Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Despite the complications caused by COVID-19, we were able to reach several target audiences during this reporting cycle: (1) Undergraduate students: Four undergraduate students and recent graduates (all women) from several institutions (Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Binghamton, and SUNY ESF) were trained in field vegetation survey methods and data processing during the summer, and they gained considerable field research experience as interns working on a field research team. (2) Graduate students: A black female doctoral student in ecosystem restoration at SUNY ESF received significant training in field methods and logistics, research team management, and research design and analysis during this reporting period, AND, importantly, she was able to collect the second half of her dissertation data with the support from the award. (3) Professionals in natural resource management and conservation: Several staff members of the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC) regularly participate on the project as collaborators in various capacities while learning more about the science behind the long-term monitoring program in Long Island Central Pine Barrens via project research presentations and regular communications (including monthly conference calls). They magnify project outreach impact though their own public outreach (one of the main tasks of the CPBC). In addition, the project was also presented to professional and lay audience members of the New York Flora Association (remotely via Zoom due to COVID concerns) and to professional ecologists, natural resource managers, students, and scientists at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Changes/Problems:The project has experienced considerable difficulties due to COVID-19 pandemic which started in New York State at around the same time when we were recruiting field crews through the internship program at one of our partner institutions (Brookhaven National Laboratory, BNL). Our entire field research preparation for summer 2020 was complicated by the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and rules and regulations required to carry out field activities and protocols in a safe and healthy manner (Long Island was one of the early COVID-19 hot spots in New York State and in the nation). Our main partner, BNL has eventually cancelled their internship program on which we were relying to provide field interns to help with the field sampling. Through persistence and leadership at the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC), the Commission was eventually able to hire some of these interns and we were able to start the field season with about a month and a half long delay. Because our team was smaller than originally planned, and due to the complications with maintaining social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols, field and office (home office) work were much slower than anticipated or experienced during the previous field season. Consequently, the field work took through the end of September (a full month longer than planned) and data entry was still not fully completed at the end of this cycle in Spetember 2020. This is unfortunately causing significant delays in processing data and running the analyses in the current 2020-2021 cycle. However, we are very pleased that we were even able to have the second field season given that many other institutions (including our partners at BNL) have cancelled their field research internship programs in New York State and nationally. We were also able to adhere to our original plan for data collection, so the main aspect of the research program that suffered is the timing. Another aspect of the project that has been less detrimentally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was the dissemination of the project results. Since most regional and national meetings were cancelled, and less formal meetings were not encouraged, the dissemination had to rely on remote presentations via zoom and on other online platforms (despite this, we managed to cover one national and one state-wide society meeting, as wellas regular briefings with our project partners at BNL and CPBC). To address the delay with the project, and slimmer opportunities for project dissemination, we asked for and received a no-cost extension for the project through the end of 2021. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided several significant training and professional development opportunities in this past cycle. (1) Four undergraduate and recently graduated students (all women) from several universities (SUNY ESF, SUNY Binghamton, and Suffolk County Community Colleges) were provided intensive research training in methods for vegetation survey and experience in working as interns on a field research team during July-September period. They were also trained in data management and entry. In general, natural resources related field research has been traditionally dominated by men, so having trained all female field crew is helpful for diversifying this field. (2) A doctoral student who is a black woman is being trained; she collected the second half of her dissertation data and received significant training in field methods and logistics, research team management, and research design during this reporting period. She has received substantial training at SUNY ESF in several statistical courses required to run data analyses (including Regression Analyses and Analysis of Variance). In general, natural resources related science at a doctoral level has been traditionally dominated by white men, so having trained a black female PhD scientist is helpful for diversifying this field. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to several communities of interest in this cycle as follows: (1) Professional staff of the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC) on Long Island was informed about the project progress, goals, methods, and findings through several conference calls. The support of CPBC is crucial for both the success of the project and further dissemination of the project findings since CPBC staff is in regular contact with the public and policy and decision makers in the regional natural resources management on Long Island. (2) Project poster on the importance of fire in maintaining Long Island pine barrens was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America to reach national audience composed of ecological scientists, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as natural resource managers and scientists from the Forest Service and other agencies. The abstract was published in the conference proceedings. (3) Presentation on plants and ecology of Long Island Pine Barrens was also given to state-wide audience of botanists, both professional and amateur, as a part of the meeting of the New York Flora Association. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the project goals and objectives we will carry out the following activities for each objective: Objective 1-Resurvey of the forest health monitoring plots established in 2005/2006: This objective has now been accomplished. Additional related task is to continue refining the project database and metadata to facilitate planned and ongoing analyses as well as its broader future use. Objective 2-Characterizing vital population rates (regeneration, recruitment, and canopy mortality): This objective is to be completed in the 2020-2021 cycle and these analyses are currently ongoing as planned in the original proposal (now with the full set of data for both 2019 and 2020 resurveys). Objective 3-Building statistical models for species canopy replacement processes: This objective is to be completed in the 2020-2021 cycle and these analyses are currently ongoing as planned in the original proposal (now with the full set of data for both 2019 and 2020 resurveys).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The three project objectives were accomplished during this reporting period as follows: (1) Resurvey of forest health monitoring (FHM) plots established in 2005-2006: We resurveyed the remaining approximately half of the FHM plots (the ones that were not resurveyed in 2019) in order to later quantify changes in forest structure, as planned. In some cases, where the original plots could not be located or they were destroyed or otherwise unsuitable, we established new plots in appropriate/comparable settings. The completion of this objective included: (a) renewing field research permits; (b) recruiting undergraduate field research interns; (c) preparing field equipment and logistics, (d) carrying out field data collection in summer 2020 (July-September); and (e) updating the project database with the 2020 data. (2) Characterizing vital population rates (regeneration, recruitment, and canopy mortality): We evaluated vital population rates (regeneration, recruitment, and canopy mortality) on the subset of the data (collected in summer 2019) during this cycle to assess partial trends and to learn if our methods are working well (the full analysis is planned in 2020-2021 cycle when the data are ready for use for both 2019 and 2020 resurveys). Based on partial analyses from 2019 data, we drafted and submitted a manusript for publication in a refereed journal of the Society of American Foresters (Journal of Forestry) during this cycle. The manuscript evaluates variation in canopy openness across the Long Island pine barrens (one of the aspects associated with both canopy tree mortality and forest regeneration and recruitment). The manuscript has been accepted for publication (after September 30) and the full reference will be reported in the next cycle (when fully published). (3) Building statistical models for species canopy replacement processes: The doctoral student on the project was trained in the statistical methods necessary to accomplish this objective and started to assemble the data into the appropriate form. The full completion of this objective is planned for 2020-2021 cycle when the data is available and ready from the full resurvey (i.e., for both 2019 and 2020 resurveys).
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Jessamy J, Rolnick R, Dovciak M, Lumbsden-Pinto J, Schwager K, Green T (2020). Can fire keep the pines in the pine barrens? Analyzing changes in tree demography in pine and oak forests of the Long Island Pine Barrens. Ecological Society of America, Annual Meeting, August 3-6 (poster presentation and published abstract).
