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• 201. [Article] The DEERHORN case study: a production and cost analysis of a single-grip harvester and small cable yarder performing a thinning/salvage operation in eastern Oregon.

  Graduation date: 1995

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The DEERHORN case study: a production and cost analysis of a single-grip harvester and small cable yarder performing a thinning/salvage operation in eastern Oregon. Author: Brown, Cameron G. Graduation date: 1995 Title: The DEERHORN case study: a production and cost analysis of a single-grip harvester and small cable yarder performing a thinning/salvage operation in eastern Oregon. Author: Brown, Cameron G. Graduation date: 1995 Close

• 202. [Article] The Limber Jim case study : production and economics of a skyline system in a thinning/fuels reduction setting of a mixed conifer stand in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon

  Forest managers in the Blue Mountains, of northeastern Oregon are currently faced with vast areas of forests with health problems and high fuel loadings. These conditions resulted from a combination of ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The Limber Jim case study : production and economics of a skyline system in a thinning/fuels reduction setting of a mixed conifer stand in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon Author: Doyal, James A. Forest managers in the Blue Mountains, of northeastern Oregon are currently faced with vast areas of forests with health problems and high fuel loadings. These conditions resulted from a combination of insect infestations, past management practices and the elimination of fire from the local ecosystems. These forests are now overstocked, diseased and contain vast amounts of dead woody debris on the forest floor posing a serious threat of large destructive fires. This paper presents an analysis of the economics and production of using a cable system to reduce thel loading, stand density, and minimize soil impacts. A combined thinning and salvage logging of the larger thels from the forest floorwas completed using a single-grip harvester to process the stems into logs and a medium sized swing yarder to transport the logs to landings. This combination of equipment was not common to the area and was chosen to minimize soil impacts. There were four units designated for skyline logging. Each unit had different terrain and stocking characteristics. Two units were logged uphill, one unit was logged downhill, and one unit was relatively flat. The harvester processed into logs all designated standing timber and any solid stems on the forest floor. A Diamond D210 swing yarder using a standing skyline, tailtrees, and intermediate supports was used to transport the logs to the landing. Production estimates 'pmh = productive machine hours = bone dry unit See Appendix H for conversion to S/green ton. 2 for the harvester and yarder were 19.24 tons/pmh' (9.33 cunitsfhr) and 10.40 tons/pmh (6.48 cunits/pmh) respectively. Total logging cost for the system (stump to mill) was $169,602. This equated to $73/ton ($1 15/cunit) of material removed. On a per acre basis, the cost was $2827 ($6985/hectare). Net revenue from sawlogs was $39,163.75 or $663.79 per acre. Net revenue from pulpwood was $97,785.79 or $1657.39 per acre. This resulted in a net loss of $32,653 or $544 per acre. Sawlogs represented 28.6% of the revenue, while pulpwood represented 71.4%. Gross weight from the project was 2332.69 tons with sawlogs representing 10.7% of the material removed, and pulpwood representing 89.3%. At the time of the study, pulpwood prices were $97.50/bdu2 ($46.93/green ton) and sawlogs prices were $425/mbf. Figure 6.2 gives an indication of the range of logging costs and the percentage of sawlogs needed to breakeven at different chip prices. The use of a skyline system in a thinning / fuels reduction setting proved not to be cost effective. Costs for a skyline system are generally higher than traditional ground based systems of logging in the area, but appears to have resulted in less soil impacts. Therefore, in areas where soil protection is the most important consideration, this logging system may be used, but careful consideFation needs to be given to the percentage of sawlogs designated to be harvested, the type of equipment used, and the current market conditions or the system may eperate-ataloss-. For this study, in order for the operation to breakeven, the percentage of sawlogs removed from the project needed to be 21.5% or higher. Title: The Limber Jim case study : production and economics of a skyline system in a thinning/fuels reduction setting of a mixed conifer stand in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon Author: Doyal, James A. Forest managers in the Blue Mountains, of northeastern Oregon are currently faced with vast areas of forests with health problems and high fuel loadings. These conditions resulted from a combination of insect infestations, past management practices and the elimination of fire from the local ecosystems. These forests are now overstocked, diseased and contain vast amounts of dead woody debris on the forest floor posing a serious threat of large destructive fires. This paper presents an analysis of the economics and production of using a cable system to reduce thel loading, stand density, and minimize soil impacts. A combined thinning and salvage logging of the larger thels from the forest floorwas completed using a single-grip harvester to process the stems into logs and a medium sized swing yarder to transport the logs to landings. This combination of equipment was not common to the area and was chosen to minimize soil impacts. There were four units designated for skyline logging. Each unit had different terrain and stocking characteristics. Two units were logged uphill, one unit was logged downhill, and one unit was relatively flat. The harvester processed into logs all designated standing timber and any solid stems on the forest floor. A Diamond D210 swing yarder using a standing skyline, tailtrees, and intermediate supports was used to transport the logs to the landing. Production estimates 'pmh = productive machine hours = bone dry unit See Appendix H for conversion to S/green ton. 2 for the harvester and yarder were 19.24 tons/pmh' (9.33 cunitsfhr) and 10.40 tons/pmh (6.48 cunits/pmh) respectively. Total logging cost for the system (stump to mill) was $169,602. This equated to $73/ton ($1 15/cunit) of material removed. On a per acre basis, the cost was $2827 ($6985/hectare). Net revenue from sawlogs was $39,163.75 or $663.79 per acre. Net revenue from pulpwood was $97,785.79 or $1657.39 per acre. This resulted in a net loss of $32,653 or $544 per acre. Sawlogs represented 28.6% of the revenue, while pulpwood represented 71.4%. Gross weight from the project was 2332.69 tons with sawlogs representing 10.7% of the material removed, and pulpwood representing 89.3%. At the time of the study, pulpwood prices were $97.50/bdu2 ($46.93/green ton) and sawlogs prices were $425/mbf. Figure 6.2 gives an indication of the range of logging costs and the percentage of sawlogs needed to breakeven at different chip prices. The use of a skyline system in a thinning / fuels reduction setting proved not to be cost effective. Costs for a skyline system are generally higher than traditional ground based systems of logging in the area, but appears to have resulted in less soil impacts. Therefore, in areas where soil protection is the most important consideration, this logging system may be used, but careful consideFation needs to be given to the percentage of sawlogs designated to be harvested, the type of equipment used, and the current market conditions or the system may eperate-ataloss-. For this study, in order for the operation to breakeven, the percentage of sawlogs removed from the project needed to be 21.5% or higher. Close

• 203. [Article] Promoting regeneration of native species In Willamette Valley upland prairies

  Native prairies of the Willamette Valley are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. Management strategies for increasing the abundance of native species ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Promoting regeneration of native species In Willamette Valley upland prairies Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native prairies of the Willamette Valley are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. Management strategies for increasing the abundance of native species are urgently needed, particularly those strategies that promote the regeneration of native species from seed. The focus of this investigation was to address this need. The general approach was to sow seeds of native species into experimental field plots, which had been burned once, burned repeatedly, mowed, or unmanaged at three sites at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Seedling numbers were then counted one growing season after sowing. To investigate mechanisms for the regeneration responses of species to management treatments, selected abiotic and biotic factors potentially important for seed regeneration were measured in the field plots. Seedling establishment rates in unmanaged plots were relatively small, averaging 9.7% for all three sites. Only one species, Danthonia californica, showed a positive response to the mowing treatment. Of the 13 species sowed in the burn plots, six species (Bromus carinatus, Elymus glacus, Festuca roemeri/rubra, Clarkia quadrivulera, Prunella vulgaris, Sidalcea campestris) had significant more seedlings in the burn plots compared to the unmanaged plots. Seedling establishment of two species, Danthonia californica and Potentilla gracilis, was significantly lower with burn treatments. The other five species showed no significant responses to the burn treatments: Carex tumicola, Calochortus tolmiei, Zygadensus venenosus, Balsamorhiza deltoidea, and Agoseris grandilflora. The strongest fire effects were generally in plots that had been burned only once, rather than plots burned more than once. Abundance of litter and vegetation were the factors that were most often related, both positively and negatively, with seedling establishment rates. Based on the results of this investigation, prescribed burning, rather than mowing, is a more viable management option to promote regeneration of native species from seed in upland prairies. However, prescribed burning must be used with caution as it can reduce seedling establishment rates for some species. Sowing seeds in unmanaged sites is an option, but sowing rates need to be high to compensate for the small seedling establishment rates in unmanaged prairies. Title: Promoting regeneration of native species In Willamette Valley upland prairies Author: Wilson, Mark V., Clark, Deborah Louise, 1950- Native prairies of the Willamette Valley are considered among the rarest of Oregon’s ecosystems and are in critical need of conservation. Management strategies for increasing the abundance of native species are urgently needed, particularly those strategies that promote the regeneration of native species from seed. The focus of this investigation was to address this need. The general approach was to sow seeds of native species into experimental field plots, which had been burned once, burned repeatedly, mowed, or unmanaged at three sites at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. Seedling numbers were then counted one growing season after sowing. To investigate mechanisms for the regeneration responses of species to management treatments, selected abiotic and biotic factors potentially important for seed regeneration were measured in the field plots. Seedling establishment rates in unmanaged plots were relatively small, averaging 9.7% for all three sites. Only one species, Danthonia californica, showed a positive response to the mowing treatment. Of the 13 species sowed in the burn plots, six species (Bromus carinatus, Elymus glacus, Festuca roemeri/rubra, Clarkia quadrivulera, Prunella vulgaris, Sidalcea campestris) had significant more seedlings in the burn plots compared to the unmanaged plots. Seedling establishment of two species, Danthonia californica and Potentilla gracilis, was significantly lower with burn treatments. The other five species showed no significant responses to the burn treatments: Carex tumicola, Calochortus tolmiei, Zygadensus venenosus, Balsamorhiza deltoidea, and Agoseris grandilflora. The strongest fire effects were generally in plots that had been burned only once, rather than plots burned more than once. Abundance of litter and vegetation were the factors that were most often related, both positively and negatively, with seedling establishment rates. Based on the results of this investigation, prescribed burning, rather than mowing, is a more viable management option to promote regeneration of native species from seed in upland prairies. However, prescribed burning must be used with caution as it can reduce seedling establishment rates for some species. Sowing seeds in unmanaged sites is an option, but sowing rates need to be high to compensate for the small seedling establishment rates in unmanaged prairies. Close

• 204. [Article] Contemporary regional forest dynamics in the Pacific Northwest

  Recent climatic warming trends and increases in the frequency and extent of wildfires have prompted much concern regarding the potential for rapid change in the structure and function of forested ecosystems ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Contemporary regional forest dynamics in the Pacific Northwest Author: Reilly, Matthew J. (Matthew Justin), 1975- Recent climatic warming trends and increases in the frequency and extent of wildfires have prompted much concern regarding the potential for rapid change in the structure and function of forested ecosystems around the world. Episodes of mortality in wildfires and insect outbreaks associated with drought have affected large areas and altered landscapes, but little is known about the cumulative effects of these disturbances at the regional scales. I used data from two different forest inventories in the Pacific Northwest to develop a framework for tracking regional forest dynamics and examine variation in tree mortality rates among vegetation zones that differ in biophysical setting as well as recent and historical disturbance regimes. In the second chapter I developed an empirically based framework for tracking regional forest dynamics using regional inventory data collected from 2001 to 2010. I characterized the major dimensions of forest structure and developed a classification incorporating multiple attributes of forest structure including biomass, size, and density of live trees, the distribution and abundance of dead wood, and the cover of understory vegetation. A single dimension related to live tree biomass accounted for almost half of the variation in a principal components analysis of structural attributes, but dimensions related to density and size of live trees, dead wood, and understory vegetation accounted for as much additional variation. Snags and biomass of dead and downed wood were related to multiple dimensions while understory vegetation acted independent of other dimensions. Results indicated that structural development is more complex than a monotonic accumulation of live biomass and that some components act independently or emerge at multiple stages of structural development. The hierarchical classification reduced the data into three “groups” based on live tree biomass, followed by eleven "classes" that varied in density and size of live trees, and finally twenty-five structural types that differed further in the abundance of dead wood and cover of understory vegetation. Most structural types were geographically widespread but varied in age of dominant trees by vegetation zone indicating that similar structural conditions developed in environments with different biophysical setting, climate, and disturbance/successional histories. Low live biomass structural types (<25 Mg/ha) differed in live tree density and the abundance of live and dead legacies, demonstrating that the variation in early developmental stages depends on the rate of tree establishment and the nature and severity of recent disturbance. Forests in early developmental stages made up less than 20% of most vegetation zones and diverse types with live or dead legacies associated with wildfires were rare. Moderate live biomass structural types (25-99 Mg/ha) represented multiple mid, mature, and late developmental stages, some of which lack analogs in existing conceptual models of structural development such as lower density woodlands with big trees. These structural types included two that have high densities of snags indicative of recent episodes of mortality; together these made up as much as 10% of some dry vegetation zones. Several high live biomass structural types (100->300 Mg/ha) were identified and substantiated the diversity and relative dominance of mature and later developmental stages, particularly in wet vegetation zones. The relative abundance and make up of structural types varied widely by vegetation zone. Most forests in wet vegetation zones had moderate to high live biomass and were in mid and mature developmental stages, while diverse early developmental stage stages were extremely rare. Dry forests had a far greater range of variation in the relative abundance of structural types which is partially attributable to the greater range of climatic conditions they included, but also to the occurrence of recent episodes of mortality associated with wildfires and insects. In the third chapter I examined variation in tree mortality rates using a different regional inventory that occurred from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. I compared the distribution of rates among stands in different vegetation zones and stages of structural developmental. I developed a simple framework based on changes in live tree density and mean tree size and examined trends in structural change associated with disturbances at different levels of mortality across all stages of structural development. Most plots were within the range of "background" mortality rates reported in other studies (<1.0 %/yr) and extremely high "stand-replacing" levels of mortality (>25%/yr) were rare. Approximately 30% of plot mortality rates occurred at intermediate levels (>1%/yr and <25%/yr) as result of insects and fire, highlighting the importance of conceptualizing mortality as a continuum as opposed to just “background” or “stand-replacement” to fully represent dynamics at a regional scale. The distributions of mortality differed among many vegetation zones. Levels of mortality were primarily <2.5%/yr in western hemlock, silver fir, and mountain hemlock vegetation zones where fires were rare and insects and pathogens occurred predominantly at endemic levels. Rates were highest in subalpine forests and higher elevation grand fir and Douglas-fir forests as a result of fire and insects. Mortality rates in ponderosa pine, the hottest driest forest vegetation zone, were surprisingly low, and there was little to no mortality in plots with no evidence of disturbance. Mortality rates varied among developmental stages in all vegetation zones but few consistent patterns emerged. Levels of mortality were often lowest in early developmental stages but varied in later stages where they were lowest in wet vegetation zones and highest in subalpine and dry vegetation zones. Application of a simple framework indicated that multiple trajectories of structural change were common at levels of mortality <2.5%/yr, but structural change at higher levels was predominantly associated with a “thinning” trajectory defined by decreases in density and increases in mean tree size. Results indicated that the rate and magnitude of mortality related change during the study period varies widely across the region. Rapid change has occurred in subalpine, grand fir/white fir, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine vegetation zones where disturbances such as insects and fire were widespread. However, these disturbances have potentially restored some aspects of historical structure by reducing overall density and increasing the dominance of bigger trees. In western hemlock, silver fir, and mountain hemlock vegetation zones where higher levels of mortality related to disturbances were rare, wildfires have increased landscape diversity by creating diverse early successional habitats and most change was more subtle but may be manifest oevr longer periods if current trends continue. This examination of short-period mortality rates and associated structural change across a broad geographic provides context for understanding trends from localized studies and potential ecological consequences of mortality, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to how the effects of a changing climate and disturbance regimes will manifest themselves over longer time scales. This dissertation is one of the first field based assessments of recent forest dynamics at a regional scale. The results of both chapters, each based on a different dataset, told a similar story. The abundance of structural types in various vegetation zones estimated during the mid-2000s was consistent with the cumulative effects of tree mortality during the preceding decade. It was evident that wildfire effects and recent mortality were small relative to the regional extent of the study and have contributed to structural diversity and restoration of historic structure in stands where fire exclusion and past logging has increased total stand density and decreased the dominance of big trees. However, the rate of change and cumulative effects of recent forest dynamics varied widely by geographic location and vegetation zone and there was greater variability and uncertainty regarding the effects of mortality at smaller landscape scales where individual events like large wildfires have the potential to rapidly alter the landscape structure and composition. Assessing this variability and the scales at which trade-offs (e.g. losses of old-growth and creation of diverse early developmental