Progress 01/01/13 to 12/31/17
Outputs
Target Audience:State and Federal Natural Resource managers including: US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service Gulf Island National Park Service, and Escambia County Environmental Division, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Eglin Natural Resource Division DOD, Natural Resouce Damage Assessment Trustees and private consulting firms and private land owners will use the information from this project to improve results of management and restoration projects. Reports and publications have been provided to all public agencies. Referedjournal articles have been published to convey this infromtation to other researchers.A dune restoration manual to be published through SeaGrant and University of Florida/IFAS in spring of 2018 will provide information to all audiences listed above. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has assisted in funding two PhD students, three Master's students, and five Undergraduate Interns. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Annual reports and fieldconsultations have been provided to natural resource managers associated with Eglin Air Force Base, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Park Service, Santa Rosa County, Escambia County, andthe Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees. A manual compiled during the project period and soon to be published titled 'Dune Restoration and Enhancement in the Florida Panhandle' will be disseminated to restoration practitioners, greenhouse managers and local, state, and federalagenciesthrough UF/IFAS and SeaGrant. This manual provides research-basedregional guidance on the outplanting and propagation of specific plant species as well as general restoration strategies for coastal ecosystems. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Through research conducted in seepage slope wetlands (pitcher plantwetlands)over the project period, we have found that repeated, intense rooting by feral hogs in these rare and unique systems results in long-term damage and shifts in groundcover vegetation.Feral hog rooting alsoleads to erosion of the surface soil, leaving the bare mineral, sandy soil exposed, decreases the abundance of grasses neededfor fire continuity, specificallykeystone species of Aristida spp., andwhen hogs are excluded following damage, the groundcover vegetation does not recover, even five years after hog exclusion.Frequent surface fires are essential to maintain these herbaceous wetlands and lack of fire carry throughseepage slope wetlands because of feral hog rootingwasdocumented.These findings suggest for conservation and restoration of thesewetlands, land managers should intensifyefforts to removeferal hogs and/or limit feral hog access to wetlands by fencing. Bees provide important ecosystem services such as pollination of many plants in coastal ecosystems.This project identified important characteristics of theforaging habitatof the rare, endemic, ground nesting bee, Hesperapsis oraria, found only along the coast of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Land managers will be able to use this information to protect and enhance the foraging habitat of this bee. Research on barrier islandrestorationculminated in the development of a restoration manual for coastal dunes ofthe northern Gulf of Mexico based onresearch completedduring this project and previous work spanningthe last 22 years.This manual provides a tool for homeowners,native plant production facilities, andpublic land managers,to assist with development of restoration goals, introduce restoration practitioners to required permitting processes andincorporateknowledge developed during the project and previous projects of the biology and ecology offlora and fauna impacted by restoration activities into timelines for contracting and implementation of restoration events. This publication will be distributed by NOAA SeaGrant agents located along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Goal 1, Objective 1: Explore how feral hog disturbance affects the rate and trajectory of vegetation development in seepage slopes of the Florida Panhandle and the influence of hog damage on fire carry Research Results: Hog disturbance intensity (high, medium,orlow) was a determining factor for both forb and grass percent foliar cover.Low intensityplots had higher forb cover (34.01%) than high (19.34%; p<0.0001) and moderate (25.04%; p=0.0207) disturbance plots.Also, high disturbance plots (inside and outside exclosures combined) had less grass cover than control (p<0.0001) and moderate (p=0.0002) disturbance plots. Prescribed fires burned significantly more area in undisturbed portions (75.80%) than hog-disturbed portions (21.04%) of the slopes(t<0.0001). Also, significantly more hog disturbed area was unburned than burned after prescribed fire (t<0.0001). This study found that 77.32% of hog disturbed portions of seepage slopes remained unburned after prescribed burns. Goal 2, Objective 1: Compare sand accumulation rates, survival, and growth of monocultures and composite plantings of native dune species Iva imbricata, Uniola paniculata, Schizachyrium maritimum, and Panicum amarum. Research Results: Following one year post-transplant, average plant survival was 34%, 54%, 14%, and 79% for Iva, Panicum, Schizacharium, and Uniola, respectively. Taking all data collected in combination (survival, foliar cover, above-ground biomass, and sand accumulation) and using monocultures of Uniola and Panicum as standards, after three years of