We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and...We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.展开更多
Understanding why elements are distributed in tree xylem in a particular way is a significant challenge in dendrochemistry.This study explored a hypothesis that metal elements in the xylem interact due to differences ...Understanding why elements are distributed in tree xylem in a particular way is a significant challenge in dendrochemistry.This study explored a hypothesis that metal elements in the xylem interact due to differences in physical properties such as ionic radius and ionization potential.Scots pine in an even-aged stand established during the early 1970s in eastern Siberia was the study species.Increment cores were taken from the north and south sides of trees and scanned with an X-ray fluorescent multi scanner.With the help of X-ray scanning,the following elements were analyzed:aluminum(Al),potassium(K),calcium(Ca),titanium(Ti),manganese(Mn),iron(Fe),copper(Cu),strontium(Sr)and zinc(Zn).Scanning data on the elements were split into early-wood and late-wood data for each year of growth.The following ratios were analyzed:Ca/Sr,Fe/Ca,Fe/Sr,Al/Cu,Al/Zn,Ti/Mn,and Mn/K.Among these,ones having a consistent pattern across tree rings,the ratios show a more or less dependable relationship:that an element shows a larger decrease(relative another element)that has a larger ionic radius and lower ionization potential.Hypothetically,this may be due to the advantage of an ion with smaller ionic radius and higher ionization potential under a deficit of accommodation centers in organic molecules.An experiment approach should be applied to clarify the relationships.展开更多
Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands i...Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands is key to making appropriate forest management decisions to limit damage and prevent the spread of mistletoe in the future.Therefore,the main objective of this study was to determine the probability of mistletoe occurrence in Scots pine stands in relation to stand-related endogenous factors such as age,top height,and stand density,as well as topographic and edaphic factors.We used unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)imagery from 2,247 stands to detect mistletoe in Scots pine stands,while majority stand and site characteristics were calculated from airborne laser scanning(ALS)data.Information on stand age and site type from the State Forest database were also used.We found that mistletoe infestation in Scots pine stands is influenced by stand and site characteristics.We documented that the densest,tallest,and oldest stands were more susceptible to mistletoe infestation.Site type and specific microsite conditions associated with topography were also important factors driving mistletoe occurrence.In addition,climatic water balance was a significant factor in increasing the probability of mistletoe occurrence,which is important in the context of predicted temperature increases associated with climate change.Our results are important for better understanding patterns of mistletoe infestation and ecosystem functioning under climate change.In an era of climate change and technological development,the use of remote sensing methods to determine the risk of mistletoe infestation can be a very useful tool for managing forest ecosystems to maintain forest sustainability and prevent forest disturbance.展开更多
Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classifi...Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classification system.The data were obtained from 2831 sample trees in 292 sample plots.Ten generalized height–diameter models were developed,and the best model(HD10)was selected according to statistical criteria.Then,nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was applied to the best model.The R2 for the generalized height‒diameter model(Richards function)modified by Sharma and Parton is 0.951,and the final model included number of trees,dominant height,and diameter at breast height,with a random parameter associated with each ecoregion attached to the inverse of the mean basal area.The full model predictions using the nonlinear mixed-effects model and the reduced model(HD10)predictions were compared using the nonlinear sum of extra squares test,which revealed significant differences between ecore-gions;ecoregion-based height–diameter models were thus found to be suitable to use.In addition,using these models in appropriate ecoregions was very important for achieving reliable predictions with low prediction errors.展开更多
The effect of heat treatment on the surface colour and hygro- scopic properties of pine wood were investigated in this study. Boards of Scots pine wood （Pinus sylvestris L.） were subjected to thermal treatment at 20...The effect of heat treatment on the surface colour and hygro- scopic properties of pine wood were investigated in this study. Boards of Scots pine wood （Pinus sylvestris L.） were subjected to thermal treatment at 200℃, for 4, 6, and 8 h. The change of equilibrium moisture content and density values of the specimens in order to facilitate the understand- ing of the treated material behavior. The colour parameters L＊ a＊ and b＊, used to depict the total colour change （dE） of wood surface, were shown to change proportionally to the treatment intensity. Moreover, swelling in the tangential and radial directions and absorption of the specimens ap- peared to be enhanced in great extent by the thermal treatment process. The mean value of swelling percentage in the tangential direction de- creased 10.26%, 17.22%, and 19.60% for specimens treated for 4, 6, and 8 h, respectively, referring to the final measurement after 72 h of immer- sion. In radial direction, mean value of swelling percentage decreased 19.56%, 32.75%, and 34.65% for treated for 4, 6 and 8 h, respectively, after 72 h immersion, which attests the decrease in swelling and im- provement in the hygroscopic behavior of Scots pine wood.展开更多
Background： Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce （Piceo abies （L.） Karst.）, Scots pine （Pinus sylvestris L.） and silver birch （Betula pe...Background： Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce （Piceo abies （L.） Karst.）, Scots pine （Pinus sylvestris L.） and silver birch （Betula pendula Roth） in Norwa are presented. The Norwegian National Forest Inventory （NFI） is used as data base for estimating the model parameters. The derived models are developed to enable spatially explicit and site sensitive tree height imputatio in forest inventories as well as future tree height predictions in growth and yield scenario simulations. Methods： Generalized additive mixed models （gamm） are employed to detect and quantify potentially non-linear effects of predictor variables. In doing so the quadratic mean diameter serves as longitudinal covariate since stand ag as measured in the NFI, shows only a weak correlation with a stands developmental status in Norwegian forests. Additionally the models can be locally calibrated by predicting random effects if measured height-diameter pairs are available. Based on the model selection of non-constraint models, shape constraint additive models （scare） were fit tc incorporate expert knowledge and intrinsic relationships by enforcing certain effect patterns like monotonicity. Results： Model comparisons demonstrate that the shape constraints lead to only marginal differences in statistical characteristics but ensure reasonable model predictions. Under constant constraints the developed models predict increasing tree heights with decreasing altitude, increasing soil depth and increasing competition pressure of a tree. / two-dimensional spatially structured effect of UTM-coordinates accounts for the potential effects of large scale spatial correlated covariates, which were not at our disposal. The main result of modelling the spatially structured effect is lower tree height prediction for coastal sites and with increasing latitude. The quadratic mean diameter affects both the level and the slope of the height-diameter curve and both effects are positive. Conclusions： In this investigation it is assumed that model effects in additive modelling of height-diameter curves which are unfeasible and too wiggly from an expert point of view are a result of quantitatively or qualitatively limited data bases. However, this problem can be regarded not to be specific to our investigation but more general since growth and yield data that are balanced over the whole data range with respect to all combinations of predictor variables are exceptional cases. Hence, scare may provide methodological improvements in several applications by combining the flexibility of additive models with expert knowledge.展开更多
