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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Forestry's fertile crescent: the application of biotechnology to forest trees.

Relative to crop plants, the domestication of forest trees is still in its infancy. For example, the domestication of many crop plants was initiated some 10,000 years ago in the so-called 'Fertile Crescent' of the Middle East. By contrast, the domestication of forest trees for the purposes of producing more fibre began in earnest in the last half century. The application of biotechnology to forest trees offers a great potential to hasten the pace of tree improvement for desirable end uses. This review outlines some of the progress that has been made in the application of biotechnology to forest trees, and considers the prospects for biotechnologically based tree improvement in the future.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Chemical leasing: cooperative business models for sustainable chemicals management. Summary of research projects commissioned by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management.

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: Chemicals play a vital role in the day-to-day life of industrialised societies. Their use is not restricted to the chemical enterprises per se, but is a crucial part of production processes in a lot of industrial sectors. Traditional instruments of environmental policy (such as bans, restrictions) can only deal with the most hazardous substances. The Johannesburg Implementation Plan of 2002 calls for more sustainable patterns of production and consumption, and sets the year of 2020 as a goal to use chemicals in a way that human health and the environment are not endangered. Political instruments should not only gather more knowledge about the properties of chemicals, but should also stimulate the environmentally sound use of chemicals. Existing business models should therefore be reviewed in relation to this strategic approach to encourage marketing options with respect to the environmental focus. MAIN FEATURES: Business models were examined for their effects on the consumption of chemicals and amount of waste emissions in relation to their economic potential. Different possibilities for cooperation of supplier, user and disposal companies were elaborated and examined with a view to the specific situation in Austria. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A range of cooperative models--summarised under the term 'chemical leasing'--was identified, which can contribute to a more efficient use of resources. 12 main possible application areas (cleaning, lubrication, paint stripping and others) have been identified in Austria. If chemical leasing models were applied in these areas, the amounts of chemicals currently used could be reduced by one third (53,000 tonnes per year). Cost reductions of up to 15% can be expected. CONCLUSION: The application of chemical leasing models can contribute considerably to achieving more sustainable and resource-efficient patterns of production. The Austrian Ministry for Environment has therefore decided to subsidise the further practical implementation of these new service-oriented business models. Pilot projects in 4 enterprises, which are supervised by consulting companies, are currently being carried out. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The experiences of the pilot projects will serve as valuable building blocks for the wider use of chemical leasing models. Furthermore, the UNIDO Cleaner Production Centres have expressed their clear interest and will examine the possibility to use chemical leasing as a part of their Cleaner Production Programmes.

Austria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health hazards to timber and forestry workers from the Douglas fir tussock moth.

A heavy infestation of the tussock moth caterpillar (Orgyia pseudotsugata McDonnough) in forested areas of Oregon was associated with itching of the skin and eyes, nasal discharge, cough, and, at times, respiratory difficulty, Personal interviews and inspection of forty-one occupationally exposed persons were supplemented by a questionnaire administered to 428 individuals, composing three groups at various degrees of risk and a control group. There was a cause and effect relationship between the adverse symptoms and the exposure to tussock moth larvae. The specific etiologic agent was not identified, but it was felt that the secretion, hairs, or other substances in the larvae or cocoons of the moth acted as a potent allergenic substance and, for some persons, was also a primary skin irritant.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Populus: arabidopsis for forestry. Do we need a model tree?

