Treesearch

Principles for sustainable-ecosystem management are derived by integrating fundamental, societal, and scientific premises. Ecosystem science is applied in the design of a system of management focused on building overlap between what people collectively want and what is ecologically possible. We conclude that management must incorporate more science and societal processes in the system to better inform decisions and to learn by "managing as an experiment." A management model is proposed that laces together societal values and ecological capacity.

Country-wide estimates of forest biomass are the major driver for estimating and understanding carbon pools and flux, a critical component of global change research. Important determinants in making these estimates include the areal extent of forested lands and their associated biomass. Estimates for these parameters may be derived from surface-based data, photo interpretation or satellite remote sensing, with varying degrees of uncertainty. Ground data are typically aggregated by forest type, stand age, productivity level, and ownership. Survey priority is usually given to regions and...

Several hundred Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni V. Bailey) and Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus Rafinesque) inhabit a fenced, 25,000-acre enclosure at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon. Research there requires handling most of these animals each winter. In addition, 33 elk calves have been captured and raised for research. Protocols for care and handling of deer and elk are described. Legal requirements for the operation of facilities and research within the enclosure also are discussed.

Arctic tundra has been a net sink for carbon dioxide during historic and recent geological times1-4, and large amounts of carbon are stored in the soils of northern ecosystems. Many regions of the Arctic are warmer now than they have been in the past5-10, and this warming may cause the soil to change from a carbon dioxide sink to a source by lowering the water table11,12, thereby accelerating the rate of soil decomposition (CO2 source)3,13-15 so that this dominates over photosynthesis (CO2 sink). Here we present data indicating that the tundra on the North Slope of Alaska has indeed become...

Seeds from two full-sib families of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) with known differences in growth rates were germinated and grown in an ambient (350 µl l-1) or elevated (700 µl I-1) CO2 concentration. Gas exchange at both ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations was measured 1,6,39, and 112 days after the seed coat was shed. Initial stimulation of CO2 exchange rate (CER) by elevated CO2 was large (> 100%). On Day 1, CER of seedlings grown in elevated CO2 and measured at ambient CO2 was significantly lower than the CER of seedlings grown and measured at ambient CO2, indicating physiologic...

Sites were identified on publicly managed and privately owned lands in western Oregon and Washington where research or demonstration of new forestry practices could be conducted by using a retrospective approach. One hundred and seventy-six stands were selected for this catalog to represent examples of the future condition that could be expected from new forestry practices. Information from these stands will serve to guide current management in developing alternative forestry practices. The stand types cataloged are characteristic of a range of structural conditions desirable for specific...

CONSUME is a user-friendly computer program designed for resource managers with some working knowledge of IBM-PC applications. The software predicts the amount of fuel consumption on logged units based on weather data, the amount and fuel moisture of fuels, and a number of other factors. Using these predictions, the resource manager can accurately determine when and where to conduct a prescribed burn to achieve desired objectives, while reducing impacts on other resources. CONSUME can be used for most broadcast and underburns on forested lands in the western states if the woody fuels are...

We compared matched planted and naturally regenerated plots in 35- to 38- year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii) stands at seven locations in western Washington and Oregon. Total number of live stems is similar, but stands planted to Douglas fir average 26 more live stemslac of Douglas-fir and 39 fewer stems lac of other conifers than do naturally regenerated stands. Despite an average 2-yr delay in planting after burning, dominant Douglas fir in planted stands average 3 fewer years than natural regeneration to attain breast height after burning. Volume of all live...

Five generations of population improvement were modeled using Monte Carlo simulations. The model was designed to address questions that are important to the development of an advanced generation breeding population. Specifically we addressed the effects on both gain and effective population size of different mating schemes when creating a recombinant population for recurrent selection. Five different mating schemes were modeled with recurrent selection, 4 control-pollinated (CP) and one open-pollinated (OP) scheme. The CP schemes were: 2 random mating (RM) designs, 1 with 2 crosses per...

Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington has declined significantly in the second half of the 20th century. This report summarizes available information on old-growth forest area by ownership in California, Oregon, and Washington. Old-growth definitions used by the various owners and agencies are provided.