MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE POPULATIONS IN DYNAMIC FORESTED LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUTHEAST

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: MCINTIRE-STENNIS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0216703
• Project No.: FLA-QUN-004811
• Project Start Date: Oct 31, 2008
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Project Director
Ober, H.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611

Performing Department
North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy

Non Technical Summary
Land ownership patterns in forested areas of the southeastern U.S. are in a period of dramatic change. Human populations are expanding, per capita consumption of natural resources is increasing, and the popularity of low density rural housing is causing remaining contiguous natural habitats to be progressively fractured into smaller and smaller fragments. These changes have negative impacts on wildlife dependent upon forested areas not only through direct loss of habitat, but also through decreases in the quality of remaining habitat, as the natural disturbance regimes to which these ecosystems are adapted become increasingly disrupted with the shrinking size of remaining habitat fragments. These changes in land use patterns elevate the importance of plantation forests in providing habitat for wildlife. However, decreases in the market value of domestic wood products have prompted many private industrial forest companies in the southeast to sell land previously used to produce timber products to residential and commercial developers, resulting in additional loss of forested habitat. Radical changes in management practices on land that remains in timber production in the southeast are predicted in the near future, as rising fuel costs and consequent increases in the desire to decrease foreign dependence on oil have resulted in considerable interest in domestic production of biofuels. Woody biomass production is predicted to be particularly popular in the southeast where environmental conditions are conducive to rapid growth rates in vegetative species that could be used for woody biofuels. A shift from production of more traditional timber products to woody biomass is likely to cause an intensification of silvicultural practices and also conversion of plantations from native tree species to non-native energy crops that have high growth rates. In other parts of the country there is concern that woody biomass plantations may provide habitat more similar to agricultural croplands than to natural forests, but to date no peer-reviewed research has investigated these issues in the southeast. Collectively, these changes in land use and changes in forest management practices are likely to have negative effects on biodiversity of forest wildlife. Development of effective conservation strategies for forest wildlife will require better understanding of fundamental wildlife habitat relationships so that accurate predictions can be made regarding wildlife response to anthropogenic disturbances. Research on the mechanisms that influence biodiversity in forests will be crucial to the identification of forest management practices that promote habitat for a variety of wildlife species. As human populations grow and as natural forested habitat becomes increasingly scarce across southern landscapes for the reasons outlined above, human-wildlife interactions and conflicts are likely to increase in frequency. Consequently, strategies proven to reduce human-wildlife conflicts will become an invaluable tool for wildlife managers. Studies aimed at identifying tactics that can reduce human conflicts with wildlife thus deserve high priority.

Animal Health Component

0%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0850	1070	60%
135	0860	1070	20%
136	0830	1070	20%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife; 136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0860 - Endangered species; 0830 - Wild animals;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

wildlife management

forest management

restoration

biodiversity

species occurrence

prescribed burning

wildlife damage

bats

gopher tortoises

armadillos

Goals / Objectives
The overarching goal of this umbrella project is to gain a better understanding of how wildlife respond to human alterations of forested habitats. Sub-projects will investigate three broad topics. First, a number of sub-projects will examine changes in abundance, distribution, and species diversity of wildlife in response to forest management practices in Florida and other southeastern states. Second, several sub-projects will assess the impacts of human activities in non-forested habitats on wildlife that utilize neighboring forests. Finally, a number of sub-projects will identify management practices capable of reducing conflicts between humans and forest wildlife. Each subproject will have distinct methodology, developed to achieve the specific objectives of that particular investigation.

