Treesearch

Over the past century, fire suppression has facilitated broad ecological changes in the composition, structure, and function of fire-dependent landscapes throughout the eastern US, which are in decline. These changes have likely contributed mechanistically to the enhancement of habitat conditions that favor pathogencarrying tick species, key wildlife hosts of ticks, and interactions that have fostered pathogen transmission among them and to humans. While the longrunning paradigm for limiting human exposure to tick-borne diseases focuses responsibility on individual prevention, the continued...

Interest in using ground penetrating radar (GPR) as an inspection tool for wood and wooden structures has increased over the past two decades. GPR provides rapid scanning tool which can provide continuous subsurface information about the structure without the need for direct contact. It is accepted within the steel and concrete industries as a reliable inspection tool. By adapting the GPR for use on wood and wooden structures, the need for an inspector to learn an entirely unique technology is eliminated. Ideally, those familiar with GPR would only need minor instruction on how GPR can be...

The lower Pecos River located in the southwest USA, is a naturally saline river system that has been significantly altered in relatively recent years. Climate change, coupled with anthropogenic disturbances such as dam construction have led to portions of the river becoming more susceptible to increased salinization and declines in water quality. These alterations have been documented to be detrimental to multiple freshwater communities; however, there is a lack of knowledge on how these alterations influence long-lived species in the river, such as freshwater turtles, where the effects...

The development of enzymatic browning constitutes one of the key issues in the preservation of highly perishable fresh-cut and oxygen-sensitive fruits such as avocados. This study explored the use of a packaging solution based on PLA/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films produced using a solvent-free cast extrusion process with strong oxygen and UV barrier properties to reduce browning in cut avocados and to prolong shelf life. Specifically, the effects of packaging material types (neat PLA vs PLA/CNC nanocomposite) and storage conditions (temperature and time) on discoloration (browning),...

Monitoring of tree spatial arrangement is increasingly essential for restoration of dry conifer forests. The presented method was developed for high-density point clouds, like those from unmanned aerial system imagery, to extract and model individual tree location, height, and diameter at breast height (DBH). Extraction of tree locations and heights uses a variable window function searching point cloud-derived canopy height models. Tree DBH is extracted for a subset of point cloud trees using a slice at 1.32-1.42 m and a least-squares circle fitting algorithm. Extracted heights and DBHs...

Univariate discrete Laplace models are described and investigated. A more general mixture model is represented.Bivariate extensions of these models are discussed in some detail, with particular emphasis on associatedparameter estimation strategies. Multivariate versions of the models are briefly introduced.

Misfiring and hang-firing have been long-term, sporadic problems with 7.62-mm ammunition. These types of problems can cause injury to the shooter or others in the vicinity. This issue is believed to be related to inconsistency of the primer binder gum arabic (GA). A multi-organization project involving USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, was put together to work on solving this issue. The project was divided into two phases. Phase I was to understand the properties of GA in its application of holding together the explosives in small-caliber gun primers. Understanding the...

In addition to the devastating impacts on human health and the economy, COVID-19 is changing the way people interact with public lands such as forests, parks, and green spaces. Land managers have adapted practices in real-time to a changing reality. Establishing new field protocols, managing workforce capacity issues, responding to unprecedented demand, and reimagining the way the public is served through events and programs are some of the adaptations managers are making to ensure use and access to public lands. Many community-based partners have managed to adapt during this time of...

Bark− and wood−infesting insects (which we’ll refer to as borers) can be transported in solid wood to new areas both domestically, especially in firewood, and internationally, especially in wood packaging material (WPM) like crating and pallets (Haack 2006). Borer generation times range from months to multiple years, and as wood dries, such as with stacked firewood, generation times can be extended (Haack and Slansky 1987, Petrice and Haack 2007). The current international standard for heat treating WPM, known as ISPM 15 (IPPC 2019), requires that the wood be heated to at least 56°C for 30...

More than 300 caddisfly (Trichoptera) species have been reported from Michigan (Houghton et al. 2018, Houghton 2020). Starting in 2021, we used UV-lights laid over a pan of 80% ethanol to collect adult caddisflies at five sites along Finch Creek (Antrim County) and at 12 sites on Drummond Island (Chippewa County). Collecting occurred three times in 2021 along Finch Creek (June, July, and September) and twice on Drummond Island (June and September). So far in 2022, collecting has occurred in May at all sites and at Finch Creek in June.