Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-138).

Thèse (M.Ps.)--Université Laval, 2003. / Bibliogr. Publié aussi en version électronique.

Prolific oak regeneration occurred over past centuries from anthropogenic cutting, grazing, and fire, and has declined over the past century due to decreased disturbance. Mesophication within closed-canopy forests of the eastern deciduous region has resulted. Oaks are a keystone species and provide abundant resources for forest wildlife; the ability of late-successional tree species to provide similar resources is relatively understudied. To determine the importance of oak-hickory stands for forest birds, we examined two habitat-selection hypotheses that influence avian abundance and distribution: (1) Habitat heterogeneity (i.e. differences in forest structure) and (2) Availability and distribution of food resources (i.e. index of arthropod biomass). We examined avian response across a gradient of oak-hickory to non-oak tree-species dominance. Non-oak stands were largely dominated by sugar maple, American beech, and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). We predicted that migratory breeding-species of concern would respond positively to oak-dominated stands and associated vegetation (e.g. oaks and hickories) because they provide more heterogeneity and likely more food than non-oak stands and associated vegetation (e.g. yellow poplar, maples and beech). We hypothesized that oak and hickory species contain more arthropod biomass and diversity than late-successional species. We conducted breeding bird surveys from 30-April to 15-July 2013-2014 in the Shawnee National Forest, Illinois at 22 study sites. We characterized study sites by dominant canopy vegetation. We used a modified version of the branch-clipping technique to sample arthropods on tree species that represented a gradient of succession. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine differences in arthropod metrics. We estimated detection probabilities for PIF-concern, breeding species and modeled density as response to a priori habitat models using hierarchical distance sampling in R package unmarked. We compared best-fit habitat models for each species with a model of our derived index of food availability (i.e. mean total arthropod biomass (g/m)) for each study site. Habitat heterogeneity was higher in oak-hickory dominated sites. Aerial foragers and foliage gleaners responded predominantly to forest composition and structure, whereas ground foragers responded largely to microhabitat. Density estimates from five of seven species that included percent oak-hickory composition in top models exhibited positive responses. All species that included canopy tree diversity (n=6) in top models responded positively to increasing canopy diversity, and canopy diversity was significantly higher in oak-hickory sites than non-oak sites. Yellow poplar, oak and hickory species yielded more total arthropod biomass (g/m), Lepidopteran biomass (g/m), and guild diversity and richness than late-successional beech and maples. Heterogeneity and food biomass both influenced avian abundance of aerial foragers and foliage gleaners. Our results imply that oak-hickory stands are ecologically important for migratory forest birds of concern because heterogeneity and food resources increase as oak-hickory canopy composition increases. Oak regeneration is a challenging process to manage because oaks require frequent disturbance to achieve the high levels of light needed by this genus. Therefore, it may be beneficial to manage stands for yellow poplar dominance because this species grows rapidly. Moreover, our results suggest that yellow poplar yields comparable and higher estimates of arthropod biomass and diversity on hickories and oaks, respectively. However, foraging opportunities are likely restricted on yellow poplar because of limited structure, attributed to excurrent branching.

Red oaks (Quercus spp.; Section Erythrobalanus) produce acorns which are valuable forage for wildlife especially mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Scientists have limited information on amount, timing, and persistence of these acorns in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV). Conservation planners rely on precise estimates of acorns and other forage to estimate habitat needed by waterfowl in the MAV and other regions. My study provided premiere landscape-scale, multi-year estimates of red oak acorn yield and on-ground abundance in the MAV. Mean yield of acorns was 534 kg(dry)/ha (42.3 acorns/ m2) across all sites, years (falls-winters 2009-2012), and oak species. Yield varied more within years (CV = 11 - 29%) than when data were combined across years (CV = 11%). Yield was not synchronized in any year among MAV sites. However, yield usually was synchronized among species within sites suggesting local factors influenced acorn yield more than landscape-scale factors. Among sites and years, acorn abundance generally was greatest in January (sample mean = 371 kg/ha) and least in November (198 kg/ha). Acorns persisted to February only in years of above-average yield. Except for Nuttall oak (Quercus texana), acorn persistence generally was stable regardless of yield from parent trees. Nuttall oak acorn persistence increased with yield perhaps revealing an evolutionary pressure that encourages masting. Red oak acorn abundance was linearly related to percentage of red oaks in the overstory, but this relationship differed in years of above- and below-average yield. Currently, conservation planners use 166 kg/ha as a forage estimate of red oak acorns, moist-soil seeds, and aquatic macro-invertebrates in bottomland hardwood forests with 100% red oak canopy. I sampled at 5 sites throughout the MAV over 3 years; therefore, I recommend conservation planners consider adopting my predicted estimate of 247 kg of acorns/ha of forest land with 100% red oak canopy. Because acorns persist through most winters and generally reach peak abundance in January, often concomitant with peak abundance of mallards and other ducks in the MAV, biologists and conservation planners may have undervalued the potential of bottomland hardwood forests to support ducks in mid-late winter.

No description available.

It is the purpose of this paper to explore how Morris' novel relates to life in Twin Oaks, primarily as depicted in two books: Living the Dream (1983) by Ingrid Komar, a long-term visitor to the commune and Kinkade's Is It Utopia Yet? (1996). This comparison will demonstrate that the experiences of contemporary intentional communities such as Twin Oaks provide a meaningful context for reading News from Nowhere because of the similarities in goals and philosophy. It will further demonstrate that though Twin Oaks was originally inspired by a utopian novel much more in the tradition of Bellamy's work than Morris', the community's subsequent evolution has brought it much closer in philosophy to News from Nowhere than Looking Backward.

Oaks (Quercus robur) are an important substrate for many epiphytic lichens, and with increasing age the bark of oaks becomes suitable for red-listed species. These species may respond to environmental and landscape factors differently, and at different spatial scales. We tested the effect of tree, environmental and land use factors on the occurrence and richness patterns of lichens species at various spatial scales (circles with radius ranging from 28 to 1225 m), in a heterogeneous landscape in South Eastern Sweden. The occurrence patterns of Cliostomum corrugatum and Chaenotheca phaeocephala were best explained by the density of oaks within radii of 400 and 302 m, respectively. In contrast, Ramalina baltica was best explained at smaller scale (263 m) as was species richness (302 m). This study shows that the most important factor for the occurrence and richness patterns of lichens was oak density at almost all the considered scales. Tree circumference also positively affected all four response variables.

Problem gambling currently affects between 5-7% of youth ages 12-18 (Hardooon & Derevensky, 2002); however, rates of problem gambling among youth who are involved with the Juvenile Justice System are more than twice that of school sample rates (Lieberman & Cuadrado, 2002). Furthermore, disordered gambling often co-occurs with substance use and criminal activity (Huang & Boyer, 2007), issues that are compounded in the Juvenile Justice population. The current study assessed gambling behaviors and risk factors of 145 youth involved in juvenile, juvenile drug, and family courts. Results indicated that nearly 13% of these youth are currently problem gamblers, and that males and African-Americans had higher problem gambling rates than female and Caucasian youth. Furthermore, gambling-related crime, substance use, scope of gambling activities, and time in detention facilities were all predictive of problem gambling severity, while suicidal ideation, urban environment, and lottery sales per capita were not. Finally, having a parent with a gambling problem also emerged as a risk factor;however, the risk was greater for males than for females. These results present a distinct need for youth to be screened for gambling problems upon entering and exiting the Juvenile Justice System, and for prevention and intervention services to be offered within juvenile and family court settings. Furthermore, communities need to take an active role in preventing youth gambling problems through increasing public awareness and insuring that appropriate and accurate messages reflecting gambling opportunities and outcomes are presented.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-211).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Abilene Christian University, 1990. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-143).