2010 CREST Annual Report - Alabama A&M University

Center of Forest Ecosystem AssessmentAt Alabama A&M University2010 Annual ReportSubmitted to National Science FoundationMarch 1, 2010

Final Report: 0420541Final Report for Period: 08/2009 - 07/2010 Submitted on: 09/07/2010Principal Investigator: Wang, Yong . Award ID: 0420541Organization: Alabama A&M UniversitySubmitted By:Wang, Yong - Principal InvestigatorTitle:CREST Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment (CFEA)Senior PersonnelName: Zipf, AllanWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoProject ParticipantsContribution to Project:Dr. Zipf died shortly after the submission of the proposal. The project office was informed of his untimely death.Name: Wang, YongWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Wang is a PI on subproject II the fauna. He is leading the avian study as well as the herpeto-fauna study funded by the USDAForest Service. He assists in the statistical design and implementation of the project.Name: Senwo, ZacharyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Senwo is working on the Soils subproject III. He is conducting a study of the soil microbiological community in collaborationwith Dr. Elica Moss (Objectives 1-3).Name: Wang, YongWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Wang is the Co-PI of the initial CREST-CFEA proposal, and was given the responsibility of serving as PI and Center Directorin March 2007. He has been coordinating the Center functions and managing the budgets. On behalf of CREST-CFEA, he workedon several initiatives during the past year. (1) Established a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at AAMU withthe financial support from NSF and AAMU. This new initiative involved co-PIs of the CREST-CFEA and faculty members acrossthe Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Science (NRES). (2) Collaboration with the North Alabama Center forEducational Excellence (NACEE), a private organization working to increase the minority participation in STEM fields, to recruithigh school students to participate CREST related research activities. A supplement proposal submitted to NSF to fund twominority high school students to join the summer research programs has been awarded. (3) A supplement proposal in collaborationwith the Chemistry Department of AAMU to initiate the research of 'Effects of Forest Land Cover Changes on the CarbonDynamics in Ambient Air and Soil in the Bankhead National Forest' was submitted to NSF. (4) Initiation of research on the plantinvasion by working with faculty members and research staff of the CREST-CFEA to submit a proposal 'Effect of ForestManagement on the Establishment of Invasive Plants (Paulownia and Ailanthus) in the Cumberland Plateau and Mountain Region'to USDA CSREES. (5) Enhancement of recruitment effort by collaborating with the recruitment director of the School ofAgricultural and Environmental Science (SAES) to submitted a proposal of 'Developing Online Dual Credit Partnerships andRecruiting for 21st Century Professionals in Food and Agricultural Science' to CSREES' Capacity Building Grant. (6) Workedwith partners from Bankhead National Forest, a private consultant, and other organizations on establishing a research andeducation center at Bankhead National Forest. (7) Worked with NSF Program Director and University and School administratorsto resolve CREST-CFEA budget issues related to the unexpected faculty staff salary, benefits, and transportation cost increase. Dr. Wang is also in charge of the herpetofaunal and avian research of the subproject II. As a biometrician, Dr. Wang assistedthe faculty and students in research design and statistical analyses. Dr. Wang's four graduate students (Zachary Felix, Ph.D., JohnCarpenter, MS., Florence Chan, MS., and Jill Wick, MS) successfully completed their research projects and degree programs andgraduated in 2008. Most of these students and their research activities were funded by external funds, but benefited fromCREST-CFEA directly or indirectly. All these students are now hired by other universities and organizations working on theirPage 1 of 58

Final Report: 0420541specialties. The other three students (William Sutton, Ph.D. candidate and Chelsea Scot and Lisa Gardner, MS candidates) havebeen making good progress on studies of herpetofaunal responses to canopy reduction and prescribed burning, vernal poolsalamander breeding ecology, and fall stopover ecology of migratory songbirds, respectively. Dr. Wang recruited a new minorityPh.D. student: Timothy Baldwin last year, who is studying the pond breeding amphibian ecology using local and landscapeapproaches. Dr. Wang helped him to submit research proposals to various organizations, and has received three research grantsincluding the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) Diversity Award, Alabama Space Grant Consortium FellowshipAward, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Amphibian Specialist Group Seed Grant. Dr. Wangpublished six manuscripts in peer-reviewed professional journals, 4 manuscripts in USDA proceedings, and >20 abstracts for local,regional, national, and international conferences. Working with his graduate students, he has >15 manuscripts submitted or inpreparation. Dr. Wang presented CFEA related research at international, national, and regional conferences. He submitted > 10proposals and has been funded by research grants from agencies including EPA, NSF, USDA Forest Service, and USDI Fish andWildlife Service though Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resource to support CFEA related research initiatives.He participated several recruitment initiatives specifically targeted to minorities during the year. He is serving on the editorialboards of three professional journals. His outreach activities also included international collaborations with several universities inChina and the Chinese Academy of Science. Last summer, one of his MS students (John Carpenter) participated NSF's EPSIprogram in New Zealand. He was awarded the Outstanding Researcher of the Year of AAMU in 2007 and Outstanding Researcherof the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science in spring 2008. Four of his graduate students received awards during theyear.Name: Mbila, MondayWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Mbila coordinates the Thrust III (Soils) project with administrative responsibilities for budgeting, progress reports, and projectplanning. He serves with other faculty members on the Core Steering Committee (CSC). He directs investigations on thebiogeochemical nutrient cycling dynamics in fire the managed ecosystem, and the clay mineralogy studies to address Objectives5&6. Dr Mbila supervised the work of an MS graduate student (Wallace Dillon) who graduated in December 2006. Wallacesresearch focused on soil Objective #6. Two manuscripts from his research are in the works; one is in the review process, the otheris in preparation. Dr Mbila serves on the graduate committee for another CFEA-CREST graduate student (Mr. Thomas MbeliTenya) and advises Dr. Maria Nobles, Post Doc. Research Associate on the Thrust III (soils) project. During the past one year Dr. Mbila has worked on several initiatives as part of CREST-CFEA educational and outreach projects tolocal public schools and the community. He and other members of the faculty collaboratively launched a college access program atAAMU ? the EnvironMentors Program, that prepares high school students from under-represented backgrounds for college degreeprograms in environmental and related science fields for a one-on-one mentoring. The program also forms a pipeline forrecruitment of students to our program. The program is being run in partnership with Johnson High School, and a minorityeducation advocates group- North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE), and Alabama A&M University.Dr. Mbila advises the Environmental Science Club, a student organization that encourages, educates, and shares about issues in soiland water conservation and other science and environmental matters with the public. Every year this club organizes anenvironmental awareness conference. This year, the conference was held on Friday, April 21, 2008 with the theme 'ConservingGlobal Air, Water, and Soil Resources: Challenges that face us' The event was well attended by faculty, staff, students, and theHuntsville, Alabama Community and addressed by speakers from AAMU, University of Alabama, and the Nature Conservancy. Dr. Mbila also participates in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at AAMU with the financial support of NSF andAAMU. This new initiative involves Co-PIs of the CREST-CFEA and faculty members across the Department of NaturalResource and Environmental Science (NRES). He participated actively as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) Committee member and sponsor of the 2008 AAMU STEM Day Events. The STEM Program is a means of promotingscience, technology, engineering, and math interest and skills among Alabama A&M University and other Historically BlackColleges and Universities (HBCUs) in order to broaden the participation of minority serving institutions in the Nation's STEMworkforce.Name: Kantety, RameshWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Primary advisor for the graduate student involved in this project. He supervised the dissertation research, identified collaborationopportunities, edited and presented oral presentations, helped in the organization of Spring Conference, and assisted in the analysisof molecular genetic data. He taught Genomics and Bioinformatics courses and developed middle & high school science teachertraining programs for teachers from 30 schools from under-represented minority dominated areas and black-belt counties inAlabama. Dr. Kantety participated in NSF-REU program and currently has one minority student enrolled for this Summer.Name: Schweitzer, CalliePage 2 of 58

Final Report: 0420541in recruitment. Dr. Ward is involved in the bioassessment of aquatic insects in north Alabama watersheds. One of the samplinglocations is in the Bankhead National Forest. She and her student, Allison Bohlman (not supported by CREST), are building areference collection for use in aquatic insect identification. Name: Naka, KozmaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Naka directs research on environmental impact of forest operations and supervises two graduate students, Thomas Tenyah andXavier Ndona-Makusa. He also serves in the graduate committee of another graduate student, Nevia Brown.He searched and reviewed literature, advised and helped students for collecting harvesting impact data in the field, interviewed andadvised loggers, helped students in conducting statistical analysis and in preparing reports, presentations and posters, He alsoadvised about five undergraduate students who were helping the graduate students collecting data in the field and processing theinformation in the computer lab. He recruited two undergraduate students from regional technical colleges.Dr. Naka teaches the Field Forestry Techniques Course, usually taken by students after sophomore year. This course helpsstudents get familiar with CFEA research activities. This is important because most of them will be involved directly in theresearch during their junior and senior years. During Summer, they camp out in the forest and are guided by faculty and graduatestudents to different research plots. They also meet stakeholders of the forest such us Forest Service employees, Native Americans,and local environmentalists.Name: Tadesse, WubishetWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:: Dr Tadesse advises graduate and undergraduate students, serve as a committee member, analyze and create remote sensing andGIS geodatabase for study area. He has served the Thrust V (Human dimensions) group as a budget manager as well as serve asgraduate student committee member (Thomas Tenyah and Nevia Brown) and co-advisor (Syzmanski Fields). Dr. Tadesse alsocontributed to the research component related to the following objectives: (a) To establish and maintain a dynamic digital databasefor forest ecosystems in the Southern Cumberland Plateau and in Alabama's Black Belt, identify the land use and land coverchanges and the human drivers of change. (b) To use digital database to understand the impact of disturbances in the SouthernCumberland and Black Belt landscapes.Dr. Tadesse major research and educational activities include developing land use/ cover maps, in addition to the 1974, 1995, and2005 temporal periods, additional land use/cover (1986) data have been developed using Landsat TM imageries for BNF. Thecompleted vegetation map will be added to the previous database on CREST server and will be available to all CREST faculty andstudents. We are continuing with the color infrared (CIR) classification using the object-based classification method. Object-basedclassifier groups image pixels into objects using the multi-resolution image segmentation process. During this process contiguousand homogeneous image pixels are aggregated into regions. These image regions (objects) correspond to the approximations ofreal world objects which can be characterized by shape and texture. This classification approach will be compared to the traditionalpixel-based method. The percent accuracy of object-based classification is expected to be higher compared to the pixel-based.Initial result from the above classification was presented at the Annual American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensingin Portland, OR, April 28-may 2, 2008.Dr. Tadesse also contributes to research component of Sub-project 1 (Vegetation). The objective of this research is to investigatethe feasibility of using LiDAR data to assess future changes in the stand structure and composition of CREST research plots.Ground plot measurements of will be used for comparison to the LiDAR data. Preliminary result from this study was presented atthe 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference and Rocket City Geospatial Conference. Name: Chen, XiongwenWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Chen is working with Dr. Fraser in the process of developing an ecological model for the project.Name: Moss, ElicaPage 4 of 58

Worked for more than 160 Hours:YesFinal Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Dr. Moss is working with Dr. Senwo on the microbiological community in objectives 1-3. Dr. Moss also helped Dr. Wang tocoordinate the REU program at AAMU funded by NSF.Name: Clark, StacyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Clark is not a CREST PI, but carries out some of her research on the study plots at the BNF. Dr. Clark has taken the lead on anumber of aspects of the study, including the evaluation of the fuels before and after the treatments. She served on the graduatecommittee of Joel Zak, a student who graduated in May 2008 with a Master's degree.Name: Dimov, LubenWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Advised graduate students, undergraduate students, and technicians. He graduated one of the students, Joel Zak, who is nowcontinuing with his PhD at the University of Florida. Dr. Dimov also serves as member of the CFEA steering committee. He is aCo-PI on the newly funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at AAMU (supported by the NSF and AAMU). Hehas worked with CREST PIs Dr. Wang and Dr. Schweitzer and CREST research assistant Dawn Lemke on a proposal 'Effect ofForest Management on the Establishment of Invasive Plants (Paulownia and Ailanthus) in the Cumberland Plateau and MountainRegion' to USDA CSREES.Name: Soliman, KhairyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Soliman is a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and a collaborator for subprojectIV. He serves as co-Major advisor and participated in the CREST seminars. He also provided Ms. Williams with moleculartraining in techniques such as DNA Capillary Electrophoresis.Name: Sharma, GovindWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:Dr. Sharma is working on the Molecular Biology subproject IV.Name: Ranatunga, ThiliniWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoYesContribution to Project:Contribution to Project: Dr. Ranatunga works with Dr. Taylor in the area of soil chemistry on the Soils subproject III -Characterization of Organic Phosphorus (P) Forms (Objective 4) in soils using spectroscopic methods. She carried out allexperimental work pertaining to study of organic phosphorus forms in forest soil. This area of study involved developing methodsto extract organic phosphorus from forest soils and analysis using 31P NMR spectroscopy. This work was carried out incollaboration with Dr. William F. Bleam at University of Wisconsin. She was also involved in preparation of progress report forthis portion of study.Name: Christian, ColmoreWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:Worked with in the Human Dimensions thrust area, not funded from CREST.Name: Fraser, RoryWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:Has severed as center director now involved only in human dimensions thrust.Name: Ruark, GregNoYesPage 5 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Worked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:USFS SRS Assistant Station Director based at AAMU, has given valuable feed back on research.Name: Taylor, RobertWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dean of School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, previous center director and researcher on soils thrust.Name: Tsegaye, TeferiWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Department Chair of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, has given valuable feed back on research.Name: Stewart, ChadwickWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Chadwick is a freshman in Forestry who helped collect fish and aquatic community data in streams.Name: Hamilton, JamesWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Green, ThomasWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesPost-docName: Nobles, MariaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Nobles is working with Dr. Mbila on the Soils subproject III ?Biogeochemical Nutrient Cycling (Objectives 1-6). Sheparticipates in the research on biogeochemical cycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, base cations and others, as affected byuse of prescribed burning and logging in Bankhead National Forest. She also studies the impact of such treatments onmineralogical and micromorphological composition of fire and thinning-affected soils. Dr. Nobles coordinates and conductsreplicated field soil sampling at the research plots in Bankhead National Forest. She also conducts laboratory sample analysis forgeneral soil characterization, mineralogical composition, C, N and S. Dr. Nobles worked closely with Wallace Dillon Jr., whograduated with a Master's degree in December 2006. Together with Dr. Monday Mbila and Wallace Dillon Jr., Dr. Noblespublished 12 abstracts for local, national and international conferences and presented the results of CREST research at Annual SoilScience Society of America Meetings, UDSA Greenhouse Gas Conference, 18th World Soil Science Congress and 1st CFAConference. She currently has one manuscript in review in peer-reviewed professional journal, and another one in preparation.Name: Jyoti, JawaharWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dr. Jyoti worked with Dr. Wang and assisted in CFEA Proposal submission.Graduate StudentName: Wick, JillWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jill is a MS candidate working with Dr. Yong Wang on the avian community portion of the project. She was awarded an EPAGreater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship in August 2006. During past year, he completed all data collection includingPage 6 of 58

Final Report: 0420541bird surveys using line transect surveys, banding target species on blocks two and three, radio tracking 24 males of the targetspecies: worm-eating warbler and hooded warbler, conducting nest search, surveying habitat, analyzing data, and completing thethesis. She also presented at 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference, Cooper Ornithological Society Conference,and the Wilson Ornithological Society/Association of Field Ornithologists Conference. She published an article published in WildSouth, submitted a manuscript for publishing in the proceedings of the 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference,and completed a draft manuscript for submission to Southeastern Naturalist. She was an invited speaker at the AlabamaOrnithological Society annual meeting. She successfully completed and defended thesis in April 2008. She has accepted positionas a biologist with Ecosystem Management, Inc., Albuquerque, NM.Name: Young, KelvinWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Kelvin conducted field research on small and medium-sized mammal communities to determine their abundance and diversityresponses to forest disturbance treatments. With the help of Seward Hamilton and Dr. Stone, Kelvin completed trapping of smallmammals in 16 post-treatment research sites. He presented his research at the CFE conference in June 2007, and successfullydefended his thesis during the Fall. He graduated in December 2007. He and Dr. Stone are preparing a manuscript for publicationin the Southeastern Naturalist.Name: Gardner, LisaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:: Lisa was initially hired as a research associate for the insect research and currently is a MS graduate student of Dr. Yong Wang.She is working on 'Stopover ecology of migratory land birds at an inland site in Alabama during autumn migration.' Thus far shehas conducted two field seasons of research. This fall will be her final field season. She has captured a total of 3,462 new birdscombined (1,770 in 2007), and a total of 84 species combined (74 in 2007). She sampled for arthropods each year. In 2007, sheplaced two pitfall transects (100m) at each site as well as two Malaise traps per site (in 2006, there was only one of each), onelocated within the associated forest and the other within the associated field/wetland. She has decided not to clip branches forLepidopteran larvae, but will collect fecal matter (frass) instead, as it is a less time-consuming process. She has performed somepreliminary data analyses and presented result at Alabama Ornithological Society tri-annual meeting; Alabama Chapter of theWildlife Society annual meeting; AAMU Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Day; and WilsonOrnithological Society / Association of Field Ornithologists (WOS-AFO) annual meeting. She received second place Award forSTEM day presentation. She submitted 2 proposals and has been serving as the secretary of the Flint River ConservationAssociation (FRCA), a non-profit organization committed to educating the local public about our watershed, and encouraging themto participate in maintaining its health. As a member, she has helped with the yearly Flint River Clean-ups and wrote articles forthe FRCA Currents newsletter. While conducting field research, Lisa encouraged the local public including hikers, Boy scouttroops, and campers to learn about migratory birds, and she taught them about her research and why this area is important formigratory birds.Name: Soumare, MohamedWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Mr. Soumare is a dissertation student whose project involves the study of responses of the leaf-litter ant community to thinning andfire disturbances. He is using the Ants of the Leaf Litter (ALL) protocol, a standardized method for sampling leaf litter antcommunities, and baiting studies in our treatment plots in Bankhead National Forest. He completed his first field season last yearand has initiated his field work for this year, which will involve sampling all of the treatment plots he will use in the study for thefirst time. Mr. Soumare anticipates graduation in 2009, by which time he will have completed two field seasons of data collection.Mr. Soumare has worked closely with Dr. Rufina Ward in identifying ant species collected as part of another CREST-relatedresearch project (funded by USDA Forest Service) in Jackson County, Alabama. This work allowed Mohamed to develop hisskills in ant taxonomy and also resulted in production of a poster display that has won awards at the 2007 Forest EcosystemsConference and at the STEM conference at Alabama A&M University' Effects of Prescribed Fire, Canopy Tree Reduction andTheir Interaction on Diversity and Abundance of Litter-Dwelling Ant Communities in Pine-Hardwood Forests of the SouthernCumberland Plateau.' Mr Soumare will be finished his field work the end of 2008. Ant identification is the most difficult part inthis study. It occupies about 80% of my research. In this academic year, I will still be going to the field to collect my data, as Icontinue to identify last year's collection.Page 7 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Arrington, AliciaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Alicia works on genetics portion of Subproject 4 (Molecular Biology).Name: Cantrell, AndrewWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Andrew has assisted Subproject 1 (Flora) with data collection and field activities. In 2009 became a masters student in the wildlifethrust.Name: Scott, ChelseaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Chelsea works with Dr. Wang to conduct research primarily on comparing the use of natural and artificial vernal pools bysemi-aquatic salamanders at Cumberland Region of Jackson County, Alabama. During the fall semester of 2007 and springsemester of 2008, she has continued monitoring the 20 pools included in her study through drift fence arrays, minnow trapping, andmonthly and biweekly environmental parameter surveys. She has captured a total of 8924 individuals from 21 species. Data entryis completed on a continuous basis and is up to date at this time. On January 30, 2008, she successfully defended her proposal andsubmitted a final draft to graduate school. Chelsea is currently supervising one technician who she trained to assist in her fieldwork (maintenance and up-keep of drift fence arrays and pit fall traps), data collection (running of drift fence arrays, setting anchecking of minnow traps, procedures for biweekly and monthly surveys, and animal work-up procedures), and data entry. InFebruary of 2008, she attended and made a poster presentation at the Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile ConservationAnnual Meeting and in April of 2008, she attended the Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society Meeting 30th Anniversarymeeting.Name: Randolph, ReginaldWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Mr. Randolph was developing his thesis proposal but was not able to finish within time allowed. He is not currently associatedwith CREST and not getting fund. He has assisted in image rectification and classification, and ground truthing for accuracyassessment.Name: Dillion, WallaceWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Wallace assisted Subproject 3 (Soils) with field data collection.Name: Thompson, MeikoWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Meiko assisted Subproject 3 (Soils) with field data collection.Name: Thomas, MbeliWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Thomas carried out field research on cut-to-length and tree-length logging systems to determine which method causes less soil andresidual tree damage and at the same time, yields more profits and becomes cost effective to the loggers. With the assistance ofLatoya Smith, Melvin Wallis, Henry Cosby, Reginald Foster, Brian Norris, and Dr. Naka, Thomas measured surface soildisturbance, soil compaction, residual tree damage, and machine productivity in 6 treatments in the research sites. This was donefrom spring 2006 through spring 2008. He has completed data collection.Name: Zack, JoelWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Joel is the project botanist who studied the response of the ground layer vegetation to the selected treatments under Dr. LubenPage 8 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Dimov. Joel graduated in May 2008 and has accepted a research assistantship at the University of Florida, where he will bepursuing his Doctorate.Name: Hart, AprilWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:April was a wildlife graduate student at Oklahoma State University and a multicultural initiative student completing a SCEP withthe USDA Forest Service with the National Forests in Alabama. She completed her data collection on bat use of thinned loblollypine stands with help from Dr. Stone and students in CFEA. She presented a portion of that research at the 2007 meeting of theSoutheast Bat Diversity Network workshop at the Colloquium on Conservation of Mammals in the Southeastern United States Shealso presented her research at the CFEA conference in June 2007 and her poster tied for First Place Student Poster with MohamedSoumare. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in the Spring of 2007 in Wildlife Ecology. She now works for the USDAForest Service in Alabama.Name: Gyawali, BuddhiWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Buddhi Gyawali assisted the PIs (Dr. Rory Fraser and Dr. Wubishet Tadesse) in creating and analyzing the socioeconomic andsatellite imagery data required for the achievement of the objectives # 1 and 2 for the Black Belt region of Alabama. He wasfunded through a grant from the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. Buddhi Gyawali completed his doctorate fromthe department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in December 2007 under the supervision of Dr. Rory Fraser. Hedefended his dissertation on November 14, 2007. His dissertation title was: 'Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of HumanWell-being, Land Cover Types, Community Capitals, and Income Growth in the Black Belt Region of Alabama.'. Since February2008, he has been working as a Research Associate in the Center for Forest Ecology and Wildlife. He assists Dr. Fraser formanaging the outreach research projects and analyzing socioeconomic, GIS and remote sensing data for the Black Belt andBankhead National Forest regions. During August-December 2007 period, he spent most of his time in writing the dissertation andpreparation for his dissertation defense. During the period, he submitted two articles from the body of his dissertation forpublication. The first article 'Income Convergence in a Rural, Majority African American Region' is now in the second round ofreview process in The Review of Regional Studies. Dr. Gyawali is currently revising the second article 'Relationship betweenHuman Well-being and Land Cover types in the Forest Dependent Counties of the Alabama's Black Belt Region: Evidence fromthe Census Block Group Data' in response to the reviewers' comments from Southern Rural Sociology journal. His third paper'Relationship between Human Well-being and Community Capital in the West-Central Black Belt Counties of Alabama' is underreview by a Journal of Rural Studies. Currently, he is analyzing time series socioeconomic and land cover data for a comparativestudy of the income convergence, human well-being and land cover types between Black Belt region and Bankhead NationalForest. In September 2007, Dr. Gyawali received a travel grant from Meridian Institute to attend the 'Roundtable in SustainableForest National Workshop' Madison, Wisconsin. He was the only student among the HBCUs' students to receive the travel award.Dr. Gyawali has been assisting Nevia Broun in analyzing survey data and the U.S. census and remotely sensed data for theSouthern Cumberland region. In addition, in the months of May and June 2008, Dr. Gyawali will continue to assist Dr. Fraser andDr. Colmore Christian to conduct two Land Management Training (LMT) workshops and establish agroforestry demonstrationsites in the private properties of limited resources landowners in Alabama. Dr. Gyawali is a member of Rural Sociological Society(RSS), Society of American Foresters (SAF), International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR), and AmericanSociety for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). Name: Brown, NeviaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Nevia conducts field research where she surveys the local communities around the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) to determinehow trust impacts forest plan implementation. Her project divides the study area participants into two main categories: constituentsand non-constituents. Constituents are classified as people who have a established interest in the management actions on the BNFand non-constituents are people who have no pre-established interest in the BNF. The survey measures trust by developingquestions based on trust theories in social psychology. Data collection began in June of this year and will continue until April of2008. Nevia has obtained some landownership information from each study county within the study area. This information will be usedPage 9 of 58

Final Report: 0420541in three ways; first, the landownership information will be downloaded and projected into maps that will determine the sample ofparticipants by geographic location. Second, the landownership maps will be combined with the US Census Data to examinesocio-economic variables that will help understand the human well-being of the area. Lastly, the landownership and surveyinformation will be combined and used to understand is spatial distribution effects survey response. Nevia has also obtained USCensus data to conduct research on social and community capital variables of limited resource communities. In this research,Nevia uses the US Census CBG data to determine if there is a relationship between Land Cover Change, and Socio Economicstability. Nevia pre-pared a poster presentation of proposed actions of her project in September 2006 for the Southeastern Society ofAmerican Foresters meeting in the student poster competition. Nevia has also made oral presentation of her research project to ourCFEA external advisory board and internal executive committee. She participated in our CFEA- sponsored workshop for trainingin Geographic Information Systems. Nevia participated in the first Annual CFEA conference in June 2007, where she made an oralpresentation on Human well-being and ecosystem change comparison in the Southern Cumberland Plateau.Name: White, LesleyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Leslie worked on Subproject 5 (Human Dimensions) and a water quality subproject.Name: Selvaraj, RufusWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Rufus assisted the CREST project with computer setup, repairs, and maintenance.Name: Sutton, BillWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Bill is a doctoral student of Dr. Yong Wang currently working on the research 'Response of forest herpetofaunal communities tothinning and prescribed burning in mixed pine-hardwood forests in the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.' Bill iscurrently a recipient of a US EPA STAR Fellowship. Over the past year Bill has been working on his dissertation research whichwill provide data regarding herpetofaunal response to forest disturbances. He is finishing up his last complete field season and thefollowing activities are under-way: 1. Coverboards and artificial pools have been checked weekly (all three blocks) from thesecond week in January to current. 2. Began opening drift-fences consistently around the mid part of March and have capturedapproximately 100 individuals so far this season. 3. In regards to copperhead telemetry, he has already implanted three newindividuals with transmitters and plan to track these individuals throughout the active season. He began an additional portion of hispools study this year which is illustrating that chorus frog and gray tree frog larvae grow faster in thinned forest stands. He hasbeen training a field technician (Ed Larrivee) who will assist Bill throughout the remainder of this field season. Bill has led severalfield tours for students participating in wildlife techniques courses. Bill has submitted three manuscripts during the year, one ofthem has been accept for publishing. He is currently working on an additional manuscript of 'Evaluation of Snake Radio-telemetryin Eastern North America' to be submitted to Journal of Wildlife Management. He attended two national professional meetingsand has planned to attend and present at Society for Conservation Biology (Chattanooga TN, 2008), Wildlife Society Meeting(Miami FL, 2008), and Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference (Hot Springs AR, 2008).Name: Williams, AshantyeWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Ashantye work on Subproject4 (Molecular Biology).Name: Chen, FlorenceWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Florence was a graduate student of Dr. Yong Wang. She worked on the project of 'Monitoring Program for Biodiversity ofTerrestrial Vertebrates on Conservation Lands within the Cumberland Plateau Region of Alabama,' a collaborative research amongthe Land Division of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resource (ALDCNR), Auburn University, and AlabamaA&M University, funded by USFWS through ALDCNR. Florence was in charge of the herpetofauna part of the research. Duringthe past year, she performed field surveys using line transects, worked on the GIS database, and performed analyses. She alsohelped Chelsea to establish thesis research of pool breeding salamander ecology at Jackson County. She graduated in the fall 2007Page 10 of 58

Final Report: 0420541and is currently working as a field crew leader of a herpetofaunal research project at Las Vegas of Nevada. She presented her resultat several meetings and conferences.Name: Carpenter, JohnWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:John was a graduate student of Dr. Yong Wang. He worked a project investigate the Distribution, relative abundance, and habitatrequirements of Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) in northern Alabama supported by USFWS' Section 6 Endangered speciesgrant through Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resource. During 2007, his research efforts were concentrated inthe ADCNR's Forever Wild Walls of Jericho tract in northwest Jackson County, AL. This site was selected due to its accessibilityand population size, which provided us with the largest sample size available for completing our objectives in a timely manner.Single surveys were also performed for singing males along Larkin Fork, Jackson County, and in Bankhead National Forest. Anintensive mist-netting effort was carried out at Walls of Jericho. Transmitters were used to track the captured birds. He graduatedin May 2007 and accepted a position in November 2007 to work for University of Georgia. He presented his research results atseveral regional and national conferences, and is preparing three manuscripts based on his thesis research.Name: Nwaneri, SamWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:No longer on projectNoName: Katel, ShambhuWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Shambhu is working on his PhD under a ALGA Grant.Name: Parajuli, ShantaWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Shanta work on forest type and land classification in NE Alabama under a USFS, AAMU Grant.Name: Felix, ZackWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Zach was a Ph. D student of Dr. Yong Wang and graduated in May 2007. His dissertation research was on the effect of canopyremoval on herpetofaunal community at Cumberland region of Jackson County, AL. During the last year, Zach's researchactivities have been mostly limited to preparing manuscripts, proposals, and helping other researchers with design andimplementation of their research. He has also prepared two applications for post doctoral fellowships with the National ScienceFoundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the World Wildlife Funds' Fuller Foundation Program. During the fallof 2007, Zach assisted Yong Wang with two of his graduate level courses. Zach helped a new Ph.D. student, Timothy Baldwin,develop his doctoral dissertation project and a proposal for EPA STAR Fellowship funds. This project is partially a spin-off fromZach's research completed during his doctoral dissertation. Zach participated in a workshop featuring reptiles and amphibians andtheir use for education in April 2008, and the workshop was attended by > 20 teachers from various schools and environmentaleducation centers from throughout Alabama. During the year, Zach published four manuscripts, currently has three manuscriptsubmitted or in revision, and five in preparation. Zach attended and presented at Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists andHerpetologists. St. Louis, MO; and was invited speaker at the 2008 annual meeting of Southeastern Partners in Amphibian andReptile Conservation and the annual meeting of the Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Name: Ndoma-Makusa, XavierWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Contribution to project: Xavier has begun his MS program and he is working now on 'Woody biomass harvesting impact onsustainable forest management'. His study is on preliminary stage. However he has already made couple of visits at forest biomassharvesting field. He is expected to submit his thesis proposal to the thesis advisory committee by the end of spring semester. He issupported by a CREST assistantship and in spring 2008 completed 9 credits hour's courses ? Natural Resources Polity, ForestPage 11 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Ecological Management and SAS Programming. He participated in the 51st Annual Forestry Conclave hosted by University ofFlorida in Gainesville from March 6 to 8, 2008, where about 200 forestry major students from 15 Southern universities hadparticipated. Xavier also attended several seminars related to forest issues.Name: Baldwin, TimothyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Tim is a new Ph.D. student of Dr. Yong Wang. His research will be focusing on the local and landscape factors that affectbreeding success of vernal pool breeding amphibians. This research will involve several agencies including Alabama DNRC,USFW, USFS, and NASA. He is currently planning and implementing his project, and began field data collection this summer.Thus far he has applied to numerous funding sources and received award from Alabama Space Grant Consortium Fellowship,Amphibian Specialist Group Seed Grant, and he attended the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists at St. LouisUniversity, the Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Conference at University of Georgia, and theAlabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society at Auburn University. He received 1st Place award in the poster session for Wildlife andForestry Section during Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Day (STEM) at Alabama A&M University inNormal, AL (April 11, 2008), and an American Institute of Biological Sciences Diversity Award.Name: Fields II, SzymanskiWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:: Szymanski is currently composing drafts of his master's thesis proposal that pertains to the use of LIDAR in delineating anddescribing vegetation characteristics within the Bankhead National Forest. His final proposal will be completed before May 26th,2008. Szymanski has completed an updating of the soil survey of Bankhead National Forest via aerial photography from 1972.Szymanski has also performed rectification, subseting and mosaicking of the Alabama Sipsey Wilderness area using 1991 aerialphotography. He has also actively participated as a mentor in the upward bound program that has been taking place on our campusto encourage high school seniors to continue on to college. Szymanski recently attended a LIDAR seminar in Nashville, TN hostedby SANBORN, the seminar summarized and discussed topics including: the basics of LIDAR, data processing, delivery formats,and software/hardware developments. Name: Jaja, NgowariWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Ms Ngowari Jaja assists the Subproject #3 (Soils) group. Her Ph.D. dissertation proposal is 'Biogeochemistry of trace metals inaltered ecosystems' Part of her dissertation is based on the study at the disturbed (fire-managed) sites at the Bankhead NationalForest. She has collected soil and litter samples from both treated and control sites at the BNF, analyzed the samples for tracemetals distribution, and is currently analyzing and writing up her work. She will be finishing her program in the summer of 2008.She expects that her research will indicate whether that altered ecosystem has had any impacts on trace metal biogeochemistrybecause of the management. Ms Jaja's findings will contribute towards addressing objectives #5 and #6 of subproject #3 (Soils)Name: Stephens, JefferyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jeff was a doctoral student who resigned in the Fall of 2007. He worked with the LiDAR and CIR data and was instrumental in hiscontribution to the project. Jeff had given two presentations, presented one poster, and published a paper in the Proceedings of theCentral Hardwood Forestry Conference by the time he left the project.Name: Virone, DanaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Dana joined the research team at the beginning of the summer 2008 to continue with the work on ground layer vegetationdynamics following the silvicultural treatments on the BNF. She takes over from Joel Zak, who graduated with a MS degree.Name: Roberson, TiffanyWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoPage 12 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Shelton, EricaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesUndergraduate StudentName: Norris, BrianWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Brian is a Senior majoring in Forest Science who graduated in Spring 2008. He worked in the field with Bill and Chelsea capturingand handling reptiles and amphibians. He also assisted in human dimensions. He was funded from NSF-CRESTName: Smith, LatoyaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:She is a senior majoring in Forestry. She assisted Thomas in the field to set up his sub plot and collect data. In the lab, she alsoassisted me in data entry.Name: Cook, SantriesWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:Santries assisted Subproject 1 (Flora) with data collection and database entry.Name: Jorden, MichaelWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesYesContribution to Project:Michael assisted Subproject 1 (Flora) with field data collection.Name: Weaver, AnthonyWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Davis, CatariaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Augustine, DeAnteWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Benson, JohnWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Smith, KendraWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: McGarity, KimothyWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoPage 13 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Gaines, MarvinWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Bell, ToiaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Bracy, EarleneWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Brown, AndrewWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Graham, JosephWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Merriweather, JuanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Daniel, AprilWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Patrick, RaqchellWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Roberts, VernonWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Fletcher, TerranceWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Soto, RaphaelWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Assisted in developing geodatabase for the Blackbelt. Specifically building a developing land parcel data for the region.Name: Robinson, JonathanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Pugh, MarcusPage 14 of 58

Worked for more than 160 Hours:YesFinal Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Assisted in developing geodatabase for the Blackbelt. Specifically building a developing land parcel data for the region.Name: Perry, AyikweiWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Assisted in developing geodatabase for the Blackbelt. Specifically building a developing land parcel data for the region.Name: Bracy, DarleneWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Bacchus, LyndonWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Lyndon is a senior in Communications. He worked in the insect lab in 2007 and 2008. He sorted and pinned pitfall and Malaisetrap samples. He was funded from a federal USDA/CSREES grant for teaching capacity enhancement.Name: Barron, LatoricWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Latoric is a freshman majoring in Forest Science. He worked in the wildlife lab preparing taxidermy mounts of collected wildlifespecimens in 2007 and 2008. He was funded from NSF-CRESTName: Edwards, ShericeWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Sherice Edwards is a senior in Education. She worked in the insect lab in 2007. She also sorted and pinned pitfall and Malaise trapsamples. She was funded from a federal USDA/CSREES grant for teaching capacity enhancement.Name: France, CorderoWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Foster, ReginaldWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:He was a graduate student majoring in Urban Planning. He assisted me in the summer of 2007 to install the MultiDat on theharvesting machines and collect data in the fieldName: Hamilton, SewardWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Seward is a Senior majoring in Forest Science. He worked in the wildlife lab preparing taxidermy mounts of collected wildlifespecimens in 2007 and 2008. He also helped conduct data collection on the small mammal trapping project in the field and onaquatic communities in streams. He was funded from NSF-CRESTName: Harper, ChristinaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Herdsman, SaundriaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesPage 15 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Saundria Herdsmen sorted and pinned pitfall and Malaise trap samples and assisted in preparation/identification in the lab the labduring 2007. She is a freshman in Education. She is paid off of a federal USDA/CSREES teaching capacity grant.Name: Jackson, BobbyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Bobby is a senior in Forestry who helped to taxidermy vertebrate animal specimens for use in wildlife courses. He also helpedcollect fish and aquatic community data in streams.Name: Lee, DerrickWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Derrick is a sophomore in Abribusiness who helped to taxidermy vertebrate animal specimens for use in wildlife courses.Name: Poppe, NichalasWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Sharafkhanova, LamiyaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Lamiya is a graduate student in Sociology that assisted in the lab by sorting, pinning and identifying insect specimens and in thefield by helping collect data on stream quality and aquatic communities.Name: Toney, KwesiWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Kwesi is a senior in Engineering. He worked in the insect lab in 2007 and 2008. He sorted and pinned pitfall and Malaise trapsamples. He was funded from a federal USDA/CSREES grant for teaching capacity enhancement.Name: Williams, JeanetteWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jeanette is a Junior majoring Forest Science with a Wildlife Biology minor. She assisted Mohamed Soumare in ant community datapreparation/identification in the lab in 2007 and 2008. She was funded from NSF-CREST.Name: Black, JemaineWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Undergraduate student majoring in Forestry who worked as student-worker for Thrust Area 1 ? Vegetation.Name: Bonner, AntoineWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Antoine is a senior in Forestry who helped to taxidermy vertebrate animal specimens for use in wildlife courses.Name: Cole, TrecinaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Trecina is a sophomore majoring in Environmental Science and minor in Remote Sensing/GIS. She worked in the GeospatialAnalysis Laboratory scanning and rectifying historical aerial photographs for our study area.Name: Farr, RyanWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesPage 16 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Ryan is a junior in Forestry who helped to taxidermy vertebrate animal specimens for use in wildlife courses. He also helpedcollect fish and aquatic community data in streams.Name: Lewis, JamieWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jamie is a senior majoring in Urban Planning and minor in Remote Sensing/GIS. She worked in the Geospatial AnalysisLaboratory scanning, rectifying historical aerial photographs, and developing geodatabase for our study area.Name: Miller, MoniqueWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Monique is a sophomore majoring in Communications and minor in Remote Sensing/GIS. She worked in the Geospatial AnalysisLaboratory scanning and rectifying historical aerial photographs for our study area.Name: Mitchell, KathrynWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Pittman, JamilaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jamila is a senior majoring in Urban Planning and minor in Remote Sensing/GIS. She worked in the Geospatial AnalysisLaboratory scanning, rectifying historical aerial photographs, and developing geodatabase for our study area.Name: Pule, MarcusWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Marcus is a sophomore in Biology Education who helped collect fish and aquatic community data in streams.Name: Sima, MeseretWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Meseret is a sophomore majoring in Civil Engineering. She worked in the Geospatial Analysis Laboratory scanning, rectifyinghistorical aerial photographs, and developing geodatabase for our study area.Name: Williams, CourtneyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Courtney is a sophomore majoring in Chemistry. She worked in the Geospatial Analysis Laboratory scanning, and rectifyinghistorical aerial photographs, for our study area. Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Sledge, AlishaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Jackson, JonjalaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Ellis, Na-AsiaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesPage 17 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Davis, TheobaldWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Thomas, JelisaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Bryant, TashundraWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Kobe, PaulWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Vitelli, SarahWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Searcy, SamanthaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Burton, StephenWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Morales-Vega, EstherWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Molloy, KelseyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Brown, IndiaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Participated in the REU program for 2009.Name: Artis, KimberlyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Kim worked for CFEA as a graphic designer, assisting with newsletters, posters, and other publications.Name: Musoke, PaulPage 18 of 58

Worked for more than 160 Hours:YesFinal Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Paul is a senior majoring in Agribusiness. He worked with the Soil Biogeochemical Cycling Group assisting in fieldwork as well ashelping in sample preparation in the Pedology Laboratory.Name: Lampley, JohnathanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Morris, HenryWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Reed, NapoleonWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Williams, TashundaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Harris, MelvinWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Cosby, HenryWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Christie, DarrenWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Jones, JonathanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Diop, SeydouWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Wheeler, ChrisWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Cates, GabrielleWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Johnson, AdriennePage 19 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Worked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Hemstey, DerekWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Garther, StevenWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Holmes, ChristopherWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Anang, AlbertaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Howard, ShermanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Opal-Gomez, MaryWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Jobe, BryanWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Montgomery, ShawWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Lambda, GangaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Bowers, CampbellWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Blue, KendronWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Shaw, ShuntaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesPage 20 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Watson, JamalWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Green, HolliciaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Ellis, NaAsiaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Thomas, ShaylaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Rogers, LatithiaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Wright, VernonWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Flowers, MarshunWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Daniels, SharroddWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Owen, JamesWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Smith, WilliamWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesTechnician, ProgrammerName: Howell, HeatherWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:: Her research activities include sorting, pinning, and curating insect samples from Jackson County, Alabama and the BankheadNational Forest. She also installed traps and collected insect samples from the Bankhead National Forest. She identifies mostinsects to family, morphospecies and functional groups and further identifies carabid beetles and lepidopterans to species. Shemaintains and adds to the insect database and analyzes data. She makes additions to and curates reference collections for mostPage 21 of 58

Final Report: 0420541insect families and morphospecies, local lepidopteran species, and carabid species. She coordinates students, faculty and staff inthe collection and processing of insect samples and the entry and analysis of insect data. She assisted in refining study directionsand focus. She is also working on the identification of terrestrial snails. She trains students in insect sample curation andpreservation techniques, and also trains students in how to identify insects to order, family, and morphospecies. Heather alsoassists with data collection on small mammal, avian, and herpetofaunal research in the Bankhead National Forest and JacksonCounty, Alabama. She orders equipment and supplies necessary for thrust area research. She is Co-PI on a USDA-CSREES capacity building grant to develop a fisheries minor and aquatic ecology research experiencefor undergraduates. She co-authored a grant proposal with Dawn Lemke to the Birmingham Water Works Board to monitor theresponse of aquatic communities in Inland Lake and its tributaries to land cover and climate changes. She is also co-authoring aUSDA-CSREES watershed level proposal with integrated research, education, and extension activities in the Flint RiverWatershed.Her educational activities include developing and teaching two fisheries courses with Dr. Stone to enhance the opportunity foraquatic hands-on research training of undergraduate students at a minority serving institution. She participated in an AlabamaWater Watch Living Streams Workshop to develop skills in teaching about water-related issues to a broad range of age groups. Shetrained students in the use of water quality testing equipment and assisted in the training of students in fish collection techniques.She also tutors students in entomology identification, ecology and lab techniques. She guest lecturers for wildlife and entomologyclasses at AAMU. Heather presented an overview of the invertebrate study to the external advisory board and the internalexecutive committee. She also co-authored a poster presented at the 2007 CFEA Conference comparing the carabid beetle fauna ofJackson County, Alabama to that of the Bankhead National Forest.Her outreach/collaborative activities include assisting in the collection of herpetofaunal data in Jackson County, Alabama and theMAPS survey of birds at the Walls of Jericho in Jackson County. She also assisted in the collection, identification, and counting ofaquatic macroinvertebrates and the evaluation of sampling sites in collaboration with HsCARs. She participates in Flint RiverConservation Association meetings and assists them in activities to educate the community about and conserve the habitat for theSlackwater Darter in the Flint River Watershed. She also gave presentations about wildlife, fisheries, entomology, andbioasessment to several high school groups that toured the research lab facilities at AAMU. In addition, she presented on fishsampling techniques, native mussels, and macroinvertebrates to the Birmingham Water Works Board high school student WaterAmbassadors.Name: Lemke, DawnWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Contribution to Project: Ms. Lemke supports students and faculty from all thrust areas in an effort to build synergy throughoutCFEA and increase integration of GIS and remotely sensed information. She maintains the website and produces quarterlynewsletters. Her responsibilities include data management for the project, both spatial and non spatial. This has includeddevelopment of geodatabases for the Blackbelt, Bankhead National Forest and the Cumberland Plateau as well as non-spatialdatabases for the large datasets collected by the flora thrust area. She was involved in the logistics and planning of the CFEAconference. Ms Lemke supports Dr Tadesse in management of Thrust Area V (Human Dimension), including reporting andcoordination of research activities. She assists in the collection of the information for progress reports and CREST website andserves on the Core Steering Committee (CSC). She has developed collaboration with Canterbury University (New Zealand) oninvasive plant research and submitted a USDA CRESSE proposal to further develop this research. Some exploratory work onmodeling invasive plants using the Cumberland Plateau geodatabase and the Forest Service Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) datawas presented at the Weed Science Society meeting. Ms. Lemke is very involved in local environmental community groups andhas trained both community and local school groups in the use of technology in environmental endeavors. This has includedcommunity based habitat assessment and mapping of outdoor classrooms.Name: Lawson, DarylWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:: Daryl manages the day to day operations of the Center, oversee budget expenditures, and assist CFEA researchers with securingresources. He reports to Dr. Wang the Center Director, and assist him with logistics for Center meetings, the CFEA Conference,and annual reporting for both NSF FastLane and CRESTWeb. In Addition he assist CFEA faculty by managing vehicle usage andfuel reporting. He supports students by advising them on field techniques in timber cruising, forest fire management and integratedGPS hand held use. Attended Local Society of American Foresters chapter meeting and assisted with Teacher ConservationPage 22 of 58

Final Report: 0420541workshop, Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) tour in Decatur at the USFWS Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. 350 fifthand sixth graders from Morgan County and Decatur city public schools were rotated between 6 stations which featured treeidentification, wood products, Wildlife habitat, water quality, stand management, and timber harvesting. Served on Young Foresterof the Year search and judging team for Alabama Chapter of SAF.Serve as President of ATFA for Jackson County from 2005-2008. This landowner group meets once a quarter in Scottsboro toeducate small private landowners in forest and natural resource management issues and practices. Conduct landowner tours twice ayear in the spring and fall.Mr. Lawson received a grant with the Birmingham Water Works Board in 2007, to secure 3 months of salary for constructing aforest resource Management plan of the BWWB property. Grant awarded: $37,528. This grant funding will cover three months ofCFEA Project Manager and free up salary money for the Soils Trust Area 2 subproject.Two Additional grants have been submitted to the BWWB: A Communication Grant: to help cover cost of publications and travelfor recruitment efforts for CFEA and highlight the partnership between AAMU and BWWB. -$30,000. A Water Quality study onLake Purdy in Jefferson County, Alabama which will cover one month salary for two CFEA technicians as well as supplies andmaterials cost for CFEA Wildlife and Human Dimensions Thrust areas, subprojects 2 and 5.- $25,000Bankhead Center for Education and Research: Mr. Lawson served as a liaison between AAMU and the Bankhead EducationFoundation, Inc. to secure a new research and education facility on the Bankhead National Forest. This facility will house a fieldlab, classrooms, office space, conference rooms and living quarters for the CFEA staff, faculty, and students while conductingresearch on site that is funded primarily by NSF CREST grant.Name: Sisk, RyanWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Ryan is a USFS SRS RWU employee, he is not funded under CREST. He is providing technical assistance to the CREST project asa collaborator. His funding comes directly from the USFS.Ryan established the original plot centers for Block 1-4 Treatment areas. He also supervised the initial data collection ofSubproject 1 (Flora). Ryan trained CREST workers on how to collect data. He set up the GIS database and maps for the Treatmentarea locations. Name: Rice, JenniferWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Jennifer is a USFS SRS RWU employee, she is not funded under CREST. She worked as a collaborator and is paid directly by theUSFS.Jennifer worked with CREST Workers and RWU staff in data collection. She also maintained the Subproject 1 (Flora) database.Name: Bohlman, AllisonWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Allison worked on the insect portion of Subproject 2 (Fauna). She collected field data, and identified and pinned species.Name: Bolus, MatthewWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Works for Dr. Yong Wang and Bill Sutton assisting herp research at Bankhead National Forest.Name: Bru, RachelWorked for more than 160 Hours:NoContribution to Project:Rachel's main duty as a research technician is to assist graduate students with data collection. She has assisted with Jill Wick's,Lisa Gardener-Barillas', and Chelsea Scott's research. See above entries for more detail.Name: Sangalng, KimiWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesPage 23 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Contribution to Project:Mila Kimi SangalangBudget AnalysisCFEA-CRESTMonitor and input all budget and accounting for CFEA-CREST for all 5 Thrust areas and Main account.Summarizes the monthly budget reports and reconciles the 'Requisition Log' against the AAMU mainframe report.Assist all CFEA personal, students, staff, and faculty in ordering, processing and follow through for supplies and expenses throughthe AAMU system.Works with all thrust area budget mangers for changes in object code funds and tracks all fund balances to ensure accuracy andpolicy and guideline compliance.Receives and directs all phone calls within the Center.Prepare and processes document for hiring student worker for CREST Project.Created monthly and yearly spreadsheet and documents reports for Time and Effort to AAMU Grants and Contracts.Coordinates fuel purchase receipts and reporting to AAMU Physical Facilities on a monthly and yearly basis.Check and balance internal system maintenance and cross check with AAMU reporting requirements.Accounting system was reported as exceeding standards during 2007 NSF audit and site visit.Awarded two CFEA-CREST Associate of the year certificates by her peers. Name: Cseke, SarahWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Sarah Cseke is a technician in the Center for Molecular Biology and responsible for maintaining the laboratories and variousinstruments. She also trains students on the DNA sequencing, Gel Electrophoresis, PCR, and Imaging instrumentation.Name: Pahl, LeelaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Works for Dr. Yong Wang and assisted Cerulean Warbler research and MAPS program in Jackson County, AlabamaName: Larrivee, EdwardWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Works for Dr. Yong Wang and William Sutton on herpetofaunal research component at Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.Name: Petty, JamesWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Trey worked as technician on the Vegetation Thrust Area and his responsibilities included collection of data and samples, dataentry, processing of fuel samples, setting up fire rate of spread and fire intensity monitoring, and most other aspects of the workrelated to Vegetation sampling. Trey also supervised undergraduate students and worked closely with graduate students and othertechnicians.Name: Hardman, RebeccaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Rebecca's main duty as a research technician was to assist graduate students with data collection. She assisted Bill Sutton andChelsea Scott's research of herpetofaunal ecology.Name: Ganapthy, VanarjWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Metcalfe, HughWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesPage 24 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Brown, JamesWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Hildebrandt, DrewWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Johnson, DamicaWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: Qiu, LeiWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesOther ParticipantName: Cheong, SydneyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Sydney is a student from Singapore and has been helping Dr. Yong Wang to collect wildlife related data since April 2008.Name: Fowler, DrewWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Drew assisted Jill Wick and Dr. Yong Wang to collect avian research data at Bankhead National Forest during the summer 2007.Name: Graves, BrianWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Brain worked for Dr. Yong Wang and Lisa Gardner as an intern and assisted the research of stopover ecology of migratory birdduring fall 2007Name: Haslick, BrandonWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Brandon has been working as an intern technician since November 2007. He has been helping Chelsea Scott for the amphibianpool use study. He also helped to identify insects for Lisa Gardner's migratory bird study, and assisted Tim Baldwin to implementa new amphibian ecology study.Name: Thompson, NicholasWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Nick worked for Dr. Yong Wang and Lisa Gardner as an intern and assisted the research of stopover ecology of migratory birdduring fall 2007Name: Riley, BobbyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Bobby was an intern who worked on the molecular subproject during the summer of 2009. He is seeking an opportunity to becomea graduate student. The intern position gave him an opportunity to get to know the CREST program.Page 25 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Name: Carter, AdamWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:NoName: VanderHam, AshleyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Ashley helped the project investigating the effect of forest management on herpetofaunal communitiesName: Zwach, SericaWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Serica participated a research project of amphibian breeding ecologyName: MacKeil, HaleyWorked for more than 160 Hours:YesContribution to Project:Haley worked on a project investigating the effect of forest management on herpetofaunal communities.Name: Xu, JianWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:Jian worked a pool breeding amphibian ecology project in the summer of 2009.YesName: Jervis, KimWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesName: Nobb, PhillWorked for more than 160 Hours:Contribution to Project:YesResearch Experience for UndergraduatesOrganizational PartnersUSDA Forest Service Southern Research StationThe Bent Creek Work Unit of the SRS have been instrumental in identifying and laying out research plots as well as collecting baseline data onvegetation.USDA Forest Service National Forest of AThe Bankhead National Forest Staff have been a major contributor this project. They have worked with our scientists in identifying researchplots and marking them on the ground.Alabama Dept of Consv. and Nat. Res.Alabama Department of Conservation and Nature Resources (ADCNR) - has provided research grants and technical assistance for severalwildlife related research of CREST-CFEA projectsAuburn UniversityAuburn University (AU)- is one of AAMU partners along with Tuskegee University (TU) in the Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Alliance(AALGA). They are conducting related research and educational efforts that address similar issues in natural resource management and publiceducation. We collaborate on many research projects in the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) and in Forestry Summer Camp ; two examples ofPage 26 of 58

Final Report: 0420541our mutually beneficial partnership. Graeme Lockaby, associate dean and professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and headof AU's newly created Water Resources Center (WRC) is one of the CFEA External Advisory Board (EAB) members.Bankhead Education FoundationBankhead Education Foundation is a private, nonprofit (501c3) organization partnered with AAMU, Auburn University, Tuskegee University(all members of Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Association (AALGA)) to plan, fund and build the Bankhead Center for Education andResearch (BCER). This center will provide onsite research labs, housing, and classrooms for the CFEA research team of faculty, staff andstudents.Bankhead National Forest Citizen LiaisonA citizen's advisory board to the Bankhead National Forest District Ranger( BNFRD). The liaison panel plays an important advisory andmonitoring role in the planning and implementation of the Bankhead's management activities including the Restoration Plan which is afoundation of much of the CFEA research. CFEA attends their quarterly meetings to provide information about research findings, receiveinformation regarding their monitoring of the implementation of restoration treatments, and build support for the Bankhead interpretive centerand research field station.Birmingham Water Works BoardBirmingham Water Works Board (BWWB): The water services for City of Birmingham and the intermediate urbanized area in CentralAlabama. A public authority that was established in 1951, the BWWB serves all of Jefferson, northern Shelby, western St. Clair counties. TheBWWB has partnered with AAMU to provide funding to support student scholarships, supplies, and staff salary to supplement the NSF CRESTfunding. In return, AAMU will provide natural resource planning and research on their 14,000-acre forestland ownership. This is a 15-yearcommitment between the partners that will provide forested sites for research and educational opportunities in all CFEA and CFEW projectsareas.EPA STAR and GRO Fellowship ProgramEPA STAR and GRO Fellowship Program ? These competitive research fellowship programs which are sponsored by the environmentalProtection agencies have been acquired by four graduate students (Felix, Howell, Sutton, and Wick) working with two of the faculty membersin Thrust 2 (Fauna) to expand their research and supplement CFEA-funded objectives.Mississippi State University (MSU)Provided access to entomological museum specimens and training in entomological identification to faculty, staff and students.Oklahoma State University (OSU)Funded April Hart's teaching assistantship and sponsored part of her research costs to conduct CFEA related research on bats with Dr. Stone.The Nature Conservancy (TNC)- has collaborated in developing a proposal funded by USFWS/ALDCNR for a wildlife inventory study of the properties recently acquired byTNC.USDA Forest Service (USFS), Bankhead Natis the Forest Unit that manages the Bankhead study sites. They have assisted throughout all phases of the research conducted on the BankheadNational Forest working with research in site selection, harvesting logistics and burn timing.USDA Forest Service, Southern Research SThe main participants are the Upland Hardwood Ecology and Management Research Unit's Dr. Callie Schweitzer and Dr. Stacy Clark assistedby their technicians Ryan Sisk and Nathan Brown. Drs. Schweitzer and Clark work closely with AAMU PIs, students, and technicians on thisproject. Dr. Schweitzer is leading the Vegetation Thrust Area and woody vegetation data collection effort at the BNF. Dr. Schweitzer led thedevelopment of the silvicultural treatments in the planning stages of the proposal, the selection of the stands, and communication with the BNFcollaborators. Dr. Schweitzer has an active role in the CFEA and she is a valuable member on several graduate student committees. She workswith many CFEA PIs on a large number of research projects related to vegetation and wildlife dynamics in response to silvicultural treatments.Dr. Clark is not a CREST PI, but carries out some of her research in the stands studied by CREST researchers. Dr. Clark has taken the lead on anumber of aspects of the study, including the evaluation of the forest fuels before and after the treatments and logging damage on the residualtrees. She served on the graduate committee of Joel Zak, a student who graduated in May 2008 with a Master's degree.Page 27 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Other Collaborators or ContactsCollaboratorsFrank Allen, is a wildlife manager of Alabama DCNR. Frank has provided assistance in the development and implement of the wildliferesearch in Jackson County, Alabama. Allison Bohlman ? is a research associate of the Department of Natural Resource and Environmental Science at AAMU. She contributes hertime assisting in entomological field collections and helping to train students in aquatic bio-assessment protocol and identification of benthicmacroinvertebrates. She was a research associate with the arthropod group during the first year of CFEA.Dr. James Brown ? is a retired entomologist. He has graciously offered to assist the arthropod group with some of its taxonomic chores and hasbeen spending a few hours per month identifying hymenopterans collected from our treatment plots.Dr. Jennifer Brown ? is the Associate Director of the Biomathematics Research Centre and Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics at theUniversity of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. She is working with CFEA in developing an invasive plant research program.Allison Cochran ? is a wildlife biologist for the Bankhead National Forest and serves as our Liaison with this essential partner. She serves onthe CFEA Core Steering Committee, and provides important communication about treatment operations and other relevant Forest Service newsthat affects our research. She helps coordinate visits to the forest by internal and external CFEA research, education, and outreach groups.Dr. C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr. - is a Zoologist (Research) of the Florida Integrated Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL. Dr.Dodd is also the Project Leader, USGS Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), Southeastern US. Dr. Dodd has been assistingseveral CREST graduate students to develop and implement their herpetofaunal research. He also serves on graduate committee, and alsohelped review manuscripts.Joe Gardinski ?is a GIS specialist with USDA-NRCS North Alabama Regional Soil Survey Office located on the campus of AAMU. He assistsundergraduate and graduate students as well as research scientists in the area of GIS analysis. Mr. Gardinski has also provided vector and rasterdata for of CREST study area. Dr. Paul Hamel - is a wildlife biologist of the Southern Research Station of USDA Forest Service. Dr. Paul Hamel has assisted and guidedseveral avian related research projectsDr. Drew Hildebrandt - Contribution to Project: Dr. Drew Hildebrandt, a medical researcher in Jackson MS, has expertise in carabid beetletaxonomy and has provided essential help in species identification of this important indicator group for study sites in Jackson County andBankhead National Forest.Dr. J Drew Lanham ? is an associate professor of Wildlife Biology of the Clemson University. With his minority background, Dr. Lanham hasbeen helping to mentor the minority graduate students associated with CREST. Dr. Lanham serves on graduate committee, and has providedguidance and technical assistance to several graduate students for their research project. Dr. Lanham also helped reviewing manuscripts. Dr. Robert O. Lawton - is a professor of ecology of University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH). Dr. Lawton has assisted and guided severalgraduate students to develop their research projects.Joe MacGown - Contribution to Project: Mr. MacGown is a full-time technical staff person with the Mississippi Entomological Museum,Mississippi State University. He has provided essential taxonomic services in ant identification for the project, including working closely withand providing some training for Mohamed Soumare, our dissertation student working with leaf litter ants.Dr. Thomas Pauley is a professor from the Biological Department of Marshall University. Dr. Pauley is a herpetofaunal expert and has assistedseveral graduate students for their herpetofaunal research. He also helped to recruit a minority graduate student.Jim Schrenkel, - The manager for the Skyline State Wildlife Management Area and adjacent Forever Wild lands where some of the research isconducted. He is a wildlife biologist of AL DNR and has assisted in developing and implementing wildlife research on state properties inJackson County, Alabama.Nick Sharpe, Alabama DCNR - is a land stewardship office of AL DNCR. Nick has provided assistance, guidance, and collaboration for thewildlife research at Jackson County, Alabama. Page 28 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Eric Soehren - Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Forever Wild Program. Eric is a biologist with the AlabamaNatural History Survey that has provided surveying help to several graduate students in the Walls of Jericho, Jackson Co. Forever Wild lands,Skyline Wildlife Management Area, and Bankhead National Forest study areas.Activities and FindingsResearch and Education Activities: (See PDF version submitted by PI at the end of the report)See attached PDFMajor Research and Education ActivitiesFindings: (See PDF version submitted by PI at the end of the report)See Attached PDFMajor FindingsTraining and Development:TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENTPlease summarize the contributions to the research and teaching skills and experience of those who have worked on the project, includingundergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, college faculty, and K-12 teachers. If your project supported postdoctoral researchers thenyou must include a summary of the mentoring activities conducted.Research scientists, staff and graduate and undergraduate students actively participate annually in a regional, national, and internationalconferences and workshops related to their scientific disciplines by making presentations of their research results. Below is a list of some ofthese conferences and workshops. SENIOR PERSONNELPoster and Presentations at Conferences and Workshops lead by senor personal:Connor, K., Dimov, L.D., Barlow, R., Smith, M., Kirkland, E. Conversion of an oak seed orchard to oak silvopasture. Science, Technology,Engineering and Mathematics Conference. 15th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Hot Springs, AR. November 17-20,2008.Dimov, L.D.2008. Spatial continuity of tree basal area: ecological and silvicultural implications. Ecological Society of America annualmeeting. Milwaukee, WI. Aug 2-8, 2008.Mbila, M., M. Nobles, Ngowari Jaja and T. Coleman. 2006. Clay mineral distribution and transformation patterns in fire-managed Ultisols inNorthern Alabama. CSA/ASA/SSSA 2006 Annual Meetings, Indianapolis, IN. Nov. 12-16, 2006.Moss, E.M., Y. Tilahun, M. M. Thompson, and Z. Senwo. 2006. Microbial Community Structure and Diversity of an Agricultural Soil.Association of Research Directors (ARD) Symposium. Atlanta, GA. April 1-5.Moss, E.M., Y. Tilahun, M. M. Thompson, and Z. Senwo. 'Microbial Community Structure and Diversity of an Agricultural Soil'. AlabamaWater Resources Conference, Auburn University, South Beach Alabama. September 6-8, 2006.Page 29 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Naka, K. April 23, 2009. Services Available to Forest Landowners in Alabama. 28th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Forest Owners'Association, Inc. Cheaha State Park, Alabama Naka, K. November 15, 2008. Understanding Bioenergy Resources. Bioenergy Production and Carbon Credit Workshop. Federation ofSouthern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund. Epes, ALNaka, K. September 29, 2008. State of the Forest Products Industry and Biomass Potential in Alabama. Woody Biomass for Energy Workshop.Hartselle, AL.Naka, K. September 20, 2008. Using Biomass for Energy. Alabama Loggers Council Vulcan district Conference, Dodge City, AL.Wang, Y. and W. Stone. 2009. Developing wildlife research and educational capacity at Alabama A&M University ? A minority University.Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Clanton, AL. March 31-April 1, 2009.Wang, Y., J. Wick, and C. Schweitzer. 2009. Avian community response to prescribed burning and logging at Bankhead National Forest ofnorthern Alabama. 70th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists. Birmingham, AL. April 1-4, 2009.Wang, Y., J. Wick, and C. Schweitzer. 2009. Immediate effect of forest burning and logging treatments on the avian biodiversity at BankheadNational Forest of Northern Alabama. 15th Biennial Research Symposium of Association of Research Directors. Atlanta, GA. March28-Aprial 1, 2009.Mentoring Activities- EnvironMentors- AAMU Changing Lanes Program- Advisor for the Alabama A&M University Environmental Science Club- Earn and Learn Program, Summer 2006-present- Agricultural symposium for high school students in the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence- Outreach coordinator for the National Science Foundation's Plant Genome Project at AAMU- Research Experience for Undergraduates- Consultant with Project Awake-Environmental Justice Organization, Sumter County, ALOther professional development and leadership activities- Ad Hoc Reviewer, NSF- Reviewer of the undergraduate applications for travel awards to the ESA Annual Meeting- Reviewer, Forest Ecology and Management- Reviewer, Southern Journal of Applied Forestry- Panel member, USDA National Research Initiative (NRI). Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES),Washington, DC,- Ad hoc reviewer for proposals to the Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation (NSF)- Panel member, EPA STAR Fellowships - Terrestrial Systems Ecology: Soils, Plants and Animals. Washington, DC- Faculty Advisor, Ecological Society of America student chapter at Alabama A&M University, - Faculty Co-Advisor, Society of American Foresters Student Chapter- Chair, Library Committee, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences- Board Member, Tennessee Valley Weed Management Area Organization- Chair, Southeastern Hardwood Forestry Group- Chair, Communications Committee, Society of American Foresters Mountain lakes ChapterSTAFF AND POST DOCTORALCFEA Project Manager attended five Certified Burn Manager Courses to receive a license to construct and execute prescribed burn plans inFebruary at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Also trained a student in Fire Ecology class to plan and execute burns on the Winfred Thomas AgriculturalFarm in Hazel Green, Alabama in March, 2009.Poster and Presentations at Conferences and Workshops lead by post docs and staff:Page 30 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Lawson, D. S., 2008. CFEA Forestry Career Choices Opportunities, Epps Forestry Summer camp. Epps, AL. June 2008.Lawson, D. S., 2009. CFEA Annual report highlights was made at the AAMU Department of Natural Resources and Environmental ScienceFaculty Meeting, Normal, AL. August 2008.Lawson, D. S., 2009. CFEA Status Update to Forestry, Ecology and Wildlife Program faculty and staff at Annual retreat at the AAMU FarmComplex, Hazel Green, AL. January 2009Lawson, D. S., 2009. Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks and the result of the Natural Resource Plan for 1,000 acres of BWWB Dean FerryProperty in Blount County, Alabama. Birmingham Water Woks Board Meeting. Birmingham, AL. October 2008. Lawson, D. S., 2009. Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks and the result of the Natural Resource Plan for 1,000 acres of Locust Fork BWWBProperty in Blount County, Alabama. Birmingham Water Works Board Meeting. Birmingham, AL. April 2009.Lawson, D. S., 2009. Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks and the result of the Natural Resource Plan for 1,000 acres of Standridge Bend BWWBProperty in Blount County, Alabama. Birmingham Water Woks Board Meeting. Birmingham, AL. June 2009.Lawson, D. S., 2009. Status of CFEA Research on the Bankhead National Forest .Bankhead National Forest Liaison Panel Meeting. Moulton,AL. March 2009. Lawson, D. S., 2009. CFEA the future direction of Research in Forest Ecosystem Assessment. National Forest in Alabama PartnershipMeeting. USFS National Forest in Alabama Leadership Team, January 2009 Double Spring, AL.Lawson, D. S., 2009. CFEA the future direction of Research in Forest Ecosystem Assessment. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce,February 2009, Moulton, AL.Lawson, D. S., 2009. CFEA the future direction of Research in Forest Ecosystem Assessment. AALGA Meeting with Auburn School ofForestry, Tuskegee University School of Agriculture March 2009. Auburn University, ALLawson, D. S., 2009.CFEA the future direction of Research in Forest Ecosystem Assessment., North Alabama State Legislative Delegation andthe North Alabama National Congressional Delegation. April 2009. Moulton, ALLemke, D., P. Hulme, J. Brown, W. Tadesse, 2008.Predicting Japanese Honeysuckle: Integration of GIS and statistical modeling tools. RocketCity Geospatial Conference. November, 18-20, Huntsville, ALLemke, D., P. Hulme, J. Brown, W. Tadesse, 2009. Integrating GIS and Statistical Modeling in Assessing Invasive Plants. ESRI InternationalUser Conference. San Diego, CA. July 13-17, 2009.Lemke, D., P. Hulme, J. Brown, W. Tadesse, 2009. Predicting the occurrence of invasive plants in the Cumberland Plateau and MountainRegion: integration of forestry inventory data, geospatial information system and statistical modelling tools. Southern Forestry and NaturalResources Management GIS Conference December 7-9, Athens, GALemke, D., W. Tadesse, 2008. Integrating remote sensing and GIS in developing geodatabase for Winfred Thomas Agricultural ResearchStation. Rocket City Geospatial Conference. November, 18-20 Huntsville, ALLemke, D., W. Tadesse, T. Colman, J. Brown, 2009. Probability mapping for species conservation on Alabama's Gulf Coast. Southern Forestryand Natural Resources, Management GIS Conference. Athens, GA. December 7-9.Nobles, M.M., and M. Mbila. 2008. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in fire- and logging-affected soils in the first stages of SouthernAppalachian forest ecosystem study. 2008 Joint Annual Meetings, Houston, TX, Oct 5-9.Nobles, M.M., and M. Mbila. 2008. Clay mineral transformation in fire-affected soils of Northern Alabama. 2008 Joint Annual Meetings,Houston, TX, Oct 5-9.Nobles, M.M., W. Dillon Jr. and M. Mbila. 2005. Biogeochemical nutrient distribution in disturbed forest ecosystem of Northern Alabama.CSA/ASA/SSSA 2005 Annual Meetings, Salt Lake City, UT. Nov. 6-10.Page 31 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Nobles, M.M., W. Dillon, and M. Mbila. 2006. Changes in selected soil properties immediately following prescribed treatments in a disturbedforest ecosystem of Northern Alabama. CSA/ASA/SSSA 2006 Annual Meetings, Indianapolis, IN. Nov. 12-16.Nobles, M.M., W. Dillon, and M. Mbila. 2006. Impact of prescribed management treatments on selected soil properties in a disturbed forestecosystem of Northern Alabama. 18th World Soil Science Congress, Philadelphia, PA. July 9-15.Nobles, M.M., W. Dillon, and M. Mbila. 2007. Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in soil following prescribed burning and thinning in the firststages of Southern Appalachian forest ecosystem study. CSA/ASA/SSSA 2007 Annual Meetings, New Orleans, LA. Nov. 4-8.Nobles, M.M., W. Dillon, and M. Mbila. 2007. Nutrient distribution in soil immediately following prescribed treatments in disturbed forestecosystem of Northern Alabama. 4th UDSA Greenhouse Gas Conference, Baltimore, MD. Feb. 6-8. STUDENTSAs this report has already documented above, all of our graduate students have been active in participating in professional meetings and havehad success in competing for presentation awards at scientific conferences they have attended. The CFEA seminar series has brought nationallyand internationally recognized scientific experts to our campus to present research findings and ideas to our graduate students. Most of ourstudents have taken advantage of the GIS workshop that was conducted by CFEA personnel. Several of our students have traveled to Auburn,Mississippi State, and other universities to learn research methods from other professionals. Students have been active in grant writing andmanuscript preparation. Furthermore, graduate and undergraduates have been active in presenting research findings to the Bankhead N.F.Citizens Liaison panel participating in other community outreach projects to educate our community about forest and wildlife ecology.Several undergraduate students were involved in soil sampling, analyses, data collections, and analyses. The students also took part ininstrumentation training, conferences, workshops, and classes related to the project. With this project we have strengthened our collaborationwith the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) working with them to update soils maps of the state to maintain an accurate soildatabase and continued correlation activities to meet national standards. The project is also benefiting the NRCS in developing clay mineralogydatabase for the State. The 2009 USDA Soil Geomorphology Institute, 3-week intensive training program for USDA employees took placefrom June 9 to 25.Poster and Presentations at Conferences and Workshops lead by students:Baldwin, T.E., F. Chan, Y. Wang. 2009. Methods for predicting the occurrence of amphibians in oak hickory forests along an environmentalgradient in the Mid Cumberland Plateau. Association of Southeastern Biologists. Birmingham, Alabama. April 1-4, 2009.Baldwin, T.E., F. Chan, Y. Wang. 2009. Methods for predicting the occurrence of amphibians in oak hickory forests along an environmentalgradient in the Mid Cumberland Plateau. National Science Foundation Joint Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C.. June 8-11, 2009.Baldwin, T.E., F. Chan, Y. Wang. 2009. Methods for predicting the occurrence of amphibians in oak hickory forests along an environmentalgradient in the Mid Cumberland Plateau. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Conference. Portland, Oregon. July 22-27, 2009.Baldwin, T.E., F. Chan, Y. Wang. 2009. The effect of moisture related habitat features on amphibian occurrence in the southern CumberlandPlateau in Northern Alabama. Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Clanton, Alabama. March 31- April 1, 2009. Barlow, R., Dimov, L.D., Connor, K., and M .Smith. 2008. First year survival and growth of fertilized slash pine in south Alabama. 15thBiennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Hot Springs, AR. November 17-20, 2008.Barillas, L. G., and Y. Wang. 2008. Forest edge habitat as the stopover site of landbird migrants during fall migration at Walls of JerichoManagement Area of northeastern Alabama. 15th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference (BSSRC). Hot Springs, Arkansas.November 17-20, 2008.Barillas, L. M. G. and Y. Wang. 2009. Age-related stopover ecology of songbird species during fall migration at an inland site of theCumberland Plateau of northern Alabama. 70th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists. Birmingham, AL. April 1-4,2009.Dillon Jr., W., M.M. Nobles and M. Mbila. 2006. Measuring soil carbon storage under different forest ecosystem management practices inNorth Alabama. Association of Research Directors, Inc. 14th Biannual Research Symposium. Atlanta, GA. April 1-5, 2006.Page 32 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Hupp, N., Dimov, L.D. 2008. Black cohosh presence and abundance relative to environmental gradients. Research Experience forUndergraduates, School of Ag and Environmental Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL July 25, 2008.Patterson, C.T., Dimov, L.D.2009. American Chestnut Restoration: Progress and Direction. Third Annual Science, Technology, Engineeringand Mathematics (STEM) day. Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL. April 3, 2009. Third Place Award.Soumare, M. K., K. E. Ward and R. N. Ward. 2009. Effects of prescribed fire, canopy tree reduction and their interaction on the diversity oflitter-dwelling ants. Entomological Society of America Southeastern Branch meeting, (PhD student oral competition). Montgomery, AL, March8-11.Sutton, W.B., and Y. Wang. 2009. Habitat Use and Spatial Ecology of Agkistrodon contortrix in Disturbed Pine-Hardwood Forests. BiennialSouthern Silviculture Research Conference. Hot Springs, AR. November 17-20, 2008.Sutton, W.B., and Y. Wang. 2009. Habitat Use and Spatial Ecology of Agkistrodon contortrix in Disturbed Pine-Hardwood Forests.Southeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation annual meeting. Montreat, NC. February 19-22, 2009.Thompson, M. M. and E.M. Moss. 2008. Prescribed Burning Effects on Selected Enzyme Activities. National Black Graduate StudentAssociation Conference.Thompson, M. M., E. Moss, Y. Tilahun, A. M. Ibekwe, and Z. Senwo. 2006. Soil Microbial Diversity after Forest Land Management Changes.Alabama Water Resources Conference, Auburn University, South Beach Alabama. Thompson, M. M., E. Moss, Y. Tilahun, A. M. Ibekwe, and Z. Senwo. 2007. Microbial Community Shifts after Fire Disturbances. Proceedingsof the 107th General Meeting, American Society for Microbiology. Virone, D., Dimov, L.D., Schweitzer, C.J., and W. Tadesse. 2008. CREST Subproject 1: effect of fire frequency and stand density onvegetation dynamics. Second Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment Conference. Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL. Oct 15-17, 2008Virone, D., Dimov, L.D., and Zak, J.C. 2008. Ground vegetation response to silvicultural treatments on the Southern Cumberland Plateau,Alabama. Second Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment Conference. Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL. Oct 15-17, 2008Wick, J. M., Y. Wang, and C. J. Schweitzer. 2008. Immediate effect of burning and logging treatments on the avian community at BankheadNational Forest of northern Alabama. 15th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference (BSSRC), Hot Springs, Arkansas. November17-20, 2008.Wick, J., Y. Wang, and C. Schweitzer. 2008. Short-term effects of disturbance on breeding birds in an upland pine-hardwood forest. Society ofConservation Biology annual meeting, Chattanooga, TN, July 13-17, 2008.Zak, J.Z., Dimov, L.D. 2008. Flowering synchrony, fecundity, and spatial distribution of Frasera caroliniensis (Gentianaceae) in NorthAlabama. Poster at the Ecological Society of America annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI, Aug 2-8, 2008.Other Workshop and Conferences attended:- Advanced bird banding course, taught by Danielle Kaschube, at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, North Carolina (May 6-10).- Training from Alan (Bruce) Hitch on preparing bird study skins on two occasions during spring 2008, Auburn University, AL (preparedEastern Meadowlark, Baltimore Oriole).Outreach Activities:Outreach ActivitiesWe strongly believe that the dissemination of the results of CFEA research and educational outreach activities is imperative to our success and is considered as an integral part of the CFEA mission. We have therefore taken an aggressive posture to inform the scientific and educational community of our research findings. The Bankhead Page 33 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Liaison Panel is one of the best forums available for us to communicate our research findings to the interested community. We have also hosted numerous on campus activities to engage students within the university and local area high schools. The activities include GIS day, Earth day, Science Exploration Day, and STEM day. Off-campus activities have also included the Young Water Ambassadors, school visits and community workshops.Community Workshops and MeetingsInteraction with the community in and around the study area, through workshops, meetings and casual interactions are very important part of the outreach work we do. All students and faculty members are encouraged to spend time discussing their ongoing research with the local communities and utilize the center's resources to expose the community to new technology and ideas. An example of community training events conducted is community based habitat assessment training. This was held in coordination with the Flint River Conservation Association. This activity included an hour-long training session on the slackwater darter (a threatened species), its habitat requirements, and about using GPS. Other examples included Huntsville Botanical Garden Bug Day where several Cornell boxes of insects collected from BNF were on display, fascinating many children and adults. Alabama's Living Streams Teacher's Workshop and Bankhead National Forest 'Bat Blitz' workshops were sponsored by the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. Graduate students are required to participate in outreach activities assisted by faculty and staff. This assisted students in developing communication skills essential to their long term career. Nevia Brown, a master's student in the human dimensions sub-project was an outstanding example of this. She interacted with community-based environmental and recreational organizations and people within her study area counties. She attended many environmental and recreation meetings, explaining the objectives of the CREST project and discussing the importance and scope of her research project. She also answered many questions raised by communities about the policies and management practices on the BNF. Giving this information has informed many people within those communities about the current management status, and cleared up a lot of community uncertainty and lack of trustworthiness with the BNF. She explained the relevance of the CREST project within the management plan, and how the studies would help develop a more productive forest in the future.Other students, who have a large portion of field work also interacted with the community every day. While Lisa Gardner-Barillas was in the Walls of Jericho, her study area, she encouraged the locals including hikers, Boy Scout Troops, and campers to learn about migratory birds. She introduced them to her research, and why the study area was important to migratory birds. William Sutton and Jill Wick, the two graduate students worked at BNF on wildlife related projects, each wrote an article about their research and wildlife diversity at BNF which published in the Wild South. This journal is widely circulated among land owner, different organizations, and government agencies. CFEA affiliated faculty members have collaborated with the Alabama Treasure Forest Association either in organizing workshop sessions or making presentations at the Association's annual meetings. CFEA staff will partner with the Jackson County Chapter of the TREASURE Forest Association to present a seminar and one field day event in September 2010. The seminar will feature speakers in the topics of Timber Theft Page 34 of 58

Final Report: 0420541and How to Conduct a Timber Sale. CFEA staff will provide timber sale expertise in this forum. CFEA students, AAMU FireDawgs, and staff will provide services such as field demonstration of Prescribed Fire and man a booth on the benefits of fire in ecosystem restoration during the field tour. Packets of educational material and discussion of the proper application of fire will be provided as part of the student involvement in the field tour.CFEA and FEWP students and staff assisted five landowners in the development of Natural Resource Management Plans (NRMP) on 650 acres. Four of the five landowners were minorities with family farms that had been in the family for over one hundred years. The landowners were provided guidance on utilizing Federal Cost Share Programs to accomplish the activities as prescribed in NRMP.CFEA and FEWP students, as a class project for their Introduction to GIS class, conducted resource inventories on 330 acres of forestland owned by AAMU near the campus. This forestland had never been inventoried or managed by the University; the resulting NRMP will provide the University with an additional income stream from the land and additional funds to the Forestry Program. Students also constructed a GIS database which included the resource inventory data along with maps of the roads, timber stands, wildlife openings and land line boundaries. Students and staff will make a formal presentation to the AAMU President in the fall with the hope of obtaining permission to conduct activities recommended in the NRMP.Field toursField tours are an excellent tool for decimating our research findings and engaging the community. We have been running field tours for different community and technical groups for throughout the CFEA project. Some of the examples of these field tours are listed below.We have been conducting an annual field tour for undergraduate students from Alabama A&M University's forestry program and for high-school students from the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE). The students met graduate students working in the project and some of the PIs, and then visited stands where different treatments have been carried out. The students compared the treated stands in terms of overstory and understory vegetation abundance and composition, wildlife composition (arthropods and small mammals captured in advance of the field trip), and microclimatic conditions. The field tours for the AAMU and the NACEE students have reached over 150 over the study period.With the help of undergraduate students, we conducted mensuration and silviculture for high school students at Roanoke-Randolph Career Developing Center in Wedowee, Alabama . We also helped organize and present Green Living expo by the Environmental club and sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative extension service and brought student participants at the venue of the event. Dr. Dimov conducted a forestry eco-hike for the public at Hayes Nature Preserve and lead an Agroforestry Demonstration Site Project training session on the thinning of sweetgum plantations.Bankhead Liaison Panel MeetingsCenter members have attended all bi-monthly meetings as liaison for CFEA-CREST research projects and AAMU FEWP. The main emphasis was to ensure the use and dissemination of CFEA-CREST research results conducted at BNF. Additionally, Daryl Lawson, project manager and Dr. Page 35 of 58

Final Report: 0420541William Stone participated in a recent liaison meeting to help present information on the proposed Bankhead Interpretive Center and Research Field Station. Dr Schweitzer also led field tours of the BNF for the liaison panel and staff.Numerous CFEA-CREST graduate students, staff and faculty presented results of their respective research to the Panel, including:? Bill Sutton who presented findings on herpetofauna species richness, range locations and habitat requirements, and the occurrence of several species that had not previously been found in the BNF.? Nevia Brown presented landowner and forest users group surveys conducted in and around the BNF. In addition, she polled the BNFLP on issues of concern and how to improve relations between environmental groups and the USFS. ? Daryl Lawson presented updates and presentations at each of the bi-monthly BNFLP meetings.Published popular articlesThe Center has initiated a quarterly newsletter. Six newsletters have been produced. The newsletter is a tool to disseminate current research to the interested community, keep those within CFEA informed of activities, and help in building partnerships. Recipients of the newsletter include local high schools, NGO's, Colleges, State and Federal Agencies, and Funding Agencies. Newsletters are available on the CFEA web site. Additional published works included two by Dr. Dimov; 'Promoting Forestry in North Alabama', and 'Walk in the woods tour ? Mtn. Lakes Chapter', both published in The Southeastern Forester. Dr. Sutton was published in Wild South for 'The incredible diversity of the Bankhead National Forest: survey reveals surprises'. Dr. Wick had 'Birds in plight' published in Wild South.Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Day Activities The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Day event is a day dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering, and math interest and skills among college students for many science-teaching institutions. It is also a day for AAMU to celebrate the accomplishments of their students in research and senior science projects. The goal of the program is to strive to build the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research capacity at AAMU alongside other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as a means to broaden participation in the nation's STEM workforce. CFEA students, staff, and faculty have been a driving force behind STEM Day for the last three years. During the events, about eighty students participated in science poster presentations from any STEM related research projects, including current on-going projects at AAMU, or projects completed on campus through summer research experiences. Scientists from outside AAMU were recruited to judge the posters. The STEM Day event received full participation from the CREST PIs and Collaborators either as STEM Committee members, advisors and mentors of students' research and senior projects, science poster judges, fundraisers, and support staff. Dr. Monday Mbila served on the STEM Committee as the Award Chair on behalf of the CFEA-CREST Project. Several graduate students received awards for their research posters in every year. For example, Lisa Gardner Barillas won the First Place Award in 2007 for her study of Stopover Ecology of Migratory Landbirds at an Inland Site in Alabama during Autumn Migration.GIS day Page 36 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Worldwide GIS Day is a day set aside during National Geography Awareness Week for Geo-Spatial Science professionals to reach out and educate people of all ages about the important contributions that Geo-Spatial Science related technologies make in our lives. Worldwide GIS Day is principally sponsored by the National Geographic Society, Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, United States Geological Survey, the Library of Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett?Packard, and ESRI. The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at AAMU hosted GIS day for the last couple of years. Invited guests to this year's GIS Day event included area high school junior and senior students, Geo-Spatial Science professionals, university students, and members of the general public. Exhibitors who made the event successful were - Magnolia River Services, Inc, Intergraph Corporation, US Army Corps of Engineers, City of Huntsville GIS Department, and USDA-NRCS NARSSO. In 2008 we adjusted the format by taking AAMU students to second Annual Rocket City Geospatial Conference in Huntsville, AL. As the premier GIS conference in the southeast, the event included over 60 presentations on key issues of importance to the region and participation of 21 premier geospatial exhibitors. AAMU's School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (SAES) was one of the exhibitors which highlighted our Environmental Science degree program, as well as our course offerings toward a minor in remote sensing and GIS certificate program. The conference was held with Alabama GIS Symposium. The keynote speakers were Jack Dangermond, President and Founder, ESRI (ArcGIS) and Mark Doherty, Executive Director, Technology Architecture and Strategy, Security, Government and Infrastructure Division, Intergraph Corporation. We had students presenting their research to the community through oral presentations and posters. AAMU was the only university to have students present in the general sessions. Alisa Potter, senior from the Department of Community Planning and Urban Studies, gave an excellent oral presentation on her senior project 'Highway Development and Land-Use Change: A Study in Madison County, Alabama.' We also had four poster presentations in the student poster competition section and made a clean sweep of first, second and third places with Dawn Lemke receiving first and second places for her posters titled 'Predicting Japanese Honeysuckle: Integration of GIS and Statistical Modeling Tools' and 'Integrating Remote Sensing and GIS in Developing Geodatabase for Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station,' respectively. Third place went to Allison Bohlman (AAMU) and Jennifer Schade (UAH) for their joint work on habitat mapping of the slack water darter. Conference organizers (Joe Francica, Jane Elliot, and Nora Parker of Direction Media) gave special permission for Dr. Tadesse's Introduction to GIS (NRE 365) class to attend the keynote speech by Jack Dangermond (President, ESRI) as well as visit the exhibitors' booths. The students got a chance to meet Jack Dangermond, experience a professional conference environment, and meet prospective employers. The Geospatial Lab (Dr. Tadesse) had a booth in the exhibitor hall to recruit students for our new certificate program and minor in remote sensing and GIS. Our booth received great interest with many professions very excited to see the certificate available in the local area. Joe Gardinski (USDA-NRCS) also assisted with the exhibit, highlighting the USDA-NRCS soil data viewer to the conference attendees. The highlight of the conference was when 150 students from Endeavor Elementary School visited the exhibit hall and learned about different elements of GIS and its contributions in their community.Page 37 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Earth Day Earth day is a day to focus on our natural world and the things which must be done to protect and preserve it. Drs. Dimov, Naka, and Stone, as well as several undergraduate students representing USDA-Forest Service, AAMU, and the Society of American Foresters, presented forestry and natural resource management tools, information, and samples at Earth Day each year at Hayes Nature Reserve. There are normally over 500 attendees. Dr. Dimov and students also led eco-hikes through the forested preserve. The Environmental Science Club, advised by Drs. Mbila and Naka, organized a conference on 'Conserving Global Air, Water, and Soil Resources: Challenges that face us' for AAMU community and the general public (Friday, April 21, 2008). The conference was addressed by speakers from AAMU, University of Alabama, and the Nature Conservancy. The event was well attended by faculty, staff, students, and the Huntsville, Alabama community.The Environmental Awareness Conference (2008 Earth Day Celebrations) event provided an opportunity for the student members of the club to encourage, educate, and share about issues in soil and water conservation and other science and environmental matters. The Club works towards attaining these goals not only on our campus, but also within the local communities.Membership is open to matriculated, currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff at AAMU. Currently, the club is affiliated with the National Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), as well as with the Student Activities Subdivision, American Society of Agronomy (SAS-ASA) and associated professionally with other Agronomy/ Soils/ Environmental Science students across the United States.Pre-K and K through 12 ProgramsWe run a number of programs for children and young adults that were based on CFEA research. During the summer AAMU conducted a program for three to eight year olds. The graduate students and staff involved in CFEA organized an environmental science day for these children. There were six different stations where the children learned about everything from ecosystems to pollution. We have been involved in developing a number of outdoor classrooms at local schools including one constructed for forest ecology education at Flamingo Park in Triana, Alabama. This has been a successful project for our forestry students and faculty. A picnic pavilion was renovated three years ago by our Society of American Foresters student chapter and this past year we erected two large interpretive display boards on forest ecosystems of our area. Our students created the posters, added bird houses, erected tree information signs along three trails, and added other information about the park. Another outdoor classroom was build at Stone Middle School, Huntsville, AL. We collaborated on a multi-group effort that included several colleagues on CFEA and forestry students preceding Earth Day to create an outdoor classroom at a local middle school that is predominantly African-American. Other activities included - construction of a waterfall and creek, planting of large flowerbed and trees along constructed trails, and construction of a small pagoda-style classroom with benches for outdoor learning. We helped design the classroom, advised the school on what plants to use, and provided some of the materials.GPS training was given to three Environmental Sciences classes at Columbia high School. Students learned skills to map and spatially monitor their outdoor classroom. They learned the basic principles of how GPS work, find a prerecorded point, and record a point and a path. Page 38 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Students are using these skills to record invasive plants, map trails, and map regeneration plots.Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB)The Birmingham Water Works Young Water Ambassadors program consists of 100 area high school juniors and seniors who spend their summer working and learning about the Birmingham Water Works and its operations. On February 1, 2006, a three member team from BWWB led by Mr. Jones had a return visit to AAMU. A team of fourteen faculty members and staff including the Chair of Plant and Soil Science Department and faculty members from CFE, Center for Hydrology, Soil Climatology and Remote Sensing (HSCARS), Plant Science Center (PSC), and USDA Forest Service researchers met with them on AAMU campus. The discussion was focused on our collaboration and to initiate the first year proposal of a five-year plan and the five areas that AAMU faculty suggested in the letter sent to BWWB on December 20, 2005. We identified faculty members from AAMU and personnel from BWWB who will work together for each of the five areas we identified and the potential costs. We found out a specific opportunity that AAMU can potentially take advantage of outreaching and recruiting. BWWB organized an 8-week summer 'Water Ambassador' program for inner-city minority high school students each year. About 100 students from 10-12th grade attend this program annually. BWWB pays the students $10/hr. AAMU organizes an AAMU Day and a visit to the campus for presentations and hands-on demonstrations to expose them to natural resource management and environmental sciences and then attempt to recruit students for various programs at AAMU. We conducted recruitment effort through BWWB's 'Water Ambassador' summer program in June 2007. BWWB organized an 8-week summer 'Water Ambassador' program for inner-city minority high school students during June and July of 2007. About 100 students from 10-12th grade attended this program. AAMU team worked with the BWWB partners for this summer program. Initially, we planned to have all the participants come to AAMU for a three day program that would include visiting various departments and facilities and participating in hands-on research activities. However, this plan was cancelled by BWWB partners because of potential liabilities. We decided to organize a one day AAMU field day at Birmingham Water Works. We had about 20 faculty members, staff, and graduate students to host the program at Cahaba Museum of BWWB and set up field stations that included molecular science, hydrology, soil science, silviculture, wildlife, and plant science. The immediate feedbacks from the participants both from AAMU and BWWB were very good about this initiative, they were impressed by our diverse programs, professionalism, skills, and the way we communicated with the high school students. This effort also included some of our earlier graduates from AAMU. A student survey was performed, and used to further improve the program. CFEA hosted the third Young Water Ambassadors Campus Visit and Lake Purdy Field Day. A new class of 100 high school students and 12 high school teachers participated in the two day event. At the college and career day 19 students signed commitment cards to attend AAMU in 2012. Most of these students will attend AAMU seeking a degree in Agriculture. Several have committed to seek a degree in Environmental Science or Forestry, Ecology and Wildlife Program. At the conclusion of the summer program 50 of the YWA presented a program to the BWWB on the AAMU experience. As a result of the program presentation the BWWB made a commitment to fund the 2012 YWA for a two full day campus Page 39 of 58

Final Report: 0420541experience to include an overnight stay in the dorms, a one day campus tour, and a one day CFEA lab tour. The USFS Southern Research Station has committed to funding a three day visit for all twelve teachers along with the CFEA Project Manager to tour the Bent Creek Experiment Station and the Coweta Hydrological Lab in Asheville, North Carolina.In the BWWB YWA program we have partnered with the twelve teachers to provide additional opportunities to conduct outreach with their individual schools. Most of these schools are located in the Birmingham Metro area and provide opportunities to engage their students and expose them to natural resource issues and solutions within their urban environment. The immediate feedbacks from the participants both from AAMU and BWWB were very good about this initiative, they were impressed by the diversity of our programs, professionalism, skills, and the way we communicated with the high school students. This effort also included some of our earlier graduates from AAMU. A student survey was performed and is being used for further improvement of the program. We are planning to continue our effort of recruitment during this year's BWWB's Summer Water Ambassadors Program.2009 USDA Soil Geomorphology Institute at Alabama A&MThe Biogeochemical Cycling Group (Subproject III) organized a 3-week intensive Soil Science Training Institute for Natural Resources workers for the United States Department of Agriculture (June 9 - 25, 2009). The purpose of the program was to integrate earth science approach to soil science, and to expand the skills and conceptual knowledge needed to generate and deliver soil survey and soil inventory products for field scientists. The training involved lectures and fieldtrips. The lectures were held at the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Auditorium, Alabama A&M University. Seven field trips that covered the physiographic regions of the state were organized to complement class discussions.Thirty participants (twenty-nine NRCS employees and one AAMU staff) registered and completed the training. The participants came from 15 states. Attendance of NRCS employees required nomination by their State Soil Scientist or MLRA Office Leader and the concurrence of the State Conservationist. The course was open to the public, however the target audience was soil scientists since the course provided new techniques to help assess, complete, and update soil survey inventories. The training program provided opportunities for more in-depth studies of soils at the William Bankhead National Forest, by different groups of the training participants focusing on different soil aspects at the research site. Alabama Academy of Science Annual conference During spring 2010, CREST successfully hosted the 87th Annual Conference of the Alabama Academy of Science at Alabama A&M University. This was the pioneering AAS conference at AAMU; over 500 faculty members and students across the State attended this meeting, this is the largest meeting AAS ever had. AAS leadership and members have expressed their great satisfaction with being able to have the meeting at AAMU and for such high quality local arrangements. We also successfully instituted the highly successful joint AAMU STEM DAY/AAS poster session, providing opportunities to show AAMU's excellent research capacities and accomplishments and to inspire collaborations with faculty and students of other universities. The Executive Board of the AAS expressed great appreciation of our work and suggested that Page 40 of 58

Final Report: 0420541AAMU 'local arrangements and university efforts should be a model for future AAS meetings.'Journal PublicationsChen X., "Ecophysiological and growth responses of Elm, Ulmus pumila, to different water tables.", Journal of Biological Sciences, p.813-819, vol. 5, (2005). Published,Chen X., Fraser, R., "Quantifying impacts of land ownerships on forest NDVI dynamics at the Bankhead National Forest of Alabama, USA",Forest Economics and Policy, p. , vol. , ( ). Submitted,Chen X., Li B-L., "Spatial distribution of forest biome energetics in China", Forestry, p. 0, vol. 78, (2005). Published,Chen, X . W., and Y. Wang., "Emergent spatial pattern of herpetofauna in Alabama, USA. Biodiversity & Conservation", N/A, p. 0, vol. , (). In Prep,Dimov, L.D., Chambers, J.L., Lockhart, B.R., "Spatial continuity of tree attributes in bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern USA",Forest Science, p. 532, vol. 51, (2005). Published,Dimov, L.D., Schweitzer, C.J., "Walk-in-the-Woods", The Southeastern Forester, p. 10, vol. 25, (2006). Published,Felix, Z., Y. Wang, and C. Schweitzer., "Effect of canopy removal on the abundance of juvenile eastern box turtles.", Chelonian conservationand Biology., p. , vol. , ( ). Submitted,Fraser R., B. Gyawali, and J. Schelhas, "Blacks in Space: Land Tenure and Well-being in Perry County, Alabama.", Small-Scale ForestEconomics, Management and Policy, p. 21, vol. 4, (2005). Published,Keim, R.F., Chambers, J.L, Hughes, M.S., Dimov, L.D., Conner, W.H., Shaffer, G.P., Gardiner, E.S., Day, J.W., "Long-Term Success ofStump Sprouts in Cutover High-Graded Baldcypress/Water Tupelo Swamps in the Mississippi Delta.", Forest Ecology and Management., p. ,vol. , (2006). Accepted,Wang, Y., A. Lesak, Z. Felix, and C. Schweitzer., "Relationship between avian community and forest habitat after the canopy cover reductionfor oak-hickory forest regeneration at the Southern Cumberland Plateau of Alabama.", N/A, p. 0, vol. , ( ). In Prep,Carpenter, J., Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C., "Status of the Cerulean Warbler in northern Alabama: Current population estimates and habitatcharacteristics.", Association of Southeastern Biologist Bulletin, p. 231, vol. 53, (2006). Published,Clark, S.L., Torreano, S.J., Loftis, D.L., Dimov, L.D., "Changes in regeneration potential 22 years after Quercus and Carya mortality in amixed-mesophytic old-growth forest.", Peer reviewed proceedings of the 15th Central Hardwood Forest Conference, p. , vol. , (2006).Accepted,Dimov, L.D., Schweitzer, C.J., "Overstory and regeneration structure and relationships in mixed stands on the southern Cumberland Plateau.",Peer reviewed proceedings of the 15th Central Hardwood Forest Conference, p. , vol. , (2006). Accepted,Dimov, L.D., Stelzer, E.L, Wharton, K., Meadows, J.S, Chambers, J.L., Ribbeck, K., Moser, E.B., "Effects of thinning intensity and crownclass on cherrybark oak epicormic branching five years after treatment.", Proceedings of the 13th Biennial Southern Silvicultural ResearchConference. Connor, K.F. (ed.). Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , (2006). Accepted,Gyawali, Buddhi R., R. Fraser and J. Schelhas., "Relationship between Human Well-being and Ecosystem Changes In the Black-belt Region ofAlabama.", Professional Agricultural Workers Conference, p. , vol. , (2005). Accepted,Keim, R.F., Chambers, J.L, Hughes, M.S., Gardiner, E.S., Conner, W.H., Day, J.W., Faulkner, S.P., King, S.L., McCleod, K.W., Miller, C.A.,Nyman, J.A., Shaffer, G.P., Dimov, L.D., "Long-term success of baldcypress stump sprouts.", Proceedings of the 13th Biennial SouthernSilvicultural Research Conference. Connor, K.F. (ed.). Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , ( ). Accepted,Page 41 of 58

Parajuli, S., Wang, Y., Tadesse, W. and Schweitzer, C., "Forest site classification of northeastern Alabama using remote sensing andgeographical information system.", Association of Southeastern Biologist Bulletin, p. 203, vol. 53, (2006). Published,Final Report: 0420541Schweitzer, C. J., A. A. Lesak, Y. Wang., "Predicting oak density with ecological, physical, and soil indicators.", Proceedings of the 13thbiennial southern silvicultural research conference., p. , vol. , ( ). Accepted,Schweitzer, C.J., "Oak regeneration response to moderate and heavy traffic under mechanical harvesting in an oak-hickory forest on theCumberland Plateau.", Proceedings of the fiftheenth central hardwood forestry conference. Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , ( ). Accepted,Schweitzer, C.J., Gardiner, E.S. and Loftis, D.L., "Response of Sun-grown and Shade-Grown Northern Red Oak Seedlings to Outplanting inClearcuts and Shelterwoods in North Alabama.", Proceedings of the thirteenth biennial southern silviculture research conference. Gen. Tech.Rep., p. , vol. , ( ). Accepted,Sutton, W., Wang, Y. and Schweitzer, C., "Amphibian and reptile habitat relationships in forest stands scheduled for disturbance: pre-treatmentresults.", Association of Southeastern Biologist Bulletin, p. 228, vol. 53, (2006). Published,Sutton, W., Y. Wang, and C. Schweitzer., "Habitat associations of herpetofaunal community at Bankhead National Forest", SoutheasternEcology and Evolution Conference, p. , vol. , (2006). Accepted,Wang, Y., "An introduction of bird population monitory techniques and national bird monitoring programs of the United States of America.",Proceedings of the 8th National Congress of China Ornithological Society and the 6th Ornithological Symposium of the Mainland and Taiwanin China., p. 0, vol. , (2005). Published,Wang, Y., A. A. Lesak, and C. J. Schweitzer., "Response of avian bark-foragers and cavity-nesters to the regeneration treatments in theoak-hickory forest of northern Alabama.", Proceedings of the 13th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. General TechnicalReport., p. , vol. , ( ). Accepted,Wang, Y., A. Lesak, Z. Felix, and C. J. Schweitzer., "Response of avian community to the forest regeneration treatments in the oak-hickoryforest of the southern Cumberland Plateau, USA.", Proceedings of XIXth International Zoology Congress, p. , vol. , ( ). Submitted,Wang, Y., A. Lesak, Z. Felix, and C. Schweitzer., "Relationship between avian community and forest habitat after the canopy cover reductionfor oak-hickory forest regeneration at the Southern Cumberland Plateau of Alabama.", Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of American, p. ,vol. , (2006). Submitted,Wang, Y., S. Parajuli, C. Schweitzer, D. Lemke, and W. Tedesse., "Classification of forest land of Mid-Cumberland Plateau of northernAlabama with isoclustering and rule-based logic approaches: an exploratory analysis.", 5th Southern Forestry and Natural Resources GISConference., p. , vol. , ( ). Submitted,Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C.J. and Lesak, A.A., "Response of Avian Bark Foragers and Cavity Nesters to the Regeneration Treatments in theOak-Hickory Forest of North Alabama.", Proceedings of the thirteenth biennial southern silviculture research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep., p. ,vol. , (2006). Accepted,Wick, J., and Y. Wang., "Breeding bird communities of pine-hardwood forests in Bankhead National Forest, AL.", Southeastern Biology, p.232, vol. 53, (2006). Published,Zak, J., "Ground vegetation response to environmental conditions and silvicultural treatments on the Southern Cumberland Plateau, Alabama.",MSc Thesis, p. 112 p., vol. , (2008). Theses,Clark, S.L., Schweitzer, C.J., Schlarbaum, S.E., Dimov, L.D., Herbard, F.V., "American chestnut (Castanea dentata) restoration research: agenetic and silvicultural approach.", Tree Planter's Notes. (In press), p. , vol. , (2009). Published,Felix, Z.I.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J., "Abundance and population structure of eastern worm snakes in forest stands with various levels ofoverstory tree retention.", 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. 2007, Feb 26-Mar 1. Athens, GA. Gen Tech Rep.SRS-XX. Asheville, NC. U.S., p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Page 42 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Felix, Z., L. J. Gatens, Y. Wang, and C. J. Schweitzer., "First Records of the Smoky Shrew (Sore fumeus) in Alabama.", SoutheasternNaturalist., p. , vol. 8, (2010). Published,Felix, Z., Y. Wang, and C. Schweitzer., "Experimental canopy manipulation affects amphibian reproductive dynamics in the CumberlandPlateau of Alabama.", Journal of Wildlife Management., p. , vol. , (2009). Accepted,Gyawali, B; R. Fraser; J. Schelhas; W. Tadesse; Y. Wang; J. Bukenya, "Human Well-being and Land Cover Types in the Forest-DependentRegion of Southern United States: Evidence from Population Census and Satellite Imagery Data", International Journal of Ecology &Development, p. 81-94, vol. 14, (2009). Published,Gyawali, B.; R. Fraser; J. Bukenya; J. Schelhas, "Regional Growth and Income Convergence in the Western Black Belt Counties of Alabama:Evidence from Census Block Group Data.", Proceedings of the 64th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference, p. , vol. , (2006).Accepted,Gyawali, B.; R. Fraser; J. Bukenya; J. Schelhas, "Income Convergence in a Rural, Majority African American Region.", The Review ofRegional Studies, p. , vol. 38, (2009). Accepted,Gyawali, B.; R. Fraser; J. Schelhas; W. Tadesse; Y. Wang; J. Bukenya., "Human Wellbeing and Land Cover Types in the Forest-DependentRegion of Southern United States: Evidence from Census and Satellite Imagery Data", Journal of Ecology & Development, p. 81-94, vol. 14,(2009). Published,Gyawali, B.; R., Fraser; Y. Wang; W. Tadesse; J. Bukenya; J. Schelhas, "Spatial analysis of the Change in Land Cover and Human Well-beingin the Black Belt Counties of Alabama", Proceedings of the 5th Southern Forestry and Natural Resources GIS Conference, p. 37-49, vol. ,(2008). Published,Li, J.; Q., S. T. Lin; Y. Wang; Z. W. Zhang., "Nest-dismantling behavior of the hair-crested drongo in central China: an adaptive behavior forincreasing fitness?", Condor, p. 197-201, vol. 111, (2009). Published,Hart-Crawley, A., K.McBee, and W. Stone., "Effects of Thinning on Bats in Bankhead National Forest, Alabama", Southeastern Naturalist, p. ,vol. , (2009). Accepted,Ma, Z. J.; Y. Wang; X.J. Gan; B. Li; K. Jing; S. M. Tang; and J. K. Chen, "Change and loss of wetland habitats and waterbird population trendsat Chongming Dongtan of the Yangtze River estuary, China.", Environmental Management, p. 1187-1200, vol. 43, (2009). Published,Moss, E.M.; Y. Tilahun, M; M. Thompson; Z. Senwo., "Microbial Diversity of an Agricultural Soil under Various Agronomic Conditions byPCR-Denaturant Gradient Gel Electrophoresis", Soil Science Society of America Tri-Society Proceedings, p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Nobles, M. M.; W. Dillon, Jr.; M. Mbila, "Initial response of soil nutrient pools to prescribed burning and thinning in a managed forestecosystem of Northern Alabama", Journal of Soil Science of America, p. 285-292, vol. 73, (2009). Published,Ranatunga, T. D.; R. W. Taylor; W. F. Bleam, "Organic Phosphorus in Forest Soils Impacted by Prescribed Burning and Logging",Proceedings of the Soil Society of America, p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Schweitzer, C.J.; Clark, S.L.; Gaines, G.; Finke, P.; Gottschalk, K.; Loftis, D., "Integrating Land and Resource Management Plans and AppliedLarge-Scale Research on Two National Forests.", Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, ForestService, Pacific Northwest Research Station., p. 127-134, vol. , (2008). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., "Hickory regeneration under five silviculture prescriptions in an oak-hickory forest in northern Alabama.", Proceedings 14thBiennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. 2007, Feb 26-Mar 1. Athens, GA. Gen Tech Rep. SRS-XX. Asheville, NC. U.S., p. , vol. ,(2008). Published,Stephens, J.; Dimov, L.D.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Tadesse, W., "Using LiDAR and color infrared imagery to successfully measure standcharacteristics on the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama", proceedings of the 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference, p.366-372, vol. , (2008). Published,Page 43 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Sutton, W.B.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J., "Amphibian and reptile response to prescribed burning and thinning in pine-hardwood forests:pre-treatment results.", 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. 2007, Feb 26-Mar 1. Athens, GA. Gen Tech Rep. SRS-XX.Asheville, NC. U.S., p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Sutton, W.B.; M.G. Bolus; and Y. Wang, "Predation", Herpetological Review, p. , vol. , (2009). Accepted,Thompson, M. M; E. Moss, "Influence of Land Management on Selected Enzyme Activity.", Soil Science Society of America Tri-SocietyMeeting Proceedings, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Thompson, M. M.; E.M. Moss; Y. Tilahun; A.M. Ibekwe; Z.N. Senwo, "Soil Microbial Diversity along a Forest Profile Using PCR-DGGE",Soil Science Society of America Tri-Society Proceedings., p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Wang, Y.; Parajuli, S.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Smalley, G.; Lemke, D.; Tadesse, W.; Chen, X, "Forested land cover classification on the CumberlandPlateau, Jackson County, Alabama: a comparison of Landsat ETM+ and SPOT5 images", 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture ResearchConference. 2007, Feb 26-Mar 1. Athens, GA. Gen Tech Rep. SRS-XX. Asheville, NC. U.S., p. , vol. , (2008). Accepted,Xu, J. L.; X. H. Zhang; Q. H. Sun; Z. W. Zhang; and Y. Wang, "Home range, mobility, and site fidelity of male Reeves???s Pheasants in amanaged reserve in the Dabie Mountains of Central China.", Wildlife Biology, p. , vol. 15, (2009). Published,Zak, J.C.; Dimov, L.D.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Clark, S.L, "Herbaceous layer composition and relations to stand and site variables in mixed uplandstands of the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.", 14th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. 2007, Feb 26-Mar 1. Athens,GA. Gen Tech Rep. SRS-XX. Asheville, NC. U.S., p. , vol. , (2008). Accepted,Dimov, L.D., "Spatial continuity of tree basal area: ecological and silvicultural implications.", Proceedings of Ecological Society of America, p.106, vol. , (2008). Published,Zak, J.Z.; Dimov, L.D., "Flowering synchrony, fecundity, and spatial distribution of Frasera caroliniensis (Gentianaceae) in North Alabama.",Proceedings of Ecological Society of America, p. 66, vol. , (2008). Published,Scott, C., "The use of natural and artificial vernal pools by semi-aquatic salamanders in the Cumberland region of Jackson County, Alabama",MSc Thesis, p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Tenyah, T.M, "Environmental Impact of Different Logging Methods in the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama: A Comparative Analysis",MSc Thesis, p. , vol. , (2009). Published,Dimov, L.D, "Spatial continuity of tree basal area: ecological and silvicultural implications", Abstract, Annual Meeting of the EcologicalSociety of America, p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Thompson, M., "STEM Education: The Basis for an R&D Edge", CSA News, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Brown, N, "Understanding Collaborative Community Involvement in the Forest Policy Implementation Process", MSc Thesis, p. , vol. , (2009).Published,Carpenter, J, "Distribution, relative abundance, and habitat requirements of Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) in northern Alabama.",Master???s Thesis , Alabama A&M University. Normal, AL., p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Chan, F., "An Inventory of Herpetofauna of the State Conservation Lands in the Cumberland Plateau of Northern Alabama.", Master???s Thesis,Alabama A&M University. Normal, AL., p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Deng, HL; Zhang, ZW; Chang, CY; Wang, Y, "Trace metal concentration in Great Tit (Parus major) and Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica) at theWestern Mountains of Beijing, China", ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, p. 620, vol. 148, (2007). Published, 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.11.01Chen, W. X., and Y. Wang, "Spatial Pattern of Herpetofauna in Alabama, USA", Acta Herpetological, p. 97, vol. 2, (2007). Published,Page 44 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Dimov, L.D., J.L. Chambers, B.R. Lockhart, "Five year radial growth of red oaks in mixed bottomland hardwood stands", Forest Ecology andManagement, p. 2790, vol. 255, (2008). Published,Felix, Z. I., "Response of forest herpetofauna to varying levels of overstory tree retention n northern Alabama", Ph.D. Dissertation. AlabamaA&M University. Normal, AL, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Felix, Z., Y. Wang and C.J. Schweitzer, "The effect of changing canopy cover on amphibian on oviposition rates", Southeastern Biology, p.154, vol. 52, (2005). Published,Felix, Z.I., Y. Wang and C.J. Schweitzer, "Relationships Between Herpetofaunal Community Structure and Varying Levels of Overstory TreeRetention in Northern Alabama: First-Year Results. In: Connor, Kristina (ed.). 2004. Proceedings of the twelfth biennial southern silvicultureresearch conference", Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS - 71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p.7, vol. , (2004). Published,Gyawali, B, "Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Human Well???being, Land Cover Types, Community Capital, and Income Growth in theBlack Belt Region of Alabama", PhD Dissertation, Alabama A&M University, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Lesak, A.A., Y. Wang and C.J. Schweitzer, "Songbird Community Variation Among Five Levels of Overstory Retention in Northern Alabama.In: Connor, Kristina (ed.). 2004. Proceedings of the twelfth biennial southern silviculture research conference", Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS - 71.Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p. 11, vol. , (2004). Published,McGee, G.G., M.J. Mitchell, D.J. Leopold, M. Mbila and D.J. Raynal, "Forest age and composition influence elemental dynamics ofAdirondack northern hardwood forests", Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, p. 253, vol. 134, (2007). Published,McNab, W.H., D.L. Loftis, C.J. Schweitzer and R.M. Sheffield, "A Pilot Test of Indicator Species to Assess Uniqueness of Oak-DominatedEcoregions in Central Tennessee. In: Spetich, Martin (ed). Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions and sustainability", Gen.Tech. Rep. SRS - 73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p. 88, vol. , (2004). Published,Schweitzer, C.J, "First Year Response of an Upland Hardwood Forest to Five Levels of Overstory Tree Retention. In: Connor, Kristina (ed.).2004. Proceedings of the twelfth biennial southern silviculture research conference.", Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS - 71. Asheville, NC: U.S.Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station., p. 287, vol. , (2004). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., "Monitoring and Assessment of Tree Establishment in the Wetland Reserve Program in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Plain.In: Connor, Kristina (ed.). 2004. Proceedings of the twelfth biennial southern silviculture research conference", Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS - 71.Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p. 586, vol. , (2004). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., D.L. Loftis, Y. Wang and G.C. Janzen, "Regeneration Potential of Selected Forested Stands on the Cumberland Plateau ofNorth Alabama. In: Spetich, Martin (ed). Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions and sustainability", Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS- 73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p. 269, vol. , (2004). Published,Stone, W.E., and Y. Wang, "Training Minorities in Wildlife Biology", The Wildlife Professional, p. 36, vol. 1, (2007). Published,Sutton, W, "The incredible diversity of the Bankhead National Forest: survey reveals surprises", Wild South, p. 38, vol. , (2007). Published,Sutton, W. B., Y. Wang and C.J. Schweitzer, "Response of forest herpetofauna communities to thinning and prescribed burning in mixedpine-hardwood stands in the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama: study site description and methods.", Southeastern Biologist, p.186, vol. 52, (2005). Published,Sutton, W.B., Y. Wang, and C.J. Schweitzer, "An alternative drift???fence trapping method for capturing large???bodied snakes", HerpetologicalConservation and Biology, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Wang, Y., J. C. Chang, F. R. Moore, L. Y. Su, L. M. Cui, and X. F. Yang, "Stopover ecology of red-flanked bush robin at Maoershan ofnortheast China", Acta Ecologia Sinica, p. 638, vol. 26, (2006). Published,Page 45 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Wick, J, "Birds in plight", Wild South, p. 40, vol. 30, (2008). Published,Wick, J, "Songbird Breeding Ecology. Response to Forest Management", Master???s Thesis. Alabama A&M University, Normal AL, p. , vol. ,(2008). Published,Yin Q., Z. Felix, D. Qiang, Y. Wang, B. Wang, Y. Yang, and Y. Wang, "Post-breeding movements, home range, and microhabitat use ofplateau brown frogs, Rana kukunoris, in Zoige Alpine Wetland, China", Acta Zoologica Sinica, p. 974, vol. 53, (2007). Published,Yin Q., Z. Felix, D. Qiang, Y. Wang, L. Liu, Q. Zhang, Y. Wang, "Summer and autumn activity of Rana kukunoris around a seasonal pond inthe Zoige alpine peatland", Zoological Research, p. 526, vol. 5, (2007). Published,Young, K.W, "Effects of Forest Disturbance on Small Mammal Communities at Bankhead National Forest on the Cumberland Plateau", .Master???s Thesis, Alabama A&M University. Normal, AL, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Zak, J., L.D. Dimov, C.J. Schweitzer, S.L. Clark, "Relationship between herbaceous layer, stand, and site variables in the Bankhead NationalForest, Alabama", Proceedings of the 14th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, Athens, Georgia, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Zak, J.C, "Ground vegetation response to environmental conditions and silvicultural treatments on the southern Cumberland Plateau, Alabama",Master???s Thesis, p. 112, vol. , (2008). Published,Carpenter, J., Y. Wang, A.A. Lesak., C.J. Schweitzer, E.C. Soehren and M. Sasser., "Status of the cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulean) innorthern Alabama.", Southeastern Biology, p. 117, vol. 52, (2005). Published,Chen, X, "Topological properties of amphibian distribution in Alabama of USA for large scale conservation.", Animal Biodiversity &Conservation, p. 1, vol. 31, (2008). Published,Chen, X, "Comparison of the recent precipitation variation at three locations in China.", Journal of Applied Sciences, p. 144, vol. 6, (2006).Published,Chen, X, "Leaf anatomical acclimation of six tree species to low soil water content.", International Journal of Botany, p. 212, vol. 1, (2006).Published,Chen, X, "Spatial pattern of wildfire occurrences in Alabama, USA.", International Journal of Environmental Studies, p. 229, vol. 64, (2007).Published,Chen, X, "Characterizing forest dynamics in Northeast China Transect", International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Research, p. 331,vol. 31, (2005). Published,Chen, X, "Tree diversity, carbon storage and soil nutrient in an old-growth forest at Changbai Mountain, Northeast China.", Communications inSoil Science & Plant Analysis, p. 363, vol. 37, (2006). Published,Chen, X, "Fishes pattern of Alabama", Wildlife Biology & Practices, p. 38, vol. 2, (2007). Published,Chen, X, "Carbon Storage Traits of Main Tree Species in Natural Forests in Northeast China.", Journal of Sustainable Forestry, p. 67, vol. 23,(2006). Published,Chen, X, "Using production/biomass ratio as an indicator for forest ecosystem assessment and management.", International Journal of Ecologyand Environmental Science, p. , vol. 32, (2006). Published,Chen, X, "Monitoring multispecies interactions: a case study of 16 main tree species along the Northeast China Transect", Applied Ecology andEnvironmental Research, p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Page 46 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Chen, X, Barrows C. W., Li B.-L., "Is the coachella valley fringe-toed lizard (uma inornata) on the edge of extinction at thousand palmspreserve in California of U.S.A.?", Southwestern Naturalist, p. 28, vol. 51, (2006). Published,Chen, X., Barrows, C. W., Li, B.-L., "Phase coupling and spatial synchrony of an endangered dune lizard species.", Landscape Ecology, p.1185, vol. 8, (2006). Published,Chen, X., Li, B.-L., "Assessing the relative importance of intrinsic and extrinsic influence on sheep population dynamics on Hirta island, UK.",Journal for Nature Conservation, p. 54, vol. 15, (2007). Published,Chen, X., Li, B.-L., Allen, F. M., "Characterizing urbanization, conservation and agricultural land use change in Riverside County, California,USA.", Annual Review of New York Academy of Sciences, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Chen, X., Li, B.-L., Scott, T., Allen, M.F., "Tolerance analysis of habitat loss for multispecies conservation in western Riverside County,California, USA.", International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management, p. 87, vol. 2, (2006). Published,Chen, X., Li, B.-L., Zhang, X.-S., "Using spatial analysis to monitor tree diversity at a large scale: a case study in Northeast China Transect.",Journal of Plant Ecology, p. 137, vol. 1, (2008). Published,Chen, X., Roberts, K.A., "Roadless areas and biodiversity: a case study in Alabama. Biodiversity & Conservation", Biodiversity &Conservation, p. 2013, vol. 17, (2008). Published,Chen, X., Zhang, X-S., "CCM2 modeling on the effects on Tibetan Plateau on arid and semi-arid areas in East Asia", Annals of Arid Zone, p. ,vol. , (2006). Published,Dillon, W, "Carbon sequestration in a disturbed forest ecosystem of Northern Alabama", Maters Thesis, Alabama A&M University. Normal,AL, p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Fraser, Rory, Buddhi Gyawali, Shambu Katel, and John Schelhas., "The Geography of Race in Alabama??s Black Belt", International Societyfor Social and Resource Management (ISSRM) Panel on Race and Natural Resources in the United States, p. , vol. , (2005). Published,Gyawali, B., R. Fraser, W. Tadesse, J. Bukenya, and J. Schelhas, "Relationship between Human Well-being and Ecosystems Changes in theBlack Belt Region of Alabama", N.O. Tackie, R. Zabawa, N. Baharanyi, and W. Hill (eds.), Strategies to Influence the 2007 Farm Bill andRural Policies: Impact on Diverse Cultures, Rural Communities and Underserved Farmers. Tuskegee University, AL., p. 57, vol. , (2007).Published,Hammett, A. L., K. Naka and B. Parsons., "Changes in Appalachian hardwood lumber exporter practices, 1989-2002", Forest Product Journal.,p. 47, vol. 59, (2007). Published,Jaja, Ngowari, "Biogeochemistry of trace metals in altered ecosystems.", PhD Dissertaion Alabama A&M University. Normal AL., p. , vol. ,(2008). Published,Mbila, M., "Tropical Soils.", Dig It: The Secret Life of Soil, edited by David Lindbo. Soil Science Society of America., p. , vol. , (2008).Published,Mbila, M., D. Clendenon, G. Martin, and T. Tsegaye., "Monitoring Wells and Piezometers.", In Sally Logsdon (ed.) Soil Field Methods. SoilSci Soc. Am Book Ser., p. , vol. , (2008). Published,Naka, K and S. Cela., "Timber price, diameter, sale method, and logging conditions in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia", Southern Journal ofApplied Forestry, p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Parsons B.. K. Naka and A. L. Hammett, "Hardwood lumber industry in the Appalachian region: focus on exportation", Forestry Chronicles, p., vol. 85, (2007). Published,Page 47 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Schoenholtz, S.H., J.A. Stanturf, J.A. Allen and C.J. Schweitzer., "Afforestation of agricultural lands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley:The state of our understanding", Book, p. , vol. , (2005). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., D.L. Loftis, Y. Wang and G.C. Janzen, "Regeneration Potential of Selected Forested Stands on the Cumberland Plateau ofNorth Alabama", Upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions and sustainability. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS - 73, Asheville, NC:U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station., p. 269, vol. , (2004). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., E.S. Gardiner and D.L. Loftis, "Response of outplanted northern red oak seedlings under two silvicultural prescriptions innorth Alabama.", Proceedings of the Thirteenth Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS, Asheville, NC:U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station., p. , vol. , (2005). Published,Schweitzer, C.J., Gardiner, E., Love, S. and Green, T, "Response of outplanted northern red oak seedlings under two silvicultural prescriptionsin north Alabama.", Ninth Workshop on Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems In Oak Plantings. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-262., p. , vol. ,(2005). Published,Wang, Y., A. A. Lesak, Z. Felix, and C. J. Schweitzer., "Initial response of an avian community to silvicultural treatments in the southernCumberland Plateau, Alabama, USA.", Integrative Zoology, p. 126, vol. 3, (2006). Published,Wick, J. and Y. Wang., "Habitat use of two songbird species in pine-hardwood forests treated with prescribed burning and thinning inBankhead National Forest, AL: 1st year results.", Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep.SRS, Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station., p. , vol. , (2007). Published,Moss, E.M., Y. Tilahun, M. M. Thompson, and Z. Senwo, "Microbial Community Structure and Diversity of an Agricultural Soil", Associationof Research Directors (ARD) Symposium, p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Moss, E.M.,Y. Tilahun, M, M. Thompson, Z. Senwo, "Microbial Diversity of an Agricultural Soil under Various Agronomic Conditions byPCR-Denaturant Gradient Gel Electrophoresis", Soil Science Society of America Tri-Society Proceedings., p. , vol. , (2006). Published,Stanturf, JA; Gardiner, ES; Shepard, JP; Schweitzer, CJ; Portwood, CJ; Dorris, LC, "Restoration of bottomland hardwood forests across atreatment intensity gradient", FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, p. 1803, vol. 257, (2009). Published, 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.01.05Sutton, W., Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C., "Habitat Relationships of Reptiles in Pine Beetle Disturbed Forests of Alabama, U.S.A., with guidelinesfor a modified drift-fence sampling method.", Current Zoology, p. 411, vol. 56, (2010). Published,Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Schlarbaum, S.E.; Dimov, L.D.; Hebard, F.V., "Nursery quality and first-year response of American chestnut(Castanea dentata) seedlings planted in southeastern United States.", Tree Planters??? Notes, p. 13, vol. 53, (2010). Published,Felix, Z., Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C., "Effects of Experimental Canopy Manipulation on Amphibian Egg Deposition.", Journal of WildlifeManagement, p. 496, vol. 74, (2010). Published,Wang, Naijiang; Tong, Jinzia, Zhang, Wenhui, Fan, Shaohui, Lu, Yuanchang, Schweitzer, Callie., "Forest Quality Evaluation Based onHierarchical Analytical Process for Caijiachuan State Forest Farm of Yan???an on Loess Plateau.", Scientia Silvae Sinicae, p. , vol. , (2010).Accepted,Sutton, W.B.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J., "Amphibian and reptile response to prescribed burning and thinning in pine-hardwood forests:pre-treatment results.", Gen. Tech Rep, p. 495, vol. 121, (2010). Published,Wick, J., Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C., "Immediate effect of burning and logging treatments o the avian community at Bankhead National Forestof northern Alabama.", Gen. Tech. Rep, p. , vol. , (2009). Submitted,Clark, S., Schweitzer, C., "Red maple (Acer rubrum) response to prescribed burning on the William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.",Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , (2009). Submitted,Page 48 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Baldwin, T., Chan, F., Wang, Y., Schweitzer, C., "Predicting amphibian communities using habitat variables in forested landscapes in thesouthern Cumberland Plateau.", Gen. Tech. Rep, p. , vol. , (2009). Submitted,Schweitzer, C.J., Wang, Y., "Overstory tree status following thinning and burning treatments in mixed pine-hardwood stands on the William B.Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.", Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , (2009). Submitted,Grayson, S.F., Buckley, D.S., Henning, J.G., Schweitzer, C.J, Clark, S.L., "Influence of Alternative Silvicultural Treatmetns on SpatialVariability in Light in Central Hardwood Stands on the Cumberland Plateau.", Gen. Tech. Rep, p. , vol. , (2010). Submitted,Wang, N.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C., "The Shade Tolerance of the Selected Afforestation Species on Loess Plateau of China.", Gen. Tech.Rep., p. , vol. , (2010). Submitted,Thompson, J.D., Rummer, R. and Schweitzer, C.J., "Harvesting Productivity and Disturbance Estimates of Three Silvicultural Prescriptions inan Eastern Kentucky Hardwood Forest", Gen. Tech. Rep, p. , vol. , (2010). Submitted,Schweitzer, C.J., Gottschalk, K., Stringer, J., Clark, S. and Loftis, D., "Using Silviculture to Sustain Upland Oak Forests Under Stress on theDaniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky.", Gen. Tech. Rep., p. , vol. , (2010). Submitted,Virone, D.A., "Response of ground layer vegetation to silvicultural treatments on the southern Cumberland Plateau, Alabama.", Thesis, p. ,vol. , (2010). Master's Thesis (to be completed Fall 2010).,Thompson, J.D.; Rummer, R.; Schweitzer, C., "Estimating harvesting productivity in an upland hardwood forest in Kentucky.", Proceedings.SAF National Convention Oct. 4, 2009, p. , vol. , (2009). Published,Sutton, William., "Forest herpetofaunal response to prescribed burning and thinning in pine-hardwood forests.", Ph.D. Dissertation, p. , vol. ,(2010). PhD Dissertation,Wang, N., Z. Liu, Z. Xu, W. Zhang, Y. Lu, S. Fan, Y. Wang, and L. Zhou., "Gray correlation analysis of the naturalness of the primary foresttypes on Losses Plateau.", Acta Ecologia Sinica, p. , vol. , (2010). Accepted,Li, J., N. Wang, Y. Wang, S. Lin, Q. Li, Y. Liu, X. Ruan, J. Zhu, B. Xi, and Z. Zhang., "Sexual size dimorphism and sex identification usingmorphological traits of two Aegithalidae species.", Zoological Science, p. , vol. , (2010). Accepted,Sutton, W. B., Y. Wang, and C. J. Schweitzer., "Habitat Relationships of Reptile Community in Pine-Hardwood Forests of Alabama, U.S.A.with Guidelines for a Modified Drift-Fence Sampling Method.", Current Zoology, p. , vol. , (2010). Accepted,Wen, L., T. Chen, M. Zhang, Y. Wang, Y. Zhang, Z. Duan, L. An, Q. Jian, and R. Peng., "Seasonal changes in anthocyanin contents and inactivities of xanthophyll and ascorbate glutathione cycles in Sabina species derived from different environments.", Acta PhysiologiaePlantarum, p. , vol. , (2010). Accepted,Gan, X., C. Choi, Y. Wang, Z Ma, J. Chen, and B. Li., "Alteration of habitat and food resources by invasive smooth cordgrass affects habitatuse by wintering saltmarsh birds at Chongming Dongtan of east China.", The Auk, p. 317, vol. 127, (2010). Published,Sutton, W.B., M.G. Bolus, and Y. Wang, "Predation", Herpetological Review, p. , vol. , (2009). Accepted,Wang, Y. and E. Moss., "Preparing for the future. Proceedings of the 2009 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program atAlabama A&M University.", Center of Forest Ecosystem Assessment of AAMU, p. , vol. , (2010). Published,Felix, Z., Y. Wang, and C. Schweitzer, "Experimental canopy manipulation affects amphibian reproductive dynamics in the CumberlandPlateau of Alabama", Journal of Wildlife Management, p. 496, vol. 74, (2010). Published,Books or Other One-time PublicationsPage 49 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Schoenholtz, S.H., J.A. Stanturf, J.A. Allen and C.J. Schweitzer., "Afforestation of agricultural lands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley:The state of our understanding.", (2005). Book, PublishedEditor(s): L.H. Frederickson, S.L. King and R.M. Kaminski, eds.Collection: Ecology and Management of Bottomland Hardwood Systems: The State of our Understanding. University of Missouri-Columbia.Gaylord Memorial Laboratory Special Publication No. 10. Puxico, MO.Bibliography: N/ASchweitzer, C.J., Gardiner, E., Love, S. and Green, T., "Response of outplanted northern red oak seedlings under two silvicultural prescriptionsin north Alabama. Ninth Workshop on Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems In Oak Plantings.", (2005). Tech. Rep., PublishedCollection: Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-262. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station.Bibliography: N/AWang, Y, "Migration and Orientation", (2010). Book, AcceptedEditor(s): Guangmei ZhengCollection: OrnithologyBibliography: Book chapterWeb/Internet SiteURL(s):http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/CFEA.htmDescription:? The CFEA website continues to be maintained (http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/CFEA.htm). This has included updating students, informationon the conference and adding reports. A new website was developed for the REU program (http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/reu/home.html? Dr. Kantety?s laboratory developed a web-based molecular genetic and sequence analysis site which is hosted on the 48-processorhigh-performance computing cluster (http://genome.aamu.edu/biohpc)? Co-created the Alabama A&M University?s National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates:http://saes.aamu.edu/reu.htm? Society of American Foresters Mountain Lakes Chapter: http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/SAFMtLakes/SAF.htm? Old-Growth Dynamics and Dendroecology Lab (OLDD Lab): http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/OldGrowth.htm? Addressing local needs for information on prescribed fire and thinning at the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama:http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/BNFResearch.htm? American chestnut restoration study: http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/chestnut.htm(Around July 1 the server crashed and since then these websites have been unaccessible)Other Specific ProductsProduct Type:Data or databasesProduct Description:Geodatabases have been established for all areas of interest and have been extended to cover the full Cumberland Plateau. The data areavailable to all thrust areas, scientists, and students through our server and have been utilized by all thrust areas participants. Some of thespecific uses are identifying differing physiographic characteristics of the Bankhead study stands, identity home range habitat, and producestudy site maps.Three geodatabase have been developed; Blackbelt, Cumberland and Bankhead. The Cumberland and Bankhead overlap spatially however theBankhead geodatabase contains greater detail. Digital databases have been developed for most datasets. The focal point of our data is the geodatabases. They store numerous data on theBlack Belt and Cumberland Plateau study area including topological maps, aerial photos, Landsat images, roads, rivers, elevation land use andcensus data. Other databases include herbaceous, trees and regeneration. All databases can be linked though geographical coordinates.Sharing Information:All thrust area have access to this information. In the near future some of this information will be placed on an IMS server and served outthrough the website.Page 50 of 58

