Information seeking in the Humanities: physicality and digitality

This paper presents a brief overview of a research project that is examining the information seeking practices of humanities scholars. The results of this project are being used to develop digital resources to better support these work activities. Initial findings from a recent set of interviews is offered, revealing the importance of physical artefacts in the humanities scholars’ research processes and the limitations of digital resources. Finally, further work that is soon to be undertaken is summarised, and it is hoped that after participation in this workshop these ideas will be refined

Growth, herbivore distribution, and herbivore damage of timber trees in a tropical silvopastoral reforestation system

Context: The reforestation of degraded tropical pastures requires innovative tree planting systems that consider land user needs. Aim: We established a silvopastoral reforestation system and assessed the effects of companion trees on the native timber tree Tabebuia rosea in Panama. Timber tree individuals were established in (1) solitary plantings (TSol) or in companion plantings with (2) Guazuma ulmifolia (TGua) or (3) the nitrogen-fixing Gliricidia sepium (TGli). Methods: We quantified growth characteristics and herbivory of T. rosea, and analyzed leaf chemistry (including the stable isotopes δ15N and δ13C) and structure (leaf mass per area). Results: Companion trees significantly affected stem diameter growth of T. rosea. Stem diameter growth was as high in TGli trees as in TSol trees but was reduced in TGua trees. Furthermore, TGua trees had higher leaf water content, and lower δ13C and lower leaf mass-to-area ratio than TGli trees, suggesting there were effects of shading by G. ulmifolia on T. rosea. Herbivory was high but not affected by planting regimes. Leafing phenology did not differ between planting regimes and G. sepium did not increase nitrogen content in T. rosea leaves. Conclusion: Companion tree planting can support timber tree growth in silvopastoral reforestations, but adequate species selection is crucial for successful implementation of this planting system. Tree-tree interactions seem to be more relevant for timber tree growth than herbivory in the studied syste

The Book of Feral Flora by Amanda Ackerman & Skeena by Sarah de Leeuw

Review of Amanda Ackerman\u27s The Book of Feral Flora. Review of Sarah de Leeuw\u27s Skeena

Linking plant phenology to conservation biology

Phenology has achieved a prominent position in current scenarios of global change research given its role inmonitoring and predicting the timing of recurrent life cycle events. However, the implications of phenology to environmental conservation and management remain poorly explored. Here,we present the first explicit appraisal of howphenology-amultidisciplinary science encompassing biometeorology, ecology, and evolutionary biology- can make a key contribution to contemporary conservation biology. We focus on shifts in plant phenology induced by global change, their impacts on species diversity and plant-animal interactions in the tropics, and how conservation efforts could be enhanced in relation to plant resource organization. We identify the effects of phenological changes and mismatches in the maintenance and conservation of mutualistic interactions, and examine how phenological research can contribute to evaluate, manage and mitigate the consequences of land-use change and other natural and anthropogenic disturbances, such as fire, exotic and invasive species. Wealso identify cutting-edge tools that can improve the spatial and temporal coverage of phenological monitoring, from satellites to drones and digital cameras. We highlight the role of historical information in recovering long-term phenological time series, and track climate-related shifts in tropical systems. Finally, we propose a set of measures to boost the contribution of phenology to conservation science.Weadvocate the inclusion of phenology into predictive models integrating evolutionary history to identify species groups that are either resilient or sensitive to future climate-change scenarios, and understand how phenological m ismatches can affect community dynamics, ecosystem services, and conservation over time

The performance of the baldcypress leafroller (Archips goyerana Kruse, Lepidoptera: Torticidae) in response to fertilization, thinning, and genetic variation in host baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L. Richard)

