Diploma Thesis at Pasoh FR

Diploma Thesis at Pasoh FR

Density and vertical distribution of fine and medium roots in selected key tree species at Pasoh Forest Reserve

4th July 2005, Viktor Bruckman

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About me

Viktor Bruckman, 24J Education in Forestry since 1995 Msc Student in Forest Sciences at UNI

BOKU, Vienna; 8th of 10 Semesters Working Experiences:

Several times working in a small forest enterprise (~250ha) 1995-2000

Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf AG): Land Measurement with Theodolite; since 2002

About me > Forestry in Austria > Dip.-Thesis >> Sampling details >> schedule

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About me

Austrian Federal Forests (ÖBf AG): Developing documentation system for LM Workgroups (since 2004)

UNI Boku: Tutor at the Institute for Silviculture (since 2003)

Creating a CD for forest site indication; www.standortsanzeiger.de.vu (since 1997)


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Forestry in Austria Forest coverage: 48% Ownership structure as a thread ÖBf AG is Austria´s largest forest enterprise: 15% of

Austria´s forests, harvesting approx. 2million m³/year, 523.600 ha Forest

>80 % in mountain areas Dominant tree species: Picea abies, Larix spp, Fagus

sylvatica. Yearly increase of biomass Topography causes the need of fully mechanized

harvesting


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Forestry in Austria


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Forestry in Austria


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Forestry in Austria


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Diploma Thesis at Pasoh - Why?

Specializing in Forest Ecology Special Interest in Tropical Rain Forests Relatives living in Pertang/Malaysia Opportunity to study and get to know other

ecosystems Establishing contacts to Tropical Forest

Experts and learn from them


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Main Objectives Understanding the density and vertical root distribution

(Roots < 1cm diameter) on three to four key tree species

To find out intra- and interspecific differences in vertical root distribution on different soil types or soil parameters, respectively

To find out more about the clay minerals at Pasoh in the upper soil layer up to 40cm depth. (Type, degree of crystallization, estimates on quantitative occurrence)


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General Information

Initial Idea from Prof. Peter Ashton Specific difficulties:

Relatively few publications available Lack of knowledge in root distribution in the

soil of tropical tree species Have not been conducted at Pasoh so far


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Sample tree species - Criteria

Relatively most abundant species Possible species could be Diptero-

carpaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae Morphology and DBH (sample design!) There should be not too much understory


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Sample design

(scheme after Weller, 1964&1971 in Böhm, 1976 and Monedero-Andrés, 2001, mod. )


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Sampling Method: Hand Auger


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Root classification

Root Diameter(mm)

Classes of Roots

< 2 fine

2-10 medium

>10 large

Root Diameter and appendant root class. (Modified after Böhm, 1976)


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Root recognition/separation

Color, structure, morphological specialties Root juice (Color, smell, thickness) Typical smells Iron test ( terpenes can cause a change to

blue color when touching the roots with iron e.g. a knife or a nail (no stainless steel)


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Preliminary work schedule

ActivityWeek

1st-2nd

2nd-8th

8th-9th

Meeting at FRIM, demonstrating the methods

Visit Pasoh FR, and getting a basic overview

Choosing eligible tree species according to applied criteria

Checking availability of supporting data

Joining other research group (s) ?

Collecting soil cores and process them

Collecting soil samples / Sample auging

Creating Reports / Updating the website

Further Meetings / Discussions at FRIM or Pasoh FR ?

Final Report / Summary


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Discussion of further questions

Root identification Dryer Costs / Fees Tree identification Data Sources …

www.rootresearch-pasoh.de.vu

Thank You!

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Diploma Thesis at Pasoh FR

Documents

Transcript of Diploma Thesis at Pasoh FR