James Kroll | Stephen F Austin State University (original) (raw)

Papers by James Kroll

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Three species of pines (loblolly, slash and longleaf) were planted with four :tEf.atments (loblol... more Three species of pines (loblolly, slash and longleaf) were planted with four :tEf.atments (loblolly and slash = bareroot, clay dip slurry and TerrasorH ; longleaf = containerized) to test survival on droughty, typic quartzipsamments soils. At the end of the first season, survival~s significantly better for the containerized longleaf and Terrasoro treated loblolly pine (81 and 85%) followed by untreaRed loblolly pine (51%), clay-treated loblolly (50%), then Terrasorb treated slash (48%), untreated slash (41%) and clay-treated slash (36%). At the e~of the second growing season, longleaf had 56% survival, Terrasor~ treated loblolly (51%), clay-dip slurry loblolly (31.9%), Terrasoro treated slash (21%), untreated loblolly pine (20%) and clay-treated slash and untreated slash (17%). Pest management recommendations and management considerations are presented.

Since multi-source image classifications have the ability to exceed single source processes, such... more Since multi-source image classifications have the ability to exceed single source processes, such as traditional unsupervised classification methods, this paper will present the integration of four types of data: Lidar, elevation, multispectral and thermal. Using multi-source data and maximum likelihood classification methodology, as well as all possible permutations of data types, this paper will discuss ways to increase accuracy assessments of forested areas in east Texas and find the best combination of data sources.

Four year survival of pines on droughty (Typic Quartzips~mments) soils was best for longleaf pine... more Four year survival of pines on droughty (Typic Quartzips~mments) soils was best for longleaf pine and Terr-Sorb-treated loblolly pine. Pest considerations include town ants and Nantucket pine tip moths on loblolly pine. Untreated loblolly pine had reduced leader and total height growth anH increased tip moth infestations, compared to Terra-Sorb and clay-slurry treated loblolly pine. Soil texture averaged less than eight percent silt and clay combined in the treatment areas.

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 1983

Comparisons of extent of decay in southern red oaks (Quercus falcata Michx.) revealed that trees ... more Comparisons of extent of decay in southern red oaks (Quercus falcata Michx.) revealed that trees injected with 2,4-D decayed sooner than girdled trees. Internal examinations of treated trees revealed that girdling and injection permitted growth of heartwood- and sapwood-decaying fungi, a condition necessary for woodpecker nest cavity excavation. As a result of the delayed decay, girdling produces better woodpecker habitat in southern red oak. Girdled southern red oaks remain standing longer for woodpeckers to use as foraging and nesting sites. Numbers of snags required to support various percentages of woodpecker population maximums are presented.

We describe the vascular flora of select plots within longleaf pine uplands at Fox Hunter's Hill ... more We describe the vascular flora of select plots within longleaf pine uplands at Fox Hunter's Hill in the Sabine National Forest in eastern Texas. The eight established 0.1 ha plots contained a total of 196 species and averaged 87.25 species (range 71 to 112) per plot; sixteen 0.001 ha plots averaged 28.75 species (range 17 to 46); and sixteen 0.0001 ha plots averaged 12.44 species (range 5 to 25). A comparison between longleaf pine uplands in central Louisiana and Fox Hunter's Hill shows that they have similar floristic composition.

The Cullowhee Native Plant conference began almost twenty years ago with the University ofNorth C... more The Cullowhee Native Plant conference began almost twenty years ago with the University ofNorth Carolina at Cullowhee serving as the host institution for an annual multi-day celebration of native plants. The conference is a unique mixture of plant enthusiasts, nurserymen, landscapers, botanists, academics, and horticulturists. The speakers address native plant concerns, research projects, conservation efforts and landscape use topics. It's a great conference. In fact, the annual July conference has been such a success that the 450 "slots" that the conference can support fill up in just a few days. That response prompted the creation of three satellite conferences representing their specific region. The regional conferences allow for nationally known speakers to address region-specific topics and for participants from near and afar to enjoy the local flora. The Pineywoods Native Plant Center is proud to host the third Cullowhee Lone Star Regional Native Plant Conference. Please thank the speakers for taking time to share with participants. The SF A Mast Arboretum Volunteers deserve a big round of applause for handling so much of the workload that goes into putting on a conference of this scale. Elyce Rodewald, the PNPC and Mast Arboretum's educational programs coordinator, did a masterful job handling registration and program details. Peter Loos, conference co-Director and PNPC volunteer, deserves special thanks for helping with speakers and other program details. Thanks to Martha Sullivan and Roger Hughes for all they have done to ma.ke registration go smoothly. Dawn Stover, Barbara Stump, and Jon Roach are part of what make this place tick, and thanks go out to graduate students Kim Benton, Amanda Camp, Lacey Stokes, LiJing Zhou and Heath Lowery. Michael Clanahan and Keri Blackburn worked tirelessly to keep the preparations running smooth. All the student assistants deserve thanks for pitching in to bring the plant sale to reality and for sprucing up the PNPC gardens. Finally, make sure you thank Greg Grant, the on-the-ground Research Associate for the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, and all the PNPC student workers, for going beyond the call of duty to handle all of the problems that arose in lodging, rooms, meals, tours, transportation, and a myriad of other details. I know they'll be glad to get back to gardening!

