Kveldssanger

In this case plagiotropism is merely synonymous with geotropism or gravitropism, I would say.

Crataegus monogyna Stricta and Liquidambar styraciflua Thea, perhaps.

Depends on the condition of the pollard, the whether the pollarding cycle has laped (and if so, for how long).

I agree with 97% of that statement.

Well guys, I took Steve's word for it and put down all my belongings in a bet that it'd snow before 19th December. I'm now homeless, without any belongings, and am posting this message here via a potato.

I admit it's a shame how many empty chairs there are. I wonder if the debate had been on something more directly related to the UK populace (such as getting more jobs created out of thin air) whether the chairs would all be occupied. One concern I do have with regards to this discussion was the request to consider putting a valuation on AW. Frankly, the constant pursuit of monetising an 'asset' (as if we ever 'owned' it anyway!) is ludicrous, as there should simply be a focus on the inherent, intrinsic value AWs (and woodlands in general) provide. If people cannot see the default importance of woodland, and instead require a monetary valuation be put on the woodland to be able to grasp their importance, then that very much pains me. By placing a monetary value on something, we forcefully drag it into the bounds of the very same economy that seeks to exploit the natural environment for profit. I do realise that there are many financial benefits provided by trees that can be measured with the right techniques, though I do sometimes wonder why (in the philosophical sense) we even need to provide a monetary value for trees. The only reason I can think of is to bulldoze through the intentional dissonance of people and organisations who'd rather bury their heads in the sand and pretend that removing trees and woodlands (and refraining from planting trees) isn't a bad thing.

Wonderful comment by the Scottish MP at 14:05:45, where he says the NPPF contradicts itself when it says that building on AW can be justified if the gains of development clearly outweigh the loss of AW. Considering we can never get AW back once it is gone, he is right in saying it's an absolute farce of a statement in the NPPF.

Watching this right now.

19/12/15. Fact #103. This post is in keeping with the ectomycorrhizal theme and the capturing of information from a different chapter of the same book as used for the last source. Mycelium growing away from the root substrate (so out within the soil) of ecomycorrhizal fungal species (EMF) is now being seen as a major player in carbon cycling (and may contribute up to 70% of total carbon sequestered in soil organic matter), because these extramatrical mycelial growths (EMM) require carbon in order to not only lay down new growth but to metabolise uptaken nutrients. It is therefore suggested that future soil carbon models should allocate for EMM growths and their effects. The carbon used by EMF is provided by their host trees - this suggests that higher rates of photosynthesis may improve carbon allcoation to EMF and thus to EMM production. In fact, a study by Korkama et al. (2007) on spruce clones concluded that EMM production was greater when the host tree was fast-growing. Another study (Ekblad et al., 2013) undertaken on a larger scale within Norway spruce forests concluded similarly, and demonstrated that EMM growth was positively correlated to host tree productivity. EMM growth rates within woodlands also correlate positively with woodland canopy structure. During canopy closure, when trees require the most nutrients so to pursue light (phototropism) and are reaching maturity, the EMM growth rate peaks (given the higher carbon provisions). Usually, this will occur between 25-40 years after the woodland first begun to develop. Growth of EMM will also vary between species, as different EMF species will have different carbon demands. Therefore, if the host tree is under stress, perhaps due to herbivory or other reason, EMM growth may suffer. This was found to be the case with EMF species in symbiosis with pinyon pines. Where the host pines were being predated upon by scale insects, EMM growths were poorer - particularly in EMF species that are more carbon-demanding. Sources: Ekblad, A., Wallander, H., Godbold, D., Cruz, C., Johnson, D., Baldrian, P., Björk, R., Epron, D., Kieliszewska-Rokicka, B., Kjøller, R., & Kraigher, H. (2013) The production and turnover of extramatrical mycelium of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest soils: role in carbon cycling. Plant and Soil. 366 (1-2). p1-27. Korkama, T., Fritze, H., Pakkanen, A. and Pennanen, T. (2007) Interactions between extraradical ectomycorrhizal mycelia, microbes associated with the mycelia and growth rate of Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones. New Phytologist. 173 (4). p798-807. Wallander, H. & Ekblad, A. (2015) The importance of ectomycorrhizal networks for nutrient retention and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems. In Horton, T. (ed.) Mycorrhizal Networks. The Netherlands: Springer.

It is indeed disgusting.

^ check the Occupiers Liabilty Acts.

I posted a fact from the book here - http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/training-education/90817-arboricultural-styled-fact-day-42.html#post1396133

18/12/15. Fact #102. The necessity of soil mycorrhizae with regards to tree presence and health is become ever more clear, as research pursues further understanding of the tree-mycorrhiza relationship. Logically, one would anticipate for mycorrhizae to facilitate primary (we are not discussing secondary) succession of woodland, given the known importance of their presence, though research must still be undertaken as a means of quantifying and understanding such importance. In this post, we therefore look at a study undertaken on a volcanic desert on Mt. Fuji, Japan, which seeks to ascertain exactly how mycorrhizal fungi enable primary woodland succession. We must first set the scene. Mt. Fuji is a barren landscape, void of life on large expanses of its surface, and it has been this way since it erupted in 1707 and deposited 10m (in depth) of scoria upon its surface. Since then, plant life has slowly returned (it is now at 5% of total area), though most of the area is non-mycorrhizal and the soil is lacking in 'spore banks'. Within this desert, small patches (around 1% of the total land area) of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) habitat can be found existing within regions host to pioneering Salix spp. shrubs, as well as (though only for 0.003% of the area) Betula ermanii and Larix kaempferi. Such a site therefore provides for a wonderful opportunity to explore how ECM habitats develop and how they enable for the primary succession of plant species, particularly as Mt. Fuji resides within a forest landscape consisting of Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus, and Abies species. In time, these trees will succeed back onto the volcano, and it is expected that ECM will play a major role in this. Within the 1% of land covered by dwarf willows, ECM sporocarps were found under all established willow shrubs (thought to have been propagated by wind, as willow can remain non-mycorrhizal by stalling growth), and these ECM exhibit a clear succession pattern. When dwarf willows first colonise an area, pioneer ECM can be seen to move in (Laccaria laccata, Laccaria amethystina, and Inocybe lacera). As these willows begin to establish some additional pioneer ECM species succeed into the area (Scleroderma bovista and Laccaria murina), though establish more on the periphery of the dwarf willow vegetation islands. Hebeloma, Cortinarius, Russala, and Tomentella species are found only within the larger and more established willow islands where soil organic matter has accumulated, and are considered late colonisers. Of all the aforementioned species, genets of particular species typically had smaller sizes whilst others occupied larger soil areas. For instance, Laccaria spp. principally achieved sizes of less than 1m, whilst Scleroderma bovista was found at sizes of up to 4m (though one was 18.4m in size). With regards to the succession of plants into the vegetation islands, the research found that willow seedlings only could be found in the immediate areas surrounding the vegetation islands, where ECM had colonised the soil. Larger willow genets grew only within the centre of the vegetation islands where ECM were more abundant and diverse, whilst smaller genets colonised the periphery. Over time, we can begin to understand how this could extrapolate out into a bigger area. The arrival of Betula ermanii and Larix kaempferi will follow willow establishment (this expalins why only 0.003% of the land area is colonised by these two species - 26 larch and 39 birch saplings were present at the time of study), and the species will use (some of) the same ECM species as the existing willow species use as a means for effective growth and survival. Their succession marks the onset of a forest ecosystem, which is a critical step in the transitional process between a barren environment and a wooded one. In time, these two tree species will faciliate in the succession of further ECM species and this will, in turn, further aid with habitat provisional for other plant and tree species (that exist in the nearby forests), as will the gradual build-up of organic matter in the soil improve soil conditions enough to support more variable and expansive life - assuming the volcano doesn't erupt and reset the process. I don't want to drone on here, as the chapter is very long, though hopefully this gives a brief insight into the primary succession of trees onto a largely barren and inhospitable volcanic landscape. Source: Nara. K. (2015) The role of ectomycorrhizal networks in seedling establishment and primary succession. In Horton, T. (ed.) Mycorrhizal Networks. The Netherlands: Springer.

