Forest Sciences Commons^™

Spatially Varying Density Dependence Drives A Shifting Mosaic Of Survival In A Recovering Apex Predator (Canis Lupus), Shawn O'Neil, Joseph K. Bump, Dean E. Beyer

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Understanding landscape patterns in mortality risk is crucial for promoting recovery of threatened and endangered species. Humans affect mortality risk in large carnivores such as wolves (Canis lupus), but spatiotemporally varying density dependence can significantly influence the landscape of survival. This potentially occurs when density varies spatially and risk is unevenly distributed. We quantified spatiotemporal sources of variation in survival rates of gray wolves (C. lupus) during a 21-year period of population recovery in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA. We focused on mapping risk across time using Cox Proportional Hazards (CPH) models with time-dependent covariates, thus exploring a shifting …

Smokejumper Obituary: Brinkerhoff, John W. (Missoula 1947), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Shrubs Facilitate Recruitment Of Caragana Stenophylla Pojark: Microhabitat Amelioration And Protection Against Herbivory, Li-Na Xie, Hong-Yu Guo, Zhe Liu, Christopher A. Gabler, Wei-Zhong Chen, Song Gu, Cheng-Cang Ma

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Key message

Mature Caragana stenophylla shrubs facilitated intraspecific sapling establishment by two mechanisms: microhabitat amelioration and protection against herbivory. Facilitation was mediated by climate, grazing, and sapling age.

Context

Pre-existing shrubs could facilitate sapling establishment of woody plants; however, how these facilitation vary across abiotic and biotic stress gradients and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Aims

The aim of this study is understanding the facilitation of shrub on sapling establishment and how the two underlying mechanisms, microhabitat amelioration and protection against herbivory, vary across climatic aridity gradients, grazing gradients, and sapling age.

Methods

We conducted field sowing experiments to examine …

Smokejumper Obituary: Evenson, David H. (Missoula 1964), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Spread Of Common Native And Invasive Grasses And Ruderal Trees Following Anthropogenic Disturbances In A Tropical Dry Forest, Xavier A. Jaime, Skip J. Van Bloem, Frank H. Koch, Stacy A.C. Nelson

Publications

Introduction

A fundamental challenge to the integrity of tropical dry forest ecosystems is the invasion of non-native grass species. These grasses compete for resources and fuel anthropogenic wildfires. In 2012, a bulldozer from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority cleared a 570-m trail from a state road into a mature dry forest section of Guánica Forest to control a wildfire. We monitored colonization by a non-native invasive grass (Megathyrsus maximus), a highly invasive tree (Leucaena leucocephala), and a native grass (Uniola virgata), as well as natural regeneration, along the bulldozer trail. We determined whether …

Meeting Minutes, October 18th, 2017, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Approval at previous meeting minutes.; Report on 2017 Trails Program.; Handout of 2017 projects.; Handout regarding TRAMPS program. TRAMPS Objectives.; Report at FYE 2017 & 2017-18 Budget Evaluation.; Investment Committee report.; Good Samaritan Fund report.; Traveling Smokejumper display.; Photo gallery report.; Scholarship program update.; Membership Report.; Website Committee update.; Draft 2018-19 Budget.; RAC Visitor Center.; Historic Preservation Program.; History website.; Partnerships.; Death of Chris Sorensen & Facebook management.; Fred Donner issue to BOD.; Board Succession planning.; Brainstorming NSA future.; Meeting evaluation and next meeting date/location & adjournment.;

Smokejumper Obituary: Greiner, Thomas H. (Missoula 1955), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Smokejumper Obituary: Greiner, Claude A. (Missoula 1954), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

What Controls Variation In Carbon Use Efficiency Among Amazonian Tropical Forests?, Christopher E. Doughty, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Nicolas Raab, Cecile A. J. Girardin, Filio Farfan-Amezquita, Walter Huaraca-Huasco, Javier E. Silva-Espejo, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Antonio C. L. Da Costa, Wanderley Rocha, David Galbraith, Patrick Meir, Dan B. Metcalfe, Yadvinder Malhi

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Why do some forests produce biomass more efficiently than others? Variations in Carbon Use Efficiency (CUE: total Net Primary Production (NPP)/ Gross Primary Production (GPP)) may be due to changes in wood residence time (Biomass/NPP_wood), temperature, or soil nutrient status. We tested these hypotheses in 14, one ha plots across Amazonian and Andean forests where we measured most key components of net primary production (NPP: wood, fine roots, and leaves) and autotrophic respiration (R_a; wood, rhizosphere, and leaf respiration). We found that lower fertility sites were less efficient at producing biomass and had higher rhizosphere respiration, …

A Cellular Automaton Modeling Approach To Chestnut Blight Canker Development, Samuel Iselin

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft: Forest And Ecology Applications, Curtis Edson

TechTalks

In the summer of 2017 three new research projects were started using remotely piloted aircraft (drone) to collect forest and ecological data. In Michigan Technological University's research forest (Ford Forest) we began a forest biomass study by collecting imagery, including visible spectrum from a drone, as well as hyperspectral and LiDAR imagery from a human pilot aircraft; in the Hiawatha National Forest we collected visible and near-infrared (NIR) imagery for invasive species remediation and coastal wetlands mapping; and in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Canada we collected visible and NIR imagery in support of an ongoing ecological study observing interactions …

Prepare Lignin For Carbon Fiber Production, Xinfeng Xie

TechTalks

No abstract provided.

