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John Leshy, one of the foremost scholars and practitioners of public land law, has written a magnum opus on the subject and its long history. Public land law's origins date back before the founding of the United States, as Leshy's history makes clear. The book carefully traces this long history through two-and-a-half centuries and some six hundred pages of splendid analysis. There are some surprises along the way, such as Leshy's emphasis on the importance of section 24 of the 1891 Forest Service Creative Act, which he considers among the most important public land laws; his reference to the 1911 Weeks Act, authorizing purchase of eastern cutover lands for new national forests as the nation's first environmental restoration statute; and his contention that the Wilderness Act of 1964 has had a much greater influence on public land law than its current 111 million acres might suggest. The book highlights the collaborative nature of the executive and the courts with Congress--which possesses the ultimate constitutional authority--in making public land policy. Leshy also emphasizes the important political role played by the states in shaping public land law and policy. His prescriptions for the future are mostly optimistic if Congress would supply adequate funding for land managers and successful implementation of a program of buying out federal land graziers, the most dominant extractive use in an era that now emphasizes the recreational, ecological, and inspirational values of public lands. Leshy's masterful account is sure to become a standard reference for public land practitioners and scholars for years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which evaluated evidence of fraud in timber industry in Brazilian Amazon based on discrepancy between timber volumes in plots established by the government in undisturbed forests and the volumes of approved logging permits, as well as field assessments of six logged areas. It presents information on changes to logging control system to prevent overexploitation of Amazonian timber species and the widespread forest degradation associated with illegal logging.

Kalmia angustifolia is a boreal ericaceous shrub that can rapidly spread on black spruce forest cutovers in eastern Canada, where CPRS (i.e. Cutting with Protection of Regeneration and Soils”) is practiced. The proliferation of Kalmia often coincides with a reduction in the growth rate of regenerating black spruce seedlings. We report on a study where we compared the local effects of Kalmia and black spruce seedling patches (i.e. two types of “Vegetation”) on chemical and biochemical soil properties in CPRS cutovers within mesic spruce-moss and xeric spruce-lichen ecosystems, as well as in four mature spruce-moss forests (i.e. three “Site Types”). Results from 13C-CPMAS-NMR revealed lower O-alkyl C (i.e. carbohydrates), higher aromatic C (i.e. lignin and other phenolics) and higher carbonyl-C (i.e. amide-C and carboxyl groups) in spruce-moss than in spruce-lichen forest floors (F-horizon). In spite of these distinctions, we observed only a small number of Site Type x Vegetation interactions controlling soil properties. Vegetation had a significant effect on ten forest floor properties. Most notably, Kalmia patches had higher concentrations of condensed tannins and lower mineral N cycling. On the other hand, Site Type had a relatively greater effect on the deeper podzolic-B horizons, where mineral N and microbial activity were higher in mature spruce-moss forests than in the cutovers. Green and senescent Kalmia leaves collected at these sites had higher N, tannin and phenolic concentrations than green and senescent spruce needles. A 25 month litter bag study found lower decomposition of Kalmia leaf litter in spruce patches on spruce-lichen cutovers compared to spruce patches on spruce-moss cutovers, or to Kalmia patches on spruce-lichen cutovers. Given that black spruce seedlings obtain most of their nutrients from the forest floor, our results suggest that CPRS may have long-term negative effects on black spruce forest productivity if the spread of Kalmia is left unchecked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern peatlands are sinks for atmospheric carbon (C), but peat extraction converts these ecosystems to C sources. Due to a dry regional climate, undisturbed bog peatlands in western Canada often have a tree cover of Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P. Thus, a coniferous forest plantation may be an appropriate land use for cutover peatlands. This study determined the effect of a 7-year-old P. mariana plantation on C balance of a cutover peatland. We measured C stored in P. mariana biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from bare peat at each of four fertilizer doses. Carbon stored in biomass of Betula papyrifera (Marsh.) that had spontaneously colonized the postfertilized site was also determined. Given that the water table remained very deep and that the sphagnum moss - ericaceous shrub peat-accumulating vegetation was not present, the site remained a source of C when only the planted P. mariana trees were considered, primarily in the form of CO2 emissions by soil respiration. However, C accumulation in trees, including B. papyrifera biomass, resulted in a net C sink in fertilized plots. Results from this study indicate that tree plantations on cutover peatland may be a suitable land-management strategy on sites difficult to effectively rewet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given a seed source, the quality of available substrates is a key factor in determining the success of white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) natural regeneration. We examined the influence of substrate and competing vegetation on survival and growth of natural regeneration of white spruce up to 4 years following harvesting in deciduous-dominated upland boreal mixedwood sites. Feather moss, thick soil surface organic layers, litter, and solid wood were poor substrates for establishment. Early successional mosses establishing on mineral soil, thin organics, and rotten wood were generally favourable microsites but were not highly available on postharvest sites. Mineral soil substrates were not as suitable as expected, likely because on a postlogged site, they are associated with unfavourable environmental characteristics (e.g., low nutrient availability, exposure). There was some evidence that survival and growth of seedlings were improved by surrounding vegetation in the first years, but