Comparison of white, Sitka, and Lutz spruce as hosts of the spruce beetle in Alaska

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward H. Holsten ◽  
Richard A. Werner

When white spruce is infested with spruce beetle broods, Dendroctonusrufipennis (Kirby), more beetles are produced than when Lutz and Sitka spruce are infested. In spite of host suitability differences, outbreaks of the spruce beetle have been more frequent and severe in stands of Lutz spruce than in white or Sitka spruce. Host suitability may be as important as host susceptibility and weather conditions in the development of spruce beetle outbreaks in south central Alaska. Cool summer temperatures and high precipitation limit the rate of development and growth of beetles in maritime Sitka spruce stands of southeast Alaska, but in white spruce stands of interior Alaska, cold winter temperatures usually help to maintain endemic levels. When these environmental factors are ameliorated, however, spruce beetle populations increase rapidly to epidemic levels.


1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Werner ◽  
Edward H. Holsten

White spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) stands in the Resurrection Creek watershed in south-central Alaska were infested by spruce bettles, Dendroctonusrufipennis Kirby, between 1974 and 1975. Thirty permanent plots were established within the infested area in 1976 to evaluate the immediate and long-term impact on white spruce stands. Plots were revisited annually for 5 years. Between 1976 and 1980, 29% of all white spruce was killed by spruce beetles. This loss accounted for 59% of the commercial white spruce volume in the watershed. Mortality was greatest in the larger diameter classes during the early part of the infestation, but smaller diameter trees were subsequently attacked as the number of noninfested trees declined. The impact of spruce beetles on structure and species composition of white spruce stands is given along with a discussion of management implications.



1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 251-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith M. Roynolds ◽  
Edward H. Holsten


1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 428-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Hard

Two stands of white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss), one on a south aspect and one on a north aspect on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, were sampled intensively to determine site and host variables associated with high attack densities by spruce beetle, Dendroctonusrufipennis (Kirby). Attacks peaked during the early phase of tree radial growth on both aspects as the rate of tree expansion slowed. Generally, the first trees attacked, also the most heavily attacked, expanded more slowly before and after beetle attack than did trees attacked later or not at all. High attack densities were concentrated in trees on dry, cold soils. Mean percent basal-area growth of plots was inversely related to stocking of live spruce and to percentage of sample trees attacked and killed.



2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 468-476
Author(s):  
Miroslav Jursík ◽  
Martin Kočárek ◽  
Michaela Kolářová ◽  
Lukáš Tichý

Six sunflower herbicides were tested at two application rates (1N and 2N) on three locations (with different soil types) within three years (2015–2017). Efficacy of the tested herbicides on Chenopodium album increased with an increasing cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil. Efficacy of pendimethalin was 95%, flurochloridone and aclonifen 94%, dimethenamid-P 72%, pethoxamid 49% and S-metolachlor 47%. All tested herbicides injured sunflower on sandy soil (Regosol) which had the lowest CEC, especially in wet conditions (phytotoxicity 27% after 1N application rate). The highest phytotoxicity was recorded after the application of dimethenamid-P (19% at 1N and 45% at 2N application rate). Main symptoms of phytotoxicity were leaf deformations and necroses and the damage of growing tips, which led to destruction of some plants. Aclonifen, pethoxamid and S-metolachlor at 1N did not injure sunflower on the soil with the highest CEC (Chernozem) in any of the experimental years. Persistence of tested herbicides was significantly longer in Fluvisol (medium CEC) compared to Regosol and Chernozem. Dimethenamid-P showed the shortest persistence in Regosol and Chernozem. The majority of herbicides was detected in the soil layer 0–5 cm in all tested soils. Vertical transport of herbicides in soil was affected by the herbicide used, soil type and weather conditions. The highest vertical transport was recorded for dimethenamid-P and pethoxamid (4, resp. 6% of applied rate) in Regosol in the growing season with high precipitation.  



1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 340-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy C. Sidle ◽  
Charles G. Shaw III

Sitka spruce (Piceasitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) seedlings colonized by the ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccarialaccata (Scop. ex Fr.) Berk and Br., Hebelomacrustuliniforme (Bull, ex St. Amans) Quel., or Cenococcumgeophilum Fr. and a noninoculated control were planted on rotten wood, undisturbed duff, undisturbed duff on the north side of large stumps, and exposed mineral soil in an area recently clear-cut on Chichagof Island, southeast Alaska. Uptake and concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and several micronutrients in foliage, stems, and roots were determined 2 years after outplanting. There were no significant interactions between fungal treatments and microsite types for uptake or concentration of any nutrient. Uptake and concentrations of N and P in foliage and roots did not differ significantly among fungal treatments. Foliar K and Cu concentrations were significantly higher in control seedlings than in those with L. laccata ectomycorrhizae. Calcium was the only nutrient analyzed that was present in higher concentrations in seedlings inoculated with H. crustuliniforme than in controls. Concentrations of foliar P, Mn, and Zn were significantly greater in seedlings grown on undisturbed duff (protected north side) than in seedlings grown on exposed mineral soil. However, foliar concentrations of all nutrients tested were not significantly different between seedlings grown on undisturbed duff (unprotected sites) and those grown on mineral soil. Seedlings grown on rotten wood had significantly greater concentrations of foliar Ca than seedlings grown on either exposed mineral soil or undisturbed duff. The on-site colonization of control seedlings after outplanting indicates that resident ectomycorrhizal fungi readily establish and appear to provide equal if not improved nutrient benefits compared to inoculated seedlings. Greater nutritional benefits were derived by planting on certain microsite types (duff and protected duff) than by inoculating with specific ectomycorrhizal fungi.



Author(s):  
Joseph Dahlen ◽  
David Auty ◽  
Eini C. Lowell

Western hemlock and Sitka spruce are two commercially important species in Alaska with harvests beginning to focus on naturally regenerated young-growth. We developed within-tree models of ring specific gravity (SG) and diameter inside bark (DIB) for young-growth western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Eight even-aged stands (age < 75 years) in southeast Alaska were felled and disks collected from multiple height levels; 128 trees and 451 disks were collected for western hemlock, and 217 trees and 952 disks were collected for Sitka spruce. Radial strips were prepared and scanned using X-ray densitometry. We fitted non-linear mixed-effects models to the data, with cambial age, height within tree, and dominance class used as explanatory variables. The R2 values (fixed effects only) for the SG models were 0.48 and 0.42 for western hemlock and Sitka spruce, respectively. The corresponding fit indices for the DIB models were 0.86 and 0.85 percent for western hemlock and Sitka spruce, respectively. Tree maps depicting the within tree variation in SG showed more variability in Sitka spruce than in western hemlock. The wood and growth properties of young-growth trees in Alaska will continue to become more important as the U.S. Forest Service transitions away from harvesting old-growth trees.



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