Latewood Ring Width Reveals CE 1734 Felling Dates for Walker House Timbers in Tupelo, Mississippi, USA

Widespread decline and mortality of white oaks (Quercus alba) occurred in Missouri Ozark forests between 2011 and 2017. Symptoms included rapid crown death with bronzing of leaves, retention of dead leaves, crown dieback and thinning, and loss of large limbs within one year of death. Decline and mortality were associated with hillside drainages and fit descriptions of European oak forests predisposed to decline by pathogenic Phytophthora species. A survey was performed at two locations in 2014 and 2015 to assess the distribution of dead and declining white oaks, and the occurrence and distribution of Phytophthora species. Multiple Phytophthora species were detected, including P. cinnamomi, P. cactorum, P. europaea, and P. pini. P. cinnamomi was the most common and widely distributed species among plots at both locations. The detection of P. cinnamomi at the base of white oaks was not associated with poor crown vigor. However, more quantitative survey techniques are necessary to clearly evaluate this relationship. P. cinnamomi kills fine roots of white and red oaks in North America and has been associated with the decline of white oaks in the United States (Ohio) and other countries. Further studies are needed to determine the importance of P. cinnamomi in oak decline within the Ozark highlands.

Abstract Tree-ring data is commonly used in forest science and dendrochronology. As the collected datasets represent restricted populations of theoretical infinite sample size, an interesting question deals with the sample selection that is carried out during the fieldwork and through the data analyses. This paper considers the latter issue, by statistically examining a recently completed Scots pine dataset of timberline tree-rings from Lapland (northern Finland). Following the detrending of individual ring-width series, the composition of the data was restricted using a pre-determined criteria of linear correlativity between the individual sample series and the master chronology (Rmaster). This procedure reduced both the number of sites and the sample size (i.e. the number of individual tree-ring series) and altered the tree-ring statistics of the remaining subset of the data in a systematic fashion. It was seen that the first-order autocorrelation, mean sensitivity and standard deviation all ascended with the uplifted Rmaster criterion. Conspicuously, such filtering also reduced the correlation between the resulting tree-ring chronology and climate parameter. The results indicated that the screening of the data will alter the chronology statistics in a way that may be artificially generated, irrelative to the predetermined sample selection criteria. We remain to assume that the most fundamental selection of data is attained through the cross-dating process.

Little is known about environmental controls on vessel features in ring-porous tree species. Our objectives were to assess (i) the association between tree-ring descriptors (vessels and width) and climate in two oak species, white oak, Quercus alba L., and red oak, Quercus rubra L., and (ii) the utility of vessel series in climate reconstruction. The study was conducted in southern Quebec and 10 trees of each species were analyzed. For each species, 11 chronologies (vessel and ring width) were developed and compared. Few differences were observed between the oak species. All vessel chronologies were associated with those of ring dimension and none revealed a unique climate signal. Current growing season conditions were mainly associated with latewood features, whereas those of the year prior to ring formation were mainly associated with earlywood features. The best climate variable to reconstruct was the July Canadian Drought Code and the best reconstruction model was derived from earlywood, latewood, and ring-width chronologies. We conclude that vessel chronologies for Q. alba and Q. rubra have limited use in dendroclimatology. Vessel features are best used to identify event years recorded during the life of a tree. Vessel series could prove useful, however, in calibrating physiologically based models of tree growth.

Once dominant across the United States (US) Southeastern Coastal Plain, the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) ecosystem covers a fraction of its historic geographic range. Restoration efforts have largely occurred on public lands, while most private forests feature alternative pine species. A better understanding of public interest in ecological restoration is critical to sustained efforts and successes. This research examines both forest landowner and general public interest in longleaf pine restoration. Results contribute to research on the social dimensions of ecological restoration, much of which has focused on small-scale projects rather than landscape-scale initiatives. In addition, this study addresses the lack of knowledge regarding factors driving attitudes towards ecological restoration other than demographic and psychometric variables. We employed a telephone survey of 2700 participants across eight states in the southeastern US in the historical range of longleaf pine. A majority of respondents supported restoration as a general goal and were supportive of the use of prescribed fire as a restoration practice. Place attachment, knowledge about longleaf pine, and age were among the significant predictors of restoration support. Findings have implications for future research focusing on sociocultural influences of restoration projects, as well as expanded public support for restoration of fire-maintained ecosystems.

Ring-width chronologies have been developed for alpine larch (Larixlyallii Pari.) at six tree-line sites in the Banff–Kananaskis area of the southern Canadian Rockies. Evaluation of all chronologies confirms that alpine larch ring-width series have higher mean sensitivities, lower autocorrelation, and greater common variance than series from other tree species growing at tree line in this area. Missing and very narrow rings created cross-dating difficulties at all sites but were most problematic for the sites along the Continental Divide. Up to 1% of the rings were missing from entire chronologies, but for specific years, up to 77% of the rings were missing at one site. Marker (narrow) rings were present at all sites for the years 1610, 1654, 1715, 1720, 1723, 1752, 1799, 1824, 1842, 1844, 1915, 1925, 1951, and 1971. Tree growth rates were reduced for the periods 1675–1710, 1815–1850, and 1960–1978 whereas increased growth occurred during 1650–1680, 1750–1800, 1850–1900, and 1920–1950. The only factor that could affect all sites over such a broad geographic area is climate. Principal components analysis indicated that the first eigenvector derived from the six chronologies accounted for 70.7% of their common variance and the first three components accounted for 91.6%. The high correlation between the six first principal component and standard chronologies suggested that either method may be used for standardizing tree-ring data from alpine larch.

Convective storms affect countries worldwide, with billions in losses and dozens of fatalities every year. They are now the key insured loss driver in the United States, even after considering the losses sustained by tropical cyclones in 2017. Since 2008, total insured losses from convective storms have exceeded $10 billion per year. Additionally, these losses continue to increase year over year. Key loss drivers include increased population, buildings, vehicles, and property values. However, other loss drivers relate to construction materials and practices, as well as building code adoption and enforcement. The increasing loss trends pose a number of challenges for the insurance industry and broader society. These challenges are discussed, and some recommendations are presented.

Abstract Background Prescribed fire is increasingly used to restore and maintain upland oak (Quercus L. spp.) ecosystems in the central and eastern US. However, little is known about how prescribed fire affects recently fallen acorns under different fine fuel loads, which can vary with stand composition and basal area, burn season, and fire frequency. We conducted plot-level (1 m2) burns in an upland oak stand in northern Mississippi, USA, during December 2018, using single (i.e., ambient), double, and triple fine fuel loads, representative of those in nearby unburned and recently fire-treated, closed-canopy stands. Pre burn, we placed 30 acorns each of white oak (Quercus alba L.) and Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii Buckley) ~1 cm below the litter surface in five plots of each fuel treatment. Immediately post burn, we planted unburned and burned acorns in a greenhouse. After ~50% of each species’ unburned acorns germinated, we measured percent germination and height, basal diameter, and leaf number of germinating seedlings weekly for 11 weeks. Then, we harvested seedlings to determine above- and belowground biomass. Results The single fuel treatment reduced acorn germination rates of both species to ~40% compared to ~88% in unburned acorns. When burned in double and triple fuel loads, acorns of both species had a <5% germination rate. There was no difference in basal diameter, leaf number, or biomass of seedlings from burned versus unburned acorns for either species. However, seedlings originating from burned acorns of both species were ~11% shorter than those from unburned acorns. Thus, both species responded similarly to fuel load treatments. Conclusions Acorns of both species exhibited greater survival with lower fine fuel loads, and consequently lower percent fuel consumption. Acorns germinating post fire generally produced seedlings with growth patterns similar to seedlings originating from unburned acorns. These findings indicate that regular, repeated prescribed fires or canopy reductions that limit fine fuel accumulation and create heterogeneous fuel beds are likely to increase acorn germination rates relative to unburned sites or those with recently introduced fire.

Abstract Background The US has seen a rise in the proportion of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) even though the yearly incidence of new TB cases has been in decline. The purpose of this study was to analyze incidence of extrapulmonary TB at Atrium Health, a large non-profit health system in the Southeastern US. Methods Retrospective chart review of 94 adult patients with culture confirmed extrapulmonary TB between 2008-2019. Individuals younger than 18 years were excluded from analysis. The primary objective was to examine incidence of extrapulmonary TB and compare it to that reported in the literature. Secondary objectives included determination of sites of extrapulmonary disease and associated patient characteristics including HIV status, race, ethnicity, and birthplace. Results 237 patients were identified as having confirmed TB infection from 2008-2019 in a retrospective analysis within the Atrium Health System. 94 (40%) were found to have extrapulmonary disease; 42 (45%) with concomitant pulmonary disease. The patients were 55% male, 40% African American, 21% Hispanic or Latino, and 51% US-born. Median age was 44 years (range 20-62). The most common sites of extrapulmonary TB were lymphatic (35%), pleural (24%), GI/Peritoneal (12%), CNS (10%), and Bone/Joint (10%). Lymphatic involvement was 40% cervical, 19% intrathoracic, and 16% axillary. 66% of skeletal disease was vertebral. Other sites included GU, pericardial, skin, and disseminated disease (5%). 37% were HIV positive, 18% with unknown HIV status as they were never tested. Information regarding patient’s race, ethnicity, and birthplace were unknown for 2 patients. The percentage of extrapulmonary cases were 29% in 2008, 39% in 2012, 38% in 2016, and 49% in 2019. Conclusion Lymphatic and pleural involvement were the most common extrapulmonary sites. Of those tested, 37% were HIV positive but there was a significant portion never tested showing a need for increased testing. The proportion of extrapulmonary TB cases since 2008 is higher at 40% compared to the 31% reported in the United States. There has been a rise in the proportion of extrapulmonary TB within our healthcare system and deserves further analysis. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures