I examined streams in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock wilderness to determine if streams responded to logging following 75 y of recovery. Joyce Kilmer was never logged and the Slickrock wilderness was logged from 1917 until 1922. Wood was common in unlogged streams and averaged 417 m³ of wood/ha of streambed. Logged streams had significantly less wood (1.1 m³ of wood/ha of stream), probably because of the construction of railroads in streambeds used to remove timber. Fine substrates (<5.6 mm diameter) were less abundant in logged streams and the retention of fines decreased as wood volume decreased. Species diversity was similar between streams in unlogged and logged catchments; however, the abundance of several taxa and functional feeding groups did differ. Streams in unlogged catchments had significantly greater proportions of shredders while streams in logged catchments had significantly greater proportions of scrapers. Ecosystem parameters showed that the linkages between streams and the forests they drain were weaker in logged than unlogged streams and that unlogged streams derived a greater proportion of fixed carbon from riparian vegetation. Stream-forest linkage strength increased as debris dam abundance increased, while the use of riparian vegetation inputs increased as moss increased. Contrary to predictions, solute storage was significantly greatest in logged catchments and negatively related to debris dam abundance that decreased streambed permeability. Additionally, phosphorus retention, instead of being enhanced by solute storage, was negatively related to transient storage. Uptake velocity was significantly greater in unlogged than logged streams and significantly related to debris dam abundance. Mean breakdown rate of experimental leaf packs and wood veneers was not significantly different between unlogged and logged streams. Leaf breakdown was strongly related to shredder colonization, while wood breakdown was unrelated to variables measured. Much of the persisting disturbance to streams by past logging was directly or indirectly related to differences in wood volume, debris dam frequency, and streambed substrate composition. Results support the hypothesis that logging results in a downstream shift from the headwaters in ecosystem function and that logging disturbance to streams likely persists for centuries. / Ph. D.

We investigated the climatic sensitivity of oak species across a wide elevation range in the southern Appalachian Mountains, an area where greater knowledge of oak sensitivity is desired. We developed three tree-ring chronologies for climatic analyses from oak cores taken from the Jefferson National Forest, Virginia, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. We statistically compared the three chronologies with monthly climatic data from 1930 to 2005. The results of our analyses suggest that oak species in the southern Appalachian Mountains require a cool, moist summer for above average-growth to occur. The climate signal increased in duration from high to low elevational and latitudinal gradients, indicating a strong moisture-preconditioning signal during the previous fall at our lowest elevation site. A notable finding of this research was the degree of responsiveness in oaks that are growing in forest interior locations where strong climate sensitivity would not be expected because of the effects of internal stand dynamics. Furthermore, the relationships between evapotranspiration rates and the geographic factors of elevation, latitude, and aspect influence the climate signals at the three sites. Our research suggests that oaks located in a warm and xeric climate experience more physiological stress and put forth a more varied climatic response.

Thesis (M.A.R.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 1993. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-121).

In the southern Appalachians, unforested openings known as balds persist on or near mountain peaks. These high elevation openings support a variety of unusual biota and are considered globally rare as a result of their biodiversity. Balds have historically been subject to both natural and human disturbances. Such historical and more recent disturbances have had a profound impact on vegetation dynamics in these systems. With the use of dendrochronology and GIS, this research project was aimed at 1) reconstructing the temporal and spatial patterns of tree encroachment into Craggy Gardens, a grass/heath bald, and determining the causal factors, and 2) investigating tree-growth responses of Quercus rubra L. to climatic factors at Craggy Gardens and Big Bald, North Carolina (high elevation forest-grass ecotones). Results indicate that historical grazing and land management have been responsible for vegetation changes at Craggy Gardens, in particular the advancement of Quercus rubra L. into the grass bald. Dendrochronological analyses showed that incremental growth of Quercus rubra L. growing in and adjacent to the balds was controlled by spring temperatures and drought conditions over most of the past century, until around 1970, when tree began responding primarily to growing year summer temperatures over the last four decades. This study concluded that land-uses overprinted on climatic conditions have governed local-scale vegetation structure over the past 150 years and without continuing management, trees may continue to advance into Craggy Gardens. Changing human disturbances along with observed climate changes in recent decades provides will most assuredly set the stage for future vegetation changes in southern Appalachians balds. / Master of Science

Farmers have traditionally depended on their families or paid employees to cover their extensive labor needs. Today, non-waged labor models are gaining popularity, especially among small, ecologically-oriented farms. Apprenticeships and internships can be a primary form of training for a population of new and beginning farmers, many of whom are entering the field without farming backgrounds. However, many question the sustainability and justness of these arrangements. As a new phenomenon, very little research examines the relationship between non-waged labor models like agricultural apprenticeships and alternative food movements. In this exploratory study, the author surveyed nearly 250 farmers growing for local markets in the Southern Appalachians to better understand their rationales for using waged or non-waged labor, and to explore how those decisions impact the local food movement developing within the region. The author finds that farmers using non-waged labor are smaller, less profitable, and more likely to be new to farming than their wage-paying counterparts, and that they choose to host non-waged laborers for both economic and noneconomic reasons. Ultimately, non-waged labor models create incremental steps towards changing the food system by educating new farmers and food systems advocates, increasing the transparency of agricultural labor practices, and giving small-scale farmers a chance to grow their business and get more products into the local economy. However, the non-wage labor model may not be sustainable in the long run, and it perpetuates injustices, such as the exclusion of those who can't afford to train without pay, and it should evolve as the food system evolves.

Atmospheric acidic deposition has negatively impacted many Appalachian watersheds in the eastern United States and soils play a key role in the biogeochemical processes that govern the fate and transport of the acidic pollutants. Thus, the collection of soil chemistry data, a previously lacking component, is essential to understand the soil processes related to the retention or release of basic and acidic ions and is imperative for the prediction of ecosystem recovery. Soil chemical properties related to acidification were characterized for 25 sites within eight acid-sensitive watersheds located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). Relationships were identified by comparing soil chemistry to watershed characteristics including site location, soil characteristics, forest type, geomorphic factors and the presence of Anakeesta. The Walker Camp Prong watershed had significantly higher soil base saturation, calcium and magnesium than all other study watersheds as a result of the application of dolomitic limestone to roadways for wintertime traction control. Significant differences in soil chemistry between the spatially close watersheds of Cosby and Rock Creek demonstrated how local factors can substantially influence the watershed acidification response. The chemical properties of the six study soil types, representing 60% of the entire GRSM, had no significant differences, suggesting soil chemistry must be governed by external inputs and basin characteristics, more so than parent material. This idea was strengthen by the ability to relate many soil chemical properties to forest type and identifying other chemical properties as functions of elevation, slope and soil depth. Also, the presence of unexposed Anakeesta did not seem to have any significant effect on soil chemical properties because all significant differences could be linked to factors unrelated to surficial geology. The majority of the soils of the GRSM study watersheds seem to be experiencing the deleterious effects of long-term exposure to acidic deposition and it could be assumed that soils in many other areas of the park may be enduring the same. The results provide a comparative baseline dataset and important input parameters for biogeochemical modeling. The relationships identified among watershed factors and soil chemical properties can aid in future study designs.

No description available.

Abstract available through the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

In the upland hardwood forests of the southern Appalachians, management tools are needed based on the characteristics of the site to quantify the site quality where no accurate maps of site quality exist. Three studies were conducted to achieve this objective. The first study tested if independent measures of forest productivity, based on vegetation and environment, in a six-county study area in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina would correlate with measures of forest productivity obtained from U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data. Specific hypotheses included: FIA measures of forest productivity are related to one another; FIA measures of forest productivity are related to FIA-measured landscape parameters; and FIA measures of forest productivity are related to independent measures of forest productivity based on landscape parameters and soil characteristics. Four predictive indices of forest productivity were used; three were generated in a geographic information system (GIS). FIA measures of forest productivity were not significantly correlated to FIA measured landscape parameters. FIA site productivity classes were significantly correlated to FIA measures of site index. Independent measures of forest productivity, particularly the Moisture Regime Index (MRI) and the Forest Site Quality Index (FSQI), were significantly correlated to FIA measures of site index. Topography can be used to delineate site quality, but the addition of soil depth can prove to be useful in the estimation. The second study was designed to develop methods, based on field and digital data, to identify colluvial soils in the central Ridge and Valley of southwestern Virginia. Two hypotheses were tested. First, on the linear side slopes of the study area, where site quality is low in stands with subxeric to xeric moisture regimes, vegetation and topography can indicate colluvial soils. A second hypothesis tested if the topographic signature of colluvial soils could be identified geospatially with a digital elevation model. Results indicated that the MRI and the Terrain Shape Index predicted the presence of colluvial deposits in the study area. The basal area of yellow-poplar was positively associated with colluvial soils. A GIS-based model found the slope difference of colluvial soils to be less steep than residual soils as the size of the neighborhood increased. The final study determined if measures of site quality in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina were related to the water budget. Specifically,the hypothesis that site index could be predicted by variables that represented the inputs, usage, and supply of water was tested. A second hypothesis questioned if site quality classes could be predicted by a combination of topography and the annual water budget. Regression models predicted site index to be a function of topography, available water supply, and the annual water budget, but the accuracy was low (R2=0.11 and 0.13). A classification approach yielded better results. Incorporating the annual water budget into the FSQI increased classification accuracy of predicted site index by 50%, and decreased the number of sites misclassified by one class by 8%. Where accurate maps of site quality do not exist, the MRI, the abundance of yellow-poplar, and the modified FSQI may be used to delineate site quality for site-specific management and, ultimately, greater return on investment for the landowner. / Ph. D.

The FVS-Sn model was developed by the USDA Forest Service to project and report forest growth and yield predictions for the Southern United States. It is able to project forest growth and yield for different forest types and management prescriptions, but it is a relatively new, complex, and untested model. These limitations notwithstanding, FVS-Sn once tested and validated could meet the critical need of a comprehensive growth and yield model for the mixed hardwood forests of the southern Appalachian region. In this study, sensitivity analyses were performed on the FVS-Sn model using Latin hypercube sampling. Response surfaces were fitted to determine the magnitudes and directions of relationships between FVS-Sn model parameters and predicted 10-year basal area increment. Model sensitivities were calculated for five different test scenarios for both uncorrelated and correlated FVS-Sn input parameters and sub-models. Predicted 10-year basal area increment was most sensitive to parameters and sub-models related to the stand density index and, to a lesser degree, the large tree diameter growth sub-model. The testing procedures and framework developed in this study will serve as a template for further evaluation of FVS-Sn, including a comprehensive assessment of model uncertainties, followed by a recalibration for southern Appalachian mixed hardwood forests. / Master of Science