BenR

I use my treemagic rings that connect the legloops and waist belt in much the same way as you have mentioned.

Tbh although the rope wrench works really well, I don't think I am seeing the full benefit of SRT work positioning yet. Maybe I am still trying to climb the tree like I would DRT too much and not using enough of an up and down, up and down approach. Maybe I just need to spend more time on the rope wrench exclusively instead of switching back and forth all the time..

I take it you are fully converted then?

Nice photos Taupotreeman!

Me too! Do you need an apprentice Gord?

Hi mate, this may not apply/be relevant to your situation but.. I spent 4 months in Spain on my gap year. The only time I learnt any spanish was by finding people that were interested in learning English, but had as little knowledge of my language as I had of theirs. We would sit down have a pint and just work on vocab. Teaching each other how to say things in our own language. Eventually building up to sentences. The thing with this is you need someone that can't speak English. By the sounds of it a lot of Swedes speak English and so, like Rich mentioned, they respond to you in English thinking they are helping. Jump in at the deep end, try to speak as little English as possible. Maybe find some real hick Swedes to groundy for you that don't know any English!!! Goodluck!

Sounds interesting mrtree. Do you have any info on who/where to get in contact with about that for those that may be interested?

Is plasmodia some sort of reproductive fluid Tony? Ive often seen that same pink residue/fluid and wondered what it was. Thanks

Some more interesting info from J. W. Humphrey, S. Davey, A. J. Peace, R. Ferris and K. Harding. 2002. Abstract Lichen and bryophyte communities of spruce and pine plantations in different parts of Britain were surveyed and compared to those of semi-natural pine and oak woodlands. In total, 202 lichen species and 111 bryophytes were recorded. Community composition and species-richness were related to measures of climate, stand structure and deadwood (snags, logs and stumps). Plantations had a less species-rich lichen flora than semi-natural stands related to reduced light availability and lack of old trees. Bryophyte species-richness was similar in plantations and semi-natural stands, and was positively correlated with large diameter (>20 cm), well-decayed logs and stumps. Lichens species-richness was higher on decorticate snags (especially in semi-natural Scots pine stands in the Scottish Highlands). Early successional stands were often the richest for lichens, stumps being important for Calicium and Cladonia species. Three strategies are suggested for enhancing lower plant diversity in planted forests: (1) extending felling rotations; (2) introducing alternative silvicultural systems to clear-felling (e.g. single-tree selection) to foster continuity of woodland conditions and increase deadwood volumes; (3) modifying restocking practices on clear-fells to avoid excessive shading of deadwood.

Found it anyway: To study the pH preference of epiphytic lichens, the bark pH of Fraxinus, Tilia, Quercus and Ulmus trees in an urban environment was measured using a flat surface electrode. The total number of trees was 253. A survey was made of the lichens in a 40 × 40 cm quadrat surrounding the pHmeasurement point. Our data analysis using multivariate and univariate statistical techniques indicates that the tree species is the most important factor influencing lichen colonisation, and that bark pH alone is of less importance. We hypothesize that the changed pollution climate, with strong decreases in both sulphur dioxide and ammonia concentrations over the past two decades and a concomitant general increase in bark pH, has made epiphytes less sensitive to pH. Tree species, rather than bark pH determines the occurrence of acidophytes and nitrophytes on trees. L. Spier, H. van Dobben, and K. van Dort, 2010 It should be made clear that this hypothesis is based on urban areas only.. And it suggests that pH is important as part of a range of other factors, rather than saying simply that pH is not as important.

Sorry, I've been a busy boy. Again, I agree with mrtree, no idea what the pink stuff is but is clearly having some sort of influence. pH is an issue.. lichens are generally grouped into nitrophytes and acidophytes. However, there was a paper from Holland which was saying that the distinction between the two is becoming blurred after finding both acidophytes and nitrophytes on the same trunk of young trees in the Netherlands. I will try to dig out the paper when I get home. I will paste the abstract here. Thanks mrtree for your continued, insightful input. Share the wealth

Cheers Sean, I enjoyed that thread. Aiming for specifics about lichens on this one as I don't know much about mosses etc

Sorry, I should have made myself more clear. :001_rolleyes:In nature I would think you are right that they cannot exist in a free state. In culture, under lab conditions they can grow separately however. Just as another aside.. Lichens present on a tree can also be influenced by the pH of the bark. However, whether this is significant enough to deter certain species from certain trees has come under much debate recently.

Some more pictures for the thread. All on Oak.

Very true mrtree! I was trying to give a simple introduction/overview. But yes complexity Also, I think I am right in saying that some fungi can exist as a mycobiont with algae/cyanobacterium, or they can exist in their own right as fungi

:lol:It is begun. We shall see what the trees think of the thread then.. Let me know what they say.

Oops second picture is not the one I intended. It is a clean air lichen though! Here is the one I intended to post.

In response to the request/suggestion of His Hamaness this may hopefully grow into a useful resource for anyone interested in lichens. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between fungi (mycobiont) and algae (photobiont). The fungus provide the home for the alga and the alga provides the food, via photosynthesis for itself and the fungus. The body of the lichen is called a thallus (thalli plural) and they reproduce with spores similar to fungi. Lichens provide masses of biodiversity! They can cover most surfaces and can also be present under the surface of rock in extreme cases (endolithic lichens). They contribute to soil formation by weathering rocks. Low lichen biodiversity values are strongly correlated with high levels of respiratory problems, meaning they are a good indicator of pollutants. Evernia prunastri is used a fixative in the perfume industry. The list goes on. They are truly interesting and complex things! But then I am a geek! First picture shows Xanthoria parietina and Physcia tenella Both are tolerant to pollution by nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and various other atmospheric pollutants. Therefore they are good bio-indicators of polluted air. Second picture shows a range of lichens that are not tolerant to pollution. Therefore indicators of very clean air. Sadly I don't have a very good camera, but I am sure Hama will post some better photos of lichens:thumbup:

I will do my best. But I am no teacher!

:001_tt2:I want to play.. Just don't have any toys... We could always talk about lichens though!

Mutsi atsi...Now you have lost me! I guess a lot of the time it depends on the situation. There are no hard and fast rules in the natural world.

Glad to hear it! and the latin means something along the lines of - the love of money is the root of all evil. For thoses whats curious:001_rolleyes: I voted for the tree btw, cos I don't have to worry about pleasing clients. Most of them are ignorant with regards to anything other than the state of affairs on eastenders.. Big tree--- scary kill it!

If you want to try it out without shelling out the money in case you don't get on with it, you can do it quite easily with a couple of normal HMS biners which you probably have lying around. The oval biners just make it easier to clip/unclip as you can rotate the bottom one round to make attachment easier. I just use one oval for the bottom biner and a dmm 'lynx' that i already had for the top one. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydt-hUT6aGE]YouTube - Hitch Climber Set-Up[/ame]

page 3 of this thread has loads of pictures of the setups discussed. http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/climbers-talk/4833-valdotain-tresse-vt-pulley-set-up-photos-3.html [ame] [/ame]

Ok, that is not too bad. Last time I saw a price it was over 60quid. Tbh, it is not that much money, but Forest Canopies is probably not the best introductory book anyway, which I think was the original question. As far as I know, Forest Canopies is a series of publications from various authors about specific investigations so I would think it is more aimed at canopy researchers. I still fancy getting a copy though! At under 40quid I may have to! Cheers for the info mrtree:thumbup1: