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The successful regeneration of mature oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) forests is thought to be dependent on the presence of oak advance regeneration. However, the advance regeneration must be of sufficient size and density for oak to be competitive and become a dominant species after harvest. The presence of a dense midstory canopy of shade tolerant species has been implicated with the poor development of oak advance regeneration. Understory Vegetation Control was conducted in 1994 in average quality (SI₅₀ 17.7 - 21.9 m for upland oak) southern Appalachian forest stands to determine the effects on oak (<i>Quercus</i> spp.) and maple (<i>Acer</i> spp.) advance seedling abundance, growth, and development. Three study sites were located in southwest Virginia, and the following two treatments were implemented at each site: Understory Vegetation Control (UVC) and Control. Permanent sampling plots and individual seedlings were located to quantify the density, recruitment, and growth of advance regeneration. Competing vegetation was significantly reduced after one year by the UVC treatment, where the mean relative change in the sum of the heights of competing stems between 1 and 5 m in height was -15.9 percent for the UVC plots vs. 22.8 percent for the Control plots. Neither oak seedling recruitment nor height growth was enhanced by the UVC treatment after one year. Insufficient time has elapsed to allow for a growth response, or to determine if seedling recruitment will be enhanced by UVC. Several years may be required to determine if the UVC treatment can enhance the growth and competitive status of oak regeneration. / Master of Science

Airborne discrete-return lidar is an active remote sensing technology capable of obtaining accurate, fine-resolution three-dimensional measurements over large areas. Discrete-return lidar data produce three-dimensional object characterizations in the form of point clouds defined by precise x, y and z coordinates. The data also provide intensity values for each point that help quantify the reflectance and surface properties of intersected objects. These data features have proven to be useful for the characterization of many important forest attributes, such as standing tree biomass, height, density, and canopy cover, with new applications for the data currently accelerating. This dissertation explores three new applications for airborne discrete-return lidar data. The first application uses lidar-derived metrics to predict understory vegetation cover, which has been a difficult metric to predict using traditional explanatory variables. A new airborne lidar-derived metric, understory lidar cover density, created by filtering understory lidar points using intensity values, increased the coefficient of variation (R²) from non-lidar understory vegetation cover estimation models from 0.2-0.45 to 0.7-0.8. The method presented in this chapter provides the ability to accurately quantify understory vegetation cover (± 22%) at fine spatial resolutions over entire landscapes within the interior ponderosa pine forest type. In the second application, a new method for quantifying and locating snags using airborne discrete-return lidar is presented. The importance of snags in forest ecosystems and the inherent difficulties associated with their quantification has been well documented. A new semi-automated method using both 2D and 3D local-area lidar point filters focused on individual point spatial location and intensity information is used to identify points associated with snags and eliminate points associated with live trees. The end result is a stem map of individual snags across the landscape with height estimates for each snag. The overall detection rate for snags DBH ≥ 38 cm was 70.6% (standard error: ± 2.7%), with low commission error rates. This information can be used to: analyze the spatial distribution of snags over entire landscapes, provide a better understanding of wildlife snag use dynamics, create accurate snag density estimates, and assess achievement and usefulness of snag stocking standard requirements. In the third application, live above-ground biomass prediction models are created using three separate sets of lidar-derived metrics. Models are then compared using both model selection statistics and cross-validation. The three sets of lidar-derived metrics used in the study were: 1) a 'traditional' set created using the entire plot point cloud, 2) a 'live-tree' set created using a plot point cloud where points associated with dead trees were removed, and 3) a 'vegetation-intensity' set created using a plot point cloud containing points meeting predetermined intensity value criteria. The models using live-tree lidar-derived metrics produced the best results, reducing prediction