Life Sciences Commons^™

Geolite, An Arcgis Extension To Assist In Lidar Data Processing, Yanli Zhang, Jason Grogan, I-Kuai Hung, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Regional Guidebook For Applying The Hydrogeomorphic Approach To The Functional Assessment, Hans Michael Williams, Adam J. Miller, Rachel Mcnamee, Charles V. Klimas

eBooks

The Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach is a method for developing and applying indices for the site-specific assessment of wetland functions. The HGM Approach was initially designed to be used in the context of the Clean Water Act Section 404 Regulatory Program permit review process to analyze project alternatives, minimize impacts, assess unavoidable impacts, determine mitigation requirements, and monitor the success of compensatory mitigation. However, a variety of other potential uses have been identified, including the design of wetland restoration projects, and management of wetlands.

Evaluating Tiffs (Toolbox For Lidar Data Filtering And Forest Studies) In Deriving Forest Measurements From Lidar Data, John Chapman, I-Kuai Hung, Jeff Tippen

Faculty Publications

Recent advances in LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology have allowed for the remote sensing of important forest characteristics to be more reliable and commercially available. Studies have shown that this technology can adequately estimate forest characteristics such as individual tree locations, tree heights, and crown diameters. These values are then used to estimate biophysical properties of forests, such as basal area and timber volume. This study assessed the capability of a commercially available program, Tiffs (Toolbox for Lidar Data Filtering and Forest Studies), to accurately estimate forest characteristics, as compared to data collected at the plot level using traditional …

Soil Viewer Extension Brings Soil Data To Your Gis, Jason Grogan, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Project Report No. 67, A Whole-Stand Growth And Yield Model For Unmanaged Loblolly And Slash Pine Plantations In East Texas, Dean W. Coble, Micky G. Allen Ii, Jimmie L. Yeiser, I-Kuai Hung

Informal Project Reports

The amount of forestland in east Texas has been estimated at 11.8 million acres, with approximately 2.5 million acres classified as pine plantations. The majority of these plantations are owned by forest industry (71 percent), while non-industrial private forest landowners represent the next largest shareholder (23 percent). Pine plantations are typically managed to produce timber, so information is needed to make informed management decisions. Growth is one piece of information that managers often rely upon in their decision-making process.

The purpose of this paper is to develop an updated whole-stand growth and yield model for unmanaged loblolly and slash pine …

Aboveground Biomass Estimation For Three Common Woody Species In The Post Oak Savannah Of Texas, Brian P. Oswald, R R. Botting, Dean W. Coble, Ken W. Farrish

Faculty Publications

The Post Oak Savannah occupies about 3.4 million hectares of gently rolling to hilly lands in east central Texas. Large post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica Munchh.), Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) and honey mesquite (Juniperus virginiana L.) usually form the overstory, often above thickets of yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), winged elm (Ulmus alata), gum bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum Michx. Subsp. Oblongifolium (Nutt) T.D. Penn.), and live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.). Historically limited to rocky hillsides …

Assessing The Efficacy Of Modis Satellite-Derived Start Of Growing Season For Jurisdictional Determination Of East Texas Bottomland Hardwood Wetlands, Karen Malone, Hans Michael Williams, I-Kuai Hung, Daniel Unger

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Crucial to the determination of a jurisdictional wetland is the definition of “growing season”. Satellite imagery is being utilized in other ecological applications, but is lagging in wetland growing season determination. Both cost and temporal limitations historically have restrained use of satellite imagery in assessing the start up of the growing season. Multiple commercial satellites are available that provide high resolution imagery, but the cost are prohibitive for most studies. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) jointly manage the Landsat and the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite programs. Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper …

The Effects Of Food Quality On Preference And Incurred Risk In White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), Travis Perlman, Jacob Stanton

Undergraduate Research Conference

An observational study was concluded in Nacogdoches County, Texas, to determine if free-range white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) could assess forage value. Multiple parameters were recorded to determine if individuals were willing to incur hight levels of risk as they sought to maximize their fitness, through dietary selection. Our results indicated that individuals were willing to incur higher levels of risk, in order to attain higher quality food items.

