Forest Sciences Commons^™

Jujubenet: A Dual-Stage Spectral Reconstruction Network For Rapid Jujube Moisture Content Estimation, Yalei Xu, Yang Li, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Spectral analysis methods can nondestructively assess the quality of agricultural products but are limited by imaging speed and equipment costs. Therefore, they have not yet been fully integrated into engineering practices. This paper presents JujubeNet, a two-stage hyperspectral reconstruction model for detecting moisture content in jujubes. The first stage utilizes a generative pretrained Pix2Pix generative adversarial network (GAN) to generate RGB images of jujubes that mimic real camera styles and are pixel-to-pixel aligned with hyperspectral images. The second stage uses a transformer-based spectral reconstruction model to achieve hyperspectral reconstruction. Additionally, we developed a moisture content detection model based on hyperspectral …

Utilization Of Phytogenic Silver Nanoparticles And Bacterial Agents For The Management Of Citrus Canker Disease, Zainab Jamil, Tariq Mukhtar, Muhammad Usman Raja, Muhammad Shahbaz, Jaya Seelan S. Seelan, Muhammed Tatar, Amjad Ali, Noor Fatima, Rahma Bejaoui, Ayşe Usanmaz Bozhüyük

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Citrus is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruit crops globally. However, its productivity is increasingly threatened by various diseases, with bacterial infections being particularly the most destructive. Among these, citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac), poses a significant challenge, requiring effective management strategies. Traditional approaches have shown limited success, but nanotechnology has emerged as a promising alternative for disease control. In this study, Xanthomonas spp. was isolated from two locations: Koont Farm and the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) citrus orchards in Islamabad, Pakistan. The isolates were identified through morpho-biochemical methods. Moreover, three Bacillus …

A New Longidoridae Member, Xiphinema Brevicolle, From Citrus Orchards In Türkiye, Adem Özarslandan, Ayşenur Aslan, Lerzan Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Individuals of the genus Xiphinema were recovered from soil samples collected during citrus surveys in south-eastern Türkiye. Morphological examination using light microscopy identified the species as X. brevicolle. The female individuals measured 2000–2050 μm in length, and displayed a slightly flattened lip region, an amphidelphic reproductive system with two well-developed branches, and a short conoid tail ending in a rounded tip. These morphometric and morphological features were consistent with those of previously described X. brevicolle specimens. For molecular confirmation, the D2–D3 segment of the 28S rDNA was amplified using the D2AD3B primer pair, and sequenced; the resulting sequence has been …

Optimizing Cultivated Land Productivity Through Integrated Fertilization Strategies And Uav-Assisted Management, Kejun Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study investigates the impact of long-term fertilization modes on crop health and productivity using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted monitoring and a Q-learning-based approach for optimized fertilization strategies. An approximate state-matching Q-learning algorithm was developed to improve the efficiency of agricultural UAVs in fertilization tasks. The spatiotemporal patterns of cultivated land productivity under different fertilization regimes were analyzed in a long-term experiment. An evaluation system for cultivated land health productivity was established. The results indicated that the Q-learning algorithm enabled UAVs to achieve efficient task completion. QLASM outperformed traditional methods on all metrics. QLASM achieved a 92% task completion rate …

Effects Of Different Mixing Ratios Of Common Vetch And Oats On Forage Yield And Quality, Meli̇h Okcu, Sedat Severoğlu, İbrahi̇m Kavuncu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study investigates the optimal mixing ratios of common vetch (Vicia sativa L., CV) and oats (Avena sativa L., O) for enhanced forage yield and quality in the ecological conditions of Erzurum Province. The research was conducted over two growing seasons with three replications in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Specifically, three common vetch cultivars (Gülhan, Albayrak, Kubilay) and one oat cultivar (Kupa) were evaluated by sowing as sole crops and in different ratios (25% vetch + 75% oat, 50% vetch + 50% oat, 75% vetch + 25% oat). The analyzed parameters included hay forage yield (HFY), dry matter …

Exploring Bioactive Components Of Sugar Bean With Some Data Mining Algorithms: Relationships Between Antioxidants, Enzyme Inhibitors, And Minerals, İrem Ayran Çolak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sugar bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume of notable nutritional and functional value, and its genotypes have substantial variation in bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, mineral composition, and enzyme inhibition properties. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the biochemical and functional diversity of 10 sugar bean genotypes using data mining algorithms to identify superior candidates for functional food and nutraceutical development. Associations between the phytochemical profiles of sugar bean genotypes and their bioactivity, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme inhibition were modeled with classification and regression trees (CART), random forests (RF), and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), while one-way ANOVA quantified varietal …

Some New Ecological Aspects Of The Lesser Sunda Endemic Drepanosticta Berlandi (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platystictidae), Muhammad Zulhariadi, Muhammad Setyo Nugroho, Nurul Hidayani

Makara Journal of Science

Drepanosticta berlandi is an endemic damselfly in the Lesser Sunda region of Indonesia, which was first recorded on Lombok Island in the 19th century. Albeit recognized for a century, information on its ecology is still lacking; hence, this study aims to reveal its distribution and habitat preferences. The research was conducted at the Tibu Ijo Waterfall tourist area in West Lombok Regency using line transects combined with field survey in the Kekait River and on footpaths on both sides of the river. Vegetation density, topography, and land survey temperature (LST) were measured at the sampling area using ArcGIS 10.4.1 software. …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Substantial Contribution Of Woody Components To Rainfall Interception In Chinese Forests: Insights From A Refined Analytical Model, Zhi-Ang Chen, Zhi-Yun Jiang, Wei He, John T. Van Stan Ii, Et. Al.

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Assessing rainfall interception (I-R) is a critical yet uncertain aspect in hydrological cycle, particularly the quantification of relative contributions from leaves and woody components (e.g., branches, stems, and trunks) to I-R. Nevertheless, the role of woody components in I-R estimation remains largely unexplored and thereby has been constantly overlooked. This study addressed this challenge and refined the widely-used Gash model to distinguish woody interception (I-W) from leaf interception (I-L). We incorporated the spatial variability of vegetation traits alongside satellite data in 2019 into the refined model, and spanned China's major forest types. The refined model showed a strong agreement with …

Contrasting Pathways To Tree Longevity In Gymnosperms And Angiosperms, Roel J. Brienen, Giuliano Maselli Locosselli, Stefan Krottenthaler, Emanuel Gloor, Robyn Wrigley, Steve L. Voelker, Jan Altman, Nela Altmanova, Leander D. Anderegg, Michele Baliva, Deepak Barua, Vaclav Bazant, Bryan Black, Peter M Brown, Gregorio Ceccantini, R Justin Derose, Jose Villanueva Diaz, Alfredo Di Filippo, Jiri Dolezal, Louis Duchesne, Christopher Earle, Pavel Fibich, Hardy Griesbauer, Samuli Helama, Stefan Klesse, Kirill Korznikov, David Lindenmayer, Shuhui Liu, Lidio Lopez, Maurizio Mencuccini, Thomas A. Nagel

Michigan Tech Publications

Tree longevity is thought to increase in growth-limiting, adverse environments, but a quantitative assessment of drivers of global variation in tree longevity is lacking. We assemble a global database of maximum longevity for 739 tree species and analyse associations between longevity and climate, soil, and species' functional traits. Our results show two primary pathways towards long lifespans. The first is slow growth in resource-limited environments, consistent with the "adversity begets longevity" paradigm. The second pathway is through relief from abiotic constraints in productive environments. Despite notable exceptions, long-lived gymnosperms tend to follow the first path through slow growth in cold …

Disentangling Complex Relationships And Disjunctions In Western Camassia: Integrating Multiple Criteria To Resolve Taxonomic Boundaries, Susan R. Kephart, Theresa M. Culley, Jenny K. Archibald, Robert Tunison, Kathryn E. Theiss, James E. Kephart

Michigan Tech Publications

Premise: Understanding genetic and morphological variability helps efforts to sustain landscapes and develop effective species concepts for resolving difficult groups. To unravel puzzling relationships and range disjunctions, we applied morphometrics, phenology, phylogenetics and population genetics in Camassia species with cultural, ecological, and conservation value, asking: Do the unusual Camassia populations in northeastern California represent previously unrecognized, disjunct C. howellii? Do C. howellii, C. leichtlinii, and C. quamash maintain diagnostic features in allopatry or sympatry? Are C. quamash subsp. breviflora and subsp. linearis taxonomically distinct?. Methods: We evaluated 34 Camassia populations in situ for morphometric traits, phenology, and habitat type, collecting …

Temperature Predicts Myotis Lucifugus Declines And Persistence After White-Nose Syndrome Introduction, Tanner M. Barnes, Jared D. Wolfe, Allen Kurta, Steve M. Smith, John E. Depue

Michigan Tech Research Data

No abstract provided.

Performance Enhancement For Rufa: Rapid Urban Forest Assessment, Nicholas Tan

Master's Theses

Urban forests are crucial to the livability and resilience of cities, offering critical ecosystem benefits such as air quality enhancement, temperature regulation, and biodiversity. Managing said urban forests is essential to ensure their sustainability and adaptability to rapidly changing environmental and climate conditions. The Rapid Urban Forest Assessment (RUFA) tool was developed to address the need for a standardized approach to evaluating and comparing urban and community forestry programs. By analyzing and aggregating tree-specific data across California, such as canopy cover, tree counts, and diversity scores, RUFA assigns a comprehensive urban forestry score for each city. This score allows for …

