composition and 13C-NMR spectroscopy to assess changes in structure and composition. The data indicate that the burning of a forest floor and humic horizon led to humus losses and decreases in total carbon stocks and content. As a result of the fires, the content of humic acids in the pyrogenic horizon increased. Greater increases in the degree of organic matter humification were observed for surface fires than for crown fires. Fire also lead to the formation of humic acids with an increased proportion of aromatic compounds than in control soils, which indicates the degradation of carboxylic and aliphatic groups of molecules under the burning effect. This corresponds well with the decrease of the proportion of hydrogen when comparing the elemental composition of burned soil with that of mature soil.

The dynamics and role of lichens in a managed Cladonia-Scotch pine forest (Cladonio-Pinetum)

The &lt;em&gt;Cladonia&lt;/em&gt;-Scotch pine forest is a community seriously endangered by man's influence. Secondary succession in the &lt;em&gt;Cladonio-Pinetum&lt;/em&gt; habitat is discussed and four stages of succession are distinguished. These are correlated with the succession of cryptogamous plants, mainly lichens, on decaying pine stumps and on pine trunks. The effects of the most common methods in forest management on the floristic composition, the phytocenotic structure and the biomass of the &lt;em&gt;Cladonio-Pinetum&lt;/em&gt; herb and moss-lichen layers have been investigated. The include mineral fertilization, introduction of underbrush, grazing and litter-raking. These methods are shown to have on adverse effect on lichen growth. Also presented is an analysis of the lichen flora and the characteristics of the more important plant communities containing lichens in the north-western part to the Bory Tucholskie woodland (northern Poland).

啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子捕食和搬运格局研究

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 啮齿动物捕食和搬运蒙古栎种子对种群更新的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201210121412 作者: 作者单位: 东北林业大学野生动物资源学院,东北林业大学野生动物资源学院 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中央高校基本科研业务费专项资金（DL13CA08）；哈尔滨市科学技术局科技创新人才研究专项资金资助项目（RC2009QN002149） Patterns of seed predation and removal of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) by rodents Author: Affiliation: College of Wildlife Resources,Northeast Forestry University,Harbin,150040,College of Wildlife Resources,Northeast Forestry University,Harbin,150040 Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:2010-2011年，在东北林业大学城市林业示范基地研究了啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子的捕食和搬运。结果表明，蒙古栎种子捕食率在年际间无显著差异，但2010年的蒙古栎种子搬运率显著高于2011年，存留率显著低于2011年。啮齿动物在胡桃楸林、樟子松林、水曲柳林和白桦林内对蒙古栎种子的总捕食率和总搬运率分别达到（5.7±13.5）%和（27.1±37.1）%。蒙古栎种子在樟子松林内的捕食率和搬运率均最高，胡桃楸林内蒙古栎种子存留率最高；2010年蒙古栎种子在与蒙古栎林边缘距离0，10，20，30，40，50m组间的捕食率无显著差异，搬运率和存留率有显著差异，但2011年蒙古栎种子在不同距离组间的捕食率呈显著差异，搬运率和存留率无显著差异。与蒙古栎林边缘距离20m处蒙古栎种子的捕食率最高。2010年和2011年，分别有（37.8±49.7）%和（27.7±49.8）%的蒙古栎种子被啮齿动物利用，这表明啮齿动物是林业示范基地内蒙古栎地表种子的主要捕食者。冬季食物匮乏秋季贮藏种子是造成啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子有较大捕食、扩散压力的主要原因。因此，啮齿动物对蒙古栎种子的捕食和搬运影响了蒙古栎林的种群更新。 Abstract:During 2010 and 2011, seed predation and removal of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) were studied in the City forestry demonstration base of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The results showed that: there was no significant difference in Mongolian oak seed predation rate among the two years. But Mongolian oak seed removal rate in 2010 was significantly higher than 2011, and the remaining rate was significantly lower than that of 2011. The total seed predation rate and removal rate of Mongolian oak by rodents respectively were (5.7±13.5)% and (27.1±37.1)%. Mongolian oak seed predation rate and removal rate were the highest in scotch pine forest because of predation and removal. Seed remaining rate was the highest in Manchurian walnut forest. Mongolian oak seed predation rate had not significantly different in 0m, 10m, 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m distance group that were apart from edge of Mongolian oak forest, but removal rate and remaining rate had significant difference in 2010. Seed predation rate had significant difference at different distance group, removal rate and remaining rate had not significantly different in 2011. Mongolian oak seed predation rate was the highest at 20m. There were (37.8±49.7)% and (27.7±49.8)% Mongolian oak seed were used by rodents in 2010 and 2011, respectively. This showed that the rodents were the main ground seeds predators of the City forestry demonstration base, winter food shortages and autumn storage seeds could be the main reason that caused Mongolian oak seed have large predation and spread stress by rodents. Therefore, seed predation and removal of Mongolian oak by rodents could affect the fates of Mongolian oak seeds and population regeneration. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Ecology of the orchid Goodyera repens in its southern distribution limits

Goodyera repens, a species of central and northern Europe, forms large populations in the Scotch pine forests in some areas of Mt Rhodopi (NE Greece), while it is completely absent in other areas with the same habitat type. The present study aims to investigate the ecological factors that constitute a barrier in the distribution of G. repens in its southernmost distribution limit. Data from 65 localities were sampled and chemical soil parameters were measured. Using the WorldClim database, the summer maximum temperatures and precipitation values were extracted. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the variables that best explain the distribution of G. repens. The data have been found to fit the model in a significant manner, and the independent variables significantly explaining the probability of G. repens being present were phosphorus, copper, and zinc. The results indicate that the distribution of G. repens is indirectly affected by soil variables through the establishment of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Furthermore, its distribution is found to be negatively correlated with the nutrient content of the soil. The high habitat specificity of the species and its sensitivity to soil nutrient status makes it a convenient indicator for monitoring the consequences of vegetation succession on forest biodiversity.

Variations of measured and simulated soil-loss amounts in a semiarid area in Turkey

The main goal of this research was soil-loss determination and comparison of the plot measurement results with simulation model (universal soil loss equation (USLE)) results in different land use and slope classes. The research took place in three different land-use types (Scotch pine forest, pasture land, and agricultural land) and in two different slope classes (15-20%, 35-40%). Within six measurement stations (for each land-use type and slope class-one station), totally 18 measurement plots have been constituted, and soil-loss amount measurements have been investigated during the research period (3 years along). USLE simulation model is used in these measurement plots for calculation the soil-loss amounts. The results pointed out that measured (in plots) and simulated (with USLE) soil-loss amounts differ significantly in each land-use type and slope class.

Indicative Factors for European Bison Refuges in the Bieszczady Mountains

European bison Bison bonasus refuges in the Bieszczady Mountains were characterised using four habitat variables: elevation above sea level, slope exposure, tree crown closure, and stand composition. We compared habitat composition of ranges representing a 95% probability of bison use with ranges representing a 25% probability of bison use, on a seasonal basis (summer, winter). During the growing season (“summer”), the 25% probability ranges contained more high elevation (550–749 m), other than northern-exposure areas with more open-canopied, fir-dominated forest than did the 95% probability ranges. During winter, the 95% probability ranges contained less high elevation (550–749 m), northerly exposure areas with more close-canopied, beech-fir, alder, and Scotch pine forests.

La renta ambiental de los bosques

The objective of this paper is to show the measurement of the environmental income from two private Spanish forests, the Cork Oak Woodlands of the Alcornocales Natural Park (Cadiz and Malaga) and the Scotch Pine Forest of the Sierra de Guadarrama (Madrid and Segovia). We also contribute to the technical and political debate on governmental regulations of forest environmental accounting in European Union. We have measured the environmental goods and services consumed by private landowners and public visitors through the contingent valuation technique. We have estimated the value of mushrooms gathering by public visitors in the Scotch Pine Forests of the Sierra de Guadarrama taking the price and harvest from the mushroom market in Pinar Grande (Soria). The value for carbon estimated accounts for the avoided damage of the greenhouse effect mitigation due to the sequestration of the atmospheric carbon dioxide. The environmental valuations show that the private environmental profitability rates in the Alcornocales Natural Park and in the Sierra de Guadarrama are 2.13 % and 3.43 %, in relation to their corresponding land market prices. We have estimated that the total net values added are 1.63 and 3.28 times higher than its corresponding conventional net values added in the Alcornocales Natural Park and in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Transformation of soil invertebrate complex after surface fires of different intensity

The effect of surface fires of different intensity on soil invertebrates was evaluated in central taiga Scotch pine forests in the Yenisey Region of Siberia. In the period of 4-5 years, the abundance and ecological and trophic structure of sandy podzol population was almost completely restored after surface fires of medium and low intensity. The recovery process was decelerated after high intensity fires.

Variability of Fire Behavior, Fire Effects, and Emissions in Scotch Pine Forests of Central Siberia

As part of the Russian FIRE BEAR (Fire Effects in the Boreal Eurasia Region) Project, replicated 4-ha experimental fires were conducted on a dry Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)/lichen (Cladonia sp.)/feathermoss (Pleurozeum schreberi) forest site in central Siberia. Observations from the initial seven surface fires (2000-2001) ignited under a range of burning conditions quantified the different fuel consumption and fire behavior characteristics (e.g., rate of spread, fireline intensity, etc.) possible in this particular forest fuel type. Experimental results and dendrochronological study of local fire history both support the dominance of local fire regimes by low to moderate-intensity surface fires. Carbon released by the experimental fires ranged from 4.8 to 15.4 t C ha− 1 depending on fuel conditions and fire severity. Preliminary emission data show a strong correlation between carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, which should facilitate accurate estimates of fire impacts on atmospheric chemistry. Carbon concentration in smoke samples was related to fire severity. The short landscape-scale fire-return interval (50 years), combined with typically low fire severity, in pine ecosystems of central Siberia is often associated with low tree mortality and relatively rapid buildup of litter and understory fuels after a fire.

Retention of Nitrogen by a Nitrogen‐Loaded Scotch Pine Forest

AbstractThe capacity of forests to store added N and how this excess N might interact with other nutrients is not well understood. We studied N retention in a Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest that had received two decades of annual additions of N as NH4NO3 at four rates (N0‐N3, equivalent to 0, 36, 72 and 108 kg N ha‐1 yr‐1), with and without supplementary additions of P and K. The highest N treatment (N3) was suspended three years before this study. Leaching of inorganic N was measured beneath lysimeters with and without living tree roots inside them, and the fate of 15N injected into the mor layer was traced by sampling understory vegetation, soil to 20‐cm depth, and leachates. Leaching of inorganic N increased with increasing N dose and was dominated by NO‐3 on plots to which N had been added. In the suspended N3 treatment, leaching of N was lower than in the N2 treatment. The presence of tree roots greatly reduced leaching of N. The occurrence of labeled NO‐3 under lysimeters to which labeled NH+4 had been added showed that nitrification was important in treatment N2, but not in N1, suggesting that additions of &gt;30 kg N ha‐1 yr‐1 are needed to induce larger net nitrification at this site. Our data showed (i) that trees were an important sink for N, (ii) that additions of P and K had a marginal positive effect on N retention, and (iii) that leaching from previously N‐loaded forest rapidly decreased when the N load was removed.

Preliminary assessment of airborne imaging spectrometer and airborne thematic mapper data acquired for forest decline areas in the Federal Republic of Germany

This study evaluated the utility of data collected by the high-spectral resolution Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS-2, tree mode, spectral range 0.8–2.2 μm) and the broad-band Daedalus Airborne Thematic Mapper (ATM, spectral range 0.42–13.0 μm) in assessing forest decline damage at a predominantly Scotch pine forest in the Federal Republic of Germany. Analysis of spectral radiance values from the ATM and raw digital number (DN) values from AIS-2 showed that higher reflectance in the near infrared was characteristic of high damage (heavy chlorosis, limited needle loss) in Scotch pine canopies. A classification image of a portion of the AIS-2 flight line, generated using log residual data in conjunction with the SPAM “Find” algorithm, agreed very well with a damage assessment map produced by standard aerial photointerpretation techniques. Results suggest that fine feature spectral differences in canopy reflectance have been detected in the near and short wave infrared by the AIS-2 and these features correspond with visual evidence of damage. The exact nature of these spectral fine features is not presently understood. These preliminary results indicate that both visible as well as near and short wave infrared reflectance features do characterize increasing damage in Scotch pine.