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Biomagnetic monitoring increasingly is applied to assess particulate matter (PM) concentrations, mainly using plant leaves sampled in small geographical area and from a limited number of species. Here, the potential of magnetic analysis of urban tree trunk bark to discriminate between PM exposure levels was evaluated and bark magnetic variation was investigated at different spatial scales. Trunk bark was sampled from 684 urban trees of 39 genera in 173 urban green areas across six European cities. Samples were analysed magnetically for the Saturation isothermal remanent magnetisation (SIRM). The bark SIRM reflected well the PM exposure level at city and local scale, as the bark SIRM (i) differed between the cities in accordance with the mean atmospheric PM concentrations and (ii) increased with the cover of roads and industrial area around the trees. Furthermore, with increasing tree circumferences, the SIRM values increased, as a reflection of a tree age effect related to PM accumulation over time. Moreover, bark SIRM was higher at the side of the trunk facing the prevailing wind direction. Significant relationships between SIRM of different genera validate the possibility to combine bark SIRM from different genera to improve sampling resolution and coverage in biomagnetic studies. Thus, the SIRM signal of trunk bark from urban trees is a reliable proxy for atmospheric coarse to fine PM exposure in areas dominated by one PM source, as long as variation caused by genus, circumference and trunk side is taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, noise pollution generated by increasing global urbanization has become an important issue. This study focused on determining the sound absorption coefficients (SACs) of untreated tree trunks as natural fiber-based materials and predicting their noise reduction coefficients (NRCs). It also evaluated the effects of noise reduction using numerical data. One of the most effective acoustic characteristics is the normal incidence SAC; this was obtained for trunks belonging to species of black locust, narrow-leafed ash, stone pine, silver lime, sweet chestnut, sessile oak, maritime pine, cedar, and plane in the frequency range of 50–6000 Hz using an impedance tube based on a two-microphone transfer function method. The absorbance of sound was found to correlate with the tree species, trunk diameter, bark shape, and the bark's fibrous structure. The results confirmed that when compared with deciduous species, the trunks of coniferous species exhibit higher NRC values which were recorded as 0.302 ± 0.005 for stone pine and 0.233 ± 0.004 for cedar. Furthermore, the surface morphology of the outer bark of different tree species obtained via scanning electron microscopy revealed that significant variations exist in the microstructure of the bark's fiber cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species-specific morphological characteristics play a decisive role in determining stemflow. However, in tropical forests, as a result of high biodiversity, the results can be conflicting. The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of tree morphology on water running down tree trunks in a forest-savanna transition area in the Brazillian Amazon. A total of 46 trees were installed samplers for stemflow monitoring. Rainfall events with a volume of > 10 mm were recorded. Dendometric variables and morphological characteristics of the trees were related to the stemflow volume. Circumference at breast height, basal area and canopy projection area were determinants for the formation of distinct tree groups, whereas these variables were not significantly correlated with stemflow volume. When the trees were grouped according to their morphological characteristics, significant correlations were identified for basal area and circumference at breast height for stemflow from trees with an upright trunk and rough bark. Mean stemflow volume from trees with a smooth bark was higher than the other trees. However, when the variable trunk inclination was inserted, the mean stemflow from upright trunks was lowest and that from inclined trunks was highest, showing the relevance of this variable for stemflow production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the results of the research focused on the calorific value capacity in the dry matter of above-ground biomass of beech, sessile oak and hornbeam are presented. For each tree species, 5–6 trees were felled and biomass samples were taken. From the lower, middle and crown part of the trunks, a disc of wood with bark was cut off and also a sample of branches (small-wood) was taken from crowns. On the discs, the bark was separated from the wood. The calorific value content was determined from all samples and fractions (wood, bark, small-wood). Th e differences in the calorific value among the fractions, their position on the trunk and tree species were investigated by an analysis of variance and a t-test. Th e biggest differences are between wood and bark. Th e bark has lower values of calorific value than wood, by 1,000–1,700 J g-1. Coniferous tree species have higher calorific value by 600–900 J g-1 (3–4%) for wood; 1,000–1,400 J g-1 (5–7%) for small-wood and 2,400–2,700 J g-1 (13–15%) for bark compared to deciduous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greater racket-tailed drongos are renowned for their splendid mimicking abilities, and for their significant roles within mixed species flocks in the Old World tropics. Yet, we know little about their basic ecology and breeding behaviour. Here we describe a set of unique behaviours of these drongos during their nesting season. Racket-tailed drongos nested in trees in an open patch of forest, often returning to the same tree year after year. The nesting pair also smoothened the bark of the nest tree trunk with their beaks. These findings suggest that the nest tree is a crucial resource for this species, and have implications for the cognitive abilities of drongos, as well as for hitherto unknown interactions between an avian species and tropical forest trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) inhabiting trees in forests are not managed by humans or treated for pathogens; therefore, many researchers and beekeepers believe that viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases may lead to their decline. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of L. passim and Nosema spp. in feral colonies by real-time PCR. This study was performed on twenty-six samples of honey bees inhabiting tree trunks in north-eastern Poland. One sample consisted of sixty worker bee abdomens collected from hollow trees. Honey bees were sampled only from naturally colonized sites. Amplicons of the three evaluated pathogens were detected in twenty of the twenty-six tested samples. A significant correlation was observed between infection with three pathogens (N. apis, N. ceranae, L. passim) (r = 0.84) compared to infection with only two pathogens (N. apis and N. ceranae) (r = 0.49). N. ceranae was the predominant pathogen, but infections with various severity caused by L. passim were also noted in fourteen of the twenty-six tested samples. In view of the general scarcity of epidemiological data concerning coinfections with Nosema spp. and L. passim in honey bees in tree trunks in other countries, further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogenic infections on the decline of bee colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the Botryosphaeriaceae have a worldwide distribution and some species of have been recognized as important pathogens on various trees worldwide. In order to identify the Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with olive trunk diseases, a survey was conducted on trees in Kerman and Mazandaran provinces. In 2016, wood samples were collected from trunk and branches of trees showing dieback and canker symptoms. Fungal isolations were performed from discolored wood tissues on potato dextrose agar (PDA). In this study 56 fungal isolates resembling Botryosphaeriaceae species in colony and culture were obtained from affected trees. All isolates were identified using morphological characteristics and partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef-1α) with the primer pairs EF1-728F and EF1-986R. Based on morphological and molecular analysis five species of Botryosphaeriaceae namely, Botryosphaeria dothidea (11 isolates), Diplodia seriata (8 isolates), Dothirella sarmentorum (8 isolates), Lasiodiplodia theobromae (7 isolates) and Neoscytalidium hyalinum (22 isolates) were identified. A pathogenicity trial was performed on detached shoots of olive under greenhouse conditions. Diplodia seriata isolates were the most virulent species based on the length of wood necrosis. This study is the first report of D. seriata and L. theobromae from olive trees in Iran. In addition, this study is the first report of Do. sarmentorum associated with yellowing, canker and dieback symptoms of olive trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evolutionary transitions in temporal niche necessitates specialized morphology, physiology, and behaviors. Diurnal, heliothermic squamates (lizards and snakes) that bask require protection from ultraviolet radiation (UV) that can damage internal organs such as the brain, viscera, and gonads. Many smaller squamates have accomplished this protection by hyperpigmentation of the peritoneum and subcutaneous dorsum. Typically, nocturnal species do not require these protections from ultraviolet light. However, some nocturnal