Kveldssanger

A little sadistic, no?

29/11/15. Fact #89. Many may already be aware of these statistics, though for those that aren't, or for those that just fancy reading them again, the table below outlines the level of mortality involved with many activities / health-related issues, and where trees rank within this matrix of death. For context, the research undertaken for this data identified that 64 people died in the ten years since 1st January 1999 as a result of a fallen branch or entire tree. As the population of the UK was assumed to be 60,000,000, it was calculated that there was a 1/10,000,000 chance, per year, of an individual dying from a fallen branch / tree. This is ten times lower than the 1/1,000,000 risk that the HSE declares as insignificant or trivial, as people conduct their daily routines. The study also identified that 55 people per year, on average, suffer non-fatal injuries that require A&E treatment as a result of falling tree branches or the entire structure. This pales in comparison to the 2,900,000 injuries (severe enough to go to A&E) a year related to leisure activities. For context, 262,000 are football-related, 10,900 are as a result of accidents on children's swings, and 2,200 as a result of wheelie bins (?!). Source: NTSG. (2011) Common sense risk management of trees. UK: Forestry Commission. ...in related news, councils across the country are declaring war on wheelie bins after it was revealed that the country's largest wheelie bin manufacturer was found to have rigged performance tests relating to the bins' carbon efficiency. 97% of scientists now agree that wheelie bins are "bad for the environment", and wheelie bin manufacturers must be "held to account".

I shall do a deal on my copy for £1,150.45. Please contain your excitement. First come; first served. - deletes inbox to make room for a flood of PMs -

29/11/15. Fact #88. This one isn't so much a fact as it is an observation, though I consider it a comment that is pretty much on-the-point. I shall quote: "In recent years, there has been a step change in society that appears on one level to demand a more natural holistic provision of green infrastructure and outdoor space. At the same time, it also demands that people are increasingly cosseted from the rough edges of nature when they use or interact with it. This dilemma seems to stem from a societal change that encourages litigation as a means of resolving disputes, creating a driver that makes some tree owners greatly more risk-averse than they would otherwise have been." May be a useful point for discussion, though I am sure that has already been done to great lengths by many. Source: NTSG. (2011) Common sense risk management of trees. UK: Forestry Commission.

It is my understanding that immune (and associated) responses of the tree are, at least in part, induced by the exposure of the cambium to ambient conditions. Could one therefore suggest that, assuming my memory does serve well, fracture pruning would enable for a preferential response with regards to the immune process - if one accepts that sprouting in abundance will deliver more sugars to the area local to the sprouting (assuming the debt for the initiation of massive growth can be paid back), which in this instance (and usually) is near to the fracture points - because a fracture pruning cut leaves more cambium exposed to the air. I do see what you mean with regards to the sprouting appearing to have originated from the dormant buds, though would I be right to suggest that because of the hormonal changes within the tree following such wounding as is observed here that there may be an amount of adventitious growth not originating from dormant buds but from cambial differentiation? In a very raw sense, one can argue trees weren't pruned with target cuts or otherwise before man came around and started inventing saws. Fractures would have been more traumatic, with large extents of exposed internal surface. From that perspective therefore, is there any basis for raising the idea that trees have evolved to respond to natural fractures in the most optimal manner possible because, by default, that is the prevailing means of induced wounding to the tree's aerial structure. I do hope I have made sense here.

I was told the other day that for bats no they're not any better, but they are for insects and so forth. I have five willows getting monolithed and coronet cut this coming week - will get photos afterwards.

Sure, I can do. Do you mean assignments I have done or the assignment sheets with the questions on them? Shoot me a PM.

The lvl 4 is one lesson every few weeks (ever 2-4 weeks) for an entire day (9-4), with each session having 4-6 assignments set (and some multiple-choice quizzes that can be done as open-book from your computer and with unlimited time allowances). The standard is high, so expect to write a fair bit for assignments (up to a few thousand per, at times), and being able to reference with the Harvard System is advised. For a uni degree, correct referencing would be mandatory. Regardless, start taking photos and documenting stuff you see - particularly fungi and structural isues with trees. It's good to add photos to assignments, or to study on their own.

