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Ice storm damage and early recovery in an old-growth forest.

We quantified the damage caused by a major ice storm to individual trees in two 1-ha permanent plots located at Mont St. Hilaire in southwestern Québec, Canada. The storm, which occurred in January 1998, is the worst on record in eastern North America; glaze ice on the order of 80-100 mm accumulated at our study site. All but 3% of the trees (DBH > or = 10 cm) lost at least some crown branches, and 35% lost more than half their crown. Damage to trees increased in the order: Tsuga canadensis, Betula alleghaniensis, Ostrya virginiana, Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus rubra, Betula papyrifera, Acer rubrum, Tilia americana, and Fraxinus americana. Only 22% of the saplings and small trees (4 cm < DBH < 10 cm) escaped being broken or pinned to the ground by falling material. Levels of damage generally were greater in an exposed ridge top forest than in a cove protected from wind. By August 1999 only 53% of the trees had new shoots developing from the trunk or broken branches; among the more dominant canopy trees, Fagus grandifolia had the least sprouting and Acer saccharum and Quercus rubra the most. We anticipate and will monitor both significant turnover in the tree community and some shift in composition of the canopy dominants.

Disasters↗
PubMed2003

Ecophysiological relevance of cuticular transpiration of deciduous and evergreen plants in relation to stomatal closure and leaf water potential.

The water permeability of the leaves of three deciduous plants (Acer campestre, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea) and two evergreen plants (Hedera helix, Ilex aquifolium) was analysed in order to assess its role as a mechanism of drought resistance. Cuticular permeances were determined by measurement of the water loss through adaxial, astomatous leaf surfaces. Minimum conductances after complete stomatal closure were obtained by leaf drying curves. The comparison of the water permeabilities determined with these two experimental systems revealed good agreement in the case of Acer, Fagus, Quercus, and Ilex. For Hedera the minimum conductance was 3-fold higher than the cuticular permeance indicating a significant contribution of residual stomatal transpiration. The leaf water potential was measured as a function of water content and analysed by pressure-volume curves. The influence of water potential as a component of the driving force for transpirational water loss was assessed in order to identify modifications of the cuticular barrier by the leaf water content. The ecophysiological meaning of the water relations parameters describing transpiration under drought conditions (cuticular transpiration, minimum transpiration, residual stomatal transpiration, effect of leaf water content on transpiration) and the water relations parameters derived from pressure-volume curves (osmotic potential at full saturation, turgor loss point, bulk modulus of elasticity) are discussed with regard to adaptations for drought resistance.

Disasters↗
PubMed2006

Efficient extraction of proteins from woody plant samples for two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Protein extraction from plant samples is usually challenging due to the low protein content and high level of contaminants. Therefore, the 2-DE pattern resolution is strongly influenced by the procedure of sample preparation. Efficient solubilization of proteins strictly depends on the chaotrope and detergent in the extraction buffer. Despite the large number of detergents that have been developed for the use in protein extraction and IEF, there is no single compound able to efficiently extract proteins from any source. Hence, optimization has to be performed for each type of sample. We tested several chaotrope/detergent combinations to achieve optimal solubilization and separation of proteins from Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.] needles and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) leaves and roots. The same chaotrope mixture (7 M urea, 2 M thiourea) was found to be suitable for the extraction and separation of proteins from all samples. Nonetheless, the efficiency of the surfactants tested varied between samples so that optimal extraction and separation was achieved with different detergents or combination of detergents for each sample. The 2-DE separation of spruce needle proteins was optimal in a mixture of two zwitterionic detergents (2% CHAPS and 2% decyl dimethylammonio propanesulfonate). Beech proteins were best separated in buffers containing sugar-based detergents (2% n-octyl beta-D-glucopiranoside in the case of leaf samples and 2% dodecyl maltoside for the root samples). IEF was performed in buffers with the same composition as the extraction buffer except for the root proteins that were better focused in a buffer containing 2% CHAPS.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional↗
PubMed2006

(13)C/(12)C isotope labelling to study leaf carbon respiration and allocation in twigs of field-grown beech trees.

In situ (13)C/(12)C isotopic labelling was conducted in field-grown beech (Fagus sylvatica) twigs to study carbon respiration and allocation. This was achieved with a portable gas-exchange open system coupled to an external chamber. This method allowed us to subject leafy twigs to CO(2) with a constant carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C of -51.2 per thousand) in an open system in the field. The labelling was done during the whole light period at two different dates (in June 2002 and October 2003). The delta(13)C values of respiratory metabolites and CO(2) that is subsequently respired during the night were measured. It was found that night-respired CO(2) is not completely labelled (only ca. 58% and 27% of new carbon is found in respired CO(2) immediately after the labelling in June 2002 and October 2003, respectively) and the labelling level progressively disappeared during the next day. It is concluded that the carbon respired by beech leaves after illumination was supplied by a mixture of carbon sources in which current carbohydrates were not the only contributors. In addition, as has been found in herbaceous plants, isotopic data before labelling showed that carbon isotope discrimination favoring the (13)C isotope occurred during the night respiration of beech leaves.

Carbon↗
PubMed2004

Effects of management on understory diversity in the forest ecosystems of northern Spain.

Pine plantations are an alternative to marginal agriculture in many countries, and are often presented as an option that improves biodiversity. However, these plantations can have adverse environmental effects if improperly managed. To evaluate the effect of forest management practices on biodiversity, the diversity, species richness, dominance and frequency of understory woody plant species in different forests of the Basque Country (northern Spain) were compared. Plantations of exotic conifers (Pinus radiata [D.] Don) of different ages were compared with deciduous forests of Quercus robur L. and Fagus sylvatica L. The effects of different types and intensities of management were taken into account. The differences observed were mainly conditioned by the intensity of forestry management, although the response varied according to forest type and age. In unmanaged pine plantations, the diversity and species richness of the understory increased rapidly after planting (while dominance decreased), remained stable in the intermediate age range, and reached a maximum in plantations more than 25 years of age. Management practices resulted in decreased understory diversity and species richness, as well as greater dominance. This was more pronounced in younger than in older stands. Moderate management, however, favored a greater diversity of the understory in deciduous forests. The species composition of the plantations and deciduous forests were different, the latter having a wider range of characteristic species. Knowledge of how forestry practices influence biodiversity (in terms of diversity, richness, dominance, and species composition) may allow predictions to be made about the diversity achievable with different management systems.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed2004

Comparisons of delta13C of photosynthetic products and ecosystem respiratory CO2 and their responses to seasonal climate variability.

This study investigated the relationship between delta13C of ecosystem components, soluble plant carbohydrates and the isotopic signature of ecosystem respired CO2 (delta13CR) during seasonal changes in soil and atmospheric moisture in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest in the central Apennine mountains, Italy. Decrease in soil moisture and increase in air vapour pressure deficit during summer correlated with substantial increase in delta13C of leaf and phloem sap soluble sugars. Increases in delta13C of ecosystem respired CO2 were linearly related to increases in phloem sugar delta13C (r2=0.99, P<or=0.001) and leaf sugar delta13C (r2=0.981, P<or=0.01), indicating that a major proportion of ecosystem respired CO2 was derived from recent assimilates. The slopes of the best-fit lines differed significantly (P<or=0.05), however, and were about 0.86 (SE=0.04) for phloem sugars and about 1.63 (SE=0.16) for leaf sugars. Hence, changes in isotopic signature in phloem sugars were transferred to ecosystem respiration in the beech forest, while leaf sugars, with relatively small seasonal changes in delta13C, must have a slower turnover rate or a significant storage component. No significant variation in delta13C was observed in bulk dry matter of various plant and ecosystem components (including leaves, bark, wood, litter and soil organics). The apparent coupling between the delta13C of soluble sugars and ecosystem respiration was associated with large apparent isotopic disequilibria. Values of delta13CR were consistently more depleted by about 4 per thousand relative to phloem sugars, and by about 2 per thousand compared to leaf sugars. Since no combination of the measured pools could produce the observed delta13CR signal over the entire season, a significant isotopic discrimination against 13C might be associated with short-term ecosystem respiration. However, these differences might also be explained by substantial contributions of other not measured carbon pools (e.g., lipids) to ecosystem respiration or contributions linked to differences in footprint area between Keeling plots and carbohydrate sampling. Linking the seasonal and inter-annual variations in carbon isotope composition of carbohydrates and respiratory CO2 should be applicable in carbon cycle models and help the understanding of inter-annual variation in biospheric sink strength.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed2005

Regional variation in canopy transpiration of Central European beech forests.

Forest hydrologists have hypothesised that canopy transpiration (E(c)) of European temperate forests occurs at rather similar rates in stands with different tree species and hydrologic regimes. We tested this hypothesis by synchronously measuring xylem sap flow in four mature stands of Fagus sylvatica along a precipitation gradient with the aim (1) of exploring the regional variability of annual canopy transpiration (E(c(t))) in this species, and (2) of analysing the relationship between precipitation (P) and E(c(t)). E(c(t)) rates of 216, 225, 272 and 303 mm year(-1) corresponded to precipitation averages of 520, 710, 801 and 1,040 mm year(-1) in the four stands. We explored the regional variability of E(c(t)) in Central European colline to sub-montane beech stands in two meta-analyses based on (1) existing sap flow data on beech (n=5 observations), or (2) all canopy transpiration data on beech obtained by different techniques (sap flow, micrometeorological or soil water budget approaches, n=25). With a coefficient of variation (CV) of 20%, the regional variability of E(c(t)) (213-421 mm year(-1)) was smaller than the variation in corresponding precipitation (550-1,480 mm year(-1)). The mean E(c(t)) for beech was 289 (+/-58) mm year(-1) (n=25). A humped-shaped relationship between E(c(t)) and P, with a broad transpiration maximum in the precipitation range from ca. 700 to 1,000 mm year(-1), was found which may indicate soil moisture limitation of transpiration for P 1,000 mm year(-1). Thus, the precipitation level significantly influences canopy transpiration of humid temperate forests; however, the size of the P influence on E(c(t)) and, in part, the direction of its effect differ from forests in semi-arid or arid climates. European beech has the capacity to maintain high E(c) rates in both humid and partly dry summer climates (P<550 mm year(-1)).

Biological Transport↗
PubMed2005

Species-specific allometric scaling under self-thinning: evidence from long-term plots in forest stands.

Experimental plots covering a 120 years' observation period in unthinned, even-aged pure stands of common beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and common oak (Quercus Petraea) are used to scrutinize Reineke's (1933) empirically derived stand density rule [see text], N=tree number per unit area, [see text]=mean stem diameter), Yoda's (1963) self-thinning law based on Euclidian geometry ([see text] [see text]=mean biomass per tree), and basic assumptions of West, Brown and Enquist's (1997, 1999) fractal scaling rules ([see text] [see text] w=biomass per tree, d=stem diameter). RMA and OLS regression provides observed allometric exponents, which are tested against the exponents, expected by the considered rules. Hope for a consistent scaling law fades away, as observed exponents significantly correspond with the considered rules only in a minority of cases: (1) exponent r of [see text] varies around Reineke's constant -1.605, but is significantly different from r=-2, supposed by Euclidian or fractal scaling, (2) Exponent c of the self-thinning line [see text] roams roughly about the Euclidian scaling constant -3/2, (3) Exponent a of [see text] tends to follow fractal scaling 8/3. The unique dataset's evaluation displays that (4) scaling exponents and their oscillation are species-specific, (5) Euclidian scaling of one relation and fractal scaling of another are coupled, depending on species. Ecological implications of the results in respect to self-tolerance (common oak>Norway spruce>Scots pine>common beech) and efficiency of space occupation (common beech>Scots pine>Norway spruce>common oak) are stressed and severe consequences for assessing, regulating and scheduling stand density are discussed.

Biomass↗
PubMed2005

Competitive strategies in adult beech and spruce: space-related foliar carbon investment versus carbon gain.

