The document summarizes research analyzing pollen data from Pittsburg Basin, Illinois using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). DCA was used to understand relationships between climate, vegetation, and fire frequency over time. The first DCA axis separated boreal taxa from temperate trees, explaining 53.7% of variation. Samples with positive second axis values represented more forested conditions, while negative values represented prairie dominance. Prairie expansion was likely driven by variable fire frequency, though charcoal levels did not always increase with fire frequency, possibly due to intense fires consuming more charcoal. The analysis revealed shifts between prairie and forest dominated zones corresponding to changes in climate and fire regimes over the past 130,000 years
Fire and herbivory can influence tree size transitions in Acacia drepanolobium. Preliminary results show that while mean size of small trees (<1m) was similar between burned and unburned areas, burned trees had higher levels of ant mutualism traits like nectar. Specifically, burned small trees were occupied by ant species that provide better defense and had more nectar rewards. Further analysis will examine how fire temperature and herbivory levels affect tree response, and how the presence of neighboring trees impacts post-fire ant colonization.
This document summarizes research on the hydrologic and erosion impacts of woodland encroachment into sagebrush steppe ecosystems and treatments to remove encroaching trees. Key findings include:
1) Woodland encroachment can increase hydrologic vulnerability by reducing vegetation cover and increasing the connectivity of bare ground, leading to concentrated overland flow and amplified erosion.
2) Prescribed fire initially enhances runoff and erosion by creating more uniformly bare conditions but can effectively reestablish sagebrush vegetation in the long-term to improve hydrologic function.
3) Research at sites in Utah evaluated the short and long-term effects of woodland encroachment and tree removal techniques on vegetation, infiltration,
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This document summarizes Cassidy Rankine's doctoral research on monitoring seasonal and secondary succession processes in deciduous forests using remote sensing and wireless sensor networks. The research had three parts: 1) Using a wireless sensor network to study how canopy phenology and weather affect network performance, finding strongest signals during peak growing season. 2) Examining seasonal changes and climate moderation in secondary tropical dry forests in Brazil, finding older forests better buffered heat and moisture extremes. 3) Comparing MODIS satellite data to phenology tower data across forest ages, finding MODIS subject to errors for phenology monitoring in tropical dry forests.
The document discusses how forests help improve water quality in Chesapeake Bay. It notes that 39% of Maryland is forested, totaling over 2.46 million acres, and that forests are the best land cover for enhancing water quality by regulating water temperature, providing habitat and food for fish, and influencing sediment flux. It identifies several issues impacting Maryland forests, such as a decline in forest land area, an increase in even-aged forests from diameter limit cutting, and threats from invasive species and pests. The document provides contact information for Craig Highfield at forestryforthebay.org to learn more about their work improving forest management practices to benefit local waterways.
The Uvalde Research Center's mission is to create knowledge and technology that results in efficient and profitable intensive agricultural and urban management systems while maintaining balance between the environment and social prosperity. The document then provides examples of various research projects conducted at the center related to maximizing crop production, conserving underground resources, analyzing antioxidants in response to irrigation, improving drip irrigation, enhancing wildlife production, combating Pierce's disease of grapes, improving irrigation efficiency, studying water and nutrient use efficiency, measuring water use in trees, and assessing nursery grown trees. Educational sessions were also provided during a county commissioners court conference.
The document analyzes foraminiferal assemblages from the basal Tropic Shale in south-central Utah, which records the westward expansion of the Western Interior Seaway during the latest Cenomanian-early Turonian transition. Samples were taken from where two specimens of the pliosaur Brachauchenius lucasi were excavated. Analysis found cyclical fluctuations in planktic/benthic ratios indicating dynamic neritic conditions, with possible changes in water temperature, salinity, or turbidity. Benthic assemblages dominated by infaunal Neobulimina suggest oxygen-stressed seafloor conditions from stratification or organic matter. The data indicates cycles of transgression/
This document summarizes loss on ignition (LOI) results from a sediment core collected from Crystal Lake in western Ohio. LOI analysis was conducted on three additional drives from the core to further investigate quasi-cycles in organic material and calcium carbonate levels over time. The results provide evidence of fluctuating organic content between 4-18% over depths of 1200-1550cm. Calcium carbonate levels were highest from 1100-1460cm and decreased below 1460cm, potentially indicating a change in the carbon cycle. Continued LOI and other analyses at this site will improve understanding of past climate changes in the region.