heavy competing vegetation had a negative impact on older seedlings. Burial by aspen litter greatly increased seedling mortality, especially when combined with a brief period of submergence due to heavy spring snowmelt. The results provide insight into conditions under which natural regeneration could be an option for establishing white spruce following harvesting of deciduous-dominated boreal mixedwood forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied short-term ground vegetation responses to stump harvesting by recording the occurrence of all species of bryophytes, vascular plants and the cover of soil disturbance on 20 clearcuts in the Southern and Middle Boreal zone in northern Scandinavia. All 20 clearcuts were slash-harvested and scarified and 10 of the clearcuts were also stump-harvested. The added effect of stump harvesting was assessed by comparing stump-harvested clearcuts with non-stump-harvested clearcuts. We tested whether stump harvesting causes extra soil disturbance compared to conventional forestry and if stump harvesting is affecting the assemblage, species richness and occurrence of individual species of vascular plants and bryophytes in boreal clearcuts. Our results revealed that stump harvesting causes an increase in the area of disturbed soil surface compared to conventional harvesting. Four of the most commonly occurring plant species in this area were significantly affected by stump harvesting, andVaccinium vitis-idaeahad a median occurrence of only 20% of that in non-stump-harvested clearcuts. The large impact on some plant species from a relatively modest increase of soil disturbance caused by stump harvesting suggest that stumps, with their slightly elevated bases, contributes to the survival of certain species on clearcuts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Understanding foraging strategies of birds is essential to understanding mechanisms of their community assembly. To provide such information on a key Southeast Asian rainforest family, the babblers (Timaliidae), we evaluated foraging behavior and abundance in 7 morphologically and behaviorally similar sympatric species (Cyanoderma erythropterum, C. rufifrons, Stachyris maculata, S. nigricollis, S. poliocephala, Macronus ptilosus, and Mixornis gularis) in 5 habitats defined by structural complexity: (1) continuous native rainforest, (2) logged native rainforest fragments, (3) mature industrial tree plantation, (4) young industrial plantation, and (5) oil palm plantation. Enough data were obtained to compare abundance in all 7 species and foraging behavior in 5. All species were common in forest fragments and mature industrial tree plantations and less so in continuous rainforest and young industrial plantations; only M. gularis occurred in oil palm. In terms of foraging, M. gularis was the greatest generalist; C. rufifrons foraged mainly on live leaves in the forest midstory; and S. maculata, C. erythropterum, and M. ptilosus foraged mainly on dead leaves suspended in understory vegetation at significantly different heights. The dead-leaf substrate depends on a rich supply of falling leaves and extensive understory structure, conditions most common in native forest and old industrial plantations, and less so in mature forest, young plantations, and oil palm. Because of the importance of foraging data to understanding and managing biodiversity, we encourage the development of foraging fields in eBird (ebird.org), so that birdwatchers may help collect these relatively rare data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cavity-nesting vertebrates are an important component of biodiversity in tropical and subtropical forests, but their persistence will increasingly depend on remnant trees in logged forest and agricultural areas. To identify key habitat features for conservation, we examined the factors that influenced daily nest survival for a community of cavity-nesting birds along a gradient of human impact, from primary Atlantic Forest through logged forest to farms. We used logistic-exposure models to determine how characteristics of the habitat, nest tree, cavity, and timing influenced daily nest survival. Overall, predation and/or usurpation caused 92% of nest failures. Daily survival rates ranged 0.961–0.992 for five species of birds that could be studied best, giving probabilities of 0.19–0.62 of survival from laying to fledging. The top models predicting nest survival included cavity and tree characteristics but no habitat variables (canopy cover, forest condition, or distance to forest edge). Small birds (12–128 g) experienced higher nest survival in cavities with smaller entrance diameters, higher above the ground. Large birds (141–400 g) experienced higher nest survival in living trees than in dead trees. Birds experienced similar nest survival in primary forest, logged forest, and farms. Our results highlight the conservation value of cavity-bearing trees in anthropogenic habitats. A pressing policy issue for tropical and subtropical forests is to move beyond minimum diameter cutting limits and instead focus on retention of large old trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional responses in habitat selection occur when individuals adjust their selection of habitat features as a function of the availability of those features. Functional responses in habitat selection are generally assumed to be fitness-rewarding tactics and are used to guide conservation actions. Fitness consequences of functional responses, however, have rarely been evaluated., Eighty-three caribou were followed with GPS collars to establish the link between functional responses in habitat selection and adult female survival, a strong fitness correlate for caribou. We measured how caribou avoidance of mixed/deciduous stands and 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts varied with the proportion of 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts within their 100% minimal convex polygon ( MCP), and if these functional responses were linked to survival. Mixed/deciduous stands and 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts are risky for caribou because they are selected by moose, thereby attracting wolves and increasing predation risk for caribou., Caribou avoided mixed/deciduous stands, especially when 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts comprised a large proportion of their MCP, but this functional response did not differ between caribou that died and those that survived. When the proportion of 6-to 20-year-old clear-cuts in the MCP was