Post-fire management objectives for monospecific forest plantations may include conversion to native broadleaved or mixed forests for purposes of diversification of forestry production, enhancing biodiversity and cultural value, or reducing biotic and abiotic hazards. Thus, the potential for post-fire conversion needs to be assessed as a first step in planning such conversion. On the other hand, fire occurrence may foster invasion by exotic species and this equally needs to be assessed when planning post-fire management.

Detailed research on the content of heavy metals in ground and surface waters in the upper Sanna River catchment was initiated in 2013. The investigations were conducted in one of the most promising areas of potential shale gas extraction, in which the Frampol 1 test wellbore was drilled in 2012 (SE Poland, Roztocze Region). In the area of the wellbore, hydrochemical analyses of the waters of the river drainage zone were performed. Water was sampled from six objects representing soil water, porous groundwater, fissure-layer groundwater, and river water.

Plant species distributions and transitions between vegetation types are determined by numerous factors, including disturbances such as fire. Documentation of past changes in the distribution and structure of fire-dependent ecosystems is necessary to assess the success of land management in maintaining historic vegetation types. In our study system—longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)-wiregrass (Aristida stricta) savannas and embedded wetlands (i.e., pocosins)—wiregrass is dependent on frequent burning.

Coronilla juncea is a leguminous shrub native to semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean Basin, particularly south-eastern Spain, and is browsed by livestock such as sheep and goats. We provide here information about this source of forage: allometric regression equations (phytovolume vs. total and forage phytomass), nutritive value and seed germination. The regression equations calculated were highly significant (r2= 0·86 for volume/total phytomass and 0·93 for volume/forage phytomass, p

Conservation actions often focus on restoration or creation of natural areas designed to facilitate the movements of organisms among populations. To be efficient, these actions need to be based on reliable estimates or predictions of landscape connectivity. While circuit theory and least‐cost paths (LCPs) are increasingly being used to estimate connectivity, these methods also have proven limitations. We compared their performance in predicting genetic connectivity with that of an alternative approach based on a simple, individual‐based “stochastic movement simulator” (SMS).

Complex relationships between landscape and aquatic habitat conditions and salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations make science-based management decisions both difficult and essential. Due to a paucity of empirical data, models characterizing these relationships are often used to forecast future conditions. We evaluated uncertainties in a suite of models that predict possible future habitat conditions and fish responses in the Lewis River Basin, Washington, USA. We evaluated sensitivities of predictions to uncertainty in model parameters.

Selective grazing can modify the productive capacity of rangelands by reducing competitiveness of productive, palatable species and increasing the composition of more grazing-resistant species. A grazing system (season-long and short-duration rotational grazing) x stocking rate (light: 16 steers·80 ha-1, moderate: 4 steers·12 ha-1, and heavy: 4 steers·9 ha-1) study was initiated in 1982 on northern mixed-grass prairie. Here, we report on the final 16 years of this study (1991-2006). Spring (April+May+June) precipitation explained at least 54% of the variation in peak standing crop.

Productivity of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus Raf.) populations is closely linked to individual nutritional condition. We modeled body fat of individual does as a function of vegetation cover, composition, and water characteristics of their annual, summer, and winter home ranges in north-central New Mexico. We also modeled home range size as a function of the same characteristics. Levels of body fat were most closely and negatively related to the amount of pinyon-juniper in an individual deer's annual home range (F1,21=7.6; P=0.012; r2=0.26).

Water temperature and discharge are fundamental to lotic ecosystem function, and both are strongly affected by climate. In large river catchments, however, climatic effects might be difficult to discern from background variability and other cumulative sources of anthropogenic change arising from local land and water management.

This research analyzes the adoption patterns among cotton farmers for remote sensing, yield monitors, soil testing, soil electrical conductivity, and other precision agriculture technologies using a Multiple Indicator Multiple Causation regression model. Adoption patterns are analyzed using principle component analysis to determine natural technology groupings. Identified bundles are regressed on farm structure and operator characteristics.