Product Type:Data or databasesFinal Report: 0420541Product Description:A relatively recent accomplishment of our fauna teaching and research program at AAMU has seen the rapid development of our specimencollection. This was a specific objective of a previous grant to Drs. Stone and Wang from USDA CSREES that was completed in the Fall of2006. Starting with nothing only a few years ago, the number of preserved (via taxidermy or alcohol) terrestrial animal specimens in thecollection has grown into the hundreds. Specimens include bats, mice, songbirds, snakes, salamanders, turtles, frogs, medium-sized mammals(e.g., raccoon, opossum, skunk, rabbit, armadillo, beaver, and mink), hawks, turkey, geese, wild hog, and deer. Most of these specimens havebeen prepared by undergraduate students. This rapid expansion is partly due to the contribution of NSF-CREST and related research projects.No animals are killed specifically for the collection, but when animals expire in traps or are found dead in the forest, they do not go to waste.This past year we began adding aquatic species as well.The reference specimen collection for insects and other arthropods has grown at an even more astonishing rate, requiring more storage cabinetsand space to store voucher specimens and collections. These include reference collections for lepidopteran species, carabid beetle species, andother beetle families, and morphospecies from Jackson County and Bankhead National Forest; a pinned collection of coleopteran, dipteran,heteropteran, and hymenopteran representatives from Malaise trapping in Bankhead National Forest, with the duplicates preserved butunpinned, totaling approximately sixteen to thirty-two pounds wet weight and tens of thousands of individuals; a pinned collection ofcoleopteran representatives from pitfall trapping in Bankhead National Forest; a collection of unpinned, preserved invertebrate specimenstotaling approximately forty-eight pounds wet weight and thousands of individuals; pinned carabid beetle specimens from 350 trappinginstances in Jackson County, Alabama; and a pinned, pointed, and double-mounted beetle collection from Lindgren funnel trapping inBankhead National Forest.Sharing Information:This information will be utilized in synergistic projects.Product Type:Physical collection (samples, etc.)Product Description:A large collection has been assembled as a result of arthropod monitoring activities associated with CFEA, through litter sampling, Lindgrenfunnel trapping and pitfall trapping. Certain groups, including especially ants, carabid beetles, parasitoids, bark beetles and various xylophages,have been targeted as major indicators to assess the effects of thinning and burning disturbances. Beyond this, these collections are cataloguingsome of the more important components of the insect communities within the stand types studied. Additionally, the materials collected can beused by others conducting ecological and taxonomic work in the southern Cumberland Plateau. Some of our collection will eventually behoused in the Mississippi Entomological Museum, Mississippi State University. As mentioned above, this collection also serves as a referencetool for our students in forestry and other disciplines and will be used for outreach purposes to better educate the public on insects in generaland within our region. Additionally, both forestry and plant science students have had access to the growing CFEA arthropod collection as a reference tool for theirown collection activities as requirements for the insect pest management courses that are curriculum requirements. CFEA personnel (H.Howell and various undergraduate students working with the insect collection) have graciously offered their expertise to students strugglingwith their collections.Sharing Information:This collection represent a reference collection of the Bankhead area.Product Type:Teaching aidsProduct Description:- Safety Training guide for CFEA field workers- Insect Identification Training Manual- Spreadsheet based key to beetle families - Field tours resources- Procedures for recruiting and training undergraduate work-study studentsSharing Information:These resources are used with students and general public.Product Type:NewslettersPage 51 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Product Description:NewslettersThe Center has initiated a quarterly newsletter. As of June 2009, five newsletters have been produced. The newsletter is a tool to disseminatecurrent research to the interested community, keep those with in CFEA informed of activities and help in building partnerships.Sharing Information:Recipients of the newsletter include local high schools, NGO?s, Colleges, State and Federal Agencies, and Funding Agencies. Newsletters areavailable on the CFEA web site.Product Type:WebsitesProduct Description:Websiteso Co-created the Alabama A&M University?s National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates:http://saes.aamu.edu/reu.htmo Society of American Foresters Mountain Lakes Chapter:http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/SAFMtLakes/SAF.htmo Old-Growth Dynamics and Dendroecology Lab (OLDD Lab):http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/OldGrowth.htmo Websites in support of research projects:1. Addressing local needs for information on prescribed fire and thinning at the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama:http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/BNFResearch.htm2. American chestnut restoration study: http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/chestnut.htm(Around July 1 the server crashed and since then these websites have been inaccessible)? The CFEA website continues to be maintained (http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/CFEA.htm). This has included updating students, informationon the conference and adding reports. A new website was developed for the REU program (http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/reu/home.html? Dr. Kantety?s laboratory developed a web-based molecular genetic and sequence analysis site which is hosted on the 48-processorhigh-performance computing cluster (http://genome.aamu.edu/biohpc)Sharing Information:Through the Internet, Newsletter, personal contact and other CFEA publications and correspondenceProduct Type:Physical collection (samples, etc.)Product Description:We collected, pressed, and deposited voucher plant specimens at Alabama A&M University (duplicates to other herbaria in Alabama ?Jacksonville State University, West Alabama University, University of Alabama) for validation of all recorded species. The herbarium containsat present approximately 150 herbaceous and 50 woody species.We also established database with ground vegetation metrics so that future data sets can be easily entered, edited, and analyzed.The treated stands have been a useful tool in the undergraduate course Silviculture (NRE 375). Our undergraduate students majoring in ForestScience and Forest Management, as well as our REU students and non-student visitors can observe on the ground, the different outcomes fromthe nine different silvicultural treatments on the studied stands at the Bankhead National Forest.Sharing Information:Used as teaching and research aidsProduct Type:Page 52 of 58

LogoFinal Report: 0420541Product Description:A CFEA Logo and letterhead were developed and distributed to CFEA personnel for use in email and written correspondence. Magnetic Logoswere distributed to place on bumpers and vehicles for use in the field. Tote bags, pencils, key chains, rulers, and lanyards were given to eachattendee of the CFEA Summer conference. In addition, visitors to the Center and Partners were provided with these items in appreciation fortheir support of CFEA.Sharing Information:Available to everyoneProduct Type:brochuresProduct Description:CFEA brochures were developed and CFEA logo materials were provided at all recruitment efforts. CFEA graduate students who went onrecruitment trips were reimbursed through matching funds and the BWWB Grant.Sharing Information:conferences and recruitmentContributionsContributions within Discipline:CONTRIBUTION WITHIN DISCIPLINECFEA investigators were successful during last six years in seeking funds to develop additional areas of research related to impacts of forestmanagement on the forest ecosystem in northern Alabama. These areas include water quality, invasive plants, outdoor recreation, forestfragmentation, harvesting impacts on humans, forest site mapping and classification, and impacts on additional animal communities includingaquatic communities.THRUST AREA I: FLORAThe knowledge gained about vegetation dynamics and the information anticipated to be gained after the subsequent growing seasons is likely tostrengthen the ability to manage the forest at the ecosystem level. It will also provide us the means to quantitatively anticipate the impact ofsilvicultural operations on plant succession and the change in plant cover, richness, diversity, and other vegetation characteristics of importanceto the ecosystem functioning. The results will enable us to design and use the most effective treatments when we aim for bringing back thenative vegetation and with it, the birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms that used to occur on those sites prior to conversion to pastureand later to pine plantation.Our work resulted in a number of findings that are important contributions to our knowledge in the field of plant ecology. Analysis of date fromthe ground layer vegetation showed that a total of at least 70 systematically distributed plots, 1 meter sqaure each, are sufficient to capture atleast 90% of the species in a forest ecosystems of the type studied. Additionally, our analyses demonstrated that explaining the compositionalvariation of the three studied life forms (vines, herbs, and graminoids) was better accomplished using non-linear methods.The studied treatments (thinning, burning, and a combination of the two) have different effects on the ground layer plant community.Moreover, they have a different impact on the cover, richness, and diversity of the plants, depending on the plant life form. The treatments alsointeracted with each other, resulting in an increase complexity of the vegetation response.Our research revealed that the season in which the sampling occurred had a significant effect on the vegetation cover and richness, but not ondiversity. Therefore, season of sampling is a crucial consideration of in studies that aim to examine plant cover and richness, regardless of thetreatments applied. Additionally, it is important to also account for the significant interaction between the season of sampling and the treatmentthat was observed in our study.THRUST AREA II: FAUNAThe fauna thrust area has contributed much to our understanding of the ecosystem response to the forest disturbance we are studying. Theanimal communities are early indicators of the effects of forest disturbance in the ecosystem. Our results suggest that the thinning disturbancehad a greater impact, with few exceptions, than prescribed burning, thus far. The intensity of the thinning treatments may be responsible for ourobservations, but the frequency of the prescribed burning may still combine with thinning to produce different results than either disturbancealone. Our data collection must continue to detect the potential divergence of the animal communities under different disturbance regimes.Page 53 of 58

Final Report: 0420541Previous studies of animal community responses to these types of disturbances are rather limited because of the difficulty of conducting a largereplicated field experiment with pretreatment data and controls. Thus, our findings for particular animal taxonomic groups will make significantcontributions to those disciplines because of the comprehensive experimental design we have chosen. We are even finding that some of thecreatures we are studying were thought to be rare in the State are fairly common once we began to conduct our intensive surveys and studies.We are confident that, in the long term, we will be able to contribute information on recovery period, threshold dynamics, and causalmechanisms to the disturbance ecology literature that is rare or lacking for some animal groups that are important components of the forestecosystem.Our search for mechanisms in observed responses has been mostly successful thus far, but not completely satisfactory. Some animalcommunity groups have less certainty about causal factors in explaining the ecological effects of the disturbances. Also, long term effects ofdisturbance may negate initial positive responses as environmental conditions change and weaken our perceived causal relationships. Ourincomplete understanding is not surprising given the complex nature of ecological relationships and our relatively short investigation of thisdisturbance regime.Beyond this view of our contribution to other disciplines, our Center has made some concrete contributions by expanding the scope of ourresearch to additional faunal components of the ecosystem to include the disciplines of herpetology and aquatic ecology. We anticipate thatthese will further add to our own internal synergy between taxonomic groups as we seek to determine the patterns of faunal response to forestecosystem disturbances and the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for those patterns. As our Center develops further, it is likely thatadditional animal communities may be represented that will fill in missing links and further our understanding of the deeper ecological patternsand processes regarding the dynamics of competition, predation, regeneration, migration, and other ecological areas of scientific exploration.THRUST AREA III: SOILSForest ecosystems play critical roles in the global C management, which is thought to affect green house gases and global warming. Since thecapacity of forest ecosystems to sequester C depends to a large extent on the ecosystem management practices, this research addresses one ofthe critical issues of our time ??'global soil C sequestration. Prescribed fire has been a forest management tool for hundreds of years for very good reasons: Native Americans used fire to create distinctlandscape patterns; forest managers have used low intensity burns to maintain fire dependant species, improve wildlife habitat, and prepare sitesfor seeding. But in spite of the wealth of knowledge that is currently available regarding forest management (specifically prescribed fires), andsoil C sequestration, there are still uncertainties due to current methods of assessing C sequestration in soils. This problem has led to differentconclusions in the literature. Many studies have suggested that frequent fires can deplete the organic litter layer and leave the mineral soilvulnerable to soil degradation and that forest harvesting on average has little or no effect on soil C and N. But other studies have not foundsignificant differences in C sequestration. Our research employs a pedological approach that analyzes research sites based on climate, organisms, topography, parent material, and time(clorpt). The approach also studies entire soil profiles by examining soil pits to determine the smallest C changes in the soil layers. Thereforethis study is contributing significantly to our current knowledge of ecosystem management and global C accumulation studies.Several research presentations in national and international meetings and conferences have been and will continually be done. A MS levelthesis titled: 'CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN A DISTURBED FOREST ECOSYSTEM OF NORTHERN ALABAMA'?has been completed,based entirely on the data generated from this study. One manuscript titled 'INITIAL RESPONSE OF SOIL NUTRIENT POOLS TOPRESCRIBED BURNING AND THINNING IN A MANAGED FOREST ECOSYSTEM OF NORTHERN ALABAMA' has been publishedin the highly rated Soil Science Society of America Journal (Soil Sci. Am. J. 73: 285-292). Another is being prepared for the highly rated SoilScience Journal. Part of a PhD dissertation titled 'SOIL BIOGEOCHEMISTRY OF TRACE METALS IN ALTERED ECOSYSTEMS' wascompleted based on data from Objective #7 of the Biogeochemical Group. That PhD work evaluated the impacts of prescribed forest fires andlogging on trace metal release and redistribution in the ecosystem. In all, this research is making great contributions in the discipline of soil andenvironmental sciences.THRUST AREA IV: MOLECULAR BIOLOGYThe findings from this research help us in identifying genetic bottlenecks, while developing diagnostic genetic markers for detection ofindividual species. As the inter-specific hybridization within red oaks is very common, we may be able to set up large-scale population geneticsexperiments to determine the significant locations in the oak genome that influence the important traits. Our current collaborations are alreadyworking to develop additional markers using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics for developing detailed genetic maps of red oakgenomes. THRUST AREA V: HUMAN DIMENSIONSThis research addressed one of the emerging themes in the global research-human dimensions of natural resources management by utilizing thePage 54 of 58

Final Report: 0420541indicators of socioeconomic and landscape disturbances in relation to the socioeconomic development of the Alabama's Black Belt. Thisresearch presented an innovative spatial data-based approach to understanding the relationship between economic development anddisturbances in the demographic and natural base such as changes in different types of land covers. The exploration of the spatial aspects of thedisturbances in social, economic and landscape change is an innovative one. The study provided interesting results on objectives, groundedsquarely in the human dimensions of natural resources???literature, the use of the longitudinal data, and the importance of examining the threethemes at the Census Block Group (CBG) level. The use of satellite images and sub-county units is an innovative methodological approach thatgoes beyond the previous research effort in the west-central Black Belt region of Alabama. This research addressed some of the methodological limitations of previous studies in the natural resource dependency. Previous studies didnot well address the issues of rural restructuring, spatial arrangement of landscape, and the role of endogeneity. The findings of this researchwill add to the spatial-temporal explanations of how the communities have responded to the disturbances in demographic and landscapeattributes. The integration of the social and landscape science, economics, spatial dynamics theories and the application of a spatial analyticalframework for analyzing cross-temporal primary, and secondary data is useful for understanding the evolving pattern of human-environmentrelationships in the resource-dependent communities. Further research should be interdisciplinary and multi-scale and should combine spatial analysis of both historical and cross-sectional data withinterviews. Many researchers address questions on pattern and process in the ecological and human world from within the boundaries of asingle discipline, neglecting the relationships between ecological and social systems. Emphasis is needed on the integration of the socialsciences for long-term ecological research. Also, the longer time frame data will assist in fully understanding landscape change patterns and theeffects of other endogenous and exogenous forces. The methodology adopted by this study could be one way to explore the important role ofendogenous and exogenous disturbances operating at finer to coarser geographical scale. Contributions to Other Disciplines:CONTRIBUTION TO OTHER DISCIPLINESAreas of interest that have developed since this project was initiated are air and water quality, forest fragmentation, harvesting impacts, forestsite mapping and classification, and impacts on additional animal communities, among others.The knowledge gained to date about vegetation dynamics and the data we are collecting in subsequent growing seasons will strengthen theability to manage the forest at the ecosystem level. Historically, human development forced people to focus on the sustainable production ofwood as it used to be the main source of heating and energy. But as society has advanced, the importance of the multiple uses of forestresources has emerged and so has our understanding of the importance of biodiversity. The interconnectedness among organisms and theirenvironment has required us to recognize ecosystem-based management is most appropriate. Our study is one of very few in the country that ispositioned to answer ecosystem level responses to common silvicultural treatments. Most other studies focus on limited components of theecosystem, e.g., only vegetation or only avian community. Studies integrate the response of multiple communities, but none have done this tothe same extent as in our study. Our study examines the response of the woody and herbaceous vegetation, amphibians, reptiles, birds, smallmammals, soil micro fauna, and soil chemistry to disturbance. Our work also provides the means to quantitatively estimate the impact ofsilvicultural operations on plant succession and on the change in plant cover, richness, diversity, and other vegetation characteristics ofimportance to ecosystem functioning. These results will enable us to design and use more effective treatments in our effort to restore the nativevegetation and with it, the birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms that once occupied these sites before they were converted to pastureand pine plantations.Our findings have wider implications than the field of plant ecology. The vegetation dynamics following thinning, burning and combinations ofthe two treatments, as well as the vegetation dynamics within a growing season, has implications for the dynamics of other organisms thatdepend on the plants for shelter and forage. Treating the forest stands or not treating them at all, has an impact on the plant community by altering overall cover, richness, and diversity, aswell as the proportion of the different species and life forms that are present on the site. Altering these forest ecosystem attributes is bound toimpact the availability of food for native pollinators, vertebrate and invertebrate wildlife, and have an impact on the higher trophic levels.Additionally, the change in the cover and species composition following the treatments modified the amount of shade on the forest floor and theamount of exposed bare soil. These changes influence the soil chemistry, flora, and fauna, as well as soil erosion and the hydrology in thetreated stands.The faunal studies, like all other research efforts in CFEA, has contributed to the other disciplines by connecting their findings with the findingsof other field research efforts. This interdisciplinary approach has inherent benefits since each discipline can make substantial contributions toother disciplines and overall synergistic comprehension of disciplines as well as related phenomena. For example, wildlife research benefits soilscience and forestry because our data is ecologically connected to their data and our results are their results in an ecological context. Beyond this, we have extended our contribution to other disciplines; it is worth noting that we have expanded some contributions by addingPage 55 of 58

Final Report: 0420541studies in herpetology, invasive plants, and aquatic ecology. We anticipate that these will further internal synergy between taxonomic groups,as we all seek to understand the patterns of responses to forest ecosystem disturbances and the underlying mechanisms that are responsible forthose patterns. As our Center develops further, it is likely that additional fauna will be included in our research. They will enable us to furtherour understanding of the deeper ecological patterns and processes explaining the dynamics of competition, predation, regeneration, migration,and other areas of forest ecology.Contributions to Human Resource Development:CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTA primary objective of the Center is to increase the number of trained professionals, especially African-Americans, engaged in research,teaching, and management of renewable natural resources. We have made great headway toward this goal by involving both graduate andundergraduate students in all aspects of the research project conducted by different scientists. After graduation these students will be wellequipped to lead in research and teaching fields and in the job market with state and federal agencies, private consulting, and industrial forestry.During last six years, CFEA has provided numerous opportunities to enhance the technical skills and professional training of faculty, staff, andboth graduate and undergraduate students. One such example was the PC-ORD statistics workshop held in conjunction with our annualmeeting. Faculty, graduate students, and professional conservation partners participated in this opportunity to strengthen our analytical skills.This workshop should also improve access and retention for our mostly African-American graduate student population in the research andteaching workforce. Hosting a GIS Day demonstration and workshop allowed CFEA personnel to maintain current knowledge of mappingsoftware and applications to our research. The faculty and students attended local, regional, national and international conferences, andworkshops. CFEA seminars brought in scientists from a range of forestry and biological disciplines to share ideas with faculty and students.Our students have shown great interest and dedication to this project and many of them have worked in more than one Thrust Area. One of themost beneficial aspects of this Project is the 'on the ground' training that students receive while working in the individual Thrust Areas. Theyare encouraged to study field samples and enter raw data, so that they can understand and apply the science beyond the data collection level.Many students are now developing their own hypotheses that will complement the present research being conducted in this project. Some of theresearch outputs were utilized as educational materials (for instance, land cover and socioeconomic maps) was utilized in the land managementtraining workshops for the underserved landowners in the study area. Such activity helped them to understand the demographic and landscapetransformation in their vicinity. Many of our students have received assistantships and scholarships through the CFEA CREST project. They have also been able to apply andreceive other grants, scholarships, and assistance ships through EPA STAR and EPA GRO Fellowships, USDA/CSREES and USDA/ForestService, State Wildlife Grants, Private industry and public Utilities (Birmingham Water Works Board) work study programs, Cooperativeprograms (Alabama Forestry Commission) etc. (See list of Graduate students working on CFEA objectives)One of the key goals of the CREST Project has been to educate future natural resource scientists, especially students from groups currentlyunderrepresented in science and technology fields. One of the strategies that CFEA has adopted to achieve this goal is to form partnerships withneighboring High Schools, and other educational organizations in a program called 'EnvironMentors'.The program is being carried out with collaborations of the following organizations: Alabama A&M University (AAMU), The North AlabamaCenter for Educational Excellence (NACEE), and Johnson High School (JHS).The goals of the program are a) to increase opportunities for minority students to be involved in science and the environment; b) to help in thedevelopment of future leaders in agricultural and environmental sciences through research and educational experience; and c) to help in studentrecruitment efforts of the Department of NRES, especially the AAMU Environmental Science program.Contributions to Resources for Research and Education:CONTRIBUTION TO RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONThe development of our GIS lab has contributed significantly to the sharing of information with other research areas within the University. TheGIS lab is utilized by students, professors, and staff to create a common database and mapping system. This shared database allows each ThrustArea to access baseline information to assist them with their phase of the project. The use of this shared database has also assisted faculty, staff,and students working on other projects and grants within the School of Agriculture and Environmental Science and the Department of NaturalResources and Environmental Sciences at AAMU. With the addition of new GPS and inventory software, we will also be able to sharedatabases from Private industry, municipal, state and federal agencies, and private consultants. Some of these groups have agreed to share theirdatabases with AAMU and as the research results are completed our findings will be shared with natural resource managers and privatelandowners.Page 56 of 58

Final Report: 0420541The proposed Bankhead National Forest Interpretive Center and Laboratory will be a valuable facility for CFEA research, education, andoutreach when it is completed. The Bankhead National Forest Citizen's Liaison Panel and the general public are eager to establish this facilityto showcase CFEA research and facilitate transfer of research technology and knowledge about our forest ecosystems to the community. Theinitiative has forged some new partnerships in the State and will be a concrete contribution for years to come toward the research of forestecosystems and the education of ecologists and the public. CFEA has continued to maintain a webpage (www.saes.edu/forestry) for the project. Currently, the webpage provides information on theproject, participants, activities, and outcomes. It also contains information for current and prospective students, a calendar and links to otherresources. The project experimental design and implementation is also available on the web, so that other researchers with similar researchgoals and objectives can access our methods and protocols.Dr. Dimov developed and maintains several websites that are also accessible from his personal webpage(http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/CFEApeople/bios/Dimov.htm). They include the website of the Society of American Foresters Mountain LakesChapter (http://saes.aamu.edu/forestry/SAFMtLakes/SAF.htm), and of the Southeastern Hardwood Forestry Group(http://saes.aamu.edu/Forestry/CFEApeople/Dimov/sehfg/sehfg.htm). The members of this Chapter of the Society of American Foresters havegreat interest in the research funded by CREST. Our facilities, laboratories, and instruments are open for use by other disciplines within the University system. Portions of our facilities andequipment were maintained, purchased, or repaired utilizing University funds and is thereby available for use by other researchers within theUniversity system. Most of the personnel within the project are housed in the same building and freely exchange ideas, concepts, and problems,so that common solutions can be reached with such concentration of resources.We have also employed students from other disciplines (Biology, Chemistry, Business, Engineering and Computer Science) in field datacollection, research outreach, and database entry. The students along with support from The Department of Natural Resources andEnvironmental Sciences, and CFEA Faculty have initiated a Graduate Student Association that allows for review of publications and journals,advice on thesis development and implementation, and peer review. Using funds from the BWWB grant, CFEA was able to purchase various equipment shared online with FEWP and CFEA. Serveral additionalwork trucks have been purchased with leverage funds and will be shared with CFEA researchers. Another SUV and one 15-passenger van onloan to CFEA were secured from the BWWB grant. Also secured with BWWB monies are two integrated hand held GPS units with SoloForestmapping software and TCruise timber inventory software; one Garmin stand alone GPS unit; and one laptop computer, complete with widescreen monitor, and additional external hard drive for backing up CFEA Main files. The project assisted to create digital databases (both unprocessed and processed) for socioeconomic and landscape disturbances of the studyregion. These databases will be available for public through the campus server. Three papers were developed from this dissertation project andare in review in scholarly journals. Two papers are being developed to send for publication. These scholarly works are expected to contribute tothe theories of human dimensions of natural resource management in the resource dependent communities. Five oral presentations and twoposters have been made available online for public access.Contributions Beyond Science and Engineering:CONTRIBUTION BEYOND SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGForest managers are increasingly interested in considering the impacts of forest management practices on ecosystem structure and functionssuch as biodiversity. The response of various forest component to forest management has received much attention because theirinterrelationships and dependence. For example, forest management activities that result in canopy removal can lead to lower biodiversity byreducing the survival rates and smaller body sizes of wildlife species. One of the major advantages and strengths of our Center is the closerelationship and collaboration with USDA Forest Service including the Bankhead National Forest, the agency with the task of managing thepublic forest in the study area. The research result will be immediately available to the forest landowner, resource managers, and concernedgroups. These groups are looking for ways to implement management plans that meet their goals and objectives in an ecologically sustainableand cost effective manner. The findings of CFEA research will provide several different burning and thinning regimes, which will allowlandowners and managers more options in implementing management activities that are more sensitive to the environment. Development ofbrochures, pamphlets, and presentations materials to disseminate at landowner and concern group field day and state wide meetings willprovide resource managers with real world solutions based on sound science to better manage all natural resources for future generations. Oneimportant need is to continue this research so that the long term impact of forest disturbance can be studied to help understand the long termPage 57 of 58

Final Report: 0420541impacts of natural resource management decisions. These findings will also for encourage greater participation by user groups in the decisionand policy making process, especially on federal lands. It will also provide a forum for common ground discussions between landowners andresource managers to better interact with concern groups that may be opposed to forest management practices. With the collaborations with the Bankhead Liaison Panel, we have established a medium for information sharing and technology transfer thatprovide a much needed outlet for the people with varied interest in the Bankhead National Forest. This group provided valuable input into theBankhead Management Plan and gave full support to the establishment of CFEA_CREST. Daryl Lawson is a facilitator for this group at theirbi-monthly meeting. We have presented some of our initial education and research findings to the BFLP at these meetings. These presentationswere well received and plans are to continue these efforts on a regular basis. The information produced by the CFEA CREST Project has beenshared with other public outlets as well. (See Publications and Presentations)Another contribution beyond science and engineering is the training of minorities in science areas where they are underrepresented. CFEA isonly beginning to graduate its first cohort of students, but the impact will soon be noticeable in the various ecological disciplines where blackscientists can be counted on a single hand. With continued growth in the research and education goals of the CFEA, greater numbers ofminorities will be aware of career opportunities in nonmedical scientific disciplines, be attracted to the type of work that we do, and increaserecruitment success. Successful alumni of our Center are the best recruiters for future minority researchers and educators in these disciplines.As these minority scientists become recognized in their disciplines and their communities, a growing recognition of the relevance andimportance of ecological research and education by an increasing segment of our society is likely to gain greater political and economic supportfor environmental quality and ecological research in the future.The human dimension research at the Black-belt region provides empirical perspectives that are relevant to public policy for the resourcedependent communities and insights for socioeconomic development strategies for rural communities. For example, we found that forestgrowth trends were not evenly distributed and did not show a consistent pattern in all areas within the west-central Black Belt region ofAlabama, which raises some interesting questions about natural resource-based economic development. The classification maps showed thatforest growth occurred in certain geographic areas (such as in and around industrial or corporate lands, outskirts of major highways, industrialzones, etc). Such unique pattern of resource concentration or expansion may relate to the existing resource distribution policy at the county orstate level. These findings provide much needed information to policy makers and administers for making natural resource and economicdevelopment decisions and strategic planning. The Center teams have carried out many outreach activities such as Earth Day and Landowner Education and Assistance programs. Theseoutreach activities educate the public about the fast changing natural resource and environment related issues that the society is facing, andraise the public awareness of the urgency to protect these resources for our future generations. Conference ProceedingsAny ConferenceCategories for which nothing is reported:Page 58 of 58

Research ActivitiesThe multi-disciplinary team at the Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment (CFEA) has coordinated itsresearch efforts mostly at a common site and on an integrated problem related to the forest ecosystem.The research is based on the concept that characteristics of an ecosystem are determined by severalrelatively independent "external state factors" (global climate, geology, time, etc.) and by interactivecontrols (regional climate, disturbance regime, human activities, etc.) that both effect, and are affectedby, ecosystem processes. Similarly, the characteristics of a social system are affected by both externalfactors (international markets, state and federal regulations, history, etc.) and by interactive controls(institutions, businesses, environment, etc.). The research teams of the five thrust areas of CFEA havecontinuing their effort of collaborative research in the BNF, a part of the upland hardwood forests of theSouthern Cumberland Plateau. Each research team at CFEA has been examining a component of theforest ecosystem. The emphasis of the research focused on sustaining short and long-term foresthealth and restoration of native upland forest communities, including selected plant and wildlifespecies.Thrust Area I – FloraObjectives 1-3: Determine the effects of fire frequency, overstory stand densityreduction, and their interaction on plant community structure, composition,productivity and dynamics in mixed stands in the Southern Cumberland PlateauThe research activities at the start of the project involved work related to the selection of the stands tobe treated. Planning began in the spring of 2004 and took into account the Final Environmental Impactstatement. The design took into account the constraints in assigning treatments to stands as outlined inManagement Bulletin R-8MB 110B, as well as the needs of scientists in other disciplines who worked inthe treatment stands. In particular, it was requested from the wildlife scientists that minimum stand sizebe 25-acres, and that stand shape be nearly rectangular.The thinning was carried out during the growing season of 2005 (block 1), 2006 (blocks 2 and 3), and2007 (block 4). When thinning and burning were applied to the same stand, the burning was carried outbetween February and March of the dormant season following the thinning (Table 1).Table 1: Thinning and burning treatment implementation schedule, by block, for study stands on the William B. BankheadNational Forest, AlabamaTreatmentnumberHarvestgoalHarvestdateBurnreturnfrequencyft 2 acre -1 Block1 Block2 Block3 Block4 years Block1 Block2 Block3 Block41 0 02 0 10 Feb-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Mar-083 0 3 Feb-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 Jan-084 50 Aug-05 Jun-06 Jul-06 Jun-07 05 75 Aug-05 Jun-06 Jul-06 Nov-07 06 50 Aug-05 Aug-06 Dec-06 Sep-07 3 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-07 Feb-087 75 Aug-05 Dec-06 Dec-06 Sep-07 3 Jan-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 Feb-088 50 Sep-05 Dec-06 Aug-06 Oct-07 10 Mar-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Mar-089 75 Sep-05 Dec-06 Jul-06 Oct-07 10 Mar-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Mar-08Burndate

Woody vegetation data collection was initiated in June 2004 and is ongoing. The re-measurements arecarried our annually. Five vegetation measurement plots were established within each stand. Arectangle approximating 25-acres was delineated on each stand map. Five measurement plots consistingof three concentric sub-plots each were systematically arranged within each treatment stand using GIS,with one plot located in the center of the rectangle and the other four equal distance from the centerplot towards each corner. Measurement plot centers were monumented with rebar and flagging andGPS coordinates were recorded. Plot locations were described on the data record sheet. Detailed mapswere generated and are currently being maintained by Forest Service researchers. The smallestmeasurement plot, 0.01 acre, 11.8-ft radius, was used to collect regeneration data. Every tree within itsboundary was recorded by size class (one-foot height classes for all seedlings up to 4.5 feet, and heightand diameter for all larger trees) and species; a select number of seedlings representing the speciesmixture and size distribution on the regeneration plot were tagged with a numbered identification tag(brass tags nailed into the ground at the base of each seedling). These select regeneration trees weremapped (azimuth and distance from plot center) and species, height, and basal diameter were recorded.These seedlings provided an opportunity to assess relative mortality by species and size class for thevarious disturbance regimes. The understory plot, 0.025-acre, 18.6-foot radius, was established todocument all vegetation that is at least 1.5 inches diameter at breast height (dbh; diameter at 4.5 feetabove the ground). Tags were positioned so that they face plot center, and were located at ground level,nailed into the tree. All arborescent vegetation 1.5-inch dbh and larger was mapped (azimuth anddistance recorded from plot center), and species, height, and dbh were recorded. On the overstory plot,0.2-acre (52.7 feet radius) all trees 5.6 inches dbh and larger were sampled. These trees werepermanently marked, mapped, and documented as described above. Tree grades were also assigned toall sample trees in the overstory plot. Usually hardwood trees of sawlog size (11 inches dbh, top of thesawlog section ends with a diameter of the outside bark of 9 inches) are assigned a quality assessmentor tree grade. For this study, we assigned a tree grade to all sample hardwood trees 11-inches dbh andgreater, and assigned a potential grade to those trees less than 11-inches dbh. Tree grade forhardwoods is designed to fully assess the best 12-foot section in the butt 16-foot log. Minimum lengthof clear feet in a 12-foot section for grade 1 is 10 feet, for grade 2, 8 feet and for grade 3, 6 feet. Finaltree grade was based upon dbh, scaling diameter and number of feet without defects on the best threesides. Common defects include epicormic branches, cankers, holes, knots and knot overgrowths, logcrook and sweep and heart rot.All plots were measured prior to treatments, and revisited as soon as possible after completion of theinitial treatment for determination of initial mortality due to treatment. Fire and logging scars werenoted on all tagged trees. All plots were re-measured at the end of the first growing season, and at theend of each growing season thereafter for determination of growth of residual stand, continuingmortality, ingrowth and recruitment. The ground layer vegetation sampling occurred three times duringthe growing season before treatment and during the first posttreatment growing season. In subsequentyears it was carried out twice in each growing season. There were 4 subplots of 3 different sizes (0.25m 2 , 1.0 m 2 , and 4 m 2 ) upon each of the woody vegetation plots (Figure 1).We divided the 4 m 2 subplot into four 1 m 2 sections and sampled each 1 m 2 section separately. The areasampled for ground vegetation in each of the 0.08 woody vegetation plots totaled 21 m 2 . We sampled atotal of 100 1 m 2 subplots and 20 0.25 m 2 in each stand. Cover was determined by visual estimation tothe nearest 1% and totaled 100% since overlap in this layer was uncommon. Species richness (S’) wasthe total number of species in each plot. Diversity was represented by the Shannon-Weiner index (H’)calculated with the formula.2

4 m 2subplot sizeTreatmentStand( > 9 ha)0.08 ha vegetation plotsPlot Center (PC)3.5 m4.0 m1 m 20.25 m 20.08 havegetation plotDistances to PC fromsubplotFigure 1: Plot layout. Left: Schematic drawing of treatment stand with five 0.08 ha plots. Right: Schematic drawing of the0.08 ha vegetation plots with sample square layout, area, and distance from the plot center.We collected, pressed, and deposited voucher specimens at Alabama Agricultural and MechanicalUniversity (AAMU) (duplicates to other herbaria in Alabama – Jacksonville State University, WestAlabama University, and University of Alabama) for validation of all recorded species. Specimens werecollected and pressed by Joel Zak and Dana Virone and some have been laminated. They will also beused to train new graduate or undergraduate students on the project.Light intensity was measured several times per growing season at ground level and at 4.5 feet above theground using a LI-190SA quantum sensor (LI-COR Corporation). Hemispherical photographs were takenat the center of each plot before treatment and annually thereafter. We also measured and recordedcanopy cover with a densitometer in four directions from each plot center, plot topography, slope, andaspect.Sampling of load was conducted on line transects located just outside the vegetation plots. The farthestsample tree in each fifth acre vegetation plot, in the direction of the random azimuth, was identified,and two transects, one at plus-90 degrees from random azimuth, the other at negative 90-degrees fromthe random azimuth. The sample tree number was recorded and it is used as the reference point forrelocating fuel loading data transects. Transect sampling followed the system described by Brown andmeasured parameters such as downed, dead woody material segregated into different fuel type (1, 10,100 and 1000-hour fuels). Duff litter depth, litter and herbaceous vegetation were also measured andrecorded. A square-foot sample of litter and of duff material were also collected at 15 and 65 feet alongeach transect. Litter and duff samples were be separated into five categories: 1-hour fuels (0-0.24-inchwidth), 10-hour fuels (0.25-1.0-inch width), bark, fruit and leaves. Samples were dried and then weighedto estimate the fuel load.Prescribed burns were conducted between December 20 and March 4 using a combination of flanking,backing, and strip-head fires with hand ignition. Fire behavior were recorded by BNF personnel duringprescribed burns, and flame lengths were estimated to average 1.2 feet (range 0.6-1.8 feet) and rate ofspread was estimated to average 1.4 chains per hour (range 1.1-2.0 chains per hour) across the eightprescribed burns. Fires were characterized by BNF personnel as cool burns with low risk of escapingacross fire-line boundaries. Objectives of burning included fuels reduction, enhancement of wildlifehabitat, and enhancement of hardwood natural regeneration.3

To document fire variability within stands and to determine if fire characteristics can be correlated tovegetation response, we installed fire-monitoring devices at each of the five vegetation plots within thefrequent burn regime burn units (stands to be burned every 3-5 years). In Block 1, maximum firetemperature was measured using aluminum tags painted with five levels of temperature sensitive paints(Tempil®) that melt at 175º, 200º, 300º, 400º and 575º F. We positioned aluminum tags horizontally onan aluminum pin flag 10 inches above the ground so that each of the five paints had equal opportunityto melt during the prescribed burn. One tag was placed at plot center, and 4 tags were placed 12 feet ineach cardinal direction from plot center, resulting in 25 tags per burn unit in Block 1. For Blocks 2, 3 and4, we used Type-K thermocouple probes attached to Hobo® data loggers to record fire behavior data.The probe tips record temperature and they were placed in an upward position 10 inches above theground. A 6 foot cable extended from the probe to the data logger was buried in a 3 inch trench of baremineral soil. Prior to transportation to the field, the data logger was covered in an anti-static bag toprevent a build-up of static electricity, placed inside a PVC casing, and buried in a 6 inch hole in theground. We installed data loggers and probes on the morning of the burns and we programmed them torecord temperature every 2 seconds. Care was taken to minimize disturbance to fuels around the probetip, and the litter layer was repositioned over the trench of the buried cable. We positioned threeprobes 12 feet from plot center in the north, east and west cardinal direction. We recorded a plot asburned if one of the paint tags or one of the data loggers obtained a minimum temperature of at least175º F or 90º F, respectively. If the paint tag or data logger did not reach this minimum temperature, weexcluded it from the analysis.We examined response to fire at the tree-level scale by recording maximum fire temperature and redmaple responses for 42 red maple saplings (1.5-5.4 in dbh) in the Block 4 frequent burn regime unit. Weplaced two aluminum tags painted with temperature sensitive paint (as described above) just above thelitter layer at the base of each tree. Prior to the burns, we measured dbh and tallied number of sprouts(> 1 foot in height, < 1.5 inch dbh) for each red maple sapling. We also recorded volume (height, width,and depth to nearest 0.1 inch) of existing cambium wounds on the tree. The day following the burns, wemeasured maximum height of the charred surface (i.e., char height) on each red maple sapling to thenearest 0.1 foot. In late May following the prescribed burn, we documented tree mortality, and if thetree was alive, we documented dieback to the main stem and counted number of sprouts.Objective 4: Test current and emerging remote sensing technology to determine itsability characterize forest structure and composition as well as detect natural andanthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent recovery of forest ecosystemsA myriad of remotely sensed data was collected for the study plots. This included first and last returnLiDAR (light detection and ranging) data was collected from an altitude of 1000 meters with 50% overlapbetween lines for some of the study area described above. The LiDAR data from the venrod had thefollowing technical specifications:1. Fully processed LiDAR data for portions of Bankhead National Forest (~ 226 square mile) inASPRS approved format, both Bare-Earth and First-Return, with a point density of greater than 1point per square meter.2. Fully mosaiced color infrared imagery, ortho-rectified using available USGS DEM and output to 1foot pixel resolution for the 543.6 square mile contiguous area of Bankhead National Forestdelivered in TIFF format3. Contour lines at 2-foot interval in ESRI-Shape fileThis flight plan provided a per line point density of 2 meters by 2 meters with overlapping linesproducing a final point density of approximately 1 meter.4

Color Infrared (CIR) imagery was obtained at an altitude of 3290 m such that a photo scale of 1:21600was achieved with a spatial resolution of 0.50 m. To determine tree heights and locations it wasnecessary to classify the LiDAR points into two different categories. The result of classifying the LiDARdata was two sorted point clouds: bare earth returns, which represented the ground topographybecause the points were reflected by the ground, and first return, which depicted vegetation heightsbecause they were reflected by vegetation. Once the vegetation and the bare earth point clouds weresorted based on elevation above an ellipsoid, both point clouds were used to create the interpolatedterrain models (raster images) that allowed us to calculate tree heights. We tested for the bestinterpolation method (from among the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW), Universal Kriging (UK), andOrdinary Kriging (OK) based on the amount of error between the predicted and the measured points forIDW, UK, and OK. A digital terrain model (DTM) was created from the bare earth and first returns suchthat each 0.5 m pixel represented the ground elevation. A digital surface model (DSM) was thendeveloped to represent the above ground vegetation with a 0.5 m spatial resolution. Both the DSM andDTM images were interpolated using the OK method. The canopy height model (CHM) was produced bysubtracting the DTM image from the DSM image to obtain the vegetation heights for the study area.This created the CHM raster image that contained the vegetation heights that were used to obtain treelocations, heights, and crown dimensions in Treevaw (Tree Variable Window (Treevaw), an ENVIapplication developed by A.U.Kini and S.C.Popescu. The tree heights calculated in Treevaw werecompared to the field height measurements. Field data was collected by using a ForestPro laser rangefinder (Laser Technology, Inc., Centennial, Colorado) to obtain 75 tree heights. The trees whose heightswere collected were selected by establishing five plots in a systematic manner and measuring the 15trees in each plot that were closest to plot center and had diameter at breast height over 1.5 inches. Thefield measured tree height average was compared to the average LiDAR derived tree heights. Treevawwas used to identify tree location and tree height. The Treevaw algorithm is based on the localmaximum filtering technique that uses a search window of variable size. Two separate Treevawprocesses were run to identify coniferous and deciduous trees. The coniferous trees were set to asmaller crown width size (3.00‐5.00 m) that was determined by measuring the crown width in theclassified coniferous CIR image. For the deciduous trees, we used a larger crown width (7.50‐10.00 m)that was also determined by measuring the crowns in the area classified as deciduous.The project concerning the vegetation thrust area allowed us to provide excellent research experiencefor over 30 undergraduate students, nearly all of whom were African Americans.Thrust Area II – FaunaThe research efforts of the fauna thrust area were designed to meet similar objectives with differingtaxonomic groups. These original objectives are to determine how a variety of animal community groupsrespond to forest disturbances from thinning and prescribed burning. Although these remain ourprimary objectives, the growth of this thrust area since the establishment of the CFEA allowed us tobroaden our activities to help accomplish Center-wide goals. Specifically, we have used NSF-CRESTfunding to leverage more research and teaching capacity enhancement for our Center and expanded itsprogrammatic areas into new scientific disciplines (e.g., herpetology and aquatic ecology research)identified by the CFEA External Advisory Board. In addition to broadening our interests, these newobjectives also seek to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms (i.e., breeding ecology success,movement patterns, and resource acquisition and use) involved in the animal community responses thatour team has detected thus far. The activities described below have yielded major findings andadvanced our understanding of the role that anthropogenic forest disturbance is having on our forestecosystems.5

1. Determine the effects of different levels of fire frequency and canopy reduction andtheir interaction on the species richness, relative abundance, and diversity ofarthropod communities.We have collected one‐year pretreatment and one‐year post‐treatment data of the arthropod, avian,and mammal communities from the forest stands of this research. The data allowed us to examine thespatial of variability these faunal community across the landscape and their responses to the prescribedburning and thinning treatments.Ant Leaf Litter CommunityStudy Design: Based in the design described in the Flora thurstSampling of the Leaf Litter Ant Community: The ALL protocol was used to obtain baseline informationand assess treatment impacts on the leaf litter ant community within the study area. The ALL (Ants ofthe Leaf Litter) protocol uses a combination of litter sampling and pitfall trapping. It is a standardizedprocedure used in ant diversity studies worldwide. Each ALL sample consisted of two litter and twopitfall trap samples. These were collected near one of five subplots previously established within eachtreatment plot for vegetation assessments. Each plot location was flagged and georeferenced. Allsampling of treatment plots was conducted three times per year, in spring, summer and fall. During eachsampling period, samples were collected sequentially by block over a period of approximately onemonth. A total of 90 ALL samples were collected per sampling period (5 samples/trt x 6 trt combinationsx 3 blocks).Litter Sampling: The two litter sample per ALL sample was combined and extracted using a mini-Winklerapparatus. Two 0.5m² quadrats of moist leaf litter were collected 20 meters north and south of eachvegetation subplot center. After sifting through a 1 cm 2 wire mesh screen, samples were combined andplaced into a mini-Winkler extractor. Samples were left in extractors in the laboratory for seven days toallow ants to migrate from the litter to a collecting chamber, as the litter dries out. The sample wasshaken gently after 24 hours in order to disturb ants that had settled down in the center of the litter tofacilitate movement into the collecting container. Collected ants were placed in 70% ethanol and helduntil pointing, then identified to species.Pitfall Traps: Pitfall traps are generally used to sample ants and other ground dwelling arthropods. Theyare effective for estimating species richness, species composition, and ant relative abundance. Pitfalltraps used for ALL protocol sampling consisted of two 473 ml plastic cups placed in the ground. Thelower cup acted as a sleeve, with the bottom removed. The top cup was filled to a depth ofapproximately 5 cm with a mix of 95% ethanol and propylene glycol. Each pitfall trap had a transparentplastic rain cover to prevent flooding and reduce animal damage. Pitfall traps were placed near areaswhere litter samples were collected. Each trap was opened when litter samples were collected and leftopen for seven days, as litter samples were processed in the laboratory. All collected ants were washedwith soapy water and placed in 70% ethanol before pinning and identification.Baiting Studies: Baiting experiments were used to obtain additional information on the composition,abundance and diversity of the leaf litter ant community and to assess treatment impacts on foragingbehavior. Treatment impacts on ant foraging behavior in turn should help us to better understandobserved differences in leaf litter ant community composition and diversity among treatments. Baitinguses food to attract foraging ants for collection or observation. Data collected by this method isgenerally used to estimate species richness, composition, activity, and community structure. Food richin protein, such as tuna and sardines, or rich in carbohydrates, such as peanut butter, cookies, sugarsolutions and honey, are commonly used as baits. In this study, tuna (in water) and peanut butter baitswere used. Peanut butter or tuna was placed in whirl-pak bags with wire at the opening to allow ants6

easy access to the bait. Three paired sets of baits (tuna and peanut butter), set on laminated quadratpaper (which facilitates observation, counting and collection of ants), were placed ca 20 meters apartnear vegetation subplots. In order to record the species succession at each location, bait sets with antswere collected at 45 minute intervals and replaced with new sets three times. Baiting was conducted,by treatment plot, between 0800 and 1200 hours. The collected ants were stored in the freezer andpreserved in 70% ethanol (v/v) before identification.General Arthropod SamplingSeveral trapping/collection methods were used within experimental plots to sample arthropod faunarepresenting a variety of important functional roles in the community, including herbivores,predators/parasitoids, xylophages and scavengers within experimental plots. Samples collected werestored in 70% ethanol prior to sorting and pinning. Samples of selected groups (primarily carabidbeetles) were sorted to order, then to family and morphospecies. The experimental design for insectsampling was the same as for mammal and avian studies, except that we used only two burningfrequencies (none and 2-5 years) and two levels of canopy reduction (none and 50%) for a total of fourtreatment combinations. Each treatment combination was to be replicated four times for a total of 16experimental plots.Malaise Traps: Malaise traps are tent-like structures made of fine mesh fabric netting. They are effectiveas 24-hour passive collectors of flying insects. Insects encounter netting sides of the trap during normalflight and are directed to crawl upward into a collecting chamber; a sloping top prevents escape fromthe upper area. We used a Townes style trap with green netting. Collecting jars were filled with 95%ethanol. Three traps were placed near three vegetation subplots in each treatment plot. Insects werecollected for 1 week in spring, summer and fall of each year of the study.Pitfall Traps: Pitfall traps are useful for sampling surface-dwelling (epigeal) arthropods, especially mobilepredators such as ground beetles and wolf spiders and scavengers such as rove beetles. The pitfalltrapping method was the same as that used for ant sampling described above.Lindgren Traps: These traps consist of a series of connected black plastic funnels with a collectingcontainer attached at the bottom (containing propylene glycol). They are primarily designed to attract avariety of xylophagous species (cerambycids, tenebrionids, buprestids, scolytids, etc.) and bark beetles,and are usually used with some sort of chemical lure (alcohol or terpine). We placed 2 Lindgren trapsnear each of 3 vegetation plots per treatment plot, one baited with an alcohol lure to attract hardwoodfeedingspecies and one baited with turpentine to attract conifer-feeding species. Traps were set forone-week intervals once in spring, summer and fall for each year of the study.2. Determine the effects of different levels of fire frequency and canopy reduction andtheir interaction on the species richness, species composition, relative abundance,spatial distribution, and habitat use on avian communities.Many migratory bird species have experienced population declines in the past four decades, primarilydue to loss of suitable habitat from anthropogenic environmental disturbances. One of the factorscontributing to the loss of suitable habitat for many bird species in the United States is the preventionof disturbances, such as fire, wind throw, beaver activity, floods, and forest management, which createand sustain early successional forests.Canopy reduction and prescribed burning have been used to simulate natural disturbance. Earlyresearch shows that such disturbance can affect the abundance and availability of the resources onwhich birds rely. Disturbance can trigger changes in microclimate, habitat structure, food and nest-siteavailability, predation, and nest-parasitism. Such alterations in turn affect the likelihood of breeding7

success and fitness (an individual's contribution to the breeding population in the next generation) ofbirds.We studied the effect of forest disturbances, specifically thinning and prescribed burning, on the aviancommunity. We examined the effects of these disturbances on avian species richness and abundance.In addition, we observed the mechanisms (microclimate, habitat structure and composition, foodavailability, and brood parasitism) responsible for changes in avian population demographics. Ourobjectives were to (1) examine differences in microclimate and microhabitat among disturbance levels,(2) determine relationships between microhabitat and avian community structure, (3) determine theeffect of forest disturbance on food availability, (4) determine relationships between forest disturbanceand avian territory size, and (5) determine the relationship between forest disturbance and avianbreeding success.SamplingMicroclimate: Microclimate data was collected with Hobo dataloggers (Onset Corp., Bourne, MA). Onedata logger was placed in each stand and recorded ambient temperature (to tenth of a degreeCentigrade [C]) and relative humidity every four hours from May 15 – June 13. Each data logger wasattached to the top of a wooden stake and covered by a 1 liter plastic container with the bottomremoved to allow for access and ventilation.Microhabitat: We performed line transect habitat surveys at the end of the breeding season (July –August) to assess the microhabitat within each stand. Placement of three habitat plots was determinedduring pre-treatment data collection by a random compass bearing and distance (30 – 50 m) from acentral point in the stand. The central point was marked with a metal stake during pre-treatment datacollection and the same distance and compass bearing were used to locate posttreatment habitat plots.Two 20 m perpendicular transects placed north-south and east-west from the center of the habitat plotformed the structure for the survey. We recorded presence or absence of the following parameters at0.5 m intervals along each transect: litter, bare ground, herbaceous cover, and woody cover. Wemeasured litter depth (to nearest mm) at the center point and at 2 m intervals along each transect. At 5m intervals, we recorded percent canopy cover (using a convex spherical densitometer, to nearestpercent) and the presence of each vertical forest layer. We assigned vertical forest layers a value of 1-4,with the following designations: 1) ground cover (< 2 m); 2) understory (> 2 m - < 4 m); 3) mid-story (> 4m - < 6 m); and 4) overstory (>6 m). We also recorded basal area (BA) at the center of each habitat plotusing a 10 factor basal area prism.Arthropod availability: To sample the arthropod abundance in each stand, we used the branch clippingmethod. Samples were collected at 50 m intervals along each bird transect survey. A branch clip(approximately 25 cm), included the terminal leaf cluster and was collected from either an oak or redmaple (Quercus spp. and Acer rubrum), alternating species at each sampling point. These two specieswere selected because they are common hardwood species in the stand and commonly used forforaging by songbirds. Each branch was randomly clipped from either 0-3 m or 3-6 m. Each branch clipwas collected using pruning sheers and collected in a white plastic garbage bag. Once inside the bag, theleaves were sprayed with an insecticide to kill all insects. After a minimum of 5 h, the leaves wereremoved from the bag, all arthropods extracted, identified to Order, and lengths were measured to thenearest 0.05 cm. Each branch was de-leafed, the leaves were air dried in paper bags, and the dry weightrecorded. Each stand was sampled monthly throughout the breeding season (April - July) between 1200h and 1600 h.Bird Sampling: We sampled the bird community using line-transect surveys and distance samplingmethods. Line transects were established on each of the stands and flagged every 25 m. Each transect8

was 50 m from the edge of the stand and 100 m wide; the observer slowly walked down the middle ofthe transect and recorded all birds heard or seen within 50 m on either side. The observer recorded thefollowing: species, sex, age, the location of the bird in relation to the transect.All stands were surveyed three times during the breeding season (15 May – 30 June) between 530 and1030 Central Daylight Savings Time. Surveys were done in random order and the transects walked in adifferent order at each visit. We conducted all surveys to avoid observer bias.Data AnalysisMicroclimate data collected concurrently from all stands was used for comparisons. Each 24-hourperiod was divided into day and night time periods (daytime = 6:00, 10:00, 14:00; nighttime = 18:00,22:00, 2:00), and variables included in the analysis were mean day and night time air temperature andrelative humidity. Data was lost (due to computer crash) from three stands in block one. In these cases,the average from the remaining two blocks was substituted for the lost data. We averaged microhabitatcharacteristics for the three habitat plots in each stand for comparison. We calculated an average basalarea for the five tree plots using equation given below. Basal area was calculated in Englishmeasurements and then converted to metric. We inspected all microclimate and microhabitat variablesfor normality visually and statistically using a Shapiro-Wilks test. Daytime May relative humidity andbare ground cover were square root transformed, litter cover was arcsine transformed, and nighttimeJune temperature and tree species richness were log transformed to meet normality assumptions. Weused principle components analysis (PCA, SPSS v. 15.0) to group the original variables. Arthropodbiomass was estimated based on length using regression models (SPSS v. 15.0). Ganihar calculated betacoefficients for each arthropod Order. We used these coefficients as well as the recommended modelto predict total biomass per sample (by stand and month). We calculated relative biomass index bydividing the total biomass by dry leaf weight. To create a relative bird abundance index, we divided thenumber of detections by the transect length for each stand. Stands differed in size and shape andtransect lengths differed among stands as well. We used the greatest number of individuals detectedamong the three surveys to estimate the relative abundance of each species. We grouped species intofour guilds based on their migration patterns, nesting location, foraging location, and habitatassociation. To evaluate similarity among the stands and across years, we calculated Morisita’s similarityindex. Morisita’s index is recommended as the best overall measure of similarity for ecological use. Theindex ranges from 0 to 1, with 0 representing pairs of sites with no species in common and values of 1representing complete overlap in sites. We used the Shannon-Weiner diversity index, evenness, andspecies richness to describe the community in each stand. To standardize species richness becausetransect lengths differed among plots, we used rarefaction. We inspected all variables for normalityvisually and statistically using Shapiro-Wilks tests and all variables met assumptions. We used two-wayanalysis of variance (ANOVA) with thin, burn, and block as factors to test for differences amongtreatments in the posttreatment bird community, microclimate, microhabitat, and arthropodavailability. We also calculated the differences between pre- and posttreatment for bird community,microclimate principle components, and microhabitat principle components and tested thesedifferences using a two-way ANOVA with thin, burn, and block as main factors. Tukey’s multiplecomparisons test was preformed based on the results of the ANOVA. To investigate variation inabundance of species and guilds as they relate to microhabitat measures and arthropod availability, weused canonical correspondence analysis (CCA, CANOCO v. 4.5). We eliminated variables with highcorrelation (Pearson correlation > 0.7) to avoid redundancy and over-fitting the model and used onlyspecies that had greater than five detections in the analysis. CCA is a direct gradient analysis techniquethat compares community composition directly to environmental variables across a gradient. Thisprocedure is a type of ordination, and therefore not a hypothesis testing technique. CCA is appropriate9

