Relative importance of habitat area and isolation for bird occurrence patterns in a naturally patchy landscape

There is debate among ecologists about whether total habitat area or patch arrangement contributes most to population and/or community responses to fragmented or patchy landscapes. We tested the relative effects of patch area and isolation for predicting bird occurrence in a naturally patchy landscape in the Bear River Mountains of Northern Utah, USA. We selected focal patches (mountain meadows) ranging in elevation from 1,920 to 2,860 m and in size from 0.6 to 182 ha. Breeding birds were sampled in each focal meadow during the summers of 2003 and 2004 using variable-distance point transects. Logistic regression and likelihood-based model selection were used to determine the relationship between likelihood of occurrence of three bird species (Brewer’s sparrow, vesper sparrow, and white-crowned sparrow) and area, isolation, and proximity metrics. We used model weights and model-averaged confidence intervals to assess the importance of each predictor variable. Plots of area versus isolation were used to evaluate complex relationships between the variables. We found that meadow area was the most important variable for explaining occurrence for two species, and that isolation was the most important for the other. We also found that the absolute distance was more appropriate for evaluating isolation responses than was the species-specific proximity metric. Our findings add clarity to the debate between ecologists regarding the relative importance of area and isolation in species responses to patchy landscapes.     

Land-use legacy of historical tree harvesting for charcoal production in a semi-arid woodland

Historical processes may have longer lasting effects in arid forest and woodlands because of slow rates of succession. We investigated the influence of historical tree harvesting upon contemporary spatial dynamics of pinyon-juniper woodland in the western United States. Despite intensive and widespread harvesting of woodland by the charcoal industry during the late 19th century, the role of afforestation has seldom been addressed as a potential mechanism for the dramatic expansion of pinyon-juniper woodlands over the past century. Spatial models of disturbance processes are one way to ascertain effects of such historical influences. We developed a process-based spatial model to estimate the historical tree harvest pressure according to a parsimonious set of rules and constraints. The model used a convection-diffusion approach that incorporated the influences of topography, transportation, and mining production. We used a combination of field-surveyed, archaeological, historical, and GIS data sets to calibrate, validate, and compare the alternative mathematical models. Model results were consistent with the historical harvest evidence (AUC > 0.66), with high harvest intensity closer to the mining districts, quickly decreasing at the maximum distance of influence. Performance was improved by including the local terrain. Harvesting initially showed radial patterns emanating from the significant mining districts, and then gradually expanded northward with development of the railway system. Our spatial modeling approach provides a means to assess the pattern and magnitude of historical tree harvesting in semi-arid woodlands. The general approach can be applied to explore the importance of other historical disturbance and cultural processes, whose effects may no longer be evident, in forests and woodlands worldwide.     

Winter chilling trends for deciduous fruit trees in Australia

Deciduous fruit trees require exposure to cold winter temperatures to fulfil chilling requirements allowing production of normal harvests. Trends in chill accumulation over the last 100 years were investigated at a number of important horticultural locations in Australia. Historical analysis is a necessary first step when considering potential impacts of climate change. Chill was examined using four chill models; the 0-7.2 °C, Modified Utah, Positive Utah and Dynamic models. Differences between locations were found with notable recent declines at Orange, Lenswood, Tatura, Yarra Valley and Bacchus Marsh. Other locations have remained stable with no location exhibiting a consensus increase in chill across all models. Trends in chill were shown to differ between models with results indicating that the 0-7.2 °C model frequently behaved differently to the other three chill models. These results highlight the need for multi-model analysis for chill trends, especially in a climate change context, to avoid maladaptation.     

Effect of different sampling schemes on the spatial placement of conservation reserves in Utah, USA

We evaluated the effect of three different sampling schemes used to organize spatially explicit biological information had on the spatial placement of conservation reserves in Utah, USA. The three sampling schemes consisted of a hexagon representation developed by the EPA/EMAP program (statistical basis), watershed boundaries (ecological), and the current county boundaries of Utah (socio-political). Four decision criteria were used to estimate effects, including amount of area, length of edge, lowest number of contiguous reserves, and greatest number of terrestrial vertebrate species covered. A fifth evaluation criterion was the effect each sampling scheme had on the ability of the modeled conservation reserves to cover the six major ecoregions found in Utah. Of the three sampling schemes, county boundaries covered the greatest number of species, but also created the longest length of edge and greatest number of reserves. Watersheds maximized species coverage using the least amount of area. Hexagons and watersheds provide the least amount of edge and fewest number of reserves. Although there were differences in area, edge and number of reserves among the sampling schemes, all three schemes covered all the major ecoregions in Utah and their inclusive biodiversity.     

