NSW Forestry Corporation

The influence of biochar on nitrogen (N) transformation processes in soil is not fully understood. This study assessed the influence of four biochars (wood and poultry manure biochars synthesized at 400 degrees C, nonactivated, and at 550 degrees C, activated, abbreviated as: W400, PM400, W550, PM550, respectively) on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and N leaching from an Alfisol and a Vertisol. Repacked soil columns were subjected to three wetting-drying (W-D) cycles to achieve a range of water-filled pore space (WFPS) over a 5-mo period. During the first two W-D cycles, W400 and W550 had inconsistent effects on N2O emissions and the soils amended with PM400 produced higher N2O emissions relative to the control. The initially greater N2O emission from the PM400 soils was ascribed to its higher labile intrinsic N content than the other biochars. During the third W-D cycle, all biochar treatments consistently decreased N2O emissions, cumulatively by 14 to 73% from the Alfisol and by 23 to 52% from the Vertisol, relative to their controls. In the first leaching event, higher nitrate leaching occurred from the PM400-amended soils compared with the other treatments. In the second event, the leaching of ammonium was reduced by 55 to 93% from the W550- and PM550-Alfisol and Vertisol, and by 87 to 94% from the W400- and PM400-Vertisol only (cf. control). We propose that the increased effectiveness of biochars in reducing N2O emissions and ammonium leaching over time was due to increased sorption capacity of biochars through oxidative reactions on the biochar surfaces with ageing.

Abstract Fast-growing eucalypts help to meet the demand for wood throughout the warmer parts of the world. They are grown in numberous small woods and windbreaks to produce poles and firewood, and in extensive plantations mainly for the pulp and paper industries. This book shows how to breed improved eucalypts that will provide more and better wood on appropriate sites selected through sound land use planning. The emphasis is on making greater use of the immense richness of the genetic resources of the eucalypts, especially in the first generation or two of domestication `wild' eucalypts for wood production. The book covers those aspects of variation, selection, and reproduction that are unique to eucalypts. Large gains in production and quality can be obtained relatively cheaply by choosing the best geographic seed sources (provenances). Once suitable base populations have been assembled, continued long-term genetic gain can be assured through well-planned recurrent selection and mating. This book is essential reading for practising foresters managing eucalypt plantations, and will also be of great interest to planners and administrators in aid agencies.

Many wildlife species feed on anadromous fishes of several life‐history stages. There is evidence for some wildlife species that the availability of anadromous fish is critically important for survival or reproduction. In some regions anadromous fishes in fresh water appear to be keystone food resources for vertebrate prediators and scavengers, forging an ecologically significant link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The spatial distribution of anadromous fish in fresh water, including the occurrence of runs in very small streams, has important consequences for wildlife biology (social interactions, distribution, activity patterns, possibly survivorship) and conservation of biodiversity.