growth, all combinations of plantings (17 combinations total) performed as well or better than the monoculture of Uniola and Panicum in at least one datacategory. With this information, four planting patterns of these species were recommended and provided in the dune restoration manual. Goal 2, Objective 2: Assess the use of dune restoration sites by beach mice using tracking tubes Research Results: We assessed the use of open sand habitat, naturally vegetated dunes, and planted restoration plots by beach mice.A gradient of mouse use was identified with treatments and through time.Mouse use was highest in natural dune, intermediate in restoration plots and lowest in open sand habitat. Goal 2, Objective 3: Determine the spatial location and abundance of Balduina angustifolia (Coastal Plain Honeycomb Head)and Hesperopsis oraria (Balduina Bee) in State and Federal Parks located in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. Research Results: The analysis of B. angustifolia at a regional scale identified minimum distance of the site to the bay as the most important variable. The optimal classification predicts B. angustifolia was present when the site was greater than 25 meters from the bay at its closest point and absent if the site was 25 meters or nearer to the bay. The analysis of B. angustifolia at a landscape scale identifiedlandscape feature, washover sand flat presence in the surrounding 10m, B. angustifolia patch size (m2), distance of the patch from the gulf (m), presence of a swale in the surrounding 10m, presence of a herbaceous interdunal area and presence of a mixed grassy/woody dune in the surrounding 10m as important variables determining habitat suitability.If the patch was located less than or equal to 110m inland from the Gulf then it was predicted to be unsuitable for B.angustifolia. The analysis of H. oraria habitat use on a regional scale identified the number of B. angustifolia patches (at least 12)per site as the most important variable predicting H. oraria presence. The model predicted H. oraria use foraging habitat if the patchis greater than 111.5 m2, has no swale within 10 m,is no further than 475.37 m from the Gulf of Mexico, and B.angustifolia densityis more than 2.5 plants per m2. Goal 2, Objective 4: Establish production and outplanting techniques for barrier island plant species Research Results: Seed germination experiments conducted on sandhill milkweedshowed seeds of this plant posses no dormancy, prefer dark environmentsat room temperature, and can easily be germinated using standard nursery practices. In the final year of the project, Chrysopsis gossypinassp.cruiseana(Cruise's goldenaster), Asclepias humistrata(sandhill milkweed),Oenothera humifusa(seabeach eveningprimrose), Physalis angustifolia(coastal groundcherry),andSolidago sempervirens(seaside goldenrod) were outplanted on secondary dunes in Navarre Beach (Santa Rosa County, FL). They were planted with or without a fertilizer amendment. By the end of 2017, near 100% survival was observed for Cruise's goldenasterand coastal groundcherry regardless of fertilizer amendmentwhile the survival for the rest of the specieswas reduced when fertilized, with survival percentages ranging from 35 to 98% when not fertilized. A study conducted on the outplanting ofQuercus myrtifolia and Quercus geminata seedlings showed Q. myrtifolia seedlings planted in treepots at 3" below the surface had the highest survival (44%) while Q. geminata seedlings plantedfromgallon-sized containers at a depth twice that of the container length had 87% survival after two years. Smilax auriculata grown in 4" square pots was planted inDec., 2014. Plants were evaluated (August 2016) for percent survival based on the presence of green growth. The highest survival rates were those plants planted in 4" pots at the standard planting depth of 3" below sand surface (22% survival). Three year old yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)seedlings planted at a depth of 3" had greater survival compared to 14" treatments but showed a large difference in the rate of survival based on mulch application (19% with mulch and 35% without mulch). Additional research results can be found within listed publications.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Lumban Tobing S. T. , M. Thetford, D.L. Miller. 2017. Germination and Predation of Quercus geminata and Quercus myrtifolia Acorns on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. Journal of Coastal Research. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-17-00048.1
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Thetford, M. and D.L. Miller. 2015. Propagation and Production of Atlantic St. Johnswort. (ENH1972). Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Thetford, M. and D.L. Miller. 2015. Propagation and Production of False Rosemary. (ENH1973). Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Brown, M.E. and Miller D. L. Native Pitcher Plants of Florida. 2013 (WEC333) Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Campbell, G. 2016. DORMANCY AND GERMINATION CHARACTERSITICS OF TWO FLORIDA NATIVE FORBS, ASCLEPIAS HUMISTRATA AND LUPINUS DIFFUSUS. Master's Thesis, University of Florida
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Brown, M. 2014. FERAL HOG (SUS SCROFA) DISTURBANCE IN SEEPAGE SLOPE WETLANDS, Dissertation, University of Florida
- Type:
Other
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Miller, D.L., Thetford, M., Verlinde, C., Campbell, G., and Smith, A. 2018. Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle. NOAA Sea Grant and UF IFAS Publication
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
HUNSBERGER, H.K. 2013. DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT USE OF FLORIDA ENDEMIC SOLITARY BEE HESPERAPIS ORARIA AND HOST PLANT BALDUINA ANGUSTIFOLIA, Masters Thesis, University of Florida
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Campbell-Mart�nez, G., Thetford, M., Miller, D.L. and P�rez, H.E. (2017),.Follicle maturity, seed size, temperature and photoperiod effects on seed germination of Asclepias humistrata (sandhill milkweed). Seed Sci. & Technol., 45, 3, 1-17
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hooton, N., D. L. Miller, M. Thetford and B. S. Claypool. 2014, Survival and growth of planted Uniola paniculata and dune
building using surrogate wrack on Perdido Key Florida, U.S.A. Restoration Ecology 22(5) 710-707
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Miller D.L., M. Thetford M, J. Dupree and L. Atwood. 2014. Influence of seasonal changes and shifting substrate on
survival of restoration plantings of Schizachyrium maritimum (Gulf Bluestem) on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. Journal of
Coastal Research 30(2): 237-247.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Miller D. L., Thetford M. and Atwood L. W. (2013)) Effect of Polyacrylamide gel on woody plant establishment in barrier
island swales. Natural Areas Journal 33,500-508.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Thetford, M., D.L. Miller, L.W. Atwood and B.O. Ballard. 2015. Microsite and rooting depth are more important than waterholding
gel for establishment of restoration plantings of Ilex vomitoria on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Native Plants
Journal 16(2) 77-86.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Hooton N. D.L. Miller and M. Thetford. 2016 (WEC 364) Building Coastal Dunes with Sea Oats and Surrogate Wrack Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences hhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:State and Federal Natural Resource managers including: US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service Gulf Island NationalPark Service, and Escambia County Environmental Division, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Eglin Natural Resource Division DOD and private consulting firms and private land owners will use the information from this project to improve results of management and restoration projects. Reports and publications have been provided to all public agencies. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two undergraduate students received internship training. One graduate student has developed an additional project from working at several of the project sites on Eglin, AFB. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Annual reports and field visits have been provided to natural resource managers associated with Eglin AFB, National Park Service, United State Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Park Service What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?One graduate student will develop an experimental restoration design to be implemented in 2018-2019 regarding woody vegetative encroachment as well as restoring areas of seepage slopes damaged by feral hogs. A second graduate student has collected seeds and cuttings from several dune species and out plantings will occur in spring, 2017. These out plantings will be part of a dune restoration manual to be provided to residents as well as local landscaping companies for the best management practices regarding native dune vegetation.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Feral hog effects on groundcover vegetation of longleaf pine seepage slopes: Feral hog (Sus scrofa) exclosure studies established in 2010 and sampled in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 were again sampled during the summer, 2016. They provide evidence that the intensity and frequency of disturbance alter vegetative composition, even when foliar cover is partially or fully regained. The experimental plots with varying initial intensity of hog damage, (Heavy, Medium, Control) and protected from further hog damage (exclosures), were found to still have a low percent cover of Aristida stricta, particularly within exclosures placed in areas of initially heavy damage (8% cover as of 2016 sampling). The cover of Aristida stricta, a keystone graminoid species in this system, was greater than 15% in non-damaged areas in 2010. Also, the percent cover of all grasses within intensity exclosures ranged from 8-17% higher across all levels of damage compared to adjacent plots not protected from further hog damage (outside plots). Plots were also established to look at the effects of frequency of hog damage on vegetative composition. In order to control for damage frequency, these plots were disturbed using a shovel in a manner similar to hog uprooting and were also exclosed from additional hog damage. Plots that were disturbed on a quarterly basis for one year have nearly the same percent cover of grasses prior to disturbance, but forbs have not recovered in these plots, even though the overall foliar cover is regained. Both grass and forb species have not recovered (grass-51% initial 17% 2016 and forbs-30% initial 8% 2016) in plots that were damaged on a quarterly basis for four consecutive years (2010-2013). Plots that were disturbed only once in 2010 have a similar composition to the initial surveys conducted, except that woody vegetation in these plots has decreased from 13% to 