This document summarizes a study analyzing phosphorus levels in an old-growth Douglas fir forest in the Pacific Northwest. Key findings include:
- Phosphorus levels were highest in foliage and lowest in mineral soil below 50cm.
- Wood and bark phosphorus levels correlated positively with tree diameter.
- Phosphorus levels generally decreased with soil depth and were largely consistent with prior studies.
- Clearcutting could remove over 1kg/ha of phosphorus from the ecosystem.
Further analysis of nutrient cycling and a larger sample size were recommended.
Fire and herbivory can influence tree size transitions in Acacia drepanolobium. Preliminary results show that while mean size of small trees (<1m) was similar between burned and unburned areas, burned trees had higher levels of ant mutualism traits like nectar. Specifically, burned small trees were occupied by ant species that provide better defense and had more nectar rewards. Further analysis will examine how fire temperature and herbivory levels affect tree response, and how the presence of neighboring trees impacts post-fire ant colonization.
This document summarizes research on the hydrologic and erosion impacts of woodland encroachment into sagebrush steppe ecosystems and treatments to remove encroaching trees. Key findings include:
1) Woodland encroachment can increase hydrologic vulnerability by reducing vegetation cover and increasing the connectivity of bare ground, leading to concentrated overland flow and amplified erosion.
2) Prescribed fire initially enhances runoff and erosion by creating more uniformly bare conditions but can effectively reestablish sagebrush vegetation in the long-term to improve hydrologic function.
3) Research at sites in Utah evaluated the short and long-term effects of woodland encroachment and tree removal techniques on vegetation, infiltration,
Monitoring Seasonal and Secondary Succession Processes in Deciduous ForestsCassidy Rankine
This document summarizes Cassidy Rankine's doctoral research on monitoring seasonal and secondary succession processes in deciduous forests using remote sensing and wireless sensor networks. The research had three parts: 1) Using a wireless sensor network to study how canopy phenology and weather affect network performance, finding strongest signals during peak growing season. 2) Examining seasonal changes and climate moderation in secondary tropical dry forests in Brazil, finding older forests better buffered heat and moisture extremes. 3) Comparing MODIS satellite data to phenology tower data across forest ages, finding MODIS subject to errors for phenology monitoring in tropical dry forests.
The document discusses how forests help improve water quality in Chesapeake Bay. It notes that 39% of Maryland is forested, totaling over 2.46 million acres, and that forests are the best land cover for enhancing water quality by regulating water temperature, providing habitat and food for fish, and influencing sediment flux. It identifies several issues impacting Maryland forests, such as a decline in forest land area, an increase in even-aged forests from diameter limit cutting, and threats from invasive species and pests. The document provides contact information for Craig Highfield at forestryforthebay.org to learn more about their work improving forest management practices to benefit local waterways.
The Uvalde Research Center's mission is to create knowledge and technology that results in efficient and profitable intensive agricultural and urban management systems while maintaining balance between the environment and social prosperity. The document then provides examples of various research projects conducted at the center related to maximizing crop production, conserving underground resources, analyzing antioxidants in response to irrigation, improving drip irrigation, enhancing wildlife production, combating Pierce's disease of grapes, improving irrigation efficiency, studying water and nutrient use efficiency, measuring water use in trees, and assessing nursery grown trees. Educational sessions were also provided during a county commissioners court conference.
The document analyzes foraminiferal assemblages from the basal Tropic Shale in south-central Utah, which records the westward expansion of the Western Interior Seaway during the latest Cenomanian-early Turonian transition. Samples were taken from where two specimens of the pliosaur Brachauchenius lucasi were excavated. Analysis found cyclical fluctuations in planktic/benthic ratios indicating dynamic neritic conditions, with possible changes in water temperature, salinity, or turbidity. Benthic assemblages dominated by infaunal Neobulimina suggest oxygen-stressed seafloor conditions from stratification or organic matter. The data indicates cycles of transgression/
This document summarizes loss on ignition (LOI) results from a sediment core collected from Crystal Lake in western Ohio. LOI analysis was conducted on three additional drives from the core to further investigate quasi-cycles in organic material and calcium carbonate levels over time. The results provide evidence of fluctuating organic content between 4-18% over depths of 1200-1550cm. Calcium carbonate levels were highest from 1100-1460cm and decreased below 1460cm, potentially indicating a change in the carbon cycle. Continued LOI and other analyses at this site will improve understanding of past climate changes in the region.
