Treesearch

The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff, is the principal vector of laurel wilt disease in North America. Lures incorporating essential oils of manuka plants (Leptospermum scoparium J. R. Forster & G. Forster) or cubeb seeds (Piper cubeba L.f.) are the most effective in-flight attractants to date. Using grids of traps baited with these essential oil lures, we evaluated 1) the effect of trap distance from a source beetle population on beetle captures, 2) the feasibility of trapping out low-density beetle populations, and 3) the effect of trap spacing on beetle captures. In...

We investigated the long-term impact of biomass utilization on shrub recovery, species composition, and biodiversity 38 years after harvesting at Coram Experimental Forest in northwestern Montana. Three levels of biomass removal intensity (high, medium, and low) treatments combined with prescribed burning treatment were nested within three regeneration harvest treatments (shelterwood, group selection, and clearcut). Four shrub biomass surveys (pre-treatment, 2, 10, and 38 years after treatment) were conducted. Shrub biomass for all treatment units 38 years after treatment exceeded the...

Powdery mildew diseases are caused by biotrophic fungi in the Erysiphales. These fungal pathogens are easily observed by the whitish powdery appearance caused by their colonization of the aerial surfaces on living plants (Stadnik & Rivera, 2001) (Figure 1). In Brazil, powdery mildew of Eucalyptus spp is increasing under the current nursery production systems, and the causal agents are generally recognized as the anamorphic stage, such as Oidium spp or Oidium eucalypti Rostrup. (Mucci et al., 1980). Unfortunately, pathogen identification is hampered by the absence of sexual reproductive...

Titica vine provides useful raw fiber material. Using sampling schemes that reduce sampling error can provide direction for sustainable forest management of this vine. Sampling systematically with rectangular plots (10× 25 m) promoted lower error and greater accuracy in the inventory of titica vines in tropical rainforest.

Forests are home to some of the most complex microbial communities (Fierer et al. 2012) which drive biogeochemical cycles (Clemmensen et al. 2013; van der Heijden et al. 2008) and account for substantial terrestrial biomass (Nielsen et al. 2011). Fungi, through their ecological roles as decomposers, mutualists, or pathogens, are particularly important in breaking down organic matter and mediating plant nutrition. Despite this, little is known about the variability, composition, and structure of forest soil fungal communities (Tedersoo et al. 2014). In fact, much of global fungal diversity...

Variable-retention harvesting in lodgepole pine offers an alternative to conventional, even-aged management. This harvesting technique promotes structural complexity and age-class diversity in residual stands and promotes resilience to disturbance. We examined fuel loads and potential fire behaviour 12 years after two modes of variable-retention harvesting (dispersed and aggregated retention patterns) crossed by post-harvest prescribed fire (burned or unburned) in central Montana. Results characterise 12-year post-treatment fuel loads. We found greater fuel load reduction in treated than...

The Interagency Native Plant Materials Development Program outlined in the 2002 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Department of Interior (USDI) Report to Congress encouraged use of native plant materials for rangeland rehabilitation and restoration where feasible. The Great Basin Native Plant Project is a cooperative project lead by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Plant Conservation Program and the United States Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station that was initiated to provide information that will be useful to managers when making...

Brown trout (Salmo trutta) are widely introduced in western North America where their presence has led to declines of several native species. To assist conservation efforts aimed at early detection and eradication of this species, we developed a quantitative PCR marker to detect the presence of brown trout DNA in environmental samples. The marker strongly amplified brown trout eDNA, and produced no amplification of eDNA from 17 other species commonly found in western North America. We field tested this marker and demonstrated positive detections in field samples where brown trout presence...

We assessed awareness and perceptions of forest landowners and managers in the southeastern United Statesregarding their stand health especially under the context of the southern pine decline (SPD) phenomenon. E-mailand paper surveys were sent to 4,670 forest landowners and managers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolinawith an overall response rate of 28%. About half (51%) of respondents reported having healthy andsymptom-free pine stands, and only 11% reported elevated levels of dying pine or pine mortality within thelast year. Few (30%) respondents were aware of SPD. Insects, disease,...

Evapotranspiration (ET) processes at the leaf to landscape scales in multiple land uses have important controls and feedbacks for local, regional, and global climate and water resource systems. Innovative methods, tools, and technologies for improved understanding and quantification of ET and crop water use are critical for adapting more effective management strategies to cope with increasing demand for freshwater resources under global climate change. This article introduces an ASABE Special Collection of 12 articles on ET monitoring and modeling research for multiple land uses and...