Treesearch

The purpose of this research was to determine the extent of conflict between hikers and recreational stock users in a Sierra Nevada wilderness and to test the relative importance of various hypothetical predictors of conflict using multiple conflict measures. A survey of hikers and recreational stock users of the John Muir Wilderness in California revealed the ability to predict expression of conflict was high using measures of definition of place, specialization, focus of trip/expectations. and lifestyle tolerance. The strongest relationship, however, was between hypothesized determinants...

In 1964, the Wilderness Act (P.L. 88-577) established the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS), currently composed of nearly 39 million hectares in 564 separate units, ranging in size from 2.4 he&ares to 3.5 million hectares. The purpose of the NWPS is “. . . to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness.” The Act further states [Sec.2.(a)] that these areas: . . . shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment...

A comprehensive framework for assessing threats to wilderness is described. The framework is represented as a matrix of potential threats and attributes of wilderness character. Cells in the matrix represent the impacts of threats on each attribute. Potential applications of the matrix are described. An application of the matrix to the wildernesses in the Forest Service’s Northern Region (northern Idaho and Montana) suggests that fire management is the most significant threat to those wildernesses and that aquatic systems are the most threatened wilderness attribute.

Moran's I statistic measures the spatial autocorrelation in a random variable measured at discrete locations in space. Permutation procedures test the null hypothesis that the observed Moran's I value is no greater than that expected by chance. The spatial autocorrelation of gross basal area increment is analyzed for undisturbed, naturally regenerated stands in three Georgia forest types: loblolly, shortleaf, and slash pine. The analysis uses 0.4-ha permanent sample plots from a forest inventory that included two re measurement intervals (1961-1972 and 1972-1982). We present a new statistic...

This collection of 22 papers summarizes the current state of knowledge on Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) within the scientific and management communities. The proceedings are presented in three sections. Research Approaches and Management Concepts contains overviews of research and management for goshawks, forest management to provide goshawk habitat, and field techniques. Resource Ecology focuses largely on habitat use at spatial scales ranging from landscapes to microhabitats. Also included are food habits papers. The section on Population Ecology includes papers on reproductive...

Recreational use of backcountry inevitably impacts environments intended for preservation. Where use is light or where management programs provide adequate protection, impacts need not be unacceptably severe. However, where use is heavy and protective actions are inadequate, impacts may be severe and widespread. Trails may become deeply eroded trenches or mudholes and crisscross the landscape like a spider web (Figure 1). Campsites, viewpoints and other destination areas may be stripped of all groundcover vegetation and standing trees may be scarred and killed. Mineral soil may be exposed,...

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest-bodied terrestrial mustelid. Its distribution is circumpolar; it occupies the tundra, taiga, and forest zones of North America and Eurasia (Wilson 1982). North American wolverines are considered the same species as those in Eurasia. They are usually thought of as creatures of northern wilderness and remote mountain ranges. In fact, wolverines extend as far south as California and Colorado and as far east as the coast of Labrador, although low densities are characteristic of the species.

We examined responses of Northern Goshawks (Accipter gentilis) to taped broadcast calls of conspecifics in tree-harvest areas and around alternate goshawk nests on Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, in 1991 and 1992. Forest areas totaling 476 km2 were systematically surveyed for goshawks. Ninety responses by adult and juvenile goshawks were elicited and 15 active nests were located. No difference in response rates between sexes was detected. Adult males, however, tended to approach the broadcaster without vocalizing, whereas adult females approached while vocalizing. Our success in finding...

Recommendations for managing coarse woody debris after timber harvest were developed for 14 habitat types, ranging from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) habitat types of Arizona to subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) habitat types of western Montana. Ectomycorrhizae were used as a bioindicator of healthy, productive forest soils. Undisturbed stands were studied to determine the optimum amounts of organic material for ectomycorrhizal activity. The management recommendations are intentionally conservative to ensure that enough organic matter is left after timber harvest to maintain long-term...

Feeding ecology of 11 Sharp-skinned Hawk (Accipiter striates) pairs nesting in aspen (Populus tremuloides), conifer (Abies, Picea spp.), and mixed aspen-conifer habitats in southwest Colorado was investigated during 1988-1989. Small birds (x-bar = 20.9 g, SE = 0.8 g) and mammals (x-bar = 41.1 g, SE = 3.3 g) comprised 91 and 9% of 513 prey identified at nests that fledged at least one young, respectively. Sixty percent of the birds eaten during the hawks' nestling and fledgling stages were nestlings or fledglings. Accordingly, median mass of birds eaten decreased from 17.4 g during incubatio...