Life Sciences Commons^™

Tree Biomass – A Fragile Carbon Storage In Old-Growth Birch And Aspen Stands In Hemiboreal Latvia, Laura Ķēniņa, Didzis Elferts, Ieva Jaunslaviete, Endijs Bāders, Guntars Šņepsts, Āris Jansons

Aspen Bibliography

Birch (Betula pendula Roth, Betula pubescens Ehrh.) and European aspen (Populus tremula L.) stands dominate the deciduous forests of Northern Europe. Due to increasing forest protections, more deciduous stands will reach the old-growth stage. Thus, data on the carbon storage potential in such areas are essential. We aimed to establish a benchmark for carbon stocks of the main carbon pools in old-growth deciduous hemiboreal stands. Carbon pools were calculated from measurements in forty old-growth (104–148 years-old) deciduous stands in forests on fertile mineral soil. The carbon stock in these stands is distributed across tree biomass (~ 60%), mineral soil (~ …

Easy Calibration For Backpack And Canister (Handheld) Sprayers, Cody Zesiger, Kalen Taylor, Corey Ransom, Earl Creech, Matt Yost

All Current Publications

When applying pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals, the applicator should know the amount of chemical applied to the treated area. Calibration is a method an applicator can use to measure and set the application rate. If sprayers are not properly calibrated, it can result in over or under application of chemicals, causing damage, reduced pest control, and potential safety concerns. Making the effort to properly mix chemicals and calibrate sprayers can save money and increase treatment effectiveness. This fact sheet provides simple guidelines for calibrating backpack and canister sprayers.

Easy Calibration For Boom Sprayers, Cody Zesiger, Kalen Taylor, Corey Ransom, Earl Creech, Matt Yost

All Current Publications

Calibrating spray equipment is an important first step when applying pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals. If nozzles are not properly calibrated, it can result in over or under application of chemicals, causing crop damage, reduced pest control, and potential safety concerns. Making the effort to properly mix chemicals and calibrate sprayers can save money and headaches in the long run. This fact sheet provides simple guidelines for calibrating boom sprayers.

Aspen Leaves As A "Chemical Landscape" For Fungal Endophyte Diversity - Can Nitrogen And Herbivory Shape The Community Composition In Controlled Conditions?, Johanna Witzell, Vicki Huizu Guo Decker, Marta Agostinelli, Carmen Romeralo Tapia, Michelle Cleary, Benedicte Riber Albrectsen

Aspen Bibliography

The endophytic microbiome may influence the ecological performance of plants, including forest trees. Various abiotic and biotic factors may shape the endophyte communities directly but also indirectly, by modifying the quality of host plants as a substrate. We hypothesized that potentially antifungal or fungistatic condensed tannins (CTs) would determine the quality of aspen (Populus tremula) leaves as a substrate for endophytic fungi. By subjecting the plants to nitrogen fertilization (N) or herbivory (H; leaf beetles) we aimed to change the internal “chemical landscape”, especially the CT levels, in aspen leaves. We expected that this would lead to changes in the …

Pests Of Hemp In Utah, Marion Murray, Macahl Evans, Claudia Nischwitz, Austin Taylor, Cody Zesiger

All Current Publications

This guide includes information on insect and disease pests of hemp, organized by pest group. Much of the content is a result of a two-year arthropod and plant disease survey of field-grown hemp operations in northern Utah. Some pests included in this guide were not found in that survey but may be likely to occur in the future. Beneficials and natural enemies are also covered, and information on pesticides is included.

Greenhouse Biocontrol In Utah: Beneficial Insects And The Pests They Target, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This guide provides information on biocontrol in Utah and pests that are targeted by beneficial pests, such as aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies. Symptoms, monitoring, lifecycles, and biocontrol options are included.

Thermal Tolerance And Physiology Of Eleutherodactylus Coqui Along An Elevational Gradient In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

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The purpose of this study was to determine if the thermal tolerance and physiology of the coqui frog changed along HawaiÔiÕs elevation gradient. A short acclimation experiment was used to test the baseline thermal tolerance and physiology, and an extended acclimation experiment to test the acclimation ability of the thermal tolerance and physiology metrics of the coqui frogs collected from low (m), medium (350-550 m) and high elevations (>750 m).

Pariette Wetlands Water, Sediment And Plant Total Selenium Concentration, Colleen P. Jones, Paul R. Grossl, Astrid R. Jacobson

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We measured total Selenium in plants from July through November of 2012 and in water, macroinvertebrates, plants, and sediments from July of 2014 from Pariette Wetlands, Utah, U.S.A. to test for spatial, temporal, plant species and plant tissue distribution of Selenium.

Elevation Influences The Microhabitat Use And Baseline Physiology Of Coqui Frogs In Hawai‘I, Karen H. Beard, Susannah S. French, Jack Marchetti

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The purpose of this study was to determine whether elevation in HawaiÔi affects the coquiÕs microhabitat use such as substrate choice and height off the forest floor and physiological metrics such as osmolality, oxidative status, and energy metabolites (glucose, free glycerol, and triglycerides).

Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica Newman), Lori R. Spears, Diane G. Alston, Joey Caputo, Erin Hodgson, Cory Stanley, Kristopher Watson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Japanese beetles and reviews damage symptoms, life cycle, monitoring, and management.

Pavement Ants (Tetramorium Immigrans Santschi), Ryan S. Davis, Lori R. Spears, Austin Taylor

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes pavement ants. It covers identification, biology and habits, and management.

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes Asian giant hornet and reviews similar-looking insects, its life cycle, predatory strategies, monitoring and management, and the related public health concerns.

Invasive Fruit Pest Guide For Utah: Insect & Disease Identification, Monitoring & Management, Claudia Nischwitz, Diane G. Alston, Lori R. Spears, Clint Burfitt

All Current Publications

This invasive fruit pest guide covers insects and diseases affecting fruit in Utah and reviews monitoring and management.

Invasive Species Handbook: A Resource For Educators - Grades 3-8, Natalie D'Souza, Marion Murray, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

This handbook includes six chapters that discuss invasive species and their environmental, economic, and health impacts. It also reviews pathways of invasive species spread and prevention, monitoring, and control. The handbook is a resource for educators teaching children in grades 3 through 8. Learning objectives, activities, and vocabulary are also included.

Invasive Pests Of Landscape Trees In Utah, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Anna Fabiszak, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis, Diane G. Alston, Ricardo Ramirez

All Current Publications

This guide provides an overview of the Utah First Detector Program and how to submit samples. The guide reviews the diseases and insects that affect landscape trees in Utah.

Ten Considerations For Solar-Powered Irrigation In Utah, Ngonidzashe Mufute, Matt Yost, Burdette Barker, Kalen Taylor, Mark Nelson, Randall Violett, Jody Gale

All Current Publications

This fact sheet outlines considerations for using solar-powered irrigation in Utah:

• Solar powered irrigation (SPI) is becoming more cost effective and practical to consider on the farm as the cost of alternative sources of energy are rising.
• Irrigators can now benefit from incentives such as tax credits to help offset costs.
• Investing in solar provides more independence from price fluctuations and energy shortages.
• Considerations for SPI systems include energy demand of the irrigation system, type and value of crops grown, available incentives and support, cost and accessibility of alternative energy sources, and multiple uses of the …

Sport Management Study Abroad And International Exchange Program Innovation For A Post Covid-19 Era, James T. Morton, Chris Hanna, Jeffrey F. Levine

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

The globalization of the sport industry has required sport management programs to create strategies for internationalizing students. Study abroad programs are a prominent example of those strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on study abroad programs in Spring of 2020. Many students had their study abroad experiences either cut short or canceled all together. The purpose of this essay is to discuss how the student learning process can continue during an interruption or cancellation of study abroad and international exchange programs due to a pandemic or other global issues. Using an observational study, we asked the following research …

Dahlia Cut Flower Production In Utah, Melanie Stock, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Eli Oliver, Katie Wagner, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Dahlias are tuberous, herbaceous plants that are frost sensitive and therefore grown as a warm-season annual for cut flower production in Utah. Dahlias bloom in summer to fall, with peak production in late summer to early fall, and the season ending with first frost. Plants benefit from pinching to encourage branching and horizontal trellising or staking to promote straight stems and avoid toppling. High tunnels or extended low tunnels with shade, as well as optimum nitrogen and irrigation rates, improve production. As showstoppers in arrangements, dahlia cut flowers are highly desired on local markets and profitable to produce, particularly those …

Anemone Cut Flower Production Budget, One High Tunnel, Northern Utah, 2022, Shannon Rauter, Melanie Stock, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

This budget contains costs (preplant and site preparation, establishment and maintenance, and harvest and processing) and returns for the production and sale of anemone cut flowers that were grown in a high tunnel (14 feet by 40 feet). Production methods, yield, costs, and pricing were determined from Utah State University (USU) research trials, as well as feedback from Northern Utah producers. The costs and returns represent typical production in Northern Utah but should be adjusted where necessary for individual situations. Site selection, tunnel use, variety, harvest timing, pest management, and other practices will impact costs and returns to a cut-flower …

Data For Gridding, Joseph D. Birch, James A. Lutz, Soren Struckman, Jessica Miesel, Justine Karst

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Background: Large-diameter trees have an outsized influence on aboveground forest dynamics, composition, and structure. Although their influence on aboveground processes is well studied, their role in shaping belowground fungal communities is largely unknown. We sought to test if (H1) fungal community spatial structure matched aboveground forest structure, (H2) fungal functional guilds exhibited differential associations to aboveground tree, snag, and deadwood, and (H3) that large-diameter trees and snags have a larger influence on fungal community richness than smaller-diameter trees. We used MiSeq sequencing of fungal communities collected from soils in a spatially intensive survey in a portion of Cedar Breaks National …

The Backyard Garden - Pea Pests, Bridger Carey, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

As part of a series, The Backyard Garden, this fact sheet reviews pea pests. It includes general information, symptoms, and management for the following pea pest issues: thrips, spider mites, pea weevil, aphids, pea leaf weevil, damping-off, powdery mildew, fusarium wilt, fusarium root rot, and bacterial blight.

The Backyard Garden - Bean Pests, Nick Volesky, Bridger Carey, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

As part of a series, The Backyard Garden, this fact sheet examines bean pests. Insects and other pests include thrips, spider mites, cutworms and armyworms, Mexican bean beetle, and seedcorn maggot. Diseases include bean common mosaic virus, damping-off, beet curly top virus, common bacterial blight, and halo blight. The fact sheet includes general information about these issues, signs and symptoms on plants, and management.

The Backyard Garden - Cole Crops Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet contains information about pests and diseases that affect cole crops. Cole crops are plants that belong to the mustard (Brassica) family, including hardy, cool-season crops such as broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage, rutabaga, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and turnips. The fact sheet offers general information and guidance on severity, other hosts, symptoms, and management.

The Backyard Garden - Tomato Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet contains information about pests and diseases that affect tomatoes. It includes general information and guidance on severity, other hosts, symptoms, and management.

The Backyard Garden - Leafy Greens Pests, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information about the diseases that affect leafy greens. It includes general information, other hosts, disease symptoms to watch for, and management options.

Dietary Supplementation With Black Raspberries Altered The Gut Microbiome Composition In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Although With Differing Effects For A Healthy Versus A Western Basal Diet, Abby D. Benninghoff

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Black raspberries (BRB) are rich in anthocyanins with purported anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is not known whether dietary supplementation would ameliorate Western-diet enhanced gut inflammation and colon tumorigenesis. We employed a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with 5 to 10% (w/w) whole, freeze-dried BRB in male C57BL/6J mice fed either a standard healthy diet (AIN93G) or the total Western diet (TWD). In a pilot study, BRB suppressed colitis and colon tumorigenesis while also shifting the composition of the fecal microbiome in favor of taxa with purported health benefits, including Bifidobacteria pseudolongum. …

Making And Managing Wild Bee Hotels, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears, Sheriden M. Hansen, Andree' Walker Bravo, Ricardo Ramirez, Jaydee Gunnell

All Current Publications

Bee hotels (also called "bee boxes" and "bee blocks") are popular additions to Utah backyards and commercial agriculture alike, adding nesting habitat to aid local pollination efforts and address native pollinator declines. This fact sheet provides information about the construction, placement, and maintenance of bee hotels. It also addresses monitoring of bee enemies.

Sorghum-Sudangrass Production Guide, Dakota Boren, Matt Yost, Luree Johnson, Tina Sullivan, Earl Creech, Grant Cardon, Corey Ransom, Randall Violett, Cheyenne Reid, Cody Zesiger, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Michael Pace, Jody Gale

All Current Publications

Sudex is a warm-season forage crop that performs well in Utah’s dry climate due to its drought tolerance. It can be especially useful during drought years or when irrigation supplies are limited. As well as being a high-quality feed, Sudex has many benefits, including weed suppression and soil-building properties. Although there are concerns for prussic acid and nitrate poisoning, these concerns can be reduced and often eliminated with proper management. This fact sheet provides information to producers about using Sudex and best production practices. Much of the information may also apply to forage sorghum and a few of the major …

Lisianthus Cut Flower Production In Utah, Melanie Stock, Sheriden M. Hansen, Maegen A. Lewis, Anna Collins, Brent Black, Dan Drost

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Lisianthus is a florist staple and excellent crop for local farms. Its limited cool-storage period, long vase-life, and broad range of pastel- to jewel-tone colors are superior to wholesale imports. This fact sheet reviews lisianthus groups, site preparation, germination, transplanting, fertilizing, and irrigation and disease and pest management. It also provides information on trellising, harvest and storage, and economics as a specialty crop option for local farms.

Backyard Fruit Production In Utah's High Mountain Valleys, Maegen Lewis, Jaydee Gunnell, Michael Pace, Teryl Roper

All Current Publications

Utah’s population has seen significant growth in recent years resulting in population increase outside of the Wasatch Front and into Utah's high mountain valleys. These locations include Bear Lake Valley, Ogden Valley, Morgan and Henefer, Park City, Wasatch Valley, and Sanpete Valley. Much of the information presented here would also apply to the Uintah Basin and other high elevation locations in eastern Utah. Common characteristics of these valleys include high elevations (greater than 5,000 feet) leading to short growing seasons. Many homeowners who are new to these regions wish to establish perennial fruit crops in their gardens. This publication outlines …