Life Sciences Commons^™

Outdoor Living Barn: A Specialized Windbreak, Kris Irwin, Jerry Bratton

Agroforestry Notes (USDA-NAC)

In April of 1987, a spring blizzard swept through northern Kansas and southern Nebraska killing nearly 60,000 newborn calves and other winter stressed animals. This tremendous loss could have been lessened had protection, such as outdoor living barns (OLB), been provided to reduce the windchill. An outdoor living barn is a specialized windbreak, typically composed of trees and shrubs, and strategically located in open grasslands, center pivot irrigation corners, and pasture areas to protect livestock during severe weather situations.

The purpose of an OLB is to: 1) defuse and deflect cold winds away from livestock, moderating the windchill; and 2) …

Influence Of A Mycorrhizal Fungus And/Or Rhizobium On Growth And Biomass Partitioning Of Subterranean Clover Exposed To Ozone, Joseph E. Miller, Steven R. Shafer, Michele M. Schoeneberger, Walter A. Pursley, Stephanie J. Horton, Charles B. Davy

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

The influence of soilborne symbionts such as rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi on plant response to ozone (O₃) has not been well defined. Leguminous plants in the field are infected by both types of organisms, which influence plant nutrition and growth. We studied the effects of infection with Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii and/or Gigaspora margarita on response of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv Mt. Barker) to O₃. Exposures were conducted in greenhouse CSTR chambers using four O₃ concentrations [charcoal-filtered (CF), 50, 100, or 150 ppb; 6 h day^-1, 5 day wk^{-1 …}

Variation In Selection Of Microhabitats By Merriam's Turkey Brood Hens, Mark A. Rumble, Stanley H. Anderson

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

We studied microhabitats of Merriam's turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) brood hens in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) ecosystem in South Dakota from 1986 to 1988. Cluster analysis indicated three groups of microhabitats, open-shrub, open-grass/forb and forest, based on vegetation characteristics at sites selected by brood hens. Poults of brood hen that selected open-shrub microhabitats were younger than those that selected forest microhabitats. Open-shrub and open grass/forb microhabitats had high herbaceous cover. Herbaceous vegetation provides habitat for invertebrates required in diets of poults and was selected by brood hens for feeding. Brood hens selected forest microhabitats more …

Identification And Characterization Of A Rapd-Pcr Marker For Distinguishing Asian And North American Gypsy Moths, K.J. Garner

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

The recent introduction of the Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) into North America has necessitated the development of genetic markers to distinguish Asian moths from the established North American population, which originated in Europe. We used RAPD-PCR to identify a DNA length polymorphism that is diagnostic for the two moth strains. The polymorphism maps to an autosomal locus with codominant Mendelian inheritance. DNA sequence analyses of the Asian and North American forms enabled development of locus-specific primers so that this marker, designated FS-1, will be useful for strain identification under varying conditions in different laboratories.

"Vertebrate Pests Of Agriculture, Forestry And Public Lands" 1996 Annual Meeting

Western Region Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands (WCC-95)

Tuesday, November 19

1:00-1:15 pm Welcome, Introductions, and Agenda Update Robert Schmidt, Committee Chair

1:15-1:30 Administrative Advisor Comments Dr. Grant Vest

Presentations:

1:30-2:00 Residue tests in rodent carcasses exposed to chlorophacinone from bait stations and hand broad casting: a simulated field trial. R. Baker

2:00-2:30 Comments on ReJeX-iT - results of a field trial on turf. R. Baker

2:30-3:00 Update on predator research at Hopland: toxic collars and guard animals. R. Timm

3:00-3:30 Break

3:30-5:00 Revision of EPA's vertebrate pest assessment guidelines. Bill Jacobs, Environmental Protection Agency

Wednesday, November 20

Presentations:

8 :30-9:00am Overview of project management at NWRC. R. …

Book Review: Managing Northern Forest Birds, Richard M. Degraaf

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

Janet Green's clearly written book goes a long way toward clarifying the ecological issues involved as they apply to the forested regions of Minnesota. Birds and Forests is written as an instructive guide for non-specialists who want to know about the issues involved in ecosystem-based management of forests and wildlife in Minnesota. Green eschews 'wildlife habitat,' which is vague and begs the question, which wildlife? Instead, the focus is on birds because of their diversity, habitat specificity, relative ease of study, and popularity.

