ESCI435: Introduction to Landscape Ecology

Annotated Bibliography

Week 1: What is Landscape Ecology? AND Week 2: Landscape Metrics

Bradford, J. 2011. Divergence in Forest-Type Response to Climate and Weather: Evidence for Regional Links Between Forest-type Evenness and Net Primary Productivity. Ecosystems (2011) 14: 975-986 (link)

*This article was attempting to take a landscape scale approach to the relationship between forest-type evenness and NPP. It used data from a 20 year model and determined that higher forest evenness increased NPP as well as decreasing variability. I thought it was an interesting article because of its incorporation of climate science, as well as taking results from small scale tests of forest evenness and looked at the ability to scale up to using a pixel size of 8 x 8 km. Indicating that forest evenness, even if anthropogenically derived can increased NPP. (Knape)

Dambrine, E., Dupouey, J-L., Laut, L., Humbert, L., Thinon, M., Beaufils, T., and Richard, H.. 2007. Present forest biodiversity patterns in france related to former roman agriculture. Ecology. 88 (6) pp. 1430-1439 (link)

*A newer paper (from 2007) that examines if ancient human farming practices during the Roman Empire have affected present day spatial patterns of plant diversity and soil properties of a forest in Central France. I felt that this was a great paper which showed the long-reaching (over 1500 years) effects of human agricultural practices on landscapes as a result of fertilization and animal husbandry. (Grassl)

Dikou A, Papapanagiotou E, Troumbis A. 2011. Integrating landscape ecology and geoinformatics to decipher landscape dynamics for regional planning. Environmental Management 48:523-538. (link).

*This paper was a great example of using discrete data in conjunction with continuous data while focusing on both spatial and temporal aspects. Specifically, it focused on how the land changed over time and whether or not humans were the sole reason. (Dunn)

Fischer, J., D.B. Lindenmayer. 2006. Beyond fragmentation: the continuum model for fauna research and conservation in human-modified landscapes. OIKOS. 112:473-480. link

*Habitat fragmentation; species’ distribution patterns; island biogeography; modeling. This paper describes the continuum model and how it has been applied to understanding the distribution of fauna. The model factors in the spatial process of fragmentation along with other ecological processes, creating a clear link between ecological processes and species’ distribution patterns. This is a good one and shows how the science is continually built upon as we are able to account for greater complexity in ecological modeling. (Barber)

Gustafson E.J., Parker G.R., Jul. 1992, Landscape Ecology Vol. 7, issue.2 http://forestlandscape.wisc.edu/LandscapeEcology/Articles/v7i2p101.pdf

*Study looking at how percolation theory is related to the special pattern of landscapes. This is studied using simulated models of two different landscapes. Results percolation theory can be to give meaning to indices from real landscape studies. (Newman)

Kashian, D. M., M. G. Turner, W. H. Romme, & C. G. Lorimer. 2005. Variability and convergence in stand structural development on a fire-dominated subalpine landscape. Ecology 86(3): 643-654. (link).

*Study of lodgepole pine density in Yellowstone National Park following the notable 1988 wildfire season, effects of large disturbances on a landscape, landscape dynamics, convergence of stand structure over time. (Hayes)

Lovell, S.T. and D.M. Johnston. 2009. Designing landscapes for performance based on emerging principles in landscape ecology. Ecology and Society. 14(1):44 (link)

*This is a well written and interesting paper that looks at the role of landscapes as world population increases, stating that landscape heterogeneity and biodiversity are good indicators of ecosystem function and level of service provided in a human dominated multi-functional landscape. (Wilson)

Manion, PD; Griffon DH. Large landscape scale analysis of tree death in Adirondack Park, NY. 2001. Forest Science 47: 542-549 (Link)

*Forest health, baseline mortality, forest management, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens. This paper proposes a way to objectively determine forest health by calculating a baseline mortality rate for specific tree species, in order to maintain a stable size distribution over time. This is based off of the law of de Liocourt (reverse-J curve). Great paper although may only be applicable to Northeastern forests (Cortese)

Nassauer, J.I. and P. Opdam. 2008. Design in science: extending the landscape ecology paradigm. Landscape Ecology. 23:633–644. (link)

*Asserts an inclusion of a design element in the pattern-process paradigm in landscape ecology to enhance ecosystem services, sustainability, and landscape function. Interdisciplinary, sustainable development, landscape planning. (Winters)

Nelson, E., G. Mendoza, J. Regetz, S. Polasky, H. Tallis, R.Cameron, K. Chan, G. Daily, J. Goldstein, P.M. Kareiva, E. Lonsdorf, R. Naidoo, T.H. Ricketts, and R. Shaw. 2009. Modeling multiple ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, commodity production, and tradeoffs at landscape scales. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7(1):4-11.http://www.esajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1890/080023

*Authors used a spatially explicit model to predict and compare the provision of ecosystem services and commodities under projected scenarios of future land-use/land-cover change. (Habenicht)

Plante, M., K. Lowell, F. Potvin, B. Boots and Marie-Josee Fortin. 2004. Studying deer habitat on Anticosti Island, Quebec: relating animal occurrences and forest map information. Ecological Modelling 174:387-399 (Link).

*A somewhat interesting paper on the winter distribution of white-tailed deer on Anticosti Island Quebec, Canada. The focus is whether or not the current population of 120,000 deer (15 deer/km²) expanded from an original introduction of 220 individuals, will have a distribution independent of LIs that would otherwise be selective in areas with typical deer population (2 deer/km²) in the rest of Quebec. (Peterson)

Shao, Guofan, and Jianguo Wu. "On the Accuracy of Landscape Pattern Analysis Using Remote Sensing Data." Landscape Ecology 23.5 (2008): 505-11. Link

*This article discussed the errors associated with remote sensing data and how these errors are incorporated into landscape pattern analysis. Suggestions for reducing this error are also given. (Gottlieb)

Turner, M.G. 1989. Landscape Ecology: The Effect of Pattern on Process. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 20 :171-197. (Link).
*Great paper. Examines the effect of spatial patterns on ecological processes. Most previous research looked at the effect processes had on pattern. Processes may appear to behave differently at one spatial scale then at another. (Lesser)

Wiegand, Thorsten, Moloney, K.A., Naves, Javier, and Knauer, Felix. 1999. Finding the Missing Link between Landscape Structure and Population Dynamics: A Spatially Explicit Perspective. The American Naturalist Vol. 154, No. 6, pp. 605-627. (http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/303272)

Addresses the need to develop a spatially explicit modeling framework. Simulation model based on female European Brown Bears. Old, but shows progress in continuous landscape analysis. (Sandberg)

Week 2: The Physical Template I

Allen, C.D. and D.D. Breshears. 1998. Drought-induced shift of a forest-woodland ecotone: Rapid landscape response to climate variation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95:14839-14842. (link)

*Discusses the role of global climate change in ecotone shifts in semiarid landscapes. An example from the 1950’s in New Mexico is presented where forest boundaries became significantly fragmented. (Winters)

