Jesse Minor | University of Maine at Farmington (original) (raw)

Essays by Jesse Minor

The negative consequences of increased urbanization on native biological and cultural diversity h... more The negative consequences of increased urbanization on native biological and cultural diversity have received considerable research attention. Biological and cultural diversity can be sustained by counteracting various processes of floristic homogenization and by reestablishing connections between humans and nature. However, effective instruments to help people reconnect with nature can be lacking, especially in cities. Green spaces provide cultural, aesthetic, and ecological services and can represent a critical component of native plant diversity in urban environments. We examined the species composition of heritage trees and the tangible and cultural values of these trees in 11 major cities in the Yangtze River basin of China. Our analysis explored the similarities of three arboreal types, namely heritage trees, urban greening components, and natural plant communities. Heritage tree species are diverse, containing 310 recorded species representing 159 genera and 64 families. Their tangible and cultural values are mainly medicinal (221 species), followed by timber (186), culture (134), traditional courtyard planting (131) and food (124). Notable geographical differences in heritage tree species composition identified in our analysis could be explained by cities adopting mostly species native to the locality or province. Heritage tree assemblages were similar in composition to undisturbed natural plant communities, and the two populations experienced comparable progressive decline with geographical distance. Urban greening components indicated negligible decline in similarity beyond the 1000 km threshold, indicating common sharing of exotic species across disparate locations. Heritage tree species associated with notable tangible and cultural values, superior genetic constitution, and adaptation to local growth conditions present suitable candidates for urban planting to improve tree performance and urban biodiversity. Their long history of association with local culture and rich cultural values can be enlisted to strengthen the connections of urban communities to nature and history, and to promote nature conservation within cities. Given increasing biological and biocultural homogenization, especially in urban areas, protecting heritage trees and using them in urban greening can slow this trend and enrich stocks of urban biodiversity. 1. Introduction Urban greening in different settings tends to be dominated by a small number of common species, resulting in biotic homogenization and widespread limitations in urban biodiversity (McKinney, 2006; Grimm et al., 2008; Baiser et al., 2012; Zdeňka et al., 2016). Landscape planners and markets for landscaping elements often favor plants with traits such as rapid growth and establishment, easy propagation,

Large old trees are keystone ecological entities and cultural heritages that provide vital servic... more Large old trees are keystone ecological entities and cultural heritages that provide vital services to humans in settlements. We investigated the abundance, species diversity, distribution patterns, and environmental and anthropogenic determinants of large old trees in Wuchuan Gelao and Miao (minority ethnic groups) Autonomous County in southwest China. We examined the role of large old trees in the local culture systems and their management and protection practices through in-depth sociological interviews of local villagers. The 5105 large old trees from 80 species originated either from natural forests (28.1 %) or cultivation (71.9 %). Species distribution differed by elevation and topography units. Cultivated trees (e.g. Cupressus funebris and Phoebe zhennan) were mainly distributed at low-elevation valleys and slopes. Wild trees (e.g. Ginkgo biloba and Liquidambar formosana) mainly distributed in valleys at medium elevation. Most large old trees dwelt in artificial habitats such as house-side (25.0 %), farmland (10.4 %), graveyard (9.9 %) and roadside (8.5 %). Villages located at medium elevation, close to city and with medium human population proportion had higher tree density. Elevation and distance to city had positive effect whereas population density negative effect on wild tree proportion. Villages at medium elevation had higher species diversity, whereas distance to city and farmlandarea proportion had negative effect. Local people protected large old trees mainly for cultural reasons. Cultural large old trees accounted for 71.9 % of the trees, of which 65.5 % were fengshui tree and 6.4 % sacred tree. Proportion of culturally protected large old trees was positively correlated with population density, but negatively with Han population. Protection of sacred trees depended on traditional taboos, and of fengshui trees on local customary laws and family regulations. These effective traditional beliefs and practices contributed to persistence of large old trees in artificial habitats around villages despite a long period marked by rapid cultural, political, and economic changes. Wuchuan can serve as exemplary of protecting large old trees based on local culture and regulation at the community and family levels. The findings informed that large old trees need dedicated protection measures that stress their main values and threats. In addition, local customary laws, traditional culture and ecological compensation should be integrated into conservation policies and practices.

Heritage trees are recognized as elements of cultural landscapes and as keystone ecological entit... more Heritage trees are recognized as elements of cultural landscapes and as keystone ecological entities in humandominated landscapes, often bestowing high socio-cultural and ecological values. Current understanding of species distribution patterns and broad-scale species assemblages of heritage trees is limited. This study analyzed the diversity, distribution patterns, and origins of heritage trees and assessed the underlying factors contributing to their occurrence at the national scale in China. Data were drawn from published and online sources representing 561 regions across China. There were 1140 species including 105 endangered ones preserved as heritage trees. Heritage trees originated from four sources of species provenance: natural forest species 73.51 % of total species), native ruderal species (10.53 %), domesticated species (6.75 %) and exotic species (9.21 %). The origin of heritage trees differed across climatic zones. At the national and climatic zone scale, species similarity (Jaccard Index) among regions was low, constrained by geographic distance, climate (e.g., mean annual precipitation) and anthropogenic factors (e.g., population density). Mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, population density and GDP per capita were the main determinants of species provenance. Most heritage tree species serve tangible uses, especially domesticated and exotic species. Species assemblages of heritage trees were mainly associated with the local plant species pool, climate, socioeconomic development status and human preference. As living heritage, the trees need dedicated protection measures based on their main tangible and cultural values for human, primary threats, and statutory protection degree at the species level. Regional culture, belief, and customary laws should be considered in formulating policies for protection and conservation of these trees.

In 2016, the National Park Service will turn 100 years old. In preparation for this centennial, C... more In 2016, the National Park Service will turn 100 years old. In preparation for this centennial, Chiricahua National Monument and Coronado National Memorial are planning new visitor center exhibits. The Arizona State Museum (ASM) was engaged through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) agreement between the University of Arizona and the National Park Service to provide planning support for developing those exhibits.

Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge to preserve and protect this “wonderland of rocks” for the enjoyment and education of the
American people. Coronado National Memorial was established in 1952 to commemorate Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s 16th century expedition into what is now the United States.

The unusual geological formations at Chiricahua and the unique Madrean Archipelago flora and fauna of the sky islands that make up the both Chiricahua and Coronado will be subjects for interpretive display in the Visitor Centers at both parks. To assist the selected exhibit design service in developing appropriate interpretive displays, the Arizona State Museum will provide an overview of current research and scientific understanding of the geology and biology of the
two parks.

To accomplish this goal, ASM engaged graduate students Erin Elizabeth Posthumus from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Jesse Minor from the School of Geography and Development, and Adam M. Hudson from the Department of Geosciences as graduate research assistants to prepare background materials for use of NPS staff and exhibit designers.
The topics to be developed were defined in discussion with NPS personnel from Chiricahua National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.

The goals include:
 Preparation of background research to summarize current thinking on major topics that will be interpretive subjects for the Chiricahua and Coronado visitor centers.
 An annotated bibliography for each of the topics.

The topics include:
 The geology and geologic processes that shaped the sky islands.

 The biological landscape—including flora and fauna and the forces that shape them, including the sky islands themselves, fire regimes and climatological history and
potential climate change effects.

Adam Hudson’s overview of geologic information includes a review of the geologic time scale and major time periods and turning points in geologic time, an overview of plate tectonics and the geologic history of southeast Arizona, as well as more detailed information related to the specific geologic history of Chiricahua and Coronado. After this overview, he provides some detail on the life history of the super volcano that created the unusual formations at Chiricahua
and on cave formation processes that explicate the life history of Coronado Cave at Coronado.

Erin Posthumus’s and Jesse Minor’s stories of the sky islands review the ways in which “island” as metaphor for the local biology parallels and differs from oceanic islands, the fire history of the sky islands, patterns of plant and animal diversity in sky islands, the climatological history of the
sky islands and potential effects of climate change on vegetation and wildlife. They also include stories of particular relevance to Coronado, including migration and the responses of wildlife to natural and artificial barriers and the effect of recent activities in the area, including forest fires and construction of an international boundary on the migration and, indeed, survival of the lesser long nosed bat.

For each topic an annotated list of key references, as well as a fuller bibliography of recent references is included. The materials should provide interpretive developers and NPS staff, with the most current information on each topic. This is not intended to serve as exhibit text but as information guides for exhibit developers to draw on for interpreting each topic.

Arizona’s Five Cs (copper, cattle, citrus, cotton, and climate) represent a suite of economic pra... more Arizona’s Five Cs (copper, cattle, citrus, cotton, and climate) represent a suite of economic practices, which have very material effects on Arizona’s water resources. These Five Cs have long dominated the development of Arizona’s water policy and law while disregarding the natural limitations of the state’s hydrologic resources. Perhaps more than any other western state, Arizona has undergone rapid and striking demographic changes across the course of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This paper:
• Provides a grounding in the paleoecological and historical records of past drought in the Southwest, as well as in predictions for the climate change that Arizona will experience in the future.
• Explores changes in Arizona water law over time, especially with regards to shifts in the types of water which are actively managed, and the institutions charged with managing Arizona’s overallocated water resources.
• Documents how the changing economic needs of powerful Five C actors has driven changes in water law over Arizona history.
• Addresses the role of science in creating policy to plan for drought and climate change.

Finally, this paper provides a realistic look at Arizona’s priorities and policies regarding water, with an emphasis on a new set of Five Cs which place heightened importance on sustainable agriculture and water-conscious urban planning.

Papers by Jesse Minor

Fundamental concepts of tornado-building interaction phenomena are discussed to assist the meteor... more Fundamental concepts of tornado-building interaction phenomena are discussed to assist the meteorologist in understanding and interpreting wind damage, and to assist the engineer in assessing wind resistance of building construction. Studies of tornadic windspeeds and atmospheric pressure change indicate that: (1) buildings fail at relatively low windspeeds; (2) no conclusive evidence can be found that ground level windspeeds exceed 250

Los Angeles: Center for Higher Education Public Policy …, 2004

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2006

Current models used to predict response to peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment, based on viral... more Current models used to predict response to peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment, based on viral decline during the first 12 weeks of therapy, have focused on creating an early stopping rule to avoid unnecessary prolongation of therapy. We developed a multivariate model that predicted sustained virological response and nonresponse at baseline and during the first 12 weeks of therapy using collected data from 186 unselected patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin. This model employed ordinal regression with similarity least squares technology to assign the probability of a given outcome. Model variables include sex, age, prior treatment status, genotype, baseline serum alanine aminotransferase levels, histologic necroinflammation and fibrosis scores and serum hepatitis C virus RNA concentration at baseline and weeks, 4, 8, and 12. A multivariate model demonstrated high performance values at all time points. At baseline, the model demonstrated a negative predictive value (NPV) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 91% and 95%, respectively. At week 4, these values improved to 97% and 100%, respectively, with 95% sensitivity, 89% specificity and 93% accuracy. At week 4, the model was equally efficient for naïve or previously treated patients. Internal validation demonstrated 90% PPV, 94% NPV, 95% sensitivity, 88% specificity and 92% accuracy. A week 4 stopping rule for patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon with ribavirin might be proposed by using the model developed in our study.

The objective of this project was to develop a microcomputer program capable of analyzing and rat... more The objective of this project was to develop a microcomputer program capable of analyzing and rating timber highway bridges that are common on local road systems. The system was to be user friendly and capable of running on microcomputers available to engineers at the parish level. The primary capabilities of the program are: (1) rate a timber bridge containing decay in one or more beams, the pile cap, or any of its piles; (2) rate timber bridges with missing parts, or unevenly spaced parts; (3) handle bridge systems with up to 3 spans, 50 beams, and 9 piles per bent; (4) live loads of H15 truck, or Louisians truck; (5) run on a microcomputer with 256K RAM; and (6) written in FORTRAN. This manual describes and demonstrates how the program may be used; includes a diskette.

Nucleic Acids Research, 2001

ACM SIGGRAPH 2014 Emerging Technologies, 2014

Projection is a popular form of imaging but suffers from dim peak light levels and poor contrast,... more Projection is a popular form of imaging but suffers from dim peak light levels and poor contrast, limiting effective use to dark and controlled viewing environments like the cinema (Figure 1). We introduce a novel High Dynamic Range (HDR) projection technique that achieves both dark black levels and very bright peak luminance in an energy and cost efficient implementation.

The negative consequences of increased urbanization on native biological and cultural diversity h... more The negative consequences of increased urbanization on native biological and cultural diversity have received considerable research attention. Biological and cultural diversity can be sustained by counteracting various processes of floristic homogenization and by reestablishing connections between humans and nature. However, effective instruments to help people reconnect with nature can be lacking, especially in cities. Green spaces provide cultural, aesthetic, and ecological services and can represent a critical component of native plant diversity in urban environments. We examined the species composition of heritage trees and the tangible and cultural values of these trees in 11 major cities in the Yangtze River basin of China. Our analysis explored the similarities of three arboreal types, namely heritage trees, urban greening components, and natural plant communities. Heritage tree species are diverse, containing 310 recorded species representing 159 genera and 64 families. Their tangible and cultural values are mainly medicinal (221 species), followed by timber (186), culture (134), traditional courtyard planting (131) and food (124). Notable geographical differences in heritage tree species composition identified in our analysis could be explained by cities adopting mostly species native to the locality or province. Heritage tree assemblages were similar in composition to undisturbed natural plant communities, and the two populations experienced comparable progressive decline with geographical distance. Urban greening components indicated negligible decline in similarity beyond the 1000 km threshold, indicating common sharing of exotic species across disparate locations. Heritage tree species associated with notable tangible and cultural values, superior genetic constitution, and adaptation to local growth conditions present suitable candidates for urban planting to improve tree performance and urban biodiversity. Their long history of association with local culture and rich cultural values can be enlisted to strengthen the connections of urban communities to nature and history, and to promote nature conservation within cities. Given increasing biological and biocultural homogenization, especially in urban areas, protecting heritage trees and using them in urban greening can slow this trend and enrich stocks of urban biodiversity. 1. Introduction Urban greening in different settings tends to be dominated by a small number of common species, resulting in biotic homogenization and widespread limitations in urban biodiversity (McKinney, 2006; Grimm et al., 2008; Baiser et al., 2012; Zdeňka et al., 2016). Landscape planners and markets for landscaping elements often favor plants with traits such as rapid growth and establishment, easy propagation,

Large old trees are keystone ecological entities and cultural heritages that provide vital servic... more Large old trees are keystone ecological entities and cultural heritages that provide vital services to humans in settlements. We investigated the abundance, species diversity, distribution patterns, and environmental and anthropogenic determinants of large old trees in Wuchuan Gelao and Miao (minority ethnic groups) Autonomous County in southwest China. We examined the role of large old trees in the local culture systems and their management and protection practices through in-depth sociological interviews of local villagers. The 5105 large old trees from 80 species originated either from natural forests (28.1 %) or cultivation (71.9 %). Species distribution differed by elevation and topography units. Cultivated trees (e.g. Cupressus funebris and Phoebe zhennan) were mainly distributed at low-elevation valleys and slopes. Wild trees (e.g. Ginkgo biloba and Liquidambar formosana) mainly distributed in valleys at medium elevation. Most large old trees dwelt in artificial habitats such as house-side (25.0 %), farmland (10.4 %), graveyard (9.9 %) and roadside (8.5 %). Villages located at medium elevation, close to city and with medium human population proportion had higher tree density. Elevation and distance to city had positive effect whereas population density negative effect on wild tree proportion. Villages at medium elevation had higher species diversity, whereas distance to city and farmlandarea proportion had negative effect. Local people protected large old trees mainly for cultural reasons. Cultural large old trees accounted for 71.9 % of the trees, of which 65.5 % were fengshui tree and 6.4 % sacred tree. Proportion of culturally protected large old trees was positively correlated with population density, but negatively with Han population. Protection of sacred trees depended on traditional taboos, and of fengshui trees on local customary laws and family regulations. These effective traditional beliefs and practices contributed to persistence of large old trees in artificial habitats around villages despite a long period marked by rapid cultural, political, and economic changes. Wuchuan can serve as exemplary of protecting large old trees based on local culture and regulation at the community and family levels. The findings informed that large old trees need dedicated protection measures that stress their main values and threats. In addition, local customary laws, traditional culture and ecological compensation should be integrated into conservation policies and practices.

