Adjacent Plots Research Articles

The Impact of High Standard Farmland Construction Based on Water-saving Irrigation on Grain Production Capacity

Through the implementation of the high standard farmland construction project, the original other grasslands in the project area have been developed, the irregular land has been leveled, the excavation of irrigation pipe trench and the matching of pipe fittings have improved the shortage of the original irrigation and drainage facilities in the project area, greatly improving the irrigation conditions of farmland, effectively preventing the loss of soil fertility, promoting the development of the potential of land production, and the comprehensive quality of farmland has been greatly improved. After the arrangement of cultivated land, the quality grade of cultivated land is slightly higher than that of adjacent plots, the grain production capacity has been improved, and the overall quality of cultivated land in the project area will reach a certain level after the application of organic fertilizer, soil fertility and other measures.

PSIII-13 Performance and Resiliency of Lactating Does and Their Kids in Woodlands with Supplemental Feedstuffs or Grazing

Abstract Previous woodland-grazing studies reported poor performance of young, growing goats and recommended for supplemental feed. However, not much is known about strategies to supplement lactating animals stocked in woodlands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and resiliency against gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of lactating does and their kids stocked in woodlands with supplemental grazing or feedstuffs. The study was conducted in six woodland plots and adjacent silvopasture plots were used for supplemental grazing. Seventeen lactating Kiko does with their kids (33) were divided into two groups. Each group was assigned to separate sets of woodland plots and rotated among those plots throughout the study period. One group (Group 1) was allowed to supplemental grazing in adjacent silvopasture plots for 3-4 hours daily and another group (Group 2) was supplemented with ad libitum hay and corn (0.5% of metabolic weight). Animal performance data (live weight, FAMACHA score, and body condition score (BCS)) were collected at the beginning after a 5-day-adjustment period, fortnightly during the study, and at the end. Vegetation samples from woodland and silvopasture plots were collected and analyzed for biomass and quality (CP, ADF, NDF, TDN). Fecal samples were collected and analyzed for GI parasites from animals having FAMACHA score 3 and higher. Animal performance and forage quality data were analyzed using GLM procedure, forage biomass data using Mixed model, and fecal egg-count data using the non-parametric (NPAR1WAY) procedure in SAS 9.4. Silvopasture produced greater biomass (60%) with higher quality (p< 0.0001) vs. woodland. Group-1 does showed better FAMACHA score and less prevalence of GI-parasite infestation vs. Group-2 does (p< 0.05). Group-1 kids had lower coccidia count vs. Group-2 kids (p< 0.05). In conclusion, supplemental grazing was better for resiliency against GI parasites in lactating does and young kids than supplemental feeding.

Housing Development for All? Learnings from the Ars Longa Case.

This paper discusses the prerequisites of inclusive housing development based on the learnings from Ars Longa, a block of flats for artists, designers and authors in Helsinki, Finland, that was initiated by a group of elderly persons. The study draws from research on co-design and universal design in housing. Post Occupancy Evaluation is used as method of investigation. Interviews with four key actors trace the barriers and enabling factors in the housing development process and assess the final design outcome. The results highlight the role of public institutions in supporting resident-driven projects, the financing of projects as major barrier to laypeople, and the potential of concept design in integrating the needs of stakeholders. Joint design with adjacent plots made extensive shared spaces feasible and clever design moves enabled spatial flexibility, whereas the connection of co-design activities to building design was deemed weak. The study shows that continuous management and community building are needed for negotiating the use of spaces and for fostering agency and belonging among residents. The paper contributes to research on inclusive housing development through an empirical case.

Legitimate land interests and prospects of their implementation in the conditions of digitalization of land relations

Legitimate land interests and prospects of their implementation in the conditions of digitalization of land relations

Species Diversity Assessment along Altitudinal Gradient in Cold Desert Juniperus Forest of North-Western Himalaya