3%. Finally, plots disturbed on an annual basis for 7 consecutive years have an average of 70% bare ground compared to only 6% at initial monitoring. At the same disturbance frequency, there is currently a 1% cover of Aristida species compared to 17% before disturbance. A soil texture analysis conducted in December, 2015 showed that surface soil texture was altered following recent feral hog damage. Soils recently disturbed by feral hogs had lower clay and silt content and greater sand content than those not disturbed. Organic matter was also reduced by half in recently disturbed sites therefore, hog rooting appeared to lead to erosion of the surface soil, leaving the bare mineral sandy soil exposed. As part of an undergraduate honors thesis, a baseline study was initiated this summer to determine the effect recent feral hog damage may have on herpetofauna. Seepage slopes with no damage, or older damage with recovered vegetation, were utilized as controls. Cover boards and PVC pipes were established in six sites. Herpetofauna counts were accomplished with the use of PVC pipe refugia in trees and on the ground as well as cover boards in the spring of 2016. Call counts were also conducted near the established sites six times in July, 2016 in order to establish the frog species present in the area. Four frog species were heard every time counts were conducted (Pine Barrens / Cricket / Bronze Frog / Southern Toad) while two species were heard only on July 17, 2016 (Green tree / Pine Woods). Barrier Island and endemic bee dynamics: Hesperapis oraria is a solitary ground nesting bee endemic to barrier islands and the immediate coast (within .5 km) of the Northern Gulf of Mexico. This bee is significant not only for its restricted geographic distribution, but also for its specialization to a sole floral host, Balduina angustifolia. This project monitored the density of H. oraria and B. angustifolia on Perdido Key, Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa Unit of Gulf Island National Seashore (GINS) from 2011-2016 and from 2012- 2015 at Grayton Beach, Deer Lake, Henderson Beach and Topsail Hill State Parks in order to provide a sound scientific background for management decisions regarding habitat restoration and conservation of the endemic bee. Sampling for bee density was repeated in the fall of 2016; however, only the Fort Pickens B. angustifolia patches were monitored in 2016 due to a shift in the research priority regarding the surrounding vegetative characteristics of the Fort Pickens sites. In addition to H. oraria and B. angustifolia monitoring conducted at Fort Pickens, an undergraduate intern conducted vegetative monitoring of all plant species immediately adjacent to the B. angustifolia patches utilizing line transects along two of four edges of the patches. The greatest cover immediately adjacent to patches located to the north of Ft. Pickens Road (closer to Santa Rosa Sound) was Polygonella articulata (coastal jointweed), Smilax spp., and Conradina canescens (false rosemary). The top three species adjacent to the patches located to the south of Ft. Pickens Road (closer to the Gulf of Mexico) were Polygonella articulata, Uniola paniculata (sea oat), and Galactia volubilis (beach pea). Dune Restoration: Effects of container size and planting depth on transplant success of Smilax auriculata (Earleaf Greenbrier) S. auriculata grown in 4" square pots was planted (12 Dec 2014) 18 inches apart at standard depth (3" below surface) while plants grown in 6" deep cell trays were out planted at a standard depth as well as twice the container depth. These three planting treatments each contained 6 plants per plot and were repeated at 6 replicate sites. Plants were evaluated (August2016) for percent survival based on the presence of green growth. The highest survival rates were those plants planted in 4" pots at the standard planting depth of 3" below sand surface (22% survival). Effects of planting depth and surrogate wrack on transplant success of Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) Three year old yaupon seedlings produced in treepots were planted (18 Dec 2014) on 18" centers (9 plants per plot) within a factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 planting depths (3" and 14" below the surface) and with or without mulch. When mulch was applied, it was applied at a depth of 4". Plants were evaluated in August 2016 for survival based on the presence of green growth. Plants planted 14" below the surface had low rates of survival, regardless of mulch application (13% with mulch and 11% without mulch). Plants planted at a depth of 3" had greater survival compared to 14" treatments but showed a large difference in the rate of survival based on mulch application (19% with mulch and 35% without mulch). Effects of container depth and planting depth on transplant success of Quercus geminata and Quercus myrtifolia A study initiated in December, 2014 was designed to test the effects of container type (gallon or treepots) and planting depth (3" below surface or twice the depth of the production container) on 3 year old Q. myrtifolia and Q. geminata seedlings. Survival rates were monitored in August, 2016 and showed Q. myrtifolia seedlings planted in treepots 3" below the surface had a 44% survival while seedlings of the same species planted in gallon-sized pots 3" below the surface only showed 28% survival as of 2016 monitoring. The highest percent survival of Q. geminata seedlings were those planted in gallon-sized containers at a depth twice as deep as the container (87% survival).
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Hooton, Natalie, D.L. Miller, M. Thetford, and S. Claypool. 2016. Building Coastal Dunes with Sea Oats and Surrogate Wrack. Electronic Data Information Source (EDIS). University of Florida, IFAS Extension. Publication No. WEC364.
|
Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:State and Federal Natural Resource managers including: US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service Gulf Island National Park Service, and Escambia County Environmental Division, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Eglin Natural Resrouce Division DOD and private consulting firms and private land owners will use the information from this project to improve results of management and restoration projects. Reports and publications have been provided to all public agencies. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Five undergraduate students received internship training. One undergraduate student is using a component of the feral hog project as a undergraduate thesis. One graduate student has developed an additional project from working at several of the projectsites. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Annual reports and field visitshave been provided to natural resource managers associatedwith Eglin AFB, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service andFlorida Park Service What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Soil samples will be collected in the fall of 2016 in six sites with recent hog damage, six control sites (caged), six sites with heavy hog damage in 2010 but excluded from further damage 2011-2015 (caged). Texture, pH, bulk density,nutrient analyis will be performed on these samples. Herpetofauna will be surveyed and vegetation in intensity and frequency experiments will be sampled in 2016. The Balduina bee and Balduina plant and flower density will be monitored in 2016. All restoration plantings will be monitored for survival, growth and soil moisture.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Feral hog effects on groundcover vegetation of longleaf pine seepage slopes: Short-term exclosure studies established in 2010 and sampled in 2011, 2013 were again sampled in 2014 and 2015. They provide evidence that the intensity and frequency of disturbance alter vegetation composition even when foliar cover is partially or fully regained. A new frequency regime of soil disturbances was established to further identify the frequency of soil disturbance that results in the crossing of a threshold from vegetation dominated by graminoids and sedges to the dominance of bare ground and disturbance dependent forbs. These experimental plots with varying frequency of experimentally applied soil disturbance that mimic hog rooting were once again disturbed and vegetation sampled in 2015. The cover of Aristida stricta, a keystone graminoid species in this system, was greater than 15% prior to application of soil disturbances in 2010. After soil disturbances 4 times a year for 2 years, A. stricta was no longer present in disturbed plots. These plots were not disturbed in 2014 and 2015 but A. stricta continued to be absent from the plots. Soil disturbances applied annualy from 2010 -2015 have resulted in the A. stricta cover of 2% and overall graminoid cover of less than 20%. Graminoid cover in 2015 was 54% in control plots. Caged and adjacent uncaged permanent plots were monitored in 2014 and 2105 and will be monitored over the next few years to determine the likelihood that decreased fire spread as the result of hog rooting leads to an increase woody cover. As part of an undergraduate honors thesis, a baseline study was initiated this fall to determine the effect of recent feral hog (Sus Scrofa) damage may have on herpetofauna. IACUC approval for the animal survey has been received (IACUC # 201508903). Seepage slopes with no damage, or older damage with recovered vegetative cover, will be utilized as controls. Cover boards and PVC pipes were established in six sites. Herpetofauna counts will be accomplished with the use of PVC pipe refugia in trees and on the ground as well as cover boards in the spring of 2016. Call counts will be used to identify frogs. This preliminary study will continue to refine sampling techniques and will be expanded in 2016. Barrier Island and endemic bee dynamics: Hesperapis oraria is a solitary ground nesting bee endemic to barrier islands and the immediate coast (within .5 km) of the Northern Gulf of Mexico that is significant not only for its restricted geographic distribution but also for its specialization to a sole floral host, Balduina angustifolia. This project will monitor the density of H. oraria and B. angustifolia on Perdido Key, Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa Unit of Gulf Island National Seashore (GINS) from 2011-2018 and from 2012- 2018 on Grayton Beach, Deer Lake, Henderson Beach and Topsail Hill State Parks in order to provide a sound scientific background for management decisions regarding habitat restoration and conservation of the endemic bee. Sampling for bee density was repeated in the fall of 2014 and 2015 and will continue each year. In addition, bee density was accessed at an additional site near the Santa Rosa Unit of GINS in October of 2015. For each year (2011-2015) Balduina angustifolia foliar cover, plant density and flower density has also been determined. Further analysis of habitat data is underway. Prior to 2014 the burrowing activities and burrowing sites of the bee had not been documented. However, during October 2014 and October 2015 burrowing H. oraria bees were observed on Fort Pickens (Gulf Islands National Seashore) and on Henderson beach State Park. We continue to add to the limited information known about the bee and its key habitat. Dune Restoration: Effects of container size