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Articles 1 - 30 of 48
Full-Text Articles in Forest Sciences
The Long-Term Effects Of Wildfire Severity On Oak-Pine Communities And Their Microclimates, Scott Glenn Culbert
The Long-Term Effects Of Wildfire Severity On Oak-Pine Communities And Their Microclimates, Scott Glenn Culbert
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
In the eastern U.S., fire-dependent tree species have historically dominated upland forest communities, but are now experiencing widespread regeneration challenges as a result of 20th century fire suppression policies, and are being replaced by mesophytic species. Wildfires that contain areas of high burn severity may provide an important means of mitigating these challenges and facilitating fire-dependent species regeneration and recruitment into larger size classes. One mechanism by which high-severity fire can accomplish this is by modifying understory microclimate characteristics to be more conducive to these species’ growth. A wildfire within the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, USA, provided the …
Pond-Breeding Amphibian Responses To Wetland Creation And Reforestation On A Legacy Surface Mine In The Monongahela National Forest, Lauren Breanna Sherman
Pond-Breeding Amphibian Responses To Wetland Creation And Reforestation On A Legacy Surface Mine In The Monongahela National Forest, Lauren Breanna Sherman
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Surface mine reclamation has been an evolving practice since the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was passed in 1977, holding mining companies accountable for returning ecological function to areas directly impacted by mining activities. One recent method of reclamation, the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), aims to enhance reforestation and ecosystem function through the creation of wetlands, as opposed to traditional methods that often revert land to grasslands. However, wildlife response to FRA has rarely been investigated. The goal of this project was to analyze the effects of the four treatment types, FRA in two chronosequences, natural regeneration, and unmined …
Effects Of Forest Reclamation And Landscape Features On Avian Occupancy, Species Richness, And Abundance In Appalachia, Rebecca N. Davenport
Effects Of Forest Reclamation And Landscape Features On Avian Occupancy, Species Richness, And Abundance In Appalachia, Rebecca N. Davenport
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a recently developed coal mining reclamation method that emphasizes best management practices in forestry, such as the planting of native trees and shrubs. Although the FRA is expected to benefit wildlife, no studies have empirically examined the effects of the FRA on avian species. My study aimed to identify which reclamation approaches and/or landscape features promote breeding songbirds, particularly mature forest avian guilds and species of conservation need. I conducted point count surveys in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern West Virginia and assessed differences in avian occupancy, species richness, and species abundance between four …
Bat Activity On West Virginia Mined Lands Restored Via The Forestry Reclamation Approach, Briana C. Snyder
Bat Activity On West Virginia Mined Lands Restored Via The Forestry Reclamation Approach, Briana C. Snyder
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a practical guide to reforesting surface mined lands. Bats, as a unique group of species with declining populations, could benefit from this reforestation. In order to determine if the FRA is providing suitable bat foraging habitat, I surveyed bat activity at created depressional wetlands on 1-year old and 8-year old FRA restored lands (FRA1; FRA8), as well as at naturally formed wetlands in regenerating forest on traditionally reclaimed mined land (~40 years old; REGEN) and wetlands in mature forest not previously mined (MAT). I passively recorded echolocation calls for 12 nights across sixteen sites …
Eight-Year Regeneration Response To Gap-Based Irregular Shelterwood Practices In Oak Dominated Stands Near Berea, Kentucky, Brooke Elizabeth Gauthier
Eight-Year Regeneration Response To Gap-Based Irregular Shelterwood Practices In Oak Dominated Stands Near Berea, Kentucky, Brooke Elizabeth Gauthier
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
This research examined regeneration dynamics following gap-based irregular shelterwood practices in intermediate productivity oak (Quercus)-dominated stands located in Berea College Forest, Berea, KY, USA. Established in 2012, the study includes 12 experiment units comprising a circular harvest gap (30 m radius) and a matrix zone delineated around the circumference of the gap, which extended 30 m from the gap edge into the adjacent forest. A midstory removal treatment was performed within six of the experiment units’ matrices, while six matrices were left untreated (control). Belt transects extending 60 m from gap center to the end of the matrix zone were …
