Kveldssanger

I'd rather disturb it and have her fly somewhere else to start another nest while she can, assuming that's feasible?

Saw this on a heavily-decaying willow today. It's got a very thin crust that, when pressured in any way, cracks slightly and is like a thick yoghurt / whipped cream texture. Thought it was a chicken from the ground, though up the ladder and after feeling the texture it evidently was not. Anyone able to confirm it's the start of a wasp nest, or if it may be something else? If it's a wasp nest, it'll need to be disturbed so that the female wasp relocates to another location.

You're very welcome. For me, it would depend on the woodland. I'm always more alert at night if out and about - probably an in-built defensive mechanism we all have, to some degree.

30/03/16. Fact #183. Following on from my initial post about using electronic noses to pick up decay within a tree (which I suggest you glance over before reading this), I thought I’d visit further literature on the subject but with more of a refined focus. In this instance, we’ll be looking solely at the ability for electronic noses (specifically the PEN3 electronic nose) to detect decay within the rooting environment of trees. As was elucidated to in my previous post, the PEN3 can pick-up decay from root systems in the field setting, though here we can observe how a slightly earlier study fared in terms of its efficacy upon root samples inoculated in the laboratory and stored beneath different types of soil. Because not all fungi will colonise the root system of a tree, the fungal species chosen in this study were Armillaria mellea, Ganoderma lucidum, and Heterbasidion annosum (a shame that Meripilus giganteus was not included). These three species can be considered principal root-rotters. These fungi were, once cultivated and made into mycelial plugs, brought into contact with healthy root samples (1-3cm in diameter and 2-10cm in length) of adult trees of the species Aesculus hippocastanum, Cedrus deodara, Liquidambar styraciflua, Platanus x hispanica, and Quercus robur. Such roots, complete with fungal inoculum, were then buried beneath sourced urban soils (and also ‘professional’ nursery soils), in order to reflect what soils the PEN3 would need to ‘sense’ through if it were to be applied in the ‘field’, and a period of time was given for the mycelium to begin colonising the root samples and. After a year, the samples were ready for testing. Then, following a set of complex processes that only a three-page methodology could ever fully encapsulate, it was time to look at the results (which are equally as complex, so I’ll do my best to simplify them). What the researchers found was that the ability for the PEN3 to detect decay in the roots of different tree species by different wood decay fungi, all whilst under different soil types, was quite good (and more notably for urban soils) – see the below graphs. The nose was able to differentiate between healthy and decayed samples of root tissues with a high degree of variance between the two, meaning that there was little to no scope for ‘confusion’ between healthy and decayed root samples. Similarly, it was able to significantly differentiate between the fungal agents causing the decay in certain instances, and particularly in the cases where the fungi-tree relationship would naturally occur in the ‘field’. For example, the nose could identify (but not significantly differentiate between the two) oak roots colonised by A. mellea and G. lucidum – both are natural pathogens of the species. Granted, this trend wasn’t conslusive, as the nose couldn’t differentiate between healthy and A. mellea-infected samples in horse chestnut. The second set of graphs outlines the data collected with regards to differentiating between the decay from different fungal species. The ability of the PEN3 to discriminate between healthy (green) and infected (blue) tree roots for A. hippocastanum (a), C. deodara (b), L. styracuflua ©, and Q. robur (d). Under the urban soils, the nose worked more effectively, and this is considered to be because soils also emit their own VOCs, and professional nutrient-rich soils will have a ‘stronger’ emission. However, these professional soils still didn’t stop the PEN3 from identifying whether a root was decayed or healthy. How the PEN3 differentiated between decay from different fungi (A. mellea [blue], G. lucidum [red], H. annosum [grey], and healthy [green], on the tree species A. hippocastanum (a), C. deodara (b), L. styraciflua ©, P. x hispanica (d), and Q. robur (e). Evidently, some work is required in ensuring the PEN3 becomes very able to differentiate between the decay from different fungi on different tree species (and under different soils), though even from the graphs above we can see how there is, by-and-large, some degree of differentiation between the readings (as shown by the clusters, which infrequently overlap, but are sometimes close together). The decay from different fungi in Cedrus deodara appears to be particularly well differentiated, whilst decay in Aesculus hippocastanum is less so. Of course, it’s mainly a calibration and sensory game, and if the PEN3 can be accentuated in sensory ability then there’s certainly scope for this to be a very effective field diagnostic test for decay of root systems, and all whilst not having to damage the tree in any manner. Compiled with the more recent results of the PEN3 being able to work in the ‘field’, it’s an interesting piece of technology to keep an eye on. Source: Baietto, M., Pozzi, L., Wilson, A., & Bassi, D. (2013) Evaluation of a portable MOS electronic nose to detect root rots in shade tree species. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 96 (1). p117-125.

Hahah. No Rigidoporus - just wood. Paul will be using his ARBOTOM on this tree next Friday, btw. And then soon after following its felling. I'm sure there'll be a post about it all soon enough. Many other trees to go as well, actually. Will be a busy Friday.

How do you find park users react to bee nests at the Heath, out of interest? Do you manage trees with nests in prominent areas, or try to isolate them to less 'trafficked' zones?

Whoa that's a glorious misdiagnosis. It's almost got wings, it's that glorious. Crikey... Please keep us posted to the outcome for the alder.

Cool thread, there! I wonder if bees would prefer a brown rot over a white rot, given the lower moisture levels of the wood?

Nice shots, David. Really loving that plane one!

How long was the guy in hospital for?

It's still anecdotal, as this tree could stay standing for another ten years. However, this new windthrow has caused residents to get worried yet further, and I think it's probably best to just remove the risk almost fully. Very boggy down there today after all the rain as well, so perhaps the moist conditions didn't help with regards to decay and so on. Thinking of putting some alders in there, to plant around a willow that also fell a few years back and is now colonised by a nice load of Ganoderma - I hope this fallen pop will go the same way, and that the bees make good use of it for at least this year. I really was panicking that the bees had lost their home, though they were still flying around the tree and going into the stem with as much grace as they were when it was still standing. Hardy fellas!

Wow! What was his condition, do you know? Bet the tree's pleased, although it's still getting the prune. Be nice to it (though you will, of course), as alders don't always look good after reductions (bit like birch - reductions just don't suit them - personal opnion).

Lots of decay at the base - it failed at the fulcrum.