Landscape assessment of a stable aspen community in southern Utah,USA

Recent reports of rapid die-off of aspen (Populus tremuloides), coupled with vigorous debate over long-term reduction of aspen cover in western North America, has prompted considerable research given the importance of this forest type for economic and non-economic interests. Despite this interest, indicators of aspen conditions are poorly understood, and there is a lack of systematic monitoring of stable aspen landscapes. Stable aspen are defined here as being predominantly aspen overstorey (>80% basal area) with little or no conifer regeneration. We examined a putative stable aspen landscape in southern Utah and addressed (1) stand structure and (2) indicators of decline. We sampled 83 aspen-dominated stands within a 275 km² landscape using established forest health monitoring protocols. Eighty-four percent of sample stands on Cedar Mountain exhibited stable aspen characteristics. Principal findings include: (1) a relatively uniform age of adults within the study area; (2) approximately 10% crown dieback on half of the plots sampled; (3) roughly 50% of the study plots had greater than 50% of the trees with damage to the bole; (4) about 25% of the adult basal area was dead; and (5) over half the plots had few sub-canopy individuals and/or limited regeneration. Physiographic variables including elevation, slope, and aspect were generally not strong indicators of aspen condition, typically explaining less than 15% of the variation in basal area, mortality, dieback, or damage. Healthy stands were rarely observed in the most drought prone locations, though the inverse was not necessarily true; healthy and unhealthy stands were found in more mesic settings. Principal components analysis identified two clusters of plots that differed considerably in regeneration; however, no other variables differed between these groupings. We suggest exogenous factors such as land-use history or altered disturbance regimes and endogenous factors such as soils and geology influence aspen condition on this landscape. Further research is necessary to test these hypotheses.     

Validation of winter chill models using historic records of walnut phenology

Many fruit and nut species require cold temperatures during the dormancy season to initiate flowering and bear fruit. Quantifying these chilling requirements is crucial for identifying appropriate cultivars for a given site, for timing applications of rest-breaking chemicals and for predicting consequences of climate change. We present a new method to test temperature models describing chilling and heat requirements of perennial plants, and use this method to compare the ability of four chilling models (Chilling Hours, Utah Model, Positive Utah Model and Dynamic Model) to explain walnut phenology in California.When plotting remaining heat before a phenological stage is reached against accumulated winter chill, observational curves for all years should intersect in one common point, assuming fixed chilling and heat requirements and a sequential fulfillment of these requirements. This point defines the chilling and forcing requirements of the plant, and the quality of the chilling/heat model combination is indicated by how well defined the intersection point is.We used this method on a total of 1297 phenological observations, including four walnut cultivars, seven phenological stages and eight locations in California. Using an hourly temperature record, winter chill was quantified by the four chilling models and remaining heat was estimated using the Growing Degree Hour concept.The theoretical intersection point was more clearly defined for the Dynamic and Positive Utah Models than for the Chilling Hours and Utah Models in almost all cases, indicating that these are superior in explaining walnut phenology. It was also apparent that chilling models were not equivalent and that chilling requirements determined under constant temperature conditions, when quantified in Chilling Hours, were not representative of chilling requirements in orchards.     

Potassium and sodium fertilization affects leaf nutrient content and growth of ‘Shawnee’ blackberry

Aluminum (Al) has many detrimental effects on plant growth, and shoots and roots are normally affected differently. A study was conducted to determine differences among sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes with broad genetic backgrounds for growth traits of plants grown at 0,200,400,600, and 800 μM Al in nutrient solutions (pH 4.0). Genotypes were categorized into “Al‐sensitive”, “intermediate Al‐tolerant”, “Al‐tolerant”, and SC 283 (an Al‐tolerant standard). As Al increased, shoot and root dry matter (DM), net main axis root length (NMARL), and total root length (TRL) became lower than controls (0 Al). Aluminum toxicity and/or nutrient deficiency symptoms become more severe, and shoot to root DM ratios and specific RL (TRL/root DM) values also changed as Al in solution increased. Root DM had greater changes among genotypes than shoot DM, and NMARL at 400 μM Al, and TRL at 200 μM Al had greater differences among genotypes than root DM, ratings for toxicity and/or deficiency symptoms, and other DM and RL traits. The wide differences among genotypes for NMARL and TRL could be used more effectively to evaluate sorghum genotypes for tolerance to Al toxicity than the other growth traits.