Collecting Multiple Point Features Referenced To A Single Geographic Position In Arcpad, Jason Grogan, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Herbaceous Diversity And Biomass In Two Habitats In Arid Mediterranean Rangeland, Mohammad N. Alhamad, Brian P. Oswald, Mohammad M. Bataineh, Mohammad A. Alrababah, Mohammad M. Gharaibeh

Faculty Publications

Plant diversity patterns vary across the landscape. This study was conducted to answer the question: What is the pattern of species diversity (α and β) along an abstract productivity/cover gradient at two topographical positions (Wadi (a depression with overland flow) and hilltop) of a Mediterranean herbaceous plant community in Jordan? Results indicated that the less productive hilltop localities exhibited higher species richness than the more productive Wadi localities. Species richness exhibited a unimodal relationship with aboveground biomass within Wadis whereas a positive linear relationship was revealed for hilltops. Within Wadis, abundant species did not show a significant relationship with productivity …

Diameter Distribution Models: Loblolly Pine Plantations, Dean W. Coble

Data

A parameter recovery procedure for the Weibull distribution function based on four percentile equations was used to develop a new diameter distribution yield prediction model for unmanaged slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) plantations in east Texas. This new model was similar in structure to the model of Lee and Coble (2006) in their work with east Texas loblolly pine plantations. The new model was compared to the diameter distribution model of Lenhart (1988), which was developed for slash pine plantations in east Texas, as well as to two other models developed using iterative techniques suggested and inspired by Cao (2004). …

Site Index Equations, Dean W. Coble

Data

A generalized sigmoid growth function was used in this study to model site index for unmanaged or low-intensity managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda, L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii, Engelm.) plantations in east Texas.

Whole-Stand Models: Loblolly And Slash Pine Plantations, Dean W. Coble

Data

A new compatible whole-stand growth and yield model to predict total tree cubic-foot volume per acre yield (outside and inside-bark) was developed for unmanaged loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plantations in east Texas. This model was compared to the non- compatible whole-stand model of Lenhart (1996) and the Lenhart (1996) model refit to current data. For the two species, all three models were evaluated with independent observed data. The model developed in this study out-performed both Lenhart models in prediction of future yield and basal area per acre for all age classes combined and by five-year …

Forestry And Natural Resources Investment Analysis Via Computer Software, Thomas J. Straka, Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

The valuation of forestry and natural resources investments and projects often present challenging analysis problems that require the use of computer software. Obtaining useful results from such packages are often difficult due to complex user/ program interfaces, while most are also subscriber~based and not freely available.

Food, Nutrition, And Natural Resource Sciences In The Fy 2011 Budget. Chapter 27, American Assoc. For The Advancement Of Science Report Xxxv, William Fisher, Karl Glasener, Caron Gala Bijl, Mary Lee Watts, Lowell Randel, Steven H. Bullard, Jim Gulliford

Faculty Publications

Food, agricultural, nutrition, and natural resource sciences are poised to make major contributions to improve human health and protect our environment. With the launch of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIF A) in 2009, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said "the opportunity to truly transform a field of science happens at best once a generation." With the release of a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization stating that food production will need to nearly double by 2050 to meet the demands of a world population totaling more than nine billion, this announcement is timely. The current …

Self-Referencing Site Index Equations For Unmanaged Loblolly And Slash Pine Plantations In East Texas, Dean W. Coble, Young Jin Lee

Faculty Publications

The Schnute growth function was used in this study to model site index for unmanaged or low-intensity managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda, L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii, Engelm.) plantations in east Texas. The algebraic difference approach was used to derive an anamorphic base-age invariant site function that was fi t as a fi xed base-age anamorphic site function (base age = 25 years). The dataset was comprised of 1,135 and 502 serially correlated height-age observations of loblolly and slash pine, respectively, which were collected over a 20-year-period as a part of the East Texas Pine Plantation Research Project (ETPPRP). …

Use Of Carfentrazone For Control Of Natural Pine In Forestry Site Preparation Areas, Andrew W. Ezell, Jimmie L. Yeiser

Faculty Publications

Carfentrazone was applied in combination with imazapyr alone and three-way mixes with imazapyr and glyphosate to evaluate efficacy of natural pine control during site preparation activities. Results from four sites (two in MS, and one each in TX and SC) indicated that carfentrazone could assist in the control of small pine seedlings (less than six inches tall), but the control provided was not at a level considered acceptable for operational purposes. Larger pine seedlings (greater than one foot tall) were not adequately controlled by any of the treatments and shielding by other vegetation was an important factor in the control …

Split-Season Herbaceous Weed Control For Full-Season Seedling Performance, Jimmie L. Yeiser, Andrew W. Ezell

Faculty Publications

Results from four loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) sites, one in each of MS and TX in 2001 and again in 2002, are presented. Twelve herbicide treatments and an untreated check were tested. Herbicide treatments were applied early (mid- March), late (mid-May), both timings, or not at all to achieve, early- late-, full-season, or no weed control. When averaged across all four sites and compared to the early treatment, bare ground was less from April through July and April through November on late treated and untreated plots, respectively. Full-season weed control provided numerically more bare ground than other treatments. When …

