2009 LTER All Scientists Meeting - Landscape change

Sampling spruce growth and climate sensitivity on glacial rivers of Alaska

Glenn Juday — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:07:12 +0000

Poster Number:

398

Presenter/Primary Author:

Glenn Juday

Co-Authors:

Claire Alix

Co-Authors:

Steve Winslow

We are examining the growth, growth history and climate sensitivity of white and black spruce trees on the floodplains of the major rivers fed by glacial meltwater in Interior Alaska. To date we have sampled 624 trees on 41 sites distributed across 1,783 km of the Yukon River, 375 km of the Tanana River, and 370 km of the Kuskokwim River, for a total of 2,528 km of river length.

Landscape dynamics in an interdisciplinary perspective: 25 years of research for sustainable agriculture and forestry

Marc Deconchat — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:48:55 +0000

Poster Number:

394

Presenter/Primary Author:

Marc Deconchat

Co-Authors:

Balent, G.

Co-Authors:

Gibon, A.

The study site, located in southwest of Toulouse (France) is a typical agricultural landscape (agricultural mosaic + forest remnants) with mixed production systems. This region is considered as an “intermediate zone”, without any particular conservation value, any agricultural potential, and any social challenge. The total study site area is around 15 000 hectares. Agriculture remains the predominant activity, but it is encountering difficulties in marginal areas that do not have particularly high agricultural potential.

Racing the Bulldozers: An Empirical Application of a Dynamic Conservation Planning Model

David Bael — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:35:42 +0000

Poster Number:

393

Presenter/Primary Author:

David Bael

The loss of natural habitat from conversion to human dominated uses is the major cause of the decline of terrestrial biodiversity. The formation of networks of natural reserves is a cornerstone conservation strategy, but existing reserve networks are nowhere near what is necessary to protect existing biodiversity. Much of the existing literature on systematic conservation planning is within a static context even though both conservation planning and habitat loss via development are ongoing processes which unfold over time.

Student Poster:

Yes

New Phenology Research at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest

Sherri Johnson — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:26:56 +0000

Poster Number:

387

Presenter/Primary Author:

Sherri Johnson

Co-Authors:

Mark Schulze

Co-Authors:

Matt Betts

Co-Authors:

Judy Li

Co-Authors:

Sarah Frey

Co-Authors:

Jay Sexton

We are beginning new studies of phenology at the Andrews Forest to better understand influences of existing complex climatic gradients on timing of springtime life history events for multiple trophic levels. Phenological events are highly sensitive to temperature and climatic variations and are some of the most responsive indicators to climate change. By studying timing of events at multiple sites in a very heterogeneous climatic landscape, we expect to learn much about plant, insect and bird responses to current abiotic variability (i.e.

Science to policy, science to management: Long-Term Ecological Research at Warra, Tasmania, Australia

Steve Read — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:41:01 +0000

Poster Number:

383

Presenter/Primary Author:

Steve Read

The Warra Long-Term Ecological Research site in southern Tasmania was created to reflect the commitment of eight site partners to understanding the ecology of wet eucalypt forests as a necessary part of their management. The 15,900-ha site is adjacent to a major tourist facility (the Tahune airwalk) and contains both State Forest, managed for multiple use including timber production, and relatively inaccessible World Heritage Area.

Niwot Ridge LTER Program: Alpine Ecosystems as Early Warning Systems

Mark Williams — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:42:43 +0000

Poster Number:

377

Presenter/Primary Author:

Mark Williams

Co-Authors:

Tim Seastedt

Co-Authors:

Diane McKnight

Co-Authors:

Alan Townsend

Co-Authors:

Bill Bowman

Co-Authors:

Steve Schmidt

Co-Authors:

Peter Blanken

The Niwot Ridge (NWT) LTER site was one of the five original LTER sites established in 1980. The LTER program is based at the University of Colorado-Boulder and is administered through the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) and in cooperation with the Mountain Research Station, with special use permits from the US Forest Service.

Spatio-temporal variability in alpine plant species composition on Niwot Ridge, Colorado

Hope Humphries — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:34:12 +0000

Poster Number:

364

Presenter/Primary Author:

Hope Humphries

Co-Authors:

Christophe F. Randin

Co-Authors:

Nigel G. Yoccoz

Co-Authors:

Katherine N. Suding

Spatial and temporal changes in alpine plant species composition were analyzed at the landscape, plant community, and individual species levels. We standardized field observations for 88 gridded vegetation plots sampled in 1990, 1997, and 2006 on Niwot Ridge, Colorado and developed spatial environmental data for the study area (snow cover, growing-degree days, time of meltout, and solar radiation). At the landscape scale, growing-degree days increased from 1990 to 2006, while the snow-covered period decreased and meltout occurred earlier.

Management of Residential Natural Resources by Recent Rural In-migrants

Craig Harris — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:59:07 +0000

Poster Number:

362

Presenter/Primary Author:

Craig Harris

Co-Authors:

Leighanna Beach

Population growth and urban sprawl are two issues that have long concerned environmentalists. Another, more modern phenomenon is that of urban to rural migration, wherein residents of urban or suburban areas buy property in areas more rural, less developed. This study is concerned with the land use decisions made by these new rural residents. The study is centered in Southwest Michigan, Barry Township within Barry County. The area is one of shifting land use patterns and increasing residential development.

Student Poster:

Yes

Biogeochemical Cycling through Households

Sarah Hobbie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Poster Number:

341

Presenter/Primary Author:

Sarah Hobbie

Co-Authors:

Cinzia Fissore

Co-Authors:

Larry Baker

Co-Authors:

Jennifer King

Co-Authors:

Joseph McFadden

Co-Authors:

Kristen Nelson

Co-Authors:

Ingibjorg Jakobsdottir

Biogeochemical fluxes through urban residences contribute significantly to the overall biogeochemical cycles of cities and of the nation. However, little is known about how biogeochemical fluxes that contribute to environmental pollution vary among households, nor what factors contribute to that variation. We quantified the fluxes of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) through households along an urban to exurban gradient in the Saint Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota metropolitan area.

Socio-ecological research in northeastern Puerto Rico (LUQ)

Jess Zimmerman — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:20:40 +0000

Poster Number:

339

Presenter/Primary Author:

Jess Zimmerman

Co-Authors:

Tischa Munoz-Erickson

Co-Authors:

Ariel E. Lugo

Co-Authors:

Frederick N. Scatena

Co-Authors:

Charles A.S. Hall

Co-Authors:

Alonso Ramirez

The dominant theme of socio-ecological research in the Luquillo LTER Research Program is the influence of land use change on local climate change, secondary forest dynamics, watershed and stream processes, and ecosystem services. Much of our research is being developed in the context of the steep urban to wildlands gradient from the Rio Piedras watershed (RPW) in the center of San Juan metropolitan area(SJMA) to the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) some 25 km away.