Treesearch

Euphilotes ancilla purpura and cryptica (Lycaenidae), butterflies endemic to the Spring Mountains (Clark Co., Nevada), have been described as two univoltine, temporally isolated, sympatric taxa that utilize different early- and late-flowering larval host plant varieties (Eriogonum umbellatum). However, our results from field and laboratory indicate that this is not the case. The subspecies overlap in timing of adult reproductive flight (compilation of field records 1977 to 2018) and laboratory emergence of adults from early-season, non-diapause pupae indicate butterflies are not univoltine....

The existence of a consistent inverse relationship between vegetation greenness and surface temperature has been the premise of many environmental studies. However, some authors have found that the nature of this relationship varies depending on the spatial and temporal scales of analysis as well as vegetation type. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to the understanding of this matter by evaluating the annual and intra-seasonal relationship between Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) in Central Mexico using monthly anomalies of Moderate Resolution Imaging...

Phellinus noxius is a root-decay pathogen with a pan-tropical/subtropical distribution that attacks a wide range of tree hosts. For this study, genomic sequencing was conducted on P. noxius isolate P919-02W.7 from Federated States of Micronesia (Pohnpei), and its gene expression profile was analyzed using different host wood (Acer, Pinus, Prunus, and Salix) substrates. The assembled genome was 33.92 Mbp with 2954 contigs and 9389 predicted genes. Only small differences were observed in size and gene content in comparison with two other P. noxius genome assemblies (isolates OVT-YTM/97 from...

The literature on nonmarket valuation includes many examples of stated and revealed preference comparisons. However, comparisons within stated preference methods are sparse. Specifically, the literature provides few examples of pairing both a discrete choice experiment (CE) and a contingent valuation (CV) question within a single survey. This paper presents results of a nonmarket valuation study that employs both methods to elicit public preferences over uncertainty of outcomes and over management strategies. The two methods were employed to examine public support for the proactive...

Springs serve an ecologically important role as perennial water sources, essential habitat for native species, and support for stream flow. Spring developments on rangelands provide water to livestock and wildlife. Thoughtful design of sustainable developments will supply water to livestock and wildlife while maintaining the intrinsic ecological functions and values of springs. This guide addresses spring development project planning as well as long-term sustainable management of springs. The objectives of spring development design are (1) to retain hydrologic conditions in the developed...

Piñon-juniper vegetation types, including juniper woodland and savannah, piñon-juniper, and piñon woodland, cover approximately 40 million ha in the western United States, where they provide ecosystem services, wildlife habitat, and cultural and aesthetic value (Romme et al. 2009). These ecosystems are also the sites of oil and gas activities, grazing, and urban development and are impacted by changing climate and wildfire. The realization that piñon-juniper ecosystems are being lost and degraded by human activities and changing climate (Cole et al. 2008, Williams et al. 2010, Clifford et...

Canopy processes at once provide the fundamental building blocks for tree growth, health, and reproduction, and reflect the tree’s ability to adapt to its immediate environment. Foresters’ understanding of these processes informs their decisions about management activities that maintain and enhance forest vigor, health, and biodiversity while providing for desired ecosystem and economic benefits now and into the future. By manipulating density, foresters directly influence availability of light to the remaining trees and indirectly influence available water and nutrients. Forest canopies...

Forests play an essential role in the social, economic, and ecological lives of the inhabitants of the northern United States. Forests cover 69.6 million ha, or 42% of the land area of this region, which is both the most heavily forested and the most densely populated quadrant of the United States (Fig. 1). To preserve a full range of forest ecosystem services into the future, managers are working to identify and implement strategies and tactics that take into account the potentially dramatic effects of a changing climate (Nagel et al., 2010). The region encompasses almost 30° of longitude...

Fire exclusion since the 1930s across western U.S. landscapes has greatly altered fire regimes and fuel conditions. After a lightning-caused fire swept through the center of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area in 2003, researchers initiated a comprehensive study along the South Fork of the Flathead River. This study assessed the post-fire survival of over 600 iconic, relict ponderosa pine trees. These trees are of great interest as they are ancient (>400 years old), and some have Native American bark-peeling scars and fire scars. This area had not seen fire since 1910, if not earlier, despite...

Anthropogenic noise pollution (ANP) is a globally invasive phenomenon impacting natural systems, but most research has occurred at local scales with few species. We investigated continental‐scale breeding season associations with ANP for 322 bird species to test whether small‐scale predictions related to breeding habitat, migratory behaviour, body mass and vocal traits are consistent at broad spatial extents for an extensive group of species.