Ok here are the first 101 facts linked below. Can Steve or David edit the first page to just link to this post, and take out the list of current facts within the first page. Thanks. Fact 1 – A history of coppice woodlands Fact 2 – Branch failures in wind storms Fact 3 – What is bark? Fact 4 – A history of man trying to afforest the Black Country, UK Fact 5 – Mycorrhizae-facilitated communication between individuals Fact 6 – Root severance and tree stability Fact 7 – Development cycle of wood-decay fungi Fact 7.5 – A brief history of Ancient Woodland in the UK Fact 8 – Coal deposits of the past Fact 8.5 – Europe's lack of tree diversity Fact 8.75 – The resource demand of trees Fact 9 – Endo- and ecto-mycorrhizal fungi Fact 10 – An overview of cladoptosis Fact 11 – Trees can help with human recovery Fact 11.5 – Aborting fruit to improve tree vigour Fact 12 – Vigour and vitality Fact 13 – Photosynthesis Fact 14 – How residents perceive trees Fact 15 – Bid cherry-mediated competition between two of its principal herbivores Fact 16 – Coppicing ability and suckering Fact 17 – Concrete and asphalt as mulch? Fact 18 – Root penetration of sewer pipes Fact 19 – So exactly how small are micro-organisms? Fact 19.5 – Bat-shaped soil amoebae Fact 20 – Arbuscular mycorrhizae benefits Fact 21 – What do plants need to grow? Fact 22 – Utility installations and root pruning issues Fact 23 – Seedlings and susceptibility to pathogens Fact 24 – Bumblebees self-medicating! Fact 25 – Doesn't exist because I cannot count above 24. Fact 26 – Apical dominance Fact 27 – Fertilisation – is it good or bad? Fact 28 – The Black Poplar Fact 29 – Sporophore (fungal bracket) formation Fact 30 – Trees to regulate temperature Fact 31 – Honey fungus sporulation Fact 32 – Saproxylic insects Fact 33 – A video on photosynthesis Fact 34 – The pale tussock moth Fact 35 - Białowieża National Park, Poland Fact 36 – Reproductive growth in plants Fact 37 – How plants detect light and the birth of pigments Fact 38 – A more detailed look at light and photosynthesis Fact 39 – Adaptive growth in response to mechanical stimuli Fact 40 – Gravitropism / geotropism Fact 41 – Telepathic plants Fact 42 – Vernalisation Fact 43 – Phenotypic variation as a means of compartmentalisation Fact 44 – Responses by plants to herbivory Fact 45 – Monoecious and dioicous trees Fact 46 – Insects and flowers Fact 47 – Trees and crime rates Fact 48 – Branch shedding in more detail Fact 49 – Factors that influence cladoptosis Fact 50 – Ground-level ozone and CO2 impacts upon trees Fact 51 – Hawthorn progeny Fact 52 – How to reference more than one sorbus species Fact 53 – Variegated leaves Fact 54 – The different roles of buds Fact 55 – Soil bulk density Fact 56 – Metasequoia glyptostroboides in the UK Fact 57 – Resource allocation in fungi Fact 58 – Air pollution and tree health Fact 59 – Trees and flooding Fact 60 – Honey fungus and its control Fact 61 – Heteroblastic eucalypts Fact 62 – Irrigating mature trees Fact 63 – Climate and fungi Fact 64 – Leaf retention in deciduous trees Fact 65 – Growth ring width Fact 66 – Nitrogen fixation in soils Fact 67 – The decomposition subsystem Fact 68 – An introduction to Inonotus hispidus Fact 69 – The timing of pruning operations Fact 70 – When to fertilise the soil Fact 71 – Chlorophyll fluorescence Fact 72 – Private woodland owners' attitudes to threats to tree health Fact 73 – Some more information on cladoptosis Fact 74 – Adverse impacts upon human health of tree pollen Fact 75 – Fruit-ripening and seed dispersal strategies of trees in different climates Fact 76 – Adventitious buds Fact 77 – Aerial roots and what they are for Fact 78 – How pathogens influence growth of plants Fact 79 – Root grafting in the natural environment Fact 80 – Phenotypes Fact 81 – Wood weight loss and plant growth Fact 82 – Factors affecting leaf conductivity Fact 83 – Vascular properties of trees Fact 84 – Mycorrhizal inoculation when transplanting trees Fact 85 – What drives stem elongation? Fact 86 – Xerophytic adaptations Fact 87 – How trees influence landscape connectivity Fact 88 – The changing demands of society Fact 89 – The real risk of trees Fact 90 – Move the target and not the tree Fact 91 – Storm water accumulation and trees Fact 92 – London's tree population Fact 93 – The depth that roots will grow at Fact 94 – Root crown excavation and the impacts the practice has upon trees Fact 95 – The peer-to-peer tree community network facilitated by mycorrhizal fungi Fact 96 – Soil pollution with heavy metals Fact 97 – Allelopathy in walnut Fact 98 – Chemical control of horse chestnut leaf miner Fact 99 – Getting to the root of root growth Fact 100 – Fungal colonisation strategies of heartwood rotters Fact 101 – Scattered veteran trees in farmland as keystone habitats

