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Abstract: We studied the effects of soil temperature (7, 15, and 25°C) on the growth and photosynthesis of seedlings of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) and its hybrid larch (L. gmelinii × L. kaempferi) to simulate early stages of regeneration after disturbance. At a soil temperature of 7°C, the root length per unit root biomass, chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency (PNUE) were markedly lower in the Japanese larch than in the hybrid larch, which may indicate that the hybrid larch is better at acquiring water and nutrients. At ambient temperatures of 17–25°C, the light-saturated photosynthesis rate (P sat) of both seedlings grown at a soil temperature of 7°C was lower than at 15 or 25°C. By the 16th week, the needle area, root area, and biomass in seedlings of both types were lower at a soil temperature of 7°C than at soil temperatures of 15 or 25°C. At a soil temperature of 25°C, P sat and nitrogen uptake were lower in both larch species than at 15°C. The growth of the Japanese larch declined sharply from 15 to 25°C; however, the growth of the hybrid larch decreased only slightly from 15 to 25°C. We conclude that an increased soil temperature may retard larch growth in cold regions, especially in the case of the Japanese larch.

Abstract: In order to further develop methods of sustainable forest management, we evaluated the effects of logging practices during the winter on microclimatic factors and growth of four seral deciduous broad-leaved tree seedlings regenerated in a larch plantation in northern Japan. We found that winter logging practices drastically changed microclimatic factors, especially in terms of light intensity and the vertical distribution pattern of CO2 concentration. Harvesting overstory larch trees increased photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), which may enhance the photosynthesis of understory plants. We examined the undergrowth for tree seedlings of the following species: two late successional species, Prunus ssiori and Carpinus cordata; one gap phase species, Magnolia hyporeuca; and one mid-late successional species, Quercus mongolica var. crispula. All of the four studied tree species responded well to the practices of winter logging after the second year of harvesting overstoried larch trees. The current shoot diameter and current shoot length increased significantly. Therefore, we conclude that winter logging practices should improve shoot growth of deciduous broad-leaved tree seedlings regenerated in a larch plantation through the change in environmental factors that accompanies larch harvest.

Cosmogenic nuclides in tree rings and polar ice cores record the information of past cosmic ray intensities and solar activities. A large 14C increase over 10 years has been discovered around 5480 BCE. The 14C variations in this event differ from those of other short‐term cosmic ray events and typical grand solar minima. To elucidate the cause of the 14C increase around 5480 BCE, we measured the 10Be and 36Cl concentrations in the Antarctic Dome Fuji ice core at quasi‐annual and 4–5 years resolutions, respectively. Based on the combined 14C, 10Be, and 36Cl data, the 5480 BCE event was probably not caused by a solar proton event (SPE) or a gamma‐ray event, because the 36Cl concentration did not significantly increase as expected in these events. The incremented 10Be data were enhanced similarly to those of recent grand solar minima, but more rapidly increased (over ∼10 years). These results suggest that an unusual grand solar minimum occurred around 5480 BCE, characterized by a rapidly decreasing solar activity. New high‐resolution 10Be and 36Cl data for the 5480 BCE cosmic ray event were taken from the Antarctic Dome Fuji ice coreMeasured 36Cl/10Be ratio was not suitable for either solar proton event or gamma‐ray event originsThe 5480 BCE event might refer to the unusual grand solar minimum which solar activity decreased rapidly in ∼10 years New high‐resolution 10Be and 36Cl data for the 5480 BCE cosmic ray event were taken from the Antarctic Dome Fuji ice core Measured 36Cl/10Be ratio was not suitable for either solar proton event or gamma‐ray event origins The 5480 BCE event might refer to the unusual grand solar minimum which solar activity decreased rapidly in ∼10 years

Round‐robin studies on relative sensitivity factors (RSFs) in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were conducted using bulk GaAs samples uniformly doped with various impurity elements. A total of 31 laboratories participated in two round‐robins. More than 30 sets of relative ion intensities were obtained for B, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, In and Te in GaAs. The RSFs for both positive and negative ions were derived for several types of SIMS instruments. The effect of primary ion incident angle was examined using quadrupole‐based instruments and found to be the determining factor of the instrumental dependence of RSF. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Round-robin studies on relative sensitivity factors (RSFs) in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) were conducted using bulk GaAs samples uniformly doped with various impurity elements. A total of 31 laboratories participated in two round-robins. More than 30 sets of relative ion intensities were obtained for B, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, In and Te in GaAs. The RSFs for both positive and negative ions were derived for several types of SIMS instruments. The effect of primary ion incident angle was examined using quadrupole-based instruments and found to be the determining factor of the instrumental dependence of RSF. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.