27/11/15. Fact #87. Connectivity between different spatial environments, such as across urban or sub-urban areas, is strongly supported by tree presence, given trees act as go-betweens for species which must travel between larger resource patches; particularly birds, bats, and moths. Further to this, connectivity provided by trees supports dioecious tree species themselves, by providing conditions (vectors) for successful pollination (and subsequent seed propagation) to reduce genetic drift as a result of the isolation of tree groups. Sources: Aguilar, R., Ashworth, L., Calviño, A., & Quesada, M. (2012) What is left after sex in fragmented habitats? Assessing the quantity and quality of progeny in the endemic tree Prosopis caldenia (Fabaceae). Biological Conservation. 152 (1). p81-89. Gil-Tena, A., Nabucet, J., Mony, C., Abadie, J., Saura, S., Butet, A., Burel, F., & Ernoult, A. (2014) Woodland bird response to landscape connectivity in an agriculture-dominated landscape: a functional community approach. Community Ecology. 15 (2). p256-268. Hale, J., Fairbrass, A., Matthews, T., Davies, G., & Sadler, J. (2015) The ecological impact of city lighting scenarios: Exploring gap crossing thresholds for urban bats. Global Change Biology. 21 (7). p2467-2478. Oprea, M., Mendes, P., Vieira, T., & Ditchfield, A. (2009) Do wooded streets provide connectivity for bats in an urban landscape?. Biodiversity and Conservation. 18 (9). p2361-2371. Shanahan, D., Miller, C., Possingham, H., & Fuller, R. (2011) The influence of patch area and connectivity on avian communities in urban revegetation. Biological Conservation. 144 (2). p722-729. Slade, E., Merckx, T., Riutta, T., Bebber, D., Redhead, D., Riordan, P., & Macdonald, D. (2013) Life-history traits and landscape characteristics predict macro-moth responses to forest fragmentation. Ecology. 94 (7). p1519-1530. Tinoco, B., Astudillo, P., Latta, S., Strubbe, D., & Graham, C. (2013) Influence of patch factors and connectivity on the avifauna of fragmented Polylepis forest in the Ecuadorian Andes. Biotropica. 45 (5). p602-611.

Take a look at the course syllabus for both, as there is some variation between the two. As someone put it on here before, if you want to become a consultant is it better to be trained by a consultant or by a lecturer? Of course, if the lecturer was a consultant then this muddies the waters a little. Alternatively, if you're seeking an academic path where you go into research, a degree may be a good option. I am doing the Lvl 4 this year and I can genuinely say it is very good. Thoroughly enjoyable, and the in-class discussions are great. Regardless of which path you choose, make sure you buy plenty of books and know how to navigate Google Scholar.

You could indeed get slammed if anything did happen, assuming measures to practicably and reasonably ward off areas were not exercised. Chucking up signs and trusting people is, unfortunately, not accepted - a groundie (or three) may be needed in particular cases. Better to overkill than underkill - no pun intended.

That lady that died last year in London after being struck by a falling poplar limb allegedly did exactly this.

It requires a lot of work, a degree level course. Did the same as you, Billy. Certainly doable, however.

Haha oh dear! Not had the pleasure myself yet, fortunately.

26/11/15. Fact #86. Plants that have adaptations of growth / modifications to cope with very dry conditions are called xerophytes. Such xerophytic adaptions may include very extensive root systems, increased cell lignification surrounding particular tissues and organs, small leaves (such as needles in conifers), thick protective hairs on leaves to trap moisture and increase local humidity levels to thereby reduce moisture loss, high levels of oils, terpenes and resins within leaves, and thick waxy cuticles. The end result of any adaptation is the same - improved water efficiency. Source: Watson, B. (2006) Trees: their use, management, cultivation, and biology. India: The Crowood Press.