Book came through already (less than 24 hours since placing the order!). At first glance it looks great. I shall make a post later on my fact of the day thread in the training / education section and use this book as the source material.

The borough I work for has ~23,000 trees excluding woodland sites and private gardens.

Hahaha.

Not sure what else it could be, if not that. Were you thinking something else was the cause? It's a very dark part of the woodland so a phototropic response wouldn't make sense as the prevailing cause, and I am unsure whether fungi even respond to light considering some can be grown in total darkness.

'aint this sweet! On a fallen birch. Click images individually with the mouse wheel for extra detail. It appears the ganoderma has induced failure as a parasite, and then has become a saprophyte and changed its orientation of sporophore formation in response to gravity. Not only this, but it has then proceeded to colonise the main stem a long way up. The black thing is my camera case, which is around 10cm long by 6cm wide. Cheers, Chris

Hit 20k views this evening. Onwards and upwards. Should get the new archive of facts done over the latter part of the weekend.

I thought it was a 'before' picture!

David, the single-leaved ash is Fraxinus anomala. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraxinus_anomala

Cracking crown thin there on that cherry! Really getting the light through now. Always go with good and knowledgeable contractors who can understand your vision for the tree. The lowest price isn't always going to produce the best results.

Yeah. I ordered a copy for myself as a present to celebrate 17th December 2015, so once it arrives I shall flick through and make some remarks. I imagine the price tag is due to the work involved and the niche this book occupies leading to only a small print run. There are no doubt plenty of open access journals that detail findings of mycorrhizae in recent years, though it'll be nice to have an archive of much of the relevant information as one centralised source.

17/12/15. Fact #101. Scattered hedgerow trees out across the landscape can be regarded as keystone habitats for biodiversity, where traditionally keystone habitats would have been located within woodlands (incl. wood pastures) and forests. This is crucial, as these scattered keystone trees act as 'go-betweens', enabling species to 'hop' between larger wooded sites. In essence, habitat connectivity increases. The authors state that the reason this phenomena has emerged for various reasons, and they use three examples: 1. The rove beetle Batrisodes adnexus (a Red Data Book species listed as 'endangered'), within the UK, was historically found only within medieval forests (Windsor and Epping, most notably), though has recently been found within the heartwood of a single mature Fraxinus excelsior in a farmland hedgerow boundary in Leicestershire, alongside many other saproxylic invertebrates. Without this hedgerow, the species would remain isolated to woodlands only. 2. Dorcatoma serra, a saproxylic beetle, which relies on Pseudoinonotus dryadeus upon Quercus spp. for its habitat, has usually been found only within old parkland areas but has now also been found within farmland hedgerow boundaries. It is suspected that this may be because these scattered old oak pollards are the remnants of what was once the Forest of Essex (located throughout large swathes of the county). 3. Upon Crataegus spp., the hawthorn jewel beetle Agrilus sinuatus can now be found throughout farmland hedgerow boundaries that contain mature hawthorns. Originally found only within woodland fringes and wood pasture sites where hawthorns were allowed to reach maturity un-managed, the abandonment of traditional hedge-laying techniques has lead to many field hedgerow boundaries growing into maturity and attaining decent sizes as well. This dramatically increases the viable habitat of the jewel beetle, and the scattered hedgerow hawthorns act as 'connecting' trees (because the beetle is unable to 'jump' great distances without 'stopping off' along the way) linking different woodland fringes and wood pastures. Source: Butler, J., Green, T., & Alexander, K. (2012) Collections of ancient trees: hotspotting biodiversity, heritage and landscape value. In Rotherham, I., Handley, C., Agnoletti, M., & Samojlik, T. (eds.) Trees Beyond the Wood: an exploration of concepts of woods, forests and trees. UK: Wildtrack Publishing.