Articles
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Can resource objective wildfire be leveraged to restore old growth forests while stabilizing carbon?
https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/can-resource-objective-wildfire-be-leveraged-restore-old-growth-forests-whileModeled scenarios suggest that aggressive forest restoration activities coupled with expanded use of managed wildfire in the southwestern United States may restore old growth forest structure and stabilize carbon in the long term – but must be weighed against short-term trade-offs.by Jesse D. Young, Alan Ager2 min read -
https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/life-cycle-modeling-reveals-high-recovery-potential-risk-wild-chinook-salmon-improvedRestoring the Snake River migratory corridor would increase Chinook salmon survival along their migration route and boost population growth throughout the Middle Fork Salmon River.by Russ F. Thurow2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/strengthening-global-native-seed-supply-divergent-approaches-and-convergent-solutionsScientists analyzed the success of current native seed supply systems from around the world to provide guidance and inspiration for future native seed markets.by Nancy L. Shaw2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/srs/articles/fire-birds-bird-abundance-doubled-severely-burned-areas-southern-appalachiaIn the Southern Appalachians, fires that kill mature trees create habitat for birds - especially the species that depend on young forests and early successional habitat. But even bird species that are not considered disturbance-dependent were more abundant in areas that burned more severely.by Sarah Farmer4 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/postfire-tree-mortality-and-recovery-its-all-about-carbsThe loss of nonstructural carbohydrates after fire may be the link between fire-caused injury and tree mortality.by Charlotte Reed, Sharon M. Hood1 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/how-two-record-shattering-years-megafires-california-affected-wildlife-habitatIn just two years, one hundred vertebrate species experienced burning over at least 10 percent of their ranges.by Gavin M. Jones2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/rethinking-cost-share-programs-case-study-wildfire-risk-mitigation-assistance-privateLower income households may have the most to gain from wildfire mitigation cost-share programs, as they have the greatest financial need and tend to be the most vulnerable to wildfire hazards. New research sees if financial incentives alone can encourage low-income household participation.by Patricia A. Champ2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/dataset-us-incident-management-situation-reports-2007-2021This 15-year dataset of daily summaries of wildland fire activity across 10 geographical regions in the U.S. enables researchers and practitioners to study historical wildfire activity and resource use across regions and time, examine fire management perceptions, evaluate strategies for fire prioritization and fire resource allocation, and exploit other broader usage to improve wildfire management and response in the United States.by Erin J. Belval, Karen C. Short, Dave E. Calkin2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/go-belowground-researchers-collaborate-great-plainsIn May and June of 2023, a group of scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the Czech Academy of Science's Institute of Botany documented important belowground plant structures on the Great Plains.by Jacqueline P. Ott2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/have-fire-regimes-and-fire-effects-changed-sonoran-desert-scrublandsLearn about historical and contemporary fire regimes in Sonoran desert scrub communities and how individual plant species respond to fire through recently published syntheses in the Fire Effects Information System.by Ilana Abrahamson, Kristin L. Zouhar, Robin J. Innes2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/articles/experiment-co-producing-fire-and-smoke-scienceIn early October 2023, nearly fifty research scientists and technicians collaborating with the USDA Forest Service-sponsored Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE) gathered on the Fishlake National Forest to collect measurements from a rare stand-replacing prescribed fire. Developing new approaches to predict fire and smoke behavior, scientists representing the USDA Forest Service,...by Vita Wright6 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/identifying-future-seed-needs-using-fire-historyGeospatial data on historic fire disturbance can be used to forecast future seed needs for restoration and conservation planning.by Sarah C. Barga, Francis F. Kilkenny, Scott L. Jensen2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/bacterial-denitrification-drives-elevated-nitrous-oxide-emissions-arid-southernDespite dry and hot summers, denitrifiers endure through months in deserts and produce large nitrous oxide emissions after rainfall.by Alexander Krichels1 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/riparian-aquatic-and-groundwater-dependent-ecosystems-southern-oregon-and-northernA new assessment provides information on the current conditions of riparian, aquatic, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems on five national forests in northern California and southern Oregon, including the drivers, primary and secondary stressors, and ecological integrity markers.by D. Max Smith, Katelyn P. Driscoll2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/genotypes-lower-latitudes-are-less-susceptible-insect-herbivoryLatitude of genotype origin predicts susceptibility to insect herbivory and level of physical defenses across populations of switchgrass.by Robert W. Heckman2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/nutrients-pathogens-and-herbivores-influence-plant-diversity-different-meansSoil nutrients, herbivores, and pathogens impact seedling success primarily through their ability to influence the resident plant community and the availability of other resources, like light and water.by Robert W. Heckman2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/comparative-genetic-responses-two-fish-species-dam-removalAfter two dams were removed, location-specific genetic differences related to migration timing changed in Steelhead populations, but not in Chinook salmon.by Alexandra Fraik2 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/srs/articles/new-economic-model-white-oak-marketsA new model for understanding hardwood markets is available. This tool is unique because it breaks down ten different species of hardwood, allowing researchers to account for species-specific market and forestry trends3 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/srs/articles/forests-and-future-drought-area-exposed-severe-drought-projected-triple-2070Droughts can affect forests but there are resources for land managers - and research shows that forest management can help mitigate the effects of drought.by Michael Haldeman3 min read
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https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/leaf-tying-caterpillars-and-leaf-quality-affect-arthropod-community-structure-andCaterpillars are important ecosystem engineers. They build shelters that provide habitat for other arthropods, influencing arthropod communities. However, the benefits of these structures are modified by the quality of the host plants.by Jason R. Reinhardt1 min read