Forest Sciences Commons^™

Sequencing Antisense Transcriptome Of Populus Through Antisense/Sense Transcript Pair Enrichment, Emma V. Burke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Past transcriptome research on plants focused primarily on protein coding genes, and only recently researchers began looking into the non-protein coding regions that may play significant roles in gene regulation. Antisense RNA transcripts that are found naturally in the cell share complementary sequence with sense transcripts and have been shown to regulate expression of their sense counterparts. Since antisense RNA has been largely under-studied and difficult to sequence because of their low relative abundance, new methods are needed to target antisense RNA for efficient genome-wide profiling. To address this gap in methods to efficiently and cost effectively enrich antisense RNA …

Impacts Of Introduced Earthworms On Sugar Maple Sap Chemistry And The Discourse Of Invasion Ecology, Shelby Nicole Lane-Clark

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To delve into further understanding of the relationships between introduced earthworms, forest ecosystems, and the human systems they impact, two approaches were taken. In the first approach, we seek to explore ways we can shift the discourse within and regarding the field of invasion ecology by re-framing how we approach discussion, management, and education regarding introduced species. Language issues surrounding introduced species through the example of earthworms in North America are described and potential solutions are provided, including a repositioned perspective that may facilitate better relationships with the natural world. The goal is to shift the language to be more …

Near-Surface Soil Nitrogen And Vegetation Response To Invasive Emerald Ash Borer In Forested Black Ash Wetlands Of The Western Upper Peninsula, Michigan, Usa, Daniel A. Beyer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) poses an imminent threat to the structure and function of North American hardwood forests, particularly black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marshall), and alters the hydrologic and ecological services of their wetlands. Black ash trees regularly grow in seasonally saturated soils and are responsible for hydrologic regulation and nutrient cycling. In this study, a gradient of black ash wetlands impacted by EAB were monitored to assess vegetation changes and near-surface soil nitrogen availability. Vegetation community changes were intertwined with nitrogen cycle disturbances following EAB infestation. As black ash died and fell to …

Common Garden Study Reveals Frost-Tolerant, Generalist Northern Seed Sources Are Best Suited To Expand Range Of Quercus Rubra, Emily Lindback

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Climate change is shifting the potential suitable range of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) faster than it can migrate, creating an adaptation lag. Quercus rubra is prominent in eastern North American forests and important for its carbon sequestration, ecological roles, and economic significance. Our study addresses which populations of Q. rubra are best suited for climatic conditions at the northern and central range limits. Our findings can inform forestry management policies such as assisted migration, where species are transferred within their native range to mitigate the effects of climate change. We planted over 800 Q. rubra seedlings …

Application Of Short Tandem Target Mimic (Sttm) Technique For Functional Analysis Of Micro-Rna396 In Transgenic Poplar Trees, Surattana Boonsai

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Short Tandem Target Mimic (STTM) is a commonly technique used for functional studies of a number of genes in several plant model systems. However, very little is known about application of STTM technique in tree species. In this study, STTM was applied to knock down microRNA396 (miR396) in transgenic poplar trees for the first time. STTM396 expression resulted in dramatic decrease in miR396 expression levels leading to taller plants with larger leaves and larger leaf cell size. Additionally, an expression analysis of growth regulating factor genes (GRFs) that are members of miR396 target gene family showed up-regulation of GRF07 gene …

Plant Community Response To Novel Silvicultural Treatments In Great Lakes Northern Hardwoods, Stefan F. Hupperts

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The objective of this dissertation is to assess plant community response across a range of silvicultural disturbances and test ecological hypotheses to better inform ecologists and forest managers. To provide context for the utility of revising silvicultural systems, I review natural disturbance regimes and historical practices that have shaped contemporary Great Lakes northern hardwood forests (Chapter 2). Further, I identify important ways to expand the silvicultural toolbox and better emulate natural disturbance regimes. Building on this theoretical underpinning, I investigate the initial regeneration and plant community response to two novel silvicultural experiments: the Northern Hardwood Experiment for Enhancing Diversity (NHSEED) …

Spatiotemporal Variability In Winter Severity: Consequences For White-Tailed Deer Populations And Habitat Sustainability, Grace Parikh

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Winter in the northern Great Lakes presents a suite of challenging conditions for animals, in terms of limited food availability and increased energetic cost of locomotion and thermoregulation. Variable winter severity is liable to cause interannual fluctuations in habitat viability and use by animals, in addition to modulating physiological responses in animals to conserve energy. For example, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) congregate at high densities under eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) or northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) stands, which provide forage, thermal cover, reduced snow depth, and enhanced vigilance. However, a suite of climatic, edaphic, and …

Above-Ground Biomass And Carbon Estimations And Recommendations For Forests In Turkey, Cuma Uykun

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation are issues that are tightly related to the environment and the public’s awareness of forest conservation, which are currently major areas of global interest. Greenhouse gas emissions and removals are required to be reported regularly (5 year intervals) and in compliance with the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 1992, which was later extended by the Kyoto Protocol International Treaty. The UNFCCC`s policy has been accepted by more than 150 countries. Turkey`s forests are controlled and managed by the government and some major tree species still need to have their own …

Characterization Of Genic Microsatellite Markers (Est-Ssrs) In The Endangered Oak Species Quercus Georgiana M.A.Curtis, Priyanka Dipak Kadav

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Quercus is important ecologically and economically because it provides food and habitat for wildlife, wood and paper products for humans. Oaks are endangered due to various factors like shifting climates, habitat loss, drought, pathogens and genetic swamping. Quercus georgiana (M.A. Curtis) is an endangered and restricted oak species which is remaining only in the southeastern part of the US. Efforts are required to conserve this endangered species from extinction. Conservation of this species can be done through these methods: ex-situ conservation (arboretum and botanical garden) and in-situ conservation strategies which protect the species in its natural habitat. For this conservation …

Bottom-Up Ggm Algorithm For Constructing Multilayered Hierarchical Gene Regulatory Networks That Govern Biological Pathways Or Processes, Sapna Kupari, Wenping Deng, Chathura J. Gunasekara, Vincent Chiang, Huann-Sheng Chen, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: Multilayered hierarchical gene regulatory networks (ML-hGRNs) are very important for understanding genetics regulation of biological pathways. However, there are currently no computational algorithms available for directly building ML-hGRNs that regulate biological pathways.

Results: A bottom-up graphic Gaussian model (GGM) algorithm was developed for constructing ML-hGRN operating above a biological pathway using small- to medium-sized microarray or RNA-seq data sets. The algorithm first placed genes of a pathway at the bottom layer and began to construct an ML-hGRN by evaluating all combined triple genes: two pathway genes and one regulatory gene. The algorithm retained all triple genes where a regulatory …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Of Northern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis L.): Habitat Effects On Fungal Communities And Inoculum Effects On Plant Growth On Acid Peat Soils, Guswarni Anwar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The relationship of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi with northern white cedar (NWC) was examined from the perspective of both fundamental questions about habitat specificity in the root fungal community, as well as applied questions regarding AM fungal efficacy in NWC restoration in peat soils. I performed two experiments testing the effects of AM fungi on survival, growth, and nutrition of NWC seedlings; and one molecular study to determine the habitat effects on community composition of NWC root-associated fungi. First, a greenhouse AM inoculation experiment was conducted in factorial combination with fertilization and liming to examine conditional effectiveness of AM fungal …