Single sequence repeat（SSR） multiplexing is a semi high-throughput PCR methodology for the analysis of multiple SSRs.We developed two SSR multiplexes selected from SSR loci previously reported in the pine literature...Single sequence repeat（SSR） multiplexing is a semi high-throughput PCR methodology for the analysis of multiple SSRs.We developed two SSR multiplexes selected from SSR loci previously reported in the pine literature and tested the transferability of both SSR multiplexes in nine other pine species.We tested 234 nuclear SSR loci（n SSRs） previously described in the pine literature and selected ten n SSRs following the simple criteria of interpretability and reproducibility.Selected nuclear loci were divided into two n SSRs multiplex sets and their amplification was optimized for three different multiplex PCR methods based on：（a） a custom PCR protocol,（b） a custom protocol with hotstart taq polymerase,and（c） a commercially available kit for SSR multiplexing.To validate their performance,the level of genetic diversity was assessed in three Scots pine natural populations（Hungary,northern Sweden and southern Sweden）.In addition,we also tested the transferability of these multiplexes in nine other pine species.We have developed two n SSRs multiplexes of five loci each that will contribute to reduce the costs of n SSR scoring,while increasing the capacity of n SSR loci analysis.Amplification was successful in all three populations（94 % success） and the level of polymorphism（7.1 alleles/marker） was similar to that previously reported for other Scots pine natural populations.Transferability of both multiplexes was successful for those pine species closely related to Scots pine.展开更多
Environmental factors play vital roles in successful plantation and cultivation of tree seedlings.This study focuses on problems associated with reforestation under extreme continental climatic conditions.The objectiv...Environmental factors play vital roles in successful plantation and cultivation of tree seedlings.This study focuses on problems associated with reforestation under extreme continental climatic conditions.The objectives were to assess relative seedling performance(survival and growth)with respect to plantation age,and to analyze the influence of specific climatic factors during the early stages of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)plantations.The study was carried out in reforested areas of the Tujyin Nars region of northern Mongolia on six Scots pine plantations ranging from 5 to 10 years.In each of the six plantations,five 900 m^2 permanent sample plots were established and survival rates and growth performance measured annually over 7 years.Results show high variation in survival among the plantations(p<0.001,F=29.7).Seedling survival in the first year corresponded directly to the number of dry days in May.However,survival rate appeared to stabilize after the second year.The insignificant variation of height categories throughout the observation period indicated low competition among individuals.Two linear mixed-effect models show that height and radial growth were best explained by relative air humidity,which we consider to be a reliable indicator of site-specific water availability.Insufficient amounts and uneven distribution of rainfall pose a major threat during the first year of plantation establishment.Humidity and water availability are decisive factors for a successful seedling plantation.This highlights the impact of drought on forest plantations in northern Mongolia and the importance of developing climate resilient reforestation strategies.展开更多
Comparative analyses were conducted on the nutrient element content and returning amount of main fractional compositions of litter in Korean pine (KP), Mongolian Scots pine(MSP) and Dahurian larch (DL) plantations in ...Comparative analyses were conducted on the nutrient element content and returning amount of main fractional compositions of litter in Korean pine (KP), Mongolian Scots pine(MSP) and Dahurian larch (DL) plantations in Laoshan Plantation Experiment Station of Maoershan Experiment Forest Farm of Northeast Forestry University. The results are as follows: (1) The nutrient element content and returning amount in litter varies among different fractional compositions and tree species, the total returning amount of all nutrient elements and the returning amount of K, Ca, Mg, N and P are DL>MSP>KP, the returning amount of Cu is DL>KP>MSP, the returning amount of Fe and Mn are MSP>DL>KP, (2) To KP and DL plantations, the main nutrient element returned is dead needles; dead branches, bark scales and dead cones account for a little proportion; whereas to MSP plantation, besides dead needles,dead branches and bark scales also play an important role in the return of nutrient elements; (3)A little deal of dead leaves can provided a great deal of returning amount of nutrient elements.展开更多
The pine sawfly (Acantholyda posticalis Matsumura) is a serious pest of Pinus sylvestris; P. tabulaeformis and P. koraiensis. Chemical control has been generally applied, but caused a lot of problems. We first found F...The pine sawfly (Acantholyda posticalis Matsumura) is a serious pest of Pinus sylvestris; P. tabulaeformis and P. koraiensis. Chemical control has been generally applied, but caused a lot of problems. We first found Formica fukaii (new record in China). The ants nesting on Carex sp. preying on pine sawflics is an important predator. When nests are removed on purpose, the ant's behavior is normal and the nest are expanded. It is a dominant species and a natural enemy of pine sawfly in Nehe County.展开更多
A century and a half ago,in the European part of Russia(Moscow),forest scientists established the first long-term observations of forests,many of which are under observation to the present day.In the twentieth century...A century and a half ago,in the European part of Russia(Moscow),forest scientists established the first long-term observations of forests,many of which are under observation to the present day.In the twentieth century,climate changes and,due to industrial development,forest areas were under air pollution.Based on observations from 157 sites,this study shows that the growth and density of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)have decreased by the end of the twentieth century.The environment has changed,and the growth and development of plantations has slowed.Pine yields(-34%stand volume)and their life expectancy(on average 50 years)have decreased.These changes are critical for forestry and for the management of forests in urban centers.Due to the decline in growth,ecosystem functions by urban forests has decreased.In order to increase the sustainability of urban forests and the provision of ecosystem services,it is preferable to create multi-species stands with a complex structure.展开更多