species that exhibit extreme crypsis may be exposed to sunlight and UV and require some means of mediating that damage. One such species is Gekko (Ptychozoon) kuhli, a nocturnal, arboreal gecko that uses extreme crypsis to blend in with tree bark. Hiding motionless on tree trunks leaves geckos exposed to sunlight during the day. Thus, we predict that G. kuhli will have independently evolved a hyperpigmented phenotype. To investigate this hypothesized association between temporal niche, behavior, and morphology, we characterized adult subcutaneous pigment for eight gecko species and embryonic pigment accumulation for a subset of four of these species, exhibiting diverse temporal niche and thermoregulatory behaviors. We predicted that nocturnal/potentially-heliothermic G. kuhli would exhibit hyperpigmentation of internal structures like that of diurnal/heliothermic geckos. We further predicted that embryonic pigment accumulation of G. kuhli would resemble that of diurnal/heliothermic as opposed to nocturnal/thigmothermic geckos. Results: We found that temporal niche and thermoregulatory behavior predicted the degree of subcutaneous pigment in the eight gecko species examined. We demonstrate that G. kuhli accumulates pigment extremely early in embryonic development, unlike a diurnal/heliothermic gecko species, despite having a similar adult phenotype. Conclusions: The evolution of hyperpigmentation in G. kuhli is likely an adaptation to limit damage from occasional daytime UV exposure caused by crypsis-associated basking behavior. Gekko kuhli achieves its hyperpigmented phenotype through a derived developmental pattern, not seen in any other lizard species investigated to date, suggesting novel temporal differences in the migration and/or differentiation of reptilian neural crest derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pests of the stem and bark of resinous species were also reported in the Rășinari Forestry. Monitoring the pests after confirming their presence in different areas of the forest fund, the observations related to the different stages of development and the study were made according to the characteristic of the damage. Adult observation was signaled during the flight, traveling from one place to another, in search of a hole to jump into the bark of tree trunks. During the period 2016-2018, in the Rășinari Forestry, weak insect attacks were observed, in particular: Ips typographus, Hylobius abietis and Tortrix viridata. The degree of infestation is poor, with prophylactic and effective combat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the work: to determine the variety and state of chestnut (Aesculus L.) genus plants, newly planted at protective street plantations. Until 2005-2007 Aesculus L. growing at protective street plantations was of a rather good state. At a time Cameraria ohridella triggered severe damages on them. Accordingly the search for new species replacing Aesculus hipocastanum was initiated. Since 2008 Aesculus hipocastanum 'Baummanii' have been planted at protective street plantations. The research was carried out at 10 streets in Alytus and Kaunas cities. During 2008-2014 there were planted 122 A. hippocastanum 'Baumannii' trees at 3 streets (Margio, Sudvajų, Putinų) of Alytus city and at Gediminas street in Kaunas. The monitoring in 2009-2018 of newly planted A. hipocastanum'Baummanii' at protective street plantations, have exposed these trees, grown under our conditions, to be of a very poor state. Injuries of non-infectious origin are detected annually: defoliation, discoloration (till 3±0.14 grades), leaf necrosis (till 2.27±0.07), number dry branches - till 1.82±0.14 grades. Rapture of a bark of a trunk is relevant to these trees. Injuries on trunks intensify as a tree grows: number of raptures, bark tears increase. At a injured areas, a fungus Schizophillum commune eroding dead wood, has developed. Evaluating the 10-year study, it can be said that Aesculus hipocastanum 'Baummanii' should not be grown under our conditions. In 2015-2017 257 trees of red horse chestnut 'Briotii' (Aesculus x carnea Hayne 'Briotii') species were planted in Kaunas (Perkūno av., Basanavičiaus str., Gėlių rato str., Minties rato str., Molėtų str., Vydūno av.). The monitoring of the state of these newly planted trees have assessed significantly weaker and non-annual injuries (defoliation till 1.03±0.05 grades, necrosis - 0.69±0.09, dry branches till 0.23±0.09 grades). Rarely detected were mildew (agent Erysiphe flexuosa) and leaf spots (agent Phyllosticta paviae). Since 2016 on these chestnut trees were noticed injuries of Cameraria ohridella, till 0.7±0.29 grades. The abovementioned injuries had no impact on the decorativeness of red horse chestnut trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptocoris augur is a phytosuccivorous pest of kusum plant, S.oleosa. By its desapping habit, it causes seeds inviable. It occurs throughout the year on and under the host tree. Though, its population fluctuates seasonally, the bug form aposematic aggregations on the ripe fallen fruits of kusum during May to July. In rest months of the year, aggregation of nymphs and adults occurs on the blackish seeds. During gregariousness younger nymphs are surrounded by adults and older nymphs (4th and 5th nymphs). Gregariousness occurs for feeding and protection from enemies as well as for maintaining temperature in the group during winter. Large aggregations are also observed on the bark of the tree trunk. Adult bugs are red with membrane of wings black. The nymphs are bright red. In aggregation red and black colour show warning mimicry for protection from natural enemies. In an aggregation 5 to 126 bugs and nymphs are observed. Pheromones and other chemicals secreted by bugs and perceived by 4th clavate segments of antennae help in making clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantitative comparison of essential oils extracted from various parts of Cupressus funebris and Juniperus chinensis was studied. With increased height, the content of essential oils from branches decreased, while the content of essential oils from leaves increased for both species. A maximum amount of essential oils were found in the west and a minimum in the east of branches and leaves for the two species. Moreover, the content of essential oils in trees with a knot was higher than in those without a knot. The order of essential oil content was as follows: leaf > fine root > coarse root > bark > bough > branch > trunk in C. funebris, and leaf > fine root > bark > coarse root > bough > trunk > branch in J. chinensis. The essential oils extracted from various parts of C. funebris and J. chinensis were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 67, 33, 69, 65, and 69 components were identified from the roots, trunks, barks, branches, and leaves of C. funebris, respectively. A total of 72, 46, 79, 55, and 82 components were identified from the roots, trunk, bark, branches, and leaves of J. chinensis, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fractal geometry of bodies' represents genuine bar codes of the fractal type which, once deciphered, offer stable and trustworthy information on the status and characteristics of the respective bodies. Bark Fractal Tree Age (BFTA) Method presents a non-destructive alternative for the evaluation of the age of trees based on the fractal characteristics of the geometry of trunk bark. Fractal analysis was performed for the trunk bark of plums, set in age categories between 10 and 50 years. Negative correlation was identified between the fractal dimensions (D) of trunk bark geometry and the age of trees, with statistical certainty (R2 = - 0.856; p<0.01). The variation coefficient (CV) indicated variable dynamics of fractal dimensions in relation to the age of trees, with high values in the case of young trees (CV = 0.256 to 0.502 for age groups between 10 and 20 years) and lower values for old trees (CV = 0.165 to 0.210 for age groups from 40 to 50 years). The BFTA Method was used for obtaining a prediction model for the age of trees based on fractal dimensions, with high statistical certainty (p<0.01; R2 = 0.738 for the age group from 10 to 40 years, RMSE = 0.882 to 7.046 and R2 = 0.971 for a shorter interval, namely 20 to 40 years, RMSE = 0.387 to 1.636). Fractal analysis is a tool for developing non-destructive methods for analyzing the dynamics of trunk geometry and ages of trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex structure of tree bark reflects its many functions, which include structural support as well as defence against fire, pests and pathogens. Thick bark, however, might limit respiration by the living tissues of the trunk. Nevertheless, little research has addressed community-level variation in bark thickness, and to the best of our knowledge, no one has tested multiple hypotheses to explain variation in bark thickness. We conducted an extensive survey of bark thickness within and among species of trees in the tropical rain forests of French Guiana. Trunk bark thickness increased by 1·2 mm per 10 cm increase in stem diameter, and varied widely at all taxonomic levels. Mean trunk bark thickness was 4·5 mm (range: 0·5-29 mm), which was less that found in two Amazonian rain forests in previous studies. This survey of bark thickness should be of use for forest management since tree survival through fire is strongly predicted by bark thickness. We combined the survey data with multiple datasets to test several functional hypotheses proposed to explain variation in bark thickness. We found bark to provide an average of 10% of the flexural