Have mercy...

24/11/15. Fact #85. There are several drivers behind stem elongation in young trees under (relatively closed) woodland canopies. These drivers include changes in air humidity, mechanical disturbances, total solar irradiation (sunlight), and light quality. The latter two are discussed below. The optical qualities of leaves create a light environment beneath that has low levels of UV and visible wavelengths, and a low red:far red ratio. All of these conditions are known to drive stem elongation. For example, a reduction in the fluence (light energy received per unit area) of 320-800mm wavelengths stimulates stem elongation. Of course, this does not apply for all plants, but for many. The red:far red ratio is a good measure of a plant ascertaining whether it needs to elongate. As canopies lower the ratio, the lower the ratio the more foliage above, and thus the poorer the quality of light, and thus the need for stem elongation to reach better light conditions. For shade-intolerant plants, the ratio hit a threshold by where elongation was triggered at 10% of full light. Interestingly, and supported more recently by Karban in Plant Sensing & Communication, the illumination history of a plant will also determine how it responds to light levels. The author here outlines that the promotive effects of shading on elongation diminish after a period of time, and thus it can be suggested that shaded plants can either no longer elongate rapidly (due to a lack of resources, or otherwise) or alternatively change their modus operandi as they 'recognise' (hormonally) that they are in perpetual shade. I would be interested to see if there are any studies on Fagus sylvatica and red:far red light ratios, and the long-term response to differing ratios, given the species adopts a 'biding time' strategy in heavy canopy cover. Source: Ballare, C. (1994) Light gaps: sensing the light opportunities in highly dynamic canopy environments. In Cladwell, M. & Pearcy, R. (eds.) Exploitation of environmental heterogeneity by plants. USA: Academic Press.

Some really good points there - thanks.

22/11/15. Fact #84. When we transplant trees we may consider applying mycorrhizae to the soil to aid with tree growth and survivability - particularly in urban environments, where soils may more likely be poor. Of course, there are benefits to applying mycorrhizae: reduced transplanting stress, increased growth, a more optimal root:shoot ratio, reduced water stress, and ultimately a reduced risk of mortality. At the same time however, one should recognise that, according to research, 'native' soil mycorrhizae soon take over from any artificial inoculum, and commercial innoculum have also been found, in an array of studies, to provide no significantly increased growth rate. This might be because, where commercial innoculants have been used and their effects studied, mycorrhizal colonisation of the roots rarely exceeded 5%. Conversely, when freshly-cultured laboratory innoculum were used, colonisation was at a 74% success rate. So if you are looking to use mycorrhizae, get it prepared to specification - perhaps even utilise locally native genotypes from (near to site / on site) soil samples. Sources: Abbey, T. & Rathier, T. (2005) Effects of mycorrhizal fungi, biostimulants and water absorbing polymers on the growth and survival of four landscape plant species. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 23 (1). p108-111. Broschat, T. & Elliott, M. (2009) Effects of fertilization and microbial inoculants applied at transplanting on the growth of Mexican fan palm and queen palm. HortTechnology. 19 (2). p324-330. Corkidi, L., Allen, E., Merhaut, D., Allen, M., Downer, J., Bohn, J., & Evans, M. (2005) Effectiveness of commercial mycorrhizal inoculants on the growth of Liquidambar styraciflua in plant nursery conditions. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 23 (2). p72-76. Ferrini, F. & Nicese, F. (2002) Response of English oak (Quercus robur L.) trees to biostimulants application in the urban environment. Journal of Arboriculture. 28 (2). p70-75. Fini, A., Frangi, P., Amoroso, G., Piatti, R., Faoro, M., Bellasio, C., & Ferrini, F. (2011) Effect of controlled inoculation with specific mycorrhizal fungi from the urban environment on growth and physiology of containerized shade tree species growing under different water regimes. Mycorrhiza. 21 (8). p703-719. Wiseman, P., Colvin, K., & Wells, C. (2009) Performance of mycorrhizal products marketed for woody landscape plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 27 (1). p41-50. Watson, G. & Himelick, E. (2013) The Practical Science of Planting Trees. USA: International Society of Arboriculture. Wiseman, P. & Wells, C. (2009) Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation affects root development of Acer and Magnolia species. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 27 (2). p70-79.

