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...
Plant form is a compromise between resource gathering, reproduction and
the tolerance to physical demands of the abiotic and biotic environment. In
an agricultural field in addition to the natural factors causing stress, humans
also introduce physical and mechanical stresses, and chemical pesticides
into the environment. Many of these factors...
Models of weed communities aid in the development of
weed management strategies and elucidate the processes
and mechanisms that regulate plant populations and
communities. A conceptual weed community model was
developed to organize key regulatory life-history
processes. Specific investigations focused on the
processes of plant growth and competition, and
relationships...
A new method for delayed gamma-ray spectrometry to quantify the relative content of fissile material is developed and demonstrated to support international efforts in bolstering non-destructive assay capabilities. Previous traditional delayed gamma-ray spectrometry techniques rely upon nuclear data that often carry very high uncertainty. The new method removes the requirement...
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women with an estimated 13% of women in the United States developing a form of invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. The survival rate is estimated to be 85%, but the American Cancer Society estimates that early detection of breast cancer in the...
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) and thimbleberry
(Rubus parviflorus) are clonal shrub species common to
reforestation sites in the Oregon Coast Range. These
species have economic importance, because they reduce
conifer seedling growth and survival. A population modeling
approach was used to facilitate study of the biology of
these species and to...
Improving vegetation management decisions in Pacific Northwest forests requires a better understanding of the interactions between
planted conifers and associated vegetation. A practical index of interspecific competition, and quantitative models predicting conifer performance from such an index are particularly needed. To meet this
need, neighborhood models of interspecific competition were...
Competitive interactions between Douglas-fir seedlings (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and seedlings of a nitrogen-fixing hardwood
associate, red alder (Alnus rubra), were investigated in an addition series experiment. The primary objective of the research was to identify and quantify key processes underlying intra- and interspecific competitive interactions of Douglas-fir and red alder seedlings....
I investigated the population dynamics of fireweed (Epilobium angustfolium), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) , and woodland groundsel (Senecio sylvaticus) to understand
their colonization, persistence, and extirpation in Pacific Northwest Douglas-fir forests. Factors affecting the species' frequency and abundance in forest communities were evaluated. Their population dynamics were modeled and field experiments...
Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule that regulates blood pressure and vascular tone. Humans produce NO by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which is impaired in patients with cardiovascular disease leading to increased blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Maintaining optimal levels of...
The defining feature of our planet are the oceans, which make up 70% of the Earth’s surface. The importance of the ocean cannot be understated: 50% of oxygen originates from phytoplankton; heat is absorbed and redistributed by ocean currents; and hundreds of millions of people rely on the ocean for...
A lexicon describing the sensory perception of carbonated water was
developed. Temporal aspects and differing ingestion conditions were
investigated for Bite and Burn sensation using time-intensity (T-I). Four CO₂
levels (0, 1.7, 2.8, and 4.6 volumes) at 3°C and 10°C were tested. Trained
panelists used a 16-pt category scale for...
Studies were initiated to determine the response of two common
groundsel biotypes (Senecio vulgaris L. ) to several s-triazine herbicides.
Herbicides tested were: 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-striazine
(simazine), 2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-
s-triazine (atrazine) 2-(sec-butylamino)-4-(ethylamino)-6-methoxys-
triazine (GS-14254), 2, 4-bis(isopropylamino)-6-methoxy-striazine
(prometone), 2-(tert-butylamino)-4-(ethylamino)-6-methylthio-
s-triazine (terbutryn), and 2, 4-bis(isopropylamino)-6-
methylthio-s-triazine (prometryne). One biotype was much more
susceptible than the...
Phylogeographic studies of six Pacific Northwest forest-associated
salamanders provide insight into historical and contemporary processes on
population genetic structure. Among Larch Mountain Salamanders (Plethodon
larselli), cytochrome b mitochondrial (mtDNA) sequences (381 bp) and random
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs; 34 loci) supported separate Management
Units for northern and southern populations (12...
Experiments were conducted to determine if allelopathy is a mechanism
by which buckwheat interferes with a) the growth of Canada thistle and/or b)
mycorrhizae colonization in Canada thistle roots. In a competition experiment,
buckwheat plant biomass was only affected by the intraspecific competition
from other buckwheat plants and not by...