All pine species in Florida are susceptible to red heart disease. The disease can decrease timber value and weaken trees, making them threats to people and property. In forests, however, the same disease can be beneficial to cavity-nesting animals like red-cockaded woodpeckers. This 3-page fact sheet written by Yin-Tse Huang, Jeffrey Eickwort, and Jiri Hulcr and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes the disease and provides some tips to manage it in areas where it could cause problems for people.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr425
Tag: School of Forest Resources and Conservation
The invasive shot hole borers Euwallacea fornicatus, E. kuroshio, and E. perbrevis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Invasive species, those that are nonnative and cause economic damage, are one of the main threats to ecosystems around the world. Ambrosia beetles are some of the most common invasive insects. Currently, severe economic impacts have been increasingly reported for all the invasive shot hole borers in South Africa, California, Israel, and throughout Asia. This 7-page fact sheet written by Demian F. Gomez, Jiri Hulcr, and Daniel Carrillo and published by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes shot hole borers and their biology and hosts and lists some strategies for prevention and control of these pests.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr422
What Is the Value of an Existing Forest Stand?
Traditionally, the land expectation value (LEV) formula, the present value of perpetual cash inflows of timber revenues minus the present value of cash outflows of costs, has been employed as the main indicator of the value of a forest investment. However, when a forest stand is already established, the LEV approach is incomplete because it applies only to bare land. Thus, it is necessary to determine the value of a property with an existing forest stand. This 3-page fact sheet written by Andres Susaeta and Chris Demers and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides the formula to determine the value of an already established forest stand at any stage of its development. This approach, known as the forest value formula, includes the value of the timber and the land. It can be used to compare the value of the stand when it is immediately harvested or when it is economically immature.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr423
The Optimal Forest Management of an Even-Aged Stand: The Biological Rotation versus the Land Expectation Value
This 4-page fact sheet written by Andres Susaeta and Chris Demers and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides a guide for forest landowners, managers, and stakeholders in conducting a valuation of timber investments. It reviews and provides examples of two different approaches for determining the optimal rotation age of even-aged forest stands. These methods can help forest landowners and managers in making forestry investment decisions.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr424
Determining the Net Present Value of Timber Investments and Comparing Investments of Different Rotations
Would a forest landowner be economically better off growing a forest for pulpwood production with a short rotation instead of growing the same forest for sawtimber production with a longer rotation? To help answer this and related questions, this 4-page fact sheet written by Andres Susaeta and Chris Demers and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation presents two approaches to determine the profitability of a forest stand. The net present value (NPV) of a single rotation provides the criterion to choose between different forest project investments of equal lives, whereas the equivalent annuity approach (EAA) is employed when forest project investments have different time lengths.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr421
Overview of Urban Aquaculture
This 6-page fact sheet written by Emily H. Roan, Laura Tiu, Roy P.E. Yanong, Matthew A. DiMaggio, and Joshua T. Patterson and published by the UF/IFAS Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides introductory information for people interested in engaging in commercial or hobby-scale aquaculture in urban or suburban areas. It introduces three common types of urban aquaculture systems, describes the resources and challenges unique to urban aquaculture, and includes a handy “getting started” section.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa217
Bioplastics: a better option for the environment?
Most modern-day plastics are made from petroleum, but several different types of plastics are made from plant or even bacterial sources. This 4-page fact sheet written by Maia Patterson McGuire and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes four types of these bioplastics and explains why, even if a bioplastic item is listed as “compostable,” a reusable, washable alternative is often the better choice.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr418
Wetlands as a Tool for Water Treatment
Wetlands are often referred to as "nature's kidneys" because of their ability to remove pollutants from water via storage in the soil and vegetation, as well as through losses to the atmosphere. This 7-page fact sheet written by Jay Capasso, Lisa Krimsky, and Jehangir Bhadha and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides a general overview of the function and structure of large-scale treatment wetlands and the services they provide.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr419
Executive Summary of Gainesville’s Urban Forest in 2016
This 2-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes a 2016 ecological assessment of the urban forest in the city of Gainesville, FL. It provides a detailed look into some of the economic and ecological values of the forest to enhance understanding and improve urban forest policies, planning, and management, as well as to provide empirical data for the inclusion of trees within environmental regulations.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr417
Opening the Door to Nature: Accounting for People’s Constraints to Nature-based Recreation
Although millions of people recreate in parks, forests, and other conservation areas in the United States every year, research shows that some are left out; not everyone takes advantage of natural areas for the numerous benefits nature-based recreation provides. Results show that many people who do not participate in nature-based recreation feel constrained by their quality of time, not the quantity of time. In other words, they're saying, "Prove to me that it's worth my time to go out in nature. Show me something cool!" Based on research conducted in Hillsborough County, Florida and similar studies, this 6-page fact sheet written by Margaret E. Gullion and Taylor Stein and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation addresses identifies strategies to improve the opportunities natural areas can provide a diverse public.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr415
Values and Ecosystem Services of Gainesville’s Urban Forest in 2016
