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An investigation on the use of literature as part of the teacher preparation process probed the impact of book talks on teacher candidates’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Candidates in a 4-year undergraduate program participated in book talks reflecting subjects relevant to course work. Books reflected various effects of disability, including the impact on individuals or their families. Data were collected from written reflections and survey responses. Qualitative analysis revealed that the assignment influenced an increase in positive attitudes toward individuals with disabilities reflecting insight, empathy, and respect. Furthermore, candidates benefitted from discussions with their peers and deepened their understanding of the impact of disability. Suggestions for future use of book talks in teacher education are also discussed.

-The relationship between competition and tree growth was studied in four stands of Pinus sylvestris L. occurring in a continental Mediterranean mountain area (in the Guadarrama range, Spain), i.e., an uneven-aged stand, a stand with oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) understorey, a plantation, and a mature even-aged stand. Competition was measured by a simple size-ratio distance-independent index and was negatively associated with tree diameter. This negative association was stronger in the uneven-aged, plantation and mature even-aged stands than in the stand with oak understorey. Competition was also negatively associated with current diameter increment. This relationship was moderately strong in the mature even-aged stand and weak in the uneven-aged stand and the plantation. In the uneven-aged and the mature even-aged stands, a weakly significant relationship was found between diameter growth and tree size, whereas these parameters were not associated in the stand with oak understorey. The competition index provided a better prediction of growth rate than the alternative use of diameter. Both diameter and basal area growth were greater in the uneven-aged than in the even-aged stands.competition / growth / Pinus sylvestris / Scots pine / stand structure Résumé -Structure des peuplements, compétition et croissance du pin sylvestre (Pinus sylvestris L.) dans un environnement montagneux méditerranéen. La relation entre compétition et croissance a été étudiée dans quatre peuplements de Pinus sylvestris L. que l'on rencontre dans la zone continentale des montagnes méditerranéennes (dans la région de Guadarrama en Espagne). Ont été pris en compte un peuplement inéquienne, un peuplement avec du chêne (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) en sous-étage, une plantation, et un peuplement équienne âgé. La compétition a été mesurée par un index indépendant, simple rapport taille/distance, et était corrélée négativement avec le diamètre des arbres. Cette corrélation négative était plus forte dans le peuplement inéquienne, la plantation et le peuplement équienne âgé que dans le peuplement avec sous-étage de chêne. L'index de compétition était aussi corrélé négativement avec l'accroissement courant en diamètre. La relation était modérément forte dans le peuplement équienne âgé et faible dans le peuplement inéquienne et la plantation. Dans le peuplement inéquienne et le peuplement équienne âgé une relation faiblement significative a été trouvée entre croissance en diamètre et taille de l'arbre, alors que ces paramètres n'étaient pas corrélés dans le peuplement avec sous-étage de chêne. L'index de compétition fournit une meilleure prédiction du taux de croissance que le simple diamètre. La croissance en diamètre et en surface terrière était plus importante dans le peuplement inéquienne que dans le peuplement équienne âgé. compétition / croissance / pinus sylvestris / pin sylvestre / structure de peuplement

There is currently little information available on calcium-soil-ectomycorrhizal (ECM) interactions. However, for decades calcareous amendments have been made in forest soils subject to acid rain in Europe without any clear knowledge of their impact on ECMs and the roots of their host plants. We have therefore performed a review to assess the impact of Ca associated to calcareous amendments in the soil-ECM-host plant system, which has highlighted: (1) the influence of Ca and its salts (carbonates and oxalates) of biological origin in ECM fungal communities; (2) the impact of Ca on the growth patterns of the host tree roots; (3) the importance for the plants of the rock-eating processes associated to ECMs; and (4) the impact on ECMs of the soil Ca cycle (associated to the litterfall). A greater knowledge of the cause-effect relations between Ca and the soil-ECM-plant system in Mediterranean and temperate forests could have positive repercussions on reforestation projects, actions associated to soil management, the commercial production of ECMs, and the economy of different rural zones in these forest areas.

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