American chestnut was once an abundant species that dominated the Eastern U.S. deciduous forests. Although this species is currently functionally extinct due to the chestnut blight, researchers are working on blight-resistant hybrids in hopes of restoring the species. As one potential vector for chestnut reintroduction and dispersal, the reclamation of mine sites are being considered. Recent research has found that reforestation efforts on these reclaimed mine sites provide productive tree growth while also complying with mine-reclamation laws. Understanding how American chestnut performs physiologically on mine sites will aid in the restoration of this species and reclamation of mine sites. The objective of this study was to determine the effect planting treatments have on survival, physiology, and performance of American chestnut. The response of American chestnuts under planting treatments varying in planting method, slow-release fertilizer, a hydrophilic root polymer (Terra-Sorb), and the addition of native forest soil were examined at three sites: a mine site, a quarry, and a greenhouse. Results from this study suggest that fertilizer, hydrophilic root polymers and soil microorganisms produce varying effects on dissimilar sites. Greatest overall survival was found in greenhouse-grown bare-root seedlings. The introduction of fertilizer to the soil substrate lowered emergence and survival of directly-seeded trees at the mine site and quarry, but increased tree growth at all sites and photosynthetic rate at the quarry. However, use of fertilizer resulted in a more negative water potential at the mine site and higher transpiration rate, potentially increasing moisture stress and demand. Increased seed survival, growth, and water status can be accomplished through the use of Terra-Sorb, but only in direct seeded trees on sites with potentially deficient plant-available water. Native forest soil can increase survival in both direct seeded and bare-root planted trees. However, more research is needed on the benefits of native forest soil, as growth and physiological results conflict. It is recommended that site characterization be performed prior to selection of planting treatments. Results of this study can prove beneficial to reclamation specialists with an interest in using mine site reclamation in conjunction with American chestnut restoration.

The Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil is a hot-spot for biodiversity and should be conserved. It is also at the center of the largest municipalities in Brazil and therefore has a severely fragmented landscape. Iracambi, a working farm near the Serra do Brigadeiro state park in Minas Gerais, is working for conservation in an area of intense agricultural production and expanding forestry industry. Most households in this rural area have some amount of eucalyptus on their property and consequently the director of Iracambi is developing the preliminary foundation for a forest corridor program comprised of primarily eucalyptus with the goal of integrating native species whenever possible. In this research, an exploratory case study was conducted with the purpose of determining if an integrated forest corridor should be considered as a viable option for Iracambi in the greater Serra do Brigadeiro region (near the communities of Araponga, Ervália, Fervadouro, Miradouro, Pedra Bonita, and Sericita). The majority of the survey participants revealed interest in the proposed forest corridor program and many expressed further interest if this would help them achieve compliance with the environmental law requiring a Legal Reserve Area (ARL) on private property. There is a need and a desire for programs that would subsidize ARL adherence in this area, since many studies recognize that adherence levels are at approximately ten percent nationally. Barriers to implementation, however, include cultural barriers that would primarily require acceptance with influential community members, knowledge and cost barriers associated with proper stand management, and current economic circumstances which lack a market for sustainably produced, higher quality eucalyptus timber. Additionally, policy barriers, which do not provide sufficient incentives to comply with environmental laws, further impede implementation of an integrated forest corridor program in this area. If these key barriers to implementation could be addressed, an integrated forest corridor program could prove as a viable option for Iracambi and this area and therefore, this thesis offers some recommendations for the successful implementation of this proposed program.

American chestnut was once an abundant species that dominated the Eastern U.S. deciduous forests. Although this species is currently functionally extinct due to the chestnut blight, researchers are working on blight-resistant hybrids in hopes of restoring the species. As one potential vector for chestnut reintroduction and dispersal, the reclamation of mine sites are being considered. Recent research has found that reforestation efforts on these reclaimed mine sites provide productive tree growth while also complying with mine-reclamation laws. Understanding how American chestnut performs physiologically on mine sites will aid in the restoration of this species and reclamation of mine sites. The objective of this study was to determine the effect planting treatments have on survival, physiology, and performance of American chestnut. The response of American chestnuts under planting treatments varying in planting method, slow-release fertilizer, a hydrophilic root polymer (Terra-Sorb), and the addition of native forest soil were examined at three sites: a mine site, a quarry, and a greenhouse. Results from this study suggest that fertilizer, hydrophilic root polymers and soil microorganisms produce varying effects on dissimilar sites. Greatest overall survival was found in greenhouse-grown bare-root seedlings. The introduction of fertilizer to the soil substrate lowered emergence and survival of directly-seeded trees at the mine site and quarry, but increased tree growth at all sites and photosynthetic rate at the quarry. However, use of fertilizer resulted in a more negative water potential at the mine site and higher transpiration rate, potentially increasing moisture stress and demand. Increased seed survival, growth, and water status can be accomplished through the use of Terra-Sorb, but only in direct seeded trees on sites with potentially deficient plant-available water. Native forest soil can increase survival in both direct seeded and bare-root planted trees. However, more research is needed on the benefits of native forest soil, as growth and physiological results conflict. It is recommended that site characterization be performed prior to selection of planting treatments. Results of this study can prove beneficial to reclamation specialists with an interest in using mine site reclamation in conjunction with American chestnut restoration.