The urban forest is a crucial factor in the well-being of a community because of the aesthetics, health benefits, and cost-savings that it provides. The urban forest is our habitat, and we must manage it in ways that will provide the benefits we need and desire. This 3-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation describes an urban forest ecological analysis conducted in 2016 in Gainesville, Florida, by the University of Florida in partnership with the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department to quantify the vegetation structure, functions, and values of the urban forest.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr414
A New Database on Trait-Based Selection of Stormwater Pond Plants
Stormwater ponds play critical roles for flood control and water quality treatment, and they can provide ecological services to communities. Those ecological services can be enhanced with proper pond design and maintenance. This 6-page fact sheet written by Gisele P. Nighswander, Mary E. Szoka, Kayla M. Hess, Eban Z. Bean, Gail Hansen de Chapman, and Basil V. Iannone III and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides a comprehensive database of plant traits to help readers make informed stormwater pond plant selection decisions based on their own relative priorities.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr416
The Structure and Composition of Gainesville’s Urban Forest in 2016
Trees in cities were formerly thought of merely as a collection of individuals found along streets and incorporated into landscaping. However, urban trees are now viewed as being part of a unique forest type, and understanding the urban forest’s structure and composition is an important first step towards managing it. This 4-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation aims to provide a broader understanding of the urban forest in the city of Gainesville, Florida.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr413
Tetraploid Induction and Establishment of Breeding Stocks for All-Triploid Seed Production
Triploid-tetraploid breeding technology has been applied to commercial oyster aquaculture worldwide. Triploid oysters are becoming the preferred aquaculture product because of their fast growth, better meat quality, and year-round harvest. Tetraploids are essential for triploid oyster aquaculture because commercial production of all-triploid seed depends on the availability of tetraploids for reproductive materials. This 8-page fact sheet written by Huiping Yang, Ximing Guo, and John Scarpa and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, conveys basic knowledge about tetraploid induction and breeding to commercial shellfish culturists and the general public.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa215
Microworm Culture for Use in Freshwater Ornamental Aquaculture
A small nematode worm commonly referred to as a “microworm” has been a staple live feed used in the ornamental aquaculture industry for over 50 years. These worms are small enough to be ingested by the larvae of many commonly cultured ornamental species, and their production methods are simple and reliable. Microworms have the potential to provide appropriate nutrition in a live feed organism that is cultured entirely in-house and involves less labor and cost than newly hatched Artemia. In this 4-page fact sheet published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, authors Shane W. Ramee, Taylor N. Lipscomb, and Matthew A. DiMaggio discuss the biology, environmental requirements, and culture techniques for microworms and explain their importance for the larval culture of freshwater fish species.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa214
Evolution, culture, and care for Betta splendens
The commercial betta, or Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), is one of a group of fishes that live in fresh water in Africa and southern Asia. Today’s commercial bettas are selected for bright colors as well as elaborate fins because the ornamental hobby is the main market for this species. This 5-page fact sheet written by Craig Watson, Matthew DiMaggio, Jeffrey Hill, Quenton Tuckett, and Roy Yanong and published by School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences explains how to grow and care for these beautiful and fascinating fishes.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa212
Geosmithia Species in Florida: Common Fungal Symbionts of Wood-Boring Bark Beetles
Geosmithia are fungi associated with wood-boring bark beetles. Most Geosmithia species do no harm to host trees, but the canker-causing Geosmithia morbida and its beetle vector, the walnut twig beetle, cause the disease complex known as thousand cankers disease on walnut trees. Continuous surveys in Florida have found neither Geosmithia morbida nor its beetle vector in the state, but many native Geosmithia species have been recovered. These native species look similar to the pathogenic fungus but are harmless to their plant hosts. This 4-page fact sheet written by Yin-Tse Huang and Jiri Hulcr and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides basic guidelines to sample Geosmithia species in the field and information for distinguishing the plant pathogenic Geosmithia morbida from other Geosmithia species.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr412
Ocean Acidification: An Introduction
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused primarily by the ocean’s taking up excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Other impacts related to climate change (increased sea level rise, coastal flooding and extreme weather events) often receive more attention, but the acidification of the Earth’s oceans is well documented and is a major concern for the marine science community. This 4-page fact sheet written by Joshua Patterson and Lisa Krimsky and published by the UF/IFAS Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Forest Resources and Conservation is the first in a series that addresses ocean acidification in Florida. It specifically explains the changes that are occurring to the chemistry of our coastal and oceanic waters because of elevated carbon dioxide levels. Additional publications address potential environmental, economic, and social implications for Florida.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa206
Bed Fishing for Florida Bass
Florida bass, Micropterus floridanus, is the most popular freshwater sport fish in the state of Florida. Florida bass guard their nests for up to 2 weeks, and many anglers target the prized sport fish during this period using a procedure called bed fishing. This 7-page fact sheet written by John S. Hargrove and James D. Austin and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, outlines the reproductive biology of Florida bass, the known consequences of bed fishing, and practices to minimize its impacts.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa204
Cat’s-Claw Vine, Dolichandra unguis-cati : A Showy but Invasive Plant in Florida
Cat’s-claw vine is a neotropical, climbing perennial that produces large and showy yellow flowers in the springtime. Unfortunately, the aggressive nature of the vine has made it a major weed in China, Australia, South Africa, and parts of the southeastern United States. This 6-page fact sheet written by Niels Proctor and Jason Smith and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation provides guidance on identification and control of this invasive vine and suggests some similar native vines to use instead.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr391