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Forest Sciences Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Forest Sciences

Characteristics Of Earthworms In Selective Forest Types In Michigan-Illinois Region, Xiaoyong Chen Apr 2024

Characteristics Of Earthworms In Selective Forest Types In Michigan-Illinois Region, Xiaoyong Chen

Research Days

Both invasive exotic and native earthworms have undesirable ecological effects on the structure, function, and biodiversity of forest ecosystems in the Great Lakes area. Understanding the biological parameters and distribution patterns of these earthworms is crucial for their life cycle and their impacts on ecological processes such as nutrient biogeochemistry cycling and carbon sequestration in forests, as well as for informing forest management practices. In this study, abundance, distribution, and mass-length relation of earthworms were investigated in selective typical forest types along a Michigan-Illinois latitudinal gradient. These forest types include Hemlock-White pine-Maple (HWM) forests in Huron Mountains of Michigan, White …


Microbial Abundance And The Pattern Of Escherichia Coli Antibiotic Sensitivity And Resistance In Deer Creek And The Potential Impact Of A Veterinarian Hospital’S Input, Sarah Boxer, Tim Gsell Apr 2019

Microbial Abundance And The Pattern Of Escherichia Coli Antibiotic Sensitivity And Resistance In Deer Creek And The Potential Impact Of A Veterinarian Hospital’S Input, Sarah Boxer, Tim Gsell

Research Days

The gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, is an indicator of fecal input for both point and non-point source origin. The veterinarian hospital located on Deer Creek may contribute to high antibiotic levels, which are known to select for resistant strains of bacteria living in impacted waters. The water running north of the veterinarian hospital was considered potentially antibiotic influenced as it was downstream of the site. The origin of the stream and sites upstream from the hospital were considered influent water. Sediments were also collected from these sites to determine if more long term resident E. coli were present with elevated …


Assessment Of Soil Particle Size Distribution Under Four Land Covers In Nachusa Grasslands Of Northern Illinois, Reni Truhtcheva Owikoti, Diana Acosta, Markeia Scruggs, Xiaoyong Chen Apr 2019

Assessment Of Soil Particle Size Distribution Under Four Land Covers In Nachusa Grasslands Of Northern Illinois, Reni Truhtcheva Owikoti, Diana Acosta, Markeia Scruggs, Xiaoyong Chen

Research Days

Soil particle composition is one of the main physical properties of soil that affects soil fertility and quality. The fractal dimension of soil particle size distribution (PSD) can be used to quantitatively evaluate the particle composition of soils. Land cover change with corresponding management practices is recognized as one important driving force affecting soil PSD alterations. The objective of this project was to determine the changes in soil PSD under four plant covers (Woodland, Wetland, Prairie, and Savannah) at the Nachusa Grasslands in North Illinois. The soil PSD was determined by their settling rates in an aqueous solution using hydrometer. …