Source: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
1890 CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A CLIMATE SMART APPROACH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1033056
Grant No.
2024-38427-43460
Cumulative Award Amt.
$1,920,000.00
Proposal No.
2024-07423
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 1, 2024
Project End Date
Jul 31, 2027
Grant Year
2024
Program Code
[COE]- Centers of Excellence at 1890 Institutions
Recipient Organization
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
3500 JOHN A. MERRITT BLVD
NASHVILLE,TN 37209
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The College of Agriculture at Tennessee State University is currently hosting theCenter of Excellence in Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (COE-NREE). The primary goals of the NREE are, 1) natural resource management and conservation, 2) sustainable energy and agricultural production, 3) environmental protection and equity, and 4) workforce training and development. These four multidisciplinary Thrust Areas will coordinate and unify diverse participants via scholarly research. The COE-NREE is employing a One Health approach to evaluate the collective impacts of climate change, landuse patterns, and water resource management on Ecosystem Integrity. These four Thrust Areas, along with the Focal Research Objectives will provide collaborative opportunities among 1890 institutions and will provide novel approaches to tackle contemporary environmental issues that impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.The COE-NREE is accomplishing teaching, research, and extension goals through enhanced research, committed graduate student recruitment, retention and training, curricula and faculty development, and development of multidisciplinary research teams. We are using these opportunities to recruit and train students and stakeholders.Overall, the proposed Center aligns withUSDA Strategic Goal 6 to Ensure Productive and Sustainable Use of our National Forest System Landsand provides a collaborative opportunity to establish a research center among five HBCUs. The COE-NREE provides unique opportunities to incorporate research into learning and education via proposed mentoring and outreach efforts. In addition, the COE-NREE collaborates to develop the fourth Thrust Area (Workforce Training and Development). Collectively, project participants are hosting a variety of training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral research associates, and faculty. We will develop these training opportunities with a variety of project partners, including the United States Geological Survey, United States Forest Service, Council of American Overseas Research Councils, and Environmental Justice Academy. Collectively, these training opportunities will be available for all COE-NREE participants and participating1890 institutions.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1230430107025%
1020430107025%
3060430107025%
1350899107025%
Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife; 102 - Soil, Plant, Water, Nutrient Relationships; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources; 306 - Environmental Stress in Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
0430 - Climate; 0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
The College of Agriculture at Tennessee State University (TSU) will collaborate with Alabama A&M University, Southern University, Florida A&M University, and Langston University to host the 1890 Center of Excellence for Natural Resources, Renewable Energy, and the Environment (COE-NREE): A Climate Smart Approach. The COE-NREE will be housed in the Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (IAGER) at Tennessee State University. The COE-NREE's primary goals and thrust areas are, 1) Natural Resource Management and Conservation, 2) Sustainable Energy and Agricultural Production, 3) Environmental Protection and Equity, and 4) Workforce Training and Development. These four multi-disciplinary thrust areas will coordinate and unify diverse participants via scholarly research, teaching, and Extension activities, and provide collaborative opportunities among 1890 institutions to tackle contemporary environmental issues that impact terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We will take a One Health approach to evaluate the collective impacts of climate change, land-use patterns, and water resource availability on ecosystem integrity.
Project Methods
The COE-NREE will accomplish teaching, research, and Extension goals through a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach committed to graduate student recruitment, student retention and training, curricula and faculty development, and novel research. We will use this opportunity to recruit and train students and host unique domestic and international workforce training and development opportunities for students and faculty. Through four inter-related thrusts, the center will approach the following research areas:1. Thrust Area 1: Natural Resources Management and Conservation, which includes Predictive Mapping of Plant Species as an Indicator of Forest Ecosystem Health, Forest and Wildlife Responses to Forest Management, Forest Structure and Vegetation Dynamics, Forest management impacts on carbon and nutrient turnover rates in hurricane-affected ecosystems under changing climatic conditions, and Estimation and modeling of forest carbon storage dynamics disturbed with prescribed and forest thinning; 2. Thrust Area 2: Renewable Energy and Climate Smart Agriculture, which includes Renewable Energy - Canola, Renewable Energy - Sweet Sorghum, Renewable Energy - Switch Grass, Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems, Precision Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems, No-till and Cover Cropping Adaptation to Climate Change, Crop Adaptation/Adaptation to Climate Change, Livestock Adaptation/Adaptation to Climate Change, and Aquaculture Adaptation, and Climate Smart Hydroponics Production; 3. Thrust Area 3: Environmental Protection and Equity, which includes Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Importance of Soil Organic Matter for Carbon Sequestration, Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Impact of Urban Forests for Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Water Quality and Quantity -Prediction, early reporting, and impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms, soil Contamination and Bioremediation, and Geospatial Analysis and Bioremediation. Thrust Area 4: Workforce Training and Development, Global Engagement, Environmental Justice, USGS Outreach, Education, and Training, Soil and Water Conservation Training, and Urban Wildfire. The COE-NREE has also added three additional projects that are currently being conducted by three additional 1890 institutions and include the following: Small ruminant grazing prescription for under-story forage, weed and invasive plant management on woodland pasture systems (Lincoln University), Climate Smart Sheep for Sustainable Production (North Carolina A&T University), and A Comprehensive Estimation of Fine Root Stocks and Fluxes in the World's Forests (University of Maryland Eastern Shore).

Progress 08/01/24 to 07/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience includes, but is not limited to natural resource, agricultural sciences, and environmental science researchers. In addition to these practitioners, the general public will benefit from the research outcomes with increased knowledge on the impacts of climate change. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have established a working agreement with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) program to provide an overseas research training opportunity for Center participants. During this training opportunity, Center of Excellence participants will have an opportunity to travel abroad to train with researchers in other countries. Three of the Center participants (Drs. Chandra Reddy, De'Etra Young, and William Sutton) traveled to Dakar, Senegal in December 2023 (December 12th- 19th) for an initial site visit for the faculty overseas training seminar. During the initial site visit we met with the ministers of agriculture, West Africa Research Center, and the Centre de Suivi Ecologique. We had a faculty travel seminar scheduled for India during May 2025, but had to cancel the event due to the federal funding freeze of this agreement. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to the larger COE-NREE during the 2024 Association of Research Directors (ARD) Meeting in Nashville Tennessee. At this meeting we presented the COE-NREE overview during the Center of Excellence breakout session. We will continue to ramp up our Center website that will include updates on Center activities, along with short bios for each Center researcher. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As of now, all Center activities have been halted due to a federal funding freeze related to this agreement. Pending activation of the funds, the COE-NREE participants will continue original planned research objectives within each of the primary Thrust Areas. In addition to this research, we will also establish plans for the CAORC overseas research opportunity. All Center participants will have the opportunity to apply and travel during this international research/training effort. Potential travel locations for the initial CAORC include Senegal and/or other localities.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Thrust Area 1: We have established research plots in three geographic localities, including the Bankhead National Forest (Alabama), Chipola Experimental Forest (Florida), and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (Tennessee). We have supported 6 students that are currently conducting graduate and undergraduate research theses. A total of three students are currently pursuing a postgraduate degree with the Center. In terms of new technologies, we are utilizing remote sensing technologies, light detection, radar (LiDAR) imagery, radiotelemetry, and Autonomous Recording Devices (ARD) to monitor wildlife populations remotely. Future efforts will include continued monitoring of forested environments to evaluate the impacts of management on forest structure, wildlife populations, biomass production, and carbon sequestration in southeastern forested environments. We have increased sampling efforts in the Bankhead National Forest project to include remote camera sampling for increased detection of rare species such as the northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) and spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). We are currently completing analysis of herpetofaunal field data collected during summer 2023 and 2024 from the 16 longleaf pine forest stands consisting of four forest treatments along a restoration chronosequence. We surveyed stands using a passive sampling design that consisted of three drift-fences outfitted with box traps and pitfall traps conducive for sampling amphibians and reptiles. In total, we have documented clear effects of restoration on species occurrence and have noted that rare and conservation concern species tend to occur in forest stands with recent prescribed burn management. In addition to herpetofaunal encounter data, we also monitored avian occupancy in the same forest stand chronosequence. Each stand was surveyed via a transect approach three times throughout the breeding season. All data have been entered, and we have conducted preliminary data analyses. During the first field season, we recorded 64 species and 1853 detections. During the 2024 field season, we repeated sampling in all stands to create a database that contains repeated temporal sampling data. Overall, this project is critical for the continuation of a long-term collaborative relationship that we have established with the USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station and Bankhead National Forest. For the soil carbon study that is currently being conducted in the Chippola National Forest, we have completed the sample processing in preparation for the fractionation process.The samples processed included baseline samples, after drum chopping samples and after fire samples. We have set up a litter decomposition study that will determine the microbial influence on biogeochemistry dynamics, including soil carbon thermal stability, carbon, nitrogen and isotopes. We also plan to sequentially retrieve litter decomposition bags from the field for processing and microbial analysis. Thrust Area 2: A variety of field trials and laboratory investigations have been initiated across multiple research objectives. Nine students are currently completing graduate and undergraduate research theses. Three students pursuing a post-graduate degree are either supported directly by the COE-NREE or are completing research on topics germane to the program. We are utilizing drone technology, cryopreservation, and size fractionalization for sorghum microspores, documentation of new germplasm and testing of new Sorghum and Amaranth genotypes, and carbon sequestration of fish aquaculture operations. In terms of climate smart animal production, the preliminary reproductive performance across 111 heifer/cow exposures demonstrated that the Mashona x Dexter females (n = 57) had higher (P< 0.01) summer fertility rates (73.7%) compared to Dexter straightbred females (n = 54; 44.4%). Birth and weaning weight data on 66 progeny births to date are currently being processed. Related genomic work demonstrated the genetic diversity of the foundation TSU Mashona population relative to several other breeds, including commercial, heritage, and other tropically-adapted breeds. In terms of evaluating heat stress on physiological, hematological, immunological and metabolomic responses on ewes, we allocated14 ewes to heat stress (HT, n = 7) or cooling (CTL, n = 7) conditions for 6 weeks during the summer season. We found that the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) The THI for the HT and CTL groups ranged from 81.3 - 89.5 and from 73.5 - 75.6, respectively. The HT group presented a significant (P < 0.05) increase in respiratory rate when compared to the CTL group. Hematology analysis revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase of neutrophils and a decrease in lymphocyte % at week 3 in the HT group. In terms of understanding how climate change and climate smart agricultural practices influence switchgrass production, we simulated the impacts of precipitation change on switchgrass productivity and soil CO2and NO2emissions. Our research evaluating Amaranth as a climate smart crop revealed that plant germplasm was researched to solve the problems of growing amaranth and sorghum in the hot and sometimes dry conditions of the southeastern part of the United States, specifically in the state of Tennessee and at TSU's AREC site in Nashville. We designed a field experiment to study two varieties of grain amaranth with agronomic management conditions developed at Tennessee State University including double row culture and mechanical tillage over three planting dates as the conditions of the TSU experimental field. We continued analysis of the field data from 2024 summer experiment with grain amaranth varieties, Hopi Red and TSU Tiger (planned new release).These experiments served as seed multiplication as well as observation trials with two block of each variety planted on 30 x 50 foot plots and evaluated manually and with drone flights and UAV image capture. Thrust Area 3: We have been able to implement research across multiple areas through field and laboratory research. In total, nine students are completing graduate and undergraduate research theses. In addition, numerous students have participated in experiential learning opportunities through this research since the project's inception. In terms of new technologies employed via this program, we are utilizing I-tree urban forest assessment technology, ArcGIS and remote sensing technologies to evaluate the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on water quality, quantity, and urban forest cover. In terms of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) research, sampling continued through the summer and fall of 2024 for algal toxins in the TSU Research Wetland.This included synoptic grab samples and time-averaged SPATT samplers for microcystin, anatoxin, saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin cyanotoxins.Other field parameters included pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductance, chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin fluorescence, Secchi tube readings and some nutrient samples (NO3 and PO4). Samples were collected every 2 weeks during the sampling season through November, 2024.Sampling also extended to ponds at Metro Nashville parks (Sevier Lake, Lost Pond, Ted Rhodes Golf pond), two locations on JPP reservoir near water utility intakes, one location on Old Hickory reservoir near a utility intake and two sites on the Cumberland River associated with utility intakes.The goal was to determine if surface waters used by middle Tennesseans for drinking water were under threat of harmful algal blooms.This information is important to water utilities and others that use these waters for irrigation or drinking waters. Thrust Area 4: We have been working with the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) to establish overseas faculty training opportunities. In addition to Senegal, we will likely explore other opportunities, including India.