Bi Xl, Wang H., Zhou R. Environmental management Vol. 48, Issue:4, Pg: 774-780 OCT.2011 The Influence of Landscape Features on Road Development in a Loess Region, China. http://www.springerlink.com.ezproxy.library.wwu.edu/content/n10472772017x701/
This study gives a quantitative analysis of how the landscape has an effect on the different variables associated with roads. i.e. length density, spatial patten. Length density was the main variable affected by the tested landscape variables. Satellite images where used. This study could help with transportation planning. (Newman)

Callaway, Ragan M. "Positive Interactions in Plant Communities and the Individualistic-continuum Concept." Oecologia 112.2 (1997): 143-49. (Link)

*This paper claims that evidence of positive interactions within plant communities is a strong argument that communities are more interdependent than most current theories (based off of Gleason) allow. Callaway says that plants may be distributed continuously while still interacting interdependently via direct and indirect positive interactions. (Gottlieb)

Colle, B.A., and S.E. Yuter. 2007. The Impact of Coastal Boundaries and Small Hills on the Precipitation Distribution across Southern Connecticut and Long Island, New York. Monthly Weather Review 135(3): 933-954. (link).

*Meteorological article studying the effects of landscape surface roughness on the distribution of heavy precipitation after an extratropical cyclone. (Hayes)

Dawson, Todd E. 1993. Hydraulic Lift and Water Use by Plants: Implications for Water Balance, Performance and Plant--‐Plant Interactions. Oecologia 95:565–574. (http://www.jstor.org/stable/4220484)

*Sugar maple; extent of hydraulic lift; influence on neighboring plants; plant water deficit. (Sandberg)

Huebner, Cynthia D. 2010. Biol Invasions Establishment of an invasive grass in closed-canopy deciduous forests across local and regional environmental gradients. 12:2069-2080 (Link)

The article was not that engaging or anything that I would consider ground breaking. Seemed like a project one might run in an intro collage class. Would not recommend it. (Peterson)

Konvicka, M., Benes, J., Cizek, O., Kopecek, F., Konvicka, O., Vitaz, L. “How too much are kills species: Grassland reserves, agri-environmental schemes and extinction of Colias myrmidone (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from its former stronghold” Journal of Insect Conservservation (2008) 12:519-525.(link)

* This paper relates fragmentation and agri-environmental schemes relation to insect biodiversity. The insect of focus is an endangered species with a population maintained by contemporary land management practices, yet with new management practices a population of this species was eradicated under ten years. Great paper. The author broke down why those management techniques were chosen and implemented, depicting the entire story (political reasoning) instead of only scientific principles. (MacLeod)

Kent, Martin. 2007. Biogeography and Landscape Ecology. Progress in Physical Geography. 31(3):345-355 (link)

Martin writes an acceptable paper that encompasses the history of landscape ecology metrics and the shortfalls of those metrics. He states that research and equilibrium are landscape scale dependent in both space and time, and argues that landscape mosaic should be viewed through the lens of its interaction with the ecosystem and community not just its patch characteristics. (Wilson)

Leuschner, C.. 2000. Are high elevations in tropical mountains arid environments for plants?. Ecology, Vol. 81, No. 5, pp. 1425-1436. [link]

* A rather dry (no pun intended) paper regarding the discovery that despite having a small leaf-to-air difference in water vapor concentration, plants in equatorial, high-elevation environments show potential transpiration rates that are much higher than those found in middle latitude mountains. Factors such as radiation, cloud effects, and wind speed are compared between mid-latitude and equatorial alpine areas with regard to their effects on the total transpiration rates of sclermorphic plants in each area. (Grassl)

Littell, J.S., et al.. 2010. Forest ecosystems, disturbance, and climate change in washington state, usa. Climatic Change 102:129-158. (link).

*climate change, Washington State, Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, whitebark pine, wildfire, Mountain Pine Beetle, water deficit, disturbance and vulnerability. (Dunn)

Manion, PD; Griffon DH. Large landscape scale analysis of tree death in Adirondack Park, NY. 2001. Forest Science 47: 542-549 (Link)

Key Words: Forest health, baseline mortality, forest management, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens This paper proposes a way to objectively determine forest health by calculating a baseline mortality rate for specific tree species, in order to maintain a stable size distribution over time. This is based off of the law of de Liocourt (reverse-J curve). Great paper although may only be applicable to Northeastern forests (Cortese)

Nassauer, J.I. and P. Opdam. 2008. Design in science: extending the landscape ecology paradigm. Landscape Ecology. 23:633–644. (link)

Simard, M. Lecomte, N. Bergeron, Y. Pierre, Y.B. & Pare, D. Forest productivity decline caused by successional paludification of boreal soils. 2007. Ecological Applications.17:1619-1637 (Link)

Key Words: Picea mariana, Sphagnum, paludification, basal area, fire intensity This paper examines the effects of fire on humus and understory bryophyte composition, as well as edaphic and successional paludification of Picea mariana dominated stands in the boreal forest in western Quebec. Interesting paper on relationship between fire regime and bryophytes on soil composition. (Cortese)

Weisberg, P., Ko, D., Py, C., Bauer, J. 2008. “Modeling fire and landform influences on the distribution of old-growth pinyon-juniper woodland” Landscape Ecology 23:931–943 Link

*This article looked at the spatial distribution of old-growth pinyon-jupiter stands in the Great basin region. They tried to come up with a model to predict old-growth stands based on topographic data at a large scale, but the models did not fit the actual land well. In conclusion it was suggested that other aspects such as weather anomolies and climatic affects were possibly affecting stand growth. (Knape)

Vannier, Clémence, Vasseur, Chloé, Hubert-Moy, Laurence, Baudry, Jacques. Multiscale ecological assessment of remote sensing images. Landscape Ecology 26 :1053-1069. (Link)
* Looks at the effect of resolution and extent on the value of classification indicies using five different sensors to perform a supervised classification analysis. The ecological assessments from the resulting maps were then compared at the corresponding extents and resoultions (Lesser)

Week 3 :

Bunn, A.G., L.J. Graumlich and D.L. Urban. 2005. Trends in twentieth-century tree growth at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, USA. The Holocene. 15:481-488.

*An interesting paper, though dense in data analysis, looking at changes in tree growth over the last 1000 years. Climate change, tree-ring analysis, paleoclimatology, ordination. (link) (Bunn)

Cronin, James T., Spatial Ecology of the Palm-Leaf Skeletonizer, Homaledra Sabelella (Pepidoptera: Coleophoridae) Published: July 22, 2011, source: PLOS ONE, vol. 6, issue7, (link)

This was a study looking at how space and local environment contributed to the distribution of Palm-Leaf Skeletonizer and how the infect Palmettos. There were a variety of variables looked at but height was the most correlated. (Newman)

Dublin, Holly, A. Sinclair, and J. McGlade. "Elephants and Fire as Causes of Multiple Stable States in the Serengeti-Mara Woodlands." Journal of Animal Ecology 59 (1990): 1147-164. (Link).

*This study examined the factors that contributed to the shift in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem from a woodland to a grassland between 1960 and 1980. Fire initiated the decline in woodland in the 1960s and elephants kept the ecosystem in a grassland state in the 1980s. (Gottlieb)

Garbarino, M. et al. 2010. Patterns of larch establishment following deglaciation of Ventina glacier, central Italian Alps. Forest Ecology and Management. 259:3:583-590. (Link) (Winters)

Goetz, S., et al, Lidar remote sensing variables predict breeding habitat of a Neotropical migrant bird, Ecology, 91(6 ), 2010, pp. 1569 –1576 (link)

*Not the greatest. About using Lidar to predict habitat quality in NE for migratory bird. Some influences with spatial variables, focused on successfully using lidar to predict population distribution. (Knape)

Harrison, SP, EI Damschen, JB Grace 2010. Ecological Contingency in the effects of climate warming on forest herb communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences 107:19362-19367. (link)

*Authors examined plant community response to climate change along an elevational gradient and over a 60 year span by resampling Robert Whittaker’s plot in the Siskiyou Mountains. Awesome paper! (Habenicht)

Kane, V.R., et al.. 2010. Examining conifer canopy structural complexity across forest ages and elevations with lidar data. NRC Research Press 40: 774-787. (link).

*Cedar River Municipal Watershed, Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, Pacific Silver Fir, LiDAR, field plot, canopy stage, class, density and structure, rumple/canopy roughness, stand age, elevation, succession, and spatial relationship. (Dunn)

Medail, F. and Diadema, K.. 2009. Glacial refugia influence plant diversity patterns in the Mediterranean Basin. Journal of Biogeography 36, 1333-1345 [link]

*A very interesting study that focuses on identifying the location of plant refugia (which in some cases have sheltered plant species since the Tertiary) in the Mediterranean area. Three different types of refugia are defined and described based on the type of shelter they provide for plant species (orthographic effects, gullies, altitude migration, etc.). Finally, an analysis shows the connection between regional biodiversity hot-spots and their correlation or overlap to adjacent refugia. (Grassl)

Narukawa, Y. and S.-I. Yamamoto. 2001. Gap formation, microsite variation and the conifer seedling occurrence in a subalpine old-growth forest, central Japan. Ecological Research 16, no. 4: 617-625. (link).

*Simple study focusing on gap regeneration and seedling occurrence in old-growth conifer stands: forest dynamics, gap characteristics, elevated surfaces, floor microsite variation, and seedling density. (Hayes)

Schliemann, Sarah A. Bockheim, James G. 2011 Forest Ecology and Management. Methods for studying treefall gaps: A review. 261:1143-1299 (link)

Though this article was rather short and a self-described review I found it rather helpful in putting a face to name and really describing what a forest gap is and how one goes about defining and measuring it. It gives the step by step process of determining, gap types, shape/size, age, origin/cause, and natural vs human created. (Peterson)

Skowronski, N. Clark, K. Nelson, R. Hom, J. and Patterson, M. 2007. Remotely sensed measurements of forest structure and fuel loads in the Pinelands of New Jersey. Remote Sensing of Environment. 108: 123-129. (Link)

Key Words: LIDAR, remote sensing, Pinus rigida, Quercus, fire ladder

Forest structure and ladder fuel loads (vertical continuity of fuel wood from understory to canopy) in the NJ Pine Barrens were examined via aerially mounted LIDAR, ground data, and Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data. Three intensive research sites took extensive biometric measurements to ground-truth and complement LIDAR measurements. The results demonstrated that LIDAR was most effective at spatial scales greater than 1 km² and when used in conjunction with ground and FIA data. Overall this was an interesting, although dense paper. I had the privilege of meeting Ken Clark during a summer REU and learning about applications of LIDAR in assessing effects of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) in forest composition and carbon dynamics. (Cortese)

Stambaugh, Michael C., Dey, Daniel C., Guyette, Richard P., He, Hong S., Marschall, Joseph M.. 2011. Spatial patterning of fuels and fire hazard across a central U.S. deciduous forest region. Landscape Ecology 26:923-935
*Discusses the development of models that relate fuel loading in the Ozarks to fire hazard (Lesser)

Takasi, Masaki. "Effect of the shape of forest fragments on tree population dynamics." Plant Ecology. 72 (2004): 75-286. Print. (link).

This article was very interesting. It compares the dynamic effects of differently shaped forest fragments. This experiment could quite useful in shaping sustainable forestry practices. The square segments reached an equilibrium state in roughly 500 years, while the linear fragments reached equilibrium in about 2100 years. Spatial configuration seems to be quite significant. (Sandberg)

Wondzell, Steven M., Cunningham, Gary L., Bachelet, Dominique. 1996. Relationships between landforms, geomorphic processes, and plant communities on a watershed in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Landscape Ecology. 11 (6):351-362 (link)

This paper illustrated how landforms influence plant communities by affecting the distribution of water and organic matter. Ecotone sharpness is related to the degree which landforms are linked through flow of water and sediment. In light of this knowledge conceptual models should include zones of deposition and erosion. (Wilson)

Week 4:

Callaway, R.M., Brooker, R.W., Choler, P., Kikvidze, Z., Lortie, C.J., Michalet, R., Paolini, L., Pugnaire, F.I., Newingham, B., Aschehoug, E.T., Armas, C., Kikodze, D., and B.J. Cook. 2002. Positive interactions among alpine plants increase with stress. Nature. 417:844-848. http://www.nature.com.ezproxy.library.wwu.edu/nature/journal/v417/n6891/pdf/nature00812.pdf

*Large scale experiment investigating plant-plant interactions along elevation gradients. Results suggest that interactions shift from competitive to facilitative as elevation increases.(Habenicht)

Duncan, S.R., C.B. Anderson, H.N. Sellers, and E.E. Robbins. 2008. The effect of fire reintroduction on endemic and rare plants of a southeastern glade ecosystem. Restoration Ecology. 16: 39-49.

*This paper is looking at the effects of reintroducing a fire regime into an ecosystem, very interesting and goes along with our reading. (link). (Barber)

Foster, David R., Dennis H. Knight, and Jerry F. Franklin. "Landscape Patterns and Legacies Resulting from Large, Infrequent Forest Disturbances." Ecosystems 1.6 (1998): 497-510. (Link)

*This article uses historical disturbance examples to compare five large, infrequent disturbances (fire, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and floods) in terms of how they impact forest landscapes. Each of these disturbance types result in distinctive temporal and spatial patterns that are not yet adequately understood by ecologists. This was an informative piece, however it was very broad and seemed to cover too large of a topic for a short article (Gottlieb)

Gibbs, James P. 1998. Distribution of woodland amphibians along a forest fragmentation gradient. Landscape Ecology 13 263-268

* This article looked at 5 species of woodland amphibians, along a fragmented plot. Gives insight on species extinction from habitat fragmentation. (Newman)

Kurz, W. A., C. C. Dymond, G. Stinson, G. J. Rampley, E. T. Neilson, A. L. Carroll, T. Ebata, and L. Safranyik. 2008. "Mountain Pine Beetle and Forest Carbon Feedback to Climate Change." Nature 452.7190 :987-90. (link)

*When mountain pine beetle outbreaks occur, tree mortality increases and as a result, net carbon emission from forest ecosystems increases. The magnitude of this climate change feedback is estimated for British Columbia for 2000 through 2020. (Winters)

Lafontaine, G. and Payette, S.. 2011. Shifting zonal patterns of boreal forests in eastern Canada associated with changing fire regime during the Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews 30:867-875. link

*An analysis at the stand-scale of northern black spruce and balsam fir stand distribution in a closed-crowned boreal forest based on a change in the fire regime from 9000-5000 B.P.. Evidence of an increase in fires during this period suggests that conditions created by more frequent disturbances favored black spruce over balsam fir stands. (Grassl)

Lynch, Heather J., Roy A. Renkin, Robert L. Crabtree and Paul R. Moorcroft. The Influence of Previous Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) Activity on the 1988 Yellowstone Fires. Ecosystems. Vol. 9, No. 8 (Dec., 2006), pp. 1318--‐1327. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25470427

*This article examines the correlation between mountain pine beetle activity and resulting tree mortality with burn pattern of the 1988 Yellowstone fires. Beetle activity increased the odds of burning by approximately 11%. Examines the role pests in pre--‐fire stand structure and spatial patterns of fire disturbances. (Sandberg)

Mantgem, P.J., Stephenson, N.L., Byrne J.C., Daniels L.D., Franklin, J.F., Fulé, P.Z., Harmon, M.E., Larson, A.J., Smith, J.M., Taylor, A.H., and Veblen, T.T. “Widespread Increase of Tree Mortality Rates in the Western United States” SCIENCE 323 (2009): 521-524. (link)

*Great Paper. This paper indicates that non-catastrophic processes are responsible for a rapid increase in mortality rates over recent decades in western U.S. with increases in pervasion across elevations, tree sizes, dominant genera, and past fire histories. Regional warming has caused increases in water deficits and is considered the major factor to the increasing mortality rates. (McLeod)

Masek, Jeffrey G., Chengquan Huang, Robert Wolfe, Warren Cohen, Forrest Hall, Jonathan Kutler, Peter Nelson. 2008. North American forest disturbance mapped from a decadal Landsat record. Remote Sensing of Environment 112:2914-2926 (link)
*Discusses the LEDAPS project for mapping forest disturbances US/Canada wide over past several decades. Found that 2-3% of forests disturbed annually, primarily due to harvest and fire (Lesser)

Pearson, A.F. 2010. Natural and logging disturbances in the temperate rain forests of the central coast, british columbia. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 40: 1970-1984. (link).

*Central Coast, British Columbia, riparian zone, logging disturbance, natural disturbance (wind, fire, etc.), young, mature and old growth forest, temporal and spatial scale and pattern, size class, patch size, and stand-replacing. (Dunn)

*LIDAR, remote sensing, Pinus rigida, Quercus, fire ladder. Forest structure and ladder fuel loads (vertical continuity of fuel wood from understory to canopy) in the NJ Pine Barrens were examined via aerially mounted LIDAR, ground data, and Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) data. Three intensive research sites took extensive biometric measurements to ground-truth and complement LIDAR measurements. The results demonstrated that LIDAR was most effective at spatial scales greater than 1 km² and when used in conjunction with ground and FIA data. Overall this was an interesting, although dense paper. I had the privilege of meeting Ken Clark during a summer REU and learning about applications of LIDAR in assessing effects of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) in forest composition and carbon dynamics. (Cortese)

Turner, Monica G. 2010. Disturbance and landscape dynamics in a changing world. Ecology. 9(10):2833-2849 (link).

*Turner sums up current disturbance understanding, highlighting core contributions to landscape and ecosystem ecology and goes on to discuss what future research needs to focus on. In light of global climate change, ecologist must understand disturbance as a catalyst, how disturbances interact with each other and society, as well as recognizing feedbacks on a global level. (Wilson)

Week 5:

Ashkannejhad, S.; Horton, T.R. Ectomycorrhizal ecology under primary succession on coastal sand dunes: interactions involving Pinus contorta, suilloid fungi and deer. 2006. New Phytologist.169:345-354 (Link)

*Primary succession, Rhizopogon, RFLP, Pinus contorta, hypogeous. Looks at primary succession of sand dunes outside of Corvalis, Oregon facilitated through dune stabilization by Ammophila arenaria (European beach grass). Pinus contorta var. contorta (shore pine) was establishing as a result of ectomycorrhizal inoculum being vectored through deer fecal pellets. Deer consumed sporocarps of Rhizopogon spp. from coastal forest and dispersed spores onto dunes, subsequently inoculating seedlings. This is a great example of how an invasive plant in combination with native fauna was able to greatly alter successional patterns of a dune ecosystem. (Cortese)

Baker, William L., 1992. The landscape ecology of large disturbances in the design and management of nature reserves. Landscape Ecology. 7(3):181-194 (link).

* Landscape structure, ecosystems, and species biodiversity are affected by natural disturbance. To have viable disturbance regimes reserves must have boundaries along disturbance breaks, contain disturbance initiation and export zones, and be many times larger than the maximum disturbance size for the region. Reintroducing natural disturbance regimes must wait for a transitional phase to be designed especially in light of a changing climate. (Wilson)

Campbell, S.K. and V.L. Butler. 2010. Archaeological evidence for resilience of pacific northwest salmon populations and the socioecological system over the last ~7,500 years. Ecology and Society 15(1): 17. (link).

*archeological data, ethnohistorical data, salmon, Pacific Northwest, salmon sustainability, indigenous people, overexploitation, and resource management. (Dunn)

Coops, N.C. and Waring, R.H. “Estimating the vulnerability of fifteen tree species under changing climate in Northwest North America” Ecological Modelling 222 (2011): 2119-2129. (link)

*Great Paper. This paper focus on the PNW using modeling to estimate the ability of fifteen conifer tree species to adapt to changing climate conditions. The study concluded that western red cedar and western hemlock are highly adaptable with the potential for range expansion while ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, grand, and noble fir were considered vulnerable. (MacLeod)

Donnegan, Joseph A., Thomas T. Veblen, and Jason S. Sibold. "Climatic and Human Influences on Fire History in Pike National Forest, Central Colorado." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31.9 (2001): 1526-539. (Link)

*This article investigated historical fire regimes in Pike National Forest in order to gain information that will contribute to the establishment of sustainable forest management plans in the area. Fire records showed moderate fire frequency before 1850, high fire frequency between 1850 and 1900, and low fire frequency from 1900 to present. Variation in both climate (mainly drought conditions associated with ENSO) and human land use influenced these patterns of fire occurrence in Pike National Forest. (Gottlieb)

JenniferM. Fraterrigo, Scott M. Pearson, Monica G. Turner. 2009 The response of understory herbaceous plants to nitrogen fertilization in forests of different land-use history. Forest Ecology and Management. 253: 2182-2188 (Peterson)

Fullerton, A.H., S.T. Lindley, G.R. Pess, B.E. Feist, E.A. Steel, and P. McElhany. 2011. Human influence on the spatial structure of threatened Pacific salmon metapopulations. Conservation Biology. 25:932-944. (link)

*this paper looks at salmon populations (or runs) in the lower Columbia and Willamette rivers and models them for spatial distributions and connectivity to enhance conservation efforts at the metapopulation level. (Barber and Sandberg)

Girardin, M. P., and D. Sauchyn. 2008. "Three Centuries of Annual Area Burned Variability in Northwestern North America Inferred from Tree Rings." The Holocene 18.2: 205-14. Link.

*Dendroecological methods are used to determine AAB (annual area burned) for a large boreal forest region (Canada and Alaska) using tree ring with data that spans 300 years. It is found that AAB covaries with temperature of land and oceans, and as climate change increases temperature variability it is expected to affect AAB. (Winters)

Nonaka, E., and T. A. Spies. 2005. Historical range of variability in landscape structure: a simulation study in Oregon, USA. Ecological Applications 15(5) 1727-1746. (link).

*Study of the effects of different forest management scenarios across large landscapes using HRV. (Hayes)

Schaefer, V. 2009. Alien invasions, ecological restoration in cities and the loss of ecological memory. Restoration Ecology. 17:171-176 (Link)

Key words: Ecological memory, restoration ecology, patch mosaic. Interesting paper examining the concept of ecological memory in the framework of restoration ecology. Describes importance of endemic vegetation and soil microbial communities in facilitation of successful restoration efforts. (Cortese)

V.S. Peters, E. Macdonald, M.R.T. Dale- The interaction between masting and fire is key to White Spruce regeneration. 2005, Ecology,86 (7) link

*A look at how masting and fire disturbance can affect the regeneration of white spruce. This also looks at how seedbeds and seed banks deteriorate rapidly after fires. This is a key part in studying long term stand dynamics of the white spruce in boreal forests. (Newman)

Sherriff, R., Edward, B., and Miller, A.. 2011. Climate variability and spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreaks in south-central and south-west Alaska. Ecology. 92(7) 1459-1470. link

*This paper looks into the correlation between climate cycles and climate change and spruce beetle outbreaks in both closed and open canopy forests in south-western and south central Alaska. In the face of changing precipitation patterns and drought-stress on spruce populations, the dynamics of the traditional role of spruce beetle disturbance is changing with alterations in regional climate.* (Grassl)

Smith, K.J., W.S. Keeton, M.J. Twery, and D.R. Tobi. 2008. Understory plant responses to uneven-aged forestry alternatives in northern hardwood-conifer forests. Canadian Journal of Forestry Research. 38:1303-1318.

*Study examined how three uneven-aged timber harvesting strategies (structural complexity enhancement, single tree and group selection) influenced understory plant community diversity, richness, and abundance. (Habenicht)

Ziska, L.H., J.B. Reeves III, and B. Blank. 2005. The impact of recent increases in atmospheric CO₂ on biomass production and vegetative retention of Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum): implications for fire disturbance. Global Change Biology. 11:1325-1332 (link)
*Study analyzing the impacts increasing levels of CO₂ have on the growth rates of cheatgrass and how that impacts fire regimes in the Western United States (Lesser)

Week 6:

Agerer, R. 2001. Exploration types of ectomycorrhizae: A proposal to classify ectomycorrhizal mycelial systems according to their patterns of differentiation and putative ecological importance. Mycorrhizae. 11:107-114 (Link)

Key words: Ectomycorrhizae, exploration type, morphotype. This paper examines different exploration types of ectomycorrhizae. These different types are related to the ecology of the mycorrhizae: ranging from contact to long distance-type. Contact-type ectomycorrhizae are generalists and uptake freely available nutrients (i.e. Russula). Long distance-type fungi are specialists, forming a symbiosis under specific conditions and feature rhizomorphs and explore several centimeters into soil around the root tip. They also utilize a suite of species-specific enzymes that can extract recalcitrant nutrients from organic materials (i.e. Piloderma). (Cortese)

Burton, D., Dunlap, D., Wood, L., and Flaig, P. 2011. Lidar intensity as a remote sensor of rock properties. Journal of Sedimentary Research (81) 339-347. link

*An interesting paper that looks at the correlations between rock composition and the reflective intensity of lidar readings depending on percentages of quartz, clay, etc. within a rock-type. The possibility of using lidar intensity readings as a way to determine the lithology of rock outcroppings (especially in remote areas) is examined. (Grassl)

Champagne, C., H. McNairn, A.A. Berg. (2011) Monitoring agricultural soil moisture extremes in Canada using passive microwave remote sensing.- Remote sensing in the environmentVol.115, issue:10 pg.2434-2444.- Link.

This is a study that uses microwave remote sensing to try to determine soil moisture anomalies over a large area in Alberta Canada. This is a good start to determining soil moisture condition, but more studies are needed to improve landscape tool. (Newman)

Fraterrigo, JenniferM., Scott M. Pearson, Monica G. Turner. 2009 The response of understory herbaceous

plants to nitrogen fertilization in forests of different land--‐use history. Forest Ecology and Management. 253: 2182--‐2188 (Peterson)

Jones, K.B. et al. 2010. Riparian habitat changes across the continental united states (1972-2003) and potential implications for sustaining ecosystem services. Landscape Ecology 25:1261-1275. (link).

*Remote sensing, Landsat, aerial photography, catchment- and riparian-scale, land cover change, ecoregions, riparian restoration and protection. This was an okay read; it was repetitive and contradicting in some places and didn’t give much new information. (Dunn)

Klemas, V. 2011. Remote Sensing of Wetlands: Case Studies Comparing Practical Techniques. Journal Of Coastal Research 27(3): 418-427. (link).

*A review and comparison of different remote sensing techniques for coastal wetland monitoring. (Hayes)

Lucas, K.L., G.A. Carter. 2010. Decadal changes in habitat-type coverage on Horn Island, Mississippi, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research. 26:1142-1148. (link)

*In this paper we can see remote sensing techniques in practice, looking at barrier island erosion on the gulf coast of Mississippi. (Barber)

Nagendra, H. and M. Gadgil. Biodiversity Assessment at Multiple Scales: Linking Remotely Sensed Data with Field Information. Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences. 96:16. 9154-9158. http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.wwu.edu/stable/pdfplus/48289.pdf

*Study compared remote sensing images at three spatial extents with local plant composition data to determine the efficacy of remote sensing for predicting species diversity across scales. (Habenicht)

Nelson, Ross, Cherry Keller, and Mary Ratnaswamy. "Remote Sensing of Environment : Locating and Estimating the Extent of Delmarva Fox Squirrel Habitat Using an Airborne LiDAR Profiler." ScienceDirect. 25 May 2005. Web. 04 Nov. 2011. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425705000830>.

