Treesearch

A 1978 study of the winter habitat of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the Coconino National Forest, Arizona, indicated repeated and potentially heavy use of a freshwater mussel (Anodonta corpulenta) in the eagles’ diet. As many as 10 eagles (five adults and five immatures) were observed at Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff when the junior author collected field data between 27 February and 10 March. However, only 2-3 eagles were present in the area through most of the winter. No foraging activity was seen, but a variety of circumstantial evidence was collected, suggesting more...

Arizona's natural ponderosa pine stands are characterized by open, mature groups and adjacent closed, dense thickets. The open structure of the mature groups permits a warm, dry environment, resulting in very low fuel moisture during much of the fire season and creating high ignition and fire spread potentials in the abundant fuels. The large woody fuel component of the adjacent closed groups contributes to a high crown fire potential in the low, dense sapling crowns. These findings suggest a need for fuel management activities where values-at-risk are high.

The fire characteristics chart is proposed as a graphical method ofpresenting two primary characteristics of fire behavior – spread rate and intensity. Its primary use is communicating and interpreting either site-specific predictions of fire behavior or National Fire-Danger Rating System (NFDRS) indexes and components. Rate of spread, heat per unit area, flame length, and fireline intensity, are plotted on a fire behavior chart. Spread component, energy release component, and burning index are plotted on an NFDRS chart. Specific examples illustrate potential application.

The Stand Prognosis Model is a computer program that projects the development of forest stands in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Thinning options allow for simulation of a variety of management strategies. Input consists of a stand inventory, including sample tree records, and a set of option selection instructions. Output includes data normally found in stand, stock, and yield tables and details on selected sample trees. Preparation of input, interpretation of output, and model formulation are described. Guidelines are given for potential uses and limitations.Publication Web Site:https://ww...

Bentonite clay has been mined in the northern Great Plains for more than 80 years. Until the late 1960's, mine spoil materials were left in steep piles and no effort was made to restore biological productivity to these disturbed sites. As a result, unreclaimed spoils are barren and eroded. The biological costs of not reclaiming these spoils are examined in this paper, in terms of plant canopy cover, plant standing crop, small mammal productivity and invertebrate numbers. Vegetation, small mammals and ground-dwelling macroarthropods were sampled for two years on unreclaimed bentonite spoils...

Reclamation" often implies the enhancement of the land as wildlife habitat or for other productive uses. However, there are situations where revegetation to stabilize erosion is the only desired goal. Uranium mining and mill sites may fall into this later category. Data pertaining to plant and animal components on revegetated uranium mill tailings was collected. Four sites were selected for this study: three uranium mill tailing areas reclaimed between 1973 and 1978 and a control site in a crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) pasture 6.4 km west of the mill. Estimated biomass production...

Logging wounds on residual aspen, in partially cut stands, predisposed wounded trees to attack by insects and diseases. Five to 7 years after cutting, aspen mortality amounted to 20%; 41% of the live trees were infected with canker diseases; and 30% were infested with wood borers. Adequate sprouting occurred even though only 60-80% of the basal area was removed.

Presents comprehensive procedures for inventorying weight per unit area of living and dead surface vegetation, to facilitate estimation of biomass and appraisal of fuels. Provides instructions for conducting fieldwork and calculating estimates of downed woody material, forest floor litter and duff, herbaceous vegetation, shrubs, and small conifers. Procedures produce the most accurate estimates in the Interior West; however, techniques for herbs, litter, and downed woody material are applicable anywhere. Includes computer program and card punching instructions for processing inventory data.

From 1965 to 1978, mountain pine beetles killed 25% of the pines taller than 4.5 feet in a study area in north-central Colorado. Average basal area was reduced from 92 to 58 square feet per acre. Mortality increased with tree diameter up to about 9 inches d.b.h. Larger trees appeared to be killed at random. Mortality was directly related to number of trees per acre and presence of dwarf mistletoe, but not to site index, elevation, and percent Douglas-fir in the stand.

Biomass determinations in singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) - Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) stands in Nevada indicate that stem diameter and average crown diameter are the tree measurements most highly correlated with ovendry weights. The equations and tables developed provide a means for estimating the total aboveground biomass as well as the weights for the various size fractions by species. The tables can also be used to estimate the cordwood and slash resulting from fuelwood harvesting operations.