In Central Europe, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies represent contrasting extremes in foliage type, crown structure and length of growing season. In order to examine the competitive strategies of these two co-occurring species, we tested the following hypotheses: (1) the space occupied by the foliage of sun branches is characterized by greater foliar mass investment compared to shade branches, (2) the carbon (C) gain per unit of occupied space is greater in sun than in shade branches, and (3) annual C and water costs of the foliage for sustaining the occupied space are low, wherever C gain per unit of occupied space is low. These were investigated in a mature forest in Southern Germany. The examination was based on the annual assessment of space-related resource investments and gains of the foliage. The foliated space around branches was regarded as the relevant volume with respect to aboveground resource availability. Occupied crown space per standing foliage mass was higher in shade compared to sun branches of beech, whereas no difference existed in crown volume per foliage mass between sun and shade branches of spruce (hypothesis 1 accepted for beech but rejected for spruce). However, beech occupied more space per foliage mass than spruce. The C gain per occupied crown volume was greater in sun than in shade branches (hypothesis 2 accepted) but did not differ between species. The amount of occupied space per respiratory and transpiratory costs did not differ between species or between sun and shade branches. In beech and spruce, the proportion of foliage investment in the annual C balance of sun and shade branches remained rather stable, whereas respiratory costs distinctly increased in shade foliage. Hence, shade branches were costly structures to occupy space, achieving only low and even negative C balances (rejection of hypothesis 3), which conflicts with the claimed C autonomy of branches. Our findings suggest that competitiveness is determined by the standing foliage mass and the annual branch volume increment rather than annual investments in foliage. Expressing competitiveness in terms of space-related resource investments versus returns, as demonstrated here, has the potential of promoting mechanistic understanding of plant-plant interactions.

Carbon↗
PubMed2003

Physiology-based phenology models for forest tree species in Germany.

Models of phenology are needed for the projection of effects of a changing climate on, for example, forest production, species competition, vegetation-atmosphere feedback and public health. A new phenology model for deciduous tree bud burst is developed and parameters are determined for a wide geographical range (Germany) and several forest tree species. The new model is based on considerations of simple interactions between inhibitory and promotory agents that are assumed to control the developmental status of a plant. Several alternative model structures were formulated emphasizing different hypothetical physiological processes. The new models fitted the observations better than classical models. The bias of the classical models, i.e. overestimation of early observations and underestimation of late observations, could be reduced but not completely removed. Differences in the best-fitting model equations for each species indicated that, for the late spring phases (bud burst of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur), the photoperiod played a more dominant role than for early spring phases (bud burst of Betula pendula and Aesculus hippocastanum). Chilling only plays a subordinate role for spring bud burst compared to temperatures preceding this event in our data. The presented modeling approach allowed for a species-specific weighting of the dominant processes. The model results are in accordance with experimental findings that indicate an important role of day length in late spring BB. Potentials for model improvement are discussed.

Aesculus↗
PubMed2003

The timing of bud burst and its effect on tree growth.

A phenology model for estimating the timings of bud burst--one of the most influential phenological phases for the simulation of tree growth--is presented in this study. The model calculates the timings of the leafing of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) and the May shoot of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) on the basis of the daily maximum temperature. The data for parameterisation and validation of the model have been taken from 40 climate and 120 phenological stations in southern Germany with time series for temperature and bud burst of up to 30 years. The validation of the phenology module by means of an independent data set showed correlation coefficients for comparisons between observed and simulated values of 54% (beech), 55% (oak), 59% (spruce) and 56% (pine) with mean absolute errors varying from 4.4 days (spruce) to 5.0 days (pine). These results correspond well with the results of other--often more complex--phenology models. After the phenology module had been implemented in the tree-growth model BALANCE, the growth of a mixed forest stand with the former static and the new dynamic timings for the bud burst was simulated. The results of the two simulation runs showed that phenology has to be taken into account when simulating forest growth, particularly in mixed stands.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Measuring and modelling plant area index in beech stands.

