Progress 04/15/09 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research included the scientific community in forestry, fisheries and wildlife disciplines as well as the public that enjoys natural resources on national forests administered bu USDA Forest Service. Because Bankhead National Forest is managed not only for timber production but also for wildlife and clean water, theresearch ledto a greaterunderstanding of broader impacts of forest management practices on composition, abundance, and diversity of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife communities. The surrounding human community depends upon timber and agriculture for their livelihoods. Forest management practices in our national forests, such as thinning and prescribed burning, have potential downstream impacts affecting vertebrate and invertebrates in stream communities. The quality of water resources from our national forests is generally good, but monitoring impacts of management re-assures downstream neighbors and other members of the public that value clean water. An especially interested target audience is the Bankhead National Forest Citizen's Liaison Panel that meets regularly to discuss forest management issues with the staff of the Bankhead National Forest, scientists, stakeholders, and community groups. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Scientists and students participated in several workshops including learning hands-on field skills (eg., how to wing punch a bat, and demonstrating how to capture and handle wild mammals) to professional skills such as presenting research results at scientific conferences and public meetings. A Native American, female graduate student (H.Howell) received her doctorate in Plant & Soil Science with a dissertation on the forestry management impacts on aquatic communities in the national Forest. Another graduate student began a Master's degree in the smae discipline to study potential impacts on wild hogs on aquatci wildlife resources. Several undergraduates were hired to conduct field data collection and assist with identification of stream macroinvertebrates in the laboratory. Still more students were shown how to sample and measure water quality in various University courses and through programs like USDA Forest Service summer apprenticeship program at AAMU, NSF-REU and URM. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through oral and poster presentations at scientiifc conferences, journal articles, newsletters, and public meetings. The Bankhead National Forest has a citizen's liaison panel that holds quarterly meetings tof discuss forest management issues on the national Forest. Our scientists and students regularly participate with them and have presented research findings at their forum with staff from the USDA Forest Service. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?This is a final report, but we have focused future investigations on species that are bioindicators of environmental conditions in the stream and surrounding habitats. Specifically we will focus on aquatic species that require clean water such as EPT macroinvertebrates, mussels and darters, insectivorous bats that forage over these streams, and wild hogs that potentially increase from forest management practices and impact the water quality downstream trhough foraging activity.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We investigatedthe effects of forest management, primarily thinning and prescribed burning, on macroinvertebrates and wildlife in the Bankhead National Forest. Research on small and medium sized mammal responses to upstream forest management practices in nine downstream sites for three upstream treatment types including control. Initially we conducted small mamammal inventoryusing box live traps and mist nets for forest-dwelling bats. We also deployed game cameras in 2011 to document medium-sized mammals that were not trapped in box traps. In 2012, we constructed drift fences and pitfall traps to similarly expand the small mammal fauna that were not readily captured in box traps. Results of these investigations have shown that bat capture numbers have, so far, been unaffected by white-nose syndrome. Bat abundance is higher in control sites than thinned sites and thinned and burned sites, but not significantly higher. Red bats and northern long-eared bats dominate the bat community in control sites. Bat species diversity was not significantly different by treatment type. White-nose syndrome was detected on the BNF Small and medium-sized mammal abundance and diversity are higher in the thinned and burned sites, but variability between sites within treatments precluded finding a significant difference. Extensive rooting damage by feral swine in riparian study sites was first noted in 2011 following forest disturbance caused by tornados that year. Feral swine were also photographed with game cameras using streams and riparian zones in sites downstream from thinning and burned forest stands in 2011. Further damage occurred in succeeding years despite more intensive hog control trapping in the area by USDA Forest Service staff. We also conducted research on downstream impacts of forest management on water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates, and other aquatic organisms. We found that aquatic insects belonging to the Orders Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) continued