The Impacts Of Imazapic On Garlic Mustard And Non-Target Forest Floor Vegetation In Central Kentucky’S Hardwood Forests, Pavan Kumar Podapati
The Impacts Of Imazapic On Garlic Mustard And Non-Target Forest Floor Vegetation In Central Kentucky’S Hardwood Forests, Pavan Kumar Podapati
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Alliaria petiolata is an invasive biennial herb that poses a substantial threat to various ecosystems across the United States. Imazapic herbicide can control A. petiolata infestations, but there is limited peer-reviewed data on impacts of pre-emergent imazapic spraying to forest floor communities. This research examined the impacts of pre-emergent imazapic (0.84 kg/ha) with Pentra-Bark® surfactant on ground cover of A. petiolata and the spring perennials Claytonia virginica and Erigenia bulbosa. Experimental populations in randomized blocks within two forest stands in central Kentucky received the following treatments at 0.84 kg ai/ha: imazapic with Pentra-Bark®, glyphosate with Pentra-Bark®, Pentra-Bark® alone, and …
Sustainability And Economics Of White Oak (Quercus Alba) Timber Supply In Kentucky, Gaurav Dhungel
Sustainability And Economics Of White Oak (Quercus Alba) Timber Supply In Kentucky, Gaurav Dhungel
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Sustained timber supply relies upon balanced forest age distribution, where the level of harvesting and mortality is compensated by regeneration and growth among younger age classes. However, current forest inventory trends from the white oak growing region reveal sustainability threat from declining white oak regeneration and recruitment leading to disproportionate inventory structure. Consequently, there exists growing concern among stakeholders on long-term sustainability of white oak timber and its economic implications, particularly in Kentucky, because of the significance of the species to the state’s economy. This research aims to examine past and current inventory levels of white oak in Kentucky using …
The Role Of Fire And A Fire-Free Interval In The Restoration Of Upland Oak Communities On The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, Jordan Winkenbach
The Role Of Fire And A Fire-Free Interval In The Restoration Of Upland Oak Communities On The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, Jordan Winkenbach
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
The decline of upland oak (Quercus spp.) communities in our eastern forests has been attributed to the loss of periodic disturbance after decades of fire suppression. As land managers have begun to reintroduce fire, effects on oak regeneration and species composition have varied widely, making it apparent that our understanding of how fire can aid in oak forest management needs refinement. Restoring upland oak communities requires decreasing stand density and opening of the canopy to release shade-intolerant oaks in the understory. This necessitates an extended fire-free interval to allow these oaks to be recruited into larger size classes and …
Long-Term Effects Of Crop-Tree Release On The Growth And Quality Of Upland White Oak Stands, Philip Jay Vogel
Long-Term Effects Of Crop-Tree Release On The Growth And Quality Of Upland White Oak Stands, Philip Jay Vogel
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
The alteration of historical disturbance regimes, forest parcelization, and varying goals among landowners all present challenges to oak management in the eastern U.S. Foresters and landowners need tools to promote oak sustainability that are applicable on small forestland holdings and within complex management plans. From this perspective, this research evaluates a crop-tree release study installed in southeastern Kentucky in 1983. The experiment includes four, 2-acre replications of three treatment levels: 20 crop-trees per acre, 34 crop-trees per acre, and a control treatment in which crop-trees were selected but not released. Half-acre measurement plots were installed at the outset of the …
Effects Of Shelterwood And Patch Cut Harvests On A Post White-Nose Syndrome Bat Community In The Cumberland Plateau In Eastern Kentucky, Phillip Lee Arant
Effects Of Shelterwood And Patch Cut Harvests On A Post White-Nose Syndrome Bat Community In The Cumberland Plateau In Eastern Kentucky, Phillip Lee Arant
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
The impact of shelterwood and patch cuts harvests on bat communities was tested at three sites in Eastern Kentucky. Shelterwood harvests had 50% of the basal area and understory removed to create a uniform spacing of residual trees. Patch cuts had 1-hectare circular openings created to remove 50% of the basal area creating an aggregated spacing of residual trees. Acoustic detectors were deployed to assess activity levels pre-harvest. Sites were then sampled from 1 – 2 years post-harvest to determine differences. Pre-harvest data revealed little acoustic activity for the Myotis spp. at two sites. The remaining site had high activity …
