Abstract: This article presents a theoretical verification of the reinforced-matrix hypothesis derived from tensor equations, σ W = σ f + σ m and ε W = ε f = ε m (Wood Sci Technol 32:171–182, 1998; Wood Sci Technol 33:311–325, 1999; J Biomech Eng 124:432–440, 2002), using classical Mori-Tanaka theory on the micromechanics of fiber-reinforced materials (Acta Metall 21:571–574, 1973; Micromechanics — dislcation and inclusions (in Japanese), pp 141–147, 1976). The Mori-Tanaka theory was applied to a small fragment of the cell wall undergoing changes in its physical state, such as those arising from sorption of moisture, maturation of wall components, or action of an external force, to obtain ⟨σ A⟩D = ϕ·⟨σ F⟩I + (1−ϕ)·⟨σ M⟩D−I. When the constitutive equation of each constituent material was applied to the equation ⟨σ A⟩D = ϕ·⟨σ F⟩I + (1−ϕ)·⟨σ M⟩D−I, the equations σ W = σ f + σ m and ε W = ε f = ε m were derived to lend support to the concept that two main phases, the reinforcing cellulose microfibril and the lignin-hemicellulose matrix, coexist in the same domain. The constitutive equations for the cell wall fragment were obtained without recourse to additional parameters such as Eshelby’s tensor S and Hill’s averaged concentration tensors AF and AM. In our previous articles, the coexistence of two main phases and σ W = σ f + σ m and ε W = ε f =ε m had been taken as our starting point to formulate the behavior of wood fiber with multilayered cell walls. The present article provides a rational explanation for both concepts.

Abstract: The radial trends of vibrational properties, represented by the specific dynamic modulus (E′/ρ) and damping coefficient (tan δ), were investigated for three tropical rainforest hardwood species (Simarouba amara, Carapa procera, and Symphonia globulifera) using free-free flexural vibration tests. The microfibril angle (MFA) was estimated using X-ray diffraction. Consistent patterns of radial variations were observed for all studied properties. E′/ρ was found to decrease from pith to bark, which was strongly related to the increasing pith-bark trend of MFA. The variation of tan δ along the radius could be partly explained by MFA and partly by the gradient of extractives due to heartwood formation. The coupling effect of MFA and extractives could be separated through analysis of the log(tan δ) versus log(E′/ρ) diagram. For the species studied, the extractive content putatively associated with heartwood formation generally tends to decrease the wood damping coefficient. However, this weakening effect of extractives was not observed for the inner part of the heartwood, suggesting that the mechanical action of extractives was reduced during their chemical ageing. © 2011 The Japan Wood Research Society.

Abstract: Questions: Several studies have described aggregated spatial patterns in tropical tree species. This study investigates aggregate dynamics of Vouacapoua americana (Aublet), a climax species whose spatial pattern is not simply related to light and soil conditions or to its short seed dispersal range. Location: Two rain forest sites: Nouragues and Paracou, in the Guiana Shield. Methods: We described the spatial pattern of tree locations and spatial autocorrelation of tree diameters, using statistics derived from Ripley's K. We particularly used methods to define analysis subplots according to local density or local mean diameter. We investigated relationships between spatial distributions of adults and saplings. Results: At both sites, populations of Vouacapoua demonstrated several nested levels of aggregation. Tree diameters were spatially autocorrelated, revealing the existence of clusters with similar diameters. In the largest aggregates, tree diameters declined from the centre to the edge. Regeneration was aggregated and occurred mainly at cluster edges and around rare isolated trees, and sapling densities and basal area of adults were negatively correlated. We show that long-distance dispersal events are rare. Conclusions: Environmental factors and seed dispersal only explain part of the observed spatial patterns. We provide two main hypotheses about Vouacapoua population dynamics. First, the lack of regeneration in aggregate centres results in the ageing of existing aggregates. We suggest that this lack of recruitment close to mature trees is due to a Janzen-Connell effect. However, aggregates can continue to grow along colonization fronts. Second, long-distance dispersal events allow the formation of new clusters and play a crucial role in the colonization process. We investigate aggregate dynamics of Vouacapoua americana (Aublet) whose spatial pattern is not simply related to environmental conditions or to its seed dispersal. Regeneration does not occur in centers of aggregate of adults. We suggest that rare long-distance dispersal events and density-dependence predation of seeds and seedlings play a crucial role in formation of new clusters and structuration of larger aggregates. © 2013 International Association for Vegetation Science.

Abstract: MILLET J, PASCAL JP & MET LC. 2010. Effects of disturbance over 60 years on a lowland forest in southern Vietnam. Tropical lowland forests are some of the most threatened in the world and this is particularly the case in Vietnam. This study aimed to identify changes in species composition and forest structure in the Tan Phu lowland forest resulting from disturbance over a 60 year period. Analysis of forest composition and structure rely on data from 25 plots of 0.5-ha size established in a lowland secondary forest. The five forest stands described differed greatly from the three forest stand types described in 1943. Some long-lived shade-tolerant species had been replaced by pioneer species, such as Cratoxylon formosum and Shorea roxburghii. In addition to altering composition, forest disturbances had resulted in large changes in forest structure. While in the past, forest stands had a large number of exploitable trees, current forest stands have few trees in the diameter class > 50 cm and sometimes no trees in the diameter class > 80 cm. This paper provides notable results on forest tree ecology, forest dynamics and on the state of secondary forests in Vietnam. This is particularly important as future goods and services will increasingly have to come from such forests.

Abstract: Diversity is positively correlated with water availability at global, continental and regional scales. With the objective of better understanding the mechanisms that drive these relationships. we investigated the degree to which variation in water availability affects the performance (recruitment, growth a rid survival) of juvenile trees. Precipitation was supplemented throughout two dry seasons in a seasonal moist forest in south-eastern Peru. Supplementing precipitation by 160 mm mo(-1), we increased soil moisture by 17%. To generate seedling communities or known species composition, we sowed 3840 seeds of 12 species. We monitored the fates of the 554 seedlings recruited from the sown seeds. as well as 1856 older non-sown seedlings (10 cm <= height < 50 cm), and 2353 saplings (> 1 m tall). Watering significantly enhanced young seedling growth and survival, increasing stern density and diversity. Watering diminished the recruitment of species associated with upland forests, but increased the survival of both upland- and lowland-associated species. Though supplemental watering increased the growth of older seedlings. their density and diversity were unaffected. Sapling performance was insensitive to watering. We infer that variation in dry-season water availability may affect seedling community structure by differentially affecting recruitment and increasing overall survival. These results suggest that differential seedling recruitment and survival may contribute to the observed relationships between water availability, habitat associations and patterns of tree species richness.