The plantations of korean pine (Pinus koraensis) and scots pine (Pinus sylvesris var. mongolica) are mainly pure stands. Fires are gradually causing problems in these plantations and being paid much more attention rec...The plantations of korean pine (Pinus koraensis) and scots pine (Pinus sylvesris var. mongolica) are mainly pure stands. Fires are gradually causing problems in these plantations and being paid much more attention recently. Study on the influence of fire on trees and the adaptation to fire, therefore, is of great important to probe the fire ecological properties and the protection ways of these two species. The results are as follows: Both of the species are easily damaged by fire, but korean pine is more susceptible. In the same fire, korean pine is damaged more seriously than scots pine although they have the same size. Young individuals have low fire resistant capacity and can be damaged seriously, and older ones have strong fire resistance and can be damaged lightly. Up-hill fire makes a serious damage to the trees distributed in up-slopes with the reason of higher fire intensity. Down -hill fire makes a serious damage to the trees distributed in down-slopes with the reason of higher fire severity. The larger deocambium area in the tree bark is, the earlier tree growth after fire is. During the early growth stage, the damaged tree bark will Spill over much resin. The height of running resin is higher than that of dead cambium. Damaged trees sprout and grow more slowly and the length of leaves are shorter than these normal trees. The chiorophyll content of serious damaged trees is much higher than that of normal trees. The chiorophyll content of dying trees is 64. 29% higher than that of the contrast ones. Cell membrance penetrability of damaged trees is also higher than that of normal trees.展开更多
Investigation and rescarches are carricd out in MaocrshanForcst Farm attached to Northeast Forcstry University in 1988. Comparedwith the contrast, 29 superior familics and 21 inferior families areselected from 112 fam...Investigation and rescarches are carricd out in MaocrshanForcst Farm attached to Northeast Forcstry University in 1988. Comparedwith the contrast, 29 superior familics and 21 inferior families areselected from 112 families of half sib and open pollination of seven-year old scots pine stands by using multicharacters correlations analysis and variance analysis (ANOVA) as well as principal component index (PCI) selection. This index selection which collects multicharacters information has more advantage than monocharacter selection. It is very important to select fine famiIies for buildingthe first generation seed orchard and changing from trial stand toseeding orchard.展开更多
Microwave(MW)drying method was adopted to enhance the liquid permeability of Scots pine lumber.Structure changes were characterized by stereoscope microscope,scanned electron microscope(SEM)and transmission electron m...Microwave(MW)drying method was adopted to enhance the liquid permeability of Scots pine lumber.Structure changes were characterized by stereoscope microscope,scanned electron microscope(SEM)and transmission electron microscope(TEM)examination.Pore parameters before and after MW treatment were detected by mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)method,and the effect of structure changes on liquid permeability were analyzed.As stereoscope microscope,SEM and TEM examination results showed,macro and micro checks mainly developed at intercellcular of tracheids,intercellular of ray parenchyma and tracheid,while these checks extend main along the radial-longitudinal plane.Pit border destruction,aspirated pits’orus translocation and micro-checks in tracheid cell wall were also observed.MIP test shown that pore volume and pore area increased as macro and micro checks generated to form new cavities.Microstructure changes would increase the quantity of pores or enlarge the pore diameter.Liquid flow pathways increased as macro and micro checks generated,aspirated pits reopened to form new pathways;liquid flow efficiency improved as porosity,pore volume and pore diameter increased which facilitated the liquid flow.展开更多
Background: Bioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates,through a case study in Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand manag...Background: Bioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates,through a case study in Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand management strategies.Methods: Optimization studies were examined for 15 Scots pine stands of different initial stand densities, site types, and temperature sum regions in Finland. Stand development was model ed using the Pipe Qual stand simulator coupled with the simulation-optimization tool Opti For Bioenergy to assess three forest bioenergy policies on energy wood harvest from early thinnings.Results: The optimal solutions maximizing bare land value indicate that conventional forest management regimes remain optimal for sparse stands. Energy harvests occurred only when profitable, led to lower financial returns. A forest bioenergy policy which included compulsory energy wood harvesting was optimal for denser stands. At a higher interest rate(4 %), increasing energy wood price postponed energy wood harvesting. In addition, our results show that early thinning somewhat reduced wood quality for stands in fertile sites. For less fertile sites, the changes were insignificant.Conclusions: A constraint of profitable energy wood harvest is not rational. It is optimal to carry out the first thinning with a flexible forest bioenergy policy depending on stand density.展开更多
In exterior use, wood is subjected to weathering that causes checking and other deterioration in the appearance and technical properties. We studied quantitatively the surface checking of radially and tangentially saw...In exterior use, wood is subjected to weathering that causes checking and other deterioration in the appearance and technical properties. We studied quantitatively the surface checking of radially and tangentially sawn specimens of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) wood in a cyclic climate chamber test. The results strongly suggested that the sawing direction determines the checking performance of both Scots pine and Norway spruce wood. The radial surface of Scots pine specimens had 62% less checks than the tangential one, and the cumulative area of checks was 74% smaller. For Norway spruce, the respective figures were: 83% less in the check number and 91% less in the check area. Different from pine, in spruce specimens the checks of radial surface were significantly smaller. Thus, spruce timber gained clearly more about radial sawing pattern. The effect of annual ring width was similar for pine and spruce: the reduction in annual growth worsened the checking. The increase in density worsened the checking of spruce but did not change the performance of pine. In pine wood, the increase of heartwood proportion reduced the fluctuation of moisture content and the formation of checks.展开更多
Afforestation on formerly cultivated or aban-doned agricultural land is a common strategy to increase forest areas and enhance carbon sequestration.Deep soil ploughing before afforestation improves soil conditions,fac...Afforestation on formerly cultivated or aban-doned agricultural land is a common strategy to increase forest areas and enhance carbon sequestration.Deep soil ploughing before afforestation improves soil conditions,facilitating tree growth and carbon storage.This study assessed the growth and biomass parameters of Pinus sylves-tris in 10-and 20 years old plantations established on deeply ploughed and non-ploughed soils in Lithuania.Biomass allocation and carbon and nutrient concentrations including N,P,K,Ca and Mg were analysed in aboveground biomass components.Deep ploughing in the 10 years old stands negatively impacted vertical growth and stem development but did not significantly affect overall biomass accumula-tion.In contrast,in the 20 years old stands,deep plough-ing resulted in taller trees with larger diameters and higher biomass accumulation compared to non-ploughed sites.Biomass distribution within tree canopies varied between ploughed and non-ploughed sites,indicating diverse effects of deep ploughing.Carbon and nutrient concentrations in biomass components showed site-specific variations,with deep ploughing influencing carbon concentrations in needles and stem bark.Overall,deep ploughing showed potential for enhancing tree growth and biomass accumulation,with implications for carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems.These findings help us understand the impact of an alternative soil management practice,deep ploughing,on forest development and carbon dynamics.展开更多
Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first tim...Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first time studied the proportion of HW in the trunk and the distribution of carbon and extractives in sapwood(SW)and HW of 70–80 year old Pinus sylvestris L.trees under different growing conditions in the pine forests of North-West Russia.Method:We have examined the influence of conditions and tree position in stand(dominant,intermediate and suppressed trees)in the ecological series:blueberry pine forest(Blu)–lingonberry pine forest(Lin)–lichen pine forest(Lic).We have analyzed the influence of climate conditions in the biogeographical series of Lin:the middle taiga subzone–the northern taiga subzone–the transition area of the northern taiga subzone and tundra.Results:We found that the carbon concentration in HW was 1.6%–3.4%higher than in SW,and the difference depended on growing conditions.Carbon concentration in HW increased with a decrease in stand productivity(Blu-Lin-Lic).In medium-productive stands,the carbon concentration in SW was higher in intermediate and supressed trees compared to dominant trees.In the series from south to north,carbon concentration in HW increased by up to 2%,while in SW,it rose by 2.7%–3.8%.Conclusions:Our results once again emphasized the need for an empirical assessment of the accurate carbon content in aboveground wood biomass,including various forest growing conditions,to better understand the role of boreal forests in carbon storage.展开更多
Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning(ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories(FMIs)for sustainable and efficient decision-making.Employing the area-based(ABA)approach,these inventories es...Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning(ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories(FMIs)for sustainable and efficient decision-making.Employing the area-based(ABA)approach,these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas(pixels),which are then usually summarized at the stand level.Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps(16 m×16 m pixel resolution)alongside with stand-level growth and yield models,this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation(standlevel,stand-level with species strata,and pixel-level)on projected stand development.The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level.Notably,the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation,ranging from-301 to+253 m^(3)·ha^(-1)for single stands.The differences were,on average,higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands,and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands.In conclusion,this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management,emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.展开更多
Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica(P.sylvestris)plantations are extensively established in the boreal zone.Increasing stand biomass of these plantations can effectively enhance carbon stock,which is crucial for mitigating...Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica(P.sylvestris)plantations are extensively established in the boreal zone.Increasing stand biomass of these plantations can effectively enhance carbon stock,which is crucial for mitigating climate change.However,the current understanding of optimizing plantation strategies to maximize stand biomass is primarily derived from experiments in tropical and subtropical zones,which is difficult to extend to the boreal due to substantial climatic differences.Based on a comprehensive dataset from 1,076 sample plots of P.sylvestris plantations in the boreal zone of China,we evaluated the effects of tree species richness and stand density on tree height,diameter at breast height(DBH),and stand biomass to investigate the optimal plantation strategy.Furthermore,we examined how these effects changed with stand age and investigated their relative importance.We found that monocultures at a high stand density of 2,000–2,500ha^(−1) were the optimal plantation strategy to maximize stand biomass(107.5Mg·ha^(−1)),and this held true at almost all stand ages.Unfortunately,this strategy resulted in low species richness and small individual trees(10.6m height and 9.8cm DBH),thus presenting a trade-off.In addition,as stand age increased,the effect of tree species richness on stand biomass shifted from positive to negative,but the effect of stand density was always positive.Overall,stand age had the greatest effect on stand biomass,followed by stand density and then tree species richness.Our findings reveal a distinct plantation strategy for optimizing stand biomass of P.sylvestris plantations in the boreal zone.More importantly,this study highlights that(1)maximizing stand biomass in the boreal zone may compromise tree species richness;(2)net effects of tree species richness on stand biomass are not always positive,as negative selection effects offset positive complementary effects.展开更多
基金financially supported by a grant from the Forest Fund of the Polish State Forests(Grant No.EZ.0290.1.16.2021).
文摘We tested the effectiveness of the gradual removal of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)in former plantations of this species in Roztocze National Park(SE Poland)to support the restoration of natural herbaceous flora and forest structure.We compared 0.5-ha study plots subjected to selective removal of pine trees with control plots excluded from any kind of human intervention for half a century.The observed changes in forest floor vegetation in the converted plots showed naturalization towards habitat-specific species.However,differences in the spatial distribution of trees between the treatment and control plots showed no universal pattern and revealed subtle but positive shifts from regular to random or clustered patterns.The mean tree diameters were higher in plots subjected to Scots pine removal,which resulted from the vigorous growth of tree species,consistent with habitat types.We conclude that forest restoration through the removal of planted trees can support the naturalization of former Scots pine plantations in protected areas.However,the selection of an appropriate method and its intensity are of vital importance.Methods that resemble typical management practices,such as selection thinning,are not always the best approach,as they may preserve or even increase the regular distribution of trees.Therefore,for restoration purposes,we recommend testing other methods that increase spatial heterogeneity,including systematic cutting or emulating natural disturbances.In addition,low-intensity thinning may not be sufficient to support the restoration of natural forest floor vegetation and the variability in forest stand structure.