variability by 4.3% over the traditional set in plots containing filtered dead tree points. The methods developed and presented for all three applications displayed promise in prediction or identification of unique forest attributes, improving our ability to quantify and characterize understory vegetation cover, snags, and live above ground biomass. This information can be used to provide useful information for forest management decisions and improve our understanding of forest ecosystem dynamics. Intensity information was useful for filtering point clouds and identifying lidar points associated with unique forest attributes (e.g., understory components, live and dead trees). These intensity filtering methods provide an enhanced framework for analyzing airborne lidar data in forest ecosystem applications. / Graduation date: 2013

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data can provide detailed information about three-dimensional forest horizontal and vertical structure that is important to forest productivity and wildlife habitat. Indeed, LiDAR data have been shown to provide accurate estimates to forest structural parameters and measures of higher trophic levels (e.g., avian abundance and diversity). However, links between forest structure and tree function have not been evaluated using LiDAR. This study was designed and scaled to assess the relationship of LiDAR to multiple aspects of forest structure and higher trophic levels (arthropod and bird populations), which included the ground-based collection of percent crown and understory closure, as well as arthropod and avian abundance and diversity data. Additional plot-based measures were added to assess the relationship of LiDAR to forest health and productivity. High-resolution discrete-return LiDAR data (flown summer of 2009) were acquired for the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in New Hampshire, USA. LiDAR data were classified into four canopy structural categories: 1) high crown and high understory closure, 2) high crown and low understory closure, 3) low crown and high understory closure, and 4) low crown and low understory closure. Nearby plots from each of the four LiDAR categories were grouped into "blocks" to assess the spatial consistency of data. Ground-based measures of forest canopy structure, site, stand and individual tree measures were collected on nine 50 m-plots from each LiDAR category (36 plots total), during summer of 2012. Analysis of variance was used to assess the relationships between LiDAR and a suite of tree function measures. Our results show the novel ability of LiDAR to assess forest health and productivity at the stand and individual tree level. We found significant correspondence between LiDAR categories and our ground-based measures of tree function, including xylem increment growth, foliar nutrition, crown health, and stand mortality. Furthermore, we found consistent reductions in xylem increment growth, decreases in foliar nutrition and crown health, and increases in stand mortality related to high understory closure. This suggests that LiDAR measures can reflect competitive interactions, not just among overstory trees for light, but also interactions between overstory trees and understory vegetation for resources other than light (e.g., nutrients). High-resolution LiDAR data show promise in the assessment of forest health and productivity related to tree function.

Estudos de fauna em florestas homogêneas de plantio comercial são ainda incipientes no país. Essas áreas de reflorestamento apresentam poucos recursos necessários à vida silvestre, quando comparadas às florestas nativas. Entretanto, sub-bosques presentes nessas florestas homogêneas podem fornecer ofertas de alimento, abrigo, proteção, e o estabelecimento de um ambiente favorável à movimentação dos animais - otimizando assim o uso desses locais pela fauna silvestre. Este estudo foi realizado no Horto Florestal de Itatinga, uma área com predomínio de florestas de eucalipto (Eucalyptus spp), e com remanescentes de vegetação nativa (floresta estacional semidecidual, cerrado, cerradão e áreas ripárias), localizada no município de Itatinga, no estado de São Paulo. A fim de verificar se a presença e a densidade do sub-bosque nas florestas de eucaliptos influenciam no uso desses locais pelos mamíferos de médio e grande porte, foram comparados três tipos de ambientes de eucalipto: um talhão de eucalipto sem subbosque, um talhão de eucalipto com sub-bosque intermediário, e um talhão de eucalipto com subbosque denso. Em cada um desses ambientes foram colocadas 24 parcelas de areia (armadilhas de pegadas) com iscas alimentares (banana, bacon e sal), para a observação do número de pegadas dos animais nas mesmas. Foram verificados os números de registros, as freqüências de ocorrência e as abundâncias relativas das espécies de