and planting depth on transplant success of Smilax auriculata (Earleaf Greenbrier) Smilax produced in 6" deep cell trays and 4" square pots were planted (12 Dec 2014) 18 inches apart at standard depth (3 inches of sand above the potting mix) and plants produced in deep cell trays were also planted at twice the container depth. These three planting treatments each contained 6 plants per plot and were repeated at 6 replicate sites. Plants were evaluated (16 Feb 2015) for initial survival based on observed shoot emergence. Effects of planting depth and surrogate wrack on transplant success of Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon) Three year old Yaupon seedlings produced in Treepots were planted (18 Dec 2014) 18" on center (9 plants per plot) within a factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 planting depths (3" and 14" below the surface) and two levels of mulch (with or without a 4 inch layer of straw). Nonplanted plots were included to monitor the effects of mulch application independent of plants. These 6 treatment plots were repeated at 6 replicate sites. Plants were evaluated (16 Feb 2015) for initial survival and the height of living foliage recorded for observed persistent foliage or shoot emergence. Effects of container depth and planting depth on transplant success of Quercus geminata and Quercus myrtifolia Two oak species (Q. geminata and Q. myrtifolia) representing 3 year old seedlings grown in standard gallons or Treepots were planted (12 Dec 2014) with3 inches of sand above the potting mix, Q. geminata were also planted at twice the depth of the production container for a total of 6 oak/container/planting depth treatments. Each treatment plot contained 9 plants with the exception of Q. myrtifolia in Treepots which contained 6 plants per treatment plot. The six treatments were planted at 6 replicate sites. Plants were evaluated (16 Feb 2015) for initial survival and the height of living foliage recorded for observed persistent foliage or shoot emergence.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Thetford, M., D.L. Miller, L.W. Atwood and B.O. Ballard. 2015. Microsite and rooting depth are more important than water-holding gel for establishment of restoration plantings of Ilex vomitoria on barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Native Plants Journal 16(2) 77-86.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: State and Federal Natural Resource managers including: US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service Gulf Island National Park Service and Escambia County Environmental Division, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Eglin Natural Resource Division (DOD) and private consulting firms and prilvate land owners will use information from this project to improve results of management and restoration projects. Reports and publications have been provided to all public agencies. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Hanna Hunesburger, completed a Master's program based on this projetct in Dec. 2013. Megan Brown, completed a Ph.D. program based in part on this project. May 2014. Three undergraduates, Chaz Riley, Aaron Waite and Lexi Woodson, participated in most aspects of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Reports were provided to all federal and state government agencies and a poster with information on one component of this project was presented at the CEER Conference on Ecological and Ecosystem Restoration. New Orleans, LA USA July 28-August 1. Abstract pg. 248. A master thesis and dissertation were completed and are available through the Universtiy of Florida Library What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue to monitor barrier island endemic bee population and floral host. Continue to monitor feral hog experiments. Establish 1 new dune restoration planting.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Feral hog effects on groundcover vegetation of longleaf pine seepage slopes: Plant surveys to investigate both the long and short-term vegetation dynamics in response to hog disturbance began in 2002 resampled in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and again in 2014. We demonstrate that hog disturbance has not declined since the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services began trapping hogs on Eglin AFB and theorize rainfall and other potential drivers of hog disturbance. Short-term exclosure studies established in 2010 and sampled in 2011, 2013 were again sampled in 2014. They provide evidence that the intensity and frequency of disturbance alter vegetation composition even when foliar cover is partially or fully regained. Experimental plots with varying frequency of disturbance that mimic hog rooting were once again disturbed in 2014 and will be used to determine the frequency of soil disturbance that results in the crossing of a threshold from vegetation dominated by graminoids and sedges to the dominance of bare ground and disturbance dependent forbs. Early results indicate that the cover of Aristida stricta, a keystone ground cover species in system, was reduced by soil disturbance, while woody cover was maintained. Continued monitoring of caged and adjacent uncaged permanent plots over the next few years will determine the likelihood that decreased fire spread as the result of hog rooting leads to an increase woody cover. The first 5 years of the project was directed by Megan Brown and the results are presented in part in her Ph.D. dissertation completed in the spring of 2014. Barrier Island and endemic bee dynamics: Hesperapis oraria is a solitary ground nesting bee endemic to barrier islands and the immediate coast (within .5 km) of the Northern Gulf of Mexico that is significant not only for its restricted geographic distribution but also for its specialization to a sole floral host, Balduina