to vary widely in abundance across the watersheds. There was no significant difference in percent EPT across seasons. There was no significant difference in Shannon-Weiner diversity index across EPT between streams in the Bankhead National Forest. Moderately tolerant and sensitive species were positively correlated to bedrock, percent silt, and riffles. Tolerant species were associated with percent clay and silt. The highest percent mayflies was recorded for Basin Creek, while Borden Creek and West Flint Creek yielded the highest percent stoneflies and caddisflies, respectively. Watersheds downstream from unmanaged areas yielded higher EPT ratio to other taxa than all other study sites except Borden Creek. Pooled average EPTs across treatments showed highest percentage (40%) in watersheds associated with unmanaged areas (control) compared to those downstream from thinned (24%), and thinned and burned (22%) plots. Sampling of mussels and fish was conducted, and fish diversity was highest in control streams. Substantial populations of listed Warrior darters and small numbers of Tuskaloosa darters were located. Additional highlights of this research program include: 1) discovery of White-nose syndrome on bats in Alabama (first detection in the state), 2) presentation of McIntire-Stennis supported research by students and faculty at national and state scientific conferences, recruitment of a black female to graduate school to conduct wildlife research, retention of another graduate student (Native American female) supported on the project that received her doctorate this academic year, support of 12 undergraduate students that have helped conduct research on the project over the 5-year period, presentations to numerous citizen's groups (eg., Bankhead Nat. For. Citizens' Liaison Panel, Flint River Conservation Association, Alabama A&M Green team) and at other public forums (water festivals, Earth day events, etc.) to discuss the impact of forest management activities on wildlife and water quality, use of our data by the USDA Forest Service to help monitor wildlife and water quality responses to thinning and burning practices in their restoration plan, and presentations of inventory data at Alabama state wildlife meeting by faculty, staff, and students to make recommendations on conservation protection status for mammals and aquatic species for the next 10 years. This project added capacity to our ability to survey aquatic and terrestrial wildlife communities and demonstrate responses to forest managament to scientifc peers and the public.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Knight, Patience, and William E. Stone. 2012.Population Responses of Small and Medium-sized Mammals in Streamside Forest Buffers to Forest Thinning and Burning Treatments Conducted in Upstream Watersheds. Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Decatur, AL. Feb. 27-28, 2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Morrill, David, and William E. Stone. 2012. Diet Composition of Wild Hogs using Stomach Contents Analysis in northern Alabama. 18th National Conference of The Wildlife Society October 8-10 2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Stone, W., P. Kobe and H. Howell. 2011. Discovery of Bat Diets through Analysis of Guano in Northern Alabama. Poster presentation at Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, April 15. Huntsville, AL
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone. 2011. Relationship between Stream Microhabitat and Aquatic Insect Assemblages in Watersheds Associated with Managed and Unmanaged Areas in the Bankhead National Forest. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America International Meetings, October 16-19. San Antonio, TX.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2009
Citation:
Stone, W.E. 2009. Discovering Bats in Northern Alabama. AAMU Research Magazine Fall 2009.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Ward, R., H. Howell, and W. Stone 2010. Responses of Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife Communities to Forest Management on the Bankhead National Forest: Preliminary results for Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera. Annual Meeting of Entomological Society of America, Atlanta, GA
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone. 2011. Forest Management Practices in Bankhead National Forest: Impact on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages. Poster presentation at Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting April 15. Huntsville, AL.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Stone, William E. 2014. Bat Community Responses to Upstream Forest Thinning and Burning. Alabama Bat Working Group Fall Conference. Oct. 29. 2014. Tanner, AL
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Knight, Patience, and William E. Stone. 2014. Wild Hog Sign
Poster submitted to International Wild Hog Conference, Montgomery, AL 2014.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Knight, Patience, and William E. Stone. 2012.Population Responses of Small and Medium-sized Mammals in Streamside Forest Buffers to Forest Thinning and Burning Treatments Conducted in Upstream Watersheds. 18th National Conference, The Wildlife Society Oct. 13-19, 2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Stone, W.E. 2013. Discovery of White Nose Syndrome in Alabama. 17th Annual meeting of Southeast Bat Diversity Network and 21st Colloquium of SE Mammalogists, Pikeville, TN. poster presentation