The present study was carried out in the cold desert ecosystem of pure Juniperus forest in Northwestern Himalayan region to assess the species diversity along the altitudinal gradient. The entire study area was divided into eight main plots along altitudinal gradient starting from 3000m up to >4260m amsl with 180m elevational distance between two adjacent main plots. A total of 9 shrub and 19 herb species were reported in the entire study area at different altitudes. The maximum density among shrubs was reported for Ephedra vulgaris (853.33 N ha -1 ) at A 6 and whereas, Juniperus communis has the highest basal area (6642.77 cm 2 ha -1 ) at A 2 elevation. Ephedra vulgaris was the most dominant shrub with an IVI value of 206.19 at A 8, which contributed 33. 11 % of shrub species. Â Artemisia maritima was the most frequently occurring herb species with the highest density (47666. 67 N ha -1 ) at A 1 . The maximum basal area was reported for Waldhemia tomentosa (45373.67 cm 2 ha -1 ) at A 4 elevation. Species richness was found to be markedly declined with an increase in altitude. However, the richness was found to be maximum at mid of the elevation gradient A 4 and A 5 . Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H') and concentration of dominance (Cd) have shown a negative relationship. The study provides necessary information about the distribution and diversity of essential shrubs and herb species at different altitudes for regeneration, sustainable forest management and conservation actions around the mid-altitudes of the cold desert of northwestern Himalayas.

Dynamics of carbon loss from an Arenosol by a forest to vineyard land use change on a centennial scale

Abstract. Few studies have focused on Arenosols with regard to soil carbon dynamics despite the fact that they represent 7 % of the world's soils and are present in key areas where food security is a major issue (e.g., in Sahelian regions). As for other soil types, land use changes (from forest or grassland to cropland) lead to a loss of substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and have a lasting impact on the SOC turnover. Here we quantified long-term variations in carbon stocks and their dynamics in a 80 cm deep Mediterranean Arenosol that had undergone a forest-to-vineyard land use change over a 100 years ago. Paired sites of adjacent plots combined with carbon and nitrogen quantification and natural radiocarbon (14C) abundance analyses revealed a C stock of 53 t ha−1 in the 0–30 cm forest soil horizon, which was reduced to 3 t ha−1 after long-term grape cultivation. Total organic carbon in the vineyard was dramatically low, with around 1 g C kg−1, and there was no vertical gradient as a function of depth. 14C showed that deep plowing (50 cm) in the vineyard plot redistributed the remaining carbon both vertically and horizontally. This remaining carbon was old (compared to that of the forest), which had a C:N ratio characteristic of microbial organic matter and was probably stabilized within organomineral associations. Despite the drastic degradation of the organic matter (OM) pool in this Arenosol, this soil would have a high carbon storage potential if agricultural practices, such as grassing or organic amendment applications, were to be implemented within the framework of the 4 per 1000 initiative.

Experimental and observational evidence of negative conspecific density dependence in temperate ectomycorrhizal trees.

Conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) promotes tree species diversity by reducing recruitment near conspecific adults due to biotic feedbacks from herbivores, pathogens, or competitors. While this process is well-described in tropical forests, tests of temperate tree species range from strong positive to strong negative density dependence. To explain this, several studies have suggested that tree species traits may help predict the strength and direction of density dependence: for example, ectomycorrhizal-associated tree species typically exhibit either positive or weaker negative conspecific density dependence. More generally, the strength of density dependence may be predictably related to other species-specific ecological attributes such as shade tolerance, or the relative local abundance of a species. To test the strength of density dependence and whether it affects seedling community diversity in a temperate forest, we tracked the survival of seedlings of three ectomycorrhizal-associated species experimentally planted beneath conspecific and heterospecific adults on the Prospect Hill tract of the Harvard Forest, in Massachusetts, USA. Experimental seedling survival was always lower under conspecific adults, which increased seedling community diversity in one of six treatments. We compared these results to evidence of CNDD from observed sapling survival patterns of 28 species over approximately 8 years in an adjacent 35-ha forest plot. We tested whether species-specific estimates of CNDD were associated with mycorrhizal association, shade tolerance, and local abundance. We found evidence of significant, negative conspecific density dependence (CNDD) in 23 of 28 species, and positive conspecific density dependence in two species. Contrary to our expectations, ectomycorrhizal-associated species generally exhibited stronger (e.g., more negative) CNDD than arbuscular mycorrhizal-associated species. CNDD was also stronger in more shade-tolerant species but was not associated with local abundance. Conspecific adult trees often have a negative influence on seedling survival in temperate forests, particularly for tree species with certain traits. Here we found strong experimental and observational evidence that ectomycorrhizal-associating species consistently exhibit CNDD. Moreover, similarities in the relative strength of density dependence from experiments and observations of sapling mortality suggest a mechanistic link between negative effects of conspecific adults on seedling and sapling survival and local tree species distributions.