angustifolia. The objectives of this project are: 1. to determine any change in distribution of the Hesperapis oraria's since 1994 in the Florida panhandle 2. characterize the foraging habitat of H. oraria's and habitat of its floral host, B. angustifolia and 3. monitor density of H. oraria and B. angustifolia on Perdido Key and Santa Rosa Unit of Gulf Island National Seashore from 2011-2018 and from 2012- 2018 on Grayton Beach, Deer Lake, Henderson Beach and Topsail State Park's in order to provide a sound scientific background for management decisions regarding habitat restoration and conservation of the endemic bee. The results from 2011-2012 which address objectives 1 and 2 are presented in a master's thesis by Hannah Hunsberger completed in 2013. Sampling for bee density was repeated in 2013 and 2014 and will continue each year. Further analysis of habitat data is underway. The limited information known about the bee and its key habitat makes these objectives important. Dune restoration and Wildlife Use Including a diversity of beach plants in restoration plantings would be beneficial to beach mice and other wildlife species. Results of early restoration experiments and observation of operational plantings suggest inter planting of dune species is not always successful. Perhaps, a diversity of "monoculture patches or zones" of plants may better survive the dune restoration process. The objective of this experiment is to determine the effect on plant survival, growth and sand accumulation of planting monoculture zones of various species in different positions in relation to the gulf and other beach plant species. In September of 2010 at six independent sites on Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key, FL, 17 zonation treatments were established in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment consisted of four planting zones. Each zone (subplot) contained a monoculture of one of the following beach species: Iva imbricata (Beach elder) I, Panicum amarum (Bitter panicum) P, Schizachyrium maritimum (Maritime bluestem) S, or Uniola paniculata (Sea oats) U and included 21 plants placed in three rows spaced 30 cm apart. Treatments included monoculture plots of each species (all zones same species). Survival, above ground biomass, foliar cover and sand accumulation were assessed from 2011-2013. Data analysis was completed in 2014. One year post-transplant (September 2011), mean plant survival was 34%, 54%, 14% and 79% for Iva, Panicum, Schizachyrium and Uniola, respectively. Survival for 10 of 17 treatments (combinations of species) did not differ from survival of the Uniola monoculture (all four zones planted with Uniola -UUUU). Taking all the data gathered in combination (survival, foliar cover, aboveground biomass and sand accumulation) and using the monoculture of Uniola and Panicum (PPPP) as standards, after three years of growth, all combinations of plantings except the monoculture of Schizachyrium performed as well as or better than the monoculture of Uniola and Panicum for at least one variable. In addition we are able to recommend four planting patterns where multiple characteristics were greater than or comparable to the Uniola and Panicum monocultures PIUS, PUSI, UPSI, USPI. Restoration Plantings and beach mouse use We assessed the use of open sand habitat, naturally vegetated dunes, and planted restoration plots by beach mice in the summer 2012, 2013 and again in 2014. At each of 4 sites, we installed one linear 6-tube transect (9 or 10 m spacing) in each of three treatments, 1) open gap; 2) naturally vegetated dune; and 3) restoration plots (described above). Treatments were selected based on relative proximity to restoration plots. We selected only 4 of 6 existing restoration plots to ensure sites were spatially independent, based on average movement distances of beach mice. Five-night trapping sessions were centered on the full or new moon. Tubes were baited with whole oats, and presence of mouse tracks as shown on a paper strip with an inkpad at the tube entrance was assessed each morning of the trapping session. At each tube, % cover and average height of dominant species was estimated in circular plots (radius 1 m, 2m, and 5m) centered on tubes in August of 2013 and July 2014. If no vegetation was found at tubes, the distance to the nearest vegetation patch (with at least a 1 m radius) was recorded. A gradient of mouse use was identified with treatments and through time. Mouse use was highest in natural dune, intermediate in restoration plots and lowest in open sand habitat. From 2012 to 2014 vegetation spread occurred closing the gap between naturally vegetation dunes and open sand habitat. As this occurred the use of open sand gaps increased.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Hooton, N., D. L. Miller, M. Thetford and B. S. Claypool. 2014, Survival and growth of planted Uniola paniculata and dune building using surrogate wrack on Perdido Key Florida, U.S.A. 22(5) 710-707.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Miller D.L., M. Thetford M, J. Dupree and L. Atwood. 2014. Influence of seasonal changes and shifting substrate on survival of restoration plantings of Schizachyrium maritimum (Gulf Bluestem) on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. Journal of Coastal Research 30(2): 237-247.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: State andFederal Natural Resource managers including: US Fish and Wildlife, National Park Service Gulf Island National Park Service, and Escambia County Environmental Division, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Eglin Natural Resrouce Division DOD and private consulting firms and private land owners will use the information from this project to improve results of management and restoration projects. Reports and publications have been provided to all public agencies. A presentation summarizing present and futurework on the barrier island restoration portion of the project was given to National Park Service this past spring. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training was provided through graduate student education (1 PhD. student and 1 M.S. student), by providing an undergraduate student internship project (developed a portion of thebeach mouse project) and by providing experience for undergraduate students (undergraduates partcipated in all projects). Training was provivded toFlorida park service employees and volunteersin the identfication and sampling of the Balduina bee. Information was alsopresented to National park service employees that will guide them in their management decisions regarding beach mice and coastal dune restoration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Resuts have been dissemintated through formal presentations at conferences,volunteer training sessions as well as presentations to land managers and restoration practitioners. Presentations included: Brown M, Miller D (2013) Long-term monitoring of feral hog (Sus scrofa) disturbance in seepage slope wetlands. 98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. August 2013. Miller, D.M. and M. Thetford. 2013. Barrier Island Dynamics, Restoration and Beach Mice. National Park Service. May 2013. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continued sampling of previously established projects. Analysis of the data and continued mentoring of graduate students. Initial prepartion of manuscripts describing current work.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Megan Brown, Phd. canidate completed12 yrs of long term sampling and 3- short term experiments. Plant surveys used to investigate both the long and short-term vegetation dynamics in response to hog disturbance were begun in 2002 and resampled in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. We demonstrated that hog disturbance has not declined since the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services began trapping hogs on Eglin AFB and theorize rainfall and other potential drivers of hog disturbance. Short-term exclosure studies established in 2010 and sampled in 2011 and 2013 provided evidence that the intensity and frequency of disturbance alter vegetation composition even when foliar cover is partially or fully regained. These results also indicate that cover of Aristida stricta, a keystone ground cover species in system, was reduced by soil disturbance, while woody cover was maintained. A positive feedback is likely to result with reduced grass cover and fire spread, which further contributes to increased woody cover. In addition, we used GPS collected data to compare areas damaged by hogs and areas burned during prescribed fires to quantify the indirect effects of hog rooting on ecosystem function. We found that hog rooting reduced vegetation cover and decreased fire spread. Through this work, we gain insight to the mechanisms that affect the rate and trajectory of vegetation development in this plant community, with significance for both theoretical and management purposes. Goal 2: We are currently assessing useof open sand habitat, natural vegetation, and planted restoration plots by beach mice. Two beach mouse trapping sessions each during full and new moon phases were completed in the summer of 2012 and 2013.Two additional sessions may be completed in2014. In addition, biomass and cover of vegetation associated with restoration plantings were assessed in the summer of 2013. Sedimentation associated with restoration planting wasalso determined for these sites in 2013. An additionalprojectcharacterized Hesperapis oraria’s , Balduina Bee, foraging habitat needsin order to provide a sound scientific background for management decisions regarding habitat restoration and conservation of this endemic coastalbee.To confirm H. oraria’s specialization on Balduina angustifolia and determine H. oraria’s and B. angustifolia’s distribution in coastal and non-coastal areas, 10 of the same locations visited in the fall of 1993 and 1994 by entomologists from Auburn University were resampled within H. oraria’s documented range in Florida (Cane et al. 1996).Using data collected from 24 large-scale plots, analyses were run to determine habitat use of H. oraria and Balduina angustifolia . Habitat use was quantified at two spatial scales by running four analyses in Salford System’s program CART (Salford System’s CART software, SPM Modeler 7.0; 2013). In addition, the population density of H. oraria was estimated using the perpendicular distance transect method. Data for density estimates were collected from the Fort Picken’s units of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Miller D. L., Thetford M. and Atwood L. W. (2013)) Effect of Polyacrylamide gel on woody plant establishment in barrier island swales. Natural Areas Journal 33,500-508.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
E. B. Wilkinson, L.C. Branch, D.L. Miller 2013. Functional Habitat connectivity for beach mice depends on perceived predation risk. Landscape Ecology 28, 547-558.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
D.L. Miller, M. Thetford, J. Dupree, L. Atwood 2013. Influence of Seasonal Changes and Shifting Substrate on Survival of Restoration Plantings of Schizachyrium maritimum (Gulf Bluestem) on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. Journal of Coastal Research, 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-13-00031.a
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Brown M, Miller D (2013) Long-term monitoring of feral hog (Sus scrofa) disturbance in seepage slope wetlands. 98th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Minneapolis, MN. August 2013.
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