Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 111 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-93). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1967. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1967. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

The Red Pine Shale (RPS; ~1120m), uppermost formation of the Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group, Utah, is an organic-rich sedimentary succession that represents marine deltaic systems delivering mature sediment from the east and immature sediment from the north. Multiple data sets suggest regional climate and sea-level changes associated with changing organic carbon burial rates. Six facies identified represent wave-, tidal-, and river-influenced parts of the distal prodelta to delta front. The shale facies is interpreted as distal prodeltaic deposition in a marine environment. The concretion facies is interpreted as prodeltaic deposition to distal prodelta. The shale-sandstone facies represents suspension settling with dilute density currents in a proximal prodelta to delta front environment. The slump fold facies was deposited on the proximal prodelta or delta front. The sandstone facies represents deposition on the delta front and shows marine- and river- influences. The pebbly sandstone facies is representative of a delta front environment. C-isotope values from this shale range from -29.46 / to -16.91 / PDB and TOC from 0.04% to 5.91%. Combined H/C, TOC, and local-regional isotopic correlations suggest that these values are representative of C-isotope composition of Neoproterozoic seawater. The composite C-isotope curve for the RPS is less negative values near the base, followed by a long decline to a thick interval of homogeneous lower values. Petrographic analyses reveal immature arkosic sandstone and mature quartz arenite populations. Detrital zircon data show an Archean population from the Wyoming Craton to the north and a mixed Proterozoic/Archean population from the east-southeast. Measured sections show north to south delta progradation with a proximal source to the north and a mature sediment source to the east. The composite section shows one low-order regressive cycle and ~11 high-order cycles. There is a relationship between C-isotope values, shale geochemistry, and lithostratigraphy. Less negative C-isotope values correspond with increased kaolinite and facies indicating higher sea-level. These relationships are seen in the correlative Chuar Group, Arizona, and a similar model is suggested for their origin: humid climate, high organic carbon burial rates, and high sea-level. This paper meets the requirements to revise the RPS as a formalized unit in accordance with the Stratigraphic Code guidelines.

The disposal of pulp and paper industry sludge has become a significant problem in recent years. Increasing costs and regulatory constraints associated with landfilling and incineration have caused the industry to look for viable alternatives for the disposal of their wastes. In September of 1988, a nutrient-enriched, combined (primary/secondary) paper mill sludge was surface applied to a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation in central Wisconsin at rates of 10, 20 and 40 dry Mg ha⁻¹. Red pines measured 10 and 22 months following sludge application did not show a significant volume growth response to increasing sludge rates. Nonetheless, some biologically significant trends did occur following the first growing season, namely, diameter growth in the younger plantation decreased by 27%, 36% and 39% with increasing rates of sludge application. Reductions in height, crown width and volume growth were seen as well. Increased absorption of moisture among the heavier application rates coupled with already dry conditions is believed to be the cause of the growth reduction. Tree growth in the older plantation was more variable, possibly reflecting the greater degree of establishment and reduced susceptibility to moisture deficits. By the end of the second growing season, there was some indication that the trees were responding to sludge application in both plantations, with the greatest growth occurring among the 40 Mg ha TM treatment plots for all growth parameters. Red pine fascicles examined 12 months following sludge application showed significant increases in foliar concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg and S with increasing rate of sludge application. This corresponded with a significant increase in fascicle biomass relative to application rate in the younger plantation. Fascicle biomass was not affected by sludge application in the older plantation. Analysis of nutrient response, in general, indicated luxury consumption taking place among all nutrients with the exception of boron, which decreased in foliar concentration, to low or deficient levels, and content in sludge amended plots in both plantations. Analysis for nutrient concentrations and dry matter production of Carex spp. (sedge), the predominant herbaceous understory component, showed increasing foliar N levels with sludge application 21 months following treatment in above-ground tissue, with a corresponding increase in above-ground biomass relative to controls of 22%, 33% and 85% among the 10, 20 and 40 Mg/ha treatments, respectively. An assessment of woody vegetation using a competing vegetation assessment system (CVAS) showed essentially no response by hardwood competition to sludge application for either study site. Total weed control, consisting of 0.140 kg ha⁻¹ a.i. of Oust™ and 1.3 kg ha⁻¹ a.i. of Garlon™ was performed in August of 1989 and resulted in significantly reduced coverage of herbaceous and woody competing vegetation in both plantations the following growing season. Analysis of red pine volume growth between weed control treatments did not show a significant response relative to sludge application for either plantation one year following herbicide application. Additionally, there was evidence of reduced weed control efficacy with increasing sludge application rate in the younger plantation. This suggests that weed control efficacy may be greater if weed control is performed prior to sludge application; however, given the apparent sequestering ability of the herbaceous vegetation, removal of this component may contribute to elevated levels of undesirable leachates in soilwater and groundwater. / Master of Science