stages) occur will be an important next step in understanding the cumulative ecological effects of recent wildfires and tree mortality on Pacific Northwest forests. Title: Contemporary regional forest dynamics in the Pacific Northwest Author: Reilly, Matthew J. (Matthew Justin), 1975- Recent climatic warming trends and increases in the frequency and extent of wildfires have prompted much concern regarding the potential for rapid change in the structure and function of forested ecosystems around the world. Episodes of mortality in wildfires and insect outbreaks associated with drought have affected large areas and altered landscapes, but little is known about the cumulative effects of these disturbances at the regional scales. I used data from two different forest inventories in the Pacific Northwest to develop a framework for tracking regional forest dynamics and examine variation in tree mortality rates among vegetation zones that differ in biophysical setting as well as recent and historical disturbance regimes. In the second chapter I developed an empirically based framework for tracking regional forest dynamics using regional inventory data collected from 2001 to 2010. I characterized the major dimensions of forest structure and developed a classification incorporating multiple attributes of forest structure including biomass, size, and density of live trees, the distribution and abundance of dead wood, and the cover of understory vegetation. A single dimension related to live tree biomass accounted for almost half of the variation in a principal components analysis of structural attributes, but dimensions related to density and size of live trees, dead wood, and understory vegetation accounted for as much additional variation. Snags and biomass of dead and downed wood were related to multiple dimensions while understory vegetation acted independent of other dimensions. Results indicated that structural development is more complex than a monotonic accumulation of live biomass and that some components act independently or emerge at multiple stages of structural development. The hierarchical classification reduced the data into three “groups” based on live tree biomass, followed by eleven "classes" that varied in density and size of live trees, and finally twenty-five structural types that differed further in the abundance of dead wood and cover of understory vegetation. Most structural types were geographically widespread but varied in age of dominant trees by vegetation zone indicating that similar structural conditions developed in environments with different biophysical setting, climate, and disturbance/successional histories. Low live biomass structural types (<25 Mg/ha) differed in live tree density and the abundance of live and dead legacies, demonstrating that the variation in early developmental stages depends on the rate of tree establishment and the nature and severity of recent disturbance. Forests in early developmental stages made up less than 20% of most vegetation zones and diverse types with live or dead legacies associated with wildfires were rare. Moderate live biomass structural types (25-99 Mg/ha) represented multiple mid, mature, and late developmental stages, some of which lack analogs in existing conceptual models of structural development such as lower density woodlands with big trees. These structural types included two that have high densities of snags indicative of recent episodes of mortality; together these made up as much as 10% of some dry vegetation zones. Several high live biomass structural types (100->300 Mg/ha) were identified and substantiated the diversity and relative dominance of mature and later developmental stages, particularly in wet vegetation zones. The relative abundance and make up of structural types varied widely by vegetation zone. Most forests in wet vegetation zones had moderate to high live biomass and were in mid and mature developmental stages, while diverse early developmental stage stages were extremely rare. Dry forests had a far greater range of variation in the relative abundance of structural types which is partially attributable to the greater range of climatic conditions they included, but also to the occurrence of recent episodes of mortality associated with wildfires and insects. In the third chapter I examined variation in tree mortality rates using a different regional inventory that occurred from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s. I compared the distribution of rates among stands in different vegetation zones and stages of structural developmental. I developed a simple framework based on changes in live tree density and mean tree size and examined trends in structural change associated with disturbances at different levels of mortality across all stages of structural development. Most plots were within the range of "background" mortality rates reported in other studies (<1.0 %/yr) and extremely high "stand-replacing" levels of mortality (>25%/yr) were rare. Approximately 30% of plot mortality rates occurred at intermediate levels (>1%/yr and <25%/yr) as result of insects and fire, highlighting the importance of conceptualizing mortality as a continuum as opposed to just “background” or “stand-replacement” to fully represent dynamics at a regional scale. The distributions of mortality differed among many vegetation zones. Levels of mortality were primarily <2.5%/yr in western hemlock, silver fir, and mountain hemlock vegetation zones where fires were rare and insects and pathogens occurred predominantly at endemic levels. Rates were highest in subalpine forests and higher elevation grand fir and Douglas-fir forests as a result of fire and insects. Mortality rates in ponderosa pine, the hottest driest forest vegetation zone, were surprisingly low, and there was little to no mortality in plots with no evidence of disturbance. Mortality rates varied among developmental stages in all vegetation zones but few consistent patterns emerged. Levels of mortality were often lowest in early developmental stages but varied in later stages where they were lowest in wet vegetation zones and highest in subalpine and dry vegetation zones. Application of a simple framework indicated that multiple trajectories of structural change were common at levels of mortality <2.5%/yr, but structural change at higher levels was predominantly associated with a “thinning” trajectory defined by decreases in density and increases in mean tree size. Results indicated that the rate and magnitude of mortality related change during the study period varies widely across the region. Rapid change has occurred in subalpine, grand fir/white fir, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine vegetation zones where disturbances such as insects and fire were widespread. However, these disturbances have potentially restored some aspects of historical structure by reducing overall density and increasing the dominance of bigger trees. In western hemlock, silver fir, and mountain hemlock vegetation zones where higher levels of mortality related to disturbances were rare, wildfires have increased landscape diversity by creating diverse early successional habitats and most change was more subtle but may be manifest oevr longer periods if current trends continue. This examination of short-period mortality rates and associated structural change across a broad geographic provides context for understanding trends from localized studies and potential ecological consequences of mortality, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty as to how the effects of a changing climate and disturbance regimes will manifest themselves over longer time scales. This dissertation is one of the first field based assessments of recent forest dynamics at a regional scale. The results of both chapters, each based on a different dataset, told a similar story. The abundance of structural types in various vegetation zones estimated during the mid-2000s was consistent with the cumulative effects of tree mortality during the preceding decade. It was evident that wildfire effects and recent mortality were small relative to the regional extent of the study and have contributed to structural diversity and restoration of historic structure in stands where fire exclusion and past logging has increased total stand density and decreased the dominance of big trees. However, the rate of change and cumulative effects of recent forest dynamics varied widely by geographic location and vegetation zone and there was greater variability and uncertainty regarding the effects of mortality at smaller landscape scales where individual events like large wildfires have the potential to rapidly alter the landscape structure and composition. Assessing this variability and the scales at which trade-offs (e.g. losses of old-growth and creation of diverse early developmental stages) occur will be an important next step in understanding the cumulative ecological effects of recent wildfires and tree mortality on Pacific Northwest forests. Close

