Search

We focus here on questions regarding the craft of producing operations management (OM) research manuscripts. Are the journals we publish in too siloed, with regard to participating authors and institutions? Likewise, are the OM departments we work in too intellectually siloed by virtue of journal choice—are there too many like minds? In light of who publishes in our journals and who we coauthor with, is our field "global enough" or is North America weighing too heavily? We also strive to answer a question faced by many OM departments: should highly published faculty be hired from other schools? How do such highly published authors influence those around them? We arrive at partial answers to these questions by exploring an extensive history of publication data from four journals: Journal of Operations Management, Production and Operations Management, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, and Management Science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A distinguished and widely experienced business school educator offers perceptive insights into the current limitations of North American business school study programs and the benefits that stand to be gained from tapping new management knowledge drawn from examining successful organizations in Latin America and elsewhere in the developing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 20 years since zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) first appeared in North America, they have become one of our most widespread and abundant freshwater animals, and have fundamentally transformed freshwater food webs and biogeochemistry. Indeed, few human impacts on North American fresh waters have been greater or more far-reaching than the arrival of this single species. Nevertheless, ecological research has been uneven, and important research questions remain unanswered, especially concerning the long-term, large-scale effects of the invasion. Economic impacts have also been incompletely estimated, although they already exceed $100 million. We know little about the extent to which large outreach programs about zebra mussels have changed public knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors, and there are still substantial gaps in policies to curb the establishment, spread, and impacts of species like zebra mussels. Scientific, educational, and policy responses to the zebra mussel invasion highlight our successes and limitations concerning alien species in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the study of contextual determinants of planning processes in three important directions. First, we present a comprehensive conceptualization of planning processes along six design dimensions. Second, in addition to examining the effects of environments, technology, and organizational complexity, we assess the effects of the organization's strategic orientation on the design of planning processes. Third, we move towards a configurational approach and explore the effects of concurrent presence of multiple contingencies. The study uses data from a large sample of North American corporations. The results suggest that the forces of context govern the design of planning processes. Furthermore, exploration of the effects of concurrent presence of multiple contingencies provides interesting illustrations of situations where the forces of context are aligned in the same direction as well as situations where the forces pull in opposite directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND 1,3‐Dichloropropene (1,3‐D) is a soil fumigant used for the control of nematodes in high‐value fruit, nut and vegetable crops globally. Extensive water monitoring efforts have been undertaken over the past four decades by public and private institutions, given the widespread agricultural use of 1,3‐D, and environmental fate and metabolism data suggesting the potential for 1,3‐D to leach into groundwater. The aim of this study is to review the results of groundwater monitoring studies for 1,3‐D conducted in North America and the European Union (EU) since 1980. RESULTS: Analysis of > 50 000 water samples by state and federal agencies in the USA resulted in 151 detections of 1,3‐D. An additional 4000 samples analyzed in groundwater studies specifically targeting high 1,3‐D use areas in Europe and the USA resulted in 74 detections of 1,3‐D or its primary metabolites. The combined detection rate of 1,3‐D and its primary metabolites in high‐use areas of the EU and North America was 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of extensive groundwater monitoring information developed through decades of study supports the conclusion that soil fumigation with 1,3‐D poses an inconsequential risk for drinking water exposure. The lack of significant detections of 1,3‐D from targeted monitoring studies is due to the high volatility of 1,3‐D, the rapid degradation of 1,3‐D in most agricultural soils, the rapid degradation of 1,3‐D and its metabolites in aerobic aquatic systems, and the rapid hydrolysis of 1,3‐D in water. © 2019 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat wireworm, Agriotes mancus (Coleoptera: Elateridae), is a predominant elaterid pest species in the Nearctic region, with a life history and morphology similar to those of Agriotes obscurus, Agriotes lineatus and Agriotes sputator, three Palearctic pest elaterids invasive in North America. Here, we report the identification and field testing of the sex pheromone of A. mancus.We collected headspace volatiles from female beetles on Porapak Q, and analysed aliquots of Porapak extract by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and by GC‐mass spectrometry. In GC‐EAD recordings, two esters—geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate—elicited antennal responses from A. mancus males. In field experiments, trap lures containing both geranyl butanoate and geranyl hexanoate afforded large captures of A. mancus males, which were—on average—approximately 30‐fold higher than captures in traps baited with a single ester.Traps baited with geranyl butanoate as a single‐component lure captured a significant number of Palearctic A. sputator, indicating the establishment of A. sputator in its invaded Nearctic range.With the A. mancus sex pheromone now known, it can be included in the development of pheromone‐based programmes to monitor and manage native and invasive Agriotes pests in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In North America, legal hunting is considered a key component in wildlife management and conservation; however, hunters' relationships with ecosystem health and integrity are rarely explored. In this study, we recruited an online panel of hunters in the United States (n = 508) in 2018 to assess their opinions about hunting‐related practices that often negatively affect biodiversity and ecosystem health (i.e., exotic breeding, stock breeding, and game farming). We investigated the underlying socio‐psychological factors influencing hunters' opinions about these practices based on the value‐belief‐norm and identity theories. Hunter identity, personal norms, and awareness of the negative consequences on ecosystems are associated with opposition to hunting‐related practices that harm ecosystems. We suggest that outreach and education programs targeting hunters should focus on leveraging their existing identities and promoting awareness of the negative consequences of certain hunting practices on biodiversity and ecosystem health. By highlighting these consequences and emphasizing the role of ecosystem health and biodiversity in the long‐term sustainability of hunting opportunities, such programs can effectively encourage hunters to adopt ecosystem stewardship behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although groundwater exchange processes are known to modulate atmospheric influences on stream temperature and flow, the implications for ecological stability are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated temporal change in stream fish communities across a gradient of groundwater influence defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. We surveyed 12 sites in 2022 that had been sampled 29–30 years previously with similar methods. We also collected stream temperature data from each site and used the regression slope of the air‐water temperature relationship to index stream thermal sensitivity and groundwater exchange processes. Sites in karst terrain exhibited strong groundwater controls on stream temperature, and fish communities were more stable over time in these locations than elsewhere. However, stream thermal sensitivity was a stronger predictor of species persistence than the spatial distribution of karst terrain in contributing areas, highlighting the ecological importance of local variation in groundwater discharge processes. The presence of calcium precipitates (marl) in stream substrates was associated with low thermal sensitivity and ecological stability over time, and we suggest such visible features may be a useful indicator of climate change refugia in stream ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many invasive and some native tree species in North America exhibit strong allelopathic effects that may contribute to their local dominance. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC; including soot, charcoal, and black carbon) is produced by the incomplete combustion of organic matter and is widespread in forest soils. Many forms of PyC have sorptive properties that can reduce the bioavailability of allelochemicals. We investigated the potential for PyC produced by controlled pyrolysis of biomass ("biochar" [BC]) to reduce the allelopathic effects of black walnut (Juglans nigra) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides), a common native tree species and a widespread invasive species in North America, respectively. Seedling growth of two native tree species (Acer saccharinum [silver maple] and Betula papyrifera [paper birch]) in response to leaf‐litter‐incubated soils was examined; litter incubation treatments included leaves of black walnut, Norway maple, and a nonallelopathic species (Tilia americana [American basswood]) in a factorial design with varying dosages; responses to the known primary allelochemical of black walnut (juglone) were also examined. Juglone and leaf litter of both allelopathic species strongly suppressed seedling growth. BC treatments substantially mitigated these effects, consistent with the sorption of allelochemicals; in contrast no positive effects of BC were observed in leaf litter treatments involving controls or additions of nonallelopathic leaf litter. Treatments of leaf litter and juglone with BC increased the total biomass of silver maple by ~35% and in some cases more than doubled the biomass of paper birch. We conclude that BCs have the capacity to largely counteract allelopathic effects in temperate forest systems, suggesting the effects of natural PyC in determining forest community structure, and also the applied use of BC as a soil amendment to mitigate allelopathic effects of invasive tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, academics have undertaken initiatives to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the ever‐growing field of business analytics, including implementing real‐life student projects in all shapes and forms. Every year since 2015, Manhattan College has invited student teams from across North America and elsewhere in the world to its campus in order to participate in an intercollegiate business analytics competition (BAC@MC). This well‐received event and the objectives behind it are described in this article. The program is shown to serve as an effective experiential learning adventure for the undergraduate students as it hones their data analytic skills in the context of an engaging real‐world business problem. The roles various stakeholders play in this high‐impact practice are highlighted. Furthermore, an example of a recent competition question is presented (along with a summary of the analytical approaches attempted) by the student teams. Descriptive visualizations, regression, and cluster algorithms implemented using python, R, Excel, or Tableau are among the typical analyses utilized by participating students. As witnessed by the students, faculty advisors, and the industry practitioners who attended the event, competitions such as BAC@MC can be rewarding, community‐building, and transformative experiences for undergraduate students who will soon become tomorrow's business analysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural variation has been associated with genetic diversity and adaptation. Despite these observations, it is not clear what their relative importance is for evolution, especially in rapidly adapting species. Here, we examine the significance of structural polymorphisms in pesticide resistance evolution of the agricultural super‐pest, the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. By employing a parent offspring trio sequencing procedure, we develop highly contiguous reference genomes to characterize structural variation. These updated assemblies represent >100‐fold improvement of contiguity and include derived pest and ancestral nonpest individuals. We identify >200,000 structural variations, which appear to be nonrandomly distributed across the genome as they co‐occur with transposable elements and genes. Structural variations intersect with exons in a large proportion of gene annotations (~20%) that are associated with insecticide resistance (including cytochrome P450s), development, and transcription. To understand the role structural variations play in adaptation, we measure their allele frequencies among an additional 57 individuals using whole genome resequencing data, which represents pest and nonpest populations of North America. Incorporating multiple independent tests to detect the signature of natural selection using SNP data, we identify 14 genes that are probably under positive selection, include structural variations, and SNPs of elevated frequency within the pest lineages. Among these, three are associated with insecticide resistance based on previous research. One of these genes, CYP4g15, is coinduced during insecticide exposure with glycosyltransferase‐13, which is a duplicated gene enclosed within a structural variant adjacent to the CYP4g15 genic region. These results demonstrate the significance of structural variations as a genomic feature to describe species history, genetic diversity, and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is a major pest of wheat grown on the Northern Great Plains and Canadian Prairies of North America, causing economic losses of as much as $350 million annually. Two species that parasitize wheat stem sawfly larvae in wheat stems are Bracon cephi (Gahan) and B. lissogaster Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Carbohydrate‐rich diets increase adult parasitoid longevity and reproductive parameters, enhancing their success as natural enemies. In previous studies, these species had increased longevity, egg load, and volume when fed sucrose solutions, encouraging further research on their nutritional needs. Therefore, we conducted experiments with artificial diets using adult females fed sucrose, glucose, and fructose solutions. Females were also fed these sugars in combination with a mixture of amino acids. We assessed individuals daily for longevity. Both species benefited from diets containing carbohydrates, with an increase in longevity from an average of 9 to 51 days for B. cephi, and from 6 to 34 days for B. lissogaster. Additional experiments assessed egg load and volume after 2, 5, and 10 days of cumulative feeding in B. cephi. These females produced 1.4‐fold more eggs when fed amino acids, 2.5‐fold more with sugar, and 2.7‐fold more when fed sugar with amino acids. They had a 1.3‐fold increase in egg volume when fed amino acids, 1.9‐fold with sugar, and 2.1‐fold when fed sugar with amino acids. Our study reveals the nutritional requirements of these braconid parasitoids and the benefits of nutritional sources when implementing conservation biological control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐distance insect migration is poorly understood despite its tremendous ecological and economic importance. As a group, Nearctic hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae: Syrphinae), which are crucial pollinators as adults and biological control agents as larvae, are almost entirely unrecognized as migratory despite examples of highly migratory behavior among several Palearctic species. Here, we examined evidence and mechanisms of migration for four hover fly species (Allograpta obliqua, Eupeodes americanus, Syrphus rectus, and Syrphus ribesii) common throughout eastern North America using stable hydrogen isotope (δ2H) measurements of chitinous tissue, morphological assessments, abundance estimations, and cold‐tolerance assays. Although further studies are needed, nonlocal isotopic values obtained from hover fly specimens collected in central Illinois support the existence of long‐distance fall migratory behavior in Eu. americanus, and to a lesser extent S. ribesii and S. rectus. Elevated abundance of Eu. americanus during the expected autumn migratory period further supports the existence of such behavior. Moreover, high phenotypic plasticity of morphology associated with dispersal coupled with significant differences between local and nonlocal specimens suggest that Eu. americanus exhibits a unique suite of morphological traits that decrease costs associated with long‐distance flight. Finally, compared with the ostensibly nonmigratory A. obliqua, Eu. americanus was less cold tolerant, a factor that may be associated with migratory behavior. Collectively, our findings imply that fall migration occurs in Nearctic hover flies, but we consider the methodological limitations of our study in addition to potential ecological and economic consequences of these novel findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake ecosystems are shifting due to many drivers including climate change and landscape‐scale habitat disturbance, diminishing their potential to support some fisheries. Walleye Sander vitreus (Mitchill) populations, which support recreational and tribal fisheries across North America, have declined in some lakes. Climate change, harvest, invasive species and concurrent increases in warm‐water fishes (e.g. Centrarchidae) may have contributed to declines. To test the utility of an intensive management action to resist walleye loss, an experimental removal of ~285,000 centrarchids from a 33‐ha lake over 4 years was conducted while monitoring the fish community response. Centrarchid abundance declined and yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill) increased, yet no evidence of walleye recruitment was observed. These findings explore the feasibility of intensive resistance as a management strategy in supporting walleye facing environmental change and provide a platform for management discussions to move beyond resist strategies in the Resist‐Accept‐Direct (RAD) framework to navigate ecosystem change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ants consistently rank as the number one household pest, and many species are pests in agricultural and natural habitats. Despite economic and ecological impact of pest ants, effective management still faces many challenges and control failures with liquid spray insecticides are common. The odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile Say) is an adaptive and widespread pest ant found in North America. This study examined regional variation in T. sessile insecticide susceptibility to three classes of insecticides commonly used in ant control. T. sessile showed significant regional variation in insecticide susceptibility on a relatively small geographic scale. A comparison of colonies collected in urban vs. natural areas showed no significant difference in susceptibility in tests with lambda‐cyhalothrin and fipronil. In tests with dinotefuran, urban colonies were significantly more tolerant relative to natural colonies. These results suggest that habitat type and previous insecticide exposure do not reliably predict susceptibility levels in individual populations. Queens were significantly more tolerant relative to their worker counterparts across all insecticides. Higher insecticide tolerance in queens may explain why T. sessile is such a persistent pest in urban environments. The results provide a foundation for the development of more effective and efficient control methods for T. sessile and warrant further investigation of spatial and potentially temporal variability in insecticide susceptibility in ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human land use and climate change have increased forest density and wildfire risk in dry conifer forests of western North America, threatening various ecosystem services, including habitat for wildlife. Government policy supports active management to restore historical structure and ecological function. Information on potential contributions of restoration to wildlife habitat can allow assessment of tradeoffs with other ecological benefits when prioritizing treatments. We predicted avian responses to simulated treatments representing alternative scenarios to inform landscape‐scale forest management planning along the Colorado Front Range. We used data from the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program to inform a hierarchical multispecies occupancy model relating species occupancy and richness with canopy cover at two spatial scales. We then simulated changes in canopy cover (remotely sensed in 2018) under three alternative scenarios, (1) a "fuels reduction" scenario representing landscape‐wide 30% reduction in canopy cover, (2) a "restoration" scenario representing more nuanced, spatially variable treatments targeting historical conditions, and (3) a reference, no‐change scenario. Model predictions showed areas of potential gains and losses for species richness, richness of ponderosa pine forest habitat specialists, and the ratio of specialists to generalists at two (1 km2 and 250 m2) spatial scales. Under both fuels reduction and restoration scenarios, we projected greater gains than losses for species richness. Surprisingly, despite restoration more explicitly targeting ecologically relevant historical conditions, fuels reduction benefited bird species richness over a greater spatial extent than restoration, particularly in the lower montane life zone. These benefits reflected generally positive species associations with moderate canopy cover promoted more consistently under the fuels reduction scenario. In practice, contemporary forest management is likely to lie somewhere between the fuels reduction and restoration scenarios represented here. Therefore, our results inform where and how active forest management can best support avian diversity. Although our study raises questions regarding the value of including landscape‐scale heterogeneity as a management objective, we do not question the value of targeting finer scale heterogeneity (i.e., stand and treatment level). Rather, our results combined with those from previous work clarify the scale at which targeting structural heterogeneity and historical reference conditions can promote particular ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life history theory provides a framework to understand environmental change based on species strategies for survival and reproduction under stable, cyclical, or stochastic environmental conditions. We evaluated environmental predictors of fish life history strategies in 20 streams intersecting a national park within the Potomac River basin in eastern North America. We sampled stream sites during 2018–2019 and collected 3801 individuals representing 51 species within 10 taxonomic families. We quantified life history strategies for species from their coordinates in an ordination space defined by trade‐offs in spawning season duration, fecundity, and parental care characteristic of opportunistic, periodic, and equilibrium strategies. Our analysis revealed important environmental predictors: Abundance of opportunistic strategists increased with low‐permeability soils that produce flashy runoff dynamics and decreased with karst terrain (carbonate bedrock) where groundwater inputs stabilize stream flow and temperature. Conversely, abundance of equilibrium strategists increased in karst terrain indicating a response to more stable environmental conditions. Our study indicated that fish community responses to groundwater and runoff processes may be explained by species traits for survival and reproduction. Our findings also suggest the utility of life history theory for understanding ecological responses to destabilized environmental conditions under global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) is an invasive agricultural pest in North America and Europe.Most of the information on H. halys predators in invaded areas comes from North America. This work focused on the molecular identification of arthropod predator species capable of feeding on H. halys in northern Italy. Predatory arthropods were collected in the field in four urban parks using the tree‐beating technique. A real‐time PCR workflow was applied to detect H. halys DNA from the gut content of predators.Of the 190 predator individuals analysed, 46 were positive for H. halys DNA and belonged to 10 insect taxa (1 Dermaptera, 3 Coleoptera, 2 Hemiptera and 4 Orthoptera) and six arachnid taxa (2 Opiliones and 6 Araneae).The integration of gut content analysis with laboratory bioassays and field observations allows the identification of a greater number of predators and therefore a better understanding of how the invaded ecosystem is responding to the introduction of a new species, given that samples are taken from the invaded environment itself. Therefore, the gut content analysis provides essential elements for conservation biocontrol in integrated pest management programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental flows (e‐flows) are powerful tools for sustaining freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services, but their widespread implementation faces numerous social, political, and economic barriers. These barriers are amplified in water‐limited systems where strong trade‐offs exist between human water needs and freshwater ecosystem protection. We synthesize the complex, multidisciplinary challenges that exist in these systems to help identify targeted solutions to accelerate the adoption and implementation of environmental flows initiatives. We present case studies from three water‐limited systems in North America and synthesize the major barriers to implementing environmental flows. We identify four common barriers: (a) lack of authority to implement e‐flows in water governance structures, (b) fragmented water governance in transboundary water systems, (c) declining water availability and increasing variability under climate change, and (d) lack of consideration of non‐biophysical factors. We then formulate actionable recommendations for decision makers facing these barriers when working towards implementing environmental flows: (a) modify or establish a water governance framework to recognize or allow e‐flows, (b) strive for collaboration across political jurisdictions and social, economic, and environmental sectors, and (c) manage adaptively for climate change in e‐flows planning and recommendations. This article is categorized under:Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and AwarenessHuman Water > Water GovernanceEngineering Water > Planning Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest landscapes across western North America (wNA) have experienced extensive changes over the last two centuries, while climatic warming has become a global reality over the last four decades. Resulting interactions between historical increases in forested area and density and recent rapid warming, increasing insect mortality, and wildfire burned areas, are now leading to substantial abrupt landscape alterations. These outcomes are forcing forest planners and managers to identify strategies that can modify future outcomes that are ecologically and/or socially undesirable. Past forest management, including widespread harvest of fire‐ and climate‐tolerant large old trees and old forests, fire exclusion (both Indigenous and lightning ignitions), and highly effective wildfire suppression have contributed to the current state of wNA forests. These practices were successful at meeting short‐term demands, but they match poorly to modern realities. Hagmann et al. review a century of observations and multi‐scale, multi‐proxy, research evidence that details widespread changes in forested landscapes and wildfire regimes since the influx of European colonists. Over the preceding 10 millennia, large areas of wNA were already settled and proactively managed with intentional burning by Indigenous tribes. Prichard et al. then review the research on management practices historically applied by Indigenous tribes and currently applied by some managers to intentionally manage forests for resilient conditions. They address 10 questions surrounding the application and relevance of these management practices. Here, we highlight the main findings of both papers and offer recommendations for management. We discuss progress paralysis that often occurs with strict adherence to the precautionary principle; offer insights for dealing with the common problem of irreducible uncertainty and suggestions for reframing management and policy direction; and identify key knowledge gaps and research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of wildfire‐ and climate‐adaptation strategies in seasonally dry forests of western North America is impeded by numerous constraints and uncertainties. After more than a century of resource and land use change, some question the need for proactive management, particularly given novel social, ecological, and climatic conditions. To address this question, we first provide a framework for assessing changes in landscape conditions and fire regimes. Using this framework, we then evaluate evidence of change in contemporary conditions relative to those maintained by active fire regimes, i.e., those uninterrupted by a century or more of human‐induced fire exclusion. The cumulative results of more than a century of research document a persistent and substantial fire deficit and widespread alterations to ecological structures and functions. These changes are not necessarily apparent at all spatial scales or in all dimensions of fire regimes and forest and nonforest conditions. Nonetheless, loss of the once abundant influence of low‐ and moderate‐severity fires suggests that even the least fire‐prone ecosystems may be affected by alteration of the surrounding landscape and, consequently, ecosystem functions. Vegetation spatial patterns in fire‐excluded forested landscapes no longer reflect the heterogeneity maintained by interacting fires of active fire regimes. Live and dead vegetation (surface and canopy fuels) is generally more abundant and continuous than before European colonization. As a result, current conditions are more vulnerable to the direct and indirect effects of seasonal and episodic increases in drought and fire, especially under a rapidly warming climate. Long‐term fire exclusion and contemporaneous social‐ecological influences continue to extensively modify seasonally dry forested landscapes. Management that realigns or adapts fire‐excluded conditions to seasonal and episodic increases in drought and fire can moderate ecosystem transitions as forests and human communities adapt to changing climatic and disturbance regimes. As adaptation strategies are developed, evaluated, and implemented, objective scientific evaluation of ongoing research and monitoring can aid differentiation of warranted and unwarranted uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytophthora root and stem rot is a devastating disease of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that occurs annually in North America. Plant death and severe yield loss can transpire when conditions are favorable for pathogen development. The first objective was to determine the efficacy of oxathiapiprolin as a soybean seed treatment using laboratory inoculum layer assays with different races of Phytophthora sojae. The second objective was to evaluate oxathiapiprolin seed treatments in wide area agronomic field testing using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) image‐to‐data analysis to quantify emergence, vigor, and greenness traits. The final objective was to examine the yield potential of seed treatments with oxathiapiprolin. Using inoculum layer efficacy testing in a growth chamber with P. sojae races 4, 7, or 31, seed treated with oxathiapiprolin had significantly higher visual root growth scores compared to non‐treated seed. Across 115 field locations from 2018 to 2020, UAV remote sensing image analysis at the V2 growth stage indicated oxathiapiprolin in combination with other fungicides had significantly better emergence, more vigor, and more intense greenness compared to non‐treated controls. Entries treated with oxathiapiprolin in combination with other fungicides had an average +161 kg ha–1 yield difference compared to non‐treated entries from 2018 to 2020. Oxathiapiprolin as a seed treatment is an effective management tool for soybean producers, providing efficacy against P. sojae, and improving emergence, vigor, greenness, and final yield. Core Ideas: Oxathiapiprolin seed treatments had laboratory efficacy against multiple races of Phytophthora sojae.Using UAV image analysis, oxathiapiprolin seed treatments improved emergence, vigor, and greenness.From 2018 to 2020, oxathiapiprolin with other fungicides yielded +161 kg ha–1 compared to non‐treated seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic‐based epidemiology can provide insight into the origins and spread of herbicide resistance mechanisms in weeds. We used kochia (Bassia scoparia) populations resistant to the herbicide glyphosate from across western North America to test the alternative hypotheses that (i) a single EPSPS gene duplication event occurred initially in the Central Great Plains and then subsequently spread to all other geographical areas now exhibiting glyphosate‐resistant kochia populations or that (ii) gene duplication occurred multiple times in independent events in a case of parallel evolution. We used qPCR markers previously developed for measuring the structure of the EPSPS tandem duplication to investigate whether all glyphosate‐resistant individuals had the same EPSPS repeat structure. We also investigated population structure using simple sequence repeat markers to determine the relatedness of kochia populations from across the Central Great Plains, Northern Plains and the Pacific Northwest. We found that the original EPSPS duplication genotype was predominant in the Central Great Plains where glyphosate resistance was first reported. We identified two additional EPSPS duplication genotypes, one having geographical associations with the Northern Plains and the other with the Pacific Northwest. The EPSPS duplication genotype from the Pacific Northwest seems likely to represent a second, independent evolutionary origin of a resistance allele. We found evidence of gene flow across populations and a general lack of population structure. The results support at least two independent evolutionary origins of glyphosate resistance in kochia, followed by substantial and mostly geographically localized gene flow to spread the resistance alleles into diverse genetic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more than 10 years have passed since different countries started to build smart grids (SGs), a holistic review of the relative "smartness" of popular SGs may be useful to provide implications for other countries as they plan their own SG roadmaps. This study established a two‐dimensional smartness framework, including functional and technical dimensions, to describe and study the SGs' smartness comprehensively. Scientific research was used as a reliable source to construct SG profiles for North America, Europe and China, to understand the diversity of SG potential, and the SG projects implemented in these regions were used to further explore its' smartness. The research results revealed the following SG attributes: (1) Even if the functions performed by all SGs are not exactly the same, SGs in both North America and Europe are distinguished by their functional smartness, meaning they optimize their support for smart electricity usage; (2) China's SG contains less functional smartness than do those of North America and Europe, whereas more technical smartness related to the "energy internet" transition is highlighted; (3) since the SG transition involves both technical innovations and social reforms, although the SG in North America and Europe is superior to China's in terms of functional capabilities, when considering social acceptance, China's SG may actually grow more rapidly in the future. Finally, we analyzed the challenges and future directions in the construction of SGs, the implications for other regions in developing their own SG strategies were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires in many western North American forests are becoming more frequent, larger, and severe, with changed seasonal patterns. In response, coniferous forest ecosystems will transition toward dominance by fire‐adapted hardwoods, shrubs, meadows, and grasslands, which may benefit some faunal communities, but not others. We describe factors that limit and promote faunal resilience to shifting wildfire regimes for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We highlight the potential value of interspersed nonforest patches to terrestrial wildlife. Similarly, we review watershed thresholds and factors that control the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to wildfire, mediated by thermal changes and chemical, debris, and sediment loadings. We present a 2‐dimensional life history framework to describe temporal and spatial life history traits that species use to resist wildfire effects or to recover after wildfire disturbance at a metapopulation scale. The role of fire refuge is explored for metapopulations of species. In aquatic systems, recovery of assemblages postfire may be faster for smaller fires where unburned tributary basins or instream structures provide refuge from debris and sediment flows. We envision that more‐frequent, lower‐severity fires will favor opportunistic species and that less‐frequent high‐severity fires will favor better competitors. Along the spatial dimension, we hypothesize that fire regimes that are predictable and generate burned patches in close proximity to refuge will favor species that move to refuges and later recolonize, whereas fire regimes that tend to generate less‐severely burned patches may favor species that shelter in place. Looking beyond the trees to forest fauna, we consider mitigation options to enhance resilience and buy time for species facing a no‐analog future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microdochium patch is a turfgrass disease caused by the fungal pathogen Microdochium nivale (Fr.) Samuels and I.C. Hallett that occurs in climates similar to the cool, humid regions of North America's Pacific Northwest. Mineral oil, S, and phosphorous acid (H3PO3) have been shown to suppress Microdochium patch on annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) putting greens in western Oregon. Previous research using rates of 19.9 kg mineral oil ha-1 applied every 2 wk alone or as a tank mixture with 12.2 kg S ha-1, 3.7 kg H3PO3 ha-1, or both resulted in unacceptable turfgrass thinning. The objective of this field experiment was to evaluate whether tank mixes of these products would suppress Microdochium patch and yield acceptable turfgrass quality when rates of mineral oil were reduced from 19.9 to 10.0 kg ha-1, S from 12.2 to 6.1 kg ha-1, or H3PO3 from 3.7 to 1.8 kg ha-1. In both years of the experiment, all treatments suppressed Microdochium patch to <2% disease compared to more than 40% disease in the non-treated control. Mineral oil applied with S resulted in a larger loss of green cover compared to mineral oil applied with H3PO3 regardless of rate. These results suggest that tank mixing mineral oil and S should be avoided in the winter months. Further research studying the mitigation of green cover loss associated with these treatments is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys is an invasive agricultural pest in North America and Europe, and also a dwelling nuisance in autumn, due to the overwintering adults aggregating inside buildings. The repellent potential of ginger, clove, vetiver and turmeric essential oils (EOs) was tested on H. halys adults of three different physiological‐behavioural phases: exiting overwintering (EXOV), active during summer (SUMM) and entering overwintering (ENOV). In a two‐choice apparatus, fresh food was used as an attractant in both sides, together with three males when testing ENOV individuals. A filter paper with different concentrations of the EOs was the treatment side, and a filter paper with ethanol acted as control. The position of the individually tested bugs was recorded after 1, 6 and 24 hr. All tested EOs were repellent at concentrations higher than 3%, independent of sex or length of exposure. Turmeric and clove were the most repellent EOs, whereas ginger and vetiver showed on average a medium‐to‐low repellency. Significant differences emerged among the physiological‐behavioural phases, with SUMM individuals showing a greater repellency to many of the tested concentrations, and EXOV individuals being overall the least susceptible to these substances. The response to vetiver oil was ambiguous, as at 25%, it elicited both a strong repellency in SUMM and a strong attraction in EXOV. Turmeric and clove EOs are promising candidates in integrated pest management strategies to reduce attacks by H. halys to susceptible crops especially during summer, as well as to prevent the entrance of overwintering bugs in buildings in autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few studies verified whether Socially Responsible Investments (SRIs) add value during a financial turmoil. We fill this gap. We conduct the analysis by employing the Fama and French (2015) five‐factor model along with the usual Fama and French's (1993) and Carhart's (1997) models. We also propose an innovative methodology that takes into consideration the higher moments of the explanatory variables in order to deal with the non‐normality and the heteroskedasticity of return distributions. Rather than inspecting Socially Responsible (SR) mutual funds as done by most of the existent literature, we concentrate on SR indexes, in the conviction to overcome some of the limitations that can potentially bias an analysis carried out on mutual funds. Our results show that both SR and conventional indexes performed almost in the same way independently of the financial market conditions. Little evidence can at best support the conclusion that SRIs dampened the downside risk during the recent financial crisis in North America only. At the same time, SRIs do not seem to suffer from a risk‐adjusted perspective during normal times. As expected, SRIs bear a higher level of idiosyncratic volatility compared to their respective conventional investments. Our innovative methodology plays an important role in explaining the cross section of SR returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species continue to drive major losses in biodiversity and ecosystem function across the globe. Dealing with the effects of invasion is particularly problematic in marine and freshwater habitats, because the pace at which invaders establish often greatly outstrips the resources available for their eradication. While most managers in North America now focus on ongoing containment and suppression interventions, they often lack quantitative guidance from which to set targets and evaluate success. We propose practical guidelines for identifying management targets for invasions for which eradication is unfeasible, based on achieving "functional" eradication – defined as suppressing invader populations below levels that cause unacceptable ecological effects – within high‐priority locations. We summarize key ecological information needed to inform this strategy, including density–impact functions and recolonization rates. We illustrate the framework's application for setting local suppression targets using three globally invasive species as examples: red lionfish (Pterois spp), European green crab (Carcinus maenas), and rusty crayfish (Faxonius rusticus). Identifying targets for suppression allows managers to estimate the degree of removal required to mitigate ecological impacts and the management resources needed to achieve sufficient control of an invader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the final frost dates of winter have advanced throughout North America, and many angiosperm taxa have simultaneously advanced their flowering times as the climate has warmed. Phenological advancement may reduce plant fitness, as flowering prior to the final frost date of the winter/spring transition may damage flower buds or open flowers, limiting fruit and seed production. The risk of floral exposure to frost in the recent past and in the future, however, also depends on whether the last day of winter frost is advancing more rapidly, or less rapidly, than the date of onset of flowering in response to climate warming. This study presents the first continental‐scale assessment of recent changes in frost risk to floral tissues, using digital records of 475,694 herbarium specimens representing 1,653 angiosperm species collected across North America from 1920 to 2015. For most species, among sites from which they have been collected, dates of last frost have advanced much more rapidly than flowering dates. As a result, frost risk has declined in 66% of sampled species. Moreover, exotic species consistently exhibit lower frost risk than native species, primarily because the former occupy warmer habitats where the annual frost‐free period begins earlier. While reducing the probability of exposure to frost has clear benefits for the survival of flower buds and flowers, such phenological advancement may disrupt other ecological processes across North America, including pollination, herbivory, and disease transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve economies of scope, most motor carriers combine long‐term contracts with shippers and brokers with periodic spot assignments found on electronic marketplaces (EMs). While previous research has addressed how carriers adopt an EM, we know little about factors that influence carriers to adopt multiple EMs. Given the rise of the platform economy of the trucking industry, we chose to address this gap and generate mid‐range theory on adopting multiple EMs in a logistics context. To do this, we applied grounded theory and conducted 23 interviews with motor carriers and EM experts in North America and Europe until we reached theoretical saturation. Our findings reveal that many motor carriers adopt a portfolio of different EMs, and that their awareness of platforms, expected and realized benefits, attitude, and vigilance determine how they configure their EM portfolios. The implication for existing theory is that, while previous studies depicted EM adoption from a single‐system perspective, we found that it is actually a continuous selection process that follows a portfolio perspective. Our paper also has implications for practice in that it illuminates the rationales behind EM portfolio development and identifies actionable factors that can help managers configure stronger portfolios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire suppression has increased stand density and risk of severe, stand‐replacing wildfire in lower elevation dry conifer forests of western North America, threatening ecological function. The U.S. Forest Service's Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) aims to mitigate impacts to ecological function, while mandating effectiveness monitoring to verify restoration success. Expected benefits include improved conditions for biodiversity, but relatively few empirical studies evaluate restoration effects on biodiversity. We applied the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions program to survey birds in relation to CFLRP treatments along the Colorado Front Range in 2015–2017. We employed hierarchical models to analyze species occupancy and richness at 1972 points nested within 141 1‐km2 grid cells. Our objectives were to investigate (1) species occupancy relationships with treatments at local (point) and landscape (grid) spatial scales, (2) potential mechanisms for treatment relationships considering species and treatment relationships with forest structure and composition (i.e., habitat relationships), and (3) treatment and habitat relationships with species richness. The data supported positive and negative point‐level treatment relationships, suggesting uneven species distributions between treated and untreated points. At the grid scale, however, we only found positive species relationships with percent area treated, and accordingly, grid‐level species richness increased with treatment extent. Potential mechanisms for treatment relationships included treatments generating foraging opportunities for aerial insectivores by opening the canopy, improving conditions for ground‐associated species by increasing herbaceous growth, and limiting opportunities for shrub‐nesting species by reducing shrub cover. Landscape‐scale patterns suggest CFLRP treatments can benefit avian communities by generating habitat for open‐forest species without necessarily eliminating habitat for closed‐forest species. Our results provide evidence for a commonly expected but rarely verified pattern of increased species richness with forest heterogeneity. We suggest restoration treatments will most benefit forest bird diversity by reducing canopy cover, encouraging herbaceous ground cover, limiting ladder fuel species, and encouraging shrub diversity in canopy openings, while maintaining some dense forest stands on the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific salmon influence temperate terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems through the dispersal of marine‐derived nutrients and ecosystem engineering of stream beds when spawning. They also support large fisheries, particularly along the west coast of North America. We provide a comprehensive synthesis of relationships between the densities of Pacific salmon and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, summarize the direction, shape, and magnitude of these relationships, and identify possible ecosystem‐based management indicators and benchmarks. We found 31 studies that provided 172 relationships between salmon density (or salmon abundance) and species abundance, species diversity, food provisioning, individual growth, concentration of marine‐derived isotopes, nutrient enhancement, phenology, and several other ecological responses. The most common published relationship was between salmon density and marine‐derived isotopes (40%), whereas very few relationships quantified ecosystem‐level responses (5%). Only 13% of all relationships tended to reach an asymptote (i.e., a saturating response) as salmon densities increased. The number of salmon killed by bears and the change in biomass of different stream invertebrate taxa between spawning and nonspawning seasons were relationships that usually reached saturation. Approximately 46% of all relationships were best described with linear or curved nonasymptotic models, indicating a lack of saturation. In contrast, 41% of data sets showed no relationship with salmon density or abundance, including many of the relationships with stream invertebrate and biofilm biomass density, marine‐derived isotope concentrations, or vegetation density. Bears required the highest densities of salmon to reach their maximum observed food consumption (i.e., 9.2 kg/m2 to reach the 90% threshold of the relationship's asymptote), followed by freshwater fish abundance (90% threshold = 7.3 kg/m2 of salmon). Although the effects of salmon density on ecosystems are highly varied, it appears that several of these relationships, such as bear food consumption, could be used to develop indicators and benchmarks for ecosystem‐based fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Summary: The economic center of gravity is shifting from mature markets to emerging regions. This shift provides a good opportunity to broaden and deepen our theoretical base of concepts and frameworks because emerging and mature regions differ significantly in their institutional regimes. Hence entrepreneurial resource mobilization in emerging regions could differ significantly because of theoretical differences in actors' action logics and resource governance. The eight papers in this special issue provide new empirical evidence on antecedents and consequences of entrepreneurial resource mobilization efforts in emerging regions. Here, we briefly summarize the state of the field, introduce the articles by situating them in a novel theoretical framework on entrepreneurial resource mobilization, and finally using our framework, we suggest opportunities for future research on entrepreneurship in emerging regions. Managerial Summary: Entrepreneurship research has advanced mainly using empirical data from the developed economies of North America and Western Europe. Because emerging economies differ markedly in their institutional development from developed economies, this prior research is less likely to be useful to understand entrepreneurship in emerging regions ‐ which are increasingly crucial components of the global economy. This special issue contains eight articles addressing different aspects of the entrepreneurial resource mobilization process using diverse research methods on empirical data drawn from a broad range of emerging economies. This introduction describes the state of the field prior to the special issue, introduces the special issue articles and identifies topics that still need further investigation. We distill the current state of knowledge and offer a roadmap for future scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest that attacks specialty and row crops in North America and Europe. There has been a concerted effort to reduce frequent broad‐spectrum insecticide applications made on vulnerable crops. One tool that has emerged recently is the use of long‐lasting insecticide‐treated nets (LLINs) as a killing agent. Here, we conducted bioassays to evaluate the effect of direct contact on deltamethrin‐impregnated LLINs on the behaviour and survivorship of H. halys nymphs and adults in the laboratory. Following exposure at three different durations (1.25, 4.25 or 7.25 min), vertical and horizontal mobility of adults and nymphs and the flight capacity of adults were recorded and compared with individuals that were not exposed (control). Exposure to LLINs reduced the horizontal distance and velocity and increased the angular velocity of adults only but reduced vertical mobility of adults and nymphs. Adult flights were not significantly affected by LLIN exposure. Mortality of adults and nymphs at 7‐day post‐exposure ranged from 73% to 77% regardless of exposure time. We discuss our findings within the context of the potential for and limitations of deploying LLINs in vulnerable crops to manage H. halys populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of human societies has led to major, rapid, and often inexorable changes in the environment of most animal species. Over the last decades, a growing number of studies formulated predictions on the modalities of animal adaptation to novel or changing environments, questioning how and at what speed animals should adapt to such changes, discussing the levels of risks imposed by changes in the mean and/or variance of temperatures on animal performance, and exploring the underlying roles of phenotypic plasticity and genetic inheritance. These fundamental predictions, however, remain poorly tested using field data. Here, we tested these predictions using a unique continental‐scale data set in the European earwig Forficula auricularia L., a univoltine insect introduced in North America one century ago. We conducted a common garden experiment, in which we measured 13 life‐history traits in 4,158 field‐sampled earwigs originating from 19 populations across North America. Our results first demonstrate that 10 of the 13 measured life‐history traits are associated with two sets of variations in seasonal temperatures, that is, winter–summer and autumn–spring. We found, however, no association with the overall mean monthly temperatures of the invaded locations. Furthermore, our use of a common garden setup reveals that the observed patterns of variation in earwigs' life‐history traits are not mere plastic responses to their current environment, but are either due to their genetic background and/or to the environmental conditions they experienced during early life development. Overall, these findings provide continent‐scale support to the claims that adaptation to thermal changes can occur quickly (in less than 100 generations), even in insects with long life cycles, and emphasize the importance of variation in seasonal temperature over mean population temperatures in climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric moisture transport processes are of great importance to the occurrence and intensity of precipitation extremes. In this paper, we review the linkage between processes, including the large‐scale atmospheric circulation, atmospheric moisture transport, and extreme precipitation events. We first summarize the thermodynamic and dynamic processes and moisture transport trackings for historical precipitation extremes. We then focus on the contribution of three major atmospheric moisture transport pathways, that is, atmospheric rivers, low‐level jets, and tropical cyclones, to the occurrence and intensity of regional precipitation extremes. Studies on large‐scale atmospheric circulation driving water vapor transport for precipitation extremes over East Asia and North America were specifically reviewed for the understanding of physical mechanisms and predictability of moisture transport and extreme precipitation events. We then pay more attention to the effects of global warming on atmospheric moisture transport, and thus regional precipitation extremes from the perspectives of thermodynamic and dynamic changes of the atmosphere. In the end, we summarize future research challenges on the physical mechanisms of atmospheric moisture transport that are associated with regional precipitation extremes, especially under a warming climate. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water ExtremesScience of Water > Hydrological Processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the independent and joint effect of economic development and two national culture dimensions (performance orientation and uncertainty avoidance) on management consulting expenditures at the country level. Hypotheses are tested on a sample of 21 European and North American countries over a 20‐year period. Results indicate that economic development and uncertainty avoidance are positively related to country‐level management consulting expenditures. Moreover, the relationship between economic development and management consulting expenditures is stronger in countries high on uncertainty avoidance. On the other hand, performance orientation is neither directly nor indirectly related to country‐level management consulting expenditures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life history theory provides a framework to understand environmental change based on species traits that capitalize on stable, predictable, or stochastic environmental conditions. We evaluated life history strategies and temporal trends in abundance from 1975 to 2017 for 28 fish species within the Potomac River of eastern North America. Multivariate analysis identified life history strategies defined by small-bodied species with extended spawning seasons and early maturation (opportunistic strategists), large-bodied species with delayed maturation and long lifespans (periodic strategists), and intermediatesized species exhibiting parental care (equilibrium strategists). Linear mixed models detected temporal trends in abundance for 13 species (46%), of which nine increased and four decreased over time. Increasing species were characterized by opportunistic life history strategies (e.g., banded killifish, Fundulus diaphanous; mosquito fish, Gambusia holbrooki), whereas decreasing species were characterized by periodic or equilibrium strategies (e.g., smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu; river chub, Nocomis micropogon). Recent introductions can account for temporal increases in some cases, but most increasing species are native to the study area. Observed increases in opportunistic native species and decreases in periodic and equilibrium species indicate that environmental conditions have become less stable and less predictable over time, consistent with observed increases in spring peak flows in the study area. Our study indicates the importance of environmental stochasticity for fish community responses to land use and climate change and demonstrates the utility of life history theory in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the life‐history traits that influence the reproductive success of parasitoids could provide useful information to enhance their effectiveness as biological control agents. The wheat stem sawfly Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) is a major pest of wheat in the Northern Great Plains of North America. The bivoltine, sympatric and specialist parasitoids Bracon cephi (Gahan) and Bracon lissogaster Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are the only species known to attack C. cinctus in wheat. In the present study, we quantify the body size, longevity, egg load and egg volume of B. cephi and B. lissogaster aiming to test whether these life‐history traits differ among adult females developing from overwintering and summer generation larvae. We also investigate the effect of sucrose supplementation on the same reproductive parameters. The results obtained show no differences between life‐history traits of B. cephi developing from the overwintering and summer generations. By contrast, the egg load of B. lissogaster is significantly different between generations, with overwintered females producing 1.2‐fold more eggs than summer individuals. Sucrose feeding has a strong positive effect on life‐history traits of both parasitoid species and generations. The longevity of sucrose‐fed females of B. cephi is increased three‐fold, whereas the survival of B. lissogaster is increased almost nine‐fold. Females of B. cephi treated with sucrose have four‐fold more mature eggs, whereas the egg load of B. lissogaster is increased 1.15‐ to 1.25‐fold with sugar feeding. Only B. cephi females increase egg volume with sucrose. The present study provides valuable insights on the life‐history and nutritional requirements of these two important parasitoid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of empirical literature supports key assertions of the resource-based view. However, most of this work examines the impact of firm-specific resources on the overall performance of a firm. In this paper it is argued that, in some circumstances, adopting the effectiveness of business processes as a dependent variable may be more appropriate than adopting overall firm performance as a dependent variable. This idea is tested by examining the determinants of the effectiveness of the customer service business process in a sample of North American insurance companies. Results are consistent with resource-based expectations, and they show that distinctive advantages observable at the process level are not necessarily reflected in firm level performance. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed along with a discussion of the relationship between resources and capabilities, on the one hand, and business processes, activities, and routines, on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global decline in large trees, largely driven by anthropogenic influences, has potentially dire consequences for cavity-dependent wildlife. For several species of conservation concern in western North America, including Pacific martens (Martes caurina), fishers (Pekania pennanti), and spotted owls (Strix occidentalis), large live and dead trees (snags) with cavities are forest structural elements that are requisite to fulfilling life history requirements. More than a century may be necessary for trees to develop cavities of a suitable size for use by martens, fishers, and owls, yet the relative amount of time that such trees persist as usable prior to senescence is largely unknown, despite the implications for how forests are managed as habitat for these wildlife species. To address this uncertainty, in 2016, we re-located 44 live trees and snags identified as marten rest structures between 2009 and 2012 in the Lassen National Forest, California. Upon re-location, we assessed structure persistence by determining whether structures had changed type (e.g., a live tree that died and transitioned to a snag) or usability (any structure that was degraded to a point where it was no longer usable by a marten). After 5–7 yr, 25% (n = 11) of marten rest structures changed type and 16% (n = 7) appeared to be unusable—a stark contrast compared to a similar study investigating persistence of fisher rest structures, which documented one-third of the change in structure type and no change in usability over roughly twice the return interval (8–12 yr). Our results emphasize the vast disparity between the lengthy period required for trees to become suitable formarten use and the potentially short period for which they may remain usable.We suggest that forest managers consider the importance of these fine-scale forest structural elements when developing broad-scale strategies to reduce fire risk and improve resilience in western North American forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural & Forest Entomology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana, is a serious pest of wheat worldwide. In North America, management of S. mosellana in spring wheat relies on the timely application of pesticides, based on midge adults levels caught in pheromone traps or seen via field scouting during wheat heading. In this context, biopesticides can be an effective alternative to pesticides for controlling S. mosellana within an Integrated Pest Management program. A field study using insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana GHA, nematode Steinernema feltiae with Barricade polymer gel 1%, pyrethrin, combined formulations of B. bassiana GHA and pyrethrin, Jasmonic acid (JA) and chlorpyrifos (chemical check) was performed to determine to which extent they affect midge larval populations, kernel damage levels, grain yield, and quality, and the impacts on adult parasitoid Macroglenes penetrans populations. The results indicated that biopesticides JA and S. feltiae were the most effective in reducing larval populations and kernel damage levels, and produced a higher spring wheat yield when compared to the water control at both study locations (East Valier and North Valier, Montana, USA). Increased test weight in wheat had been recorded with two previous biopesticides at East Valier but not for North Valier, when compared over water control. These results were comparable in efficacy to the chlorpyrifos. This study also suggested that B. bassiana and pyrethrin may work synergistically, as exemplified by lower total larval populations and kernel damage levels when applied together. This study did not demonstrate the effect of any treatments on M. penetrans populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow interception by the forest canopy is an important control on the forest hydrological cycle in the Xiaoxing'an Mountains within the northern temperate region of China. In this study, the effects of snowfall characteristics and stand structures on the snowfall redistribution of the canopies within primary spruce‐fir Korean pine forests are analyzed at the forest stand scale. Characteristics of snowfall, through‐canopy snowfall, and stand structure are continuously measured using positioning observations. A semiempirical theoretical model is used to conduct snow interception simulations in the Xiaoxing'an Mountain region. The results indicate that the snowfall, canopy density, slope gradient, and tree height have a significant effect on the through‐canopy snowfall. The interception efficiency gradually decreases with an increase in the amount of snowfall and is particularly sensitive to the snowfall and canopy density, although it shows no significant correlation with average diameter at breast height, tree height, basal area, canopy height, canopy width, leaf area, or slope gradient. Very similar results have been observed in Canada and Switzerland, suggesting the transferability of the results between North America, Western Europe, and China. However, although model results provide a satisfactory simulation of snow interception, further studies are required to optimize the model in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming is expected to increase the amount of atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier extreme precipitation. Various studies have used the historical relationship between extreme precipitation and temperature (temperature scaling) to provide guidance about precipitation extremes in a future warmer climate. Here we assess how much information is required to robustly identify temperature scaling relationships, and whether these relationships are equally effective at different times in the future in estimating precipitation extremes everywhere across North America. Using a large ensemble of 35 North American regional climate simulations of the period 1951–2100, we show that individual climate simulations of length comparable to that of typical instrumental records are unable to constrain temperature scaling relationships well enough to reliably estimate future extremes of local precipitation accumulation for hourly to daily durations in the model's climate. Hence, temperature scaling relationships estimated from the limited historical observations are unlikely to be able to provide reliable guidance for future adaptation planning at local spatial scales. In contrast, well‐constrained temperature scaling relations based on multiple regional climate simulations do provide a feasible basis for accurately projecting precipitation extremes of hourly to daily durations in different future periods over more than 90% of the North American land area. Plain Language Summary: Global warming is expected to increase the amount of atmospheric moisture, resulting in heavier extreme precipitation. Various studies have used the historical relationship between extreme precipitation and temperature (temperature scaling) to provide guidance about precipitation extremes in a future warmer climate. Temperature scaling is useful for this purpose only when it can be robustly identified. Using a large ensemble of 35 North American regional climate simulations of the period 1951–2100, we show that individual climate simulations of length comparable to that of typical instrumental records are unable to identify temperature scaling relationships robustly enough to reliably estimate future extremes of local precipitation accumulation for hourly to daily durations in the model's climate. Hence, temperature scaling relationships estimated from the limited historical observations are unlikely to be able to provide reliable guidance for future adaptation planning at local spatial scales. This also has broader implications for how we account for nonstationarity more generally in historical observations. In contrast, temperature scaling relations based on multiple regional climate simulations do provide a feasible basis for accurately projecting precipitation extremes of hourly to daily durations over more than 90% of the North American land area. Key Points: Estimates of the scaling of local extreme precipitation with temperature based on local precipitation observations are highly uncertainRecords with lengths that are many multiples of the length of available observations are needed to well constrain the scaling relationWell‐constrained scaling relations can reliably estimate climate modeled extreme precipitation changes over almost all of North America [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzes bid-ask spreads on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) and compares them to those of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Pricing data were compiled for a total of 177 TSE stocks from December 1 to December 13, 1971. Comparisons with NYSE pricing data from previous studies reveal spreads to be wider and marketability services as a whole more costly on the TSE. Possible explanations include structural differences between the two markets, as well as the differing roles of NYSE specialists and TSE registered traders.

Abstract: Understanding and characterizing thermal regimes is gaining popularity, but there has been little assessment of the sources and magnitudes of uncertainty among different thermal metrics. Understanding how the quantity of data influence estimates of metrics and the characterization of thermal regime is critical to resource management. We examine the influence of record length on the uncertainty of estimation for commonly used thermal metrics including mean annual maximum and minimum, timing of the annual maximum and minimum, mean annual temperature range, mean weekly maximum temperature, July maximum, minimum, and range. We selected 19 sites from U.S. Geological Survey hydrometric station network to represent stations with both small and large drainage areas across the ecoregions of the contiguous United States with at least 20 years of daily stream temperature data. We also selected 54 sites from Water Survey of Canada's hydrometric network with at least 7 years of sub‐daily data for the province of Ontario. Randomizing a progressively increasing set of years used to calculate estimates of each metric provided the percentile confidence bands that were compared with various thresholds of acceptable certainty. Bootstrap confidence bands quickly decreased in width with increasing record length and approached an acceptable level at an average of 12 years for daily data metrics. Metrics calculated using the sub‐daily data required approximately 3 years of data. The timing of annual minimum and maximum temperatures required the greatest amount of data to reduce bias to an acceptable level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]