Forest Botany
The selected article is critically analyzed in this paper with the supporting evidence of the selected four articles, which are closely related to the topic. The authors of Arizona Pine (Pinus Arizonica) Stand Dynamics Local and Regional Factors in a Fire-Prone Madrean Gallery Forest of Southeast Arizona, USA, (Gaylord, et al., 2007, p.1) affirm that extensive weather prototypes materialize to put forth the administration of the humidity accessibility, fire incidence and forest demography, lift the convincing likelihood of local harmonization of tree-plant dynamics. GL Zausen, the author of the second article, has been able to clearly illustrate various aspects of ponderosa pine physiology and the bark beetle abundance. The third article was written by Daniel D B Perrakis and is titled Seasonal Fire Effects on Mixed-Conifer Forest Structure and Pine Resin Properties evaluates, through effective explanations, the seasonal effects on pine resins. (Gaylord, et al., 2007, p.1). The fourth article Ponderosa Pine by William W. Oliver and Russell A. Ryker, facilitates a strong background of the impact of climate on ponderosa pine trees. With the solid back up of these four articles, the exploration carried out by Monica L. Gaylord and colleagues is being studied through this paper. The objective of this paper is to investigate and establish the reality and factuality of the major article with the supporting evidence from other articles.
Synopsis
The survival of a tree in extreme conditions lies in its ability to overcome the photosynthate between growth and defense (Monica, et al., 2007, para.1) without any major loss of its essentials. The selected article for research crucially explores the physiology, the growth and resin defense of pines besides examining the close relationship with climatic dynamics. The potential of pines to survive various extreme weather conditions is evaluated and studied, while answering possible queries regarding those. The precipitation, resin flow, belowground and aboveground growth of pines, temporal variation in needles, radial growth and carbon allocations are the chief biological developments determined through various scientific approaches. The entire investigation is concluded under the resolving schemes of the context of water stress in trees, current hypotheses of carbon allocation in plants and the historical lack of pine bark beetle epidemics in the northern Arizona.
Restoring Mixed Conifer Ecosystems to Pre-Fire Suppression Conditions in Crater Lake National Park, (Gaylord, et al., 2007, p.1) links the resin growth and wood support of the pine ponderosa forest with climatic conditions. Various close relations of the developmental and physiological perspectives of pines with ecological terms have been evaluated under the background of Crater Lake National Park. The paper establishes that constant exposure to different extreme conditions helps pines to overcome the problems linked with these. The fact stated that sustained by frequent, low-intensity fires (Agee Perrakis, 2007, p.1) lead to the evolution and accumulation of fuels and shade tolerant species (Agee Perrakis, 2007, p.1) and this supports the criterion of the fire science.
Andrew M. Barton and his colleagues explain the real life relationship between diverse climatic conditions and the entire aspects of pine groups, which also influence the bark beetles. The paper also claims that stand dynamics of Arizona pine (Pinus Arizonica) to the fire history and drought severity and compared the dynamics in the two sites before and after the divergence in fire frequency (Barton, Swetnam Baisan, 2001, p.1) and this hypothesis has been established with the proper evidence through scientific modes. The article successfully underlines the fact that tree-plant reaction to local fire and weather conditions allow them to preserve and as a part of ecosystem they are in fact influenced by climatic diversities throughout a year.
GL Zausen essentially establishes that apart from the ecological alterations and climatic conditions, human activities also contribute to the physiology, growth and expansion of pines. Various negative influences caused during the seasonal shifts are found to be reduced with the vitalized research based activities for betterments. The paper is relevant in supporting the analysis in the work of Monica L. Gaylord and her colleagues through the exploration of the assorted linkages to the topic, supported by the proper evidence and experiments. Lower rates of the destruction of pine trees have been observed at the end of their research on the matter. Oleoresin exudation flow in July was greater in a warm year than a cooler year. (Zausen, et al., 2005, p.10).
William W. Oliver and Russell A. Ryker successfully illustrate the traits closely linked with the growth, development and other features of pine ponderosa. The habitats, climatic influences and other demography are studied and explained very well through the paper, creating a better foundation for ones knowledge on pine forests and the ecological links. The soil geography and reproductive cum lifecycle examinations have been done in the paper, giving the audience information about almost all facts related to pines and their wealth. The fact that pine ponderosa trees distribution on drier sites is related closely to supplies of available soil moisture is supported by the above statement. (Ryker Oliver, n.d., para.9).
Critique
Introduction
The papers under consideration concern closely related topics. It is an established fact that findings on a certain topic, when investigated by more than one person, are unlikely to be the same. In addition to this, the discussions on topics having variations will obviously not present an analogous result. The major article selected has accomplished its objectives through the specific approaches leaving behind the other works done on similar lines. The results of studies conducted by peers will, however, come to help at times. This critique is undertaken to determine whether the works selected for this paper will support directly or indirectly the deduced facts in the major article. The methods and experiments deployed by all articles under consideration are different and but appropriate for their own objectives. Hopefully, the particulars and the data obtained through the statistical approach or any other analytical method can be similar or supporting or else backing up the papers written by these authors. The critique covers all possible areas of the researches and makes specific evaluation of each aspect. The monthly values of features measured were noted and analyzed to see whether there are changes as mentioned in the topic. Through a systematic approach and employment of different scientific tools and techniques in the investigation a sincere attempt has been made to derive best results with least redundancies.
