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Educational Policies Committee Agenda December 4, 2025
No full textApproval of Minutes - November 6, 2025 Subcommittee Reports Other Business Adjourn: 4:00 p
Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda December 15, 2025
No full text3:00 Call to Order Approval of Minutes November 17, 2025 3:05 University Business 3:20 Faculty Senate Business 3:35 Information EPC Report - December 4, 2025 3:40 Report Council on Teacher Education Scholarship Annual Report University Studies Report 4:05 Old Business 4:10 New Business Adjourn: 4:30 p
The Perfect Pairing: Early Stand Dynamics in Conventional Aspen and Mixedwood Forests in Northern Minnesota, USA
No full textIn North America, mixedwood management is being increasingly considered by natural resource managers as an alternative to single species management for a variety of ecological, economic, and cultural reasons. In northern Minnesota, USA, natural resource managers are increasingly using treatments to establish mixedwood forests in aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx, Populus grandientata Michx) dominated ecosystems by planting white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench). However, little quantitative information is known regarding differences between stand structure and composition in conventional aspen and aspen-white spruce during early stand development. To provide greater clarity for managers, we sampled 40 aspen stands across a chronosequence of 0 – 20 years old in northern Minnesota. Stands received one of two treatments: conventional aspen management (20 stands) or mixedwood management which included planting of white spruce and early release (20 stands). Forest inventory data were collected on seedlings, saplings, overstory trees, and non-tree understory cover. Results found a tradeoff between higher regeneration density in aspen stands, but greater tree diameter growth and structural and compositional diversity in mixedwoods. White spruce-aspen mixedwood systems can provide opportunities for increased ecological services during early stand development without compromising on long-term timber-focused management goals. Study Implications Establishing white spruce-aspen mixedwood forests can be a valuable silvicultural management option for the Lake States region (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin) of the US for managers aiming to transition away from single species systems. Mixedwoods were shown in this study to have higher compositional and structural diversity than monoculture aspen (Populus spp.) stands, which other studies indicate can lead to additional ecological benefits such as greater climate resilience, diverse habitat for wildlife, resistance to pests, and diversity of important commercial timber products
Experimental Evidence of Dust-Driven Shifts in Production, Chlorophyll \u3ci\u3ea\u3c/i\u3e, and Community Composition in Mountain Lakes
No full textDrought and human land use have increased dust emissions in the western United States. However, the ecological sensitivity of remote lakes to dust deposition is not well understood and to date has largely been assessed through spatial and temporal correlations. Using in situ bioassays, we investigated the effects of dust enrichment on the production, chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentration, and taxonomic composition of phytoplankton and microbial communities in three western US mountain lakes. We found that dust-derived nutrients increased Chl a concentration in all three lakes, but the magnitude of the effect varied from 32% to 226%. This variation was related to pre-existing lake conditions, such as trophic status, pH, and nutrient limitation. In Castle Lake, co-limited by N and P, dust bioassays showed an increase in Chl a content per cell but suppressed primary production and increased dark 14C uptake. In contrast, both Flathead Lake and The Loch were primarily P-limited and exhibited increases in Chl a concentration. The contrasting Chl a and primary production results from Castle Lake are consistent with the alleviation of nitrogen limitation where energy Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used for nutrient assimilation instead of carbon fixation. Dust additions also altered the algal and microbial communities. The latter included the addition of new phyla (e.g., Deinococcota), indicating that dust-delivered microbes have the potential to thrive in receiving lakes. Our study provides the first short-term experimental in situ evidence of rapid ecosystem effects in mountain lakes following dust exposure. The results emphasize the need for continued research in this area to understand interactions of both the short- and long-term consequences of dust-induced perturbations in remote lakes in the context of global changes
Evaluation of Bending Performance in Full-Scale Cross-Laminated Timber Made From Trembling Aspen Lumber
No full textCross-laminated timber (CLT) is an innovative engineered wood product with excellent stiffness and strength in two directions, typically made from combination species of Spruce-Pine-Fir or Douglas Fir-Larch in North America. Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), a widely distributed species in North America, exhibits a great potential for producing CLT due to its outstanding rolling shear properties and relatively low raw material cost. This study was aimed at evaluating the bending properties of full-scale CLT panel and specimen manufactured from trembling aspen lumber sourced in Alberta, Canada. The longitudinal stress wave (LSW) method was employed for sorting lumber based on the modulus of elasticity (MOE). Three- and five-layer CLT panels in two strength directions were constructed, measuring 2.7 m in length and 1.2 m in width. Static third-point bending tests were conducted for CLT panels and specimens. It was found that (1) The mean effective bending stiffnesses ((EI)eff,f,0 and (EI)eff,f,90) of three-layer CLT panels in the major- and minor-strength directions were 32.1% and 44.8% higher, respectively, than the values calculated using the shear analogy method. Similarly, for five-layer CLT panels, (EI)eff,f,0 increased by 46.6% and (EI)eff,f,90 by 43.3%; (2) For five-layer CLT specimens, the mean (EI)eff,f,0 and (EI)eff,f,90 were 19.2% and 30.3% higher, respectively, than grade E1 requirements specified in the standard ANSI/APA PRG-320, and the mean (EI)eff,f,0 and (EI)eff,f,90 of three-layer CLT specimens increased by 1.5% and 40.7% compared to those of grade E1, respectively; (3) The mean bending moment resistance ((FbS)eff,f,0) for five-layer CLT specimens in the major-strength direction was approximately 5.0% lower than that of CLT made with western hemlock, and the mean (FbS)eff,f,0 of three-layer CLT specimens was about 25.3% lower than that of CLT made with black spruce; (4) The rolling shear failure was observed to be the predominant failure mode in the major-strength groups, occurring approximately 50% in both three- and five-layer CLT specimens. For the minor-strength group, the tension failure was observed as primary failure mode, accounting for 50% as well. (5) The mean absolute percentage errors forecast for the mean (EI)eff of three-layer CLT panels and specimens in the major-strength was 8.47% and 10.10%, respectively
Guide to Drought Tolerance of Utah Field Crops
Get PDFCrop variety selection is one of the most important choices on the farm. Crop genetics determine a significant portion of the yield potential and resource use efficiency. Crop types and genetics that use water more efficiently will become increasingly important as water becomes scarcer. Throughout Utah and the Western United States, water availability is decreasing due to various factors, including reduced snowpack and rapid urban growth. Alfalfa, other hay, small grains, and corn are grown on more acres than any other crops in Utah and much of the Intermountain West. These crops all have varieties, hybrids, and cultivars with the potential for more efficient water use while mitigating yield loss. Navigating these options and understanding various mechanisms and effectiveness can be a challenge. This guide will address some of the primary mechanisms, options, and effectiveness of crop genetics for improved water use efficiency
Crop Advisor Approaches to Soil Health Advising and Opportunities for Improvement
Get PDFIn this report, we use data from a 2023 online survey of crop advisors in Utah and Idaho to examine how they are working with their clients on soil health and where opportunities for improvement exist
High-Throughput Phenotyping of Early Generation Small Grains Breeding Lines to Indirectly Select for Grain Yield
Get PDFIn small grains breeding programs, breeders aim to develop better varieties by selecting for important traits like grain yield. However, it takes many years before yield can be measured because several generations of selection are required to fix lines and increase sufficient seed for yield measurements. This process can be slow and expensive High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) is a modern approach that can increase breeding efficiency by leveraging technology to quickly measure secondary traits which can be used to indirectly select for important traits in crop plants. For example, researchers can use cameras on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, i.e., drones) to capture images that can be utilized to characterize plant health on the basis of pixel color and light reflection. Previous studies have shown that these measurements (i.e., vegetation indices) can help predict crop yield. This study tested whether using UAV imagery and chlorophyll measurements can be used to predict crop yield at earlier stages (i.e., headrows) in the breeding process. Yield and HTP data were collected from three crop trials – dryland wheat, irrigated wheat, and irrigated barley – and statistical models were used to calculate metrics (e.g., heritability and trait correlations) to determine whether these secondary traits may be useful in the indirect selection for grain yield. High heritabilities suggested that the HTP traits are under genetic control and may be useful as selection criteria at the early stages of breeding programs. There were also high correlations between the HTP traits measured at headrow stage and grain yield measured in replicated yield trials. This suggests that indirect selection using these HTP traits at the headrow stage may lead to improvements in grain yield. In summary, using UAVs, imaging, and other technologies to measure crop traits at early breeding stages may improve selection accuracy for grain yield, helping breeders to develop higher-yielding varieties more efficiently
Strategies for Increasing Methane Removal in Methanotroph Bench-scale Systems for the Production of Ectoine
Get PDFAnthropogenic methane emissions contribute to the greenhouse gas profile which is the chief cause of climate change. One significant source of methane emissions is biogas produced from bacteria in wastewater facilities and landfills. Methane rich biogas has the potential to be valorized into high value bioproducts by using methanotrophs (microbes that use methane as their primary carbon source). Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z was selected for this study as it can generate ectoine when grown in highly saline environments. Ectoine has been proven to have many benefits such as it prevents protein denaturation, it has hydration properties, and is a UV protectant. For these reasons ectoine is used as a cosmetic ingredient valued at approximately $1000 per kg. Previous research has demonstrated that M. alcaliphilum 20Z can be grown in a reactor set-up where methane is bubbled in and ectoine is successfully collected. One of the biggest challenges of methane valorization into ectoine is the low solubility of methane in water, which decreases the availability of it to the methanotrophic culture. This research analyzed factors such as temperature, bubble diameter, and gas input method to determine if the factors had an effect on methane removal. It was determined that all of the considered factors did indeed have an effect on methane removal