基金supported by the Russian Science Foundation(grant No.:23-44-00067).
文摘Understanding why elements are distributed in tree xylem in a particular way is a significant challenge in dendrochemistry.This study explored a hypothesis that metal elements in the xylem interact due to differences in physical properties such as ionic radius and ionization potential.Scots pine in an even-aged stand established during the early 1970s in eastern Siberia was the study species.Increment cores were taken from the north and south sides of trees and scanned with an X-ray fluorescent multi scanner.With the help of X-ray scanning,the following elements were analyzed:aluminum(Al),potassium(K),calcium(Ca),titanium(Ti),manganese(Mn),iron(Fe),copper(Cu),strontium(Sr)and zinc(Zn).Scanning data on the elements were split into early-wood and late-wood data for each year of growth.The following ratios were analyzed:Ca/Sr,Fe/Ca,Fe/Sr,Al/Cu,Al/Zn,Ti/Mn,and Mn/K.Among these,ones having a consistent pattern across tree rings,the ratios show a more or less dependable relationship:that an element shows a larger decrease(relative another element)that has a larger ionic radius and lower ionization potential.Hypothetically,this may be due to the advantage of an ion with smaller ionic radius and higher ionization potential under a deficit of accommodation centers in organic molecules.An experiment approach should be applied to clarify the relationships.
基金funded by National Science Centre,Poland under the project"Assessment of the impact of weather conditions on forest health status and forest disturbances at regional and national scale based on the integration of ground and space-based remote sensing datasets"(project no.2021/41/B/ST10/)Data collection and research was also supported by the project no.EZ.271.3.19.2021"Modele ryzyka zamierania drzewostanow glownych gatunkow lasotworczych Polski"funded by the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland。
文摘Over the past decade,the presence of mistletoe(Viscum album ssp.austriacum)in Scots pine stands has increased in many European countries.Understanding the factors that influence the occurrence of mistletoe in stands is key to making appropriate forest management decisions to limit damage and prevent the spread of mistletoe in the future.Therefore,the main objective of this study was to determine the probability of mistletoe occurrence in Scots pine stands in relation to stand-related endogenous factors such as age,top height,and stand density,as well as topographic and edaphic factors.We used unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)imagery from 2,247 stands to detect mistletoe in Scots pine stands,while majority stand and site characteristics were calculated from airborne laser scanning(ALS)data.Information on stand age and site type from the State Forest database were also used.We found that mistletoe infestation in Scots pine stands is influenced by stand and site characteristics.We documented that the densest,tallest,and oldest stands were more susceptible to mistletoe infestation.Site type and specific microsite conditions associated with topography were also important factors driving mistletoe occurrence.In addition,climatic water balance was a significant factor in increasing the probability of mistletoe occurrence,which is important in the context of predicted temperature increases associated with climate change.Our results are important for better understanding patterns of mistletoe infestation and ecosystem functioning under climate change.In an era of climate change and technological development,the use of remote sensing methods to determine the risk of mistletoe infestation can be a very useful tool for managing forest ecosystems to maintain forest sustainability and prevent forest disturbance.
基金supported by Scientific Research Projects Management Coordinator of Kastamonu University,under grant number KÜ-BAP01/2019-41.
文摘Ecoregion-based height-diameter models were developed in the present study for Scots pine(Pinus sylves-tris L.)stands in Turkiye and included several ecological factors derived from a pre-existing ecoregional classification system.The data were obtained from 2831 sample trees in 292 sample plots.Ten generalized height–diameter models were developed,and the best model(HD10)was selected according to statistical criteria.Then,nonlinear mixed-effects modeling was applied to the best model.The R2 for the generalized height‒diameter model(Richards function)modified by Sharma and Parton is 0.951,and the final model included number of trees,dominant height,and diameter at breast height,with a random parameter associated with each ecoregion attached to the inverse of the mean basal area.The full model predictions using the nonlinear mixed-effects model and the reduced model(HD10)predictions were compared using the nonlinear sum of extra squares test,which revealed significant differences between ecore-gions;ecoregion-based height–diameter models were thus found to be suitable to use.In addition,using these models in appropriate ecoregions was very important for achieving reliable predictions with low prediction errors.
文摘The effect of heat treatment on the surface colour and hygro- scopic properties of pine wood were investigated in this study. Boards of Scots pine wood （Pinus sylvestris L.） were subjected to thermal treatment at 200℃, for 4, 6, and 8 h. The change of equilibrium moisture content and density values of the specimens in order to facilitate the understand- ing of the treated material behavior. The colour parameters L＊ a＊ and b＊, used to depict the total colour change （dE） of wood surface, were shown to change proportionally to the treatment intensity. Moreover, swelling in the tangential and radial directions and absorption of the specimens ap- peared to be enhanced in great extent by the thermal treatment process. The mean value of swelling percentage in the tangential direction de- creased 10.26%, 17.22%, and 19.60% for specimens treated for 4, 6, and 8 h, respectively, referring to the final measurement after 72 h of immer- sion. In radial direction, mean value of swelling percentage decreased 19.56%, 32.75%, and 34.65% for treated for 4, 6 and 8 h, respectively, after 72 h immersion, which attests the decrease in swelling and im- provement in the hygroscopic behavior of Scots pine wood.
