The Mongolian Steppe is one of the largest remaining grassland ecosystems. Recent studies have reported widespread
decline of vegetation across the steppe and about 70% of this ecosystem is now considered degraded. Among
the scientific community there has been an active debate about whether the observed degradation is related to...
Components of biodiversity in intensively managed forest stands may be reduced in comparison to naturally regenerated stands. Use of herbicides to suppress herbaceous and woody plant species that compete with planted seedlings has been implicated in negative impacts. We designed a large-scale experimental study to test the influence of intensive...
Model–data comparisons of plant physiological processes provide an understanding of mechanisms underlying vegetation responses to climate. We simulated the physiology of a pi~non pine–juniper woodland (Pinus edulis–Juniperus monosperma) that experienced mortality during a 5 yr precipitation-reduction experiment, allowing a framework with which to examine our knowledge of drought-induced tree mortality....
Factors influencing soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content in complex terrain, where vegetation, climate, and topography vary over the scale of a few meters, are not well understood. We examined the spatial correlations of lidar and geographic information system-derived landscape topography, empirically measured soil characteristics,...
Hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus trichocarpa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) wood specimens were densified with three variations of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) treatment. The THM treatments differed in the steam environment, including transient steam (TS), saturated steam (SS), and saturated steam with 1 minute post-heat-treatment at 200°C (SS+PHT). The bending properties,...
Coarse woody debris (CWD, comprised of snags and downed logs) is an important component of the structure and function of forest ecosystems, one which both influences the availability of fuel for wildfires and can be a result of wildfires. We studied snag persistence, and changes in mass of CWD in...
Many protected areas or parks in developing countries have buffer zones at their
boundaries to achieve the dual goals of protecting park resources and providing
resource benefits to neighbouring people. Despite the prevalence of these zoning
policies, few behavioural models of people’s buffer zone use inform the sizing and
management...
Stream temperatures were monitored on seven low-elevation western Oregon streams immediately after clearcut harvesting and 14-17 years later in two studies that examined buffer designs. One study on four streams used no-tree buffers with all trees next to the stream harvested within the clearcut units. The second study on three...
Small hydropower plants divert part of the water from wide and physically complex
stream channels with active hyporheic areas to narrow and hydraulically simple concrete canals,
and thus, might affect nutrient dynamics. We compared nutrient uptake in diversion canals and
in stream channels in the Leitzaran Stream (Basque Country, northern...
In recent years the “working landscape” concept has risen to prominence in popular, academic, and policy discourse surrounding conservation of both natural and cultural values in inhabited landscapes. Despite its implied reconciliation of commodity production and environmental protection, this concept remains contested terrain, masking tensions over land use practices and...