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Stone, W.E. 2013. Discovery of White Nose Syndrome during a State-Wide Survey in Alabama. Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Annual Meeting. Auburn, AL. March 13-14.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Stone, William E and David Morrill. 2014. Diet Composition of Wild Hogs using Stomach Contents Analysis in northern Alabama. Poster submitted to International Wild Hog Conference, Montgomery, AL 2014.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Target Audience: USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station Bankhead NF Citizen's Liaison Panel Alabama A&M University studentsForest managers and researchers. Minority students and landowners Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? We trained five undergraduate students and two High School students in water quality and aquatic and terrestrial wildlife sampling techniques. One graduate student is partially supported on the grant. We have recruited an outstanding minority female to assist us on the project this year and will recruit her as an MS graduate student this upcoming academic year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Addressed Bankhead National Forest Citizens' Liaison panel on research progress. Helped demonstrate findings at the Bankhead's Outdoor Classroom (Payne Demonstartaion site) to community members. Sent capture data and summary to wildlife biologists on the Bankhead National Forest. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Increase trapping intensity (quadruple our effort) of medium sized mammals along riparian areas. Continue to collect bat data Continue to collect aquatic organisms and water quality data.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We investigated 9 study sites downstream from forest stands that have been thinned or thinned and burned (or control) to examine aquatic and riparian community responses to these forest management methods. Stream habitat assessments, basic water quality parameters and sampling of organisms including insects, small mammals and bats have been conducted at all of these sites. Aquatic insects belonging to the Orders Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) continued to vary widely in abundance across the watersheds. The highest percent mayflies was recorded for Basin Creek, while Borden Creek and West Flint Creek yielded the highest percent stoneflies and caddisflies, respectively. Watersheds downstream from unmanaged areas yielded higher EPT ratio to other taxa than all other study sites except Borden Creek. Pooled average EPTs across treatments showed highest percentage (40%) in watersheds associated with unmanaged areas (control) compared to those downstream from thinned (24%), and thinned and burned (22%) plots. Rock and Flannigan Creeks contained the lowest population of EPT throughout 2011. There was no significant difference in Shannon-Weiner diversity index across EPT between streams in the Bankhead National Forest. Moderately tolerant and sensitive species were positively correlated to bedrock, percent silt, and riffles. Tolerant species were associated with percent clay and silt. There was no significant difference in percent EPT across seasons. Sampling of mussels and fish was conducted again this year. Fish diversity was highest in control streams. Substantial populations of Warrior darters and small numbers of Tuskaloosa darters were located again this year. Bat capture numbers have, so far, been unaffected by white-nose syndrome. Bat abundance is higher in control sites than thinned sites and thinned and burned sites, but not significantly higher. Red bats and northern long-eared bats dominate the bat community in control sites. This year, we captured a big brown bat and a silver-haired bat for the first time during this study in a thinned and burned site. Bat species diversity was not significantly different by treatment type. Small and medium-sized mammal abundance and diversity are higher in the thinned and burned sites, but variability between sites within treatments precluded a significant difference. We presented numerous posters or oral presentations at scientific meetings.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Stone, W., P. Kobe and H. Howell. 2011. Discovery of Bat Diets through Analysis of Guano in Northern Alabama. Poster presentation at Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting, April 15, Huntsville, AL
