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Demetrios Psihopaidas and co-authors discuss the implementation science framework of an HIV/AIDS program in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its recent expansion in eastern US forests, red maple (Acer rubrum L.) generally exhibits a low leaf photosynthetic rate, leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and leaf nitrogen concentration ([N]) relative to co-occurring oaks (Quercus spp.). To evaluate these differences from the perspective of leaf energy investment, we compared leaf construction cost (CC) and leaf maintenance cost (MC) with leaf photosynthetic rate at saturating photon flux density and ambient CO2 partial pressure (Amax) in red maple and co-occurring red oak (Quercus rubra L.) and chestnut oak (Quercus prinus L.). We also examined relationships among leaf physiological, biochemical and structural characteristics of upper-canopy leaves of these three species at lower (wetter) and upper (drier) elevation sites of a watershed in the Black Rock Forest, Cornwall, NY, USA. Although Amax, leaf [N], leaf carbon concentration ([C]) and LMA were significantly less in red maple than in either oak species at both sites, CC per unit leaf area of red maple was 28.2 and 35.4% less than that of red oak at the lower and upper site, respectively, and 38.8 and 32% less than that of chestnut oak at the lower and upper site, respectively. Leaf MC per unit leaf area, which was positively associated with leaf CC (r2 = 0.95), was also significantly lower in red maple than in either oak species at both sites. When expressed per unit leaf area, Amax was positively correlated with both CC (r2 = 0.65) and MC (r2 = 0.59). The cost/benefit ratio of CC/Amax of red maple was significantly less than that of chestnut oak at the lower site, however, CC/Amax did not exhibit any significant interspecific differences at the upper site. Expressed per unit leaf area, CC was correlated positively with LMA (r2 = 0.90), leaf [N] (r2 = 0.97), and leaf [C] (r2 = 0.89), and negatively correlated with leaf molar carbon to nitrogen ratio (r2 = 0.92). Combined with red maple's general success in many oak-dominated forests, our findings suggest that reduced leaf-level photosynthetic capacity and related leaf characteristics in red maple are partially balanced by lower energy and resource requirements for leaf biomass construction and maintenance, which could enhance the competitive success of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Forests are dynamic in both structure and species composition, and these dynamics are strongly influenced by climate. However, the net effects of future tree species composition on net primary production (NPP) are not well understood. The objective of this work was to model the potential range shifts of tree species (DISTRIB Model) and predict their impacts on NPP (PnET-II Model) that will be associated with alterations in species composition. We selected four 200 x 200 km areas in Wisconsin, Maine, Arkansas, and the Ohio-West Virginia area, representing focal areas of potential species range shifts. PnET-II model simulations were carried out assuming that all forests achieved steady state, of which the species compositions were predicted by DISTRIB model with no migration limitation. The total NPP under the current climate ranged from 552 to 908 g C/m(2) per year. The effects of potential species redistributions on NPP were moderate (-12% to +8%) compared with the influence of future climatic changes (-60% to +25%). The direction and magnitude of climate change effects on NPP were largely dependent on the degree of warming and water balance. Thus, the magnitude of future climate change can affect the feedback system between the atmosphere and biosphere.