title: Factors influencing ponderosa pine regeneration in the southwestern USA

authors: Puhlick, Joshua J.

subjects: climate

abstract: Improving predictions of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) regeneration is critical as landscape-scale restoration efforts are being implemented across the western United States. The establishment of new ponderosa pine cohorts following restoration treatments will have long-term impacts on the future development of forest stands. At a regional scale, we used data associated with 364 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots within the ponderosa pine forest type on National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico. At a local scale, we sampled 28 stands on basalt and sedimentary parent materials on the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. Structural equation models were developed to determine the relative importance of direct and indirect factors affecting ponderosa pine seedling densities at both regional and local scales. The regional model only explained 13% of the variation in pine seedling density. The model indicated that ponderosa pine seedling density was highest where (1) mean annual precipitation was highest, (2) average May minimum temperature was highest, (3) overstory stand basal area was lowest and (4) Muhlenbergia spp. were dominant herbaceous plants. The local model explained 76% of the variation in pine seedling density. Densities were highest where (1) mean annual precipitation was highest, (2) soil clay content was lowest, (3) soil pH was lowest, (4) Muhlenbergia virescens frequency was highest and (5) seed tree frequency was highest. If additional factors such as soil texture, soil pH, screwleaf muhly frequency and seed tree frequency were measured on FIA plots, then perhaps more variation in pine seedling density could be explained at the regional scale.

text: Factors influencing ponderosa pine regeneration in the southwestern USA Improving predictions of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) regeneration is critical as landscape-scale restoration efforts are being implemented across the western United States. The establishment of new ponderosa pine cohorts following restoration treatments will have long-term impacts on the future development of forest stands. At a regional scale, we used data associated with 364 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots within the ponderosa pine forest type on National Forests in Arizona and New Mexico. At a local scale, we sampled 28 stands on basalt and sedimentary parent materials on the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona. Structural equation models were developed to determine the relative importance of direct and indirect factors affecting ponderosa pine seedling densities at both regional and local scales. The regional model only explained 13% of the variation in pine seedling density. The model indicated that ponderosa pine seedling density was highest where (1) mean annual precipitation was highest, (2) average May minimum temperature was highest, (3) overstory stand basal area was lowest and (4) Muhlenbergia spp. were dominant herbaceous plants. The local model explained 76% of the variation in pine seedling density. Densities were highest where (1) mean annual precipitation was highest, (2) soil clay content was lowest, (3) soil pH was lowest, (4) Muhlenbergia virescens frequency was highest and (5) seed tree frequency was highest. If additional factors such as soil texture, soil pH, screwleaf muhly frequency and seed tree frequency were measured on FIA plots, then perhaps more variation in pine seedling density could be explained at the regional scale.

year: 2012-01

title: Development of an online metric rugby analysis tool

authors: Smith, Tiaki Brett

abstract: Optimising conditioning of team sport players such as rugby union requires effective assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring. While there are few problems with the first three of these stages, the common Super 15 rugby strategy of conditioning games makes effective monitoring difficult. That is, instead of conditioning drills involving a series of defined movements over set distances, the players are involved in games to develop both conditioning and specific technical and/or tactical skills. The result is often highly individualised movement patterns, which has made monitoring distance and speed throughout the session problematic. The recent invention of small rugged portable global positioning system (GPS) units that integrate triaxial accelerometers and heart rate monitors, should provide a useful monitoring tool. In order for these units to be useful monitoring tools, the relevant metrics must be determined and their accuracy defined. The metrics must also be reported in a manner that is meaningful for trainers, coaches and support staff. This presentation will focus on the work of the authors with Statsports ltd (Dundalk, Ireland) who have developed GPS units for rugby union. This work involves identifying a set of metrics for monitoring the Chiefs super 15 rugby team during training and games. An online analysis package created by the authors will be demonstrated and opportunities for collaboration on further developments will be discussed.

text: Development of an online metric rugby analysis tool Optimising conditioning of team sport players such as rugby union requires effective assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring. While there are few problems with the first three of these stages, the common Super 15 rugby strategy of conditioning games makes effective monitoring difficult. That is, instead of conditioning drills involving a series of defined movements over set distances, the players are involved in games to develop both conditioning and specific technical and/or tactical skills. The result is often highly individualised movement patterns, which has made monitoring distance and speed throughout the session problematic. The recent invention of small rugged portable global positioning system (GPS) units that integrate triaxial accelerometers and heart rate monitors, should provide a useful monitoring tool. In order for these units to be useful monitoring tools, the relevant metrics must be determined and their accuracy defined. The metrics must also be reported in a manner that is meaningful for trainers, coaches and support staff. This presentation will focus on the work of the authors with Statsports ltd (Dundalk, Ireland) who have developed GPS units for rugby union. This work involves identifying a set of metrics for monitoring the Chiefs super 15 rugby team during training and games. An online analysis package created by the authors will be demonstrated and opportunities for collaboration on further developments will be discussed.

year: 2013

title: Coaching for the game of life: Driving coaching with mana

authors: Were, Brandyn Māia

subjects: Kaupapa Māori

abstract: Coaching needs to account for culture. This indigenous autoethnography explores personal experience to show how I, a young Māori male coach in Aotearoa New Zealand, navigates the complex nature of coaching. By weaving together Kaupapa Māori, established coaching knowledge, and experiences from my playing and coaching journey to date, a Kaupapa Māori coaching framework emerges – Driving Coaching with Mana.

As I reflect on the teachings of my coach, Mr. Mel Young, combined with my cultural identity, I reconnect to critical moments in my life that have shaped the person I am today and the values I hold, elevating the centrality of culture through the practice of Kaupapa, Ako, Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Wairuatanga, and self-reflection as Āta-kaiako (a reflective coach).

Driven to enhance the development of rangatahi (youth) through sport, and informed by literature and experience, Driving Coaching with Mana is personally and culturally grounded – a way of thinking about coaching differently and in a more holistic way. There is more to the people we coach than their lives as athletes. Coaching is more than skill acquisition.

text: Coaching for the game of life: Driving coaching with mana Coaching needs to account for culture. This indigenous autoethnography explores personal experience to show how I, a young Māori male coach in Aotearoa New Zealand, navigates the complex nature of coaching. By weaving together Kaupapa Māori, established coaching knowledge, and experiences from my playing and coaching journey to date, a Kaupapa Māori coaching framework emerges – Driving Coaching with Mana.

As I reflect on the teachings of my coach, Mr. Mel Young, combined with my cultural identity, I reconnect to critical moments in my life that have shaped the person I am today and the values I hold, elevating the centrality of culture through the practice of Kaupapa, Ako, Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Wairuatanga, and self-reflection as Āta-kaiako (a reflective coach).

Driven to enhance the development of rangatahi (youth) through sport, and informed by literature and experience, Driving Coaching with Mana is personally and culturally grounded – a way of thinking about coaching differently and in a more holistic way. There is more to the people we coach than their lives as athletes. Coaching is more than skill acquisition.

year: 2023