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.

Mapping landslide susceptibility with frequency ratio, statistical index, and weights of evidence models: a case study in northern Iran

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to investigate potential application of frequency ratio (FR), weights of evidence (WoE), and statistical index (SI) models for landslide susceptibility mapping in a part of Mazandaran Province, Iran. First, a landslide inventory map was constructed from various sources. The landslide inventory map was then randomly divided in a ratio of 70/30 for training and validation of the models, respectively. Second, 13 landslide conditioning factors including slope degree, slope aspect, altitude, plan curvature, stream power index, topographic wetness index, sediment transport index, topographic roughness index, lithology, distance from streams, faults, roads, and land use type were prepared, and the relationships between these factors and the landslide inventory map were extracted by using the mentioned models. Subsequently, the multi-class weighted factors were used to generate landslide susceptibility maps. Finally, the susceptibility maps were verified and compared using several methods including receiver operating characteristic curve with the areas under the curve (AUC), landslide density, and spatially agreed area analyses. The success rate curve showed that the AUC for FR, WoE, and SI models was 81.51, 79.43, and 81.27, respectively. The prediction rate curve demonstrated that the AUC achieved by the three models was 80.44, 77.94, and 79.55, respectively. Although the sensitivity analysis using the FR model revealed that the modeling process was sensitive to input factors, the accuracy results suggest that the three models used in this study can be effective approaches for landslide susceptibility mapping in Mazandaran Province, and the resultant susceptibility maps are trustworthy for hazard mitigation strategies.

Carbon partitioning in Pinus radiata stands in relation to foliage nitrogen status.

Abstract: First rotation Pinus radiata D. Don trees were grown on a nitrogen-deficient sand dune in an experimental design that included lupin (Lupinus arboreus Sims) as an understory species, and biennial application of balanced fertilizer in a replicated split-plot factorial design with thinning treatments as subplots. From an initial 2222 stems ha(-1), stands were thinned to 1483 and 741 trees ha(-1) at ages 2 and 4 years, respectively. Mean annual production of foliage, branches, stem, coarse roots, and cones was estimated from measurements of the dry matter content at ages 7, 10, 11 and 17 years. A model was used to estimate total above- and belowground dry matter production from measurements of leaf area index and foliar nitrogen concentration. An estimate of fine root production was obtained from the difference between the model estimate of total production and the estimate of aboveground production. The fertilizer and lupin treatments increased foliage nitrogen concentration, leaf area index and dry matter production of most aboveground components. In unthinned stands, foliage production ranged from 3 to 6 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), branch production from 1 to 4 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), and stem production from 8 to 19 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), depending on site fertility. Partitioning of aboveground production to foliage, branches, stems, and cones changed with tree age but it was not significantly influenced by the treatments. The fractions of aboveground dry matter production partitioned to foliage, branches, stems and cones were 0.23, 0.12, 0.63 and 0.02, respectively, for trees between ages 7 and 11 years, and 0.21, 0.08, 0.67 and 0.04, respectively, for trees between ages 11 and 17 years. With increasing foliage nitrogen concentration, partitioning to branches increased significantly, whereas partitioning to stems decreased. The fraction of total dry matter production partitioned to stems decreased significantly with thinning from 0.40 to 0.27 with a concomitant increase in the fraction partitioned to fine roots from 0.31 to 0.46. The average fraction partitioned to fine roots was 0.46 and 0.30 in unfertilized and fertilized stands, respectively. Stem production was more highly correlated with fine root partitioning than with leaf area index. Fine root production was not significantly affected by fertilizer application. The ratio of total net primary production to leaf area index increased significantly with thinning, but not with site fertility or stand age. The ratio of aboveground dry matter production to leaf area index increased with stand age and with the application of fertilizer but not with thinning.