This paper explains how LiDAR was used to estimate possible habitat for endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrels in Delaware in 2000. The squirrels typically inhabit dense, mature forest stands. LiDAR data can identify canopy height and forest gaps, but cannot quantify understory structure. I chose this paper because it relates closely to the career I would like to pursue. (Sandberg)

Newton, Adrian C. Hill, Ross A. Echeverria, Cristian. Golicher, Duncan. Benayas, Jose M. Rey. Cayuela, Luis. Hinsley, Shelley A. 2009. Remote sensing and the future of landscape ecology. Progress in Physical Geography. 33(4):528-546 (link).

*The disciplines of landscape and ecology need to work closer together in order to fully utilize the strengths of remote sensing programs. Case studies indicate how mutual work gives depth to landscape structure and process. (Wilson)

Riaño, David, Fernando Valladares, Sonia Condés, and Emilio Chuvieco. "Estimation of Leaf Area Index and Covered Ground from Airborne Laser Scanner (Lidar) in Two Contrasting Forests." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology (2004). (Link)

*This study assessed the ability of Lidar to accurately estimate leaf area index and covered ground in oak and pine plots. The results showed that there was significant correlation between Lidar and hemispherical photography estimates, but the correlation was affected by the radius size and type of forest. (Gottlieb)

Turner, W., Spector, S., Gardiner, N., Fladeland, M. 2003. Remote sensing for biodiversity science and conservation. TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution 306-304. (link)

*This paper discuses the use of high resolution LIDAR remote sensing made available by the IKONOS and QuickBird space based platforms. Utilizing high resolution LIDAR imaging the hope is that biodiversity and species identification can be made easily over an entire landscape. (Peterson)

Winn, N., C. Williamson, R. Abbitt, K. Rose, W. Renwick, M. Henry and J. Saros. 2009. “Modeling dissolved organic carbon in subalpine and alpine lakes with GIS and remote sensing.” Landscape Ecology. 24: 808-816. Link.

*Remote sensing and GIS methods evaluated water color in alpine and subalpine lakes in Montana and Wyoming. Dissolved organic carbon as well as vegetation, topography, and watershed area were incorporated into models. These areas that are relatively unaffected by human pollution serve as a control for future dissolved organic carbon predictions. (Winters)

Week 7:

Albarina, RJ. and Buria, LM. 2011 “Altered mayfly distribution due to strong interactions with alien rainbow trout in Andean streams of Patagonia” Limnologica 41-3: 220-227 (link)

*Mayfly distribution in headwaters of Patagonia in response to exotic rainbow trout and physical barriers. Spatial distribution was not keystone, not great. (Knape)

Bissonette, J.A. and Storch, I. 2002. Fragmentation: is the message clear? Conservation Ecology.14:111-116 (Link)

*This is a review paper on past attempts of predicting the future of fragmented patches of intact habitat within a matrix of disturbed land cover. The authors outline six basic hypotheses that are integral to most studies; 1. the relationship of species richness to an area, 2. species abundance to area corridors and 3. effects on patch migration, 4. effects of fragmentation on interspecies interactions, 5. edge effects on ecosystem services, and 6. if connectivity increases species richness. For the 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 6^thhypotheses less than 50% of studies actually saw a significant effect of fragmentation on the characteristics. Such results indicates that the study of connectivity needs refinement to see effects that many empiricists believe are occurring. (Cortese)

Brückmann, S.V., J. Krauss, and I. Steffan-Dewenter. 2010. Butterfly and plant specialists suffer from reduced connectivity in fragmented landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology 47(4): 799-809. (link).

*Study on the effects of reduced connectivity in calcareous grasslands on plant and butterfly species near Bayreuth, Germany. (Hayes)

Gilbert-Norton, L. R. Wilson, J.R. Stevens, and K. Beard. 2010. A Meta-analytic Review of Corridor Effectiveness. Conservation Biology. 24:3. 660-668.C:\Documents and Settings\habenim\My Documents\j.1523-1739.2010.01450.x.pdf

*Meta-analysis from 78 studies testing corridor efficacy across taxa, different experimental designs, and natural vs. experimentally constructed corridors. (Habenicht).

Newton, A.C., Hill, R.A., Echeverría, C., Golicher, D., Rey Benayas, J.M., Cayuela, L., and Hinsley, S.A. “Remote sensing and the future of landscape ecology” Progress in Physical Geography 33:4 (2009) 528–546. (link)

*Great paper. This study reviews the use of remote sensing in landscape ecology over recent years, pointing out the major uses. It is a very informative review, and illuminates common problems of current studies such as most of the papers failed to address areas of uncertainty among many other issues. (MacLeod)

Prevedello, J.A. and M.V. Vieira. 2010. Does type of matrix matter: a quantitative review of the evidence. Biodiversity and Conservation 19:1205-1223. (link).
*Connectivity, matrix quality, matrix type, population abundance, biodiversity, dispersal, patch size, edge contrast, and metapopulation dynamics. (Dunn)

Shanahan, Danielle F, Craig Miller, Hugh P.Possingham, Richard A.Fuller- February 2011- The Influence of patch area and connectivity on avian communities in urban revegetation. Biological conservation, Vol.144, Issue 2.- link

*This study that looks at re-vegetation in an urban landscape and how patch size and connectivity influence abundance and species richness of birds. (Newman)

Smith, J.M., M.G. Betts, G.J. Forbes, D.G. Kehler, M.C. Bourgeois, S.P. Flemming. 2011. Independent effects of connectivity predict homing success by northern flying squirrel in a forest mosaic. Landscape Ecology. 26:709-721.

*This paper looks at the effects of connectivity and patch size on species, by seeing how quickly flying squirrels find their way home after being translocated in forests with varying amounts of mature forest and connectivity. (Barber)

Todd, L. D., R. G. Poulin, R. M. Brigham, E. M. Bayne, and T. I. Wellicome. 2007. Pre-migratory

movements by juvenile Burrowing Owls in a patchy landscape. Avian Conservation and Ecology – Écologie et conservation des oiseaux 2(2): 4. link

*An analysis of the dispersal of juvenile Burrowing Owls based on the size of the grassland patch from which they originated. Results suggest that Burrowing Owls from small, fragmented patches are not prone to extend their dispersal very far across a grassland/cropland matrix in comparison to owls from large patches of grassland, which disperse over much greater distances prior to migration. (Grassl)

Zollner, Patrick A. "Comparing the Landscape Level Perceptual Abilities of Forest Sciurids in Fragmented Agricultural Landscapes." Springerlink.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. <http://www.springerlink.com/content/m707770uw0r836j6/>.