• 205. [Article] Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration

  The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration Author: Brown, Melanie The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation and degradation of both quantity and quality due to the cumulative and synergistic relationships between an abundance of individual disturbances including grazing, invasive annuals and fire. Climate change may now be an additional threat that poses the greatest risk to these imperiled habitats. Natural resource agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seek to conserve sagelands through land management activities that ensure the survival of sage-grouse and continuity of the sagebrush biome. Web-based climate tools can help convey climate information that may be necessary for long-term land management, but these tools may not agree with the needs of land managers, may be too complex, or may be misinterpreted. To overcome barriers of user compatibility, the participation of both climate scientists and land managers is necessary during tool development. With the collaboration of Oregon and Idaho BLM sagebrush land managers and climate scientists, this study sought to assess land manager needs and define the criteria for useful and useable climate tools. Using an initial online survey, individual phone interviews with land managers, and a follow-up online survey, a series of land management activities and related climate variables were identified, and several web-based climate tools were assessed. Most managers perform vegetation management through a variety of means including seeding and herbicide application. Such activities are affected by the magnitude and timing of precipitation and temperature, as well as other variables, on seasonal and annual timeframes. For planning purposes land managers also need information on long-term 10-20 year climate trends. The act of listening to the needs of land managers uncovered communication barriers, and provided feedback on existing climate tools emphasizing accessibility, dependability and consistency, clear explanation of terminology, effective visualizations, and relevant spatial and temporal scales to the scope of management activities. We also identified a need for basic information and education on the location of existing climate tools and climate impacts, and a need for near-term forecasting tools that could bridge the gap between weather (≤ 6 months) and climate (≥ 30 years) projections. Title: Creating Useful and Usable Climate Tools for Sagebrush Land Management Through Scientist and Manager Collaboration Author: Brown, Melanie The sagebrush ecosystem, home to numerous plant and animal species including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and the endemic greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), has endured fragmentation and degradation of both quantity and quality due to the cumulative and synergistic relationships between an abundance of individual disturbances including grazing, invasive annuals and fire. Climate change may now be an additional threat that poses the greatest risk to these imperiled habitats. Natural resource agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seek to conserve sagelands through land management activities that ensure the survival of sage-grouse and continuity of the sagebrush biome. Web-based climate tools can help convey climate information that may be necessary for long-term land management, but these tools may not agree with the needs of land managers, may be too complex, or may be misinterpreted. To overcome barriers of user compatibility, the participation of both climate scientists and land managers is necessary during tool development. With the collaboration of Oregon and Idaho BLM sagebrush land managers and climate scientists, this study sought to assess land manager needs and define the criteria for useful and useable climate tools. Using an initial online survey, individual phone interviews with land managers, and a follow-up online survey, a series of land management activities and related climate variables were identified, and several web-based climate tools were assessed. Most managers perform vegetation management through a variety of means including seeding and herbicide application. Such activities are affected by the magnitude and timing of precipitation and temperature, as well as other variables, on seasonal and annual timeframes. For planning purposes land managers also need information on long-term 10-20 year climate trends. The act of listening to the needs of land managers uncovered communication barriers, and provided feedback on existing climate tools emphasizing accessibility, dependability and consistency, clear explanation of terminology, effective visualizations, and relevant spatial and temporal scales to the scope of management activities. We also identified a need for basic information and education on the location of existing climate tools and climate impacts, and a need for near-term forecasting tools that could bridge the gap between weather (≤ 6 months) and climate (≥ 30 years) projections. Close

• 206. [Article] Stress-gradient hypothesis explains susceptibility to Bromus tectorum invasion and community stability in North America's semi-arid Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis ecosystems

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by International Association ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Stress-gradient hypothesis explains susceptibility to Bromus tectorum invasion and community stability in North America's semi-arid Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis ecosystems Author: Doescher, Paul S., Reisner, Michael D., Pyke, David A. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by International Association for Vegetation Science and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291654-1103 Title: Stress-gradient hypothesis explains susceptibility to Bromus tectorum invasion and community stability in North America's semi-arid Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis ecosystems Author: Doescher, Paul S., Reisner, Michael D., Pyke, David A. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by International Association for Vegetation Science and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291654-1103 Close

• 207. [Article] Spatiotemporal dynamics of recent mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm outbreaks across the Pacific Northwest Region, USA