基金supported by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
文摘Background： Generalized height-diameter curves based on a re-parameterized version of the Korf function for Norway spruce （Piceo abies （L.） Karst.）, Scots pine （Pinus sylvestris L.） and silver birch （Betula pendula Roth） in Norwa are presented. The Norwegian National Forest Inventory （NFI） is used as data base for estimating the model parameters. The derived models are developed to enable spatially explicit and site sensitive tree height imputatio in forest inventories as well as future tree height predictions in growth and yield scenario simulations. Methods： Generalized additive mixed models （gamm） are employed to detect and quantify potentially non-linear effects of predictor variables. In doing so the quadratic mean diameter serves as longitudinal covariate since stand ag as measured in the NFI, shows only a weak correlation with a stands developmental status in Norwegian forests. Additionally the models can be locally calibrated by predicting random effects if measured height-diameter pairs are available. Based on the model selection of non-constraint models, shape constraint additive models （scare） were fit tc incorporate expert knowledge and intrinsic relationships by enforcing certain effect patterns like monotonicity. Results： Model comparisons demonstrate that the shape constraints lead to only marginal differences in statistical characteristics but ensure reasonable model predictions. Under constant constraints the developed models predict increasing tree heights with decreasing altitude, increasing soil depth and increasing competition pressure of a tree. / two-dimensional spatially structured effect of UTM-coordinates accounts for the potential effects of large scale spatial correlated covariates, which were not at our disposal. The main result of modelling the spatially structured effect is lower tree height prediction for coastal sites and with increasing latitude. The quadratic mean diameter affects both the level and the slope of the height-diameter curve and both effects are positive. Conclusions： In this investigation it is assumed that model effects in additive modelling of height-diameter curves which are unfeasible and too wiggly from an expert point of view are a result of quantitatively or qualitatively limited data bases. However, this problem can be regarded not to be specific to our investigation but more general since growth and yield data that are balanced over the whole data range with respect to all combinations of predictor variables are exceptional cases. Hence, scare may provide methodological improvements in several applications by combining the flexibility of additive models with expert knowledge.
基金supported by GENECAR and Kempe foundation through the Research School in Forest GeneticsBreeding at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences(SLU),Umea,Sweden
文摘Single sequence repeat（SSR） multiplexing is a semi high-throughput PCR methodology for the analysis of multiple SSRs.We developed two SSR multiplexes selected from SSR loci previously reported in the pine literature and tested the transferability of both SSR multiplexes in nine other pine species.We tested 234 nuclear SSR loci（n SSRs） previously described in the pine literature and selected ten n SSRs following the simple criteria of interpretability and reproducibility.Selected nuclear loci were divided into two n SSRs multiplex sets and their amplification was optimized for three different multiplex PCR methods based on：（a） a custom PCR protocol,（b） a custom protocol with hotstart taq polymerase,and（c） a commercially available kit for SSR multiplexing.To validate their performance,the level of genetic diversity was assessed in three Scots pine natural populations（Hungary,northern Sweden and southern Sweden）.In addition,we also tested the transferability of these multiplexes in nine other pine species.We have developed two n SSRs multiplexes of five loci each that will contribute to reduce the costs of n SSR scoring,while increasing the capacity of n SSR loci analysis.Amplification was successful in all three populations（94 % success） and the level of polymorphism（7.1 alleles/marker） was similar to that previously reported for other Scots pine natural populations.Transferability of both multiplexes was successful for those pine species closely related to Scots pine.
基金supported by the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research(PEER)Science Cycle 2 Grant#296’Building research and teaching capacity to aid climate change and natural resource management at the National University of Mongolia(NUM)’
文摘Environmental factors play vital roles in successful plantation and cultivation of tree seedlings.This study focuses on problems associated with reforestation under extreme continental climatic conditions.The objectives were to assess relative seedling performance(survival and growth)with respect to plantation age,and to analyze the influence of specific climatic factors during the early stages of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)plantations.The study was carried out in reforested areas of the Tujyin Nars region of northern Mongolia on six Scots pine plantations ranging from 5 to 10 years.In each of the six plantations,five 900 m^2 permanent sample plots were established and survival rates and growth performance measured annually over 7 years.Results show high variation in survival among the plantations(p<0.001,F=29.7).Seedling survival in the first year corresponded directly to the number of dry days in May.However,survival rate appeared to stabilize after the second year.The insignificant variation of height categories throughout the observation period indicated low competition among individuals.Two linear mixed-effect models show that height and radial growth were best explained by relative air humidity,which we consider to be a reliable indicator of site-specific water availability.Insufficient amounts and uneven distribution of rainfall pose a major threat during the first year of plantation establishment.Humidity and water availability are decisive factors for a successful seedling plantation.This highlights the impact of drought on forest plantations in northern Mongolia and the importance of developing climate resilient reforestation strategies.
文摘Comparative analyses were conducted on the nutrient element content and returning amount of main fractional compositions of litter in Korean pine (KP), Mongolian Scots pine(MSP) and Dahurian larch (DL) plantations in Laoshan Plantation Experiment Station of Maoershan Experiment Forest Farm of Northeast Forestry University. The results are as follows: (1) The nutrient element content and returning amount in litter varies among different fractional compositions and tree species, the total returning amount of all nutrient elements and the returning amount of K, Ca, Mg, N and P are DL>MSP>KP, the returning amount of Cu is DL>KP>MSP, the returning amount of Fe and Mn are MSP>DL>KP, (2) To KP and DL plantations, the main nutrient element returned is dead needles; dead branches, bark scales and dead cones account for a little proportion; whereas to MSP plantation, besides dead needles,dead branches and bark scales also play an important role in the return of nutrient elements; (3)A little deal of dead leaves can provided a great deal of returning amount of nutrient elements.
文摘The pine sawfly (Acantholyda posticalis Matsumura) is a serious pest of Pinus sylvestris; P. tabulaeformis and P. koraiensis. Chemical control has been generally applied, but caused a lot of problems. We first found Formica fukaii (new record in China). The ants nesting on Carex sp. preying on pine sawflics is an important predator. When nests are removed on purpose, the ant's behavior is normal and the nest are expanded. It is a dominant species and a natural enemy of pine sawfly in Nehe County.