Southern Pine Beetle Infestation Probability Mapping Using Weights Of Evidence Analysis, Jason Grogan, David Kulhavy, James Kroll

Faculty Publications

Weights of Evidence (WofE) spatial analysis was used to predict probability of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) (SPB) infestation in Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Shelby Co., TX. Thematic data derived from Landsat imagery (1974–2002 Landsat 1–7) were used. Data layers included: forest covertype, forest age, forest patch size and percent slope. WofE predicted infestation probabilities were signifi cantly higher at infestation locations, versus random locations (p<0.0001). Signifi cantly more infestations occurred in the higher probability areas (p=0.002). Infestation size was not signifi cantly correlated with probability (p=0.0528). Correlations were found between WofE probability and traditional SPB hazard rating, calculated from forest inventory data, using the Mason (1981) system (p<0.0001). WofE probability maps were used to produce current SPB three and fi ve-class hazard rating maps for the study area. WofE was effective for predicting SPB hazard, utilizing existing, remotely-sensed data sets.

White-Tailed Deer Antler Research: A Response To Demarais And Strickland, Ben Koerth, James Kroll

Faculty Publications

Demarais and Strickland presented several questions about the scope and validity of conclusions regarding predictability of mature antler size based on yearling antler size and produced a simulation model reported to demonstrate measurement bias in our 2008 study. We believe our conclusions were appropriate with our research hypothesis and demonstrated the assumed differential selection bias by hunters used in Demarais and Strickland was unwarranted. Demarais and Strickland provided no metadata to document the provenance of data used in their model and did not account for location, year, cohort, nutrition of research animals, or loss of individuals from their sample population …

Restoring Wild Turkey To East Texas: Past And Present, Warren C. Conway, Christopher E. Comer, Gary Calkins, Jason Hardin, Jason Isabelle

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Chronicle Of Changing American Attitudes Towards Wetlands, Matthew W. Mcbroom

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Broad-Scale Relations Between Conservation Reserve Program And Grassland Birds: Do Cover Type, Configuration And Contract Age Matter?, Sam Riffell, Daniel Scognamillo, L. Wes Burger Jr., Shawn Bucholtz

Faculty Publications

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary cropland set-aside program where environmentally-sensitive cropland is retired to a conservation practice. Grassland birds should benefit because most CRP is grass habitat and because amount of land in CRP is highest in agriculture-dominated areas of the United States where grassland habitat has been most impacted. We used the Breeding Bird Survey and Common Land Unit (CLU) data (spatially-explicit data of farm field boundaries and land cover) to identify relations between types and configurations of CRP and grassland bird abundance in 3 Midwestern states. All 13 species we studied were related to at …

Forest Resources Institute, Arthur Temple College Of Forestry And Agriculture

eBooks

No abstract provided.

Understory Vegetative Diversity Of Post-Thinned Pine Plantations Treated With Fertilizer, Fire And Herbicide In East Texas, Brian P. Oswald, Dean W. Coble, R R. Botting, Ken W. Farrish, James E. Van Kley

Faculty Publications

This study assessed biodiversity in the understory of two pine plantations where different management tools (fertilizer, prescribed burning, and herbicide application) were utilized. During three growing seasons, species, percent cover, and number of individuals, and physical characteristics were recorded. Responses to treatment were examined based on comparison of species richness, evenness, diversity, and importance. Two years after treatment, fertilized plots showed a decline in species richness, evenness, and diversity. Prescribed burning and herbicide treatments increased species richness but decreased species evenness, resulting in no change in diversity index. Herbicide treatment reduced the importance of dominant shrubs and increased the importance …

5th Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference, Jeff Adkins, David Creech, Greg Grant, Josephine Taylor

Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference

No abstract provided.

Development And Characterization Of 16 Microsatellite Markers For The Louisiana Pine Snake, Pituophis Ruthveni, And Two Congeners Of Conservation Concern, Matthew Kwiatkowski, Christopher M. Somers, Ray G. Poulin, D. Craig Rudolph, Jessica Martino, Tracey D. Tuberville, Cris Hagen, Stacey L. Lance

Faculty Publications

We isolated and characterized 16 microsatellite loci from the Louisiana pine snake, Pituophis ruthveni. Loci were screened in 24 individuals from locations throughout its distribution in Louisiana and Texas. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 12, observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.200 to 0.875, and the probability of identity ranged from 0.043 to 0.298. We examined cross-species amplification at these loci in P. catenifer (bullsnakes and gopher snakes) and P. melanoleucus (pine snakes). These new markers provide tools for examining the conservation genetics of this species complex. Louisiana pine snakes face numerous threats: population densities are extremely …