Methods
The Northern Arizona University Centennial Forest is the area utilized by the authors of the major articles to investigate the topic. They have observed four different seasons in that area which recorded a frost free climate for 115 days. The authors, taking various steps, have applied the method of tree sampling with DBH considerations and the monthly photosynthesis analysis. Predawn and midday xylem potential have been measured for needles. These measured values are later sampled with a specific interval convenient for the purpose. Resin flow has been noted by removing the barks from both sides of the wood at a height 1.3 meters from ground level. The fine root production has been evaluated for below the ground growth determination. The needle development, stem radial expansion and the growth of shoots have been evaluated to determine the above the ground growth resolution. The statistical analysis has been done with the utilization of the numerical tool known as analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SAS software package (SAS Institute Inc. Cary, North Carolina) (Gaylord, et al., 2007, p.3). Tabulating observed values to achieve the scientific provisions for the objectives kept for the research. Linear regressions accompanied by the curvilinear approach have been used for measuring the resin flow, developmental and physiological features and atmospheric heat, facilitating the identification of the mean ambient temperature. JMP is a software employed for accomplishing linear regressions. Durbin-Watson Tests have been used to correlate the variety of the data obtained. The methods are all based on scientific procedures and foundations, giving out the most efficient and reliable results. These have made the analysis most effective besides rendering its credibility. The entire observations of experiments done as stated above are tabulated and recorded for further evaluation, done on weekly, monthly, yearly and comparative basis through which results are identified.
Results
Photosynthesis was bimodal throughout 2002 during midday with June exhibiting least and October the highest while 2003 witnessed an increase, though the seasonal variation were similar for both the years. July marked lowest in the year 2003. Appreciable difference in photosynthesis has been identified between months of both the years considered. Predawn and midday xylem hydro potential of leaf have been determined to be varied with respect to change in climatic conditions. The highest values for both are seen at a half way of winter season, gradually decreasing toward the end of spring and during the advent of summer. 2002 exhibited the predawn lowest value in May and the highest in September at midday turned to be the lowest in May and highest during December. The figures are identical in the following year as well. A consistent variation between months has been observed in both years. The resin flow is measured for weeks and turned out to be in the range of 11.9 - 3.1 and 0.03 - 0.03 mL in 2002, where highest is credited to June and lowest to January. In 2003, the range got expanded to 17.7 - 3.0 and 0.01 - 0.01 mL, among which July has the highest and January has the lowest values. But, in fact, there has been no considerable variation between the years 2002 and 2003. Below the ground growth indicated the lowest during the period between January to June with a little enhancement in July and maximum average growth in August 2003. This is a better figure, than in 2002, for the root growth also in terms of consistency. The root growth has different rates in various months of the two years. The above the ground growth has been marked between June and July with the maximum level of development during July August period in 2002. But the time span May June in 2003 marked the beginning and June July the highest values. The similarity between the two years is the elongation occurred during December. Linear regressions have helped in allocating carbon between development and resistance. The resin flow is linked to the growing period in a positively correlated manner under the consistent air temperature. The photosynthesis analytical results have been of the least significance under the correlative analysis with the most relevant one as a negative relation with resin flow.
Discussion
The overall investigation shows that there exist considerable variations in the growth, physiology and the resin flow of pine ponderosa. The variations in climate between the two consecutive years cannot be tremendous. But the study indicates a clear difference in the developmental aspects of pines between 2002 and 2003. The below the ground growth credibly displayed a better enhanced appearance with the availability of the soil water content, soil temperature and carbon dioxide. The resin flow is directly linked with the temperature prevailing during the period. But the variation between the years is not evident due to the fact that temperature variations are not considerably different when considered with the average temperature of the two analyzed years. The pressure of water has contributed evidently to the needle growth. The parallel influence of hydraulic pressure on both above the ground as well as below the ground growth is explicitly evident from the experiments. The redundancy created bivariate graphs in the case of the growth and the resin defense relationship. The expected result has not been obtained through this approach. The GDBH which is supposed to be supported through this particular plot has not proved to be completely supportive. The actual requisite is a graph with a bell shape link between the growth and the resin defense. But to the negative result, a clear bell pattern has not been obtained. This is a flaw in the accuracy of the research conducted. According to the GDBH, with a medium level of pressure from water, only resin defense can be enhanced and not growth. This is due to the allocation of carbon to resins rather than for the growth perspectives. But to the maximum extent it has reached up to the GDBH in the case of higher stress form water. As a whole, the research has been successful in achieving the objectives set and also various other accomplished researches in the same domain have supported the facts derived from this study.
Conclusion
The major article has been critically evaluated and examined to ascertain the facts, and to determine, which investigation has proved to be the most efficient, supported by scientific methods and tools available. Through the statistical approach, the requisites are met, to which other selected articles have been related and it shows that all the four articles considered in this study have supported the facts in the main paper. GL Zausen, in a different approach toward the management of the growth and physiology, actually evaluates the matter of seasonal link of those. The study of the climatic situation and fire cases is the objective of Andrew M. Barton, who never ignores the link of climate and growth and the resin flow of pine trees. Similar is the case of the fire science article which has not been able to eliminate the relationship from its investigation. But William W. Oliver, whose aim is to study all aspects of pines, obviously does many supportive activities in his work with respect to the major article selected for this research. The arid natures will be affected by drought and other similar extreme conditions which affect the moisture availability, eventually leading to negative effect on the growth and physiology of pine trees linking with bark beetles survival. The research finds evidence in all academic sources, in the context that the slight variations in photosynthesis will never have any impact on the growth and resin flow during the growing season of pine ponderosa. As a whole, the entire work integrates the selected articles to the major article selected for investigation on pine ponderosa with evidence of scientific test results and graphs. The statistical tools and techniques of all researchers in common, have contributed to establish factuality of Seasonal Dynamics of tree Growth, physiology and resin defenses in a northern Arizona ponderosa pine forest by Monica L. Gaylord and her colleagues. In fact, it is evidently deduced that the growth period and the resin defense phase, along with the physiological traits of ponderosa pine of northern Arizona, are in close affinity with climatic variations over any short time span, thereby exhibiting real life distinctions in those.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment