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The American farmer
Title
The American farmer.
Creator
Anstrom, George
Date Issued
1932
Identifier
886200, CFDT886200, ucf:5611
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/886200
Rebuilt and Remade: The Florida Citrus Industry, 1909-1939
Title
Rebuilt and Remade: The Florida Citrus Industry, 1909-1939.
Creator
Padgett, James, Lester, Connie, Pineda, Yovanna, French, Scot, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Prior to orange juice concentrate, Florida citrus was already an industrialized agricultural sector. This thesis explores the early-20th-century Florida citrus industry and demonstrates that contemporary farming practices were influential in advancing how citrus was produced, processed, worked, marketed, and regulated in early-20th-century Florida. Restarted after devastating freezes in 1894-1895, resolute Florida growers rebuilt their groves into marvels of large-scale citrus fruit...
Show morePrior to orange juice concentrate, Florida citrus was already an industrialized agricultural sector. This thesis explores the early-20th-century Florida citrus industry and demonstrates that contemporary farming practices were influential in advancing how citrus was produced, processed, worked, marketed, and regulated in early-20th-century Florida. Restarted after devastating freezes in 1894-1895, resolute Florida growers rebuilt their groves into marvels of large-scale citrus fruit production. Continuing a legacy in experimental crossbreeding, improved varieties of citrus were developed to lengthen the season and markets. Advocated by nurserymen and university educators, biological innovation helped the citrus thrive in the 1910s and 1920s from adverse weather effects, pests, and diseases. Scientists were agents of modernization whose research influenced its industrialization. With the inclusion of machines in the processing of citrus, technological innovation materialized significantly in Florida's packinghouses by the 1930s. These changes affected the lives of agricultural workers and small growers. Whether by prejudice or by resisting collective efforts, big growers gained power and influence in the industry, Their power concentrated into the Florida Citrus Codes and Florida Citrus Commission in 1935, which effectively allowed large-scale growers to direct the industry's development into the rest of the 20th century. In all, this reexamination into Florida citrus exemplifies the remaking of this industry into a modern agricultural system as well as the gradualism of southern agricultural modernization in early-20th-century America.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007906, ucf:52745
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007906
The Amish Farm in Transition: The Amish Response to Modernization in Northern Indiana, 1900-1920
Title
The Amish Farm in Transition: The Amish Response to Modernization in Northern Indiana, 1900-1920.
Creator
Grover, Amy, Lester, Connie, Larson, Peter, Martinez Fernandez, Luis, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This study explored the responses of Amish agrarians in northern Indiana to the mechanization and modernization of rural life in the early twentieth century. This period was marked by a shift towards agribusiness as well as the increased usage of farm machines. In addition to the increased emphasis on farm efficiency, reformers sought to modernize or update rural life. Within the context of these transformations, the Amish maintained their identity by exploring the necessity and the...
Show moreThis study explored the responses of Amish agrarians in northern Indiana to the mechanization and modernization of rural life in the early twentieth century. This period was marked by a shift towards agribusiness as well as the increased usage of farm machines. In addition to the increased emphasis on farm efficiency, reformers sought to modernize or update rural life. Within the context of these transformations, the Amish maintained their identity by exploring the necessity and the consequences of adapting to life in the modern world. Their responses to modernization defined not only their cultural boundaries in the modern world but also created their identity in twentieth century America. In stark contrast to the ideal of the independent farmer, the Amish used the strength of their community (both Amish and non-Amish) and their agrarian roots to endure and overcome the challenging events of the early twentieth century. The purpose of this study was to expand the scholarship of Amish studies in northern Indiana as well as place the Amish experience within the context of agrarian historiography. Resources used to examine this period included Amish writings, farm publications from Indiana and data from the agricultural census.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004339, ucf:49456
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004339
How the farmer can get his
Title
How the farmer can get his.
Creator
Marcy, Mary
Date Issued
1916
Identifier
331857, CFDT331857, ucf:5171
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/331857
Force versus food
Title
Force versus food: A short history of agriculture in the Soviet sphere.
Creator
Bass, Robert H. (Robert Hugo)
Date Issued
1957
Identifier
2683410, CFDT2683410, ucf:5082
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/2683410
Modern farming--Soviet style
Title
Modern farming--Soviet style.
Creator
Strong, Anna Louise
Date Issued
1930
Identifier
367842, CFDT367842, ucf:5349
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/367842
A Multisystem Approach for the Characterization of Bacteria for Sustainable Agriculture
Title
A Multisystem Approach for the Characterization of Bacteria for Sustainable Agriculture.
Creator
Lee, Briana, Tetard, Laurene, Kang, Hyeran, Mason, Chase, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The chemical, physical, and biological properties of bacteria developing resistance have been explored in animal based bacteria while plant bacteria have been largely neglected. Thus, the ability to probe changes in stiffness, adhesion, binding interactions and molecular traits of bacteria causing plant diseases is of great interest to develop a new generation of more potent, yet sustainable, pesticides. Our study aims to investigate the physical and chemical properties of bacterial systems,...
Show moreThe chemical, physical, and biological properties of bacteria developing resistance have been explored in animal based bacteria while plant bacteria have been largely neglected. Thus, the ability to probe changes in stiffness, adhesion, binding interactions and molecular traits of bacteria causing plant diseases is of great interest to develop a new generation of more potent, yet sustainable, pesticides. Our study aims to investigate the physical and chemical properties of bacterial systems, in particular their cell walls. Building upon this fundamental understanding of the cells, we also investigate the physicochemical responses associated to multivalent nanoparticle-based bactericide treatments on bacterial systems identified as pathogens in plant diseases. Here our efforts focus on developing a protocol for the fundamental understanding of Xanthomonas perforans, a strain known for causing bacterial spot in tomatoes and causing close to 50% losses in production. To support the design and accelerate the development of pesticides and treatments against this disease, we evaluate the changes bacteria undergo in the presence of the treatment. Using a silica nanoparticle-based treatment designed with a shell containing multivalent copper and quaternary ammonium, we compare bacteria pre- and post-treatment with infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based techniques, and TIRF microscopy. Statistical data analysis enables the identification of attributes that can potentially serve as markers to track the bacterial responses to the treatment in the future. Finally, we will discuss the exciting implications of this work, such as potential clues for the development of more potent treatments for resistant bacteria.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007038, ucf:52005
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007038
STABLE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPE ANALYSES OF SUBFOSSIL RATS FROM LIANG BUA (FLORES, INDONESIA)
Title
STABLE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPE ANALYSES OF SUBFOSSIL RATS FROM LIANG BUA (FLORES, INDONESIA).
Creator
Anderson, Kelly, Dupras, Tosha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
This research study investigated the level of bone collagen preservation of rat femora from Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, as well as conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses on well preserved samples. Although Flores is located in a hot intermediate tropical zone and the burial environment of the bone samples within the cave is considered less than optimal for collagen preservation, significant preservation of the bone collagen was found. Collagen yields, C...
Show moreThis research study investigated the level of bone collagen preservation of rat femora from Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, as well as conducted carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses on well preserved samples. Although Flores is located in a hot intermediate tropical zone and the burial environment of the bone samples within the cave is considered less than optimal for collagen preservation, significant preservation of the bone collagen was found. Collagen yields, C:N ratio and carbon and nitrogen concentrations were investigated. However, this research study argues that carbon and nitrogen concentrations are an appropriate means to determine preservation on its own. According to the carbon and nitrogen concentration data 32 samples were considered well preserved. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses were conducted on the 32 preserved samples. According to the carbon data a significant shift in the [delta]13C values from a C3 signature to a C4 signature occurred prior to 2,750 years ago. This shift is indicative of the introduction of a non-endemic C4 plant, which is believed to be either foxtail millet or sugarcane. Since this shift occurs abruptly it indicates that the introduction of agriculture to Flores occurred at one time and has continued to present day.
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Date Issued
2011
Identifier
CFE0003894, ucf:48748
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003894
On the Back of the Crocodile: Extent, Energetics, and Productivity in Wetland Agricultural Systems, Northern Belize
Title
On the Back of the Crocodile: Extent, Energetics, and Productivity in Wetland Agricultural Systems, Northern Belize.
Creator
Montgomery, Shane, Chase, Arlen, Chase, Diane, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Ancient populations across the globe successfully employed wetland agricultural techniques in a variety of environmentally and climatically diverse landscapes throughout prehistory. Within the Maya Lowlands, these agricultural features figure prominently in the region comprised of northern Belize and southern Quintana Roo, an area supporting low-outflow rivers, large lagoons, and numerous bajo (swamp) features. Along the banks of the Hondo and New Rivers, the Maya effectively utilized wetland...
Show moreAncient populations across the globe successfully employed wetland agricultural techniques in a variety of environmentally and climatically diverse landscapes throughout prehistory. Within the Maya Lowlands, these agricultural features figure prominently in the region comprised of northern Belize and southern Quintana Roo, an area supporting low-outflow rivers, large lagoons, and numerous bajo (swamp) features. Along the banks of the Hondo and New Rivers, the Maya effectively utilized wetland agricultural practices from the Middle Preclassic to the Terminal Classic Periods (1000 B.C.(-)A.D. 950). A number of past archaeological projects have thoroughly examined the construction and impact of these swampland modifications. After four decades of study, a more precise picture has formed in relation to the roles that these ditched field systems played in the regional development of the area. However, a detailed record of the full spatial extent, combined construction costs, and potential agricultural productivity has not been attempted on a larger scale. This thesis highlights these avenues of interest through data obtained from high- and medium-resolution satellite imagery and manipulated through geographic information systems (GIS) technology. The research explores environmental factors and topographic elements dictating the distribution of such entities, the energetic involvement required to construct and maintain the systems, and the efficiency of wetland techniques as compared to traditional milpa agriculture. Spatial analyses reveal a total of 254 distinct wetland field systems within the 6560 square kilometer area of interest, clustered along navigable waterways, seasonal lagoons, and upland landscapes separating the Hondo and New Rivers. Energetic estimates illustrate substantial investment in wetland field construction, spanning several generations based on a locally available workforce. However, productivity calculations associated with the ditched field systems commonly exceed those attributed to milpa techniques, suggesting agricultural surplus far beyond the immediate need. These combined data indicate the potential export of maize and other agricultural commodities to regional centers in northern Belize and further abroad during the Late Preclassic and Late to Terminal Classic Periods through riverine trade networks. Additionally, these data help illustrate participation trends and patterns of connectivity relating to tiered sites within the area of interest. This research contributes to the overall understanding of wetland agriculture within Mesoamerica as well as provides insight into the political management of intensive agricultural production during Maya prehistory.
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Date Issued
2016
Identifier
CFE0006360, ucf:51514
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006360
Soviet farmers
Title
Soviet farmers.
Creator
Strong, Anna Louise, National Council of American Soviet Friendship (U.S.)
Date Issued
1944
Identifier
363423, CFDT363423, ucf:5318
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/363423
The land revolution in Russia: Being a speech on the land question
Title
The land revolution in Russia: Being a speech on the land question.
Creator
Lenin, Vladimir Il'ich, Russian S.F.S.R Laws, etc
Date Issued
1919
Identifier
358313, CFDT358313, ucf:5191
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/358313
Navigation of an Autonomous Differential Drive Robot for Field Scouting in Semi-structured Environments
Title
Navigation of an Autonomous Differential Drive Robot for Field Scouting in Semi-structured Environments.
Creator
Freese, Douglas, Xu, Yunjun, Lin, Kuo-Chi, Kauffman, Jeffrey L., Behal, Aman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
In recent years, the interests of introducing autonomous robots by growers into agriculture fields are rejuvenated due to the ever-increasing labor cost and the recent declining numbers of seasonal workers. The utilization of customized, autonomous agricultural robots has a profound impact on future orchard operations by providing low cost, meticulous inspection. Different sensors have been proven proficient in agrarian navigation including the likes of GPS, inertial, magnetic, rotary...
Show moreIn recent years, the interests of introducing autonomous robots by growers into agriculture fields are rejuvenated due to the ever-increasing labor cost and the recent declining numbers of seasonal workers. The utilization of customized, autonomous agricultural robots has a profound impact on future orchard operations by providing low cost, meticulous inspection. Different sensors have been proven proficient in agrarian navigation including the likes of GPS, inertial, magnetic, rotary encoding, time of flight as well as vision. To compensate for anticipated disturbances, variances and constraints contingent to the outdoor semi-structured environment, a differential style drive vehicle will be implemented as an easily controllable system to conduct tasks such as imaging and sampling.In order to verify the motion control of a robot, custom-designed for strawberry fields, the task is separated into multiple phases to manage the over-bed and cross-bed operation needs. In particular, during the cross-bed segment an elevated strawberry bed will provide distance references utilized in a logic filter and tuned PID algorithm for safe and efficient travel. Due to the significant sources of uncertainty such as wheel slip and the vehicle model, nonlinear robust controllers are designed for the cross-bed motion, purely relying on vision feedback. A simple image filter algorithm was developed for strawberry row detection, in which pixels corresponding to the bed center will be tracked while the vehicle is in controlled motion. This incorporated derivation and formulation of a bounded uncertainty parameter that will be employed in the nonlinear control. Simulation of the entire system was subsequently completed to ensure the control capability before successful validation in multiple commercial farms. It is anticipated that with the developed algorithms the authentication of fully autonomous robotic systems functioning in agricultural crops will provide heightened efficiency of needed costly services; scouting, disease detection, collection, and distribution.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007401, ucf:52743
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007401
Garden Soils: Reviewing the Viability of Soil Phosphate Analyses in the Archaeological Identification of Ancient Maya Kitchen Gardens
Title
Garden Soils: Reviewing the Viability of Soil Phosphate Analyses in the Archaeological Identification of Ancient Maya Kitchen Gardens.
Creator
Foster, Cheryl, Chase, Arlen, Chase, Diane, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The study of ancient Maya intensive, intra-site agricultural systems, such as kitchen gardens, has gained new interest in recent years as a valuable way of interpreting numerous aspects of the ancient Maya's daily life (e.g. subsistence and settlement patterns, population growth, diet and nutrition, gender roles). However, while contemporary Maya kitchen gardens can often be easily identified and studied by cultural anthropologists and archaeologists, ancient kitchen gardens are usually much...
Show moreThe study of ancient Maya intensive, intra-site agricultural systems, such as kitchen gardens, has gained new interest in recent years as a valuable way of interpreting numerous aspects of the ancient Maya's daily life (e.g. subsistence and settlement patterns, population growth, diet and nutrition, gender roles). However, while contemporary Maya kitchen gardens can often be easily identified and studied by cultural anthropologists and archaeologists, ancient kitchen gardens are usually much harder to identify by traditional archaeological techniques because of their lack of architectural structures and other identifying features. To compensate for this limitation, various forms of chemical testing (primarily phosphate analysis) are being used to positively identify kitchen gardens and other specific anthropogenically modified spaces that are invisible to standard archaeological techniques. The archaeological community trusts these methods to be a reliable way of testing soils in archaeological sites for specific agricultural features, even though there has been little research conducted to conclusively prove this assertion. In response to this lack of research, this thesis investigates the viability of phosphate analysis and other chemical tests through a comprehensive literary review of previous and current research and an analysis of the data presented within it. While soil phosphate analysis has been used in past and current research to identify general agricultural features with great success, the chemical signatures produced from this method only give vague information about the soil and what was done to it, making soil Phosphate analysis unreliable to definitively discern specific agricultural areas, such as kitchen gardens, from general agricultural areas.
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Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005949, ucf:50811
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005949
book of photos
Title
A book of photos: from the land where dreams come true : Fruitland Park Florida.
Creator
PALMM (Project), Lake County Land Owners' Association
Abstract / Description
Photographs of Fruitland Park and surrounding areas in 1917.