For some beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) stands with different stand densities the plant area index (PAI) was measured by means of a Licor LAI-2000 plant canopy analyser. The stands are located on the slopes of a valley in south-west Germany and had been treated by different types of silvicultural management (heavy shelterwood felling, light shelterwood felling, control plot). The analyser was used (a) to investigate the light conditions on plots of the same thinning regime, (b) to quantify the differences between the different treatments and (c) to obtain absolute values of PAI for interdisciplinary research. PAI was measured at three different phenological stages (leafless, leaf-unfolding and fully leafed season in 2000) and was found to be about 5.2 for the fully developed canopy on the control plots, 3.2 on the light fellings and about 2.0 for the heavy fellings. In the leafless period PAI was between 1.1 (control) and 0.4 (heavy felling). Measurements made in summer 2000 and summer 2002 were compared, and showed an increase of PAI, especially on the thinned plots. Measurements of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) above and below the canopy in combination with measured PAI were used to apply Beer's Law of radiation extinction to calculate the extinction coefficient k for different sky conditions and for the different growing seasons on the control plots. The extinction coefficient k for the beech stands was found to be between 0.99 and 1.39 in the leafless period, 0.62 to 0.91 during leaf unfolding and between 0.68 and 0.83 in the fully leafed period. Using PAR measurements and the k values obtained, the annual cycle of PAI was modelled inverting Beer's Law.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2006

Limited transfer of nitrogen between wood decomposing and ectomycorrhizal mycelia when studied in the field.

Transfer of (15)N between interacting mycelia of a wood-decomposing fungus (Hypholoma fasciculare) and an ectomycorrhizal fungus (Tomentellopsis submollis) was studied in a mature beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest. The amount of (15)N transferred from the wood decomposer to the ectomycorrhizal fungus was compared to the amount of (15)N released from the wood-decomposing mycelia into the soil solution as (15)N-NH(4). The study was performed in peat-filled plastic containers placed in forest soil in the field. The wood-decomposing mycelium was growing from an inoculated wood piece and the ectomycorrhizal mycelium from an introduced root from a mature tree. The containers were harvested after 41 weeks when physical contact between the two foraging mycelia was established. At harvest, (15)N content was analyzed in the peat (total N and (15)NH(4) (+)) and in the mycorrhizal roots. A limited amount of (15)N was transferred to the ectomycorrhizal fungus and this transfer could be explained by (15)NH(4) (+) released from the wood-decomposing fungus without involving any antagonistic interactions between the two mycelia. Using our approach, it was possible to study nutritional interactions between basidiomycete mycelia under field conditions and this and earlier studies suggest that the outcomes of such interactions are highly species-specific and depend on environmental conditions such as resource availability.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMed2003

Two types of matter economy for the wintering of evergreen shrubs in regions of heavy snowfall.

Plant adaptation to an environment subject to heavy snowfalls was investigated in four species of evergreen shrubs growing in a Fagus crenata forest in an area of Honshu on the Sea of Japan. These shrubs stored carbohydrates in some organs before the snowy season and were covered with snow for 4-5 months. Aucuba japonica var. borealis, Camellia rusticana, and Ilex crenata var. paludosa maintained a reserve of carbohydrates during the snowy season. In Daphniphyllum macropodum var. humile, the reserve of carbohydrates decreased during winter. The respiration rates in the first three species decreased from autumn to winter, whereas the decrease in D. macropodum was slight. It was found that the first three species could use reserve carbohydrates for the growth of new shoots after the thaw, whereas in the last species the growth of new shoots depends on high photosynthetic activity in late spring. Our findings suggest some types of matter economy in evergreen shrubs for wintering in an environment of heavy snow.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2004

Chemical and morphological characteristics of key tree species of the Carpathian Mountains.

Concentrations of Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, Na, P, S and Zn in the foliage of white fir (Abies alba), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and common beech (Fagus sylvatica) from 25 sites of the Carpathian Mts. forests (Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine) are discussed in a context of their limit values. S/N ratio was different from optimum in 90% of localities when compared with the European limit values. Likewise we found increase of Fe and Cu concentrations compared with their background levels in 100% of locations. Mn concentrations were increased in 76% of localities. Mn mobilization values indicate the disturbance of physiological balance leading to the change of the ratio with Fe. SEM-investigation of foliage waxes from 25 sites in the Carpathian Mts. showed, that there is a statistically significant difference in mean wax quality. Epistomatal waxes were damaged as indicated by increased development of net and amorphous waxes. The most damaged stomata in spruce needles were from Yablunitsa, Synevir and Brenna; in fir needles from Stoliky, and in beech leaves from Malá Fatra, Morské Oko and Beregomet. Spruce needles in the Carpathian Mts. had more damaged stomata than fir needles and beech leaves. Spruce seems to be the most sensitive tree species to environmental stresses including air pollution in forests of the Carpathian Mountains. Foliage surfaces of three forest tree species contained Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Mg, K, Cl, Mn, Na, Ni and Ti in all studied localities. Presence of nutrition elements (Ca, Fe, Mg, K and Mn) on foliage surface hinders opening and closing stomata and it is not physiologically usable for tree species.

