Charles Ruffner | SIUC - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Charles Ruffner

Research paper thumbnail of Regeneration response to tornado and salvage harvesting in a bottomland forest

Research paper thumbnail of Prescribed Burning and Erosion Potential in Mixed Hardwood Forests of Southern Illinois

Forests, Apr 7, 2017

Prescribed fire has several benefits for managing forest ecosystems including reduction of fuel l... more Prescribed fire has several benefits for managing forest ecosystems including reduction of fuel loading and invasive species and enhanced regeneration of desirable tree species. Along with these benefits there are some limitations like nutrient and sediment loss which have not been studied extensively in mixed hardwood forests. The objective of our research was to quantify the amount of sediment movement occurring on a watershed scale due to prescribed fire in a southern Illinois mixed hardwood ecosystem. The research site was located at Trail of Tears State Forest in western Union county, IL, USA and included five watershed pairs. One watershed in each pair was randomly assigned the prescribed burn treatment and the other remained as control (i.e., unburned). The prescribed burn treatment significantly reduced the litter depth with 12.6%-31.5% litter remaining in the prescribed burn treatment watersheds. When data were combined across all watersheds, no significant differences were obtained between burn treatment and control watershed for total suspended solids and sediment concentrations or loads. The annual sediment losses varied from 1.41 to 90.54 kg•ha −1 •year −1 in the four prescribed burn watersheds and 0.81 to 2.54 kg•ha −1 •year −1 in the four control watersheds. Prescribed burn watershed 7 showed an average soil sediment loss of 4.2 mm, whereas control watershed 8 showed an average accumulation of sediments (9.9 mm), possibly due to steeper slopes. Prescribed burning did not cause a significant increase in soil erosion and sediment loss and can be considered acceptable in managing mixed hardwood forests of Ozark uplands and the Shawnee Hills physiographic regions of southern Illinois.

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous knowledge and stand characteristics of a threatened tree species in a highly insecure area: Chilgoza pine in Afghanistan

Forest Ecology and Management, Apr 1, 2018

Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) is an important source of income in forested eastern Afghanistan... more Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) is an important source of income in forested eastern Afghanistan through the harvest of edible seeds. Since the late 1970s, the resource has been largely inaccessible to researchers and government personnel from outside the region, except for the years 2002-2015, roughly coinciding with Operation Enduring Freedom. We assessed physical and social attributes of chilgoza pine forests and the management capacity of indigenous communities. We employed interviews/questionnaires and field measurements performed by Afghan forest scientists from Kabul, trained local residents, and U.S. forest scientists associated with military operations to examine stakeholder perceptions of chilgoza pine forest resilience, assess forest health, stand structure and natural regeneration status. Intensive cone collection, tree damage caused by cone harvesting, grazing, fuelwood collection, and other biotic/abiotic factors (insects, diseases, and drought) were associated with chilgoza forest degradation. Most interviewees observed natural regeneration in the understory layer of chilgoza forest stands, but perceived the overall rate of natural regeneration to be insufficient. Respondents from villages prohibiting grazing and fuelwood collection reported the greatest regeneration while the converse was associated with the lowest levels of regeneration. Field measurements confirmed the scarcity of natural regeneration of chilgoza pine, portending the further decline of this species in Afghanistan. Field surveys indicated diverse stand conditions, age class structures and land use practices employed by local stakeholders, suggesting the need for situation-specific forest management recommendations. We discuss the opportunities and limitations for forest resources data collection in highly insecure environments.

Research paper thumbnail of Regeneration and Growth following Silvicultural Treatments in a Productive Central Hardwood Forest

Forests, Jun 13, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Increased antioxidative enzyme activity mediates the phytoaccumulation potential of Pb in four agroforestry tree species: a case study under municipal and industrial wastewater irrigation

