In 2010 the U.S. Forest Service, in cooperation with municipal arborists, conducted a research project to determine general costs and benefits of urban trees in Central Florida. The project used Orlando, Florida field data and other information drawn… Read More
Urban Natural Areas #1 – Disturbance II To determine the scale at which this non-equilibrium disturbance pattern is appropriate, Pickett and Thompson (1978) investigated what they termed the “minimum dynamic area” that could sustain the occurrence of natural… Read More
Disturbance and Urban Natural Areas The dominant paradigm of ecology through the 1970s was the equilibrium, “balance of nature” perspective. Ecosystems were thought to have a stable point equilibrium, a climax state, structurally and functionally complete and self-regulating…. Read More
Habitat fragmentation Habitat fragmentation occurs when large, contiguous areas of habitat are reduced in area and divided into two or more smaller units (Wilcove et al. 1986). The fragmented units are isolated from one another and embedded in… Read More
Conservation of Regional Biological Diversity Biological diversity refers to the diversity of all ecological hierarchies including genetics, populations, species, communities and ecosystems. It is important to include the spatial arrangements of each of these elements as well. The… Read More
Edge Effects on Habitat Habitat fragmentation leads to increased edge and shifts in microclimate along the edge. Edge influences several abiotic aspects of habitat including light, temperature, humidity, and wind (Schelhas and Greenberg 1996). Edge effects are moderated… Read More
Urban forests have become more prevalent in the 21st century (3.5% of U.S. land area is urban). Their importance in the functioning of our forest ecosystems, and the services they provide, is significant. The urban forest can no… Read More
In selecting forest habitat management guidelines we should keep in mind that the response of snag dependent species to the increased availability of snags is not precise, but that populations do tend to increase with an increase in… Read More
Coarse woody debris (CWD) is a critical habitat within forest ecosystems, often bridging the divide between the inert and living members of the community. Snags often are designated as hard or soft. Decayed wood serves as a growth substrate… Read More
The accumulation and decay ofcoarse woody debris (CWD) varies with forest type and age. Investigations (Thomas et al. and Maser et al. 1979) have described the trajectory of the decomposition and decay of CWD as a series of stages… Read More