基金supported by the Russian State Agrarian University–Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy。
文摘A century and a half ago,in the European part of Russia(Moscow),forest scientists established the first long-term observations of forests,many of which are under observation to the present day.In the twentieth century,climate changes and,due to industrial development,forest areas were under air pollution.Based on observations from 157 sites,this study shows that the growth and density of Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.)have decreased by the end of the twentieth century.The environment has changed,and the growth and development of plantations has slowed.Pine yields(-34%stand volume)and their life expectancy(on average 50 years)have decreased.These changes are critical for forestry and for the management of forests in urban centers.Due to the decline in growth,ecosystem functions by urban forests has decreased.In order to increase the sustainability of urban forests and the provision of ecosystem services,it is preferable to create multi-species stands with a complex structure.
文摘The plantations of korean pine (Pinus koraensis) and scots pine (Pinus sylvesris var. mongolica) are mainly pure stands. Fires are gradually causing problems in these plantations and being paid much more attention recently. Study on the influence of fire on trees and the adaptation to fire, therefore, is of great important to probe the fire ecological properties and the protection ways of these two species. The results are as follows: Both of the species are easily damaged by fire, but korean pine is more susceptible. In the same fire, korean pine is damaged more seriously than scots pine although they have the same size. Young individuals have low fire resistant capacity and can be damaged seriously, and older ones have strong fire resistance and can be damaged lightly. Up-hill fire makes a serious damage to the trees distributed in up-slopes with the reason of higher fire intensity. Down -hill fire makes a serious damage to the trees distributed in down-slopes with the reason of higher fire severity. The larger deocambium area in the tree bark is, the earlier tree growth after fire is. During the early growth stage, the damaged tree bark will Spill over much resin. The height of running resin is higher than that of dead cambium. Damaged trees sprout and grow more slowly and the length of leaves are shorter than these normal trees. The chiorophyll content of serious damaged trees is much higher than that of normal trees. The chiorophyll content of dying trees is 64. 29% higher than that of the contrast ones. Cell membrance penetrability of damaged trees is also higher than that of normal trees.
文摘Investigation and rescarches are carricd out in MaocrshanForcst Farm attached to Northeast Forcstry University in 1988. Comparedwith the contrast, 29 superior familics and 21 inferior families areselected from 112 families of half sib and open pollination of seven-year old scots pine stands by using multicharacters correlations analysis and variance analysis (ANOVA) as well as principal component index (PCI) selection. This index selection which collects multicharacters information has more advantage than monocharacter selection. It is very important to select fine famiIies for buildingthe first generation seed orchard and changing from trial stand toseeding orchard.
基金supported by Key Research&Development Program of Zhejiang Province(2021C02012)Chinese National Natural Science Foundation,Study on Pore Structure and Liquid Permeate Mechanism of Moso Bamboo(31700489).
文摘Microwave(MW)drying method was adopted to enhance the liquid permeability of Scots pine lumber.Structure changes were characterized by stereoscope microscope,scanned electron microscope(SEM)and transmission electron microscope(TEM)examination.Pore parameters before and after MW treatment were detected by mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)method,and the effect of structure changes on liquid permeability were analyzed.As stereoscope microscope,SEM and TEM examination results showed,macro and micro checks mainly developed at intercellcular of tracheids,intercellular of ray parenchyma and tracheid,while these checks extend main along the radial-longitudinal plane.Pit border destruction,aspirated pits’orus translocation and micro-checks in tracheid cell wall were also observed.MIP test shown that pore volume and pore area increased as macro and micro checks generated to form new cavities.Microstructure changes would increase the quantity of pores or enlarge the pore diameter.Liquid flow pathways increased as macro and micro checks generated,aspirated pits reopened to form new pathways;liquid flow efficiency improved as porosity,pore volume and pore diameter increased which facilitated the liquid flow.
基金partly supported by GSForest in Finland and National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC 31170586)
文摘Background: Bioenergy is re-shaping opportunities and imperatives of forest management. This study demonstrates,through a case study in Scots pine(Pinus sylvestris L.), how forest bioenergy policies affect stand management strategies.Methods: Optimization studies were examined for 15 Scots pine stands of different initial stand densities, site types, and temperature sum regions in Finland. Stand development was model ed using the Pipe Qual stand simulator coupled with the simulation-optimization tool Opti For Bioenergy to assess three forest bioenergy policies on energy wood harvest from early thinnings.Results: The optimal solutions maximizing bare land value indicate that conventional forest management regimes remain optimal for sparse stands. Energy harvests occurred only when profitable, led to lower financial returns. A forest bioenergy policy which included compulsory energy wood harvesting was optimal for denser stands. At a higher interest rate(4 %), increasing energy wood price postponed energy wood harvesting. In addition, our results show that early thinning somewhat reduced wood quality for stands in fertile sites. For less fertile sites, the changes were insignificant.Conclusions: A constraint of profitable energy wood harvest is not rational. It is optimal to carry out the first thinning with a flexible forest bioenergy policy depending on stand density.
文摘In exterior use, wood is subjected to weathering that causes checking and other deterioration in the appearance and technical properties. We studied quantitatively the surface checking of radially and tangentially sawn specimens of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) wood in a cyclic climate chamber test. The results strongly suggested that the sawing direction determines the checking performance of both Scots pine and Norway spruce wood. The radial surface of Scots pine specimens had 62% less checks than the tangential one, and the cumulative area of checks was 74% smaller. For Norway spruce, the respective figures were: 83% less in the check number and 91% less in the check area. Different from pine, in spruce specimens the checks of radial surface were significantly smaller. Thus, spruce timber gained clearly more about radial sawing pattern. The effect of annual ring width was similar for pine and spruce: the reduction in annual growth worsened the checking. The increase in density worsened the checking of spruce but did not change the performance of pine. In pine wood, the increase of heartwood proportion reduced the fluctuation of moisture content and the formation of checks.
