Star Fire Research Articles

Evaluating post‐wildfire logging‐slash cover treatment to reduce hillslope erosion after salvage logging using ground measurements and remote sensing

AbstractContinuing long and extensive wildfire seasons in the Western US emphasize the need for better understanding of wildfire impacts including post‐fire management scenarios. Advancements in our understanding of post‐fire hillslope erosion and watershed response such as flooding, sediment yield, and debris flows have recently received considerable attention. The potential impacts of removing dead trees, called salvage logging, has been studied, however the use of remotely sensed imagery after salvage logging to evaluate spatial patterns and recovery is novel. The 2015 North Star Fire provided an opportunity to evaluate hillslope erosion reduction using two field experiments and coincidental remotely sensed imagery over 3 years. Simulated rill experiments with four flow rates were used to quantify hillslope erosion on skidder trails with and without added logging slash compared with a burned‐only control. Seven replicated hillslope silt fence plots with the same treatments were also evaluated for natural rainfall events. WorldView‐2 satellite imagery was used to relate ground cover and erodible bare soil between the two experiments using multi‐temporal Normalized Differenced Vegetation Index (NDVI) values. Results indicate that the skid trails produced significantly more sediment (0.70 g s−1) than either the slash treated skid trail (0.34 g s−1) or controls (0.04 g s−1) with the simulated rill experiment. Similarly, under natural rainfall conditions sediment yield from hillslope silt fence plots was significantly greater for the skid trail (3.42 Mg ha−1) than either the slash treated skid trail (0.18 Mg ha−1) or controls (0 Mg ha−1). An NDVI value of 0.32 on all plots over all years corresponded to a ground cover of about 60% which is an established threshold for erosion reduction. Significant relationships between NDVI, ground cover, and sediment values suggest that NDVI may help managers evaluate ground cover and erosion potential remotely after disturbances such as a wildfire or salvage logging.

Getting back to fire sum\xe9\u015d: exploring a multi-disciplinary approach to incorporating traditional knowledge into fuels treatments

BackgroundEvaluating fuel treatment effectiveness is challenging when managing a landscape for diverse ecological, social, and economic values. We used a Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) to understand Confederated Colville Tribal (CCT) member views regarding the location and effectiveness of fuel treatments within their ancestral territory within the Colville National Forest (CNF) boundary. The 2015 North Star Fire burned 88 221 ha (218 000 acres) of the CCT ancestral territory.ResultsWe sampled thirty plot pairs that were treated or untreated prior to being burned by the North Star Fire and again one growing season post fire. Species diversity was significantly increased by wildfire in both treated and untreated plots. Species richness was significantly increased in the plots that were treated, and there was no significant change in species richness from wildfire within the untreated plots. The percent canopy cover of two of the six culturally important plants (Fragaria spp. L. and Arnica cordifolia Hook.) significantly increased one growing season post wildfire within treated plots and one (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi [L.] Spreng.) significantly decreased in the treated plots post wildfire. These post-fire monitoring results were consistent with CCT member management recommendations and desired outcomes of understory thinning, prescribed fire, and natural ignition found using PGIS.ConclusionsTogether, the results suggest that prior thinning and prescribed burning can foster vegetation response to subsequent wildfires, including culturally important plants. Further, integrating Traditional Knowledge (TK) into fuels treatments can improve ongoing adaptive management of national forests that include tribal ancestral lands.

