Thesis (M.E.S.)--The Evergreen State College, 2008. / Title from title screen viewed (4/7/2009). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-126).

Thesis (M.S.) -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2005. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Feb. 2, 2006). Thesis advisor: Marianne Breinig. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Several reports of widespread establishment of mesophytic vegetation within oak-hickory upland forests have been documented throughout the Central Hardwoods Region. Previous studies suggest deviations from historic disturbance regimes may be a primary driver of vegetation change, necessitating the use of Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) guidelines to measure changes in forest structure. Current parameters of forest structure and fuel loading were assessed within mature oak-hickory uplands throughout the ecological subsections of the Shawnee National Forest, including the Greater Shawnee Hills, Lesser Shawnee Hills, Cretaceous Hills, and the Illinois Ozarks. Present species importance values and forest structure were compared with reference conditions developed from General Land Office records(Fralish et al. 2002). Current uplands contained an average 214.72 ± 16.52 SE trees/ac and 103.37 ± 2.16 SE ft2 BA/ac, while reference stands harbored less than 90 trees/ac with a range of 16 and 120 ft2 BA/ac. Due to the high levels of fragmentation and a lack of large contiguous upland stands within the Shawnee National Forest, stand level criteria for FRCC values were developed as opposed to landscape level FRCC values which are commonly used. FRCC values determined during initial surveys were compared with plot level ratios of forest structure parameters regarding oaks:mesophytes and xerophytes:mesophytes, yielding clear relationships between species composition and FRCC values. Fuel loading (tons/ac) was assessed as a determinant of FRCC values, however a significant relationship between FRCC values and fuel loading was not discovered. Since widespread deviations from the historic fire regime have taken place since the early 20th century, Fire Regime Condition Class values were found to fall into the FRCC 2 and 3 categories without any stands representing FRCC 1. This determination requires future management practices to follow Fire Regime Condition Class guidelines. The study proved that mesophytic species have become established within all canopy strata, with a strong probability of gaining future dominance without active forest management. Although it is clear that forest structure has deviated from reference conditions, a strong oak-hickory overstory component found throughout the study area provides a potential resource to sustain future oak-hickory upland ecosystems.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have considerable impacts on woody and herbaceous vegetation. Many oak-hickory forests in the eastern U.S. are experiencing a lack of oak (Quercus) and hickory (Carya) regeneration, with deer being a likely culprit. Furthermore, few have studied deer use of different herbaceous food plot mixtures. I addressed these gaps in the literature by assessing deer impacts on forest and herbaceous vegetation in southern Illinois. I established 150 paired plots (enclosed and control) in June 2015 and measured 25 habitat variables to assess impacts of deer herbivory from August 2015 to August 2016. Oak seedlings were present more often and in higher numbers within enclosed plots (F1,299 = 6.25, P < 0.050 and F1,387 = 4.50, P < 0.050, respectively). There were no differences in the height of oak seedlings or the presence, number, or height of hickory seedlings in enclosed versus control plots (F1,53 = 0.010, P = 0.938; F1,299 = 0.850, P = 0.357; F1,267 = 1.16, P = 0.282; and F1,15 = 0.030, P = 0.855; respectively). During September-November 2015, I counted and marked fallen acorns within 50 random paired plots; the number of acorns discovered or lost did not differ between enclosed and control plots (F1,94 = 0.310, P = 0.578 and F1,8 = 0.120, P = 0.736, respectively). I suggest managers incorporate potential deer impacts when designing management plans to best encourage oak regeneration. During September-November 2015, I established 16 food plots (half tilled; each 0.05 ha in size), planted to 4 food plot types. I compared Big Tine Buck Brunch, Evolved Harvest Throw & Gro, Antler King No Sweat, and a food plot mixture that I created. I measured deer use via 2 methods: vegetation growth in exclosures versus control (i.e., unfenced) areas and camera traps. Deer used all 4 food plot mixtures (n = 292 – 2,522 pictures/plot over 9 weeks), having a negative impact on mean vegetation height outside of exclosures (F3,1148 = 6.71, P < 0.001). Analysis of camera data indicated that deer did not preferentially use any one food plot mixture over the others (F3,12 = 0.090, P > 0.050). There also was no difference in the proportion of deer pictured in the process of eating within each food plot mixture (F3,12 = 0.592, P > 0.050). I suggest any of these 4 food plot varieties could be planted by a hunter or wildlife manager in the Midwest and observe similar use by deer.