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Spatiotemporal dynamics of recent mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm outbreaks across the Pacific Northwest Region, USA Author: Meigs, Garrett W., Gregory, Matthew J., Gray, Andrew N., Kennedy, Robert E. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/forest-ecology-and-management Title: Spatiotemporal dynamics of recent mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm outbreaks across the Pacific Northwest Region, USA Author: Meigs, Garrett W., Gregory, Matthew J., Gray, Andrew N., Kennedy, Robert E. To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/forest-ecology-and-management Close

• 208. [Article] Remote sensing of forest biomass dynamics using Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery history and lidar data

  Improved monitoring of forest biomass is needed to quantify natural and anthropogenic effects on the terrestrial carbon cycle. Landsat's temporal and spatial coverage, fine spatial grain, and long history ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Remote sensing of forest biomass dynamics using Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery history and lidar data Author: Pflugmacher, Dirk Improved monitoring of forest biomass is needed to quantify natural and anthropogenic effects on the terrestrial carbon cycle. Landsat's temporal and spatial coverage, fine spatial grain, and long history of earth observations provide a unique opportunity for measuring biophysical properties of vegetation across large areas and long time scales. However, like other multi-spectral data, the relationship between single-date reflectance and forest biomass weakens under certain canopy conditions. Because the structure and composition of a forest stand at any point in time is linked to the stand's disturbance history, one potential means of enhancing Landsat's spectral relationships with biomass is by including information on vegetation trends prior to the date for which estimates are desired. The purpose of this research was to develop and assess a method that links field data, airborne lidar, and Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery history for mapping of forest biomass and biomass change. Our study area is located in eastern Oregon (US), an area dominated by mixed conifer and single species forests. In Chapter 2, we test and demonstrate the utility of Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery metrics to predict current forest structure (live and dead biomass, basal area, and stand height) for 51 field plots, and compare the results with estimates from airborne lidar and single-date Landsat imagery. To characterize the complex nature of long-term (insect, growth) and short-term (fire, harvest) vegetation changes found in this area, we use annual Landsat time series between 1972 and 2010. This required integrating Landsat data from MSS (1972-1992) and TM/ETM+ (1982-present) sensors. In Chapter 2, we describe a method to bridge spectral differences between Landsat sensors, and therefore extent Landsat time-series analyses back to 1972. In Chapter 3, we extend and automate our approach and develop maps of current (2009) and historic (1993-2009) live forest biomass. We use lidar data for model training and evaluate the results with forest inventory data. We further conduct a sensitivity analysis to determine the effects of forest structure, time-series length, terrain and sampling design on model predictions. Our research showed that including disturbance and recovery trends in empirical models significantly improved predictions of forest biomass, and that the approach can be applied across a larger landscape and across time for estimating biomass change. Title: Remote sensing of forest biomass dynamics using Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery history and lidar data Author: Pflugmacher, Dirk Improved monitoring of forest biomass is needed to quantify natural and anthropogenic effects on the terrestrial carbon cycle. Landsat's temporal and spatial coverage, fine spatial grain, and long history of earth observations provide a unique opportunity for measuring biophysical properties of vegetation across large areas and long time scales. However, like other multi-spectral data, the relationship between single-date reflectance and forest biomass weakens under certain canopy conditions. Because the structure and composition of a forest stand at any point in time is linked to the stand's disturbance history, one potential means of enhancing Landsat's spectral relationships with biomass is by including information on vegetation trends prior to the date for which estimates are desired. The purpose of this research was to develop and assess a method that links field data, airborne lidar, and Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery history for mapping of forest biomass and biomass change. Our study area is located in eastern Oregon (US), an area dominated by mixed conifer and single species forests. In Chapter 2, we test and demonstrate the utility of Landsat-derived disturbance and recovery metrics to predict current forest structure (live and dead biomass, basal area, and stand height) for 51 field plots, and compare the results with estimates from airborne lidar and single-date Landsat imagery. To characterize the complex nature of long-term (insect, growth) and short-term (fire, harvest) vegetation changes found in this area, we use annual Landsat time series between 1972 and 2010. This required integrating Landsat data from MSS (1972-1992) and TM/ETM+ (1982-present) sensors. In Chapter 2, we describe a method to bridge spectral differences between Landsat sensors, and therefore extent Landsat time-series analyses back to 1972. In Chapter 3, we extend and automate our approach and develop maps of current (2009) and historic (1993-2009) live forest biomass. We use lidar data for model training and evaluate the results with forest inventory data. We further conduct a sensitivity analysis to determine the effects of forest structure, time-series length, terrain and sampling design on model predictions. Our research showed that including disturbance and recovery trends in empirical models significantly improved predictions of forest biomass, and that the approach can be applied across a larger landscape and across time for estimating biomass change. Close

• 209. [Article] A mathematical transformation of multi-angular remote sensing data for the study of vegetation change