International Journal of Phytoremediation, Nov 28, 2020

Wastewater used as irrigation water is causing heavy metal accumulation in the agro-ecosystems. A... more Wastewater used as irrigation water is causing heavy metal accumulation in the agro-ecosystems. A greenhouse study was conducted to compare the phytoaccumulation ability of four agroforestry tree species under different wastewater treatments. Three-month-old potted seedlings of Morus alba, Acacia nilotica, Acacia ampliceps, and Azadirachta indica were irrigation with tap water (C), municipal wastewater (MWW), and industrial wastewater (IWW). Results showed that MWW had a positive and IWW had a negative impact on biomass production in all the species. Acacia ampliceps showed the highest increment (65%) and showed the lowest decrease (5%) in total biomass under both MWW and IWW treatment. Pb concentration was also found highest in the leaves, stem and roots of Azadirachta indica (108.5, 46.2, 180.5 mg kg À1 , respectively) under IWW. Production of H 2 O 2 was highest in IWW treatment with almost 148% increase observed in Azadirachta indica. Similarly, the production of antioxidative enzymes (Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Peroxidase) was also highest in Azadirachta indica under IWW. Therefore, results suggest that along with high increment in total biomass, both Acacia ampliceps and Azadirachta indica showed high Pb concentration and an effective antioxidative defense mechanism and thus, can be used for planting in soils irrigated with MWW and IWW.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Erosion and Sedimentation Associated with Tracked Vehicle Training

... Jackie F. Crim, Jon E. Schoonover, Karl WJ Williard, John W. Groninger, James J. Zaczek, and ... more ... Jackie F. Crim, Jon E. Schoonover, Karl WJ Williard, John W. Groninger, James J. Zaczek, and Charles M. Ruffner1 Abstract.—A project was designed to assess erosion and sedimentation associated with tracked vehicle training in the Ft. Knox Military Reservation in Kentucky. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Using prescribed fire and mechanical thinning to improve the regenerative potential of oak species

Historical evidence and ecophysiological characteristics indicate a strong link between disturban... more Historical evidence and ecophysiological characteristics indicate a strong link between disturbance regime and the occurrence of oak (Quercus) species. Research indicates that many current oak forests developed following disturbances such as logging, fire, or a combination of logging and fire from the 18th century to the early 20th century. However, during the early and mid-20th century, many oak forests were entered for the last time and fire and cutting ceased. This resulted in the development of several cohorts of mixed mesophytic species, which are poised to replace the overstory with the next disturbance. To counter this, managers are being encouraged to use prescribed fire to improve the regenerative potential of oaks. These fires encourage prolific sprouting of oak trees while limiting the growth of many oak competitors such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red maple (Acer rubrum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and black cherry (Prunus serotina). In addition, oak seedlings develop slowly in the low light of a closed overstory and thick understory. Increased light improves growth of oak species but it also encourages the growth of competing vegetation. Prescribed fire has been viewed as an effective tool to limit competing vegetation and improve the growth and form of oak regeneration in thinned versus unburned areas. In a study in the Shawnee Hills region of southern Illinois in the spring of 2003, the benefits of prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, and a combination of the two were examined. This poster includes the results of this study and implications for current and future silvicultural recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Native American disturbances in mixed oak forests of the Allegheny Plateau

Research paper thumbnail of Using Floristic Analysis and Dendrochronology to Plan Ecological Restoration within a Forest–Prairie Ecotone

Natural Areas Journal, Oct 18, 2021

ABSTRACT The limestone bluffs of the central Mississippi River Valley represent a significant por... more ABSTRACT The limestone bluffs of the central Mississippi River Valley represent a significant portion of the remaining intermingled xeric hill prairie-savanna-woodland systems of the Midwest where different cover types may co-occur at very fine scales. Efforts to restore these landscapes would benefit from a data-driven tool to delineate existing vegetation cover characteristics and reconcile these with desired management outcomes on a spatially explicit basis. This study employed hierarchical cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling in combination with indicator species analysis and dendrochronological methods to examine the structure, composition, and temporal community patterns of the forest–prairie gradient in the Mississippi River Bluffs of Jersey County, Illinois. Four distinct community types were identified on the gradient: (1) a woodland community dominated by Juniperus virginiana, Carya glabra, Quercus stellata, and Lonicera maackii; (2) open oak woodland with high exposed soil and overstory of Acer saccharum, Q. velutina, and Q. muehlenbergii; (3) a hill prairie community with grass coverage as the sole indicator; and (4) a transitioning community with 14 significant indicators and a trajectory advancing toward mesophytic forest composition. These data, within context with stem age, historical documents, and drought data, reveal the role of historical disturbances in temporal patterns of forest–prairie dynamics and provide a resolution in greater detail than previous studies of forest and nonnative invasive shrub encroachment. Pairing management activities to stand conditions, as informed by understanding drivers of ecosystem change, provides continuity with historical disturbance regimes and an objective basis for restoration activities and targets.

Research paper thumbnail of Stand compositional dynamics in a mature Illinois Ozarks forest: implications for management

The Ozark Hills region of southern Illinois is characterized by the severe topography typical of ... more The Ozark Hills region of southern Illinois is characterized by the severe topography typical of the Ozark Plateau, but is overlain by loess deposits and therefore supports site conditions more typical of mesophytic forests. As is common in lightly disturbed and undisturbed mesic upland sites throughout this region, mature stands in Trail of Tears State Forest are characterized by an oak and hickory-dominated overstory and an under- and mid-story where sugar maple and American beech predominate. Between 1980 and 2000, oak and hickory species generally declined in importance while sugar maple, American beech, and yellow-poplar increased, a trend consistent with those reported in other southern Illinois forests of similar species composition. However, the sugar maple and American beech component at Trail of Tears State Forest are larger and expanding more rapidly than those reported elsewhere within the region. Management options to address these changes are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A Dendroecological Investigation of an Upland Oak-Dominated Forest within the Grand Prairie Region of Illinois

Natural Areas Journal, Jul 1, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of From savanna to campus woodlot: the historical ecology of farm woodlots in southern Illinois

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of Anthropogenic Fire within the Midwestern Tallgrass Prairie 1673–1905: Evidence from Written Accounts

Natural Areas Journal, Oct 18, 2021

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Disturbance history and stand dynamics along a topographic gradient in old-growth hemlock-northern hardwood forests of the Allegheny Plateau, USA

Natural Areas Journal, Apr 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of witness tree and contemporary compositions for old-growth forests at Savage Mountain, Maryland, and secondary forests of the northern Allegheny Mountains1

The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Post European Impacts on a Central

This paper describes methods used to investigate the effects of post-European settlement land-use... more This paper describes methods used to investigate the effects of post-European settlement land-use on the structure and species composition of a central Pennsylvania woodlot. Historical accounts and witness tree analysis used to reconstruct the pre-settlement landscape describe a prairie/savanna occupying the Penns Valley region of central Pennsylvania. The historical information suggests the woodlot originated following European settlement, when land uses such as farming, grazing, and eventual land abandonment altered the original landscape, allowing development of closed canopy woodlots on hilly areas with poorer soil quality. Dendroecological analysis of the woodlot also supports post-settlement origin. The oldest tree individuals established around forty years after settlement indicating the woodlot is not a pre-settlement origin remnant but a result of post-settlement land-use patterns. In addition, subsequent land-use in the woodlot was recorded in the tree ring record. Numerou...

Research paper thumbnail of Tree-Ring Responses to Drought Across Species and Contrasting Sites in the Ridge and Valley of Central Pennsylvania

Research paper thumbnail of Data on ecological associations and stand structure of chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex D. Don) in Afghanistan

Data in Brief, 2018

Reported here are original data related to the article "Indigenous knowledge and stand characteri... more Reported here are original data related to the article "Indigenous knowledge and stand characteristics of a threatened tree species in a highly insecure area: Chilgoza pine in Afghanistan" (Shalizi et al., 2018) [1]. A dendrochronological summary of all known chilgoza pine tree growth increment cores collected in Afghanistan is presented in this data in brief article. Chilgoza pine trees and regeneration density profiles are reported for four provinces of eastern Afghanistan. In addition, images depicting chilgoza pine forest structure, stand conditions, and utilization impacts are presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Oak Ecosystem Restoration and Maintenance in Southern Illinois

Oak dominance in southern Illinois appears to be a consequence of long-term anthropogenic disturb... more Oak dominance in southern Illinois appears to be a consequence of long-term anthropogenic disturbances, including burning, grazing, and cutting. The increased prevalence of thin-barked, shade tolerant species, such as sugar maple and beech on presently oak-dominated upland sites appears to be a result of the extremely low-intensity disturbance regimes of the late 20 th century. Our preliminary work indicates that moderate intensity fall burns top-kill 40 percent of pre-burn sugar maple and beech seedlings [< 2 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.)] and increase herbaceous cover between 15-25 percent. However, sapling sized stems are largely undamaged suggesting that burning alone will not effectively restore oak dominance. Thus, a replicated study has been implemented to test the effectiveness of periodic burning and partial cutting, alone and in combination, to control mesophytic tree species and regenerate upland oak stands. Vegetation dynamics will be assessed on a long-term basis to document the effects of fire and cutting towards maintaining oak dominated ecosystems.

Research paper thumbnail of Fall 2004 ALSO: Stopping Power • Into the Woods • Feeding Afghanistan

Use of trade names implies no endorsement by SIUC. Opinions expressed in Perspectives do not nece... more Use of trade names implies no endorsement by SIUC. Opinions expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily reflect the official views of the university. Thi s issue of Perspectives celebrates a major anniversary: the 40th year that a much-lauded editorial project, the Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, has been headquartered at SIUC. By making available the key writings of an American military hero and president, this far-reaching endeavor, led by history professor John Y. Simon, has given historians and the public a fuller picture of the Civil War, 19thcentury politics, and Grant as a person. One of the top U.S. awards in history, the Lincoln Prize, was given to Dr. Simon this year in recognition of the Grant project's special achievement. Other research featured in this issue touches on aspects of our environmentfrom forest management to fuel cells to fish populations in the Mississippi River-and our connection to other nations, represented here by a project to revitalize agriculture in Afghanistan. But to kick things off, we momentarily come to a halt with "Stopping Power," an update on brake materials research by SIUC's Center for Advanced Friction Studies. The diverse research accomplishments of all of our faculty recently boosted SIUC to #100 (up from #104) in the National Science Foundation's annual ranking of public universities by research and development expenditures-another step toward our goal of being among the top 75 public research universities by SIUC's 150th anniversary in 2019. We are proud to count ourselves among this select group of institutions committed to the synergy of research and education.

Research paper thumbnail of Regeneration response to tornado and salvage harvesting in a bottomland forest

Research paper thumbnail of Prescribed Burning and Erosion Potential in Mixed Hardwood Forests of Southern Illinois

Forests, Apr 7, 2017

Prescribed fire has several benefits for managing forest ecosystems including reduction of fuel l... more Prescribed fire has several benefits for managing forest ecosystems including reduction of fuel loading and invasive species and enhanced regeneration of desirable tree species. Along with these benefits there are some limitations like nutrient and sediment loss which have not been studied extensively in mixed hardwood forests. The objective of our research was to quantify the amount of sediment movement occurring on a watershed scale due to prescribed fire in a southern Illinois mixed hardwood ecosystem. The research site was located at Trail of Tears State Forest in western Union county, IL, USA and included five watershed pairs. One watershed in each pair was randomly assigned the prescribed burn treatment and the other remained as control (i.e., unburned). The prescribed burn treatment significantly reduced the litter depth with 12.6%-31.5% litter remaining in the prescribed burn treatment watersheds. When data were combined across all watersheds, no significant differences were obtained between burn treatment and control watershed for total suspended solids and sediment concentrations or loads. The annual sediment losses varied from 1.41 to 90.54 kg•ha −1 •year −1 in the four prescribed burn watersheds and 0.81 to 2.54 kg•ha −1 •year −1 in the four control watersheds. Prescribed burn watershed 7 showed an average soil sediment loss of 4.2 mm, whereas control watershed 8 showed an average accumulation of sediments (9.9 mm), possibly due to steeper slopes. Prescribed burning did not cause a significant increase in soil erosion and sediment loss and can be considered acceptable in managing mixed hardwood forests of Ozark uplands and the Shawnee Hills physiographic regions of southern Illinois.

Research paper thumbnail of Indigenous knowledge and stand characteristics of a threatened tree species in a highly insecure area: Chilgoza pine in Afghanistan

Forest Ecology and Management, Apr 1, 2018

Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) is an important source of income in forested eastern Afghanistan... more Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana) is an important source of income in forested eastern Afghanistan through the harvest of edible seeds. Since the late 1970s, the resource has been largely inaccessible to researchers and government personnel from outside the region, except for the years 2002-2015, roughly coinciding with Operation Enduring Freedom. We assessed physical and social attributes of chilgoza pine forests and the management capacity of indigenous communities. We employed interviews/questionnaires and field measurements performed by Afghan forest scientists from Kabul, trained local residents, and U.S. forest scientists associated with military operations to examine stakeholder perceptions of chilgoza pine forest resilience, assess forest health, stand structure and natural regeneration status. Intensive cone collection, tree damage caused by cone harvesting, grazing, fuelwood collection, and other biotic/abiotic factors (insects, diseases, and drought) were associated with chilgoza forest degradation. Most interviewees observed natural regeneration in the understory layer of chilgoza forest stands, but perceived the overall rate of natural regeneration to be insufficient. Respondents from villages prohibiting grazing and fuelwood collection reported the greatest regeneration while the converse was associated with the lowest levels of regeneration. Field measurements confirmed the scarcity of natural regeneration of chilgoza pine, portending the further decline of this species in Afghanistan. Field surveys indicated diverse stand conditions, age class structures and land use practices employed by local stakeholders, suggesting the need for situation-specific forest management recommendations. We discuss the opportunities and limitations for forest resources data collection in highly insecure environments.

Research paper thumbnail of Regeneration and Growth following Silvicultural Treatments in a Productive Central Hardwood Forest

Forests, Jun 13, 2023

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Increased antioxidative enzyme activity mediates the phytoaccumulation potential of Pb in four agroforestry tree species: a case study under municipal and industrial wastewater irrigation

International Journal of Phytoremediation, Nov 28, 2020

Wastewater used as irrigation water is causing heavy metal accumulation in the agro-ecosystems. A... more Wastewater used as irrigation water is causing heavy metal accumulation in the agro-ecosystems. A greenhouse study was conducted to compare the phytoaccumulation ability of four agroforestry tree species under different wastewater treatments. Three-month-old potted seedlings of Morus alba, Acacia nilotica, Acacia ampliceps, and Azadirachta indica were irrigation with tap water (C), municipal wastewater (MWW), and industrial wastewater (IWW). Results showed that MWW had a positive and IWW had a negative impact on biomass production in all the species. Acacia ampliceps showed the highest increment (65%) and showed the lowest decrease (5%) in total biomass under both MWW and IWW treatment. Pb concentration was also found highest in the leaves, stem and roots of Azadirachta indica (108.5, 46.2, 180.5 mg kg À1 , respectively) under IWW. Production of H 2 O 2 was highest in IWW treatment with almost 148% increase observed in Azadirachta indica. Similarly, the production of antioxidative enzymes (Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Peroxidase) was also highest in Azadirachta indica under IWW. Therefore, results suggest that along with high increment in total biomass, both Acacia ampliceps and Azadirachta indica showed high Pb concentration and an effective antioxidative defense mechanism and thus, can be used for planting in soils irrigated with MWW and IWW.

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Erosion and Sedimentation Associated with Tracked Vehicle Training

... Jackie F. Crim, Jon E. Schoonover, Karl WJ Williard, John W. Groninger, James J. Zaczek, and ... more ... Jackie F. Crim, Jon E. Schoonover, Karl WJ Williard, John W. Groninger, James J. Zaczek, and Charles M. Ruffner1 Abstract.—A project was designed to assess erosion and sedimentation associated with tracked vehicle training in the Ft. Knox Military Reservation in Kentucky. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Using prescribed fire and mechanical thinning to improve the regenerative potential of oak species

Historical evidence and ecophysiological characteristics indicate a strong link between disturban... more Historical evidence and ecophysiological characteristics indicate a strong link between disturbance regime and the occurrence of oak (Quercus) species. Research indicates that many current oak forests developed following disturbances such as logging, fire, or a combination of logging and fire from the 18th century to the early 20th century. However, during the early and mid-20th century, many oak forests were entered for the last time and fire and cutting ceased. This resulted in the development of several cohorts of mixed mesophytic species, which are poised to replace the overstory with the next disturbance. To counter this, managers are being encouraged to use prescribed fire to improve the regenerative potential of oaks. These fires encourage prolific sprouting of oak trees while limiting the growth of many oak competitors such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum), red maple (Acer rubrum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and black cherry (Prunus serotina). In addition, oak seedlings develop slowly in the low light of a closed overstory and thick understory. Increased light improves growth of oak species but it also encourages the growth of competing vegetation. Prescribed fire has been viewed as an effective tool to limit competing vegetation and improve the growth and form of oak regeneration in thinned versus unburned areas. In a study in the Shawnee Hills region of southern Illinois in the spring of 2003, the benefits of prescribed burning, mechanical thinning, and a combination of the two were examined. This poster includes the results of this study and implications for current and future silvicultural recommendations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Native American disturbances in mixed oak forests of the Allegheny Plateau

Research paper thumbnail of Using Floristic Analysis and Dendrochronology to Plan Ecological Restoration within a Forest–Prairie Ecotone

Natural Areas Journal, Oct 18, 2021

ABSTRACT The limestone bluffs of the central Mississippi River Valley represent a significant por... more ABSTRACT The limestone bluffs of the central Mississippi River Valley represent a significant portion of the remaining intermingled xeric hill prairie-savanna-woodland systems of the Midwest where different cover types may co-occur at very fine scales. Efforts to restore these landscapes would benefit from a data-driven tool to delineate existing vegetation cover characteristics and reconcile these with desired management outcomes on a spatially explicit basis. This study employed hierarchical cluster analysis and nonmetric multidimensional scaling in combination with indicator species analysis and dendrochronological methods to examine the structure, composition, and temporal community patterns of the forest–prairie gradient in the Mississippi River Bluffs of Jersey County, Illinois. Four distinct community types were identified on the gradient: (1) a woodland community dominated by Juniperus virginiana, Carya glabra, Quercus stellata, and Lonicera maackii; (2) open oak woodland with high exposed soil and overstory of Acer saccharum, Q. velutina, and Q. muehlenbergii; (3) a hill prairie community with grass coverage as the sole indicator; and (4) a transitioning community with 14 significant indicators and a trajectory advancing toward mesophytic forest composition. These data, within context with stem age, historical documents, and drought data, reveal the role of historical disturbances in temporal patterns of forest–prairie dynamics and provide a resolution in greater detail than previous studies of forest and nonnative invasive shrub encroachment. Pairing management activities to stand conditions, as informed by understanding drivers of ecosystem change, provides continuity with historical disturbance regimes and an objective basis for restoration activities and targets.

Research paper thumbnail of Stand compositional dynamics in a mature Illinois Ozarks forest: implications for management

The Ozark Hills region of southern Illinois is characterized by the severe topography typical of ... more The Ozark Hills region of southern Illinois is characterized by the severe topography typical of the Ozark Plateau, but is overlain by loess deposits and therefore supports site conditions more typical of mesophytic forests. As is common in lightly disturbed and undisturbed mesic upland sites throughout this region, mature stands in Trail of Tears State Forest are characterized by an oak and hickory-dominated overstory and an under- and mid-story where sugar maple and American beech predominate. Between 1980 and 2000, oak and hickory species generally declined in importance while sugar maple, American beech, and yellow-poplar increased, a trend consistent with those reported in other southern Illinois forests of similar species composition. However, the sugar maple and American beech component at Trail of Tears State Forest are larger and expanding more rapidly than those reported elsewhere within the region. Management options to address these changes are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of A Dendroecological Investigation of an Upland Oak-Dominated Forest within the Grand Prairie Region of Illinois

Natural Areas Journal, Jul 1, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of From savanna to campus woodlot: the historical ecology of farm woodlots in southern Illinois

Research paper thumbnail of Patterns of Anthropogenic Fire within the Midwestern Tallgrass Prairie 1673–1905: Evidence from Written Accounts

Natural Areas Journal, Oct 18, 2021

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Disturbance history and stand dynamics along a topographic gradient in old-growth hemlock-northern hardwood forests of the Allegheny Plateau, USA

Natural Areas Journal, Apr 1, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of witness tree and contemporary compositions for old-growth forests at Savage Mountain, Maryland, and secondary forests of the northern Allegheny Mountains1

The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Research paper thumbnail of Post European Impacts on a Central