Project Methods
Objective 1 - Impact of forest management activities on wildlife. Sub-project A: The impact of pine straw raking on terrestrial invertebrates will be ascertained using a randomized complete block design. Three stands of each of 3 species of pine will be split in half, and each half either raked annually or left untreated. Invertebrates will be sampled once per month during year 1 and once per season during year 2-4. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the effects of pine straw raking on fauna. Results will determine whether raking causes changes in biological cycles important to proper ecosystem functioning. Sub-project B: The influence of prescribed burning on bats will be assessed in longleaf pine stands with 3 different burn histories. Nocturnal insect communities and local vegetation will be sampled during 2 summers, and an information-theoretic approach will be used to determine the factors most closely associated with bat activity. Results will be of interest to those who use prescribed burning to increase biodiversity. Sub-project C: The impacts of upland restoration on wild turkey will be investigated using radio-telemetry of female turkeys to determine relative use of restored versus untreated areas during pre-nesting, nesting, and brood-rearing periods. Local and landscape characteristics of used sites will be identified, and associations will be determined between these factors and nest success and brood survival. Objective 2 - Impacts of human activities in non-forested habitats on animals that utilize neighboring forests. Sub-project D: The status of gopher tortoises on private lands in Mississippi will be determined by examining factors associated with the distribution of remaining tortoises. Mail surveys will be used to ascertain land use practices and tortoise occurrence and GIS data will be used to assess land use change. Results should increase understanding of the species distribution so that steps can be taken to reduce further habitat loss that could result in an uplisting of the species to endangered. Objective 3 - Developing strategies that minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Sub-project E: Animal behaviorists, entomologists, and chemists will work together to isolate chemical substances that promote attraction or repulsion in the invasive nine-banded armadillo. Wild-caught animals will be maintained in captivity to determine relative interest in materials expected to elicit either interest or revulsion. The chemical composition of the materials that elicit the strongest, most consistent reactions will be determined, and development of a bait or deterrent will be considered. Sub-project F: Horticulturalists and wildlife biologists will work together to identify native annuals and perennials resistant to damage from white-tailed deer. Selected species will be planted in replicates within and outside enclosures that exclude deer, and measured every two weeks throughout the growing season to assess damage caused by deer. Results should reduce the probability and severity of negative interactions between wildlife and humans.

Progress 10/31/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience is the general public in the Southeastern U.S. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Information learned through several of these projects was shared atextension events for natural resource professinals and the general public. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Informationlearned through these research projectswas conveyed through 9 peer-reviewed publications, 3 M.S. theses, 15 newsletters/extension documents/report, and numerous workshops that were attended by >1,000 people. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Over the course of 5 years, we implemented 7 different projects under this umbrella CRIS that investigated various aspects of forest management on a wide variety of wildlife and invertebrates. Objective 1 – Impacts of forest management activities on wildlife. Sub-project A: We determined that pine straw raking impacts ground-dwelling arthropod communities, and that these effects change over time with repeated rakings.We have published one journal article on short-term effects of raking, and a second publication on long-term effects is currently in review; results were also shared via 1 newsletter article and a poster at a state-wide conference.As pine straw raking becomes an increasingly popular means of generating income from pine plantations in the Southeastern US, it is important to understand that repeatedly raking may have unintended consequences on arthropod communities that exacerbate over time, which may ultimately alter ecosystem functions that help maintain site productivity. Results should be useful to forest land owners andforest managers. Sub-project B: We found that prescribed burning has differential impacts on various species of bats, depending upon whether they forage above or below the forest canopy.The information learned was published in 1 M.S. thesis, 2 journal articles, 1 newsletter article, and shared through 2 conference presentations and 2 extension presentations. Although prescribed fire is recognized as an important tool for maintenance of natural successional dynamics in many forests of the Southeastern US, this is one of the first studies to demonstrate that fire frequency is an indirect determinant in structuring the communities of bats foraging in these forests. Results should be useful to land managers. Sub-project C:Wedetermined which vegetation community typeswild turkey hens select in south Florida, and which forest management activities are most beneficial. The information learned was published in 1 M.S. thesis, 1 newsletter article, and 1 conference presentation.Results suggest that a combination of prescribed burning and roller-chopping in relatively small patches is likely to benefit Osceola wild turkey hens by creating a mosaic with patches of dense vegetation within a more open matrix.Hens may initially avoid areas where understory vegetation is treated, but these areas will transition into preferred habitat2-3 years following disturbances. Results should be useful to land managers and hunters. Objective 2 – Impacts of human activities in non-forested habitats on animals that utilize neighboring forests. Sub-project D: We found that gopher tortoises are becoming less common on private lands in southern Mississippi, many individuals in this region have limited understanding of the habitat needs of the species, and residents are not enrollingin wildlife incentive programs which could reimburse funding spent to improve habitat for the species because of a percieved lack of flexibility in management options.The information learned was published in 1 M.S. thesis, 1 journal article, and 2 newsletter articles. Landowners who currently have tortoises tended to have several characteristics in common: larger acreage, longer ownership histories, longleaf pine forest habitat, and a desire to either provide a natural setting or provide recreation opportunities.Restoration may be most effecient if an education program that provides basicinformation about tortoisestargets individuals with the characteristics mentioned above.Results should be useful to land managers and extension educators. Sub-project E: We identified substances that have properties which attract attention from armadillos, worthy of further investigation as potential baits. The information learned was published in 2 journal articles and 1 extension publication, and shared at 1 state conference through a poster. We found that worms and crickets attracted the attention of armadillos more quickly than many other materials, armadillos visited the locations where worms and crickets were placed more often than locations with other materials, and armadillos spent significantly more time at the locations where worms and crickets were placed. However, because armadillos do not seem to recognize potential prey items until they are within very close proximity, trap placement is likely more important to capture success than selection of bait materials. Results should be useful to land owners experiencing damage caused by armadillos. Sub-project F: We identified wildflowers most and least susceptible to deer damage in the region. The information learned was published in 1 journal article, 1 popular magazine article, and 1 extension publication. Information on flowers most susceptible to deer feeding is useful to homeowners wanting to avoid planting species that could be damaged by deer, as well as to hunters interested in planting species that may attract deer.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Armitage, D. 2010. The Effects of Prescribed Fire on Bat Activity in the Longleaf Pine Sandhills Ecosystem. M. S. Thesis, University of Florida. 123 pp.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Underwood, V. J. 2010. Human factors influencing the occurrence of Gopher Tortoises on private lands. M. S. Thesis, University of Florida. 123 pp.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ober, H. K., and D. W. DeGroote. Repeated raking of pine plantations alters soil arthropod communities.
• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Blake, M. R. 2011. Habitat selection of female Osceola turkeys across multiple spatial scales in south Florida. M. S. Thesis, University of Florida. 47 pp.

Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the reporting period, 4 peer-reviewed manuscripts came out in print pertaining to the following project components: preference of white-tailed deer among wildflowers, the identification of a bait for the nine-banded armadillo, the effects of prescribed burning on bats in sandhill forests, and the persistence of gopher tortoises on private lands in Mississippi. By the end of this reporting period, an additional manuscript was in review for one project (the importance of the nine-banded armadillo as predators of ground-nesting wildlife). PARTICIPANTS: Effects of prescribed burning on bats: PI = H.K. Ober; former graduate student = D. Armitage. Effects of upland restoration on turkeys: PIs = W. Giuliano and H.K. Ober; former graduate student = M. Blake; partner organization = Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Status of gopher tortoises in Mississippi: PIs = H.K. Ober and D.L. Miller; former graduate student = V. Underwood; partner organization = The Nature Conservancy. Identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos: PIs = R.F. Mizell and H.K. Ober; former salaried worker = L.W. DeGroote; partner organizations = Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center, Valdosta State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is the general public in the Southeastern U.S. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Information generated through this research was disseminated during this reporting period at 3 professional conferences. (1)Ober, H. K. Facilitating groundcover restoration. Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration. 17-21 October, 2011, Quincy, FL. (2)Ober, H. K. Restoration of groundcover in longleaf systems. 38th Annual Natural Areas Conference. November 1-4, 2011. Tallahassee, FL. (Symposium organizer and moderator; field trip planner). (3)Ober, H. K. Baiting the nine-banded armadillo. Spring Conference of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. April 16-19, 2012, Ocala, FL. (Poster). Results were also disseminated trhough 4 peer-reviewed publications, 2 extension publications, and 4 newsletter articles.

Publications

• Underwood, V. J., H. K. Ober, D. L. Miller, and I. A. Munn. 2012. Contributions of private landowners to the conservation of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Environmental Management 49: 846-854.
• Ober, H. K., L. W. DeGroote, J. H. Aldrich, J. G. Norcini, and G. W. Knox. 2011. Wildflowers susceptible to deer damage in North Florida. WEC315. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw360.
• Ober, H. K., L. W. DeGroote, R. F. Mizell, III. 2011. Baiting the nine-banded armadillo. WEC317. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw362.
• Ober, H.K., M. R. Blake, J. M. Olson, W. M. Giuliano. 2012. Preferred habitat of wild turkey hens. NFREC News 14/3.
• Ober, H.K., J. H. Aldrich, and G. W. Knox. 2011. Consider using native wildflowers to attract deer. NFREC News 13/12.
• Ober, H.K. 2011. Unprecedented opportunities to learn about restoration - right at your doorstep. NFREC News 13/8.
• Ober, H. K., and V. Underwood. 2011. Persistence of gopher tortoises on private lands. CFEOR Updates 7.8.11.
• DeGroote, L. W., H. K. Ober, J. H. Aldridge, J. G. Norcini, and G. W. Knox. 2011. Susceptibility of cultivated native wildflowers to deer damage. Southeastern Naturalist 10: 761-771.
• Ober, H. K., L. W. DeGroote, C. M. McDonough, R. F. Mizell III, and R. W. Mankin. 2011. Identification of an attractant for the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35: 421-429.
• Armitage, D. W., and H. K. Ober. 2012. The effects of prescribed fire on bat communities in the longleaf pine sandhills ecosystem. Journal of Mammalogy 93: 102-114.

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the reporting period we completed data analysis for two projects: the effects of upland habitat restoration on turkeys, and the preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers. Manuscripts were written and submitted for three projects: the effects of prescribed burning on bats, the preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers, and the role of armadillos as predators of ground-nesting wildlife. Final reports were written for one project: the effects of upland habitat restoration on turkeys. Two manuscripts came out in print: groundcover restoration in forests of the Southeastern US, and the short-term effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates. By the end of this reporting period, manuscripts were in press for two projects (the identification of a bait for armadillos, and preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers), and in review for two projects (the effects of prescribed burning on bats, and the role of armadillos as predators of ground-nesting wildlife). PARTICIPANTS: Effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates: PI = H.K. Ober; other salaried workers = L. DeGroote, S. Wright. Effects of prescribed burning on bats: PI = H. Ober; graduate student = D. Armitage. Effects of upland restoration on turkeys: PIs = W. Giuliano and H. Ober; graduate students = M. Blake, J. Olson; partner organization = Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Status of gopher tortoises in Mississippi: PIs = H. Ober and D. Miller; graduate student = V. Underwood; partner organization = The Nature conservancy. Identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos: PIs = R. Mizell and H. Ober; other salaried workers = L. DeGroote, S. Wright; partner organizations = Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center, Valdosta State University, and U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service-Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is the general public in the Southeastern U.S. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The long-term pine straw raking data collection (which was projected to finish in December 2012) ended instead in December 2010 due to unforeseen circumstances.

Impacts
Information generated through these projects was disseminated during this reporting period through newsletters: (1.) Ober, H.K. 2011. Unprecedented opportunities to learn about restoration - right at your doorstep. NFREC News 13/8. (2.) Ober, H. K. 2011. Persistence of gopher tortoises on private lands. CFEOR Updates 7.8.11. (3.) Ober, H. K. 2010. New handbook on forest groundcover restoration now available. NFREC News 12/1. Information was also disseminated through formal presentations at professional metings: (1.) Blake, M. R., J. M. Olson, W. M. Giuliano, H. K. Ober, and J. C. Denton. Habitat selection of female Osceola turkeys across multiple spatial scales in south Florida. Spring Conference of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 22-24, 2011, Safety Harbor, FL. (2.) Olson, J. M., M. R. Blake, W. M. Giuliano, H. K. Ober, and J. C. Denton. Florida wild turkey hen nest site selection and success across multiple spatial scales. Spring Conference of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. March 22-24, 2011, Safety Harbor, FL.

Publications

• (1.) Ober, H. K., and L. W. DeGroote. 2011. Effects of litter removal on arthropod biodiversity in pine plantations. Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 1273-1286. (2.) Trusty, J. L. and H. K. Ober. 2011. Determinants of successful groundcover restoration in forests of the southeastern United States. Journal for Nature Conservation 19: 34-42. (3.) Blake, M., and Olson, J. 2011. Final report to The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on "Improving wild turkey habitat in Florida through restoration of upland ecosystems".