What happened with the wood? As it's a wooded site, was a habitat pile created nearby, or was the wood taken off site?

£25k here is nothing. Heck, £30k is nothing.

Indeed, they do. There are so many types of intelligence: academic, emotional, social, practical, and logical, to name five. We excel at different ones and have short-comings on different ones, and this can even vary depending upon the situation. There is a time and a place for most types of intelligence, and it really depends on the field one will be working in, and the settings in which one places themselves on a routine basis.

21/11/15. Fact #83. Broadly-speaking, the larger the size of the vessel within the vascular system of a tree, the greater the risk of cavitation, under freeze-thaw conditions. This is because large vessels carry more water both in total and in a cross-section, which means air bubbles borne by freezing water are potentially both more frequently-occurring and larger when they do occur. These air bubbles have less likelihood of 'dissolving' into the sap again when it thaws, and therefore are more prone to causing vascular damage. Of course, larger vessels means greater efficiency at conducting, though with the trade-off of greater risk of vascular damage. We do still see large vessels, however - particularly in ring-porous trees such as elm and oak. Though, in general, vessel size decreases as we go from ring-porous to diffuse-porous deciduous hardwoods, and from there decreases further as we enter the realm of coniferous softwoods. It seems that species physiology, with regards to vascular properties, may likely dictate climatic ranges - at least, in part. For example, conifers with large vessels would be hugely imparied in areas where freezing (and subsequent thawing) conditions are frequent, so it is likely that they will not frequent such areas and may instead lurk up to and at their preferable 'maximum(s)'. However, where freezing conditions are common but prolonged (thawing is not so common), or just generally infrequent, vascular anatomy may not be so important (such as at high and low latitudes) - therefore, near to the equator, or right up in the arctic where freezing is common but thawing is not, vascular properties may potentially be more varied. Source: Sperry, J. (1995) Limitations on Stem Water Transport and Their Consequences. In Gartner, B. (ed.) Plant Stems: Physiology and Functional Morphology. USA: Academic Press.

The Prussian education system introduced compulsory schooling up to an age of around 13-14, that was state-funded and thus free. It taught, alongside core subjects like maths and literacy, the need for obedience and how to be dutiful. The UK adopts a slightly modified version (more so than the USA), though its similarity to the system is apparent. Some suggest this system has lead to mindless drones being created with too much dependance upon being nannied and cared for, as the system doesn't promote either independence or free-thinking (some may label it indoctrination). In essence, a central cirrilumum is adhered to, of which there is no significant deviation from, unless you are a public (private) school. School fails kids, in the sense it teaches them so much but prepares them so little for entering the workplace. I went to a grammar school, yet there was hardly any focus on how to get a job or anything of the sort. It was all about grades, grades, grades. A conveyor belt. I can therefore see apt reason for why people of today are like they are. They are taught to follow. Not lead. So when we take away the leader, and individuals are left to their own accord, is it of any wonder that they don't know what to do and expect help? Because help is all they have received their whole schooling life, and it has been promoted as virtuous. It's like teaching someone English for 15 years and then putting them in a Spanish-speaking country.

There are plenty of us out there, though the media loves to sensationalise and feed the narrative that the younger generation of today is self-entitled and expects everything to be handed to them. Perhaps that has something to do with parenting and culture, no? The Prussian schooling system employed in this country certainly doesn't help either.