Across the eastern United States several trends are altering the composition of forest. One important trend is that of oaks (Quercus spp.) being lost and oak-dominated forests gradually shifting to other species compositions. One leading hypothesis for the recent demise of oaks is the process of mesophication, by which, largely due to fire suppression, fire-adapted species and plant communities are being replaced by more mesophytic species/community types. Recent work has suggested the mesophication process is a feedback loop, and mesophytic species create microclimates and fuel beds that are less likely to burn, thereby further enhancing the effects of the mesophication process and allowing mesophytic species to further dominate. Most studies detailing mesophication have taken place in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Cumberland Plateau areas of the eastern United States, with very few providing evidence within the Southeastern Piedmont. Utilizing a newly established 12 ha forest dynamics plot in Athens, Georgia, USA, we provide evidence that the mesophication process is taking place in a mixed pine-hardwood Southeastern Piedmont Forest. Within the study site oaks represented 1% of saplings, while mesophytic species accounted for 96% of saplings. Conversely, oaks accounted for 47% of stems in the overstory, while mesophytic species represented 31% of stems in the overstory. The data suggest an “oak bottleneck,” a phenomenon closely associated with mesophication. This work informs long-term land management decision making regarding mixed pine-oak stands for both conservationists and the forest industry.

Short-lived nonnative species that become invasive are major agents of change in the American West, and they may interact with fire to have compounding negative effects on ecosystem function. As public lands come under increasing stress from invader–fire interactions, managers need tools that deplete nonnative propagules at meaningful temporal and spatial scales. The pre-emergent herbicide indaziflam, which has been approved for use in natural areas, achieves multi-year control of Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) and other short-lived nonnative species, while leaving co-occurring, established perennials largely intact. Here we explore how pre-fire management with indaziflam shapes plant community assembly post-fire. We ask whether indaziflam (1) maintains good efficacy against the target species Bromus tectorum, Bromus japonicus, and Alyssum simplex in the first growing season post-wildfire, as well as short-lived introduced species more generally; (2) exhibits nontarget effects on short-lived native species; and (3) supports recovery of long-lived native species. Indaziflam was highly effective in controlling all three target species in both burned and unburned areas, revealing its potential to break the invader–fire cycle. However, short-lived native species were also suppressed, either in burned areas only (richness), or in burned and unburned areas (percent cover). As found in other systems, indaziflam had no negative effects on long-lived native species. These findings highlight potential trade-offs in adopting indaziflam as a tool, with its use likely to be extremely effective in highly invaded systems already depauperate of native propagules, but requiring more caution and, if resources allow, attendant restoration plans (e.g., reseeding with desirable natives) in more intact natural areas.

In this study we assessed the presence and abundance of the rare stem-boring moth Papaipema eryngii (Eryngium stem borer moth) in 24 patches of its host plant (Eryngium yuccifolium) in central Illinois for a period of 3 years. Papaipema eryngii was found consistently in patches with E. yuccifolium, but the percent of E. yuccifolium with evidence of P. eryngii larvae differed from year to year. Furthermore, differences were found among patches and years for E. yuccifolium abundance. This study provides a comprehensive field assessment of the rare moth P. eryngii, allowing for a better understanding of the persistence of the species at a host plant patch, and through time.

Dense thickets of invasive, exotic blackberries (Rubus spp.) are common in many disturbed sites throughout the western Pacific Northwest. Most of these blackberry brambles are widely accepted as Rubus armeniacus. Published accounts from the past decade however, have revealed a morphologically similar species, Rubus praecox, to be broadly distributed and it can occur in many of the same habitats as R. armeniacus. In this study, local community scientists were engaged to assess the distribution and relative abundances of these two Rubus species in 13 small-to mid-sized parks managed by the City of Portland. At all surveyed parks, R. armeniacus occurred in various quantities. Rubus praecox was only present in negligible amounts at four sites. A review of online herbarium specimens similarly supports this finding of broadly distributed but low quantities of R. praecox. Based on these results, we conclude that current management practices to control invasive Rubus spp. should not be altered due to the slight chance of encountering a less common exotic Rubus species. We also strongly support the engagement and training of local community members to actively learn about their native and exotic flora to support the conservation of local natural areas.

Photography is a standard communication method, but there is still a certain reluctance to use it as a research instrument. However, it could be a valuable tool in citizen science projects. In a community monitoring program for conservation, we incorporated long-term photography to record biodiversity. We equipped participants with a semi-professional digital camera and gave training on its use. Over a year, we saw an increase in the use of equipment, governance, and involvement; as for biodiversity, participants were able to record new species, discover new populations, and expand the distribution data of some species.