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Browse subject: forests
Number of records: 1380

British Columbia Ministry of Forests: Forest Regions and Districts Web Sites
About this Resource: The site provides links to and maps of districts in the Coast Forest Region, the Northern Interior Forest Region, and the Southern Interior Forest Region. The site also provides links to regions and districts, BC timber sales, a telephone directory, and a region and district map.

Alabama Forestry Commission
About this Resource: The Alabama Forestry Commission website contains the commission's advisories on good silvicultural management and practices, along with information regarding implementation, as well as information about the AFC's organization and mandates, a list of publications available via on-line ordering, and links to other sites on forestry.

Canadian Forest Service
About this Resource: The Canadian Forest Service site gives users information about the organization, such as programs, policy, science, where to find them, and what they do. There are links and publications as well.

Fundy Model Forest
About this Resource: The Fundy Model Forest is a part of the Canadian Model Forest Network. Here users will find information about the organization, their projects and upcoming events, as well as access to publications and multi-media products.

Eastern Ontario Model Forest
About this Resource: This site features the Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) and gives information about the forest. Also available are news and events, information on projects and initiatives, and maps and publications.

Forestland Steward Newsletter
About this Resource: Forestland Steward is produced quarterly by the California Forest Stewardship Program to "improve communication with forestland owners and provide better access to technical information that will help landowners become better stewards of their forestland." The newsletter is mailed out to a diverse audience of forestland owners, professionals, community organizations and other interested parties. Users can contact the organization to receive their own copy. The site offers access to recent and archived issues online.

Minnesota Historical Society, Forest History Center
About this Resource: This site is a portion of the Minnesota Historical Society and contains information about forest history in Minnesota. This resource also gives users information about visiting, including maps and tips. There is a section on programs that are held with links to school and group tour information as well as upcoming event and new exhibit information. A photo gallery allows the users to view numerous pictures from the past.

Native Forest Network
About this Resource: The Native Forest Network is made up of forest activists, indigenous peoples, conservation biologists, and non-governmental organization who work to protect the world's remaining native forests. The site provides links to upcoming events, related news, the Wildfire Info Center, the Last Refuge Campaign, Public Lands Project, and the Gondwana Forest Sanctuary. There are also links to a press room, action alerts, publications, and lists of related links.

Nordic Forest History Network
About this Resource: This webpage provides users with information such as news, a calender, and members associated with the Network. The page also provides links to other relevant sites.

World Forest Institute
About this Resource: The WFI is a division of the World Forestry Center and its webpage offers information on the organization and its staff members. The page also provides information on the International Fellowship Program, including sponsorship information, current fellows and alumni, and upcoming events. The WFI site allows users to access conference information and proceedings as well as information resources about general forestry information.

Urban National Forest Home Page
About this Resource: The Urban National Forest works to enhance our ability to address urban values and needs, to promote national understanding of the value of urban national forests, to build external constituencies to facilitate management of the Urban National Forests, and to develop State and Private Forests and research programs. Their website provides access to a Urban National Forest Directory, information about current issues, links to research and publications, and map and fact sheet links to Urban National Forests.

Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN)
About this Resource: This website is for the Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN). The site provides an overview of both Japan's tropical timber imports and timber trade and forestry. There is a summary of past activities as well as a section about current activities. A photo gallery is available and links to other webpages can be found here as well.

International Union of Forest Research Organizations
About this Resource: The International Union of Forest Research Organizations, IUFRO, is an international body founded in 1892. With more than 15,000 cooperating member scientists in over 700 member institutions in over 100 countries, the Union's principal vision is to promote science-based sustainable management of the worldís forest resources for economic, environmental and social benefits. This Home Page provides details on the Union, its' structure and divisions. The Union creates publications and an indexed link allows access to these online documents. The calendar listing identifies future meetings and a record is maintained of past events. IUFRO's on-line reference library, DABIS, is now accessible and BIC-C 2000 is the IUFRO database. All member organizations can be identified and contact information may also include URL's, if applicable. The website also has a generalized search engine.

The International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests
About this Resource: The International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests is a worldwide network of organisations representing indigenous and tribal peoples living in tropical forest regions. The website provides users with information about the organization and also a calendar of events. The site also provides information about significant meetings, conferences, and projects.

Evaluating reserves for species richness and representation in northern California
About this Resource: The Klamath-Siskiyou forests of northern California and southern Oregon are recognized as an area of globally outstanding biological distinctiveness. When evaluated at a national or global level, this region is often, necessarily, considered to be uniformly diverse. Due to large variation in biotic and abiotic variables throughout this region, however, it is unlikely that biological diversity is uniformly distributed. Furthermore, land management decisions nearly always occur at spatial scales smaller than this entire region. Therefore, we used field data from a random sampling design to map the distribution of local and regional richness of terrestrial molluscs and salamanders within northern California's portion of the Klamath-Siskiyou region. We also evaluated the protection afforded by reserves established for varying reasons (e.g. for inspiration and recreation for people vs. species conservation) to hotspots of species richness and species representation of these taxa. No existing reserves were created with these taxa in mind, yet it was assumed that reserves established largely around considerations for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) would afford adequate protection for many lesser-known species. Species of terrestrial molluscs and salamanders share two general features: (1) they have extremely low vagility, and (2) they are often associated with moist, cool microclimates. Existing reserves disproportionately included areas of hotspots of species richness for both taxa, when hotspots included the richest c. 25% of the area, whereas non-reserved lands contained greater than expected areas with lower species richness. However, when a more strict definition of hotspot was used (i.e. the richest c.10% of areas), local hotspots for both taxa were not disproportionately found in reserves. Reserves set aside largely for human aesthetics and recreation and those set aside for biodiversity both contributed to the protection of areas with high (greatest 25%) species richness. Existing biodiversity reserves represented 68% of mollusc species and 73% of salamander species, corresponding to the 99th and 93rd percentiles, respectively, of species representation achieved by simulating a random distribution of the same total area of reservation. Cumulatively, however, reserves set aside for inspiration and biodiversity represented 83% of mollusc species and 91% of salamander species. The existing reserves provide conservation value for terrestrial molluscs and salamanders. This reserve network, however, should not be considered optimal for either taxa.

Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)
About this Resource: OTS conducts graduate and undergraduate education, facilitates research, participates in tropical forest conservation, maintains three biological stations in Costa Rica and conducts environmental education programs. The webpage offers information about the Organization, including a powerpoint presentation. There is also news, and information on the following topics: study abroad; conservation activities; graduate program; biological stations; and visiting. There is also a database and library for access to publications.

Effect of thinning and prescribed fire restoration treatments on woody debris and snag dynamics in a Sierran old-growth, mixed-conifer forest
About this Resource: Forest managers have little information of the effects of common restoration treatments, thinning and burning, on dead woody material (DWM) dynamics in fire-suppressed forests. Fine woody debris (FWD; 0.6-29.9 cm), coarse woody debris (CWD; >or=30.0 cm), and snags (>or=5 cm) were inventoried and mapped in eighteen 4 ha plots before and after applying thinning (overstory, understory, and no thinning) and burning (burn and no burn) treatments. The combination of burning and thinning reduced FWD and CWD quantity and mean piece size, removed highly decayed logs, and increased small (5.0-24.9 cm) snag recruitment. In contrast, thin-only treatments produced similar results but increased FWD and did not remove many small snags. There were no differences in DWM response between the two thinning treatments. Log and snag spatial patterns prior to and following treatment were similar. These results indicate that burning in combination with thinning is more effective at reducing surface FWD and CWD, and removing small trees than are burn-only and thin-only treatments. Although large snags and logs were consumed in the burn, long-term recruitment of these habitat structures relies on managers retaining large-diameter trees. Repeated burns need to be conducted after initial restoration treatments to understand natural patterns of DWM.

Identifying woody plants valuable to wildlife in southern forests
About this Resource: Twigs, buds, and other key identification features are illustrated in color for 70 browse species common to pine-hardwood forests of the South.

Forecasting effects of sea-level rise and windstorms on coastal and inland ecosystems
About this Resource: We identify a continental-scale network of sites to evaluate how two aspects of climate change -- sea-level rise and intensification of windstorms -- will influence the structure, function, and capacity of coastal and inland forest ecosystems to deliver ecosystem services (eg carbon sequestration, storm protection, pollution control, habitat support, food). The network consists of coastal wetland and inland forest sites across the US and is representative of continental-level gradients of precipitation, temperature, vegetation, frequency of occurrence of major windstorms, value of insured properties, tidal range, watershed land use, and sediment availability. The network would provide real-time measurements of the characteristics of sea-level rise and windstorm events and would allow an assessment of the responses of wetlands, streams, and inland forests at spatial and temporal scales associated with sustainability of ecosystem services. We illustrate the potential of this approach with examples of hypotheses that could be tested across the network.

Associations Among Breeding Birds and Gambel Oak in Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Forests
About this Resource: Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests with Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) are associated with higher bird abundance and diversity than are ponderosa pine forests lacking Gambel oak. Little is known, however, about specific structural characteristics of Gambel oak trees, clumps, and stands that may be important to birds in ponderosa pine-Gambel oak (hereafter pine-oak) forests. We examined associations among breeding birds and structural characteristics of Gambel oak at a scale similar in size to individual bird territories in pine-oak forests in northern Arizona and western New Mexico, USA. Avian species richness and occurrence of some bird species were associated with specific growth forms of Gambel oak. Estimated probability of Virginia's warblers (Vermivora virginiae), black-headed grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus), and red-faced warblers (Cardellina rubrifrons) occurring at points increased with increasing density of pole-sized Gambel oak 7-15 cm in diameter at breast height. We also found evidence that large Gambel oak trees (23 cm dbh) were associated with increased occurrence of yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata) at points. Some avian associations with oak were influenced by characteristics of ponderosa pines. For example, bird species richness was positively associated with the abundance of large Gambel oak when density of large pine trees 23 cm in diameter at breast height was low. Because large oak trees are rare and their numbers are thought to be declining, efforts should be made to retain and promote growth of additional oaks in this size class. Forest management practices that maintain forest openings, such as prescribed burning, could promote growth of pole-sized Gambel oak, which appears important to some bird species in pine-oak forests.

Reaching a forest land per capita milestone in the United States
About this Resource: During April 2007, forest land per capita in the United States dropped below 1 ha. This is the result of a rather static area of forest land in the United States for the past 100 years combined with population growth. The US now joins the ranks of most countries (77%) having forest land per capita below 1 ha. The combination of an increasing human population with stable or increasing per capita natural resource utilization may place even more demand on resources derived from forest land in the future. The forest land per capita should be expected to continue its downward trend unless substantive demographic, resource utilization, and land-use changes occur.

Spatial Ecology of a Canada Lynx Population in Northern Maine
About this Resource: Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) were listed as a federally threatened species in 14 states at the southern extent of their geographic range in March 2000, with Maine being the only state in the northeastern United States known to support a resident population. Relatively little information is known about the ecology of lynx living at the southern edge of their range, including range requirements, movements, and spatial organization. Basic knowledge of lynx ecology is needed for federal recovery planning efforts. Between 1999 and 2004, we trapped and radiocollared 43 lynx (21 M, 22 F) in northern Maine in an intensively managed and predominantly early successional forested landscape. We estimated diurnal annual and seasonal home-range size for male and female lynx using the 85% fixed-kernel home-range estimator. Annual home ranges of adult male lynx ( = 53.6 km2) were more than twice the size of adult female home ranges ( = 25.7 km2). Home ranges of adult females during snow periods ( = 38.3 km2) were nearly 3 times larger than their snow-free-period ranges ( = 14.3 km2), whereas, snow-free ranges of adult males ( = 58.8 km2) were slightly larger than their snow-period ranges ( = 45.2 km2). We observed a limited amount of home-range overlap among lynx of the same sex (F: = 17.2%; M: = 11.8%). Lynx of opposite sex showed more extensive overlap ( = 24.3%). Most home-range shifts of resident lynx were typically not extensive. Based on territory mapping, we estimated a minimum lynx density of 9.2-13.0 lynx/100 km2. We observed lynx spatial ecology and densities that were more similar to northern lynx populations when hares were abundant than to other southern lynx populations, suggesting that region-specific studies under varying habitat conditions and hare densities are needed to ensure realistic recovery goals and effective management of lynx at the southern extent of their range.

Production of Total Potentially Soluble Organic C, N, and P Across an Ecosystem Chronosequence: Root versus Leaf Litter
About this Resource: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays several important roles in forest ecosystem development, undergoing chemical, physical and/or biological reactions that affect ecosystem nutrient retention. Very few studies have focused on gross rates of DOM production, and we know of no study that has directly measured DOM production from root litter. Our objectives were to quantify major sources of total potentially water-soluble organic matter (DOMtps) production, with an emphasis on production from root litter, to quantify and compare total potentially soluble organic C, N, and P (DOCtps, DONtps, and DOPtps) production, and to quantify changes in their production during forest primary succession and ecosystem development at the Mt. Shasta Mudflows ecosystem chronosequence. To do so, we exhaustively extracted freshly senesced root and leaf and other aboveground litter for DOCtps, DONtps, and DOPtps by vegetation category, and we calculated DOMtps production (g m⁻² y⁻¹) at the ecosystem level using data for annual production of fine root and aboveground litter. DOM production from throughfall was calculated by measuring throughfall volume and concentration over 2 years. Results showed that DOMtps production from root litter was a very important source of DOMtps in the Mount Shasta mudflow ecosystems, in some cases comparable to production from leaf litter for DONtps and larger than production from leaf litter for DOPtps. Total DOCtps and DONtps production from all sources increased early in succession from the 77- to the 255-year-old ecosystem. However, total DOPtps production across the ecosystem chronosequence showed a unique pattern. Generally, the relative importance of root litter for total fine detrital DOCtps and DONtps production increased significantly during ecosystem development. Furthermore, DOCtps and DONtps production were predominantly driven by changes in biomass production during ecosystem development, whereas changes in litter solubility due to changes in species composition had a smaller effect. We suggest that DOMtps production from root litter may be an important source of organic matter for the accumulation of SOM during forest ecosystem development.

Forage evapotranspiration and photosynthetically active radiation interception in proximity to deciduous trees
About this Resource: Practically all of the extensive body of research on evapotranspiration (ET) in agricultural systems has been done for open fields. There is a lack of information on how the microclimate variability within silvopasture systems affects water requirements of forages. Small 26cm diameter, 23cm deep lysimeters planted with either orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) or tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub) were placed in the ground along the north and south edge of two 15m widex50m deep notches cleared into a mature second growth hardwood forest. One notch opened to pasture on the east receiving more early day solar radiation and one to pasture on the west receiving more wind and late day solar radiation. There was no significant difference in ET between orchardgrass and tall fescue. North edges, receiving more direct beam radiation, had significantly higher ET (39%) than south edges which received a higher percentage of diffuse radiation. The west notch had significantly higher ET (11%) than the east notch. At the sunniest sites, advection provided 20% of the energy used for ET while at the shadiest sites it provided more than half (56%) with the rest provided by incident solar radiation. Dates where photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was restricted by clouds resulted in decreased ET relative to PAR compared to more sunny days. However, sites where PAR was restricted by tree shade had higher ET relative to PAR than more open sites. These results indicate tree modification of microclimate does not decrease forage ET to the extent that PAR is decreased.

An Evaluation of the Contribution of Cultivated Allspice (Pimenta Dioca) to Vertebrate Biodiversity Conservation in Nicaragua
About this Resource: Tropical deforestation has emerged as one of the most important conservation challenges of our time, both because of the high species diversity and rates of endemism of tropical forests, and because of the rapid rate at which this process is proceeding. Recent studies indicate that areas of low-intensity agroforestry have similar levels of vertebrate diversity as some primary habitats, leading some researchers and conservationists to conclude that this type of commodity production could contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. We compared the composition of bird, mammal and herpetofaunal communities in primary forest, secondary forest, and pasture--and within the allspice productive systems that have replaced pasture. We found that mammal species richness was higher in primary forest than all other habitats; however for resident and migrant birds, amphibians and reptiles, species richness was similar between primary forest and the other habitats. Despite similarities in overall numbers of species, there were numerous species that were encountered only in primary habitats. We conclude that the cultivation of allspice in a mixed productive system can offset some of the losses to biodiversity; however it should be complemented by the establishment and maintenance of protected areas to accommodate populations of primary forest specialists that are unable to persist in altered habitats.

Testing IsoSource: stable isotope analysis of a tropical fishery with diverse organic matter sources.
About this Resource: We sampled consumers and organic matter sources (mangrove litter, freshwater swamp-forest litter, seagrasses, seagrass epiphytes, and marine particulate organic matter [MPOM]) from four estuaries on Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia for stable isotope (sigma13C and sigma34S) analysis. Unique mixing solutions cannot be calculated in a dual-isotope, five-endmember scenario, so we tested IsoSource, a recently developed statistical procedure that calculates ranges in source contributions (i.e., minimum and maximum possible). Relatively high minimum contributions indicate significant sources, while low maxima indicate otherwise. Litter from the two forest types was isotopically distinguishable but had low average minimum contributions (0-8% for mangrove litter and 0% for swamp-forest litter among estuaries). Minimum contribution of MPOM was also low, averaging 0-13% among estuaries. Instead, local marine sources dominated contributions to consumers. Minimum contributions of seagrasses averaged 8-47% among estuaries (range 0-88% among species). Minimum contributions of seagrass epiphytes averaged 5-27% among estuaries (range 0-69% among species). IsoSource enabled inclusion of five organic matter sources in our dual-isotope analysis, ranking trophic importance as follows: seagrasses > seagrass epiphytes > MPOM > mangrove forest > freshwater swamp-forest. IsoSource is thus a useful step toward understanding which of multiple organic matter sources support food webs; more detailed work is necessary to identify unique solutions.

Science Information for Informing Forest Fuel Management in the Dry Forests of the Western United States.
About this Resource: Land managers need timely and straightforward access to the best scientific information available for informing decisions on how to treat forest fuels in the dry forests of the western United States. However, although there is a tremendous amount of information available for informing fuels management decisions, often, it is in a form that is difficult to use or of limited applicability. To improve access, interpretability, and use of the full body of research, a pilot project was initiated by the USDA Forest Service to synthesize relevant scientific information and develop publications and decisions support tools that managers can use to inform fuels treatment plans. This article provides an overview of the project and briefly discusses key lessons learned as an introduction to a series of articles, to be published in future Journal of Forestry issues, on different topic areas addressed by the project.

Detection Probabilities of Woodpecker Nests in Mixed Conifer Forests in Oregon
About this Resource: Accurate estimates of Black-backed (Picoides arcticus) and Hairy Woodpecker (P. villosus) nests and nest survival rates in post-fire landscapes provide land managers with information on the relative importance of burned forests to nesting woodpeckers. We conducted multiple-observer surveys in burned and unburned mixed coniferous forests in Oregon to identify important factors influencing detection rates of woodpecker nests. We found 21 Black-backed Woodpecker nests and 38 Hairy Woodpecker nests in burned forest, and three Hairy Woodpecker nests in unburned forest. Competing models of detection probability in Program MARK indicated that nest-detection probability differed by nest stage. We found no evidence to indicate that detection rates of nests were associated with survey timing during the nesting season. Raw nest counts in burned coniferous forests may underestimate nest numbers, especially for nests in early stages of development. Black-backed Woodpecker nests were slightly more detectable than those of Hairy Woodpeckers in burned forests, and observers may differ in their abilities to detect nests.

Oligocene terrestrial strata of northwestern Ethiopia: a preliminary report on paleoenvironments and paleontology
About this Resource: The Paleogene record of Afro-Arabia is represented by few fossil localities, most of which are coastal. Here we report sedimentological and paleontological data from continental Oligocene strata in northwestern Ethiopia. These have produced abundant plant fossils and unique assemblages of vertebrates, thus filling a gap in what is known of Paleogene interior Afro-Arabia. The study area is approximately 60 km west of Gondar, Chilga Woreda; covers about 100 km2; and represents as few as 1 Myr based on radiometric dates and paleomagnetic chronostratigraphy. The sedimentary strata are 150 m thick, and dominated by kaolinitic and smectitic mudstones and airfall tuff deposits. Five main paleosol types are interpreted as representing Protosols (gleyed or ferric), Histosols, Gleysols, Vertisols, and Argillisols. Varied, poor drainage conditions produced lateral variation in paleosols, and stratigraphic variation probably resulted from lateral changes in drainage conditions through time. Vertebrate fossils occur in sediments associated with ferric Protosols and occur with fruits, seeds, and leaf impressions. Plant fossils also occur as in situ forests on interfluves, leaf and flower compressions associated with in situ carbonized trees in overbank deposits (Gleyed Protosols), and compressions of leaves, twigs and seeds in tuffs. Plant fossil assemblages document diverse forests, from 20-35 m tall, of locally heterogeneous composition, and representing families occurring commonly (legumes) or uncommonly (palms) in forests today. Sedimentological and paleobotanical data are consistent with a nearly flat landscape where a meandering river and ample rainfall supported lush vegetation. Over time, the region was subject to intermittent ashfalls. A unique fauna of archaic mammalian endemics, such as arsinoitheres and primitive hyracoids, lived here with the earliest deinotheres.

Forest History Society
About this Resource: The Forest History Society's focus is from a North American perspective within a global context. Established in 1946 and incorporated as a nonprofit educational institution in 1955, the Forest History Society has grown steadily in response to increasing public concern about our forest heritage. The site has many features. The Alvin J. Huss Archives has collections from: the American Forest Council (now the American Forest and Paper Association); the American Forestry Association (now American Forests); the National Forest Products Association (now part of the American Forest and Paper Association) and the Society of American Foresters. The archives also covers international topics with the John Richards Collection. The archives include photographic material, oral history and films. The site describes the Carl A. Weyerhauser Library. Several bibliographies can be searched, including; the Environmental History Bibliography; Forests in Fiction; A History of the U.S. Forest Service and the Environment of South and Southeast Asia. Publications are also online. These include: "Forest History Today" and "The Forest Timeline". Both are accessible in pdf-based files. The Society is engaged in several projects. "If Trees Could Talk" is a middle school course devoted to environmental history. The "Birthplace of American Forestry" supports online documents and photos of the Biltmore Forest School; "Centennial Foresters" documents the profession as it turns toward the 21st century; the "International Consortium of Environmental History Organziations (ICE-HO) encourages international discussion on the topic.

Breeding Birds in Riparian and Upland Dry Forests of the Cascade Range
About this Resource: We quantified breeding bird abundance, diversity, and indicator species in riparian and upland dry forests along 6 third- to fourth-order streams on the east slope of the Cascade Range, Washington, USA. Upland dry forest on southerly aspects was dominated by open ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and dry Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plant associations. Upland mesic forest on northerly aspects was dominated by closed-canopy Douglas-fir or dry grand fir (Abies grandis) plant associations. Riparian overstory vegetation was dominated by black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) plant associations with a prominent hardwood tree and shrub component. We quantified bird assemblages, diversity, and abundance from parallel point transects on riparian and adjacent dry and mesic upslope forests. We detected 80 bird species from .12,000 point-transect observations during 1998-1999. Eighteen species accounted for 75% of all detections. Species richness and evenness were similar in all 3 forest types, with approximately 35 species and high evenness (0.85) in each forest type. Bird species assemblages differed among dry, mesic, and riparian forest types, with the greatest differences between riparian and both dry and mesic upland forests. Riparian forest had the greatest number (9) of strong characteristic, or indictor, species among the 3 forest types. Upland mesic forest was characterized by 7 indicator species. Upland dry forest had 4 indicator species. Our results indicate that current standards and guidelines for riparian buffers zones would allow for avian refuge and corridor functions along these streams. Forest managers could use our indicator species to predict and monitor shifts in upland forest species composition from thinning and prescribed burning practices that are used to reduce fuels in uplands and to reduce continuity of fire effects between riparian and upland zones.

Department of Entomology | Michigan State University
About this Resource: Access point for the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University. A source for news and information from the Department; staff directories are online as well as explanations of research. Specialists in extension and outreach are available. The web page features a link to the Albert J. Cook Arthropod Collection at MSU.

National Council for Science and the Environment
About this Resource: The National Council for Science and the Environment seeks to improve the promotion of science by enhancing programs at academic institutions and by catalyzing and advancing science for diverse communities. NCSE seeks to accomplish this through information exchange and by resolving environmental challenges. This link accesses the home page for the Council and links at the top of the top of the page point to source information related to various minority programs. A key resource located from this service is a pointer to the National Library of the Environment (NLE). NLE is designed to serve as a gateway for science-based information and includes updates from Congressional Research Service Updates.

Arkansas Forest Resources Center
About this Resource: AFRC is an Internet resource through the University of Arkansas. AFRC is considered the premier source of forest-based natural resource information in the state of Arkansas. The resource includes information and programs for non-industrial landowners, forest industry, government and non-governmental ownerships. The resource also offers information on undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Arkansas and reports and publications completed.

CSIRO Tropical Forest Research Centre
About this Resource: This resource is a division of CSIRO which is a scientific global research organization. The site provides research project information and contacts. This information is sorted by topic or group for easy searching. Facilities and staff expertise are explained and a photo gallery is provided for educational purposes. Links to CSIRO divisions pertaining to tropical forestry are provided as well.

Longleaf Alliance
About this Resource: The Longleaf Alliance was established in 1995 with the express purpose of coordinating a partnership between private landowners, forest industries, state and federal agencies, conservation groups, researchers, and other enthusiasts interested in managing and restoring longleaf pine forests for their ecological and economic benefits. The page provides conference and other activity and event information, as well as award information and member information such as how to become a member. The website is also a resource for basic longleaf pine forest information and how to manage and restore these forests. There is educator information, job listings, current event information, and a forum for discussion. There is also a video entitled "Partners in Action" that can be watched.

Forest Resource Environmental Educational Network | University of Minnesota
About this Resource: A coalition composed of state and federal agencies that are working with and include the University of Minnesota, and various forest product companies in Minnesota; F.R.E.E. (the Forest Environmental Education Network) is facilitating the dissemination of educational information about forest resources and their products. Educational resources are provided for teachers and children. Includes research resources as well.

Comparing Scat Detection Dogs, Cameras, and Hair Snares for Surveying Carnivores
About this Resource: Carnivores typically require large areas of habitat, exist at low natural densities, and exhibit elusive behavior--characteristics that render them difficult to study. Noninvasive survey methods increasingly provide means to collect extensive data on carnivore occupancy, distribution, and abundance. During the summers of 2003-2004, we compared the abilities of scat detection dogs, remote cameras, and hair snares to detect black bears (Ursus americanus), fishers (Martes pennanti), and bobcats (Lynx rufus) at 168 sites throughout Vermont. All 3 methods detected black bears; neither fishers nor bobcats were detected by hair snares. Scat detection dogs yielded the highest raw detection rate and probability of detection (given presence) for each of the target species, as well as the greatest number of unique detections (i.e., occasions when only one method detected the target species). We estimated that the mean probability of detecting the target species during a single visit to a site with a detection dog was 0.87 for black bears, 0.84 for fishers, and 0.27 for bobcats. Although the cost of surveying with detection dogs was higher than that of remote cameras or hair snares, the efficiency of this method rendered it the most cost-effective survey method

Winter Bird Population Studies and Project Prairie Birds for Surveying Grassland Birds
About this Resource: We compared 2 survey methods for assessing winter bird communities in temperate grasslands: Winter Bird Population Study surveys are area-searches that have long been used in a variety of habitats whereas Project Prairie Bird surveys employ active-flushing techniques on strip-transects and are intended for use in grasslands. We used both methods to survey birds on 14 herbaceous-reforested sites and 9 coastal pine savannas during winter and compared resultant estimates of species richness and relative abundance. These techniques did not yield similar estimates of avian populations. We found Winter Bird Population Studies consistently produced higher estimates of species richness, whereas Project Prairie Birds produced higher estimates of avian abundance for some species. When it is important to identify all species within the winter bird community, Winter Bird Population Studies should be the survey method of choice. If estimates of the abundance of relatively secretive grassland bird species are desired, the use of Project Prairie Birds protocols is warranted. However, we suggest that both survey techniques, as currently employed, are deficient and recommend distance-based survey methods that provide species-specific estimates of detection probabilities be incorporated into these survey methods.

The Impact of Federal and State Income Tax Liabilities on Timber Investments in the West.
About this Resource: Federal and state income taxes are calculated for hypothetical forest landowners in two income brackets across 13 states in the West to illustrate the effects of differential state tax treatment. The income tax liability is calculated in a year in which the timber owners harvest $200,000 worth of timber. State income taxes range from highs of $19,693 for middle-income and $34,993 for high-income landowners in Oregon to no income tax in Alaska, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. After-tax land expectation values for a forest landowner in Oregon are also calculated to illustrate the importance of tax planning on returns to a timber investment. The need for adequate tax accounting is supported by the results.

Using occupancy estimation to assess the effectiveness of a regional multiple-species conservation plan: Bats in the Pacific Northwest
About this Resource: Regional conservation plans are increasingly used to plan for and protect biodiversity at large spatial scales however the means of quantitatively evaluating their effectiveness are rarely specified. Multiple-species approaches, particular those which employ site-occupancy estimation, have been proposed as robust and efficient alternatives for assessing the status of wildlife populations over large spatial scales, but implemented examples are few. I used bats as a model to evaluate design considerations for the use of occupancy estimation to assess population status and habitat associations for eight species of bats covered under a regional conservation plan. Bats were one of the groups expected to benefit from a system of reserves for species associated with late-successional/old-growth (LSOG) habitat designated under the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). This study produced the first estimates for probabilities of occupancy and detection for bats at a regional scale. Overall probabilities of occupancy ranged from 0.586 to 0.783 and probabilities of detection ranged from 0.239 to 0.532 among the eight species modeled. Although point estimates of occupancy suggested association with NWFP habitat categories for some species, estimate precision was low. Models that assumed constant occupancy with respect to reserve- and LSOG-status were supported for most species. I used model-averaged estimates of occupancy and detection for each species to estimate survey effort necessary to meet precision targets. Occupancy estimation was best suited to species with the highest detection probabilities. Species that are rare or difficult to detect will require enhancement in survey methods or more intensive survey effort to produce meaningful estimates. Optimizing monitoring efforts to address multiple species requires tradeoffs among survey methods, levels of effort, and acceptable levels of precision.

Exotic Forest Pest Information System | North American Forest Commission
About this Resource: A searchable database that offers fact sheets on pests that threaten North American forests. The NAFC ExFor Database is open to all; it requires user registration, however. The link also provides details on how to contribute records to the system. A joint project involving the Insect and Disease Study Group of the North American Forest Commission (NAFC); which include: the Canadian Forest Service, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, SEMARNAT (Sanidad Forestal, Mexico), the United States Department of Agriculture's - Forest Service and Animal Plant Inspection Service. Also includes access for an online discussion forum on the database.

Predation of gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) pupae in three ecosystems along the southern edge of infestation
About this Resource: The predation potential of small mammals, in particular mice, Peromyscus spp., and invertebrates, was evaluated from 1992 to 1995 near the leading edge of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), spread into the southeastern United States. Two study sites were established in each of three geographic areas: the coastal plain, Piedmont, and mountains. All sites were mixed hardwood stands with varying amounts of oak, Quercus spp., and all were classified for gypsy moth susceptibility. Small mammal density was estimated using Sherman live-traps and pitfall traps within these 4.68-ha sites in early and late summer. Each site contained 75 trapping stations located on a 25-m grid. Predation was measured by offering freeze-dried gypsy moth pupae near trapping stations at four heights (0, 0.25, 1.0, and 2.0 m) on different tree boles. Pupal predation was monitored for three consecutive nights. Vertebrate predation was positively correlated with good mast production in the previous autumn. Predation data showed that when mice were at high densities they were the major source of pupal predation. However, within these southern sites, when densities of Peromyscus spp. were low, predation by invertebrates was occasionally greater than predation by vertebrates. These data suggest that in some years invertebrates may retard gypsy moth buildup when small mammals are scarce due to mast crop failures.

Sediment concentration and turbidity changes during culvert removals
About this Resource: The concentrations of sediment and turbidity in stream water were monitored during culvert removals to determine the short term effects of road obliteration. Sediment concentration was measured at 11 stream crossings among two locations in Idaho and one in Washington. Sediment concentration immediately below the culvert outlet exceeded levels above the culvert outlet by at least three orders of magnitude at all stream crossings. Sediment yields ranged from 170 to less than 1 kg in the 24-h period following culvert removal. Turbidity exceeded the regulatory limits during culvert removal at all locations monitored in this study and remained above the limits beyond the monitoring periods of 24 h at four of the locations. Sediment concentrations 100m downstream of the culvert outlet were reduced by an order of magnitude, but did not change the turbidity values sufficiently to meet regulatory limits. Sediment concentrations an average of 810m downstream of the culvert outlet were similar to sediment concentrations above the culvert for the entire excavation period and turbidity regulations were met. Mitigation consisting of two straw bales placed in the stream caused a significant reduction in sediment yield from an average of 67 kg to an average of 1.6 kg. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Horizontal Measurement Performance of Five Mapping-Grade Global Positioning System Receiver Configurations in Several Forested Settings.
About this Resource: We examined the horizontal measurement performance of five mapping-grade GPS receiver configurations operating simultaneously at three measurement test sites established in open sky, young forest, and closed canopy conditions. Two of the GPS receivers had external antennas, and two receivers were configured to collect data with real-time differential corrections through the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The GPS receivers collected data using 1-, 30-, and 60-point recording intervals to test the influence of the number of point recordings on position determination. We also postprocessed all data to examine the influence of differential corrections. We found statistically significant differences in measurement accuracy between GPS receiver configurations that had an external antenna and receivers that did not. The top performer for unprocessed data collected measurements with real-time differential corrections and had average measurement errors of 0.4, 0.8, and 2.2 m, in open sky, young forest, and closed canopy conditions, respectively. The top performer for postprocessed data had average measurement errors of 0.2, 0.1, and 1.2 m, in open sky, young forest, and closed canopy conditions, respectively. The influence of number of points on measurement accuracy was observed between the 1- and 30-point intervals, with no statistically significant differences between the 30- and 60-point intervals. No statistically significant difference resulted in WAAS measurements that were postprocessed. The measurement accuracies we report are acceptable for many natural resource measurement applications. These findings encourage the use of external antennas when using GPS receivers under forest canopy. In addition, point recording intervals of 30 appear to be efficient for accurate measurements with mapping-grade GPS receivers.

Canopy nitrogen, carbon assimilation, and albedo in temperate and boreal forests: Functional relations and potential climate feedbacks
About this Resource: The availability of nitrogen represents a key constraint on carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, and it is largely in this capacity that the role of N in the Earth's climate system has been considered. Despite this, few studies have included continuous variation in plant N status as a driver of broad-scale carbon cycle analyses. This is partly because of uncertainties in how leaf-level physiological relationships scale to whole ecosystems and because methods for regional to continental detection of plant N concentrations have yet to be developed. Here, we show that ecosystem CO₂ uptake capacity in temperate and boreal forests scales directly with whole-canopy N concentrations, mirroring a leaf-level trend that has been observed for woody plants worldwide. We further show that both CO₂ uptake capacity and canopy N concentration are strongly and positively correlated with shortwave surface albedo. These results suggest that N plays an additional, and overlooked, role in the climate system via its influence on vegetation reflectivity and shortwave surface energy exchange. We also demonstrate that much of the spatial variation in canopy N can be detected by using broad-band satellite sensors, offering a means through which these findings can be applied toward improved application of coupled carbon cycle-climate models.

