A5063762885- Wood and Agarwood Research
- Forest ecology and management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Biological Stains and Phytochemicals
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Metal Extraction and Bioleaching
- Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
2021-2025
Meise Botanic Garden
2024-2025
World Forest ID
2024
Royal Museum for Central Africa
2017-2021
Ghent University
2017-2021
Albany State University
2021
University at Albany, State University of New York
2021
Summary More than 15% of all vascular plant species may remain scientifically undescribed, and many the > 350 000 described have no or few geographic records documenting their distribution. Identifying understanding taxonomic knowledge shortfalls is key to prioritising future collection conservation efforts. Using extensive data for 343 523 time‐to‐event analyses, we conducted multiple tests related shortfalls, identified 33 global diversity darkspots (those ‘botanical countries’...
Summary Illegal logging and illegal timber trade is a global problem. Anatomical, genetic, chemical techniques support legislation by verifying the species geographic origin of timber. In principle, these methods can be used to identify harvest, however, availability specific tests for important unclear. We review status top 322 priority taxa. Our results show that identification, reference data exist 100% taxa using wood anatomy, 86% genetics, 41% DART TOFMS, 6% NIRS. For 24% taxa, with...
Abstract A large share of the global forest restoration potential is situated in artificial ‘unstable’ mesic African savannas, which could be restored to higher carbon and biodiversity states if protected from human‐induced burning. However, uncertainty on recovery rates unstable savannas impedes science‐informed initiatives. Here, we quantify success anthropogenic fire exclusion within an 88‐ha savanna patch Kongo Central province Democratic Republic Congo (DR Congo). We found that...
Abstract Scientific testing including stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) and trace element (TEA) is critical for establishing plant origin, tackling deforestation enforcing economic sanctions. Yet methods combining SIRA TEA into robust models origin verification determination are lacking. Here we report a (1) large Eastern European timber reference database ( Betula , Fagus Pinus Quercus ) tailored to sanctioned products following the Ukraine invasion; (2) statistical test verify samples...
Summary More than 15% of all vascular plant species may remain scientifically undescribed, and many the >340,000 described have no or few geographic records documenting their distribution. Identifying understanding taxonomic knowledge shortfalls is key to prioritising future collection conservation efforts. Using extensive data for 343,523 time-to-event analyses, we conducted multiple tests related shortfalls, identified 32 global diversity darkspots (regions predicted lack most...
Abstract Determining the harvest location of timber is crucial to enforcing international regulations designed protect natural resources and tackle illegal logging associated trade in forest products. Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) can be used verify claims by matching levels naturally occurring stable isotopes within wood tissue location‐specific ratios predicted from reference data (“isoscapes”). However, overly simple models for predicting isoscapes have so far limited confidence...
Illegal logging poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, climate stability, and depresses international prices for legal wood harvesting responsible forest products trade, affecting livelihoods communities across the globe. Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) is rapidly becoming an important tool determining harvest location of traded, organic, products. The spatial pattern in stable values depends on factors such as atmospheric environmental conditions can thus be used...
Background and Objectives: The origin of traded timber is one the main questions in enforcement regulations to combat illegal trade. Substantial efforts are still needed develop techniques that can determine exact geographical provenance this vital counteract destructive effects logging, ranging from economical loss habitat destruction. potential chemical fingerprints pith-to-bark growth rings for individual comparison determination explored. Materials Methods: A wood sliver was sampled per...
A large share of the global forest restoration potential is situated in artificial 'unstable' mesic African savannas, which could be restored to higher carbon and biodiversity states if protected from human-induced burning.However, uncertainty on recovery rates unstable savannas impedes science-informed initiatives.Here, we quantify success anthropogenic fire exclusion within an 88-ha savanna
Wood density profiles reveal a tree’s life strategy and growth. Density are, however, rarely defined in terms of tissue fractions for wood tropical angiosperm trees. Here, we aim at linking these to corresponding trees from the Congo Basin. Cores 8 tree species were scanned with X-ray Computed Tomography calculate profiles. Then, cores sanded outermost 3 cm used semi-automatically measure vessel lumen, parenchyma fibre using Weka segmentation tool ImageJ. Fibre wall lumen widths measured...
The genus Pericopsis includes four tree species of which only elata (Harms) Meeuwen is commercial interest. Enforcement officers might have difficulties discerning this CITES-listed from some other tropical African timber species. Therefore, we tested several methods to separate and identify these rapidly in order enable customs officials uncover illegal trade. In study, two classification using Direct Analysis Real Time (DART™) ionization coupled with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry...
Abstract Wood identification is a key step in the enforcement of laws and regulations aimed at combatting illegal timber trade. Robust wood tools, capable distinguishing large number timbers, depend on solid database reference material. Reference material for typically curated botanical collections dedicated to consisting samples secondary xylem lignified plants. Specimens from Tervuren Collection, one institutional around world, are used as source tree species data with potential...
To fight the illegal timber trade, there is an increasing need to accurately verify or determine harvest origin of timber. Next genetic methods, mass spectrometry being pushed forward as a possible tool towards this problem, especially via stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) and direct in real time – flight (DART-TOFMS). However, are key scientific questions that be answered before these techniques can scaled up routinely robustly applied. For SIRA, we understand better effects single ring...
The illegal timber trade is one of the most impactful natural wildlife crimes, affecting live- lihood local communities, naturalresource availability, and associated carbon storage biodiver- sity. Many species are highly sought after atrisk exhaustion subsequent extinction. Although several initiatives exist to indicate tree risk conservation status, there no single resource, or prioritized list, that qualifies high-risk traded across globe. Organizations end up creating their own priority...
The identification of tropical African wood species based on microscopic imagery is a challenging problem due to the heterogeneous nature composition combined with vast number candidate species. Image classification methods that rely machine learning can facilitate this identification, provided sufficient training material available. Despite fact three main anatomical sections contain information relevant for current only transverse sections. Additionally, commonly used procedures evaluating...
Abstract Background To enforce timber import laws and perform species identification, the identity of botanical must be well-defined. Since Sapotaceae family is known as a taxonomically challenging family, we focus in this study on four most valuable from tropical Africa: Autranella congolensis (De Wild.) A.Chev., Baillonella toxisperma Pierre, Tieghemella africana Pierre heckelii (A.Chev.) ex Dubard. The wood anatomical characteristic fiber lumen fraction Direct Analysis Real Time—Time...
Abstract Wood ranks among the most valued resources in construction, for joinery and furniture. Rather than increasing pressure on a limited number of species, we need to move towards fit purpose approach where basis selection material is solid knowledge its relevant properties. Therefore, about wood technological characteristics vast range species needed. Here, exploit potential xylarium samples by mapping density dimensional stability, using digital image correlation (DIC) non-standardised...
Analysis of wood transects in a manner that preserves the spatial distribution metabolites present is highly desirable to among other things: (1) facilitate ecophysiology studies reveal association between chemical make-up and environmental factors or climatic events over time; (2) investigate mechanisms synthesis trafficking small molecules within specialised tissues. While variety techniques could be applied achieve these goals, most remain challenging impractical. Laser ablation direct...
A diversity of phenological strategies has been reported for tropical tree species. Defoliation and seasonal dormancy cambial activity inform us on how trees cope with water stress during the dry season, or maximize use resources rainy season. Here, we study matching between leaf phenology (unfolding shedding) Prioria balsamifera , a key timber species in Democratic Republic Congo. In particular, (i) evaluated seasonality synchrony among response to climate (ii) identified its relation...