Forest Sciences Commons^™

Smokejumper Obituary: Mciver, Roderick E. “Rod” (Missoula 1964), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Charles H. Schaffer: “Alger County Charcoal King”, Thomas J. Straka

Upper Country: A Journal of the Lake Superior Region

One of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula’s earliest industries was iron production. Iron furnaces (smelters) were part of that industry; these were primarily fueled by charcoal, produced in hundreds of charcoal kilns scattered across the Upper Peninsula. Charcoal burning was a major industry in its own right, and one person, Charles H. Schaffer, came to dominate it, earning the name “Alger County Charcoal King.” His empire began when the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette Railroad expanded east from Marquette and was centered on charcoal kilns at the Onota station in Alger County. When wood supplies near Lake Superior declined, he expanded his charcoal …

Education And Land Management On The Pacific Crest Trail Phase 4, Ben Sherman, Emma Perry, Cade Cappello, Hattie Cahill, Anna Macklyn, Aidan Tull, Tristian Xu, Augrey Gregg

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

This research is a continuation of research collected on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The purpose of this study was to investigate land ethics and education, Leave No Trace principles, and hiker experiences on the PCT. From July 2023-January 2024, interdisciplinary students collected qualitative and quantitative data through interviews and surveys with hikers on the trail. Past phases of this project have determined that this research is necessary, but due to Covid, the team has only been able to gather data remotely via online surveys and interviews prior to this study. The Baker Koob grant funded travel and research equipment …

Non-Native Invasive Earthworms In The Midwest And Eastern United States: A Primer, Adrienne B. Keller, Stephen Handler

Michigan Tech Publications

Prior to European settlement, earthworms were rare across most of the Midwest and Eastern United States (James 1995). This is presumably because earthworms were slow to recolonize after the last glacial period. Currently, earthworms of European and Asian origin are invading this region with demonstrable effects on soil characteristics and ecosystem functions. Eradicating non-native invasive earthworms (hereafter, “earthworms”) is generally not a realistic management goal. Still, understanding how earthworms act as ecosystem engineers will aid land managers in considering how earthworms modify local effects of climate change and management actions on natural ecosystems. Additionally, where earthworms have not yet invaded, …

Soil Organic Carbon In Temperate Managed Ecosystems : A Primer, Adrienne B. Keller, Stephen D. Handler

Michigan Tech Publications

Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and vegetation combined, an impressive fact that underscores the importance of considering soils when managing for ecosystem carbon. Not only do soils store vast amounts of carbon, but soil carbon also persists in the ecosystem for much longer than other pools of carbon. This primer is an introduction to soil organic carbon storage, sequestration, and cycling in terrestrial managed ecosystems. The effects of site factors, climate change, and management on soil carbon are discussed.

Aspen As Firebreaks At The Development Fringe, Kevin Krasnow, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests are widely known and prized for their numerous values—biodiversity, habitat, forage, recreation, aesthetics, and others—including as a deterrent to wildfire. This reputation for stopping or slowing flames is explored here, alongside measures that may be taken to facilitate thriving aspen communities near human developments. It is clear that science supporting the premise of aspen as an effective firebreak is far from complete. Yet, how can we benefit from what we do know on this topic to increase the probability of preventing structural fire damage, while also encouraging the valued characteristics of aspen ecosystems?

Climate Considerations For Quaking Aspen Conservation, Douglas Shinneman, Susan Mcilroy, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

Human-caused climate change alters ecosystem processes ranging from local to global scales. As a consequence of climate change we should expect increased rates and intensities of disturbance events. Though we are only beginning to understand what those impacts might be to aspen forests and their diverse plant and animal assemblages, recent science suggests there may be unavoidable effects. In the face of anticipated climate-ecosystem challenges, contemporary managers are searching for guidance on preserving aspen resilience. We suggest crafting strategic yet cautious approaches to minimize effects and facilitate broad resilience. For instance, monitoring conditions in and near aspen forests will help …

The Synthesis, Characterization, And Application Of Polysaccharide-Based Additive To Improve Wet And Dry Strength And High-Barrier Properties Of Paper Products, Cornellius Marcello