The Ecology Of Arthropod Rain In A Tropical Forest., Andrew Robert Seiler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tropical forests are structured by complex vertical linkages and nutrient exchanges between canopy and understory habitats. These linkages include the downward flux of organisms, the movement of canopy fauna, and the recycling of nutrients through litter and organic matter deposition. This dissertation investigates arthropod rain and its role in connecting the canopy and forest floor processes in a lowland tropical forest in Panama. Chapter 2 quantifies “arthropod rain”, the fall of canopy arthropods into the understory. Using pan and pole traps, I measured the composition, abundance, and biomass of arthropods falling from the canopy and assessed environmental drivers of the …

Reproduction And Larval Development Of The Invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle In South Carolina, Lindsey A. Stone

All Theses

The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky; ALB) is a major threat to forest health due to the damage done by larval feeding in host trees. In 2020, ALB was discovered in Charleston County, South Carolina, which presents a novel climate for this invasive pest in North America. I investigated the reproductive biology and larval development of ALB to support detection and management efforts. By exposing 19 host trees to mated pairs of adults, I was able to determine rates of oviposition success (55%), egg viability (55%), and early larval survival (56%). On average, females chewed nearly 1 egg …

The Effects Of Green Orientation And Technological Agility On Sustainable Competitive Advantage Under Environmental Uncertainty: Organizational Agility As A Pathway, Sahilali Saiyed, Vimal Kumar, Abdul Waaje, Adi Prasetyo Tedjakusuma

Michigan Tech Publications

Despite the strengthened efforts on sustainability and technological activities by firms, the existing literature lacks a clear picture regarding how green orientation (GO) and technological agility (TAG) can be transformed into sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) and at what time the conversion process may be most efficient. This paper conceptualizes organizational agility (OGA) based on the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theory (DCT) and hypothesizes that GO and TAG indirectly affect SCA with the mediating impact of environmental uncertainty (ELU). A moderated-mediation model was tested based on a sample of 200 managers (HR, marketing, accounting/finance, quality control, R&D) of auto-parts …

Mountain Communities During A Time Of War: A Case Study Of The Hutsul Region In The Carpathian Mountains Of Ukraine, Pavlo Rybaruk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the ethno-ecological technologies employed by the Hutsul people within the highland agrarian economy of the Carpathian Mountains. Over centuries, the Hutsuls have developed ethno-ecological technologies that maintain ecological integrity while supporting community livelihoods.

The study addresses three primary research questions: What are the most important ethno-ecological technologies of the Hutsul highland economy? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be applied to economic, agricultural, and tourism development in the Hutsul region? How might these traditional ethno-ecological practices be combined with contemporary approaches to encourage sustainable development in the region?

The research explores the devastating impact of the Russian …

Environmental Identities Of College Students Reveal Potential Conflicts And Common Ground For Wildlife Conservation, Richard Von Furstenberg, Lincoln R. Larson, M. Nils Peterson, Kangjae Jerry Lee, Victoria R. Vayer, Kathryn Stevenson, Stacy A.C. Nelson, Jeremy Bruskotter, Adam A. Ahlers, Christine Anhalt-Depies, Taniya Bethke, Chris Chizinski, Brian Clark, Kiley M.D. Fryman, Ashley A. Dayer, Benjamin Ghasemi, Larry Gigliotti, Alan Graefe, Samuel J. Keith, Matt Kelly, Gerard Kyle, Elizabeth Metcalf, Wayde Morse, Mark D. Needham, Neelam C. Poudyal, Michael Quartuch, Shari L. Rodriguez, Chelsie Romulo, Ryan L. Sharp, William Siemer, Matt Springer

Michigan Tech Publications

“Conservationist” and “environmentalist” are two prominent environmental social identities often perceived as conflicting, particularly on wedge issues like hunting. While these groups may hold differing philosophies, their beliefs could overlap, revealing opportunities for collaboration in conservation. We examined environmental identities among U.S. college students across 22 states (n = 17,203) from 2018 to 2020, assessing identity, wildlife values, and positions on polarizing issues. Students were classified into four groups: conservationists (8 %), environmentalists (9 %), pluralists (59 %) who expressed both identities, and eco-agnostics (24 %) who expressed neither. Environmentalists, the most diverse group demographically, exhibited mutualistic wildlife value orientations, …

Population Dynamics, Host Range, And Impact Of The Naturalized Weevil Ochyromera Ligustri: A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Ligustrum Sinense, Brandi H. Misiaszek

LSU Master's Theses

Invasive woody plants have become dominant components of many forest understories in the southeastern United States. These species can displace native species, disrupt ecosystem processes, and reduce biodiversity. Chinese privet (Oleaceae: Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is an invasive shrub distributed through the Southeastern United States. The ligustrum weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ochyromera ligustri Warner) is a non-native insect that was first found in the U.S. on Ligustrum in 1959. This weevil is considered a potential fortuitous biological control agent of invasive Ligustrum spp. in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to evaluate O. ligustri as a potential biological control agent …