Trees are used to produce a variety of wood-based products including timber, pulp and paper. More recently, their use as a source of renewable energy has also been highlighted, as has their value for carbon mitigation within the Kyoto Protocol. Relative to food crops, the domestication of trees has only just begun; the long generation time and complex nature of juvenile and mature growth forms are contributory factors. To accelerate domestication, and to understand further some of the unique processes that occur in woody plants such as dormancy and secondary wood formation, a 'model' tree is needed. Here it is argued that Populus is rapidly becoming accepted as the 'model' woody plant and that such a 'model' tree is necessary to complement the genetic resource being developed in arabidopsis. The genus Populus (poplars, cottonwoods and aspens) contains approx. 30 species of woody plant, all found in the Northern hemisphere and exhibiting some of the fastest growth rates observed in temperate trees. Populus is fulfilling the 'model' role for a number of reasons. First, and most important, is the very recent commitment to sequence the Populus genome, a project initiated in February 2002. This will be the first woody plant to be sequenced. Other reasons include the relatively small genome size (450-550 Mbp) of Populus, the large number of molecular genetic maps and the ease of genetic transformation. Populus may also be propagated vegetatively, making mapping populations immortal and facilitating the production of large amounts of clonal material for experimentation. Hybridization occurs routinely and, in these respects, Populus has many similarities to arabidopsis. However, Populus also differs from arabidopsis in many respects, including being dioecious, which makes selfing and back-cross manipulations impossible. The long time-to-flower is also a limitation, whilst physiological and biochemical experiments are more readily conducted in Populus compared with the small-statured arabidopsis. Recent advances in the development of large expressed sequence tagged collections, microarray analysis and the free distribution of mapping pedigrees for quantitative trait loci analysis secure Populus as the ideal subject for further exploitation by a wide range of scientists including breeders, physiologists, biochemists and molecular biologists. In addition, and in contrast to other model plants, the genus Populus also has genuine commercial value as a tree for timber, plywood, pulp and paper.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2002

Use of a physiological process model with forestry yield tables to set limits on annual carbon balances.

We present an approach that sets limits on annual carbon fluxes for different aged forests by using a simple process-based model (3-PG) and information derived from yield tables and local weather stations. Given a measure of height-growth potential, model predictions are constrained to match stand dynamics described in yield tables. Thus constrained, the model can provide reasonable annual estimates of gross photosynthesis under a specified climate, even with inexact knowledge of soil properties. If we assume that leaf litterfall and fine-root turnover approach equilibrium at canopy closure, maximum net annual ecosystem exchange can also be predicted from modeled estimates of these two detrital components and estimates of foliage, branch, stem and coarse-root production. The latter four components of production are predicted from allometric relationships with mean stem diameter. The approach is demonstrated for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stands between Ages 20 and 150 years growing under conditions typical of those at Wind River, Washington, USA. Gross photosynthesis (Pg) by Douglas-fir at Ages 20, 70 and 150 years with leaf area indices (L) of 8.1, 6.9 and 4.0 was predicted at 1630, 1580 and 1160 g C m-2 year(1, respectively. Maximum net ecosystem production (Pe) for the same range in age classes was predicted to average 275, 294 and 207 g C m-2 year-1, respectively. The predicted reductions in L for older stands do not occur because other species fill the canopy gaps created by natural mortality of Douglas-fir. As a result of the development of an understory, total Pg is predicted to decrease only slightly with the aging of the overstory. Estimates of Pe exclude respiration from coarse woody debris, although additions of this component are provided annually by the model. The process-based modeling approach, constrained by yield table estimates of stand properties, sets reasonable limits on annual carbon exchange and suggests which environmental variables deserve careful monitoring to refine estimates of carbon fluxes.

Carbon↗
PubMed2005

The effects of habitat fragmentation via forestry plantation establishment on spatial genotypic structure in the small marsupial carnivore, Antechinus agilis.

Dispersal is an important influence on species' distributions, patch colonization and population persistence in fragmented habitat. We studied the impacts of habitat fragmentation resulting from establishment of an exotic pine plantation on dispersal of the marsupial carnivore, Antechinus agilis. We applied spatial analyses of individual multilocus microsatellite genotypes and mitochondrial haplotypes to study patterns of gene flow in fragmented habitat and natural habitat 'control' areas, and how this is affected by the spatial dispersion of habitat patches, the presence of corridors and a 'mainland' source of migrants. Spatial analysis of molecular variance and partial Mantel tests confirmed the absence of cryptic barriers to gene flow in continuous habitat, which if present would confound the comparison of genetic structures in fragmented vs. unfragmented habitats. Spatial genotypic structure suggested that although dispersal was male-biased in both habitat types, fragmentation restricted dispersal of males more than that of females and the degree of restriction of male dispersal was dependent on the geographical isolation of the patch. The scale of positive genotypic structure in fragmented habitat was restricted to the two closest patches for females and the three closest patches for males. Our results provide evidence for significantly increased gene flow through habitat corridors relative to that across the matrix and for significantly lower gene flow between 'mainland' unfragmented habitat and habitat patches relative to that within either habitat type, suggesting a behavioural barrier to crossing habitat interfaces.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of cereal brans on Lentinula edodes growth and enzyme activities during cultivation on forestry waste.