Dissertations

Paper products play an essential role in our daily lives owing to their low cost, environment-friendly character, renewability, and recyclability. Paper manufacturers have been using petroleum-based strength additives (cPAM, GPAM, PAE) to meet the perceived needs of customers. On the other hand, paper produced from cellulose is hydrophilic and porous, leading to shallow water and grease resistance, causing paper manufacturers to use many kinds of coating materials such as poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and synthetic plastic to improve water resistance, especially for food packaging paper products like cups, plates, food boxes, and packaging. However, PFAS are identified as likely carcinogenic to …

Du Undergraduate Showcase Abstracts: Research, Scholarship, And Creative Works, August Alexander, Kevin Summers, E. Paige Lloyd, Alyssa Aragon, Lauren Wols, Erica Larson, Colton Arciniaga, Lily Baeza, Ellie Barnett-Cashman, Sidney Barbier, Maverick Bartholomew, Ryan Bell, Trevor Briggs, Amanda Brown, Cory Marchi, Maddy Pontius, Jennifer Gallagher, Claire Kwok, Channing Bullock, Alex Mccollister, Kim Gorgens, Daniela Chavez, Yamilet Espinoza Nuñez, Giovanni Valladares Giron, William Christensen, Olivia Kachulis, Daniel Cierasynski, Brandon Cohen, Spenser Dobbs, Lindsay Goolsby, Noah Craver, Nyah Cubbison, Liam Doherty, Nicole Doris, Yan Qin, Alexander Nguyen, Lily Harmon, Shubh Todi, Naichen Zhao, Noah Fagello, Stacia Fritz, Paola Gascot-Chinea, Alex Volkova, Janelyn Geronimo, Elsie Harrington, Shane Simmons, Clarice Hise, Laura Moreno Palmer, Henry Xu, Yesu Leela Pasupula, Emily Fisher, Zachary Hogan, Colin Kleckner, Alyssa Knaus, Erin Kubat, Sam Werkema, Katie Lamberton, Lilliya Larson, Allie Leary, Vanessa Leon-Gamez, James H. Gallagher, E. Dale Broder, Robin M. Tinghitella, Emma Loeber, Alina Mali, Ixchel Marquez, Lauren Mcgrath, Ella Matthews, Grace Naegelen, Audrey Ng, Megan Lucyshyn, Rachel Brough, Alexandra Norman, Joe Ontiveros Rodriguez, Ben Dossett, Ori Miller, Janamejay Sharma, Christopher Reardon, Vincent Pandey, Regan Parish, Ren Pratt, Alisha Pravasi, Sanchari Das, Cari Reichel, Emma Robson, Victoria Rockwell, Jayce Rumsey, Steven Said, Norah Schroder, Alaina Smith, Shannon Murphy, Shujan A. Sharafeldeen, Stanley M. Kanai, James T. Nichols, David E. Clouthier, Macalia R. Augustus, Daniel Silva Rios, Scott Simpson, Anna Sparling, Chase Spurbeck, Kimberly Chiew, Christine Stadnik-Poteroba, Jacqueline Stephenson, Evelyn Stovin, Mia Supan, Lauren Tapper, Will Thrush, Anna Vogt, Michaela Walheim, Jon Weber, Hunter Whitehouse, Kansas Wood, Hayley Sayre, Lydia Mccann, Maread Mclaughlin, Kelly Krumrie, Olivia Wuttke

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Abstracts from the DU Undergraduate Research Showcase.

An Evaluation Of Sonderegger Pine Morphology, Kelsey Denise Shoemaker

Master's Theses

Sonderegger pine (Pinus x sondereggeri H.H. Chapm.), the naturally occurring hybrid of longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), is considered a producer of poor-quality wood due to observations of stem forking and a high number of large-diameter branches at maturity. Because landowners generally decline planting Sonderegger pine seedlings, nursery workers cull putative hybrids from longleaf pine seedling stock during lifting and processing. However, over the past 100 years, very few studies have quantified stem quality of Sonderegger pine. To gain a better understanding of the early growth and development of Sonderegger pine, evaluations of height, diameter …

Smokejumper Obituary: Fowler, Frank Austin (Missoula 1952), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Smokejumper Obituary: Whitmire, Scott Frederick (Redding 1987), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Managing The Environmental And Socio-Economic Impacts Of Rohingya Refugees In Bangladesh, Mousume Azad

Master's Projects and Capstones

In August 2017, nearly 1 million Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh to save their lives from the genocide inflicted by the military of Myanmar. At present, over 1.3 million Rohingyas are staying at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in 34 overcrowded refugee camps. This research examined the environmental impacts especially the change in vegetation cover and land surface temperature as well as the socioeconomic alteration of the host country after the refugee influx. The research found a 5488 ha or 9.58% decrease in forest area, accompanied by an 8.25% increase in refugee settlement areas, an increase in average land surface temperature within …

An Analysis Of The Logging Sector In East Texas: Current Status And Future Prospects, Pooja Chhetri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The logging sector plays a critical role in the wood supply chain and in forest management. It connects forest resources with mills, who consequently use that wood to manufacture a multitude of products. A better understanding of the state of logging businesses among policymakers is crucial in sustaining this industry. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the economic contribution (2021) and economic contribution trend (2012-2021) of the logging sector in East Texas using Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN). Furthermore, this study determined the current status of this sector using online and mail surveys. IMPLAN results showed that the logging sector …

The Need For A Chainsaw Safety Training Program For Female Forest Landowners, Patrick Hiesl, Janet Steele, Susan T. Guynn

Journal of Extension

Female forest landowners (FFLO) are increasing in numbers but have been marginalized in technical training programs in the past. We conducted chainsaw safety training programs geared towards FFLO and compared program evaluation results with results from male-dominated chainsaw training workshops. FFLO are limited in their technical knowledge at the beginning of a workshop, are more likely to own different types of chainsaws than male participants, and generally liked having a women-only workshop. The takeaway is that FFLO strive in a women-only environment and that more women-focused extension training programs are needed to provide with a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Soil Organic Matter Components And Characteristics Of Forest Soil In Spruce And Sycamore Plantations In The Temperate Region, Samuel Obeng Apori, Michelle Giltrap, Julie Dunne, Furong Tian Nanolab Research Centre, Focas Research Institute

Articles

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) that governs soil organic carbon (SOC) storage depends on its characteristics and components, but little is known about how tree species in forest ecosystems affect SOM components and characteristics. In this study, we used FTIR spectroscopy to investigate plantations of two ecologically and economically significant tree species—namely, spruce (Picea spp.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)—in order to determine how the different litter inputs and root-microbe interactions of these two plantations affect the functional groups, components, and characteristics of their SOM. Soil samples were taken from the topsoil (0–10 cm) and subsoil (10–20 cm). In …

New York City’S Rising Sea Level And Coastal Erosion: Approaches To Resiliency, Ryder D. Isidro

Student Theses 2015-Present

No abstract provided.

Major Axes Of Variation In Tree Demography Across Global Forests, Melina De Souza Leite, Sean M. Mcmahon, Paulo Inácio Prado, Stuart J. Davies, Alexandre Adalardo De Oliveira, Hannes P. De Deurwaerder, Salomón Aguilar, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Nurfarah Aqilah, Norman A. Bourg, Warren Y. Brockelman, Nicolas Castaño, Chia-Hao Chang-Yang, Yu-Yun Chen, George Chuyong, Keith Clay, Álvaro Duque, Sisira Ediriweera, Corneille E. N. Ewango, Gregory Gilbert, I. A. U. N. Gunatilleke, C. V. S. Gunatilleke, Robert Howe, Walter Huaraca Huasco, Akira Itoh, Daniel J. Johnson, David Kenfack, Kamil Král, Yao Tze Leong, James A. Lutz, Jean-Remy Makana, Yadvinder Malhi, William J. Mcshea, Mohizah Mohamad, Musalmah Nasardin, Anuttara Nathalang, Geoffrey Parker, Renan Parmigiani, Rolando Pérez, Richard P. Phillips, Pavel Šamonil, I-Fang Sun, Sylvester Tan, Duncan Thomas, Jill Thompson, María Uriarte, Amy Wolf, Jess Zimmerman, Daniel Zuleta, Marco D. Visser, Lisa Hülsmann

