Treesearch

Hidden like fish eggs in the streambed, the answer was buried in the mathematical models of Morgan Spark’s graduate work. Biologists and land managers know early fish life is sensitive, and nature is difficult to predict. In the streambed, eggs and young fish can be at risk from unintentional habitat disruptions from activities such as grazing, prescribed fire, and road work. The question was how to know when wild fish are hatching and emerging to avoid those sensitive windows. A new tool, hatchR, is here to lend biologists a helping hand - or fin.

The generality of the worldwide leaf economics spectrum (LES) has made it a pillar of trait-based ecological research. Yet, few studies have examined the processes shaping the evolution of the LES within species, in part, because most species occupy only a small portion of the LES. To address this gap, we took advantage of the distinct leaf economics strategies present in different ecotypes of the phenotypically diverse perennial grass Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) to generate a genetic mapping population, which we planted in common gardens at three sites spanning 12 degrees of latitude...

Concerns have grown over the environmental impacts of open pile burning, which has the potential to degrade air quality and harm soil. Additionally, pile burning is constrained by narrow burn windows in areas with high wildfire risk. As a result, technologies such as the CharBoss - which converts slash into biochar - are gaining attention. However, optimal deployment remains uncertain because of variability in performance due to pile locations, slash-pile size, and site conditions. We address this challenge with a two-stage simulation - optimization framework. First, a mixed-integer...

Forest slash piles require effective management for site preparation and fire risk reduction. While pile burning remains a common disposal method, there is growing interest in utilizing these materials for energy and other bioproducts. Slash piles can serve as temporary carbon storage, and provide wildlife habitat, but they also contribute to surface fuel loads and increase site preparation costs if not properly utilized or disposed. Managing such low-value materials distributed across large forest landscapes poses logistical and economic challenges, especially when the volume and precise...

The effectiveness of biochar for ecological restoration, toxicity remediation and carbon sequestration are fundamentally dependent on the biochar production technology. This review provides a systematic comparison of thermochemical conversion techniques such as pyrolysis (slow, rotary kiln, auger-based), gasification (downdraft and fluidized bed) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Key performance metrics such as temperature profile, residence time, emissions regulation, and scalability are evaluated alongside critical biochar qualities such as surface area, porosity, fixed carbon...

Global change is enriching terrestrial ecosystems with multiple nutrients and amplifying interannual variation in precipitation. Grassland productivity may be co-limited by combinations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). How these nutrients may interact with each other or with varying precipitation to influence the contributions of dominant species and functional groups to aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and species diversity is rarely considered. We fertilized a mesic grassland for 5 years with all combinations of N, P, and K+ micronutrients in the first year...

Declining participation in hunting and fishing has been slowed by women who are learning numerous outdoor skills through recruitment, retention, and reactivation [R3] programs. R3 programs are hosted by state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that take a variety of approaches to develop participant skills and confidence. To understand how R3 program design influences hunting and fishing participation, we conducted 11 focus group interviews with 72 participants at women’s R3 programs to identify program design components that women appreciate when learning to hunt and...

Natural resource agencies and researchers have often focused efforts to reduce the constraints women face in hunting. However, many women continue to hunt despite these barriers, suggesting a need to understand the complex decisions they make. This study explores the decision space that women navigate despite logistical, cultural, and personal constraints. This mixed method study used free lists (n = 50) and semi-structured interviews (n = 22) to identify the most salient decisions women make to go hunting. These included decisions about gear, household responsibilities, hunting partners,...

Conservation planning protects habitats, supports biodiversity, and sustains ecosystem functions that support human and ecological well-being. Natural resource managers are expected to make sound management decisions and balance competing interests in a social-ecological context. However, they face challenges related to effective collaboration, public participation in decision-making, and the application of climate information. This study describes conservation planning challenges in South Dakota, a predominantly rural state where over 80% of land is privately owned, and natural resources...

Armillaria solidipes, a naturally occurring fungus, is responsible for one of the most widespread root diseases in western North American forests. Armillaria root disease affects a broad range of tree species, and by the time visible symptoms appear, significant damage has often already occurred.