We examined photosynthetic characteristics of two fast- and two slow-growing half-sib families of both loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.) on two sites in northern Florida to: (1) quantify variation in light-saturated net photosynthesis (Amax) associated with vertical crown position and foliage age; (2) quantify the amount and distribution of l...

Mutualisms and facilitations can fundamentally change the relationship between an organism's realized and fundamental niche. Invasive species may prove particularly suitable models for investigating this relationship as many are dependent on finding new partners for successful establishment. We conducted field-based experiments testing whether a native tree facilitates the successful survival ...

Fertilizer was applied annually for eight years to individual ramets in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seed orchard at rates ranging from 0 to 448 kg nitrogen (N) ha(-1) year(-1). Clonal effects accounted for a major source of variation in both flowering and foliar nutrient concentrations. Foliar N concentrations were generally correlated with the intensity of fertilizer application, but were...

In the reforestation program now being carried on by various state and federal agencies, many millions of tree seedlings are planted each year. An extremely large number of these planted seedlings are killed within the first year or two after planting. One of the major causes of the fatalities is the inability of seedlings to resist drought. If the properties involved in drought resistance of s...

Wood properties and microbial community characteristics were compared between loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) logs protected or unprotected from termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae: Reticulitermes spp.) and other arthropods for two years in seasonally flooded and unflooded forests in the southeastern United States. Significant compositional differences were observed between treatments and betwe...

Carbon sequestration in forests is a growing area of interest for researchers and land managers. Calculating the quantity of carbon stored in forest biomass seems to be a straightforward task, but it is highly dependent on the function(s) used to construct the stand. For instance, there are a number of possible equations to predict aboveground live biomass for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) growin...

Novel lignin is formed in a mutant loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) severely depleted in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.195), which converts coniferaldehyde to coniferyl alcohol, the primary lignin precursor in pines. Dihydroconiferyl alcohol, a monomer not normally associated with the lignin biosynthetic pathway, is the major component of the mutant's lignin, accounting for approxima...

Three studies in the Coastal Plain of Georgia were remeasured 7 or 8 years after planting to determine the effects of planting depth on field performance of open-rooted seedlings [root-collar diameter (RCD) ≥ 5 mm]. Average planting depth (i.e. shoot height before planting minus shoot height above ground after planting) for machine planted P. elliottii was 14 cm while hand-planted P. taeda seed...

Soil C 0 2 efflux resulting from rnicrobinl and root respiration is a major cornponent of the forest C cycle. In this investigation, we examined in detail how soil C 0 2 efflux differs both spatially and temporally with rcspeit to stand age for loblolly pine (Pinus rrrecio LA.) plantations on the Virginia Pied~rront. Througlrout a 12-month period, efflux rates were rncasured both near the base ...

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of heat treatment and compression on the swelling and surface roughness of Southern red oak (Quercus falcate Michx.) and Southern pine (Pinus taeda L.). Specimens were exposed to temperature levels of 110 °C or 200 °C for 8 h before they were compressed using 2.5 MPa pressure for 5 min. Swelling values of the control and heat-treated samples...