Enhancing Native Plant Diversity On Legacy Minelands, Anna Maria Branduzzi
Enhancing Native Plant Diversity On Legacy Minelands, Anna Maria Branduzzi
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Surface mining for coal has left scars on landscapes and reduced ecosystem functions across Appalachia for over a century. In the Monongahela National Forest, WV, a restoration project has been going on since 2009 on legacy minelands that dissect the biodiverse high elevation red spruce ecosystem. Goals of the restoration project include watershed improvement, soil building, enhancement of early successional habitat, and reforestation. Decompaction of the minelands is a critical step in the restoration process, and allows native vegetation to begin colonizing the site. Through this project, hundreds of vernal pools are constructed each year, and woody debris from non-native …
Assessing The Climate Water Balance Model’S Ability To Predict Soil Moisture Variability And Species Distribution Of A Forested Watershed In The Northern Cumberland Plateau, Katherine J. Love
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Spatial patterns of moisture and tree species have been studied using environmental gradients, often represented by terrain attributes in GIS. With climate change, GIS terrain variables, which are static as long as the elevation remains unchanged, will not reflect alterations in temperature, water cycle, and atmospheric conditions. In this thesis, the commonly used terrain variables and climate water balance variables were evaluated and compared for their ability to explain soil moisture and tree species distributions in a forested watershed in the Northern Cumberland Plateau. The results suggest that GIS terrain variables generally perform better than climate water balance variables, however, …
Economic Contribution Of Forest Sector In Kentucky: Community Dependence And Economic Well-Being, Kamana Poudel
Economic Contribution Of Forest Sector In Kentucky: Community Dependence And Economic Well-Being, Kamana Poudel
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Rural communities depend on the forest sector to fulfill their subsistence needs and maintain economic well-being. The forest sector in Kentucky plays an important role in the state’s rural economic development through provision of market and non-market goods and services along with employment. However, there is lack of understanding of how Kentucky communities’ dependence on forest sector is correlated with the communities’ economic well-being. This research examines the economic contribution of the forest sector and uses common indicators of forest sector dependence and economic well-being to explore the relationship between forest sector dependence and economic well-being at three regional levels …
Effects Of Thinning Regimes On Genetic Variation Of White Oak (Quercus Alba L.) In Upland Oak Forests Of Eastern Kentucky, Rachel Gayle Thunder
Effects Of Thinning Regimes On Genetic Variation Of White Oak (Quercus Alba L.) In Upland Oak Forests Of Eastern Kentucky, Rachel Gayle Thunder
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
This research assesses the effects of silvicultural thinnings, varying in residual basal area and number of thinnings, on genetic diversity and relatedness of white oak (Quercus alba L.). The objectives were to (1) develop microsatellite DNA markers (simple sequence repeats, SSRs) for assessing the genetic diversity of white oak and (2) determine if thinnings significantly change the degree of diversity and relatedness in white oak stands. For objective 1, 84 primer pairs from previously predicted genomic SSRs of white oak were evaluated for consistent PCR amplification and polymorphism. Twenty of the 84 primer pairs amplified consistently and were confirmed …
Multi-Camera Surveillance System For Time And Motion Studies Of Timber Harvesting Operations, Rafael Luiz Santos De Freitas
Multi-Camera Surveillance System For Time And Motion Studies Of Timber Harvesting Operations, Rafael Luiz Santos De Freitas
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Timber harvesting is an important activity in the state of Kentucky; however, there is still a lack of information about the procedure used by the local loggers. The stump to landing transport of logs with skidders is often the most expensive and time-consuming task in timber harvesting operations. This thesis evaluated the feasibility of using a multi-camera system for time and motion studies of timber harvesting operations. It was installed in 5 skidders in 3 different harvesting sites in Kentucky. The time stamped video provided accurate time consumption data for each work phase of the skidders, which was used to …
Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Invasive Exotic Plant Species In Response To Timber Harvesting In A Mixed Mesophytic Forest Of Eastern Kentucky, Benjamin Christopher Rasp
Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of Invasive Exotic Plant Species In Response To Timber Harvesting In A Mixed Mesophytic Forest Of Eastern Kentucky, Benjamin Christopher Rasp
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Invasive exotic species (IES) responses to silvicultural treatments eight years after timber harvesting were examined and compared to one-year post-harvest IES survey in University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest. The temporal effects of harvesting were further compared between harvested and non-harvested watersheds. Analyses were performed to identify IES spatial distribution and determine the relationships between IES presence and disturbance effects, biological, and environmental characteristics. IES prevalence was higher in the harvested watersheds and was influenced by canopy cover, shrub cover and disturbance proximity. Ailanthus altissima and Microstegium vimineum presence in the study area has decreased over time. Comparing to the 1-yr …
A Gis Model For Apiary Site Selection Based On Proximity To Nectar Sources Utilized In Varietal Honey Production On Former Mine Sites In Appalachia, Douglass W. Potter
A Gis Model For Apiary Site Selection Based On Proximity To Nectar Sources Utilized In Varietal Honey Production On Former Mine Sites In Appalachia, Douglass W. Potter
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Beekeepers in Appalachia market varietal honeys derived from particular species of deciduous trees; however, finding places in a mountainous landscape to locate new beeyards is difficult. Site selection is hindered by the high up-front costs of negotiating access to remote areas with limited knowledge of the available forage. Remotely sensed data and species distribution modeling (SDM) of trees important to beekeepers could aid in locating apiary sites at the landscape scale. The objectives of this study are i) using publicly available forest inventory data, to model the spatial distribution of three native tree species that are important to honey producers …
Diet Composition Explains Reductions In Stream Salamander Occupancy And Abundance Along A Conductivity Gradient, Jacob Matthew Hutton
Diet Composition Explains Reductions In Stream Salamander Occupancy And Abundance Along A Conductivity Gradient, Jacob Matthew Hutton
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Changes in land use such as mountaintop removal mining with valley fills (MTR/VF) affect chemical, physical, and hydrological properties of headwater streams. Although numerous stream taxa have experienced significant declines from MTR/VF, stream salamanders appear to be particularly sensitive. Yet, the specific mechanism(s) responsible for the population declines has eluded researchers. We sampled salamander assemblages across a continuous specific conductivity (SC) gradient in southeastern Kentucky and estimated occupancy rates and abundance estimates along this gradient. We also examined the diet of larval and adult salamanders to determine if autochthony (A/T prey), total prey volume, and body condition is influenced by …
Assessing Ecosystem Services From The Forestry-Based Reclamation Of Surface Mined Areas In The North Fork Of The Kentucky River Watershed, Kumari Gurung
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes can take place at the expense of degrading environmental conditions and undermining ecosystem’s capacity to deliver benefits to people. In the Appalachian region, surface mining for coal is a major driver of LULC change. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 requires mine site reclamation but typical reclamation practices often result in land cover dominated by grass and shrubs. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) is a promising reclamation strategy but not in widespread use by industry. Assessing ecosystem services that can be obtained from a forest landscape may help policy-makers and …
Efficacy Of Herbivore Exclusion On Planted Tree Seedling Vitality On A Reclaimed Surface Mine In Eastern Kentucky, Zachary J. Hackworth
Efficacy Of Herbivore Exclusion On Planted Tree Seedling Vitality On A Reclaimed Surface Mine In Eastern Kentucky, Zachary J. Hackworth
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Conventional Appalachian surface-mine reclamation techniques repress natural forest regeneration, and tree plantings are often necessary for reforestation. Reclaimed Appalachian surface mines harbor a suite of mammal herbivores that forage on recently planted seedlings. Anecdotal reports across Appalachia have implicated herbivory in the hindrance and failure of reforestation efforts, yet empirical evaluation of herbivory impacts on planted seedling vitality in this region remains relatively uninitiated. First growing-season survival, height growth, and mammal herbivory damage of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.), and white oak (Quercus alba L.) are presented in response to varying intensities …
