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Patterns in foliar nitrogen (N) stable isotope ratios (δ15N) have been shown to reveal trends in terrestrial N cycles, including the identification of ecosystems where N deficiencies limit forest ecosystem productivity. However, there is a gap in our understanding of within-species variation and species-level response to environmental gradients or forest management. Our objective is to examine the relationship between site index, foliar %N, foliar δ15N and spectral reflectance for managed Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations across their geographic ranges in the Pacific Northwest and the southeastern United States, respectively. Foliage was measured at 28 sites for reflectance using a handheld spectroradiometer, and further analyzed for δ15N and N concentration. Unlike the prior work for grasslands and shrubland species, our results show that foliar δ15N and foliar %N are not well correlated for these tree species. However, multiple linear regression models suggest a strong predictive ability of spectroscopy data to quantify foliar δ15N, with some models explaining more than 65% of the variance in the δ15N. Additionally, moderate to strong explanations of variance were found between site index and foliar δ15N (R2 = 0.49) and reflectance and site index (R2 = 0.84) in the Douglas-fir data set. The development of relationships between foliar spectral reflectance, δ15N and measures of site productivity provides the first step toward mapping canopy δ15N for these managed forests with remote sensing. 

Sense of place holds promise to understand how people perceive and respond to social and ecological change; however, using this concept to explore vulnerability and adaptation first depends on identifying the multiple ways people define their relationship with a place.

We introduce the meaning‐dependence framework to account for the broad array of person–place connections within social–ecological landscapes.

We applied this framework to private landowners in the Southern Great Plains of the United States, a working landscape experiencing ecological transformation from grasslands to degraded woodlands.

Using a mail survey, we explored the structure of sense of place based on the relationship between place meanings and place attachment. We employed complementary analytical methods: correlation analysis, ordinary least squares regression, and machine learning through a regression tree and random forest.

Place meanings explained a large amount of variation in place attachment and were characterized by intercorrelations and interactions. Across analyses, experiential meanings reflecting personal psychological connections to one's land were the predominant drivers of landowners' place attachment.Way of lifeemerged as a central meaning for understanding sense of place on private lands.

The meaning‐dependence framework builds on existing research to account for the multiple ways meanings inform human connections to a place. This framework is broadly applicable to any setting and can capture diverse configurations of person–place relationships and increase the utility of sense of place in social–ecological research.

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