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Several target audiences benefited from presentations, research collaborations, and other educational and outreach activities related to ecology and conservation of Long Island Pine Barrens: (1) Undergraduate students in ecology and natural resource management fields: Eight undergraduate students (4 women and 4 men) from several universities (SUNY ESF, Drexel University, and Wilkes University) were provided intensive 10-week research internships as a part of the project within the U.S. Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). (2) College and high school students pursuing diverse scientific fields (including molecular biology, physics, biochemistry, and climate sciences): Perhaps well over 300 college and high school research interns (many from HBCUs-historically black colleges or universities) participating in various summer programs at BNL, and several visiting student groups, were able to learn more about pine barrens ecology and conservation through multiple project presentations. Additional project presentations reached undergraduate students at SUNY ESF. (3) A graduate (doctoral) student in ecosystem restoration at SUNY ESF: the project funds dissertation research of a black female graduate student who was able to collect about half of her dissertation data and received significant training in field methods and logistics, research team management, and research design during this reporting period. (4) Professionals in natural resource management: Several staff members of the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC) regularly participate on the project as collaborators in various capacities while learning more about the science behind the long-term monitoring program in Long Island Central Pine Barrens via project research presentations and regular communications (including monthly conference calls). They magnify project outreach impact though their own public outreach (one of the main tasks of the CPBC). (5) University faculty members from diverse scientific disciplines (including molecular biology, physics, biochemistry, and climate sciences): About 40 visiting faculty members--more than half from HBCUs (historically black colleges or universities)--participating in the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) of the U.S. Department of Energy at BNL were able to learn more about pine barrens ecology and conservation through a presentation and interactions with Dr. Dovciak (Project PI and a visiting faculty fellow at BNL). (6) Shinecock Indian Nation on Long Island: various topics related to Long Island Pine Barrens ecology and conservation were presented by students associated with the project during a public event organized by the nation as an effort to more closely reconnect with their roots and surrounding natural environment. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided several significant training and professional development opportunities. (1) Eight undergraduate students (4 women and 4 men) from several universities (SUNY ESF, Drexel University, and Wilkes University) were provided intensive 10-week research training. Two of these students were later admitted to graduate programs (at SUNY ESF and Texas A&M University). (2) Over 350 college and high school research interns (many from HBCUs-historically black colleges or universities) participating in various summer programs at BNL and/or in regular course instruction at SUNY ESF were introduced to pine barrens ecology and conservation through multiple project presentations and lectures. (3) A doctoral student who is a black woman is being trained; she collected about half of her dissertation data and received significant training in field methods and logistics, research team management, and research design during this reporting period. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated through lectures and informal interactions to several communities of interest. (1) Several staff members of the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC) on Long Island took part in lectures, field training and conference calls while learning more about the science behind the long-term monitoring program in Long Island Central Pine Barrens. They are close collaborators on the project and thus have a significant stake in helping to further project reach though their own public outreach on Long Island (one of the main tasks of the CPBC). (2) University faculty members from diverse scientific disciplines (including ecology but also molecular biology, physics, biochemistry, and climate sciences)--more than half from HBCUs (historically black colleges or universities--who were participating in the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) of the U.S. Department of Energy at BNL were able to learn more about pine barrens ecology and conservation via a presentation and interactions with Dr. Dovciak (Project PI and a visiting faculty fellow at BNL). (3) Shinecock Indian Nation on Long Island learned about various topics related to Long Island Pine Barrens ecology and conservation via the presentations of our research students during a public event organized by the nation in an effort to more closely reconnect with their roots and surrounding natural environment. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the project goals we will carry out several key activities in the next reporting period, primarily continuing with our original objectives that require completion of the sampling of all or most of the FHM plots: To accomplish Objective (1)- resurvey the forest health monitoring (FHM, FERN) plots initially surveyed in 2005/2006 in order to quantify what were the changes in forest structure over time we will (a) reapply for field research permits as necessary; (b) continue working with our collaborators at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC); (c) recruit a new cohort of undergraduate field research interns to participate in research under the umbrella of the SULI internship scheme at BNL funded by the US Department of Energy; (d) prepare field equipment, logistics, and carry out data collection. To accomplish Objectives (2)- calculating vital population rates (regeneration, recruitment, and canopy mortality) to assess stability or decline of each tree species since the previous survey, and (3) building statistical models of forest change we will continue the development of the project database integrating 2005/2006 and 2019/2020 data, and start building statistical models.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The following project objectives were accomplished during this reporting period: (1) We resurveyed ca. 50% of the forest health monitoring (FHM) plots initially surveyed in years 2005 and 2006 (under the acronym FERN) in order to later quantify changes in forest structure, as planned. This included completing a number of tasks that included (a) applying for field research permits; (b) establishing good working relationships with Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC); (c) recruiting eight undergraduate field research interns; (d) preparing field equipment and logistics, and carrying out field data collection in summer 2019; and (e) developing project database integrating the original and new resurvey data. (2) We evaluated vital population rates (regeneration, recruitment, and canopy mortality) on the collected subset of the data to assess partial trends and to learn if our methods are working well (the full analysis is planned after the full resurvey is completed), as planned. Achieving these two objectives moves us closer to accomplishing our objective (3) to build statistical models for observed changes in pine barrens ecosystem once our resurvey is complete in 2020, and, ultimately help us reach our overarching goals to (i) guide management and conservation strategies, (ii) inform the discussion on broader ecosystem services (e.g., recreation, or soil, water and biodiversity conservation), and (iii) build social/political support and feedbacks for a science-based adaptive management and conservation in LICPB. Importantly, we feel that we have made major strides already during this reporting cycle toward our goal (iii) to build social and political support for science based management of Long Island pine barrens by establishing both strong collaborative relationships with the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and a working relationship with the Shinecock Indian Nation on Long Island.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Gladitsch H., Welshoff H., Lumbsden-Pinto J., Dovciak M., and Schwager K. (2019). Characterizing estimated ericaceous understory abundance in relation to estimated pitch pine seedling and sapling abundance in the Central Pine Barrens of Long Island. 2019 Summer Symposium, August 7-8, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, Long Island. (Oral presentation & published abstract).
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Progress 09/10/18 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:The start date of the project activities was adjusted from the initially planned start on August 20, 2018 (3rd quarter of 2018) to January 2019 (1st quarter of 2019) due to the difficulty in recruiting an appropriate graduate research project assistant between late March 2018 (when funding was awarded) and the intended late August 2018 start of the project. We decided to wait for the most qualified candidate in our pool at the time, and she was not available before January 2019 (due to her ongoing graduate/MPS studies that were to be completed in December 2018). This delay will only have minor effects on the project since our research project assistant is currently in her MPS program at SUNY-ESF and will be able to spend some of the time to start some of the processes required to run in the Fall 2018 (e.g., SULI internship scheme). The remaining activities can be accomplished in the Spring and Summer 2019 on a bit more condensed schedule. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?To accomplish the project goals we will carry out several key activities in the next reporting period, primarily focused on the Objective 1- field work to resurvey the forest health monitoring (FHM, FERN) plots initially surveyed in2005/2006 in order to quantify what were the changes in forest structure over time. To accomplish this objective, we will: (1) apply for field research permits with the landowners and natural resource management agencies with the jurisdictions over the areas where the FHM plots are located (this will require working with the plot coordinates for 91 FHM plots in GIS and with the appropriate personnel of multiple agencies); (2) establish a working group consisting of our collaborators at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and the Central Pine Barrens Commission (CPBC) and set up channels for regular communication (including monthly conference calls) to allow the preparation of an intensive field data collection during the summer of 2019 using efficiently all the resources of the project partners; (3) recruit undergraduate field research interns to participate in the research project as student intern research teams via the SULI internship scheme at BNL funded by the US Department of Energy; (4) prepare the equipment, instruments, and methodologies (including species identification guides) and train the research teams to carry out field data collection and follow-up research questions and analyses; (5) carry out field data collectionin summer 2019 on the FHM plots throughout the Central Pine Barrens of Long Island; and (6) develop project database for entering and storing the newly collected data in an efficient way for both running statistical analyses and integrating the data from 2019 field season with the previous (2005/2006) and any future data from the FHM plots (by redeveloping the previous FHM plot database populated with the 2005/2006 data).
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
For this very short (<1 month) reporting period (9/10/2018 to 9/30/2018) at the start of the project, the main accomplishment was that we recruited and accepted a new doctoral student, Joanna Lumbsden-Pinto, to help address the project objectives in the role of a research project assistant. Ms. Lumbsden-Pinto is to start in her role as the project assistant in January 2019 after she completing her MPS degree studies in progress with the expected date of graduation in December 2018.
Publications
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