Revitalized Karuk and Yurok cultural burning to enhance California hazelnut for basketweaving in northwestern California, USA

Abstract Background Karuk and Yurok tribes in northwestern California, USA, are revitalizing the practice of cultural burning, which is the use of prescribed burns to enhance culturally important species. These cultural burns are critical to the livelihoods of indigenous peoples, and were widespread prior to the establishment of fire exclusion policies. One of the major objectives of cultural burning is to enhance California hazelnut (Corylus cornuta Marsh var. californica) basketry stem production for Karuk and Yurok basketweavers. To evaluate cultural burning as a form of human ecosystem engineering, we monitored hazelnut basketry stem production, qualities, and shrub density in 48 plots (400 m2) within two prescribed and 19 cultural burn sites. Socio-ecological variables that were analyzed included burn frequency, burn season, overstory tree (≥10 cm diameter at breast height) basal area, ungulate browse, and aspect. We also observed basketry stem gathering to compare travel distances, gathering rates, and basketweaver preferences across sites with different fire histories and land tenure. Results Hazelnut shrubs, one growing season post burn, produced a 13-fold increase in basketry stems compared with shrubs growing at least three seasons post burn (P < 0.0001). Basketry stem production and stem length displayed negative relationships with overstory tree basal area (P < 0.01) and ungulate browse (P < 0.0001). Plots burned at high frequency (at least three burn events from 1989 to 2019) had 1.86-fold greater hazelnut shrubs than plots experiencing less than three burn events (P < 0.0001), and were all located on the Yurok Reservation where land tenure of indigenous people is comparatively stronger. Basketweavers travelled 3.8-fold greater distance to reach gathering sites burned by wildfires compared with those that were culturally burned (P < 0.01). At cultural burn sites, wildfire sites, and fire-excluded sites, mean gathering rates were 4.9, 1.6, and 0.5 stems per minute per individual, respectively. Conclusions Karuk and Yurok cultural fire regimes with high burn frequencies (e.g., three to five years) promote high densities of hazelnut shrubs and increase hazelnut basketry stem production. This improves gathering efficiency and lowers travel costs to support the revitalization of a vital cultural practice. Our findings provide evidence of positive human ecosystem engineering, and show that increasing tribal sovereignty over fire management improves socio-economic well-being while at the same time supports measures of ecosystem structure and function.

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The influence of basswood (Tilia americana) and soil chemistry on soil nitrate concentrations in a northern hardwood forest

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x07-187 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 667-676 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Blair D. Page ◽

Myron J. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Soil Water ◽

Stream Water ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Basal Area ◽

Fagus Grandifolia ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Adirondack Mountains ◽

Northern Hardwood ◽

Overstory Tree

In the Arbutus Lake Watershed in the Adirondack Mountains, New York, two nearly adjacent catchments (14 and 15) varied significantly in volume-weighted stream water nitrate (NO3) export (54 and 17 μequiv.·L–1, respectively; P < 0.001). The most notable differences between the catchments were that Catchment 14 had significantly higher soil Ca concentrations and patches of basswood ( Tilia americana L.). We evaluated the possible contributions of basswood and soil Ca concentrations to soil water NO3 concentrations. Among the major overstory tree species, basswood leaf litter had the lowest C:N ratios, highest Ca concentrations, and among the lowest lignin:N ratios. Basswood basal area was significantly related to soil water NO3 concentrations (R = 0.46, P = 0.01). Forest floor and mineral soil Ca concentrations were positively correlated with basswood basal area and negatively correlated with American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) basal area. Our results suggest that a relatively low-density, calciphilic species such as basswood may create, given the proper soil conditions, hotspots with elevated soil water NO3 concentrations. These hotspots result from the convergence of high soil Ca concentrations, due mostly to soil geology, with relatively labile litter substrate available for N mineralization and nitrification.