Date Issued
1917
Identifier
AAB6361QF00001/18/200505/21/200714791BfamIa D0QF, FIPS12069, FIPS12083, FHP C CF 2005-01-19, FCLA url 20050220xOCLC, 58803366, CF00001686, 2579791, ucf:18270
Format
E-book
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001686.jpg
Gardening in Florida
Title
Gardening in Florida: a treatise on the vegetables and tropical products of Florida.
Creator
Whitner, J. N., PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description
An 1880's manual for growing garden and marketable vegetables in Florida, as well as short treatises on tropical fruits.
Date Issued
1885
Identifier
AAA3258QF00011/29/200108/04/200515998BfamIa D0QF, FHP C CF 2001-11-29, FCLA url 20020221xOCLC, 49445367, CF00001566, 2560132, ucf:8258
Format
E-book
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dl/CF00001566.jpg
Natursown
Title
Natursown: the finely ground high-grade phosphate for heavy crops & permanent soil fertility.
Creator
Lakeland Phosphate Company, PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description
Commercial booklet promoting the use of natural phosphate in agriculture.
Date Issued
1916
Identifier
AAB6356QF00001/18/200508/04/200516202BfamIa D0QF, FCLA url 20050209xOCLC, FHP C CF 2005-01-19, 58801915, CF00001683, 2579577, ucf:18180
Format
E-book
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001683.jpg
Seminole County Florida
Title
Seminole County Florida.
Creator
Seminole County (Fla.), PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description
Booklet describing the various towns in Seminole County and listing the various fruits and vegetables grown there. Includes two color maps and numerous pictures of buildings and farms in the county.
Date Issued
1926
Identifier
AAB9021QF00007/26/200511/14/200622171BfamIa D0QF, FIPS12117, FHP C UCF 2005-08-03, FCLA url 20060321xOCLC, 75969406, CF00001715, 2583996, ucf:19477
Format
E-book
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001715.jpg
Color-Ratio Based Strawberry Plant Localization and Nutrition Deficiency Detection
Title
Color-Ratio Based Strawberry Plant Localization and Nutrition Deficiency Detection.
Creator
Kong, Xiangling, Xu, Yunjun, Elgohary, Tarek, Fu, Qiushi, Wu, Dazhong, Wang, Liqiang, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
In recent years, precision agriculture has become popular anticipating to partially meet the needs of an ever-growing population with limited resources. Plant localization and nutrient de?ciency detection are two important tasks in precision agriculture. In this dissertation, these two tasks are studied by using a new color-ratio(C-R) index technique. Firstly, a low cost and light scene invariant approach is proposed to detect green and yellow leaves based on the color-ratio (C-R) indices. A...
Show moreIn recent years, precision agriculture has become popular anticipating to partially meet the needs of an ever-growing population with limited resources. Plant localization and nutrient de?ciency detection are two important tasks in precision agriculture. In this dissertation, these two tasks are studied by using a new color-ratio(C-R) index technique. Firstly, a low cost and light scene invariant approach is proposed to detect green and yellow leaves based on the color-ratio (C-R) indices. A plant localization approach is then developed using the relative pixel relationships of adjacent plants. Secondly, the Sobel operator and morphology techniques are applied to segment the target strawberry leaf from a ?eld image. The characterized color for a speci?c nutrient de?ciency is detected by the C-R indices. The pattern of the detected color on the leaf is then examined to determine the speci?c nutrient de?ciency. The proposed approaches are validated in a commercial strawberry farm.
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Date Issued
2019
Identifier
CFE0007666, ucf:52482
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007666
Whetting Their Appetite: A Spatial Analysis of Seasonal Flooding and Raised Field Agriculture in the Llanos de Mojos, Bolivia
Title
Whetting Their Appetite: A Spatial Analysis of Seasonal Flooding and Raised Field Agriculture in the Llanos de Mojos, Bolivia.
Creator
Martin, Samuel, Walker, John, Branting, Scott, Duncan, Neil, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The Llanos de Mojos, a region of the southwestern Amazon, is a seasonally flooded savannah located in the Beni department of Bolivia. The area sustained a significant pre-Columbian population up to the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the late 17th century. Local communities constructed agricultural landscape modifications to help cultivate crops such as maize, manioc, and sweet potato. Raised fields contributed to soil nutrient intensification and helped to manage flooding. This study...
Show moreThe Llanos de Mojos, a region of the southwestern Amazon, is a seasonally flooded savannah located in the Beni department of Bolivia. The area sustained a significant pre-Columbian population up to the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in the late 17th century. Local communities constructed agricultural landscape modifications to help cultivate crops such as maize, manioc, and sweet potato. Raised fields contributed to soil nutrient intensification and helped to manage flooding. This study examines the relationship between 40,766 raised agricultural fields which were digitized by the Proyecto SIG Arqueol(&)#243;gico del Beni using Google Earth and maps of surface flood coverage. Flood maps from 2012(-)2016 were analyzed using 14-day aggregates of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data provided by the Dartmouth Flood Observatory. These datasets were compared using ArcGIS to examine the extent and variability of yearly flooding as well as the number of raised fields which were subject to seasonal inundation on a year-by-year basis. It was found that despite significant portions of the region being covered by seasonal floods, only 5.79% of the fields were exposed to flooding in total. This study concluded that raised fields were more suited to the containment and dispersion of localized precipitation rather than the dispersion of riverine flooding. Several fields that have paleobotanical associations with maize, manioc, and sweet potato cultivation only experience flooding for 1 out of the 5 years analyzed, supporting their practicality for growing water-sensitive crops.
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Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007223, ucf:52234
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007223
Relating ancient Maya land use legacies to the contemporary forest of Caracol, Belize
Title
Relating ancient Maya land use legacies to the contemporary forest of Caracol, Belize.
Creator
Hightower, Jessica, Weishampel, John, Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro, VonHolle, Mary, Chase, Arlen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Human land use legacies have significant and long lasting impacts across landscapes. However, investigating the impacts of ancient land use legacies ((>)400 years) remains problematic due to the difficulty in detecting ancient land uses, especially those beneath dense canopies. The city of Caracol, one of the most important Maya archaeological sites in Belize, was abandoned after the collapse of the Maya civilization (ca. A.D. 900), leaving behind numerous structures, causeways, and...
Show moreHuman land use legacies have significant and long lasting impacts across landscapes. However, investigating the impacts of ancient land use legacies ((>)400 years) remains problematic due to the difficulty in detecting ancient land uses, especially those beneath dense canopies. The city of Caracol, one of the most important Maya archaeological sites in Belize, was abandoned after the collapse of the Maya civilization (ca. A.D. 900), leaving behind numerous structures, causeways, and agricultural terraces that persist beneath the dense tropical forest of western Belize. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology enables detection of below canopy Maya archaeological features, providing an ideal opportunity to study the effects of ancient land use legacies on contemporary tropical forest composition. LiDAR also provided us with a detailed record of the 3-dimensional forest structure over the 200 km2 study area. This allowed the investigation how ancient land uses continue to impact both forest composition, in terms of tree species, and forest structure. I recorded tree species over four land use categories: 1) structures, 2) causeways, 3) terraced, and 4) non-terraced land. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) to test for differences between the classes, I found significantly distinct tree communities associated with the presence of terraces and the underlying topography. Terraced slopes appear to function as micro-valleys on the side of a hill, creating an environmental "bridge" between slope and valley tree communities. Tree species composition over causeways and structures was also found to be significantly different from terraced and non-terraced plots. Forest structure was assessed by extracting LiDAR points for terraced (n=150) and non-terraced (n=150) 0.25 ha plots. I calculated average canopy height, canopy closure, and vertical diversity from the height bins of the LiDAR points, using slope, elevation, and aspect as covariates. Using PerMANOVA I determined that forest structure over terraces was significantly different from non-terraced land. Terraces appear to mediate the effect of slope, resulting in less structural variation between slope and non-sloped land. These results led to the conclusion that human land uses abandoned (>)1000 years ago continue to impact the contemporary forests.
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Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004250, ucf:49497
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004250

Pages