mamíferos em cada ambiente, durante 15 dias do inverno de 2004 (estação seca) e 15 dias do verão de 2005 (estação chuvosa). O número de registros foi maior no ambiente de eucalipto com sub-bosque denso, e a riqueza de espécies foi maior no eucalipto com sub-bosque intermediário. O teste do Qui-quadrado (&#967;2) mostrou diferença significativa no número de registros entre os três ambientes, e entre os períodos inverno e verão. Foram verificadas as categorias tróficas dos mamíferos levantados nesses locais, e observou-se que os animais encontrados foram, em sua maioria, animais de hábitos mais generalistas e pouco exigentes quanto ao habitat. Foram encontradas no total 10 espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte nesses ambientes de eucalipto. A curva do coletor não mostrou estabilização, indicando que ainda havia espécies a serem levantadas nesses três ambientes de eucaliptos. Foi também realizado um levantamento qualitativo dos mamíferos de médio e grande porte na área de estudo em geral. Para isso, foram observados registros diretos e indiretos da mastofauna, como visualização de animais, pegadas, fezes, pêlos, tocas e carcaças; foram efetuadas também entrevistas, e houve a instalação de uma câmera trap (armadilha fotográfica). Este levantamento geral ocorreu durante 75 dias (entre julho de 2004 e abril de 2005). Foram encontradas 27 espécies de mamíferos nesse levantamento, mas a curva do coletor aplicada a esses registros também não se estabilizou. A maioria dos animais levantados são de hábitos alimentares generalistas; entretanto, foram registrados pelo menos quatro espécies de carnívoros (mais exigentes quanto à qualidade do habitat). Foram acusadas as presenças de oito espécies de mamíferos ameaçados de extinção no Horto de Itatinga. / Fauna studies in homogeneous forests for commercial plantation purposes are still incipient in the country. These reforestation areas present a few resources necessary to the maintenance of wild life, when compared to the native forests. However, understories present in these homogeneous forests can provide food, shelter, protection and the establishment of a favorable environment to animal movement - thus, optimizing the use of these reforestation areas by the wild fauna. This study took place in the Horto Florestal de Itatinga, an area of mostly eucalypts forests (Eucalyptus ssp) and remaining fragments of native vegetation (semideciduous seasonal forests, savannah and riparian forests), located in Itatinga, state of São Paulo, Brazil. In order to verify if the presence and density of the understories in the eucalypt forests influence in the use of these locations by medium and large-sized mammals, three types of eucalypt environment were compared: a stand of eucalypt without understory, a stand of eucalypt with intermediate understory an a stand of eucalypt with dense understory. Each of these environments received 24 sand plots (tracking traps) containing alimentary baits (banana, bacon and salt), for the observation of the number of animal tracks in each one of them. Registry numbers, frequency of occurrence and the relative abundance of mammals species in each environment, throughout 15 winter days in 2004 (dry season) and 15 summer days in 2005 (wet season), were verified. In the eucalypt environment with dense understory record numbers were higher, and in the eucalypt environment with intermediate understory the richness of species was bigger. The chi-square test (&#967;2) showed significant difference in registry numbers among these three environments, as well as between winter and summer periods. Dietary categories of the mammals observed in these sites were verified, and most of the observed animals belonged to generalist species, and they were not so demanding concerning their habitat. Ten species of medium and large-sized mammals were found in these eucalypts environments all told. The collector’s curve was not stabilized, indicating that there were still other species to be surveyed in these three environments with eucalypts. A qualitative survey of medium and large-sized mammals in the study area in general, was also carried out. For this purpose, direct and indirect records of the mammals, as well as the visualization of these animals, their tracks, feces, hairs, burrows and carcasses were observed. Local people were interviewed and one camera trapping installed. This survey took place throughout 75 days (between July, 2004 e April, 2005). Twenty-seven species of mammals were found in this survey, but the collector’s curve was not stabilized too. Most of the animals observed in this study belonged to generalist species; but at least four species of carnivores (animals are more demanding concerning their habitat) were recorded. This study also accused the presence of eight endangered species in the Horto de Itatinga.

1. O manejo da vida silvestre em matrizes antropizadas, fora de reservas naturais, é importante para melhorar a eficácia de esforços conservacionistas que visam proteger e restaurar a biodiversidade. Desta forma, é fundamental entender as características da matriz que aumentam a adequabilidade do habitat para as espécies remanescentes e também avaliar as respostas das espécies à práticas de manejo alternativas. 2. Neste estudo utilizamos uma abordagem de modelagem hierárquica, que leva em conta o efeito de falhas de detectabilidade das espécies, para estimar o efeito de práticas de manejo adotadas dentro de talhões de plantios de Eucalyptus sobre a ocupação de aves. Nossos modelos incorporam características sítio-específicas, como tipo de prática de manejo e o contexto da paisagem em que se inserem cada unidade amostral. Também incorpora características espécie-específicas, em particular à sensibilidade das espécies aos distúrbios e estrato de forrageio. 3. O principal fator associado a diferenças na ocupação de aves dentro de nossa área de estudo é o tipo de pratica de manejo. A presença de árvores nativas dispersas e de sub-bosque em estágio inicial de sucessão dentro dos talhões está associada com um aumento na proporção de espécies do pool regional capaz de ocupar a matriz silvicultural. O contexto da paisagem teve um efeito relativamente menor sobre a ocupação de aves na área de estudo. 4. Síntese e Aplicação. A ocupação de aves está associada positivamente ao aumento da complexidade estrutural dentro dos talhões de eucalipto, as espécies respondem a retenção de árvores nativas dispersas e a presença de sub-bosque. Gerenciadores interessados em aumentar o valor conservacionista de plantios de Eucalyptus para as aves deveriam preservar as arvores maduras e adotar práticas que estimulem a regeneração do sub-bosque durante o preparo do local e rotação do plantio. / 1. Managing for wildlife in human-dominated matrices outside natural reserves has great importance to improve the efficacy of conservation efforts aiming to protect and restore biodiversity. As such, it is critical to understand which features of the matrix that enhance habitat suitability to the remaining species and also to evaluate species responses to alternative management practices. 2. We used hierarchical modeling to estimate the effect of stand level management practices adopted in Eucalyptus plantations on bird occupancy while accounting for species detection failure. Our models incorporate site- specific traits, such as management practice type and the landscape context of each sampling unit. It also incorporates species specific-traits, particularly species sensitivity to disturbance and species foraging stratum. 3. The major factor associated with differences in bird occupancy within our study site is the management practice type. Scattered native trees and early successional stage understory within mature stands was associated with an increase in the proportion of bird species from the regional pool that was able to occupy the silvicultural matrix. Landscape context had a relatively minor effect on bird occupancy in our study area. 4. Synthesis and applications. Bird occupancy is positively associated with increasing spatial heterogeneity within eucalyptus stands with species responding to the retention of native scattered trees and understory presence. Managers interested in improving the conservation value of Eucalyptus plantations to birds should preserve some existing trees and adopt practices that trigger understory regeneration during site preparation and stand rotation.

Submitted by Verena Bastos (verena@uefs.br) on 2015-10-02T14:07:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 45-mara-rubia-dissertacao-completa-21-03-2013.pdf: 2507364 bytes, checksum: ff7d2243b7ca90f0ef456fa17718207d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-02T14:07:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 45-mara-rubia-dissertacao-completa-21-03-2013.pdf: 2507364 bytes, checksum: ff7d2243b7ca90f0ef456fa17718207d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-21 / Was conducted a study of reproductive phenology of three species of Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae) occurring in the gallery forest Len??is river, in Len??is Municipality (12 ? 27'30 "S and 41 ? 27'56" W), Chapada Diamantina, discussing reproductive strategies found in sympatric species with similar morphology of flowers and fruits. The phenological observations were made monthly for 48 months in individuals of the species Miconia alborufescens Naud.,Miconia holosericea (L.) DC. and Miconia prasina (Sw) DC., being accompanied phenophases bud, flower, immature fruit and ripe fruits. The species exhibited a pattern reproductive annual, seasonal, sequential, varying its duration. The offer of flowers occurred typically the beginning of the rainy season and no overlap between species. The offer of fruits occurred since the mid rainy season and the dry season without overlapping. The circular statistical tests indicated strong seasonality of fenofases. The irregularity of rainfall and prolonged drought occurred in the last year of observation influence at the time of the manifestation of reproductive phenology M. holosericea and M. prasina, but they fit for the supply of the resource was not superimposed, favoring the maintenance of pollinators and dispersers to these associates. / Foi realizado um estudo da fenologia reprodutiva de tr?s esp?cies de Miconia Ruiz & Pav. (Melastomataceae) ocorrentes na floresta ciliar do rio Len??is, no Munic?pio de Len??is (12?27?30?S e 41?27?56?W), Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil, discutindo as estrat?gias reprodutivas encontradas em esp?cies simp?tricas com morfologia similar de flores e frutos. As observa??es fenol?gicas foram realizadas mensalmente por 48 meses em indiv?duos das esp?cies Miconia alborufescens Naud., Miconia holosericea (L.) DC. e Miconia prasina (Sw) DC., sendo acompanhadas as fenofases de bot?o, flor, fruto imaturo e fruto maduro. As esp?cies exibiram um padr?o reprodutivo anual, sazonal, sequencial, com dura??o variada. A oferta de flores ocorreu tipicamente no in?cio da esta??o chuvosa e sem sobreposi??o entre as esp?cies. A oferta de frutos ocorreu desde a esta??o chuvosa at? meados da esta??o seca e sem sobreposi??o. Os testes de estat?stica circular indicaram forte sazonalidade das fenofases.A irregularidade da precipita??o e a estiagem prolongada ocorrida no ?ltimo na o de observa??o influenciou a fenologia reprodutiva de M. holosericea e M. prasina, por?m as mesmas ajustaram-se fenologicamente para que a oferta do recurso n?o fosse sobreposta, favorecendo a manuten??o da fauna de polinizadores e dispersores a estas associadas.

Invasive species degrade ecosystems by altering natural processes and decreasing the abundance and diversity of native flora. Communities with major fluctuations in resource supply allow invasive species to exploit limiting resources making the community prone to invasion. In the Pacific Northwest, urban forests characterized with limited light and seasonally limited soil moisture are being dominated by nonnative English ivy (Hedera spp). Three observational studies were conducted in the Southern end of Forest Park within the Balch Creek Subwatershed in Portland, Oregon in order to understand 1) how English ivy changes over three growing seasons, 2) how the native understory composition responds to English ivy, 3) if the dominance of English ivy reduces soil moisture to neighboring plants, 4) how English ivy and two co-occurring native herbs (Hydrophyllum tenuipes and Vancouveria hexandra) physiologically respond to seasonal changes in soil moisture. Percent cover of the understory community was collected in both 2010 and 2013 growing seasons in 54 plots in order to understand the change in cover over time. Community response and the relationship with soil moisture was analyzed using percent cover of the understory community and associated environmental variables including soil moisture collected in 128 plots during the 2013 field season. Finally, 15 plots with co-occurring Hedera spp, H. tenuipes and V. hexandra were sampled for stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and associated environmental variables. Results show ivy cover increases on average 14% between 2010 and 2013 while native understory cover increased on average < 1%. Once ivy forms dense cover over 44% there is a reduction of native richness, diversity and herb cover while also an increase in available soil moisture and deciduous canopy cover. There were disparate impacts to different functional groups and between species. As functional group, the herbaceous community was the most impacted by ivy invasion. The shrubs and fern community had a variable response to ivy invasion. Many of the fern and shrub species least impacted by ivy also had associations with high soil moisture and deciduous canopy cover. Finally, data suggests that ivy does not take advantage of seasonally limiting soil moisture to invade the understory community. This study indicates that English ivy is both efficient at water use and may have the ability to obtain water from distant locations throughout the forest. Once established, ivy has the ability to alter the community composition. Ivy removal and habitat restoration are essential in order to maintain and enhance biodiversity in Forest Park.

Land use practices and exposure to low impact disturbances associated with an urban environment can alter forest structure and function. Past and ongoing research in Forest Park, a large urban forest in Portland, Oregon, suggests that mature mixed Douglas-fir (Psuedotsuga meziesii)-hardwood stands in the more urban end of the park lack a shade-tolerant conifer understory composed of the late successional conifer tree species, such western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and western red-cedar (Thuja plicata). 5-year plot remeasurement data that characterizes productivity and mortality patterns did not show a strong relationship to urban proximity. Plot productivity was generally consistent with values taken from studies of other similarly aged (~100 years old) Douglas-fir /Western Hemlock stands. Mortality was highest in rural plots, and was driven by large windthrow events to canopy trees. Soil organic matter, soil pH, and depth of organic horizon indicated a legacy of soil impact in urban areas most impacted by past intensive logging. The urban mature plot had higher mean soil pH at site (5.87, se: ±0.06) compared to a rural mature, and old growth reference sites located within the park. Although surface organic and A layer soil horizon depth was thinnest at the urban mature site, soil organic matter was not found to be significantly different across sites. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data showed that old-growth plots and plots in the middle section of the park had the highest degree of canopy structure as measured by Rumple and standard deviation of point elevation. Measures of stand height showed OG plots and urban plots to have the tallest trees. Rural plots showed a high degree of variability in all LiDAR metrics, showing a wider range of stand height and complexity than urban and middle plots. These results suggest that past land-use and urban proximity affect plot level productivity, soil quality, and above-ground canopy structure in Forest Park. These results clarify how the lack of late-successional tree species might be most linked to differing histories of intensive logging activity within the park. Reduced old-growth legacy features (remnant seed trees, coarse woody debris) in plots with a clear history of aggressive clear-cuts has led to a reduction in regeneration of western hemlock and western red-cedar in the understory.