Patch clearcutting can be put to effective use for landowners with relatively small stands of timber. This project was designed to determine how clearcut opening size and mid-rotation crop tree release affects the value and volume of sawtimber at the end of rotation. In 1960 patch clearcuts were established in three different diameters, 50ft (.05ac), 150ft (.41ac), and 250ft (1.13ac). Current stand data (2011) was collected to determine trees per acre, basal area, average tree diameter, volume, and value. These data were input into a growth simulator to determine future trees per acre, basal area, average tree diameter, volume, and value with a crop tree release treatment and a control to 2061. The 50ft openings yielded little merchantable volume at mid-rotation and were primarily composed by shade tolerant species. In the 150ft and 250ft openings, there was better species diversity and an increase in sawtimber volume and value. Using openings of 150ft or greater, landowners can regenerate commercially important species and manage their forests to produce valued timber and maintain aesthetics.

Granivores are important components of sagebrush communities in western North America. These same regions are being altered by the invasion of the exotic annual Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) that alters physical and biological dynamics in ways that appear to promote its persistence. This research directly relates to the restoration of B. tectorum-dominated systems in two inter-related ways. First, because these landscapes have large quantities of seeds applied during restoration, it is important to determine the major granivore communities in intact sagebrush communities and in nearby cheatgrass-dominated communities. Second, it is important to develop an understanding of patterns of seed harvest by granivores. In addition to the data chapters there are two review chapters; Chapter 1 highlights factors contributing to seed removal and Chapter 7 provides ecologically based techniques that could minimize the negative consequences of granivores during ecological restoration. Common groups of ants showed increased abundances; uncommon species and functional groups were generally negatively impacted by cheatgrass (Chapter 2). Conversely, rodents were negatively impacted by conversion to cheatgrass (Chapter 4). Ant seed removal was highly context-dependent (Chapter 3), depending on the background vegetation (large-scale among-patch effects), foraging distance from the nest mound (small-scale among-patch effects), and the presence of other seed species in mixture (within-patch effects). In addition, cheatgrass provided associational resistance to native seeds in mixture, meaning the presence of cheatgrass increased native seed survival. In Chapter 5 a novel statistical technique in the ecological sciences showed that rodents have marked preferences for some seeds over others and that more seeds were removed in sagebrush compared to cheatgrass-dominated sites, although associational effects among seed mixtures were not detected. In Chapter 6 we show that the amount of seed harvested depended on both intraspecific and interspecific seed density. B. tectorum seeds had associational susceptibility (increased harvest) in the presence of native seeds. Although the reciprocal effect may occur, we did not find statistical support for it. These sets of studies are not only of basic ecological interests, but are also important for developing management strategies for restoration of these degraded lands.

This research aimed to determine whether wood microsites ("nurse logs"), which are regeneration sites in Pacific Northwest (PNW) subalpine forests, supported regeneration at timberline-alpine meadow borders. Upward advance of forests and conifer invasion into alpine meadows, which may be occurring in conjunction with climate warming, have gained worldwide attention. Successful alpine meadow seedling regeneration depends on suitable substrate availability, or microsites, for seedling establishment. To better understand factors associated with wood microsite occurrence, mechanisms of wood input were determined and four specific hypotheses were posed to assess: (1) seedling density and seedling survival; (2) growing season length, summer mean growing temperature, and growing degree hours (GDH); (3) active measures of seedling growth; and (4) global wood microsite climate associations. Of four studies, three were conducted in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state along a west - east precipitation gradient and one study, assessed various microsites globally. For Cascades-related research, wood and adjacent soil substrate temperature, moisture, and associated seedling density, survival, stomatal conductance, water potential, and leaf nitrogen were compared by percent transmitted radiation at 4 to 14 study sites. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, regressions, and classification and regression trees (CARTs) were used to assess significance of comparisons. Wood microsites, common at 13 of 14 random Cascade sites, had greater seedling densities, greater seedling survival, greater volumetric moisture content (VWC), greater temperature, and greater number of GDH, as compared to adjacent soils. Greater seedling densities were positively associated with VWC (> 12%), conditions most commonly associated with wood substrate presence. For sites having > 25% percent transmitted radiation, positive relationships existed between stomatal conductance and VWC. Globally, high-elevation forests with wood microsites had mean annual precipitation from 86 cm to 320 cm and mean annual temperatures from 1.5°C to 4.7°C. In general, wood microsites facilitated alpine meadow regeneration better than adjacent soils. Management implications included enhanced understanding of factors associated with upward forest advance and wood use for restoration. Globally, wood microsites importance is likely underrepresented. Wood microsites role with warming climate will depend on precipitation pattern, timing, magnitude, and frequency.