Heritage trees are recognized as elements of cultural landscapes and as keystone ecological entit... more Heritage trees are recognized as elements of cultural landscapes and as keystone ecological entities in humandominated landscapes, often bestowing high socio-cultural and ecological values. Current understanding of species distribution patterns and broad-scale species assemblages of heritage trees is limited. This study analyzed the diversity, distribution patterns, and origins of heritage trees and assessed the underlying factors contributing to their occurrence at the national scale in China. Data were drawn from published and online sources representing 561 regions across China. There were 1140 species including 105 endangered ones preserved as heritage trees. Heritage trees originated from four sources of species provenance: natural forest species 73.51 % of total species), native ruderal species (10.53 %), domesticated species (6.75 %) and exotic species (9.21 %). The origin of heritage trees differed across climatic zones. At the national and climatic zone scale, species similarity (Jaccard Index) among regions was low, constrained by geographic distance, climate (e.g., mean annual precipitation) and anthropogenic factors (e.g., population density). Mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, population density and GDP per capita were the main determinants of species provenance. Most heritage tree species serve tangible uses, especially domesticated and exotic species. Species assemblages of heritage trees were mainly associated with the local plant species pool, climate, socioeconomic development status and human preference. As living heritage, the trees need dedicated protection measures based on their main tangible and cultural values for human, primary threats, and statutory protection degree at the species level. Regional culture, belief, and customary laws should be considered in formulating policies for protection and conservation of these trees.

In 2016, the National Park Service will turn 100 years old. In preparation for this centennial, C... more In 2016, the National Park Service will turn 100 years old. In preparation for this centennial, Chiricahua National Monument and Coronado National Memorial are planning new visitor center exhibits. The Arizona State Museum (ASM) was engaged through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) agreement between the University of Arizona and the National Park Service to provide planning support for developing those exhibits.

Chiricahua National Monument was established in 1924 by President Calvin Coolidge to preserve and protect this “wonderland of rocks” for the enjoyment and education of the
American people. Coronado National Memorial was established in 1952 to commemorate Francisco Vásquez de Coronado’s 16th century expedition into what is now the United States.

The unusual geological formations at Chiricahua and the unique Madrean Archipelago flora and fauna of the sky islands that make up the both Chiricahua and Coronado will be subjects for interpretive display in the Visitor Centers at both parks. To assist the selected exhibit design service in developing appropriate interpretive displays, the Arizona State Museum will provide an overview of current research and scientific understanding of the geology and biology of the
two parks.

To accomplish this goal, ASM engaged graduate students Erin Elizabeth Posthumus from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Jesse Minor from the School of Geography and Development, and Adam M. Hudson from the Department of Geosciences as graduate research assistants to prepare background materials for use of NPS staff and exhibit designers.
The topics to be developed were defined in discussion with NPS personnel from Chiricahua National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.

The goals include:
 Preparation of background research to summarize current thinking on major topics that will be interpretive subjects for the Chiricahua and Coronado visitor centers.
 An annotated bibliography for each of the topics.

The topics include:
 The geology and geologic processes that shaped the sky islands.

 The biological landscape—including flora and fauna and the forces that shape them, including the sky islands themselves, fire regimes and climatological history and
potential climate change effects.

