SNRAS holds first Research Day

For 15 years, all natural resources management undergraduate students were required to take senior thesis classes and write research papers. This semester, for the first time, the format was switched so that students prepared posters instead of papers.

Part of the reason for the change is based on the Undergraduate Research  and Scholarly Activity calendar. URSA offers grants for undergraduate research and hosts a research showcase in April.

Jacob Hakala presents his poster.

At the first SNRAS Research Day on Nov. 22 in the Margaret Murie building, the students presented their posters. To get things rolling, doctoral student Watcharee Ruairuen volunteered to give a talk on her “Evapotranspiration from Sub-Arctic Agricultural Ecosystem” poster. Professor Milan Shipka followed with his poster on reindeer gestation.

 Jacob Hakala talked about his poster, “Growth of Siberian Larch in Interior Alaska.”


Abstract:

Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica) has
historical use from Eastern Russia through to Finland. I am investigating the
early performance of the species in Interior Alaska. I will investigate if
Siberian Larch is a regeneration option compared to current commercial species,
specifically White Spruce (Picea glauce) and Lodgepole Pine(Pinus
contorta).

Forty-seven randomized fixed-area
plots were established within three timber sales in the Tanana Valley State
Forest to collect size data for comparison between species and the respective
sale areas in which they were planted.

I found that Siberian Larch
exhibited better early-life growth than the other species, but did not
encounter nearly the abundance that the more established species displayed.
Siberian Larch did not however exhibit significant difference between the sites,
while Lodgepole Pine did. This suggests that while the Siberian Larch measured
does not exhibit significant dependency on site selection, there could be
improvements in the survivorship of the seedlings.

The higher average volume values
for Siberian Larch 20 to 30 years of age are consistent with existing
literature, but further monitoring on the plots is required to understand
later-stage dynamics of the species.

Melissa Dick’s poster was “Rapid Soil Carbon Assessment Using VNIR Spectroscopy.” She presented at the Matanuska Experiment Farm in Palmer.


Abstract:

There is demand for large amounts
of good quality, inexpensive soil data to be used for various soil
assessments.  Spectroscopy can offer
rapid, timely, inexpensive, non-destructive alternative to lab analysis.
The main objective of this study was to develop a reliable, VNIR (visible-near
infrared) method to test for carbon in crops and forest soils in southcentral
Alaska.  Soil samples were collected from
four crop, and four forest sites in the Mat-Su Valley, and scanned with a
portable spectrometer.  There was a
significant relationship found between quantitative spectral responses, and the
lab test results.  The results show that
VNIR spectroscopy can be used to predict soil carbon content, and to improve
calibrations for future soil assessments in the field.

According
to the International Building Code (IBC) “Sawn lumber used for load-supporting
purposes …shall be identified by the grade mark of a lumber grading or
inspection agency that has been approved by an accreditation body that complies
with DOC PS 20 or equivalent.” Currently, there is only one sawmill in Alaska
actively grading lumber for local sale. What are the obstacles that stand in
the way of making this practice more prevalent throughout Alaska? A telephone
survey of Alaska sawmill owners was utilized to answer the primary question.
Telephone and personal interviews with the Director of Quality Services at the
West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB) and the head grader at the only
sawmill in Alaska currently
grading lumber,
were also conducted. The results pointed to an inadequate local market due to
an excessive supply of imported lumber, and an inadequate volume of timber for
sale by the major landowners in Alaska Education campaigns on a local level
could be used to persuade local residents to utilize local graded lumber rather
than imported. Sawmill owners could also campaign in favor of changing
government policy in reference to allowable timber harvest on Federal and
State Forest Lands. 

Students, faculty and staff peruse the posters at Research Day.

 

Jacob Hakala explains his poster to Professor Glenn Juday.