low, caribou generally had low odds of occurring near 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts. However, when the proportion of clear-cuts in the MCP was relatively high, caribou that strongly increased their odds of being near 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts were generally those that died., Synthesis and applications. Assessing the fitness consequences of how animals respond to habitat disturbances is central to wildlife conservation. We demonstrate that distinct functional responses in habitat selection involve different mortality risks and that population dynamics should depend on the frequency of the different tactics observed within populations. Individuals that persistently select riskier areas should be important drivers of population decline. Caribou mortality could be reduced by decreasing the appeal of 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts for moose by removing deciduous vegetation through cleaning, which should reduce the selection of wolves for these stands. Removing deciduous vegetation should be especially effective in areas where those clear-cuts comprise a large proportion of the landscape, because this is where a subset of the caribou population experiences high mortality rates by selecting 6- to 20-year-old clear-cuts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a process-based model (RCG-C) was developed, parameterized and calibrated for studying the annual and seasonal dynamics of the ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) in a cutaway peatland (Linnansuo, eastern Finland) cultivated with a perennial bioenergy crop ( Phalaris arundinaceae , L., RCG). Based on a number of prior studies and an environmentally controlled experiment, RCG-C emphasized several key processes beyond the generality of previous diplotelmic models for pristine peatlands. These processes included the effects of management (e.g., drainage, peat extraction, tilling, harvesting and fertilization) on the soil hydrology and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen, the influence of climatic factors on photosynthesis and the phenological cycle and phenological and soil-moisture controls on biomass production and canopy development. The model was validated based on continuous measurements of meteorological parameters, energy and CO 2 fluxes (eddy covariance system) performed at the site from 2005 to 2010, including variation associated with both wet and dry years. The results showed that the model captured the seasonal and annual trends of the latent heat flux and NEE during the six-year period. Moreover, the simulated values for the total C sink capacity, accumulation of rhizome biomass and peat formation from RCG obtained during the six-year period also agreed well with the field measurements. Based on the FINADAPT climate scenarios, a sensitivity analysis of the model showed that the potential increases in the atmospheric CO 2 concentration ( Ca ) and air temperature ( Ta ) could be the main forces driving the changes in NEE. The model simulation suggested that the effects of Ta tend to offset those of Ca and lead to a decrease in the total C sink capacity of the site during the main rotation period (4–15th year of cultivation). This decrease tends to become more intensive toward the end of the 21st century. During the period from 2060 to 2099, the total CO 2 sink capacity could decrease by 79% during the main rotation period at the Linnansuo site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A moss layer transfer technique successfully restores bogs in 54% of the cases. [•] Proportion of successful projects increases with time since restoration. [•] RDA models show that success in bog restoration is driven by multiple factors. [•] Management and technical aspects of practice plays a key role in determining success. [•] A hot and dry summer following restoration hinders Sphagnum recolonisation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated rehabilitation of mixedwood stands degraded by exploitative cutting on the Penobscot Experimental Forest in Moine. Three precommercial rehobilitotion treotments were applied: control (no rehobilitotion), moderate rehabilitation (crop tree release [QR]], and intensive rehabilitation (QR, timber stond improvement [TSI], and red spruce fill planting). Crop trees (primarily red maple, paper birch, spruce, aspen, and eastern hemlock) were selected and released based on their potential for improved growth and value, spocing, and species composition. Rehabilitation reduced sapling bosol area, density, and hardwood obundance ond increased crop tree diameter increment. Fill planting increased spruce stocking, but many planted seedlings were browsed. Long-term projections suggested that future stand value will repay costs of moderote rehabilitation (QR); intensive rehobilitation (CTR-TSI-planting) as applied in this study requires greater investment than can be repoid through quality and growth improvements of low-volue hardwoods and softwoods. Although simulations suggested no difference in future stand volue between treated and untreated stands, improvements in composition, growth, and quolity after rehabilitation will facilitate loter commercial thinning and shelterwood regeneration in stands which otherwise have few management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We studied cumulative disturbance effect on female boreal caribou home-range size. [•] Roads and clearcuts had a significant impact on female home-range size. [•] Females expanded before contracting home-ranges as disturbance levels increased. [•] Females are seemingly constrained to suboptimal habitats at high disturbance levels. [•] Caribou seem to have limited natural capacity to cope with cumulative disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses rural zoning, land use, and citizenship in the cutover portion of the countryside of the Great Lakes region between 1920 and 1940. It discusses the role played by the state of Michigan in land use reform and citizenship, the growth in power of Great Lakes governments via rural zoning, and land-use planning in Great Lakes states. The article also examines the influence of agricultural economist George S. Wehrwein.

Species adapted to early-successional forest habitats are in managed landscapes largely confined to clearcuts. To improve habitat quality on clearcuts, green tree and dead wood retention is widely applied in forestry; however, its effects on rare early-successional species have rarely been shown. We repeatedly surveyed two red-listed beetle species ( Upis ceramboides and Platysoma minus) on clearcuts in a managed boreal forest landscape. We found that U. ceramboides decreased its occupancy over time while P. minus increased, indicating that red-listed species vary in their ability to successfully utilise managed habitats. We found no effect of connectivity on probability of occurrence, colonisation or extinction per clearcut. Trees retained alive improved habitat quality of clearcuts, since both species were more frequent in dead wood of such trees, in comparison to logging residues. We suggest that retention can be improved by protecting and creating dead wood as intact trees during harvesting. Rare specialist species require habitat of high quality, and consequently it is impossible to meet the requirements of these species on every clearcut. To preserve all early-successional species at a regional scale, we recommend focusing retention of green trees and dead wood to one or a few trees species on each clearcut and in each landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement cutting, which decreases tree density by cutting and thinning while leaving logging residues, has been practiced on Okinawa Island since the 1970s and changes not only the vegetation composition but also the amount and composition of woody debris on the forest floor. To quantitatively compare the effect of improvement cutting with the effects of woody debris and vegetation on the community structure of aphyllophoraceous fungi, we conducted a field survey of vegetation composition, the amount and composition of woody debris, and the aphyllophoraceous fungi flora on Okinawa Island in December 2006. We established 3 plots in forest stands without logging and 13 plots in a forest that had undergone improvement cutting from 1 to 22 years before our field survey. The number and volume of woody debris tended to be highest soon after improvement cutting. We recorded 1,172 fungal samples belonging to 81 species in four orders. Fungal species richness was correlated with the composition of the woody debris. Fungal species composition in forest plots 1 year after improvement cutting differed from most of the other logged forests. Variation partitioning revealed that the effects of improvement cutting explained 14.1 % of the total variation in fungal species composition, and that differences in woody debris and vegetation not related to improvement cutting explained 40.4 %. Changes in the composition of woody debris caused by improvement cutting explained at most 2.7 % of the variation. This suggests that improvement cutting does not have a strong effect on fungal community structure, but woody debris does. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Retained habitat elements in private PNW clearcuts are typically rotation-aged trees. [•] Densities of standing retention were low while downed wood was abundant. [•] Bird communities were dominated by early successional and generalist species. [•] Snag retention may provide opportunity for cavity-nester conservation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Summer stream temperatures changed following clearcut harvesting. [•] Changes in canopy cover were slight due to logging slash deposited over streams. [•] There was a variable response in maximum temperature changes among streams. [•] Minimum temperatures were lower in all streams, perhaps due to increased baseflows. [•] We observe no cumulative effect to stream temperatures at the watershed outlet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Progressive succession of plant communities has been studied in cutover areas of bilberry-green moss forests of the alliance Dicrano-Pinion in the central upland part of the Southern Urals. The results are presented concerning the alpha-diversity and phytosociological spectrum of communities at different stages of succession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations are declining worldwide, and predation is considered their most important limiting factor in North America. Caribou are known to reduce predation risk by spacing themselves away from predators and alternative prey. This strategy is now compromised by forestry activities that reduce the amount of suitable caribou habitat and trigger an increase in densities of alternative prey and predators. Our objective was to investigate the influence of predation risk and food availability on selection of a calving location by woodland caribou at three different spatial scales (from coarse to fine: annual home range, calving home range, and forest stand scales) in the boreal forest of Québec, Canada. Using GPS telemetry, we identified calving locations and assessed those using Resource Selection Functions. We determined habitat characteristics using digital ecoforest and topographic maps at the annual and calving home range scales, and with vegetation surveys at the forest stand scale. Caribou selected calving locations located at relatively high elevation and where road density was low, both at the annual and calving home range scales. Within the annual home range scale, they also selected calving locations where the proportion of young and old cutovers was lower than in random areas of similar size. At the forest stand scale, females calved away from roads and young cutovers, using stands where the basal area of black spruce and balsam fir trees was low. At this fine scale, females still selected calving locations located at a relatively high elevation and where the availability of food resources was lower than in random areas located within the same habitat type. The selection of a calving location was driven by predation risk from the largest to the finest spatial scale. Therefore, our results suggest that females may not be able to lower predation risk at larger scales, despite general avoidance of roads and cutovers. We recommend amalgamating all forestry activities within intensive management zones in order to spatially isolate large patches of suitable calving habitat from anthropogenic disturbances. If not possible, we recommend concentrating forestry activities in low-lying areas since caribou consistently selected for relatively high elevations at all scales. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nearly all forests in the Venezuelan alluvial plains are converted to agricultural lands. However, in forest reserves, logging is a selective extraction activity that disturbs part of the ecosystem. This work was aimed at studying floristic composition changes over longer periods of time in a forest with different logging intensities. We measured 11 plots distributed in random block design of 1 ha each. The importance value index (IVI) was calculated for all species and was used in a canonical correspondence analysis to evaluate species behaviour. Cecropia peltata and Inga sp. dominated the first successional stage attaining a maximum IVI close to 12 years but showed clear decline thereafter. The next successional phase was dominated by late secondary species such as Triplaris americana and Guazuma ulmifolia. Climax species such as Pouteria reticulata and Pachira quinata showed drastic reduction in importance and very slow recovery. This study was based on 16-year-observation period, a rare work which could make use of such long period of direct observation. Our results could be used to guide ecological restoration in deforested areas. Forest management strategies should be redrawn to make it a sustainable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conservation of forest-dependent amphibians is dependent on finding a balance between timber management and species’ habitat requirements. To examine the effect of short-term vegetative regrowth post-harvesting on amphibian habitat use, we studied the response of eight species (four forest specialists and four habitat generalists) to four forestry treatments (partial harvest, clearcut with coarse woody debris [CWD] removed, clearcut with CWD retained, and uncut control) over a 6-year period, using replicated experimental treatments in Maine, USA. Forest amphibians showed a strong negative response to clearcutting through the duration of the study, regardless of the presence of CWD, but only during the post-breeding season (i.e., summer). The spring breeding migrations of wood frogs and spotted salamanders to experimental pools were not affected by the forestry treatments. The use of partial cut treatments by forest amphibians differed between animals emerging from experimental pools (i.e., juvenile wood frogs and spotted salamanders), and animals originating from outside the experimental arrays (i.e., adults of all forest species, juvenile wood frogs and spotted salamanders). Animals emerging from our experimental pools showed no difference in the use of control and partial cut treatments, while all the other animals preferred control plots. In addition, we found a modest increase in the use of clearcuts over the 6years following harvesting by juvenile wood frogs from experimental pools (from an 8-fold difference between forest and clearcut treatments in the first year post-clearcutting to a 3-fold difference during years 3–5). However, this increase was not significantly associated with vegetation regrowth. Forest specialists declined in abundance in all treatments beginning 2–3years post-disturbance. Despite high yearly fluctuations in abundance, there was a shift in relative abundance towards habitat generalist species, most notably green frog juveniles. Most habitat generalist species were not affected by clearcutting or vegetative regrowth; however, we observed a lower use of clearcut treatments by green frogs starting 3years post-harvesting, perhaps due to an increase in habitat resistance to movements associated with vegetative regrowth. These general patterns of habitat use were overridden at the local scale by site-specific variation in the use of forestry treatments, most evident in emigrating juvenile wood frogs. From a management standpoint, implementing broad silvicultural prescriptions could be a viable strategy in extensively forested landscapes, but local variation in habitat use has to be acknowledged when managers focus on a limited area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In North America, mulching of vacuum-harvested sites combined with blocking of the drainage system is widely used for peatland restoration to accelerate Sphagnum establishment. However, peat extraction in fen peatlands or exposure of deeper minerotrophic peat layers results in soil chemistry that is less suitable for re-establishment of Sphagnum moss. In this situation, restoration of plant species characteristic of minerotrophic peatlands is desirable to return the site to a carbon accumulating system. In these cases, it may be worthwhile to maintain spontaneously revegetating species as part of restoration if they provide desirable ecosystem functions. We studied the role of six spontaneously recolonizing vegetation communities for methane (CH4) emissions and pore water CH4 concentration for two growing seasons (2008 and 2009) at an abandoned minerotrophic peatland in southeastern Quebec. We then compared the results with bare peat and adjacent natural fen vegetation. Communities dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum, Carex aquatilis and Typha latifolia had CH4 flux an order of magnitude greater than other cutover vegetation types and natural sites. In contrast, Scirpus atrocinctus and Equisetum arvense had CH4 emission rates lower than natural hollow vegetation. We found seasonal average water table and vegetation volume had significant correlation with CH4 flux. Water table and soil temperature were significantly correlated with CH4 flux at plots where the water table was near or above the surface. Pore water CH4 concentration suggests that CH4 is being produced at the cutover peatland and that low measured fluxes likely result from substantial oxidation of CH4 in the unsaturated zone. Understanding ecosystem functions of spontaneously recolonizing species on cutover fens can be used to help make decisions about the inclusion of these communities for future restoration measures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Information regarding the extent, timing and magnitude of forest disturbance are key inputs required for accurate estimation of the terrestrial carbon balance. Equally important for studying carbon dynamics is the ability to distinguish the cause or type of forest disturbance occurring on the landscape. Wildfire and timber harvesting are common disturbances occurring in boreal forests, with each having differing carbon consequences (i.e., biomass removed, recovery rates). Development of methods to not only map, but distinguish these types of disturbance with satellite data will depend upon an improved understanding of their distinctive spectral properties. In this study, we mapped wildfires and clearcut harvests occurring in a Landsat time series (LTS) acquired in the boreal plains of Saskatchewan, Canada. This highly accurate reference map (kappa=0.91) depicting the year and cause of historical disturbances was used to determine the spectral and temporal properties needed to accurately classify fire and clearcut disturbances. The results showed that spectral data from the short-wave infrared (SWIR; e.g., Landsat band 5) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum was most effective at separating fires and clearcut harvests possibly due to differences in structure, shadowing, and amounts of exposed soil left behind by the two disturbance types. Although SWIR data acquired 1year after disturbance enabled the most accurate discrimination of fires and clearcut harvests, good separation (e.g., kappa≥0.80) could still be achieved with Landsat band 5 and other SWIR-based indices 3 to 4years after disturbance. Conversely, minimal disturbance responses in near infrared-based indices associated with green leaf area (e.g., NDVI) led to unreliably low classification accuracies regardless of time since disturbance. In addition to exploring the spectral and temporal manifestation of forest disturbance types, we also demonstrate how Landsat change maps which attribute cause of disturbance can be used to help elucidate the social, ecological and carbon consequences associated with wildfire and clearcut harvesting in Canadian boreal forests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two experiments were conducted for developing restoration techniques for pool margin communities in cutover peatlands. We first aimed to measure the regeneration potential of a typical edge pool liverwort, Cladopodiella fluitans (Nees) H. Buch. We introduced C. fluitans in floating baskets in a restored peatland. We tested three fragment sizes (patches of 2cm2, stretched patches and shredded fine fragments of 0.1–1mm), two introduction densities (ratio between surface of collected areas and surface of restored areas of 1:5 and 1:10) as well as the effect of a straw mulch. After two years, the percentage covers of C. fluitans were five times larger in experimental units protected with straw than in those without protection. Yet, the fragment sizes and the densities tested had no effect on the regeneration of the liverwort. The second experiment aimed to test a moss layer transfer approach to restore plant diversity around pool margins. We tested four communities, dominated by (1) Sphagnum cuspidatum Hoffman, (2) Sphagnum fallax (H. Klinggraff) H. Klinggraff, (3) Sphagnum papillosum Linberg as well as (4) a mixed community composed of equal quantities of C. fluitans, S. cuspidatum and S. papillosum. We introduced plant material in two density ratios (1:5 and 1:10). Sphagnum mosses did colonize pool margins, and showed even more than 60% cover for some treatments after three growing seasons, but the recovery of the introduced vascular plants remained below 5% for most species. The establishment of pool vascular species thus seems to be more intricate than for bryophytes and specific introduction techniques might be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Leaf litter breakdown and associated invertebrates were compared among three logged and three reference stream reaches 2-3 years before and 3-4 years after logging to assess the environmental impacts of partial-harvest logging as a novel riparian management strategy for boreal forest streams. 2. Partial-harvest logging at three sites resulted in 10, 21 and 28% average basal area removal from riparian buffers adjacent to upland clear-cut areas. 3. Leaf litter breakdown rates were not significantly different between reference and logged sites after logging, but litter breakdown was significantly different from year to year at all sites. 4. Significant post-logging differences in aquatic invertebrate communities were detected at only one of the three logged sites. These differences were largely the result of increases in some leaf-shredding stoneflies and a detritivorous mayfly and a decrease in a chironomid group 2-4 years after logging. This site where significant change was detected had the lowest intensity of riparian logging (average 10% removal) but the highest proportion of the catchment area that was clear cut (85%). 5.The post-logging differences in invertebrate communities at this site were more related to catchment-wide influences (e.g. weather patterns, water yield, possibly upland clearcutting) than to reach-level disturbances from riparian logging. 6.The study indicates that partial-harvest logging in riparian buffers at up to 50% removal should pose little risk of harm to leaf litter breakdown processes or aquatic invertebrate communities beyond any impacts that might arise from upland logging disturbance or catchment-wide influences. However, the results should be viewed in the context of the natural disturbance (summer drought conditions) through the post-logging assessment period of this study. Post-logging summer drought conditions may have masked or confounded logging impacts on streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrubland birds are declining throughout the eastern United States. To manage scrub-shrub habitats for birds, managers need information on avian habitat relationships. Past studies have produced contradictory results in some cases and may be of limited generality because of site- and habitat-specific factors. We studied shrubland birds across 6 habitats in 3 New England states to provide more general information on habitat relationships than has been possible in past studies. Our study sites included all major scrub-shrub habitats in New England: wildlife openings, regenerating clear-cuts, beaver ponds, utility rights-of-way, pitch pine (Pinus rigida) woodlands, and scrub oak (Quercus ilicifolia) barrens and ranged from Connecticut to northern New Hampshire, with research conducted from 2002 to 2007. Using Nmixture models of repeated point counts, we found that 6 of 12 shrubland birds preferred areas with greater shrub cover. An additional 4 species appeared to prefer areas with lower-stature vegetation and greater forb cover. Eight of 10 bird species showed relationships with cover of individual plant species, with Spiraea spp., willows (Salix spp.), alders (Alnus spp.), and invasive exotics being the most important. We recommend that shrubland management for birds focus on providing 2 distinct habitats: 1) areas of tall (>1.5 m) vegetation with abundant shrub cover and 2) areas of lower (<1.5 m) vegetation with abundant forb cover but fewer shrubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Voles of the genera Microtus and Myodes feed on tree seedlings planted on cutover forest land in temperate and boreal forests of North America and Eurasia. This damage may have serious economic implications as well as limit regeneration of appropriate tree species in certain forest ecosystems. Prediction of vole population outbreaks and feeding damage to forest plantations, across even a limited geographic range, has yet to be achieved in North America. Thus, a major objective was a detailed analysis of changes in population dynamics of long-tailed voles (Microtus longicaudus), and to test three hypotheses (H) that vole populations would: (H1) rise and fall in accordance with the abundance of herbaceous plants (grasses and forbs) during early vegetative succession after forest harvesting, (H2) be positively associated with grass-seeded sites; and (H3) incidence of feeding damage to seedlings would be positively associated with vole abundance. Voles were live-trapped for 6 years (2004–2009) from the time of harvesting on intensive sites, as well as surveyed over a range of extensive sites. Population numbers were related to habitat characteristics and tree damage in young forest plantations near Golden, British Columbia, Canada. Populations of long-tailed voles were low in the first two years after harvest with mean numbers <5–15/ha. Annual peaks of 49–84 voles/ha were recorded in 2006. In the fourth year (2007) after harvesting, numbers of voles declined on two of three sites, deepened in 2008 and reached extirpation in 2009. On the extensive sites, vole numbers increased 4.6–5.3 times from 1–2 to 3–6 years post-harvest before declining thereafter. Crown volume index of grasses and herbs, volume and abundance of downed wood, total species richness of vascular plants, and structural diversity of herbs were important habitat variables. Vole numbers were higher on those sites seeded with pasture grasses and forbs. There was a significant positive relationship of tree mortality and abundance of voles (Microtus) across a relatively wide geographic area. This study is the first relatively long-term analysis of changes in population dynamics of the long-tailed vole and the predictions of H1 and H2 seemed to be supported. The positive relationship (H3) of the incidence of overwinter damage to trees and vole abundance is the first such analysis for forest plantations, on harvested sites, in North America. At 3–4 years post-clearcut harvesting is a critical time for population buildups of voles and subsequent damage to plantation trees. Seeded grass species clearly create optimum habitat conditions for voles, generating population densities up to 30–50 voles/ha, which is in the range of a “high” damage risk to seedlings. Risk ratings (voles/ha) for feeding damage to trees were low (<7), moderate (7–34), high (35–88), and very high (>88). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Knowledge of how forest management influences soil microbial community interactions is necessary for complete understanding of forest ecology. In this study, soil microbial communities, vegetation characteristics and soil physical and chemical properties were examined across a rectangular 4.57 × 36.58 m sample grid spanning adjacent coniferous forest and clearcut areas. Based on analysis of soil extracted phospholipid fatty acids, total microbial biomass, fungi and Gram-negative bacteria were found to be significantly reduced in soil of the clearcut area relative to the forest. Concurrent with changes in microbial communities, soil macroaggregate stability was reduced in the clearcut area, while no significant differences in soil pH and organic matter content were found. Variography indicated that the range at which spatial autocorrelation between samples was evident (patch size) was greater for all microbial groups analyzed in the clearcut area. Overall, less spatial structure could be resolved in the forest. Variance decomposition using principal coordinates of neighbor matrices spatial variables indicated that soil aggregate stability and vegetation characteristics accounted for significant microbial community spatial variation in analyses that included the entire plot. When clearcut and forest areas were analyzed separately, different environmental variables (pH in the forest area and soil organic matter in the clearcut) were found to account for variation in soil microbial communities, but little of this variation could be ascribed to spatial interactions. Most microbial variation explained by different components of microbial communities occurred at spatial scales other than those analyzed. Fungi accounted for over 50% of the variation in bacteria of the forest area but less than 11% in the clearcut. Conversely, AMF accounted for significant variation in clearcut area, but not forest, bacteria. These results indicate broadly disparate controls on soil microbial community composition in the two systems. We present multiple lines of evidence pointing toward shifts in fungi functional groups as a salient mechanism responsible for qualitative, quantitative and spatial distribution differences in soil microbial communities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The expansion of cities entails the abandonment of forest and agricultural lands, and these lands' conversion into urban areas, which results in substantial impacts on ecosystems. Monitoring these changes and planning urban development can be successfully achieved using multitemporal remotely sensed data, spatial metrics, and modeling. In this paper, urban land use change analysis and modeling was carried out for the Concelhos of Setúbal and Sesimbra in Portugal. An existing land cover map for the year 1990, together with two derived land cover maps from multispectral satellite images for the years 2000 and 2006, were utilized using an object-oriented classification approach. Classification accuracy assessment revealed satisfactory results that fulfilled minimum standard accuracy levels. Urban land use dynamics, in terms of both patterns and quantities, were studied using selected landscape metrics and the Shannon Entropy index. Results show that urban areas increased by 91.11% between 1990 and 2006. In contrast, the change was only 6.34% between 2000 and 2006. The entropy value was 0.73 for both municipalities in 1990, indicating a high rate of urban sprawl in the area. In 2006, this value, for both Sesimbra and Setúbal, reached almost 0.90. This is demonstrative of a tendency toward intensive urban sprawl. Urban land use change for the year 2020 was modeled using a Cellular Automata based approach. The predictive power of the model was successfully validated using Kappa variations. Projected land cover changes show a growing tendency in urban land use, which might threaten areas that are currently reserved for natural parks and agricultural lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Live retention trees are expected to support the recovery of epiphytes in regenerating stands by retaining a part of the populations in cutover sites and receiving propagules from adjacent forests. So far, the research has been focused on immediate post-harvesting mortality caused by microclimatic stress while a broader perspective on epiphyte community dynamics is lacking. We studied lichen and bryophyte communities on the trunks of retention trees and adjacent forest trees in Estonia, where significant desiccation (particularly of bryophytes) had been documented within 2–3years after timber harvesting. The resampling 5–6years after harvesting indicated that, during the 3years passed, (1) lichen species richness per surviving tree increased and bryophyte species richness stabilised, (2) there were no clear successional changes in the composition of the communities and (3) retention trees were more frequently colonised than forest trees. Most epiphyte extinctions between the sampling years were related to the death of trees (particularly in the forests because of harvesting) and stochastic disappearances of the smallest populations. Also, retention trees were very rarely colonised by species of conservation concern. We conclude that, in addition to addressing the microclimatic stress in the first post-harvesting years, crucial elements in sustaining epiphytic bryophyte and lichen populations in green-tree retention systems include careful selection of the retention trees and a supportive reserve network. The selection of the trees should assure representativity and long-term survival of local populations, while reserves should host the most demanding species and be stable colonisation sources in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Four experiments aimed to assess the success of cloudberry establishment and its productivity in abandoned cutover peatland. Two experiments tested the length of the rhizomes (15, 20 and 25 cm) and the depth of planting (5 and 10 cm). One of these showed that the rhizomes should be at least 20 cm long and be planted at a depth of 5 cm to obtain better survival, whereas the other was inconclusive. The advantage of autumn over spring planting for the survival of cloudberry rhizomes was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The introduction of non-native gastropods on islands has repetitively been related to a decline of the endemic fauna. So far, no quantitative information is available even for the native gastropod fauna from the laurel forests (the so-called Laurisilva) of the Canary Islands. Much of the original laurel forest has been logged in recent centuries. Based on vegetation studies, we hypothesized that densities and the number of introduced species decline with the age of the regrowth forests. We sampled 27 sites from which we collected thirty native and seven introduced species. Two introduced species, Milax nigricans and Oxychilus alliarius, were previously not reported from the Canary Islands. Assemblage composition was mainly structured by disturbance history and altitude. Overall species richness was correlated with slope inclination, prevalence of rocky outcrops, amounts of woody debris and leaf litter depth. Densities were correlated with the depth of the litter layer and the extent of herb layer cover and laurel canopy cover. Introduced species occurred in 22 sites but were neither related to native species richness nor to the time that elapsed since forest regrowth. One introduced slug, Lehmannia valentiana, is already wide-spread, with densities strongly related to herb cover. Overall species richness seemed to be the outcome of invasibility, thus factors enhancing species richness likely also enhance invasibility. Although at present introduced species contribute to diversity, the potential competition between introduced slugs and the rich native semi-slug fauna, and the effects of introduced predatory snails (Oxychilus spp. and Testacella maugei) warrant further monitoring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In a 2004 clearcut of a former even-aged oak (Quercus) forest, we examined the number and maximum height of stump sprouts for three oak species in east-central Pennsylvania. The greatest number of sprouts was produced by black oak (Quercus velutina) and chestnut oak (Q. montana) as compared with white oak (Q. alba). Logistic regression showed that diameter of stumps was a significant factor in determining the probability of sprouting for black oak, and an inverse relationship between stump diameter and the number of sprouts per stump was found for all three species. The number of white oak sprouts peaked in the 10 -20-cm diameter class and declined on larger stumps. The number of black oak sprouts peaked in the 20 -50-cm classes, and trees in the 70-80-cm class produced the fewest sprouts. The mean annual growth of the tallest sprout on each stump was greater for black oak and chestnut oak than white oak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Forest harvesting in eastern North America has been occurring for centuries but its effect on soil carbon storage and dynamics below 20cm is not well known. This paper investigates age-related variations in carbon storage and dynamics in the organic layer and 6 depth strata in the top 50cm of the mineral soil during ecologically important stages of post-harvest succession in a first rotation red spruce forest chronosequence that includes one of the largest old growth reference stands in northeastern North America. Storage of carbon reached a minimum 32 years post-harvest, at which time stores were approximately 50% of the intact forest. However, storage approached the range of the intact forest approximately 100 years post-harvest. Examination of age-related variations with depth revealed that concentrations of carbon below 20cm may be driving the temporal trends in whole soil storage in these forests. Corresponding carbon isotope data were consistent with increased isotopic fractionation attributable to increased rates of mineralization post-harvest. Based on these results, we suggest that a greater emphasis should be placed upon examining storage of carbon below 20cm in the mineral soil when evaluating the sequestration potential of intensive forest management, specifically rotation length. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]