PRFLL – a Pinus radiata homologue of FLORICAULA and LEAFY is expressed in buds containing vegetative shoot and undifferentiated male cone primordia

Abstract: In angiosperms, the formation of the flower meristem is controlled by partially redundant flower meristem identity genes of which FLORICAULA (FLO)/LEAFY (LFY ) plays a central role. It is not known whether formation of reproductive organs of pre-angiosperm species is similarly regulated. Recently, a FLO/LFY-like cDNA, NEEDLY (NLY ), has been cloned in a conifer species Pinus radiata (D. Don). Here we report cloning of a different P inus radiata F LO/L FY-l ike cDNA, PRFLL. PRFLL had two large regions of high similarity to angiosperm FLO/LFY orthologues: amino acids 61–126 and 247–406 (50% and 81% identity, and 75% and 88% similarity, respectively, to LFY) and shorter regions of local similarity. Overall identity was 53% to LFY and 61% to NLY. Phylogenetic analysis of deduced protein sequences including partial LFY-like sequences from Pseudotsuga menziesii indicated that conifer proteins constituted a separate clade that could be divided into two groups represented by NLY and PRFLL. In contrast to angiosperms, both conifers had two paralogous proteins resembling LFY. Northern hybridisation analysis revealed expression of PRFLL in vegetative buds of juvenile, adolescent and mature trees. The transcript was not detected in vascular cambium, roots or secondary needles. To follow PRFLL expression during the early stages of cone development we analysed a temporal series of buds containing cone primordia, and developing cones, using Northern hybridisation and confocal microscopy in parallel. PRFLL mRNA was detected in buds from dominant and subordinate branches, in which cone and shoot primordia develop, and in developing male cones but not in developing female cones. Expression was particularly high in buds containing axillary primordia prior to their differentiation as male cone primordia. This is consistent with PRFLL being involved in determination of the male cone primordium identity.

Large-scale climatic variability and radial increment variation of Picea abies (L.) Karst. in central and northern Europe

Abstract: High-frequency variation of Norway spruce radial increment [Picea abies (L) Karst] and its dependence on various climatic variables was compared in stands across latitudinal and altitudinal transects in southwestern and eastern Germany, Norway, and Finland The tested variables included local temperature and precipitation, northern hemisphere temperature anomalies, and the climatic teleconnection patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic, East Atlantic Jet, East Atlantic/West Russia, and Scandinavian patterns) Climatic impact on radial increment increased towards minimum and maximum values of the long-term temperature and precipitation regimes, ie trees growing under average conditions respond less strongly to climatic variation Increment variation was clearly correlated with temperature Warm Mays promoted radial increments in all regions If the long-term average temperature sum at a stand was below 1,200–1,300 degree days, above average summer temperature increased radial increment In regions with more temperate climate, water availability was also a growth-limiting factor However, in those cases where absolute precipitation sum was clearly related to radial increment variation, its effect was dependent on temperature-induced water stress The estimated dates of initiation and cessation of growing season and growing season length were not clearly related to annual radial increment Significant correlations were found between radial increment and climatic teleconnection indices, especially with the winter, May and August North Atlantic Oscillation indices, but it is not easy to find a physiological interpretation for these findings

The R-Ras interaction partner ORP3 regulates cell adhesion.

Abstract: Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)-related protein 3 (ORP3) is highly expressed in epithelial, neuronal and hematopoietic cells, as well as in certain forms of cancer. We assessed the function of ORP3 in HEK293 cells and in human macrophages. We show that ORP3 interacts with R-Ras, a small GTPase regulating cell adhesion, spreading and migration. Gene silencing of ORP3 in HEK293 cells results in altered organization of the actin cytoskeleton, impaired cell-cell adhesion, enhanced cell spreading and an increase of beta1 integrin activity--effects similar to those of constitutively active R-Ras(38V). Overexpression of ORP3 leads to formation of polarized cell-surface protrusions, impaired cell spreading and decreased beta1 integrin activity. In primary macrophages, overexpression of ORP3 leads to the disappearance of podosomal structures and decreased phagocytotic uptake of latex beads, consistent with a role in actin regulation. ORP3 is phosphorylated when cells lose adhesive contacts, suggesting that it is subject to regulation by outside-in signals mediated by adhesion receptors. The present findings demonstrate a new function of ORP3 as part of the machinery that controls the actin cytoskeleton, cell polarity and cell adhesion.