Research and Publications
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This study found substantial evidence for the ability of all markers to reduce collisions (~ 57% reduction), with little difference between the tested marker types. It found strong evidence for lower collision probabilities at fences with wood posts and on fences farther from leks. Results also indicated a negative relationship between collision probabilities and the difference between fence and vegetation heights. There was little evidence for differences in collision risk between areas defined as “high” or “moderate” risk in a pre-existing collision risk map. Findings recommend integrating fence marking into conservation practices requiring fencing, and prioritizing fence marking near leks in areas with greater fence exposure.
A proposed mechanism for high pathogen-caused mortality in the seed bank of an invasive annual grass
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Pyrenophora semeniperda can infect nondormant Bromus tectorum seeds under optimal germination conditions, but most escape mortality. This reduces pathogen fitness relative to infection of dormant seeds, which are almost always killed. However, field experiments showed that a large proportion of seeds killed following inoculum addition were not accounted for as dormant seeds, but instead were likely nondormant seeds that would have germinated without inoculum addition. We hypothesized that widely fluctuating water availability to seeds would favor pathogenesis by delaying germination and allowing disease progression at water potentials below those that permit radicle emergence. With dehydration at -4 MPa, mortality increased with dehydration duration after short or long imbibition. At -40MPa, mortality increased with dehydration duration only after long imbibition. At -150MPa, there was no effect of dehydration duration on generally low mortality. These results illustrate that fluctuating moisture can cause high nondormant seed mortality, explaining how this pathogen kills nondormant seeds.
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This study identified contrasting climate niches for ten Great Basin understorey forbs, including differences in both mean values and climate variability. These estimates can guide species selection for restoration by identifying species with a high tolerance for climate variability and large climatic niches. They can also help conservationists to understand which species may be least tolerant of climate variability, and potentially most vulnerable to climate change
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A study comparing insect communities in grazed, rested, and idled pastures in Montana found that the types of insects that provide a critical food source for sage grouse chicks and other shrub- and grassland-dependent birds were 13 percent more prevalent on managed versus idled rangelands.
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Key findings of this research were:
- Burned low-elevation sagebrush sites can be seeded with mixes of native grasses, forbs and shrubs using rangeland drills adapted for seeding large and small seeds in separate rows.
- Seeding technique, timing of seed application, and seeding rate are important considerations when seeding Wyoming big sagebrush.
- The best techniques for establishing Wyoming big sagebrush are seeding at high rates via a drill in late fall.
- Success of seeding treatments on semiarid sites is ultimately dependent on weather conditions and competitive pressure from invasive weeds, and it may be best to delay treatments until conditions are predicted to be favorable, depending on the feasibility of weed control at the site.
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This study investigated how grazing affected plant communities in terms of cover and richness of native and invasive species and how topographic sites of summit, backslope and toeslope altered these relationships. The plant communities were affected by the independent effects of grazing, site and year. Across years, native cover was 39% greater in grazed plots compared with ungrazed plots. Native species richness was slightly lower in ungrazed compared with grazed plots for toeslope sites relative to the other topographic positions. Invasive species cover was 17% lower in grazed plots compared with ungrazed plots and no predictors were found to contribute to significant differences across plots. Although we generally did not find expected relationships between site and plant response to grazing, this work demonstrates how managers can use livestock to quickly modify plant communities in areas with a long history of grazing absence.
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This guide describes the process the Klamath-Lake Forest Partnership (KLFHP) has used to plan and implement cross-boundary restoration projects to achieve improved forest health conditions on large landscapes scales. It is intended as a model other individuals and communities can modify to meet the needs of their local circumstances.
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This synthesis presents existing information and identifies critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of seed-based aspen regeneration, in particular as it relates to flowering and seed production, as well as germination, first year growth, and survival of aspen seedlings. This information is discussed further in the context of aspen ecology and its application in both passive and active management approaches to aspen seedling regeneration and restoration.
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This study reviews published studies on reburns in fire-adapted ecosystems of the world, including temperate forests of North America, semi-arid forests and rangelands, tropical and subtropical forests, grasslands and savannas, and Mediterranean ecosystems. To date, research on reburns is unevenly distributed across the world with a relative abundance of literature in Australia, Europe and North America and a scarcity of studies in Africa, Asia and South America. This review highlights the complex role of repeated fires in modifying vegetation and fuels, and patterns of subsequent wildfires. In fire-prone ecosystems, the return of fire is inevitable, and legacies of past fires, or their absence, often dictate the characteristics of subsequent fires.
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At seven focus groups held across the United States, natural resource professionals were asked how they found the science needed to do their jobs. Although searching for science online was mentioned in all groups and by all demographics, how search results were used differed. Early-career professionals used them to find scientific articles to read. Mid- to late-career professionals used them to identify author(s) to contact to discuss results. Open access articles were highly preferred. Viewing webinars and videos was also mentioned frequently. Webinars are falling out of favor while short videos are becoming more popular. Attending scientific meetings remains a preferred approach, but professionals later in their career like them for different reasons than early-career professionals. The two career cohorts also differ in why they like electronic newsletters. Rapid adoption of new technologies to disseminate science has already impacted professionals’ behavior, yet it is not clear that researchers have kept up.