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During 2010 we collected data for 2 subprojects: the study on the effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates and the study on the effects of upland habitat restoration on wild turkeys. We completed data analysis for two projects: the effects of prescribed burning on bats, and the identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos. Data analysis is currently underway for two projects: the effects of upland habitat restoration on wild turkeys, and the preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers. Manuscripts have been written and submitted for three projects: the effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates, the status of gopher tortoises on private lands in Mississippi, and the identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos. Manuscripts are currently being written for two projects: the effects of prescribed burning on bats, and the preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers. Final reports are available for two projects: the status of gopher tortoises on private lands in Mississippi, and the effects of prescribed burning on bats. Preliminary or final results were shared via a variety of outlets: 1. Presentation by graduate student David Armitage at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network, 18-19 February 2010, Asheville, NC, entitled "The indirect effects of prescribed fire on bats in the high pine ecosystem". 2. Presentation by graduate student David Armitage at the Spring Conference of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. 21-23 April 2010, Tallahassee, FL, entitled "The indirect effects of prescribed fire on bat activity in the longleaf pine sandhills ecosystem". 3. Poster by the PI at the Spring Conference of the Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society. 21-23 April 2010, Tallahassee, FL, entitled "Effects of pine straw raking on arthropod assemblages". 4. Final report to The Nature Conservancy entitled "Distribution of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) on private lands in Mississippi", 23 pp. 5. Final report to the Southern Region IPM Center entitled "Identification of semiochemicals mediating attraction and aversion in the nine-banded armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus". 15 pp. PARTICIPANTS: Effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates: PI = H.K. Ober; other salaried workers = L.W. DeGroote, S. Wright, and A. Brock. Effects of prescribed burning on bats: PI = H.K. Ober; graduate student = D. Armitage. Effects of upland restoration on turkeys: PIs = W. Giuliano and H.K. Ober; graduate student = M. Blake; partner organization = Florida Fish & Widlife Conservation Commission. Status of gopher tortoises in Mississippi: PIs = H.K. Ober and D.L. Miller; graduate student = V. Underwood; partner organization = The Nature conservancy. Identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos: PIs = R.F. Mizell and H.K. Ober; other salaried workers = L.W. DeGroote, S. Wright, and A. Brock; partner organizations = Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center, Valdosta State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is the general public in the Southeastern U.S. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Numerous workshops and seminars were provided to convey information on wildlife management to private landowners in north Florida and south Georgia. Titles included "Bats and bat houses", "Encouraging wildlife", "Beneficial wildlife - animals helpful to your pecan farm", "Habitat needs of bats", "Estimating gopher tortoise distribution and density", "All about bats", and "Biodiversity in Florida". These events were attended by a total of 404 people.

Publications

• Ober, H.K. 2010. Promoting wildlife biodiversity with prescribed fire. NFREC News 12/4.
• Ober, H.K. 2010. Unintended effects of pine straw raking in pine plantations. NFREC News 12/8.
• Armitage, D.W., and Ober, H.K. 2010. A comparison of supervised learning techniques in the classification of bat echolocation calls. Ecological Informatics 5: 465-473.
• Ober, H.K., Main, M.B., and Allen, G.M. 2010. Bats of Florida. WEC186. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw186.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: During 2009 we collected data for all 6 subprojects under this umbrella project. Data collection was completed for year one of the study on the effects of upland habitat restoration on turkeys, and for year two of the studies on the effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates, the effects of prescribed burning on bats, the status of gopher tortoises on private lands in Mississippi, the identification of a bait or deterrent for armadillos, and the preference of white-tailed deer for wildflowers. This completes the data collection for four of these six studies. Preliminary results were shared via a variety of media: a radio interview (What's happening in the deep woods Gadsden Journal); a magazine article (Pretty plants create an exasperating situation. Florida Wildlife Magazine. January/February 2009); 3 EDIS articles; and 12 presentations given by HKO that reached 364 individuals. PARTICIPANTS: Effects of pine straw raking on invertebrates: PI = H.K. Ober; other salaried workers = L.W. DeGroote, S. Wright, and A. Brock. Effects of prescribed burning on bats: PI = H.K. Ober; graduate student = D. Armitage; other salaried workers = K. Aaltonen. Effects of upland restoration on turkeys: PIs = W. Giuliano and H.K. Ober; graduate student = M. Blake; partner organization = Florida Fish & Widlife Conservation Commission. Status of gopher tortoises in Mississippi: PIs = H.K. Ober and D.L. Miller; graduate student = V. Underwood; other salaried workers = K. Finn; partner organization = The Nature conservancy. Identificaiton of a bait or deterrent for armadillos: PIs = R.F. Mizell and H.K. Ober; other salaried workers = L.W. DeGroote, S. Wright, K. Torrington, and A. Brock; partner organizations = Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center, Valdosta State University. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience is the general public in the Southeastern U.S. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
A series of 7 workshops was provided to convey information on wildlife mangement to private landowners in north Florida and south Georgia. The series was attended by 322 individuals and resulted in a knowledge gain by 95% of survey respondents. 59% anticipated changing their behavior as a result of what they had learned, 72% expectated to save money, and 33% expected to earn money.

Publications

• Ober, H. K., W. Sheftall, and S. Rosenthal. 2009. Ten tips for increasing wildlife biodiversity in your pine plantations. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication UW319. 4pp.
• Ober, H. K., S. Rosenthal, and W. Sheftall. 2009. Ten tips for encouraging the use of your pine plantations by game species. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication UW318. 4pp.
• Ober, H. K. 2009. The importance of bottomland hardwood forests for wildlife. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication UW316. 6pp.