to use when there are no differences among stands because it evaluates gradients on a different scale;it examines the trends and variability within stands.3. Determine the effects of different levels of fire frequency and canopy reduction andtheir interaction on the species richness, relative abundance, and diversity of smallmammal communities.Data collection was initiated in May 2005 and continued through 2009 with a brief interruption in May2007 when a helicopter crashed into one of the stands we were trapping at the beginning of thetrapping season, setting it on fire and destroying approximately 100 of our traps. However, we wereable to trap all (n=36) of the Block 1-4 stands posttreatment for the first time that year by extending thetrapping season into the Fall and early Winter.Small mammals were trapped in standard, large-folding Sherman live traps. Medium-sized mammalswere trapped in Tomahawk wire-cage traps. Sherman traps were baited with peanut butter and oats.Wire-cage traps were primarily baited with sardines, but occasionally with hamburger, sliced apples, or acommercially-available predator scent lure. All traps were placed in a web design with 8 lines of 20 trapsper line spaced 3 m apart for Sherman traps and one wire cage trap at the end of each line. Each weboccupied an area of approximately 1 ha. Each plot was sampled once during the summer with thiscombined trap web. Traps were opened continuously for 4 nights/web. Traps were checked daily in themorning. Trapped animals were marked (toe-clip for rodents, ear tag for all others), identified tospecies, weighed, sexed, and then released. Recaptured animals were tallied, but not included in anestimate of population size. Densities of small mammals and selected individual species were computedusing program DISTANCE modified for the web design. The web modification of DISTANCE assumes anopen population of animals and adjusts density estimates accordingly. Data for captured small andmedium-sized mammals was also tabulated to compute the species richness and relative densities ineach plot.Bat species presence/absence and number of audio detections were primarily surveyed using electronicdetection (ANABAT II) of their ultrasonic echolocation calls in each treatment stand once during thesummer from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm CDT. Recorded calls were processed using Analook software anddisciminant function analysis for comparison with known bat echolocation calls in a call librarycomposed of some local species as well as some from Tennessee and Arkansas. Species richness anddetection frequency were compared between treatment types. In addition, during the first two years ofthe study (2005-2006), bats were netted in selected stands where we also recorded echolocation calls.During this investigation, three replicates of three treatments were selected to determine effects ofthinning: unthinned, light thin, and heavy thin. We hypothesized that bats would be most abundant inheavy thinned sites and least abundant in unthinned sites and that insects would be most abundant inunthinned sites and least abundant in heavy thinned sites. Mist netting and acoustic sampling were usedto determine bat diversity and abundance. Each site was sampled 4 nights in 2005 and 2006 from Juneto September. In order to standardize sampling across the treatment sites, nets were placed at each endof two perpendicular transects measuring 60 m each for a total of 4 nets per night at each site. Whensite characteristics allowed, one transect was placed on a road or trail so that two nets were across apotential flyway, and two nets were in interior forest. Nets were opened at 2000h (CDT), checked every20 min., and closed by 2300h (CDT). Acoustic sampling was conducted using Anabat II detectors (TitleyElectronics, Ballina, Australia) interfaced with a laptop computer with a zero-crossing analysis interfacemodule (ZCAIM). Files were automatically saved to the laptop for later analysis. Anabat detectors wereplaced at the intersection of the two transects and turned on for the total duration of netting. All batswere handled following methods approved by the AAMU IACUC. Each bat was identified to species andsex was determined. Ear, tragus, and forearm length, as well as body mass were recorded for each10

individual. Age class was categorized by the degree of ossification of the finger bones and length offorearms. Each individual was marked using a small amount of nail polish on the dorsal side and thenreleased at the site of capture. Echolocation calls were analyzed using the software program Analook.Files not containing bat activity (i.e., insects) were discarded. Activity was assessed in two ways. First bycounting the number of files recorded each night. The Anabat software automatically saves files basedon two primary criteria: completion of a 5-s pause in detection of sound or after 15 s of continuousrecording. Because this method can produce a disproportionately large number of files in an area ofintermittent activity and a comparatively small number of files in an area of continuous activity, activityalso was assessed by counting the number of pulses (individual detection calls) each night per species.Both number of files and pulses were quantified as an average per night for each treatment type.Added funding has led to additional, but related, wildlife objectives:4. Determine the effects of different levels of fire frequency and canopy reduction andtheir interaction on the species richness, relative abundance, and diversity ofherpetofaunal (reptiles and amphibians) communitiesHabitat disturbances have the potential to effect species composition and can be either beneficial ordetrimental for a given species. Understanding the relationships between disturbance regimes andwildlife responses is important for the conservation of these species. Amphibians and reptiles,collectively known as herpetofauna, have high diversity and often form a large portion of the vertebratebiomass in areas of eastern North America. Many of these species, especially in southeastern forests,occupy habitats that have a distinct disturbance regime. Anthropogenic disturbances such as forestfragmentation and conversion of historical forest types have altered disturbance regimes so severelythat historical disturbance events no longer occur with the same frequency. Forest disturbances such asburning and canopy removal are essential for the maintenance of these processes in forest ecosystemsand must be adapted to mimic the effects of naturally occurring disturbance patterns. Forestmanagement practices affect large forested areas and can vary greatly in scale and disturbanceintensity. Because these disturbances potentially affect large areas of the landscape, there has beenmuch controversy regarding the effects of forest management on the flora and fauna inhabiting theseareas. As herpetofauna play key roles in forest ecosystems along with evidence of worldwideherpetofaunal declines, there has been much interest in the response of these organismal groups toforest management.We sought to evaluate herpetofaunal response to forest management practices (thinning andprescribed burning) as part of a larger study evaluating ecosystem response to large-scale forestrestoration treatments. We took a large scale, replicated, stand-level approach to evaluate disturbanceresponse of herpetofauna inhabiting these ecosystems. We assumed that reptile population parameters(e.g., counts and species richness) would increase after treatment and would be highest in thin-onlyplots, whereas amphibian population parameters would decline most precipitously in thin and burnplots after treatments. We hypothesized that reptile population parameters would be correlated withincreased thermoregulation sites and structural diversity, whereas amphibian population parameterswould decline in highly disturbed plots due to cumulative disturbance interactions (i.e., simultaneousreduction of litter and reduction of canopy coverage). Because we were able to identify changes inpopulation parameters for many species, we examined correlations between herpetofaunal populationchanges and environmental characteristics to evaluate potential mechanisms responsible for structuringupland pine-hardwood herpetofaunal communities. We assumed that the measured habitat and11

climate mechanisms would be responsible for causing the observed changes in amphibian and reptilepopulation parameters.SamplingAmphibian and Reptile Sampling: We collected lizard capture data over a period of four years (2005–2008). Due to the staggered nature of the treatments, this resulted in three total years of herpetofaunalcapture data (one year pre–treatment; two years post–treatment). We were able to collect pretreatmentdata over a period of three months (April–June 2005) for block one and six months (May2005–August 2005; March 2006–May 2006) for blocks two and three. We constrained all analyses totrapping periods that were directly comparable between pre- and posttreatment data. To correct fordifferences in sampling effort between years, we divided count data by the number of trap nights andmultiplied this data by 1000 to standardize data across all years.We employed a trapping method consisting of three drift fences (aluminum flashing) 15 m in lengthradiating 120⁰ from a central triangular box trap. Trapping units also included one large box trap at theterminus of each drift fence (three per array) and two pitfall traps at the midpoint of each drift fence(six per array). We chose this design because large box traps have been proven successful for capturingand sampling medium–large snake species. We installed one drift-fence array in each study plot bydividing each study plot to quadrants corresponding to the four cardinal directions and randomlyassigned the drift-fence array to one of these quadrants.After the completion of pre-treatment surveys, we removed all drift-fence arrays to avoid damage fromtree harvesting and prescribed burning procedures. To locate trap locations after treatments, we sunkfluorescent stake whiskers (Forestry Suppliers, Jackson, Mississippi) into the ground with large steelnails to mark the location of each box trap. Once all forest treatments were completed, we re-installedtraps in the same location where pre-treatment surveys were completed.We began sampling intermittently throughout March and April and began continuous sampling by thebeginning of May. Sampling ended by September during each year. During sampling periods, we openedtraps by block(s) depending on weather conditions and manpower, with the replication number andorder of traps randomly determined a priori. We checked traps daily between 0700-1400 hours (CST) tominimize animal mortality. After recording demographic data (e.g., snout-vent length and mass), wemarked each individual with a plot-specific mark through toe-clips (lizards), scale clips (snakes), andscute etching (turtles) to ensure that recaptured individuals would not be counted in subsequentcaptures. We released all marked individuals at a minimum of 10 m on the side of the drift fence inwhich they were captured.Environmental Parameters: One HOBO© (Onset Computer Corp.) datalogger was installed at eachtrapping array to record air temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity.Dataloggers were programmed to record measurements every four hours starting at 10:00 AM. Due tolimitations during pre-treatment surveys, we collected climate data May 15-July 15 during all surveyyears. We also installed rain gauges (Taylor Precision Products, Oak Brook, Illinois, U.S.A.) to monitorprecipitation events only during trapping events.Habitat Parameters: We recorded pre– and post–treatment habitat complexity and heterogeneity datavia three yearly line–transect surveys at each treatment plot. We determined plot placement a priori viaa random compass bearing (0–360°) and distance (30–50 m) originating from the center of eachtrapping array. We restricted habitat surveys to these distances in order to avoid any habitatdisturbance created during trap installation. To quantify the degree of habitat disturbance, wecompleted habitat surveys in the same location for each year. Each habitat survey consisted of two 20m perpendicular transects placed north–south and east–west from the habitat plot center. We used a12

two meter piece of 1.9 cm diameter polyvinyl chloride pipe as a transect marker and recorded thepresence or absence of microhabitat variables every 0.5 m. We also measured CWD volume (m 3 ), litterdepth (%), and percent forest cover and determined vertical forest structure values. We collected foreststructure measurements to establish a vertical vegetative profile for each study plot.Data AnalysisTo explore forest management impacts on amphibian and reptile species diversity at multiple scales, wecompared herpetofaunal alpha diversity, beta diversity, and gamma diversity patterns. Alpha diversityrepresents diversity within individual sample units (i.e., diversity at the stand level), whereas gammadiversity represents the diversity in a collection of sample units (i.e., landscape level diversity. Betadiversity represents the amount of composition variation among sample units and is calculated as β = γ/ α, where β is the beta diversity, γ is the landscape level diversity (i.e., gamma diversity), and α is theaverage diversity in a sample unit (i.e., alpha diversity; McCune and Grace 2002). We determined alphaand gamma level species diversity by constructing rarefaction curves using estimateS v. 8.2.0. To do this,we reconstructed the yearly sampling history for all herpetofaunal captures and amphibian and reptilecaptures separately, and constructed three sets of rarefaction curves (i.e., one pre-treatment and twoposttreatment) for each taxonomic group. For all species richness calculations, we chose the Chao 2estimator, because this method results in species accumulation curves that reach near-maximum valueswith very few samples. The Chao 2 estimator calculates species richness by adjusting for speciescaptured only once or twice, which is advantageous when errors associated with lack of detection arelikely. The Chao 2 estimator is calculated as S Chao2 = S obs + Q 1 2 / 2Q 2 , where S obs equals the total numberof species detected in a given area and Q 1 and Q 2 equals the number of species detected one and twotimes, respectively. We also calculated species heterogeneity via the Shannon-Wiener diversity indexusing EstimateS v. 8.2.0 and Morisita’s similarity index using Ecological Methodology v 6.1.1. TheShannon-Wiener index takes into account species richness and evenness with greater values indicatinggreater overall diversity, whereas Morisita’s index calculates overall species similarity between samplesand assigns a similarity value ranging from 0 (no similarity) to 1 (complete similarity).The primary focus of this research was to explore the response of amphibians and reptiles to forestmanagement practices. We used mixed models (PROC MIXED) analysis of variance (ANOVA; SAS v. 9.3)to test changes in herpetofaunal counts and biodiversity measures (e.g., average estimated speciesrichness, heterogeneity, and similarity) between pre- and posttreatment surveys among the treatments.Mixed models permit the analysis of random effects (i.e., block) along with fixed effects (i.e.,treatment), while controlling for repeated samples (i.e., year). For individual species and species groupcomparisons, we divided the total number of individuals by the total number of trap nights (one trapnight = one trap opened for 24 hours) to correct for differences in trapping effort among years. We thenmultiplied the trap-night corrected count by 1000 to estimate the number of animals captured per 1000trap nights. To explore relationships among amphibian and reptile community and microhabitat andmicroclimate variables, we used canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), which is a direct gradientanalysis technique where the ordination procedure is constrained by a set of a priori covariates (e.g.,habitat and climate data) that are predicted to influence the observed distribution of the organismalgroups in question. To control for rare species effects on the ordination output, we only includedspecies with at least four captures. To select habitat variables for the analysis, we examinedrelationships among habitat variables with a correlation matrix. In cases where variables werecorrelated ≥ 0.80, we retained the variable with greatest biological relevance. This process excluded soiltemperature, light intensity, relative humidity, and percent bare ground from further analyses. Weconstructed CCA plots for each treatment year and compared the changes in species and habitatrelationships. Because amphibians and reptiles have different life history characteristics, we chose to13

examine each group separately. We used principal components analysis (PCA) to examine relationshipsamong habitat and climate parameters. Upon confirming the biological relevance of the generatedcomponents, we examined overall changes of the habitat and climate components between pre- andposttreatment surveys using mixed models ANOVA (PROC MIXED; SAS v. 9.3).5. Terrestrial salamander usage of natural and artificial pools in Jackson County, AlabamaVernal or temporary pools are seasonal wetlands which are covered for variable periods during thewinter and spring by shallow waters, but may be completely dry during the summer and fall. They occurnaturally in most forests, but can also be man-made. Vernal pools are ideal for studying the relationshipbetween salamanders and the environment because many semi-aquatic salamanders congregate inthem during breeding seasons.Only a few studies compared the use of natural and artificial pools by breeding amphibians in otherparts of the country and a study of this kind has yet to be conducted on the southern CumberlandPlateau in Jackson County, AL. Results from a study conducted on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) andspotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in Maine suggested that natural pools produce largeremerging metamorphs which results in salamanders reaching sexual maturity at an earlier age. Theirstudy also suggested that some species have the ability to successfully colonize artificial pools, andthough metamorphs may have to emerge earlier, they were able to adjust to the altered conditions ofman-made pools. Another study which evaluated vernal pools as a basis for conservation strategies,also conducted in Maine, showed that in highly disturbed areas where over seventy percent of the poolsare artificial, amphibians bred in less favorable conditions.Our objectives were 1) determine the species richness, relative abundance, and breeding phenology ofvernal pool breeding salamanders in natural and artificial vernal pools in Jackson County, AL; 2) examinethe breeding ecology of vernal pool breeding salamanders in natural and artificial pools in JacksonCounty, AL; 3) determine the effectiveness of artificial pools as salamander breeding habitat andpossible conservation strategies in Jackson County, AL.Study SiteWe conducted the study at the James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and theWalls of Jericho Forever Wild property on the southern extent of Cumberland Plateau in Jackson County,Alabama. The Skyline WMA is 10,914 ha in area and is currently used for recreation by the public and byresearchers from Alabama A&M University, the Tennessee Valley Authority and other governmentorganizations. The Walls of Jericho Forever Wild tract was formerly a property of the NatureConservancy and consists of 8,682 ha that are spread over northern Alabama and southern Tennesseeand was purchased by the Alabama State Lands Division in early 2004. Overall, the landscape iscomposed of primarily deciduous forests with common species including: Sweetgum (Liqiudambarstyraciflua), Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Hickory (Carya spp.), Maple (Acer spp.), and Oak(Quercus spp.) species and a few Pine (Pinus spp.) species. The areas immediately surrounding most ofthe artificial study pools are used for hunting, hiking, and horseback riding. Most of the natural pools arelocated away from areas with hunting activities, though some are located near gravel roads and trailsused for recreation.To perform a baseline inventory of salamander usage of the pools in the study area, we selected twentyvernal pools, ten natural and ten artificial, to monitor biophysical parameters and salamander activitythrough monthly and bi-weekly surveys. The twenty pools were selected from twenty-seven previouslyidentified pools and several other pools identified by the current land manager (Frank Allen, ALDCNR,personal communication). These pools are representative of the vernal pools in the area that could be14

accessed and monitored with the resources available for this study. The age of most artificial pools inthis study ranged from five to eight years, except Poplar Man 1 (11 years) and Poplar Spring 1 (12years). To assess the effectiveness of the artificial pools as amphibian breeding habitat, we selected sixpools, three artificial and three natural, for intensive monitoring based on two criteria. The first was thesurrounding environment. The artificial pools are all situated with food plots parallel to one bank, a damat one end, and bordered by forest on the two remaining banks. The natural pools are all surrounded byforest and situated at least 100 m from any clear cuts, agricultural development, or paved roads. Thesecond criterion was the size of the pools, measured as the surface area (m 2 ) and perimeter (m) at themaximum fullness. Pools of similar size were selected to reduce possible confounding data due tovariation in pool size.SamplingMeasurement of water Chemistry and Environmental Variables: We conducted bi-weekly surveys aslong as pools retained water, which was primarily between November and June. We measured waterconditions (dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and salinity), air temperature and relative humidity, andsoil temperature at all twenty pools. We had no specific time of day in which we carried out surveys,though most were completed in the morning and early afternoon of survey days. Dissolved Oxygen(mg/L) was measured using an EcoSense DO 200 Dissolved Oxygen/Temperature meter (YSIIncorporated, Yellow Springs, OH). Salinity (ppm), conductivity (µS), and water temperature (ºC) weremeasured using an ExStix II pH/Conductivity meter (ExTech Instruments, Waltham, MO). pH wasmeasured using a pH10 pH & Temperature Pen (YSI Incorporated, Yellow Springs, OH). Each aquaticmeasurement was taken at one point in the pool, chosen haphazardly, one time per survey and therewas no specific spot used at any pool for measurement taking. The cord and probe used for dissolvedoxygen (DO) allowed measurements to be taken approximately four meters from shore someasurements were taken between the shore and that distance. Salinity, conductivity, watertemperature and pH were taken up to one meter from shore depending on the depth of the pool at thattime. Soil temperature (ºC) was measured at a random point four to five inches below the surfaceduring monthly surveys using a Taylor Soil thermometer. Relative humidity (%) and air temperature wasrecorded using a Digital Min/Max Thermohygrometer (Oakton Instruments, Vernon Hills, Illinois).Other vernal pool features including pool characteristics (perimeter, area, depth, and distance to forestedge) and microhabitat variables (percent coverage of canopy, aquatic plants, floating leaves,submerged and emergent vegetation, leaf litter, downed logs, and rocks) were measured on a monthlybasis. These variables were selected based on earlier studies of their importance to pool breedingamphibians. The perimeter and area of pools were measured via a walk of the outer edge of the poolwith a Garmin Etrex Legend C GPS unit (Garmin International Inc., Olathe, Kansas). Elevation and theuniversal transverse mercator (UTM) coordinate of each pool location was also taken using a GarminGPS unit. Distance to forest edge was measured using a one hundred meter measuring tape. A pool wasclassified as being within a forest if it was within one meter of intact, mature forest on all sides. Depth,drying, and filling rates were determined monthly by placing a metrically delineated PVC pipe in thedeepest accessible area of the pool and approximating the water level. Using ocular estimation, thedensity (percent coverage) of vegetation in and around the pools was observed and a class rating wasrecorded during the monthly visual survey of each pool via a walk of the pool perimeter. Vegetationinside of pools was not identified, but instead, grouped into several microhabitat categories. Based ontheir presence or absence, we rated canopy cover, aquatic vegetation, floating leaves, submerged andemergent vegetation, leaf litter, downed logs, and rocks on a scale of one to five with ratings increasingin increments of 20%. A score of one represented the lowest possible percentage of coverage and ascore of five represented the highest possible percentage. Aquatic vegetation was classified as plants15

which require water to survive (i.e. algae) and would not be present or alive during the dry seasons.Submerged and emergent vegetation were classified as land plants which would be present and aliveduring the dry seasons and though they may have remained during the wet season, were notnecessarily alive.Monitoring Salamanders: Drift fences were erected at the six selected pools to monitor the traffic ofamphibians to and from these pools. At the artificial pools, one fence was placed parallel to the forest,one parallel to the food plot, one parallel to the dammed shore, and one on the remaining bank, whichwas also forested. At natural pools, using midpoint of the pool as the origin, one fence was placed onthe north, south, east and west face of the pool. Each fence was installed approximately three metersfrom the high water mark at each pool and provided 45- to 49% coverage; i.e. 45- to 49% of the poolwas encircled by drift fence. The drift fences we used were pre-assembled with wooden stakes inincrements of six meters apart. When pounded in to the ground, each fence was approximately onemeter in height. Nineteen-liter white plastic buckets were placed at both ends and on either side of thedrift fence as pitfall traps. With the exception of one smaller pool (Albert Man 3) where each fence hadthree pitfall traps, there were four pitfall traps at each fence. In traps located at the ends of the fence,Plexiglas was used to divide the pitfall trap. This allowed the determination of the direction animalswere traveling at the time of capture. Pitfall traps were placed by excavating a hole, positioning abucket in that hole, filling in any extra space with soil, and leveling the rim of the bucket flush with theground surface. Drift fences were opened during breeding seasons from early-September to Decemberto sample fall and winter breeding species and from January until pools were completely dry to samplespring breeding and emerging individuals. Drift fences were also opened during the summer monthsduring rain events to track the movement of salamander metamorphs between breeding seasons.Traps were opened one day prior to each forecasted rain event and checked daily to sample peaksalamander movements and avoid trapping when there was little to no salamander movement. Trapswere left open an additional day during wet conditions to maximize captures. Because the studyconcentrated on semi-aquatic salamanders, the capture of other amphibians was noted only. Thedirection of travel, species, sex (when possible), body mass, snout-vent length (SVL), tail length andapproximate developmental stage (larvae, metamorph, emergent, or adult) of each capturedsalamander was recorded. Direction of travel was determined based upon the side of the fence theanimal was captured. Animals were weighed to the nearest tenth of a gram using a hand held scale(Ohaus Model HH 120D, Pine Brook, NJ) and length was measured to the nearest tenth of a millimeterusing a plastic dial caliper (Swiss Precision, Switzerland). Approximate developmental stage was basedupon an examination of the animal or reference to a taxonomic key when needed. After measurement,animals were released on the opposite side of the drift fence from their capture point. Most semiaquaticsalamanders only use vernal pools for breeding and spend most of their lives in the surroundingforests, making it difficult to determine which species are present outside of the breeding season. Driftfences allowed for the cataloging of species and quantifying of individuals in a species using the poolsfor breeding and in turn identify which species reside in that area year-round.Minnow traps facilitated the monitoring of larval salamander presence and development in the pools.Animals swam into the nets to seek refuge allowing me to track the progress of developingsalamanders. Weekly, four to eight minnow traps were placed at random points throughout the poolswith drift fence arrays. The number of traps used in each pool was dependent on the area (m 2 ) of thepool at that time. The species, SVL, tail length, weight, and approximate stage of development of eachanimal was recorded. The minnow trap data provided an estimation of the length of their larval stageand their growth rates via their physical condition (length and weight) at the time of capture. Weattempted to determine if the development of larval salamanders was affected by the pool’s status as16

artificial or natural and if water quality (e.g. pH and DO) or the presence of aquatic vegetation played arole in salamander development. Visual surveys were conducted at all twenty study pools. Bi-weeklyvisual surveys of pools were used to count egg masses. Egg-laying is an important stage in asalamander’s life cycle, and the number of masses in a pool can be an important indicator of apopulation’s breeding success. The absence of egg masses or large numbers of unsuccessful egg massesor high levels of larval mortality not directly related to pool drying could indicate that an environment isconducive to egg-laying but not to the healthy development of salamanders and such habitat may be‘sink’ or a trap in which the reproductive effort of individuals is wasted. Again by comparing the surveyresults at artificial and natural pools, we attempted to determine the effectiveness of artificial pools asbreeding habitat for various salamander species.Data AnalysisSpecies diversity between artificial and natural pools was calculated using the Shannon-Wiener diversityindex. Species diversity within pools was calculated using Simpson’s Index. Morisita’s Index of Similarity(Programs for Ecological Methodology, 2 nd Ed. © 2003) was used to evaluate the similarities ofsalamander communities among vernal pools. Species richness and relative abundance were calculatedusing individual capture numbers. We used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) (SPSS 10.0 forWindows © 1989-1999) to test the differences in salamander community variables and habitat featuresbetween natural and artificial pools. When the MANOVA was significant, the analysis of variance(ANOVA) (SPSS 10.0 for Windows © 1989-1999) was used to determine which variable was the sourceof significance. Using MANOVA allowed the control of potential inflation of the Type I error rate causedby the use of many variables. We visually examined the univariate normality and equal variancebetween the two types of pools, and found most variables tended to be normally distributed and theirvariances were similar. Relationships between richness and abundance of breeding salamanders andhabitat and water quality variables were examined with correlation analysis. Canonical CorrespondenceAnalysis (CCA) (PCORD 5.0 © 1995-2005) was used to evaluate the relationship between species andvarious environmental parameters and habitat variables. CCA is a reciprocal averaging eigenanalysismethod that uses multiple regression on the environmental matrix to constrain the ordination. Theobjective is to find ordination axes that maximally reveal the joint structure of the two matrices. CCAassumes unimodality of species responses, linearity of environmental effects, and the orthogonality(lack of correlation) of the underlying gradients. CCA in PCORD is most efficient for testing thehypothesis of no linear relationship between species and environmental variables and the relationshipamong sites or species (Jeri Peck, Penn State University, personal communication).6. Stopover ecology of fall migratory birds at an inland site of northern AlabamaMigration is one of the most hazardous periods in a migratory bird’s life – occupying up to one-third ofeach year and with high levels of mortality occurring during and just after migration. Many landbirdspecies do not fly nonstop between their breeding and wintering sites but alternate between flights andrest, usually flying at night while resting and feeding during the day. The places that birds choose to stopand rest in are called stopover sites. During stopover, birds regain fat stores and rest before their nextflight. The time spent in a stopover site can be a few hours or a few days, depending on migrant physicalcondition and prevailing weather conditions. For migration to be successful, migratory birds need to usestopover sites along their route that provide both a secure resting ground and plentiful food resourcessuch as arthropods and fruits.Inland sites like the Walls of Jericho Management Area (WJMA) differ from coastal sites in several keyaspects. In the eastern United States, many inland areas are heavily forested and provide a diverse arrayof habitats within and around these forests, from high-altitude mountain scrub to bottomland forest.17

This array of habitats tends to offer migrating birds more choice during migration stopovers than therelatively simply structured coastal stopover sites, which may reduce competition. Although resourceavailability of coastal stopover sites in the eastern United States can be irregular and often limited,those coastal areas that are known to be good stopover sites tend to have locally abundant resourcesthat attract huge numbers of migrants to the area. Even so, the high concentration of birds gathered ina small area creates a highly competitive inter- and intra-specific dynamic.The overall objective of this study was to assess the use of the inland stopover habitat by stopoversongbird migrants. Specifically, we addressed following questions: 1) do different species show variationin use of different habitat types available at a stopover site as they do on the breeding grounds? 2) Dostopover parameters such as timing of use, weight gain, and recapture rate vary by habitat type? 3)How experience (age) affects the habitat use? and 4) how within-site habitat variation affects the use bydifferent species?Study AreaThis study was conducted within the Hurricane Creek watershed in the WJMA (Figure 2), located on themid-Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Alabama. The WJMA covers 8,498 ha (21,435 acres), spanningthe border between Jackson County in northeastern Alabama and Franklin County in Tennessee(34°58’30” N, 86°5’30” W). The region encompassing the WJMA, called the Cumberland Plateau andMountain region (CPMR), is considered an area of special interest due to its high biological diversity.The Walls of Jericho was initially recognized andsubsequently purchased by the NatureConservancy because of its high biologicaldiversity and ecological importance. The mid-Cumberland Plateau region in northeasternAlabama was categorized by Braun (1950) as oakand oak-hickory forests with mixed mesophyticcommunities within the valley and cove regions.The forests within the WJMA are comprised ofsecond or third growth mixed mesophyticcommunities along the creek bottoms. Somecommon tree species include Boxelder Maple(Acer negundo), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra),American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), andYellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). HurricaneCreek, which is part of the headwaters of thePaint Rock River, flows south from Tennesseealong a relatively narrow floodplain within themanagement area. Elevation in the floodplain is~200 m (600 ft), while the surrounding plateauridges are ~500 m (1,700 ft). To assess thevariations in habitat selection by stopovermigrants, two sites were chosen for the study.The first site was a beaver-maintained wetland(wetland site) that had been previously chosenas a Monitoring Avian Productivity andSurvivorship (MAPS, Institute for BirdPopulations) site. The second site was aFigure 2: Aerial view of a portion of the Walls of JerichoManagement Area, Alabama, U.S.A. Orange pointsrepresent individual nets, and the star in the middlerepresents the banding station, separating the wetlandsite (below) from the open-canopy forested site (above).18

forested site. The natural history of the region surrounding the WJMA is not well documented, thus afall migration study for this large, inland, contiguous forest can provide insight into the ecology andinland stopover site use. As wetlands are known arthropod accumulators, we chose it as a potentialvaluable stopover site. A non-wetland site in the same physiographic forest area was chosen to providecontrast to the wetland.SamplingBird sampling: Mist-netting was used to sample the migrants frequenting the two study sites describedabove. Data collection took place between August and October for three consecutive years (2006 [19Aug-21 Oct], 2007 [12 Aug-17 Oct], 2008 [11 Aug-18 Oct]). Fifteen standard mist-nets (12 x 2.6m) wereestablished at each habitat site, according to the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS)protocol. Mist-nets were opened daily at sunrise and left open for six hours, weather permitting. Toprevent injury to birds, nets were not opened under weather conditions that were deemed (in the field)as potentially dangerous for entangled birds (temperatures >32°C or 3 on the Beaufort Wind Scale]). Nets werechecked and cleared of birds every thirty to forty-five minutes, and were closed when the capture rateof birds was so high as to prevent their timely removal. Capture effort was measured in mist-net hours(mnh), where one mnh hour equals one mist-net opened for one hour. Bird captures were divided bynet hours to standardize effort between nets and years. All identified birds were banded with a uniquelynumbered aluminum ring from the U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division (USGS/BRD)Bird Banding Laboratory. Species, age, and sex were recorded for each bird according to the criteria setby Pyle . To avoid the effect of rare and accidental birds captured, we excluded the bird species that hadtotal captures < 35 across three years from habitat use analysisMicroclimate: In 2007, microclimate data was collected with Hobo Data Loggers (Onset Corp., Bourne,MA). Two data loggers were placed in each site, one in the adjacent open area and one in thesurrounding forest. In the wetland site, HOBO 1 was placed in middle of the wetland, which was notadjacent to any nets, and HOBO 2 was placed in the forest nearest net A07. In the open-canopy forestsite, HOBO 1 was placed in a field nearest net 19 and HOBO 2 was placed in the forest nearest net B03.The loggers recorded ambient temperature (to one-tenth of a degree Centigrade [C]) and relativehumidity every half hour from mid-August to mid-October. Each data logger was attached to the top ofa 1 m metal stake and covered by a 1 liter plastic container with the bottom removed to protect it fromrain and to allow for access and ventilation.Microhabitat: Microhabitat data assessment was modified from other researchers. The area aroundeach mist-net was assessed independently for habitat characteristics. The center of each net wasconsidered the center of a circular plot. Each microhabitat plot had a radius of 10 m, for a total area of~314 m 2 . A 10 m radius because each net is 12 m in length, and we wanted to include habitatcharacteristics immediately outside the net area that might affect bird capture rates. For trees andshrubs greater than 2 m tall, the following characteristics were taken from each plot: species anddiameter at breast height (DBH, ~1.37-m, measured using a diameter tape to the nearest wholenumber), azimuth and distance of trees from plot center (using a compass and range finder), andpercent canopy cover. Percent canopy cover was assessed in the beginning of the 2007 field season(mid-August) and again at the end of the field season (mid-October) using a spherical densitometer.Four densitometer readings were taken from each net along its length, which were averaged; thesefigures were then averaged readings. Shrub density was assessed using a 2 m 2 canvas tarp with 25alternately painted smaller squares within. The canvas tarp was held perpendicular to the ground and10 m from plot center at all four cardinal directions. The number of visible squares were counted and19

multiplied by four to estimate percent shrub density. All four measurements were averaged together.Canopy height was estimated for each site using a Suunto PM-5/1520 clinometer.Data AnalysisMicroclimate data collected from each site were used to compare sites. The high and low temperatureswere recorded for each 24 h period in 2007, and the relative humidity from those times was alsorecorded. Average high and low temperatures and relative humidity were compared between sitesusing t-tests. To investigate with site habitat use variation, we quantify the habitat features by each netlocation. Habitat measures were averaged and treated as a single net location when two nets wereadjacent to each other. Trees and shrubs were classified to 3 size classes based on the dbh: 1 = 1.5-3.9cm; 2 = 4.0-19.9 cm; and 3 = ≥ 20.0 cm, where size class 1 represents the understory, size class 2represents the mid-story, and size class 3 represents the canopy. Dominant canopy tree species wasdetermined by amount of basal area relative to that of other canopy trees. Habitat variables werevisually examined for normality, using histograms, and for correlations using scatter plots, with onehabitat variable plotted against another. Most habitat variables appeared non-normal, and had veryhigh standard deviations, indicating high variability within the sites. For these reasons, high standarddeviations distribution used nonparametric analyses to examine methods were used for, includingSpearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman’s rank correlationcoefficient was used to examine correlations among variables. Variable sets with an R value ≥0.8 wereconsidered highly correlated and were further examined, with only one of the variables chosen basedon convenience for measurement to be used in subsequent analyses. The Mann-Whitney U test (SPSS v.15.0) was used to examine possible differences between each habitat variable and the two sites.Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to examine the associations among bird species andtheir associations with habitat features using CANOCO v. 4.5. CCA is a direct gradient analysis techniquethat reveals the association among bird groups by constraining the ordination procedure with a set of apriori covariates, such as habitat and climate data. Five CCA were performed. CCA 1 was based on birdscaptured from the three years; CCA 2, 3, and 4 were based on bird captures in each year of 2006, 2007,and 2008, respectively; CCA 5 was based on all bird captured from three years and the seven mostabundant canopy tree species. The program EstimateS v. 8.2.0 was used to determine species richnessand diversity of each net and each site by year. Rarefaction curves were created for each net by plottingspecies by sampling date for each year. Optimal values for Chao2 were selected from the EstimateSoutputs by visually examining the results and choosing the maximum value for the Chao2. Shannon andSimpson diversity indices values were chosen based on the optimal Chao2 values. These outputs werethen averaged together to show a basic rarefaction curve. Linear mixed ANOVA models were used todetermine how habitat variables might affect species richness, with the optimal Chao2 valuesrepresenting species richness.7. Scale dependent habitat and landscape effect on breeding success vernal pool amphibiansForest management practices may affect individual amphibian fitness by altering the breeding successand survivorship, as well as, the abundance and diversity at population and community levels. Loggingor stand manipulation for various reasons often result in the reduction of canopy cover which increaseslight penetration in terrestrial habitats that surround breeding pools, and directly affects the suitabilityof vernal pools for amphibian breeding. Forest management activities that result in canopy removal canlead to lower survival rates over two years posttreatment and smaller body sizes of juvenile and adultpool breeding amphibians. These demographic changes may contribute to reduced abundance of poolbreeding amphibians in clearcuts. Additionally, adult amphibians may avoid clearcut areas due to20

increased mortality from dessication. A combination of fewer breeding adults and reduced suitablehabitat within clearcuts could result in fewer breeding events and egg masses at breeding pools.The objective of this study was to examine the effect of tree disturbance on breeding success ofamphibians in breeding pools. A unique approach to understanding how environment changes,specifically forest disturbances, affect amphibian breeding ecology will be employed. The study wascomprised of three scales: 1) landscape, 2) forest stand, and 3) breeding pool. The study utilizes twocompatible components, 1) a large-scale landscape observation study and 2) a smaller-scaleexperimental study.Study siteThe experimental component took place in the Southern Cumberland Plateau, in southern Tennessee inGrundy County. The area is composed of loamy soils formed in colluvium from sandstone, siltstone, andshale. Slope ranges from 5 to 70 percent. The surface is covered primarily with sandstone boulders andfragments. The textures of the soils include: gravelly or cobbly loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, or clayloam. The forest type of this area is primarily oak and maple hardwood forests (Smalley, 1982). TheUpland Hardwood Ecology and Management Research Work Unit of The Southern Research Station ofthe United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) implemented an oak regenerationstudy on Grundy County. Treatments include: (1) Shelterwood/ burn, (2) Oak shelterwood, (3)Prescribed fire, and (4) Control.Experimental designA three-factor split plot design with disturbance treatment as the main factor and distance from forestedge and shading as split-plot factors was used. Artificial pools within three treatments at threedistances from the forest stand edge were used. The three treatments implemented include: 1) an oakshelterwood (herbicide application) with 70-75% retention of canopy tree basal area, 2) a shelterwoodwith 35-40% tree basal area retained, and 3) a control with gaps treatment. Each treatment will be fivehectares in area and have five replications. The treatments were implemented in 2008 and 2010. Withineach treatment, there was one pool array, consisting of three pools, at 10 m, 50 m, and 100 m from thetreatment’s edge. Each pool array consisted of three small (91 cm X 61 cm X 46 cm) plastic poolsreceiving one of the three shading treatments; light levels were manipulated to approximate those atcontrol pools, half of control pool levels, and light levels in open.SamplingMonitoring breeding success: One four minute visual encounter survey was conducted at each artificialpond. During this survey, the egg masses were counted and identified to species. The number of eggswithin each mass was counted as well. 4” x 5” aquarium nets were used to sample for amphibian larvae.50 swipes within the ponds were used to calculate the larval amphibian total captures during eachsample event. A subsample of animals was processed for size metrics such as snout to vent length, taillength, and weight. The number of egg masses and larval amphibians were tallied to provide a measureof reproductive output and survival of larval amphibians within each pool.Monitoring pool conditions: A suite of environmental variables were measured at each pool includingwater and soil temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. To measure the hot anddry conditions, we took soil moisture measurements throughout the treatments. Soil moisture wastaken at 15 locations within the treatment. Six measurements were taken at the top of the treatment,while six measurements were taken at the bottom of the treatment. Three measurements were takenat the center of the treatment at 10 meters, 50 meters, and 100 meters from treatment edge. The soilmoisture was estimated using kriging in order to calculate and predict soil moisture across the21

treatment. Ground surface temperatures were calculated using the thermal band of Landsat TMimagery in order to determine the ground temperature different between different forest treatments.Landscape level monitoring: The landscape level study was carried out on the Cumberland Plateaubetween Jackson County and Bankhead National Forest in northern Alabama. Twenty four study poolsfilled by rain water or groundwater sources and exhibiting an 8-11 month hydroperiod were selectedbased on their ability to become inundated between January and May, during peak amphibian breedingseasons. The performance and survival of larval amphibians were assessed using a combination ofstandard techniques. Twenty four study pools were selected for a landscape scale observational studyanalysis from four localities in north Alabama, including James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife ManagementArea and William B. Bankhead National Forest. James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area isapproximately 114 km 2 (28,167 acres). The Bankhead National Forest occupies 182,000 acres which arebroadly classified as 51% southern pines and 49% hardwoods. Different localities allow us to studyvarious land-use managements using aerial photography and satellite imagery as a way to determinehow terrestrial habitat is affecting the ovipositioning of breeding amphibians and potentially thesurvival of larval amphibians to the metamorphosis stage.Assessment of breeding use, breeding performance, and survival of larval amphibians: An assessmentprotocol based on a combination of standard techniques was employed. Minnow trapping at varyingdistances were used to sample larval amphibians at each pool. The larval amphibian measurementsrecorded were the snout-vent length (mm), tail length (mm), species, weight (grams) developmentstage (Gosner stages), and if the animal is a recapture (Y/N). Biophysical data was taken at the poolsincluding algal photosynthetic production, dissolved oxygen concentration, water temperature, and pH.In addition morphology measurements of each pool including surface area, perimeter, maximum depth,rate of change, and total volume were taken. Canopy cover and percentage of the pools’ perimeter thatis forested were measured as indications of disturbance at the pool level. The habitat surrounding thebreeding pools were quantified at a 195 m buffer zone (five hectare area corresponding to thetreatment size in the experimental component) to estimate forest disturbance at the intermediate, orstand level. Others buffer zones of 50, 100, 600 and 1000 meters were used for examining dispersaldistances of various amphibian groups (bufonids, treefrogs, ambystomatid salamanders, and ranids) atthe landscape level. Land-use types were quantified around each pool using Landsat and ASTER Satelliteimagery.Assessment of the landscape variables and patterns and predictive componentRemotely sensed data was used to generate land-use and land cover by applying maximum likelihoodalgorithm to satellite imagery. The breeding pools were ground-truthed using a GPS unit in field visits,topographic maps, and other map sources. Digital coverages such as soil, roads, and wetlands wereincluded in a geodatabase. A GIS and remote sensing tools were used to explore the possibility ofidentifying the locations of amphibian breeding pools across northern Alabama’s landscape. These poolswere predicted using digital elevation models, color infrared imagery, Landsat satellite imagery (30m x30m), and aerial photography in ArcGIS 9.2 and ERDAS 9. The following four counties were used toidentify potential isolated wetlands: Jackson, Lawrence, Winston, and Marshall Counties. Once thesepools were located, a subset of these locations was ground-truthed using minnow trapping and visualencounter egg surveys. Landscape variables such as degree of fragmentation, total forest area, numberof wetlands, total agricultural and residential area, canopy cover, percentage of the pools’ perimeterthat were forested, distances to the nearest road, and landscape disturbances at 100 m, 200 m, 500 m,1 km, and 2km buffer zones were developed. These buffer zones represent the potential dispersaldistance of various families and group adaptations of amphibian fauna (hylids, bufonids,ambystomatids, and ranids). NASA experts were consulted in the development of the GIS data layers22

and particular variables that were relevant for predicting vernal pools and the landscape variables formodeling the relationships and potential impacts of landscape disturbances. Vegetation, disturbance,and terrain indices were executed and compared between 1995 and 2006 to assess vegetation changewithin the buffer zones surrounding potential isolated wetlands.8. Determine the effects of urban and rural forest management on the speciesrichness, relative abundance, and diversity of freshwater aquatic (fishes, mussels,arthropods) communities.This on-going investigation seeks to link the ridgetop pine stands to the riparian and aquatic areas in awatershed-level study design. Many of the loblolly pine study stands are sufficiently isolated to allowthe relationship of stream headwaters to a particular treatment type. Treatment types, particularlyburning, are also somewhat spatially clumped, allowing for significant influence of treated areas uponstudy sites further downstream. Study sites include reaches and riparian areas of headwaters of streamsthat drain treated and control areas, treated and control stands that the aforementioned headwaterdrain, and reaches and riparian areas of streams downstream of the headwaters where there are fishand mussels present. These sites represent sites influenced by clumped areas of a particular treatmenttype. The treatment types selected for data collection are control, thinning only, and both thinning andburning. There are three replicates for each treatment type.Benthic macroinvertebrates are important diagnostic tools in measuring impact of environmental stressin aquatic ecosystems. Their rapid generation time and small home range allow detection of small scalehabitat changes over short periods of time (DeBano and Wooster 2003). Aquatic insects vary in theirsensitivity and tolerance to environmental changes, thus they serve as excellent and reliable indicatorsof stream degradation. Pollution-sensitive insects such as Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera(stoneflies) and Trichoptera (caddisflies) are susceptible to chemical and physical changes in the stream.Their abundance indicates good water quality and their absence suggests water impairment, whereaspollution-tolerant organisms increase in abundance in polluted streams. Invertebrates form vital links inthe aquatic food web connecting macrophytes, algae, leaf litter and fish. Thus, they play critical roles innutrient and energy cycles and other ecosystem processes, and their interactions with other bioticstream dwellers influence shifts in the composition of fresh water stream communities. The suite ofmacroinvertebrates and their differing functional groups (shredders, filter-feeders, etc.) are directlyrelated to the habitat and water quality characteristics within a stream. Anthropogenic activitiescontribute to biodegradation of water quality that may result in changes in invertebrate communitycomposition and structure over time. Fish, aquatic snails, and mussels (Unionidea) serve asbioindicators of the quality of habitat in a similar manner to insects, but in a way that is related to largergeographic and temporal scales than to which insect community compositions are related.Our overall goal is to determine the composition, structure and diversity of benthic macroinvertebratesand fish in selected watersheds within managed (thinned and burned) and unmanaged areas of theBNF. Specific objectives are to (1) determine seasonal changes in the distribution and abundance ofaquatic communities; (2) measure seasonal changes in aquatic habitats (e.g., variability in quantity andquality of water flow, sediment transport; water turbidity, pH, habitat structure, litter and large woodydebris, etc.); (3) determine correlation between shifts in composition and structure of aquaticcommunities and changes in habitat characteristics.SamplingBenthic macroinvertebrate and fish sampling occurs on twelve 150 m reaches within nine streamcatchments in the BNF. Sampling sites with representative habitat conditions were scouted andselected. Sites were characterized according to forest cover, large woody debris, substrate23

composition/embeddedness, surface flow and riparian land use/land cover. Physicochemicalcharacteristics (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH) of water were measured in situ.Sampling of aquatic insects occurs seasonally using kick net (500 µm, 1m 2 ) and dip net methods (Dframenet, 500-µm mesh). Leaf packs were also collected. Sampling of mussels and snails occursannually and consists of transects excavated with a dredge and hand-sorted on-site. Sampling of fishwas to occur annually and consist of multiple-pass backpack electrofishing. However, the presence ofendangered fish in some of the streams has forced us to postpone that. Reference specimens orquestion specimens were preserved in 10% formalin or 70% EtOH. Composite macroinvertebratesamples collected were preserved in 80% ethanol until taxa identification. Influences of hydrologicconditions (e.g. stream flow variability, water flow regimes, velocity, and sediment transport), habitat,land use/land cover and water quality on macroinvertebrate communities were determined with theassistance of the Landscape and Ecological Process Thrust Area of CREST-CFEA.Metrics used in the evaluation of biologic integrity include taxa richness, Shannon-Wiener’s DiversityIndex, relative abundance, %EPT (for insects), functional groups, Morisita-Horn’s Index of Similarity, anddominance. Diversity indices were determined and statistical comparisons between watersheds,sampling locations and time are currently being conducted. The importance of abiotic factors to aquaticcommunity composition will be examined through PCA, DCA, and CCA. Spatial analysis of biotic andabiotic data will be undertaken using a GIS with the assistance of the Landscape and Ecological ProcessThrust Area of CREST-CFEA.Thrust Area III – SoilsForest management practices such as prescribed burning and thinning are commonly used to restoredegraded forest communities in the Southern Appalachians. Prescribed treatments influence physicaland chemical properties of soils and change the balance of nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen. Theyalso effect soil mineralogy. The study was conducted to investigate the impacts of prescribed burning,thinning, and a combination of prescribed thinning and burning on organic and mineralogicalcomposition in soil and forest floor. Effects of these disturbance regimes were studied on TypicHapludults at the Bankhead National Forest in Northern Alabama.1. To assess the impact of fire disturbance on various forms of N and N processes inforest ecosystems (Objectives I & II are merged in this study)Nitrification PotentialResponses of microbes to forest management practices are also dependent on soil disturbances. Moststudies on soil microbial ecology over the last three decades have largely focused on analysis ofmicrobial processes. In any given environment, the biological diversity data obtained for example by theanalysis of 16S RNA suggests that only a small fraction of organisms present can be cultivated. Thiscomplexity varies from only a few taxonomic groups in non-organic environments characterized by alimited amount of energy sources to several thousands of taxa in soils and oceans where a large amountof carbon molecules are available.In forestry two primary management techniques used are prescribed burning and stand thinning. Theseapplications used both independently and in combination, are used to help reduce litter cover and treestems. Although there is a considerable amount of literature that exist on the impact of high intensitytimber harvest (e.g. clear-cutting and whole-tree harvesting) on forest floor and soil properties, little isknown of the effects of mechanical treatments at intensities useful for ecosystem restoration andwildfire hazard mitigation. The generalizations that have been developed from the clear-cutting24

literature seem unlikely to be applicable to the more modest mechanical treatments involved inrestoration efforts.3. To study the impact of fire disturbance on the structural and functional diversity ofsoil microorganisms associated with N mineralization in forest soils.All life on Earth requires nitrogen. Since there are only certain amounts of nitrogen on the planet,nitrogen has to be cycled through various systems and the subsystems therein. In the atmosphere,nitrogen exists in a variety of molecular forms, redox states and phases, but only some, collectivelyknown as ‘fixed nitrogen’, can be utilized by marine and terrestrial organisms. They include ammonium,nitrite, nitrate and organic nitrogen. Nitrogen availability often limits plant productivity in terrestrialecosystems. Factors controlling N mineralization and nitrification have been studied because theseprocesses determine the availability of N for plant and microbial uptake.Nitrogen retention within forests is influenced by abiotic and biotic processes that control theconsumption or release within the soil and export along hydrologic flow-paths. Although undisturbedtemperate forests are typically N limited, inorganic N retention has been reported to be high in someforested regions but low in others. Interactions between vegetation uptake and N deposition rates maybe important in controlling inorganic-N leaching losses in regions receiving high N deposition. Positivenet rates of N mineralization and subsequent nitrification in the soil profile also provide considerableNO 3 for export. Studies suggest that production and plant uptake of dissolved organic N (DON) may alsobe important in N retention in forested systems. Small-catchment comparative studies reveal that thereare significant contrasts in soil N mineralization and nitrification among different forest communities inresponse to variations in substrate quality, soil temperature, moisture, and C and N availability andtopography.The fate of excess N in the terrestrial landscape is not well understood, though the possibilities ofoutcome include being taken up in forest vegetation, stored in forest soils or groundwater, convertedand lost to atmospheric forms through denitrification, or exported from the system in streamflow.Production of ammonium (NH 4 + ) and nitrate (NO 3 - ) in the forest floor by the microbial processes of grossammonification and gross nitrification is of crucial importance for plant nutrient supply. However, netnitrification, comprising the process of gross nitrification and NO 3 - consuming processes includingmicrobial immobilization, dissimilatory NO 3 - reduction to NH 4 , and denitrification, is critical for theregulation of N losses from the ecosystem along both hydrological and gaseous flow paths. Nitrogenlosses from forest ecosystems are not only considered to be undesirable since they reduce nutrientstocks, but also can affect groundwater and stream water quality by means of NO 3 leaching andatmospheric chemistry and radiative properties by means of emission of the primarily radiatively activegreenhouse gas N 2 O. Nitrous oxide loss can occur during microbial NO 3 - production (gross nitrification)and microbial NO3 reduction (denitrification, dissimilatory NO 3 - reduction to NH 4 + . In addition,nitrification can promote soil acidification.Mineralization and nitrification are influenced by environmental factors that affect biological activitysuch as temperature, moisture, aeration and pH. Nitrification, for example, occurs very slowly at coldtemperatures and ceases once the temperature declines below freezing. The rate increases withincreasing temperature until the point at which bacterial viability is reduced, (around 95 o F to 100 o F)and then nitrification begins to decline with increasing temperature. Moisture is necessary for microbialfunction in both the mineralization and nitrification processes. Excessive moisture limits oxygenavailability, reducing mineralization and nitrification rates, which, perhaps lead to anaerobic conditionsin the soil. Rates of mineralization and nitrification proceed most rapidly at pH levels near neutral, anddecline as soils become either excessively acid or alkaline.25

Incubation StudyNitrogen mineralization and nitrification potentials were measured by forty-five day aerobic 25 0 Cincubations in the laboratory. Temperature and moisture conditions were kept uniform through theincubation period; thus, differences in ammonium and nitrate production between samples were due toactivity of bacteria and quality and amount of substrate initially present in the soil. At the end of theincubation period the samples were extracted and analyzed for NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N.4. To use cutting edge synchrotron-based techniques (XANES, micro-SXRF, micro-XANES and micro-XPS) to study the impact of fire disturbance on nutrient, C, N, P, S,and heavy metal cycling dynamics in forest soil ecosystems. (Due to technicallogistic this objective was changed to study the organic phosphorus transformationin forest soils as affected by prescribed burning and logging)Objectives of this investigation were to study the impact of prescribed burning and logging treatmentson transformation of organic phosphorus (OP) pools in forest soils using chemical extraction methodsand identification of OP compounds using 31 P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( 31 P NMR).Disturbances caused by fire and logging in forest ecosystems are believed to affect the type of organiccompounds of C, N, S, and P that prevails in the soil which determine important physical and chemicalcharacteristics of forest soil. Organically bound P usually accounts for about 20-60% of total P in topsoils. Major OP forms in soil generally consist of orthophosphate monoesters, orthophosphate diesters,phosphonates, nucleic acids (DNA/RNA), phospholipids, humic acid and fulvic acid bound P.We used 31 P NMR spectroscopy as a tool to identify organic P forms in forest soil since the technique hasbeen recognized as an important method to characterize organic P pools in soil extracts. The majorforms of P in extracts were identified using 31 P NMR signals that fall between a chemical shift range of25 and -25 ppm in the 31 P NMR spectra. The major limitations of obtaining 31 P NMR of soil extracts is thelow concentration of P present and presence of P bound to paramagnetic ions such as Fe and Mn thatinterferes with NMR signal resulting in broad peaks with poor resolution. We have developed methodsto extract and posttreatment the extracts to remove paramagnetic ions present to obtain good quality31 P NMR spectra to identify forms of organic P in forest soils subjected to prescribed burning and loggingtreatments.Several chemical extraction methods were employed to extract organic P forms from soils from areassubjected to logging and burning treatments. List of treatments are as follows: Treatment 1 (Control);Treatment 3 (No thinning and 3 year burn); Treatment 4 (Thin to 50 ft2/acre-No burn); Treatment 5(Thin to 75 ft 2 /acre-No burn); Treatment 6 (Thin to 50 ft 2 /acre-3 year burn). The following chemicalextraction methods were used to extract P forms from soils.(1) Extraction with 0.5 M Sodium bicarbonate (extraction of labile phosphorus forms)(2) Extraction using of 0.25M NaOH, 0.05M EDTA (extraction of total organic P)(3) Sequential extraction of P forms(4) Separation of humic acidPhosphorus forms in extracts were characterized by 31 P NMR Spectroscopy.5. To document the clay mineral suites and characterize the charge properties of thedominant minerals.This aspect of the study investigated the mineralogy suites and transformation patterns in soils at theBankhead National Forest that were routinely managed with prescribed burning.26

Soil samples were collected from representative sites at the BNF in order to assess the response of soilmineralogical composition to prescribed burning. Prior to and after the burning, soil samples weregathered from four depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20 cm), allowing for the characterization of themineralogical response on a finer scale. The samples were air-dried, ground to pass through a 2-mmmesh sieve, and were used for routine characterization, soil C dynamics, and mineralogical analyses. Thesoil samples were prepared for further clay mineralogical studies according to standard practice, andanalyzed by XRD using a Panalytical X’Pert Pro MPD diffraction system with CuKα radiation and agraphite crystal monochromator. Treatments for XRD analysis include Mg and K saturation and heatingk-clay to 350 and 550 ºC.Soil surface temperatures at the sites of the prescribed burn were recorded by means of temperaturelacquers buried very near the soils surface to document the temperature increase due to the treatment.6. To investigate the effects of burning treatment of forests on soil mineralogicalproperties and nutrient cycling dynamics.This aspect of the study was aimed at a) identifying the sinks and sources of nutrients such as C and Nprior to prescribed fires and logging in a long-term forest ecosystem management study, and b) tocreate baseline data for evaluating C and N redistribution following prescribed fires and loggingtreatments in forest ecosystems.We conducted pre-treatment and posttreatment sampling of the treatment-sites at the BNF.Posttreatment sampling was conducted in all sites of Block 1. Second-year posttreatment samples werecollected after prescribed burning and thinning treatments were applied in order to evaluate furtherforest ecosystem recovery. Pre-treatment sampling was conducted in Block 2 in order to collect soilbaseline characterization data. Posttreatment samples were collected one month after prescribedtreatments were applied in order to evaluate immediate ecosystem response. Pre and posttreatmentsampling was conducted in Block 4 to add to the data pool evaluating immediate soil ecosystemrecovery.Laboratory analyses including C, N and S analyses and mineralogical analyses were conducted on preandposttreatment samples of Blocks 1, 2, and 4.Field soil descriptions and soil characterization data was shared with North Alabama NRCS Office tofacilitate collaboration between CREST and NRCS.Additional Research Initiatives for Objective7. To evaluate the impacts of prescribed forest fires and logging on trace metalrelease and redistribution in the ecosystemThe treatments at the sites of this study consisted of two burning patterns (no-burn and 3 year-burn)and three levels of thinning (no thin, 25%, and 50% thin). We sampled soils from the control soils(treatment 1) that were neither burned nor thinned; treatment 3 that was a burn-only treatment;treatment 4, a thin-only treatment; and Treatment 6, a Burned, and thinned treatment.27

The soil samples were air-dried, gently ground and made to pass through a 2mm sieve according tostandard procedures and used for analyses. The samples were analyzed for trace metal contents byutilizing modified techniques, and the Microwave Accelerated Reaction System (MARS) using the EPAmethod #3052 for complete digestion. The samples were cooled and filtered through #42 AshlessWhatmann Filter paper and stored for analysis. The trace elemental concentrations of the extracts fromthe soil samples were determined with a Perkin Elmer 2100 ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma –optical emission spectroscopy).Thrust Area IV – MolecularThe overall objective of this study was to tackle two questions in assessing the population genetics ofecologically important red oak species of the Southern Cumberland Plateau – a distinct physiographicand ecologic region: 1) What is the population diversity of these red oak species; have they developedgenetic bottlenecks? And 2) what is the intra- and inter-specific gene flow for these species.This study employs various molecular markers in surveying the genetic profiles of red oak species of theSouthern Cumberland Plateau, specifically, northern red oak (Quercus rubra), black oak (Q. velutina),southern red oak (Q. falcata), scarlet oak (Q. coccinea). The markers include nuclear simple sequencerepeats (SSRs), and amplified sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCARs). Initial phase of theproject includes the characterization of each of the targeted species for their unique DNA markerprofiles. Such profiles will be used at later stages to characterize the red oak populations in the SouthernCumberland Plateau and to determine intra- and inter-specific hybridization and establishment patterns.1. Establish a panel of PCR markers for screening red oak individuals and populationsof the Southern Cumberland Plateau.Ms. Ashyntye Williams has actively optimized the DNAextraction protocols as well as the amplification ofvarious oak species using primers developed based on redoak DNA sequences. With the assistance of vegetativegroup (subproject I), Ms. Williams collected samples ofthe red oak species from five locations along theCumberland Plateau. A catalog of the identification of redoak species was established by Dr. Schweitzer whichaided in the location of each species. Samples werecollected manually from the cambial layer of each tree(Figure 3). Ms. Williams also traveled to Purdue Universityto collect samples to use as a control. The locations alongthe plateau are Bear Den Point, Jack Gap, Hayes NaturePreserve, Bankhead National Forest and forest areassurrounding AAMU campus. In Indiana she collectedsamples from Davis Forest. Unfortunately, all five speciesof red oak were not evenly collected from each site due tothe preference of each species. Bear Den Point hadNorthern Red Oak, Southern Red Oak and Black Oak. JackGap contained Northern Red Oak and Black Oak. ShumardOak was mainly at Hayes Nature Preserve. Bankhead National Forest consisted of Northern Red Oak,Southern Red Oak, Scarlet Oak and Black Oak. In total 200 samples of the red oak species has beencollected within the six locations.28Figure 3: A representation of the quality of theDNA isolated from cambial tissue of various oakspecies collected from the Cumberland Plateau.The ladder is a 1 Kb ladder. Row 1 representssamples from Bear Den Point. Row 2 representssamples from Hayes Nature

With the optimized protocols for extraction and primer amplification, all 200 samples were extractedand quality and quantity checked. They were carefully screened the five oak species from the 200samples, using 60 microsatellite markers that were developed from several research scientists at PurdueUniversity. She obtained amplified fragments that separated on 2% agarose gels in order to assess thequality of the amplification. Any primers that generated a clear PCR product band of the predicted sizewill be characterized.2. Develop molecular fingerprints for potential “parental” northern red oaks, hybridsand individual trees and red oak populations of the Southern Cumberland PlateauCambium tissue was collected manually with a chisel and hammer from the base of the fifty treesamples for genotypic classification (Figure 4). The trees were identified using the whole-tree silvicmethod by the US Forestry personnel; leaf shape, bark characteristics, acorn shape, location, High land,Low land, soil moisture, etc.Figure 4: Sampling the Cambium tissueCambial tissue was ground using the SPEX 6850 Freezer/Mill (Fisher Scientific).DNA will be extractedaccording to the Kohel with modification for optimization of oak species. DNA quantified usingNanoDrop ND-1000 , DNA quality using agarose/ethidium bromide (0.8 %) gel electrophoresis in 1XTBE electrolyte buffer. Electrophoresed DNA fragments were visualized and photographed using aAlphaImager v5.5 2000 . Screening of 30 primer pairs were used to amplify genomic DNA samples 30SSR developed by others. Different PCR profiles were carried out in 25 µL volumes. Reactions wereperformed on a Tetrad 2 thermal cycler (BioRad). Unlabeled PCR primer pairs were separated on a 6%polyacrylamide gels prepared in 1x TBE buffer. Population genetic parameters were estimated usingseveral software packages; Genetic Data Analysis, FSTAT and POPGENE v. 1.31.3. Determine intra- and inter-specific gene flow among progenyThe methodology for this objective is essentially the same as described above for objectives 1 &2Thrust Area V – Human DimensionsThis thrust area is examining the relationships between forestland owners and stakeholders and howthey influence or respond to disturbances of the ecosystem. Initially, the research focused on tworegions (Southern Cumberland Plateau and the Western Black Belt region of Alabama) with fiveobjectives in mind: linking human disturbances in the ecosystem with changes in the land use and landcover, projecting the impact of human disturbances on the ecosystem, evaluating the evolvingrelationship between stakeholders in the region, and evaluating the ecological and economic impacts of29

forest-based activities. Digital images for six periods between 1975 and 2005 are being analyzed byimage processing software and are being entered into Land-Use Change Analysis Model (LUCAS) andLandscape Management System (LMS) models. A five-year panel (repeat survey) study of stakeholderswill explore the issue of trust and collaboration. Questionnaires, focus groups and interviews as well assecondary data analyses are being used to estimate the economic impact of forest-based activities. Theecological and economic impacts of different harvesting systems are being evaluated. The relevancy andimportance of this thrust area is the integration of our understanding of how individual and groupbehaviors impact changes in the landscape, by focusing on how the land cover and the social systemsare being influenced by human disturbances in the forest. This thrust area demonstrates the University'sand CFEA's mission to develop socially engaged research, relevant to the communities we serve. Anumber of synergies with the other thrust area are integral to this study.1. To establish and maintain a dynamic digital database for forest ecosystems in theSouthern Cumberland Plateau and in Alabama's Black Belt, identify the land useand land cover changes and the human drivers of change.In the first year 2004-2005, land use/cover changes of the Bankhead National Forest (BNF) and theWestern Black Belt were developed from historical aerial photographs, as well as medium and highresolutionsatellite data such as Landsat TM (15-30m), MODIS (250-500m), and IKONOS (1-3m). Satelliteand aerial platform imagery were used to provide a viable source of data from which updated land coverinformation was extracted in order to inventory and monitor changes in vegetation cover. The digitalimages were analyzed using the ERDAS Imagine 8.6 image processing software. Dr. Tadesse establishedand maintained a dynamic digital database for forest ecosystems capable of incorporating current andfuture satellite imagery, GIS maps, Population and Industry Censuses, and GPS information on fieldexperiments and other remotely sensed bio-physical data. Vector and raster digital data for BNF wereacquired. At this time the list included: TIGER 2002 Road, TIGER 2000 Water, National Hydrography,Dataset 1:24,000, 8-Digit Watershed Boundary Dataset 1:24,000, 8-Digit Hydrologic Units 1: 250,000,Digital Raster Graphic County Mosaic, Digital Raster Graphic at 1:24,000, 1:100,000, and 1:250,000Scale, Digital Ortho Quad County Mosaic, National Land Cover Dataset, Annual & monthly AveragePrecipitation, TIGER 2002 Hydrography, Census data for 1970, 1980, 1990, & 2000, Landsat MSS 1977,and 1980 and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer).In 2005-2006, historical information on the Bankhead National Forest was obtained. The Forest Servicehad black and white aerial photographs: hard copy for 6 years (1950, 1954, 1955, 1958, 1964 and 1972),color photographs for 5 years (1976, 1981, 1991, 1992, and 1999), and color infrared photographs of1984. The black and white aerial photos of the years 1941/1942 for the northern portion of the BNFwere scanned at 300 dpi, georeferenced in ArcGIS and mosaiced using the ERDAS Imagine Imageprocessing software. A geodatabase was developed for the Sipsey Watershed (this included the BNF).The geodatabase includes information on management boundaries, census blocks, elevation, geologyand soils, streams, transportation, vegetation, and sampling points for CREST research. The informationis available to all sub projects and was utilized to develop field maps for all sites and identify appropriatesampling locations. Other digital data acquired for BNF and Sipsey Fork Watershed included: U.S. CensusBureau block statistics data from 1980, 1990, and 2000 census; Digital-Ortho photo Quadrangles(DOQs), and Color Infrared data for the entire BNF at one foot resolution; Soil data from the USDA-NRCS, and Digital Elevation Model (DEM, 10 meter resolution) has been processed to extract aspect,hillshade and slope layers. At the same time, data was acquired and a GIS geodatabase for landowners’parcel data from Alabama’s Black Belt region was developed by seven graduate and undergraduatestudents who were trained in digitization, georeferencing, and rectification. A geodatabase wascompleted for landowners in Greene County and partially completed for Marengo county. Students30

compiled a report, presentation, and lab manual for developing geodatabase for the other six Black Beltcounties.In 2004-2005, the Landsat imagery archives were searched for suitable imagery from mid 1970’s to 2005at 5 years intervals. Preprocessing of satellite imageries included atmospheric correction ornormalization, image registration, geometric correction, and masking (e.g., for clouds, water, irrelevantfeatures) prior to image classification and change detection. All data (raster & vector) including fieldspatial data collected by the different sub-projects were projected to UTM with World Geodetic Systemof 1984 datum in order to compare them analytically. The imageries included Landsat MSS for 1977,1980 and Landsat 5 for 1987. These imageries were made available for use by other projects. Theremaining imageries for 1985, 1990, 2000, 2004, and 2005 were ordered. The conventional Maximumlikelihood classification algorithm and object based segmentation were used to classify thepreprocessed images.In 2005-2006, preliminary land use and vegetation of Bankhead and Sipsey Fork watershed wascompleted for 1974, 1995, and 2005 time period. The land use/cover and vegetation informationextracted were utilized by the Flora group (Thrust Area 1). We also started to develop a component inaquatic ecology in 2005-2006. The aquatic component of this work was not considered in the originalproposal and was later moved to the Wildlife thrust area.In 2006-2007, color infrared (CIR) for Bankhead with 0.5 m resolution were classified by the objectbasedclassification method which groups image pixels into objects using the multi-resolution imagesegmentation process. During this process contiguous and homogeneous image pixels are aggregatedinto regions. These image regions (objects) correspond to the approximations of real world objectswhich were characterized by shape and texture. This classification approach was being used to comparewith the traditional classes. The percent accuracy of object-based classification was expected to behigher compared to the pixel-based.In 2006-2007, land use/cover maps were completed from Landsat TM imageries for the BNF and SipseyFork watershed for the year 1974, 1995, and 2005. The pixel-based image classification algorithm wasapplied for feature extraction. Accuracy assessment was conducted by groundtruthing and also usingdigital orthophotos that were developed from historical aerial photographs.In 2007-2008, GIS and Remote Sensing and spatial analysis techniques provided data and tools toexplore the temporal, spatial, and attribute components of the research questions in an integratedmanner. GIS allowed creating a database of spatially referenced data for further manipulation, analysisand mapping. Likewise, time series remotely sensed imagery was used to create multi‐temporal datasetshowing place/pixel specific dynamics of disturbances to regional dynamics. Geodatabases have beenestablished for all areas of interest and have been extended to cover the full Cumberland Plateau. Thedata is available to all thrust areas scientist and students through our server and have been utilized byall thrust areas participants. Some of the specific uses were identifying differing physiographiccharacteristics of the Bankhead study stands, identify home range habitat, and produce study site maps.Three geodatabases were developed; Blackbelt, Cumberland, and Bankhead. The Cumberland andBankhead overlap spatially however the Bankhead geodatabase contains greater detail. Datasets foreach geodatabase developed during the entire reporting period will be listed and described.Data was obtained and processed for the Black Belt study area: a. Demography of the area that relatesto changes in population, households, race, education, employment, and age groups. b. Socioeconomicdata that relates to per capita income, median household income, gross household income, andemployment in farms and manufacturing industries. c. Human well‐being index that is based on thecombination of income, employment and education data derived from the US Census for 1980 and31