Effects Of Logging Slash On Aspen Regeneration In Grazed Clearcuts, Mark A. Rumble, Timothy Pella, Jon C. Sharps, Arthur V. Carter, J. Barry Parrish

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

In 1975, a quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) stand was clear-cut. Fencing and slash retention treatments designed to exclude or impede livestock-use were implemented. We evaluated the effects of these treatments on regeneration of aspen 19 years later. Leaving all slash was as effective as fencing for maintaining aspen regeneration and supported adequate density of saplings to meet recommendations for ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). Shrub cover also was greater in treatments with slash and fencing. Unfenced treatments with slash less than 8 cm diameter retained, did not differ statistically from fenced treatments, but did not support adequate …

Fire Frequency And The Vegetative Mosaic Of A Spruce-Fir Forest In Northern Utah, Linda Wadleigh, Michael J. Jenkins

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

Fire scar and vegetative analysis were used to construct a fire history for the Engelmann spruce/subalpine fir (Picea engelmannii/Abies lasiocarpa) vegetation type of the Utah State University (USU) T. W Daniel Experimental Forest. Three distinct periods of fire frequency were established-presettlement (1700-1855), settlement (1856-1909), and suppression (1910-1990). Mean fire interval (MFI) decreased during the settlement period and greatly increased during the suppression era. The difference was attributed to the influx of ignition sources during the settlement of nearby Cache Valley, located 40 km to the west. Logging and livestock grazing appear to have led to the reduced MFI, …

Spatial Relationships Among Young Cercocarpus Ledifolius (Curlleaf Mountain Ylahogany), Brad W. Schultz, Robin J. Tausch, Paul T. Tueller

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

This study analyzed spatial location patterns of Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. (curlleaf mountain mahogany) plants, classified as current-year seedling, established seedling, juvenile, and immature individuals, at a central Nevada study site. Most current-year seedlings were located in mahogany stands in which large, mature individuals had the greatest abundance. These stands had greater litter cover and a thicker layer of litter than areas with few current- year seedlings. Most established young Cercocarpus were located in adjacent Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (mountain big sagebrush) communities, or in infrequent canopy gaps between relatively few large, mature Cercocarpus. We discuss potential roles of plant litter, …

Comparison Of Two Roadside Survey Procedures For Dwarf Mistletoes On The Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, Robert L. Mathiasen, James T. Hoffman, John C. Guyon, Linda L. Wadleigh

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

Two roadside surveys were conducted for dwarf mistletoes parasitizing lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir on the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho. One survey used variable-radius plots located less than 150 m from roads. The 2nd survey used variable-radius plots established at 200-m intervals along 1600-m transects run perpendicular to the same roads. Estimates of the incidence (percentage of trees infected and percentage of plots infested) and severity (average dwarf mistletoe rating) for both lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoes were not significantly different for the 2 survey methods. These findings are further evidence that roadside-plot surveys and transect-plot surveys conducted away from …

Western Balsam Bark Beetle, Dryocoetes Confusus Swaine, Flight Periodicity In Northern Utah, E. Matthew Hansen

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

The flight periodicity of western balsam bark beetle (Dryocoetes confusus Swaine) in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, was studied during the summer months of 1992, 1993, and 1994. Contents of baited funnel traps were tallied by species up to 3 times weekly. Two main periods of flight activity were observed each year. The first and, generally, largest occurred in early summer soon after flight was initiated for the season. A 2nd period was observed in late summer, generally August. Timing of the 2 periods was influenced by unusually warm or cool weather in each study year. The 1st period had …

Characterization Of The Lymantria Dispar Nucleopolyhedrovirus 25k Fp Gene, David S. Bischoff, James M. Slavicek

USDA Forest Service / UNL Faculty Publications

The Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (Ld/V/NPV) gene encoding the 25K FP protein has been cloned and sequenced. The 25KFP gene codes for a 217 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 24870 Da. Expression of the 25K FP protein in a rabbit reticulocyte system generated a 27 kDa protein, in close agreement with the molecular mass predicted from the nucleotide sequence. The gene is located between 40"3 and 40.8 map units on the viral genome. It is transcribed in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the circular map at late times during the infection cycle from a consensus baculovirus …