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Structure and floristic relationships between Cerrado sensu stricto sites on two types of substrate in northern Cerrado, Brazil

Biota Neotropica ◽

10.1590/s1676-06032013000400013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 121-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Helena Lara Lemos ◽

José Roberto Rodrigues Pinto ◽

Henrique Augusto Mews ◽

Eddie Lenza

Keyword(s):

Regional Scale ◽

Basal Area ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Deep Soil ◽

Important Species ◽

Rocky Outcrop ◽

Influence Of Substrate ◽

Set Up ◽

Habitat Specialist Species

We described and compared the floristic composition, richness, species diversity and structure of the tree-shrub component in pairs of Typical Cerrado (Cerrado Típico) and rocky outcrop Cerrado (Cerrado Rupestre) in two localities in Tocantins State. In each locality, we set up 10 plots of 20 × 50 m at a site, the Cerrado Típico and other Cerrado Rupestre, and sampled the individuals with Db30cm ≥ 5 cm. The rocky outcrop Cerrado did not present any trend towards lower richness and basal area compared to the Cerrado on deep soil. Few species occurred across the four sites and only two important species (Anacardium occidentale and Qualea parviflora) in the four vegetation structure were common to both environments assessed. Furthermore, the occurrence of habitat-specialist species of rocky outcrops and high altitudes (Mimosa claussenii, Tibouchina papyrus, Schwartzia adamantium and Wunderlichia cruelsiana) and the high dissimilarity among sites suggest that altitude is the main responsible for the floristic dissimilarity, followed by the influence of substrate type. Therefore, the information with respect to phytophysiognomy type as a parameter to select areas for conservation, by itself, does not effectively ensure biodiversity preservation, owing to the existing flora heterogeneity not only at local but also at regional scale, revealed by the floristic and structural particularity of each site.

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Structural and compositional responses to timber harvesting for an old-growth forest on Changbai Mountain, China – Short Communication

Journal of Forest Science ◽

10.17221/20/2008-jfs ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 54 (No. 6) ◽

pp. 281-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H. Gu ◽

L. Dai

Keyword(s):

High Intensity ◽

Vegetation Type ◽

Mixed Forest ◽

Basal Area ◽

Timber Harvesting ◽

Diameter Distribution ◽

Pinus Koraiensis ◽

Korean Pine ◽

Important Species ◽

Old Growth Forest

Broadleaved-Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) mixed forest is a dominant native vegetation type in the eastern Eurasian Continent. We intended to examine the implications of high-intensity timber harvesting (ca 70% of stand volume) for the sustainable management of a mixed forest ecosystem. We measured trees at three sites: control without cutting, older-cut site cut in 1987 and newer-cut site (cutting in 1997). There were significant differences in structure and composition between these three sites in 2003. There were 4,441 trees of 14 species with basal area 56 m2 at control plot, 6,314 trees of 16 species with basal area 9 m2 at newer-cut site and 8,438 trees of 21 species with basal area 31 m2 at older-cut site (all on the area of 1 ha). The high-intensity timber harvesting system helped promote natural regeneration and the growth of small trees but it also allowed light-demanding tree species to invade into the forest. Dominant position and suitable diameter distribution of economically important species (Pinus koraiensis and Tilia amurensis) were maintained across the three sites. The existing timber harvesting appears to consider short-term economic values to a larger extent than long-term ecological values. To manage the broadleaved-Korean pine mixed forest for both timber production and biodiversity conservation, timber-harvesting intensity must be lowered.

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The effect of catena position and stump characteristics on the coppice response of three savannah fuelwood species

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892905001980 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 76-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

S.A. KASCHULA ◽

W.C. TWINE ◽

M.C. SCHOLES

Keyword(s):