Mississippi River diversions into coastal Louisiana wetlands aim to provide nutrient inputs and slow the impacts resulting from saltwater intrusion. Baldcypress (Taxodium distichum L. Richard) exhibits significant intraspecific tolerance to salinity and is being developed for restoration projects. Two studies were conducted using five half-sibling families of baldcypress planted at two locations in southeast Louisiana to investigate the effects of nutrient additions, thinning, and phenology on the growth of the baldcypress leafroller (Archips goyerana Kruse, BCLR). In the Jeanfreau study, families were subjected to a control, low, and high level of fertilization simulating two-four years’ effects, respectively, from a Mississippi River diversion. In the Delacroix study, an area impacted by a river diversion, these same families were subjected to control and thinned treatments. BCLR larval bioassays were conducted in the laboratory to ascertain relative growth rate (RGR), development time, and pupal weights, a surrogate for potential fecundity. Tree growth and foliage nutrients, phenolics (Jeanfreau only), moisture, length and width were measured. Fertilization did not consistently influence tree growth. Dry pupal weights and relative growth rates in most families were greater, and development times shorter, each year in the low fertilization treatment. Phenology differences among families were consistent across fertilization treatments and significantly affected BCLR growth. Pupal weights were lower on early-leafing families due to the decreasing suitability of the foliage at time of larval emergence. Thinning did not have a clear effect on BCLR development during the time of study. Phenological effects on larval growth and foliar nutrient samples were experimentally removed by allowing the foliage among families to reach comparable stages of growth in 2003. Females reared on family cb3 in the thinned treatment exhibited significantly heavier pupae than the control, implying a potentially greater fecundity, but foliage analyses revealed total nutrients and moisture content were less concentrated in the thinned treatment. There were no other significant differences in larval performance. Overall, this evidence suggests a more nutritious food resulting from limited fertilization inputs may lead to a BCLR population increase. Larval growth and performance may not be affected immediately by thinning. Phenological variation in budburst among families was found to be a significant factor affecting leafroller performance

Variation of Vitellaria paradoxa phenophases along the north-south gradient in Mali

We monitored flowering, fruiting and leafing of Vitellaria paradoxa (shea tree) along the north–south gradient in Mali (West Africa), using three study sites for a period of three years. In each site, adult shea trees were marked and monitored in permanent plots of both field and fallow stands. The chronology of phenophases and their mean length as well as flowering and fruiting were assessed. Our data revealed significant variation according to site and stand. The onset of events starts earlier in the south than in the centre or north, but the period covered by events was almost the same for all sites (3 to 6 months for flowering; 5 to 6 months for fruiting; and 2 to 4 months before full leafing).Flowering and fruiting were more regular in the south, but often as high in the north, with an almost similar trend in both fields and fallows. In the centre, flowering was also high in fields as well as in fallows, while the fruiting was medium to high. We also observed variations in the mean length of phenological events in study sites and stands. Sites in the south showed the highest average length of flowering and leafing (76 days and 44 days, respectively), while the central site showed the greatest length of mean fruiting (110 days).  We observed a significant site*stand interaction and noticeable variation over the years. Our study indicates that phenological events of shea tree could be influenced by several interacting biotic and abiotic factors. A future research challenge in shea phenology would be to discriminate these factors and thus help sustainable management of shea tree parklands

Testing the Baobab’s Mettle: An Evaluation of the Sustainability and Economic Potential of Harvesting Adansonia digitata

In light of southern Africa’s growing population and economy, as well as the increasing international market for Adansonia digitata products, it seems important to ascertain whether or not rural baobab harvesting is having an impact on the health of the trees and whether it could be improved or expanded to increase benefits to communities. This study focused on 72 trees in and around the village of Gweta, Botswana, examining local usage and harvesting practices and exploring their correlations with the health of the trees. Results suggest that baobab harvesting in its current form is detrimental to the trees’ health and may not be sustainable in the long term, given Botswana’s rapid population growth. Human usage was linked to increased branch loss and to the severity of infection by rot fungi. However, recovery from these effects seems possible with time, meaning that altering harvesting practices and techniques could result in a marked improvement in both the trees’ health and their yield. This would protect the baobabs—and their important ecological niche along with them—while increasing long-term benefits to the community. Further research is necessary, but this study’s preliminary recommendation is to refine methods of fruit, bark, and root removal and to promote the protection of a set percentage of the area’s trees in order to facilitate recovery. If these goals can be met, it may be possible to sustainably expand Gweta’s local baobab usage or perhaps even to delve into larger economic ventures