Botany Commons^™

Limited Soil Water Recharge In Summer Affects Seasonal Isotopic Signatures Of Tree Xylem Water, Marius G. Floriancic, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Harsh Beria, Scott T. Allen, James W. Kirchner

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Recent studies have reported that xylem waters in forest trees during the summer growing season are often isotopically similar to winter, rather than summer, precipitation. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this observation, which can be viewed as a form of ecohydrological separation, but empirical tests spanning space and time remain limited. We hypothesise that variations in the seasonal origin of precipitation found in tree xylem waters can be explained by seasonal differences in soil water recharge. We test this hypothesis by evaluating to what extent climatic aridity can explain seasonal signals in extensive surveys of the isotope ratios …

Bridging Prairie Restoration And Regenerative Agriculture With Compost Tea, April Hersey

2025 Symposium

Inland Pacific Northwest prairie is an endangered ecosystem that has been reduced by conversion to agriculture. There is growing interest in the role of soil microorganisms in prairie ecosystems, which may be crucial for restoration of the plant community through interspecies interactions within the soil near plant roots. One method for improving soil microorganism community composition is compost tea: enriched liquid compost extract. Compost tea is used in regenerative agriculture to improve crop yields and protect against pathogens, ostensibly through the activity of the added compost microbes. While research has supported compost tea application in regenerative agriculture, it has not …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Howell's Sandwort (Sabulina Howellii), Lindsey K. Wise, Nora Dunkirk

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Howell's sandwort (Sabulina howellii) using NatureServe methodology, 2025

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Limber Pine (Pinus Flexilis), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for limber pine (Pinus flexilis) using NatureServe methodology, 2025.

Creek-Friendly Practices For Hoas, Plaster Creek Stewards

Print Materials

This booklet is intended to be a comprehensive guide to encourage Homeowner Associations (HOAs) in nurturing and safeguarding their local waterways. Within these pages the challenges facing our water ecosystems will be addressed, with particular focus being placed on the Plaster Creek Watershed in West Michigan. This booklet will also emphasize the role HOAs can play in fostering environmental stewardship and healthier, more resilient creek systems. This booklet contains practical strategies, from rain gardens to native plantings, that not only enhance the beauty of your HOA but extends care to downstream neighbors and the creek.

Scientific Note: Garden Loosestrife (Lysimachia Vulgaris, Primulaceae), An Emerging Invasive Plant Species Of Riparian Corridors In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Christopher T. Martine, Amy L. Jewitt, Claire M. Ciafre, Kaitlin G. Henry, Elizabeth H. Williams, Pj Newhart, Melody P. Sain

Faculty Journal Articles

Lysimachia vulgaris (garden loosestrife, Primulaceae) is an herbaceous perennial native to Europe that has been identified as an aggressive invasive species in parts of North America. The status of the species in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, however, is poorly determined. Using recent field observations (from iNaturalist, iMapInvasives, and EDDMapS records) we here report localized incursions of L. vulgaris in the Susquehanna River Valley of central Pennsylvania, along with notes on its ecology, threats to native plant communities, and broader distribution in the state.

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

Catching A Fever: A Comparison Of Vachellia Xanthophloea Populations In The Limpopo And Luvuvhu River Floodplains Of The Makuleke Contractual Park, Kianie B. David

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study investigates patterns of stand structure regeneration, growth characteristics, and coarse woody debris (CWD) patterns in Vachellia xanthophloea (fever tree) stands within the Makuleke Contractual Park (MCP), a semi-arid savanna system in northern Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Fieldwork was conducted across two stand types: a monospecific fever tree stand in Rietbok Vlei and a mixed-species stand in the Western Nhlangaluwe Floodplain where fever tree is established with Faidherbia albida (ana tree). Data were collected from 20 total 1/4-acre (1,011 m²) circular plots between both stands in 2024 and 2025, including seedling root collar diameter (RCD), …

Insights Into The Floral Senescence Effects Of Nanoparticles, Vuk Uskoković

Administration and Staff Articles and Research

Flowers could be valuable addenda to nanomedicine labs as in vivo models crossing the gap between the cell culture and small mammals. However, as it is shown here, floral models continue to be predominantly utilized within resource-limited research environments and remain largely underrepresented in mainstream biomedical investigations conducted by well-funded institutions in the developed world. The ability to delay the senescence of Orange Jubilee wildflowers was tested here on three types of nanoparticles: selenite-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp), citrate-stabilized HAp, and superparamagnetic iron oxide. Integration of selenite into the HAp crystal lattice produced a mild increase in the senescence rate …

The Ecophysiology Of The Enigmatic Namib Succulent, Lithops Ruschiorum, Garrett Macleod Althausen

Environmental Studies Senior Theses

Water availability is the primary constraint for plant survival and reproduction in hyper-arid ecosystems. In such environments, plant fitness depends on an alignment between physiological traits and limited water resources. The Namib Desert of Namibia exemplifies this extreme selection pressure. Within the Namib Desert, Lithops ruschiorum, a succulent endemic to the gravel plains, exhibits habitat specificity and numerous physiological adaptations to cope with the hyper-aridity.