  Vegetation change is an important factor affecting the global carbon cycle, land-atmosphere interaction, and terrestrial ecology. The study of vegetation change on a global scale can be used to evaluate ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A mathematical transformation of multi-angular remote sensing data for the study of vegetation change Author: Friedel, Robert G. Vegetation change is an important factor affecting the global carbon cycle, land-atmosphere interaction, and terrestrial ecology. The study of vegetation change on a global scale can be used to evaluate the impact of global climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. Satellite remote sensing can monitor vegetation change at the global scale, providing continuous samples of radiation reflected by vegetated surfaces with a temporal resolution of days. The MISR instrument offers the potential to sample the specular anisotropy of the Earth from up to 9 angles. Characterization of the specular anisotropy of vegetated surfaces on a global scale will provide information on the physical characteristics of vegetation affecting anisotropy not available from nadir-view only remote sensing. The objective of this study is to develop a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) transformation of multi-angular measurements of the Earth’s surface acquired by the MISR instrument, to examine the feasibility of quantifying the structural characteristics of different vegetation communities at a global scale. This transformation will be applied to a time-series analysis of the Kalmioposis Wilderness in the Siskiyou National Forest in Southwestern Oregon to better understand the changes in spectral and angular reflectance of a forest stand during re-growth after a stand-replacing disturbance. A sample encompassing a full phenologic cycle, of the red bands only from MISR cameras Ca – Cf, at scaled surface reflectance, provided the template on which PCA was performed. The sample of MISR data was created using imagery collected from 2001 – 2005 to provide a wide variety of vegetation and soils reflectance over a phenologic cycle. Sample data was rotated to the principal components as the new axes using the coefficients of rotation from an un-standardized PCA. Samples were evaluated at various latitudes, differing topography, and varying vegetation density and land cover to determine the properties of the scene controlling the range and magnitude of the principal components. Principal component 1 was found to have high negative correlation to NDVI. Principal component 2 was found to have high positive correlation to both the solar zenith angle and the relative azimuth angle between the MISR sensor and the path of incident radiation. Principal component 3 could not be correlated to any available metric, although evidence suggests that component 3 may carry useful information. The PCA transformation proved useful at relating the changes in vegetation after a fire at the Biscuit Complex. The changes in the BRDF as sampled by MISR were expressed through the principal components, but these changes could not be directly related to changing structural characteristics of the vegetation. The goal of assessing structural characteristics of vegetation through the PCA transformation to a single metric of vegetation structure was unsuccessful. The PCA transformation of the MISR sample successfully yielded a transformation where different classes of vegetation occupied distinct and unique regions of PCA space. The first two principal components were successfully correlated to measurable and definable metrics of vegetation and solar illumination. The third principal component, for which a correlation could not be found, was suggestive of carrying unique information and merits further investigation. The transformation of multi-angular red band reflectance as presented in this study may prove to be a valuable method of estimating biomass at a global scale. With principal components correlated to measures of biomass in NDVI and to the shadowing of the ground through the angle of solar illumination, the PCA relates characteristics of vegetated scenes in a minimum of bands. Title: A mathematical transformation of multi-angular remote sensing data for the study of vegetation change Author: Friedel, Robert G. Vegetation change is an important factor affecting the global carbon cycle, land-atmosphere interaction, and terrestrial ecology. The study of vegetation change on a global scale can be used to evaluate the impact of global climate change on terrestrial ecosystems. Satellite remote sensing can monitor vegetation change at the global scale, providing continuous samples of radiation reflected by vegetated surfaces with a temporal resolution of days. The MISR instrument offers the potential to sample the specular anisotropy of the Earth from up to 9 angles. Characterization of the specular anisotropy of vegetated surfaces on a global scale will provide information on the physical characteristics of vegetation affecting anisotropy not available from nadir-view only remote sensing. The objective of this study is to develop a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) transformation of multi-angular measurements of the Earth’s surface acquired by the MISR instrument, to examine the feasibility of quantifying the structural characteristics of different vegetation communities at a global scale. This transformation will be applied to a time-series analysis of the Kalmioposis Wilderness in the Siskiyou National Forest in Southwestern Oregon to better understand the changes in spectral and angular reflectance of a forest stand during re-growth after a stand-replacing disturbance. A sample encompassing a full phenologic cycle, of the red bands only from MISR cameras Ca – Cf, at scaled surface reflectance, provided the template on which PCA was performed. The sample of MISR data was created using imagery collected from 2001 – 2005 to provide a wide variety of vegetation and soils reflectance over a phenologic cycle. Sample data was rotated to the principal components as the new axes using the coefficients of rotation from an un-standardized PCA. Samples were evaluated at various latitudes, differing topography, and varying vegetation density and land cover to determine the properties of the scene controlling the range and magnitude of the principal components. Principal component 1 was found to have high negative correlation to NDVI. Principal component 2 was found to have high positive correlation to both the solar zenith angle and the relative azimuth angle between the MISR sensor and the path of incident radiation. Principal component 3 could not be correlated to any available metric, although evidence suggests that component 3 may carry useful information. The PCA transformation proved useful at relating the changes in vegetation after a fire at the Biscuit Complex. The changes in the BRDF as sampled by MISR were expressed through the principal components, but these changes could not be directly related to changing structural characteristics of the vegetation. The goal of assessing structural characteristics of vegetation through the PCA transformation to a single metric of vegetation structure was unsuccessful. The PCA transformation of the MISR sample successfully yielded a transformation where different classes of vegetation occupied distinct and unique regions of PCA space. The first two principal components were successfully correlated to measurable and definable metrics of vegetation and solar illumination. The third principal component, for which a correlation could not be found, was suggestive of carrying unique information and merits further investigation. The transformation of multi-angular red band reflectance as presented in this study may prove to be a valuable method of estimating biomass at a global scale. With principal components correlated to measures of biomass in NDVI and to the shadowing of the ground through the angle of solar illumination, the PCA relates characteristics of vegetated scenes in a minimum of bands. Close

• 210. [Article] Disturbance and landscape history as a reference for evaluating forest management effects at a regional scale : examples from the Coast Range of Oregon, USA

