Thesis (M.S.)--University of Montana--Missoula, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Aug. 13, 2007). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "August, 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 23-26). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

With increasing encroachment on natural communities by anthropogenic activity, it is important to understand the functions of natural ecosystems in an effort to conserve natural areas. A first-hand study of the population dynamics of South Florida Slash Pine (P. elliottii Engelm. var. densa) following a fire event provided insight to its recovery and dispersal following a fire. A natural fire (lightning-induced) occurred in the spring of 2000 at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Reserve, Sarasota County, providing an opportunity to study aspects of slash pine in relation to fire. One objective of my research was to look at dispersal/recruitment conditions and slash pine dynamics in relation to fire. I looked at the varying degrees of tree mortality due to fire at different stands of slash pines. I also looked at the stands in terms of stand composition and spatial arrangement of surviving adults. Finally, I studied how variable seedling establishment and survival was between stands. Few inferences could be drawn between fire and these individual analyses; however, all analyses revealed that at the scale of this study, pine flatwoods are patchy. I also looked at the dispersal of slash pines following a fire event. I modeled my research after Ribbens et al. (1994) and Clark et al. (1998), who took a phenomenological approach to dispersal modeling. This approach involved using distances between adults and seeds/seedlings and fecundity of adults to create dispersal models based on maximum likelihood estimates (MLE). I found that, while I could predict a model within acceptable parameters for most of the stands, more data was needed to predict models that better fit the data. This finding, along with the fact that I recovered no seed data for analysis, suggests factors are contributing to dispersal and recruitment (e.g. cone-crop) that need to be accounted for in the future.

The aim of this research was to contribute on the understanding of the floral diversity of grasslands in Cummo Huacullani, south Puno, in Peru. The Method of Parker 3-Step transects was used to assess the flora during 2016, and fourteen (14) transects were evaluated. Following, in 2020 four (4) Whitaker plots were established to assess the flora and the soil nutrients. Furthermore, a focus group and two interviews were developed in 2020 to understand the uses of plants, management of grasslands and climate change perceptions of Cummo Huacullani settlers. In 2016, 133 species of vascular plants were registered; weeds and palatable species were identified as well as richness, diversity, phylogeny, and condition of the grassland (Chapter 1). Photographs of 90 species were used to develop a field guide that was used during the focus group and interviews. The dominant species of the area was identified as Festuca dolichophylla and described in detail in Chapter 2. In 2020, 61 species of vascular plants were registered. These results were compared with the first inventory, to identify the change of species due to a fire presented months before the evaluation (Chapter 3). Twenty-five (25) new species were added to the previous records and 20 species were identified as possible fire-sensitive species. Additionally, the relationship of plant species with soil nutrients and diversity indicators was identified (Chapter 4). Nitrogen in the soil and pH were the main drivers of the grassland plant cover as well as phylogenetic diversity and richness. The results of the focus group and interviews revealed that the main use of plants in the area is for medicinal purposes. The main management practice in the grasslands is cattle rotation and the main climate change adaptation is early plantation based on climate and Phyto-signs observation (Chapter 5).

In historically fire-dependent upland oak forests of the eastern U.S., anthropogenic fire exclusion is likely causing a hypothesized feedback loop between an increase in fire-sensitive species and self-promoting, fireree conditions at the detriment of oak regeneration. This study determined how shifts from oaks (Quercus stellata and Q. falcata) to fire-sensitive non-oaks (Carya spp., Liquidambar styraciflua, and Ulmus alata) affected flammability and related processes that consequently determine species composition. Using treatments of increasing non-oak leaf litter, experimental burns were conducted and flammability measured under field conditions, and a laboratory litter moisture desorption experiment was conducted. As litter composition shifted from oak-dominated to non-oak-dominated, flammability decreased (R2 = 0.59, P < 0.001) and moisture-holding capacity increased (R2=0.88, P<0.001). To prevent further shifts toward fireree conditions and loss of economically and ecologically valuable oaks, prescribed fire should be reintroduced soon while oak maintains overstory dominance and controls forest flammability.

Virginia's only montane pine barren, located in the Warm Springs Mountain Nature Preserve in the Allegheny Highlands of western Virginia is likely threatened by successional changes initiated by a history of fire suppression. Dominated by early successional fire adapted species, such as dwarfed Pinus rigida (Mill.) and Quercus ilicifolia (Wangenh.), this shrubland is home to numerous rare plants and invertebrates. We used vegetation analysis and dendrochronology to document establishment and recruitment patterns and to identify successional trends at this site. Tree establishment of the dominant tree species (P. rigida and Quercus rubra L.) peaked following the last known fire event in the early 1930s. Vegetation analysis revealed an absence of P. rigida seedling recruitment as well as a low density of fire adapted species such as Q. ilicifolia. In contrast, Q. rubra is represented in a variety of age classes and shade tolerant trees such as Acer rubrum (L.) and Pinus strobus (L.) are beginning to establish. A dense understory of ericaceous shrubs and a thick litter layer appear to inhibit recruitment of P. rigida and other early successional species pointing to the need for active management in the form of prescribed burns, which have been effective in other pine barrens. / Master of Science

by Lawal Mohammed Marafa. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 216-234). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Chan Wing Kan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-173). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xiii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Problems --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Objectives of the Study --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Significance and Scope of Study --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.11 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- STUDY AREAS --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Geographical Setting of Hong Kong --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Climate --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Geology --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Soil --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Vegetation --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- Site Selection --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Site Description --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Tai Mo Shan --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Wu Kau Tang --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Tai Lam --- p.24 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECTS OF PARENT MATERIAL ON SOIL CHARACTERISTICS ON FIRE-AFFECTED SITES --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methodology --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Soil Sampling --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Sample Preparation --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Soil Texture --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Soil Reaction --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Total Exchangeable Acidity --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2.6 --- Organic Carbon --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.7 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.8 --- Mineral Nitrogen (N03-N and NH4-N) --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.9 --- Total Phosphorus --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.10 --- Available Phosphorus (PO4-P) --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.11 --- "Exchangeable Cations (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn)" --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data Processing and Statistical Analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Soil Texture --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Soil Reaction --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Total Exchangeable Acidity (TEA) --- p.42 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Soil Organic Matter (SOM) --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- The Carbon: Nitrogen Ratio (C: N Ratio) --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4.7 --- Mineral Nitrogen --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.8 --- Soil Total and Available Phosphorus --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4.9 --- Soil Exchangeable Cations --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.10 --- Effective Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation --- p.67 / Chapter 3.4.11 --- Soil Trace Elements --- p.71 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.77 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECTS OF PARENT MATERIAL ON VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT ON FIRE-AFFECTED SITES --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methodology --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Field Survey --- p.87 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Nomenclature --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.88 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Floristic Analysis and Indices --- p.88 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Ordination --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Classification --- p.90 / Chapter 4.4 --- Results and Discussion --- p.92 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Overall Floristic Characteristics --- p.92 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- The Effects of Parent Materials on Vegetation Communities --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Floristic Characteristics of individual site --- p.101 / Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- Ecological Indices --- p.105 / Chapter 4.4.2.3 --- Ordination (Detrended Correspondence Analysis) --- p.108 / Chapter 4.4.2.4 --- Two Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) --- p.114 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.125 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- INTEGRATED DISCUSSION --- p.128 / Chapter 5.1 --- Nature of Disturbance --- p.128 / Chapter 5.2 --- Site Characteristics --- p.134 / Chapter 5.3 --- Rate of Vegetation Regeneration --- p.136 / Chapter 5.4 --- Species Selection --- p.141 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION --- p.150 / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.150 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Soil Properties --- p.150 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Vegetation Regeneration --- p.153 / Chapter 6.2 --- Limitation of the Study --- p.154 / Chapter 6.3 --- Suggestion for Future Study --- p.156 / REFERENCES --- p.158 / APPENDIX --- p.174

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-43). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 78 pages. / Thesis (M.S.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: With increasing encroachment on natural communities by anthropogenic activity, it is important to understand the functions of natural ecosystems in an effort to conserve natural areas. A first-hand study of the population dynamics of South Florida Slash Pine (P. elliottii Engelm. var. densa) following a fire event provided insight to its recovery and dispersal following a fire. A natural fire (lightning-induced) occurred in the spring of 2000 at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Reserve, Sarasota County, providing an opportunity to study aspects of slash pine in relation to fire. One objective of my research was to look at dispersal/recruitment conditions and slash pine dynamics in relation to fire. I looked at the varying degrees of tree mortality due to fire at different stands of slash pines. / ABSTRACT: I also looked at the stands in terms of stand composition and spatial arrangement of surviving adults. Finally, I studied how variable seedling establishment and survival was between stands. Few inferences could be drawn between fire and these individual analyses; however, all analyses revealed that at the scale of this study, pine flatwoods are patchy. I also looked at the dispersal of slash pines following a fire event. I modeled my research after Ribbens et al. (1994) and Clark et al. (1998), who took a phenomenological approach to dispersal modeling. This approach involved using distances between adults and seeds/seedlings and fecundity of adults to create dispersal models based on maximum likelihood estimates (MLE). I found that, while I could predict a model within acceptable parameters for most of the stands, more data was needed to predict models that better fit the data. / ABSTRACT: This finding, along with the fact that I recovered no seed data for analysis, suggests factors are contributing to dispersal and recruitment (e.g. cone-crop) that need to be accounted for in the future. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.