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2025 Citation: Byl, T.D., Moore, D.M., Cunningham, C., and Young, D., 2025, Science needs for determining the effects of climate change on harmful algal blooms in the southeastern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 20251004, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20251004.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Byl, TD., Cunningham, C., Bradley, M., Gardner, K., Gibson, M., Kelley, N. 2024. Evidence of a red tide event in the late Cretaceous Period at Coon Creek Formation, Tennessee. 134th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN Nov 23, 2024. www.tennacadsci.org/docs/2024TASProgram.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Cotton, A., Young, D., Byl, T.D., 2024. Determining if Bacillus bacteria breakdown algal toxins using sediment cores in an urban wetland, Nashville, TN. 134th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN Nov 23, 2024. Second Place  Oral Presentation. www.tennacadsci.org/docs/2024TASProgram.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Cotton, J.A., Byl, TD. 2025. Harmful algal bloom monitoring in the Tennessee State University wetland. Posters at the Capitol, Nashville, TN. February 2025. (also given as an oral presentation at the Tennessee State University Research Symposium, March 2025).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Curry, S., Swanson, R., McKinney, M., 2024. Evaluating Plant Diversity of Green Roofs in Tennessee. 134th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN Nov 23, 2024. www.tennacadsci.org/docs/2024TASProgram.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Hughes, K., J Carr, 2024. What is the quantity of microplastic found in plastic water bottles compared to other containers of water? 134th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN Nov 23, 2024. https://www.tennacadsci.org/docs/2024TASProgram.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Joyner, A., Chen, M., McKinney, M., Carr, J. 2024. Urbanization and Water Quality: Insights from Knoxville's Urban and Mountainous Watersheds. 134th Meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN Nov 23, 2024. www.tennacadsci.org/docs/2024TASProgram.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Moore, D., Archer, R., Hill, K., Byl, T.D., 2024. Increasing HAB Monitoring in Urban Environments and Addressing Diversity in the Geosciences through Illuminating Projects. ED33A-2279 American Geophysical Union conference, Washington DC. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1760721
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Oppong Judith, Clement E. Akumu, Samuel Dennis, and Stephanie Anyanwu. 2025. Leveraging Deep Learning for Weed Canopy Cover Mapping in Precision Agriculture. TNGIC Middle Tennessee Fall Regional Forum (October 31, 2024), Murfreesboro, TN.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Robinson, S., D. Walker, R. Brubaker, A. Cochran, and W. B. Sutton. 2024. Longleaf Pine Restoration, Habitat Management, & Pathogen Prevalence: Insights into Upland Squamate Ecology in William B. Bankhead National Forest. The Gopher Tortoise Council Annual Meeting, St. Petersburg, Florida.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Robinson, S., D. Walker, R. Brubaker, A. Cochran, and W. B. Sutton. 2024. Monitoring Herpetofauna and Ophidiomyces ophidiicola Prevalence in Response to Longleaf Pine Forest Restoration in William B. Bankhead National Forest. The Wildlife Society Annual National Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Robinson, S., R. Brubaker, A. Cochran, and W. B. Sutton. 2024. Monitoring the Response of Herpetofaunal Assemblages to Longleaf Pine Forest Restoration in William B. Bankhead National Forest. The Tennessee Herpetological Society Annual Meeting, Bristol. Tennessee.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Robinson, S., D. Walker, R. Brubaker, A. Cochran, and W. B. Sutton. 2024. Monitoring herpetofauna and Ophidiomyces ophidiicola prevalence in response to Longleaf Pine Forest Restoration in Bankhead National Forest. The Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Meeting, Clanton, Alabama.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Salas, J.L., Byl, TD. 2025. Tree survey of invasive trees near a wetland scheduled for restoration. Posters at the Capitol. Nashville, TN, February 2025.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Sutton, W. B. 2025. Managing southeastern forests for the conservation of amphibian and reptile biodiversity. Department of Environmental Sciences Seminar Series. Tennessee State University. March, 2025.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2025 Citation: Sutton, W. B. 2025. The Center of Excellence for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment: A Climate Smart Approach. TSU-UTK Summit for Research Collaboration. McMinville, Tennessee, February 2025.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2024 Citation: Williams, EK., Moore, D., Byl, TD., Snow, E. 2024. Diversifying the geosciences. ED31A-03. American Geophysical Union conference, Washington DC. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1565582