Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1973. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

In the greater Central Hardwood Region, advance regeneration of oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) has been in decline for several decades. Facilitated in part by an abrupt change in disturbance regime, coupled with an increase in herbivore density, the existing mid-successional, mast-producing species are being outcompeted by late-successional, mesophytic species. Oak-hickory forests provide keystone resources for a diverse forest wildlife community, and a decline in its dominance will likely impact habitat use and occupancy patterns in the mammal community, but to what extent is unclear. During May-August 2015-2016, I deployed 150 remotely-triggered camera traps in Trail of Tears State Forest (TTSF), Union County, Illinois to investigate single-season, site occupancy patterns and detection probabilities as a function of forest composition and structure for 3 mammals (eastern gray squirrel [Sciurus carolinensis], raccoon [Procyon lotor], and white-tailed deer [Odocoileus virginianus]). I collected microhabitat data at each camera-site and utilized a GIS application to estimate spatial relationships among anthropogenic features and camera-sites. I recorded 404 photographs of 11 endothermic species during 3927 days of survey effort, with white-tailed deer, raccoons, and eastern gray squirrels as the most detected species, respectively. Detection probability of eastern gray squirrels was best explained by the global detection model, indicating no covariate measured explained the variation in detection rates. Raccoon detection probability was best described by a negative relationship with the average temperature recorded during survey period. The best-fitting detection model for white-tailed deer indicated detection probabilities declined throughout the sampling period and across seasons. Eastern gray squirrel site occupancy models received little support, however, ecological land type phase was the most supported model. The best fitting habitat model described a negative relationship between eastern gray squirrel site occupancy probability and coarse woody debris volume. For raccoons, no model with habitat covariates was better fitting than the null model. Raccoon occupancy probability increased with maximum DBH at a site, ground cover, and beech-maple importance values, but decreased with oak-hickory importance values. White-tailed deer occupancy was most positively influenced by ground cover and oak-hickory importance values, but decreased with distance to forest edge, number of understory stems, and beech-maple importance values. My research provides empirical evidence to predictions made regarding the impact of a decline in oak dominance across the Central Hardwood region on a portion of the region’s mammal community. Shifts to late-successional conditions in the Central Hardwood region will likely continue and magnify if forest management approaches continue to minimize the frequency and occurrence of large, anthropogenic disturbances to the forest overstory. A mosaic of forest conditions will be needed to best support a diverse and complete mammal community across the region.

The Vasa ship is not adequately supported. Measurements of the hull show that the ship deforms and rotate towards the port side. In addition, damages on the hull at support areas have been observed. The damages are due to high compressive loads. At damaged zones the support has been removed and the loads are thus transferred to adjacent support stanchions. In order to design an improved support, knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of the material is needed. In particular, radial modulus, strength and deformation mechanisms are of interest. In the present study, the mechanical behaviour of recent oak and oak from Vasa is studied. Furthermore, effects of PEG content, degradation and moisture on the properties of Vasa oak are investigated. Oak is characterized by a very abrupt change from earlywood to latewood, where the latewood is much denser than earlywood. Also present in oak are large rays in the radial direction of the wood. Small specimens were tested in compression using Digital Speckle Photography (DSP) in order to obtain strain fields of the whole specimen surface. This technique also provided data on failure mechanisms. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was performed to establish differences in moisture softening. In radial compression, modulus and strength of Vasa oak are reduced by 50% compared with recent oak. A significant change of failure mechanism is observed for Vasa oak. In recent oak, failure in radial compression is by continuous folds of rays in the earlywood followed by continued plastic collapse of the earlywood layer. In Vasa oak rays show a more brittle fracture in each earlywood region. DMTA results indicate no effect on moisture softening of Vasa oak from presence of PEG although more work is needed to confirm this. Moisture adsorption for PEG-extracted Vasa oak is not significantly higher than for recent oak below 60% RH, suggesting that the extent of degradation of Vasa oak is limited. Vasa oak containing PEG is much more hygroscopic than PEG-extracted Vasa oak already at 50%. This difference is increasing with increasing relative humidity. / QC 20101118

Vertical structure, the top-to-bottom arrangement of aboveground vegetation, is an important component of forest and shrubland ecosystems. For many decades, ecologists have used foliage height profiles and other measures of vertical structure to identify discrete stages in post-disturbance succession and to quantify the heterogeneity of vegetation. Such studies have, however, required resource-intensive field surveys and have been limited to relatively small spatial extents (e.g.,

This study aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of red oak (Quercus spp.), white oak (Quercus spp.), hard maple (Acer saccharum) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) and compare them to values from past publications. Mechanical testing was conducted on small, clear, defectree specimens from red oak, white oak, hard maple and yellow-poplar following the standard ASTM D143. Percentage of latewood, moisture content, specific gravity, modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), compression parallel and perpendicular to the grain and Janka hardness were determined. Results indicated that mechanical properties for red oak, white oak, hard maple and yellow poplar have not changed substantially because the average values remain in a range that is very close to the ones published in past studies. Thus, values from the Wood Handbook can still be used for engineering purposes.