29/03/16. Fact #182. I don’t think that one can question the anecdotal benefits of walking through a woodland or forest. Away from civilization, it’s a time where one can really begin to relax, let the mind shut off from stressors, and let the eyes take in the wonderful sights. I know, from personal experience, that a woodland walk can bring about a state of calm and ‘inner peace’, and I often find myself exploring for hours on end only to realise I’ve been gone for half a day, am slightly lost, and need to walk home before it gets too dark. Personal journeys aside, there is a growing amount of evidence to state how woodland and forest settings can be used to reduce anxiety, treat (as part of a wider range of things) stress, and maintain a general good state of well-being. In this post, I thought I’d look at a study from Japan that assessed how the practice of ‘Shinrin-yoku’ (‘experiencing the forest’) can impact upon the mental and physical state / well-being of individuals (for this study, this was 12 male university students of 21-23 years of age). The forest in question was an old-growth broadleaved deciduous forest, and the experiment was undertaken in the height of summer. In order to quantify the benefits of Shinrin-yoku, the 12 men were separated into two groups of six. One group spent the first day in the forest and the other in a nearby city (to enable for comparisons to be drawn), and on the second day the two groups swapped locations. All 12 men stayed in the same hotel, which was located around one hour away from either site (by car). Before leaving for each location, they would have breakfast, and upon return they would have dinner. Once at each location, individuals had their day planned so that they would first spend some time in a rest room on the site, and then go on a leisurely but lone walk (a pre-planned route) within the study area. They would then return for lunch at the rest room on the site, before remaining in the rest room to look at the scenery (by themselves). During each day, all individuals had physiological data collected from them, including blood pressure and pulse rate, before and after each activity (at the hotel for breakfast, at the rest room prior to the walk, after the walk, before looking at the scenery, after looking at the scenery, and back at the hotel for dinner). The men were also asked to rate, on 13-point scales, whether they felt comfortable or uncomfortable, and calm or roused (agitated). They were also asked to rank how refreshed they felt. Again, these subjectivity tests were taken six times each day, for all individuals. The results of this study are very interesting, as they show that the 12 men almost always preferred the forest experience in a subjective sense, and their physiological measurements backed this up. Benefits were particularly evident after the men had experienced the forest (after the walk and after looking at the scenery from the rest room), though even prior to going on the walk and observing the scenery there were marked benefits (as if the expectation automatically improved an individual’s perception of well-being, and their physiological condition). Below, we’ll look at specific data sets and what they show. How calm or roused the men felt at each site and at each measurement time. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01 In terms of how calm the men were, one can clearly observe how the forest walk had a significant impact upon their state of mind, which was even more significantly impacted following a period where they individually took in the view from the rest room site. Alarmingly, the men actually felt slightly agitated after observing a city vista. However, we can observe how the impacts on the feeling of calm were largely immediate, as by the evening there was no significant difference between the two data sets. However, the fact that those who experienced the forest felt calmer in the evening than those who experienced the city is interesting, as it is the inverse of the morning’s results, and even prior to the walk’s results. How comfortable the men felt at each site and at each measurement time. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01 With reference to how comfortable the test subjects felt, we can clearly see how the forest experience (even when not on site, but eating breakfast at the hotel before heading out to the forest) made the men feel significantly more comfortable. The forest walk and scenery were particularly significant in raising the level of comfort within the men, whilst the city walk and scenery actually made them feel very uncomfortable. Following each walk and each observance of scenery in both locations, all men were significantly impacted by the experience, and the benefits and adverse impacts of these experiences have already been mentioned and can be seen in the graph above. How refreshed the men felt at each site and at each measurement time. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01 Looking at how refreshed the men felt throughout the day, we can again see how the forest experience trumped the city experience. Again, the refreshed state of each individual rose significantly after each experience, and individuals were significantly more refreshed after forest experiences (notably after observing the scenery). We can now see a trend, that observing a forest view from a point of rest is certainly very beneficial, and studies on how hospital recovery time is positively impacted by the view of trees from a window now start to make yet more sense (as mental well-being manifests in the physical form, via blood pressure levels, and on on). The pulse rate of the men at each site and at each measurement time. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01 Moving onto physiological impacts of a forest experience, we can see how the pulse rate of the men was, on average, lower before and after each forest experience, and also in the evening following the day’s experience. Only prior to the forest visit was pulse rate higher, and perhaps this was down to a form of excitement and / or apprehension (I am only speculating). Interestingly, the pulse rate of the men was quite markedly lower prior to the walk when they were awaiting a walk in the forest, suggesting that even the prospect of walking in a forest is physically calming, though curiously this doesn’t align fully with the men’s subjective feeling of calm prior to a forest walk. Therefore, we can observe perhaps a slight disparity between perception and actual physiological responses from the individuals to the prospect of a forest walk (perhaps, because walking in a city is more of the norm, they were more nonchalant about such a walk?). The blood pressure of the men at each site and at each measurement time. * p<0.05; ** p<0.01 As for blood pressure, we can once again see how it was lowered in both the top (systolic) and bottom (diastolic) readings. Yet again we can see how the forest walk and observance of forest scenery were beneficial for lowering blood pressure, though this was more significant with the sitting down and watching of the scenery. Perhaps this is to be expected, as walking, which is a physical activity, will raise blood pressure (even slightly). Importantly, this benefit progressed into the evening, where evidently the men were still more relaxed, albeit not significantly so. So there we have it. Forests are good both physically and mentally! Please, however, bear in mind this is only a study of 12 men of the age 21-23, so it’s by no means a conclusive study, but it’s a useful indicator of how a larger study might turn out. Further to this, it was done in the height of summer in a broadleaved forest of significant age, so we must also accept the marked benefit may also be seasonal (and younger forests, perhaps also coniferous in nature, may elicit a different response). There may also be differing cultural responses, and therefore replications in other areas of the world would also be interesting to see. I’ll let you look over the graphs again so you can form more conclusions for yourselves, though I hope this has been of use for many who are reading this. For me, it certainly aligns with my own experiences from walking through broadleaved woodlands. And I write all this as I overlook miles of fields and woodlands from my bedroom window, which has also had a very calming impact upon me – that is without doubt. What’s not to love…! Source: Tsunetsugu, Y., Park, B., Ishii, H., Hirano, H., Kagawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2007) Physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest) in an old-growth broadleaf forest in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Physiological Anthropology. 26 (2). p135-142.