rigidity of tree stems, which was substantially less than that found in the only other study of bark stiffness. Bark thickness was uncorrelated with species' association with fire-prone habitats, suggesting that the influence of fire on bark thickness does not extend into moist Forests. There was also little evidence that bark thickness is affected by its function as a defence against herbivory. Nor was there evidence that thick bark limits trunk respiration. A re-analysis of previously collected anatomical data indicated that variation in rhytidome (non-conducting outer bark) thickness explains much of the variation in overall bark thickness. As rhytidome is primarily involved in protecting the living tissues of the trunk, we suggest that bark thickness is driven mostly by its defensive function. Functional explanations for the variation in bark thickness were not clear-cut. Nevertheless, this study provides a foundation for further investigation of the functional bases of bark in tropical trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecoscience (Ecoscience) is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Automated plant classification using tree trunk has attracted increasing interest in the computer vision community as a contributed solution for the management of biodiversity. It is based on the description of the texture information of the bark surface. The multi-scale variants of the local binary patterns have achieved prominent performance in bark texture description. However, these approaches encode the scale levels of the macrostructure separately from each other. In this paper, a novel handcrafted texture descriptor termed multi-scale Statistical Macro Binary Patterns (ms-SMBP) is proposed to encode the characterizing macro pattern of different bark species. The proposed approach consists of defining a sampling scheme at high scale levels and summarizing the intensity distribution using statistical measures. The characterizing macro pattern is encoded by an in-depth gradient that describes the relationship between the scale levels and their adaptive statistical prototype. Besides this handcrafted feature descriptor, a learning-based description is performed with the ResNet34 model for bark classification. Extensive and comprehensive experiments on challenging and large-scale bark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of ms-SMBP to identify bark species and outperforming different multi-scale LBP approaches. The tree trunk classification with ResNet34 shows interesting results on a very large-scale dataset. • A novel handcrafted texture descriptor for bark representation based on binary patterns. • The texture descriptor encodes the characterizing macro binary pattern using in-depth intensity distribution variations in large spatial supports. • Different combinations of complementary statistical descriptors are performed for bark surface representation. • Bark species classification with deep learning convolutional model using ResNet34. • Quantitative comparison between the handcrafted and the deep learning features for bark classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigations were carried out on 1-3- and 10-year-old stems and on the trunks of beech. The optical properties measured were: reflectance, absorption and transmittance of irradiation. The reflectance was measured in the bark and the cork, while absorption and transmittance were measured on isolated cork. Reflectance was measured only on the bark of trunks and the range of the investigations was 400-1100 nm. The reflectance of irradiation in the stems increased with increasing wavelength and decreased with the age of stems. In the range 400-700 nm it ranged from 18% in 1-year-old stems to 10% in 10-year-old stems, and reflectance in the trunks was equal to 15%. In the range 700-1100 nm, it ranged from 51% in 1-year-old stems to 36% in 10-year-old stems and in the trunks. Absorption of the cork decreased with increasing wavelength from about 92% in the range 400 nm to about 15% in the range 700 nm, and to 15% in the range 1100 nm. Any distinct influence of stems age on cork absorption was not observed. Transmittance of irradiation increased with increasing wavelength and the age of the stems. In the range 400 nm it was >1% in all age groups of the stems. In the range 700 nm in 1- and 2-year-old stems, it was equal to approximately 45%, and in the 10-year-old ones it amounted to 60%. In the range 700-750 nm, transmittance decreased to about 38% in the bark of 1-3-year-old stems, to 50% in 10-year-old ones and it remained at this level up to 1100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy trees from seven stands 50-650 years old were selected for this investigation of crown structural development in Pseudotsuga menziesii. All branches, limbs, and