A Limited Rapid Assessment of Forest Regeneration in 24 Cypress and Tupelo Bottomland Swamps Following Clearcutting and Shovel Logging in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina

A rapid regeneration survey within twenty-four deepwater swamps between stand ages 2 and 14 years in the North Carolina coastal plain was conducted by using a narrow rectangular inventory technique (“strip cruise”). Inventoried tracts predominantly contained cypress (Taxodium distichum) and tupelo (Nyssa species) before being harvested via clearcutting methods. Single transects on each tract began at coordinates located in the interior of the harvest areas in locations representing general tract conditions. Each transect was perpendicular to the flow of the major stream drainage associated with the harvest area. Counts and measures of dead and live stumps and seed-sourced regeneration were recorded. About 52 percent of desirable timber species stumps tallied had coppice growth. However, coppice alone was not sufficient on any tract to exceed 1112 trees ha−1. Seventy-one percent of tracts had stocking levels (coppice and seed source) at least 1112 trees ha−1 of desirable timber species or black willow (Salix nigra). Across 24 tracts, 42 percent regenerated cypress and/or tupelo to levels exceeding 1112, trees ha−1. This assessment revealed that forest regeneration success was limited on sites with altered hydrology, rampant invasive species, and/or lack of seed source. In some cases, active forest management may improve the regeneration cohort. Overall, shovel logging methods that were used on evaluated sites appear to be compatible with adequate regeneration of desirable timber species if the proper conditions exist. Additionally, we assessed species’ composition within a harvested stand measured at age eight years (a previous study) and age 68 years (measured for this study), for a comparison perspective. Results revealed a species composition change from willow at age eight years to a mixed stand of desirable timber species at age 68 years. This finding supports other studies that have recorded the successional pattern of pioneering willow shifting to desirable timber species as willow stagnates and diminishes in abundance due to natural mortality.

To the trends in the forest forming process in northeastern Moscow region

Case studies of 75 permanent sample plots examine the directions of species composition change in different tree formations in case of normal evolution of biocoenoses and mass spruce decline. In case of natural development of forest biocoenoses, only on 5 plots of total 75 species composition of new tree generations is similar to that of the upper tree layer. On other 5 plots, the restoration of conditionally indigenous mixed spruce and lime forests proceeds. In all other cases, the forests develop towards the formation of broad-leaved communities with the predomination of lime. The expansion of maple in the undergrowth layer is observed on some plots. The change from spruce to lime forests is the most pronounced in the stands where the decline of spruce element occurred after bark beetle invasion.

English Ivy (Hedera spp., Araliaceae) Response to Goat Browsing

English ivy is an exotic liana that invades forests by forming dense monocultures on forest floors and by climbing trees. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of high-intensity–short-duration goat browsing to control English ivy in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Species composition and percent cover were determined in August 2006 before the first browsing treatment and before and after treatments in 2006 and 2007. A final assessment was made in July 2008. Browsing effects were evaluated by comparison of multiple means statistical methods. English ivy cover declined significantly in samples browsed once or twice compared with untreated samples. The difference between levels of browsing was also significant, indicating that repetition of browsing for a second year is effective. Species composition change was minimal, with the appearance of sword fern and removal of Himalayan blackberry from 2006 to 2008.

Seasonal abundance of Halomonas meridiana, Halomonas subglaciescola, Flavobacterium gondwanense and Flavobacterium salegens in four Antarctic lakes

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to quantify the seasonal variation of four halophilic aerobic Antarctic bacteria in Antarctic saline lakes from July 1990 to January 1991. Antibodies were raised against type strains from the Australian Collection of Antarctic Microorganisms. During summer, all four serogroups were identified in the aerobic waters of lakes with total dissolved salts above 61%. Maximal abundances of Halomonas meridiana, H. subglaciescola and Flavobacterium gondwanense serogroups were observed at discrete depths within the water column in the two most hypersaline lakes at about midsummer, coincident with the time of maximum sunlight and the commencement of the summer thaw. At this time the Halomonas spp. serogroups comprised up to 40% of the total bacteria and the F. gondwanense serogroup up to 10% of the total bacteria. The F. salegens serogroup was in low numbers (>2% of total bacteria) in some aerobic waters. Up to 2% of the total bacterial populations in the lakes were autofluorescent or stained non-specifically. Dissolved organic carbon values were measured throughout the sampling period and correlated well with total bacterial numbers but not with changes in species composition. Change in species abundance, as indicated by immunofluorescence, was not reflected in the total bacterial count, indicating compositional change of the total bacterial population.