Treesearch

Physical dormancy in seeds can challenge restoration efforts where scarification conditions for optimal germination and seedling vigor are unknown. For species that occur along wide environmental gradients, optimal scarification conditions may also differ by seed source. We examined intraspecific variation in optimal scarification conditions for germination and seedling performance in koa (Acacia koa), which occurs across a wide range of environmental conditions. To evaluate scarification responses, we recorded imbibition percentage, germination percentage, germination time, seedling...

Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) around the world are increasingly asserting ‘Indigenous agency’ to engage with government institutions and other partners to collaboratively steward ancestral Places. Case studies in Hawai‘i suggest that ‘community-driven collaborative management’ is a viable and robust pathway for IPLCs to lead in the design of a shared vision, achieve conservation targets, and engage government institutions and other organisations in caring for and governing biocultural resources and associated habitats. This paper articulates key forms of Indigenous...

The human health and well-being benefits of nature are well-known. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the work of environmental stewardship groups, especially those that facilitate access to and/or provide opportunities to engage with nature. To understand the impacts of this disruption on stewardship groups and their volunteers in Hawai‘i, we: (i) conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 leaders of stewardship groups on O‘ahu; and (ii) surveyed 85 individuals who volunteer with stewardship groups across the state. We found that some groups were negatively impacted by COVID-19-related...

Long distance trails offer distinctive opportunities for people to connect with natural and cultural heritage through recreation, tourism, and stewardship. Such connections can lead to broad support for conservation goals. In the United States, National Scenic Trails (NSTs) promote community engagement in trail planning, development, maintenance, and management. Governance of these multi-jurisdictional trails occurs through a diverse array of governmental and non-governmental actors. We conducted interviews (n=17) with federal trail administrators and non-governmental trail organizations...

Evaluating the cold tolerance of biological control agents is often necessary to optimize their release and performance. We used field and laboratory assays to determine the cold hardiness of the parasitoid Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac, an approved classical biological control agent of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in North America. Supercooling points and lower lethal temperature of mature (cocooned) S. galinae larvae were measured in controlled cooling assays in the laboratory. Most S. galinae larvae died after reaching their supercooling point, which...

Ethology—the study of animal behavior—examines the infinite ways that an individual animal interacts with its environment, combing evolutionary, genetic, developmental, ecological, and mechanistic approaches to study both the proximate and ultimate drivers of observable behaviors (Rubenstein and Alcock 2018). Animal behavior is an expansive field of study, which includes (at a minimum) communication and social interactions, foraging, defense, and reproductive behavior, among many other elements. One of the most important aspects of animal behavior, particularly as it relates to wildlife...

The Wood Turtle's decline across a majority of its range in the United States and Canada has primarily been caused by human encroachment on its habitat, including the direct and indirect effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. As noted in Chapter 8, threats include direct mortality from flooding, agricultural machinery, and motor vehicles, as well as illegal collection for pet markets and subsidized predation by mesocarnivores. Wood Turtles are unable to effectively respond—behaviorally or numerically—to these synergistic threats because they have evolved as extreme...

Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coccinellidae) is a predatory ladybird beetle native to South America. It specializes in mealybugs prey (Pseudococcidae), but relatively little is known about its ecology. In contrast, the ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coccinellidae) is indigenous to Australia and has been introduced to many countries worldwide including Brazil for biological control of mealybugs. The potential impacts of these introductions to native coccinellids have rarely been considered. The software CLIMEX estimated the climate suitability for both species as...

This work investigated the redispersion and setting behavior of highly loaded (∼ 18 wt.% solids in water) pastes of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). A single-screw extruder was used to continuously process CNF + CMC pastes into cord. The adsorption of CMC onto the CNFs was assessed through zeta potential and titration which revealed a surface charge change of ∼ 61% from - 36.8 mV and 0.094 mmol/g COOH for pure CNF to -58.1 mV and 0.166 mmol/g COOH for CNF + CMC with a CMC degree of substitution of 0.9. Dried CNFs with adsorbed CMC was found to be fully...