Insect herbivory constitutes an important constraint in the viability and management of targeted reforestation sites. Focusing on young experimental stands at about 2000 m elevation in southern Ecuador, we examined foliar damage over one season as a function of tree species and habitat. Native tree species (Successional hardwood: Cedrela montana and Tabebuia chrysantha; fast-growing pioneer: He...

Epiphytes are strongly affected by the population dynamics of their host trees. Owing to the spatio-temporal dynamics of host tree populations, substantial dispersal rates--corresponding to high levels of gene flow--are needed for populations to persist in a landscape. However, several epiphytic lichens have been suggested to be dispersal-limited, which leads to the expectation of low gene flow...

OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with excessive proportions of early fetal losses associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome in central Kentucky during 2001. DESIGN Case-control study. PROCEDURE Questionnaires were used to collect information on farm-, pasture-, and individual animal-level factors purportedly associated with mare reproductive loss syndrome. Data were collected ...

Farmland biodiversity is greatly enhanced by the presence of trees. However, farmland trees are declining worldwide, including in North America, Central America, and parts of southern Europe. We show that tree decline and its likely consequences are particularly severe in Australia's temperate agricultural zone, which is a threatened ecoregion. Using field data on trees, remotely sensed imagery...

Steep, uncultivable hill country below 1,000 m comprises about 40% of New Zealand's land surface area. Hill farmers require options to increase the resilience their farms climatic and economic extremes while addressing soil conservation water quality issues. We profile discuss two that can assist in transforming country. The first a simple approach grazing management pastures pasture second foc...

Context Tagasaste (Cytisus proliferus) has potential to supplement pasture production in steep-hill country and increase resilience. Aims To (1) quantify of edible dry matter (EDM) pruned 2-year-old tagasaste shrubs branches from unpruned 10-year-old trees, (2) determine the effect proximity trees on selected species established as spaced transplants. Methods A site was eastern coast North Isla...

Over 500,000 hectares of grassland have been converted to managed forestland in Uruguay since} 990. This study was initiated to determine the hydrologic and water quality impacts of changing land use from grassland (pasture) to pine plantation in Uruguay. Two adjacent watersheds located on the El Cerro ranch in the Tacuarembo River basin were selected for a paired watershed study. Outflow rates...

Clearing of trees and native vegetation over the past 160 years has led to increasing rates of dryland salinization in the Goulburn-Broken Catchment area. In its dryland section, within the Goulburn Highlands, South West Goulburn, and the Broken Highlands subcatchments, hydrologic balance exists. But in the Riverine Plains comprising the Goulburn and Broken Plains sub-catchments, where average ...