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Featured researches published by David Blakesley.
Forest Ecology and Management | 2002
David Blakesley; Stephen Elliott; Cherdsak Kuarak; Puttipong Navakitbumrung; Sudarat Zangkum; Vilaiwan Anusarnsunthorn
Abstract One effective approach to forest restoration in degraded tropical forestland is the so-called ‘framework species method’ which involves planting 20–30 indigenous forest tree species to re-establish a basic forest structure that catalyses the recovery of biodiversity. For the seasonally dry tropical forests of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in northern Thailand, a provisional list of 36 potential framework species was compiled, from 19 different families representing a broad spectrum of the tree flora. This paper examines the seed germination characteristics of these species when grown as a nursery ‘crop’ for planting to restore degraded sites, focussing on germination phenology and dormancy. It considers how such characteristics affect the first stage of nursery production from seed collection to pricking out seedlings in the nursery. Twenty-nine species had a germination percentage of 60% or greater, which is acceptable for nursery production. The median length of dormancy (MLD) ranged from 7 days in the case of Erythrina subumbrans to 219 days for Lithocarpus garrettianus . Germination was defined as rapid if the MLD occurred within 3 weeks, and slow if occurring after 12 weeks. Twelve species germinated rapidly and eight germinated slowly, the remainder being intermediate. Seedling emergence ranged over a period of 7 days in the case of Erythrina stricta and E. subumbrans to 322 days in the case of L. garrettianus .
New Forests | 2004
Kate Hardwick; J.R. Healey; Stephen Elliott; David Blakesley
Accelerated natural regeneration (ANR) is a relatively cheap method of reforestation, which encourages natural establishment of indigenous trees and shrubs. It requires a low input of labour, but a high input of ecological information. In this paper, the knowledge required to predict and manipulate the natural regeneration of seasonal tropical forest is reviewed and areas in need of further research are identified. Regeneration will be influenced by five groups of potentially limiting factors; site resources (soil and microclimate); competition with weeds; site disturbance; occurrence of established woody plants or their propagules; seed dispersal by wild animals and birds. This paper considers each of these, their interactions with seasons, and each other. Collation of existing information on these topics, combined with the suggested further research, should facilitate the creation of tools that will enable practitioners to judge the regeneration potential of sites and to select the most appropriate ANR techniques.
New Forests | 2002
David Blakesley; Kate Hardwick; Stephen Elliott
Some governments in Southeast Asia, such as those of Thailand and Vietnam have clear policies to restore large areas of degraded land to native forest. However, knowledge needed for the success of these ambitious programmes is still inadequate, and considerable further research is required. Furthermore, very little literature is available to conservation practitioners about the restoration of tropical forests for biodiversity conservation. This paper introduces the framework species method of forest restoration, which is being developed to restore forests in Thailand. The paper examines the potential for adoption of this technique in different forest types across the Southeast Asia region, and identifies priorities for future research needed before the method can be widely implemented. These include the identification of forest types, the selection of candidate framework species, maintenance of genetic diversity, and development of methods of seed collection and germination.
New Forests | 2002
Stephen Elliott; Cherdsak Kuarak; Puttipong Navakitbumrung; Sudarat Zangkum; Vilaiwan Anusarnsunthorn; David Blakesley
In northern Thailand, a growing interest in restoring forests for wildlife conservation and environmental protection is increasing demand for high quality planting stock of a wide range of native forest tree species. Since most native tree species have never been grown in nurseries, their production is hindered by a lack of knowledge of basic propagation methods. Basic data on germination and performance of ten indigenous ‘framework’ tree species, Castanopsis acuminatissima, Dalbergia rimosa, Diospyros glandulosa, Eugenia albiflora, Ficus glaberrima var. glaberrima, Lithocarpus craibianus, Melia toosendan, Prunus cerasoides, Quercus semiserrata and Spondias axillaris were collected during the production process. Different species produce seeds at different times of the year and they have different growth rates, yet saplings must attain a plantable size by the optimum planting time i.e. the start of the wet season. Germination percentages ranged from 38 to 89%, and the time in the nursery to reach a plantable size ranged from 119 days for Prunus cerasoides, when it had reached a mean height of 48.6 cm (SD 7.9), to 609 days for Lithocarpus craibianus, when it had reached mean height of 40.5 cm (SD 10.6). This paper discusses the scheduling of production for these candidate framework species.
New Forests | 2004
Greuk Pakkad; Celia James; Franck Torre; Stephen Elliott; David Blakesley
Prunus cerasoides D. Don has been identified as an excellent ‘framework tree species’ for restoring evergreen forest in seasonally dry tropical forestlands. Here we describe the level of microsatellite variation in P. cerasoides trees within and among three National Parks in northern Thailand: Doi Suthep-Pui, Doi Inthanon and Doi Ang Khang, using published primers developed for peach, sweet cherry and sour cherry. The five microsatellite loci employed detected a total of 41 alleles, with the average number of alleles per locus per study site ranging from 2.7 to 8.0 (n = 82). The value of FST over the three sites was 0.115, indicating that while the majority of genetic diversity may be contained within sites, they should be considered as genetically distinct. The implications of this for seed collection of this species for forest restoration are discussed.
New Forests | 2004
David Blakesley; Greuk Pakkad; Celia James; Franck Torre; Stephen Elliott
Castanopsis acuminatissima (Bl.) A. DC. is one of a number of ‘framework species’ which are being planted to restore seasonally dry tropical forests in northern Thailand. This study describes the level of microsatellite variation within and among three populations of this species in three National Parks in northern Thailand: Doi Suthep-Pui, Doi Inthanon and Jae Sawn, using published primers developed for Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii Nakai. The five microsatellite loci employed in this study detected a total of 54 alleles (n = 72). The informativeness of the microsatellite loci varied from six to 18 alleles, with an average of 10.8 alleles found over all loci. The mean observed heterozygosities in the three populations showed no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The vast majority of genetic diversity was contained within the populations, with no significant differentiation between them (FST = 0.006). Algorithms were designed to capture microsatellite diversity, and the rationale for using microsatellite markers to inform genetic conservation is discussed. The implications for seed collection of C. acuminatissima for forest restoration are also discussed.
New Forests | 2004
Greuk Pakkad; Stephen Elliott; David Blakesley
Prunus cerasoides D. Don has been identified as a ‘framework species’ for restoring evergreen forest in seasonally dry climates. The aim of this study was to develop criteria to select parent trees for supplying seed to forest restoration projects based on seedling performance in the nursery and in the field. Seed progenies were collected from 50 individual parent trees; 13 in Doi Inthanon National Park; 14 in Doi Ang Khang; and 23 in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Criteria were developed for the selection of superior parent seed trees based on nursery and field performance, and a provisional selection of parent seed trees for forest restoration projects has been made based on these criteria. Four standards for selection of superior seed trees were recognised: (i) 70% or greater seedling survival in the field, (ii) a seedling height of 100 cm or taller after the first growing season in the field, (iii) 40% or greater germination in the nursery and (iv) 70% or higher seedling survival in the nursery. Twenty one seed trees met these standards.
Forest Ecology and Management | 2003
Greuk Pakkad; Franck Torre; Stephen Elliott; David Blakesley
Spondias axillaris Roxb. (Anacardiaceae) (synonym: Choerospondias axillaris (Roxb.) Burtt and Hill) is an exceptionally effective framework tree species for restoring seasonal tropical forest ecosystems to degraded sites throughout south and southeast Asia. Criteria were developed to select superior parent seed trees, based on nursery performance and field establishment. Seed progenies were collected from 41 S. axillaris parent trees, growing in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in northern Thailand. Seedlings that survived in the nursery were more likely to have originated from small pyrenes, which germinated rapidly. Seedlings that survived in the field, over the first growing season, tended to be larger at time of planting than those that died. Four standards for selection of superior seed trees were recognised: (i) 70%, or higher, seedling survival in the field, (ii) a sapling height of 100 cm or taller after the first growing season in the field, (iii) 40% or greater germination in the nursery and (iv) 70% or higher seedling survival in the nursery. Twelve of the 41 seed trees met these standards and qualified as superior seed trees for forest restoration. # 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Forest Ecology and Management | 2003
Stephen Elliott; Puttipong Navakitbumrung; Cherdsak Kuarak; Sudarat Zangkum; Vilaiwan Anusarnsunthorn; David Blakesley
Archive | 2014
David Blakesley; Kate Hardwick; Stephen Elliott