Use Of Pine Research Articles

Pines and oaks in the restoration of Mediterranean landscapes of Spain: New perspectives for an old practice — a review

Pines have been extensively used for land restoration in the Mediterranean basin and in other parts of the world, since the late 19 th century. The theoretical basis supporting pine utilisation was its stress-tolerant and pioneer features, and their attributed role of facilitating the development of late-successional hardwoods in the long-term. In the present work, the use of pines and hardwoods in forest restoration is discussed in the frame of the current disturbance regime and social demands for Mediterranean forests. Large pine plantations have recently disappeared because of their sensitivity to fire (e.g., Pinus nigra) or because of the short fire-intervals (e.g., Pinus halepensis). Combined pine and oak plantations are proposed for degraded land restoration on the basis of the complementary features of both groups of species. Seeding and containerised seedling plantation, soil amendments and plantation techniques to reduce transplant shock are evaluated for reforestation under water-stressing conditions, on the basis of several experiments performed in eastern Spain. Both P. halepensis and Quercus ilex are tested.

Florida Panther Habitat Use in Response to Prescribed Fire

The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with only 30-50 adults surviving in and around Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve. Managers at these areas conduct annual prescribed burns in pine (Pinus sp.) as a cost-effective method of managing wildlife habitat. Our objectives were to determine if temporal and spatial relationships existed between prescribed fire and panther use of pine. To accomplish this, we paired fire-event data from the Refuge and the Preserve with panther radiolocations collected between 1989 and 1998, determined the time that had elapsed since burning had occurred in management units associated with the radiolocations, and generated a frequency distribution based on those times. We then generated an expected frequency distribution, based on random use relative to time since burning. This analysis revealed that panther use of burned pine habitats was greatest during the first year after a management unit was burned. Also, compositional analysis indicated that panthers were more likely to position their home ranges in areas that contained pine. We conclude that prescribed burning is important to panther ecology. We suggest that panthers were attracted to <1-year-old burns because of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and other prey responses to vegetation and structural changes caused by the prescribed fires. The strong selection for stands burned within 1 year is a persuasive indication that it is the burning in pine, rather than the pine per se, that most influenced habitat use. Before burning rotation lengths are reduced, however, we suggest managers determine effects of shorter burning intervals on vegetation composition and evaluate the landscape-scale changes that would result.

“Coffins ”, Wood and the Status of the People Buried

Human burials from archaeological contexts have often been analysed and described. Few of these analyses have dealt with the style of the grave and the identification of the wood utilised in the “coffin ” construction. This paper describes such an analysis, the primary object of which is to develop a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the people buried in a cemetery outside the town of Vredendal in South Africa. An absence of regular coffins for adults, the use of fruit boxes, a drawer and barrel staves and the use of pine in coffin construction indicate that these people were probably farm labourers living in poor circumstances at the turn of the century.

Use of a Secondary Host by Non‐Outbreak Populations of the Gypsy Moth

Oak species are the favored host of gypsy moth populations in the northeastern United state, although the herbivore expands its host range dramatically during an outbreak. Pitch pine, a secondary host because of its unacceptability for early development, was found to be frequently used for oviposition in oak—pitch pine forests with non—outbreak populations. This observation led to the study of ecological and behavioral factors that can contribute to the use of a secondary host under low—density conditions by an irruptive herbivore species. A series of manipulative field and laboratory experiments plus a study of natural history provided data on the pattern of pitch pine use during the life cycle of the gypsy moth, the effect of pitch pine on larval growth, and the differential impact of natural enemies depending on host use. I found that (1) egg masses occurred far more frequently on pitch pine than was expected based on the frequency of pitch pine in forests with low—density gypsy moth populations; (2) in the laboratory, early—instar larvae could not survive on pitch pine while late—instar larvae grew well; (3) in the field, larvae began to use pitch pine to feed and rest after the onset of the fourth instar. Compared to oak, (4) egg masses on pitch pine experienced less parasitism; (5) the microhabitat of pitch pine held less nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), a major mortality agent of the gypsy moth; (6) individuals hatching from eggs laid on pitch pine were less infected with NPV; and (7) larvae dosed with a known amount of NPV survived longer when feeding on pitch pine foliage. The use of pitch pine by individuals in low—density gypsy moth populations appeared to be beneficial and may have an important effect on population dynamics. The mobility associated with host switching by late—instar larvae and with dispersal by first—instar larvae oviposited on unacceptable food may represent an important mechanism for host—range extension.

The Importance of Cover on Use of Conifer Plantations by Snowshoe Hares in Northern New Brunswick

Five conifer plantations were sampled in northern New Brunswick for winter use by snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). In 8-year old plantations winter hare pellets were 20 times more abundant in a jack pine (Pinus banksiana) than in a black spruce (Picea mariana) stand, which in turn contained 30% more pellets than a red pine (Pinus resinosa) stand. In two 13-year-old plantations, hare pellets were more abundant in a black spruce than a jack pine stand. Conifer cover 1-3 m in height influenced pellet densities. Conifer cover &lt; 1 m in height did not influence pellet densities (winter hare use) probably due to snow depths of approximately that height. Winter pellet densities did not relate to availability of deciduous twigs (preferred food). In young plantations (~8 years), conifer cover was greatest in jack pine stands. By 13 years, high hare densities and subsequent browsing reduced critical conifer cover values in jack pine stands. Conifer cover values and hare densities increased with age of spruce plantations due to less browsing intensity in earlier years. It is concluded that conifer cover 1-3 m above ground is the single most important factor influencing distribution of hares among spruce and pine plantations (and consequent feeding damage to stock species) during winter in northern New Brunswick. Key words: Snowshoe hare, New Brunswick, winter use of pine and spruce plantations, importance of cover.