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.

Analysis of importations for biological control of insect pests and weeds in New Zealand

Abstract: Importations of biological control agents for insect pests and weeds in New Zealand are summarized and factors contributing to the relative success of the programmes are examined. The establishment rate of 30.9% is similar to that achieved worldwide, but is significantly lower than the rate achieved in the island habitat of Hawaii. The pioneering role of New Zealand in biological control is shown by the high proportion of programmes first attempted in this country. Although this novelty has not reduced the establishment rate, introductions against endemic species have not succeeded. Size of release was not a dominant feature in the establishment of agents. Complete or substantial success is recorded for 17 of the 70 target pests, with a relatively high success rate in forestry programmes. Examples of the influence of climate matching and competitive exclusion are also discussed. Changing practices and attitudes to the introduction of biological control agents are documented to show the increasing emphasis...

Eradication of feral goats on islands and habitat islands

Abstract: Feral goats (Capra hircus) have been eradicated from 16 offshore islands of New Zealand but remain on a further seven. To achieve eradication, four conditions must be met: all animals must be at risk; there must be no recolonisation; the harvesting rate must exceed the rate of increase of the population; and those attempting the task must believe it possible. These conditions, and the costs and hunting efforts involved, are described for a successful but inefficient campaign, an unsuccessful but efficient campaign, and a long term sustained control campaign that might be changed to an eradication attempt. Six conclusions are reached: policies of eradication are counterproductive unless they are possible; short, intensive campaigns are best; managers should measure and record costs, efforts, and kills to improve planning; cynics are useful if only to check claims of success; campaigns should concentrate on one pest at a time; and eradication campaigns must be funded separately from those requiring...

Nest site selection in Norwegian woodpeckers

Abstract: The nest site selection of seven Norwegian woodpeckers, Dryocopus martius, Picus viridis, P. canus, Picoides tridactylus, Dendrocopos leucotos, D. major and D. minor, was compared. The following parameters were measured at the nesting tree: forest type, tree species, the tree's "degree of decay", the height of the tree, the hole's height above the ground, the stem's diameter at the hole and 0.5 m above the ground, earlier holes in the stem, and whether the tree was broken or not. Several differences between species were found in forest type and tree species. The use of weakened and dead nesting trees tended to increase with decreasing size of the bird. The following parameters usually decreased with decreasing size of the species: the height of the tree and of the nesting hole, and the stem's diameter at the hole and near the ground. Overlap in nest site parameters was calculated for four species, D. martius, P. viridis, D. major and D. minor, common nesters in Populus tremula. Overlap between D. minor and the other three species was low, whereas considerable overlap was found between D. martius and P. viridis. Both species prefer large, old Populus tremula trees.

Somatic embryogenesis of Scots pine: cold treatment and characteristics of explants affecting induction

Abstract: This is the first report on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) somatic embryo plants regenerated and growing in a greenhouse. The present work focused on improving somatic embryogenesis of the species by studying the factors affecting culture induction. Developmental stage of explants that were immature female gametophytes, including the zygotic embryos with suspensor tissues, was investigated in detail. The genetic background of the material, cold treatments (14 d, 1 or 2 months at +5 °C) of cones including explants, as well as the plant growth regulator composition of the initiation medium, were also examined. When initiation of somatic embryogenesis was successful, the zygotic embryos in the explants were either proembryos or early embryos. Cold treatment of the cones had no significant effect on induction, nor were there any differences among the treatments with different duration, thus improving the practical applicability of the culture technique. The explants in cold-stored cones probably retained their initiation capacity due to the conversion of starch to sugars. This was observed as decreased number and size of starch grains in the megagametophytes compared with the controls. The seed family and the medium significantly affected induction success, the medium with auxin (9.1 or 13.6 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and cytokinin (2.2 μM 6-benzylaminopurine) being better than the medium with cytokinin (5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine) alone. The significance of the genetic background of the explants and the initiation medium indicate that it might be possible to improve the initiation rates by using explants from controlled crossings between competent genotypes, and by developing more specific media for important seed families.