Roosting Behavior, Habitat Use, And Relative Abundance Of The Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis Septentrionalis) Following Arrival Of White-Nose Syndrome To Mammoth Cave National Park, Marissa M. Thalken
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
White-Nose Syndrome (WNS; Pseudogymnoascus destructans) is responsible for the regional population collapse of many cave-hibernating bat species, including the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), in eastern United States and Canada. I evaluated roosting behavior, habitat selection, and landscape-scale distribution of roosts of the northern long-eared bat during spring emergence and the early maternity season in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, from 2015 to 2016. Logistic regression analysis comparing habitat features of roosts with random plots indicated selection of roosts reflected the costs of energetic demands by sex and reproductive status. Relative abundance of local bat species …
Managing Upland Oak Forests With Disturbance And The Implications For Non-Native Species Invasions, Devin E. Black
Managing Upland Oak Forests With Disturbance And The Implications For Non-Native Species Invasions, Devin E. Black
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Natural and anthropogenic disturbances have influenced forest stand structure and affected species compositions within forests for millennia. Disturbances such as fire, severe weather events, and forest management practices may result in significantly reduced tree biomass. Thus, these disturbances may lower canopy closure and stem density in support of forest management goals, such as open oak woodland restoration, or promote an increase in species richness within the forest understory. However, these types of disturbance may also produce the unwanted consequence of opening pathways for the invasion of non-native species. Once established, these non-native species may threaten native plant communities and biodiversity. …
Establishment Of American Chestnuts On Surface Mined Lands In Appalachian Coalfields Region, Michael E. French
Establishment Of American Chestnuts On Surface Mined Lands In Appalachian Coalfields Region, Michael E. French
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) was an dominant hardwood throughout eastern North America until the introduction of an exotic fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr) in the early 20th century devastated American chestnut populations. Chestnuts that have been bred for blight resistance have recently become available for testing. Due to the overlap of American chestnut’s natural range and the Appalachian coalfields region, the potential establishment of founder populations of blight-resistant chestnuts on reclaimed coal surface mines has recently gained attention. This work examined chestnut establishment on a surface mine in eastern Kentucky to assess factors controlling early …
Vegetation Response To Repeated Prescribed Burning And Varied Wildfire Severity In Upland Forests On The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, Zachary W. Poynter
Vegetation Response To Repeated Prescribed Burning And Varied Wildfire Severity In Upland Forests On The Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, Zachary W. Poynter
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
As a result of decades of fire suppression, oaks (Quercus L.) and other disturbance-dependent tree species are experiencing widespread regeneration failure. Today, fire takes the form of relatively low to moderate intensity prescribed fire, used to restore fire adapted ecosystems, and wildfires which often vary in severity. I investigated long-term changes to forest structure and composition in response to repeated prescribed burning followed by an extended period of no fire. Burning reduced total basal area, midstory stem density and sapling stem density. However, the fire-free interval significantly increased sapling layer stem densities of oaks and competitor species. This research …
Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of A Southeastern Kentucky Deer Population, Caleb Anderson Haymes
Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of A Southeastern Kentucky Deer Population, Caleb Anderson Haymes
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
White-tailed deer are one of the most sought after game species in Kentucky. While much of the Commonwealth boasts high deer populations, those in southeast Kentucky are viewed as relatively low compared to other regions, even after a decade of restrictive doe harvest and multiple years of population supplementation via translocation. We studied survival and cause specific mortality of a local population of deer near the Redbird District of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Clay and Leslie County, Kentucky from January 2014 - January 2017. We estimated female annual survival at 0.89 (CI: 0.88-0.87), with an overall 3-year survival …
