Treesearch

Cultural practices to develop larger, more robust oak seedlings have been developed, however, the potential improvement conferred by these larger seedlings has received limited testing in the Northeast. We evaluated the effect of seedling size and pedigree on the survival, growth, and competitive ability of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings planted on a xeric site in northeastern Pennsylvania. We planted seedlings from a state tree nursery that represented locally available seedling stock, as well as high-quality seedlings from seven half-sibling families grown following...

This resource update provides an overview of forest resources in Indiana based on an inventory conducted by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program at the Northern Research Station in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Estimates are based on field data collected using the FIA annualized strategic sample design and are updated yearly. In 2014, NRS-FIA changed to a 7-year inventory cycle, wherein 1/7th (14.3 percent) of the plots will be measured annually. For the 2017 inventory, estimates for current variables such as area, volume, and...

In the fourth quarter the U.S. housing markets improved incrementally from quarter three. Total permits, single-family starts, new house sales, and single-family spending all improved modestly quarter-over-quarter. The majority of sectors increased on a year-over-year basis as well; only multifamily starts decreased, albeit minimally. Viewed from a recent historical context, all housing construction subsectors exceeded the record lows recorded in the 2008 to 2011 time period.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are routinely produced as aqueous suspensions. These are then typically freeze-dried in order to be added into polymeric composites using melt-blending. However, dispersing freeze-dried CNCs into hydrophobic polymers is a challenge. In this study, our objective was to advance our understanding of the impact of freeze-drying methods on the morphology of dried cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and on the tensile properties of the resulting PLA-CNC nanocomposites. CNCs were prepared as aqueous suspensions with 10.7% solids content using a sulfuric acid method, and...

This publication provides an overview of the forest resources in Connecticut based upon inventories conducted by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the Northern Research Station. Information about the national and regional FIA program is available online at www fia.fs fed.us. Since 2003, FIA has implemented an annual inventory in the State and currently measures 14 percent of the sample plots each year. For the 2017 inventory, estimates for current variables, such as area, volume, and biomass, are based on 493 plots inventoried from 2011-2017. Change...

Publishing of scientific findings is central to the scientific process, and it is traditional to consider findings ‘‘provisional’’ until accepted by a peer-reviewed journal. Until publication, communication of provisional findings beyond participants in the study is typically limited. This practice helps assure scientific integrity. However, a dilemma arises when a provisional finding has urgent societal consequences that may be exacerbated by delay. This dilemma may be particularly pronounced when a discovery concerns wildlife health, which could have implications for conservation, public...

This publication provides an overview of forest resources in Maryland based on inventories conducted by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the Northern Research Station. From 2004–2013, FIA employed an annual inventory measuring data on 20 percent of all sample plots each year in Maryland. Beginning in 2014, FIA is on a 7-year cycle, inventorying 14.3 percent of all plots annually. For the 2017 inventory, estimates for current variables such as area, volume, and biomass are based on 982 plots (431 forested) collected from 2011–2017. Change variables,...

A broad range of understory forest herbs are harvested for medicinal properties, particularly from species-rich forests of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Many species have been collected and used for centuries with little understanding of harvest impacts, some with resulting population declines. Species valued for belowground components, such as Actaea racemosa L. (black cohosh), appear particularly vulnerable to harvest impacts. Between 2005 and 2011, we conducted experimental harvests on natural A. racemosa populations in central Appalachian oak (Quercus L.) forests....

Effective societal responses to rapid climate change in the Arctic rely on an accurate representation of region-specific ecosystem properties and processes. However, this is limited by the scarcity and patchy distribution of field measurements. Here, we use a comprehensive, geo-referenced database of primary field measurements in 1,840 published studies across the Arctic to identify statistically significant spatial biases in field sampling and study citation across this globally important region. We find that 31% of all study citations are derived from sites located within 50 km of just...

Sourcing appropriate plant material for restoration within the heterogeneous landscape of southern California is a nuanced task further complicated by climate change. We generated species distribution models (SDMs) that may be useful tools for incorporating climate change scenarios into ecological restoration decisionmaking for southern California scrub and shrubland habitats. We modeled regional patterns of suitable habitat under baseline (1951–1980) and midcentury (2040–2069) climate conditions for 44 focal plant taxa under five future climate scenarios. Projected changes in habitat...