Biodiversity associated with restored small-scale mussel habitats has restoration decision implications

The global loss of marine ecosystem engineers has caused an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. Although wild shellfish habitats have been shown to support biodiverse ecosystems, little is known about how biodiversity is altered by restored shellfish habitats, particularly mussels. To explore the biodiversity response to restored mussel habitats we deposited mussels on the seafloor in 1.5 × 1.5 m plots across a gradient of benthic environments. To understand a holistic community response, this study looks at the response of three faunal classifications over 1 year: infauna, epifauna, and pelagic fauna, compared with adjacent control plots (no mussels). The restored mussel habitats recorded 42 times more demersal fish than control areas, while macroalgae and mobile benthic invertebrates had over a twofold increase in abundance. Overall, the addition of mussels to the seafloor resulted in a general reduction of infaunal abundance and biodiversity, but an increase in epifaunal and pelagic faunal abundances, specifically from those species that benefit from benthic habitat complexity and an increase in food availability. From a management perspective, we highlight location-specific differences to consider for future restoration efforts, including environmental conditions and potential observed factors such as nearby sources of species, particularly predators, and relevant demersal fish ranges. Ultimately, measuring biodiversity responses in small-scale studies will serve as a valuable guide for larger scale restoration efforts and this study recommends considerations to enhance biodiversity outcomes in restored mussel habitats.

Exclusion of plant input affects the temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon decomposition

Plant residue input plays a vital role in cropland carbon (C) balance, which can be greatly affected by climate change. Our knowledge of the effect of plant residue on soil respiration is crucial for evaluating C exchange between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, but large uncertainties remain in the effect of plant input on the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil organic C (SOC) decomposition in cropland ecosystems. Here, soils were sampled from two bare fallow plots (including a Mollisol and an Alfisol with different climate and land-use history) and their adjacent old field plots, and were incubated at 10 °C and 20 °C for 815 days. The ‘equal-time’, ‘equal-C’, ‘one-pool model’ and ‘two-pool model’ methods were used to evaluate the Q10 of SOC decomposition. Results indicated that in the early stage of incubation, exclusion of plant input increased the Q10 (Alfisol) or had minor effect on the Q10 (Mollisol), which may be related to the interactions between substrate quality decrease (increase of chemical stability) and clay mineral suppression on microbial decomposition. However, in the later stage of incubation, plant residue removal decreased the Q10 values in both soils possibly due to the limitation of substrate availability on microbial decomposition. Overall, the role of plant input in the temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition should be considered when predicting SOC stocks in a future warmer world.

Interception Strategies for Managing Exotic Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Nurseries

Interception Strategies for Managing Exotic Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Nurseries

Floristic Composition and Diversity of Vascular Plants inRemnant Patches of Arsi-Bale Massif of Oromia RegionalState, Ethiopia

This research was done in Arsi-Bale Massif remnant vegetation of southeast Ethiopia to investigate vascular plant diversity and endemism in forest patch, riverine, and grazing land-use types. A total of 126 quadrats, each with 900 m2 (30 m × 30 m), were selected systematically along the altitudinal gradient. Shannon Weiner Diversity index and R Package 3.2 were applied to analyze species composition and diversity, whereas the similarity ratio among land use and other related vegetation was determined using Sorensen’s index. From the study, 382 vascular plant species under 223 genera and 92 families were identified. The growth forms revealed that there were 118 woody (26 trees, 10 lianas, and 82 shrubs) and 239 herbaceous species of plant. Of these, 216, 165, and 154 species are shared by riverine, forest patch, and grazing land-use types, respectively. Asteraceae with 68 species was the most dominant family in the present study, followed by Poaceae, Lamiaceae, and Cyperaceae with 30, 21, and 13 species, respectively. Forty-four endemic species were documented in this study. According to the IUCN Red List, 22 species were not evaluated; 10 species were least concerned; 1 species was endangered; and 1 species was vulnerable, while 4 species have been categorized as not threatened. The highest similarity was observed between grazing and riverine land-use types; this may be due to the presence of many adjacent plots in both land use, associated mechanisms of adaptation, and requirements for species occurrence. Moreover, the floristic composition similarity of the study area in comparison with other vegetation types of Ethiopia shows variation (Ss = 0.223–0.526), maybe due to climatic variation, ecological distance, and disturbances. Generally, the total diversity and evenness of the studied remnant vegetation were 2.917 and 0.948, respectively. This lower diversity value clearly indicates that there are many human-induced factors deteriorating the plant species of the studied vegetation. Therefore, the concerned body of the government should work with local farmers to conserve the remaining plant species including many endemic species by developing appropriate conservation and management plans.

Species Richness, Stem Density, and Canopy in Food Forests: Contributions to Ecosystem Services in an Urban Environment

Food forests expand the traditional concepts of urban forestry and agriculture, providing a broad diversity of tree-related ecosystem services and goods. Even though food forest systems bridge an obvious gap between agriculture and forestry, their potential value in the urban landscape is often undervalued. The inclusion of edible species in urban forest stands can enhance nutrition and well-being in the urban landscape, where food deserts are common. The potential for ecosystem services is especially pronounced in subtropical and tropical regions, where there is a heightened need for shade due to climate change-related heat waves. For this study, we investigated the tree species richness, stem density, and canopy cover provided by food forest gardens in 10 Miami-Dade County, Florida public schools located in the urban landscape. We compared results with neighboring properties around the schools and discovered that the food forest canopy was comparable with neighborhood urban tree cover. Additionally, we established that arborescent species richness (including an increase in edible taxa) and stem density was higher in food forests than in adjacent neighborhood plots. We posit that local food production could be enhanced by planting edible species in small spaces (e.g., empty lots or residential yards), as opposed to focusing on just ornamental taxa or recommended street trees. Our study highlights the importance of using mixed edible tree species plantings (especially with consideration to provisioning, regulating, and supporting services), potentially meeting urban forestry and agricultural goals proposed by urban planners and managers.

Might field experiments also be inadvertent metacommunities?

Metacommunity theory predicts that the composition and diversity of a site depend on its characteristics and those of its neighborhood. Dispersal between plots in a field experiment could link responses observed in a focal plot to both its treatment and those of its neighbors. However, the diversity, composition, and treatments of neighboring plots are rarely included in analyses of experimental treatments. We analyzed a spatially gridded grassland nitrogen addition experiment and found that plant species richness and the composition of focal plots were influenced not just by their nitrogen treatment but also by the number of species in neighboring plots and their abundances. For each additional species in a focal plot's neighborhood, the species richness of the focal plot increased by 0.30 species. Control plots had a significant loss of species, at a rate of ~0.23 species per year during the 23-year experiment, but only when their neighborhoods had low species richness. Changes in the abundance of the three dominant species depended both on the nitrogen treatment of a focal plot and on their abundance in adjacent plots. Our analyses suggested that both the experimental nitrogen treatments and metacommunity processes codetermined plant species richness and plant species' abundances. Our findings suggested that analyzing many traditional field experiments with a metacommunity perspective may reveal a confounding of experimental treatments and provide empirical data to test metacommunity theory.

Dominant landscape characteristics of the arable land red line in Donggang, China

In the face of endless idle and even abandoned farmland, it is trying to protect farmland resources and ensure food supply by determining the bottom line (red line) of arable land that cannot be changed in use. The red line has landscape characteristics and functions, but there remain limited understandings of how to judge the dominant landscape characteristics of cultivated land. Therefore, this study divides landscape characteristics into aesthetic value and stability according to landscape pattern. A comprehensive evaluation system was developed to explore the dominant landscape features of the cultivated resources based on a multi-factor comprehensive evaluation. On this basis, this study conducts an empirical study in Donggang, a coastal city in China. The results show that cultivated land resources with high aesthetic value are distributed near cities, major roads, and important natural resources. The cultivated land resources with greater continuity and compatibility with adjacent plots are relatively stable, mainly paddy fields. The red line of cultivated land should focus on the characteristics of cultivated land stability. At the same time, the aesthetic value of cultivated land resources is also an important factor (related degree is 0.852). According to this evaluation system, the dominant area of arable land protection in Donggang City is 88,027.21hm2, which is the preferred area for the red line of arable land.

Using farmers evaluation criteria as an essential constituent of variety popularization: The case of improved finger millet variety demonstration in selected districts of East Wallaga Zone

The study was conducted in the Boneya Boshe, Wayu Tuqa, and Diga districts of western Oromia, during the 2020 main cropping season. The objective of the study was to demonstrate a recently released finger millet variety to the farmers in the study areas. A new variety (Bako-09) was planted along with standard checks (Gute and Gudetu) on 100 m2 adjacent plots, adhering to breeder recommendations. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed for this study. At maturity, participatory variety evaluation was done using qualitative and quantitative traits/criteria set by the farmers to select the best variety for future use. Disease resistance/ tolerance, grain yield performance, tillering capacity, number of fingers per head, and seed color were the first five most important criteria considered by the farmers in their order of importance. The new variety was ranked first based on these criteria and was selected as the first option for future use by the farmers. An independent sample t-test was used to analyze quantitative data, while qualitative data were qualitatively analyzed and described. The mean grain yield performance of the varieties (qt ha-1) was 24.73±1.05, 20.23±0.73 and18.36±0.34 for Bako-09, Gute, and Gudetu, respectively which is statistically significant (p<0.01). The new variety, accordingly exhibited a yield advantage of 22.24% and 34.7%, respectively over Gute and Gudetu varieties. The technology gap and technology index for Bako-09 were 5.07 qt and 17.01%, respectively while the values were 14.77 qt and 42.2%; 4.4 qt and 20.17% for Gute and Gudetu, respectively, witnessing more stability and feasibility of the new variety to the farmers. The result of financial analysis also reveals that a net gain of 31755.83 ETB, 24073.33 ETB, and 20672.5 ETB were accrued from Bako-09, Gute and Gudetu varieties, respectively, evidencing more profitability of the new variety compared to the checks. The new variety, has consequently, met the farmer’s demand both in terms of qualitative and quantitative traits including financial benefits than the standard checks. This calls for wider dissemination of the variety with its full package to the farmers in the study area and with similar agro-ecological conditions.

Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Land Use on Soil Infiltration Rate in a Tropical West African Watershed (Ouriyori, Benin)

Soil infiltration at a watershed scale is important for understanding and predicting the hydrological process in soil-water-plant systems. This study investigated the effects of land use (LU) conversion on the infiltration rate in the Ouriyori watershed. To that end, in situ infiltration was carried out over the watershed under thirty-six pairs of adjacent cropland-fallow plots using the hood infiltrometer. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), soil properties, and soil classes were further compared. Results showed a high variability of Ks following the LU classes with a coefficient of variation greater than 60%. After data log transformation, the mean values of Ks showed high infiltration and ranged between 2.59 and 2.42 cm d−1, respectively, for fallow land and cropland. Thus, Ks was relatively lower in cropland compared to fallow land. Hence, the low infiltration recorded in croplands indicated the degradative impacts of unceasing tillage operations for crop production without crop residue incorporation into the soil during tillage. There was no significant difference in bulk density and soil texture in both types of land use. Considering soil classes, the highest infiltration rate was found in Ferric Luvisol and the lowest rate in Dystric Gleysol, meaning that the high infiltration observed in Ferric Luvisol was due to the abundance of soil macropores. Change in natural vegetation to croplands induced a low infiltration rate and macropore connectivity. Moreover, fallow lands tend to provide water storage capacity through the improvement of mesopores, while soil compaction through agricultural activities reduces soil porosity and therefore soil infiltration. In addition, the paired Student’s t-test performed on the transformed data was statistically significant, indicating a difference between Ks under cropland and Ks under fallow land. To improve soil and water conservation for crop production as well as for sustainable rural populations’ livelihoods in the watershed, occasional fallowing may be observed to dampen infiltration hindering soil surface conditions.

Field evaluation of Solenopsis invicta virus 3 against its host Solenopsis invicta

Viruses have been used successfully as biocontrol agents against several insect pests but not ants. Laboratory tests have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) may be an effective natural control agent against its host, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren). In this field trial, SINV-3 was released into 12 active S. invicta nests within a 0.088-hectare area in Florida and the impact on the ants monitored. SINV-3 was successfully transmitted, established, and multiplied within treated colonies reaching a maximum mean value of 8.71 × 108 ± 8.26 × 108 SINV-3 genome equivalents/worker ant 77 days after inoculation. SINV-3 was not detected in any of the nests in the control group. A 7-fold decrease in nests was observed in the SINV-3-treated group compared with the untreated control. A correspondingly significant decrease in S. invicta nest size also was observed over the course of the evaluation. Based on the nest rating scale, nest size among those treated with SINV-3 decreased from 3.92 ± 1.24 on day 0 to 1.67 ± 2.06 on day 77, which represents a 57.4% decrease in size. Conversely, the nest rating for the control group increased 9.3%, from 4.42 ± 1.24 on day 0 to 4.83 ± 2.12 on day 77. A follow-up survey of SINV-3-treated and -untreated plots conducted 9 months after initial treatment revealed that fire ant populations rebounded, but at a different rate. A total of 11 and 19 nests were detected in the SINV-3-treated and -untreated areas, respectively. SINV-3 was still detected in the treated area 1.8 years after the initial virus treatment and the virus had spread into the adjacent control plot. Results demonstrate that SINV-3 is an effective natural control agent against the invasive ant, S. invicta; the virus causes no known detrimental ecological impacts, is host specific, and sustained in the environment.

