Discover the cutting-edge research shaping the future of forestry! Our faculty members and graduate students are at the forefront of innovation, addressing critical challenges and exploring sustainable solutions to ensure the health and vitality of our forests.
Here is a look at the research publications from UBC Forestry this month.
Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Fuel types misrepresent forest structure and composition in interior British Columbia: a way forward
Authors: Jen Baron, Paul Hessburg, Sarah Gergel, Greg Greene, Lori Daniels
Understanding wildland fuels is crucial for managing forests and wildfires. However, accurately mapping and categorizing these fuels over large areas is challenging due to their diverse characteristics. In interior British Columbia, we found that provincial fuel type maps misrepresented forest conditions at 74% of field plots. Additionally, the forest conditions at 58% of field plots could not be accurately represented by any available fuel type. These inaccuracies make it difficult to implement effective fuel management strategies aimed at proactively reducing wildfire risk. Improving fuel assessments in BC will require updates to both the forest inventory data and fuel classification system to better represent modern ecosystems.
Acoustic telemetry tracking of Coho Salmon smolts released from a community-run hatchery into a marine inlet reveals low early ocean survival
Authors: Adam M. Kanigan, Scott G. Hinch, Andrew G. Lotto, Kamil Szlachta, Stephen D. Johnston, Stephanie A. Lingard
Pacific salmon hatcheries are used to supplement threatened populations, support commercial and recreational fisheries, and provide education and public engagement related to conservation of salmon and habitats. However, most hatcheries—particularly those run by volunteer community groups—do not know the success of their fish after release. Researchers demonstrated that acoustic telemetry can be used to examine hatchery release practices and used our results to propose changes that will improve early ocean survival
High-quality genome assembly enables prediction of allele-specific gene expression in hybrid poplar
Authors: Tian-Le Shi, Kai-Hua Jia, Yu-Tao Bao, Shuai Nie, Xue-Chan Tian, Xue-Mei Yan, Zhao-Yang Chen, Zhi-Chao Li, Shi-Wei Zhao, Hai-Yao Ma, Ye Zhao, Xiang Li, Ren-Gang Zhang, Jing Guo, Wei Zhao, Yousry Aly El-Kassaby, Niels Müller, Yves Van de Peer, Xiao-Ru Wang, Nathaniel Robert Street, Ilga Porth, Xinmin An, Jian-Feng Mao
In this research, scientists used advanced sequencing techniques to analyze the genetic makeup of hybrid poplar trees, which are commonly used in forest plantations. They focused on distinguishing between different sets of chromosomes to better understand how specific genetic variations affect tree traits. By examining the genetic information from both parents of a well-known hybrid, they were able to map almost all chromosomes in detail. They also studied gene expression patterns and found significant differences between alleles (variants of genes). Using machine learning, they developed models to predict allele-specific gene expression with high accuracy, uncovering factors like DNA methylation and sequence differences that influence gene activity. This approach offers new opportunities for studying gene function and hybrid vigor in poplar trees.
Temporal dynamics of genetic architecture governing leaf development in Populus
Authors: Peng Li, Yuling He, Liang Xiao, Mingyang Quan, Mingyue Gu, Zhuoying Jin, Jiaxuan Zhou, Lianzheng Li, Wenhao Bo, Weina Qi, Rui Huang, Chenfei Lv, Dan Wang, Qing Liu, Yousry A. El-Kassaby, Qingzhang Du, Deqiang Zhang
Leaf development is a complex process controlled by many genes that shape leaf size and shape. Researchers used advanced genetic techniques to study how genes work together over time in Populus trees. By analyzing gene expression patterns, they found specific genes that are active at different stages of leaf development. They also identified a key gene, PtoGRF9, which influences leaf growth by controlling cell multiplication. Our findings shed light on how genes regulate leaf development and the role of PtoGRF9 in this process.
Department of Forest Resources Management
Talking about my generation: exploratory insights from water policy makers in British Columbia
Authors: William Nikolakis, Harry Nelson, Amanda Martínez-Carrasco
Policy makers’ values influence policy change, yet little attention is paid to where these values originate. A study conducted in British Columbia explores generational ‘social frames’ as one such source. Through a survey focusing on water policy changes, including First Nations integration, consistent generational differences in personal and organizational values, priorities, and economic preferences among Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials were identified. These differences may impact the policy process. Advocacy is made for public water agencies to embrace this diversity, fostering internal learning, adaptation, and innovation to better address evolving policy needs.
Greening the gentrification process: Insights and engagements from practitioners
Authors: Jessica Quinton, Lorien Nesbitt, Daniel Sax, Leila Harris
“Green gentrification” occurs when efforts to make cities greener increase property prices and potentially displace lower-income residents. Researchers talked to 33 urban planners and greening practitioners in Canada and found that urban greening efforts often go hand in hand with new development, resulting in new greening being located alongside higher-end developments. Many interviewees are focused on addressing existing inequities rather than preventing future green gentrification; they’re not sure if knowing about the concept of ‘green gentrification’ can help them make urban greening more equitable. Ultimately, they say we need better collaboration between urban greening, housing, and planning to make cities more equitable and affordable for everyone.
