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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Responses Of Vascular Plant Fine Roots And Associated Microbial Communities To Whole-Ecosystem Warming And Elevated Co2 In Northern Peatlands, Katherine Duchesneau, Camille E. Defrenne, Caitlin Petro, Avni Malhotra, Jessica A.M. Moore, Joanne Childs, Paul J. Hanson, Colleen M. Iversen, Joel E. Kostka Mar 2024

Responses Of Vascular Plant Fine Roots And Associated Microbial Communities To Whole-Ecosystem Warming And Elevated Co2 In Northern Peatlands, Katherine Duchesneau, Camille E. Defrenne, Caitlin Petro, Avni Malhotra, Jessica A.M. Moore, Joanne Childs, Paul J. Hanson, Colleen M. Iversen, Joel E. Kostka

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Warming and elevated CO2 (eCO2) are expected to facilitate vascular plant encroachment in peatlands. The rhizosphere, where microbial activity is fueled by root turnover and exudates, plays a crucial role in biogeochemical cycling, and will likely at least partially dictate the response of the belowground carbon cycle to climate changes. We leveraged the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments (SPRUCE) experiment, to explore the effects of a whole-ecosystem warming gradient (+0°C to 9°C) and eCO2 on vascular plant fine roots and their associated microbes. We combined trait-based approaches with the profiling of fungal and prokaryote communities in plant roots …


Shifting The Language Of ‘Invasion’ Ecology: Two-Eyed Seeing As A Framework For Discourse Regarding Introduced Species, Shelby Nicole Lane-Clark, Valoree Gagnon, Tara Bal Mar 2024

Shifting The Language Of ‘Invasion’ Ecology: Two-Eyed Seeing As A Framework For Discourse Regarding Introduced Species, Shelby Nicole Lane-Clark, Valoree Gagnon, Tara Bal

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Discourse used in the field of invasion ecology has significant impacts on society's perception, yet communication related to “invasives” is rife with problematic, exclusionary language. We provide potential solutions, including a repositioned perspective that may facilitate better relationships with the natural world by applying the two-eyed seeing framework. Our discussion calls for a paradigm shift for deeper understandings of human and more-than-human relationships. Ultimately, we advocate for respectful, considerate, and intentional language and stewardship.


A Flexible Inventory Of Survey Items For Environmental Concepts Generated Via Special Attention To Content Validity And Item Response Theory, John A. Vucetich, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, Benjamin Ghasemi, Claire E. Rapp, Michael Paul Nelson, Kristina M. Slagle Feb 2024

A Flexible Inventory Of Survey Items For Environmental Concepts Generated Via Special Attention To Content Validity And Item Response Theory, John A. Vucetich, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, Benjamin Ghasemi, Claire E. Rapp, Michael Paul Nelson, Kristina M. Slagle

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

We demonstrate how many important measures of belief about the environmental suffer from poor content validity and inadequate conceptual breadth (dimensionality). We used scholarship in environmental science and philosophy to propose a list of 13 environmental concepts that can be held as beliefs. After precisely articulating the concepts, we developed 85 trial survey items that emphasized content validity for each concept. The concepts’ breadth and the items’ content validity were aided by scrutiny from 17 knowledgeable critics. We administered the trial items to 449 residents of the United States and used item response theory to reduce the 85 trial items …


Land Use Change And Forest Management Effects On Soil Carbon Stocks In The Northeast U.S., Lucas E. Nave, Kendall Delyser, Grant M. Domke, Scott M. Holub, Maria K. Janowiak, Adrienne B. Keller, Matthew P. Peters, Kevin A. Solarik, Brian F. Walters, Christopher W. Swanston Feb 2024

Land Use Change And Forest Management Effects On Soil Carbon Stocks In The Northeast U.S., Lucas E. Nave, Kendall Delyser, Grant M. Domke, Scott M. Holub, Maria K. Janowiak, Adrienne B. Keller, Matthew P. Peters, Kevin A. Solarik, Brian F. Walters, Christopher W. Swanston

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Background: In most regions and ecosystems, soils are the largest terrestrial carbon pool. Their potential vulnerability to climate and land use change, management, and other drivers, along with soils’ ability to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, makes them important to carbon balance and management. To date, most studies of soil carbon management have been based at either large or site-specific scales, resulting in either broad generalizations or narrow conclusions, respectively. Advancing the science and practice of soil carbon management requires scientific progress at intermediate scales. Here, we conducted the fifth in a series of ecoregional assessments of the effects …