This research explores the intersection of two fitness strategies for L. ruschiorum: habitat selection and exploitation of alternative moisture sources. The first chapter explores the population dynamics and micro-site habitat conditions preferred by …

Subalpine And Alpine Plant Community Turnover In Yosemite National Park Following 30 Years Of Climate Warming, Rachel Friesen

Master's Theses

Subalpine and alpine regions in California are warming more rapidly than lower elevations. In response, high-elevation plants may acclimate or adapt to the new climate, move to higher elevations or latitudes, persist in refugia, or go extinct. While models predict substantial declines in subalpine and alpine plant communities due to discontinuous population distributions and lack of upslope area, actual responses may vary due to lags in dispersal, establishment, and extinction. Although shifts in high-elevation plant communities have been documented in other regions of the world, such changes have not yet been studied in Yosemite National Park. To assess high-elevation plant …

The Ethnobotany And Pharmacology Of Medicinal Plants For Caribbean Women’S Health, Ella Thomas Vardeman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Approximately 55% of the world’s population lives in cities, and the United Nations estimates that this number will rise to 68% by 2050. Urban ethnobotany, the study of people’s traditional knowledge and use of plants in cities, is increasingly important as people adapt their cultural traditions to changing environments. In New York City (NYC), there have been several urban ethnobotany investigations in collaboration with Caribbean immigrant groups. However, there has yet to be an ethnobotanical survey that documents and botanically authenticates the medicinal plants used in the Haitian community. Previous collaborative research with women from the Caribbean in NYC has …

Fire Fossils: Biomineral Infrastructures In Untangling Climates, Tanmayee More

Masters Theses

Diatoms drift, sediments sink, wildfires generate their own weather. Lightning strikes can blast sand into glass, and microscopic organisms do the same in the cold recesses of the ocean. What alchemies and metabolisms catalyze space, time, and energy? What are the thermodynamics of infrastructure in Climate Change?

Places, materials, and beings are afterimages. Through alchemical experiments, and multi-scalar imaging, I develop simulations of wildfires, and their profound, reverberating effects. In this thesis, a glass-meets-landscape experimental process enters these obscured conditions and renders new material relations for the built environment.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Maritime Goldfields (Lasthenia Maritima), Nora Dunkirk, Gabriel E. Campbell

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for maritime goldfields (Lasthenia maritima) using NatureServe methodology, 2025.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Clackamas Iris (Iris Tenuis), Nora Dunkirk

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Clackamas iris (Iris tenuis) using NatureServe methodology, 2025.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Siskiyou Iris (Iris Bracteata), Nora Dunkirk

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Siskiyou iris (Iris bracteata) using NatureServe methodology, 2025.

Pollinator Plant Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Hanen Van Rossem

Master's Theses

Historically the fire-dependent and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem was the dominant ecosystem of the Southeastern US. This ecosystem’s range was massively reduced due to land conversion and fire exclusion, causing the decline of many native species. Efforts to restore and protect longleaf pine stands are now ongoing with the goal of expanding habitat and refuge for threatened species. Differences in restoration practices and prior land use may influence the extent to which restored habitat patches can support pollinators and their plants. This study compared pollinator plant biodiversity between restored neighboring montane longleaf pine stands that differed in …

Molecular Crosstalk Of Transcription Factors And Hormones In Drought Tolerance Genes In Plants, Cengi̇z Kaya

Turkish Journal of Botany

Water deficit is a critical challenge to global agricultural productivity and food security, which is exacerbated by climate change and increasing water scarcity. To withstand drought stress, plants employ a variety of molecular strategies driven by complex regulatory networks. This review examines the central role of transcription factors (TFs) as master regulators that activate drought responsive genes, which in turn mediate key adaptive processes such as osmoregulation, antioxidative defense, and membrane stability. A distinctive aspect of this review is its focus on the dynamic interplay between TFs and hormonal signaling pathways, including abscisic acid, ethylene, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid. …

Natural Microbial Consortium Construction Strategy From Rhizospheric Agricultural Soils To Improve Wheat (Triticum Durum Desf.) Seedling Growth, Ni̇da Arslan, Mi̇ne Gül Şeker, Özlem Akkaya, Yelda Özden Çi̇ftçi̇

Turkish Journal of Botany

Microbial consortia of compatible microorganisms play a key role in enhancing agricultural sustainability by optimizing nutrient uptake by promoting plant growth more effectively. This study aimed to identify local isolates with the most effective plant growth-promoting (PGP) properties and to form a consortium of isolates showing the optimal synergistic effect between plant and bacterial components to improve the growth of wheat plants. For this purpose, 48 isolates identified from 145 isolates were screened for their PGP activities. According to the results, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to identify the six isolates exhibiting the most promising activity. Different consortium groups …

Taxonomic Revision Of Korean Salix Section Subviminales Based On Comparative Morphology And Complete Plastome Analysis, Young Moon Kim, Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh, Nudkhuu Nyamgerel, Won Seok Lee, Dong Chan Son, In Kyu Park, Bom Bi Jin, Hyo Sig Won, Hyeok Jae Choi

Turkish Journal of Botany

Salix section Subviminales, including only three species, is endemic to East Asia. In this study, we revised three species, S. gracilistyla, S. graciliglans, and S. blinii in Korea based on their plastomes and extensive morphological analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of their taxonomic relationships. Based on our findings, we identified the morphological characteristics of S. blinii endemic to Korea, including its small size and distinct leaf shapes, which are well distinguished from both S. gracilistyla and S. graciliglans. Most of the morphological characteristics of S. gracilistyla and S. graciliglans overlapped, particularly leaf shape, floral structure, and growth habits. Next, …