Soil C dynamics are not only important to both productivity and sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems, but also contribute significantly to global C cycling. Adjacent natural forest (NF), and first (1R) and second rotation (2R) hoop pine ( Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex A. Cunn.) plantations in southeast Queensland, Australia, were selected to investigate the effects of conversion of NF to hoop pine plantations and forest management (harvesting and site preparation of plantation) on the size and the nature of C pools in surface (0–10 cm) soils using chemical extraction, laboratory incubation and 13 C cross‐polarization with magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 13 C CPMAS NMR). Conversion from NF to hoop pine plantations not only led to the reduction of soil total C (by 19.8%), water‐soluble organic C (WSOC) (by 17.7%), CaCl 2 –extractable organic C (by 38.8%), and hot water‐extractable organic C (HWEOC) (by 30.9%) and bioavailability of soil C (as determined by CO 2 evolved in the incubation), but also to a change in chemical composition of soil C with lower O‐alkyl C and higher alkyl C under the 1R plantation compared with NF. Harvesting and site preparation did not significantly affect total soil C and most labile C pools (except for a decrease in WSOC), but led to a lower signal intensity in the alkyl C spectral region and a decreased alkyl C/O‐alkyl C (A/O‐A) ratio in the soil under the 2R compared with the 1R plantation. The shifts in the amount and nature of soil C following forest conversion may be attributed to changes in litter inputs, microbial diversity and activity, and the disturbance of soil during harvesting and site preparation.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Angola , Gnomoniopsis angolensis and Pseudopithomyces angolensis on unknown host plants. Australia , Dothiora corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora, Neoeucasphaeria eucalypti (incl. Neoeucasphaeria gen. nov.)on Eucalyptus sp., Fumagopsis stellae on Eucalyptus sp., Fusculina eucalyptorum (incl. Fusculinaceae fam. nov.) on Eucalyptus socialis, Harknessia corymbiicola on Corymbia maculata, Neocelosporium eucalypti (incl. Neocelosporium gen. nov., Neocelosporiaceae fam. nov. and Neocelosporiales ord. nov.) on Eucalyptus cyanophylla, Neophaeomoniella corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora , Neophaeomoniella eucalyptigena on Eucalyptus pilularis, Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiicola on Corymbia citriodora, Teratosphaeria gracilis on Eucalyptus gracilis, Zasmidium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Brazil , Calonectria hemileiae on pustules of Hemileia vastatrix formed on leaves of Coffea arabica , Calvatia caatinguensis on soil, Cercospora solani-betacei on Solanum betaceum , Clathrus natalensis on soil, Diaporthe poincianellae on Poincianella pyramidalis , Geastrum piquiriunense on soil, Geosmithia carolliae on wing of Carollia perspicillata , Henningsia resupinata on wood, Penicillium guaibinense from soil, Periconia caespitosa from leaf litter, Pseudocercospora styracina on Styrax sp., Simplicillium filiforme as endophyte from Citrullus lanatus , Thozetella pindobacuensis on leaf litter, Xenosonderhenia coussapoae on Coussapoa floccosa. Canary Islands (Spain) , Orbilia amarilla on Euphorbia canariensis. Cape Verde Islands , Xylodon jacobaeus on Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Chile , Colletotrichum arboricola on Fuchsia magellanica. Costa Rica , Lasiosphaeria miniovina ontreebranch. Ecuador , Ganoderma chocoense ontreetrunk. France , Neofitzroyomyces nerii (incl. Neofitzroyomyces gen. nov.) on Nerium oleander. Ghana , Castanediella tereticornis on Eucalyptus tereticornis , Falcocladium africanum on Eucalyptus brassiana , Rachicladosporium corymbiae on Corymbia citriodora. Hungary , Entoloma silvae-frondosae in Carpinus betulus - Pinus sylvestris mixedforest. Iran , Pseudopyricularia persiana on Cyperus sp . Italy , Inocybe roseascens onsoilinmixedforest. Laos , Ophiocordyceps houaynhangensis on Coleoptera larva. Malaysia , Monilochaetes melastomae on Melastoma sp. Mexico , Absidia terrestris fromsoil. Netherlands , Acaulium pannemaniae , Conioscypha boutwelliae , Fusicolla septimanifiniscientiae , Gibellulopsis simonii , Lasionectria hilhorstii , Lectera nordwiniana, Leptodiscella rintelii, Parasarocladium debruynii and Sarocladium dejongiae (incl. Sarocladiaceae fam. nov.) fromsoil. New Zealand , Gnomoniopsis rosae on Rosa sp. and Neodevriesia metrosideri on Metrosideros sp. Puerto Rico , Neodevriesia coccolobae on Coccoloba uvifera , Neodevriesia tabebuiae and Alfaria tabebuiae on

Linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping using natural populations results in higher resolution of marker-trait associations compared to family-based quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies. Depending on the extent of LD, it is possible to identify alleles within candidate genes associated with a trait. Analysis of a natural mutant in Arabidopsis has shown that mutations in cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR), a key lignin gene, affect physical properties of the secondary cell wall such as stiffness and strength. Using this gene, we tested whether LD mapping could identify alleles associated with microfibril angle (MFA), a wood quality trait affecting stiffness and strength of wood. We identified 25 common single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in the CCR gene in Eucalyptus nitens. Using single-marker and haplotype analyses in 290 trees from a E. nitens natural population, two haplotypes significantly associated with MFA were found. These results were confirmed in two full-sib families of E. nitens and Eucalyptus globulus. In an effort to understand the functional significance of the SNP markers, we sequenced the cDNA clones and identified an alternatively spliced variant from the significant haplotype region. This study demonstrates that LD mapping can be used to identify alleles associated with wood quality traits in natural populations of trees.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia , Chaetomella pseudocircinoseta and Coniella pseudodiospyri on Eucalyptus microcorys leaves, Cladophialophora eucalypti , Teratosphaeria dunnii and Vermiculariopsiella dunnii on Eucalyptus dunnii leaves, Cylindrium grande and Hypsotheca eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus grandis leaves, Elsinoe salignae on Eucalyptus saligna leaves, Marasmius lebeliae on litter of regenerating subtropical rainforest, Phialoseptomonium eucalypti (incl. Phialoseptomonium gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × camaldulensis leaves, Phlogicylindrium pawpawense on Eucalyptus tereticornis leaves, Phyllosticta longicauda as an endophyte from healthy Eustrephus latifolius leaves, Pseudosydowia eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Saitozyma wallum on Banksia aemula leaves, Teratosphaeria henryi on Corymbia henryi leaves. Brazil , Aspergillus bezerrae , Backusella azygospora , Mariannaea terricola and Talaromyces pernambucoensis from soil, Calonectria matogrossensis on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves, Calvatia brasiliensis on soil, Carcinomyces nordestinensis on Bromelia antiacantha leaves, Dendryphiella stromaticola on small branches of an unidentified plant, Nigrospora brasiliensis on Nopalea cochenillifera leaves, Penicillium alagoense as a leaf endophyte on a Miconia sp., Podosordaria nigrobrunnea on dung, Spegazzinia bromeliacearum as a leaf endophyte on Tilandsia catimbauensis , Xylobolus brasiliensis on decaying wood. Bulgaria , Kazachstania molopis from the gut of the beetle Molops piceus . Croatia , Mollisia endocrystallina from a fallen decorticated Picea abies tree trunk. Ecuador , Hygrocybe rodomaculata on soil. Hungary , Alfoldia vorosii (incl. Alfoldia gen. nov.) from Juniperus communis roots, Kiskunsagia ubrizsyi (incl. Kiskunsagia gen. nov.) from Fumana procumbens roots. India , Aureobasidium tremulum as laboratory contaminant, Leucosporidium himalayensis and Naganishia indica from windblown dust on glaciers. Italy , Neodevriesia cycadicola on Cycas sp. leaves, Pseudocercospora pseudomyrticola on Myrtus communis leaves, Ramularia pistaciae on Pistacia lentiscus leaves, Neognomoniopsis quercina (incl. Neognomoniopsis gen. nov.) on Quercus ilex leaves. Japan , Diaporthe fructicola on Passiflora edulis × P . edulis f. flavicarpa fruit, Entoloma nipponicum on leaf litter in a mixed Cryptomeria japonica and Acer spp. forest. Macedonia , Astraeus macedonicus on soil. Malaysia , Fusicladium eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus sp. twigs, Neoacrodontiella eucalypti (incl. Neoacrodontiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves. Mozambique , Meliola gorongosensis on dead Philenoptera violacea leaflets. Nepal , Coniochaeta dendrobiicola from Dendriobium lognicornu roots. New Zealand , Neodevriesia sexualis and Thozetella neonivea on Archontophoenix cunninghamiana leaves. Norway , Calophoma sandfjordenica from a piece of board on a rocky shoreline, Clavaria parvispora on soil, Didymella finnmarkica from a piece of Pinus sylvestris driftwood. Poland , Sugiyamaella trypani from soil. Portugal , Colletotrichum feijoicola from Acca sellowiana. Russia , Crepidotus tobolensis on Populus tremula debris, Entoloma ekaterinae , Entoloma erhardii and Suillus gastroflavus on soil, Nakazawaea ambrosiae from the galleries of Ips typographus under the bark of Picea abies. Slovenia , Pluteus ludwigii on twigs of broadleaved trees. South Africa , Anungitiomyces stellenboschiensis (incl. Anungitiomyces gen. nov.) and Niesslia stellenboschiana on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Beltraniella pseudoportoricensis on Podocarpus falcatus leaf litter, Corynespora encephalarti on Encephalartos sp. leaves, Cytospora pavettae on Pavetta revoluta leaves, Helminthosporium erythrinicola on Erythrina humeana leaves, Helminthosporium syzygii on a Syzygium sp. barkcanker, Libertasomyces aloeticus on Aloe sp. leaves, Penicillium lunae from Musa sp. fruit, Phyllosticta lauridiae on Lauridia tetragona leaves, Pseudotruncatella bolusanthi (incl. Pseudotruncatellaceae fam. nov.) and Dactylella bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus leaves. Spain , Apenidiella foetida on submerged plant debris, Inocybe grammatoides on Quercus ilex subsp. ilex forest humus, Ossicaulis salomii on soil, Phialemonium guarroi from soil. Thailand , Pantospora chromolaenae on Chromolaena odorata leaves. Ukraine , Cadophora helianthi from Helianthus annuus stems. USA , Boletus pseudopinophilus on soil under slash pine, Botryotrichum foricae , Penicillium americanum and Penicillium minnesotense from air. Vietnam , Lycoperdon vietnamense on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

