This paper was published in: Deal, R.L. and C.A. Harrington, eds. 2006. Red alder—a state of knowledge. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-669. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 150 p.
To effectively manage for biodiversity at broad, ecosystem scales, the influences of habitat structure at multiple spatial scales on vertebrate species must be understood. There are few studies on the broad-scale habitat requirements of stream amphibians despite their importance in streams in forest ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) as...
Basal area and height growth were analyzed for individual trees in uneven-aged ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa
Dougl. ex Laws.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex. Loud.) stands in central Oregon. Basal area
growth was modeled as a function of other stand and tree variables to address three general objectives:...
Sierra Nevada forests have high understory species richness yet we do not know which site factors influence
herb and shrub distribution or abundance. We examined the understory of an old-growth mixed-conifer
Sierran forest and its distribution in relation to microsite conditions. The forest has high species richness
(98 species sampled),...
Olympia oysters, “Ostrea conchaphila,” were once common along the west coast of North America. A popular delicacy, native oyster populations began to decline in the late 1800’s due to over‐harvest, degraded water quality, and habitat loss. Interest in re‐establishing the native oyster in a small Oregon estuary, Netarts Bay, culminated...
Communities across the United States are becoming more culturally and ethnically diverse. Indeed, demographers predict that by 2030 most of America’s school-age children will be from a minority group and by 2050, so will most Americans. This increasing diversity changes the nature of the population served by volunteer-based organizations, and...
Alternative male phenotypes in salmonine fishes arise from individuals that mature as either larger and older anadromous marine-migrants or as smaller and younger freshwater residents. Variability in age and size of males at maturity is hypothesized to be preceded by early differences in growth in size and lipid storage. Water...
Although previous research in central Oregon has shown soil compaction can lead to a decline in site productivity, the subject is not understood well enough to predict the growth changes resulting from a given level of soil compaction. A study was initiated to relate the basal area, height and volume...
Silviculture systems that involve commercial thinning may provide higher quality wildlife habitat than traditional clearcut systems, yet such systems have not been vigorously tested. This prospective study examined forest floor animal abundance and habitat relationships under three different silviculture conditions: clearcuts, commercial thins, and uncuts. Eighteen stands, six per treatment,...
The goal of this dissertation was to improve our understanding of the physiology and life-history of invasive plants and of the mechanisms underlying life-history trade-offs. I compared invasive and noninvasive species of Rubus (blackberry) that grow together in the Pacific Northwest. Three hypotheses were investigated: (1) Invasive Rubus have higher...
White and grand fir are both valuable components of the mixed-conifer stand structure managed for late-successional reserves in central Oregon. However, they are often short-lived species because of high susceptibility to root diseases, defoliating insects, bark beetles, and wildfire. This study focuses on the effects of root diseases caused by...
This study examined debris flows occurring in a 125 km² study area in the Blue River watershed in the western Cascade Mountains of Oregon over a 50-year period. Debris flow occurrence was found to be concentrated in a distinct zone of high activity occupying approximately half of the study area,...
During 1997–1998, we investigated the influence of both the relative abundance of truffles, preferred food
items, and microhabitat structure on the occurrence of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) in oldgrowth
forest habitat of the Sierra Nevada Range, U.S.A. Following live-trapping sessions, we searched the forest floor
for truffle diggings...
During 1997–1998, we investigated the influence of both the relative abundance of truffles, preferred food
items, and microhabitat structure on the occurrence of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) in old-growth
forest habitat of the Sierra Nevada Range, U.S.A. Following live-trapping sessions, we searched the forest floor
for truffle diggings...
'Golden Delicious' winter squash (GDWS), Cucurbita maxima Duchesne, provides significant amounts of pollen (24 mg) and nectar (236 μl), but with a low reward of 14% nectar sugar. The quantity of nectar produced per GDWS flower differed between sites and floral sex. The GDWS male flowers had 25% higher sugar...
We conducted capture and acoustic surveys for bats in six areas along a latitudinal gradient in Southeast Alaska from mid-May to September in 2005 and we continued surveys on Prince of Wales Island from mid-May to September in 2006. We determined the level of effort required to catch each species...
Partial migration is a common migratory behavior where some individuals in a population migrate and others do not. Patterns of partial migration can vary dramatically, especially for species that inhabit a wide range of environments. I described and predicted spatial variation in marine migration (anadromy) of female Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead...
Reforestation-based restoration of severely burnt plantations is one of the primary management activities following wildfire on U.S. federal lands. Restoration effects on early-seral plant and cryptogam communities have not been documented. The objectives of this study were, in severely burnt plantations two to four years post-fire, to examine the: (1)...
Three studies were conducted to evaluate different grazing systems on mixed conifer rangelands in eastern Oregon, and photo points and aerial photography was used to determine effects of 25 years of cattle grazing on stream channel changes and vegetation responses. The first study was designed to determine if grazing treatment...
Monitoring wildlife habitats has become important to forest ecosystem management because it provides valuable information about the response of forests and their species to harvest practices, impacts from recreational use, conservation efforts, and natural and human-caused disturbances. Monitoring is a complex task that requires a variety of abiotic and biotic...
The suspension-feeding mud shrimp, Upogebia pugettensis, is a common inhabitant of intertidal mudflats in estuaries throughout the Pacific Northwest, where it develops extensive burrows. Also inhabiting the shrimps' burrow is the commensal bivalve, Cryptomya californica. Filtration by dense populations of the shrimp and its commensals may have a negative impact...
Energy input comparisons between tillage systems; evaluation of the value of legumes as part of a cover crop mixture used in strip-till sweet corn production; evaluation of the nitrogen contribution of legume-based cover crops to organic vegetable production.
My thesis explored the effects of environmental variability on population
dynamics and community composition of aquatic insects. Environmental variability in
the form of flow regime in streams can limit the distribution and life-history traits of
aquatic insects. I used tributaries to the McKenzie River in Oregon with dramatically
different flow...
The report summarizes basin level accomplishments and investments related to water quality improvements, fish recovery, and watershed
health. The report also provides an overview of state agency actions
and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the Oregon
Plan.
Published June 2001. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
The overall purpose of this study was to examine the root and shoot development of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings at two distinct time periods in seedling establishment (after I and 3 growing seasons) in response to fertilizer, stock size, vegetation control, and soil moisture treatments. Two separate experiments...
Pallidosis is a disease of strawberry identified in 1957 with an unknown etiology. Two previously uncharacterized viruses in strawberry, Strawberry pallidosis associated virus (SPaV) and Beet pseudo-yellows virus (BPYV), have been found associated with disease symptoms. The complete nucleotide sequence of both viruses was determined and molecular detection protocols developed....
In- stream water temperature is one of the most important environmental
factors associated with the decline in salmonid populations and their habitats in the
Pacific Northwest. Most ecological restoration practices that attempt to reduce instream
temperatures center on replanting or reestablishing riparian vegetation and
increasing flows. However, in a large...
This classification lists the native plant associations known to occur in Oregon, and includes both successional and climax vegetation types that were an important part of the presettlement landscape of Oregon. It serves as an index to the diversity, distribution and relative rarity of the state's native plant associations, and...
This dissertation presents the results of three studies that assessed climate variability on short and long timescales in western United States. The growth of carbonate formations in caves (speleothems) is used to infer the timing and amplitude of past climate variability. We first assess the controls on speleothem growth for...
This report and especially the accompanying Detail Files and MapFiles provide relatively detailed information on status, trends, distribution, limiting factors, and conservation needs of all of the Willamette’s wildlife species, listed plants, and vulnerable habitats. Data on habitat suitability for each species is provided by watershed (170 HUC6s), elevation (6...
Pollen development is an important process in male flower development, the timing of which may be correlated with time of pollen shed in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.). Early to very late blooming cultivars were identified and the relationship of microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis, and time of pollen shed were studied in...
This study evaluated the influence of cattle stocking density on botanical composition of diet, diet preference, and cattle performance on the Zumwalt Prairie in Northeastern Oregon. In each of two years, 192 cow-calf pairs (549.27 kg, BCS = 4.89) and 48 yearling heifers (383.34 kg, BCS = 5.02) were stratified...
Cephalosporium stripe (Cephalosporium gramineum) is an important disease limiting adoption of conservation tillage practices in the Pacific Northwest. The disease can cause severe loss of grain yield and quality in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Modified cultural practices can reduce disease incidence, but are not always dependable because of variation...
Conventional soil maps represent a valuable source of information about soil
characteristics, however they are subjective, very expensive, and time-consuming to
prepare. Also, they do not include explicit information about the conceptual mental
model used in developing them nor information about their accuracy, in addition to the
error associated with...
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), a shade intolerant species, and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), a shade tolerant species, were compared to learn more about the temporal pattern of release from suppression in both species, whether hydraulic architecture or photosynthetic capacity constrain release and how wood functional properties change...
Natural resource decisions require consideration at many levels, ranging from how one invertebrate will be affected by a nearby road, to how an entire watershed will be transformed by a massive clearcut. Considerations reach farther than just the local ecological community-human communities, economies, and future impacts on the communities and...
Fifty-seven species of wildlife rely on or frequently use snags for breeding, roosting, or denning in Oregon and Washington. Several publications offer information on use of snags by wildlife, influence of management activities on snags and snag users, and approaches to managing snags to benefit wildlife. Because of the diverse...
One of the basic questions facing transportation planners and road managers is how to provide and maintain a road system that provides efficient access to the forest while limiting adverse effects roads can have on water and soil resources. The purpose of this study is to develop decision support models...
The Elliott State Forest, located in the Coast Range of Oregon, is currently revising their Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Many of the constraints in the HCP are spatial, requiring identification of specific parcels in order to limit activity along habitat reserves, limit harvest opening size, and to coordinate activities within...
This is the fourth report on the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. The first three reports focused on people – their
stories and their efforts to restore watershed health and recover listed fish species. While these earlier reports contained
what little information was available regarding the quantitative aspects of...
Exotic ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Doug. ex Lawson) plantations are being planted within the natural distribution area of cordilleran cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis (D.Don) Pic. Ser. et Bizzarri) in Patagonia, Argentina. The productivity of these exotic plantations is much greater than that of native forests, suggesting greater water use. Before these...