Treesearch

To date, whether Bergmann’s rule, initially developed for individual species or closely related taxa, can be applied to broader taxa remains elusive. Using global distribution data for birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, both species- and assemblage-based, we examined the role of species richness and related climate variables in shaping body size patterns across the globe and the Northern Hemisphere only and whether the temperature–body size relationship had a phylogenetic signal. The results show that when species in all four classes were combined, body size increased with latitude...

Southeast Asian (SEA) mangroves are globally recognized as blue carbon hotspots. Methodologies that measure mangrove soil carbon stock (SCS) are either accurate but costly (i.e., elemental analyzers), or economical but less accurate (i.e., loss-on-ignition [LOI]). Most SEA countries estimate SCS by measuring soil organic matter (OM) through the LOI method then converting it into organic carbon (OC) using a conventional conversion equation (%Corg = 0.415 * % LOI + 2.89, R2 = 0.59, n = 78) developed from Palau mangroves. The local site conditions in Palau does not reflect the wide range of...

The current trends in climate change have captured the attention of stakeholders across multiple industries, including the building sector. With the introduction of innovative building materials such as mass timber products (MTPs), it has become essential to evaluate their environmental performance. In response, a variety of life cycle assessment (LCA) software programs are available to meet this need. However, it is crucial to understand how different LCA software and databases might influence the results. This study was aimed at exploring the impact of two widely used LCA software...

Background. Terrain-induced turbulence is dangerous for smokejumpers parachuting into complex terrain and results in numerous serious accidents annually. Aims. We quantify wind modelling system WindNinja’s ability to reproduce terrain-induced effects on the mean wind speed and turbulence in complex terrain. We assess WindNinja’s suitability for use in identifying safe jump spots during smokejumper operations in complex terrain. Methods. We evaluate the model’s ability to reproduce mean wind speed, mean wind direction and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) measured by sonic anemometers and...

Wood densification, aimed at enhancing mechanical properties through compression, faces challenges due to set-recovery, where densified wood regains its original shape upon re-moistening. However, understanding the role of lignin in set-recovery remains elusive. In this study, acidified sodium chlorite was applied to achieve approximately 50 % delignification without removing other wood components from 3.2 mm veneers of birch, aspen, and grey alder. The veneers were then densified at 100◦C and 6 MPa, with wood moisture contents (MC) of 10 % and 16 %. The morphology, physical properties,...

Wildfire in Hawaiʻi is increasing due to the interacting factors of land-use history, invasive grass species, shifting climates, and increasing ignitions. Native plant restoration and green breaks offer viable solutions to decrease invasive grass biomass and thus the fine fuels that often carry wildfire. While some organizations and agencies have robust inhouse plant materials programs, there is still a lack of readily available materials for varied stakeholders to meet their management objectives across the state. We briefly outline the current state of the wildfire crisis in Hawaiʻi, why...

Reforestation activities such as tree planting are important management tools to offset carbon emissions and restore forest ecosystem integrity. Severe wildfire activity, a key driver of forest loss, is increasing throughout the western United States (US) and creating an immense backlog of areas needing reforestation. Major financial investments and recent policy changes are expected to accelerate rates of tree planting, yet the broad-scale impact and efficacy of post-fire planting activities remain poorly understood. We quantified the outcomes of recent (1987-2022) post-fire plantings in...

Brown root rot disease (BRRD) is a highly destructive tree disease. Early diagnosis of BRRD has been challenging because the first symptoms and signs are often observed after extensive tissue colonization. Existing molecular detection methods, all based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, were developed without testing against global Phellinus noxius isolates, other wood-decay fungi, or host plant tissues. This study aimed to develop SYBR Green real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays for P. noxius. The primer pair Pn_ITS_F/Pn_ITS_R targets the ITS, and the primer pair...

Introducing new genes and new species into ecosystems where they have not previously existed presents opportunities and complex, multivalue decisions for conservation biologists and the public. Both synthetic biology and conservation introductions offer potential benefits, such as avoiding extinctions and restoring ecological function, but also carry risks of unintended ecological consequences and raise social and moral concerns. Although the conservation community has attempted to establish guidelines for each new tool, there is a need for comprehensive principles that will enable...

Boreal peatlands store abundant carbon (C) belowground because of saturated conditions and cold temperatures, which inhibit the enzymatic release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from organic matter. However, metals may also bind DOC, as well as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and their impact may vary among peatlands with differing hydrology. To assess variation of metal-C-nutrient interactions within and among peatlands and with depth, we sampled cores from seven peatlands in the Marcell Experimental Forest, Minnesota, including bogs, poor fens, and a rich fen. We extracted peat with...