trunks were nondestructively measured for size, structure, and location while climbing the trees with ropes. These data were used to generate a computer model of each tree's crown that was error-checked trigonometrically. Leaves, bark, cambium, and wood were quantified by using limited destructive sampling to develop predictive equations that were applied to the complete inventory of structures in each tree's crown. Summations of these values yielded whole-tree estimates of several structural variables. A second set of equations was then developed to predict these whole-tree parameters from simple, ground-based measurements. Principal components analysis of 24 tree-level variables revealed two orthogonal dimensions of structure that accounted for 71.3% and 12.4% of total variation in the 70 trees. The first dimension represented a gradient of overall tree size and structural complexity that was positively correlated with tree age (R2 = 0.89). The second dimension represented a gradient of incremental growth potential that was positively correlated with measured growth of main trunks at breast height during the five-year period after trees were mapped (R2 = 0.39). The strongest determinant of incremental growth potential was the ratio of a tree's total cambium surface area to projected leaf area. A tree's incremental growth potential may thus be unrelated to either size or structural complexity and depend instead on factors related to whole-tree carbon balance (e.g., how much the tree invests in fighting and feeding fungi). Our intensive analyses of Pseudotsuga menziesii and extensive observations of other species were used to develop a conceptual model of crown development in tall conifers. Trees respond to disturbances by growth of replacement structures whose form depends on disturbance intensity and age. Young trees rebuild damaged crowns through epicormic shoot production on original branches, whereas older trees also recover by producing new, epicormic branches. Damage to main trunks and top dieback stimulate production of reiterated trunks. Repeated damage leads to multiple hierarchical levels of trunk reiteration as well as to limb formation and increasing tree individuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively quick and simple method is presented for monitoring changes in distribution and in site and substratum preferences of epiphytic macrolichens; the method also records the natural turnover of common species. Changes in the epiphytic lichen flora in southern Sweden were recorded at 64 sites in 1986 and again in 2003. In total 1990 observations of lichens were recorded on 15 tree species, mainly on trunks but also on branches up to 2 m above the ground. Almost all species showed a high turnover with regard to substratum, including very abundant species such as Hypogymnia physodes. Many of the species had changed substratum within their sites, possibly reflecting a general change in the ecological quality of sites. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was used to extract the variation in species composition over time, using 1685 records of 55 lichen species on 8 different substrata. Some species such as Hypogymnia tubulosa had increased in abundance whilst others such as Vulpicida pinastri had decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branch diameter relative to the trunk diameter (aspect ratio) affected the extent of discolored and decayed wood in the trunk of seedling-propagated red maple (Acer rubrum L.) after branch removal. More discoloration resulted from removing codominant stems than removing branches that were small compared to the trunk. Removing limbs that originated from lateral buds resulted in the same amount of discoloration and decay as removing suppressed limbs that were once the leader. This result provides indirect evidence that a small codominant stem suppressed by pruning techniques designed to sinew its growth rate can result in a branch protection zone at the union. There was no relation between the presence of a bark inclusion and decay 4 years after making pruning cuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field trapping experiments were carried out in Norway to measure attraction of the cherry bark tortrix (CBT) Enarmonia formosana to volatile blends of candidate compounds including acetic acid (AA), linalool oxide pyranoid (LOXP), 2-phenylethanol (PET), pear ester (E,Z)2,4-ethyl decadienoate (PE) and (E)-β-farnesene (BF). The binary blend of AA and LOXP caught the highest number of CBT adults. While addition of PET along with PE did not significantly change the attraction, a sex-dependent decrease of female captures was found when LOXP was replaced by PET/PE. Male attraction to AA/LOXP did not differ when PET/PE were added to the blend or when LOXP was substituted by the same two compounds. A similar attraction to blank traps was recorded for the ternary blend of LOXP/PET/PE, for the binary blend of PET/PE and for LOXP alone, supporting AA as a possible fundamental component of CBT kairomone. In addition, a lower number of bycatches of Hedya nubiferana , Anthophila fabriciana, Synanthedon myopaeformis, Pammene spp. and Pandemis spp. were scored in the AA/LOXP than in any blend including AA/PET/PE. BF was not behaviourally active on CBT in our field experiments. The high attraction of both sexes of CBT to the binary blend of AA/LOXP represents a first step towards the identification of a multicomponent kairomone for this pest. A continuous flight activity of both sexes of CBT was recorded from the end of May until the beginning of August, supporting the hypothesis that CBT is univoltine in Norway. Because larval infestation on tree trunks varies substantially with apple varieties, we encourage the collection of additional data to attempt a correlation between adult catch by AA/LOXP traps and the following larval population. • Both sexes of CBT were attracted to a blend of allelochemicals including acetic acid, linalool oxide pyranoid, 2-phenylethanol and pear ester. • A higher specificity for CBT was measured for the blend of acetic acid and linalool oxide pyranoid. • Additional investigations are required to established a correlation between kairomone catches and larval population level in tree trunks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Defects with a diameter from 0.5 cm on tree trunks could be detected in TLS data. • Good accuracy of the defects classification was achieved with an F1 score of 0.86. • The accuracy was similar between tested species with different bark roughness. Three-dimensional data are increasingly prevalent in forestry thanks to terrestrial LiDAR. This work assesses the feasibility for an automated recognition of the type of local defects present on the bark surface. These singularities are frequently external markers of inner defects affecting wood quality, and their type, size, and frequency are major components of grading rules. The proposed approach assigns previously detected abnormalities in the bark roughness to one of the defect types: branches, branch scars, epicormic shoots, burls, and smaller defects. Our machine learning approach is based on random forests using potential defects shape descriptors, including Hu invariant moments, dimensions, and species. The results of our experiments involving different French commercial species, oak, beech, fir, and pine showed that most defects were well classified with an average F 1 score of 0.86. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suggests some methods for teachers on discussing the parts of a pine tree. Direction in which the tree's branches grow; Need for teachers to use a picture of pine woods to compare its bark from other trees; Importance of emphasizing the commercial uses of pine woods.

The article focuses on the seiridium cardinale which is a serious fungal pathogen observed in Cupressus macrocarpa in a nursery in Lemesos, Cyprus. The fungal pathogen causes cankers on the branch and trunk. Acervuli with characteristic conidia of S. cardinale were found and the fungus was isolated from the bark tissues of three different plants. Colonies obtained from potato dextrose agar (PDA) were similar to the cultured S. cardinale in Greece and Italy. It mentions that this is the first report of S. cardinale in Cyprus wherein, the nursery imported the cypress trees from Italy, where the disease is widespread. Active surveillance is needed to prevent the spread of the damaging disease.

The article provides information on the white oak tree which is recognized easily because of its lightly colored bark. The tree grows in the thick forest and can sometimes be found to stand up to 80 feet tall. The bark on the big trees is sometimes 2 inches thick. It is considered as one of the most valuable trees of North America.

The article presents a guide for recording observations of trees. The data that needs to be observed are date of observation, common name, estimated height and width of branches, shape, circumference of the trunk, roughness or smoothness of the bark of the trunk, kind of branching, thinness or thickness of twigs and twig buds.

The article discusses the characteristics of the bark of shagbark hickory and black ash trees to easily identify them. Shagbark hickory, the shaggiest tree in the woods, has a bark like a wood and is tough and wiry in every fiber. Its trunk has larger sheets and its shaggy appearance is highly noticeable. The trunk of the black ash, one of winter's finest looking trees, appears like a gray granite column in the distance. Its ridges lock each other, thus forming diamond-shaped patterns.