STUDIES IN FOREST PATHOLOGY: XII. DECAY OF WESTERN HEMLOCK IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA REGION, BRITISH COLUMBIA

1954 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Foster ◽  
H. M. Craig ◽  
G. W. Wallis

An investigation of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) in the Upper Columbia region has shown that decay losses are excessive, amounting to 52 and 74% in terms of cubic and board foot computations respectively. The logs of 833 hemlock on 36 sample plots located in mature timber were analyzed in detail. Twenty-six decay-producing fungi have been isolated. Sixty-two per cent of the total decay was attributed to Echinodontium tinctorium Ell. & Ever. and 25% to Fomes pini (Thore) Lloyd. Considerable variation in the fungi responsible for decay was encountered intraregionally. Stand defect losses varied from 38 to 71%. Some of this variation could be predicted on the basis of the site index determinations of hemlock. Relative to the total incidence and importance of decay, Echinodontium tinctorium decreased and Fomes pini increased in significance with increasing site quality. Sporophores, scars, dead tops, large rotten branches, swollen knots, frost cracks, forked trees, and trunk infections of mistletoe were classed as indicators of significance in relation to hidden defect. Living trees, classed as Suspect or Residual depending on the presence or absence of one or more reliable indicators of defect, were found to differ appreciably in average defect. Within each of the preceding classes decay increased progressively with increasing diameter and decreasing site quality. Immature hemlock was found to be susceptible to appreciable decay and mature stands reached an advanced stage of deterioration at 250 years. Multiple correlation analyses between percentage of decay, site, age, and the relative percentage of Residual trees weighted by volume permitted an estimate of total stand defect within ± 7%.

1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 588-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon D. Nigh

The focus of recent site productivity research in British Columbia has been to develop height-breast height age, growth intercept, and ecosystem-site index models. These models, together with a years-to-breast-height model, form a system for estimating site index and height. This system is described for western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) in the interior of British Columbia. Forty-four western hemlock stem analysis plots were used in the construction of this system. As there are three models for estimating site index, the appropriate model for a given stand depends largely on the stand condition and the precision of the models. A graph of model precision against breast height age gives some assistance in deciding which model should be used to estimate site index. Key words: western hemlock, site index, height-age model, growth intercept model, years-to-breast-height model, ecosystem-site index model, model precision


1951 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 479-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Foster ◽  
A. T. Foster

An investigation of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) on the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, has shown that decay losses in old-growth stands are appreciable, amounting to 13.9, 8.0, and 10.7% of the gross volume of Grades 1, 2, and 3 logs respectively. Total loss, including dead trees, amounted to 25.5% of the gross volume. Twenty-seven decay-producing fungi have been isolated. The most important of these are Fomes pinicola (Sw.) Cke., F. pini (Thore) Lloyd, F. annosus (Fr.) Cke., and Polyporus sulphureus Bull. ex Fr. Echinodontium tinctorium E. & E. apparently does not occur in the region. Scars provided the most frequent, and roots the most important, avenue of entrance for decay. The logs of 2318 western hemlock were analyzed in detail. Decay was found to increase progressively with diameter, age, and decreasing site quality. Maximum net periodic increment was reached between 350 and 400 years of age and between 35 and 40 in. in diameter. Color of bark was found to provide an added indication of tree maturity. Understory trees were found to give a substantial yield of sound wood.


1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1424-1435 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mailly ◽  
J. P. Kimmins

Silvicultural alternatives that differ in the degree of overstory removal may create shady environments that will be problematic for the regeneration of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Gradients of light in the field were used to compare mortality, growth, and leaf morphological acclimation of two conifer species of contrasting shade tolerances: Douglas-fir and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.). Results after two growing seasons indicated that Douglas-fir mortality occurred mainly at relative light intensity (RLI) below 20%, while western hemlock mortality was evenly distributed along the light gradient. Height, diameter, and biomass of the planted seedlings increased with increasing light for both species but at different rates, and maximum biomass accumulation always occurred in the open. Douglas-fir allocated more resources to stem biomass than western hemlock, which accumulated more foliage biomass. Increases in specific leaf area for Douglas-fir seedlings occurred at RLI ≤ 0.4 and red/far red (R/FR) ratio ≤ 0.6, which appear to be the minimal optimum light levels for growth. Conversely, western hemlock seedlings adjusted their leaf morphology in a more regular pattern, and changes were less pronounced at low light levels. These results, along with early mortality results for Douglas-fir, suggest that the most successful way to artificially regenerate this species may be by allowing at least 20% of RLI for ensuring survival and at least 40% RLI for optimum growth. Key words: light, light quality, leaf morphology, acclimation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 1109-1115
Author(s):  
W.P.L. Osborn ◽  
J.H. Borden

AbstractTo mitigate the effects of mosquitoes, settlers in the Revelstoke area of British Columbia reportedly burned the sporophores of the Indian paint fungus, Echinodontium tinctorium (Ell. & Ev.) Ell. & Ev., a pathogen of western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., and true firs, Abies spp. Larval and adult yellowfever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti (L.), were exposed to aqueous extracts of smoke (smoke-waters) from E. tinctorium sporophores, and from western hemlock sapwood and heartwood. Smoke-waters were of approximately equal toxicity to larvae. Fungus smoke-water, but not sapwood or heartwood smoke-waters, lost 50% of its potency in 5 months. Vapors from fungus smoke-water were significantly more toxic to adult mosquitoes than those from sapwood or heartwood. Thus smoke from E. tinctorium sporophores and T. heterophylla wood apparently contain different water-soluble combustion products toxic to A. aegypti.


2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1496-1501
Author(s):  
G R Johnson ◽  
C Cartwright

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) families were grown under different levels of shade for 2 or 3 years at two nursery sites to determine whether families performed differently relative to one another in the different shade environments. Differences were found both for levels of shade and families, but no family × shade interaction was found. Results suggest that families selected in full-sun environments (clearcuts or farm fields) may be well suited for use in silvicultural systems where seedlings are planted in understory conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 433 ◽  
pp. 105-110
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Hane ◽  
Andrew J. Kroll ◽  
Aaron Springford ◽  
Jack Giovanini ◽  
Mike Rochelle ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.F. Shepherd ◽  
T.G. Gray

AbstractEggs of western blackheaded budworm, Acleris gloverana (Walsingham), are laid on the lower surface of western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg., needles. A comparison was made of the following measures of sample branch size as a basis for expressing egg density: fresh branch weight, branch area, total twig length, branch volume, and number of buds. The criteria for selection of these measures were as follows: correlations of branch size with dry needle weight, variances of egg density and their relative contribution to sample size, and ease of measurement. Fresh branch weight was the best choice. A sequential sampling system was developed on this basis and was related to a scale of predicted defoliation. In addition, a transformation was provided for use in data analysis.


1949 ◽  
Vol 27c (6) ◽  
pp. 312-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Buckland ◽  
R. E. Foster ◽  
V. J. Nordin

An investigation of decay in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) and fir (mainly Abies amabilis (Loud.) Forb.) in the Juan de Fuca forest region of British Columbia has shown that the major organisms causing root and butt rots are the same in both species. These are Poria subacida (Peck) Sacc., Fomes annosus (Fr.) Cke., Armillaria mellea Vahl ex Fr., Polyporus sulphureus Bull. ex Fr., and P. circinatus Fr. Those organisms causing trunk rots of western hemlock, in decreasing order of importance, are Fomes pinicola (Sw.) Cke., F. Pini (Thore) Lloyd, Stereum abietinum Pers., Fomes Hartigii (Allesch.) Sacc. and Trav., and Hydnum sp. (H. abietis). These same organisms causing trunk rots of fir, in decreasing order of importance, are Fomes pinicola, Stereum abietinum, Hydnum sp. (H. abietis), Fomes Pini, and Fomes Hartigii. The logs of 963 western hemlock were analyzed in detail. Maximum periodic volume increment was reached between 225 and 275 years of age. Maximum periodic volume increment was reached between 275 and 325 years of age in the 719 fir that were analyzed. Scars were the most frequent avenue of entrance for infection. In 59% of the cases of infection studied the fungus had entered through wounds.


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