New Publications Online From The US Forest Service Research and Development

Going to extremes: low temperature tolerance and acclimation in temperate and boreal conifers

Strimbeck, G.R.; Schaberg, P.G. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:09:17 -0500

Despite global warming, temperatures in the continental interiors of Canada and Siberia can still fall below -60°C and can remain below -40°C for weeks at a time. These extreme temperatures occur not in barren tundra regions, but taiga forests dominated by species of spruce (Picea), fir (Abies), pine (Pinus) and larch (Larix). While other plant and animal species may receive some protection from snow cover, the above-ground parts of trees, including the foliage of evergreen trees, must survive the full brunt of the winter environment.

Absorption and distribution of C14-labeled tetramine in relation to its possible use in animal damage control

Radwan, M.A. — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:04:18 -0400

Tetramethylenedisulphotetramine (tetramine) is an extremely toxic chemicaI (Hagen 1950).' Shortly after its discovery in Germany (Hecht and Henecka 1949L it was introduced in the United States and found useful as an experimental seed protectant in reforestation by direct seeding (Spencer 1954). The first indication of tetramine's systemic characteristics was that seedlings grown from tetramine-treated seed were toxic to rodents during the first month after germination ( Spencer 1954). This observation led to (1) bioassay studies to determine translocation of the chemical and (2) pen and field tests to evaluate the effectiveness of tetramine as a systemic chemical for protecting seedlings against wild animals (Kverno 1960). In order to more fully evaluate the potential usefulness of tetramine for practical application, additional studies were undertaken of the chemical's translocation patterns in plants and its fate in plants and animals: This paper, one of several reports on these studies, describes the patterns of absorption, translocation, and mobility of tetramine in three plant species.

Protecting forest trees and their seed from wild mammals: a review of the literature

Radwan, M.A. — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:07:59 -0400

An extensive literature'points to wild mammals as agents that may seriously reduce the productive capacity of forests and in many ways, interfere with efforts to grow valuable trees. While the loss of forest values is not a new problem, it has been brought into sharper focus through better identification of the various kinds of mammal-caused injuries and by improved survey, techniques. These latter actions have been spurred by the high values now attached to forest products I consequent emphasis on early regeneration of timber stands.

Long-term growth of eight legumes introduced at three forest locations in southwest Oregon

Miller, Richard E.; Zalunardo, Ray. — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:39:12 -0400

Using nitrogen-fixing plants in forestry becomes financially more attractive as the costs of fertilizers and their application continue to increase. Eight legume cultivars were screened for suitability in Douglas-fir forests of southwest Oregon. The legumes were sown on concurrently fertilized and unfertilized plots within deer exclosures in three logged and burned clearcuts. Percent cover after the first and during the ninth growing season was clearly greater on 2-by 2-meter plots sown with alfalfa, crownvetch, and birds foot deervetch (trefoil) than with wetland deervetch, perennial lupine, annual lupine, flatpea, or hairy vetch. Fertilization influenced 1st-year cover but not subsequent plant cover or height. N fixation was not measured; however, all surviving species were nodulated.

Sustaining Young Forest Communities: Ecology and Management of Early Successional Habitats in the Central Hardwood Region, USA

Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Collins, Beverly S.; Thompson III, Frank R. — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:26:48 -0400

There is a rising concern among natural resource scientists and managers about decline of the many plant and animal species associated with early successional habitats. There is no concise definition of early successional habitats. However, all have a well developed ground cover or shrub and young tree component, lack a closed, mature tree canopy, and are created or maintained by intense or recurring disturbances. Most ecologists and environmentalists agree that disturbances and early successional habitats are important to maintain the diverse flora and fauna native to deciduous eastern forests. Indeed, many species, including several listed as endangered, threatened, sensitive, or of management concern, require the openness and thick cover that early successional habitats can provide. Management of early successional habitats can be based on the “historic natural range of variation”, or can involve active forest management based on goals. In this book, expert scientists and experienced land managers synthesize knowledge and original scientific work to address critical questions on many topics related to early successional habitats in the Central Hardwood Region. Our aim is to collate information about early successional habitats, to aid researchers and resource management professionals in their quest to sustain wildlife and plant species that depend on or utilize these habitats.