To examine how genetic variation in a plant population affects arthropod community richness and composition, we quantified the arthropod communities on a synthetic population of Eucalyptus amygdalina, E. risdonii, and their F1 and advanced-generation hybrids. Five major patterns emerged. First, the pure species and hybrid populations supported significantly different communities. Second, species richness was significantly greatest on hybrids (F1 > F2 > E. amygdalina > E. risdonii). These results are similar to those from a wild population of the same species and represent the first case in which both synthetic and wild population studies confirm a genetic component to community structure. Hybrids also acted as centers of biodiversity by accumulating both the common and specialist taxa of both parental species (100% in the wild and 80% in the synthetic population). Third, species richness was significantly greater on F1s than the single F2 family, suggesting that the increased insect abundance on hybrids may not be caused by the breakup of coadapted gene complexes. Fourth, specialist arthropod taxa were most likely to show a dominance response to F1 hybrids, whereas generalist taxa exhibited a susceptible response. Fifth, in an analysis of 31 leaf terpenoids that are thought to play a role in plant defense, hybrids were generally intermediate to the parental chemotypes. Within the single F2 family, we found significant associations between the communities of individual trees and five individual oil components, including oil yield, demonstrating that there is a genetic effect on plant defensive chemistry that, in turn, may affect community structure. These studies argue that hybridization has important community-level consequences and that the genetic variation present in hybrid zones can be used to explore the genetic-based mechanisms that structure communities.

Drought stress is the major abiotic factor limiting crop production. Co-inoculating crops with nitrogen fixing bacteria and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improves plant growth and increases drought tolerance in arid or semiarid areas. Soybean is a major source of high-quality protein and oil for humans. It is susceptible to drought stress conditions. The co-inoculation of drought-stressed soybean with nodulating rhizobia and root-colonizing, PGPR improves the root and the shoot growth, formation of nodules, and nitrogen fixation capacity in soybean. The present study was aimed to observe if the co-inoculation of soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.) nodulating with Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 and PGPR Pseudomonas putida NUU8 can enhance drought tolerance, nodulation, plant growth, and nutrient uptake under drought conditions. The results of the study showed that co-inoculation with B. japonicum USDA110 and P. putida NUU8 gave more benefits in nodulation and growth of soybean compared to plants inoculated with B. japonicum USDA110 alone and uninoculated control. Under drought conditions, co-inoculation of B. japonicum USDA 110 and P. putida NUU8 significantly enhanced the root length by 56%, shoot length by 33%, root dry weight by 47%, shoot dry weight by 48%, and nodule number 17% compared to the control under drought-stressed. Co-inoculation with B. japonicum, USDA 110 and P. putida NUU8 significantly enhanced plant and soil nutrients and soil enzymes compared to control under normal and drought stress conditions. The synergistic use of B. japonicum USDA110 and P. putida NUU8 improves plant growth and nodulation of soybean under drought stress conditions. The results suggested that these strains could be used to formulate a consortium of biofertilizers for sustainable production of soybean under drought-stressed field conditions.

Sap flow measurements showed that a well-watered four-year-old plantation of Eucalyptus grandis (Hill ex Maiden) at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, used 0.8 mm of water between 2100 and 0500 h on the midwinter night of July 30. Sap flow ceased for 2 to 3 h after sunset before recommencing at high rates that reached a maximum of 0.3 mm per h between 0200 and 0300 h. This pattern is inconsistent with the replenishment of tissue water reserves depleted during the day. Moreover, maximum leaf conductance at night was about 20 times maximum cuticular conductance values reported in the literature, which strongly suggests that stomata were partly open and that there was substantial water loss by way of the foliage. In an 8-month period from late winter to mid-autumn, comparable rates of nighttime water use were observed on only one other occasion. However, water use at rates of 0.1 mm per h or more occurred on 24 other nights. Almost 70% of the variation in nighttime sap velocity was explained by nighttime mean vapor pressure deficit and nighttime mean wind speed. Total recorded nighttime water use of the plantation was 48 mm, or 5% of total transpiration during the 8-month study. In view of the insensitivity of heat pulse measurements at low sap flows, this value may be an underestimate of actual nighttime transpiration.

Abstract Patterns of flowering phenology, which represent a partial description of food availability for nectarivores, are described for 20 species of myrtaceous trees on the mid‐north coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Data were recorded monthly between 1982 and 1992 across 23 sites that comprise a variety of local environmental conditions and disturbance histories. Flowering periodicity and intensity were highly variable between species and sites, ranging from annual flowering to no flowering over the 10‐year period. Cool temperatures prior to floral budding was a strong predictor of flowering for nine species. Extraordinary climatic events also influenced flowering. The period of greatest flowering for all species combined occurred 9 months after the highest monthly rainfall recorded in the survey (March 1985). An 18‐month extreme drought led to poor flowering in Corymbia variegata , Eucalyptus acmenoides , Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus resinifera , but recovery after the drought broke was rapid. In contrast to climate, few site‐based environmental variables explained the intersite variation in flowering performance of the tree species. Site disturbance from logging at two sites during the survey did not influence flowering in the remaining canopy over following years. No species showed a negative correlation with a history of recent logging, and direct comparisons, between large‐ and medium‐sized trees, of the percentage of foliage in flower showed no differences for any species. At the scale of a timber production forest, the negligible effect of tree size (if >10 cm diameter at breast height over bark), and high stem density resulting from selective logging, leave about half of the net harvestable area producing flowers at a similar density to unlogged forest. However, larger trees flowered more frequently than medium‐sized trees in C. variegata (medium: every 5.9 years; large: every 2.3 years) and there was a trend in this direction for 13 of 17 species. Low‐intensity burns and wildfires caused differing amounts of crown scorch, sometimes resulting in bud loss, but most species flowered at prefire levels 1–3 years after the disturbance. Eucalyptus microcorys and Angophora costata flowered poorly at sites that experienced frequent low‐intensity burns. Regionally, blossom shortages occur through a combination of spatial and temporal patchiness in flowering and the clearing of those species that occurred on soils preferred for agriculture. On the north coast of NSW, these shortages commonly occur from late winter to spring. Species that flower reliably in this period include Eucalyptus robusta, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus siderophloia in late winter and E. siderophloia and E. acmenoides in spring.

Due to the growing global population, reduction in arable land and effects of climate change, incongruity between food supply and demand has become increasingly severe. Nowadays, with awareness of the elementary nutrients required for human growth, increasing attention is being paid to the health and medical functions of food. Along with increased food production achieved by modern agricultural techniques, underutilised functional foods are an important strategy for solving food security problems and maintaining the nutritional quality of the human diet. Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is a natural fruit that contains unique functional and nutritional constituents, which are characterised by a high anti-oxidant potential. This review summarises the biological characteristics, chemical composition, health-promoting properties and development status of RRT products to inspire investigations on the use of RRT fruit as a functional food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical additive. The nutrients and functional ingredients of RRT fruit are described in detail to provide more reference information for nutritionists and pharmacists.

Xylem sap velocity of two dominant tree species, Eucalyptus crebra F. Muell. and Callitris glaucophylla J. Thompson & L.A.S. Johnson, in a native remnant forest of eastern Australia was measured in winter and summer during a prolonged (> 12 months) and extensive drought. The influence of vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and solar radiation levels on the velocity of sap was determined. Pronounced hysteresis in sap velocity was observed in both species as a function of VPD and solar radiation. However, the rotation of the hysteresis curve was clockwise for the response of sap velocity to VPD but anti-clockwise in the response of sap velocity to radiation levels. A possible reason for this difference is discussed.The degree of hysteresis (area bounded by the curve) was larger for the VPD response than the response to solar radiation and also varied with season. A simple linear model was able to predict sap velocity from knowledge of VPD and solar radiation in winter and summer. The consistent presence of hysteresis in the response to sap velocity to VPD and solar radiation suggests that large temporal and spatial models of vegetation water use may require some provision for the different responses of sap velocity, and hence water use, to VPD and solar radiation, between morning and afternoon and between seasons.

Abstract. This paper describes the background, instrumentation, goals, and the regional influences on the HUMPPA-COPEC intensive field measurement campaign, conducted at the Boreal forest research station SMEAR II (Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relation) in Hyytiälä, Finland from 12 July–12 August 2010. The prevailing meteorological conditions during the campaign are examined and contrasted with those of the past six years. Back trajectory analyses show that meteorological conditions at the site in 2010 were characterized by a higher proportion of southerly flow than in the other years studied. As a result the summer of 2010 was anomalously warm and high in ozone making the campaign relevant for the analysis of possible future climates. A comprehensive land use analysis, provided on both 5 and 50 km scales, shows that the main vegetation types surrounding the site on both the regional and local scales are: coniferous forest (Scots pine and/or Norway spruce); mixed forest (Birch and conifers); and woodland scrub (e.g. Willows, Aspen); indicating that the campaign results can be taken as representative of the Boreal forest ecosystem. In addition to the influence of biogenic emissions, the measurement site was occasionally impacted by sources other than vegetation. Specific tracers have been used here to identify the time periods when such sources have impacted the site namely: biomass burning (acetonitrile and CO), urban anthropogenic pollution (pentane and SO2) and the nearby Korkeakoski sawmill (enantiomeric ratio of chiral monoterpenes). None of these sources dominated the study period, allowing the Boreal forest summertime emissions to be assessed and contrasted with various other source signatures.

Abstract: For five species of endemic understory birds ( families Rhinocryptidae, Furnariidae) inhabiting fragmented temperate rainforest in southcentral Chile, we distinguished between vegetated corridors functioning as living space and those potentially suitable for short‐distance movements only. In the first phase of the study, we surveyed 24 forested corridors ≤ 50 m wide using passive and song‐playback censuses. Corridor width determined species presence or absence, whereas the number of individuals increased with width and understory vegetation density. Birds were infrequently encountered in corridors ≤ 10 m wide but were always present in corridors 25–50 m wide. Birds present in intermediate‐width (11–24 m) corridors were detected significantly less often during passive than playback census, suggesting that these birds exhibited conspicuous territorial display less frequently than those present in wider corridors, where passive and playback census yielded similar detection rates. Corridors approximately 10–25 m wide, therefore, may be transitional between corridors too narrow for most regular uses and those sufficiently wide for birds to establish territories. Also, bird abundance decreased as the ratio of corridor length to width ( L / W) increased. Almost no birds were detected in corridors with L / W ≥ 10, suggesting the existence of a threshold value for the influence of L / W on corridor use. In the second phase of the study, taped‐song playback experiments in corridors ≤ 10 m wide showed that all five species traveled in them for short distances: 52% of respondents moved up to 50 m from forest patches into narrow corridors. Availability of dense understory vegetation was the primary predictor of birds' responses to playback and may determine their willingness to use minimal corridors for short movements. We suggest that corridors for endemic rainforest‐understory birds living in agricultural landscapes of southern Chile can be designed to fulfill distinct functions.