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 1978

Eleven climatic variables, recorded during the period 1966-76, were used to develop a multiple li... more Eleven climatic variables, recorded during the period 1966-76, were used to develop a multiple linear regression model for predicting potential number of southern pine beetle (SPB) infestations for east Texas. Four climatic variables were significantly (P < 0.05) related to numbers of SPB infestations. These were (1) mean temperature for February of current year, (2) total rainfall for previous summer, (3) total rainfall for previous fall, and (4) total rainfall for previous spring. The regression analysis accounted for 90.7 percent of the variation in yearly numbers of SPB infestations.

Journal of Range Management, 1980

Characteristics of nesting and wintering habitats of goldencheeked warblers (Den&o&z chrysoparia)... more Characteristics of nesting and wintering habitats of goldencheeked warblers (Den&o&z chrysoparia) were studied from 19'73-lY78. Golden-cheeks are obligatively dependent on Ashe juniper (funiperus ashei) for nesting materials and singing perches, but are equally dependent on scrub-oak (Quercus durundii breviloba) for foraging substrates. Golden-cheeks preferred to forage (73.6% of total observations) in hardwood species. Stepwise discriminant analysis suggested that quality nesting habitat differs from poor nesting habitat by having older (240 yrs.) Ashe juniper, lower juniper densities and higher densities of oak (juniper-oak ratio= 1.35 to 1). Structure of scrub-oak (mostly Q. oleoides) in the wintering habitat (La Esperanza, Intibuca Dept., Honduras) was structurally similar to that in the nesting habitat. Golden-cheeks were observed feeding in the shrubby understory. The golden-cheeked warbler (Derzdroicu chtysopuriu) is a rare bird inhabiting the so-called "cedar brakes" in the Edwards Plateau region of west-central Texas. Golden-cheeks have been the center of controversy involving clearing of Ashe juniper (Jwziperus ushei) for range improvement and commercial harvesting for fence posts and aromatic oils; yet, no study to date has dealt quantitatively with habitat requirements of these birds. Pulich (1976) conducted an in-depth study on the natural history of golden-cheeks. He noted that the warblers are obligatively dependent on Ashe juniper for nesting habitat, and that golden-cheeks require large blocks of mature (~50 years old) Ashe juniper. He further noted that: "Only older cedar brakes with some variation in age provide the necessary requisites of warbler habitat. ' ' Previous studies by Johnston et al. (1952) and Huss (1954) characterized the vegetative composition of golden-cheek nesting habitat as juniper-oak; juniper composition ranged 14-50% (of stems per acre), while oaks made up 20-70%. My study was initiated to obtain quantitative data on nesting and wintering habitats of golden-cheeks, as well as, to develop a habitat management strategy for these rare birds. Methods Meridian State Park Study Area Meridian State Park is located in Bosque County, approximately 83 km west of Waco, Tex. (Fig. I). The park contains 203.2 ha, about one fourth of which is inundated by Lake Bosque. The eastern portion

A po rtion of the funding provided by the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service was via Section 6 of th... more A po rtion of the funding provided by the U .S. Fish and Wildlife Service was via Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act of 197 3 (P.L. 93-205) Observations on the Behavior and Breeding Biology of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker in Oklahoma-Don A.

The overall goal of the project was to test a methodology to accurately quantify the forest resou... more The overall goal of the project was to test a methodology to accurately quantify the forest resources of East Texas based on the premise that the quantification and qualification of forest resources is crucial to: (1) managing the resources wisely by providing timely and accurate information; and (2) proper forest resource assessment is crucial to the economic development and sustainability of East Texas communities. Current forest composition information was derived using Landsat ETM+ data and traditional unsupervised classification methodology. Current forest age class determination was obtained by spatial modeling within a Boolean format forest/non-forest cover type maps created using unsupervised classification methodology as derived from Landsat ETM+, TM and MSS data collected in five year intervals from 1972 until 2002.

Weights of Evidence (WofE) spatial analysis was used to predict probability of southern pine beet... more Weights of Evidence (WofE) spatial analysis was used to predict probability of southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) (SPB) infestation in Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine and Shelby Co., TX. Thematic data derived from Landsat imagery (1974-2002 Landsat 1-7) were used. Data layers included: forest covertype, forest age, forest patch size and percent slope. WofE predicted infestation probabilities were signifi cantly higher at infestation locations, versus random locations (p<0.0001). Signifi cantly more infestations occurred in the higher probability areas (p=0.002). Infestation size was not signifi cantly correlated with probability (p=0.0528). Correlations were found between WofE probability and traditional SPB hazard rating, calculated from forest inventory data, using the Mason (1981) system (p<0.0001). WofE probability maps were used to produce current SPB three and fi ve-class hazard rating maps for the study area. WofE was effective for predicting SPB hazard, utilizing existing, remotely-sensed data sets.

Southeastern Naturalist, 2014

The Role of Insectivorous Birds in Forest Ecosystems, 1979

Journal of toxicology and environmental health, 1977

Adult female free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) were collected at Bracken Cave, Texas, and ... more Adult female free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) were collected at Bracken Cave, Texas, and shipped to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Treated mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) containing 107 ppm DDE were fed to 17 bats; five other bats were fed untreated mealworms. After 40 days on dosage, during which one dosed bat was killed accidentally, four dosed bats were frozen and the remaining 17 were starved to death. The objective was to elevate brain levels of DDE to lethality and measure these concentrations. After the feeding period, dosed bats weighed less than controls. After starvation, the body condition of dosed bats was poorer than that of controls even though there was no difference in the amounts of carcass fat. During starvation, dosed bats lost weight faster than controls. Also, four dosed bats exhibited the prolonged tremoring that characterizes DDE poisoning. DDE increased in brains of starving bats as fat was metabolized. The estimated mean brain concentration of D...

Wildlife Biology in Practice, 2011