Effects of soil and foliar applications of nitrogen fertilizers on a 20-year-old Douglas-fir stand

Miller, Richard E.; Wert, Steve. — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:43:53 -0400

We compared growth and cone production of Douglas-fir treated 4 years earlier with ISO pounds N per acre applied as urea prill by hand and as a 32-percent N solution applied by helicopter. Nitrogen fertilization increased growth by 3 88 ft per acre during the 4 years after treatment; this 3S-percent gain was similar for both soil (prill) and foliar (solution) applications. Although cone production on the prill-treated plots averaged twofold to fourfold greater than on the control plots, these differences were not statistically significant.

Spatial and temporal drivers of wildfire occurrence in the context of rural development in northern Wisconsin, USA

Miranda, Brian R; Sturtevant, Brian R; Stewart, Susan I; Hammer, Roger B. — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:48:35 -0400

Most drivers underlying wildfire are dynamic, but at different spatial and temporal scales. We quantified temporal and spatial trends in wildfire patterns over two spatial extents in northern Wisconsin to identify drivers and their change through time. We used spatial point pattern analysis to quantify the spatial pattern of wildfire occurrences, and linear regression to quantify the influence of drought and temporal trends in annual number and mean size of wildfires. Analyses confirmed drought as an important driver of both occurrences and fire size. When both drought and time were incorporated in linear regression models, the number of wildfires showed a declining trend across the full study area, despite housing density increasing in magnitude and spatial extent. Fires caused by campfires and debris-burning did not show any temporal trends. Comparison of spatial models representing biophysical, anthropogenic and combined factors demonstrated human influences on wildfire occurrences, especially human activity, infrastructure and property values. We also identified a non-linear relationship between housing density and wildfire occurrence. Large wildfire occurrence was predicted by similar variables to all occurrences, except the direction of influence changed. Understanding these spatial and temporal drivers of wildfire occurrence has implications for land-use planning, wildfire suppression strategies and ecological goals.

Response to urea and ammonium nitrate fertilization in an 80-year-old Douglas-fir stand

Miller, Richard E.; Harrington, Constance A. — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:09:10 -0400

Volume growth response to 200 Ib of nitrogen per acre applied as urea or ammonium nitrate was monitored for 4 yr in an 80-yr-old, site I, Douglas-fir stand. Fertilization increased gross total cubic growth by 20 percent over the controls. Response to urea and to ammonium nitrate was similar. The rapid volume growth on the control plots, 34 2 ft ³ per acre per year, plus the substantial increase in growth on the fertilized plots, indicate the desirability of delaying final harvest of this stand.

Urea fertilizer increases growth of 20-year-old, thinned Douglas-fir on poor quality site

Miller, Richard E.; Reukema, Donald L. — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:58:56 -0400

In 20-year-old, site V Douglas-fir in southwest Washington, fertilizing with nitrogen increased average 5-year diameter and height growth of concurrently released dominant trees by about 85 percent. There was no additional response when phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur were added with the nitrogen fertilizer. Thinning with no other treatment in this moderately stocked plantation did not increase 5-year diameter growth, and it reduced height growth by about 25 percent. Although this reduced height growth will probably be offset by increased growth in the future, managers of nitrogen deficient sites should consider fertilizing shortly before or after thinning to accelerate response to release.

Dominant Douglas-fir respond to fertilizing and thinning in southwest Oregon

Miller, Richard E.; Williamson, Richard L. — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:47:03 -0400

In 30-year-old, Site IV Douglas-fir in southwest Oregon, fertilizing increased average 4-year basal area growth of dominant trees by 57 and 28 percent on clay loam and sandy loam soils, respectively. Fertilizing with thinning increased growth by 94 and 132 percent over untreated growth. Thinning on clay loam soil increased growth by 53 percent. Treatment did not affect height growth on either soil.

Introduction

Chavez, Deborah J.; Winter, Patricia C.; Absher, James D. — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:53:16 -0400

In 1987, the Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), chartered a research work unit to examine outdoor recreation in the wildland-urban interface. The need for the work unit was identified by the four forest supervisors in southern California, from the Angeles National Forest, the Cleveland National Forest, the Los Padres National Forest, and the San Bernardino National Forest. Supervisors wanted scientific information about the diverse outdoor recreation visitors who were using USFS lands for outdoor recreation.

Wildland recreationists’ natural resource management purposes and preferences: a connection to environmental identity

Winter, Patricia L.; Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:54:03 -0400

Wilderness and day use recreationists’ preferences for natural resource management and their perceptions of purposes for management are examined in this paper. Environmental identity (EID) salience is used to help shed light on variations in recreationists’ preferences for how natural resources should be managed. Findings from two studies are reported; the first was from a survey of urban-proximate wilderness visitors, the second from visitors to day use areas. Both studies were conducted on national forest lands. The two studies incorporated similar items to allow comparisons. In both cases, recreationists were asked to evaluate the relative importance of natural resource areas for low-impact recreation opportunities, high-impact recreation opportunities, and for environmental protection purposes. In addition, they were asked to indicate if more, less, or the same amount of area should be set aside for each of these purposes. Strong support for environmental protection purposes was found in both studies. Support for additional areas allocated to environmental protection and low-impact recreation was also found, particularly among the day users. Our findings indicate that management of recreation opportunities can include considerations of sustainability as important to recreationists. Environmental identity seemed helpful in understanding management preferences in that significant relationships between high environmental identity and support for natural resource protection were revealed. The EID scale worked well among White respondents as well as among groups of color. The environmental identity construct may be of assistance in furthering our understanding of land management preferences and provides an additional point of context beyond place attachment.

Use of the recreation opportunity spectrum in natural protected area planning and management

Perez-Verdin, Gustavo; Lee, Martha E.; Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:27:55 -0400

The use of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) framework, widely used in planning and managing wildland recreation in the United States, was tested for managing recreation opportunities in southern Durango, Mexico. Two natural protected areas were used as case studies to evaluate the ROS criteria and standards for land classification of outdoor recreation opportunities. Personal interviews were used to learn visitors’ characteristics and the recreation activities they performed during their visits. Other pieces of information consisted of maps, aerial photos, field trips, and population demographics. The ROS criteria and standards used to inventory and describe outdoor recreation opportunities in the two areas differed from the original ROS criteria and were adapted to local conditions. Based on visitors’ preferred settings and other available information, the study identified three of the six commonly used ROS classes. Overall, the ROS framework appears to perform appropriately in these two case studies and could be used effectively for recreation planning purposes in other forest areas of Mexico.

The dual role of local residents in the management of natural protected areas in Mexico

Perez-Verdin, Gustavo; Lee, Martha E.; Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:27:10 -0400

In many developing countries, local residents play an important role in the management of protected areas because they represent potential users of natural protected areas (NPA) resources, they receive the benefits (or costs) of developing naturebased recreation, and they are the group most closely interested in the management of an area located near them. In this study, we evaluated the perceptions of local residents toward developing nature-based recreation programs in a protected area in northern Mexico. Personal interviews in three cities were used to assess barriers to recreation participation and the potential impacts that additional recreation programs could bring to the area. We found that residents identified lack of money, lack of time, lack of knowledge, and no interest as the main barriers to participation in nature-based recreation opportunities. No consensus was found among the three communities with regard to recreation impacts. Two communities agreed that recreation can be beneficial, whereas the third community believed that it can bring negative impacts. If more recreation were to develop in this NPA, resource managers would have to consider all residents' perceptions to plan for effective management strategies.

Southwesterners’ views of threatened and endangered species management: does ethnic/racial diversity make a difference?

Winter, Patricia L.; Cvetkovich, George T. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:32:36 -0400

This paper presents an examination of trust in the Forest Service to manage threatened and endangered species as measured through a survey of residents of four Southwestern States. Of particular interest were variations by ethnic/racial group, gender, concern about threatened and endangered species, and self-assessed knowledge. Increasing diversity in the United States makes explorations of trust in natural resource managing agencies especially important to understand. Expected trust levels among groups of color compared to Whites was not especially clear to us. Some very convincing arguments in natural resource management literature suggesting distrust should be expected among groups of color, while an expectation of higher trust among groups of color also finds strong support. A marginally lower level was found among people who engaged in more frequent outdoor recreation, and who visited national forests more often. Time in the United States was associated with lower trust levels among our non-U.S. born respondents. However, the most influential variables among those we considered were gender, ethnic/racial group, concern, knowledge, and perceived similarity of values to the Forest Service (the most significant of those examined). Findings suggest additional research is needed to fully illuminate the complexities of trust in our diverse society, as implications for natural resource management spill over into communication and collaboration efforts.

Serving the needs of Latino recreation visitors to urban proximate natural resource recreation areas

Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:20:37 -0400

A major shift has occurred in the ethnic and racial profile of the United States, with large increases in the Latino population. Beyond the demographic profiles are the influences on other aspects of life in the United States, including urban-proximate natural resource recreation area management. Latino groups may have different expectations about natural resource recreation areas, different barriers to participation, and different site development preferences than other groups. The information provided in this article is based on 17 research projects over the past 16 years conducted mostly in southern California. Suggestions for serving the needs of the rapidly increasing Latino population are offered. These suggestions relate to communications, development of recreation sites, use of partnerships and cooperation, and provision of employment opportunities.

Routes to communication about outdoor recreation with diverse publics: what we know about media

Winter, Patricia L.; Skenderian, Jessica; Crano, William — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:58:49 -0400

This paper examines the issue of outreach to diverse publics as a central concern to natural resource recreation management. Increasing diversity across the Nation has been accompanied by an underrepresentation of communities of color among outdoor recreation populations in natural resource settings. Mass media may be an excellent way to conduct outreach, but the current investment in media addressing diverse publics is discouraging. Patterns of media use and variations by different ethnic groups in levels of use, as well as various ethnic groups’ documented preference for ethnic media are presented. Purposes of media use, as well as trust and reliance in various sources of recreation information are also noteworthy considerations in developing an outreach strategy. Finally, we present some suggestions that may be of assistance to natural resource managers for reaching specific subpopulations, including the value of ethnic media, the potential utility of community networks such as churches, and the use of the Internet.

Physical activity among Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic/Latino white visitors to urban-proximate public lands

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:29:35 -0400

Health benefits of physical activity are well recognized and documented, yet obesity rates remain high in the United States, particularly among Hispanics/Latinos. As our population becomes more urban and ethnically diverse, a greater understanding of specific populations may help agencies better address issues related to obesity and sedentary lifestyles. This study examined use of urban-proximate outdoor recreation sites for physical activity as well as differences in use, experience use history, and body mass index between Hispanics/Latinos of all races, and non-Hispanic/Latino Whites. Ultimately, this research seeks to inform efforts to increase physical activity levels on public lands. Data were collected through onsite interviews in urban-proximate parks in California, Illinois, and Minnesota used by a variety of racial and ethnic groups. Findings indicate that parks and recreation areas remain important places for physical activity for both Hispanics/Latinos and non-Hispanic/Latino Whites. Differences between the two groups suggest both management opportunities and challenges.

Outdoor recreation and nontraditional users: results of focus group interviews with racial and ethnic minorities

Burns, Robert C.; Covelli, Elizabeth; Graefe, Alan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:19:22 -0400

Resource managers in Oregon State Parks and the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (U.S. Forest Service) identified a need to better understand the needs of existing and potential stakeholders who may visit public recreation lands in Oregon. Specifically, this research was designed to understand the perceptions of racial and ethnic minorities in Oregon. A series of focus groups were completed in the state of Oregon to understand ethnic minorities’ interests and needs related to outdoor recreation, and how agencies such as Oregon State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and local park and recreation authorities can better respond to these nontraditional users. This report documents visitor usage perceptions for different outdoor recreation activities in a variety of outdoor recreation settings within the state of Oregon. The focus group interviews were designed to ascertain residents’ perceptions about what recreation activities, services, facilities, and experiences are appropriate on various public lands in Oregon.

Perceptions of agriculture and natural resource careers among minority students in a national organization

Wilson Outley, Corliss — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:30:19 -0400

The purpose of the study was to identify factors that influence the career choice behaviors among students who were members of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) National Society. A secondary purpose was to identify perceptions and attitudes among students that chose careers in agriculture and natural resources. The MANRRS students in the study indicated their mother and persons employed in the field as the individuals who most influenced their choice of a career. Students’ personal concern for the environment was an additional factor that influenced their choice of a career. The perceptions and attitudes reported by MANRRS students who chose a career in agriculture and natural resources focused around several themes, which included career opportunities, positive educational experiences, and internship/job experiences with agencies and organizations. It is hoped that the experiences presented here by current agriculture and natural resources students will aid governmental agencies, private corporations, and nonprofit organizations in increasing the number of ethnic minority professionals in the field of agriculture and natural resources.

Management assumptions and program realities: a case study of non-commercial fern gathering

Alm, Janet E.; Blahna, Dale J.; Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:18:37 -0400

In the mid-1990s, picking bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) fiddleheads became a popular activity on the Mountaintop (formerly Arrowhead) Ranger District (MRD) of the San Bernardino National Forest in California. Concerned that fern picking was affecting the resource and that pickers were making large profits by selling the ferns, the MRD developed a program to charge a commercially based fee and limit fern picking to designated areas. Several years after implementation, MRD staff asked scientists to evaluate the program. Biologically, bracken ferns are very resistant, and there was no evidence of overpicking on the MRD. Studies also found no evidence of commercial resale of the ferns. Rather, fern gathering was a culturally-based recreational activity pursued primarily by Korean and Japanese family groups. Most participants picked for social and outdoor experiences and used the ferns in the preparation of culturally significant traditional dishes. As a result of program rules designed for commercial picking, most participants gathered many fewer pounds of ferns than they paid for. Similarly, many of the program violations resulted from the incompatibility between the commercially based rules and the pickers' recreational motivations. This case illustrates that special forest products programs and management strategies need to be based on site-specific biological and sociological factors.

Forest visitation, media consumption, and diverse publics: lessons for outreach

Crano, William; Quist, Ryan; Winter, Patricia L. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:57:57 -0400

In spite of a continuingly diverse public, particularly in urban areas, the majority of forest visitors are White. Researchers have offered up a number of factors that reflect differing motivations and constraints to national forest recreation among individuals from a variety of racial backgrounds. Some of these constraints may be addressed through improved communication with diverse publics, best understood through a needs analysis. This paper presents findings from a needs analysis conducted among residents of Los Angeles County. Individuals identified as Asian, African American, Latino, or White participated in a telephone survey. Findings reveal differential use of media among respondents, including significant differences in the number of hours per week that respondents watched television and listened to the radio. However, no differences in the hours spent reading magazines or newspapers were revealed. Aside from the differences in media types, specific outlets respondents reported also differed, as demonstrated by radio station programs listened to and newspapers read. A strong pattern of ethnic media use was indicated among Latino and African American respondents. Findings suggest that ethnic media may be one form of contact to focus on for communicating with diverse publics. The use of print media and getting the word out through community contacts is also recommended. Although the Internet was mentioned as a trusted source of information for respondents, differential access and familiarity of use, as well as the possible geographic specificity of Internet reliance, suggests caution. Our findings on media usage, including preferences for ethnic media, may be generalizable across recreation venues outside of the Los Angeles Basin and national forest lands, providing assistance for program managers interested in outreach to diverse publics.

Diverse users of four urban national forests: participation, preferences, and perceptions

Chavez, Deborah J.; Olson, David D. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:23:32 -0400

Diversity at outdoor recreation sites, particularly those near large and diverse urban populations, is occurring across the United States. It is likely that individuals who belong to these changing groups bring a set of values and behaviors to public lands that differ from that of White visitors, and perhaps, land managers. Reported here are findings from studies conducted on four national forests in southern California. We examined the participation, preferences, and perceptions of diverse recreation visitors, focusing on Latinos. Studies like the ones reported here provide land managers insights to better serve this important group. Percentage of Latinos at the areas included in this article ranged from 24 percent (Palomar Mountain on the Cleveland National Forest) to 78 percent (Applewhite on the San Bernardino National Forest).

At all four areas, picnic/barbecues and stream playing were among the activities usually engaged in. Activities usually engaged in at the areas were development dependent (picnicking/barbecuing, camping, and off-highway vehicle riding), natural area dependent (watching wildlife and driving for pleasure), or water dependent (stream play and fishing).

When communicating with diverse groups, managers should consider whether this information is provided before people get to the area or after they arrive. Offsite communications were primarily word of mouth (family and friends) and would be challenging for land managers to tap into. Onsite communications are less problematic and fit the traditional methods available�"brochure at the area entrance, signs along the road, and notes on a bulletin board. The desired pertinent information to share with visitors onsite differed by area suggesting managers will need input from their visitors to provide for visitor needs.

Visitors rated several facilities and amenities as important or very important. Trash cans and water faucets were common responses to all the areas studied, but other facilities and amenities were site specific.

These studies also indicate that Latino and other urban national forest visitors to these areas were bothered by litter along the road and at picnic sites, graffiti on natural and on human-made surfaces, and tree carving. These findings suggest area managers should focus on keeping sites free of litter and graffiti.

Visitors at all four of these urban national forest areas said they wanted to return to the area again, thought it was well worth the money expended to take the trip, and said they had a great recreation experience. These data suggest that Latino and other visitors are likely to continue to recreate in these places and will tell others about them.

Connecting Latinos with nature

Chavez, Deborah J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:15:57 -0400

Experts around the world have identified ecosystem services that benefit humans. Ecosystem services provided by natural areas include cultural (such as providing outdoor recreation locations) and regulating (such as protecting water quality) services. It is important to understand both public perceptions about the importance of particular ecosystem services and the availability of natural areas to provide these ecosystem services. This study of Latino recreationists to Forest Service day use sites in two canyons in southern California examined these perceptions. These Latino respondents strongly agreed with the importance of managing natural areas for several of the cultural services items and almost all of the regulating services items. In order of importance, they felt it was most important to manage natural areas for regulating services such as protection of water quality, protection of wildlife, improved air quality, and protection of plants, as well as cultural services such as swimming, visitor safety, camping, day hiking, picnicking at developed sites, scenic values, stream play, and watching wildlife. The Latino respondents also felt that more areas needed to be set aside for particular regulating and cultural services. In order of most needed, these included protection of water quality, protection of wildlife, improved air quality, and protection of plants, as well as visitor safety, watching wildlife, swimming, camping, picnicking in developed sites, scenic values, stream play, and educational purposes.

Constraints to leisure travel and visitation to natural areas: An international comparison of four cities.In: Chavez, Deborah J.; Winter, Patricia L.; Absher, James D., eds

Tierney, Patrick T.; Chavez, Deborah J.; Absher, James D. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:28:42 -0400

Leisure travel and visitation to natural areas and constraints to undertaking these activities are important concerns for recreation resource managers and tourism businesses. Surveys were administered to Los Angeles, Barcelona, Glasgow, and Morelia, Mexico, residents to ascertain leisure travel and undeveloped natural area visitation levels and constraints. A comparison of these cities with abundant nearby natural resources shows significant differences in leisure travel and natural area visitation levels. Differences were attributable to respondent demographic disparities and importance of visitation constraints. The study identifies how cultural values produce significant differences in visitation constraints and use of undeveloped natural areas.