Another large poplar fell on the same green where the petrol station is during the winds. It has a bee's nest in it, so it's staying put, for ecological reasons (watched the bees there the day I posted these photos and was to reduce that poplar this coming winter so as not to disturb the bees, so a little gutted but glad the bees stayed put). That's two in a few months, so I know it's guilt by association but evidently something is 'up' there. The one that fell today does have a much denser crown, granted. However, it is (was) more sheltered.

The body is a temple, so never would it be desecrated with Budweiser. I'm sure this oak is more upper-class with its selection of alcohol. Perhaps it's got too drunk and now thinks it's ivy, instead. In other news, that's a cracking butt on that oak.

That oak has really been on the booze. So much so that's now impersonating a Bud bottle.

Advice very much taken. I'm sure Paul will like to get some tomographs of it pre- and post-fell, too. Building is rather new - I'd say late 80s / early 90s. Chestnuts predated the building, without doubt. I hadn't even spotted the algae blobs. Too busy looking at the Kretz. Ah man, so blind! Will check tomorrow.

I peeled some bark back and there's plenty of decay and plenty of insects. Spec was to reduce it as it's part of an old line of chestnuts. You have a greater amount of experience dealing with Kretz - what would you do, in this case? As you can see, many target areas, though the flats are to the south, so it's sheltered from the prevailing wind direction (and most directions, as there are trees all around).

Hi all, I came across this Aesculus sp. today (suspected A. x carnea), with what appears to be Kretzschmaria deusta at the base. The old brackets crumble readily and they have the characteristic white perimeters, though it's the brown tinge to some that's thrown me slightly. Can Kretz have such a colouration, at all? Cheers.

Any time mate. From your link: "Chemical injections have only been on the market for three years. No one knows what the long-term side effects might be," Jia said. ^^ That's a wonderful point, and always worth bearing in mind. Injections would really be a one-off thing, or at least not something done every year. It can help trees expend less energy on flowering and fruit production and focus it instead on defensive pursuits if they are being attacked by pests or diseases, but for hayfever control it may be too much. Unless, of course, the man gets medical for himself and tree injections are only for one or two years. And I laughed at giving a tree a sex change!

No worries. And I understand. This needs a more immediate solution, whilst a chemical solution is going to take some time to plan.

These are great! Do you intentionally travel across the country to take photos, or just do it on your general travels? Also wondering on what camera you use, as I'm looking to get a higher-end one so I can take pictures that don't look like they've been taken with a potato.

I recall some floral inhibitors being gibberellic acid-based, though their efficacy I cannot fully comment on (asides from what I have read, which is that they exist). Just found this (suggests ethylene, another plant hormone, may also be something to utilise) - How to Stop Olive Trees From Flowering | Garden Guides