*The report examined the perceptual ranges of eastern chipmunks, eastern gray squirrels, and fox squirrels in fragmented agricultural landscapes of Illinois and Indiana. It assessed angular orientation during release. The methods and resulting figures are very interesting. The perceptual range of the chipmunk was less than that of the grey squirrel, and the perceptual range of the grey squirrel was less than that of the fox squirrel. The results are linked to the observation that grey squirrels are more sensitive to patch isolation than fox squirrels. (Sandberg)

Zollner, Patrick A., and Steven L. Lima. "Search Strategies for Landscape-Level Interpatch Movements." Ecology 80.3 (1999): 1019-030. (Link)

*This study used models to assess under which situations a correlated random walk is more or less effective than systematic search in finding habitat patches. The factors that affected the effectiveness of the search strategies were distribution and density of habitat patches, the risk of mortality while traveling, and the perceptual abilities and energy reserves. (Gottlieb)

Week 8:

Balkenhol, N., Gugerli, F., Cushman, S.A., Waits, L.P., Coulon, A., Arntzen, J.W., Holderegger, R., Wagner, H.H. “Identifying future research needs in landscape genetics: where to from here?” Landscape Ecology 24 (2009): 455–463.(link)

*Interesting Paper. This paper was produced from a Landscape Genetics Research Agenda Workshop in 2007, where issues were discussed as to the future of landscape genetics and what the current condition of landscape genetics. The paper provides challenges faced in landscape genetics in a variety of areas including interdisciplinary education and communication. (MacLeod)

Epperson, B. et al., “Utility of computer simulations in landscape genetics” Molecular Ecology (2010) Vol 19, pp. 3549-3564 (Link)

*Review paper about the past utility of simulation models in landscape genetics. Also looks at paths for future models which may incorporate more behavioral aspects to simulation models. (Knape)

Garroway, C. Bowman, J. Wilson, P. “Using a genetic network to parameterize a landscape resistance surface for fishers, Martes pennanti” Molecular Ecology Vol. 20 (2011), pp. 3978–3988 (Link) (Knape)

Goldberg, C.S., and L.P. Waits. 2010. Comparative landscape genetics of two pond-breeding amphibian species in a highly modified agricultural landscape. Molecular Ecology 19(17): 3650-3663. (link).

*Study on the genetic distribution of two amphibian species, the Columbia spotted frog and the long-toed salamander, across the Palouse region of Idaho using tissue samples and landscape resistance models. (Hayes)

He, T., Lamont, B., Krauss, S., and Enright, N.. 2010. Genetic connectivity and inter-population seed dispersal of Banksia hookeriana at the landscape scale. Annals of Botany 106: 457-466. link

*An analysis of population genetics of Banksia hookeriana or Australian honeysuckle, from a sampling of dunes that are divided by uninhabitable swales. Sources and sinks of genetic populations were assessed using 11 distinct microsatellite loci to determine genetic differences between and within geographical populations of B. hookeriana, and how strongly the physical structure of the landscape influences gene flow between isolated populations. (Grassl)

Högberg, N.; Stenlid, J. 1999. Population genetics of Fomitopsis rosea: a wood decay fungus of the old-growth European taiga. Molecular Ecology. 8: 703-710 (Link)

Interesting paper examining genetic differentiation of an old-growth specific wood decay fungus among different patches of old-growth forest in Europe. Compared populations in small, highly fragmented populations in Scandinavia to populations in more extensive old-growth stands in Russia. The smaller and more fragmented forests had lower diversity than intact forests. (Cortese)**

Holderegger, Rolf. Wagner, Helene. 2008. Landscape Genetics. BioScience. 58(3):199-207 (link). (Wilson)

Landguth, E. L., S. A. Cushman, M. K. Schwartz, K. S. McKelvey, M. Murphy, and G. Luikart. 2010. Quantifying the lag time to detect barriers in landscape genetics. Molecular Ecology. 19:4179-4191. (Link)

*Different statistical approaches yield different response speeds to introduction or removal of functional landscape barriers. (Winters)

Leidner, Allison K., and Haddad, Nick M. 2011. Combining Measures of Dispersal to Identify Conservation Strategies in Fragmented Landscapes. Conservation Biology. 25(5):1022-1031

*The paper discusses the effects of landscape fragmentation of the dispersal and connectivity of different populations of the same butterfly species. The authors focused on using three methods, mark-recapture, behavior studies at edges, and population genetics, in concert with one another to attain a accurate understanding of the population as a whole. (Peterson)

McRae, B.H., P.Beier, E.Dewald, L.Y. Huynh, and P. Keim. 2005. Habitat barriers limit gene flow and illuminate historical events in a wide ranging carnivore, the American puma. Molecular Ecology. 14: 1965-1977. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-294x.2005.02571.x/abstract

*Study examined how habitat connectivity influences genetic structure of American puma populations. (Habenicht)

Measey, G.J. and K.A Tolley. 2011. Investigating the cause of the disjunct distribution of amietophrynus pantherinus, the endangered south african western leopard toad. Conservation Genetics 12:61-70. (link).

*South African western leopard toad, Western Cape Province, landscape genetics, conservation, amphibian decline, urbanization, climate change, dispersal, and habitat fragmentation. Used spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA) (Dunn)**

Pernetta, J A., P.. A. Allen, T. J. C. Beebee, and C. J. Reading, Feb. 2011, Fine-scale population genetic structure and sex-biased dispersal in the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) in southern England,- Heredity (2011) 107, 231–238; doi:10.1038/hdy.2011.7, Link

This study used genetic data to see how if genetic structuring occurs within the population, and to determine if the genetic structure is a result of isolation-by-distance effect, or dispersal ability through coniferous stands. They also wanted to determine if dispersal for this species is sex biased. (Newman)

Saltonstall, K. 2011. Remnant native Phragmites australis maintains genetic diversity despite multiple threats. Conservation Genetics 12:1027-1033.

*This paper looks at the genetics of the native P. australis over its distribution range of the mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. and compares it with an invasive form of the same family to determine continued viability of the native and its possible use in restoration of wetlands. (Barber)

Week 9:

England, Phillip R.; A.V. Ushser ; R.J. Whelan; D.J. Ayre 2002. Microsatellite diversity and genetic structure of fragmented populations of the rare, fire-dependent shrub Grevillea macleayana. Molecular Ecology. 11:967-977
*A look at the genetic structure of a shrub species in Australia to try and determine its historical fragmentation patterns (Lesser)

Epperson, B. et al., “Utility of computer simulations in landscape genetics” Molecular Ecology (2010) Vol 19, pp. 3549-3564 (Link)

*Review paper about the past utility of simulation models in landscape genetics. Also looks at paths for future models which may incorporate more behavioral aspects to simulation models. (Knape)

Epps, C. W., et al. 2007. Optimizing dispersal and corridor models using population genetics. Journal of Applied Ecology. 44:714-724.

*This article uses least-cost modeling to determine the relationship between landscape barriers and genetic diversity between 26 populations of bighorn sheep. (Peterson)

Goldberg, C.S. Waits, L.P. 2010. Comparative landscape genetics of two pond-breeding amphibian species in a highly modified agricultural landscape. Molecular Ecology. 19(17):3650-3663 (link).

*In the northern Idaho Palouse native prairie has been converted to agricultural lands causing Columbia spotted frogs (Rana Luteiventris) and long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum) to breed almost entirely in artificial ponds on private land. Genetic and geographic distance was measured between populations with landscape surfaces ranked in terms of dispersal resistance. (Wilson)

Grossman, S.R., Hannon, S.J., and Sanchez-Azofeifa. 2008. Responses of Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus), Barred Owls (Strix varia), and Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) to forest cover and configuration in an agricultural landscape in Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86: 1165-1172. Link

*An interesting, but somewhat rushed essay about the habitat preferences of Great Horned Owls, Barred Owls, and Northern Saw-whet Owls based on the matrices of forest cover, forest edge, forest mean patch area, forest patch area standard deviation, mean distance between forest patches, and forest contagion. From these parameters, the “best” regression model was created for each owl for habitat preference. The focus was to create a background for forest managers to consider when harvesting poses the risk of habitat fragmentation, and the needs of each species to reproduce and survive. (Grassl)

Haanes, H., K. H. Røed, E. J. Solberg, I. Herfindal, and B. E. Sæther. "Genetic Discontinuities in a Continuously Distributed and Highly Mobile Ungulate, the Norwegian Moose." Conservation Genetics 12.5 (2011): 1131-143. Print. http://www.springerlink.com/content/20r3625210014h07/ (Sandberg)

McRae, B.H. and Beier, P. “Circuit theory predicts gene flow in plant and animal populations” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104 (2007): 19885-19890 (link) (McLeod)

Schwartz, Michael K., Jeffrey P. Copeland, Neil J. Anderson, John R. Squires, Robert M. Inman, Kevin S. McKelvey, Kristy L. Pilgrim, Lisette P. Waits, and Samuel A. Cushman. "Wolverine Gene Flow across a Narrow Climatic Niche." Ecology 90.11 (2009): 3222-232. (Link)

*This study tested whether least-cost paths associated with persistent spring snow cover are correlated with genetic distance in wolverines. The results showed that successful dispersal paths do follow areas characterized by spring snow cover. The results were also used to create an empirically derived corridor map for wolverines in the Rocky Mountains. (Gottlieb)

Stevens, Virginie M., Catherine Verkenne, Sofie Vandewoestijne, Renate A. Wesselingh, and Michel Baguette. "Gene Flow and Functional Connectivity in the Natterjack Toad." Molecular Ecology 15.9 (2006): 2333-344. (Link)

*This was a very interesting study that combined cost-distance modeling with landscape genetics to determine how landscape matrix structure affects dispersal rates of the natterjack toad. The results showed that habitat preferences best explained dispersal rates. (Gottlieb)

Segura, Catalina and Derek B. Booth. 2010 Effects of geomorphic setting and urbanization on wood, pools, sediment storage, and bank erosion in Puget Sound streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. (Link)

*Article discusses the effects of urbanization on stream morphology within the Puget Sound watersheds. Urbanization is found to decrease stream complexity by reducing near stream ground cover, LWD, and sediment storage. (Peterson)

Week 10:

Battin, J., et al. 2007. Projected impact of climate change on salmon habitat restoration. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104:16 6720 – 6725. link

*A paper that looks into the future of Chinook salmon runs on the Snohomish River in the face of climate change. Two different models of climate change are examined, as were the effects of habitat restoration at three different levels, and if/how restoration would mediate the potential negative effects of climate change on salmon habitat. (Grassl)

Gehring, C.A., Mueller, R.C., Whitham, T.G. 2006. Environmental and genetic effects on the formation of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in cottonwoods. Oecologia. 149:158-164 (Link)

Paper examined potential environmental and genetic factors that influence mycorrhizal status of Populus angustifolia, which forms both AM and EM associations. No genetic relationship found, but there was an increased rate of AM colonization under stressful conditions (drought and flooding) and an increased rate of EM colonization under moist but well drained conditions. (Cortese)

Groffman, PM, DJ Bain, LE Band, KT Belt, GS Brush, J Morgan Grove, RV Pouyat, IC Yesilonis, and WC Zipperer. 2003. Down by the riverside: urban riparian ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 1(6) 315-320. http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdfplus/3868092.pdf?acceptTC=true *A review paper on the effects of urbanization on riparian ecosystem structure and function.(Habenicht).

Huscroft, Crystal A.; P.S. Liposvsky; J.D. Bond. Permafrost and landslide activity: Case studies from southwestern Yukon Territory. Yukon Exploration and Geology. 2003. 107-120.
* Five case studies of landslides in the Yukon due either to heavy rains or degradation of permafrost due to wildland fire. (Lesser)

Pess, George R., David R. Montgomery, E. A. Steel, Robert E. Bilby, Blake E. Feist, and Harvey M. Greenberg. "Landscape Characteristics, Land Use, and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) Abundance, Snohomish River, Wash., U.S.A." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59.4 (2002): 613-23. Print. (Sandberg)

Reeves, G. H., J. E. Williams, K. M. Burnett, and K. Gallo. 2006. “The Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan.” Society for Conservation Biology 20.2: 319-329. Link.

*The success of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the NFP of 1994 is evaluated after about ten years of implementation. Conditions improved in 64% of the sampled watersheds, and this improvement is likely due to a decrease in riparian forest harvest, an increase in large trees and late-succession forests, and the decommissioning, closing, and retrofitting of forest roads. (Winters)

Switalski, T. Adam and Cara R. Nelson, November 2011 - Efficacy of road removal for restoring wildlife habitat: Black bear in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA- Biological conservation Vol. 114, Issue 11, pg. 2666-2673.- Link

*This article looked at different strategies for closing roads and how they affect the habitat of black bears. This was not a very in depth study but is the first to compare different management strategies for closing roads and how they affect habitat and frequency of bears in these areas. (Newman)

Tang, Z., B.A. Engel, B.C. Pijanowski, K.J. Lim. 2005. Forecasting land use change and its environmental impact at a watershed scale. Journal of Environmental Management 76:35-45. (link)

*This paper is about modeling urbanization and the effects this has on watersheds. (Barber)**

Wang, L. et al. 2000. Watershed urbanization and changes in fish communities in southeastern wisconsin streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 36 (5): 1173-1189. (link).

*historical data, urbanization, agriculture, stream habitat, fish, watershed, impervious surface threshold. (Dunn)

Wemple, Beverly C., Swanson, Frederick J., and Jones, Julia A. 2001. Forest Roads and Geomorphic Process Interactions, Cascade Range, Oregon. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 26:191-204 (link) (Wilson)