Browsing by Author "Zobel, John M."
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Item Automating the Creation of Stem Maps for Permanent Forest Inventory Plots Using R (Revised)(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2017-05) Wilson, David C.; Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.A method is presented and documented for constructing tree location maps for permanent field plots to aid remeasurement and usage of the tree and plot data.Item Cloquet Forestry Center Continuous Forest Inventory Update for 2014(University of Minnesota, 2016-12) Shrestha, Maryada; Wilson, David C.; Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.The Cloquet Forestry Center (CFC) is a field research and instructional station administrated by the University of Minnesota. This report compiles CFC Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) results from the summer 2014 re-measurement of 402 permanent field plots. These plots serve both research and forest management on the CFC. The individual plots are 1/7 acre in size and were installed and first measured in 1959. The plots have been subsequently remeasured in 1964, 1969, 1976, 1982, 1990, 2000 and in 2014. Three more plots were also added in 2014 (totaling 405) on newly acquired acreage. The report also describes changes in the forest since 2000 and longer-term trends. Summaries provided include 2014 number of trees, basal area, volume and biomass per acre by covertype, and acreage by age class distributions. Longer-term trends from 1959 are also described. The report also details the inventory design and associated details for the permanent plots, including measurement technologies. Data collection and analysis procedures were developed using Microsoft Access and the R statistical analysis package. Access to the compiled data and preliminary analysis is also available in the University Digital Conservancy.Item Cost-effective Forest Inventory Designs: Field Data Collection(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2018-02) Ek, Alan R.; Wilson, David C.; Edgar, Christopher B.; Zobel, John M.Item Description and implementation of a single cohort and lifespan yield and mortality model for forest stands in Minnesota(St. Paul, Minn. : Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 2014-02) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.; O'Hara, Timothy J.Item Determination of forest type and stand size class across FIA inventory years(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2019-11) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.; Edgar, Christopher B.Item Ecological Classification Systems: A Definition Crosswalk for Minnesota(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2021-08) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.; Gifford, Tyler S.Ecological classification systems attempt to aggregate and map geographic areas based on similar physical and biological characteristics, including climate, geology, hydrology, and vegetation. Boundaries between ecoregions identify significant shifts in ecological attributes, and wildlife population dynamics often differ between each region...Item Forest Cover Type and Productivity as Related to Physiography(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2018-11) Wilson, David C.; Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.An analysis of statewide forest inventory data indicates the occurrence of various forest cover types on the landscape is closely associated with physiographic conditions on those sites. Tables quantifying these relationships are provided as an aid to interpretation of forest inventory data in Minnesota and associated silvicultural opportunities.Item Forest type definition crosswalk between Forest Inventory and Analysis and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources(University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources, 2021-09) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.; Gifford, Tyler S.Item Forest Wildlife Habitat Description and Data for Minnesota Species(University of Minnesota, 2012-06) Frelich, Lee E.; Ek, Alan R.; Zobel, John M.; Page, Kristen M.Forest wildlife habit relationships are important to a wide range of forest management decisions. This report describes the development and improvement of a forest wildlife habitat model format for use by natural resource professionals in silvicultural decision making and forest planning. Specifically, this paper describes rationale, data, and models assembled for describing habitat suitability indices (HSI) plus guidance for their application. Importantly, this work has also provided an update of habitat relationship data and model forms for many of the bird, mammal and amphibian species common to Minnesota. In total, data and models are provided for nearly 200 wildlife species. HSI are a coarse filter method for considering the impact of forest management on wildlife species habitats. They are best described as a hypothesis regarding species-habitat relationships. In this usage, the premise is that there is a functional relationship between habitat suitability and habitat features that are widely observed at the forest stand level, such as the forest covertype and stand age class or size class--information which is widely available from systematic forest inventory data. The modeling format is intended to allow rapid and straightforward analyses of potential changes in wildlife habitat for (1) long-term forest-wide planning efforts such as those by large landowners (forest-based industry, federal, state, and county managed lands), (2) rapid site-specific on-the-ground assessment of habitat conditions and considerations in timber sale or other project considerations, and (3) input to environmental review of large forestry-related project proposals. Sequel papers are under development to describe a PC-based model implementation package and trials to aid user interpretation of model outputs.Item Measurement error effects on estimates from linear and nonlinear regression whole stand yield models in Minnesota(University of Minnesota, 2015-08) Zobel, John M.Item Methodology adjustments and alternatives for the Wildlife Habitat Indicator for Native Genera and Species (WHINGS) framework(St. Paul, Minn. : Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, 2022-10) Gifford, Tyler S.; Zobel, John M.; Shartell, Lindsey M.Item Modeling forest growth, yield, and wildlife habitat in the Lake States(2013-05) Zobel, John M.Modeling efforts in the Lake States have produced numerous descriptive and predictive statistical models to assist forest management. However, several needs remain, including representation of (1) intensive forest management, (2) wildlife response to habitat change, and (3) projections of stand mortality for extended rotations. (1) We created a managed and intensively managed stand version of the Lake States variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (LS-FVS). This research concentrated on updating the large tree diameter growth model in LS-FVS using data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) database. The final model form provides an important tool for describing individual tree level response to various management intensities in LS-FVS. (2) The Wildlife Habitat Indicator for Native Genera and Species (WHINGS) was derived from the Minnesota Generic Environmental Impact Statement and allows forest managers and policy analysts to examine the impacts of proposed management scenarios on forest wildlife habitat. This research recommended several updates to the current habitat suitability index methodology used in the model. A case study for St. Louis County, Minnesota demonstrated an application of the updated model to three 100 year harvest scheduling projections. Results illustrated that any sustainable change in forest habitat will benefit some species and diminish others.(3) This study modified and extended an existing yield curve for the red pine and aspen forest types to encompass the entire life of a forest stand (single cohort). The new model assumed that accumulated mortality eventually equals accumulated growth (i.e., stand mortality eventually reaches 100%). From among several proposed model forms, a symmetric curve based on an underlying basal area model proved superior. Forest managers and planners tasked with estimating yield (or yield loss) from diverse scenarios can now obtain realistic projections for stands beyond the age range of typical yield models.In addition, we compared several datasets from FIA for similar utility when developing empirical yield models and compared several basal area yield models and fitting methods for their applicability and stability over time. Finally, we evaluated the managed and intensively managed stand version of LS-FVS using independent growth observations from the most recently available FIA data.Item Off-the-shelf Accuracy of Whole Stand Aspen Volume Yield Models in Minnesota(St. Paul, Minn. : School of Forestry, University of Minnesota, 2021-10) Gifford, Tyler, S; Zobel, John M.Item The Wildlife Habitat Indicator for Native Genera and Species (WHINGS): Methodology and Application(University of Minnesota, 2014-09) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.The Wildlife Habitat Indicator for Native Genera and Species (WHINGS) represents the next iteration of the wildlife habitat model created for the Minnesota Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) in the 1990s. The WHINGS framework allows and facilitates forestry and related natural resource planners and policy analysts to examine the impacts, both positive and negative, of proposed management scenarios on forest wildlife habitat during environmental review. In addition, the model can aid the synthesis of wildlife management objectives and practices during forest plan development. Further, the model can estimate current site specific wildlife habitat conditions that may influence other aspects of forest management. This research proposed several updates to the current habitat suitability index methodology used in previous versions of the model. A case study for Carlton County, Minnesota demonstrates an application of the updated model for trend analysis across two separate inventories. The output from WHINGS showed that 28% and 24% of bird species experienced improved and diminished habitat, respectively. Habitat suitability increased and decreased for 14% of the small and medium mammals, respectively. Three of the four large mammals saw improved habitat, while the fourth remained stable. However, the herptofauna had no gains in habitat, but 50% of the species experienced reductions. Overall, the results illustrate the fact that changes in forest habitat will benefit some species and negatively impact others. Thus, the significance and utility of WHINGS results will depend on the user and the criteria surrounding their particular application. Finally, we note the results are very much a function of the underlying forest description detail and wildlife species linkages, i.e., habitat suitability indices (HSI). Where model results differ from what has actually been observed for a wildlife populations, it is appropriate to revisit and refine the specific wildlife species HSI.Item ZEO Yield and Mortality Model Application(2014) Zobel, John M.; Ek, Alan R.; O'Hara, Timothy J.