Evaluation of wood properties from six native species of forest plantations in Costa Rica

Bent trees have been observed during the early years in juvenile plantations (less than 5 years-old) of Tectona grandis in Costa Rica. The relationship between bending and the morphological characteristics of the trees was explored. An evaluation of bent trees was conducted in six juvenile plantations (8, 17, 27, 28, 31, and 54 months old) of Tectona grandis. Site 1 with 8-month-old plantations did not display any relationship with any tree morphological variable (diameter, height, and crown weight of tree), whereas for the sites 2, 3, and 4 with 17-, 27-, and 28-month-old plantations, respectively, all the tree morphological variables were statistically correlated with the bent trees. A multiple regression analysis showed that the most influential variables were height to crown base, crown weight, diameter, and total height of the tree. An evaluation of the bending risk factor (RF) was correlated with the height to crown base, crown weight, and form factor. The modulus of elasticity and chemical compositions of bent trees differed from those of straight trees. The causes of tree bending are complex, involving, among other factors, the morphology of the trees, plantation conditions, and other factors specific to the xylem, such as the specific gravity, modulus of elasticity, and presence of calcium and magnesium in the wood.

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Geographic Variations of the Wood Density and Fiber Dimensions of the Persian Oak Wood

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11091003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 1003

Author(s):

Noorollah Nazari ◽

Mohsen Bahmani ◽

Saleh Kahyani ◽

Miha Humar ◽

Gerald Koch

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Basal Area ◽

Principal Component ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Dry Density ◽

Geographic Variations ◽

Oak Wood ◽

Fiber Dimensions ◽

The Relationship

Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) is a valuable native species in Iranian forests with very limited availability of data on its wood properties. The objective of the current study was to determine the influence of altitude and slope on physical properties and fiber dimensions of Persian oak wood. In addition, the relationship among wood properties, site conditions (temperature and rainfall) and growth traits of trees (tree height, DBH, basal area, age, crown diameter, crown basal area, volume and annual diameter increment) were studied by principal component analysis (PCA). Three altitude levels (1730, 1980 and 2250 m) and three slope classes (<30%, 30–45% and >45%) were considered in the current study. It was determined that trees growing in the intermediate altitude (1980 m) showed the highest oven-dry density values, and those in the lowest altitude (1730 m) revealed the lowest ones. The results also indicate significant statistical differences between altitude levels and slope classes on the fiber length, fiber diameter and volumetric swelling at the 99% confidence interval while no significant differences were found between average values of oven-dry density among different altitudes and slopes. PCA analysis indicated that altitude and temperature are the most important factors affecting the wood properties. Knowledge of the relationship between wood properties and environmental factors are essential in terms of both forestry management and wood applications.

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Reduced diet breadth in the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao of the Área de Conservación Osa (ACOSA), Costa Rica: Implications for conservation and ecotourism

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270920000088 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 575-585

Author(s):

JOSEPH O.E. HAMM ◽

GRACE M. BOND ◽

LAURA C. EXLEY ◽

EMMA A. KOREIN

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Native Species ◽

Diet Breadth ◽

Ecosystem Dynamics ◽

Central American ◽

Food Sources ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Dietary Niche ◽

Ara Macao ◽

Scarlet Macaw

SummaryThe Área de Conservación Osa (ACOSA) contains the largest population of Scarlet Macaws Ara macao in Costa Rica. Despite their influence on ecosystem dynamics and status as a flagship species, empirical data on the foraging patterns of this population is lacking. This information is crucial in implementing effective conservation strategies, particularly reintroduction attempts. Observations of feeding behaviour were made systematically over a 12-month period to provide the first direct examination of Scarlet Macaw diet within the ACOSA region. Scarlet Macaws feed on various items including seeds, flowers, bark, and leaf-gall larvae. Key findings included a demonstration of a smaller dietary niche breadth than that recorded for other Central American populations, use of button mangrove Conocarpus erectus, a species not previously recognised as a food source for Scarlet Macaws, and a heavy reliance on an exotic non-native species, Terminalia catappa. We argue that whilst human-modified coastal locations may present viable habitat for Scarlet Macaws, anthropogenic influences including the removal of native food sources and proliferation of exotic and cultivated species have left the Scarlet Macaws of the ACOSA particularly dependent on a small number of species.

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Evaluation of wood properties of four ages of Cedrela odorata trees growing in agroforestry systems with Theobroma cacao in Costa Rica

Agroforestry Systems ◽

10.1007/s10457-018-0194-x ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 93 (3) ◽

pp. 973-988 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolina Tenorio ◽

Roger Moya

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Theobroma Cacao ◽

Wood Properties ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Cedrela Odorata

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CLONAL FORESTRY OF Piptocarpha angustifolia: SURVIVAL AND GROWTH VIGOR IN FIELD CONDITIONS

CERNE ◽

10.1590/01047760201723012262 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 69-74

Author(s):

Carlos André Stuepp ◽

Ivar Wendling ◽

Henrique Soares Koehler ◽

Katia Christina Zuffellato-Ribas

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Forest Plantations ◽

Clonal Forestry ◽

Base Diameter ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Clonal Plantation ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Growth Vigor ◽

Completely Randomized Design

ABSTRACT Piptocarpha angustifolia is a potential native species for Brazilian forestry. However, a lot of challenges and technical constraints persist, hindering its expansion as a species for forest plantations, among them, the lack of evaluation of their survival and growth in field conditions. Thus, we evaluated the survival and growth vigor of Piptocarpha angustifolia according to two initial heights of mini-cuttings at planting. Plants from mini-cuttings with 20 ± 5 cm and 40 ± 5 cm were planted in field using 3 × 2 m spacing. In these, we evaluated the survival, base diameter and total height during 24 months. The experiment was implemented in a completely randomized design in a split plot model. Plants of 20 ± 5 cm are superior in survival to 40 ± 5 cm ones. The growth in height and diameter remained constant up to 24 months, reaching 64.1 cm and 13.5 mm, independently of the plants expedition time. In general, the establishment of clonal plantation of Piptocarpha angustifolia was limited by the attack of pests, mainly cutting ants. For this reason, plantation of this species must take into account the possibility of greater pest control.

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