Factors Affecting Golden-Cheeked Warbler Nest Survival in Urban and Rural Landscapes
About this Resource: We evaluated hypotheses concerning temporal, landscape, and habitat effects on nest survival of golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia) in an urban and a rural landscape during the breeding seasons of 2005 and 2006 in central Texas, USA. We found support for temporal effects of year and cubic effect of date and included them in candidate models that evaluated habitat and landscape effects. Nest survival was lower in 2006 than in 2005 and decreased nonlinearly as the breeding season progressed. We found support for edge effects with decreased nest survival nearer edges and in areas with increased open edge density (wooded habitat abutting open habitat) or decreased trail density. However, confidence intervals for the model-averaged odds ratios overlapped 1.0 for all edge variables. Overall daily survival rate was 0.964 (95% CI = 0.949-0.975), resulting in a 25-day period survival of 0.398 (95% CI = 0.269-0.524). Period survival in Austin's urban landscape (0.399, 95% CI = 0.270-0.526) was similar to survival in Fort Hood's rural landscape (0.396, 95% CI = 0.261-0.528). Both landscapes likely support self-sustaining populations based on reasonable assumptions for adult survival and number of nesting attempts. We suggest that some large urban preserves can provide breeding habitat of comparable quality to rural locations and recommend protecting large parcels (>100 ha) of breeding habitat with limited fragmentation and reducing the amount of wooded edge abutting open habitat to ensure nest survival regardless of their landscape context.

Influence of the Forest Canopy on Total and Methyl Mercury Deposition in the Boreal Forest
About this Resource: Atmospheric mercury deposition by wet and dry processes contributes mercury to terrestrial and aquatic systems. Factors influencing the amount of mercury deposited to boreal forests were identified in this study. Throughfall and open canopy precipitation samples were collected in 2005 and 2006 using passive precipitation collectors from pristine sites located across the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, USA. Samples were collected approximately every 2 weeks and analyzed for total (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg). Forest canopy type and density were the primary influences on THg and MeHg deposition. Highest THg and MeHg concentrations were measured beneath conifer canopies (THg mean = 19.02 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.28 ng L⁻¹) followed by deciduous throughfall (THg mean = 12.53 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.19 ng L⁻¹) then open precipitation (THg mean = 8.19 ng L⁻¹; MeHg mean = 0.12 ng L⁻¹). The greater efficiency of conifers at scavenging THg and MeHg from the atmosphere may increase the risk of mercury related water quality issues in conifer-dominated systems.

Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr. mortality will impact hydrologic processes in southern Appalachian forest ecosystems
About this Resource: Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.) is one of the principal riparian and cove canopy species in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Throughout its range, eastern hemlock is facing potential widespread mortality from the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). If HWA-induced eastern hemlock mortality alters hydrologic function, land managers will be challenged to develop management strategies that restore function or mitigate impacts. To estimate the impact that the loss of this forest species will have on the hydrologic budget, we quantified and modeled transpiration over a range of tree sizes and environmental conditions. We used heat dissipation probes, leaf-level gas-exchange measurements, allometric scaling, and time series modeling techniques to quantify whole-tree and leaf-level transpiration (EL) of eastern hemlock. We monitored trees ranging from 9.5 to 67.5 cm in diameter along a riparian corridor in western North Carolina, USA during 2004 and 2005. Maximum rates of daily tree water use varied by diameter and height, with large trees transpiring a maximum of 178-186 kg H2O·tree-1·d-1. Values of EL could be predicted from current and lagged environmental variables. We forecasted eastern hemlock EL for inventoried stands and estimated a mean annual transpiration rate of 63.3 mm/yr for the hemlock component, with 50% being transpired in the winter and spring. In typical southern Appalachian stands, eastern hemlock mortality would thus reduce annual stand-level transpiration by 10% and reduce winter and spring stand-level transpiration by 30%. Eastern hemlock in the southern Appalachians has two distinct ecohydrological roles: an evergreen tree that maintains year-round transpiration rates and a riparian tree that has high transpiration rates in the spring. No other native evergreen in the southern Appalachians will likely fill the ecohydrological role of eastern hemlock if widespread mortality occurs. With the loss of this species, we predict persistent increases in discharge, decreases in the diurnal amplitude of streamflow, and increases in the width of the variable source area.

UINTAS 2006: the Uinta Interdisciplinary Assessment Symposium, Snowbird, Utah, May 2006--Introduction
About this Resource: The Uinta Mountains are a spectacular and unique range of the Rocky Mountain system. Running east-west for more than 150 km across northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado, they contain the highest summits in Utah (elevations greater than 4000 m a.s.l.), vast areas of alpine tundra, glacial lakes, immense compound cirques, and deep fluvial canyons. The range forms the northern and southern boundaries for many forest species common to the Colorado Plateau and the northern Rockies, respectively. It is also characterized by steep temperature and moisture gradients and is situated at the boundary between three air masses of the interior western United States (Mitchell, 1976). Indeed, the Uinta Mountains are an exceptional natural laboratory where questions germane to ecology, climatology, geology, and numerous other disciplines in alpine research can be effectively investigated. For example, recent research in the Uinta Mountains spans topics ranging from Pleistocene glacial chronology and climate (e.g., Munroe et al., 2006); to studies of lake and fluvial-sediment records exploring the impact of grazing, air-quality changes (e.g., Moser, 2005), and geomorphic processes on sedimentation (e.g., Carson, 2005); to Holocene treeline elevation responses to climate change (Siderius, 2004). In an effort to provide a forum in which researchers interested in these and other topics could meet to share and discuss their research, Jeff Munroe organized UINTAS 2006: the Uinta Interdisciplinary Assessment Symposium. This special section of Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research includes 10 articles describing results of Uinta Mountain research presented at the symposium, all of which either build upon previous studies in the range or explore topics of alpine research, chiefly geomorphology, limnogeology, biogeography, paleoclimatology, and ecology. The underlying goal of this special section is to highlight the importance of current and future research in this relatively understudied, yet accessible, region of western North America.