Forest Sciences Commons^™

Variability In Microclimate And Carbon Dynamics In Hardwood Forests Managed With The Irregular Shelterwood Reproduction Method, Melody June Mount

Masters Theses

How do forest edges compare to intact interior forests in terms of carbon dynamics, and how is the microclimate altered through the creation of forest edges? Woody plants and trees can act as a carbon sink by using live and dead tissue to store varying amounts of carbon. However, factors such as age, species, respiration rates, and death alter the amount of carbon sequestered by the forest (Gorte, 2009). Additionally, widespread forest fragmentation has resulted in 20% of forests worldwide being located within 100 meters (m) of a forest edge (Haddad et al., 2015). Despite this fragmentation, current carbon models …

Demand For Guided Tours On The Tennessee River., Gessika Lee Guerra

Masters Theses

Knoxville, TN is a major urban center in east Tennessee. Knoxville’s urban planners recognized the need for green space and have installed free greenways and parks within the downtown area over several decades. These attractions are immensely popular and promote urban ecotourism. There is an opportunity to begin or expand guided tour services. This research will analyze the demand and willingness to pay for guided river activities – kayaking and pontoon boating – on the Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville. Primary data were collected by 1000 on site flyers connected to an online survey platform. These data were uploaded into …

A Watershed Prioritization Model For Community-Centered Riparian Forest Restoration In Tennessee, Madison Johnson

Masters Theses

Riparian forests are unique ecosystems that act as transitional areas between land and water that are a vital part of a healthy and functional stream ecosystem. Due to the rapidly changing landscape, riparian forests are increasingly threatened by urban development, agriculture, and invasive species, which contributes to a trend of degrading water quality in Tennessee. To address declining riparian forest quality in the face of land-use changes, the purpose of this study was to develop a simple watershed prioritization model that identifies areas that are highly susceptible to poor water quality, and where riparian plantings would be most beneficial. This …

Advancing Natural White Oak (Quercus Alba.) Reproduction Through A Midstory Removal, Canaan Jeffrey Dugger

Masters Theses

In recent decades, there has been an alarming decline in white oak (Quercus alba.) regeneration and recruitment occurring within eastern forests. Historically, the frequency and the intensity of anthropogenic disturbances was dynamic over the landscape. However, over just the last century a major compositional shift has occurred from this change in disturbance regimes. Eastern forests are now promoting the regeneration of mesic species that obstruct white oaks’ ability to compete successfully and establish in the upper canopy.

The majority of successful white oak regeneration and recruitment is now occurring on the average to more xeric sites. Limited studies …

Exploring Alternative Methodologies To Estimate By-Species Sawlog Volume In The Southeastern United States, Tara Skiba

Masters Theses

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) conducts Timber Products Output (TPO) studies to assess timber resource use across the United States. The TPO studies gather information through surveys of primary wood processing facilities to quantify the utilization of roundwood by geographic location, tree species, and timber product type. However, not all responding mills provide information on tree species utilized. As a result, a portion of the reported volume falls into the “unknown/unclassified” softwood or hardwood category, which account for up to 74% of total hardwood/softwood southern volumes in some cases. In addition, the detailed species in the TPO survey forms …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Planted Oak Growth And Survival In Restored Savannas, Allison Earl

Masters Theses

Most oak savannas in the Midwestern United States have been lost to agriculture and habitat degradation. Because of their rarity and ability to support high plant and animal diversity, savannas are often a target for restoration. Oak savanna restoration frequently relies on direct planting of oak seedlings to establish the necessary tree canopy. Returning fire to the system is critical to the herbaceous component of the savanna, but managers risk damaging or killing trees if burning is introduced too soon. I studied growth and physiological responses of three oak species (Quercus alba, Q. macrocarpa, and Q. velutina …