Developing quantified establishment period estimates for newly planted trees will help set realistic goals for plant performance in the urban landscape. Nine years of tree planting records obtained from the city of Boston, MA and the town of Brookline, MA were used to derive samples of trunk caliper for hedge maple (Acer campestre), London planetree (Platanus x acerifolia), and red oak (Quercus rubra). Several site characteristics were measured to identify effects on newly planted tree growth. Breakpoint estimates of the piecewise regression models fell at 4 years and 6 years for London planetree and hedge maple respectively, showing establishment periods for urban trees are longer than the conventional 3 years. Pit area has a significant effect on caliper growth for London planetree and red oak, with larger growing spaces yielding larger trees. Observed soil bulk densities did not have a significant effect on caliper measurement for any of the species tested. Mean soil bulk density was 1.4 g/cm3, 1.45 g/cm3, and 1.49 g/cm3 for hedge maple, London planetree, and red oak respectively. Soil texture was significant for hedge maple only, with percent clay showing significant positive effects and percent sand as marginally significant. Pit type showed a significant effect on caliper measurement of London planetree with grass strips producing the largest caliper trees followed by open pits. Planting locations with tree grates produced the smallest caliper trees. Presence of perforated air vents produced significantly larger caliper trees than sites with an air vent present for red oak.

Numerous studies have evaluated the relationship between biodiversity and productivity, with general trends suggesting a positive relationship. While most studies only use species richness, this study also analyzed how productivity changes with functional diversity and Shannon’s diversity index. Functional diversity gives important context to the examination of biodiversity-productivity relationships due to the direct link between organisms’ functional traits and their role in a given ecosystem. This study used data from the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database collected in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to estimate plot-level productivity and diversity. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the strength of the relationship between measures of diversity and forest productivity. This study found that species richness had the greatest influence on forest productivity, but it was largely an indirect effect mediated by stand density. This study could be expanded spatially to include more forest types for comparison of trends.

The flexural and tensile properties of visually graded southern yellow pine lumber were modeled. Longitudinal and transverse vibration techniques and proof-loading bending tests were used to assess the flexural and tensile properties of southern pine lumber. The properties evaluated were dynamic modulus of elasticity (dMOE), static modulus of elasticity (Eb), tension modulus of elasticity (Et), and ultimate tensile stress (UTS). The tensile properties were evaluated in the direction parallel to the grain. This study presents the results of tests conducted on No. 2 2 × 6 and 2 × 10 southern pine lumber of two different lengths (14 ft. and 16 ft.). The results of the analysis show that nondestructive testing techniques are excellent to assess Et and Eb. Moderate relationships were found between dMOE and UTS and between Eb and UTS. Improvements in the prediction of UTS were done with the inclusion of additional parameters into the model. The combination of dMOE, density, and frequency domain area (FDA) generated the highest coefficient of determination for UTS. The distributions of flexural and tensile properties were analyzed for the goodness of fit. Normal distribution was found for Eb data whereas the lognormal distribution was the best fit for the tensile properties.

Renewable lignocellulosic materials are promising green plastic alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics. However, the hydrophilic nature and poor water resistance of lignocellulosic materials have hindered their practical applications. This study reports a facile metal-ion-modification (MIM) route, swelling with aqueous metal ion solutions, and drying to convert conventional hydrophilic paper and wood pulp into biodegradable hydrophobic paper and tableware without the addition of hydrophobic sizing chemicals/materials. Metal ions such as Fe3+ and Zr4+ can coordinate with pulp fibers’ polar groups (i.e., O.H., C=O, and COOH) that induce self-assembly of their surface fibrillated “hairy” cellulose nanofibrils to form a more compact structure with fewer available O.H. groups for water sorption. The formation of coordination bonds with polar groups (i.e., O.H., C=O, and COOH) decreases the surface energy of pulp fibers and increases their hydrophobicity and water resistance. Only ~3 mg of metal ions is needed to induce the wettability transition in 1 g of kraft pulp, resulting in hydrophobic paper and tableware with water contact angles (WCAs) of 120-140° and displayed wet tensile strengths of up to 9.5 MPa, and low water absorbency, which were comparable to synthetic polymer films. This MIM technique can be integrated into the existing paper-making process for the scalable production of hydrophobic papers and tableware, providing an alternative route for developing sustainable and biodegradable plastic counterparts. The MIM-induced lignocellulose hydrophobization mechanisms were elucidated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and density functional theory (DFT). Furthermore, this MIM technique was also evaluated for its applicability in wood treatment. The treatment effectively tunes the wood surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, enhancing its water resistance. The MIM treatment significantly improved the dimensional stability of SYP, red oak, and poplar. For example, the Fe3+ treatment reduced the tangential swelling of SYP, poplar, and red oak by 57%, 50%, and 40%, respectively. Overall, this eco-friendly and facile MIM method holds promise for developing sustainable and biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics, contributing to a more environmentally friendly future.