Abstract The foraging ecology of eucalypt forest and woodland birds was studied on three 10 ha plots in southeastern Australia. Quantitative data were obtained for 41 species of which 31 were insectivorous, eight were nectar‐feeders, and two were parrots that fed primarily on eucalypt seeds. Birds‐of‐prey, large omnivores and frugivores were uncommon. Insectivorous birds differed in foraging behaviour, the substrates on which they found prey, and foraging height. Nectar‐ feeders exploited a variety of carbohydrates including nectar, honeydew, lerp, manna and sap. Nectarivorous birds were separated by foraging behaviour, substrate, height and by the extent to which they used the different types of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates were also an important food resource for some insectivores. By understanding how birds exploit food resources within forest and woodland environments, the features of the environment which need to be conserved or manipulated to manage forest avifaunas can be identified. For example, in addition to the substrates such as foliage and bark, usually associated with the foraging of forest birds, carbohydrates and loose bark were identified as important resources for birds in eucalypt forests and woodlands. The broad importance of these two resources to the avifauna had not been previously appreciated, yet both may be sensitive to environmental changes associated with logging and other forest management practices which alter the composition or age‐class structure of forests.

Seven new genera, 26 new species, 10 new combinations, two epitypes, one new name, and 20 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera are: Italiofungus (based on Italiofungus phillyreae ) on leaves of Phillyrea latifolia (Italy); Neolamproconium (based on Neolamproconium silvestre ) on branch of Tilia sp. (Ukraine); Neosorocybe (based on Neosorocybe pini ) on trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Nothoseptoria (based on Nothoseptoria caraganae ) on leaves of Caragana arborescens (Russia); Pruniphilomyces (based on Pruniphilomyces circumscissus ) on Prunus cerasus (Russia); Vesiculozygosporium (based on Vesiculozygosporium echinosporum ) on leaves of Muntingia calabura (Malaysia); Longiseptatispora (based on Longiseptatispora curvata ) on leaves of Lonicera tatarica (Russia). New species are: Barrmaelia serenoae on leaf of Serenoa repens (USA); Chaetopsina gautengina on leaves of unidentified grass (South Africa); Chloridium pini on fallen trunk of Pinus sylvestris (Ukraine); Cadophora fallopiae on stems of Reynoutria sachalinensis (Poland); Coleophoma eucalyptigena on leaf litter of Eucalyptus sp. (Spain); Cylindrium corymbiae on leaves of Corymbia maculata (Australia); Diaporthe tarchonanthi on leaves of Tarchonanthus littoralis (South Africa); Elsinoe eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus propinqua (Australia); Exophiala quercina on dead wood of Quercus sp., (Germany); Fusarium californicum on cambium of budwood of Prunus dulcis (USA); Hypomyces gamsii on wood of Alnus glutinosa (Ukraine); Kalmusia araucariae on leaves of Araucaria bidwillii (USA); Lectera sambuci on leaves of Sambucus nigra (Russia); Melanomma populicola on fallen twig of Populus canadensis (Netherlands), Neocladosporium syringae on branches of Syringa vulgarishorus (Ukraine); Paraconiothyrium iridis on leaves of Iris pseudacorus (Ukraine); Pararoussoella quercina on branch of Quercus robur (Ukraine); Phialemonium pulveris from bore dust of deathwatch beetle (France); Polyscytalum pinicola on needles of Pinus tecunumanii (Malaysia); Acervuloseptoria fraxini on Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Russia); Roussoella arundinacea on culms of Arundo donax (Spain); Sphaerulina neoaceris on leaves of Acer negundo (Russia); Sphaerulina salicicola on leaves of Salix fragilis (Russia); Trichomerium syzygii on leaves of Syzygium cordatum (South Africa); Uzbekistanica vitis-viniferae on dead stem of Vitis vinifera (Ukraine); Vermiculariopsiella eucalyptigena on leaves of Eucalyptus sp. (Australia).

Fire has been part of the natural environment of south-eastern Australia for tens of millions of years. Aboriginal people used fire selectively, with skill, for many reasons. The removal of Aboriginal people from most of the region after European settlement changed fire regimes and the composition and structure of vegetation. This study explores the history of fire in south-eastern Australia, describes the development of prescribed burning as a forest management tool, and discusses the factors that have influenced changes in fire regimes. It draws on published and unpublished literature and data held by the Forest Fire Management Committee of the Institute of Foresters of Australia. The study finds that the use of prescribed burning in south-eastern Australia in the past 100 years has been driven primarily by political and legal factors. Since 1939, more than 50 public inquiries, reviews and royal commissions have been held into matters concerning the management of fire in landscapes, including prescribed burning. Prescribed burning has been used for wildfire mitigation, agricultural practices (such as stubble reduction and grazing land management), property protection, the maintenance of ecological processes and biodiversity conservation. Prescribed burning in the region has only ever been practised on a small percentage of forest and land each year.The study finds that a substantial body of fire and ecosystem science has been generated in the past 50 years, with rapid technological developments to support prescribed burning and fire management. Research has provided tools and methods for broadscale prescribed burning, but negative public perceptions of fire have prevented the deployment of comprehensive fire management programs in the region. Although much has been achieved, considerable changes are still required in fire management for it to be sustainable and optimal in protecting economic, social and environmental values. The risks to human lives, property, biodiversity and the environment associated with wildfire are increasing in south-eastern Australia due to climate change, and the wider use of prescribed burning is essential for managing these. The increasing extent and occurrence of wildfire disasters in the region indicates that current fire management will not sustain the full range of ecosystem processes and biodiversity, nor reduce to an acceptable level the impact of wildfires on human lives and property. There is compelling evidence for the greater use of prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risks and impacts, rather than committing increasing resources to wildfire suppression. The potential negative impacts of prescribed burning can be managed effectively using existing knowledge and tools. Clear communication of the benefits of prescribed burning can influence political and public opinion in its favour. More investment in training, human capacity and supporting resources is required to safely and effectively deploy prescribed burning more widely to reduce future wildfire risks.

An analysis of elevated CO2 effects (2-4 times ambient) on dark respiration rate and carbon content was undertaken for a wide range of plant species, using both published reports and new data. On average, leaf respiration per unit leaf area was slightly higher for plants grown at high CO2 (16%), whereas a small decrease was found when respiration was expressed on a leaf weight basis (14%). For the few data on root respiration, no significant change due to high CO2 could be detected. Carbon content of leaves and stem showed a small increase (1.2 and 1.7% respectively), whereas C-content of roots was not significantly affected. In both data sets direction of responses was variable. A sensitivity analysis of carbon budgets under elevated CO2 identified changes in respiration rate, and to a lesser extent carbon content, as important factors affecting the growth response to elevated CO2 in quite a number of cases. Any comprehensive analysis of growth responses to increased CO2 should therefore include measurements of these two variables.

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy can be used to reliably predict both the physical and chemical wood properties of Eucalyptus. However, studies have been based on ground wood, which is costly and time-consuming to obtain. Predicting wood traits from NIR spectral data taken from solid wood would greatly increase the speed and cost-effectiveness of this procedure. Existing ground wood calibrations were evaluated for the prediction of wood chemistry from NIR spectral data taken from solid wood. Extractives, acid-soluble lignin, and Klason lignin contents were poorly predicted. Total lignin and cellulose contents showed moderate relationships between laboratory values and the NIR predicted values. NIR calibrations were further developed specifically for predicting wood chemistry from solid wood. All calibrations had high R2 values from 0.72 to 0.88, and standard errors of calibration were less than 1.37%. Calibration validation produced high correlation coefficients between predicted and laboratory values for extractives, Klason lignin, total lignin, and cellulose contents with R2 values ranging from 0.67 to 0.87. Acid-soluble lignin content was poorly predicted. This study showed that NIR analysis on solid wood of E. globulus could be reliably used to predict extractives, lignin, and cellulose contents. It also determined that existing ground wood calibrations, although they could give crude estimates of the wood chemistry values, would need to be re-developed for accurate predictions from solid wood. Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.