Monitoring forest disturbance recovery using metrics derived from multi-spectral satellite time-series: introducing the spectral recovery open-source package with European and Canadian use cases
Authors: Melissa Birch, Sarah Zwiep, Nicholas C. Coops, Andy Dean, Marcos Kavlin, Frank Martin Seifert
Forests around the world are facing serious problems due to things like fires and human activities, which harm the environment and the services forests provide. Restoring these ecosystems is crucial, supported by global initiatives like the UN’s Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. However, it’s hard to monitor restoration progress, especially in large or remote areas. A new tool called spectral-recovery, funded by the European Space Agency, helps by analyzing satellite data to track how vegetation is recovering. It’s easy to use, allowing flexible goal-setting based on historical or reference data. This tool helps monitor forest recovery, supporting international agreements and policies.
Characterizing post-fire northern boreal forest height dynamics
Authors: Martin Queinnec, Nicholas Coops, Joanne White
This study investigates Canada’s northern boreal forests’ structure using satellite data, crucial for carbon storage and wildlife habitat. Although forest changes due to factors like wildfires are significant, accurately monitoring these forests remains a challenge. The study uses satellite observations from ICESat-2 and spectral data from Landsat to estimate forest canopy height from 1984 to 2021. The accuracy of these estimates was validated using airborne laser scanning data. Results show that forests recover about 60% to 85% of their height within 30 years after a fire. This method can be applied to other boreal forest areas for better understanding of forest dynamics after wildfires.
Mapping vegetation height and identifying the northern forest limit across Canada using ICESat-2, Landsat time series and topographic data
Authors: H. Travers-Smith, N.C. Coops, C. Mulverhill, M.A. Wulder, D. Ignace, T.C. Lantz
Researchers are studying how the area where the forest meets the tundra (a cold, treeless region) is changing due to global warming. They’re using data from satellites and lasers to map the height and density of trees across a huge part of Canada. By combining different types of data, they can better understand how forests are spreading and how tall they’re growing. This helps us track how climate change is affecting these areas. Their findings show promise for accurately mapping the shape and size of forests in cold, remote places using advanced technology.
Department of Wood Science
All-cellulose hydrogel with ultrahigh stretchability exceeding 40000%
Authors: Yifan Zhang, Xia Sun, Yuhang Ye, Hale Oguzlu, Yeling Zhu, Jiaying Zhu, Katherine Le, Pu Yang, Feng Jiang
Researchers have developed a highly stretchable hydrogel made entirely from cellulose, a common material found in plants. By modifying the structure of cellulose molecules, they increased its flexibility, allowing it to stretch up to 44200%. This hydrogel can heal itself rapidly, form strong cellulose fibers, and be used in wearable devices like motion sensors and electrocardiogram electrodes to monitor health signals. The discovery could lead to improved wearable technology and new applications for cellulose-based materials.
Surface charge manipulation for improved humidity sensing of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils
Authors: Jiaying Zhu, Penghui Zhu, Yeling Zhu, Yuhang Ye, Xia Sun, Yifan Zhang, Orlando J. Rojas, Peyman Servati, Feng Jiang
Researchers are improving humidity sensors using cellulose due to its eco-friendly nature and low cost. By modifying cellulose with TEMPO oxidation, they enhance its sensitivity to humidity. A new method was developed to increase the sensitivity of cellulose films to humidity by adjusting their surface charge. This resulted in a sensor with a high sensitivity of 44.5% per %RH, surpassing many existing sensors. The sensor also showed excellent accuracy across a wide humidity range. These advancements make cellulose-based sensors useful for various applications, including detecting human breath, fingertip moisture, and water leaks.
Ultra‐Stretchable and Environmentally Resilient Hydrogels Via Sugaring‐Out Strategy for Soft Robotics Sensing
Authors: Yuhang Ye, Zhangmin Wan, P.D.S.H. Gunawardane, Qi Hua, Siheng Wang, Jiaying Zhu, Scott Renneckar, Orlando J. Rojas, Feng Jiang
Hydrogels are often limited in their use because they contain a lot of water, which affects their strength and durability. To tackle this, researchers changed the water interactions within polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels by adding glucose. This strengthened the hydrogels by improving hydrogen bonding and interactions between water and glucose molecules, therefore reducing the amount of free water. As a result, these modified hydrogels became highly resilient even in extreme conditions, making them useful for soft robotics and opto-mechanical sensors. Importantly, the addition of glucose, a safe and environmentally friendly substance, played a key role in achieving these improvements without any harmful effects.
Solid Wood Modification toward Anisotropic Elastic and Insulative Foam-Like Materials
Authors: Xuetong Shi, Ran Bi, Zhangmin Wan, Feng Jiang, Orlando J. Rojas
Researchers have devised a method to convert solid wood into a highly flexible and insulating foam-like material while preserving its natural components. By partially removing lignin and retaining hemicellulose, they achieve a process efficiency of 72.8%. The material’s elasticity arises from its layered structure, allowing it to rebound even after compression by up to 60%, without significant fiber deformation. Control over its compressibility is achieved through oxidation, altering its internal structure. Moreover, the material can be made water-resistant and flame-retardant by incorporating specific chemicals. This wood-derived foam holds promise for protective packaging due to its flexibility, insulation, and safety features against water and fire.
