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Publications

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Bird-vegetation associations in thinned and unthinned young Douglas-fir forests 10 years after thinning Bird-vegetation associations in thinned and unthinned young Douglas-fir forests 10 years after thinning

Quantitative associations between animals and vegetation have long been used as a basis for conservation and management, as well as in formulating predictions about the influence of resource management and climate change on populations. A fundamental assumption embedded in the use of such correlations is that they remain relatively consistent over time. However, this assumption of...
Authors
Svetlana Yegorova, Matthew G. Betts, Joan Hagar, Klaus J. Puettmann

Nutrient limitation of native and invasive N2-fixing plants in northwest prairies Nutrient limitation of native and invasive N2-fixing plants in northwest prairies

Nutrient rich conditions often promote plant invasions, yet additions of non-nitrogen (N) nutrients may provide a novel approach for conserving native symbiotic N-fixing plants in otherwise N-limited ecosystems. Lupinus oreganus is a threatened N-fixing plant endemic to prairies in western Oregon and southwest Washington (USA). We tested the effect of non-N fertilizers on the growth...
Authors
Andrea S. Thorpe, Steven S. Perakis, Christina Catricala, Thomas N. Kaye

Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient Forest calcium depletion and biotic retention along a soil nitrogen gradient

High nitrogen (N) accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems can shift patterns of nutrient limitation and deficiency beyond N toward other nutrients, most notably phosphorus (P) and base cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and potassium [K]). We examined how naturally high N accumulation from a legacy of symbiotic N fixation shaped P and base cation cycling across a gradient of nine...
Authors
Steven S. Perakis, Emily R. Sinkhorn, Christina Catricala, Thomas D. Bullen, John A. Fitzpatrick, Justin D. Hynicka, Kermit Cromack

Performance of quantitative vegetation sampling methods across gradients of cover in Great Basin plant communities Performance of quantitative vegetation sampling methods across gradients of cover in Great Basin plant communities

Resource managers and scientists need efficient, reliable methods for quantifying vegetation to conduct basic research, evaluate land management actions, and monitor trends in habitat conditions. We examined three methods for quantifying vegetation in 1-ha plots among different plant communities in the northern Great Basin: photography-based grid-point intercept (GPI), line-point...
Authors
David S. Pilliod, Robert S. Arkle

Comparison of electrofishing techniques to detect larval lampreys in wadeable streams in the Pacific Northwest Comparison of electrofishing techniques to detect larval lampreys in wadeable streams in the Pacific Northwest

We evaluated the probability of detecting larval lampreys using different methods of backpack electrofishing in wadeable streams in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Our primary objective was to compare capture of lampreys using electrofishing with standard settings for salmon and trout to settings specifically adapted for capture of lampreys. Field work consisted of removal sampling by means...
Authors
Jason B. Dunham, Nathan D. Chelgren, Michael P. Heck, Steven M. Clark

Spatial ecological processes and local factors predict the distribution and abundance of spawning by steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) across a complex riverscape Spatial ecological processes and local factors predict the distribution and abundance of spawning by steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) across a complex riverscape

Processes that influence habitat selection in landscapes involve the interaction of habitat composition and configuration and are particularly important for species with complex life cycles. We assessed the relative influence of landscape spatial processes and local habitat characteristics on patterns in the distribution and abundance of spawning steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss), a...
Authors
Jeffrey A. Falke, Jason B. Dunham, Christopher E. Jordan, Kris M. McNyset, Gordon H. Reeves

A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin region: response and ecological site characteristics A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin region: response and ecological site characteristics

This review synthesizes the state of knowledge on fire effects on vegetation and soils in semi-arid ecosystems in the Great Basin Region, including the central and northern Great Basin and Range, Columbia River Basin, and the Snake River Plain. We summarize available literature related to: (1) the effects of environmental gradients, ecological site, and vegetation characteristics on
Authors
Richard F. Miller, Jeanne C. Chambers, David A. Pyke, Fred B. Pierson, C. Jason Williams

Resilience to stress and disturbance, and resistance to Bromus tectorum L. invasion in cold desert shrublands of western North America Resilience to stress and disturbance, and resistance to Bromus tectorum L. invasion in cold desert shrublands of western North America

Alien grass invasions in arid and semi-arid ecosystems are resulting in grass–fire cycles and ecosystem-level transformations that severely diminish ecosystem services. Our capacity to address the rapid and complex changes occurring in these ecosystems can be enhanced by developing an understanding of the environmental factors and ecosystem attributes that determine resilience of native...
Authors
Jeanne C. Chambers, Bethany A. Bradley, Cynthia S. Brown, Carla D'Antonio, Matthew J. Germino, James B. Grace, Stuart P. Hardegree, Richard F. Miller, David A. Pyke

Predicting invasion in grassland ecosystems: Is exotic dominance the real embarrassment of richness? Predicting invasion in grassland ecosystems: Is exotic dominance the real embarrassment of richness?

Invasions have increased the size of regional species pools, but are typically assumed to reduce native diversity. However, global-scale tests of this assumption have been elusive because of the focus on exotic species richness, rather than relative abundance. This is problematic because low invader richness can indicate invasion resistance by the native community or, alternatively...
Authors
Eric Seabloom, Elizabeth Borer, Yvonne Buckley, Elsa E. Cleland, Kendi Davies, Jennifer Firn, W. Stanley Harpole, Yann Hautier, Eric M. Lind, Andrew MacDougall, John L. Orrock, Suzanne M. Prober, Peter Adler, Juan Alberti, T. Michael Anderson, Jonathan D. Bakker, Lori A. Biederman, Dana Blumenthal, Cynthia S. Brown, Lars A. Brudvig, Maria Caldeira, Cheng-Jin Chu, Michael J. Crawley, Pedro Daleo, Ellen Ingman Damschen, Carla M. D'Antonio, Nicole M. DeCrappeo, Chris R. Dickman, Guozhen Du, Philip A. Fay, Paul Frater, Daniel S. Gruner, Nicole Hagenah, Andrew Hector, Aveliina Helm, Helmut Hillebrand, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, Hope C. Humphries, Oscar Iribarne, Virginia L. Jin, Adam Kay, Kevin P. Kirkman, Julia A. Klein, Johannes M.H. Knops, Kimberly J. La Pierre, Laura M. Ladwig, G. John, Andrew D.B. Leakey, Qi Li, Wei Li, Rebecca McCulley, Brett Melbourne, E. Charles, Joslin L. Moore, John Morgan, Brent Mortensen, Lydia R. O’Halloran, Meelis Pärtel, Jesus Pascual, David A. Pyke, Anita C. Risch, Roberto Salguero-Gomez, Mahesh Sankaran, Martin Schuetz, Anna Simonsen, Melinda Smith, Carly Stevens, Lauren Sullivan, Glenda M. Wardle, Elizabeth M. Wolkovich, Peter D. Wragg, Justin Wright, Louie Yang

Genetic structure, diversity and subspecies status of Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) from the United States Genetic structure, diversity and subspecies status of Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) from the United States

Gull-billed Terns (Gelochelidon nilotica) are among the most widespread, yet scarce, Charadriiformes in the world. Two subspecies are recognized in the United States: G. n. aranea breeds along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts and G. n. vanrossemi breeds in the Salton Sea and San Diego Bay of California. Conservation concerns exist for the species due to its low abundance in the United...
Authors
Mark P. Miller, Thomas D. Mullins, Susan M. Haig

Monitoring of livestock grazing effects on Bureau of Land Management land Monitoring of livestock grazing effects on Bureau of Land Management land

Public land management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are charged with managing rangelands throughout the western United States for multiple uses, such as livestock grazing and conservation of sensitive species and their habitats. Monitoring of condition and trends of these rangelands, particularly with respect to effects of livestock grazing, provides critical...
Authors
Kari E. Veblen, David A. Pyke, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael L. Casazza, Timothy J. Assal, Melissa A. Farinha

A hybrid double-observer sightability model for aerial surveys A hybrid double-observer sightability model for aerial surveys

Raw counts from aerial surveys make no correction for undetected animals and provide no estimate of precision with which to judge the utility of the counts. Sightability modeling and double-observer (DO) modeling are 2 commonly used approaches to account for detection bias and to estimate precision in aerial surveys. We developed a hybrid DO sightability model (model MH) that uses the...
Authors
Paul C. Griffin, Bruce C. Lubow, Kurt J. Jenkins, David J. Vales, Barbara J. Moeller, Mason Reid, Patricia J. Happe, Scott M. Mccorquodale, Michelle J. Tirhi, Jim P. Schaberi, Katherine Beirne
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