Establishing Pine Monocultures And Mixed Pine-Hardwood Stands On Reclaimed Surface Mined Land In Eastern Kentucky: Implications For Forest Resilience In A Changing Climate, Geoffrey Bell, Kenton L. Sena, Christopher D. Barton, Michael French

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Surface mining and mine reclamation practices have caused significant forest loss and forest fragmentation in Appalachia. Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) is threatened by a variety of stresses, including diseases, pests, poor management, altered fire regimes, and climate change, and the species is the subject of a widescale restoration effort. Surface mines may present opportunity for shortleaf pine restoration; however, the survival and growth of shortleaf pine on these harsh sites has not been critically evaluated. This paper presents first-year survival and growth of native shortleaf pine planted on a reclaimed surface mine, compared to non-native loblolly pine ( …

Smokejumper Obituary: Villagran, Raul D. (Boise 1976), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Ecological Succession On Neotropical Landslides: Comparing Successional Patterns Of Four Different Aged Landslides In The Cerro Candelaria Reserve, Nace Keifer

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Abstract In an area that is vulnerable to frequent landslides due to steep montane slopes and heavy rain falls it is important to understand how the ecosystem regenerates after it has been disturbed. This study examined ecological succession patterns by comparing the vegetation on four different aged landslides and the unharmed forest within the Cerro Candelaria Reserve, located in a cloud forest ecosystem in central Ecuador. One meter soil profiles and 5x5 meter vegetation quadrats were used to observe and characterize the habitats on the four individual landslides and unharmed forest. At each location, soil color, texture, and structure were …

An Ethnobotanical Examination Of Traditional Medicine In Ngezi Forest Reserve, Tyler Tsang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Traditional medicine is an important aspect of the both the culture and health of communities worldwide. Ngezi Forest Reserve is a protected area on Pemba Island which is part of the Zanzibar Archipelago. This forest contains a wealth of botanical diversity which includes many species of medicinal plants. Traditional healers (waganga) use these medicinal plants to heal members of the community. Interviews and forest walks with these healers were supplemented by consultations with a botanist to determine medicinal value of the forest and the surrounding areas. In compiling information from 15 healers in the area, 98 species of medicinal plants …

Community Management And Governance Of Comatsa-Sud New Protected Area (Ambalamanasy Ii Commune), Allison Tennant

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Community-based natural resource management is an increasingly more popular choice for governments to delegate power back to local communities to conserve the resources they rely on. In Madagascar, where much of the rural population provides for their livelihoods by using natural resources, this governance structure, in cooperation with delegated manager for assistance, presents an opportunity for economic development in cooperation with conservation efforts. This paper aims to better understand the role of community, NGO, and governmental actors in creating and executing community management structures. Through Participatory Rural Analysis and structured and semi-structured interviews, it explores what management transfers look like …

Carbon Sequestration In The Cloud Forest: A Comparative Evaluation Of Aboveground Biomass Carbon Stock Potential In The Río Guajalito Reserve, Elli Mapstone

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to rise at a rapid rate, it is necessary to understand how forests can both contribute to CO₂ levels but also stop them from rising. Carbon sequestration levels in tropical montane cloud forests are a relatively understudied topic. Gathering carbon stock levels is the first step necessary to start a REDD+ project. Carbon stock levels can be studied on a global, regional or local level. This study used the University of Oxford/ Global Ecosystems Monitoring Network (GEM) methodology to examine carbon sequestration levels of aboveground biomass, specifically ground litter, large branches …

The Effects Of Climate On Radial Growth Of Disjunct Northern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis L.) In Virginia, Joshua A. Kincaid

Virginia Journal of Science

Understanding the geographic range and growth of species is essential for effective land management in a landscape affected by anthropogenic activity and climate change.  Climate change is expected to alter the distribution and growth of many tree species in eastern North America, including northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.).  This research examined the effects of climate on radial growth of T. occidentalis in disjunct populations south of its continuous range margin in eastern North America.  A T. occidentalis tree-ring chronology was developed and examined for growth-climate interactions. Mean sensitivity of the T. occidentalis chronology was within the range of …

A Study Of Reptile Community Diversity Related To Habitat Characteristics At Marojejy National Park, Julia Kowala

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Marojejy National Park is known for its diversity. Though it is home to the silky sifaka, it has extensive populations of herpetofauna. Seventy-seven species of reptiles have been documented in Marojejy National Park. This study aimed to evaluate the reptile community diversity and habitat characteristics in the park through systematic searches of ten-by-ten-meter plots, and inventory of species as they were found throughout the park. Systematic searches yielded the finding of 19 of the total 25 species identified. Some species that were found had not been previously seen at Marojejy before, most notably, Brookesia sp. “Nosy Hara”, Brookesia desperata, Furcifer …