This document summarizes a study analyzing phosphorus levels in an old-growth Douglas fir forest in the Pacific Northwest. Key findings include:
- Phosphorus levels were highest in foliage and lowest in mineral soil below 50cm.
- Wood and bark phosphorus levels correlated positively with tree diameter.
- Phosphorus levels generally decreased with soil depth and were largely consistent with prior studies.
- Clearcutting could remove over 1kg/ha of phosphorus from the ecosystem.
Further analysis of nutrient cycling and a larger sample size were recommended.
1) The study examined how stream carbon loss through leaf litter breakdown rates may be affected by warming temperatures using data from Coweeta Basin streams and Athens, Georgia streams.
2) Leaf packs were deployed in streams along a temperature gradient and breakdown rates were compared to predictions from the metabolic theory of ecology.
3) Preliminary results found relationships between faster breakdown rates and higher temperatures, though slopes were generally steeper than predicted, and variability was high. Including more disturbed Athens streams lessened the temperature effect relationship.
1) The study investigated how the soil mite Oppia nitens behaviorally responds to different types and doses of biochar amendments to soil.
2) The mites avoided the side of containers with 100% biochar more than the side with 51.2% biochar mixtures, though the response varied between biochar feedstocks.
3) While no char properties clearly explained mite responses, the mites slightly preferred soil with 51.2% spruce chip biochar over just soil, possibly due to the dominance of spruce in their natural habitat.
This study estimated carbon sequestration in a Litsea-cassava agroforestry model in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Measurements of 22 Litsea sample plots of varying ages and densities were taken to determine biomass, carbon content, and CO2 absorption. Results showed optimal CO2 sequestration occurred with 2-3 Litsea shoots per stump, harvesting after 10 years, and absorption of 25-84 tons of CO2 per hectare. However, further study is needed to estimate underground carbon storage. The research aims to promote payment programs for the environmental services of agroforestry models.
This document summarizes a study analyzing temporal, land use, acorn distribution, population, and climate factors contributing to Lyme disease cases in the Northeast United States from 2007 to 2011. The study used principal component analysis and regression to determine that the percentage of forested and grassland areas within counties, and the strength of disease reservoirs from previous cases, were significant factors, while urban area, climate variables, and oak tree variation were not significant contributors to Lyme disease rates. The analysis was limited by available data and issues with normality and heteroscedasticity in the data set.
This document discusses root-zone heating systems for greenhouse crops. It describes how root-zone heating focuses on maintaining an optimal root temperature using hot water distribution through tubing under greenhouse benches and floors. This promotes energy conservation and improved plant growth. Root-zone heating allows greenhouse air temperatures to be lowered while still providing adequate heat to roots. Various energy sources can be used including solar and geothermal. Rutgers University has conducted significant research on soil heating systems to benefit greenhouse crop production.
Root-zone heating is a greenhouse production method that focuses on maintaining an optimal root temperature. It promotes energy conservation by allowing greenhouse air temperatures to be lowered while still supporting plant growth. Hot water is circulated through tubing or piping laid out beneath benches or in greenhouse floors to warm roots. Maintaining root zone temperatures has been shown to be more critical for plant growth than leaf temperatures. Root-zone heating systems can reduce energy use compared to conventional greenhouse heating methods.
This study examined the effects of oil and gas extraction on waterfowl nesting and wetland water quality in North Dakota. Researchers selected study sites with varying levels of oil and gas activity within three counties. They monitored duck nests and measured water chemistry parameters like metals and nutrients at high and low activity sites. Results found statistical differences in levels of some metals like calcium and magnesium between high and control sites. One site showed exceptionally high metal concentrations. Further research on vegetation, invertebrates, and waterfowl tissue was discussed to better understand impacts on the ecosystem.
This document discusses methods for studying the distribution of organisms in their habitat. It explains that physical factors like temperature, nutrients, light, water, and oxygen availability affect where and how many organisms will grow. It describes using quadrats or transects to collect quantitative data through random sampling. This allows researchers to analyze the distribution of organisms and relationships within and between communities.
The document summarizes a study of long-term ecosystem changes along the coast of Israel using arboreal pollen analysis. Key findings include:
1) Forests were replaced by thorny shrub-steppe and then open-steppe around 4000-2900 years ago due to sea level rise and increased salinity.
2) A drought event linked to decreased precipitation occurred around 3200 years ago, allowing plants to recover as human agriculture declined temporarily.