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The future trajectory of global forests is closely intertwined with tree demography, and a major fundamental goal in ecology is to understand the key mechanisms governing spatio-temporal patterns in tree population dynamics. While previous research has made substantial progress in identifying the mechanisms individually, their relative importance among forests remains unclear mainly due to practical limitations. One approach to overcome these limitations is to group mechanisms according to their shared effects on the variability of tree vital rates and quantify patterns therein. We developed a conceptual and statistical framework (variance partitioning of Bayesian multilevel models) that attributes the variability in …

The Biltmore Forest School And The Establishment Of Forestry Education In America, Dan Barry Croom

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The Biltmore Forest School, despite its unusual existence within the affluent Biltmore Estate, played a crucial role in the early 20th-century American forestry movement. Founded by Carl A. Schenck and supported by George Vanderbilt II, the school aimed to educate foresters and promote sustainable forest management. However, many aspects of the Biltmore experiment failed due to the new and untested nature of forestry science in America. This experiment exposed a fundamental divide in forestry education, with Gifford Pinchot advocating for conservation-centered teaching while Schenck believed in the economic viability of lumber production. Ultimately, the Biltmore Forest School offered valuable vocational …

Quemando Leña En Guatemala: Salud, Sostenibilidad Y Costumbres, Sydney Underhill

World Languages and Cultures Senior Capstones

In the Central American country of Guatemala, firewood is an important fuel source. Eighty-eight percent of households in rural areas use wood stoves and open fires to cook and heat their homes. This tradition has fundamental roots in the culture and customs of Guatemala. Unfortunately, these methods contribute to air pollution. Consequently, it also results in smoke inhalation, which causes health problems. Additionally, the massive agriculture of other crops decreases the amount of firewood available to these households, affecting the sustainability of the resource. Some communities resist changing their use of firewood due to the profound nature that firewood holds …

Dendrochronological Analysis Of The Duncan Tavern, Paris, Kentucky, Usa, Delaney Ballard, Maegen Rochner

Undergraduate Research Events

Duncan Tavern is a historical structure located at 323 High Street in Paris, Kentucky in Bourbon County. The structure currently serves as the headquarters for the Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR). KSDAR maintains that Duncan Tavern was originally built in the mid-1790s; the land was purchased in 1792 by Joseph Duncan, a civilian armorer in the Revolutionary War. Although Duncan Tavern has been listed on the National Register of Historical Places since 1973, a dendrochronological study of this structure was requested to quantitatively examine the legitimacy of archival and anecdotal claims about the construction history. …

Smokejumper Obituary: Wight, Stephen William (North Cascades 1965), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Tremblings, May 2024, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

Climate change insurance: planting aspen seedlings as fuel breaks

Catherine Schloegel, Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy, Boulder, Colorado

Jordan Mead, Resource Specialist, Summit County Open Space and Trails Department, Frisco, Colorado

As climate impacts accelerate, mountain communities living near forested areas across the West will be at increasing risk of more frequent wildfires. To protect neighborhoods from high-severity wildfires, land managers frequently clear strips of forest around homes and roads. We examined the potential to plant true aspen seedlings in these fuel breaks to increase habitat diversity while maintaining a reduced risk of wildfire. Historically, aspen has acted as a …

Consequences Of Altered Burn Regimes On Plant Community Diversity In The Pineywoods Of East Texas, William Steinley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The re-establishment of historic fire return intervals is vital to restoring forest health, species diversity, natural succession regimes, and reduction of some invasive species. Studies on the effect of fire frequencies on southern pine understory plant communities have revealed increased plant diversity and richness in response to fire, particularly in longleaf pine. The National Forests and Grasslands of Texas (NFGT), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the privately-owned Winston 8 Ranch are intensively managed using prescribed burns at different frequencies for a variety of management objectives.

