Progress 01/01/09 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS Activities Additional work was done to create a forest change dataset. For the lots which were re-sampled in 2010, the historical measurement data was extracted for the latest historical date (1960-64). Work was done to determine what statistics might be comparable between the two datasets. The output of the above was a roughly matched dataset in terms of several interesting forest composition and structure variables. These were then further analyzed to quantify forest change over the past 50 year interval. Created a prototype model in SORTIE (a forest dynamics model parameterized for northern/northeastern) for these forests. This allows for predicting future succession in the forests as well as the influence of different management options. Created a formal ArcGIS geodatabase of all major spatial data that had been compiled for the project. Wrote a guide to using the geodatabase (see publications last year). Geodatabase and guide compiled by graduate student in Conservation Ecology/Environmental Informatics. Produced final land-cover/land-use change analyses and prepared this information, maps and figures for publication. Done by graduate student and the PI. Developed a plan and conducted intensive field sampling June-August 2010. Field survey output statistics were added to a new GIS of the forest Lots and plots. The work of this project laid the foundation for both a SNRE course and a follow-on McIntire-Stennis project. The ability of the course to involve the UM forest properties sites as well as the datasets in course planning underscores the great amount of new spatial data, field data, personnel expertise that have been developed in this McIntire-Stennis project. Also, the spatial data is available to university planners who have some oversight responsibilities for the properties. Plans are underway for selected improvements to the Saginaw Forest property infrastructures. Some has been competed. The databases and geodatabases are available for use by the broader student and faculty communities and will undoubtedly lead to new research on the forests of the properties, their context within the surrounding landscape and their broader context of institutional forests. Services This entire project has been partly research and partly a service to the SNRE and to the faculty and student community. Data created has been used in the research outputs of the project but is also intended to help others engage in planning and research related to these forested properties. DISSEMINATION As the follow-on project has gotten underway we are in process of getting subsets of this data up on the web as part of our Lab and department website. This would make it more broadly available. It is being planned according to University data management requirements. PARTICIPANTS: PERSONNEL Individuals Principal Investigator (K. Bergen). The PI was active in overseeing all aspects of this project. Her work involved the following: writing and revising journal papers, doing all management, budgetary, staffing, materials and operations planning; directing the work of graduate students and post-doc working on the project by providing written planning documents, holding meetings and working in the Lab with staff; directing analysis of the historical land-cover/land-use change component and leading work towards a publishable journal paper; instigating the design of the new field biometric survey and enabling the post-doc and student team leader to carry through with the logistics and training of additional student staff; overseeing all outputs quality control; coordinating with outside course instructors and other faculty and users of the new data and resources generated through this project. Post-doc (L. Persha). The post-doc was hired through a supplement to this project to oversee the biometric survey in the field and to supervise the processing of those data into the output statistics; to train students for fieldwork and engage in fieldwork also; to serve as course staff on the new SNRE course using the forest properties sites and data for the first time. Student Team Leader (M. Gentile). The full-time summer 2010 student team leader assisted the PI and post-doc in preparation of the field sampling plan by analyzing selection of lots to be re-surveyed based on the new GIS data; helped train part-time students in the field; was the team leader for all field days when post-doc not present and to lead the part-time students who assisted on a rotating basis; worked with the students to enter field data; attached output statistics to GIS; monitored data quality control; continuing to analyze data Fall 2010 and to produce a publication on forest change (see publications). Geodatabase Student Manager (D. Forsyth). The geodatabase manager worked approximately half-time summer 2010; organized data compiled in the first year into a formal ArcGIS geodatabase; wrote a user's guide to this geodatabase. Land-cover/Land-use Change Student Lead (K. Kennedy). The student conducted thorough quality control for all polygons mapped 1949-2005 for the LCLUC part of the project; collected statistical data on land change outside the properties; prepared outputs for publication. Other students: Several other part-time students worked less than one month on the project. These students assisted on a rotating basis for fieldwork at the forest properties; gained experience in the field as part of their graduate studies. TARGET AUDIENCES: The main target audiences were three: First, all students in the SNRE and UM will now be able to access a significant amount of new data on the UM forest properties for use in research endeavors (one of our project students are already doing so). Second the SNRE and UM will have a modern set of data as well as initial analyses for ongoing planning and potential new initiatives related to the properties; Third the project is already reaching broader audiences as the IFRI course taught in Fall term 2010 through a follow-on project includeed students who come from international settings (including Africa) to UM to learn about IFRI methods. Augmenting this will be the focus of the follow-on project work. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Some additional work was completed by an Independent Study student who continued to analyse the project data after the official end of this McIntire-Stennis project. This included some of the change analysis listed above as well as publications revision. This was done for academic credit and no charge to the project. Otherwise no modifications.
Impacts
OUTCOMES IMPACT Change in Knowledge This project has resulted in a significant change in knowledge and knowledge databases and models, this was the primary objective of this first project associated with these forests since the mid-1960s. There had been NO spatial or other property-wide data created for these forest properties since the mid-1960s. We know have a modern very complete set of GIS databases, imagery and analyses derived from these. The forests in question had not been measured since the mid-1960s. This project conducted the first stage of a significant re-measurement. It also began the processing of analyzing that change and translating it into future management needs or options. Change in Impact and Condition This project was not designed to fully implement the results of the new knowledge. However, it is expected that the data and analyses performed here will be used in property planning.
Publications
- Gentile, M. and Bergen K. (2012). (expected). Changes in Structure and Diversity of 100-Year-Old Planted Forests in Southeastern Michigan after 50 Years of Natural Regeneration. (revised, to be submitted March 2012).
- Bergen, K., Kennedy, K., and Gamberg, P. (2012). (expected). Land-Use Change 1949-2009 Associated with the University of Michigan Stinchfield Woods and Saginaw Forest (revised, to be submitted April 2012)
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Created a formal ArcGIS geodatabase of all major spatial data that had been compiled for the project. Wrote a guide to using the geodatabase (see publications). Geodatabase and guide compiled by graduate student in Conservation Ecology/Environmental Informatics. Conducted a thorough photo and GIS-based accuracy check on historical air photo land-cover/land-use change interpretation for the three forest properties. Systematically re-checked each polygon in a time series of aerial photos going back to 1949 every 5-10 years. Done by graduate student and the PI. Produced final land-cover/land-use change analyses and prepared this information, maps and figures for publication. Output showed dramatic changes in the landscape surrounding the forest properties over past sixty years and evidence of forest change within the properties. Developed a plan for a summer 2010 field survey for the forest properties. This plot survey of forest trees was designed to resurvey a large stratified sample of the original forest lots for all stems greater than 3cm dbh to a 10% or greater sample of the overstory. The UM forest properties had not been systematically surveyed since the 1960s. Conducted intensive field sampling June-August 2010. Planned by PI, post-doc and graduate student team leader. Managed in the field by post-doc and graduate student team leader. Over half of all original lots in the combined properties were re-surveyed. All survey data were input into spreadsheets and processed through the IFRI software to produce detailed statics for all plots and lots for multiple statistics on the collected variables. Output statistics had been designed by the PI and the statistics were generated by the post-doc with assistance from the student team leader. Field sampling provided significant experience for five additional part-time graduate students (some of whom had prior field experience but others of whom this was their only forest measurement field experience in graduate school). Field survey output statistics were added to a new GIS of the forest Lots and plots. A major SNRE course NRE501 used the new SNRE forest properties field data and contributed additional measurements. The IFRI course used Stinchfield Woods as its course location. Students from SNRE and visitors from other countries were trained in field measurement methods. Students followed the project measurement protocol and doubled the number of lots measured for Stinchfield Woods. Course discussions centered on the property. This work will also be part of a follow-on McIntire-Stennis project. The NRE501 course will produce a report on their measurements and other data compilation for the Stinchfield Woods property. This report will be part of follow-on McIntire-Stennis project more focused on the wider program that the course is affiliated with and integrating the UM forest properties into that program. The PI gave a guest lecture for the course and the post-doc provided daily course assistance, including with the fieldwork. PARTICIPANTS: Principal Investigator (K. Bergen). The PI was active in overseeing all aspects of this project. Her work involved the following: doing all management, budgetary, staffing, materials and operations planning; directing the work of graduate students and post-doc working on the project by providing written planning documents, holding meetings and working in the Lab with staff; directing analysis of the historical land-cover/land-use change component and leading work towards a publishable journal paper; instigating the design of the new field biometric survey and enabling the post-doc and student team leader to carry through with the logistics and training of additional student staff; overseeing all outputs quality control; coordinating with outside course instructors and other faculty and users of the new data and resources generated through this project. Post-doc (L. Persha). The post-doc was hired through a supplement to this project to oversee the biometric survey in the field and to supervise the processing of those data; to train students for fieldwork and engage in fieldwork also; to serve as course staff on the new SNRE course using the forest properties. Student Team Leader (M. Gentile). The full-time summer 2010 student team leader assisted the PI and post-doc in preparation of the field sampling plan ; helped train part-time students in the field; was the team leader for all field days when post-doc not present; worked with the students to enter field data; attached output statistics to GIS; monitored data quality control; continuing to analyze data Fall 2010. Geodatabase Student Manager (D. Forsyth). The geodatabase manager worked approximately half-time summer 2010; organized data compiled in the first year into a formal ArcGIS geodatabase; wrote a user's guide to this geodatabase. Land-cover/Land-use Change Student Lead (K. Kennedy). The student conducted thorough quality control for all polygons mapped 1949-2005 for the LCLUC part of the project; collected statistical data on land change outside the properties; prepared outputs for publication. Other students: Several other part-time students worked less than one month on the project. These students assisted on a rotating basis for fieldwork at the forest properties; gained experience in the field as part of their graduate studies. Partner organizations include SNRE courses and the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) http://www.sitemaker.umich.edu/ifri/home program which has begun to collaborate in Fall 2010 to both use the newly created spatial and forest data and to collect additional data through its course. Training of graduate students was a highlight of this project. Five core students (two in the first year and three in this second year) gained integrated knowledge of spatial, statistical and field components of forest ecology and forestry research and applications. In addition five other students gained experience in forest field biometric surveys. A post-doctoral fellow became associated with the project through a supplement and gained additional experience in leading field surveys and integrating project-curricular design. TARGET AUDIENCES: The main target audiences were three: First, all students in the SNRE and UM will now be able to access a significant amount of new data on the UM forest properties for use in research endeavors (one of our project students are already doing so). Second the SNRE and UM will have a modern set of data as well as initial analyses for ongoing planning and potential new initiatives related to the properties; Third the project is already reaching broader audiences as the IFRI course taught in Fall term 2010 includes students who come from international settings (including Africa) to UM to learn about IFRI methods. Augmenting this will be the focus of ongoing project work. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: There were no obstacles to the project. A small supplemental award was added to the project to enable a post-doc to assist in overseeing the in-field component.
Impacts
The enabling of new courses and their faculty and students to use the UM Forest Properties sites and new scholarly data is considered a objective of the project and the follow-on project. The ability of the course to involve the UM forest properties sites underscores the great amount of new spatial data, field data, personnel expertise that have been developed in this McIntire-Stennis project. Also, the spatial data is available to university planners who have some oversight responsibilities for the properties. Plans are underway for selected improvements to the Saginaw Forest property infrastructures. The databases and geodatabases are available for use by the broader student and faculty communities and will undoubtedly lead to new research on the forests of the properties, their context within the surrounding landscape and their broader context of institutional forests.
Publications
- Bergen, K., Kennedy, K., Gamberg, P. (2010 pending) Land-Use Change 1949-2009 In and Surrounding the University of Michigans Stinchfield Woods and Saginaw Forest.
- Gentile, M., Bergen K., Persha, L. (2010 pending) Emerging Natural Area: Fifty Years of Natural Forest Change in a Formerly Planted Forest.
- Forsyth, D. A. 2010. Guide to Using the Stinchfield Woods, Saginaw Forest, and Newcomb Tract Geodatabases. Environmental Spatial Analysis Laboratory Report, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
- The Stinchfield Woods, Saginaw Forest, and Newcomb Tract Geodatabase. 2010. Environmental Spatial Analysis Laboratory Report, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. (Database)
- The Stinchfield Woods, Saginaw Forest, and Newcomb Tract Access Database. 2010. Environmental Spatial Analysis Laboratory Report, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. (Database)
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We completed the first year of the project as expected. The below data creation and analysis activities took a substantial amount of time this past summer/early fall. Completed: 1. Access database of existing historical UM forest property silvicultural records (converted to electronic/spreadsheet format from extensive paper records) 2. Multi-layer GIS database for each UM forest property, including: transportation, hydrology, general land-cover type, DEM, boundaries and political boundaries and several other layers. All reprojected, georectified to each other and clipped to area of interest. 3. Database of historical aerial high resolution aerial photos, acquired, scanned and georectified to each other 4. Database of land cover now interpreted from the time series of historical aerial photos. 5. Extraction of land-cover change (preliminary) statistics PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A MS student is currently assisting in authoring our first publication (described below). Students in a UM course on water/hydrology engineering are using some of our newly created GIS data for water quality planning research at Saginaw Forest. Outcomes/Impacts will be emphasized more in year 2 as we move past data creation.
Publications
- We have one publication outlined to date. Our first publication will be a journal paper on the land-cover change as interpreted from aerial photos for the UM forests. The publication will be completed by the PI and by one of the students involved in the data creation this past summer and submitted before or by summer 2010. During year 2 we expect to do the work that will result in a second journal publication.
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