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone. 2011. Forest Management Practices in Bankhead National Forest: Impact on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages. Poster presentation at Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting April 15. Huntsville, AL.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone. 2011. Relationship between Stream Microhabitat and Aquatic Insect Assemblages in Watersheds Associated with Managed and Unmanaged Areas in the Bankhead National Forest. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America International Meetings, October 16-19. San Antonio, TX.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We investigated 9 study sites downstream from forest stands that have been previously thinned or thinned and burned (or control) to examine aquatic and riparian community responses to these forest management methods. Stream habitat assessments, basic water quality parameters and sampling of organisms including insects, small mammals and bats have been conducted at all of these sites. Currently, all of last year's, and part of this year's macroinvertebrate samples have been identified to Genus or Family. Twenty four genera of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) in 7 families, 24 genera of stoneflies (Plecoptera) in 8 families, and 18 genera of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in 10 families have been identified from aquatic insects collected across locations in 2009. EPT distributions varied widely across watersheds. The highest percent mayflies was recorded for Basin Creek, while Borden Creek and West Flint Creek yielded the highest percent stoneflies and caddisflies, respectively. Watersheds downstream from unmanaged areas yielded higher EPT ratio to other taxa than all other study sites except Borden Creek. Pooled average EPTs across treatments showed highest percentage (40.12%) in watersheds associated with unmanaged areas (control) compared to those downstream from thinned (23.76%), and thinned and burned (21.67%) plots. Rock and Flannigan Creeks sustained the lowest population of EPT throughout the year. There was no significant difference in percent EPT across seasons. Sampling of mussels and fish was conducted this year. Fish diversity was highest in the one control stream that has water this fall. A moderate drought dried up two of the three control streams this summer and fall. Refugia from drought for aquatic invertebrates were discovered under rocks along the stream bank. Bat capture numbers have, so far, been unaffected by white-nose syndrome. Small mammal abundance and diversity are higher in the control stands and lower below thinned stands (burned or not). However, control stands are not significantly different from thinned stands or thinned and burned stands. We presented numerous posters or oral presentations at scientific meetings and published an article. We trained seven undergraduate students and three High School students in water quality and aquatic and terrestrial wildlife sampling techniques. One graduate student is partially supported on the grant. We are currently in pursuit of another outstanding minority female graduate student to assist us on this project next year. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. William E. Stone, P.I. Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Rufina Ward, Co-P.I., Aquatic entomologist Heather Howell, Graduate Student (PhD) Aquatic zoology Bankhead National Forest, USDA Forest Service Nicholas Treush and Paul Kobe, Undergraduate students TARGET AUDIENCES: USDA Forest Service, National Forests in Alabama USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station Bankhead NF Citizen's Liaison Panel Alabama A&M University students PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Emphasize medium sized mammals next year with additional traps and trappiong effort.
Impacts
42. Impact USDA support has allowed us to begin building a stable forestry research program at a historically black college and university. Student training in STEM fields has been successfully conducted and is expanding. Our team has collected and analyzed data on effects of forest management on water quality and resources. USDA Forest Service managers are becoming better prepared to respond to public concerns regarding the effects of tree thinning and prescribed burning on downstream aquatic and riparian resources. The public (Bankhead NF citizen's liaison panel) is becoming better informed and more engaged in the management of its national forest lands.
Publications
- Ford, C. and R. Ward. 2010. Aquatic insects as bioindicator of water quality. AAMU EnvironMentors Program Spring. Oral presentation. Howell, H. 2010. Investigating Thresholds of Aquatic Habitat Suitability. NSF-AAMU REU Symposium. Huntsville, AL. June 15, 2010. Oral Presentation. Kendricks, Dalisia. 2010. The Relationship of Water Quality to the Taxa Richness of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates. NSF-AAMU REU 2010 Program. Huntsville, AL. July 27, 2010. Oral Presentation. Stone, W.E. 2010. Discovering Bats: Habitat Use in the Forests of Northern Alabama. AAMU Research Magazine 2(1): 9-11. Treusch, N. 2010. Abundance and behavioral responses of Peromyscus mice and riparian habitats downstream from forest treatments: fight or flight NSF-AAMU REU 2010 Program. Huntsville, AL. July 27, 2010. Oral Presentation. Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone. 2010. Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera (EPT) assemblages associated with managed areas in the Bankhead National Forest. ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annual International Meetings. October 31-November 1, Long Beach, CA. Ward, R., H. Howell and W. Stone.2010. Aquatic and terrestrial wildlife community responses to forest management practices in the Bankhead National Forest: Preliminary results on Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera assemblages. Entomological Society of America Southeastern Branch Annual Meeting, March 6-10, Atlanta, GA
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