This paper describes methods used to investigate the effects of post-European settlement land-use... more This paper describes methods used to investigate the effects of post-European settlement land-use on the structure and species composition of a central Pennsylvania woodlot. Historical accounts and witness tree analysis used to reconstruct the pre-settlement landscape describe a prairie/savanna occupying the Penns Valley region of central Pennsylvania. The historical information suggests the woodlot originated following European settlement, when land uses such as farming, grazing, and eventual land abandonment altered the original landscape, allowing development of closed canopy woodlots on hilly areas with poorer soil quality. Dendroecological analysis of the woodlot also supports post-settlement origin. The oldest tree individuals established around forty years after settlement indicating the woodlot is not a pre-settlement origin remnant but a result of post-settlement land-use patterns. In addition, subsequent land-use in the woodlot was recorded in the tree ring record. Numerou...

Research paper thumbnail of Tree-Ring Responses to Drought Across Species and Contrasting Sites in the Ridge and Valley of Central Pennsylvania

Research paper thumbnail of Data on ecological associations and stand structure of chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana Wall. ex D. Don) in Afghanistan

Data in Brief, 2018

Reported here are original data related to the article "Indigenous knowledge and stand characteri... more Reported here are original data related to the article "Indigenous knowledge and stand characteristics of a threatened tree species in a highly insecure area: Chilgoza pine in Afghanistan" (Shalizi et al., 2018) [1]. A dendrochronological summary of all known chilgoza pine tree growth increment cores collected in Afghanistan is presented in this data in brief article. Chilgoza pine trees and regeneration density profiles are reported for four provinces of eastern Afghanistan. In addition, images depicting chilgoza pine forest structure, stand conditions, and utilization impacts are presented.

Research paper thumbnail of Oak Ecosystem Restoration and Maintenance in Southern Illinois

Oak dominance in southern Illinois appears to be a consequence of long-term anthropogenic disturb... more Oak dominance in southern Illinois appears to be a consequence of long-term anthropogenic disturbances, including burning, grazing, and cutting. The increased prevalence of thin-barked, shade tolerant species, such as sugar maple and beech on presently oak-dominated upland sites appears to be a result of the extremely low-intensity disturbance regimes of the late 20 th century. Our preliminary work indicates that moderate intensity fall burns top-kill 40 percent of pre-burn sugar maple and beech seedlings [< 2 inches in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.)] and increase herbaceous cover between 15-25 percent. However, sapling sized stems are largely undamaged suggesting that burning alone will not effectively restore oak dominance. Thus, a replicated study has been implemented to test the effectiveness of periodic burning and partial cutting, alone and in combination, to control mesophytic tree species and regenerate upland oak stands. Vegetation dynamics will be assessed on a long-term basis to document the effects of fire and cutting towards maintaining oak dominated ecosystems.

Research paper thumbnail of Fall 2004 ALSO: Stopping Power • Into the Woods • Feeding Afghanistan

Use of trade names implies no endorsement by SIUC. Opinions expressed in Perspectives do not nece... more Use of trade names implies no endorsement by SIUC. Opinions expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily reflect the official views of the university. Thi s issue of Perspectives celebrates a major anniversary: the 40th year that a much-lauded editorial project, the Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, has been headquartered at SIUC. By making available the key writings of an American military hero and president, this far-reaching endeavor, led by history professor John Y. Simon, has given historians and the public a fuller picture of the Civil War, 19thcentury politics, and Grant as a person. One of the top U.S. awards in history, the Lincoln Prize, was given to Dr. Simon this year in recognition of the Grant project's special achievement. Other research featured in this issue touches on aspects of our environmentfrom forest management to fuel cells to fish populations in the Mississippi River-and our connection to other nations, represented here by a project to revitalize agriculture in Afghanistan. But to kick things off, we momentarily come to a halt with "Stopping Power," an update on brake materials research by SIUC's Center for Advanced Friction Studies. The diverse research accomplishments of all of our faculty recently boosted SIUC to #100 (up from #104) in the National Science Foundation's annual ranking of public universities by research and development expenditures-another step toward our goal of being among the top 75 public research universities by SIUC's 150th anniversary in 2019. We are proud to count ourselves among this select group of institutions committed to the synergy of research and education.