Psience Fiction: The Paranormal in Science Fiction Literature by Damien Broderick

171 BOOKS IN REVIEW BOOKS IN REVIEW Surveying the Psi Boom in Postwar SF. Damien Broderick. Psience Fiction: The Paranormal in Science Fiction Literature. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2018. 244pp. $45 pbk. The first sentence of Damien Broderick’s new book, Psience Fiction, describes the prevalence of psychic powers or “psionics” as “perhaps the strangest aspect” of postwar sf (7). It is strange because the other two major themes—atomic power and space travel—were closely related to contemporaneous advances in science and technology, whereas the field of psychical research or “parapsychology” was never accepted within the scientific community. By embracing this “fringe” science, the subgenre of “psience fiction” thus presents a challenge to traditional theories of sf, which typically emphasize the genre’s inherent connection to the process of scientific discovery and innovation. In his introduction, Broderick also notes that this topic received the most attention during the 1950s and 1960s, due largely to the influence of editor John W. Campbell, who firmly believed in parapsychology and actively encouraged writers to submit stories on this topic. Campbell had personally volunteered to work in J.B. Rhine’s parapsychology laboratory while he was a student at Duke University in the 1930s, and in a letter to Rhine he explained that “I am trying to use fiction to induce competent thinkers to attack just such problems as the psi-effects” (qtd. 14). Campbell thus saw sf as a “frontier literature” that could be used “for both the investigation and promotion of psi” (15), as it encouraged readers to entertain theories that were rejected by the mainstream scientific establishment. Broderick’s introduction is followed by a series of detailed plot summaries of Anglo-American sf novels and stories that describe how psychic powers might work, how they might transform those who possess them, and how knowledge of their existence might transform society. These summaries cover a wide range of material, which makes the book a particularly valuable resource for readers and scholars interested in literary representations of parapsychology. Broderick also provides some cultural context by examining whether or not the texts conform or diverge from the extant scholarship in parapsychology. For example, he is particularly interested in tracing the parallels between literary representations of psychic powers and research on parapsychology within the US intelligence community. Some of the texts describe mind-wiping techniques that resemble those developed in the CIA’s “MK-Ultra” program, such as Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man (1953) and George O. Smith’s Highways in Hiding (1956), and others describe psychic espionage techniques that resemble those developed in the CIA’s “Star Gate” program, such as Wilson Tucker’s Wild Talent (1954) and Lucius Shepard’s Life During Wartime (1987). While the writers could not have been aware of these programs at the time, this does not necessarily imply any precognitive abilities; rather, Broderick argues that these writers were familiar with the field of parapsychology and were often able to extrapolate its potential applications. 172 SCIENCE FICTION STUDIES, VOLUME 46 (2019) He thus concludes that the prevalence of psychic powers in postwar sf simply reflects the widespread acceptance of parapsychology within the sf community. “Psience fiction” remains relevant, in other words, because it is one of the few places where this research is openly discussed and endorsed (as Campell claimed). This is certainly a compelling argument, as the texts under discussion often describe the existence of psychic powers as an accepted fact. Such an interpretation seems to assume, however, that writers always believe the ideas expressed in their works, thus obscuring the function of sf as a tool for imagining alternate realities. Moreover, it does not explain why these texts describe the social and political impact of psychic powers in such extremely different ways. Psychics are often described as superhuman or godlike beings, as in Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination (1957) and Ingo Swann’s Star Fire (1978), which Broderick describes as a “sheer power fantasy” (71), but they are also described as socially awkward or sometimes even disabled because of their inability to understand or adhere to social conventions, as in Katherine MacLean’s “Defense Mechanism” (1949). Psychics are often described as the next stage...

Bloom and Harvest Dates, Fruit Quality Attributes, and Yield of Modern Peach Cultivars in the Intermountain Western United States

Production of peaches (Prunus persica) in southwestern Idaho and other states in the intermountain western United States has increased during recent years, requiring information on the performance of modern cultivars in the region. Thus, a long-term project was conducted to investigate bloom date, harvest date, cumulative growing degree-days, fruit quality, and yield of various yellow- and white-fleshed peaches under conditions of southwestern Idaho during 2003 to 2007. The analysis of average response over these years indicated that ‘Snow Giant’, ‘Jupiter’, ‘Yuko King’, ‘Burpeach Six’, ‘Fairtime’, ‘Coral Star’, ‘July Sun’, and ‘Zee Lady’ bloomed earlier (5–7 Apr.), while ‘Sierra Gem’, ‘Fancy Lady’, and ‘Red Star’ bloomed later (11–12 Apr.) than other cultivars. ‘Crimson Lady’, ‘May Sun’, and ‘Sierra Gem’ were the earliest cultivars, had smaller fruit, and on average were harvested on 11, 13, and 24 July and needed 94, 96, and 103 days from full bloom to harvest, respectively. ‘Opal Moncav’, ‘August Flame’, ‘August Lady’, ‘Ryan Sun’, ‘September Snow’, ‘Yukon King’, and ‘Fairtime’ were harvested during the second half of September. The periods between bloom and harvest for these cultivars on average were 160, 163, 163, 168, 171, 173, and 177 days, respectively, and these cultivars often had greater soluble solids concentrations than other cultivars. ‘PF12B’ and ‘PF15A’ were “mid-season,” but ‘PF 20–007’ and ‘PF 24–007’ were “late-season” cultivars. ‘PF12B’, ‘PF15A’, ‘PF 20–007’, ‘Star Fire’, ‘Burapeach Six’, ‘Coral Star’, ‘All Star’, and ‘Zee Lady’ had higher yield than many of the other cultivars. While the “early-season” cultivars can be planted for regional and local market, the “mid-season” and “late-season” peaches are excellent choices for marketing during September and early October when production of the similar cultivars are already completed in warmer regions. Overall, ‘Sweet Dream’, ‘August Lady’, ‘Zee Lady’, ‘August Flame’, ‘Snow Giant’, ‘Saturn’, ‘Jupiter’, and ‘PF24–007’ showed satisfactory to great performance in this long-term evaluation.

Bloom and Harvest Dates, Fruit Quality Attributes, and Yield of Modern Peach Cultivars in the Intermountain Western United States

Production of peaches (Prunus persica) in southwestern Idaho and other states in the intermountain western United States has increased during recent years, requiring information on the performance of modern cultivars in the region. Thus, a long-term project was conducted to investigate bloom date, harvest date, cumulative growing degree-days, fruit quality, and yield of various yellow- and white-fleshed peaches under conditions of southwestern Idaho during 2003 to 2007. The analysis of average response over these years indicated that ‘Snow Giant’, ‘Jupiter’, ‘Yuko King’, ‘Burpeach Six’, ‘Fairtime’, ‘Coral Star’, ‘July Sun’, and ‘Zee Lady’ bloomed earlier (5–7 Apr.), while ‘Sierra Gem’, ‘Fancy Lady’, and ‘Red Star’ bloomed later (11–12 Apr.) than other cultivars. ‘Crimson Lady’, ‘May Sun’, and ‘Sierra Gem’ were the earliest cultivars, had smaller fruit, and on average were harvested on 11, 13, and 24 July and needed 94, 96, and 103 days from full bloom to harvest, respectively. ‘Opal Moncav’, ‘August Flame’, ‘August Lady’, ‘Ryan Sun’, ‘September Snow’, ‘Yukon King’, and ‘Fairtime’ were harvested during the second half of September. The periods between bloom and harvest for these cultivars on average were 160, 163, 163, 168, 171, 173, and 177 days, respectively, and these cultivars often had greater soluble solids concentrations than other cultivars. ‘PF12B’ and ‘PF15A’ were “mid-season,” but ‘PF 20–007’ and ‘PF 24–007’ were “late-season” cultivars. ‘PF12B’, ‘PF15A’, ‘PF 20–007’, ‘Star Fire’, ‘Burapeach Six’, ‘Coral Star’, ‘All Star’, and ‘Zee Lady’ had higher yield than many of the other cultivars. While the “early-season” cultivars can be planted for regional and local market, the “mid-season” and “late-season” peaches are excellent choices for marketing during September and early October when production of the similar cultivars are already completed in warmer regions. Overall, ‘Sweet Dream’, ‘August Lady’, ‘Zee Lady’, ‘August Flame’, ‘Snow Giant’, ‘Saturn’, ‘Jupiter’, and ‘PF24–007’ showed satisfactory to great performance in this long-term evaluation.

English

The success of planning for use of surface mined land after the cessation of coal mining in Kentucky has been mixed and varied. While a great deal of “developable” or relatively flat land has been created, little has actually been used for the purposes intended. In the early 1980s planning was begun for the 17,000 acre Star Fire mountain top removal mining site with the intention of utilizing it for an assortment of land uses from industrial, to residential, to wildlife refuge. By the early 1990s the wildlife portion of the master plan was achieved with the introduction of Canada geese and later an elk population. In the mid 1990s Cyprus Minerals sold Star Fire to Addington Resources, and planning and development appeared to have been abandoned. By 1998, with proposals to develop a 500megawatt power plant designed to burn waste coal, the planning process was revived. Plans are now in progress to provide utilities and an entryway into the site through state and private cooperation. The prospects for the long-term development of a large-scale project are positive. The major issue here is that long term planning should be viewed as just that, long term. Not a lot will be achieved unless all of the considerable number of pieces are brought together at the correct moment. However, if the initial planning to construct land forms for future use had not been undertaken development would not have been possible. Additional

Abstract: Petrological and Geochemical Analysis of Mine Spoil to Determine the Source of Magnesium-Rich Groundwater, Star Fire Mine, Eastern Kentucky 

Abstract: Petrological and Geochemical Analysis of Mine Spoil to Determine the Source of Magnesium-Rich Groundwater, Star Fire Mine, Eastern Kentucky 

The Hydrogeology and Hydrogeochemistry of the Star Fire Site, Eastern Kentucky

The Hydrogeology and Hydrogeochemistry of the Star Fire Site, Eastern Kentucky

Occurrence of Ground Water in Mine Spoil, a Renewable Resource: Star Fire Tract, Eastern Kentucky

Occurrence of Ground Water in Mine Spoil, a Renewable Resource: Star Fire Tract, Eastern Kentucky

Growth regulators affect in vitro propagation of two interspecific Impatients hybrids

Two Impatiens L. interspecific hybrids were propagated in vitro by culturing shoot tips on agarsolidified MS revised medium containing one of 3 cytokinins (BA, 2iP, kinetin) or a cytokinin plus NAA. BA was most effective for stimulating shoot multiplication on ‘T63-1’, a Java (J) × New Guinea (NG) interspecific hybrid for which 9.3 shoots per explant were obtained at 10 μM. For ‘Star Fire’, a Celebes (C × NG interspecific hybrid, the most shoots per explant occurred on medium with 2iP at 40–60 μM. Multiple shoot production was strongly inhibited on explants of both genotypes by the use of 80 μM of both BA and 2iP. Shoot elongation also was inhibited as cytokinin concentration increased. The fewest but longest shoots of both genotypes were stimulated with kinetin. In the presence of NAA, shoot multiplication was promoted on explants of ‘T63-1’ but inhibited on explants of ‘Star Fire’.

Growth-regulator effect on New Guinea Impatiens hybrids

New Guinea Impatiens hybrids ‘Morning Star’, ‘Arctic Star’, ‘Pink Eyes’ and ‘Star Fire’ were tested for their response to (2-chloroethyl) trimethylammonium chloride (chlormequat, CCC), α-cyclopropyl, α-4-methoxypropyl, α-5-pyrimidine methanol (ancymidol, EL531) and succinic acid-2, 2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH). Treatments included the concentrations recommended for other bedding-plants plus extremely high concentrations, and were applied as a soil drench or a spray, with or without a surfactant. Results indicated highly significant cultivar × chemical interactions, which precludes the making of specific recommendations that would apply to all cultivars. Of the chemicals tested, ancymidol generally showed the largest and most stable effect. Where height was reduced, the reduction was usually less than 10% of total height. Because genetically controlled height variation in these Impatiens is much greater, breeding for the desired plant height should be more economical than chemical modification.