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar o processo de envelhecimento da cachaça em barris de carvalho de espécies e quantidade de usos diferentes. A cachaça foi envelhecida em barris de carvalho americano (Quercus alba) e carvalho europeu (Quercus petraea) de segundo uso, e em barris de extenso uso. A avaliação do processo de envelhecimento foi realizada pela análise dos parâmetros considerados como indicadores de qualidade de destilados, tais como a evolução da concentração de congêneres de maturação e de congêneres voláteis. Durante o envelhecimento amostras foram retiradas e analisadas em intervalo mensal durante 12 meses. Foram determinados os congêneres voláteis por CG (cromatografia gasosa): aldeído acético, acetato de etila, metanol, propanol, iso-butanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, álcool isoamílico e ácido acético. Os congêneres de maturação, analisados por CLAE (cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência), foram: ácido gálico, furfural, 5-hidroximetilfurfural, coniferaldeído, sinapaldeído, vanilina, siringaldeído, ácido vanílico e ácido siríngico. Foram também determinadas as concentrações de compostos fenólicos totais e glicerol, a intensidade de cor e o teor alcoólico. Testes sensoriais comparativos foram realizados ao final do experimento. A origem da madeira utilizada na fabricação do barril (carvalho francês ou americano), a intensidade do tratamento térmico (queima média ou forte), assim como a quantidade de usos do barril ao longo dos meses tiveram influência direta no produto final. Os barris de segundo uso foram os que mais influenciaram nas concentrações de congêneres, principalmente quanto aos ésteres e furfural. Dentre os barris de segundo uso, a queima forte do carvalho europeu proporcionou maiores concentrações de congêneres. Os barris de extenso uso propiciaram menores concentrações dos compostos voláteis. A espécie e origem da madeira de carvalho, assim como a intensidade do tratamento térmico, influenciaram na modificação das concentrações dos congêneres de maturação, exceto no bloco guaiacil, no qual, as concentrações mantiveram-se semelhantes, inclusive na cachaça envelhecida em barris de extenso uso. Os efeitos sensoriais foram mais acentuados na cachaça envelhecida em barril novo de carvalho. Em cachaças envelhecidas em barris de carvalho de 2° uso e extenso uso, a menor percepção dos atributos dificultou a comparação e diferenciação de seus perfis determinados pela análise sensorial. / The objective of this study is to compare the aging process of cachaça in oak barrels of different species, toastings and quantity of uses. Cachaças was aged in second use barrels of American (Quercus alba) and French oak (Quercus petraea) and compared with barrels of extensive use. The evaluation of the aging process was carried out with analysis of the parameters indicated as distillate quality, the evolution of the maturation congeners and the volatile congeners concentration. During aging, twelve samples were collected and analyzed monthly. The following volatile congeners were analyzed by GC (gas chromatography): acetic aldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, propanol, iso-butanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid. The maturation congeners analyzed by HPLC were gallic acid, furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, coniferaldehyde, synapaldehyde, vanillin, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid and syringic acid. Concentrations of total phenolic compounds and glycerol, color intensity and alcohol content were also measured. Comparative sensory tests were carried out at the end of the experiment. The origin of the woods used in the manufacture of the barrels (French and American oak), the intensity of the heat treatment (medium or strong toast) as well as the number uses of the barrel over the months had a direct influence on the final product. Second-use barrels provided a greater influence on concentration of congeners, mainly esters and furfural. Among the second-use barrels, the high toasted French oak barrel provided higher congeners concentration. The barrels of extensive use provided lower concentrations of the volatile compounds. The species and origin of the oak wood, as well as the intensity of the heat treatment influenced on the concentrations of maturation congener, except for the guaiacyl block, in which, concentrations remained similar, including cachaças aged in barrels of extensive use. The sensorial effects were more accentuated in cachaça aged in new oak barrels. In cachaças aged in oak barrels of second use and extensive use, the lower perception of attributes made it difficult to compare and differentiate their sensorial profiles.

This thesis explores the chemical contents of post oak and willow trees. Samples of each tree are compared to determine the amount of sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, silicon, iron, aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and manganese in them. Results indicated usefulness of each tree to humans.

No description available.

In this research, flexural properties of mill-run, in-grade white oak and red oak lumber from a single mill and commercially available laminated hardwood composite were evaluated. Structurally graded green (wet) freshly sawn red oak and white oak 5 by 10-cm (2 by 4-in.) nominal lumber as well as glue-laminated hardwood composite billets were tested in bending and their modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) properties were developed. It is well documented that MOR and MOE are two major indicators to evaluate flexural strength of wood lumbers. From these data, summary statistics, design values, and mean separations were calculated and reported. Overall, the red and white oak lumber performed similarly to structural No. 2 grade material. The hardwood composite billets were highly uniform. Each of the three materials demonstrated a reasonably good relationship between MOE and MOR, thereby suggesting that MOE could be used as a selection criterion for strength in a commercial use situation.

Allocation of assimilated carbon amongst plant metabolic processes and tissues is important to understanding ecosystem carbon cycles. Due to the range of spatio-temporal scales and complex process interactions involved, direct measurements of allocation in natural environments are logistically difficult. Modeling approaches provide tools to examine these patterns by integrating finer scale process measurements. One such method is root:shoot balance, where plant growth is limited by either shoot activity (i.e. photosynthesis) or root activity (i.e. water and nutrient uptake). This method shows promise for application on frequently disturbed systems which perturb aboveground biomass and thus create imbalances in root and shoot activities. In this study, root:shoot balance, allometric relationships and phenological patterns were used to model carbon allocation and growth in Florida scrub oaks. The model was tested using ecosystem gas exchange (i.e. eddy covariance) and meteorological data from two independent sites at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, FL which experienced two different types of disturbance events: a prescribed burn in 2006 and wind damage from Hurricane Frances in 2004. The effects of the two disturbance events, which differed greatly in magnitude and impact, were compared to identify similarities and differences in plant allocation response. Model results and process-based sensitivity analysis demonstrated the strong influence of autotrophic respiration on plant growth and allocation processes. Also, fine root dynamics were found to dominate partitioning trends of carbon allocated to growth. Overall, model results aligned well with observed biomass trends, with some discrepancies that suggest fine root turnover to be more dynamic than currently iv parameterized in the model. This modeling approach can be extended through the integration with more robust process models, for example, mechanistic photosynthesis, nitrogen uptake and/or dynamic root turnover models.

This project evaluates the survival and initial growth response of oak seedlings produced under special nursery protocols (?enhanced? seedlings) compared to nursery-run oak seedlings of the same species, and the influence of various cultural practices on these same nursery stocks. Survival did not differ significantly between nursery stocks. Significant differences in survival among competition control treatments did occur. Intensive competition control regimes using glyphosate can negatively impact seedling survival if seedlings come in contact with herbicide spray drift.Nursery-run seedlings had significantly greater growth and many were larger than enhanced seedlings after two growing seasons. Height growth was typically greater with seedlings receiving less intensive competition control, while groundline diameter (GLD) growth was greatest with seedlings receiving more intensive competition control. Subsoil and auger planting typically resulted in greater growth than normal hand planting. Fertilization improved growth in certain areas, but the effects diminished after the first growing season.