Analyzing Cultivated Land Protection Behavior From the Perspective of Land Fragmentation and Farmland Transfer: Evidence From Farmers in Rural China

Cultivated land protection is an important way to mitigate land pollution and realize the sustainable development of agriculture. To reveal the key factors influencing farmers’ behavior of adopting cultivated land protection techniques (FBACT) from the perspective of land fragmentation and farmland transfer and to analyze the differences, a multivariate probit model is adopted to quantitatively analyze the impacts on FBACT based on field research and questionnaire surveys conducted in Jiangsu Province, China. The results show that farmland transfer promotes FBACT and that large areas of transfer-in land encourage it. Transfer-in land from outside villages reduces FBACT. The willingness of farmers to adopt protection techniques is affected by their age, their education level, family labor and the agricultural labor price, and it is hindered by land fragmentation. Encouraging farmers to transfer-in land from local villages and increasing their expectations of benefits from cultivated land protection will inspire them to adopt protection techniques. To increase the farmland transfer rate and to alleviate land fragmentation, the government should enhance the management of farmland transfer contracts and strengthen the stability of farmland use rights in farmland transfer. Promoting the transfer and integration of adjacent plots and appropriately expanding plot size will help improve FBACT.

Impacts on Hazel Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) of twenty years of incremental conifer removal

Within a Planted Ancient Woodland Site (PAWS) of Corsican Pine, planted in 1970, Hazel Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) in nestboxes were individually marked by PIT tags from 2000 onwards. In adjacent experimental study plots of 3 ha each, different patterns of forest restoration were used. In early winter 2003 c.33 % of conifers were removed: [a] in very small groups; [b] larger felling coupes similar to hazel coppicing; [c] traditional ‘rack-and-thin’ regime. In 2009 and 2015 a third of remaining pines were removed and in 2020 almost all remaining conifers were removed. The effects on three dormouse abundance indices were recorded through routine monitoring of nest boxes. The overall number of captures varied from year to year, increasing the year following forestry operations in 2003 and 2009, 2015. This was possibly because nestboxes temporarily became more attractive except in 2021 which was a very poor dormouse year. In the rack-and-thin treatment little regeneration occurred and dormouse numbers slowly declined to almost zero. The numbers of individually marked adults in the other plots showed a rising trend. The numbers of nestlings and juveniles recorded initially increased, but have oscillated recently. This study demonstrates that during regular forestry operations in conifers, maintaining a population of this species is possible. This has important implications for managers. A regime of patchwork conifer removal over 4 phases appears to be pragmatic for an economic forestry business and also ensures that dormice remain. The rack-and-thin area lost its dormice but may recover in the next few years.

Measuring Organization of Large Surficial Clasts in Heterogeneous Gravel Beach Sediments

The natural stratification and interlocking “organization” of armored sediments in heterogeneous, coarse-grained, beaches provides protection and enhances habitat for borrowing sedentary megafauna and macrofauna such as hard-shelled clams. Here, we develop a novel metric for quantifying sediment organization of large surficial beach clasts through sedimentologic and photogrammetric analyses of 37 lower intertidal heterogeneous gravel beaches in western Prince William Sound, Alaska (USA). Grain size, photogrammetric, and Wolman Pebble Count clast-size data from 64, ~1-m2 study plots are combined into a clast-size-independent “Organization Metric” to quantify the degree of organization in the meshed arrangement of larger surficial sediments. This metric was validated through field manipulation experiments and comparisons of adjacent plots characterized by different clast sizes. Application of this metric to subsets of Prince William Sound beaches that underwent differential treatment following the Exxon Valdez oil spill reveals persistent physical effects of artificial beach disturbance even 21 years after the cleanup. This has important implications for beach management (e.g., cleaning or dredging) and for the diverse and productive sedentary megafaunal assemblages that live within these sediments. Overall, this study provides a new approach for quantifying organization of heterogenous coarse sediments in diverse natural settings; in particular, heterogenous gravel beaches.