Adam Hudson’s overview of geologic information includes a review of the geologic time scale and major time periods and turning points in geologic time, an overview of plate tectonics and the geologic history of southeast Arizona, as well as more detailed information related to the specific geologic history of Chiricahua and Coronado. After this overview, he provides some detail on the life history of the super volcano that created the unusual formations at Chiricahua
and on cave formation processes that explicate the life history of Coronado Cave at Coronado.

Erin Posthumus’s and Jesse Minor’s stories of the sky islands review the ways in which “island” as metaphor for the local biology parallels and differs from oceanic islands, the fire history of the sky islands, patterns of plant and animal diversity in sky islands, the climatological history of the
sky islands and potential effects of climate change on vegetation and wildlife. They also include stories of particular relevance to Coronado, including migration and the responses of wildlife to natural and artificial barriers and the effect of recent activities in the area, including forest fires and construction of an international boundary on the migration and, indeed, survival of the lesser long nosed bat.

For each topic an annotated list of key references, as well as a fuller bibliography of recent references is included. The materials should provide interpretive developers and NPS staff, with the most current information on each topic. This is not intended to serve as exhibit text but as information guides for exhibit developers to draw on for interpreting each topic.

Arizona’s Five Cs (copper, cattle, citrus, cotton, and climate) represent a suite of economic pra... more Arizona’s Five Cs (copper, cattle, citrus, cotton, and climate) represent a suite of economic practices, which have very material effects on Arizona’s water resources. These Five Cs have long dominated the development of Arizona’s water policy and law while disregarding the natural limitations of the state’s hydrologic resources. Perhaps more than any other western state, Arizona has undergone rapid and striking demographic changes across the course of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This paper:
• Provides a grounding in the paleoecological and historical records of past drought in the Southwest, as well as in predictions for the climate change that Arizona will experience in the future.
• Explores changes in Arizona water law over time, especially with regards to shifts in the types of water which are actively managed, and the institutions charged with managing Arizona’s overallocated water resources.
• Documents how the changing economic needs of powerful Five C actors has driven changes in water law over Arizona history.
• Addresses the role of science in creating policy to plan for drought and climate change.

Finally, this paper provides a realistic look at Arizona’s priorities and policies regarding water, with an emphasis on a new set of Five Cs which place heightened importance on sustainable agriculture and water-conscious urban planning.

Fundamental concepts of tornado-building interaction phenomena are discussed to assist the meteor... more Fundamental concepts of tornado-building interaction phenomena are discussed to assist the meteorologist in understanding and interpreting wind damage, and to assist the engineer in assessing wind resistance of building construction. Studies of tornadic windspeeds and atmospheric pressure change indicate that: (1) buildings fail at relatively low windspeeds; (2) no conclusive evidence can be found that ground level windspeeds exceed 250

Los Angeles: Center for Higher Education Public Policy …, 2004

Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 2006

Current models used to predict response to peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment, based on viral... more Current models used to predict response to peginterferon plus ribavirin treatment, based on viral decline during the first 12 weeks of therapy, have focused on creating an early stopping rule to avoid unnecessary prolongation of therapy. We developed a multivariate model that predicted sustained virological response and nonresponse at baseline and during the first 12 weeks of therapy using collected data from 186 unselected patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon plus ribavirin. This model employed ordinal regression with similarity least squares technology to assign the probability of a given outcome. Model variables include sex, age, prior treatment status, genotype, baseline serum alanine aminotransferase levels, histologic necroinflammation and fibrosis scores and serum hepatitis C virus RNA concentration at baseline and weeks, 4, 8, and 12. A multivariate model demonstrated high performance values at all time points. At baseline, the model demonstrated a negative predictive value (NPV) and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 91% and 95%, respectively. At week 4, these values improved to 97% and 100%, respectively, with 95% sensitivity, 89% specificity and 93% accuracy. At week 4, the model was equally efficient for naïve or previously treated patients. Internal validation demonstrated 90% PPV, 94% NPV, 95% sensitivity, 88% specificity and 92% accuracy. A week 4 stopping rule for patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon with ribavirin might be proposed by using the model developed in our study.