An Investigation Of Tree Growth And Woody Vegetation Colonization On A 19 Year-Old Forestry Reclamation Site, Wesley T. Dement
An Investigation Of Tree Growth And Woody Vegetation Colonization On A 19 Year-Old Forestry Reclamation Site, Wesley T. Dement
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Survival, growth and biomass accumulation of 19 year-old trees planted on an Appalachian surface mine site were evaluated to determine the effect of spoil grading and surface amendment treatments. Three spoil grading treatments (loose-dump, strike-off and graded control) were established to create a range of operationally feasible spoil compaction capable of impacting tree establishment and growth. Likewise, three surface amendment treatments (straw/manure mulch, hardwood bark mulch and control) were applied to determine their effects on tree development. Trees grown under low-compaction grading treatment levels (strike-off and loose-dump) consistently outperformed trees planted in a high-compaction control treatment. Loose-dump preparation resulted in …
Effects Of Mountaintop Removal Mining On Population Dynamics Of Stream Salamanders, Sara B. Freytag
Effects Of Mountaintop Removal Mining On Population Dynamics Of Stream Salamanders, Sara B. Freytag
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Mountaintop removal mining (MTR) is a notorious stressor of stream ecosystems in the Central Appalachians. Valley fills (VF) lead to reduced occupancy, abundance, and species richness of stream salamanders. Multiple factors may be responsible for these reductions, but specifically habitat fragmentation and degradation may reduce colonization rates and increase local extinction rates. From 2013-2015, repeated counts of salamanders were conducted in stream reaches impacted by MTR/VF and compared to counts in reference reaches to answer the question: do stream salamander population dynamics differ between stream reaches impacted by MTR/VF and reference stream reaches? I also investigated dynamics of stream habitat …
Efficacy Of Dormant Season Herbicide Application On Control Of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica) For Habitat Restoration In Kentucky, Jason L. Weese
Efficacy Of Dormant Season Herbicide Application On Control Of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica) For Habitat Restoration In Kentucky, Jason L. Weese
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Kentucky’s disappearing native grassland communities provide habitat for native flora and fauna. A study was conducted to compare the efficacy of herbicides in control of the invasive Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) applied at times when most native species are dormant. Six herbicide mixtures (glyphosate, glyphosate + imazapyr, glyphosate + imazapic, imazapyr, triclopyr + difluphenzopyr, and metsulfuron + difluphenzopyr) were applied in three seasons to assess the effect of application timing of each mixture on honeysuckle control. Herbicides were applied with a CO2 pressurized sprayer at three sites in a randomized complete block design. Pretreatment sampling indicated that …
The Impacts Of Logging With Current And Modified Best Management Practices On Watershed Characteristics In Eastern Kentucky, Chase Clark
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
In Kentucky, Best Management Practices (BMPs) were developed to protect the integrity of water resources during and after silvicultural operations, but their effectiveness is largely unknown. The study objectives were to (1) quantify the extent to which current BMPs minimized logging-related changes in stream water quality, channel morphology, and the content of woody debris and (2) quantify the extent to which modified BMPs influenced these characteristics. Six watersheds in eastern Kentucky were commercially logged in 2008-2009. In each watershed, one of three treatments was implemented (each replicated once). Treatment 1 (BMP) was based on current Kentucky BMPs. In treatments 2 …
Use Of Landsat Data To Characterize Burn Severity, Forest Structure And Invasion By Paulownia (Paulownia Tomentosa) In An Eastern Deciduous Forest, Kentucky, Suraj Upadhaya
Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources
Landsat imagery has been used successfully to assess burn severity and monitor post-fire forest structure in a variety of ecosystems, but to date there are few documented studies on its application in the eastern deciduous forests of the eastern United States. The occurrence of a wildfire in the Daniel Boone National Forest in2010 provided a rare opportunity for research into the use of Landsat data for assessing burn severity and its ecological effects. We used differenced normalized burn ratio (∆NBR) to quantify burn severity. The ∆NBR based burn severity classification had 70% agreement with a qualitative ground-based burn severity assessment. …