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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Human Dimensions Of Woody Encroachment Management In Nebraska, Emily Rowen
Human Dimensions Of Woody Encroachment Management In Nebraska, Emily Rowen
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Woody plant encroachment (WPE) is a social-ecological problem that will challenge conservation professionals and agricultural producers to adapt their management strategies. This research first examined WPE from the perspective of individual conservation professionals through an online survey. Conservation professionals’ attitudes about adaptation to vegetation transitions, such as WPE, were of interest because these attitudes are one measure of how prepared this group is to respond to WPE. Hypothesized predictors of adaptation attitude were tested through linear regression modeling. These predictors included ecological change, observation of WPE, or risk perception. It was found that risk perception was the strongest predictor of …
Plant Diversity Affects Performance Of Invasive Thistles In Restored Nebraska Grasslands, Katilyn J. Price
Plant Diversity Affects Performance Of Invasive Thistles In Restored Nebraska Grasslands, Katilyn J. Price
School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
Invasive plant species threaten native grasslands, affecting nutrient cycling, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and usable land for production. Consequently, preventing establishment of invasive species is critical before removal becomes difficult and expensive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of grassland plant diversity on musk thistle (Carduus nutans) and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) establishment and determine which environmental factors (light penetration, soil moisture, plant diversity, and soil nitrogen) account for resistance to invasions. In a field experiment at The Nature Conservancy’s Wood River site (Nebraska), the two invasive thistle species were planted into replicated …