The pheasants and relatives have been the subject of a large number of extensive treatises, including works by Beebe (1918– 1922) and Delacour (1977), which are considered classic treatments of some of the species included in Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Although these “gamebirds” contain a number of the best-known and studied birds in the world, most notably the domestic chicken, the ring-necked or common pheasant (Phas...

Bayesian melding, a method for assessing uncertainties in deterministic simulation models, was augmented to make use of prior knowledge about correlations between model inputs. The augmentation involved the use of a nonparametric correlation induction algorithm. The modified Bayesian melding technique was applied to the process-based forest ecosystem computer model PnET-II. The Bayesian posterior distribution for this analysis...

We measured nutrient use efficiency (NPP/nutrient uptake) in three species of tropical trees, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Cedrela odorata, and Cordia alliodora. We tested the prediction that on fertile soils species with very different biomass and nutrient allocation and turnover would converge on a common value of nutrient use efficiency. Due to high soil fertility, nutrient use efficiencies of the species studied were low (95–1...

A finite mixture model is used to describe the diameter distributions of mixed-species forest stands. A three-parameter Weibull function is assumed as the component probability density function in the finite mixture model. Four example plots, each with two species, are selected to demonstrate model fitting and comparison. It appears that the finite mixture model is flexible enough to fit irregular, multimodal, or highly skewed...

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are important components in many temperate forest ecosystems, and a new book that synthesizes information on their management is always of interest. The intent of this book was to bring together knowledge from a diverse group of people who study oak forests and make that information available to those interested in managing those forests in a sustainable manner for wildlife. I think the authors have done a...

This is an outstanding monograph of the genus Leptographium, a group of fungi that occurs predominantly in pine. Leptographium species have been associated with pine decline and mortality, primarily as associates of root feeding bark beetles and weevils that attack living trees. Several studies have shown that Leptographium plays a major role in decline syndromes both in plantations and aging forests. There are several Leptogr...

Representative samples of the British and Norwegian population were surveyed by telephone and asked to make a hypothetical choice between unlabeled wooden furniture and more expensive eco-labeled wooden furniture. Choice behavior was modeled as a random utility model with utility-theoretic restrictions on choice and estimated willingness to pay (WTP). To counteract upward biased hypothetical values, a followup question assesse...

This article examines alternative approaches for representing a forest region to be scheduled for harvesting, where the primary concerns are maximizing return and imposing a maximum contiguous area of disturbance restriction. One approach assumes that any two adjacent management units exceed a regulated maximum area of disturbance. An alternative approach recognizes that management units may be substantially smaller than the m...

We propose 13 continuous time stochastic models based on the state-dependent volatility process for stochastic log price dynamics, and then conduct a comparative analysis for their performance. Comparison is carried out on the basis of AIC (Akaike's Information Criterion), the mean squared error of the model, and the likelihood ratio test. Parameter estimation is performed by using the local linearization method. Our experimen...

This study develops a density-driven module and combines it with conventional growth equations, making the resulting model applicable to managed stands. The relationship between the diameter increment of an average tree and density evolves from the analysis of amount of light coming to the unshaded (upper) part of the crown, distribution of foliage along the stem, proportion of light transmitted through the crown, probability...

An outbreak of the two-year cycle budworm (Choristoneura biennis Freeman) has caused defoliation damage to interior spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry × P. glauca (Moench)) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa [Hook.] Nutt.) forests of north central British Columbia for more than 10 yr and was ongoing in 1999. A sample of 429 increment cores from spruce, subalpine fir, and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.) was...

Provenance-progeny test plantations of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were assessed for survival, height, mean annual increment for volume (MAIV), and fusiform rust infection (caused by Cronartium quercuum [Berk] Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme) at 5, 10 and 15 yr. Each of the 7 sites contained from 6 to 15 open-pollinated families from each of 4 provenances: Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP), Central Florida (CF), Marion County...

The Canada–U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) was the latest measure to restrict Canadian exports of softwood lumber to the United States. Rather than a countervail duty or export tax, SLA employed a quota that provides a large windfall (quota) rent to Canadian lumber producers in addition to extra quasi-rents to U.S. producers, all at the expense of U.S. consumers. However, Canadian producers have not taken full advantage o...

The progression of pitch canker disease, caused by Fusarium circinatum, was followed over 4 yr (1992–1996) in urban stands of Monterey pine, Pinus radiata, with initially zero, light, moderate, and severe disease intensity. The disease progressed from a few to many branch tip symptoms, followed by the appearance of cankers on the main stem. Symptomatic branch tips at the start of the study were predictive of tree mortality or...

Broadscale statistical evaluations of wildfire incidence can answer policy-relevant questions about the effectiveness of microlevel vegetation management and can identify subjects needing further study. A dynamic time series cross-sectional model was used to evaluate the statistical links between forest wildfire and vegetation management, human land use, and climatic factors in Florida counties. Four forest wildfire risk funct...

In this article, we introduce a fuzzy logic based control system that calibrates the price list controlling the tree bucking of a modern harvester according to the unique conditions of an individual stand prior to harvesting. The system employs a bucking simulator that predicts an output distribution for any price list generated. A fuzzy controller is used to recalculate the price list according to the difference between the d...

A combined model, with a matrix component to describe the trees whose diameters are below a threshold, and an individual-based component for the trees above the threshold, is proposed. The combined model is derived from a matrix model and simulates the dynamics of a tropical rainforest in French Guiana, with a management orientation. The methodology to build a combined model starting from a matrix model is specified. The cruci...

Adjacency constraints in harvest scheduling models prevent the harvest of adjacent management units within a given time period. Two mixed integer linear programming (MILP) harvest scheduling formulations are presented that include adjacency constraints, yet allow the simultaneous harvest of groups of contiguous management units whose combined areas are less than some predefined limit. These models are termed Area Restriction M...

State cost-share programs for nonindustrial private forest landowners are public assistance programs in the form of direct subsidy payments. A total of 18 states have such programs. This article presents a political economy model and empirical evidences of the factors that determine their presence and continuation. A logit regression is used in the empirical analysis, and the results suggest that the importance of forestry in...

Forest managers increasingly recognize that management of non-wood forest product (NWFP) harvesting is important for conserving biological diversity and sustaining human use of forests. Importantly, many of these products, and the forests they grow in, are integral to the persistence of indigenous cultures. Similarly, rural communities are more likely to support forest conservation or longer timber rotations if they can annual...

In this welcome and accessible volume, Seth Reice, a stream ecologist who specializes in the study of disturbance effects on community structure, explains to the informed nonspecialist how important are disturbances to the health and diversity of ecosystems. It is important to note that this book is intended to enlighten a lay audience; it is not intended strictly or even primarily for forest scientists or ecologists. And ther...

Estimates of category frequencies in stratified double sampling are generally obtained by methods of maximum likelihood assuming a multinomial distribution of data. Although the distribution of estimation errors is asymptotically normal, a reliance on the normal assumption for inference can be problematic for low frequency categories (<10%) and small sample sizes (<1,000). In these situations, a Bayesian approach appears more...

The period of growth response of forest plantations to phosphate fertilizer applications has been variable and difficult to predict. Significant growth responses by Pinus radiata (D. Don) to two different phosphate fertilizers, superphosphate and rock phosphate applied at 96 kg P ha-1 (previously reported by the authors) have continued for the 50 yr period since the fertilizers were initially applied in 1947. There have been n...