3) Increased agriculture in recent decades has replaced woodlands further inland and contributed to renewed sea level rise over the past 50 years.
1) The study examined how stream carbon loss through leaf litter breakdown rates may be affected by warming temperatures using data from Coweeta Basin streams and Athens, Georgia streams.
2) Leaf packs were deployed in streams along a temperature gradient and breakdown rates were compared to predictions from the metabolic theory of ecology.
3) Preliminary results found relationships between faster breakdown rates and higher temperatures, though slopes were generally steeper than predicted, and variability was high. Including more disturbed Athens streams lessened the temperature effect relationship.
1) The study investigated how the soil mite Oppia nitens behaviorally responds to different types and doses of biochar amendments to soil.
2) The mites avoided the side of containers with 100% biochar more than the side with 51.2% biochar mixtures, though the response varied between biochar feedstocks.
3) While no char properties clearly explained mite responses, the mites slightly preferred soil with 51.2% spruce chip biochar over just soil, possibly due to the dominance of spruce in their natural habitat.
This study estimated carbon sequestration in a Litsea-cassava agroforestry model in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Measurements of 22 Litsea sample plots of varying ages and densities were taken to determine biomass, carbon content, and CO2 absorption. Results showed optimal CO2 sequestration occurred with 2-3 Litsea shoots per stump, harvesting after 10 years, and absorption of 25-84 tons of CO2 per hectare. However, further study is needed to estimate underground carbon storage. The research aims to promote payment programs for the environmental services of agroforestry models.
This document summarizes a study analyzing temporal, land use, acorn distribution, population, and climate factors contributing to Lyme disease cases in the Northeast United States from 2007 to 2011. The study used principal component analysis and regression to determine that the percentage of forested and grassland areas within counties, and the strength of disease reservoirs from previous cases, were significant factors, while urban area, climate variables, and oak tree variation were not significant contributors to Lyme disease rates. The analysis was limited by available data and issues with normality and heteroscedasticity in the data set.
This document discusses root-zone heating systems for greenhouse crops. It describes how root-zone heating focuses on maintaining an optimal root temperature using hot water distribution through tubing under greenhouse benches and floors. This promotes energy conservation and improved plant growth. Root-zone heating allows greenhouse air temperatures to be lowered while still providing adequate heat to roots. Various energy sources can be used including solar and geothermal. Rutgers University has conducted significant research on soil heating systems to benefit greenhouse crop production.
Root-zone heating is a greenhouse production method that focuses on maintaining an optimal root temperature. It promotes energy conservation by allowing greenhouse air temperatures to be lowered while still supporting plant growth. Hot water is circulated through tubing or piping laid out beneath benches or in greenhouse floors to warm roots. Maintaining root zone temperatures has been shown to be more critical for plant growth than leaf temperatures. Root-zone heating systems can reduce energy use compared to conventional greenhouse heating methods.
This study examined the effects of oil and gas extraction on waterfowl nesting and wetland water quality in North Dakota. Researchers selected study sites with varying levels of oil and gas activity within three counties. They monitored duck nests and measured water chemistry parameters like metals and nutrients at high and low activity sites. Results found statistical differences in levels of some metals like calcium and magnesium between high and control sites. One site showed exceptionally high metal concentrations. Further research on vegetation, invertebrates, and waterfowl tissue was discussed to better understand impacts on the ecosystem.
This document discusses methods for studying the distribution of organisms in their habitat. It explains that physical factors like temperature, nutrients, light, water, and oxygen availability affect where and how many organisms will grow. It describes using quadrats or transects to collect quantitative data through random sampling. This allows researchers to analyze the distribution of organisms and relationships within and between communities.
The document summarizes a study of long-term ecosystem changes along the coast of Israel using arboreal pollen analysis. Key findings include:
1) Forests were replaced by thorny shrub-steppe and then open-steppe around 4000-2900 years ago due to sea level rise and increased salinity.
2) A drought event linked to decreased precipitation occurred around 3200 years ago, allowing plants to recover as human agriculture declined temporarily.
3) Increased agriculture in recent decades has replaced woodlands further inland and contributed to renewed sea level rise over the past 50 years.
1. High fire
frequency
High fire
frequency
High fire
frequency
Low fire
frequency
Moderate
fire
frequency
Low fire
frequency
Variable fire
frequency
Elizabeth Freeman and Rebecca Teed
Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Wright State University
Observing Patterns in Pittsburg Basin, Illinois, Pollen Data
Using Detrended Correspondence Analysis
Acknowledgements:
A very special thank you to Dr. Schmidt & Dr. Bennett
Upcoming & Ongoing Research
• Increase charcoal counts to decrease error.
• Conduct variation and confidence interval analysis.
• Use understanding of modern plant taxon ranges to understand what
eigenvector one indicates about the climate.
Introduction
• Pittsburg Basin, central Illinois, contains a long pollen record, which
includes assemblages indicating a period as warm as the present last
interglacial ; dating back at least 130,000 years.(Teed,2000)
• Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used to summarize the
pollen data in order to analyze relationships among climate, vegetation,
and fire frequency.
Results & Discussion
• Ecological forces like summer temperatures drive vegetation
changes which are summarized into vectors.
• 82.5% of the variation in the Pittsburg Basin data for pollen taxa
which make up at least 2% of the main sum for at least one level is
accounted for by eigenvectors 1 and 2.
• 53.7% of the variation is explained by the first eigenvector
• 28.8% of the variation is accounted for by the second
eigenvector.
• The first eigenvector separates boreal taxa from temperate trees.
Undergrad student,
Elizabeth Freeman,
using the point-count
method to measure
charcoal concentrations.
References
• Bennett, K.D. 1994. ‘Psimpoll’ version 2.23: A C program for analyzing pollen data
and plotting diagrams. INQUA Commission for the Study of the Holocene: Working
Group on Data-Handling Methods, Newsletter 11, 4-6.
• Clark, J.S., and T.C. Hussey. 1996. Estimating the mass flux of charcoal from
sedimentary records: effects of particle size, morphology, and orientation. The
Holocene 6: 129-144.
• Clark, R.L. 1982: Point count estimation of charcoal in pollen preparations and thin
sections of sediments. Pollen et Spores 24, 523–535.
• Hill, M.O. and Gauch, H.G. 1980. Detrended Correspondence Analysis: An
Improved Ordination Technique. Vegetatio 42, 47–58.
• Teed, R. 2000. A > 130,000-Year-Long Pollen Record from Pittsburg Basin, Illinois."
Quaternary Research 542 : 264-274.
Eigenvector2
Eigenvector 1
Pittsburg Basin Pollen Record2
-2
-1 1 2 3
PB-5
PB-6
PB-2
PB-1
PB-4
PB-7
PB-3
-2.5
-2
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Eigenvector2
Eigenvector 1
Pittsburg Basin Species Loadings
Spruce
Artemisia
Pine
Birch
Alder
Oak
Goosefoot
Hickory
Walnut
Hackberry
Elm
Ash
Plane
Ironwood
Sweetgum
Redcedar Hazel
Grasses
Other Herbs
Ragweed
Sedges
Methods
• Samples were analyzed for fine charcoal content using the point count
method (Clark,1982).
• Counts were increased from 50 to 100 for a number of samples.
• Due to the high number of taxa, multivariate analysis was used to
summarize data (taken from Teed, 2000).
• psimpoll (Bennett,1994) was used to analyze Pittsburg Basin data pollen
using DCA (detrended correspondence analysis; Hill and Gauch, 1980)
Pollen
Zones
Vegetation Climate
PB-7 Prairie/some woodland Warm/temperate
PB-6 Prairie Dry, cooler
summers
PB-5 Prairie Dry
PB-4 Deciduous forest/prairie Warm/humid
PB-3 Prairie dominant/some
forest
Warm/less humid
PB-2 Deciduous forest/prairie Warm/humid
PB-1 Boreal forest Dry, cooler
summers
Summary of stratigraphic data from Pittsburg Basin Core 94-5C/D/G.
• Samples with positive second eigenvector values were
deposited under more densely forested conditions, while the
samples with negative values were dominated by prairie.
• Prairie expansion is presumably driven by fire frequency,
but the charcoal-to-pollen ratio does not necessarily
increase with fire frequency.
• In zones PB-2 through PB-4, the charcoal-to-pollen ratio is
inversely proportional to eigenvector 2 sample loadings;
as prairie-pollen percentages increase, so does the
charcoal-to-pollen ratio.
• However, very intense fires result in nearly complete
combustion, and a very low charcoal-to-pollen ratio (Clark
and Hussey, 1996), which is likely the case in the prairie
dominated zones (PB-5 and above).
Ice Margin
for the
Latest Glacial
Prairie
Oak-Hickory
Forest
Floodplain
Forest