Abies↗
PubMed2004

Forest health status in the Carpathian Mountains over the period 1997-2001.

The results of forest health status assessments in the Carpathian Mountains from the monitoring networks developed by the European Union Scheme on the Protection of Forest Against Atmospheric Pollution (EU Scheme) and International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP-Forests), have led to a better understanding of the impact of air pollution and other stressors on forests at the regional scale. During the period 1997-2001, forests in the Carpathian Mountains were severely affected by air pollution and natural stresses with 29.7-34.9% of the trees included in defoliation classes 2-4. The broadleaves were slightly healthier than the conifers, and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) was the least affected species. Norway spruce (Picea abies) has poor health status, with 42.9-46.6% of the trees damaged (2-4% defoliation classes). Silver fir (Abies alba) damage was also high, with 46.0-50.9% in defoliation classes 2-4. Pines (primarily Pinus sylvestris) were the least affected of the conifers, with 24.9-33.8% in defoliation classes 2-4. The results from the transnational networks (16 x 16 km) show that the Carpathian forests are slightly more damaged than the average for the entire Europe. The correlative studies performed in individual European countries show the relationships between air pollution stressors with trends in defoliation and a possible effect of natural stresses at each site. More specific, effects of tree age, drought, ozone and acid deposition critical level exceedances were demonstrated to affect crown condition.

Abies↗
PubMed2006

Exemplifying whole-plant ozone uptake in adult forest trees of contrasting species and site conditions.

Whole-tree O3 uptake was exemplified for Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Larix decidua in stands at high and low altitude and contrasting water availability through sap flow measurement in tree trunks, intrinsically accounting for drought and boundary layer effects on O3 flux. O3 uptake of evergreen spruce per unit foliage area was enhanced by 100% at high relative to low elevation, whereas deciduous beech and larch showed similar uptake regardless of altitude. The responsiveness of the canopy conductance to water vapor and, as a consequence, O3 uptake to soil moisture and air humidity did not differ between species. Unifying findings at the whole-tree level will promote cause-effect based O3 risk assessment and modeling.

Altitude↗
PubMed2004

Use of X-ray computed microtomography for non-invasive determination of wood anatomical characteristics.

Quantitative analysis of wood anatomical characteristics is usually performed using classical microtomy yielding optical micrographs of stained thin sections. It is time-consuming to obtain high quality cross-sections from microtomy, and sections can be damaged. This approach, therefore, is often impractical for those who need quick acquisition of quantitative data on vessel characteristics in wood. This paper reports results of a novel approach using X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) for non-invasive determination of wood anatomy. As a case study, stem wood samples of a 2-year-old beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and a 3-year-old oak (Quercus robur L.) tree were investigated with this technique, beech being a diffuse-porous and oak a ring-porous tree species. MicroCT allowed non-invasive mapping of 2-D transverse cross-sections of both wood samples with micrometer resolution. Self-developed software 'microCTanalysis' was used for image processing of the 2-D cross-sections in order to automatically determine the inner vessel diameters, the transverse cross-sectional surface area of the vessels, the vessel density and the porosity with computer assistance. Performance of this new software was compared with manual analysis of the same micrographs. The automatically obtained results showed no significant statistical differences compared to the manual measurements. Visual inspection of the microCT slices revealed very good correspondence with the optical micrographs. Statistical analysis confirmed this observation in a more quantitative way, and it was, therefore, argued that anatomical analysis of optical micrographs can be readily substituted by automated use of microCT, and this without loss of accuracy. Furthermore, as an additional application of microCT, the 3-D renderings of the internal microstructure of the xylem vessels for both the beech and the oak sample could be reconstructed, clearly showing the complex nature of vessel networks. It can be concluded that the use of microCT in wood science offers an interesting potential for all those who need quantitative data of wood anatomical characteristics in either the 2-D or the 3-D space.

Fagus↗