Three genera of the Fungi Imperfecti (<u>Alternaria</u>, <u>Cladosporium</u> and <u>Epicoccum</u>) were isolated in high frequency from the pistillate flowers of white oak. These genera occur worldwide and although several species of each genera are parasitic on crop plants, they are primarily saprophytic in the forest ecosystem. Of the three genera, only <u>Cladosporium</u> is parasitic on <u>Q. alba</u>, causing a leaf mold. Several other genera of fungi were isolated in low frequency from the oak flowers. Included in this group were <u>Penicillium</u>, <u>Pestalotia</u>, <u>Curvularia</u>, <u>Pyrenochaeta</u>, <u>Nigrospora</u> and <u>Fusarium</u>. The effect of fungal spores on pollen germination was investigated. Suspensions of pollen grains and fungi spores were cultured in Van Tieghem cells. Pollen germination <u>in vitro</u> was significantly enhanced by <u>Cladosporium</u> and <u>Epicoccum</u>, but unaffected by <u>Alternaria</u>. / Master of Science

No description available.

The incipient motion of sediment particles in gravel-bed rivers is a very important process. It represents the difference between bed stability and bed mobility. A field study was conducted in Oak Creek, Oregon to investigate incipient motion of individual particles in gravel-bed streams. Investigation was also made of the incipient motion of individual gravel particles in the armor layer, using painted gravel placed on the bed of the stream and recovered after successive high flows. The effect of gravel particle shape was examined for a wide range of flow conditions to determine its significance on incipient motion. The result of analysis indicates a wide variation in particle shapes present. Incipient motion and general transport were found to be generally independent of particle shape regardless of particle sizes. A sample of bed material may contain a mixture of shapes such as well-rounded, oval, flat, disc-like, pencil-shaped, angular, and block-like. These are not likely to move in identical manners during transport nor to start motion at the same flow condition. This leads to questions about the role of shape in predicting incipient motion and equal mobility in gravel-bed streams. The study suggests that gravel particles initiate motion in a manner that is independent of particle shape. One explanation may be that for a natural bed surface many particles rest in orientations that give them the best: protection against disturbance, probably a result of their coming to rest gradually during a period of decreasing flows, rather than being randomly dumped. But even when tracer particles were placed randomly in the bed surface there was no evident selectively for initiation of motion on the basis of particle shape. It can be concluded from analysis based on the methods of Parker et al. and Komar that there is room for both equal mobility and flow-competence evaluations. However, the equal mobility concept is best applied for conditions near incipient motion and the flow-competence concept is best applied for larger flows and general bedload transport. Furthermore, with an armored bed, such as that at Oak Creek, there is a tendency for a more-nearly equal mobility (or equivalent) for the normalized transport rates for the various size fractions when incipient motion and moderate bedload transport occurs. / Graduation date: 1995

The lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus; LPC) has declined in numbers since the late 1800s. Reasons for this decline have been attributed to habitat degradation (decreased forb and grass cover and increased woody cover) and fragmentation caused by overgrazing and conversion of native rangelands to croplands. The herbicide, Tebuthiuron, has been used extensively throughout the LPC’s range to reduce dominance of woody shrubs and allow growth of forbs and grasses. Tebuthiuron treatment of shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) rangelands has been reported as being both beneficial and detrimental to LPC populations. My study evaluated the effects of Tebuthiuran treatment of shinney oak on LPC survival, movement, and reproduction. I trapped (48), radio-tagged (38), and monitored LPC survival, movements, reproduction, and habitat use during spring and summer 2006 and 2007. I also determined potential LPC nest predators using dummy nests (domestic chicken eggs) and motion-sensitive infrared cameras. No differences were found in survival between ages, sexes, or years. Range size did not differ by age, sex, or year. Female LPC moved greater distances from lek of capture than did males. Females nested almost exclusively in non-grazed rangeland and under sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia). Nest-sites had higher obstruction of vision (OV), higher (%) woody cover, and lower (%) bare ground than surrounding areas. All LPC were found to use non-grazed rangeland areas more than all other vegetation types, and to use tebuthiuron-treated, grazed areas slightly more than non-treated, grazed areas. Non-grazed rangeland had higher OV than all other vegetation types. Tebuthiuron treatment lowered woody plant dominance and increased forbs and grasses. Fire reduced vegetation height and OV and increased growth of grasses and forbs, but did not kill woody vegetation as did tebuthiuron-treatment. The most common dummy nest predator found was the Chihuahuan raven (Corvus cryptoleucus).

No description available.