The objective of this project was to develop a microcomputer program capable of analyzing and rat... more The objective of this project was to develop a microcomputer program capable of analyzing and rating timber highway bridges that are common on local road systems. The system was to be user friendly and capable of running on microcomputers available to engineers at the parish level. The primary capabilities of the program are: (1) rate a timber bridge containing decay in one or more beams, the pile cap, or any of its piles; (2) rate timber bridges with missing parts, or unevenly spaced parts; (3) handle bridge systems with up to 3 spans, 50 beams, and 9 piles per bent; (4) live loads of H15 truck, or Louisians truck; (5) run on a microcomputer with 256K RAM; and (6) written in FORTRAN. This manual describes and demonstrates how the program may be used; includes a diskette.

Nucleic Acids Research, 2001

ACM SIGGRAPH 2014 Emerging Technologies, 2014

Projection is a popular form of imaging but suffers from dim peak light levels and poor contrast,... more Projection is a popular form of imaging but suffers from dim peak light levels and poor contrast, limiting effective use to dark and controlled viewing environments like the cinema (Figure 1). We introduce a novel High Dynamic Range (HDR) projection technique that achieves both dark black levels and very bright peak luminance in an energy and cost efficient implementation.

history.uwo.ca

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fits any conventional definition of a failed state. Th... more The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) fits any conventional definition of a failed state. The Congolese territory is generally divided into four regional enclaves, three of which are under the precarious control of externally sponsored rebel groups. The government ...

Critical Zone Science (CZS) offers analytical techniques and research tools for understanding lif... more Critical Zone Science (CZS) offers analytical techniques and research tools for understanding life and its environment on and near Earth’s surface. CZS research often integrates historically distinct disciplines into multidisciplinary studies of CZ subsystems (e.g., vadose zone, biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and subsurface hydrology).
Despite CZS’s ability to characterize rate-dependent processes, it has not historically attempted to capture the effects of ecological disturbance and anthropogenic influences on CZ processes.

As human-induced ecosystem effects accelerate in the Anthropocene, the deep temporal and broad spatial scales of biogeography can be productively combined with the quantifiable processes of energy and mass transfer of CZS to answer pressing questions about climate change impacts, post-disturbance recovery, hydrology, and ecology.

About 25,000 acres of Chiricahua Mountains burned in the 1994 Rattlesnake fire. The 2011 Horsesho... more About 25,000 acres of Chiricahua Mountains burned in the 1994 Rattlesnake fire. The 2011 Horseshoe II fire re-burned these acres, and much more – virtually the entire range. A year earlier, 2010, a vegetation mapping project photo-documented a variety of vegetation types, but for this poster we focus on the Madrean Pine-Oak Woodland. Subsequent photo matches were taken in 2012, 2014, and 2016. A parallel study of post-fire vegetation recovery following multiple mixed-severity fire events is used to characterize the woody plant community assemblages documented at the photo points. Using repeat photography and plot-based surveys of tree basal area, woody shrub cover, and tree regeneration, we illustrate the various recovery trajectories of re-burned areas in several important vegetation types and across a wide range of elevational settings.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Nature in Protected Areas: Governance, Management and Policy, 2018

This research examines the geographic distribution, cultural history, spiritual values, and conse... more This research examines the geographic distribution, cultural history, spiritual values, and conservation status of China’s village fengshui forests (fengshuilin), woodlands protected to bring good fortune to lineage members across generations. Fengshuilin survive in 10-14 provinces, comprising ecologically significant remnants of the original tropical and subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests of central and southern China. Despite their broad distribution and socio-ecological importance, fengshuilin are little known among the urban population and lack official recognition across most of their range. Some have been incorporated into nature reserves and community-based protected areas. These state-local agreements catalyze new conceptions of fengshui and human-environment relations, improving prospects for large-scale biodiversity conservation networks based on local community interests.