  History is an invaluable source of information to understand and evaluate management influences on contemporary ecosystems and landscapes. The first two chapters (Chapters 2 and 3) explored the concept ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Disturbance and landscape history as a reference for evaluating forest management effects at a regional scale : examples from the Coast Range of Oregon, USA Author: Nonaka, Etsuko History is an invaluable source of information to understand and evaluate management influences on contemporary ecosystems and landscapes. The first two chapters (Chapters 2 and 3) explored the concept of historical range of variability (HRV) in landscape structure and stand structure using a stochastic fire simulation model to simulate presettlement (before 1850) landscapes of the Oregon Coast Range. HRV has been defined as the bounded variability of a system within constraints imposed by larger-scale phenomena (e.g. climate, topography) and without significant modern human influence. HRV of landscapes has been proposed as a guide for biodiversity conservation in the past decade. In Chapter 2, I estimated HRV of a regional landscape and evaluated the similarity of current and alternative future landscapes under two land management scenarios to the conditions within the HRV. The simulation results indicated that historical landscapes of the region were dynamic, composed of patches of various sizes and age classes ranging from 0 to> 800 years as well as numerous small unburned island patches. The current landscape was outside the HRV. The landscape did not return to the HRV in 100 years under either scenario largely because of lack of old-growth forests and overabundance of young forests. This study showed that the HRV can provide a reference condition for concrete, quantitative evaluations of landscape conditions and alternative management scenarios if sufficient data exist for estimating HRV. Departure from HRV can serve as an indicator of landscape conditions, but results depend on scale and quantification of landscape heterogeneity. In Chapter 3, I investigated the HRV in live and dead biomass and examined variability in disturbance history and forest stand development. I calculated biomass as a function of disturbance history. The HRV of live and dead wood biomass distributions revealed that the majority of the landscape historically contained > 500 Mg/ha of live wood and 50-200 Mg/ha of dead wood. The current dead wood condition is outside HRV. There was a wide variation in dead wood biomass because of variations in disturbance history. This study suggests that natural disturbance regimes and stand development are characterized by much larger variation than is typically portrayed or appreciated. The HRV approaches to evaluating landscape conditions need to include both landscape and stand characteristics to better represent ecological differences between managed and unmanaged landscapes. In Chapter 4, I used remotely sensed data and historical vegetation data in a GIS to examine changes occurred in vegetation cover since settlement in two major valleys, the Coquille and Tillamook, in the region. I used existing historical vegetation maps of the two valleys and collected historical vegetation data from the General Land Office (GLO) survey records. I characterized current vegetation conditions using an unsupervised classification of satellite images. Historically, the Coquille Valley was dominated by hardwood trees and the Tillamook was by conifers. Valley bottoms in both areas differed in vegetation from nearby uplands. Tree-covered areas have declined substantially in both valleys as a result of agriculture and development. The historical data offered reference conditions for assessment of changes in biodiversity that have occurred in these unique habitats. This thesis illustrates the benefit of using historical landscape information for better understanding of human influence on the landscape. Historical data often have many assumptions and limitations, but ecological impacts of landscape changes on native biota can be better understood by comparisons with historical conditions. Title: Disturbance and landscape history as a reference for evaluating forest management effects at a regional scale : examples from the Coast Range of Oregon, USA Author: Nonaka, Etsuko History is an invaluable source of information to understand and evaluate management influences on contemporary ecosystems and landscapes. The first two chapters (Chapters 2 and 3) explored the concept of historical range of variability (HRV) in landscape structure and stand structure using a stochastic fire simulation model to simulate presettlement (before 1850) landscapes of the Oregon Coast Range. HRV has been defined as the bounded variability of a system within constraints imposed by larger-scale phenomena (e.g. climate, topography) and without significant modern human influence. HRV of landscapes has been proposed as a guide for biodiversity conservation in the past decade. In Chapter 2, I estimated HRV of a regional landscape and evaluated the similarity of current and alternative future landscapes under two land management scenarios to the conditions within the HRV. The simulation results indicated that historical landscapes of the region were dynamic, composed of patches of various sizes and age classes ranging from 0 to> 800 years as well as numerous small unburned island patches. The current landscape was outside the HRV. The landscape did not return to the HRV in 100 years under either scenario largely because of lack of old-growth forests and overabundance of young forests. This study showed that the HRV can provide a reference condition for concrete, quantitative evaluations of landscape conditions and alternative management scenarios if sufficient data exist for estimating HRV. Departure from HRV can serve as an indicator of landscape conditions, but results depend on scale and quantification of landscape heterogeneity. In Chapter 3, I investigated the HRV in live and dead biomass and examined variability in disturbance history and forest stand development. I calculated biomass as a function of disturbance history. The HRV of live and dead wood biomass distributions revealed that the majority of the landscape historically contained > 500 Mg/ha of live wood and 50-200 Mg/ha of dead wood. The current dead wood condition is outside HRV. There was a wide variation in dead wood biomass because of variations in disturbance history. This study suggests that natural disturbance regimes and stand development are characterized by much larger variation than is typically portrayed or appreciated. The HRV approaches to evaluating landscape conditions need to include both landscape and stand characteristics to better represent ecological differences between managed and unmanaged landscapes. In Chapter 4, I used remotely sensed data and historical vegetation data in a GIS to examine changes occurred in vegetation cover since settlement in two major valleys, the Coquille and Tillamook, in the region. I used existing historical vegetation maps of the two valleys and collected historical vegetation data from the General Land Office (GLO) survey records. I characterized current vegetation conditions using an unsupervised classification of satellite images. Historically, the Coquille Valley was dominated by hardwood trees and the Tillamook was by conifers. Valley bottoms in both areas differed in vegetation from nearby uplands. Tree-covered areas have declined substantially in both valleys as a result of agriculture and development. The historical data offered reference conditions for assessment of changes in biodiversity that have occurred in these unique habitats. This thesis illustrates the benefit of using historical landscape information for better understanding of human influence on the landscape. Historical data often have many assumptions and limitations, but ecological impacts of landscape changes on native biota can be better understood by comparisons with historical conditions. Close