Resource Allocation ◽

Basal Area ◽

Area Ratio ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

Allocation Of Resources ◽

Important Species ◽

Harvesting Technique ◽

Stump Diameter ◽

Allocation Strategies ◽

Number Of Shoots

Fuelwood is still the primary energy source for rural households across the savannah biome of Africa. Coppice growth is an important species-specific trait that strongly influences fuelwood production and regeneration, and yet coppice growth patterns are poorly understood in African savannahs. It is therefore vital that factors affecting coppice growth of species, such as environment conditions and harvesting technique, be better understood in order to develop models for sustainable fuelwood use. This study investigated coppice growth and resource allocation strategies in relation to (1) position along the landscape catena and (2) harvesting technique, for three savannah fuelwood tree species: Dichrostachys cinerea, Albizia harveyi and Combretum collinum. The study was conducted in a dystrophic semi-arid savannah in the far north-east of South Africa. A total of 1146 harvested stumps were sampled in topland and bottomland sites in three locations around a rural village. Stump characteristics (diameter and height) and coppice shoot variables (number of shoots, length and diameter of each shoot, length of longest shoot, and diameter of fattest shoot) were measured for each stump. Three soil samples were taken in each site for physical and chemical analysis. No statistically significant differences were found in soil variables between topland and bottomland sites, probably due to low sample size. Coppice resource allocation strategies varied between species. D. cinerea exhibited a ‘quantity-driven’ strategy, with the production of large numbers of relatively small coppice shoots with high length:diameter ratio (shoot taper function). C. collinum exhibited a ‘quality-driven’ strategy, characterized by the production of a relatively low number of larger coppice shoots. Coppice growth variables for A. harveyi were intermediate between those of the other two species, suggesting a strategy where allocation of resources to the number and growth of shoots is more balanced. However, allocation of resources relative to the size of the cut stem, indexed by total shoot basal area:stump basal area ratio, did not differ significantly between species. Coppice growth was strongly favoured in bottomland sites for D. cinerea, and to a lesser degree, C. collinum. Catenal position had a negligible influence on coppice growth of A. harveyi. Number of shoots produced increased with cutting height for all three species. For all three species the number of shoots increased with stump diameter, and mean shoot size also increased with stump size for D. cinerea. There was a significant negative relationship between stump diameter and total shoot basal area:stump basal area ratio for A. harveyi and C. collinum. A framework for optimizing different coppice growth variables according to species, catenal position and harvesting technique is given.

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Multiscale Free Energy Analysis of Human Ecosystem Engineering

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e23040396 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 396

Author(s):

Stephen Fox

Keyword(s):

Free Energy ◽

State Space ◽

Human Life ◽

Limited Range ◽

Ecosystem Engineering ◽

Discrete State ◽

Living Things ◽

Continuous State ◽

Human Ecosystem ◽

Free Energy Analysis

Unlike ecosystem engineering by other living things, which brings a relatively limited range of sensations that are connected to a few enduring survival preferences, human ecosystem engineering brings an increasing variety and frequency of novel sensations. Many of these novel sensations can quickly become preferences as they indicate that human life will be less strenuous and more stimulating. Furthermore, they can soon become addictive. By contrast, unwanted surprise from these novel sensations may become apparent decades later. This recognition can come after the survival of millions of humans and other species has been undermined. In this paper, it is explained that, while multiscale free energy provides a useful hypothesis for framing human ecosystem engineering, disconnects between preferences and survival from human ecosystem engineering limit the application of current assumptions that underlie continuous state-space and discrete state-space modelling of active inference.

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Afforestation/Reforestation Based on Gmelina Arborea (Verbenaceae) in Tropical Africa: Floristic and Structural Analysis, Carbon Storage and Economic Value (Cameroon)

Sustainability in Environment ◽

10.22158/se.v3n2p161 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 161

Author(s):

Noiha Noumi V. ◽

Zapfack L. ◽

Pelbara P. ◽

Awe Djongmo V. ◽

Tabue Mbobda R. B.