In this study we aimed to further investigate the effect of fire frequency, stand characteristics, …

The Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Microbial Biomass Abundance In Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Sarah K. Borne

Honors Theses

One of the most diverse ecosystems, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) habitats comprise only a small fraction of the habitat they once spanned in the Gulf Coastal Plain Region of the Southeastern United States. To preserve longleaf pine ecosystems, proper prescribed burning techniques and ecosystem management are essential for preventing high intensity wildfires and increasing species diversity. Little is known about the effects of prescribed fires on carbon levels, nitrogen levels, and microbial biomass in longleaf pine forests. These components are crucial for determining how well burned areas are recovering at a microbial level compared to unburned areas. The …

Effects Of Cogongrass Invasion On Soil Biota And Nutrient Loads In A Longleaf Pine Savanna, Jordan Werneth

Honors Theses

The longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem, characterized by its namesake pine species and diverse community of understory vegetation, is a hotspot of biodiversity in the southeastern United States. The longleaf pine savanna is differentiated from other longleaf systems through the combination its unique assemblage of herbaceous understory vegetation, wide-open canopy, and distinct hydrogeological composition. Longleaf pine ecosystems, including savannas, are facing significant decline from their historic range due to anthropogenic interference including fire suppression, habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the introduction of invasive species such as cogongrass (Imperita cylindrica).

Cogongrass, a nonnative grass species introduced to the …

Identification Of Rnai-Related Genes And Transcriptome Assembly Of Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda, L.) Seedlings Exposed To Insect-Specific Dsrna, Zachary Bragg, Lynne K. Rieske

Entomology Faculty Publications

Considerable research has focused on gene silencing in tree-feeding insects, but how trees recognize and process double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) engineered to target plant pests is unknown. We performed transcriptomic assembly, preliminary differential expression analysis, and in silico annotation on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda, L.) seedlings exposed to southern pine beetle-specific dsRNA. This pilot study sought to elucidate the baseline response of seedlings challenged with insect-specific dsRNA. Treated and untreated seedlings were sequenced and following transcriptome assembly 20 RNAi-related proteins (RRPs) were annotated. Differential gene expression analysis conducted using DESeq2 followed by pathway enrichment revealed 7131 differentially expressed transcripts, of which …

Proposing Urban Agroforestry Designs For Lincoln, Nebraska: A Model From Berlin, Germany, Noah Johnson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Given the threat of a worsening climate crisis, there is a strong need for community and ecosystem resilience. Diverse urban agroforestry systems have the potential to accomplish both and meet many of the objectives outlined in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska’s climate action plan. Additionally, Berlin, Germany could provide an effective model for Lincoln in this regard given the city’s extensive history of established urban agroforestry systems. The objective of this study then is to develop a design for an urban agroforestry site modeled on Berlin’s allotment gardens and tailored to Lincoln’s needs. The methods for creating this design included …

Environmental Factors Associated With Triploid Aspen Occurrence In Intermountain West Landscapes, James A. Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Polyploidy is common among plants and can contribute to physiological and morphological differences, altering how plants respond to environmental changes, promoting genetic diversification and even species radiation. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a keystone species associated with high plant and animal diversity is frequently found in mixed diploid/triploid populations in the Intermountain West. Triploid aspen carries an extra chromosomal copy, whereas the diploid type contains two chromosomal copies. High mortality rates and widespread population declines in aspen are of increasing concern in the Intermountain West, and often ascribed to changing climates and drought stress events. The goal of this …

An Evaluation Of Potential Biocontrol Agents For Anoplophora Glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) In South Carolina, U.S.A., Marina Lupu

All Theses

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, hereafter ALB) was named one of the world’s top 100 worst invasive species by the Global Invasive Species Database, as it threatens several species of hardwood trees in North America. In May of 2020, the southernmost infestation of ALB in North America was discovered near Hollywood, South Carolina, U.S.A. Current eradication efforts focus on tree removal; however, in ecosystems with rugged or flooded terrain, or otherwise inaccessible and vulnerable natural areas, tree removal is a costly and potentially environmentally damaging endeavor that may not be feasible as a management tactic. In these …