基金supported by the Long-term Research Programme“Sustainable Forestry and Global Changes”,conducted by the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry(LAMMC).
文摘Afforestation on formerly cultivated or aban-doned agricultural land is a common strategy to increase forest areas and enhance carbon sequestration.Deep soil ploughing before afforestation improves soil conditions,facilitating tree growth and carbon storage.This study assessed the growth and biomass parameters of Pinus sylves-tris in 10-and 20 years old plantations established on deeply ploughed and non-ploughed soils in Lithuania.Biomass allocation and carbon and nutrient concentrations including N,P,K,Ca and Mg were analysed in aboveground biomass components.Deep ploughing in the 10 years old stands negatively impacted vertical growth and stem development but did not significantly affect overall biomass accumula-tion.In contrast,in the 20 years old stands,deep plough-ing resulted in taller trees with larger diameters and higher biomass accumulation compared to non-ploughed sites.Biomass distribution within tree canopies varied between ploughed and non-ploughed sites,indicating diverse effects of deep ploughing.Carbon and nutrient concentrations in biomass components showed site-specific variations,with deep ploughing influencing carbon concentrations in needles and stem bark.Overall,deep ploughing showed potential for enhancing tree growth and biomass accumulation,with implications for carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems.These findings help us understand the impact of an alternative soil management practice,deep ploughing,on forest development and carbon dynamics.
基金carried out within the framework of the most important innovative project of state importance“Development of a system of ground-based and remote monitoring of carbon pools and greenhouse gas fluxes on the territory of the Russian Federation,…”(No.123030300031-6)in the northern taiga subzone and on the border of tundra and taiga under the state assignment of the Forest Institute of the Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences(FMEN-2021-0018)with the partial financial support from RSF(grant no.21-14-00204)。
文摘Background:The heartwood(HW)proportion in the trunk of mature trees is an important characteristic not only for wood quality but also for assessing the role of forests in carbon sequestration.We have for the first time studied the proportion of HW in the trunk and the distribution of carbon and extractives in sapwood(SW)and HW of 70–80 year old Pinus sylvestris L.trees under different growing conditions in the pine forests of North-West Russia.Method:We have examined the influence of conditions and tree position in stand(dominant,intermediate and suppressed trees)in the ecological series:blueberry pine forest(Blu)–lingonberry pine forest(Lin)–lichen pine forest(Lic).We have analyzed the influence of climate conditions in the biogeographical series of Lin:the middle taiga subzone–the northern taiga subzone–the transition area of the northern taiga subzone and tundra.Results:We found that the carbon concentration in HW was 1.6%–3.4%higher than in SW,and the difference depended on growing conditions.Carbon concentration in HW increased with a decrease in stand productivity(Blu-Lin-Lic).In medium-productive stands,the carbon concentration in SW was higher in intermediate and supressed trees compared to dominant trees.In the series from south to north,carbon concentration in HW increased by up to 2%,while in SW,it rose by 2.7%–3.8%.Conclusions:Our results once again emphasized the need for an empirical assessment of the accurate carbon content in aboveground wood biomass,including various forest growing conditions,to better understand the role of boreal forests in carbon storage.
文摘Forest management planning often relies on Airborne Laser Scanning(ALS)-based Forest Management Inventories(FMIs)for sustainable and efficient decision-making.Employing the area-based(ABA)approach,these inventories estimate forest characteristics for grid cell areas(pixels),which are then usually summarized at the stand level.Using the ALS-based high-resolution Norwegian Forest Resource Maps(16 m×16 m pixel resolution)alongside with stand-level growth and yield models,this study explores the impact of three levels of pixel aggregation(standlevel,stand-level with species strata,and pixel-level)on projected stand development.The results indicate significant differences in the projected outputs based on the aggregation level.Notably,the most substantial difference in estimated volume occurred between stand-level and pixel-level aggregation,ranging from-301 to+253 m^(3)·ha^(-1)for single stands.The differences were,on average,higher for broadleaves than for spruce and pine dominated stands,and for mixed stands and stands with higher variability than for pure and homogenous stands.In conclusion,this research underscores the critical role of input data resolution in forest planning and management,emphasizing the need for improved data collection practices to ensure sustainable forest management.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFF1300500)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(No.2022195).
文摘Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica(P.sylvestris)plantations are extensively established in the boreal zone.Increasing stand biomass of these plantations can effectively enhance carbon stock,which is crucial for mitigating climate change.However,the current understanding of optimizing plantation strategies to maximize stand biomass is primarily derived from experiments in tropical and subtropical zones,which is difficult to extend to the boreal due to substantial climatic differences.Based on a comprehensive dataset from 1,076 sample plots of P.sylvestris plantations in the boreal zone of China,we evaluated the effects of tree species richness and stand density on tree height,diameter at breast height(DBH),and stand biomass to investigate the optimal plantation strategy.Furthermore,we examined how these effects changed with stand age and investigated their relative importance.We found that monocultures at a high stand density of 2,000–2,500ha^(−1) were the optimal plantation strategy to maximize stand biomass(107.5Mg·ha^(−1)),and this held true at almost all stand ages.Unfortunately,this strategy resulted in low species richness and small individual trees(10.6m height and 9.8cm DBH),thus presenting a trade-off.In addition,as stand age increased,the effect of tree species richness on stand biomass shifted from positive to negative,but the effect of stand density was always positive.Overall,stand age had the greatest effect on stand biomass,followed by stand density and then tree species richness.Our findings reveal a distinct plantation strategy for optimizing stand biomass of P.sylvestris plantations in the boreal zone.More importantly,this study highlights that(1)maximizing stand biomass in the boreal zone may compromise tree species richness;(2)net effects of tree species richness on stand biomass are not always positive,as negative selection effects offset positive complementary effects.