AIMS: To develop strategies for increasing the growth of Lentinula edodes in eucalyptus residues. To this end, we have examined the effects of cereal brans additions on production of mycelial biomass and enzymes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three isolates of the mushroom shiitake, L. edodes (Berk. Pegler), were evaluated for enzyme and ergosterol production on eucalyptus residue supplemented with 5, 10, 15 and 20% (w/w) of soya, wheat or rice brans. Nitrogen imput on eucalyptus residues accelerated mycelial growth by supplying the L. edodes with this limiting nutrient. High levels of enzymes activities were produced in eucalyptus residues supplemented by soya bran. Comparison of cellulose and xylanase production with manganese peroxidase (MnP) at 20% soya bran indicated that hydrolytic enzymes, but oxidative enzymes were reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Mycelial growth measurements revealed that eucalyptus residues supplemented with cereal brans supported fast growth of L. edodes, indicating that mycelium extension is related to the bioavailability of nitrogen. The type and concentration of nutrient supplement has a considerable effect both on substrate colonization and on the type of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes produced. These characteristics may be useful for mushroom growing. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Lentinula edodes is commercially important for edible mushroom production and supplements which enhance growth and enzymes production might also be beneficial for mushroom yields.

Biomass↗
PubMed1984

Soft tissue sarcomas in agriculture and forestry workers.

The National Cancer Register maintained by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) was used to investigate the relative risks of soft tissue sarcomas among farmers, agricultural workers, and related occupational groups. The relative risk for the group as a whole was 1.15 (95% confidence limits 0.83-1.59). One of the four subgroups (which comprises farmers, farm managers, and market gardeners) experienced a relative risk of 1.7 which just achieves significance at the 5% level (95% confidence limits 1.00-2.88). The risks in the other three subgroups were respectively 1.0 (agricultural workers, 003), 0.7 (gardeners and groundsmen, 005), and 1.0 (foresters and woodmen, 006). No attempt has been made in this study to determine exposure to phenoxy herbicides in cases or controls. The significance of these findings is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Autonomic neuropathy and vibration exposure in forestry workers.

The variation in heart rate (HRV) at rest and during deep breathing (6 cycles a minute) of 88 professional lumber jacks was studied using a computer technique. The traditional indexes of HRV (CV, CVS, MEAN) were calculated and the spectral components of the HRV were also computed. There was a significant difference (p less than 0.001) between the HRV indexes during the deep breathing test in those with the shortest (CV = 10.1 +/- 1.1) and those with the longest (CV V 6.2 +/- 0.4) exposures to vibration. The values of the HRV indexes decreased with age, but multiple regression analysis showed that the total exposure time to vibration had an independent negative association with the HRV. There were significant differences in all the frequency bands (frequency related power, FRP) of the heart rate between those with the longest and those with the shortest exposures. The HRV during a deep breathing test is associated with the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and is decreased in autonomic neuropathies. Our results suggest that prolonged exposure to the vibration caused by a chain saw has a negative effect on the parasympathetic activity and thus causes autonomic dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Risk factors in the genesis of sensorineural hearing loss in Finnish forestry workers.

A detailed analysis of risk factors for the development of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was carried out in 199 forest workers. The hearing threshold of both ears at 4000 Hz was measured, and the effect of age, exposure to noise, blood pressure, presence of vibration induced white finger (VWF), tobacco smoking, plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration, and consumption of drugs were evaluated by multiple linear regression analysis. Aging was the major risk factor, followed by exposure to occupational noise and the presence of VWF. Plasma LDL-cholesterol concentration and the use of antihypertensive drugs also correlated significantly with SNHL. These main factors were able to explain about 28% of the SNHL variance. Additional factors in the analysis, including smoking, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and consumption of salicylates did not significantly contribute to the genesis of SNHL.

Age Factors↗