Forest Research Institute

About: Forest Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Dehra Dūn, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Forest management. The organization has 5320 authors who have published 7625 publications receiving 185876 citations.

Structural, physiognomic and above-ground biomass variation in savanna–forest transition zones on three continents – how different are co-occurring savanna and forest formations?

Abstract: Through interpretations of remote-sensing data and/or theoretical propositions, the idea that forest and savanna represent "alternative stable states" is gaining increasing acceptance Filling an observational gap, we present detailed stratified floristic and structural analyses for forest and savanna stands located mostly within zones of transition (where both vegetation types occur in close proximity) in Africa, South America and Australia Woody plant leaf area index variation was related to tree canopy cover in a similar way for both savanna and forest with substantial overlap between the two vegetation types As total woody plant canopy cover increased, so did the relative contribution of middle and lower strata of woody vegetation Herbaceous layer cover declined as woody cover increased This pattern of understorey grasses and herbs progressively replaced by shrubs as the canopy closes over was found for both savanna and forests and on all continents Thus, once subordinate woody canopy layers are taken into account, a less marked transition in woody plant cover across the savanna–forest-species discontinuum is observed compared to that inferred when trees of a basal diameter > 01 m are considered in isolation This is especially the case for shrub-dominated savannas and in taller savannas approaching canopy closure An increased contribution of forest species to the total subordinate cover is also observed as savanna stand canopy closure occurs Despite similarities in canopy-cover characteristics, woody vegetation in Africa and Australia attained greater heights and stored a greater amount of above-ground biomass than in South America Up to three times as much above-ground biomass is stored in forests compared to savannas under equivalent climatic conditions Savanna–forest transition zones were also found to typically occur at higher precipitation regimes for South America than for Africa Nevertheless, consistent across all three continents coexistence was found to be confined to a well-defined edaphic–climate envelope with soil and climate the key determinants of the relative location of forest and savanna stands Moreover, when considered in conjunction with the appropriate water availability metrics, it emerges that soil exchangeable cations exert considerable control on woody canopy-cover extent as measured in our pan-continental (forest + savanna) data set Taken together these observations do not lend support to the notion of alternate stable states mediated through fire feedbacks as the prime force shaping the distribution of the two dominant vegetation types of the tropical lands

Multicentennial Ring-Width Chronologies of Scots Pine Along a North–South Gradient Across Finland

Abstract: Four regional Scots pine ring-width chronologies at the northern forest-limit, and in the northern, middle and southern boreal forest belts in Finland cover the last fourteen centuries. Tree-ring statistics and response functions were examined, and tree-ring width variation was also compared to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and volcanic forcing. The tree-ring statistics show evidence of an ecogeographical gradient along a north‐south transect. The three northernmost regional chronologies share a positive response to mid-summer temperature, and all four chronologies show positive and significant correlation to early-summer precipitation. Moreover, a positive and significant relationship to winter NAO was detected in three out of four regional chronologies. NAO also drives the common (inter-regional) growth variability. Years of known cool summers caused by volcanic forcing exhibit exceptionally narrow tree rings in the three northernmost regional chronologies.

Radiocarbon Dating of Soil Humus

Abstract: THE turn-over of soil organic matter is a much-discussed problem in pedology Although much has been written about the rate of breakdown of soil organic matter in mull and mor (for references see ref l), our knowledge of the turn-over of forest soil humus is very incomplete This is particularly true of the organic matter in soil horizons below the humus layer

Assessing vulnerability of forest ecosystem in the Indian Western Himalayan region using trends of net primary productivity

Abstract: The Himalayan ecosystem is one of the sensitive and fragile ecosystems with rich biodiversity that provides major ecosystem services. The study was conducted to measure the extent of vulnerability across forested grids of Uttarakhand—one of the States of Indian Western Himalayan (IWH) region. The forests of the state are exposed to various anthropogenic and natural climatic pressures, thus making them vulnerable. In this paper, we demonstrate how to map vulnerability of forest ecosystem by analyzing variability and trends of net primary productivity (NPP). The vulnerability of the forest ecosystem was evaluated through trends of sensitivity and adaptability of NPP. The sensitivity of a system was considered as the response degree of the system to climatic variability whereas adaptability was considered as the ability to maintain, recover or improve its structure in the face of climatic stresses. In our study, NPP was considered as the receptor of shock and stresses of climatic variability and human disturbances. We discuss the method and results with reference to productivity changes under the influence of changing climate for the forested landscape of a mountainous region. The results have been summarized to rank vulnerability at the level of administrative boundary of governance, i.e. district. Average value of vulnerability for all NPP pixels of forests grids in a district was used to compute the vulnerability at district level. The study will help forest managers in decision making for efficiently allocating resources and to prioritize management options in the identified regions to improve productivity in coming times.

A review of growth and stand dynamics of Acer pseudoplatanus L. in Europe: implications for silviculture

Abstract: 1 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) is a widespread but minor species throughout Europe but 2 there is a growing interest in using it more widely because of its potentially high economic 3 and ecological values. Silvicultural recommendations for exploiting the potential of the 4 species to the full should aim at producing high quality timber on short rotations. This can be 5 achieved in a number of ways including the creation of mixed-species and structurally diverse 6 stands that will simultaneously increase ecological values. This review synthesises existing 7 knowledge on growth and development of sycamore that may be used as a basis for 8 developing silvicultural recommendations. Sycamore regenerates easily, although competing 9 ground vegetation, damage by browsers and bark stripping by grey squirrels may endanger 10 production of valuable timber. Existing yield models show that sycamore grows rapidly for 11 the first 20-25 years and then slows considerably. Because of its relative scarcity, there has 12 been limited interest in the species for growth model development and this has restricted its 13 inclusion in forest growth simulators. This review shows that there is currently a lack of 14 detailed knowledge about the responses of sycamore to various environmental, ecological and 15 silvicultural factors and this hinders the understanding and management of this valuable 16 broadleaved tree. 17