Keyword(s):

Economic Value ◽

Basal Area ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Shannon Index ◽

Species Dispersal ◽

Important Species ◽

Maytenus Senegalensis ◽

Piliostigma Thonningii ◽

Lophira Lanceolata ◽

Daniellia Oliveri

The study was carried out in three selected plantations. Sampling was made infive 100x20 m2 plots per site. Overall, 32 species, 36 genera and 17 families were surveyed. Hymenocardia acida, Combretum adenogonium, Daniellia oliveri, Entada africana, Terminalia macroptera, T. laxiflora, Lannea schimperi, Lophira lanceolata, Maytenus senegalensis, Ochna schweinfurthiana, Protea madiensis, Psorospermum senegalense, Piliostigma thonningii, Sarcocephalus latifolius and Securidaca longepedunculata were the most important species. The richness index ranged from 2.53±0.05-7.74±0.03. Shannon index was 3 in all sites. Density ranged from 98±2.01-253±10.23 stems/ha. Basal area was statistically significant among the sites (p<0.001). All sites were floristically similar (k>70 %). The vertical structure showed three types of figures; L shape, symmetrical bell shape and unsymmetrical bell shape. These structures confirmed a good regeneration of timbers in the sites. There was a positive correlation of the species dispersal in the sites (p<0.001). The amount of AGB was 23.50±0.38 t C/ha. The amount of C sequestration was 86.28±16.57 t CO2eq/ha. The ecosystem service payments ranged between 258.87±24.88-8629.25±248.16 €/ha with the lowest values for CDM price and the highest for REDD+price. A financing of such projects is required in the frame of creating adaptation and attenuation measures to global warming effects.

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413 Investigation of Nutrient Fluxes and Stem Production under Nutrient Solution Recycling and Three Levels of Nutrition in Alstroemeria

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.515b ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 515B-515

Author(s):

D.R. Edwards ◽

M.A. Dixon

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Drainage System ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Production Quality ◽

Stem Length ◽

Open Drainage ◽

Greenhouse Production ◽

Nutrient Runoff ◽

Stem Production

A concern with the greenhouse production of horticultural commodities, particularly those grown in the ground, is the difficulty in managing nutrient runoff. Alstroemeria, a heavy-feeding crop that is nearly always grown in soil, were planted into 26.5-L pots with a medium of LECA. Greenhouse experiments were designed to examine flowering stem production, quality, and nutrient flux under nutrient solution reuse (closed system) and with one of three levels of nutrition (EC of 2.1, 1.6 and 1.1 mS/cm). Plants in the closed treatments were set on troughs sloped towards separate 24-L reservoirs. The control was an open drainage system fed at 2.1 mS/cm. The reservoirs were kept at a constant volume with the addition of water after every irrigation; nutrients were added to restore the EC to demand levels. Stems were harvested twice per week and the nutrient content of the reservoirs were analyzed biweekly by ion chromatography. Data were analyzed as an RCBD with four treatments and blocks. Analysis of data from the preliminary experiment (29 May to 3 Aug. 1998) indicated number of stems and cymes were similar among treatments. Stem length, dry weight, and number of florets were depressed below the control only in lowest fed treatment. Nutrient application was reduced markedly, by up to 1000-fold in the closed vs. the open production system.

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Biomass and Leaf-Area Estimates for Varnishleaf Ceanothus, Deerbrush, and Whiteleaf Manzanita

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/2.4.124 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 124-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Thomas F. Hughes ◽

Christopher R. Latt ◽

John C. Tappeiner ◽

Michael Newton

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Site Occupancy ◽

Basal Area ◽

Stem Length ◽

Stand Age ◽

Leaf Biomass ◽

Total Biomass ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Area Index ◽

Highly Correlated

Abstract To help foresters assess site occupancy of seed-established stands of varnishleaf (Ceanothus velutinus var. laevigatus) deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus), and whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida), we developed equations for estimating their aboveground biomass and leaf area. From 9 to 14 pure stands from 2 to 20 years old were selected for each species in southwest Oregon and northern California. Individual stems of Ceanothus species and whole bushes of manzanita were destructively sampled Regression equations for leaf and total biomass of manzanita plants and for stems of Ceanothus sp. showed that these variables were highly correlated with trunk or stem diameter (r² = 0.85 - 0.99). Total biomass, leaf biomass, and leaf area index (LAI) of stands can be estimated accurately from measurements of stem or trunk basal area (r² = 0.87 - 0.99). Stand age (yr) and average stem length (cm) are also reliable estimators (r² = 0.74 - 0.82). It appears that stands of varnishleaf attain a maximum LAI of 5.5 m²/m² by 7 years, whereas the maximum values for deer-brush and manzanita were 2.8 and 3.5, respectively, at about 15 years. Stands of all three species apparently continue to produce net biomass well beyond 16 years of age. West. J. Appl. For. 2(4):124-128, October 1987.

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Generalized or general mixed-effect modelling of tree morality of Larix gmelinii subsp. principis-rupprechtii in Northern China

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-021-01302-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiao Zhou ◽

Liyong Fu ◽

Ram P. Sharma ◽

Peng He ◽

Yuancai Lei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Mortality ◽

Basal Area ◽

Northern China ◽

Mixed Effects ◽

Larix Gmelinii ◽

Important Species ◽

Dummy Variable ◽

Dominant Height ◽

Mortality Models ◽

Mean Diameter

AbstractTree mortality models play an important role in predicting tree growth and yield, but existing mortality models for Larix gmelinii subsp. principis-rupprechtii, an important species used for regeneration and afforestation in northern China, have overlooked potential regional influences on tree mortality. This study used data acquired from 102 temporary sample plots (TSPs) in natural stands of Prince Rupprecht larch in the state-owned Guandi Mountain Forest (n = 67) and state-owned Boqiang Forest (n = 35) in northern China. To model stand-level tree mortality, we compared seven model forms of county data. Three continuous (dominant height, plot mean diameter, and basal area per hectare) and one dummy variable with two levels (region) were used as fixed effects variables. Tree morality variations caused by forest blocks were accounted for using forest blocks as a random effect in selected models. Results showed that tree mortality significantly positively correlated with stand basal area and dominant height, but negatively correlated with stand mean diameter. Incorporating both the dummy variables and random effects into the tree mortality models significantly increased the fitting improvements, and Hurdle Poisson mixed-effects model showed the most attractive fit statistics (largest R2 and smallest RMSE) when employing leave-one-out cross-validation. These mixed-effects dummy variable models will be useful for accurately predicting Larix tree mortality in different regions.

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Trends in Tree Diversity and Stand Structure during Restoration: A Case Study in Fragmented Moist Deciduous Forest Ecosystems of Northeast India

Journal of Ecosystems ◽

10.1155/2014/845142 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Koushik Majumdar ◽

Uma Shankar ◽

Badal Kumar Datta

Keyword(s):

Woody Plants ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Deciduous Forest ◽

Basal Area ◽

Northeast India ◽

Deciduous Forests ◽

Important Species ◽

Local Plant ◽

Fragmented Forests ◽

Girth Class

Ecological implications for the conservation of fragmented forests to managed local plant diversity have recently drawn much attention of most conservationists. Present study investigates the importance of fragmented forests using different quantitative measures of species diversity and stand structure as indicators of natural restoration from past disturbances. Eleven independent 500 m × 10 m belt transects (5.5 ha) were established within fragmented low land moist deciduous forests of Tripura. All woody plants ≥10 cm girth at breast height (GBH) were measured. A total of 7,134 individuals with mean density of 648.55 stems ha−1 and 16.36 m2 ha−1 of basal area were recorded, which represented 134 species, 93 genera, and 43 families of woody plants. Diversity-dominance curve showed that maximum number of species were ranked >10 due to low abundance value. Maximum distributions of stems (>50%) were recorded at lowest girth class (10–30 cm) as an indication of advanced regeneration and significantly declined towards upper girth (radj2=0.93; P<0.0001) and height (radj2=0.95; P<0.0001) classes, which also indicated that some plants were adopted with ongoing disturbances through both seeded and nonseeded regeneration. Species richness (radj2=0.49; P=0.05), dominance (radj2=0.68; P=0.009), and density (radj2=0.62; P=0.02) were significantly increased at different disturbance intensities. Disturbances strongly influenced typical community association and structure by increasing diversity and population at certain magnitude and thereby showed declining trend towards maturation. Fragmented moist deciduous forests seek immediate attention as they represent spatial habitat for many economical or ecological important species, thus sustaining local biodiversity for livelihoods.

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