Author Correction: The Flying Spider-Monkey Tree Fern Genome Provides Insights Into Fern Evolution And Arborescence (Nature Plants, (2022), 8, 5, (500-512), 10.1038/S41477-022-01146-6), Xiong Huang, Wenling Wang, Ting Gong, David Wickell, Li Yaung Kuo, Xingtan Zhang, Jialong Wen, Hoon Kim, Fachuang Lu, Hansheng Zhao, Song Chen, Hui Li, Wenqi Wu, Changjiang Yu, Su Chen, Wei Fan, Shuai Chen, Xiuqi Bao, Li Li, Dan Zhang, Longyu Jiang, Dipak Khadka, Xiaojing Yan, Zhenyang Liao, Gongke Zhou, Yalong Guo, John Ralph, Ronald R. Sederoff, Hairong Wei, Ping Zhu, Fay Wei Li Feb 2024

Author Correction: The Flying Spider-Monkey Tree Fern Genome Provides Insights Into Fern Evolution And Arborescence (Nature Plants, (2022), 8, 5, (500-512), 10.1038/S41477-022-01146-6), Xiong Huang, Wenling Wang, Ting Gong, David Wickell, Li Yaung Kuo, Xingtan Zhang, Jialong Wen, Hoon Kim, Fachuang Lu, Hansheng Zhao, Song Chen, Hui Li, Wenqi Wu, Changjiang Yu, Su Chen, Wei Fan, Shuai Chen, Xiuqi Bao, Li Li, Dan Zhang, Longyu Jiang, Dipak Khadka, Xiaojing Yan, Zhenyang Liao, Gongke Zhou, Yalong Guo, John Ralph, Ronald R. Sederoff, Hairong Wei, Ping Zhu, Fay Wei Li

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Correction to: Nature Plantshttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-022-01146-6, published online 9 May 2022. In the version of the article initially published, Dipak Khadka, who collected the samples in Nepal, was thanked in the Acknowledgements instead of being listed as an author. His name and affiliation (GoldenGate International College, Tribhuvan University, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal) have been added to the authorship in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.


Deciphering The Intricate Hierarchical Gene Regulatory Network: Unraveling Multi-Level Regulation And Modifications Driving Secondary Cell Wall Formation, Zhigang Wei, Hairong Wei Feb 2024

Deciphering The Intricate Hierarchical Gene Regulatory Network: Unraveling Multi-Level Regulation And Modifications Driving Secondary Cell Wall Formation, Zhigang Wei, Hairong Wei

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Wood quality is predominantly determined by the amount and the composition of secondary cell walls (SCWs). Consequently, unraveling the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing SCW formation is of paramount importance for genetic engineering aimed at enhancing wood properties. Although SCW formation is known to be governed by a hierarchical gene regulatory network (HGRN), our understanding of how a HGRN operates and regulates the formation of heterogeneous SCWs for plant development and adaption to ever-changing environment remains limited. In this review, we examined the HGRNs governing SCW formation and highlighted the significant key differences between herbaceous Arabidopsis and woody plant poplar. We …


Perianth Evolution And Implications For Generic Delimitation In The Eucalypts (Myrtaceae), Including The Description Of The New Genus, Blakella, Michael D. Crisp, Bui Q. Minh, Bokyung Choi, Robert D. Edwards, James Hereward, Carsten Kulheim, Yen Po Lin, Karen Meusemann, Andrew H. Thornhill, Alicia Toon, Lyn G. Cook Jan 2024

Perianth Evolution And Implications For Generic Delimitation In The Eucalypts (Myrtaceae), Including The Description Of The New Genus, Blakella, Michael D. Crisp, Bui Q. Minh, Bokyung Choi, Robert D. Edwards, James Hereward, Carsten Kulheim, Yen Po Lin, Karen Meusemann, Andrew H. Thornhill, Alicia Toon, Lyn G. Cook

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Eucalypts (Myrtaceae tribe Eucalypteae) are currently placed in seven genera. Traditionally, Eucalyptus was defined by its operculum, but when phylogenies placed Angophora, with free sepals and petals, as sister to the operculate bloodwood eucalypts, the latter were segregated into a new genus, Corymbia. Yet, generic delimitation in the tribe Eucalypteae remains uncertain. Here, we address these problems using phylogenetic analysis with the largest molecular data set to date. We captured 101 low-copy nuclear exons from 392 samples representing 266 species. Our phylogenetic analysis used maximum likelihood (IQtree) and multispecies coalescent (Astral). At two nodes critical to generic delimitation, we tested …


Non-Invasive Methods For Monitoring Weasels: Emerging Technologies And Priorities For Future Research, David S. Jachowski, Scott M. Bergeson, Stacy Cotey, Elizabeth Croose, Tim R. Hofmeester, Jenny Macpherson, Et Al. Jan 2024

Non-Invasive Methods For Monitoring Weasels: Emerging Technologies And Priorities For Future Research, David S. Jachowski, Scott M. Bergeson, Stacy Cotey, Elizabeth Croose, Tim R. Hofmeester, Jenny Macpherson, Et Al.

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Weasels (genus Mustela and Neogale) are of management concern as declining native species in some regions and invasive species in others. Regardless of the need to conserve or remove weasels, there is increasingly a need to use non-invasive monitoring methods to assess population trends. We conducted a literature review and held the first ever International Weasel Monitoring Symposium to synthesise information on historical and current non-invasive monitoring techniques for weasels. We also explored current limitations, opportunities, and areas of development to guide future research and long-term monitoring. Our literature search revealed that in the past 20 years, camera traps were …


Engagement For Life's Sake: Reflections On Partnering And Partnership With Rural Tribal Nations, Chelsea Schelly, Valoree Gagnon, Kathleen Brosemer, Kristin Arola Jan 2024

Engagement For Life's Sake: Reflections On Partnering And Partnership With Rural Tribal Nations☆, Chelsea Schelly, Valoree Gagnon, Kathleen Brosemer, Kristin Arola

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

In this paper, we reflect on our collective experiences engaging with Anishinaabe Tribal Nations in the Great Lakes region to support Tribal sovereignty in decision-making for food, energy, and water (FEW) systems. In these diverse experiences, we find common lessons. The first set of lessons contributes new empirical knowledge regarding the challenges and opportunities that rural Great Lakes Tribal Nations navigate for enacting sovereignty in decision-making. Our experiences illustrate that while Tribal Nations benefit from a broad and deep commitment to sovereignty and many cultural strengths, they are often challenged by shortages in administrative capacity; technical support; and embeddedness in …


Persistent Net Release Of Carbon Dioxide And Methane From An Alaskan Lowland Boreal Peatland Complex, Eugénie S. Euskirchen, Colin W. Edgar, Evan Kane, Mark P. Waldrop, Rebecca B. Neumann, Kristen L. Manies, Thomas A. Douglas, Catherine Dieleman, Miriam C. Jones, Merritt R. Turetsky Jan 2024

Persistent Net Release Of Carbon Dioxide And Methane From An Alaskan Lowland Boreal Peatland Complex, Eugénie S. Euskirchen, Colin W. Edgar, Evan Kane, Mark P. Waldrop, Rebecca B. Neumann, Kristen L. Manies, Thomas A. Douglas, Catherine Dieleman, Miriam C. Jones, Merritt R. Turetsky

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Permafrost degradation in peatlands is altering vegetation and soil properties and impacting net carbon storage. We studied four adjacent sites in Alaska with varied permafrost regimes, including a black spruce forest on a peat plateau with permafrost, two collapse scar bogs of different ages formed following thermokarst, and a rich fen without permafrost. Measurements included year-round eddy covariance estimates of net carbon dioxide (CO2), mid-April to October methane (CH4) emissions, and environmental variables. From 2011 to 2022, annual rainfall was above the historical average, snow water equivalent increased, and snow-season duration shortened due to later snow return. Seasonally thawed active …


Long Oligodeoxynucleotides: Chemical Synthesis, Isolation Via Catching-By-Polymerization, Verification Via Sequencing, And Gene Expression Demonstration, Yipeng Yin, Reed Arneson, Alexander Apostle, Adikari M.D.N. Eriyagama, Komal Chillar, Emily Burke, Martina Jahfetson, Yinan Yuan, Shiyue Fang Dec 2023

Long Oligodeoxynucleotides: Chemical Synthesis, Isolation Via Catching-By-Polymerization, Verification Via Sequencing, And Gene Expression Demonstration, Yipeng Yin, Reed Arneson, Alexander Apostle, Adikari M.D.N. Eriyagama, Komal Chillar, Emily Burke, Martina Jahfetson, Yinan Yuan, Shiyue Fang

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Long oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are segments of DNAs having over one hundred nucleotides (nt). They are typically assembled using enzymatic methods such as PCR and ligation from shorter 20 to 60 nt ODNs produced by automated de novo chemical synthesis. While these methods have made many projects in areas such as synthetic biology and protein engineering possible, they have various drawbacks. For example, they cannot produce genes and genomes with long repeats and have difficulty to produce sequences containing stable secondary structures. Here, we report a direct de novo chemical synthesis of 400 nt ODNs, and their isolation from the complex …


Demographic History Shapes North American Gray Wolf Genomic Diversity And Informs Species' Conservation, Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf O. Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne Dec 2023

Demographic History Shapes North American Gray Wolf Genomic Diversity And Informs Species' Conservation, Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf O. Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Effective population size estimates are critical information needed for evolutionary predictions and conservation decisions. This is particularly true for species with social factors that restrict access to breeding or experience repeated fluctuations in population size across generations. We investigated the genomic estimates of effective population size along with diversity, subdivision, and inbreeding from 162,109 minimally filtered and 81,595 statistically neutral and unlinked SNPs genotyped in 437 grey wolf samples from North America collected between 1986 and 2021. We found genetic structure across North America, represented by three distinct demographic histories of western, central, and eastern regions of the continent. Further, …


The Role Of Governance In Rewilding The United States To Stem The Biodiversity Crisis, Shelby C. Carlson, John A. Vucetich, L Mark Elbroch, Shelby Perry, Lydia A. Roe, Tom Butler, Jeremy T. Bruskotter Dec 2023

The Role Of Governance In Rewilding The United States To Stem The Biodiversity Crisis, Shelby C. Carlson, John A. Vucetich, L Mark Elbroch, Shelby Perry, Lydia A. Roe, Tom Butler, Jeremy T. Bruskotter

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

A critical but underattended feature of the biodiversity crisis is the contraction of geographic range experienced by most studied terrestrial vertebrates. In the United States, the primary policy tool for mitigating the biodiversity crisis is a federal law, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For the past two decades, the federal agencies that administer the ESA have interpreted the act in a manner that precludes treating this geographic element of the crisis. Therefore, the burden of mitigating the biodiversity crisis largely falls on wildlife agencies within state government, which are obligated to operate on behalf of the interests of their constituents. …


Regulation Of Regeneration In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Md Khairul Islam, Sai Teja Mummadi, Sanzhen Liu, Hairong Wei Nov 2023

Regulation Of Regeneration In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Md Khairul Islam, Sai Teja Mummadi, Sanzhen Liu, Hairong Wei

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

We employed several algorithms with high efficacy to analyze the public transcriptomic data, aiming to identify key transcription factors (TFs) that regulate regeneration in Arabidopsis thaliana. Initially, we utilized CollaborativeNet, also known as TF-Cluster, to construct a collaborative network of all TFs, which was subsequently decomposed into many subnetworks using the Triple-Link and Compound Spring Embedder (CoSE) algorithms. Functional analysis of these subnetworks led to the identification of nine subnetworks closely associated with regeneration. We further applied principal component analysis and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis to reduce the subnetworks from nine to three, namely subnetworks 1, 12, and 17. …


Demographic History Shapes North American Gray Wolf Genomic Diversity And Informs Species' Conservation, Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf O. Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John A. Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne Nov 2023

Demographic History Shapes North American Gray Wolf Genomic Diversity And Informs Species' Conservation, Bridgett M. Vonholdt, Daniel R. Stahler, Kristin Brzeski, Marco Musiani, Rolf O. Peterson, Michael Phillips, John Stephenson, Kent Laudon, Erin Meredith, John A. Vucetich, Jennifer A. Leonard, Robert K. Wayne

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Effective population size estimates are critical information needed for evolutionary predictions and conservation decisions. This is particularly true for species with social factors that restrict access to breeding or experience repeated fluctuations in population size across generations. We investigated the genomic estimates of effective population size along with diversity, subdivision, and inbreeding from 162,109 minimally filtered and 81,595 statistically neutral and unlinked SNPs genotyped in 437 grey wolf samples from North America collected between 1986 and 2021. We found genetic structure across North America, represented by three distinct demographic histories of western, central, and eastern regions of the continent. Further, …


Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose In Lignin–Phenol–Formaldehyde Adhesives For Plywood Production, Sheikh Ali Ahmed, Reza Hosseinpourpia, Stergios Adamopoulos Nov 2023

Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose In Lignin–Phenol–Formaldehyde Adhesives For Plywood Production, Sheikh Ali Ahmed, Reza Hosseinpourpia, Stergios Adamopoulos

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Petrochemical-based phenol–formaldehyde (PF) adhesives are widely used in plywood production. To substitute phenol in the synthesis of PF adhesives, lignin can be added due to its structural similarity to phenol. Moreover, micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) can further enhance the bond performance, mechanical properties, and toughness of adhesive systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the adhesion performance of lignin–PF (LPF) adhesives reinforced with MFC. In LPF formulations, three levels of MFC (0, 15, and 30 wt% based on the total solid content of adhesives) were added to the homogenous adhesive mixture. Three-layer plywood panels from birch (Betula pendula …


Ecological Change And Livestock Governance In A Peruvian National Park, Kenneth R. Young, Eyner Alata, Rodney Chimner, Randall B. Boone, Gillian Bowser, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Beatriz Fuentealba, Jessica Gilbert, Javier A. Ñaupari, Molly H. Polk, Sigrid Resh, Cecilia Turin, Melody Zarria-Samanamud Nov 2023

Ecological Change And Livestock Governance In A Peruvian National Park, Kenneth R. Young, Eyner Alata, Rodney Chimner, Randall B. Boone, Gillian Bowser, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Beatriz Fuentealba, Jessica Gilbert, Javier A. Ñaupari, Molly H. Polk, Sigrid Resh, Cecilia Turin, Melody Zarria-Samanamud

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

While the grazing of livestock has occurred for millennia in the Andes, current sustainability debates center on concerns with co-managing climate change and pastoralism. These discussions have special resonance in places protected by the state for biodiversity, scenery, and sustainable and traditional land uses, such as those found in protected areas and biosphere reserves. For this article, we integrate data from a social-ecological research project on the land use systems that affect high-elevation ecosystems in Peru’s Huascarán National Park, with special emphasis on the wetlands. We used land cover and land use data and insights from interactions with pastoralists to …


A Haplotype-Resolved Chromosome-Scale Genome For Quercus Rubra L. Provides Insights Into The Genetics Of Adaptive Traits For Red Oak Species, Beant Kapoor, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Tatyana Zhebentyayeva, Carsten Kulheim, Mark Coggeshall, Chris Heim, Jesse R. Lasky, Laura Leites, Nurul Islam-Faridi, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Victoria L. Deleo, Sarah M. Lucas, Desanka Lazic, Oliver Gailing, John Carlson, Margaret Staton Nov 2023

A Haplotype-Resolved Chromosome-Scale Genome For Quercus Rubra L. Provides Insights Into The Genetics Of Adaptive Traits For Red Oak Species, Beant Kapoor, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Tatyana Zhebentyayeva, Carsten Kulheim, Mark Coggeshall, Chris Heim, Jesse R. Lasky, Laura Leites, Nurul Islam-Faridi, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Victoria L. Deleo, Sarah M. Lucas, Desanka Lazic, Oliver Gailing, John Carlson, Margaret Staton

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) is an ecologically and economically important forest tree native to North America. We present a chromosome-scale genome of Q. rubra generated by the combination of PacBio sequences and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) scaffolding. This is the first reference genome from the red oak clade (section Lobatae). The Q. rubra assembly spans 739 Mb with 95.27% of the genome in 12 chromosomes and 33,333 protein-coding genes. Comparisons to the genomes of Quercus lobata and Quercus mongolica revealed high collinearity, with intrachromosomal structural variants present. Orthologous gene family analysis with other tree species revealed that gene …


Integrating Forest Structural Diversity Measurement Into Ecological Research, Jeff W. Atkins, Parth Bhatt, Luis Carrasco, Emily Francis, James E. Garabedian, Christopher R. Hakkenberg, Brady S. Hardiman, Jinha Jung, Anil Koirala, Elizabeth A. Larue, Sungchan Oh, Gang Shao, Guofan Shao, H. H. Shugart, Anna Spiers, Atticus E.L. Stovall, Thilina D. Surasinghe, Xiaonan Tai, Lu Zhai, Tao Zhang, Keith Krause Sep 2023

Integrating Forest Structural Diversity Measurement Into Ecological Research, Jeff W. Atkins, Parth Bhatt, Luis Carrasco, Emily Francis, James E. Garabedian, Christopher R. Hakkenberg, Brady S. Hardiman, Jinha Jung, Anil Koirala, Elizabeth A. Larue, Sungchan Oh, Gang Shao, Guofan Shao, H. H. Shugart, Anna Spiers, Atticus E.L. Stovall, Thilina D. Surasinghe, Xiaonan Tai, Lu Zhai, Tao Zhang, Keith Krause

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

The measurement of forest structure has evolved steadily due to advances in technology, methodology, and theory. Such advances have greatly increased our capacity to describe key forest structural elements and resulted in a range of measurement approaches from traditional analog tools such as measurement tapes to highly derived and computationally intensive methods such as advanced remote sensing tools (e.g., lidar, radar). This assortment of measurement approaches results in structural metrics unique to each method, with the caveat that metrics may be biased or constrained by the measurement approach taken. While forest structural diversity (FSD) metrics foster novel research opportunities, understanding …


Object-Detection From Multi-View Remote Sensing Images: A Case Study Of Fruit And Flower Detection And Counting On A Central Florida Strawberry Farm, Caiwang Zheng, Tao Liu, Amr Abd-Elrahman, Vance M. Whitaker, Benjamin Wilkinson Sep 2023

Object-Detection From Multi-View Remote Sensing Images: A Case Study Of Fruit And Flower Detection And Counting On A Central Florida Strawberry Farm, Caiwang Zheng, Tao Liu, Amr Abd-Elrahman, Vance M. Whitaker, Benjamin Wilkinson

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Object detection in remote sensing images is one of the most critical computer vision tasks for various earth observation applications. Previous studies applied object detection models to orthomosaic images generated from the SfM (Structure-from-Motion) analysis to perform object detection and counting. However, some small objects that are occluded from the vertical view but observable in raw images from the oblique views cannot be detected in the orthomosaic image, leading to an occlusion issue that cannot be resolved with the traditional orthophoto-based approach. Taking strawberry detection as a case study, the objective of this study is to detect small objects directly …


Evaluating Impacts Of R3 Workshops For First-Time Hunters At Universities Across The United States, Richard Von Furstenberg, Victoria R. Vayer, Lincoln R. Larson, M. Nils Peterson, Kangjae Jerry Lee, Kathryn Stevenson, Adam A. Ahlers, Christine Anhalt-Depies, Taniya Bethke, Brian Clark, Kiley M. Davan, Ashley A. Dayer, Todd E. Fisher, Benjamin Ghasemi, Larry Gigliotti, Kris Irwin, Samuel J. Keith, Matt Kelly, Gerard Kyle, Elizabeth Metcalf, Mark D. Needham, Neelam C. Poudyal, Michael Quartuch, Shari L. Rodriguez, Chelsie Romulo, Ryan L. Sharp, William Siemer, Matthew T. Springer, Richard Stedman, Taylor Stein, Timothy R. Van Deelen Sep 2023

Evaluating Impacts Of R3 Workshops For First-Time Hunters At Universities Across The United States, Richard Von Furstenberg, Victoria R. Vayer, Lincoln R. Larson, M. Nils Peterson, Kangjae Jerry Lee, Kathryn Stevenson, Adam A. Ahlers, Christine Anhalt-Depies, Taniya Bethke, Brian Clark, Kiley M. Davan, Ashley A. Dayer, Todd E. Fisher, Benjamin Ghasemi, Larry Gigliotti, Kris Irwin, Samuel J. Keith, Matt Kelly, Gerard Kyle, Elizabeth Metcalf, Mark D. Needham, Neelam C. Poudyal, Michael Quartuch, Shari L. Rodriguez, Chelsie Romulo, Ryan L. Sharp, William Siemer, Matthew T. Springer, Richard Stedman, Taylor Stein, Timothy R. Van Deelen

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically-grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative …


Reconstructing 42 Years (1979–2020) Of Great Lakes Surface Temperature Through A Deep Learning Approach, Miraj Kayastha, Tao Liu, Daniel Titze, Timothy C. Havens, Chenfu Huang, Pengfei Xue Aug 2023

Reconstructing 42 Years (1979–2020) Of Great Lakes Surface Temperature Through A Deep Learning Approach, Miraj Kayastha, Tao Liu, Daniel Titze, Timothy C. Havens, Chenfu Huang, Pengfei Xue

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Accurate estimates for the lake surface temperature (LST) of the Great Lakes are critical to understanding the regional climate. Dedicated lake models of various complexity have been used to simulate LST but they suffer from noticeable biases and can be computationally expensive. Additionally, the available historical LST datasets are limited by either short temporal coverage (<30 >years) or lower spatial resolution (0.25° × 0.25°). Therefore, in this study, we employed a deep learning model based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks to produce a daily LST dataset for the Great Lakes that spans an unparalleled 42 years (1979–2020) at …


The Far-Reaching Effects Of Genetic Process In A Keystone Predator Species, Grey Wolves, Sarah Hoy, Philip W. Hedrick, Rolf O. Peterson, Leah Vucetich, Kristin Brzeski, John A. Vucetich Aug 2023

The Far-Reaching Effects Of Genetic Process In A Keystone Predator Species, Grey Wolves, Sarah Hoy, Philip W. Hedrick, Rolf O. Peterson, Leah Vucetich, Kristin Brzeski, John A. Vucetich

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Although detrimental genetic processes are known to adversely affect the viability of populations, little is known about how detrimental genetic processes in a keystone species can affect the functioning of ecosystems. Here, we assessed how changes in the genetic characteristics of a keystone predator, grey wolves, affected the ecosystem of Isle Royale National Park over two decades. Changes in the genetic characteristic of the wolf population associated with a genetic rescue event, followed by high levels of inbreeding, led to a rise and then fall in predation rates on moose, the primary prey of wolves and dominant mammalian herbivore in …


Burned Area And Carbon Emissions Across Northwestern Boreal North America From 2001-2019, Stefano Potter, Sol Cooperdock, Sander Veraverbeke, Xanthe Walker, Michelle C. Mack, Scott J. Goetz, Jennifer Baltzer, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Arden Burrell, Catherine Dieleman, Nancy French, Stijn Hantson, Elizabeth E. Hoy, Liza Jenkins, Jill F. Johnstone, Evan S. Kane, Susan M. Natali, James T. Randerson, Merritt R. Turetsky, Ellen Whitman, Elizabeth Wiggins, Brendan M. Rogers Jul 2023

Burned Area And Carbon Emissions Across Northwestern Boreal North America From 2001-2019, Stefano Potter, Sol Cooperdock, Sander Veraverbeke, Xanthe Walker, Michelle C. Mack, Scott J. Goetz, Jennifer Baltzer, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Arden Burrell, Catherine Dieleman, Nancy French, Stijn Hantson, Elizabeth E. Hoy, Liza Jenkins, Jill F. Johnstone, Evan S. Kane, Susan M. Natali, James T. Randerson, Merritt R. Turetsky, Ellen Whitman, Elizabeth Wiggins, Brendan M. Rogers

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Fire is the dominant disturbance agent in Alaskan and Canadian boreal ecosystems and releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Burned area and carbon emissions have been increasing with climate change, which have the potential to alter the carbon balance and shift the region from a historic sink to a source. It is therefore critically important to track the spatiotemporal changes in burned area and fire carbon emissions over time. Here we developed a new burned-area detection algorithm between 2001-2019 across Alaska and Canada at 500 m (meters) resolution that utilizes finer-scale 30 m Landsat imagery to account for …


Using Culturally Significant Birds To Guide The Timing Of Prescribed Fires In The Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion, Linda L. Long, Frank L. Lake, Jaime L. Stephens, John D. Alexander, C. John Ralph, Jared D. Wolfe Jun 2023

Using Culturally Significant Birds To Guide The Timing Of Prescribed Fires In The Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion, Linda L. Long, Frank L. Lake, Jaime L. Stephens, John D. Alexander, C. John Ralph, Jared D. Wolfe

Michigan Tech Publications

Historically, wildfire and tribal burning practices played important roles in shaping ecosystems throughout the Klamath Siskiyou Bioregion of northern California and southern Oregon. Over the past several decades, there has been increased interest in the application of fire for forest management through the implementation of prescribed fires within habitats that are used by a diversity of migrant and resident land birds. While many bird species may benefit from habitat enhancements associated with wildfires, cultural burning, and prescribed fire, individuals may face direct or indirect harm. In this study, we analyzed the timing of breeding and molting in 11 species of …


Agroforestry Buffers On Nitrogen Reduction In Groundwater On A Grazed Hillslope, Miguel Salceda, Ranjith P. Udawatta, Stephen H. Anderson, Sidath S. Mendis, Fengjing Liu Jun 2023

Agroforestry Buffers On Nitrogen Reduction In Groundwater On A Grazed Hillslope, Miguel Salceda, Ranjith P. Udawatta, Stephen H. Anderson, Sidath S. Mendis, Fengjing Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

Agricultural practices often contribute to the transport of solutes into groundwater; thus, low-cost strategies that extract nutrients from groundwater are essential to address water pollution. This study evaluated the effects of agroforestry (tree + grass; AB [cottonwood {Populus deltoides Bortr. ex Marsh.}]) and grass buffers (GB; [tall fescue Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub, Red clover {Trifolium pretense L.}, and Lespedeza {Lespedeza Michx}]) on groundwater nitrogen (N) concentrations. The experiment consisted of two grazing watersheds, one with an AB and another with a GB treatment. Buffers were not grazed since 2001. Three wells representing summit, backslope, and foot-slope positions were installed at …


A Review Of Propagation And Restoration Techniques For American Beech And Their Current And Future Application In Mitigation Of Beech Bark Disease, Andrea L. Myers, Andrew J. Storer, Yvette L. Dickinson, Tara Bal May 2023

A Review Of Propagation And Restoration Techniques For American Beech And Their Current And Future Application In Mitigation Of Beech Bark Disease, Andrea L. Myers, Andrew J. Storer, Yvette L. Dickinson, Tara Bal

Michigan Tech Publications

The American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) has been impacted by the beech bark disease (BBD) complex throughout the northeastern United States for over 100 years, but the disease has been present in the Great Lakes region only for around 20 years, requiring acknowledgement of the evolving context surrounding F. grandifolia. This disease threatens to remove a foundational tree species which is especially important ecologically for wildlife habitat and mast, and as a climax successional species. We review advances in propagation techniques of F. grandifolia with the goal of addressing their use in the rehabilitative restoration of forests affected by BBD. …


Mountain Wetland Soil Carbon Stocks Of Huascarán National Park, Peru, Rodney Chimner, Sigrid Resh, John A. Hribljan, Michael Battaglia, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Gillian Bowser, Erik A. Lilleskov Apr 2023

Mountain Wetland Soil Carbon Stocks Of Huascarán National Park, Peru, Rodney Chimner, Sigrid Resh, John A. Hribljan, Michael Battaglia, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, Gillian Bowser, Erik A. Lilleskov

Michigan Tech Publications

Although wetlands contain a disproportionately high amount of earth’s total soil carbon, many regions are still poorly mapped and with unquantified carbon stocks. The tropical Andes contain a high concentration of wetlands consisting mostly of wet meadows and peatlands, yet their total organic carbon stocks are poorly quantified, as well as the carbon fraction that wet meadows store compared to peatlands. Therefore, our goal was to quantify how soil carbon stocks vary between wet meadows and peatlands for a previously mapped Andean region, Huascarán National Park, Peru. Our secondary goal was to test a rapid peat sampling protocol to facilitate …


The Methylation Landscape Of Giga-Genome And The Epigenetic Timer Of Age In Chinese Pine, Jiang Li, Fangxu Han, Tongqi Yuan, Wei Li, Yue Li, Harry X. Wu, Hairong Wei, Shihui Niu Apr 2023

The Methylation Landscape Of Giga-Genome And The Epigenetic Timer Of Age In Chinese Pine, Jiang Li, Fangxu Han, Tongqi Yuan, Wei Li, Yue Li, Harry X. Wu, Hairong Wei, Shihui Niu

Michigan Tech Publications

Epigenetics has been revealed to play a crucial role in the long-term memory in plants. However, little is known about whether the epigenetic modifications occur with age progressively in conifers. Here, we present the single-base resolution DNA methylation landscapes of the 25-gigabase Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) genome at different ages. The result shows that DNA methylation is closely coupled with the regulation of gene transcription. The age-dependent methylation profile with a linearly increasing trend is the most significant pattern of DMRs between ages. Two segments at the five-prime end of the first ultra-long intron in DAL1, a conservative age biomarker …


Forming Regional Soil Carbon Networks To Support Effective Climate Change Solutions, Gregory Lawrence, Ivan Fernandez, Scott Bailey, Colin Beier, Alexandra Contosta, Erin Lane, Peter Murdoch, Lucas E. Nave, Angelica Quintana, Donald Ross, Alissa White Apr 2023

Forming Regional Soil Carbon Networks To Support Effective Climate Change Solutions, Gregory Lawrence, Ivan Fernandez, Scott Bailey, Colin Beier, Alexandra Contosta, Erin Lane, Peter Murdoch, Lucas E. Nave, Angelica Quintana, Donald Ross, Alissa White

Michigan Tech Publications

Sequestration and storage of organic carbon (C) in soil is an essential component of climate change mitigation and fundamental in promoting the health and climate resilience of soils. Sources of available soil C data are increasing, which complicates efforts to consolidate the data in forms that can be readily used by stakeholders. Spatial and temporal gaps in data availability also limit the quantification of changes in soil C through space and time. Improved coordination among producers and users of soil C data would provide data compatibility at the spatial and temporal resolution required for C monitoring, accounting, and verification of …