2000. d. Community capitals data that includes: cultural, (church, parks, landmarks), political(government offices) , social (clubs, cooperatives, NGOs) , human (schools, college, training centers),infrastructure (roads, power lines, railway lines, waterways), manufacture (industries), and financial(banks, insurance companies). e. Land cover change data derived from the Landsat TM and LandsatETM+ imageries for 1980 and 2000 that covers eight counties (Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo,Perry, Sumter, and Wilcox) in the study region. These terrain corrected data (Geographic, Radiomatricand Topographic correction) with less than 10% cloud cover and with the close anniversary date(acquired in the month of January) in 1980 and 2000 were purchased from USGS/EROS data center. f.Ancillary or reference data was used as reference maps to help classification of the remotely senseddata. These data include: Aerial Photographs, Plat Maps, and Topographic Maps, US TIGER data for road,water and towns. Groundtruth sample data collected randomly across the study region was used foraccuracy assessment of the classified image. Human Well-being Index was created by using income,education, and employment data. Indexes of income, high school and graduate education, andemployment were created. These index values were computed in order to normalize the values of thevariables that are included in the Human Well‐being Index (HWBI), so that all values fall between 0 and1. Then, the four indexes were averaged to obtain the HWBI for each CBG. Community Capital Indicatorswere created from the US Economic Census data compiled as a directory of all credit approved Alabamaestablishments, updated for 2000 by University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Community capitalis the tangible and intangible assets or resources that exist in a community. They exist in the form ofsocial and cultural organizations, government or financial agencies, infrastructures and other entities toassist or retain community capability for various socioeconomic, political, and infrastructuraldevelopments. Eight forms of community capital (cultural, human, social, political, financial, built,industrial and natural) were included. The data was standardized by computing community capital per1,000 populations in a Census Block Group (CBG).Data obtained and processed for the Cumberland Plateau study area: (1) The Cumberland Plateau hasfive distinct spatial definitions assigned by different federal agencies and nonprofit organizations (USGeological Service, Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Forest Service, Nature Conservancy,Smalley). Boundary files for each definition were evaluated. Smalley’s was selected, as it was regionallyderived and based on local information. The other classifications were based on national information.Smalley’s was also one of the broadest classifications and thus the others can be extracted if needed. (2)Long‐term climate data from Parameter‐elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM)was obtained for mean annual rainfall, maximum, minimum and annual temperature. This was based ondata from 1971 to 2000. (3)30m digital elevation data was obtained from the USGS and mosaicked tocover the study region. From this data curvature, slope, hill shade and aspect were derived. (4) NationalLand Cover for 1990 and 2001 was derived from Landsat imagery by the Multi Resolution LandCharacteristics Consortium. (5) Landsat images for 1970’s, 1990’s and 2000’s for the study area werecataloged and mosaicked. Ten scenes for each year are required to cover the study area.Data obtained and processed for the BNF in addition to the Cumberland Plateau geodatabase: (1)moisture indices including wetness index and integrated moisture index were derived from previouslydescribed data sets including digital elevation data and soils information. A wetness index was derivedfor the full study area. However, integrated moisture index was only calculated in the Lawrence countypart of the study area due to limited soils information. (2) Human well‐being index and income growthindices were created for the Bankhead region for 1980 and 2000. (3) Land use/cover (LULC) data for theperiod of 1974, 1995, and 2005 was developed using Landsat TM and Landsat ETM+ imageries for BNFas well as Sipsey Fork watershed. Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVI) for the same timeperiod has also been developed. We are currently extracting LULC information for 1985, 1990, and 2000.(4) 1991 Color aerial photographs of Sipsey Wilderness, located within BNF, were scanned, rectified, and32

mosaicked. This digital data was used as high resolution reference data (5) The color infrared (CIR)imageries for Bankhead with 0.5 m resolution are being classified by using the object‐basedclassification method (Definiens eCognition). Priority was given to classify the CREST study blocksbecause of the amount of time it takes to classify the entire BNF area. This was because of the highresolution characteristics of the data (6) LiDAR data analysis – Dr. Tadesse (Thrust Area 5) incollaboration with Dr. Dimov (Thrust Area 1) contributed to the LiDAR data analysis (Refer to Trust Area1 section) and advising of the graduate student who was involved in the project. (7) Landownershipparcel information was obtained from seven counties: Cullman, Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan, Marion,Walker, and Winston, that make up portions of the study area. Partial county information fromLawrence, Morgan, Franklin, and Cullman counties was obtained from the respective county offices. Fullcount information for Marion, Walker, and Winston were obtained from the Flagship Company, thisgeodatabase company establishes online digital mapping information for several counties in Alabamaand Georgia. Parcel information contains information about the current and previous landowners,parcel acres, and its location within the county. Some counties provide information on the appraisedvalue of the land, the acres of timber, and its appraised value.During the 2008-2009 reporting period, most of the geodatabase work was based on integration ofdatasets with other research currently being undertaken in the study areas, data sharing, and assistingwith geospatial analysis. There were 3 areas in which the geodatabases were extended: historical colorinfrared imagery from 1980’s were scanned and georeferenced for BNF study area; a moisture indexdeveloped using remotely sensed data and GIS was groundtruthed and modeled for the Lawrencecounty portion of the BNF; and tree height values were extracted from LiDAR data for all study stands aspart of an MS thesis research.In 2005-2006, a Master level graduate student, Reginald Randolph, was recruited to work with Dr.Tadesse. The land use/cover information extracted from time series Landsat imageries was used todetect and identify causes of forest fragmentation. The title of Randolph’s thesis proposal was -UsingGIS/Remote Sensing to Detect and Identify Causes of Forest Fragmentation in the William B. BankheadNational Forest.2. To use digital database to understand the impact of disturbances in the SouthernCumberland and Black Belt landscapes.In 2005-2006, historical information on fire and disturbances has been identified with some integrationinto a digital database. Additional literature review of historical work in the Bankhead National Forestfound eleven historical vegetation studies and reports in the Bankhead, nine aquatic studies andreports, three sociology studies, and five on animals. These were incorporated into the database.In 2006-2007, the ArcGIS model builder solar radiation index and integrated soil moisture index wasdeveloped for CREST study blocks. The results were made available to all CREST scientist and students.In 2007-2008, a proposal was submitted to the USDA to complete an analysis of invasive species in theCumberland Plateau while preliminary analysis using the USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory andAnalysis (FIA) data was carried out. This preliminary work was presented at the Weed Science SocietyAmerica Annual Meeting in Chicago. The majority of the activities for this work are noted underobjective one, geodatabase development. Along with the spatial data, USDA Forest Service FIAinformation was extracted from the main Forest Inventory and Analysis database housed in Knoxville,TN. For each plot (3000) additional environmental and remotely sensed data was derived includinginformation on aspect, elevation, hillshade, slope, Landsat bands, NDVI, and DI.33

In 2008-2009 this objective was extended from its original methodology to examine the impact of ahuman altered landscape on the invasion of non-native plant spices in the Cumberland Plateau. Aproposal submitted to the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) was funded and research is in progress tointegrate the above objective. The research also utilizes the USDA-Forest Service FIA data. The researchexplores the integration of GIS and remote sensing with statistical analysis to assist in speciesdistribution modeling. It is applicable to both native and non-native communities and has the ability toassist land managers in identifying both areas of importance and areas of threat. It was suggested thatMaximum Entropy models can better assess possible species distribution, while logistic regression wasmore representative of the current species distribution. A publication was submitted to theInternational Journal of GIS and presentation was made at the 2009 ESRI International User Conference.The paper explored regional probability distribution envelopes for Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicerajaponica), a vine invasive to forests in the Cumberland Plateau and Mountain Region. The influence ofdisturbance, spatial and temporal heterogeneity, and other landscape characteristics were assessed bycreating regional level models based on occurrence records from the United States Department ofAgriculture Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis database. Traditional and entropy based modelswere assessed independently and evaluated as tools. This approach assessed the possible and probabledistribution of species of concern and their likely long-term impact on forestry industry. At the regionallevel, plant invasion mechanisms were examined in relation to land cover patterns, land use and itschanges, and other human population and economic development drivers.3. To understand the evolution of trust over a five year period in collaborativegroups as well as other stakeholders in the ecosystem.In 2005-2006, Dr. Fraser recruited Nevia Brown, a M.Sc. graduate student, and begun scoping work forhuman social interactions. Ms. Brown submitted a pre-proposal entitled - Understanding collaborativecommunity involvement in the forest implementation process. Dr. Fraser and his student began work ontwenty Minority Landownership Workshops across eight southeastern states. The workshop focused oneducating farmers and landowners on implementing forest practices, and the benefits of forest practicessuch as silvopasture, agroforestry, and forest land conversion.In 2006-2007, Dr. Fraser and Nevia Brown attended Bankhead Liaison Panel meetings. The BankheadLiaison Panel is one of the focus groups for her thesis research. At these meetings, Brown presented herresearch proposal and made contacts with members of the panel. Brown was sponsored by the SouthEastern Society of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to attend the Minorities in Natural Resource Council AnnualMeeting/ Annual Conference. During the conference a leadership meeting was held to educateminorities about the field of fisheries and wildlife and help equip students with leadership skills tosupport the students’ future careers. Brown was invited to attend Tuskegee University’s Forestry andNatural Resources Council Meetings in December 2006 and April 2007 to help improve the TuskegeeUniversity Forestry and Natural Resource Program, and also to serve as a representative of the AlabamaA&M University in the process of negotiating to become a partner university. Brown attended theSoutheastern Society of American Foresters Conference, Auburn University, AL and presented a paperentitled Understanding collaborative community involvement in the forest implementation process.In 2007-2008, Brown selected 120 people living within ten miles of the BNF using stratified randomsampling and surveyed them. A mail questionnaire survey was conducted based on the five theories:rational choice, social capital, socio‐cognitive, social psychology, and behavioral decision theories allaimed at understanding trust relationship within the community. A trial survey was created and pretestinterviews carried out with members of constituents groups. This enabled us to minimize the studyvariables and alleviate potential flaws in the data analysis and conclusion. Once the survey was finalized,a structured and detailed survey was sent out as a trial to access response rates, of the area. Thirty34

andomly selected individuals with a constituent group were issued surveys, and given two weeks torespond; the overall response rate was 30 percent. Based on the response rate the research methodwas changed to person‐to‐person surveys with structured interviews with the expectation ofsignificantly increasing the response rate. Survey data collection started in June 2007. Since thenapproximately 279 participants were solicited for interviews, of which 100 individuals have beensurveyed, with a survey response rate of 36 percent. Obtaining the survey response of non‐constituentswas difficult. The original design was to randomly select landowners within ten‐miles of the BNF andtelephone each selected landowner to request participation. However, after 100 telephone solicitationswith only two respondents, alternative methods were sought. Telephone solicitation was replaced withthe direct door‐ to‐door approach. This method improved the response rate. To help further improvethe response we also utilized the snow‐ball approach. Brown also visited and talked with several localenvironmental and community organizations. At these meetings she answered questions related to theNational Forest Health and Restoration Initiative and the role of her project. The meetings were alsoused as another venue to solicit survey participants.In 2008-2009, Nevia Brown, a Master’s student graduated. Her work was based on the premise thatbuilding solid collaborative relationships between stakeholders depends on three factors: trust,perception, and expectation. The strongest and easiest measurable tool of these three factors is trust.This study examined how trust influences the abilities of policymakers on the BNF, located in northcentral Alabama, and develops collaborative public involvement and perspectives on decisions aroundthe adoption of the BNF’s National Forest Health and Restoration Initiative.4. To evaluate the social and economic impacts of forest based activities in forestecosystems.In 2004-2005, Dr. Fraser and his Ph.D. student, Buddhi Gyawali, began work on the social and economicimpacts of land management in the Black Belt region. A digital database of landownership maps of Perryand Greene Counties was created based on the 2000 Platt maps. African American landowners in bothcounties were identified based on information drawn from electoral lists provided by Alabama ForestryCommission in combination with the county property tax records. These databases were used as casestudies in preparation of a Ph. D. dissertation on the changes in the land covers and communitydynamics based on the different types of ownerships.Compatible time series GIS maps for physical (soil, river, roads etc), socio-economic (income,employment, education, inequality, population change) and community capitals (e.g. infrastructure,natural, political, social, cultural, etc.) of eight black belt counties were created using U.S. Census data of1980, 1990, and 2000 and North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) data of 2000. SatelliteImagery of Landsat MSS, TM, and ETM were purchased for both summer and winter seasons fromUSGS/EROS Data Center, ND for 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000 respectively. These data was used toexamine the relationship between ecosystem change and human well-being. Two papers werepresented in the national conferences based on the time series analysis.In 2005-2006, one paper was published in a peer reviewed journal (Small-Scale Forest Economics,Management and Policy), four papers were presented and published in the conference proceedings ofRural Sociological Society (RSS), American Water Resources Association (AWRA) and International Unionof Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). Onepaper was being published in a conference proceeding of Professional Agricultural Workers Conference(PAWC). Four other papers and two posters were presented in regional, national and internationalconferences in Nashville, TN, Pullman, WA, San Diego, CA, Sacramento, CA, Athens, GA, Atlanta, GA,Tampa, Fl, Tuskegee, AL and Ostrund, Sweden in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Two oral presentation in35

International Society for Social and Resource Management (ISSRM) and Southern Forestry and NaturalResources (SOFOR) GIS Conference in Vancouver and Ashville, NC respectively, were made in June 2006.In 2006-2007, Brown also presented a paper entitled Human Well Being in the Southern CumberlandPlateau of Alabama in the Professional Agriculture Workers Conference (PAWC), the Southern RuralSociological Association Meeting, and AAMU’s Center for Research Excellence in Science and TechnologySummer Forestry and Ecosystem Assessment Conference.In 2007-2008, Dr. Gyawali completed his dissertation which assessed disturbances as changes in theindicators of demographic, socioeconomic, community capital, and land cover types. He addressed thespecific research question of how changes in human well‐being relate to land cover changes. To answerthis question, the Blackbelt geodatabase described under objective one was used. Three papers weredeveloped from his dissertation on this objective and are in review by scholarly journals. Two oralpresentations and one poster have also been made available online for public access. Dr Gyawali’sresearch also considered social and economic impacts. Specific objectives were (1) what is therelationship between the different forms of community capital and human wellbeing? (2) what are themajor factors influencing income growth? (3) what is the magnitude of the spatial effects on therelationship between human well‐being and land cover types, distribution of community capital, andincome growth?In 2008-2009, Dr. Gyawali published two scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, made two oralpresentations, and had one poster made available online for public access. The third paper from hisdissertation is accepted for publication in the next issue of the Journal of Agricultural Extension andRural Development.5. To compare the ecological and economic consequences of conventional and cut-tolengthharvesting system in the upland hardwood forest ecosystems of the SouthernCumberland Plateau under different fire disturbance regimes.In 2005-2006, Dr. Naka recruited M.Sc. graduate student, Thomas Tenyah to compare harvestingsystems. Tenyah developed his research methodology and started collecting preliminary data from thestudy site. His research topic is Productivity and Impact of different Logging Methods in the BankheadNational Forest, Alabama. The research evaluates the impact of different forest operations on sitecharacteristics. Comparison was made to understand the effects of the cut-to-length (CTL) and the treelength(TL) logging methods on the soil surface and physical properties and identify which of thesemethods causes less disturbance and least residual tree damage.In 2006-2007, Dr. Naka and Thomas Tenyah completed collecting data on the second cut-to-length plotin Somerville, the third plot in May 2007, and finished all data collection by August 2007. Tenyahdefended his proposal in May 2007. Dr. Naka attended the Forestry Commission Meeting inMontgomery, the SESAF Conference in Auburn, Alabama, and the SAF Convention in Pittsburgh wherehe presented the poster entitled the Impact of Different Logging Methods in the Bankhead NationalForest, Alabama: A Comparative Analysis.In 2007-2008, Tenyah worked on this as his thesis research “Environmental Impact of Different LoggingMethods in the BNF, Alabama: A Comparative Analysis”. Soil disturbance data was collected throughvisual inspection on line transects space 20 x 20 m apart. At each intersection (point), measurementswere taken 10 m in each direction to determine the nature of disturbance. Six sampling plots werelocated in each treatment and each of these plots had 9 points measured. A total of 324 points weremeasured and 1,296 measurements were collected and classified into undisturbed, disturbed with litter,mineral soil, rutting/secondary roads, rock/stump, slash, and main roads for analysis. Soil compaction36

data was collected using a cone penetrometer. Cone pentrometer readings were taken every 10 m alongline transects. A total of 270 points were taken. After harvesting, the number of damaged residual treeswas counted. Furthermore, productivity data was collected using the MultiDat (multi‐purpose datalogger). Two of these devices were connected on the cut‐to‐length harvesting machines, one on theharvester and the other on the forwarder for duration of one week. The data was then downloaded andthe same devices were placed on the total length harvesting machines, one on the skidder and the otheron the feller buncher for the duration of one week. This data combined with interview with the loggerswas used to calculate machine productivity based on utilization per hour data cost, wages/salaries, gasconsumption, tons of wood per day, level of operator’s experience and price. All data collection wascompleted in the six treatment sites. In spring of 2008, a new master’s student, Xavier Ndona‐Makusawas recruited. His preliminary thesis title is “Woody biomass harvesting impact on sustainable forestmanagement”. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the economics of woody biomass, interm of cost and benefit, market and valued‐added; (2) to assess the environmental advantages anddisturbances on forest ecology resulting from removal of logging residues; (3) to assess the social impactof harvesting woody biomass. The study location was northern Alabama. Thomas Tenyah (MS student)graduated in May 2009. Manuscripts are currently being developed from the three MS students for peerreview publications.Educational ActivitiesEducational activities are a fundamental component of CFEA. The CFEA research has been integratedinto all levels of our educational activities, from graduate to high school. Competitive researchassistantships and an expanded graduate curriculum that integrates CFEA research have beenfundamental in the recruitment and education of the graduate level students. The work-studyopportunities and practical projects such as the Birmingham Water Works Board Resource ManagementPlan have become integral components of the undergraduate program, exposing students to researchand practical professional experiences. With the addition of the Research Experience for Undergraduate(REU) students we are now exposing students, not only from AAMU, but students from all round the USto CFEA research. The REU program has also integrated high school students in academic research. Thisis in addition to the ongoing EnvironMentors program. We have been awarded a grant to support theUndergraduate Research Mentoring project recently by NSF to expand our REU program to a year-roundprogram. We will be able to training 20 undergraduate students in next five years to conduct CFEArelated research. This program will provide a bridge for these students to pursue graduate degrees inSTEM fields. We have also expended our educational activities into the international arena by recentlyinitiating a China international program.ConferencesA major educational activity of CFEA has been the development and implementation of a CFEA annualconference. The first conference was held in June 2007 on our campus. Approximately 100 registeredguests from federal and state agencies, private companies, consultants, and nonprofit organizationsjoined CFEA faculty, staff and students to discuss a wide range of topics related to forest ecosystems.The conference was an opportunity to showcase student research projects and provide a forum todiscuss assessment approaches and areas of synergy between thrust disciplines. All thrust areasparticipated in the planning and presentation of the conference. Abstracts of the presentations and fullposter presentations are available to the public and scientific community on the CFEA website.37

A second annual conference was held October 15‐17, 2008, and focused on assessment and restorationof ecosystems that are managed for natural resources. Specifically, the Natural Resources Management:Assessment and Restoration conference at AAMU was a regional conference to address information andissues related to assessment and restoration of natural resources. Natural resources managers andenvironmental researchers must be able to assess the condition of natural resources and the strategiesfor restoration of ecosystems. This conference offered a forum for exchange of ideas and discussionamong experts in the field of ecosystem management and restoration. A big part of the conference wasa special session at the end of the last day, which focused on feedback and future plans for CFEAresearch. Conference participants were asked to help plan the areas of research that CFEA wouldconcentrate and expand on if refunded by NSF for a second cycle of funding. Plenary and concurrentsessions, workshops, posters and symposia included assessment and restoration topics in areas offorestry, wildlife, soils, water quality, genetic diversity, and socio‐economic dimensions ofenvironmental management. The program also focused on educational issues related to theenvironment.The planning committee structured the conference announcement and call for papers, as well as asolicitation for vendors and exhibitors. The advertisement of the conference was posted on our CFEAwebsite and included a special effort to reach other HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities)with natural resources and agricultural academic programs. The committee invited participation bymembers of other NSF‐CREST centers that focused on ecological research. Workshops in naturalresources assessment and ecosystem restoration were a highlight of that year’s conference. This wasfollowed by invited and contributed presentations and posters of research and education findings onvarious topics related to natural resources management. The conference ended with a tour of researchsites used by CFEA and mini workshops in our laboratories where CFEA research and education is alsoconducted. Proceedings of this conference was generated electronically and forwarded to allparticipants and was also posted on our website.Expanded CurriculumFive new graduate courses (1) NRE 488/588 Wildlife Techniques, 2) NRE 731 Advances in EcologicalResearch, 3) NRE 701 Applied Forest Ecology, are 4) Landscape Ecology, and (5) GIS, Spatial Analysis andModeling were developed and approved by our University to expand the curricula in support of CFEAgraduate student training. The addition of the doctoral level courses (NRE 701 and 731) was a criticalneed identified by our graduate students in CFEA. The Wildlife Techniques course is further supportedby the USDA-CSREES teaching capacity grant awarded to Dr. Stone and Heather Howell in 2006. TheApplied forest ecology, a doctoral level course developed by Dr. Dimov in the fall of 2006, is offered inthe fall of every even year. A new online course, Hardwood Forest Ecosystem Restoration (NRE 586), hasbeen developed and offered by Dr. Dimov. It is a part of an Online MSc Certificate Program lead by theUniversity of Florida and funded by the USDACSREES Higher Education Challenge Grant Program. Thestudy sites, research findings, students, and PIs from the CREST will be used in this course.We will develop several new courses including NRE732 Design and Analysis of Ecological Research in thenear future. Dr. Chen has developed a graduate level Landscape Ecology course, and he is also workingon GIS-Applications in Forestry course. We expect to further develop the CREST Seminar Series as aColloquia to which eminent scientists in ecosystems dynamics are invited as guest lecturers.Contributed material from other academic institutions has helped shape the capstone course in theforestry program. It is now named Forest Ecological Management Project and was offered for the firsttime in the spring of 2009. The now modified capstone course is 4 credits (up from 3 credits) and38

consists of two lectures and a 5-hour lab (upfrom just three lectures and no labs). The classmet one day a week, Friday, rather than thethree days a week in the past, and was from 8:00a.m. to 3:00 pm to allow for visiting propertiesand carrying out inventory, mapping,communication with the landowner, etc.(Fig. 5).The Silvics course (3 credits, fall semester) hasbeen restricted and renamed Forest EcologicalManagement (2 credits) and will be taught thisfall for the first time. It will cover much of thetheory needed for writing a management planand successfully completing the capstone course.Figure 5: CFEA undergrads visit Lawson Tree Farm to view pine andhardwood plantings as part of the siliviculture class in February 2010.Developing Online Dual Credit Partnerships and Recruiting for 21st CenturyProfessionals in Food and Agricultural ScienceIn collaboration with the recruitment team of the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science ofAAMU, the Center developed a proposal “Developing Online Dual Credit Partnerships and Recruiting for21st Century Professionals in Food and Agricultural Science” and has been funded by the USDACooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). We have establishedrecruitment/on-line dual credit partnerships with local and statewide high schools and initiated a seriesof recruitment activities. These initiatives are critically needed because (1) a significant underrepresentationof minorities in the professional occupations of food and agriculture and an expectedhigh demanding for workforce in these fields during the next decade, (2) more than 30% decline ofstudent enrollment at the School of Agricultural and Environmental Science of Alabama A&M Universityduring past few years, (3) online courses attract traditional and non-traditional students, (4) dual creditprograms facilitate a seamless transition from high school to college, and (5) the need to overcome thestigma and legacy of the historical image of agriculture by marketing the diverse career opportunities toparents, students, and teachers. We have developed five online dual credit courses; establisheddatabases of student contacts for follow up and assignment of faculty advisors; identified keyrecruitment advisors including alumni, counselors, teachers, and administrators; developed a list serverand recruitment website to facilitate communications, effort tracking, and bi-directional updating ofprospective students’ information; initiated a “Professors at High Schools” program to bring professorsto high schools; brought teachers and prospective students to our campus for summer apprenticeshipprograms or in-service training; developed a recruitment CD and I-Port track for student downloading.During the 2010 fall semester, 15 undergraduate students, all African Americans, have signed up for atone of these courses. This program has attracted high school students to food and agricultural scienceprofessions, helped their transition from high school to college life, enhanced the program viability ofAAMU, and are likely to enhance and diversify the nation’s work force of food and agriculturalprofessions.39

RecruitmentThe School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences established a recruitment effort with a focusstrictly on agriculturally related fields. These recruitment efforts for the past six-years have includedvisits to various high schools and colleges in and out of the state of Alabama through cooperation withthe Admissions Office. Professors and graduate students traveled to schools for their high school seniordays to speak with students and faculty and distribute information. Each thrust area was welldocumented in the recruitment material presented. The professors attended conferences such asMANNRS (minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences) and community college fairsto recruit talented minority graduate students. For the REU program, information pamphlets were sentto HBCU's (historically black colleges and universities) and other institutions with limited researchcapacity to find the best qualified and highly motivated students. For the years of the REU program(2007-2010), there were over 70 institutions represented by student applications. Our recruitmentefforts were very successful with the steady increase of both undergraduate and graduate students inthe various programs.An example of how involved the faculties are in recruitment is given by Forestry, Ecology and Wildlife(FEWP) personnel. In the early part of 2009 they were actively involved in recruitment and retentionrelated activities. The range of activities included campus hosting of students, teachers, chaperones, andfamily members (from McAdroy High School [40]; Miles Community College in Birmingham [3], YoungWater Ambassadors from Birmingham catchment [105], Science Exploration Day [50]).Off-campus activities during the early part of 2009 included a presentation to members of the youtharm of the Winston County Self Help Cooperative in Greensboro, NC; presentations by FEWP personnelto participants at the Alabama Forestry Commission’s annual summer camp program; organized sixworkshops (Forestry, Aquatics/Fisheries, Wildlife, Insects/Entomology and Forest Recreation) for thebenefit of the ‘Young Water Ambassadors’ from the Birmingham area; assisted in hosting 300 highschool students from many parts of Alabama, and joined the SAES Recruitment Team on recruitmentvisits to Demopolis, AL.A lecturer in Biology at Miles Community College who has referred prospective students to FEWP in thepast is interested and committed to strengthening the relationship between her Department and FEWP.In this regard FEWP personnel will be periodically invited in the future to speak to Biology studentsabout our Program.Alabama A&M University was part in a southeastern initiative. Members of Southern NationalAssociation of University Forest Resources Programs (NAUFRP) have been for some time now discussingthe need to identify the factors contributing to reduced enrollment in forestry/natural resourceprograms as well as the need to increase forestry enrollment numbers, diversity, and quality in thesouthern region. To address these NAUFRP’s concerns FEWP coordinated an on campus focus groupdiscussion among forestry majors. A total of 10 students (males and females, freshmen, sophomores,juniors, and seniors) participated in the focus group discussion which was led by Mrs Laura Lehotka, apost-doctoral scholar at University of Kentucky. Alabama A&M University was one of six southeasternuniversities where these focus group discussions were held. It is anticipated that the findings from thesefocus group discussions will inform and lead to the formulation of strategies and programs to addressthe problem of declining enrollment.During 2006-2007 the average number of students enrolled in the Introduction to Forestry course (NRE281) was approximately 11 per semester. That number has been on the increase. However, FEWPfaculty was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the relatively large number (22) of students whowere registered in NRE 281 in Fall 2009. Also encouraging was the fact that this cohort of students40

included four females. This increased enrollment in NRE 281 may be partly due to the focused andcoordinated recruitment efforts of the Program since Spring 2007. Obviously, the continuedcollaboration with and support from the US Forest Service’s MWSI team must have made and continuesto make a positive contribution in this regard.At the request of the NRES’ Chair a member of FEWP’s faculty established contact with the authorities atLegacy Elementary School in Madison to explore possible avenues for collaboration in the school’sefforts to develop an Outdoor Classroom. Students, parents, and volunteers spent WednesdayNovember 2009 building and developing the Outdoor Classroom. A FEWP faculty member was present.Much work was accomplished on that day. Legacy Elementary School would welcome contribution withAlabama A&M University.Alabama A&M University’s Office of Admissions has been able to secure some a desk at CalhounCommunity College – Huntsville Campus to facilitate recruitment efforts. Two FEWP/NRES facultymembers have committed to man the desk once a week. The hope is that this will provide a greatavenue for recruitment of many transfer students, considering that Calhoun Community College is thelargest community college in the state.FEWP/NRES’ off-campus recruitment efforts in 2010 include visits to Northeast Alabama CommunityCollege in Rainsville; Fairfield Civic Center, Fairfield; and Shelton State Community College. On campusand other outreach efforts for 2010 to date include welcoming approximately 15 students and advisorsfrom Wallace Community College –Dothan Campus, Science Exploration Day (SED) as part of Ag-Week,participation in Alabama Forestry Commission’s Annual Summer Camp at Epes, AL, mentoring of twostudents from the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE) Upward Bound Program,hosting of Young Water Ambassadors and Field Day on campus and on Field day, presentation toapproximately 18 Science Teachers, interacting with in-coming freshmen and their parents at fourStudent Orientation and Retention sessions, presentation at 2010 Teens and Tweens EmpowermentConference, and presentation to approximately 15 advisors from The Alabama College Transfer AdvisingCorps (ACTAC).FEWP’s recruitment and recruitment efforts continue. Indications are that the focused and coordinatedrecruitment efforts during the last 36 months are having positive effects on FEWP’s student population,as evidenced by the increase in the number of students registering for Introduction to Forestry classevery semester since 2008. If this forestry enrollment trend continues the future viability of our programseems assured. Mentoring of our forestry students will be critical to ensuring that students remain inthe program and complete their degree within the recommended timeframe. Through directparticipation in the different recruitment-related activities approximately 450 potential students and 75science teachers/counselors were reached.FEWP responded to several telephone enquiries received from interested students and/or their parents,guardians, counselors, and faculty advisors. Furthermore, individual letters and items of literature havebeen sent to more than 250 prospective students over the last three years.Finally, the continued support and collaboration of faculty colleagues, other relevant units within theAlabama A&M University family, as well as external partners such as the USDA Forestry Service arerecognized and greatly appreciated. Most FEWP faculty members continue to support and participatein recruitment and retention activities whenever the opportunity arises.Competitive Research AssistantshipsFourteen NSF-CREST funded graduate students were supported by CFEA. Competitive stipends of$20K/year for M.S. students and $25K/year for Ph.D. students have allowed us to recruit and retain41

excellent minority students. Four additional graduate students are currently engaged in CFEA wildliferesearch (Thrust Area II). Others are involved in related forest wildlife assessment research projectsfunded by other agencies. CFEA students have been able to compete for competitive fellowships withEPA and for graduate student funding through grants with federal and state agencies. Graduate studentshave been recruited from CFEA support staff and from other universities to work with us as well. Onelingering problem in our ability to continue to recruit high quality graduate students is the University’slack of commitment to waiving the out-of -state portion of the graduate students’ tuition. We have hadto use some CFEA funds to retain out-of–state students while they sought Alabama residency. Theformer President indicated that University funds would no longer be available to pay out-of-state tuitionfor CFEA graduate students in the 2009/2010 year which concerned our entire research personnel. Hewas fired in April of 2008. A new University President, Dr. Andrew Hugiene has been hired and the CFEAmanagement met with him and his support staff to discuss the new proposal submission for the secondcohort of funding for CFEA from NSF. We strongly suggested that the support of CFEA from theUniversity was paramount to the success and future of CFEA. We secured commitments to share the inkindmatch that the University would receive if the CFEA is funded again by NSF. \Lab MeetingsMonthly Ecology, Forestry and Wildlife reading group meetings continued similar activities (criticaldiscussion of recent journal articles) as last year. However, this has served as a forerunner of a newgraduate course (NRE 731 Advances in Ecological Research) developed by Dr. Wang that was offeredfirst time in the fall of 2008.Human Dimension thrust area holds monthly meetings with graduate students, staff and faculty. This isused as an opportunity to discuss needs, concerns and achievements. It has helped in develop strongersynergy within the group and build a solid support structure for students. Other thrust areas hold similarlab meetings to discuss recent advances in their field, especially new technology and research findings inthe literature.Engagement of Undergraduate Students in ResearchOver 62 undergraduate students have been hired as work-study students to work on CFEA projects sinceits inception in 2005. Over the last year 22 students have worked on CFEA projects as work-studystudents.Vegetation thrust area addressed educational goals and objectives by engaging five undergraduatestudents (for the past year) in research as student work-study and a total of over 30 undergraduatestudents since the inception of the project. Some of these students were excited about being part of theresearch and have gone on to work on their graduate degrees. The students were mostly forestry andbiology majors. The students gained valuable research experience by assisting the PIs and the technicalstaff in collecting vegetation data in the field, using laser hypsometer-rangefinder as well as sonicdistance measuring equipment and digital and analog clinometers to measure tree heights, ceptometerto measure photosynthetically active radiation under the forest canopy, and other specialized tools andequipment. Field data collection included collection of forest fuels and subsequent sorting in laboratorycondition in various classes: 1, 10, 100, 1000-hour fuels, leaf litter, fruit, and bark fuels. Theundergraduate students also used a digital camera mounted on a monopod with fish-eye lens for takinghemispherical photos under the forest canopy.Wildlife thrust initially planned to hire three undergraduate students for seasonal research help in thefield, but last year we employed eight undergraduate students to assist us during the academic year and42

during the summer in the field and lab to accomplish CFEA research objectives. These students havebeen a valuable part of the research team and we began to formally recognize their contribution with anundergraduate student research award. One of our Thrust Area II student workers received that award.Additional funds from a USDA CSREES grant to Dr. Stone and Heather Howell were used to expand CFEAobjectives to include aquatic research as well as to accomplish objectives related to arthropods, smallmammals, and herpetofaunal communities.The geospatial lab is setup to build mentoring relationships between students, faculty and staff. Allundergraduate students involved in the lab had exposure to CFEA research, interacting with professorsand graduate students. Six students were directly involved in CFEA research assisting in scanning,digitizing and georeferencing historical aerial photographs. These students range from freshman toseniors allowing for mentoring within undergraduate students working as a team. Students withexperience train those new to GIS and remote sensing. During the summer 2009 one student selected toparticipate in the REU program. The student developed a soil moisture index for one of the CFEA studyareas as research requiremnet. Undergraduate students were directly involved in capturing, handling,and marking wild animals. Many learned how to measure vegetation and other habitat variables.Undergraduate students were trained in the sorting and preparation of animal and insect samples foridentification. Students were trained to use taxonomic keys and reference collections to identify wildlifeand insect specimens. Students gained experience in the identification of insects to order and family andanimals to genus and species. Some students were also involved in the collection and entry of data.Students were taught the reasoning behind and structure of sampling methodology used in entomologyand wildlife studies. The ecological roles and functional groups of animals and insects encountered inthis thrust area were emphasized to students. Students were also taught the use of water qualitymonitoring equipment.Research staff was also heavily involved in integrating undergraduates in to CFEA, through mentoringand teaching. By involving research staff in the teaching program it exposes students to practicalapplications. Mr. Lawson, CFEA CREST,Project Manager taught a number of undergraduate classeshighlighting integration of CFEA research and practical experience into the curriculum to better preparethe students for future employment, increase their involvement in CFEA research, and encouragegraduate level coursework.Undergraduate students have been encouraged to attend nationals and regional scientific conferences.Five undergraduate students attended the Southeastern Society of American Foresters annual meeting,Pine Mountain, GA September 21-23, 2008. Others attended Mentoring of Diversity UndergraduateStudents at the Ecological Society of America’s annual meetings, Milwaukee, WI, Aug 2-8, 2008.FireDawgsIn 2010 a formal agreement between AAMUForestry, Wildlife and Ecology Program,Alabama Forestry Commission and the USForest Service Southern region resulted inthe formation of a Wildland Fire Crewknown as the FireDawgs(Fig. 6). This is thefirst USFS recognized Wildland fire crewfrom a HBCU in the US. It has resulted inadditional employment opportunities forboth our graduate and undergraduateFigure 6: AAMU FireDawgs safety meeting before executing ThomasFarm Burn March 2010.43

students to secure employment in Wildland Fire Agencies across the entire US. We are also seekingpartnership with the University of Florida Fire Lab (research into the effects of prescribed fire onforested ecosystems), and the Alabama Nature Conservancy (Long Leaf Pine Restoration project) as wellas the Alabama Prescribed Fire Council (Mr. Lawson serves on the state board) to promote the use ofprescribed fire as a management tool to restore fire dependent forest ecosystems. The FireDawgs wereable to secure two grants totaling $50,000 from the USFS Southern Region to purchase the latest forestfire equipment as well as Professional Liability and Workmen’s Compensation Insurance for thestudents. In the first year of operation the FireDawgs were able to conduct seven prescribed fires onprivate land totaling 310 acres. In 2011 the FireDawgs MOU with AFC and USFS will expand our coveragearea to 13 counties in north Alabama and will be on call for special fire details with both AFC and USFSon a priority basis.Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)Another major educational activity of the CFEA was to implement NSF-REU program, “Mentoring Future21 st Century Researchers in the Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences”. CREST-CFEA was fundedby NSF to establish a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site at AAMU in 2007. Thisinitiative involved co-PIs and research staff of the CREST-CFEA and the faculty members across theDepartment of Natural Resource and Environmental Science (NRES) and a faculty member fromDepartment of Education. Each year during the summers of 2008-2010, students participated in variousresearch areas such as water quality, soil science, molecular biology, wildlife biology, plantbiotechnology, food microbiology, and microbial ecology. We had over 100 total applications fromaround the country (Fig. 7), 32 were accepted with an average of eleven (11) students participating eachyear. There were over 70 institutions represented through the applications during the three years of theprogram and 20 different institutions that we collaborated with as their students were a part our REUprogram. On average, more females (28) applied each year with about eight participating. This wascompared to an average of only ten males applying and 2.5 participating each year (Fig. 8). For theduration of the program, we had an average of one freshman, four sophomores, two juniors and threeseniors each year (Fig. 8). Also each year, the REU program was comprised of an average of sevenAfrican-Americans, threeCaucasians, and one Hispanics,which made our program trulydiverse (Fig. 8).The AAMU REU program wasunique in that each year, we had anadditional two students toparticipate as part of asupplemental grant that wereceived from the NSF. Thesestudents were either high schooljuniors or seniors from Huntsvillearea high schools. These studentswere a part of the North AlabamaCenter for Educational Excellence(NACEE) and would be firstgenerationcollege students. Therefore, fostering their interest in our program and our university wasessential.44

Each year the students were trained in scientific writing and ethics courses, as well as geographicinformation systems and statistics. All of these programs were instrumental in preparing them to writetheir required research papers andpresent their research in a researchsymposium. The students were alsorequired to take a web design class soFigure 6: Geographical Distribution of Applicants for AAMU REU Program.Green-REU Applicants for 2008, Orange-REU Applicants for 2009, Blue-REUApplicants for 2010.that they could construct their own web pages with information and pictures relating to their researchand all activities in which they were involved. After each year, the PI and Co-Pi published a documentthat included all student papers from that year.The AAMU REU program has had many successes and accomplishments. Several students have enrolledin graduate school, two here at AAMU. Many of the students are still enrolled in their home institutions.Three high school students have graduated; one is enrolled at Tuskegee University, one at StillmanCollege and the other, here at AAMU. At AAMU, our motto is "Service is Sovereignty", and we believethat our program has indeed provided a worthwhile learning experience to our REU participants thatthey will carry with them throughout their lives.Figure 7: Summary Graphs for REUStudent Organizations: Forestry Club, Environmental Science Club and ESA-SEEDS ChapterThe AAMU Forestry Club is open to undergraduate and graduate students. The Forestry Club is a studentchapter of the Society of American Foresters, a SEEDS Campus Ecology chapter of the Ecological Societyof America, and a member of the Association of Southern Forestry Clubs (ASFC). The Forestry Club hasnumerous professional and service activities throughout the year. CFEA graduate and undergraduatestudents traveled to professional forestry meetings to present their research as well as to compete in45

quiz bowls, technical forestry events, and physical forestry events. Some of these occur at the annualSouthern Forestry Conclave. The AAMU Forestry Club hosted the Southern Forestry Conclave in March2009. This event showcased our forestry program and facilities to the other 15 ASFC memberinstitutions, the large land‐grant universities in the southeastern US. It also provided our students withnumerous opportunities for leadership in planning and preparing for the event. Also, it createdexcitement about forestry‐related activities and careers among our student body and enhanced ourrecruitment efforts.Over 250 participants witnessed the growing capacity of our forestry program at AAMU to sponsor suchan event. It also provided our students with numerous opportunities for leadership in planning andpreparing for the event. The event created excitement about forestry-related activities and careersamong our student body and enhanced our recruitment efforts. Drs. Stone, Naka, and Dimov, allinvolved in implementing CFEA education goals, played important roles during the conclave as the club’sfaculty advisors.Dr. Dimov and two undergraduate students that have worked for CFEA this year travelled to the HarvardForest long-term ecological research station this year to participate with minority students from otheruniversities in this week-long training program sponsored by the Ecological Society of America – SEEDSprogram. When they returned, the students both gave oral presentations to the other members of ourforestry club about their trip.Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB)In 2009 and 2010 the timber and natural resource inventory was completed on 2,000 acres of forestlandowned by the BWWB in Blount, Jefferson and Shelby Counties in Alabama. CFEA students were trainedin field exercises on timber cruising, timber marking, and boundary and harvest area location marking.The inventory data was summarized and entered into T-Cruise software for generating reports andrecommendations on natural resource management to BWWB for implementation. CFEA Studentscompleted the wildlife survey of the property to include recommendations for leasing hunting rights,managing trespass, and poaching issues. In addition a habitat improvement plan was submitted forapproval and implementation.Environment Mentors ProgramThe CREST project has formed partnerships with a local high school –Johnson High School (JHS), theNational Council of Science and the Environment, and North Alabama Center for Educational Excellenceto carry out a national college access program known as the Environmentors Program. TheEnvironmentors Program prepares high school students from under-represented backgrounds forcollege degree programs in environmental and related science fields.To carry out this college access program, we identified a local high school (Johnson High School inHuntsville, AL) where the majority of the students are from underrepresented communities. Studentsfrom such demographics are considered to be more likely to have less access to college education, andmay not have interest in science and the environment as a career.We reached an agreement with JHS administration to make arrangements for students from the 11 thand 12 th Grade to be mentored by Alabama A&M University professors, many of whom are PIs orCollaborators of the CREST Project.46

We then teamed with a minority education advocate group - North Alabama Center for EducationalExcellence, NACEE, to help with the logistics of transporting the students to and from their school toAlabama A&M University campus.We matched minority high school students with our CREST PIs and Collaborators in one-to-onementoring relationships. Working together, the students and their mentors developed science researchprojects over the course of the four months that we ran the program.Accreditation ReviewThe FEWP underwent its re-accreditation review by the Society of American Foresters in April 2008.Most of the faculty in FEWP, including the CFEA Director (Wang), FEWP Coordinator (K. Ward) andAssistant Coordinator (Stone) are major faculty participants in CFEA. Additionally, Mr. Daryl Lawson,CFEA manager, is a member of FEWP. During the review, FEWP’s role in CFEA was discussed, inparticular the contribution by CFEA toward undergraduate training of forestry students. Several forestrymajors have supported CFEA projects, through lab and field work, which has in turn contributed to thequality of their educational experiences (see undergraduate personnel). The review team commentedpositively on CFEA and recognized it as an important contributor to the vitality and strength of FEWP.During the CFEW SAF Accreditation audit, many of our graduates returned to give evidence of thequality of education received and the type and quality of their research projects experienced whileattending AAMU. The reports from the graduates were very positive, with many of them already inmiddle management positions. Our partners testified of the quality of the graduates and many of themhaving completed research before the NSF CREST funding was awarded to CFEA. Our current studentswere also interviewed and they testified to the quality of their experiences here at AAMU. The FEWPwas re-accredited for an additional five years in November, 2008.Acquire New Equipment and FacilitiesCFEA has allowed us acquire additional equipment and facilities over the last six years by leveragingother grants and capital support. Recently, we acquired a large motor boat (and related water samplingequipment) to assist the rapidly growing fisheries and aquatic ecology program. Additional storagecabinets have been purchased by the state to house our expanding wildlife specimen collections.The purchase of a large capacity full color printer, copier, and scanner has greatly increased our capacityto produce brochures, pamphlets, newsletters, press releases, etc. This printer was purchased throughthe BWWB grant and is available online to all CFEW and CFEA personnel. A small highly portablecomputer projector for use in recruiting efforts, outreach presentations, and thesis defenses has beenpurchased through the BWWB grant. This unit is available for check out by any student, staff, or facultywithin the Department of Natural Resources at AAMU for use when traveling or for use in one of thesmaller conference rooms not equipped with a projection system. We purchased a 4-wheel drive fieldvehicle whose cost was shared by the CREST-Vegetation thrust area ($12,100, or about 70% of thevehicle cost) and from a USDA grant led by Dr. Wang ($5,917, or about 30% of the vehicle cost).In a related effort, CFEA partnered with the Bankhead National Forest to secure two Federal EmergencyManagement Agency surplus trailers for housing students, faculty and staff while conducting CREST andrelated research and educational efforts on the Bankhead National Forest. These trailers now providefor housing for CFEA researchers and help to reduce the cost of travel as well as providing a place to getout of the elements and provide refreshment and rest. To provide a permanent solution to the housingand lab space requirements, we have parented with the Bankhead National Forest Liaison Panel and the47

Nature Conservancy to secure land and construct a field station on private land in the BankheadNational Forest. We have made application for an NSF planning grant to provide additional funds tomake this project a reality.SeminarsThe Center continued to sponsor and coordinates the CREST-CFEA-USDA-FS seminar series. Theseseminars are designed to bring in research leaders and experts in forestry, ecology, soil science,molecular science, and wildlife research to promote the scholastics and research collaborations withresearchers from other universities and agencies, and among faculty members on AAMU campus. Asthe results of these communications and exchanges, several research and educational collaborationswere initiated including proposals developed jointly by faculty members at AAMU and some of theseminar speakers. Several seminar speakers are currently advising graduate students supported by thecenter by serving as the members of graduate committees. Following is a list of seminars organized byCREST during the past fiscal year (Table 2).Table 2: CREST seminarsTime Topic Person OrganizationMarch 6, 2009 Effects of climate change and landcoverchange on terrestrial carbondynamics at multiple spatial scales:experiments and simulation modelingDr. H. Chen University of Illinois atSpringfieldFeb. 6, 2009Dec. 5, 2008Biotic and abiotic controls onecosystem structure and function in achanging worldPopulation and CommunityResponses of Birds to UrbanizationDr. A. ClassenDr. John MarzluffUniversity of Tennessee,KnoxvilleUniversity of Washington(Due to airplane problem Hefailed to present at AAMU)President of Tree CanadaNov. 21, 2008 Diversity in Urban Forestry: ACanadian PerspectiveDr. Mike RosenOct. 31, 2008 Large-scale spread of exotic plants: Dr. Q. Guo Eastern Forest Environmentalthe joint effects of biodiversity andThreat Assessment Center, UShuman activityForest ServiceApril 25, 2008 Global Climate Change and Chinese Prof. G. Zhou Chinese Academy of SciencesTerrestrial EcosystemsApril 11, 2008 Conservation Science, planning and Prof. Thomas E. Texas A & M UniversityprioritizationLacher JrMar 14, 2008 Complexity of Coupled Dynamics of Prof. Larry Li Univ. of California, RiversideHuman and Natural Ecosystems:Linking science to societyFeb 8, 2008 Ecohydrology in a changing world Dr. J. Warren Oak Ridge National LabNov. 30, 2007Research at Coweeta HydrologicLaboratory: Long‐term Effects ofForest Management on Soil Carbonand NutrientsDr. Jennifer D.KnoeppUSDA Forest Service‐SRS,Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory48

Figure 8: AAMU and NFU meetingSept 14, 2007Challenges for Avian Conservation inSouth Carolina – A Retrospective on aDecade of Nongame Bird Research49Dr. J. DrewLanhamClemson University,Department of Forestry andNatural ResourcesOct 28, 2005 Habitat restoration and herpetofauna Kenneth Dod USGSOct 21, 2005 Molecular ecology/biology Aldrich Preston Benedictine CollegeSept 30, 2005 Graduate Experience/careerMichael Roberts Michigan State UniversitydevelopmentNov 4, 2005 Research at Coweeta LTER James Vose USDA Forest Service SRSNov 18, 2005 Hardwood Forest Management John Hodges Mississippi State UniversityJan 28, 2006 Forest Fire Ecology Mary Authur University of KentuckyMarch DNA sequencing for red oaks and Jeanne Romero University of Notre Dame31,2006 implications to forest management SeversonApril 28, 2006 Winds, clouds, and cloud forest Robert Lawton University of AlabamaMay 19, 2006 Computational Ecology Louis Gross University of TennesseeInternational Exchange Program in ChinaUnder the leadership of CFEA faculty members Drs. Yong Wang, Zachary Senwo, and Xiongwen Chen,the proposal “Strengthening Minority Global Perspectives: Collaborative Partnerships with China inAgricultural Research and Education” was funded by the International Science Education Program ofthe USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture in 2009. The program is designed to develop aninternational program with China in agricultural and environmental sciences at Alabama A&M University(AAMU). The goal is to provide opportunities for faculty and students through cultural, educational, andresearch interactions with Chinese students and faculty at Nanjing Forestry University (NFU) and otherinstitutions and to strengthen AAMU’s capacities to develop globally competent faculty and students.The objectives are to 1) provide opportunities to develop students’ global awareness, perspectives andexperiential learning to enhance theircompetitiveness and 2) enhance scientificresearch and teaching capabilities of AAMUfaculty via exposures to internationalresources and technologies. The program isenvisioned to assist in attracting students andenhance recruitment in agricultural andenvironmental majors. Research conductedjointly will establish critical links for solutionsto agricultural and environmental problemsfacing both countries.Six faculty members and three studentsassociated with CFEA visited and acquiredresearch, educational, cultural, and languageexperience in China from June 18 to July 14,2010. This year's trip had the participations of Drs. Yong Wang (Project Director), Zachary Senwo,Xiongwen Chen, Robert Taylor, Govind Sharma, Wubishet Tadesse and students Dawn Lemke, Na-AsiaEllis, and Jasmine Mitchell. A memorandum of understanding was developed between the College ofForestry and Environment Science of Nanjing Forestry University and the School of Agricultural and

Environmental Sciences of AAMU (Fig. 9). Dr. Robert Taylor was also awarded the honoraryprofessorship by the Nanjing Forestry University. Several research and teaching initiatives are currentlyon going and includes development of a REU-China program with NSF funding. This trip also featuredvisits to other universities and research institutions including Beijing Forestry University, ChinaAgricultural University, Beijing Normal University, Nanjing Agricultural University, Institute of Botany ofChinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Soil Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and ShanghaiResearch Institute of Landscape Gardening. The team also visited several research sites and severalcompanies which focus on developing and manufacturing wood and bamboo products. To betterunderstand China’s history, culture and recent developments, the team also visited some historical sitessuch as the Great Wall, Ming's Tomb, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and the City of Shanghai.Project of Undergraduate Research Mentoring in Environmental BiologyUnder the leadership of Drs. Govind Sharma, Yong Wang and Elica Moss, a proposal of establishing aUndergraduate Research Mentoring site at AAMU was submitted to NSF early this year. NSF hasapproved the funding. This project further strengthens and expands CFEA’s capacity in educationalleadership and will train future biological scientists with focus on environmental biology (EB@aamu).Environmental Biology as addressed includes the interactive study of biological organisms and theirenvironments. The students and their mentors will participate in diverse sub-organismal, organismal,community and landscape ecological projects. Their research will be hypothesis-driven and will have aninterdisciplinary component. The examples of research spheres selected include metagenomics of forestsoils, plant nematode interactions in the rhizosphere, landscape analysis of plant communities andwildlife habitats utilizing Lidar and GIS techniques; migratory nature of birds (12 such projects). Dailystudent contact with the academic research advisor as well as the students and graduate students in theresearch and mentoring group is anticipated. The mentors will receive training in mentoring. Studentswill be engaged from their freshmen level in the URM sponsored activities include guest and studentseminars/ journal club and research group meetings, informal get-togethers with the research andacademic mentors. Students from eight degree programs and four junior colleges will be selected toenter in the URM effort in the summer following their sophomore year and will remain in the programfor 24 consecutive months. Initially they will be observed and engaged in a lab rotation prior to theirformal entry in the URM effort. We anticipate 75% of our students to be African Americans because ofthe composition of AAMU’s undergraduate student body but strategies to attract other minority andmajority students are outlined. Broadening participation to us also refers to broadening of our studentswho are mostly from rural high schools. This will be attained through exposure to our diverse graduatestudents and to equally diverse faculty members. We are proposing a staggered entry of cohort groups;each experiencing two summer terms and four academic semesters each. Student will also receiveassistance from the two advisors in identifying future graduate training, assistantship and fellowshipopportunities. We are currently conducting preparation work and student selections.50

Major Research FindingsDuring the last six years, CFEA has strategically brought our diverse faculty expertise tofocus on hardwood forest ecosystem responses to disturbances in five multi-disciplinarythrusts: Vegetative Community (VC), Macro-invertebrate and Vertebrate Communities(MVC), Biogeochemical Nutrient Cycling (BNC), Molecular Biology (MB), and HumanDimensions (HD). Each was composed of faculty, students, research staff, and externalcollaborators and emphasized research of sustaining short- and long-term forest healthand restoration of native upland forest communities. We used NSF-CREST funding toleverage more research and grants and achieved greater capacity and outcomesenabling us to initiate novel scientific disciplines such as herpetology and fisheryresearch. The teams worked at a common site in the Bankhead National Forest (BNF),microcosm of the upland hardwood forests of the southern Cumberland Plateau. Forestmanipulation treatments consisted of three thinning levels and three burn levels (9treatments). These treatments affected the overstory and understory structures andcomposition. We were able to applying some new technologies such as LiDaR) and colorinfrared (CIR) remotely sensed data to determine forest characteristics. Forest thinningtreatment created a microclimate gradient from warm and dry conditions on thinningsites to cooler and more humid controls. The most species-rich plots of wildlife wereconsistently those with intermediate tree thinning. For examples, there was anabundance increase of shrub nesting and foliage foraging birds and bats and other smallmammals at the thinning treatments. Radiotelemetry data revealed that while somewildlife movement patterns and home-range sizes were not affected by tree removal,but microhabitat use was. Soil samples suggested that soil microbial communitystructure and composition were affected more by the burning treatments. Forexamples, prescribed burning alone led to increases in total C, N, and pH values, whilethinning increased Na and decreased K concentrations in rhizosphere. In addition,burning affect soil physical structures and property: the clay fraction of the burned soilshowed signs of mineral weathering, probably because the interlayered-hydroxyvermiculite had collapsed. The molecular them established a panel of PCR markers forscreening red oak individuals and populations of the southern Cumberland Plateau. Atotal of 3,499 Northern Red Oak expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was submitted to theGenBank. A preliminary screening of 50 nuclear SSR markers was performed using highthroughputPCR and resolution through polyacrylamide gels (PAGE); of the 50 markers,25 were selected for their ability to amplify putative allelic fragments in three or morespecies. Human Dimensions (HD) team developed databases containing population andcensus data, Digital-Ortho photo quadrangles, soil data, aerial photographs, digitalelevation models, LiDaR and geological data for CFEA’s three study. These data wereused by scientists of all thrust areas through a server for projects such as identifyingphysiographic characteristics of the BNF, wildlife home range, producing specific site1

maps, and developed annual rainfall and soil moisture indices. These indices are beingutilized for predicting forest productivity and amphibian and other wildlife distributions.The team explored the relationships of human actors and social choices that influencedecosystem processes and policies. Two different classes of interest groups influencedcollaborative community relationships: the constituent groups, and the non-constituentgroups. The team examined the social and economic impacts of activities on forestecosystem and compared the ecological and economic consequences of conventionaland cut-to-length harvesting system in the upland hardwood forest ecosystems of thesouthern Cumberland Plateau under different fire disturbance.The major findings advanced our understanding of the impact of anthropogenic forestdisturbances on forest ecosystem as a whole and its individual components. Theresearch activities have greatly enhanced CFEA’s research capacities. Some of theindications included (1) faculty members are now conducting research in areas thatwere not possible before the CFEA; (2) they are more effectively leveraging extramuralfunds to extend CFEA’s research and educational mission, ~$2.7 million/year wereawarded to faculty affiliated with the Center by agencies such as USDA, EPA, DOE, NASA,the State of Alabama, and NSF, (3) pursuing active collaborations within AAMU andwith external organizations, and (4) increasing research outputs as reflected by activepresentation of research results at international, national, and regional conferences andpublishing in peer-reviewed journals and other targeted outlets. The examples ofsignificant grants include: “Genomic resources for the study of cotton‐reniformnematode Interactions” (2007, NSF >$1million), “Using biochemical and moleculartechniques to investigate nitrogen transformations” (2008, USDA ~$1million),“Cumulative effects of drought and urbanization on the Flint River watershed ecosystem”(2008, USDA $0.5 million). Through these projects, CFEA has established strategiccollaborations with federal and state agencies, private industries, and nongovernmentorganizations. For example, the collaboration with FS is integral to CFEA’s researchinitiatives for experimentally testing research hypotheses related to disturbanceecology; the SRS’s Upland Hardwood Ecology and Management Research Unit, underthe leadership of Dr. Callie Schweitzer, worked closely with AAMU PIs, students, andtechnicians.Thrust Area I – FloraThrust Area 1 examined the woody and herbaceous species dynamics in response to thesilvicultural restoration treatments. The data is collected in the field and through remotesensing. It includes species composition, species abundance, tree dimensions and locations, andtree regeneration, among many others.The objectives of Thrust Area 1, as listed in the proposal, were to:1. Determine the effects of fire frequency on plant community structure, composition,productivity and dynamics in mixed stands in the Southern Cumberland Plateau.2

2. Determine the effects of overstory stand density on plant community structure,composition, productivity and dynamics in mixed stands in the Southern CumberlandPlateau.3. Determine the interaction of fire frequency and overstory stand density on plant communitystructure, composition, productivity and dynamics in mixed stands in the SouthernCumberland Plateau.4. Test current and emerging remote sensing technology to determine its ability characterizeforest structure and composition as well as detect natural and anthropogenic disturbancesand the subsequent recovery of forest ecosystems.Overall there was significant interaction effect of prescribed burn and thinning on the overallplant cover, diversity, and on herbaceous species cover after the first post-treatment growingseason. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and color infrared (CIR) remotely-sensed dataallowed us to determine some stand characteristics such as height and gaps, and to spatiallyseparate pines and hardwoods.The experimental design is a 2 x 2 factorial randomized complete block design with 9replications grouped in 4 blocks. The nine treatments were combinations of thinning andburning (Table 1).Table 1: Experimental treatments.Treatment Number Prescribed Burning Overstory Removal1 None None2 Burn 8-10 years None3 Burn 3-5 years None4 None Reduce to 11m 2 /ha5 None Reduce to 17 m 2 /ha6 Burn 3-5 years Reduce to 11m 2 /ha7 Burn 3-5 years Reduce to 17 m 2 /ha8 Burn 8-10 years Reduce to 11 m 2 /ha9 Burn 8-10 years Reduce to 17 m 2 /haThe thinning was carried out during the growing season of 2005 (block 1), 2006 (blocks 2 and 3),and 2007 (block 4). When thinning and burning were applied to the same stand, the burning wascarried out between February and March of the dormant season following the thinning.The measurements we carry out involve the collection of a wide range of biotic and abioticvariables. Woody vegetation plots, each 0.08 ha in size, were established in 2005 and 2006 bythe USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station Research Work Unit with support fromresearchers at Alabama A&M University and were systematically placed throughout each of thestands (Figure 1) to measure woody vegetation response, especially hardwood regeneration.Plot locations were recorded with a GPS and were permanently marked at their center withrebar. The tree regeneration was tallied by species and size class (0-1 feet, 1-2 feet, 2-3 feet, 3-4feet, and taller than 4 feet, but less than 1.5 inch diameter at breast height (d.b.h. – 4.5 feetabove ground)) on 0.01 acre plots (regeneration plot). Species and diameter of both mid-story3

trees (d.b.h. - 1.5 to 5.6 inches) and the over-story trees (d.b.h. > 5.6 inches) were recorded on0.025 acre plots. The over-story trees were measured on the largest plot (0.2 acre). There werea total of 36 stands with 5 such plots per stand (Figure 1), for a total of 180 plots. All mid-storyand over-story trees were tagged and their location was mapped by measuring the distance andazimuth from plot center to the tree. This allowed the trees stumps to be relocated, even if theywere cut or the stump was removed or covered by debris. Additional measurements includedtree height of selected trees, slope, aspect, canopy cover, damage to the residual trees, as wellas amount and type of forest fuels.The ground layer vegetation sampling was carried out in subplots located inside the 0.08 haplots as show on Figure 1.3 m 2Samplesquare areaTreatmentStand( > 9 ha)0.08 ha vegetation plotsPlot Center (PC)1 m 23.0m15.0m0.08 havegetation plotDistances to PC from sampleFigure 1: Schematic drawing of treatment stand with five 0.08 ha plots (left) and the ground layer vegetation sampling plotssquare areaand distance from the plot center (right).Sampling within each plot followed the sampling procedures initially developed by Joel Zak (Zak,2008). The sampling area per plot was 105 m 2 during the first two seasons, but was decreased to80 m 2 following Zak’s findings that 70m 2 is sufficient to capture 90% of species in an averagestand (Zak, 2008).The ground layer vegetation studies involved quantifying the percent foliar cover for all vascularplants occurring below 1.4 m over an area of 16 m 2 systematically located within the vegetationplots. Within each plot, one 1.0 m 2 subplot is located at 3.0 m and three 1.0 m 2 subplots arelocated at 15.0 m from plot center in each cardinal direction. The inner subplots that are north,east, south, and west from plot center are arranged with the lower left, upper left, upper right,and lower right corners, respectively, laying over the point that is 3.0 m from the plot center(Figure 1). For the outer suplots, we divided a 4.0 m 2 square area whose center lies over a point15.0 m from the plot center into 4 equal squares. We located a subplot in 3 of those squares,excluding the lower left, upper left, upper right and lower right 1 m 2 square plot from the 4 m 2plots located to the north, east, south, and west of plot center, respectively (Figure 1). Everyvascular plant present in the subplot was recorded for foliar cover regardless of whether or not4

it was rooted in the subplot. Ground cover variables such as pine and broadleaf litter, downwoody debris (where the diameter is over 2.5cm), tree bole, mineral soil, nonvascular plants,and old skid rows were given a cover estimate after foliar cover was estimated. All plants wereidentified to species whenever possible.Objectives 1-3 Responses of forest vegetationOverstory trees following thinning and burning treatmentsOverstory Composition and Structure. We measured 10,448 trees with diameters that rangedfrom 5.6 inches to 24.3 inches. Twenty-three different species were identified in these plots.There were three pine species, dominated by loblolly, with a smaller portion of Virginia (P.virginiana Mill.) and shortleaf (P. echinata Mill.). Other species included upland oaks (chestnutoak, white oak, northern red oak, scarlet oak, black oak and southern red oak), yellow-poplar(Liriodendron tulipifera L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.).We found no significant differences for basal area (BA) (P=0.31) and stems per acre (SPA)(P=0.5801) among the 9 treatments prior to treatment implementation. Basal area in the studystands ranged from 122 feet 2 acre -1 to 139 feet 2 acre -1 (standard deviation 10.8-21.4), and SPAwere 265-306 stem acre -1 (std 27-75) (See Tables 2 and 3). Pretreatment stand BA wasdominated by loblolly pine, which accounted for 87 percent of the BA and 85 percent of theSPA. Data are presented by block to assist research partners who are engaged in other aspectsof this large study. The percent of total BA and SPA for upland oaks was 7 and 8, for yellowpoplar6 and 5, and for red maple and black cherry, 2 and 3, respectively.Table 2: Basal area (feet2acre-1) for trees greater than 5.5 inches dbh, pre- and post-treatment averages by blockTreatmentBasal areapretreatmentBasal areaposttreatmentBlock1 Block2 Block3 Block4 BlockMeanBlock1 Block2 Block3 Block4 BlockMean1 124 128 128 148 132 128 135 132 152 1372 109 113 131 139 123 108 125 133 145 1283 144 95 123 125 122 151 106 132 132 1304 108 131 148 140 132 48 60 50 56 535 116 137 125 153 133 55 73 67 73 676 111 128 124 147 128 51 51 41 55 507 102 134 141 147 131 60 58 63 75 648 125 150 146 107 132 55 51 49 42 499 112 163 137 146 139 58 62 88 78 72The prescribed burning had no effect on overstory composition and structure (P=0.67), andthere were no burn by thinning interactions (P=0.70). Only one fire has been implemented todate. Fires burned 70 percent of our plots, had a mean maximum temperature of 220 °F, spreadat a rate of 10 feet per minute, and were not intense (heat index, the sum of temperature above90 °F averaged 21,000°F). The thinning treatments resulted in three significant different BA andSPA. Unthinned stands had 132 feet 2 acre -1 of BA and 286 SPA, the light thinned had 68feet 2 acre -1 and 113 SPA, and the heavy thinned stands had 51 feet 2 acre -1 and 84 SPA. Althoughthe light thinned stands resulted in 7 less BA than was the goal, the overall objective of creatingthree distinct residual BA was achieved. The majority of the reduction in BA came from the5

emoval of pine; in the light thinning, pine BA was reduced from 118 to 85 feet 2 acre -1 , and in theheavy thinning from 113 to 40 feet 2 acre -1 . Some hardwood BA was also affected by the thinningtreatments. For the upland oaks, light thinning reduced total BA from 8 to 7 feet 2 acre -1 , andheavy thinning from 9 to 7 feet 2 acre -1 . Yellow-poplar BA was similarly reduced, from 8 to 4feet 2 acre -1 in light thinned stands and from 8 to 2 feet 2 acre -1 in heavy thinned stands.Table 3: Stems per acre of trees greater than 5.5 inches dbh, pre- and post-treatment averages by blockTreatmentStems per acrepretreatmentStems per acre-Post-treatmentBlock1 Block2 Block3 Block4 BlockMeanBlock1 Block2 Block3 Block4 BlockMean1 299 274 237 251 265 299 274 235 247 2642 241 268 266 347 281 228 268 259 344 2753 325 280 372 307 321 323 280 372 305 3204 191 313 360 322 297 66 81 91 103 855 218 237 253 379 272 88 93 104 137 1066 234 280 261 335 278 88 80 70 95 837 218 329 297 328 293 104 92 114 119 1078 303 306 328 262 300 103 72 84 82 859 328 365 237 295 306 133 112 129 126 125These young stands contained predominately smaller diameter trees, and thinning targetedthose trees in the 6 to 12 inch diameter classes. There were few tallied trees of any species witha d.b.h greater than 18 inches for the 24 stands that were thinned. For both the heavy and lightthinned treatments, pine SPA in the 6-inch d.b.h class was reduced 90 percent and 6-inch oak by38 percent. There was a 78 percent reduction in 8-inch pine and a 65 percent reduction in 10-inch pines (Figure 2). Oak in the 8-inch class declined 17 percent and 10-inch oak was reducedby 42 percent (Figure 3).Stems per acre90807060504030201005.6 7.6 9.6 11.6 13.6Diameter classes in inches50_pre Heavy75_pre Light50_post heavy75_post LightFigure 2: Pre- and post-treatment pine stems per acre for light (75 feet2acre-1 retention goal) and heavy (50feet2acre-1) thinning treatments.6

1412Stems per acre1086450_pre75_pre50_post75_post205.6 7.6 9.6 11.6 13.6 15.6Diameter classes in inchesFigure 3: Pre- and post-treatment oak stems per acre for light (75 feet2acre-1 retention goal) and heavy (50feet2acre-1) thinning treatments.Damage. In the thinned stands, 12 percent of the residual trees had damage attributable tologging activities. There was no difference in the frequency of damage between the light andheavy thinned stands, with the light thinned stands having an average of 12 wounded residualSPA and the heavy having 10 wounded residual SPA (P=0.13). Epicormic branching was assessedfor the residual hardwood species only. There was no significant difference among the threeharvest treatments for the number of residual hardwood SPA that displayed epicormincbranching (P=0.70). In the light thinned treatment, 24 percent of the residuals had someepicormic branching, which averaged 21 branches per tree. In the heavy thinned treatment, 41percent of hardwood residuals epicormically branched, averaging 18 branches per tree. Onaverage, 57 percent of hardwood stumps sprouted after one growing season; sprouting stumpsaveraged 11 sprouts with an average height of 3 feet.Canopy Cover. We estimated the change in the light environment in the understory using threemethods. Densiometer-derived canopy cover estimates, averaging 93 percent, did not differamong the stands prior to harvest (P=0.34). Postharvest cover for the control stands (93percent) was significantly greater than the light (68 percent) and heavy thinned (66 percent)stands (P=0.002). The amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) penetrating thesecanopies showed a similar trend. Ceptometer data, representing the amount of full sunpenetrating the canopy relative to readings obtained in the open, showed that PAR was similarfor the light (43 percent of full sun) and heavy thinned stands (52 percent of full sun)posttreatment, and the treated stands differed from the control (9 percent of full sun)(P

157.8 °C. Heat index levels, a measure of intensity, were low, and the fire rate of spread was 0.3-20.1 m per minute.Red maple (Acer rubrum) response to prescribed burningFor many years, researchers and natural resource managers have promoted fire as a tool thatwill restore the oak component to upland hardwood forests. However, empirical evidence isoften conflicting due to differences in study design among experiments, and long-term studiesare rare. Results from several studies suggest that prescribed burning alone, without additionaldisturbances involving overstory tree harvesting, will not significantly promote oak regenerationover the short-term. These studies indicate prescribed burning is an inefficient tool for alteringspecies composition in the understory; however, site-specific research needs to be conductedbefore broad recommendations can be made regarding the applicability of prescribed burningas a management tool to enhance the oak component in upland hardwood forests. Theobjective of this study was to examine if the prescribed burning treatments were effective atreducing competition from a primary oak competitor, red maple (Acer rubrum L.).The prescribed burns were relatively similar in mean maximum temperature across blocks, butwere highly variable within stands. The overall mean of fire temperature was 181ºF, but plotsranged in mean maximum temperature from 98º F to 308º F across all blocks. Block 1 had themost consistent burn pattern with all plots burning, and this block had higher maximum firetemperatures than all other blocks. Block 2 had the lowest recorded temperatures and thefewest number of plots that burned (n=2) (Table 4).Table 4: Mean maximum temperature, standard error, and range for each block and across blocks.Block N Mean maximum Standard error Range (ºF)temperature (ºF)1 5 269 12 240-3082 2 110 12 98-1213 4 188 21 130-2284 4 157 5 143-164Overall 4 181 34 109-269We did not detect any pre-treatment differences in red maple midstory or understory treedensity between control and prescribed burn treatments. Stands had approximately 1460 treesper acre of small seedlings (< 1 foot height), and density changes between the prescribed burnand control units following treatment implementation was not significant. Large seedlings (> 1foot, < 4 feet height) increased 930 trees per acre after prescribed burning in the burntreatment and increased 10 trees per acre in the control treatment; however, difference indensity changes between treatments were not significant at the 0.05 level (P=0.07). Prescribedburning decreased the abundance of small saplings (> 4 feet height, < 1.5 inches dbh) by 120trees per acre, and the control treatments showed an increase of 95 small saplings per acre;however, differences in small sapling density changes between prescribed burn and controltreatments was not significant (P=0.11). Large sapling (1.5-5.5 inches dbh) density wasapproximately 200 trees per acre after treatment implement on both control and prescribedburn treatments, and density changes between treatments were not significant.8

Within the 0.025 plots, we could not use maximum fire temperature to significantly explain thevariation in density changes for red maple in any size class (R 2 < 0.22, P>0.28) or to explainvariation in large sapling mortality and sprouting occurrence (R 2 =0.06 and 0.0005, respectively,P=0.41 and 0.94, respectively). Char height was selected as the only significant variable thatexplained variation in number of new sprouts from saplings after prescribed burning (R 2 =0.24,P=0.01). The model predicts that number of new sprouts following burning was positivelyrelated to char height using the equation given below.yˆ = -7.3 + 20.2bOf the 42 saplings that we tallied, 20 percent had crown dieback and 43 percent produced newsprouts following the burn. Average number of new sprouts following prescribed burning was 10per tree, but could be as high as 97. Using logistic regression, sapling dbh, wound volume, charheight, and maximum fire temperature around the base of the tree could not be used to explainthe probably of sapling mortality (P>0.45) or occurrence of crown dieback (P>0.34).Forest regenerationOf the examined species and species groups, red maple was the most common seedling with anaverage of almost 1473 stems/ac and 642 stems/ac in the < 1 ft and > 1 ft sizes, respectively.This is hardly surprising, considering that red maple, one of the most abundant trees in easternNorth America, is relatively more shade tolerant than the majority of the species it associateswith. The oak seedlings were just over a half as many as the red maple seedlings (53 percent) inthe < 1 ft size class, but 71 percent in the > 1 ft and dbh < 1.5 in. indicating the oaks’ relativelyhigher survival, faster growth in the current conditions, or both. Although blackgum isconsidered shade tolerant, while oaks are considered to be relatively intolerant, there werefewer blackgum seedlings than there were oaks. Blackgum and hickory seedlings were the thirdand fourth, respectively, most abundant seedling on the studied plots. Yellow poplar seedlingswere found on only 20 of the 45 plots and averaged 96 stems/ac. The oak seedlings in theunderstory (advance regeneration) represent a desirable stand component and together withthe stump and root sprouts are the main source for oak following overstory removal.An ordination (we used non-metric multidimensional scaling) represented 88 percent of thedataset variation. The analysis resulted in a three-dimensional solution (i.e., three axes) withthirty-eight percent loaded on axis 1, 23 percent on axis 2, and 27 percent on axis 3. The firstand strongest ordination axis was negatively related to the abundance of oaks, regardless oftheir species, grouping, or size class. Of the other variables most also showed a negativerelation, although a weaker one, while ACRU1, andNYSY>1 (Nyssa silvatica) had some positive correlation with axis 1. The second ordination axiswas positively related to the abundance of the hickory regeneration, regardless of regenerationsize class. NYSY1 had a stronger relationship with axis 2 thanwith axis 1 and it was in the opposite direction. The oaks were all negatively, though muchweakly, correlated with axis 2 than they were with axis 1. The third axis was dominated by apositive relationship with ACRU

The gradients in regeneration abundance and composition were related to the forest structureas described by the overstory species and basal area. The first axis was positively correlated withthe overstory pine basal area in the 0.025 ac plots, 0.2 ac plots, and the proportion of basal areain pine. The total tree basal area on the plots of these sizes was also positively related to axis 1.The hardwood basal area, however, showed a negative relationship with this axis. The secondand third axes were less closely related to forest overstory structure than axis 1 was. Mostnotably, the second axis was most strongly (and negatively) correlated with SN_0.025 and SN_P,while the third axis showed some negative correlation with both ACRU_0.025 and ACRU_0.2.The gradient in regeneration abundance of hardwood species, especially the oak regeneration,appeared to be highly negatively related to the amount of basal area in pine that was within andimmediately surrounding the 0.01 ac plots. Additionally, the high proportion of the basal area inpine appeared to be detrimental to the successful regeneration and growth of oaks and otherhardwoods. The proportion of basal area in pine was even more negatively correlated withhardwood regeneration than was the total basal area. This suggests that it is not only theoverstory density, but also the overstory composition that seems to be important for thesuccessful regeneration and survival of natural hardwood regeneration. The higher theproportion of hardwood basal area, at least within the range examined in this study, the betterthe chance for an abundant oak and other hardwood regeneration. An exception was therelatively shade tolerant and light-seeded red maple, whose regeneration did not appear to benegatively related to the higher pine basal area. The overstory basal area, whether pine orhardwood, in the 0.025 ac plots was more related to the regeneration abundance than was thebasal area in the larger 0.2 ac plots indicating that the overstory composition and density withinand immediately outside of the regeneration plots is more important for the regenerationabundance than are the same overstory variables in the larger plots. Therefore, micrositeconditions appear to be of more importance for hardwood natural regeneration survival andgrowth than overall stand averages. The observed relationships with the weaker second andthird axes raise some interesting questions regarding the negative association of the snag basalarea on the 0.025 ac plots and the proportion of the basal area in snags with the second axis,which turns out to be related to the abundance of hickory regeneration. The association of thenumber of ACRU>1 with the second axis, however, does appear easier to explain, as the highamount of snag basal means more open overstory and better red maple seedling survival.Another interesting result is the strong correlation of ACRU

Table 5: Cover and frequency of the five most frequently occurring plant species.Life form and scientific name Common name Cover FrequencyVines (%) (%)Berchemia scandens (Hill) K.Koch Supplejack 1.8 38Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Ait. yellow jessamine 1.2 31Smilax rotundifolia L. roundleaf greenbrier 2.0 98Rhus radicans L. poison ivy 3.2 75Vitis rotundifolia Michx. Muscadine 8.5 93HerbsChimaphila maculata (L.) Pursh Pipsissewa 0.2 54Lespedeza procumbens Michx. creeping bush clover 1.0 9Mitchella repens L. partridge berry 2.9 13Polystichum acrostichoides (Mich.) Schott christmas fern 2.5 14Solidago arguta Ait. Atlantic goldenrod 0.6 26GraminoidCarex picta Steud. * Boott’s sedge 3.5 38Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. Ex Roemer & J.A. poverty oat-grass 0.5 6SchultesScleria oligantha Michx. nut rush 0.7 15Stipa avenacea L. Needlegrass 1.4 60Chasmanthium sessiliflorum (Poir.) Yates Spanglegrass 2.1 12/* not found in Radford and others (1968); accepted by ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System)Zak (2008 CFEA masters student) reported on the major findings related to the ground layervegetation. Capturing at least 90% of the species within a stand could be accomplished bysampling 70 subplots of 1 m 2 each and locating them systematically throughout the stand.Approximately 40% of the herb species in the ground layer occurred in fewer than 3 stands inthis study, making them infrequent and patchy. The total number of species, average cover, andground layer diversity was relatively low in the study stands, similarly to findings for other xericmixed hardwood and pine-hardwood stands in the southern Appalachians and where speciesrichness was approximately 200. Although burn history, aspect, and moisture were reported tobe strongly related to ground vegetation prior to any silvicultural treatments, they were poorpredictors of overall cover, species richness and diversity in the stands at BNF. Aspect variedlittle and slope was typically less than 7 degrees. Because of the gentle slopes, the differences insolar radiation on in the different stands may not be large enough to influence species richness,cover, and composition enough to be reliable predictors of them. Slope, basal area, and theratio of pine basal area to hardwood basal area were not important predictors of speciesrichness and cover. Likewise, aspect and the ratio of pine to hardwood basal area were notimportant predictors of species diversity. The low fit of the models suggests that anyrelationships between the studied dependent and independent variables may be non-linear orthat other variables more precisely measured on the ground may have stronger influence onrichness and cover. The community-level measurements of species richness, cover, or diversitywere difficult to predict when several different life forms, influenced by different environmentalvariables, are considered together. Non-linear methods (we used non-metric multidimensional11

scaling, NMS) were more effective in explaining compositional variation of the three life formswhen related to six site variables: slope, aspect, basal area, moisture index, ratio of pine basalarea to hardwood basal area, and burn history. For example, the herbs Chimaphila maculata (L.)Pursh, Mitchella repens L., and Solidago arguta Ait. Have been shown to be strongly associatedwith the ratio of pine basal area to hardwood basal area, which is related to the amount ofacidic pine litter abundance in a given area. These three species are typically associated withdry, acidic conditions. Similarly, three grass species particularly noted for their occurrence onxeric sites (Dichanthelium dichotomum (L.) Gould, Danthonia sericea Nutt., Chasmanthiumsessiliflorum (Poir.) Yates), were inversely associated with the moisture index. Gradient analysisusing NMS was more appropriate in these stands because it does not assume linearity or lowheteroscedasticity and can be effective using site variables that are non-continuous or onarbitrary axes (i.e., aspect). In addition, NMS explains variation at the species level instead of abroadly quantified community metric, such as overall species cover.Herb cover was affected by an interaction between burn and thin treatments (F (1,21.9) =6.93,p=0.015) in the first post-treatment growing season (Figure 4). The cover of herbs remained lowfollowing treatments relative to the other sampled life forms. On average, it did not changesignificantly in burned (F (1,22.7) =2.36, p=0.138) or thinned stands (F (1,21.8) =0.20, p=0.660). Therichness of herbs was not significantly affected by thinning, burning, or their interaction. Thechange in graminoid cover after treatments was highly significant, increasing by an average of2% (SE ±0.51), which is approximately double the original cover of graminoids, in stands thatwere thinned (F (1,104) =19.68, p

Mean Cover Change %0.20.0-0.2-0.4-0.6-0.8-1.0-1.2no thinthinCover % of Herb SpeciesMean Species Richness Change1.61.41.21.00.80.60.40.20.0no thinthinHerb Species Richness-1.4No BurnBurn-0.2No BurnBurnFigure 4: Burn and thin treatment interaction effect on the mean difference in herb cover (left) and richness (right).Mean Cover Change %10-1-2-3-4-5Cover % of Vine Speciesno thinthinMean Species Richness Change0.30.20.10.0-0.1-0.2-0.3Vine Species Richnessno thinthin-6No BurnBurn-0.4No BurnBurnFigure 5: Burn and thin treatment interaction effect on the mean difference in graminoid cover (left) and richness(right).Mean Cover Change %4.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50.0-0.5-1.0Cover % of Graminoid SpeciesNo BurnBurnno thinthinMean Species Richness Change4.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50.0-0.5-1.0Graminoid Species Richnessno thinthinNo BurnBurnFigure 6: Burn and thin treatment interaction effect on the mean difference in vine cover (left) and richness (right).13

Table 6: Marginal mean estimates of the change of dependent variables in the first growing season followingtreatments. Negative values mean reduction; positive values mean increase. Tukey-Kramer adjustment for multiplecomparisons of significant treatmentControl Burn only Thin only Burn*ThinCover% -1.04 b -5.62 b -3.03 b -18.18 aRichness (S’) -1.50 ab -2.80 a 2.45 bc 4.03 cDiversity (H’) -0.09 ab -0.37 a -0.09 ab -0.02 bHerb Cover% -0.32 ab -0.63 ab -1.21 a

There was a significant interaction of treatment by season effect on herb cover (F (6,217) =3.42;p=0.003). Therefore, the direction of the herb cover response over the growing season dependson which treatment was applied. The mean cover of herbs was significantly different across thegrowing season (F (2,217) =3.29; p=0.039) and in the different treatments (F (3,41) =8.63; p

annuals Ambrosia artemisifolia L., Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf. ex DC., Erigeron annus (L.)Pers., and Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small were rarely encountered in the pretreatmentcondition. Following the treatments however, they were some of the most frequently occurringspecies.The season in which sampling takes place is an important variable to consider, especiallyfollowing silvicultural treatments when ground vegetation cover, richness, and compositiontypically shift. In this study, the differences between the spring and fall sampling periods weregreater than those between spring and summer or between summer and fall. Therefore, foroverall cover, herbaceous species cover, graminoid cover, vine cover, and species richness, twoperiods with distinct plant communities are spring and fall. We feel that only two samplingperiods are sufficient during post-treatment sampling at the BNF - one period during the latespring and one during the late summer or early fall.Compared to pre-treatment conditions, control stands (no treatment) and stands that wereburned alone displayed no significant change in overall cover or the cover of forbs, graminoidsand vines (Table 7).Table 7: Marginal mean estimates of the change of dependent variables in the second growing season followingtreatment. Tukey-Kramer adjustment for multiple comparisons of significant treatment effects (α = 0.05). Means inthe same row with same letter are notControlBurn Light Thin Heavy Thin Burn+ LightAlone Alone Alone ThinCover% -1.59 a -4.13 a 24.57 b* 5.27 a 27.53 b* 29.99 b*Burn+ HeavyThinForb Cover% 0.10 a -0.28 a 1.66 ab* -0.19 a 3.34 b* 1.29 ab*Gram Cover% 0.21 a 0.38 a 13.82 b* 4.28 a* 21.42 b* 21.19 b*Vine Cover% -1.27 a 0.12 a 8.25 b* 3.36 ab 3.99 ab* 3.58 ab*Richness (S’) -4.47 ab* -7.73 a* 3.53 c* -1.29 bc 3.50 c* 1.75 cForb Rich (S F ’) -1.03 ab -2.10 a 1.59 ab -2.05 ab 2.63 b* 2.04 abGram Rich(S G ’) -0.98 a -0.53 a 3.92 b* 3.59 b* 2.20 ab* 3.31 b*Vine Rich(S V ’) -0.33 a -0.67 a 0.27 a 0.50 a 0.65 a -0.25 aDiversity (H’) -0.06 a -0.09 a 0.27 bc* 0.03 ab 0.48 c* 0.12 abStands that were treated with the light thin alone, burn and light thin, and burn and heavy thinall experienced significant increases in overall cover, forb cover, graminoid cover, and vine covercompared to pre-treatment. Interestingly, the heavy thin alone did not result in significantdifferences compared to pre-treatment in any category except graminoid cover.Stands that were treated with the light thin alone showed significant differences from thecontrol stands in overall cover (24.57%), graminoid cover (13.82%), and vine cover (8.25%).Stands that were heavily thinned alone did not show differences from control in any of thesecategories. Neither light thin alone nor heavy thin alone resulted in a significantly differentchange in forb cover compared to the control. The two combination treatments (burn and lightthin, burn and heavy thin) showed significant differences from the control stands for overallcover and graminoid cover, but not vine cover. Change in forb cover was significantly differentfrom the control stands for the burn and light thin (3.34%) but not for the burn and heavy thin(1.29%).16

There was a significant change in overall species richness from pre-treatment in all treatmentsexcept the heavy thin alone and the burn and heavy thin. Overall richness decreasedsignificantly in the control (-4.47) and burn alone (-7.73) stands and increased in the light thinalone (3.53) and burn and light thin (3.50) stands.There was a significant change from pre-treatment in forb richness only in the burn and lightthin stands where there was an increase of 2.63. Post-treatment graminiod richness increasedsignificantly in all treatments except the control and burn alone. Post-treatment graminiodrichness was the significantly larger than the richness in the control for the light thin alone(3.92), heavy thin alone (3.59) and burn and heavy thin (3.31) stands. Vine richness showed nochange from pre-treatment numbers and from the control for any of the treatments.Post-treatment diversity increased significantly in the light thin alone (0.27) and burn and lightthin stands (0.48). Both of these treatments caused changes that were significantly differentthan changes in the control stands, whose diversity did not change significantly.Measurements in the third season post-treatment (Table 8) were very similar to the secondseason post-treatment. The only changes were that change in diversity for the light thin alonetreatment (0.28) was no longer statistically different than the change in the control stand (-0.10)and the change in forb cover in the burn and light thin (0.68%) was no longer statisticallydifferent than the change in the control (-0.06%).Table 8: Marginal mean estimates of the change of dependent variables in the third growing season followingtreatment. Tukey-Kramer adjustment for multiple comparisons of significant treatment effects (α = 0.05). Means inthe same row with same letter are not different. A * symbol indicates that the mean estimate is significantlydifferent from zero.ControlBurnOnlyLight ThinOnlyHeavyThin OnlyBurn+ LightThinBurn+HeavyThinCover% -5.95 a -2.89 a 27.69 b* 1.65 a 19.56 b* 25.34 b*Forb Cover% -0.06 a -0.30 a 0.37 a -0.09 a 0.68 a* 0.73 a*Gram Cover% -0.32 a 0.18 a 10.53 bc* 2.59 ab 11.50 bc* 18.99 c*Vine Cover% -2.12 a 0.20 a 10.93 b* 3.02 ab 6.23 ab* 5.26 ab*Richness (S’) -4.80 ab* -7.60 a* 7.30 d* 0.00 bc 5.50 cd* 4.60 cd*Forb Rich (S F ’) -1.02 ab -1.89 a* 1.53 b -0.98 ab 0.67 ab 0.96 abGram Rich(S G ’) -0.78 a -0.21 ab 4.52 c* 3.75 bc* 3.08 abc* 5.28 c*Vine Rich(S V ’) -0.61 a -0.01 a 1.71 a* -0.49 a 1.54 a 0.81 aDiversity (H’) -0.10 ab -0.19 a 0.28 bc* 0.09 abc 0.43 c* 0.13 abcObjective 4 – Remote sensingThe LiDAR data was sorted into two point clouds: bare earth returns, which represent theground topography, and first return, which depict vegetation heights. A digital terrain model(DTM) was created for the bare earth topography such that each pixel represented an elevation;a digital surface model (DSM) was developed to represent the above ground surface. A canopyheight model (CHM) was also produced to store the elevation values for the vegetation. TheDTM was interpolated using three different methods: Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW),Ordinary Kriging (OK), and Universal Kriging (UK).17

The OK interpolated points were used to create the DSM and DTM images. The OK interpolatedDSM image was subtracted from the OK interpolated DTM to obtain the vegetation heights forthe study area. This created the CHM raster image that contained the vegetation heights thatwere used to obtain tree locations, heights, and crown dimensions in Treevaw. The tree heightscalculated in Treevaw were compared to the field height measurements.The CIR study area image was classified into two categories - deciduous and coniferous. This wasdone by iteratively selecting representative groupings of coniferous and deciduous trees intotwo respectively separate classes. The deciduous class was dominated by the Quercus spp. andthe coniferous class was dominated by loblolly pine and Virginia pine. Supervised classificationwas used to classify the entire CIR image. The result of the supervised classification was animage that identified the locations of deciduous and coniferous trees with an accuracy of 95percent. The 95 percent accuracy obtained from the CIR image allowed us to separate theconiferous trees from the deciduous trees, so the tree height algorithm could model eachcategory separately.Field data was collected by using a ForestPro laser range finder (Laser Technology, Inc.,Centennial, Colorado) to obtain 75 tree heights. The study area (25 acres) composition wasdominated by even aged pine. The field measured tree heights were considered to be thecorrect measurement thus allowing the accuracy of the computer modeled derived tree heightsto be assessed.Treevaw was used to identify tree location and tree height. The Treevaw algorithm is based onthe local maximum filtering technique that uses a search window of variable size. The localmaximum uses the greatest reflection point which is usually the apex of the tree as the basis foridentification. This method has been used with Lidar CHM data because elevation values areanalogous to the reflection pixels in multispectral imagery.IDW had the highest measure of predicted error and a root-mean-square of 0.24 m. IDW is asimple interpolation method that does not allow a standardized error, such as kriging, to becomputed. IDW interpolation produced a generalized image for the bare ground and thepredicted error was comparable to UK. The UK method had a predicted error of 0.00 (if usingonly two significant digits) and root-meansquare standardized error of 1.25 m. UK produced animage that was similar in error to the IDW image, but the IDW and UK results were not as closeto the actual values when compared to the OK results. OK had a mean closest to zero and aroot-mean-square standardized value of 0.98 m, meaning that the predicted values were closeto the actual values. The OK image was selected to calculate the bare earth because thepredicted error was near zero and the standardized error value was closest to 1. The vegetationreturns were interpolated with OK because of the low error values for the predicted locations.The accuracy assessment of the CIR image (Table 9) had a consumer’s accuracy, or the chance ofcorrectly determining what is actually on the ground, of 95.12 percent for deciduous and 96.76percent for pine trees. Producer’s accuracy, the probability the map is correctly classified, was98.63 percent for deciduous and 88.94 percent for pine. Commission error, the chance ofincluding a pixel in a class when it should have been excluded, was 4.87 percent for deciduousand 3.24 percent for pine. Lastly, omission error, the probability of excluding a pixel that shouldhave been included in the class, was 1.36 percent for deciduous and 11.05 percent for pine. Theoverall accuracy of the CIR image was 95.59 percent with a Kappa statistic of 89.55 percent. The18

esulting classified CIR photograph shows the location of the deciduous and coniferous trees inthe study area. TreeVaw identified 739 deciduous trees with an average tree height of 17.78 mand a standard deviation of 2.96 m. The tallest deciduous tree generated from TreeVaw was29.50 m and the shortest was 12.03 m. The coniferous tree results from TreeVaW were basedon 2875 trees with a mean height of 17.99 m and a standard deviation of 2.29 m. The tallestconiferous tree detected with TreeVaw was 28.80 m and the shortest was 12.02 m. Twenty-fivedeciduous trees and 38 coniferous trees were measured in the field. The average field measureddeciduous tree height was 13.74 m (standard deviation 3.86 m) and the average coniferous treeheight was 18.43 m (standard deviation 2.72 m). A t-test for difference in means revealed thatthe deciduous TreeVaw derived heights were statistically the same as the field-measureddeciduous tree heights. A t-test for difference in means between the coniferous field-measuredtree heights and the TreeVaw tree heights showed that they were not significantly different.These results are in accordance with other studies that have found no major difference betweenfield-measured deciduous tree heights and the Lidar-derived deciduous tree heights. The resultsindicate that it is possible to accurately measure codominant and dominant tree heights usingLidar data in mixed pine-hardwood southeastern forests of the type in this study.Table 9: Accuracy assessment for the classified CIR image. Note that the percentage correct equals the sum of thediagonal divided by the total observations (1737/1817 = 95.5 percent).Classified DataDeciduousPixelsConiferousPixelsRowTotalProducer'sAccuracyOmissionErrorDeciduous Pixels 1230 17 1247 98.60% 1.40%Coniferous Pixels 63 507 570 88.90% 11.10%Column Total 1293 524 1817Consumer's Accuracy 95.10% 96.70%Commission Error 4.90% 3.30%Thrust Area II – FaunaThe three objectives of this thrust are to determine the effects of different levels of firefrequency and canopy reduction and their interactions on the species richness, relativeabundance, and diversity of 1) arthropod communities, 2) avian communities, and 3)small mammal communities. These objectives are designed to determine relationshipsbetween forest habitat disturbances and arthropod, avian, and mammaliancommunities. Animal communities are fundamental components of forest ecosystemsthat affect seed distribution and germination; plant species composition, survival andgrowth; mineral and energy transfer dynamics; organic matter decomposition anddistribution of mycorrhizae and other microflora; and use and enjoyment of forestresources by people. Animal communities are, in turn, affected by forest disturbancesthat alter habitat quality and resource availability. The investigation of forestdisturbance is inherently integrative and multi-disciplinary because of the numerousecological impacts on the plant and animal communities. We used NSF-CREST fundingto leverage more research and teaching grants and achieved greater capacity andoutcomes enabling us to initiate novel scientific disciplines at CFEA sites (e.g.,19

herpetology and fishery research). Such expansion was critically reviewed andsupported by our CFEA Internal and External Advisory Boards. The new initiativesdeepened our understanding of the mechanisms of animal community responses (i.e.,breeding ecology, movement patterns, and resource use).1. Arthropod communitiesSome general trends observed include apparently higher carabid beetle diversity and activity inupland hardwood forests in Jackson Co, AL, relative to pine‐hardwood forests in BNF;heterogeneous activity and diversity of sampled insect communities in pre‐treatment plots inBNF; much greater scolytid beetle activity in the second and third year of sampling than in year1 (pre‐treatment) in treatment plots in BNF. Additionally, in year‐2 and 3 of sampling, posttreatmentthin and burn sites in BNF appear to have the highest insect diversity and activity forthose groups collected by malaise and Lindgren trap sampling. Overall arthropod catch in 2007,perhaps due to the extreme drought conditions, seemed markedly less than that of previousyears. At the Jackson County over-story retention study site, ANOVA’s of community diversityand dominance indices showed no relationship to overstory retention treatments. However, adetrended correspondence analysis across site and carabid species showed a shift in carabidcommunity composition between the 75 and 100% retention sites and the 0, 25, and 50%retention sites. Small mammals were observed to increase in abundance following thinning inthe BNFLitter-Dwelling Ant Community Studies (Soumare – Dissertation Student). Followinginformation taken from display presented at several meetings:IntroductionLittle information exists on ant communities in the upland mixed pine-hardwood forests of thesouthern Cumberland Plateau. This study aspires to better understand the ant community inthese systems, as well as provide some predictive capabilities to ascertain how they mayrespond to fire and canopy reduction disturbances. The results of this investigation will be usefulin the synergistic assessment of the response of the entire ecosystem, as it is one part of a muchlarger study. The complex relationship between ants and other animals makes them vital toenvironmental monitoring as well as detecting changes in species diversity in response todisturbances in the ecosystem. The long term goal of this study is to document how theseinsects respond to disturbances and make predictions on those responses to assist naturalresource managers in better understanding the role ants play in these systems. The preliminaryinformation presented here represents one block of treatments, thus the data is largelydescriptive, with limited statistical analysis possible.ResultA total of 29 species were identified from a collected sample of 4775 individual ants. Numbersof ants collected by each sampling method were similar. However, litter sampling showed thehighest species richness (27 species 55%, Figures 8 and 9), when compared with pitfall trapping(22 species, 45%). Only 10 species were common to both sampling methods (Table 10).20

Table 10: List of identified ant species collected in pitfall traps and litter samplesSpecies in Winkler Species in Pitfall Common species to bothAmblyopone lamellidens Brachymymex musculus Aphaenogaster fulvaAmblyopone pallipes Camponotus americanus Aphaenogaster rudisAphaenogaster floridana Camponotus castaneus Brachymymex depilisBrachymymex obscurior Camponotus chromaiodes Crematogaster ashmeadiHypoponera opaciceps Crematogaster lineolata Crematogaster pilosaMonomorium floricola Camponotus pennsylvanicus Cryptopone gilvaParatrechina vividula Crematogaster cerasi Hypoponera inexorataParatrechina wojciki Crematogaster verniculata Monomorium pharaonisPheidole floridana Formica subsericea Monomorium minimumPheidole dentata Formica pallidefulva Myrmecina americanaPheidole morrisiMirmica americanaPrenolepis imparisPheidole lamiaPonera pennsylvanicaPyramica pilinasisPyramica talpaPyramica ohioensisSolenopsis molestaNumber of ants/Trt900848number ants800700600500400300200582414476346242342171285748260PitfallLitter100610Cont 3B 50T 25 T 50T-3B 25T-3BTreatmentsFigure 8: Number of ants collected in each treatmentNumber of ant species /Trtnumber species201816141210864201014916Figure 9: Ant species richness in each treatment1319Cont 3B 50T 25 T 50T-3B 25T-3B6Treatments131410816PIT#SPLIT#SP21

Carabid Beetle CommunityThe ordination diagram (Figure 10) indicates substantial overlap between the 100% and 75%canopy retention treatments; there is also substantial overlap among the 50%, 25%, and 0%canopy retention treatments. However, there is a definite separation between the two groupsof treatments. Among the carabid species, those preferring or tolerating open habitats are inproximity to the 50%/25%/0% group of canopy retention treatments. The distribution of carabidspecies in relationship to the environmental data vectors in the ordination plot is more spreadout for the carabids associated with the 50%/25%/0% canopy retention treatments. Both thecarabid species preferring dry habitats and those preferring very moist habitats were inproximity to the 50%/25%/0% group of treatments. These treatments may have habitats thatare more variable in moisture compared to the 100%/75% retention treatments, or moisturemay not be one of the underlying gradients that constitute the differences between thetreatments. All of the carabid species that prefer cover of grass/dense vegetation, woody debris,and stones, as opposed to leaf litter, were arranged in proximity to the 50%/25%/0%treatments. Both Chlaenius species showed a strong positive relationship to the amount ofwoody vegetation covered area. Galerita bicolor showed a strong positive relationship to thearea covered by slash. In conclusion, there are shifts in carabid community structure withdifferent treatments. Carabid communities are similar between 100% and 75% canopy coverretention treatments, and similar among 50%, 25%, and 0% canopy cover retention levels. Thedifference in the carabid community in sites with a canopy retention level less than 75% mayrepresent the existence a threshold level in canopy cover that affects carabid beetle communitycomposition.22

-1.0 1.0Axiscancov2LegendSpecieslitter5CALSPPLDE5CYFR5 4 4CAGOMYCOCYFU CIUN5DIAM45GABICHEMSCLODITE4Abbreviations of Carabid Species in the OrdinationTreatment/PlotCAGO Carabis goryi CHSP Chlaenius emarginatus CIUN Cicindela unipunctataCYCO Cyclotrachelus convivus CYFR Cyclotrachelus frietagi CYFU Cyclotracelus 3 fucatusCYSO Cyclotrachelus sodalis DIDI Dicaelus dilatatus DIFU Dicaelus ANSPfurvusDIPO Dicaelus politus DIPU Dicaelus purpuratus DITE Dicaelus teterGABI EnvironmentalGalerita bicolor HASP Harpalus pennsylvaticus MYCO Myas coracinusPASP Pasimachus punctulatus SPST Spaeroderus stenophilus2Treatments Data of Vectors Sites in the Ordination100% Retention: 1,9,15; 75% Retention: 2,10,11; 50% Retention: 4,6,12;25% Retention: 5,7,13; 0% Retention: 3,8,14TECA1litdepthDIDI-1.0 1.0CYCOPASP100% 75% Canopy Axis4542SPSTDIPOCYSO3HASP2DIFUDIPU3132CHPLbarerock31212SCEL3RHSP11cwdslashwoodyherbFigure 10: Canonical Correspondence Analysis Ordination Triplot of Carabid Beetle Species, Sites and Forest EnvironmentalVariables in Mixed Pine-hardwood Forest of northern Alabama .2. Songbird Breeding EcologyWe studied the effect of forest disturbances, specifically thinning and prescribed burning, on theavian community. We examined the effects of these disturbances on avian species richness andabundance. In addition, we observed the mechanisms (microclimate, habitat structure andcomposition, food availability, and brood parasitism) responsible for changes in avian23

population demographics. Our objectives were to (1) examine differences in microclimate andmicrohabitat among disturbance levels, (2) determine relationships between microhabitat andavian community structure, (3) determine the effect of forest disturbance on food availability,(4) determine relationships between forest disturbance and avian territory size, and (5)determine the relationship between forest disturbance and avian breeding success.MicroclimateThere were no interactions between burning and thinning for microclimate one year aftertreatment or for changes following treatment. Daytime May humidity was higher on burnedstands than on burned/thinned stands. The change in daytime May and June temperaturefollowing the treatment was significant. The change in daytime temperature was greater onthinned/burned stands than burned stands in both May and June.The original eight microhabitat difference variables showed low multivariate correlation (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin [KMO] Measure of Sampling Adequacy = 0.423) so we removed the variable withthe lowest multivariate correlation (nighttime May relative humidity) from the principlecomponent analysis to increase the KMO measure of sampling adequacy to 0.55. The remainingseven variables were condensed to 2 principle components (PCs), the first representing daytimeclimate and the second representing nighttime climate . All components with eigenvaluesgreater than 1 were retained. The two components retained approximately 84% of the originalvariation.MicrohabitatThere was an interaction between burning and thinning for litter depth and presence of forestlevel three and four one year after treatment. Thinning reduces the amount of litter depth andthe presence of forest levels three and four regardless of whether they were burned or not(Figure 11, 12, 13). However, when burning is not combined with thinning, it results in a lesslitter depth and lower presence of forest levels three and four (Figure 12,13,14). There was aninteraction between burning and thinning in the change in forest level three presence followingtreatment . Burning resulted in a decreased presence of forest level three when combined withthinning, but when only burning was performed, the presence of forest level three increased.One year after treatment, all microhabitat variables except percent herbaceous cover andpresence of forest level one differed among the treatments. Thinned and thinned/burnedstands had higher percentage of woody ground cover (17% and 19%, respectively) than theuntreated or burned stands (7% and 9% respectively). Litter cover was highest on untreatedstands (99%), whereas bare ground was highest on thinned/burned stands (6%). As expected,canopy cover and BA were lowest on stands that had been thinned (63% and 67 ft 2 /acre). TheBA of pines and snags was higher on the control (119 ft 2 /acre and 9 ft 2 /acre, respectively) thanon the thinned stands (97 ft 2 /acre and 4 ft 2 /acre, respectively). Presence of forest level two wasgreatest on the control and the burn. Burned stands had the greatest presence of forest levelthree (22 %).24

Figure 11: Litter depth interaction between burning andthinning in the Bankhead National Forest, AL, 2006-2007.Figure 12: Presence of forest level 3 interactionbetween burning and thinning in the Bankhead NationalForest, AL, 2006-2007.Figure 13: Interaction between burning and thinning ofpresence of forest level 4 in the Bankhead NationalForest, AL, 2006-2007.Figure 14: Interaction between burning and thinning inthe change in presence of forest level 3 followingsilvicultural treatment in the Bankhead National Forest,AL, 2006-2007.The change in percent litter cover, percent bare ground, litter depth, canopy cover, andpresence of forest levels two and four were different across treatments. The change in litterground cover and bare ground cover was greatest on the thinned/burned stands. Litter depthdecreased on the thinned/burned stands and increased slightly on burned, thinned, anduntreated stands. As expected, the change in canopy cover was greatest on the stands that had25

een thinned. The presence of forest level two decreased on all treated stands; the greatestdecrease was on thinned and thinned/burned stands. The presence of forest level fourdecreased on the untreated, thinned, and thinned/burned stands, and increased on the burnedstands.We grouped the original thirteen difference variables into 4 principle components (PCs), the firstrepresenting ground cover, the second representing understory cover, the third representingmidstory cover, and the fourth representing overstory cover. All components with an eigenvaluegreater than 1 were retained. The 4 components retained approximately 85% of the originalvariation (Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity χ 2 = 194.02, df = 78, p = 0.001). PC1 (ground cover) andPC2 (understory cover) differed among the treatments. PC1 (ground cover) decreased on thethinned and thinned/burned stands and it increased on the untreated and burned stands . Theincrease in PC2 understory cover) was greater on control stands than on the thinned/burnedstands.Arthropod availability.There were no differences in arthropod biomass index among treatments, nor were there anyinteractions between the treatments.Bird community.A total of 983 birds were detected one year after treatment, representing 40 species. The mostabundant species were the red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus Linnaeus), comprising 16.5% (162detections) of total individuals, and the pine warbler (Dendroica pinus Wilson), comprising14.0% (138 detections) of total individuals. Species detected post treatment that were notdetected before treatment were the brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla Latham), easternphoebe (Sayornis phoebe Latham), eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus Linnaeus), easternwood-pewee (Contopus virens Linnaeus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura Linnaeus), rubythroatedhummingbird (Archilochus coulbris Linnaeus), and yellow-throated vireo (Vireoflavifrons Vieillot). Two species (blue grosbeak [Guiraca caerulea Linnaeus] and red-belliedwoodpecker [Melanerpes carolinus Linnaeus]) detected before treatments were not detectedpost-treatment.There was an interaction in Shannon-Weiner diversity index between burning and thinning oneyear after treatment. When combined with thinning, burning results in lower diversity, butburning alone results in higher bird diversity (Figure 19). There was an interaction between thetwo treatments in changes in Shannon-Weiner diversity index, cavity nesting species abundance,foliage foraging species abundance, and resident species abundance following the treatment .For all four variables, when thinning is combined with burning the result is a smaller change inthe variable (Figures 15 - 18). However, when burning is done alone, there is a larger change inthe variable.Parasite nesting species abundance (i.e. brown-headed cowbirds), and edge/open habitatspecies abundance differed among the treatments. Parasite nesting species abundance washighest on thinned and thinned/burned stands, and edge/open habitat species abundance washigher on thinned and thinned/burned stands than untreated or burned stands.26

Figure 15: Interaction between burning and thinning inthe Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index followingsilvicultural treatment in the Bankhead National Forest,AL, 2006-2007.Figure 16: Interaction between burning and thinning inthe change in Shannon-Weiner Diversity Indexfollowing silvicultural treatment in the BankheadNational Forest, AL, 2006-2007.Figure 17: Interaction between burning and thinning inthe change in cavity nesting bird abundance followingsilvicultural treatment in the Bankhead National Forest,AL, 2006-2007.Figure 18: Interaction between burning and thinning inthe change in foliage foraging bird abundance followingsilvicultural treatment in the Bankhead National Forest,AL, 2006-2007.27

Figure 19: Interaction between burning and thinning in the change in resident bird abundance followingsilvicultural treatment in the Bankhead National Forest, AL, 2006-2007.Following silviculture treatment, the change in abundance of tree and cavity nesting species,interior/edge species, and edge/open species differed among the treatments. The greatestdecrease in tree nesting species was on burned stands, whereas there was an increase onthinned stands. Cavity nesting species increased on burned and thinned stands and decreasedon untreated and thinned/burned stands. Foliage foraging species decreased on all stands, butthe greatest change was on thinned/burned stands. Interior edge species decreased on allstands; the biggest decrease was on burned and thinned/burned stands. Edge/open speciesincreased the most on thinned and thinned/burned stands.The post treatment bird community included fifteen species listed in Partners in Flight’s (PIF)North American Landbird Conservation Plan as Species of Continental. Three new species ofconcern were detected after treatment. PIF lists species in two categories; WatchList species arespecies that have multiple reasons (restricted distribution, low population size, widespreadpopulation declines, high threats to habitat, etc.) for conservation concern across their entirerange. Stewardship species are species which have a high percentage of their global populationwithin a single North American biome.Morisita’s similarity indices indicate that species composition on the untreated stands is mostsimilar to the burned stands and least similar to the thinned stands. Species composition wassimilar before and after treatment on all stands, with a small change on the burned and thinnedstands.Canonical correspondence analysis. The CCA of microhabitat characteristics, arthropodavailability, and species abundance explained 48.8 % (total inertia = 0.847) of the variation in thefirst three axes. Axis one explained 21.1% of the variation (Eigenvalue = 0.178), the second axis15.3% (Eigenvalue = 0.130), and the third axis 12.4% (Eigenvalue = 0.104). Based on the CCA of28

microhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability, and nesting guild abundance, the first threeaxes explained 74.9% (total inertia = 0.119) of the variation in guild abundance. The first axisexplained 39.9% (Eigenvalue = 0.048) of the variation, the second 21.9% (Eigenvalue = 0.026),and the third 13.1% (Eigenvalue = 0.016). The CCA of the microhabitat characteristics, arthropodavailability and foraging guild abundance explained 90.9% (total inertia = 0.069) of the variationin the first three axes. Axis one explained 37.2% (Eigenvalue = 0.026), the second axis 31.5%(Eigenvalue = 0.022), and the third 22.2% (Eigenvalue = 0.015).The CCA of microhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability, and species abundance revealeda gradient in microhabitat characteristics apparent in the position of variables along the axes ofthe ordination plots (Figure 20). On one end of the gradient is canopy cover and presence offorest level four, on the other is woody and herbaceous ground cover and presence of forestlevel one. Another gradient from tree species richness, basal area, and presence of forest levelthree to a blank area on the ordination indicates that open areas were not represented by anyof the habitat variables collected. Open habitat species (yellow-breasted chat [Icteria viernsLinnaeus], eastern wood-pewee, and mourning dove) and generalist species (eastern tuftedtitmouse [Baeolophous bicolor Linnaeus], Carolina chickadee [Poecile carolinensis Audubon],and summer tanager [Piranga rubra Linnaeus]) are found in this area of the ordination plot(Figure 20). Early successional species (Kentucky warbler [Oporornis formosus Wilson], indigobunting [Passerina cyanea Linnaeus], and prairie warbler[Dendroica discolor Vieillot]) wereassociated with herbaceous and woody ground cover and presence of forest level one, whereasmore interior species (worm-eating warbler [Helmitheros vermivorus Gmelin], acadian flycatcher[Empidonax virescens Vieillot], and blackthroatedgreen warbler [Dendroica virensGmelin]) were on the other end of the gradient,associated with the presence of forest levelthree, basal area, basal area of hardwoods andsnags, and litter depth (Figure 20)A similar gradient was revealed in the CCA ofhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability andnesting guild associations. The ordination plotrevealed a gradient from basal area and presenceof forest level four to herbaceous and woodyground cover and presence of forest level one,and also a gradient from canopy cover andpresence of forest level three to litter depth,litter ground cover, and tree species richness(Figure 21). Parasite nesting guild was on theedge of the plot, indicating that there were nostrong associations with the environmentalvariables. Ground nesting species wereassociated with high litter ground cover; cavitynesting species were associated with basal areaof snags and presence of forest level four; andtree nesting species were associated withFigure 20: First and second canonicalcorrespondence axes for microhabitatcharacteristics, arthropod availability, and birdspecies abundance one year after silviculturaltreatments, Bankhead National Forest, AL, 2006-2007.29

presence of forest level three and canopy cover (Figure 21).The CCA of microhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability, and foraging guild associationsrevealed a gradient that was different from the first two analyses. On one end of the gradientwas the presence of forest level one and four, tree species richness, basal area, and woody andherbaceous ground cover; on the other end was canopy cover, basal area of snags, litter groundcover, litter depth, and the presence of species was associated with litter cover, snag BA, andhardwoods BA (Figure 22). In the center of the plot was foliage foraging species, indicating thatthey are more generalist species, and on the far edges of the plot, opposite one another, wereaerial feeding species, and ground foraging species (Figure 22).Figure 21: First and second canonical correspondence axes for microhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability,and foraging guild abundance one year after silvicultural treatments, Bankhead National Forest, AL, 2006-2007.Figure 22: First and second canonical correspondence axes for microhabitat characteristics, arthropod availability,and nesting guild abundance one year after silvicultural treatments, Bankhead National Forest, AL, 2006-2007.30

3. Small mammalsWith the help of grad students, undergraduates, technicians, and volunteers, we deployedSherman traps using a circular trapping web for 70,400 trap-nights and Tomahawk wire cagetraps for 3,520 trap-nights in 36 middle-aged loblolly pine stands for four years and captured atotal of 520 individual mammals. White-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) dominated themammalian community, composing 72% (n=375) of all first time captures. Other small mammalsthat were captured included 30 cotton mice (P. gossypinus), 22 golden mice (P. nuttali), 25short-tailed shrews, (Blarina brevicauda), 7 rice rats (Oryzomys palustris), 2 Hispid cotton rats(Sigmodon hispidis), 1 northern wood rat (Neotoma floridana), 13 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 29opossums (Didelphis virginiana), 8 spotted skunks (Spilogale putorious,), and 8 eastern cottontailrabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus).We compared small mammal capture data from the Sherman trap webs between treatmentstands with the same treatment status (pre-treatment, 1 year post treatment, 2 years posttreatment, and 3 years post treatment) for abundance and richness. Species richness was low inmost stands and therefore we did not compute a stand level diversity index or compare meandiversity between treatments. Mean mammal abundance (Table 11) was not significantlydifferent (p= 0.796) in pre-treatments stands. However, mammal abundance was higher instands that were thinned one-year post-treatment for all nine treatments (Table11). Thisdifference became insignificant (p=0.106) by the second year following treatments (Table 11).Table 11: Mean abundance for small mammals (excluding bats) captured in forest stands with nine treatmentcombinations.TreatmentsPretreatmentMean ± SE(4 replicates)1 year PosttreatmentMean± SE(4 replicates)2 year PosttreatmentMean ± SE(3 replicates)3 year Posttreatment(1 replicate)No Thin-No burn 0.75 ± 0.48 1 ± 0.41 2.67 ± 1.20 1No thin - 3 year burn 2.0 ± 1.41 2.25 ±0.95 1.33 ± 0.33 2No thin- 10 year burn 1.25 ± 1.25 2.25 ± 1.32 2.33 ± 0.88 450% Thin - no burn 2.5 ± 1.19 10.5 ± 2.90 6.33 ± 5.33 325% Thin - no burn 2.75 ± 1.80 9.25 ± 2.46 5.33 ± 1.67 250% Thin – 3 year burn 3.25 ± 2.14 10.75 ± 2.46 14.67 ± 4.98 425% Thin – 3 year burn 1.0 ± 0 6.5 ± 0.87 9.67 ± 2.73 150% Thin – 10 year burn 3.5 ± 1.44 6.25 ± 2.46 7.0 ± 3.79 325% Thin – 10 year burn 1.5 ± 0.87 3.5 ± 0.87 2.67 ± 1.67 4F 0.567 4.104 1.997p 0.796 0.003 0.106Because the 3-year burn and the 10-year burn frequency treatments were essentially the sametreatment when we trapped these stands, we combined stands that had the same thinningtreatment and the 3-year burning frequency and the 10-year burning frequency to create sixtreatment types. Once again, we found that thinned stands had significantly more (p= 0.001)mammals than unthinned stands, but this response became insignificant (p=0.163) two yearsafter treatment (Table 12). As the Flora team has eluded too, the two thinning treatments (25%thin and 50% thin) were very similar when implemented, so we further combined these two thintreatments for a total of four treatments types (no thin and no burn, thin and burn, no burn andthin, and thin and burn) and analyzed these data for treatment response. Once again, thinned31

stands had significantly more mammals (p= 0.005) one year after treatment, but not two years(p = 0.1121) after treatment (Table 13).Table 12: Mean abundance for small mammals captured in forest stands with six treatment combinations(combining 3 and 10 year burns)Treatments Post-Treatment Year 1Mean ± SEPost-treatment (Year 2)Mean ± SENo Thin-No burn 1 ± 0.41 2.67 ± 1.20No thin-burn 2.25 ± 1.06 1.83 ± 0.6750% Thin-no burn 9.25 ± 2.46 5.33 ± 1.6725% Thin-no burn 10.5 ± 2.90 6.33 ± 5.3350% Thin - burn 8.5 ± 2.58 10.83 ± 4.6425% Thin - burn 5.0 ± 1.13 6.17 ± 3.00F 5.485 1.769P 0.001 0.163Table 13: Mean abundance for small mammals captured in forest stands with four treatment combinations(combining 3 and 10 year burns and 25% and 50% thins).Treatments Post-treatment Year 1Mean ± SEPost-Treatment Year 2Mean ± SENo Thin-No burn 1 ± 0.41 2.67 ± 1.20No thin - Burn 2.25 ± 1.06 1.83 ± 0.67Thin - no burn 9.88 ± 2.51 5.83 ± 3.55Thin - burn 7.07 ± 2.1 8.5 ± 3.98F 7.896 2.228P 0.0005 0.1121Mammal species richness (excluding bats) was low in most stands due to the dominance ofwhite footed mice. Species richness was not significantly different between treatment typesprior to treatment implementation (Table 14). However, it nearly became significantly different(p = 0.069) one year after treatment with thinned stands having the highest mean richness.However, this richness response faded away (p = 0.416) two-years following treatment (Table14). Thinned stand tended to have the most medium-sized mammals captured.Table 14: Mean Species Richness for all mammals captured (excluding bats) in forest stands with nine treatmentcombinations.TreatmentsPretreatmentMean ± SE(4 replicates)1 year PosttreatmentMean ± SE(4 replicates)2 year PosttreatmentMean ± SE(3 replicates)No Thin-No burn 1.0 ± 0.71 0.75 ± 0.25 1.0 ± 0 1No thin - 3 yr burn 1.5 ± 0.50 1.5 ± 0.29 1.67 ± 0.33 2No thin- 10 yr burn 0.5 ± 0.29 1.0 ± 0 1.33 ± 0.33 150% Thin - no burn 1.0 ± 0.0 2.75 ± 0.85 2.33 ± 0.89 325% Thin - no burn 1.25 ± 0.25 2.5 ± 0.65 2.33 ± 0.67 150% Thin – 3 yr burn 1.25 ± 0.63 2.5 ± 0.5 3.67 ± 1.45 125% Thin – 3 yr burn 1.25 ± 0.25 2.0 ± 0.41 2.67 ± 0.89 150% Thin – 10 yr burn 2.25 ± 0.25 2.5 ± 0.65 2.67 ± 0.89 125% Thin – 10 yr burn 1.25 ± 0.25 1.75 ± 0.25 1.67 ± 0.67 3F 1.331 2.121 1.085p 0.271 0.069 0.4163 year Posttreatment(1 replicate)32

Small Mammals (2005-2007)We also examined the impact of Landscape variables on small mammal abundance. Landscapevariables (edge density, stream density, and southern pine beetle spots) were measured in a 10-ha circle around the trapping web location using a geographic information system GIS andinventory data CISC from the national forest. However, linear regression of these variables failedto explain the variation in abundance of small mammals among sixteen stands that were treatedduring the first two years. Landscape-level characteristics had no detectable affect on smallmammal communities suggesting that microhabitat factors need to be examined to explaincommunity patterns.BatsWe compared number and species of echolocation detections (calls/hour) recorded in eachstand by treatment using ANOVA. Overall, red bats (Lasiurus borealis) were detected the mostand composed 42% of all identifiable detections. Tri-colored bats (Pipistrellus subflavus) werealso commonly detected in the research stands (28% of all detections) although they were notcaptured in nets during 2005 and 2006. Myotis spp. composed the next most numerous group ofdetections (14%). Big Brown bats (Eptescus fuscus) and Evening bats (Nycticeus humeralis)composed 6% and 2% of the detections, respectively. The remaining calls were unknown orunidentifiable. Most stands had only one or two species detected in them.Bat abundance did not differ (p=0.642) by treatment prior to thinning and burning treatments(Table 15). Thinning appeared to have the most impact on bat detections one year and twoyears after the treatments were implemented (Table 15). Total bat abundance was highest (P 0.0001 > 0.000133

Bat netting (2005 and 2006)Bat captures using mist nets revealed some surprises in treatment effects. In a total of 58 netnights, 18 individuals of three different species were captured (Myotis septentrionalis, Eptesicusfuscus, and Lasiurus borealis). Total bats captured did not differ between stands that were not(25-28 m 2 /ha basal area) thinned (3 bats) and heavily (11m 2 /ha/basal area retention) thinnedstands (1 bat), but was significantly higher in the lightly (17m 2 /ha basal area retention) thinnedstands (14 bats). The only captures of species other than M. septentrionalis occurred in thelightly thinned sites. Canopy height of the midstory and overstory, canopy depth, total numberof snags, basal area of hardwood and litter depth did not differ among sites. Compared to noharvest sites, the harvested sites contained fewer stems/ha in both canopy and midstory, lowerbasal area of pine, and less canopy cover, but did not differ significantly among lightly thinnedand heavily thinned stands. Bats in our study sites appear to prefer stands with more basal arearetention, although the structural characteristics did not appear to differ between the lightlythinned and heavily thinned treatments. Differences in food availability or susceptibility to mistnets may be contributing factors explaining our results4. HerpetofaunalOverall CapturesWe captured 2,662 amphibians and reptiles representing 47 species during 2,862 trap nights(i.e., block 1 [672 total trap nights], block 2 [1134 total trap nights], and block 3 [1056 total trapnights]) over a four-year survey period (2005–2008). The most commonly captured lizard andsnake species were Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis; n = 283) and Copperheads (Agistrodoncontortrix; n = 178), respectively, whereas Mississippi Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon mississippi;n = 674) and Fowler’s Toads (Anaxyrus fowleri; n = 177) represented the most commonlycaptures salamander and anuran species, respectively . Eastern box turtles (Terrapene c.carolina) were the most commonly captured turtle species (n = 8). A total of 371 individualswere recaptures, with green anoles being the most commonly recaptured reptile species (146recaptures) and the Fowler’s toad being the most commonly recaptured amphibians species (65recaptures).Species DiversityThe overall herpetofauna and reptile alpha diversity tended to be the greatest two years aftertreatment in light thin treatments and were generally the lowest in control plots (Table 17).There was a significant effect of year on alpha diversity for all herpetofauna (F 2, 34 = 4.68; p =0.016) and reptiles only (F 2, 34 = 14.10; p < 0.0001; Table 18). Overall alpha diversity ofamphibians was greatest in heavy thin plots, but we only detected a statistically significanteffect of thin and burn (F 2, 34 = 4.07; p = 0.026) and a marginally significant year effect (F 2, 34 =3.08; p = 0.059) on amphibian alpha diversity (Table 17). Gamma diversity for all herpetofaunatwo years after treatment increased the greatest from pre-treatment levels in burn, light thin,and light thin & burn plots, whereas gamma diversity for reptiles increased the greatest in burn,light thin, and heavy thin & burn plots (Table 17). Gamma diversity of amphibians increased thegreatest from pre-treatment levels in light thin plots (Table 17). Overall beta diversity valueswere similar among all treatment plots, with little change among years (Table 17). Species34

arefaction plots indicate that species accumulation rates were similar for all herpetofauna ,amphibians only, and reptiles only between all treatment years. However, more reptiles werecaptured in plots that received a thinning treatment when compared to control and burn plotsduring the second year post-treatment.Herpetofaunal (amphibians and reptiles together) similarity indices generally decreased aftertreatment in most treatment plots (Table 17) with a significant effect of year (F = 12.87; p

Table 17: Community diversity of all herpetofauna, amphibians only, and reptiles only in managed forest stands ofthe William B. Bankhead National Forest, Alabama.α–Diversity a β–Diversity b γ–Diversity c Heterogeneity d % Similarity e % Exclusive Species fAll HerpetofaunaControlPre-Treatment 12.2 ± 2.7 1.9 22.6 1.7 ± 0.2 75.0 ± 37.4 0Post-Treatment Year One 15.0 ± 2.7 2.0 29.4 2.1 ± 0.2 72.3 ± 1.2 1.7 ± 1.7Post-Treatment Year Two 13.7 ± 2.9 1.8 25.1 1.9 ± 0.2 35.3 ± 5.9 0.8 ± 0.8BurnPre-Treatment 9.9 ± 1.5 1.9 19.3 1.6 ± 0.1 69.3 ± 24.2 3.8 ± 2.5Post-Treatment Year One 15.4 ± 2.8 1.7 26.1 2.0 ± 0.1 72.3 ± 1.5 2.6 ± 2.6Post-Treatment Year Two 16.9 ± 1.1 1.7 28.0 2.1 ± 0.1 36.7 ± 4.1 2.4 ± 1.4Heavy ThinPre-Treatment 15.6 ± 3.0 1.7 26.1 2.0 ± 0.1 75.0 ± 26.3 1.9 ± 1.0Post-Treatment Year One 16.7 ± 1.7 1.7 27.8 2.1 ± 0.1 70.7 ± 5.4 0.9 ± 0.9Post-Treatment Year Two 16.5 ± 4.2 1.6 27.2 2.3 ± 0.2 58.3 ± 3.3 0.8 ± 0.8Light ThinPre-Treatment 9.0 ± 1.6 1.8 15.9 1.6 ± 0.3 51.3 ± 39.6 0Post-Treatment Year One 11.9 ± 0.9 1.8 21.9 1.8 ± 0.1 87.3 ± 3.0 0Post-Treatment Year Two 18.7 ± 4.2 1.4 26.9 2.2 ± 0.3 55.3 ± 16.5 0Heavy Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 13.1 ± 3.5 1.6 20.6 1.7 ± 0.3 47.7 ± 31.6 1.0 ± 1.0Post-Treatment Year One 12.4 ± 0.8 1.5 18.5 1.9 ± 0.1 73.7 ± 9.1 1.7 ± 0.9Post-Treatment Year Two 14.5 ± 2.6 1.5 21.5 2.1 ± 0.2 76.0 ± 2.9 0Light Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 11.5 ± 0.7 1.8 20.2 1.5 ± 0.1 81.3 ± 31.4 1.9 ± 1.0Post-Treatment Year One 15.5 ± 3.2 1.5 23.6 2.0 ± 0.04 61.3 ± 6.9 0.9 ± 0.9Post-Treatment Year Two 17.3 ± 5.3 1.7 29.5 2.2 ± 0.3 61.7 ± 5.7 4.0 ± 2.9AmphibiansControlPre-Treatment 3.5 ± 1.3 1.7 6.1 0.7 ± 0.4 80.7 ± 0.9 0Post-Treatment Year One 3.4 ± 0.8 3.2 10.8 1.0 ± 0.2 83.3 ± 4.8 0Post-Treatment Year Two 4.1 ± 1.3 2.2 8.9 1.1 ± 0.3 43.0 ± 19.0 0BurnPre-Treatment 4.9 ± 1.8 2.1 10.2 0.9 ± 0.3 69.0 ± 1.7 6.7 ± 3.8Post-Treatment Year One 7.0 ± 1.9 1.9 13.1 1.3 ± 0.2 79.0 ± 2.3 3.7 ± 3.7Post-Treatment Year Two 4.2 ± 1.2 2.4 9.9 1.1 ± 0.3 54.7 ± 13.7 0Heavy ThinPre-Treatment 5.5 ± 1.0 2.1 11.4 1.2 ± 0.1 83.0 ± 4.3 0Post-Treatment Year One 6.4 ± 1.3 2.2 14.2 1.1 ± 0.1 73.0 ± 5.5 0Post-Treatment Year Two 9.2 ± 2.7 1.4 13.3 1.5 ± 0.3 72.0 ± 10.8 0Light ThinPre-Treatment 2.6 ± 0.5 1.8 4.8 0.6 ± 0.1 62.7 ± 17.7 2.2 ± 2.2Post-Treatment Year One 3.6 ± 0.7 2.0 7.2 0.6 ± 0.04 97.3 ± 1.3 0Post-Treatment Year Two 6.7 ± 3.2 2.0 13.2 0.9 ± 0.4 33.0 ± 30.0 0Heavy Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 4.1 ± 0.9 2.1 8.8 0.9 ± 0.2 62.0 ± 14.2 2.2 ± 2.2Post-Treatment Year One 3.0 ± 0.2 1.6 4.8 0.8 ± 0.05 73.7 ± 9.3 1.9 ± 1.9Post-Treatment Year Two 5.3 ± 1.7 1.7 8.9 1.1 ± 0.3 73.7 ± 6.2 0Light Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 3.9 ± 1.1 2.6 10.0 0.7 ± 0.1 94.0 ± 2.1 2.2 ± 2.2Post-Treatment Year One 5.4 ± 3.0 2.2 11.9 1.0 ± 0.4 75.0 ± 1.5 1.9 ± 1.9Post-Treatment Year Two 7.2 ± 3.5 1.9 13.5 1.1 ± 0.6 66.7 ± 8.7 3.9 ± 3.9ReptilesControlPre-Treatment 7.1 ± 0.5 2.1 14.8 1.3 ± 0.05 54.3 ± 19.2 0Post-Treatment Year One 9.5 ± 0.9 1.8 17.1 1.7 ± 0.1 65.0 ± 2.1 3.2 ± 3.2Post-Treatment Year Two 8.4 ± 1.3 2.0 16.5 1.5 ± 0.1 30.1 ± 4.5 1.3 ± 1.3BurnPre-Treatment 4.0 ± 0.4 2.3 9.1 1.0 ± 0.1 31.0 ± 2.1 1.8 ± 1.8Post-Treatment Year One 5.5 ± 0.5 2.3 12.6 1.2 ± 0.1 34.0 ± 5.6 1.6 ± 1.6Post-Treatment Year Two 10.5 ± 0.9 1.7 17.9 1.7 ± 0.1 49.7 ± 4.6 4.0 ± 2.3Heavv ThinPre-Treatment 8.1 ± 2.4 1.7 13.4 1.5 ± 0.3 43.0 ± 9.6 3.5 ± 1.8Post-Treatment Year One 9.2 ± 0.6 1.4 13.2 1.6 ± 0.07 73.3 ± 2.1 1.6 ± 1.6Post-Treatment Year Two 10.0 ± 1.8 1.3 12.5 1.7 ± 0.1 72.3 ± 7.5 1.3 ± 1.3Light ThinPre-Treatment 4.6 ± 1.4 2.2 10.0 1.2 ± 0.3 53.7 ± 5.8 0Post-Treatment Year One 8.9 ± 1.4 1.6 14.3 1.6 ± 0.1 63.0 ± 9.5 0Post-Treatment Year Two 11.7 ± 1.2 1.4 16.7 1.9 ± 0.2 67.0 ± 5.9 0Heavy Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 5.2 ± 1.5 2.2 11.5 1.3 ± 0.3 43.3 ± 18.3 0Post-Treatment Year One 9.5 ± 1.4 1.2 11.8 1.6 ± 0.07 94.0 ± 0.6 1.6 ± 1.6Post-Treatment Year Two 8.0 ± 1.1 2.0 16.0 1.7 ± 0.1 88.3 ± 2.8 0Light Thin & BurnPre-Treatment 6.9 ± 1.0 1.7 11.9 1.4 0.1 40.3 ± 13.5 1.8 ± 1.8Post-Treatment Year One 8.5 ± 0.4 1.2 10.2 1.6 ± 0.07 83.3 ± 3.8 0Post-Treatment Year Two 10.3 ± 2.1 1.5 15.1 1.8 0.2 65.7 ± 8.4 4.0 ± 2.3n = 3 sites per categorya Number of species estimated to be present in each treatment plot based on the Chao 2 estimatorb Represents change in species diversity along a gradient. Determined as β = γ / αc Number of species estimated to be present within a treatment level based on the Chao 2 estimatord Derived using the Shannon-Wiener diversity indexe Derived using Morisita's index. Values were obtained by comparing index for a given treatment against other replicatesf Number of species not found elswhere as a percentage of the landscape total36

Figure 23: Total heliothermic lizard captures in managed forest stands of the William B. BankheadNational Forest. Little Brown Skinks and Coal Skinks were excluded from this analysis because they donot display heliothermic behaviors (Vitt et al. 1998). Bottom pie chart illustrates percent composition ofsampled lizard species.37

Figure 24: Total large snake captures in managed forest stands of the William B. Bankhead National Forest. Bottompie chart illustrates percent composition of sampled snake species.38

Figure 25: Total frog captures of the genus Lithobates in managed forest stands of the William B. BankheadNational Forest (2005–2008). Bottom pie chart illustrates percent composition of each anuran species.Habitat ResponseThroughout three field seasons, we completed 162 total habitat surveys (three at each plot foreach year). Using PCA we were able to extract five components that accounted for 80.6% of theoverall variance in the original habitat dataset. Component one accounted for 46.8% of theoverall variance and described a gradient ranging from sites with greater canopy cover, lowertemperatures, greater relative humidity, and greater percent coverage of litter to sites with lesscanopy cover, greater light intensity, higher temperatures, and greater percent bare groundcoverage, whereas component two accounted for 13.7% of the overall variance and described agradient ranging from sites with greater percent bare ground cover to sites with greater percentcoverage of litter, woody, and herbaceous growth. Component three accounted for 8.5% of the39

overall variance and described CWD coverage and volume, whereas components four and fivedescribed 11.5% of the overall variance associated with rock and overstory percent coverage,respectively.Habitat gradient values for principal component one were greatest in thin only and thin & burnplots, illustrating an overall significant effect of thin (F 2, 34 = 175; p < 0.0001) and burn (F 1, 34 = 15;p = 0.0005), with additional effects of thin & year (F 4, 34 = 32; p < 0.0001) and burn*year (F 2, 34 =11; p = 0.0002). Habitat gradient values for principal component decreased in all treated standsduring post-treatment yr 1 and stayed low in burn only treatments during post-treatment yr 2,indicating overall effects of both thin (F 2, 34 = 5.9; p = 0.0062) and burn (F 1, 34 = 9.4; p = 0.0042).Species and Habitat RelationshipsCanonical correspondence analysis indicated changes in species and habitat relationshipsbetween pre-treatment and post-treatment years for amphibians (Figures 26,27,28) and reptiles(Figures 29, 30, 31). We found distinct increases in variance explained for species relationshipsof amphibians during both post-treatment years and for reptiles during the first year posttreatmentcompared to pre-treatment values (Table 18).Amphibian CCA diagrams for pre-treatment (Figure 26) and post-treatment year one (Figure 27)did not reveal any obvious habitat gradients or species associations. However, the CCA diagramfor the second year post-treatment amphibian data (Figure 28) reveals a habitat gradientranging from sites with greater canopy cover and greater litter depth to sites with greater airtemperature and greater percent coverage of slash and herbaceous cover. Anuran species suchas Cope’s Grey Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) and Green Treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) were associatedwith greater CWD and herbaceous cover on highly disturbed sites, whereas the RedSalamanders (Pseudotriton r. ruber) and permanent pool-breeding frog species (e.g., SouthernLeopard Frogs [Lithobates sphenocephalus] and Northern Green Frogs [Lithobates clamitansmelanota]) were associated with greater canopy cover and litter depth (Figure 28). There was adistinct separation of sites that received a thin treatment versus burn and control sites along thecanopy cover, air temperature, groundcover, and tree canopy gradient (Figure 28).The CCA diagrams for reptiles illustrate that habitat gradients ranged from sites with greatercanopy cover and litter depth to sites with greater slash, CWD, and herbaceous cover (Figures29, 30, 31). Air temperature and percent litter coverage played a larger role in the observedhabitat gradients during the post-treatment analyses (Figures 29, 30). Habitat gradients werelonger and more well-defined during post-treatment year one (Figure 29) and appeared to losedefinition during post-treatment year two (Figure 30). Eastern Five-lined Skinks (Plestiodonfasciatus), Broad-headed Skinks (P. laticeps), Green Anoles, and Eastern Fence Lizards wereassociated with disturbed sites that possessed greater CWD, slash, and herbaceous cover andwarmer air temperatures in post-treatment CCA diagrams (Figures 29,30). These specieschanged locations greatly within the post-treatment ordination plots when compared to thepre-treatment analysis (Figure 29). Eastern Worm Snakes (Carphophis amoenus) and LittleBrown Skinks were consistently associated with sites possessing greater percent canopy coverand greater litter depth during pre-treatment and post-treatment analyses. There was a greaterseparation of sites that received a thin treatment from control and burn sites in first year posttreatmentCCA diagram (Figure 29) when compared to the second year post-treatment CCAdiagram (Figure 30) along the canopy cover, air temperature, and groundcover gradient.40

Table 18: Overall canonical correspondence analysis results describing relationships between herpetofauna and habitat variables in managed stands of theWilliam B. Bankhead National Forest, AlabamaAmphibians ReptilesOutput Results Pre Post Year One Post Year Two Pre Post Year One Post Year TwoAxis OneEigenvalue 0.258 0.247 0.308 0.240 0.208 0.175Percent Species Variance 19.6 20.7 27.3 19.1 24.8 20.6Species-Environment Variance 24.1 24.4 33.5 23.6 33.7 27.8Axis TwoEigenvalue 0.222 0.236 0.214 0.189 0.144 0.139Percent Species Variance 16.9 19.9 18.9 15.0 17.2 16.4Species-Environment Variance 20.8 23.4 23.3 18.7 23.4 22Axis ThreeEigenvalue 0.216 0.197 0.149 0.168 0.080 0.096Percent Species Variance 16.5 16.5 13.2 13.4 9.5 11.3Species-Environment Variance 20.3 19.4 16.2 16.6 12.9 15.3Total Inertia 1.32 1.19 1.13 1.26 0.84 0.85Total Percent Species Variance 53 57.1 59.4 47.5 51.5 48.3Total Percent Species-Environment Variance 65.2 67.2 73.0 58.9 70.0 65.1p–value 0.79 0.50 0.19 0.04 0.31 0.7241

Figure 26: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying pre-treatment A) amphibian and habitatrelationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designated with four-letteredabbreviations42

Figure 27: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying post-treatment year one results for A)amphibian and habitat relationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designatedwith four- lettered abbreviations43

Figure 28: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying post-treatment year two results for A)amphibian and habitat relationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designatedwith four- lettered abbreviations44

Figure 29: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying pre-treatment results for A) reptile andhabitat relationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designated with four-letteredabbreviations. In diagram B treatment plots are designated as follows: C- control, B- burn, HT- heavy thin, LT- lightthin, HTB- heavy thin and burn, and LTB- light thin and burn. Habitat relationships are indicated by arrowed lines.45

Figure 30: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying post-treatment year one results for A)amphibian and habitat relationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designatedwith four-lettered abbreviations. In diagram B, treatment plots are designated as follows: C- control, B- burn, HTheavythin, LT- light thin, HTB- heavy thin and burn, and LTB- light thin and burn. Habitat relationships are indicatedby arrowed lines.46

Figure 31: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying post-treatment year two results for A)reptile and habitat relationships and B) plot and habitat relationships. In diagram A, species are designated withfour-lettered abbreviations. In diagram B, treatment plots are designated as follows: C- control, B- burn, HT- heavythin, LT- light thin, HTB- heavy thin and burn, and LTB- light thin and burn. Habitat relationships are indicated byarrowed lines47

5. Terrestrial salamanderCharacteristics of Natural and Artificial PoolsOverall, biophysical features of natural pools differed from that of artificial pools (MANOVAPillai’s Trace= 0.820, F= 6.28, p= 0.003) based on the 20 pools sampled (Table 19). Distance tothe edge of forest (p= 0.01), elevation (p = 0.001), pool depth (p= 0.002), and pH (p< 0.001) weresignificantly different between natural and artificial pools. Artificial pools tended to be locatedat a lower elevation, were deeper, and had a higher pH than natural pools. Although theartificial pools, on average, tended to be larger (1,450 m 2 and 216 m) than natural pools (1,094m 2 and 204 m) measured by maximum pool area and maximum perimeter, respectively, thedifference was not significant because of large variations within each category (Table 19). Theconductivity (p= 0.58) and mean water temperature (p= 0.88) were also not different betweenthe two pool types. Dissolved oxygen and salinity were measured intermittently throughout thestudy, but due to faulty equipment, measurements were not used in the final analysis.Table 19: Comparisons of biophysical features (mean ± SD) of artificial and natural vernal pools at the James D.Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area and the Walls of Jericho Forever Wild property on the southern extent ofCumberland Plateau in Jackson CountyArtificialNaturalVariable (n=10) (n=10) F PDistance to forest (m) 6.6± 7.4 0 ± 0.0 7.86 0.012*Maximum perimeter(m) 215.7 ± 203.4 204.0 ± 130.3 0.02 0.880Area (m 2 ) 1450.5 ± 1015.5 1093.9 ± 715.4 0.82 0.376Maximum depth (m) 2.3 ± 0.8 1.3 ± 0.4 13.54 0.002*pH 5.8 ± 0.6 4.9 ± 0.3 19.54 0.000*Conductivity (µS) 21.7 ± 19.3 25.4 ± 7.2 0.31 0.584Mean water temperature (ºC) 14.9± 1.9 14.8 ± 1.0 0.02 0.883Elevation (m) 1696.9 ± 44.9 1766.8 ± 35.3 14.98 0.001*We began surveying pools in early January 2007. Several pools, three artificial and two naturalwere already retaining water. The remaining natural and artificial pools inundated around thesame period of time. Overall, most pools began retaining water in February. There were twonatural pools, which did not become inundated until March. Water levels varied throughout thefirst season but we did not observe any pools completely dried and refilled. Some pools recededto the point where depth markers were no longer submerged and depth had to be determinedvia ocular estimation. Pools began to lose water in May and most natural pools were dry byJune. Hiking Trail was the only natural pool to retain water past June and fully dried in August.Artificial pools, however, retained water further into the summer months. Only Albert Man 2and Albert Man 3 were fully dry by June, followed by Horse Trail 1, which dried in July. Theremaining artificial pools, with the exception of Albert Man and Letson Point 2, becamedesiccated in August. Albert Man and Letson Point 2 retained water until the second season oftrapping and while levels receded, they never completely dried.Pools began to fill again as early as November 2007 (Figures 32 and 33). The only natural pool tobegin filling in 2007 was Albert Parker 1. Artificial pools Albert Man 2, Albert Man 3, Poplar Man3 and Poplar Spring 1 also began filling in November. All remaining pools, natural and artificial48

egan filling in January and February. Pools dried earlier during the second season than the firstseason. Most natural pools and three artificial pools were dry by May 2008. Letson Point 3retained water until June and Tate Cove and Hiking Trail held water until July. With theexception of Albert Man 2, Albert Man 3, and Ollie, artificial pools also held water until July. Atthe close of the second survey season, Letson Point 2 and Albert Man were still inundated.Depth (m)43.532.521.510.501/8/073/8/075/8/07Hydroperiods of Natural Pools7/8/079/8/07Time (Months)Albert Parker 1 Albert Parker 2 Hiking Trail Horse Trail 2 Horse Trail 3Letson Point 1 Letson Point 3 Poplar Spring 2 Sign Tate Cove11/8/07Figure 32: Hydroperiod of natural vernal pools in Jackson County, Alabama between January 2007 and July 2008.1/8/083/8/085/8/08Depth (m)Hydroperiods of Artificial Pools43.532.521.510.501/8/073/8/075/8/077/8/079/8/0711/8/071/8/083/8/085/8/08Time (M onths)Albert Man Albert Man 2 Albert Man 3 Albert Man 4 Horse Trail 1Letson Point 2 Ollie Poplar Man 1 Poplar Man 3 Poplar Spring 1Figure 33: Hydroperiod of artificial vernal pools in Jackson County, Alabama between January 2007 and July 2008.49

Natural and artificial pools were similar in their tree species composition. Species commonlyobserved within the immediate area surrounding both types of pools include: Red Maple (Acerrubrum), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica), Yellow Poplar(Liriodendron tulipifera), Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda), and several Hickory (Carya) and Oak(Quercus) species. There was a significant difference in overall vegetative cover between naturaland artificial pools (Pillai’s Trace= 0.83, F= 6.64, p= 0.003) (Table 20). When an ANOVA wasconducted to examine the significance of each category, submerged vegetation, canopy cover,floating leaves, leaf litter, and the amount of rocks were all significantly different betweennatural and artificial pools. Artificial pools had significantly more submerged vegetation (p=0.015) and rocks (p= 0.025), while natural pools had significantly more tree canopy cover (p=0.004) over and leaf litter (p< 0.001) within them. But when the categories of vegetation werecompared at the six fenced pools, as with the environmental conditions, there was no significantdifference between natural and artificial pools (Pillai’s Trace= 0.67, F= 0.50, p= 0.77) (Table 21).Table 20: Comparison of microhabitat variables (percent coverage) (mean ± SD) between natural and artificialvernal pools in Jackson County, Alabama. MANOVA Pillai’s Trace= 0.83, F= 6.64, Hypothesis df= 8, Error df= 11, p=0.003.Artificial NaturalVariableMean ± SD(n=10)Mean ± SD(n=10) F pAquatic vegetation 1.6 ± 0.7 1.6 ± 1.0 0.00 1.000Submerged vegetation 2.5 ± 1.1 1.4 ± 0.7 7.31 0.015*Emergent vegetation 2.0 ± 0.7 2.5 ± 1.1 1.55 0.229Downed trees and logs 1.6 ± 0.7 1.3 ± 0.5 1.25 0.279Rocks 1.4 ± 0.5 1.0 ± 0.0 6.00 0.025*Canopy cover 1.0 ± 0.0 2.0 ± 0.9 11.25 0.004*Floating leaves 1.0 ± 0.0 1.3 ± 0.5 3.86 0.065Leaf litter on pool floor 2.2 ± 1.1 5.0 ± 0.0 60.83 0.000*Table 21: Comparison of microhabitat variables (percent coverage) (mean ± 1 SD) between natural and artificialvernal pools selected for intensive drift fence trapping in Jackson County, Alabama. MANOVA Pillai’s Trace= 0.667,F = 0.500, Hypothesis df =4, Error df=1, p=0.770.ArtificialNaturalVariable (n=3) (n=3) F pAquatic vegetation 1.3 ± 0.6 1.7 ± 1.2 0.20 0.678Submerged vegetation 2.3 ± 1.5 2.0 ± 1.0 0.10 0.768Emergent vegetation 2.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 0.0 0.00 1.000Downed trees and logs 1.3 ± 0.6 1.0 ± 0.0 1.00 0.374Rocks 1.3 ± 0.6 1.3 ± 0.6 0.00 1.000Canopy cover 1.3 ± 0.6 1.3 ± 0.6 0.00 1.000Floating leaves 1.0 ± 0.0 1.3 ± 0.5 1.00 0.374Leaf litter on pool floor 3.0 ± 2.0 4.0 ± 1.7 0.43 0.54850

Species Richness and AbundanceThere were fifty-eight successful trap nights where individuals were captured. Over thiscourse of time, a total of 8850 captures from nine species were encountered in either pitfallor minnow traps (Table 22). Of those captures, 2627 individuals were adults capturedtraveling into pools and 2854 individuals were adults captured exiting pools. Of the remaining1085 adult individuals, 836 were captured in minnow traps and there were 249 whosedirection of travel was not clear. Emergents were either captured leaving the pools or theirdirection of travel was unclear but it is assumed that they were also leaving the pools. Of the1459 captured, 656 were clearly exiting the pool. Metamorphs numbered 825 and were onlycaptured in minnow traps. Ninety-seven percent of the individuals we captured in traps werealive. Three percent of individuals were lost to predation and desiccation.The most abundant and commonly encountered species were the spotted, mole, andmarbled salamanders (42.7%, 23.0%, and 22.7% of total captures respectively) (Table 23).Red-spotted newts and Four-toed salamanders were a common occurrence at Poplar Spring 1pools but were not very abundant across the entire study area (9.1% and 2.0%, respectively).Several terrestrial species were also observed (Zig-zag, Green, Red, and Slimy salamanders)but were not frequently encountered. Overall, species were most abundant betweenFebruary and May in both 2007 and 2008 at both natural and artificial pools (Figures 34 and45). Hiking Trail consistently had the most captures in 2007 and 2008 for natural pools.Horse/Letson had the highest abundance of salamanders in 2007 but Poplar Spring1 had thehighest abundance in 2008 among artificial pools. The total number of captures ofencountered species, excluding Green, Red, Zig-zag, and Slimy salamanders because of theirextremely low presence, were compared using a MANOVA and based on the total abundanceof commonly encountered semi-aquatic species (Red-spotted newts, Spotted, Mole, Marbled,and Four-toed salamanders), there was no significant difference between natural andartificial pools (Pillai's Trace= 1.00, F= 48.11, p= 0.11) (Table 24). To account for the possibilityof individuals being counted twice when captured in drift fences, analyses were performedon totals excluding the captures of adult leaving pools (Table 24). When these totals werecompared in a MANOVA there was still no significant difference between natural and artificialpools (Pillai's Trace= 0.58, F= 0.35, p= 0.83).Adults were the most commonly captured life stage, accounting for 74.2% of the totalcaptures. Emergents accounted for 16.5% of captures and metamorphs accounted for 9.3% ofcaptures. With the exception of one, most species demonstrated the pattern of adultsrepresenting the largest proportion of individuals captured. In the Marbled salamander, theemergent life stage was the most commonly encountered, accounting for 1335 of thespecies’ 2040 captures. Metamorph captures also accounted for more captures than adults inthis species with 542 of the total captures. Adults only represented 6.9% of captures, with140 individuals in this species.Table 22: Species richness and relative abundance of drift fence and minnow trap captures between February2007 and July 2008 (8,850 total captures).Species Scientific Name Common Name Total ProportionCodeAMMA Ambystoma maculatum Spotted salamander 3776 42.0AMOP Ambystoma opacum Marbled salamander 2040 23.0AMTA Ambystoma talpoideum Mole salamander 2006 22.051

NOVI Notophthalmus v. viridescens Red-spotted newt 806 9.0HESC Hemidactylium scutatum Four-toed salamander 180 2.0PLDO Plethodon d. dorsalis Zig-zag salamander 34

Table 23: Comparisons of total captures (mean ± SD) at artificial and natural vernal pools at the James D. MartinSkyline Wildlife Management Area and the Walls of Jericho Forever Wild property on the southern extent ofCumberland Plateau in Jackson County, Alabama. MANOVA Pillai’s Trace= 1.00, F= 48.11, Hypothesis df= 4, Errordf =1, p=0.11.Artificial NaturalSpecies (n=3) (n=3) F PTotal Captures (All Species) 1024.0 ± 943.0 1927.0 ± 1605.0 0.70 0.448Spotted salamander 160.0 ± 142.0 1100.0 ± 1215.0 1.77 0.254Mole salamander 273.7 ± 233.0 395.0 ± 283.0 0.33 0.597Red-spotted newt 210.0 ± 336.0 58.0 ± 52.0 0.60 0.482Four-toed salamander 44.0 ± 38.0 17.0 ± 14.0 1.40 0.303Marbled salamander 335.0 ± 479.0 345.0 ± 98.0 0.00 0.972Table 24: Comparisons of individual captures (total captures excluding adults traveling out) (mean ± SD) atartificial and natural vernal pools at the James D. Martin Skyline Wildlife Management Area and the Walls ofJericho Forever Wild property on the southern extent of Cumberland Plateau in Jackson County, Alabama.MANOVA Pillai's Trace= 0.58, F= 0.35, Hypothesis df= 4, Error df= 1, p=0.83.Artificial NaturalSpecies (n=3) (n=3) F PTotal Captures (All Species) 697.0 ± 847.0 1184.0 ± 834.0 0.50 0.112Spotted salamander 47.0 ± 37.0 614.0 ± 674.0 2.12 0.346Mole salamander 90.0 ± 92.0 206.0 ± 56.0 3.48 0.465Red-spotted newt 205.0 ± 330.0 33.0 ± 53.0 0.79 0.164Four-toed salamander 26.0 ± 27.0 9.0 ± 7.0 1.14 0.221Marbled salamander 329.0 ± 472.0 322.0 ± 97.0 0.00 0.981Species DiversitySpecies richness and relative abundance calculations were used to examine species diversitywithin and between natural and artificial pools. We used both the Shannon-Wiener Index andthe Simpson’s Diversity Index to examine the species compositions at fenced pools. TheShannon-Wiener Index takes into account the number of species and the evenness of theirabundances. Higher numbers signify a more diverse group, whereas, lower numbers indicatefewer species or an uneven distributions of species caused by large gaps in species numbersor rare species. Simpson’s Index (1-D) characterizes species diversity as the probability thattwo randomly selected individuals will be of the same species. In this index, a value of onerepresents infinite diversity and a value closer to zero represents low species diversity.A MANOVA was conducted on pool diversity index scores to determine if there was asignificant difference in the species diversity at pools. The species diversity was not differentbetween in natural and artificial pools (Pillai's Trace= 0.82, F= 1.14, p= 0.60) (Table 25 and26). When each index was compared in a separate ANOVA there was still no significantdifference. This was also the case when only adults traveling out of pools were excluded(Pillai's Trace= 0.56, F= 0.32, p= 0.85) (Table 26).53

Table 25: Diversity indices of the fenced natural and artificial pools using total captures. MANOVA Pillai's Trace=0.82, F= 1.14, Hypothesis df= 4 Error df= 1, p= 0.60.Pool Origin Shannon-Wiener Index Simpson's IndexAlbert Man 3 Artificial 1.146 0.615Horse/Letson Artificial 1.049 0.586Poplar Spring 1 Artificial 1.335 0.690Mean ± SD 1.2 ± 0.15 0.6 ± 0.05Albert Parker 2 Natural 1.192 0.646Hiking Trail Natural 0.983 0.517Letson Point 3 Natural 1.161 0.621Mean ± SD 1.1 ± 0.1 0.6 ± 0.07F 0.37 0.51P 0.576 0.517Table 26: Diversity indices of the fenced natural and artificial pools using only adults traveling into pools,emergent, and metamorph captures. MANOVA Pillai's Trace= 0.56, F= 0.32, Hypothesis df= 4, Error df= 1, p=0.85.Pool Origin Shannon-Wiener Index Simpson's IndexAlbert Man 3 Artificial 0.709 0.319Horse/Letson Artificial 1.130 0.586Poplar Spring 1 Artificial 1.095 0.595Mean ± SD 1.0 ± 0.23 0.5 ± 0.16Albert Parker 2 Natural 1.055 0.595Hiking Trail Natural 1.028 0.539Letson Point 3 Natural 1.226 0.663Mean ± SD 1.1 ± .11 0.6 ± 0.06F 0.71 1.04P 0.447 0.366Spatial Distribution and Temporal PatternsRed-spotted newts, Spotted, Mole, Marbled and Four-toed salamanders were present at allsix of the fenced pools (Figure 36). Zig-zag salamanders were only present in one artificial(Horse/Letson) pool and in two natural (Hiking Trail and Letson Point 3) pools. Red, Green,and Slimy salamanders were present at only one of the fenced pools. Red and Slimysalamanders were captured only at Horse/Letson and Green salamanders were captured onlyat the natural pool Albert Parker 2. Hiking Trail had the most captures at a natural pool, aswell as among all the pools, with 3709 total. Poplar Spring 1 had the most captures of theartificial pools with 2012 total and the least amount of captures occurred at the artificial poolAlbert Man 3.During the first field season, which began on February 2007, most pools had a minimum ofone species observed after the first trap night. Red-spotted Newt were only captured on oneoccasion and that was after the first trap night and Red Salamanders were also only capturedon one occasion. Zig-zag Salamanders were not captured until early March 2007. Additionally,Mole Salamanders were not seen until March at Albert Man 3 and Four-toed Salamanderswere not seen until March at Albert Man 3 or Hiking Trail. Marbled Salamanders were onlyobserved in May at three (Albert Man 3, Poplar Springs 1, and Letson Point 3) of the five54

pools at which they were present. All species, with the exception of those seen on only onedate, were observed in at least one pool until early to mid April. Spotted, Zig-zag, Green, andFour-toed Salamanders were the first species to stop coming into the pools. Marbled andMole salamanders were the only species to persist into May in several pools (Horse Trail 1,Hiking Trail, and Albert Parker 2).Captures by Pool2500Total Captured200015001000500AMMAAMTAPLDOANAENOVIHESCPSRUPLGLAMOP0Artificial Artificial Artificial Natural Natural NaturalAlbert Man 3 Horse/Letson Poplar Spring 1 Albert Parker 2 Hiking Trail Letson Point 3Fenced PoolsFigure 36: Drift fence and minnow trap captures by pool in Jackson County, Alabama. Includes total adult,emergent, and metamorph captures.The second trap season began in October of 2007. Red-spotted Newts and MarbledSalamanders were the only species seen at all but one pool in the month of October (LetsonPoint 2 and Letson Point 3, respectively). Mole Salamanders occurred at Poplar Spring 1during October and proceeded to appear in one pool at a time through the month of Marchas opposed to simultaneously at several pools in a short period of time. Spotted Salamandersappeared in Letson Point 3 in November but did not start moving into any other pools untilJanuary and were not present at Albert Man 3 at all during the second season. Zig-zagsalamanders were observed in two different pools during two different months, November inHiking Trail and April in Letson Point 3. Four-toed salamanders did not move into pools untilJanuary and February and were completely absent from Albert Man 3 and Letson Point 2during the second season. With the exception of Spotted Salamanders, which were last seenin May, all species accounted for in the second season were present in at least one pool untilJuly 2008. Marbled Salamanders persisted in the greatest number of pools for the longestamount of time with individuals being present in three (Albert Man 2, Letson Point 2, andLetson Point 3) out of six pools until June.55

6. Stopover ecology of fall migratory birdsMicroclimateThere were no differences in mean temperatures and relative humidity between the twosites (p > 0.05) (Table 27). However, maximum temperature and maximum relative humiditywere significantly higher in the wetland site (p< 0.05), Temperature and relative humiditydecreased over the season similarly for both sites (Table 28), as expected.Table 27: Results of independent t-test for microclimate variables between two sites within the Walls of JerichoManagement Area, Jackson County, Alabama, 2007.t-test for Equality of MeansT Df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean difference SEMeanTemp -0.226 12 0.825 -0.4898 2.1696MeanRH -1.256 12 0.233 -2.2052 1.7551MinTemp 0.385 12 0.707 1.0000 2.5976MaxTemp -3.372 12 0.006** -6.9029 2.0474MinRH -1.190 12 0.257 -0.1714 0.1440MaxRH -6.811 12 0.000** -7.6714 1.1264Table 28: Mean microclimate and standard error for microclimate characteristics in mixed bottomlandhardwood forests, Walls of Jericho Management Area, Jackson County, AL, 2007.Time Temperature C o Relative Humidity %August Day 20.6 ± 0.6 65.1 ± 2.1August Night 17.9 ± 0.5 73.1 ± 2.5September Day 23.5 ± 0.5 76.1 ± 2.1September Night 21.2 ± 0.4 84.1 ± 2.4October Day 24.2 ± 0.9 80.1 ± 2.7October Night 22.1 ± 0.8 86.7 ± 1.6Microhabitat.Significant differences between the two sites were apparent in four habitat variables:distance to edge (DistEdge_m; p=.024), basal area of Flowering Dogwood (COFL_BA; p=.044),basal area of Boxelder Maple (ACNE_BA; p=.008), and basal area of Honey Locust (GLTR_BA;p=.018). No other habitat variables were statistically different between sites.Habitat/species relationshipsThere was a habitat gradient ranging from open edge habitat to more densely woodedhabitat characterized by greater distance from the edge, greater diversity of tree species andgreater numbers of fruiting shrubs (Figure 37). Indigo Bunting (INBU), Tennessee Warbler(TEWA), Eastern Wood-pewee (EAWP), Common Yellowthroat (COYE), and Rose-breastedGrosbeak (RBGR) were associated with the edge habitat while Wood Thrush (WOTH) andVeery (VEER) were strongly associated with more densely wooded habitat. Other speciesassociated with the densely wooded habitat were Gray-cheeked Thrush (GRCA), Swainson’sThrush (SWTH), Hooded Warbler (HOWA), Ovenbird (OVEN), Red-eyed Vireo (REVI), Kentucky56

Warbler (KEWA), Canada Warbler (CAWA), and Gray Catbird (GRCA). All species on this end ofthe gradient exhibit some degree of frugivory. A second gradient orthogonal to the firstrepresented higher percent canopy cover (%CanCov) and more larger trees (SizeCl3 = canopytrees) to lower percent canopy cover and with smaller dbh trees. A number of speciesstrongly associated with high canopy cover ,includingREVI, EAWP, BAWW, OVEN, KEWA, andCSWA. The only species strongly associated with otherlow canopy cover and smaller treeswas COYE. Magnolia Warbler (MAWA) and “Traill’s” Flycatcher (TRFL) were found near theordination center, indicating their ability to utilize all microhabitats within the study area.In the year-by-year CCAs, bird relationships along habitat gradients were less clear (see Table29). In 2006 (Figure 38), the Monte Carlo simulation significance values were non-significantfor all canonical axes (p=0.382) and for the first canonical axis (p=0.110). Both 2007 and 2008(Figure 38, 40) had significant Monte Carlo simulation significance values for all canonicalaxes (p=0.028 for both), but non-significant values for the first axis (p=0.334 and 0.166,respectively). Visual inspection of the biplots revealed outliers for 2006 and 2007 thatappeared to affect the distribution of the other bird species. Outliers were removed and datawas reanalyzed. For 2006, cumulative percent of explained variance for species data was33.7% for first three axes, and for species-environment relations it was 53.9% for the firstthree axes. For 2007, cumulative percent of explained variance for species data was 37.7% forthe first three axes, and for species-environment relations it was 53.5% for the first threeaxes. The differences in the Monte Carlo simulation tests did not change the significance ofthe p-values.Table 29: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination statistical results. Species and species-habitatrelationship values represent the percent of variance explained by each axis. Total inertia is equal to the totalvalue of the eigenvalues. Monte Carlo Simulation test was significant at

appeared to be strongly associated with Black Walnut, while Tennessee Warbler, EasternWood-pewee, and Indigo Bunting were strongly associated with Boxelder Maple. Ovenbirdappeared to be associated with location dominated by elm and Hackberry. Magnolia Warblerand “Traill’s” Flycatcher were both found in the center of the ordination graph, indicating nostrong preference for any of the habitat types found at the site. White-eyed Vireo and RosebreastedGrosbeak were both found in the periphery. White-eyed Vireo on the opposite endof the ordination center from elm, while Rose-breasted Grosbeak was situated on theopposite end of the ordination center from Eastern Red-cedar. All thrush species and GrayCatbird were found on the Black Walnut – Eastern Red-cedar side of Axis 1, while speciespreferring fields and edge habitat tended toward the opposite end, associating more stronglywith Boxelder.Tree species and sites were plotted in ordination space together to see if bird-treerelationships could be validated. This biplot showed Yellow Poplar to be strongly associatedwith A07 and B04-05; Eastern Red-cedar to be strongly associated with B01, B17, and A05-06;Ash to be most strongly associated with B03; and Hickory, Elms, and Hackberry to beassociated with A08, B08, B10, B12, and B15. All other nets and tree species appeared to beclumped together.Figure 37: Bi-plot based on canonical correspondence analysis of bird species and habitat features in the Walls ofJericho Management Area, Alabama, U.S.A, 2006-2008 data combined.58

Figure 38: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying bird species and habitat relationships(CCA2) in the Walls of Jericho Management Area, Alabama, U.S.A. 2006 data.2007CCA3Figure 39: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying bird species and habitat relationships(CCA3) in the Walls of Jericho Management Area, Alabama, U.S.A. 2007 data.59

2008CCA4Figure 40: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination plot displaying bird species and habitat relationships(CCA4) in the Walls of Jericho Management Area, Alabama, U.S.A. 2008 data.Figure 41: Canonical correspondence analysis ordination 60 plot displaying bird and tree speciesrelationships (CCA5) in the Walls of Jericho Management Area, Alabama, U.S.A. 2006-2008.

7. Aquatic ResourcesData collection began last year, and now it appears that aquatic communities in urbanstreams are not as diverse and abundant as streams in rural areas of northern Alabama. Also,freshwater mussel communities appear to be restricted to streams in the least developedwatersheds sampled to date, primarily in the Bankhead N.F. and in the Paintrook River.Several endangered species of mussels have been found in the Bankhead N.F. to date.Thrust Area III – Soils1. & 2. N processesThe rates of nitrification during day periods 1–7 and 21–28 were preceded by a burst ofmicrobial activity and followed by lower rates as the incubation of the soils proceeded (Figs.57 a, b, c, d, and e). This pattern was consistent with the general hypothesis that incubationperiod affected the nitrification potential of samples, but no significant relationships werefound between the gross nitrification and immobilization rates and the microbialbiomass/activity in the soils. This may be due to displacement of peaks for microbial activityand N transformations. The gross nitrification rate was inversely proportional (p< 0.05, LSD)to the C/N ratio in the multiple regression analysis (Table 30). Since rapid immobilization ofnitrogen in the samples occurred before the nitrification rate reached its maximum, thedependence of immobilization on mineralization was broken up in these samples. In the soilsamples, a time lag of approximately 14 days was observed between the peaks of thenitrification and immobilization rates (Figs. 57 a, b, c, d, and e).In all treatment plots, nitrification potentials were highly significant (p< 0.00, LSD) with thetime at which the samples were taken (expect day 45) but not with the treatment that wasapplied to the system. The correlation of the time after treatments were applied with days ofincubation was negative, but had a positive correlation with C/N ratio (p

the net nitrification rates and the C/N ratio of the forest floor. This information takentogether with the observation that the amount of NH 4 + immobilized far exceeded the amountthat was nitrified suggests that high heterotrophic activity in a forest soil coincides with lownitrification rates, possibly because nitrifiers are poor competitors for NH 4+. However, inpost-treatment and post-post treatment samples, the nitrification rate remained constantand even increased. This supports the idea that heterotrophs assimilate most of the availableNH 4 + when the demand for N is high due to rapid growth and organism recovery aftertreatment application.CONTROLConcentration NH 3 (mg/L)10.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.107 14 21 28 45Days of Incubationpretreatment post treatment postpost treatmentTreatment 3- Burn OnlyConcentration NH 3 (mg/L)10.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.107 14 21 28 45Days of INcubationpretreatment post treatment postpost treatment62

Treatment 4- Thin OnlyConcentration NH 3 (mg/L)10.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.107 14 21 28 45days of incubationpretreatment post treatment postpost treatmentTreatment 6- Burn and 25% ThinConcentration NH 3 (mg/L)10.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.107 14 21 28 45IncubationTreatment 7- Burn and 50% ThinConcentration NH 3 (mg/L)10.90.80.70.60.50.40.30.20.107 14 21 28 45Incubation Timepretreatment post treatment postpost treatmentFigure 42 a-e: Mean potential nitrification rates (mg/Kg soil ) for treatment plots (Treatment 1- control ,Treatment 3- burn only, Treatment 4- 50% thin, Treatment 6- burn with 25% thin, and Treatment 7 - burn with50% thin) after days of incubation. Error bars represent standard error.63

Table 30: Mean nitification rates (mg/Kg soil) of treatment plots in relation to the C/N ratio with respect to incubation timeand time of treatment application. Treatment 1- control, Treatment 3- burn only, Treatment 4- 50% thin, Treatment 6- burnwith 25% thin, and Treatment 7 - burn with 50% thin.PretreatmentTreatment C/N Ratio 7 days 14 days 21 days 28 days 45 days1 20.58 0.41 0.03 0.30 0.16 0.143 19.36 0.71 0.02 0.85 0.71 0.664 17.00 0.19 0.10 0.17 0.29 0.106 17.44 0.64 0.07 0.63 0.38 0.257 22.45 0.61 0.05 0.60 0.40 0.40Post treatmentTreatment C/N Ratio 7 days 14 days 21 days 28 days 45 days1 18.50 0.25 0.05 0.23 0.11 0.093 17.75 0.16 0.08 0.18 0.15 0.124 19.23 0.13 0.10 0.22 0.14 0.096 17.59 0.08 0.06 0.25 0.17 0.137 17.99 0.09 0.03 0.20 0.12 0.09Post-Post treatmentTreatment C/N Ratio 7 days 14 days 21 days 28 days 45 days1 25.44 0.03 0.13 0.07 0.03 0.083 25.38 0.07 0.31 0.08 0.04 0.054 23.26 0.15 0.12 0.25 0.11 0.126 24.95 0.14 0.27 0.17 0.14 0.097 24.55 0.08 0.27 0.10 0.04 0.04The low concentration of NO 3 - found in forest soils has often been attributed to low rates of nitrification.This interpretation is supported by observations of low net nitrification rates during incubation assays ofsoil samples. However, intermittent measurements of gross nitrification suggest a rapid turnover ofsmall NO 3 - pools in forest soils and that the dominant fate of NO 3 - as well as NH 4 + , is immobilized in thesoil organic matter pool. This way, immobilization may prevent nitrogen leakage to ground and surfacewaters.The influence of soil physical characteristics on differences in nitrification between sites is minimal. Thesoil manipulations (sieving, mixing) in the laboratory create more-aerated conditions compared with thefield samples. The interaction of constant temperature and soil manipulation of samples may haveaffected nitrification in laboratory incubations compared to what would have been obtained if sampleshad been taken in situ with the buried bags methods, with similar effects on all soils. Site temperature

did not appear to influence differences in nitrification between sites, because the same magnitudes ofdifferences were found in the samples (Figs. 57 a-e). Results of the laboratory incubations and thecorrelation analyses suggest that nitrification is controlled by ammonification rates in pine/mixed forest.The leaching of mineral and organic N, cations, and P from the forest-floor may stimulate nitrification inthe mineral soil. PO 4 -P has been demonstrated to influence nitrification. Inputs of dissolved organic Nfrom forest-floor leaching may also stimulate ammonification and nitrification.Finally, if sampling-induced disturbance stimulates net N transformations, intact soil cores shouldprovide a closer estimate of in situ rates than bulked sample measurements. However, there is still adegree of disturbance that occurs in the core samples, for example roots are severed and plant uptakeof nutrients cease. These conditions may increase the NH 4 + supply to microorganisms (through adecrease in plant consumption) and cause net nitrification increases that would not be observed in situ,yet would still be lower than found in bulked samples. From this study, the disturbance, regardless oftreatment, affects the rates of both nitrification and mineralization enough to give rise to net negativenitrification rates (mineralization rates higher that nitrification rates). Additionally, potential nitrificationand potential mineralization is more correlated with C/N ratio than treatment or time, meaning thatinformation received from these types of studies is limited at best.Figure 43: Amount of acid hydrolysable organic nitrogen present in soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Errorbars show standard errors.The amount of hydrolysable nitrogen increased in all post-treatment samples and decreased in postposttreatment samples for all treatments plots except those for plots 3 (burn only) and 6 (25% thin andburn) (Figure 44). Although all concentration reanges fell between the mean of 0.57 to 0.93 mg/L therewere no significant differences amoung the treatment plots (p>0.05, HSD). In all soils, hydrolysable N,particularly labile hydrolysable N, increased in the months following fire. It must be taken into accountthat the increase in hydrolysable N was observed mainly in the 0–5 cm layer of the soil and thathydrolysable N is abundant in plant leaves, as well as in some N 2 fixing microorganisms . Thereplenishment of the hydrolysable N may take place mainly by N 2 fixation from the atmosphere or bysoil N cycling through the plants and microorganisms. Nevertheless, during the first year after burning,the N solubilized under strong hydrolytic conditions increased, particularly in soil in which residual Ndecreased and organic N varied little. This suggests that part of the residual N is slowly transformed intohydrolysable N. The residual N is considered to be much more recalcitrant to microbial attack than thehydrolysable N ; therefore, this process can be a consequence of abiotic reactions. The microbial65

transformation of residual N in burned soils cannot be discarded given that it has been shown that the Nresistant to acid hydrolysis from non-burned soils can be biologically transformed.Figure 44: Amount of acid insoluble organic nitrogen present in soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Error barsshow standard errors.The amount of acid insoluble nitrogen is determined from the difference between total soil nitrogen andthe amount of acid hydrolysable acid. Acid insoluble nitrogen is most likely bound tightly to soil clayparticles and held tightly to humic substances such as humic and fulvic acids. This form of nitrogen wasthe lowest of all of the different forms with a mean range of 0.34 to 0.76 mg/L (Figure 45). Although thiswas the lowest concentration of all organic nitrogen forms, it was not significantly different (p>0.05,HSD) from other forms of organic nitrogen.The results are comparable to results previously reported for acid hydrolysates of soil samples.Additional research is needed to provide a more detailed description of the unidentified organicnitrogen compounds.Figure 45: Amount of amino acid nitrogen present in soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Error bars showmean standard errors.66

The concentration of amino acid nitrogen was the highest among all forms of organic nitrogen, with amean range of 1.96 to 2.48 mg/L pre-treatment, 2.24 to 2.35 mg/L post-treatment, and 2.19 to2.37mg/L post-post treatment (Figure 46). Although the numerical value of the amino acid–N increased,which is consistent with the increase in N organisms after treatments were applied, it was not significant(p> 0.05, HSD) when compared to all other organic nitrogen forms. This lack of significance may be tothe fact that the pH of the soil hydrolysate was not low enough for all or even the majority of the aminoacid -NH 3 to be released. The acidity produced by the addition of citric acid did not provide adequateacidity, as would have been provided if another acid such as H 2 SO 4 had been used.The origin and fate of biologically active compounds, such as free amino acids in soils are very complex.They may originate in soils from: i) being leached by biological tissues (plant, animal and microbialremains), ii) being released during the conversion of protein N to NH 3+(proteins → peptides → aminoacids → NH 3 + ) by heterotrophic organisms, or iii) being excreted by plant roots or microorganismspresent. Once amino acids are released in soils, many factors affect their abundance, including synthesisand destruction by various biota, adsorption to clay minerals and reactions with quinines and reducingsugars. In soils, the ratio of N in hydrolysable protein to total soil N (N t ) remains almost constant despiteincreases or decreases in SOM due to different management practices, e.g. manuring and fertilization.However, land management practices often show mixed effects on amino acid distribution andabundance.The predominant amino acids in the solid-phase soil are often those contained in the cell walls ofmicroorganisms, such as alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid. These amino acids are also among thedominant amino acids found in the dissolved organic nitrogen.Figure 46: Amount of ammonia nitrogen present in the soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Error bars showmean standard errors.After treatments were applied, the ammonia content decreased in treatments plots 3 (burn only), 4(thin only) and 6 (burn and 25% thin), but increased in treatment plots 1 (control; 1.77 to 1.79 mg/L) and7 (burn and 50% thin; 1.81 to 2.00 mg/L) (Figure 47). Two years after burning, NH 4 + -N in the surfacelayer of soils followed similar trends within the same groups. In the months following, ammoniumdecreased and, 2 years after fire, NH 4 + -N in the burned soils was similar or slightly lower than in theunburned (control) soils. In the top layer of the burned soils, the decrease in NH 4 + -N was not constant.Samples taken 1 year after fire had values similar or even higher than those in the recently burned soils.From this, time verses treatment had the most significant effect on ammonium-N found in soil (p

HSD). In general, ammonium-N was negatively affected during the first year after burning except in thecontrol and burn and 50% thin treatments.Figure 47: Amount of ammonia-amino sugar nitrogen present in the soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Errorbars show standard errors.The increase in ammonia + amino sugar-N detected immediately after treatments were applied iscommon and is mainly attributed to the chemical mineralization of soil organic matter and to thedeposition of ashes on the soil surface (Figure 47). As with ammonium-N, the significant differenceswere found based on the time that the samples were taken rather than the application of a particulartreatment (p

Figure 48: Amount of amino sugar nitrogen present in the soil after treatments of prescribed burns and thins. Bars showstandard errors.Nitrogen in the hydrophilic fraction generally consists of non-bound proteins and peptides, free aminoacids, nucleic acid bases and amino sugars, along with any of these compounds associated withhydrophilic dissolved organic carbon compounds. The decrease in the amino sugar- N found in soil aftertreatments were applied is in agreement with other researchers who have reported losses of soil N byvolatilization. The variation in soil N in the soil was attributed mainly to the deposition of partiallyburned vegetation on the soil surface. This deposition of burned material can also explain why the lossof organic N was lower in the surface layer, which reaches higher temperatures during the fire, than inthe 5–10 cm layer (Figure 48). A relative enrichment in N due to the loss of important amounts of C, H,and O by heating in form of compounds like H 2 O, CO, CO 2 , CH 4 may have contributed to the increase inorganic N in the soil. There was a continual drop over time in the amount of amino sugar that wasavailable in the soil, however the only statistically significant difference was found among the post-posttreatment samples that were taken. No difference was found within the treatment groups.Soil pH, Total N, Total C, and C/N RatioThere was not a large difference in soil acidity between or within the treatment plots and the time aftertreatments were applied. Total nitrogen concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.25 mg/L. Thus, dissolvedorganic nitrogen was the dominant nitrogen form in the soil, accounting for more than 90% of thenitrogen forms in the soil. The dominance of dissolved organic nitrogen relative to mineral nitrogensuggests that this form of nitrogen may be an important nitrogen source for biota in forest ecosystem.The C/N ratio of virgin soils formed under grass vegetation is normally lower than that for soils formedunder forest vegetation, and for the latter, the C/N ratio of the humus layers is usually higher than thatfor the mineral soil properties. Also the C/N ratio of a well-decomposed muck soil is lower than for afibrous peat. As a general rule, it can be said that conditions which encourage decomposition of organicmatter result in a narrowing of the C/N ratio. The ratio nearly always narrows sharply with depth in theprofile; for certain subsurface soils, C/N ratios lower than 5 are not uncommon.The productivity gradient was fundamentally characterized by substrate availability (increasing Nconcentration and total N content of the profile) and quality (decreasing C/N ratios that reduce Nimmobilization), consistent with a variety of ecosystems. This enhanced N availability reflects theimproved soil moisture regime and related geochemical effects (base cation supply, pH) down slopes oracross landforms that influence key processes such as microbial activity, ion diffusion, disturbance69

severity, rates of N fixation and litter quality. Microbial C/N ratios were quite low, perhaps due to theseason of sampling. The decline in this ratio suggested more humus forms on sites where fungusdominated, shifting to more bacteria biomass in moder humus forms on richer sites. Microbial-N of theprofile was not correlated to nitrogen availability on these sites, which is the opposite of what has beengenerally found, perhaps because mycorrhizal fungi contribute substantial biomass to the soil profileacross all these forest types.There were several correlations found with respect to time and form of organic nitrogen found in thesoil. The time at which the sample was taken (pre-treatment, post-treatment, or post-post treatment)positively correlated with hydrolysable nitrogen, acid insoluble nitrogen, ammonium- amino sugarnitrogen, and carbon: nitrogen ration (p

were both identified. In addition to these groups the genus Roseiflexus, which also has the ability tooxidize ammonium, was also found. Organisms associated with nitrogen fixing such as Rhizobium werealso identified. Again it can be seen the presence of the Creanarchaea genus pre-, post- and post-posttreatment. Although the number of bands excised linked with this organism was lower post-treatmentand post-post treatment the differences was not significant (p>0.05, HSD).The 50% thin and burn in combination plot had the second highest diversity with 14 of the possible 32organisms identified (Figure 53). Of the samples, Nitrosospira, Nitrosococcus, and Roseiflexus werefound. All three have the ability to oxidize ammonia. In addition to the ammonium oxidizing bacteria,the ammonium oxidizing Crenarchaea was also found. Many other interesting species were alsoidentified in the samples including Theromoprotei, Methylomonas, and Cynobacteria. Theromoprotei isa class of Crenarchea, Methylomonas is an organism that gets its energy from methyl groups in theenvironment, and Cynobacteria are a group that are capable of fixing both carbon and nitrogen.As shown, there is not a significant difference between pre-treatment, post-treatment, or post-posttreatment samples (p >0.05, HSD). Between the pre-treatment and post-treatment samples there wereeight organisms in common and three organisms in common between the pre-treatment and post-posttreatment samples. Between the post treatment and post-post treatment samples there were 3organisms in common.In the thin only plot of 15 organisms were identified. Between the pretreatment, post treatment, andpost-post treatment plots there was only one common organism (Flavobacterium and Crenarchaea,respectively). Between the post treatment and post-post treatment organisms there were twoorganisms that were shared, Burkholderia and Cynobacteria. Both of these groups have species that areable to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere.For the burn only plot 25 organisms were identified. Again post treatment samples had the highestdiversity (p

Predominant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria identified in this study are Nitrosospira-like species andRoseiflexus-like spp. Dominate nitrogen-fixing communities were Burkholderia and Cynobacterium.More work should be conducted to identify the species of Burkholderia present as some species can bepathogenic. Interesting genus include Anaerolinea, which is an anaerobic organisms and cannot usenitrates as an electron donor, Xanthomonas (a nitrogen reducer), Thermovibrio (nitrate ammonifier),and Methylomonas, a methyl oxidizer which does not fix nitrogen or oxidize ammonia. All were foundpost-treatment and have the opposite effect of the type of action expected for the treatment that isapplied.In addition to the ammonium oxidizing bacteria a group of ammonium oxidizing archaea, mainlyCrenarchaeota was also found. Initially, the Crenarchaeota were thought to be extremophiles (e.g.,thermophilic and psychrophilic organisms) but recent studies have identified them as the mostabundant archaea in the marine and soil environments. However, Creanarchaeota are now recognizedto be an important fraction of the free-living microbial communities in non-extreme environments. Inaddition, the study of the amoA gene, involved in ammonia oxidation to nitrite, from different terrestrialenvironments has provided about the first step of archaeal nitrification, and points to Creanarchaeota asactive nitrifiers in water and soils.Fire can have various effects on different groups of bacteria in the soil community. The immediateeffect of fire on the soil microbial biomass depends on the intensity and duration of the fire and canrange from complete sterilization to no effect. In this study it was shown that the fire that was appliedto the system did effect the microbial composition of the soil. Numerical changes were apparent in themicrobial communities after treatments were applied, 77 pre-treatment bands were excised comparedto 108 post-treatment, and 81 post-post treatment. Additionally, there were less ammonia oxidizingcommunities present in the post- treated soils, based on band excision and sequence analysis.PLFA (Phospholipid fatty acid analysis)Phospholipid fatty acid analysis, used to estimate the diversity of microbial communities, was useful inmonitoring changes in microbial populations in relation to treatment application and time of sampling.Data are presented in units of percent of total Fatty Acid Methyl Ethers (FAME) within the samples. Theprotocol adapted to the whole soil samples is reproducible; i.e. the standard deviations for twosubsamples taken from well-mixed sample from the treatment plots were very low compared to themean.On average, 5 different FAME’s were detected in each whole soil sample and 199 FAME’s wereidentified in total (Figures 54-56) ) and more than half were detected in the post-post treatmentsamples, indicating that most of the diversity in this study was present as the system recovered overtime. The PLFAs that were identified in these samples were typical of those found in other forest soils,with the highest fatty acid levels being those of saturated fatty acids (predominantly sum in feature 1(13:0 3OH/15:1i); but also including PLFAs with chain lengths of C16 and polyunsaturated fatty acids(predominantly 14:0 Ante ISO and 15:1 ISO G) fatty acids, although fungus typically has a higher diversityand abundance in forest soils they were not studied as they tend to degrade less rapidly than bacteria .The ability to identify many of the PLFAs derived from soils, from all treatments sites and times oftreatments, was very interesting because phospholipids have the tendency to degrade over time andsome soils had been stored for long periods of time (pretreatment samples up to 4 years). Thepossibility of identifying fatty acids again shows that microorganisms have a resiliency over time.Many PLFAs, including 13:0 2OH, 14:0 Ante ISO, i15:1, and 13:0 3OH/15:1 i, were abundant (i.e.represented >60% of total PLFA) in samples. The PLFAs 14:0 Ante ISO, i15:1 was particularly wellrepresented indicating that many organisms show resiliency even after being removed from the native72

environment. These compounds are generally considered bacterial in origin and are found in anaerobicbacteria and Gram-positive bacteria. Since Gram-positive bacteria are usually not abundant in coastalmarine sediments. It can be considered that these compounds are derived primarily from anaerobicbacteria. This view is supported by the prevalence of several additional PLFAs. Among the monosaturatedPLFAs, 15:1 ISO G, 17:1 ISO ANTE, 17:1 w5c and ISO 17:1 w10c were all abundant compounds.All have been observed in bacteria and the -OH branched PLFAs are strongly associated with gramnegativebacteria. Additionally, these branched PLFA are typically abundant in coastal marine sedimentsand is derived from both bacterial and microeukaryotic sources. Of the common and expected soilPLFAs, 16:0 was present at levels

Bands Excised76543210ControlGenuspre post post-postFigure 49: Organisms identified as present from control. Abundance of organisms as relatedto the number of bands excised pre-reatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment.Error bars repersent standard error.Bands Excised86420BurnGenuspre post post-postFigure 50: Organisms identified as present based from burn only plot. Abundance of organisms as related to the number ofbands excised pre-reatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard error.74

Figure 51: Organisms identified as present from 25% thin only plots. Abundance of organisms as related to the number ofbands excised pre-reatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard error.7654321025% Thin- Burnpre post post-postFigure 52: Organisms identified as present from the burn-25% thin only plot. Abundance of organisms as related to thenumber of bands excised pre-reatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard error.75

Figure 53: Organisms identified as present 50% thin only plots. Abundance of organisms as related to the number of bandsexcised pre-reatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard errorControlPrecent weight100908070605040302010011:0 2OH13:0 2OH14:0 ANTEISO14:0 ISO15:1 ISO G15:1 w8c15:1 ANTEISO A16:017:0 ISOISO 17:1 w5cISO 17:1 w10c18:0 3OH15:1 ISO /13:0 3OH16:1 w7c/15i 2OH17:1 ISO I/ANTEI Bunknown 9.531unknown 13.957unknown 14.263unknown 16.582Fatty AcidsPre Post Post-postFigure 54: Fatty acids identified as present from control plots. Percent weight of fatty acids normalized pre-treatment, posttreatment,and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard error.76

Burn OnlyPercent Weight100908070605040302010011:0 2OH13:0 2OH14:0 ANTEISO14:0 ISO15:1 ISO G15:1 w8c15:1 ANTEISO A16:017:0 ISOISO 17:1 w5cISO 17:1 w10c18:0 3OH15:1 ISO /13:0 3OH16:1 w7c/15i 2OH17:1 ISO I/ANTEI Bunknown 9.531unknown 13.957unknown 14.263unknown 16.582Fatty AcidsPre Post Post-postFigure 55: Fatty acids identified as present based from control (6), burn only (7), 25% thin only (8). Percent weight of fattyacids normalized pre-treatment, post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard error.25% ThinPercent Weight100908070605040302010011:0 2OH13:0 2OH14:0 ANTEISO14:0 ISO15:1 ISO G15:1 w8c15:1 ANTEISO A16:017:0 ISOISO 17:1 w5cISO 17:1 w10c18:0 3OH15:1 ISO /13:0 3OH16:1 w7c/15i 2OH17:1 ISO I/ANTEI Bunknown 9.531unknown 13.957unknown 14.263unknown 16.582Fatty AcidsPre Post Post-postFigure 56: Fatty acids identified as present from burn only plots. Percent weight of fatty acids normalized pre-treatment,post-treatment, and post-post treatment. Error bars repersent standard77

Table 31: Composite look at number of organisms that were found in common in the control, thin only, and burn onlytreatments. Number of organisms on the diagonal is the different genus identified pre-treatment, post treatment, and postposttreatment, and those below the diagonal are the number of genus common for that time interval.Control PRT P1 P2 Thin PRT P1 P2 Burn PRT P1 P2PRT 5 PRT 4 PRT 5P1 3 8 P1 1 7 P1 3 11P2 3 3 5 P2 1 2 4 P2 3 7 9While many factors may contribute to the differentiation of soil microbial communities, the decrease inmicrobial ammonia oxidizing populations (such as Nitrosospira spp. and Roseiflexus spp.) is attributed tothe increase in available inorganic resources after fire is applied. Although there were many species ofammonium-oxidizing bacteria identified (Nitrosospira spp., Roseiflexus spp. Nitrosococcus spp.) in thisexperiment, there was another organism that was identified that may contribute to nitrogen turnover inthe soil. Autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) of the β- and γ-subgroups of proteobacteriahave so far been considered the most important contributors to aerobic ammonia oxidation. Theseorganisms usually comprise only a small fraction of the microbiota. Also, genes encoding subunits of apotential ammonia monooxygenase (AMO), the key enzyme of AOB, on a metagenomic soil clonealongside a ribosomal RNA operon of Archaea, affiliated with the phylum Crenarchaeota . The existenceof ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) was ultimately confirmed by sequence alignment which helped toidentify organisms that use ammonia as sole energy source and also produced nitrite in nitrogenconversions.These data provide evidence for high abundance of AOA in soils, and extrapolation suggests that theyrepresent the most abundant ammonia-oxidizing organisms in forest soil. Their high numbers in variousecosystems and at greater soil depths indicate that these organisms are adapted to a broad range ofgrowth conditions and might therefore have a more versatile metabolism than AOB, perhaps being ableto grow over a large range of ecosystems. Although numerically abundant and transcriptionally active, itremains to be shown whether archaea in soil also dominate with respect to their nitrification activities.It will be important to identify the parameters influencing AOA and AOB populations in soils and toquantify and compare their specific activities under varying environmental conditions. If archaeacontribute significantly to nitrification, as their abundance now suggests, estimates of the ecologicalimpact of ammonia oxidation (including greenhouse gas emissions) based on bacterial ammoniaoxidizingactivity will need to be re-assessed.4. Phosphorus FormsResults from the chemical extraction involving NaOH/EDTA, 0.5M NaHCO 3 extractions, and P formsobtained from sequential P extraction are discussed in this section.In general, NaOH/EDTA extractions solubalized more organic P than the NaHCO 3 extracts indicating thepresence of very low amounts of labile organic P in these soils in general (Figure 57a, b). The labileorganic P content varied with burning and logging treatments and a significant reduction in labileorganic P forms relative to the control were observed for all treatments studied.Sequential extraction of P forms were carried out using a previously described method designed toseparate water soluble P, bicarbonate/dithionite extractable P (free Fe-bound P), organic P,polyphosphates and P bound to Al (NaOH extractable P), Ca-bound P (HCl extractable P), and residual P.Amount of P in each fraction is given in Table 46 for soils obtained from selected treatment sites.78

Figure 57: (a) Bicarbonate extractable OP (0-5 cm depth); (b) EDTA/NaOH extractable OP (0-5 cm depth soil)Sequential extraction of P indicates that the largest P pool consists of NaOH extractable P in alltreatments. Significantly lower NaOH extractable P was observed in soils subjected to 3 year burn cycle(no logging) relative to control or logging/burning treatments. Results from this extraction also indicatethat higher percentage of OP is available as stable OP in these soils that is bound to Fe or Al-oxides andmay remain as fixed P unavailable to vegetation.Table 32: Sequential extraction of P formsTreatmentWater-P(mg/kg)Bicarbonate/dithionite P (mg/kg)NaOH-P(mg/kg)HCl-P(mg/kg)Residual-P(mg/kg)Control 1.1 6.98 75.8 2.1 21.2Burning (3 yr cycle) 1.1 7.43 49.1 1.8 20.3Thin & Burning (3 yr cycle) 0.8 8.60 112.1 2.1 18.2Characterization of P forms in soil extracts using 31 P NMR and Development of method for samplepreparation for 31 P NMR analysisThe major limitation of obtaining 31 P NMR of these extracts are having high amounts of paramagneticions (Fe/Mn) in extracts that cause peak broadening and distortion of 31 P NMR spectra. Therefore, wehad to employ pre and post-extraction procedures to remove Fe from the extracts prior to analyzing theextracts using 31 P NMR spectroscopy. The methods developed in this study for post-treatment of theorganic P (OP) extracts for 31 P NMR analysis involves a chelex extraction or a dialysis method (MWCO500) which resulted in removal of significant amount of Fe from extracts thus reducing the paramagneticion interference in 31 P NMR analysis. This allowed us to obtain high quality 31 P NMR spectra. All sampleswere freeze dried and dissolved in 0.5M NaOH for 31 P NMR analysis. Identification of OP compounds insoil extracts were based on using chemical shift assignment references for biological phosphoruscompounds in solution 31 P NMR. Chemical shift assignments for some of the major OP compounds in soilextracts are given as follows: Phosphonates (+20 ppm), phosphate (+5.7 to +6.1 ppm), phosphatemonoesters (+3 to +6 ppm), phosphate diesters (-0.8 to -2.5 ppm), pyrophosphates (-5 ppm),polyphosphates (-19 to -21 ppm)31 P NMR of Bicarbonate and NaOH/EDTA ExtractsThe 31 P NMR spectra of 0.5M Sodium bicarbonate and NaOH/EDTA extracts are shown in Figures 58 and59. The 31 P NMR spectra of these extracts showed some differences in the organic P forms present inbicarbonate and NaOH-EDTA/dithionite extracts. The NaOH/EDTA extracts contained substantiallyhigher fraction of phosphate monoesters and DNA phosphate diesters relative to bicarbonate extracts.79

Thus, it can be assumed that bicarbonate extracts may contain more labile OP forms relative toNaOH/EDTA extracts. Generally, the inorganic P fraction in NaOH/EDTA extracts was lower than theinorganic P fraction in bicarbonate extracts. Pyrophosphate was present in most bicarbonate extracts(Treatments 3, 4, 5, and 6) and polyphosphates are present in the bicarbonate extracts of soils fromTreatments 5 and 7. Some of the 31 P NMR spectra indicative of major P forms present in extracts areshown below.Figure 58: Phosphorus forms in 0.5M sodium bicarbonate extract of control soils (0-5 cm)Figure 59: Phosphorus forms in NaOH/EDTA extract of control soils (0-5 cm)31P NMR Spectra of Phosphorus forms in Sequential ExtractsSpectra for bicarbonate/dithionite, NaOH extract, and HA bound P is given in the following sections. Wewere unable to obtain spectra for water and HCl fractions (Ca-P) due to very low concentrations of Pextracted. The water extractable and HCl extractable P forms were very low in the soils studiedindicating low abundance of water soluble and Ca-bound P in these soils.Bicarbonate/dithionite extractable-PBicarbonate buffered dithionite extraction yields free iron bound P in soils. As shown in NMR spectra,differences can be seen in the ratios of monoester P (+3.5 to +5.0 ppm) and diester P (-0.8 ppm) in thesespectra (Figure 60 a-c). Treatment 6 contains relatively low concentration of monoester-P suggestingtransformation of monoester P fraction to orthophosphate-P due to logging and burning treatments.The actual amount of inorganic P is not reflected in the spectra since some inorganic P is lost during thedialysis process.80

Control (a)Treatment 3 (b)Treatment 6 (c)Figure 60: 31 P NMR Spectra of P forms in bicarbonate/dithionite Extracts: (a) Control; (b) Treatment 3; (c) Treatment 6NaOH extractable PThe NaOH extraction is expected to remove major part of biogenic P including organic P andpolyphosphates along with reactive P bound to aluminum hydroxides. In the NaOH fraction, somechanges can be seen between ratios of different P forms in control and treated soils suggesting possibleP transformation during the burning or burning and logging treatments. The NaOH extractable P mainlyconsists of monoester-P compounds. However, this fraction also consists of other P forms includingphosphonates (+20 ppm) and pyrophosphates (-5 ppm) which was not observed inbicarbonate/dithionite extractable fraction obtained from the sequential extraction processes.Phosphonates and pyrophosphates are more abundant in control soils relative to soils subjected toburning or logging/burning treatments. Higher proportion of pyrophosphates is an indicator of presenceof fungal compounds. In addition, DNA-P is more abundant in control soils relative to treated soilsshowing that treatments may have affected the microbial biomass in these soils.Control (a)Treatment 3 (b)81

Treatment 6 (c)Figure 61: 31 P NMR of P forms in NaOH extract : (a) Controll; (b) Treatment 3; (c) Treatment 6Humic Acid bound PPhosphorous associated with humic acid (HA) was separated by acidifying the NaOH extract with 2Msulfuric acid. 31 P NMR of HA fractions are shown in Figure 62 (a-c). Similar to other fractions, monoesterP predominates in all HA fractions. However, control and Treatment 6 spectra shows that bothmonoester and diester-P forms are relatively high in these fractions compared to Treatment 3. Asignificant decrease in diester P can be observed in humic acid fraction of soils subjected burningtreatment alone. Control and Treatment 6 also contains peaks that corresponds to phosphonates (+20ppm) and minor amounts of pyrophosphates (-5 ppm) which are only present in minor amounts in soilssubjected burning treatment alone.Control (a)Treatment 3 (b)Treatment 6 (c)Figure 62: 31P NMR Spectra of Humic Acid Forms: (a) Control; (b) Treatment 3; (c) Treatment 6Generally, most predominant form of organic P in soils consists of monoesters which may form relativelyinsoluble complexes with metal ions such as Fe and Al, and are thus, considered as somewhat resistantto degradation. Diester phosphates (nucleic acids, phospholipids) are of relatively low abundance in soilsand have been categorized as chemically labile forms of organic P in soils that are often subjected tomicrobial and enzyme attack relative to monoester P (inositol phosphates, sugar phosphates). In some82

instance, the ratio of diester: monoester P is used as a measure of amount of labile organic P present insoil.In conclusion we can suggest that burning and logging have some effect on changing the percent Pforms in soil. The main observation is that the dominant OP form in these soils is monoester-P whichcomprises mainly of inositol phosphates and minor amounts of sugar phosphates, phospho-proteins,and mononucleotides. Relatively high concentration of monoester P forms present in control soilsrelative to treated soils suggests the possibility of fire-induced transformation of some of the monoesterforms to orthophosphates.Most prominent form of diester P observed in the soils studied was from DNA-P. Diester P forms thatmainly consist of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), phospholipids, and teichioic acids are considered to beincorporated into soils from plants and microbes. Previous studies indicate that changes in diester P isan indicator of changes in microbial P forms where decrease in DNA-P may attribute to decrease ofmicrobial biomass by burning or decrease of plant residue present in soil. In our study a decrease inDNA-P was observed in soils subjected to burning or burning and logging treatments relative to controlsoils indicating the possibility of changes in microbial biomass in treated soils or due to decrease of plantresidues in soils during burning process. The NMR results also indicate decrease in pyrophosphates intreated soils which is an indicative of changes in fungal compounds as affected by logging and burningtreatments.5. MineralogyOur mineralogy data shows that kaolinite, halloysite, vermiculite-hydroxy-interlayered vermiculites, andquartz are common components of soils of the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. Kaolinite wasidentified in the Mg- and K-saturated clays by XRD peaks of 7.2 and 3.58 Å. When k-saturated sampleswere heated to 500 ºC, the 001 reflection of kaolinite disappeared but the 10 Å Halloysite peakcollapsed to 7.2 Å. Vermiculites first order peak at 14.2 Å in K-saturated samples collapsed and shifted to10.2 Å when heated at 500 ºC. Quartz was identified with the 3.34 Å peak (Figure 63).Vermiculite, kaolinte, and quartz were identified in both the unburned and the burned soils.Vermiculites in the unburned soil appeared to maintain its structural integrity with a sharp peak at 14.2Å. Absence of a peak at between 10-14 Å in K-saturated samples suggest that there was no collapse orshift in vermiculite d-spacing in the unburned soil.In the burned soils, K-saturated soil samples (at 25 ºC) showed the presence of vermiculites (14.2 Å),that may have partially collapsed, and shifted to 10.1 Å d-spacing. Very strong peaks at 7.2 Å in K-saturated samples at 500 ºC suggests that halloysite was present in dehydrated form and remainedcollapsed in the burned soils. Thus the clay fraction of the burned soil showed a 10.1 Å XRD peakprobably because the interlayered-hydroxy vermiculite collapsed during burning. Burning may also haveinduced dehydration of halloysite in the surface horizon of the soils.On further analyses of samples from other sites, other less well identified peaks at 22.5, 7.92 Å, weresuspected to be reflections of a mica-vermiculite-layered mineral (hydrobiotite), a weathering productof mica (Figure 64).Pre-burn soil samples showed 9º 2Ө (10.17Å) peaks that were absent in the x-ray patterns of the postburnsamples. It is not clear which mineral that the peak reflects or how burning resulted in the peaks(Figure 64).We hypothesize that relative K depletion could be accelerating the interlayer K replacement of biotite byother exchangeable cations such as Ca to form vermiculites, mica-vermiculites, and possibly smectites,resulting in the complex mineralogy of the soils.83

Current elemental data (presented elsewhere) indicated that the post-burned soils showed no Kincrease but significant Ca increases due to the prescribed burning. Low activity of K in the soils could bea factor accelerating the transformation of mica minerals to hydrobiotite and further tovermiculites/smectites.Intensity (counts)3600Clay mineralogy of soils of the BNF prior to and after presecibed-burningUnburned Soil14.2 A 10.0 A7.2 ATreatment 2 Soil O/A (0-5 cm)Treatment 2 Soil O/A (0-26 cm)3.57 A 3.34 AMgK 25 C1600K 350 CK 500 C400Burned SoilTreatment Treatment 2 Soil 2 O/A (0-12 (0-5 cm)cm)K 25 CK 350 CK 500 C04 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 302Theta (°)Figure 63: XRD patterns of prescribed burned and unburned soils at the Treatment SitesComparing Pre- and Post-Burned Soil Samples (10-20 cm)Intensity (counts)64000049000027.52722.31515.72314.21911.56110.1617.9147.137Pre-Burn3.5743.341360000250000160000Mg SatMg-EGK25 CK300 C5.2564.9494.7094.4714.2483.9573.6973.2512.8532.7112.6392.5692.4562.3832.3342.285900004000010000K550 KMg SatMg-EGK25 CK300 CK550 CPost-Burn4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 382Theta (°)Figure 64: XRD patterns of prescribed burned and unburned soils at the Treatment Sites84

6. Total C and NPrescribed burning and thinning impacts on soil nutrient pools appeared to be highly variable anddepended strongly on spatial variability of soils and forest floor, inputs of logging slash, climaticconditions and fire intensity.Prescribed burning alone led to significant increases in total C and N contents in soil surface horizons.Burning alone also resulted in changes in exchangeable Na pools and significant increases in pH valuesthroughout the study sites (Figures 65 and 66).Prescribed thinning alone did not appear to impact total C and total N concentrations, soil acidity andexchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations. It caused significant increases in Na and decreases in Kconcentrations. Future reduction in soil carbon and exchangeable cation contents, as well as decreasesin pH, is expected as these forest systems recover from the effects of logging (Figures 68 and 69).Combination of prescribed thinning and burning did not result in significant changes in total C and Npools transformations. However, significant increases in K and Na concentrations and decreases in pHwere observed in these sites (Figures 65 and 66).7. Trace MetalsIn the Control sites, there was no clear trend about the vertical distribution of the trace metals in thesoil profile, but the metals generally tended to decrease with depth. The levels of the trace metals in theuntreated soils were within the range previously reported for forest soils. The distribution of the metalsin the sites prior to treatments was highly variable in concentrations, and according to the differentelements, but indicated a general trend of higher concentrations below the soil surface. Arsenic inparticular exhibited sharp decreases in soil surface concentration with depth in the Control Soils, butshowed very sharp increases in concentrations with soil depth in the pretreatment soil samples.There were significant differences in the concentration of As, Pb, and Ni in the pretreatment and posttreatment samples that suggest a major loading of the trace metals at the research sites probably due toorganic matter combustion and ash addition during the fire that possibly contained trace metals thatwere redistributed in the soil profile. Trace metal enrichment calculations, based on the assumption thatthe Control (No-Burning, and No-Thinning) soil contained the background concentrations of the metals,showed the degree of enrichment of the treated soils is in the order of Burn-only > Thin-only > Burn andThin sites (Figure 67). These observations suggest that trace metal dynamics at the sites depended onthe management practices as well as the vegetation biogeochemical cycling patterns.85

Figure 65: Mean total C concentration distributions (g kg–1) with depth in soils of study sites located in BankheadNational Forest, AL. Values represent the means of eight sample replicates (B, T50B, and T75B) or four sample replicates(R, T50, and T75). Error b86

Figure 66: Mean total N concentration distributions (g kg–1) with depth in soils of study sites located in BankheadNational Forest, AL. Values represent the means of eight sample replicates (B, T50B, and T75B) or four sample replicates(R, T50, and T75). Error b87

Burned-Only-SiteEnrichment FactorThinned-only SoilEnrichment Factor010200 2 4 6 8 10AsZnPb010200 2 4 6 8 10AsZnDepth (cm)3040CuNiDepth(cm)3040PbCuNi50506060Burned and Thinned SoilEnrichment Factor0 2 4 6 8 10010Depth(cm)203040AsZnPbCuFigure 67: Metal Enrichment of a) Burn-Only Site, b)Thinned-Only Site, and c) Burned and Thinned Site50Ni60Thrust Area IV – Molecular1. PCROf the 30 SSRs, 15 transferred successfully to Northern Red Oak, Shumard Oak and Black Oak. The 15SSRs were highly polymorphic with 6- 21 alleles per locus (mean A=13.8). Effective number of alleles perlocus averaged 7.2. Each species had up to 8.9 alleles per locus (mean Na= 7.5), of which up to 5.5 wereeffective alleles (mean Ne=3.7). High level of polymorphism was reflected in the observed and expectedheterozygosity in each species (mean Ho= 0.75; mean He=0.85)88

Figure 68: Screening of SSR primer 0E09 derived from northern red oak genomic sequences for their ablity toamplify northern red oak, black oak and shumard oak templates.2. Molecular fingerprintsThe results of screening the SSR primers developed from northern red oak in 4 other species revealedthat most of the primer pairs produced amplification products of the expected size in the majority of thespecies tested. In 10 out of the 30 primers all species had amplification products of the expected sizefrom the locations. There was a case where 5 primer pairs did not amplify on any of the species and waseliminated from further studies. Since 25 samples per species were tested, information about the levelof polymorphism was assessed. The amplified products were separated using polyacrylamide (6%) gelelectrophoresis (PAGE) and visualized by ethidium bromide to determine polymorphism (Figure 69).Polymorphism information content (PIC) provided an estimate of the discriminatory power of the locus.The marker profiles of different SSRs on different species were analyzed using cluster analysis to reveal aphylogenetic relationship with the help of the Genetic Data Analysis software.1000 bp500 bp200 bpFigure 69: Screened SSR primers for polymorphism using 6% PAGEWe examined cross-species amplification within the SSRs developed based on the northern red oakgenome. 24 of the 47 SSRs transferred from northern red oak to 2 or 3 of the 4 other species. 18 lociamplified successfully in all 4 species. These rates of successful transfer are conservative compared toother reports for these and related species. Our findings showed that 51% of the Q. rubra SSRstransferred to Q. falcata, Q. coccinea, and Q. velutina which were slightly higher than the 47% (8 of 17)transfer rate reported by Steinkellner et al. (1997) for Q. petraea SSRs amplified in Q. rubra. The PIC89

values for SSR loci ranged from 0.78 to 0.35 with a mean of 0.58. Based upon data observed in thisstudy, it was determined that the primers that amplified well outside of Q. rubra also revealed highlevels of genetic variation. All loci were variable in Q. rubra, and those that amplified in Q. falcata, Q.coccinea, and Q. velutina were also variable. The overall success rate of amplification across the red oakspecies was high.The 18 microsatellite loci used in this study were highly polymorphic. The total amount of geneticvariation for the whole population was high. In individual species, the mean observed number of allelesper locus varied from 6.4 to 14.9, with a mean of 10.2. Each species had up to 15 alleles per locus (meanNa= 10.2; Table 33). The high level of polymorphism was reflected in the observed and expectedheterozygosity in each species (mean Ho= 0.71; mean He= 0.75; Table 33). The mean Fis of 0.03indicates an overall non-excess of homozygosity within species compared with that expected underrandom mating.Table 33: Genetic diversity for species based on 7 primer loci.3. Intra- and inter-specific gene flowA panel of 23 SCARs was used to check whether the primer sets were easy to score and to comparereproducibility between the red oak species. Five samples per species were tested to evaluateinformation about the level of polymorphism. The results of testing SCAR primers developed fornorthern red in three other red oak species of genus Quercus revealed that most of the primer pairs didnot produced amplification products of the expected size in the majority of the species tested.The effectiveness of SCAR markers in terms of their cross-amplification in four red oak species wastested (Figure 70). Of the 23 SCAR primers, 7 yielded band amplification across 2 or more red oakspecies. The amplified products of the 4 SCARs were first separated on an agarose gel and visualizedwith ethidium bromide, and then those products were sequenced to detect any variation within thesequences of the species. Bioinformatics was used to analyze and interpret the genetic data produced.Of the 7 SCAR primers, 4 primers (A1-500, I74-400, F14-700 and I14-780) amplified different alleles in 2or more of the red oak species. The amplified bands produced predictable banding patterns acrossmultiple reactions. The number of bands per primer ranges from 1-6, with an average of approximately3 per primer. There were a total of 13 polymorphic bands in the 20 samples. Variation was low in thesouthern red oak individuals, where only 4 of the total 13 bands appeared in southern red oak. Three ofthe SCAR loci were polymorphic; A1-500 was the only monomorphic primer.90

F14-700 Black OakM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24F14-700 Scarlet OakM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Figure 70: Screening of SCAR primer pairs derived from northern red oak genomic sequences for their ability to amplify inblack oak, and scarlet oak. The PCR products were electrophoresed using a 1% agarose gel with primer F14-700.These markers established a panel of DNA markers to assess the diversity of the red oak species. Basedon microsatellite analysis, there is a close relationship between the northern red oak and the black oak.The tree indicates that the northern red oak and black oak may be homologous to that of the southernred oak species (Figure 71). With the information gathered thus far, the markers on the panel werefluorescently labeled and capillary electrophoresis was performed to verify the PAGE system. Thistechnique has aided in the detection of genetic variation between the species.Figure 71: Unweighted pair group method arithmetic average phenogram based on Nei's genetic distances.In summary the genetic diversity statistics at the population level showed that expected heterozygosity(He) ranged from 0.78 in Jack Gap to 0.91 in Bear Den Point. The genetic diversity statistics at thespecies level showed that expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.52 in Shumard Oak to 0.99 in91

Northern Red Oak. The genetic diversity statistics at the population level showed that expectedheterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.78 in Jack Gap to 0.91 in Bear Den Point. The genetic diversitystatistics at the species level showed that expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.52 in ShumardOak to 0.99 in Northern Red Oak. The population of Red Oak in Northern Alabama are geneticallydiverse. The SSRs markers revealed genetic relationships among the species that correlated well withthe geographic location. DNA markers play a role in constructing a useful species classification, as well asproviding important baseline information for gene pool management. The future direction of thisproject is to incorporate the genetic data with the ecological aspects. ArcGIS 8.1 will be used todetermine the area of each red oak population and to measure the pairwise geographical distancesbetween the populations within the stands. The spatial extent of each population will be determinedwith a digital elevation model using areas within the Southern Cumberland Plateau Assessment’s forestdata layer. Also the sequencing of the SCAR primers will be done in order to determine the extent of thevariation within each species of red oak. The objective is to see if the sequencing information willsupport the microsatellite data analysisThrust Area V – Human DimensionsProject Description:The overall goal of this thrust area was to examine the relationships between forestland owners andstakeholders and how they influence or respond to disturbances of the ecosystem. Initially, the researchfocused on two regions (Southern Cumberland Plateau and the Western Black Belt) with five objectivesin mind: linking human disturbances in the ecosystem with changes in the land use and land cover,projecting the impact of human disturbances on the ecosystem, evaluating the evolving relationshipbetween stakeholders in the region, and evaluating the ecological and economic impacts of forest-basedactivities. The relevancy and importance of this thrust area was the integration of our understanding ofhow individual and group behaviors impact changes in the landscape, by focusing on how the land coverand the social systems are being influenced by human disturbances in the forest. This thrust areademonstrated the University‘s and CFEA‘s mission to develop socially engaged research, relevant to thecommunities we serve. A number of synergies with the other thrust areas were integral to theaccomplishments of this Thrust Area.The long term research goal of Thrust area V – Human Dimension was to determine efficacy of usingremotely sensed data, GIS technology, and interviews in understanding how forestland stakeholdersinfluence or respond to disturbances of the ecosystems with the following five specific objectives.1. GeodatabaseDr. Tadesse and Dawn Lemke established and maintained a dynamic digital database for forestecosystems capable of incorporating current and future satellite imagery, GIS maps, Population andIndustry Censuses, and GPS information on field experiments and other remotely sensed bio-physicaldata. Under this objective, vector and raster digital data for BNF have been acquired. These imagerieswere made available for use from another project. The Landsat imagery archives were searched forsuitable imagery from mid 1970’s to 2005. Bankhead National Forest boundary and Sipsey watershedoverlayed on 2003 Landsat ETM+ satellite imagery. Time series socioeconomic maps for socioeconomic(income, employment, education, inequality, population change) and community capitals (e.g.infrastructure, natural, political, social, cultural, etc.) of eight black belt counties were created using U.S.Census data of 1980, 1990, and 2000, National Historic GIS data and Economic Census of 1980, 1990 and2000. These data were utilized to prepare three papers (1) change in human well-being index, (2)Income convergence, and (3) distribution of community capitals in the Black Belt region of Alabama.92

Three different geodatabase sets were developed for use in this study: Blackbelt, Cumberland, andBankhead National Forest. The Cumberland and Bankhead overlap spatially while the Bankheadgeodatabase contained greater detail. Data from this objective was related to findings in all otherHuman Dimension objectives and many findings of the other thrust areas.2. Disturbance and land use changeDr. Chen developed a method in quantifying impacts of land ownerships on forest NormalizedDifference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dynamics at the Bankhead National Forest. By using satellite imagedata of three adjacent forested areas with same forest type but different proportions of private land atthe Bankhead National Forest (forested area a, b, and c is covered by 6%, 20% and 55% of private land,respectively). The results indicated that higher proportion of private land (e.g., 55%) among public landcan decrease annual mean NDVI values, coefficient of variance, seasonal maximum NDVI values andabsolute value of rate of NDVI increase/ rate of decrease, but increase seasonal minimum NDVI. Thespatial synchrony of NDVI dynamics is interrupted by increasing percentage of private land. Theimplication of our results is that a higher proportion of private forest land could affect the regionalforest NDVI dynamics in complex and ecologically significant ways. Maintaining proper proportion ofprivate forest land at regional level could optimize ecological functions of forests. This manuscript is inreview by Forest Economics and Policy.Dr. Tadesse and other Co‐PIs of CFEA had extended this objective to consider the impact of humandisturbance on the invasion of non native plants. Preliminary findings were presented by Dawn Lemke atthe North American Weed Society meeting. The USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis dataon non native species showed some strong correlation with digitally derived environmental variables.Models for Japanese Honeysuckle were developed using regression techniques. Variables used includedtemperature, rivers, elevation, slope, land use and vegetation indices. These findings come from theinvasive plant work for the Cumberland Plateau and mountain region. Of the 28 variables used indevelopment of the models only 10 were used in any of the final models. Elevation, minimumtemperature, main road distance, and slope were used in both final models. Overall, the elevation hadthe greatest impact on the models, not only being selected in all models but also being the dominantvariable (in MaxEnt a direct measure of variable contribution is given, for logistic regression theproportion of the equation dominated by elevation can be calculated). Elevation influencestemperature, rainfall, and soils in the region and these have been shown to be a controlling factor formany species worldwide. The prevalence of elevation in these models shows its value in any predictmodel. MaxEnt and logistic regression had very similar kappa and AUC, however, MaxEnt had a loweromission rate and the logistic regression had a much smaller area of occurrence.One of the objectives of this work was to assess the value of remotely sensed data in modeling invasiveplants. Remote sensing has been identified as an emerging tool for biodiversity science andconservation, however, in this work, introduction of remotely sensed medium resolution data had littlevalue in the overall model developments. The variables derived from remotely sensed mediumresolution data did not add much value to the models, with logistic regression Landsat sub-model beinglittle better than a random Logistic regression model with a kappa of 0.14. MaxEnt Landsat sub-modelwas a little better with a kappa of 0.39. In both cases the NDVI for 1990 and 2000 were selected for theLandsat sub-models, suggesting that traditional NDVI may be more relevant to the model than the morerecent DI. Given the complexity in calculating DI, this is valuable information. None of the best modelsused Landsat variables. Given the size of the study area (59,000 square kilometers) it was not viable touse any finer resolution remotely sensed data, which is a limitation of current computer processingpower.93

3. Human disturbanceMost of the findings under this objective come from research completed by Dr. Gyawali (Alabama’sBlackBelt region) as part of his doctoral research and Nevia Brown, as MS thesis at BNF.Dr. Gyawali’s PhD dissertation explored this objective by assessing disturbances as changes in theindicators of demographic, socioeconomic, and land cover types. Blackbelt geodatabase described underobjective one was used. Dr. Gyawali completed his dissertation in Fall 2007 and published two scientificpapers in peer-reviewed journals; one paper is accepted for publication in a scientific journal. Two oralpresentations and one poster have also been made available online for public access. Dr. Gyawali iscurrently a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Agribusiness where he teachesagribusiness related courses and is actively pursuing research in his discipline area.This is the brief highlights of what was found in the Black-belt Region based on the preliminary analysisin 2005-2006 of 1980 and 2000 data. The ecosystems in the study area had undergone major changesbetween 1980 and 2000(Figure 77, 78 and Table 34). There had been significant conversion of pasturesto other land uses such as pine plantations and urbanized spaces, as well as the reversion of some areasto hardwood forests. At the same time, hardwood forests were replacing some pine stands and mixedforests. Pine plantations were replacing mixed forests, which were declining over the region.Urbanization was occurring at a rapid pace as some forest and cultivated ecosystems were beingdeveloped into residential and industrial spaces. Inland water systems were increasing as more andmore fish ponds became evident over the landscape. Cropland areas were increasing and moreconcentrated in some areas. Finally, transitional lands were decreasing as clear-cuts have grown intoforests, planted into pines, or developed into urbanized spaces.Human Well-Being Indexes had increased on average across the region. There had been significantimprovements in incomes, employment & education across the CBGs with some areas seeing largepositive changes. However, there was a widening gap between the 'haves' and 'have-nots'. In 51 CBGsthe Human Well-Being Index declined between 1980 and 2000. The range of Human Well-Being Indexwas wider (minimum lower and maximum higher) in 2000 than in 1980 and there seems to be somespatial pattern developing with areas in and around Demopolis (Marengo County) doing exceedinglywell while some areas in next door Sumter and Wilcox Counties were in deep decline. Human Well-Being Index changes were highly correlated with the racial composition of the CBG. There was evidenceof significant segregation of the region with increasing concentration of ethnicities in the CBGs. Adisturbing aspect of these changes is the greater level of decline in predominantly African-AmericanCBGs as against the higher level of well-being in communities that are becoming increasingly majority,white populations. These results point to the development of pockets of wealth and higher well-being inlandscape marked by poverty and lower well-being. These results also identified areas of significantgrowth and decline.A regression model was used to understand the impact of disturbances (socioeconomic and land coverchanges) on the socioeconomic development of the region, specifically the relationship between humanwell‐being and land cover change between 1980 and 2000 in Black Belt region.There was a significant relationship between changes in human well‐being and land cover types in thestudy region. However, the relationship was constrained by the initial socioeconomic, well‐being, andland cover type conditions. These results suggested that Census Block Groups (CBGs) in the study areawith socioeconomic and land cover disturbances such as growth in populations of African‐Americansand dependents, and increased agricultural and manufacturing firms, mixed forests, and croplandsexperienced a decline in the human well-being index over the twenty‐year period. On the other hand,the results indicated an increase in the human well‐being index in the areas that experienced increased94

income inequality, manufacturing jobs, hardwood forests, and inland water areas. These relationshipsoccurred where there were a lower percentage of African Americans, agricultural farms and mixedforests, and low human well‐being index in 1980. The results indicated that changes in humanwell‐being over the twenty‐year period was not robustly affected by endogenous disturbances such aschanges in local land cover types alone as expected by policy makers and researchers in the studyregion. The dynamics of the racial population, income distribution, family and industry structures as wellas policies of the county‐level agencies are equally important in enhancing human well‐being.Figure 72: Land Cover Types Showing Seven Classes in 1980 and 2000.Table 34:The percentage for 1980, 2000, and change are computed using the area covered by each land cover types in thestudy region and total area of the study region.2000 ChangeArea% Area %(20 years)%(000 ac)(000 ac)Developed land 72.73 1.74 175.85 4.20 141.80Water 95.39 2.28 147.32 3.52 54.43Pasture land 348.95 8.33 515.78 12.31 47.81Deciduous 1472.62 35.17 1694.34 40.43 15.06Evergreen 602.20 14.38 911.88 21.76 51.43Mixed Forests 692.95 16.55 364.96 8.71 -47.33Cropland 901.81 21.54 380.18 9.07 -57.84Total Forests 2767.77 66.11 2971.18 70.91 7.35Total Agriculture 1250.77 29.88 895.96 21.38 -28.37Total Forests = Deciduous + Evergreen + Mixed, Total Agriculture = Cropland + Pasture95

Deciduous17%12%Developed7%8%27%9%Cropland31%21% 15%7%Evergreen31%15%Water16%6%30% 20%Pasture9%40%MixedforestPastureWater12%Deciduous13%20% Conversion < 5% are not shown. Bolded arrows shows =>20%Figure 73: Major Land Cover Conversions from 1980 to 2000These findings are a result of further efforts completed by Dr. Gyawali who developed two regressionmodels to understand socioeconomic development of the region, i.e.: (1) the relationship betweenhuman well‐being and different forms of community capital and (2) the relationship between incomeconvergence over time and the factors that conditioned income growth in the study region. There was asignificant relationship between human well‐being and community capitals and the results suggested asignificant relationship between human well‐being and a major form of community capital, socialcapital. However, this relationship was conditioned by socioeconomic and spatial factors. The resultssuggest that the increasing amount of social capital – such as social networks, social and cultural clubs,farmers’ associations, and non‐government organizations ‐ have had positive effects on the humanwell‐being index of the study region. The study also found significant neighborhood or clustering effectson human well‐being.Forest growth trends were not evenly distributed and did not show a consistent pattern in all areaswithin the west-central Black Belt region of Alabama. The classification maps showed that forest growthoccurred in certain geographic areas (such as in and around industrial or corporate lands, outskirt ofmajor highways, industrial zones, etc). Such unique patterns of resource concentration or expansionmay be a reason for a lack of perfect or linear relationship with the human well-being.Nevia Brown explored the relationship between the forest cover and people in and around theBankhead National Forest. Human well-being in the area had increased from 1990 to 2000 especially inincome and education. There were significant changes in land cover in developed lands, hardwoods, andmixed forest. The data showed a significant correlation between changes in human well-being anddeveloped lands, mixed forest, and hardwoods forest land covers types as well as changes in the mixedforest land cover for the study area. There was a small but weak relationship showing that 17% of thechange in human well-being is explained by the model but only 3% was explained by land cover. This96

esult was not expected because several of the counties within the study rely on forest resources. Thefact that only 17% of the overall change in well-being of the study area is dependent upon the change inland cover could explain the low level of participation in forest management issues.4. StakeholdersIn 2004-2005, Drs. Fraser and Naka collaborated with Ms. Mary Lou Addor of the North CarolinaExtension Service on developing the questionnaire to be completed by a representative sample of thestakeholders in the BNF and the Black-Belt regions. A list of names and addresses of people involved inforestry sector in and around the forest was compiled. Census of Manufacturers, Employment Statistics,Alabama Forestry Commission Data, Yellow Pages Directories for the Counties, Local and RegionalEconomic Development Lists Chamber of Commerce listings as well as snowball survey techniques wereused to identify and locate the people, businesses and industries involved in the forestry sector in theregions. Efforts were initiated in digitizing landowner maps, census data and other bio-physical maps,which were supplemented by interviews and surveys of the forest industry, private landowners, andpeople directly or indirectly involved in the forest-based economy. Recreation providers, hunting andfishing supply stores, loggers, sawmills, secondary wood manufacturing facilities, non-timber productsharvesters, forest crafts people etc. were identified. Nevia Brown used these data and survey for herthesis.Nevia Brown divided her study of the Bankhead Forest region into two main objectives. The firstobjective was to explore the relationship between the USDA Forest Service and the surrounding public.The second objective was to utilize five theories to understand trust. To help understand the firstsection, demographic and socio‐economic data were analyzed, specifically to help understand theparticipants’ human well‐being within the study area. Information about population trends, income,employment, and education between 1990 and 2000 was obtained. The analysis indicated thatpopulation, education and poverty levels had improved in the area, which had become more diverse,but available employment had declined. Computing and evaluating well‐being in done by creatingindexes. The Human Well‐Being Index for each CBG was computed and analyzed. The average HWBIincreased 7 points overall from an average of 0.38 to 0.45. However, some CBGs experienced as much asa 28 point decline while others experienced as much as a 23 point improvement. Education, income, andemployment increased. Education increased by 4 points; income by 7 points; and employment by 12points. Improvements in education, income, and employment contributed to the improvement in wellbeing.However, the drastic declines in employment (by as much as 75 points) in some CBGs indicatedthat all was not well across the area.Nevia Brown’s (MS student) preliminary analysis in 2007-2008 indicated that interpersonal trust wassignificantly and positively correlated with the rational choice theory (.322, p

What is the relationship between the forest cover and people in and around the Bankhead NationalForest?Findings: Human well-being in the area had increased from 1990 to 2000 especially in income andeducation. There were significant changes in land cover in developed lands, hardwoods, and mixedforest. The data showed a significant correlation between changes in human well-being and developedlands, mixed forest, and hardwoods forest land covers types as well as changes in the mixed forest landcover for the study area. There was a small but weak relationship showing that 17% of the change inhuman well-being is explained by the model but only 3% was explained by land cover. This result wasnot expected because several of the counties within the study rely on forest resources. The fact thatonly 17% of the overall change in well-being of the study area is dependent upon the change in landcover could explain the low level of participation in forest management issues.What are the public’s perceptions of the USDA Forest Service and their implementation of the BankheadForest Health and Restoration Initiative?Findings: BNF respondents had a low perception of the Forest Service and the FHRI implementationbecause the respondents felt the forest managers did not address all of the BNF issues. They wereuncertain about the forest managers’ commitment to addressing their issues and incorporating theirgoals during plan implementation. Respondents also feared that allowing government interventionwould take away the public’s essential liberties and freedoms. For most of the respondents, their landand the forest had intrinsic values that could not be replaced and damaging either of them would makerespondents feel robbed of their freedom to own land, and enjoy the national forest. Overall thereseem to be general satisfaction with what is being done with the FHRI, faith that the FHRI would beimplemented with the public goals in mind, and the public interest will be included in futuremanagement. This result suggests that even though respondents have uncertainty about whether or nottheir issues are included, there is some faith in the decision making process.Bankhead respondents were willing to accept the BLP as representative because of their perception ofthe BLP. More than half of the BNF respondents agreed that if the procedures were fair and if the ideaof the community were included they could support decisions. The social psychology theory ofprocedural fairness explains why being fair and considerate of others in the groups helped to develop apositive perception of the BLP and BLP’s decision making process. Rational choice theory explains whytrustworthiness, i.e. proof of past positive outcomes and willingness to compromise, also explains thispositive perception. This was borne out in conversations with several of the respondents who said thatalthough they knew very little about the BLP and their actions on the forest, the fact that nothingnegative about the group had surfaced in the media, was enough evidence for them to have a positiveperception about the BLP. This proves that respondents don’t necessary have to agree with all of thedecisions the forest mangers make to have a high perception of them, but respondents have to witnessthat promises are honored. Although the perception of the BLP by Bankhead respondents was high,many respondents also felt like there was too much influence by certain interest groups, and questionedthe BLPs effectiveness in communicating changes about forest decisions.How representative is the Bankhead Liaison Panel of the community?Findings: A Comparison of BNF and BLP respondents based on participation and commitment indicatedthat BLP respondents were more likely than BNF respondents to consider themselves as participants inthe BLP, and identified that their welfare was dependent on the FHRI process. This result can beconnected to their higher level of education, and greater involvement in formal groups. This strongdelegation of trust was expressed by several of the BLP respondents who said that their feeling about98

the importance of environmental conservation was obtained by reading about participation ofcommunity and environmental organizations in ecological intervention.A comparison between BLP and BNF attitudes and beliefs found BLP respondents placed a higher valueon government regulations ensuring the prosperity of business, while Bankhead respondents placedhigher value on protecting private property rights. BLP respondents place a higher value on governmentbecause they have more confidence that government can complete the task and have some assurancethat the government has checks and balances, but if the government failed, respondents can hold themresponsible through legal actions. Several groups (WildSouth, The Nature Conversancy, and Smith LakeAdvocacy) represented on the BLP have gone into litigations with the BNF to resolve managementissues. For example, representatives of WildSouth feel that they have recourse to legal actions if theForest Service did not honor its commitments. BLP respondents were also much more likely tocooperate when they know outcomes will favor their interests, whereas BNF respondents were morelikely to cooperate when they were informed about the subject matter. BLP respondents’ level ofcooperation is determined by making rational choices, but their group’s interests sometimes conflictedwith their personal interest.A comparison between BNF and BLP based on expectations and outcomes were similar, however BNFrespondents seemed to think they benefited more from the process. They also viewed the BLP processas fairer, more civil, and more respectful than BLP respondents did. This can be explained by their (BNF)higher level of satisfaction with the process, and their higher amount of trust of the BLP groups. Morethan half of the BNF respondents had very limited exposure to the BLP, however, all of the BLP groupshad been a part of the process for several years. Many of the BLP groups at some point had identifiedissues with the management decisions made through the BLP decision process, so they had experiencedmore opportunities than BNF respondents to alter (lower) their satisfaction level over time.What are the expectations of the Bankhead Liaison Panel and how has the activities on the BNF matchedthese expectations?Findings: BLP were very committed to the panel and its process but they had apprehensions abouttrusting the decisions made by the forest managers. Many of the respondents said that their trust inindividuals was higher than their trust in groups. This is especially true in regards to the government,because of the government’s negative or low-level results in past collaboration’s and lack of unbiasedparticipation in decision making. In order to change this idea, BNF staff have to be more inclusive andreliable in honoring their commitments.BLP members became involved because they expected to improve the forest outcome; however, manyof them expressed more eco-centric and private property views about forest management. Althoughthey had strong sentiments about the limited role of government and the negative impacts of forestplanning, they believed that decisions should be made by consensus-based negotiations among all theparties involved. This result indicates that changes in the ideas of many BLP groups have occurred. Inthe beginning, most interest groups participated so that their personal groups’ goals would be includedin BNF decisions mostly because they felt that it would improve the outcome of the forest but as timehas progressed they realized that having a consensus would be the best way to make decisions aboutthe forest.Participation in BLP activities were personally rewarding for most of the members, because theyestablished new friendships and relationships. At the beginning there was limited trust for other panelmembers but responses to certain relationship questions suggest there have been some personal andgroup progress, and some satisfaction in the panel because there was some satisfaction with: the99

treatment of all groups, their civility, their representation of the local community, and theircollaboration efforts.The BLP respondents were not very complimentary in their assessment of the outcomes of the FHRI todate.Many of the respondents had weak feeling about the amount of trust and agreement with anypart of the BNFHRI, with the management procedures and practices that the BNFHRI wereimplementing, and the amount of participation in future management. This is because the panel hasn’tachieved many of its stated goals due to clashes between critical stakeholders. The logger respondentgroup had the highest expectation and were the most satisfied with the BLP. Only two respondentgroups were dissatisfied with the BLP based on their participation, the Trail Rider, and the HorsebackRider groups. Both groups’ participation in the BLP had lowered since the beginning of the project in2000, because they felt the BLP did not consider their interest in the FHRI management actions, andthey believed the BLP was biased and was influenced by environmental groups. Five out of sixrespondent groups felt BLP was biased and favored certain respondent groups. Most of the weakassessment of the FHRI is attributed to two things: the lack of trust in the forest managers, and theamount of bias interest groups perceive to exist within the BLP.Even though there is not much satisfaction with what has transpired on the ground, there is somesatisfaction with the BLP process and a sense that the respondents interest would be served in thelonger-term. Respondents were satisfied with what is being done with the FHRI, and faith that theirgoals will be included in future management. There is a strong indication that some trust in the BNFHRIexist and most of the BLP respondents utilize the socio-cognitive principle of belief-based trust, becausethey believe that their interests will be served over time. Respondents have found that faith in thereliability and productivity of the panel can eventually lead to the FHRI working in their interest.What is the relationship between public perception, expectation, and policy implementation and level oftrust?Findings: Trusting respondents felt the panel represent the interest of the local community and ratedthe panel members as more honest with reasonable motives and concerns. However, respondents withno general trust expected little consideration of their interest on FHRI and expected to have a negativeimpact on the efforts of the Panel objectives.Making rational choices was the most significant component of trust. This outcome was expected,rational choice explains bounded rationality, i.e. individuals allow their personal interests to supersedethe need of the group. Being bounded rationally simply means to require evidence that the project wasworking. Choosing behavioral decisions and making rational choices were significantly related toconcepts. This relationship is as expected. Maguire et.al, (1999) describes this relationship in thedescription of certainty bias, specifically using the precautionary principle which states (forest)managers will choose to minimize the outcome and take the lowest level of risk because this supports amore positive outcome that will satisfy the public. The downside to using precautionary principle is theresult usually only provide a short-term solution to a continual problem. Rational choice and behavioraldecision theories share the self-interested gain principle, whereby participants allow their personalneeds to supersede the goals of the group. The advantage of this is persuasion because it can influenceindividual decisions which may be good or bad for the forests.Respondents that minimized forest management to minimize negative outcomes also favored makingrational choices. This relationship is expected, precautionary principle and biased of cumulativeprobabilities have similar characteristics; both prefer low disturbance without considering all aspects ofthe long-term consequences. Collective action supports groups working together through activecommunication, increasing levels of cooperation, and seeking positive results.100

Respondents having evidence of trustworthiness favored using belief-based trust for decision making.Expectation that a task or an individual’s interest be include in the group objective implies thatrespondents feel their interest are being included even when they are not present to witness the policyadaptation or implementation. Building solid relationships and working towards collective action areconnected to belief-based trust. Solid relationship and collective action determine success incollaboration by building a stable relationship through creating a history of group decision-making.Belief-based trust support reliability in group collaboration by past situations where the participantsused good decision-making skills to identify a resolution to past collaborative issues. This means that ifthe respondent got involved in the FHRI and there is evidence that the forest managers are reliable andhave their interest in mind, they can trust that plans will be implemented.Social psychology principles and belief-based trust favored dealing with belief conflicts and havingfairness in procedures. In social psychology, respondents experience belief conflicts when they try todevelop new attitudes about situations when there is pre-existing ideas about that same situation. Thismeans respondents try to use trade-off relationships to identify the trustworthiness and reliability ofinformation. This information indicates BNF respondent’s willingness to focus, when necessary, on theimportance of the FHRI issues and minimize their personal biases.The final BNF respondent model indicated that respondents have trust in the BNFHRI and the BLP whenrespondents could build stable and reliable relationship. When respondents can trust other individualswithin a group to fulfill their promise and include their opinions then there is a belief that otherparticipants can be trusted to collaborate on group decision.How much is the trust model explained by the five psychology theories?Findings: BLP respondents that used discounting on forest issues also made rational choices. This resultwas unexpected. Many BLP respondents indicated that their participation in the BLP was to see longtermsustainability in the forest.Respondents that made rational choices were more educated, shared common values, generally trustedpeople, and were sociable. Their primary objective was to come together and created a collectivecollaborative agreement, with the understanding that all of the groups’ individual goals cannot beachieved. Reputation is the secondary objective; social network density and core relationship rely onreputation to build long-term collaboration. BLP respondents all agreed that they had to learn tocompromise their interest to achieve a common goal, based mostly on the belief that eventually theirinterest would be included in future management. This is a positive indication that BLP interest groupsbecome involved for the primary purpose of improving the BNF’s sustainability.Making sure that policy agreements have been reached and having belief-based trust was important toBLP respondents. This outcome was expected, while conducting preliminary interviews several of theBLP respondents indicated that negotiations between their respective organization and the BNF forestmanagers have improved. Rational choice theory explains how collective actions signify the importanceof developing core relationships. In order for policy agreements to occur, collective action and corerelationships must be met, because they build collaborative relationship based on the amount of trust inindividuals, the evidence of past successful collaborations, and the idea that the benefits of therelationship will accrue to all parties. BLP respondents have generalized trust in public officials. This wasunexpected because often environmental related groups have trouble trusting public officials becausethey feel that their issues and concerns are not being considered. Having generalized trust in publicofficials would support generalized trust in the BNF forest managers because they represent a knownsector of the federal government.101

BLP respondents did not use risky management because of its lack of certainty, the fear of regret, theuse of discounting, and trying to have the least negative effects. All of this indicates two things; first, BLPrespondents utilize risk aversion to help keep the current forest structure, even if it results in suboptimalresults. Second, BLP respondents use risk aversion to explain the need to incorporate fewerintensive forest management actions. This result was expected, several of the interest groups thatfavored more intensive management practices complained that their interests were not being carriedout because the environmental groups restricted the goal and objectives they wanted addressed as partof BLP participation. This identifies the disparity in forest plan implementation, the lower levels of BLPrespondent’s involvement, and evidence that trust is not yet established with all respondent groups ofthe BLP. If participants feel their interests are being ignored and the BLP is only favoring certain groups,then participation becomes limited.The social capital analysis indicated that BLP respondents were more likely to trust the BNFRHI and theBLP actions when there was evidence of trustworthiness from other groups and the Forest Service.When BLP respondents could collaborate with other groups interested in long-term BNF improvements,the educational status of the participants did not affect the outcome of other respondent groupsdecision-making. Although the amount of education did help increase the understanding of FHRIpolicies, it often biased the groups’ decision because BLP respondents allowed theory to influence therisk adverse management practices selected.The strongest conclusion that can be drawn from the data is that rational choice variables identify someof the best predictors of how individuals develop trusting relationships and help determine what factorsinhibit trust in group participation. In the BLP and BNF community, respondent groups, social dilemmas,collective action, and core relationship explained the amount of importance respondents gave tostrangers and the actions respondents would take to establish reciprocity in the group.In this study BNF community respondents were more trusting than BLP respondents. BNF respondentsdid not require evidence of trustworthiness or past collaboration to be involved with groupparticipation, but they did prefer involvement with individuals that have common values. Bothrespondents groups were satisfied with the action of the BLP toward improving FHRI implementation.Both groups also considered the BLP as fair and inclusive, but they were less trusting of the ForestService and the FHRI outcome because each respondent group questioned the Forest Servicecommitment to resolving FHRI issues. This relationship indicates the Forest Service still has a lot to do inorder to improve their relationship with the public.Nevia Brown graduated May 2009 and is currently employed by the US-Forest Service in San Bernadino,CA.5. Forest ActivitiesIn 2004-2005, Dr. Naka assisted in selecting the logging sites to be included in the experiment. He alsohad discussions with loggers who have the required equipment (for cut-to-length operations) to performthe study. He also visited and observed timber operation (similar to that to be performed in theBankhead National Forest) at Guntersville state park. At the same time he arranged for the unimpededflow of the material to the IP paper mill in Courtland by arranging for the logger’s exemption fromquotas.Pre‐harvest soil disturbance data indicated that most of the area was undisturbed before logging beganexcept for a few spots scattered throughout the treatment sites. In the Cut to Length treatments, 97.69% of the area was undisturbed. The only disturbances that could be seen were bare spots caused byhorses or erosion and slash from fallen trees infected by the SPB. The total length pre‐harvest102

treatments were not much different from the cut‐to‐length except for slightly more areas of slash, litter,and rutting/secondary roads. Post‐harvest data shows that the area was highly disturbed afterharvesting 78.51 % for cut-to‐length and 79.52 % for total length. Disturbed with litter was the mostvisible disturbance class in both harvesting systems with 50.44 % and 49.94 % in cut‐to‐length and totallength, respectively. Disturbance caused by road construction was the least in both cut‐to‐length andtotal length, 0.43 % and 0.62 % respectively. We found more exposed soils and more slash in the totallength than cut‐to‐length because of the dragging (skidding) of trees on the forest floor to the landingarea and the slash was piled in heaps in the total length system. However, these were minor differences.There is no overall significant difference in the level soil disturbance between the two harvestingmethodsThe number of residual trees damaged in the cut‐to‐length harvesting method was 27.7 % while 72.3 %of total length was damaged. This shows a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the number of treesdamaged between the two harvesting methods. In the total length system, most of the damaged treeswere found along the major trails. Out of the 642 residual trees damaged in total length harvestingsystem, 461 of them were found along the major tails. This represented about 71.81 % of the total treedamage in this system. This high number can be explained by the act of dragging of the felled trees bythe skidder to the landing area. Soil compaction, productivity and cost data had not been analyzed.Thomas Tenyah tried to answer the fundamental question: which of these two harvesting methodscauses less soil disturbances, least residual tree damage, and was more productive and cost effectivethan the other? This question was answered by examining the following specific objectives: (1) comparethe effects of the tree-length and cut-to-length harvesting methods on the soil surface and physicalproperties of the harvested areas, (2) compare the residual tree damage between these two harvestingsystems, and (3) compare the productivity, and cost-effectiveness of the two harvesting systems.To attain these objectives, the environmental impacts caused by these harvesting operations weremeasured and compared through statistical analysis. A visual inspection was conducted before and afterharvesting. Pre-harvest data indicated about 98 percent of the treatment area was undisturbed whilepost-harvest analysis showed about 79 percent was disturbed. However, statistical analysis usingGeneralized Linear Model (GLM) showed no significant difference in the soil disturbance between thetwo logging methods. But there was significant variation in the plot to plot disturbance among thevarious soil disturbance classes disturbed with litter (DC2), disturbed with soil exposed (DC3), disturbedwith rock and stumps (DC5), and disturbed with slash (DC6). There was also subplot variation in theamount of undisturbed area (DC1), disturbed with litter (DC2), and disturbed with slash (DC6).Soil compaction analysis did not indicate any significant difference between the two harvesting methodsbut there was a significant difference between the heavily and lightly impacted areas within thetreatments and there was significant difference between the disturbed and undisturbed areas.Residual stand damage was determined, by counting the number of injured trees, and assigning adamage classification before and after harvesting. Statistical analysis results obtained indicated asignificant difference between the two systems. The cut-to-length (CTL) harvesting system had a higherincident of residual tree damage than the tree-length (TL) harvesting system.There was a considerable difference in the productivity and costs analysis of the two harvestingmethods with the CTL system costing less to own and operate than the TL system but the TL machineshad a higher productivity rate per productive machine hour (PMH) than those of the CTL system.However, the TL harvesting method yielded a higher net gain to the operator than the CTL system.A new MS student, Xavier Ndona-Makusa, advised by Dr. K. Naka started in Spring 2008. His thesis titlewas “Woody biomass harvesting impact on sustainable forest management”. He presented his thesis103

proposal to his committee members and started his research. The objectives of his study were (1) toevaluate the economics of woody biomass, in term of cost and benefit, market and valued-added; (2) toassess the environmental advantages and disturbances on forest ecology resulting from removal oflogging residues; (3) to assess the social impact of harvesting woody biomass. The study location will beassigned in Northern Alabama.Based on the result of this research, the following recommendations should be taken into considerationin order to ensure that any forest operation will mitigate its impact on the environments and alsoensure sustainability.Since in statistical analysis of soil disturbance, the orientation (direction of harvesting) was significant,directional felling of trees should be taken seriously. This is a situation whereby trees are felled to fallperpendicular to the main direction of the slope as this will reduce the impact of raindrops and runoff.Directional felling is important not only because it increases production but it also reduces residualstand damage. This will entail the need for pre-harvest planning. During pre-harvest planning, the skidtrails should be laid out to reduce residual tree damage, increase efficiency and reduce overall skiddistance, property boundaries, and stream management zones (SMZs) or any other control pointsshould be located so they can be avoided without slowing the operation down. More importantly in thispre-harvesting planning process, the researcher should be able to communicate with the operators aswhat kind of measurements are to be carried out, equipment to be placed on the machines, and alsomake sure all bid deals have been finalized. This will prevent the situation we ran into where the CTLcontractor pulled out. Finally, based on the results of this study, even though the CTL harvesting systemhas a higher initial investment and operating cost, and reduced productivity, it is still highlyrecommendable because: 1) it is more suitable for directional tree felling and minimizes residual standdamage than the TL harvesting system, 2) the harvester in the CTL system is highly flexible in that it canbe used as a feller-buncher where whole trees are felled and bunched to an open location for delimbing,thereby avoiding much crown damage, and 3) the CTL system can be programmed to process trees intospecific log lengths that meet specific factory-grade log requirements or pulpwood length.In conclusion, the decision as to which harvesting method ought to be used should be based on themanagement goals. This should be factored into the management plan before a bid is offered. In thisway, this very important management decision is not left in the hands of the highest bidder. If thishappens, then obviously the TL contractor will take precedence as seen by the results of our analysis.However, any management decision should seriously consider the environmental consequences of anyforest operation as the obvious goal should be environmental sustainability.Thomas Tenyah (MS student) graduated in May 2009 and is currently working with US-Forest service inMontgomery, ALEducation FindingsOur educational activities have greatly enhanced our research, student participation and knowledge. Ithas been through conferences, student involvement and faculty dedication that the educationcomponent of CFEA has been such a success. We found conferences are an effective approach, whichnot only provided opportunities for communication between CFEA faculty members and students, butalso promotes collaborations with researchers, faculty, and students from other institutions andorganizations and communications with land owners.Graduate students have been very helpful in identifying needed curriculum adjustments andrecommending equipment and facility improvements to improve the functioning of the Center. We104

determined that our graduate program in the area of forest ecology and wildlife biology requiredsubstantial curriculum development, particularly at the doctoral level. CFEA helped to expand thegraduate curriculum by adding 5 new courses in the fields of forestry and ecology. Because our forestryand ecology graduate program is relatively new and the number of graduate students are low comparedto other more well-developed programs in the nation, the enrollment in these classes has beenrelatively low, which suggests that if we want to sustain our graduate program at AAMU, we need tofurther enhance our effort of recruitment and securing additional funding to support the program. Labmeetings have been an effective approach for communications and group-learning. We need to furtherpromote this approach. We need to explore the possibilities of joint lab meetings, which involvesseveral labs associated with CFEA. It may further enhance the collaborations among different thrustareas and among faculty members and students. Students also need to take leadership roles in theseevents. Undergraduate student involvement in conducting research has proven to be essential. Inaddition, we are beginning to see the benefits in recruitment of undergraduate students into graduatestudy through early involvement in research.Our effort of recruiting minorities, particular African Americans, to natural resource and ecologicalrelated fields has been successful. However, a couple of graduate students dropped out our program.Our experience suggested that the recruitment effort needs be enhanced by a strong mentoring processto ensure these students will join the future research team in STEM fields. Many minority families havelimited experience about graduate degree, not to mention the complication of graduate research,particular those studies that involve multiple parties, in large scale, and field oriented. Faculty mentorsneed to invest more time and effort with these students and provide constant and effective guidance fortheir educational and research activities, even day to day routines. Recruitment of qualified minoritygraduate students in ecological disciplines must be pursued using several approaches. Personal contactwith faculty is most effective. Attractive recruitment packages are a must to secure high quality studentsin these disciplines. The CREST funds allowed us to provide competitive research assistantships to ourgraduate students during the earlier years. However, recently the university started to charge out-ofstatetuition to the graduate students who are from other states and there is a 25% tuition increase in2010 alone. Our assistantship again became not very competitive. We need to find a solution for this.We are discussing with administrations and seeking additional funds.The Online Dual Credit Partnerships and Recruiting for 21st Century Professionals in Food andAgricultural Science Program has been very successful as far as course development and high schoolstudent participation. We will continue to monitor how this program affects the enrollment at AAMUfor the agricultural and environmental science related programs. We need to further explore thepotential of the on-line course and programs to strengthen our teaching programs related to CFEA’smission.We are very successful in engaging undergraduate students in our research, particularly through theEnvironMentor program, which targets high school students, and REU program, which targetsundergraduate students. With the support from NSF-URM program, we will expand our REU effort to ayear-round undergraduate research mentoring program. We recently also submitted a new proposal toNSF to expand our REU effort by establishing an international exchange program in China. We believewith these persistent and coordinate efforts, AAMU will play a leadership role in diversifying theworkforce of STEM related fields in the nation.Although we have sustained a vigorous outreach effort to several community groups, we must do moreto involve the local middle and high schools in our research and to continue to recruit two year collegetransfers from our sister colleges with two year pre-forestry degrees.105