Pacific Northwest Research Station
333 SW First Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 808-2592
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Research Programs and Teams
2008 Science Accomplishments
Alaska Communities and Forest Environments (Kruger)
Alaska Research and Analysis (Barrett)
Alaska Wood Utilization Center (Brackley)
Aquatic and Land Interactions-Corvallis (Reeves)
- Pivotal research contributes to amphibian conservation worldwide
A scientist determined the geographic and taxonomic scope of chytridiomycosis, an amphibian disease implicated in amphibian species decline and species extinctions around the world.
- Landslide model useful in managing fish habitat
The role of landslides in creating and maintaining fish habitat is a much-debated topic, but recent research suggests that they may be important sources of wood and spawning gravels, which are building blocks for fish habitat. Scientists developed a model that identifies landslide initiation sites and assesses the likelihood that a landslide from that site will reach a fishbearing stream.
- When evaluating salmon habitat, life stage of salmon matters
Researchers analyzed the relationships between salmon life-history stages and landscape characteristics at multiple spatial scales to assess salmon distribution and abundance.
- Juvenile coho salmon move through culverts at lower flows than expected
Streams that are intermittent during the summer but flow during the winter can be critical rearing areas for juvenile coho salmon in the Oregon Coast Range. Scientists found that fish begin moving into these streams with the first high flows of the fall season and over a much shorter period than previously thought.
Aquatic and Land Interactions-Olympia (Bisson)
- Riparian forests regulate stream flow through evapotranspiration
ALI scientists found that riparian forests are the primary location of lost streamflow from evapotranspiration in late summer in small watersheds. Their research highlights naturally occurring signals that could be used to improve understanding of watershed processes and to help inform management designed to protect or improve water quality.
- Trout in Spirit Lake have unusual adaptations
Spirit Lake's rainbow trout population has expanded rapidly since Mount St. Helens' catastrophic 1980 eruption, and the fish are exhibiting exceptional growth rates and unusual life histories. The unusual adaptations of Spirit Lake trout to the volcanic environment have piqued international scientific interest.
Aquatic and Land Interactions-Wenatchee (Woodsmith)
- Less water volume and earlier melts projected for snowpack
Much of the interior Columbia River basin depends on snowpack for its water supply. ALI scientists modeled snow accumulation and melt to forecast the effects of increasing temperatures on the availability of water. Now, watershed planners are using these projections about water supply to plan ahead for anticipated shortages.
Aquatic and Land Interactions-Juneau (Edwards)
- Scientists quantify carbon fluxes in southeast Alaska
As the climate warms, the rate at which carbon is released from the soils of coastal temperate rain forests could increase. ALI scientists continue to measure rates and controls of major fluxes to better understand the carbon cycle and the interplay between terrestrial and aquatic systems.
- Glacier-fed watersheds differ from those without glaciers and have climate change implications
Scientists found that as warming continues, stream habitats and the annual pattern of carbon and nutrient inputs to the marine system in southeast Alaska will be dramatically affected as glacial inputs are lost and the timing of runoff changes. This work is leading to improved hydrologic models that will help managers respond to various climate scenarios.
Atmosphere and Fire Interactions Research and Engineering (Potter)
Behavioral Chemistry and Ecology of Insects and Disease (Kelsey)
Biology and Culture of Forest Plants (Anderson)
Boreal Ecology Cooperative Research Unit (Hanley)
Canopy Processes in Temperate Mesic Forests (Meinzer)
Communities and Forest Management (Charnley)
Disturbance Ecology and Management (Vavra)
East-Side Forest Health Restoration (Hessburg)
Ecologically Sustainable Production of Forest Resources (Deal)
Ecology, Management, and Conservation of Sensitive Wildlife Species (Raphael)
Environmental Analysis and Research (Fried)
- Scientists estimate carbon emission from Biscuit Fire
To determine how much stored carbon the 2002 Biscuit Fire released, scientists estimated the amount of carbon in fuel "pools" by using prefire data from areas that were later burned. It is one of but a few studies that has attempted to empirically quantify wildfire-induced carbon exchange between terrestrial vegetation and the atmosphere.
- Scientists model carbon stores and flux in California forests
California wants to lower its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. As part of this process, the legislature mandated a state-wide greenhouse gas inventory, which PNW scientists supported by modeling estimates of forest carbon stores and flux for the state circa 1990.
- Carbon dynamics can be evaluated with inventory plots and satellite imagery
Forests are both a sink and a source of carbon. Quantifying the direction and amount of change in forest carbon storage is necessary to evaluate the contribution of forests to global warming. Scientists compared the ability of maps, images, and a model with that of inventory data to estimate carbon amounts.
- Effects of budworm outbreak analyzed for private lands in eastern Oregon
Between 1980 and 1994, eastern Oregon was plagued by a severe outbreak of western spruce budworm. Scientists estimated the effects of the outbreak on private forest land in eastern Oregon, helping the Oregon Department of Forestry to prepare a briefing for the governor.
- Tree growth response to climate warming depends on timing
Trees growing at treeline at high latitudes are generally thought to be limited by available warmth, and most studies on treeline report tree growth increases with warmer temperatures. However, population-wide responses of treeline trees to climate remain largely unexamined. Scientists filled this knowledge gap by systematically sampling white spruce trees at treeline sites in the Brooks and Alaska Ranges.
- Lichens indicate patterns of biodiversity, air quality, and climate
Scientists found that lichen communities indicate key patterns in air quality, climate, and biodiversity in forests of Washington, Oregon, and California.
Fire and Environmental Research Applications (Peterson)
Science Delivery Team (Barbour)
Reducing Fire Risk to People and Resources Issue (Barbour)
Sustainable Wood Production Issue (Deal)
Forest Genetics (St. Clair)
Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems (Spies)
Inventory Reporting (Campbell)
Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics (Alig)
Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil Systems (Neilson)
Portland Economics Team (Barbour)
Rural Urban Wildland Interactions (Blahna)
Silviculture and Ecology of Southeast Alaska (McClellan)
- Scientists quantify carbon fluxes in southeast Alaska
As the climate warms, the rate at which carbon is released from the soils of coastal temperate rain forests could increase. Station scientists continue to measure rates and controls of major fluxes to better understand the carbon cycle and the interplay between terrestrial and aquatic systems.
- Glacier-fed watersheds differ from those without glaciers and have climate change implications
Watersheds in southeast Alaska will be significantly altered as the climate warms. As warming continues, the loss of glacial inputs and changes in the timing of runoff related to changes in snowpack and snow-to-rain ratios will dramatically affect stream habitats and the annual pattern of carbon and nutrient inputs to the marine system.
- New technique identifies sources of soil and stream productivity
Soils provide important ecosystem services in the maintenance of terrestrial and aquatic biological systems, but it is difficult to identify the source of this easily degraded material that sustains primary production in soils and streams. Scientists used a novel modeling technique to determine if the type of organic material in watersheds is usable by stream microorganisms, an indicator of proper ecosystem function.
- Western hemlock and Sitka spruce respond well to thinning
Twenty years after it was begun, a long-term silviculture experiment on Alaska's Tongass National Forest is helping scientists understand how western hemlock Sitka spruce stands of different ages and site productivities respond to a range of thinning intensities.
Silviculture and Forest Models (Reutebuch)
Sustainable Ecosystem Productivity (Bormann)
- Central Oregon 's sandy loam soils tolerant to postfire logging
Logging activities can compact the soil, reducing its pore size and decreasing oxygen availability and the movement of water and nutrients to tree roots. In a recent study, scientists examined the effects of compaction and subsoiling-a practice in which the subsoil is fractured to release compaction-on soil microbes.
- Intense wildfire alters forest soil
For the first time, scientists were able to directly measure the effects of an intense wildfire on forest soils.
Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center
- Interaction between climate change and invasive species may intensify threats
Scientists developed a set of rapid threat assessments, syntheses, and modeling projects that focused on the interaction of climate change and invasive exotic and native species on wildland resources in the Western United States.
- Imported bark beetle forms new fungal associations in China
About 10 years ago, the red turpentine bark beetle was introduced to China. Scientists have discovered that while there, the bark beetle-which is a benign species native to the U.S.-has formed new associations with fungal species, raising the concern that it may be reintroduced back into the country.
- Atlas maps current and potential distribution of Mexican bark beetle
As the climate changes, Mexican bark beetles-a wide-ranging and important disturbance agent in Mexican pine forests-may migrate north into U.S. forests, potentially causing widespread mortality. A new atlas maps the present and potential distribution for bark beetle species.
- Tool: ArcFuels
- New framework helps assess wildfire risk
Scientists developed a framework for assessing wildfire risk that can be used in fuel treatment planning.
- Decision framework helps evaluate risks
Station scientists developed a series of questions to guide fire research and a framework to address these questions.
- Tool: Annotated bibliography on fire-bark beetle interactions
- Large-scale thinning may push bark beetles into other stands
Scientists used the Westwide Pine Beetle Model and Fire and Fuels Extensions of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) to simulate a bark beetle outbreak under different fuel treatment scenarios.
- Pilot study refines techniques for mapping ecology, climate, and topography
Scientists completed initial work on a pilot study to develop and refine "nearest neighbor" mapping techniques for a nationwide project that is constructing a national data set of forest attributes.
- Scientists teach course on climate change, vegetation models, and decisionmaking
Station scientists developed and taught a course that examined different classes of vegetation models with particular emphasis on their utility for management and planning under climate uncertainties.
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