Thousands of hectares of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantations were established during the early 20th century to restore abandoned agricultural lands and increase forest cover. Concern over the ecological integrity [i.e. the degree to which a community is determined to be characteristic of its natural region, including abiotic and biotic components, likely to persist and maintain the rates of change and supporting processes (Canada National Parks Act (S.C. 2000, c. 32) 2011) of these plantations and a desire to increase native forest cover has prompted a more thorough understanding of the understory succession of these plantations. This study addresses the question, how does the understory vegetation composition and diversity in managed red pine plantations compare to the understory of a reference deciduous forest?. I examined the understory diversity in a chronosequence of managed red pine plantations owned by Simcoe County. Biophysical characteristics including diffuse non-interceptance (DIFN), tree regeneration, litter depth, and soil physical and chemical properties were gathered from three replicates of each of four age groups and from a reference deciduous forest group in order to determine how each variable changed and influenced the succession of the understory diversity. Field investigations were completed during the spring, summer, and fall of 2009 in order to examine seasonal differences in diversity. A two-way analysis of variance with a Tukey’s post hoc test was used to determine if the forest groups were significantly different from each other for each variable measured. Species diversity (measured by the Shannon-Wiener Index) generally increased with plantation age and seasonal differences were apparent. A lack of significant difference between the oldest plantation group (est. 1927-1932) and the reference forest group indicates diversity is increasing; this is intriguing because, in contrast, species composition is only 30% similar. This may indicate either not enough time has passed for the understory to regenerate or the understory in the plantations is succeeding in a different trajectory. Furthermore, spring ephemeral species were lacking in the understory of the plantation forests indicating this phenological group is not regenerating in the plantations. Tree density is generally increasing in the plantation groups and the dominant tree species regenerating in the oldest plantation group includes a similar suite of species to that found in the reference forest groups. This indicates that the canopy is succeeding towards a native forest community. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that litter depth is significantly negatively correlated to diversity in the summer and fall (p<0.01). Litter depth was also the primary predictor variable produced by the forward stepwise regression in the summer and fall indicating that litter depth is a major driver of diversity. From comparative studies, a deeper litter layer often inhibits the germination and emergence of herbaceous species; from my study, this may explain the lack of spring ephemerals in the plantation groups observed. DIFN was significantly negatively correlated to diversity in the spring (p<0.01) and was the predictor variable for spring diversity indicating that light characteristics in the spring are a major variable influencing spring diversity. With increasing age of plantation group the DIFN followed a similar pattern to the reference forest group indicating that the thinning regime and regeneration is shifting the light characteristics to that found in a natural forest stand. I conclude that the thinning regime in red pine plantation is promoting the regeneration of trees and increasing the diversity of understory vegetation. However, in order to direct the successional trajectory of the understory vegetation of red pine plantations to a composition similar to the native woodlands of that area, a modified management program should be considered and active restoration should be implemented.

Thousands of hectares of red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantations were established during the early 20th century to restore abandoned agricultural lands and increase forest cover. Concern over the ecological integrity [i.e. the degree to which a community is determined to be characteristic of its natural region, including abiotic and biotic components, likely to persist and maintain the rates of change and supporting processes (Canada National Parks Act (S.C. 2000, c. 32) 2011) of these plantations and a desire to increase native forest cover has prompted a more thorough understanding of the understory succession of these plantations. This study addresses the question, how does the understory vegetation composition and diversity in managed red pine plantations compare to the understory of a reference deciduous forest?. I examined the understory diversity in a chronosequence of managed red pine plantations owned by Simcoe County. Biophysical characteristics including diffuse non-interceptance (DIFN), tree regeneration, litter depth, and soil physical and chemical properties were gathered from three replicates of each of four age groups and from a reference deciduous forest group in order to determine how each variable changed and influenced the succession of the understory diversity. Field investigations were completed during the spring, summer, and fall of 2009 in order to examine seasonal differences in diversity. A two-way analysis of variance with a Tukey’s post hoc test was used to determine if the forest groups were significantly different from each other for each variable measured. Species diversity (measured by the Shannon-Wiener Index) generally increased with plantation age and seasonal differences were apparent. A lack of significant difference between the oldest plantation group (est. 1927-1932) and the reference forest group indicates diversity is increasing; this is intriguing because, in contrast, species composition is only 30% similar. This may indicate either not enough time has passed for the understory to regenerate or the understory in the plantations is succeeding in a different trajectory. Furthermore, spring ephemeral species were lacking in the understory of the plantation forests indicating this phenological group is not regenerating in the plantations. Tree density is generally increasing in the plantation groups and the dominant tree species regenerating in the oldest plantation group includes a similar suite of species to that found in the reference forest groups. This indicates that the canopy is succeeding towards a native forest community. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that litter depth is significantly negatively correlated to diversity in the summer and fall (p<0.01). Litter depth was also the primary predictor variable produced by the forward stepwise regression in the summer and fall indicating that litter depth is a major driver of diversity. From comparative studies, a deeper litter layer often inhibits the germination and emergence of herbaceous species; from my study, this may explain the lack of spring ephemerals in the plantation groups observed. DIFN was significantly negatively correlated to diversity in the spring (p<0.01) and was the predictor variable for spring diversity indicating that light characteristics in the spring are a major variable influencing spring diversity. With increasing age of plantation group the DIFN followed a similar pattern to the reference forest group indicating that the thinning regime and regeneration is shifting the light characteristics to that found in a natural forest stand. I conclude that the thinning regime in red pine plantation is promoting the regeneration of trees and increasing the diversity of understory vegetation. However, in order to direct the successional trajectory of the understory vegetation of red pine plantations to a composition similar to the native woodlands of that area, a modified management program should be considered and active restoration should be implemented.