▶ Growth of American sycamore was highest in fertilization treatment ▶ Treatments did not enhance biomass accumulation of black locust. ▶ Intensive ungulate browse may have masked effect of ...treatments on black locust.▶ Treatments had little effect on biomass allocation and nitrogen concentrations.
Short rotation woody biofuel plantations on reclaimed surface mines in Appalachia can diversify domestic energy supplies and facilitate the reforestation of these disturbed lands. This study examined growth, survival, biomass accumulation and allocation, and nitrogen concentrations following two growing seasons in American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings receiving irrigation, granular fertilization, and irrigation+fertilization compared with untreated controls. Fertilization increased basal diameter, height, and stem mass of American sycamore following two growing seasons. Increased stem production was attributed to accelerated development and not shifts in biomass allocation due to treatment. Irrigation and irrigation+fertilization treatments did not enhance growth or biomass accumulation of American sycamore. Similarly, black locust basal diameter, height, and stem mass did not differ among the treatments. Browse surveys showed that more than 76% of black locust seedlings experienced arrested or retrogressed growth due to browse; less than 3% of American sycamores were browsed. This intensive browse by ungulates, likely including reintroduced elk, may have affected growth differences among species and confounded the effects of treatments on black locust. Survival was unaffected by treatment in both species, but mean survival was greatest in American sycamore (80%) compared to black locust (58%). Per tree total nitrogen uptake was highest in fertilized American sycamore (7.9g) and lowest in irrigated American sycamore (0.9g). The results of our study suggest that granular fertilizer applications can accelerate seedling growth on reclaimed surface mines in the Appalachian region.
The Nelder (Biometrics 18:283–307, 1962) wheel design allows a researcher to test multiple tree densities in a single plot. Because spatial relationships among planted trees are fundamental to a ...Nelder wheel, a researcher needs a specific set of layout parameters to establish a Nelder plot. While Nelder (Biometrics 18:283–307, 1962) provides calculus-based equations for determining the required layout parameters, the presentation focuses on derivation of these equations and not their application to forestry research. Other authors have outlined the design of Nelder plots for forestry research, but have done so using trigonometry-based equations. Existence of two layout methodologies in the literature is a source of confusion. In this paper, we present a straightforward means to determine the design parameters critical to the establishment of Nelder plots used within tree density research. The layout equations presented are expressed in terms that allow applied forestry researchers to easily answer the following question. Given the number and range of tree densities I want to evaluate, what are the required Nelder wheel layout parameters? Finally, we provide a step-by-step example of the design and installation of a Nelder plot for a scenario familiar to tree density research and discuss analysis of Nelder wheel experiments.
The establishment of intensively managed woody energy crops on reclaimed surface mine lands provides an opportunity to diversify domestic biomass sources, while increasing the productivity and ...economic value of underutilized land. Our objective is to test the effect of fertilization and irrigation on the growth, survival, biomass accumulation, biomass allocation, leaf area, and nutrient dynamics of American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) planted on a reclaimed surface mine. In 2008, replicated plantings of sycamore and black locust were established on the Big Elk mine in eastern Kentucky. Treatments tested include annual granular fertilizer applications of 37 kg N, 30 kg P, and 16 kg K ha-1, irrigation, irrigation + fertilization, and control. Following two growing seasons, American sycamore exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) greater height, diameter, leaf area, and stem biomass in fertilizer treatment compared to all other species and treatment combinations. Treatments had no affect on survival, but American sycamore exhibited significantly higher survival than black locust. Poor locust survival and growth were likely attributed to excessive ungulate browsing. Our findings indicate that fertilizer applications at young plantations on reclaimed mines in Appalachia increases tree height, diameter, and biomass accumulation.
The recent decline in wild populations of amphibians worldwide coincides with the period of rapid growth in the global trade of wildlife. The potential for pathogen transmission within and beyond the ...pet amphibian trade network makes it important to explore the attitudes and behavior of businesses involved in the industry. We surveyed US businesses involved in the pet amphibian trade industry to characterize their attitudes and behaviors and identify business characteristics that could influence percieved risk of pathogen transmission in trade. We found that amphibian businesses acquire their animals from a variety of sources (e.g., importers, wholesalers, retailers, breeders, hobbyists, wild), are aware of the threat of emerging pathogens, and are concerned about the potential spillover of pathogens from captive to wild populations. Attitudes and behaviors of businesses toward pathogens varied among business types (e.g., size of business, the share of amphibian sales, mode of business operation). Moreover, businesses expressed a strong interest in acquiring amphibians that are free of pathogens and indicated a willingness to pay a price premium to acquire certified disease‐free animals. Our results indicate that the US pet amphibian trade industry is willing to participate in healthy (clean) trade practices and increasing product prices may be one option to compensate for expenses. A government program to support pathogen‐free certification would likely facilitate implementation.
Global trade has been linked with the emergence of novel pathogens and declines in amphibian populations worldwide. The potential for pathogen transmission within and between collections of captive ...amphibians and spillover to wild populations makes it important to understand the motivations, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of pet amphibian owners. We surveyed US pet amphibian owners to understand their characteristics and evaluated whether and how they were associated with behavioral intentions to adopt biosecurity practices. We found that the majority of pet amphibian owners are aware of the threat of emerging pathogens, concerned about potential spillover of pathogens from captive to wild populations and willing to adopt biosecurity practices to mitigate pathogen threats. Intentions to adopt such practices were driven more by psychosocial constructs such as attitudes, perceptions and beliefs than demographic characteristics. Pet amphibian owners also expressed a strong interest in acquiring, and willingness to pay a price premium for, certified disease-free animals. These findings advance our understanding of the characteristics, motivations and behaviors of pet owners, a key stakeholder in global amphibian trade, which could help to inform new policies and outreach strategies to engage them in mitigating pathogen threats. Moreover, our results imply the economic viability of a market-based program to promote pathogen-free, sustainable trade of amphibians.
Cover Image Cavasos, Kevin; Poudyal, Neelam C.; Brunner, Jesse L. ...
Business strategy and the environment,
December 2023, Volume:
32, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
The cover image is based on the Research Article Exploring business stakeholder engagement in sustainable business practices: Evidence from the US pet amphibian industry by Kevin Cavasos et al., ...https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3455.
PDF