Forests
Our nation’s forests serve many purposes including source of timber, habitat for wildlife, and a place for people to recreate. Our scientists seek to understand how forests can serve all these functions by answering such questions as, “How do forests managed for timber harvest and bird habitat affect the bat populations of the forest?” and “How can hiking trails be designed to minimize impacts on the forest?” and “How do deer populations and their management affect native vegetation?”
Forest Structure Resulting from ‘Wildlife Forestry Silviculture’
Management of bottomland forests using wildlife forestry silviculture is being undertaken to achieve desired forest conditions for priority silvicolous wildlife, such as Louisiana black bear, migratory birds, and resident game species. Wildlife forestry management results in forests that have more open canopies and increased understory vegetation yet exhibit heterogeneous structure with retained dominant trees and cavities. Creating these conditions on recently reforested sites and maintaining these conditions in mature forests, without undesirable shifts shade-tolerant tree species composition are management concerns.
Conservation of Rare Vegetation Communities of the Atlantic Coastal Barrier Islands
A synthesis of the role of disturbance, in all of its manifestations, on the establishment and development of the American Holly forest is required to guide future conservation measures. Because many forest fragments have already endured >30 years of chronic deer herbivory, a legitimate question of how much more impact by deer can be tolerated and still conserve the essential type and character of the maritime forest remains unanswered.
Vegetation Studies in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Other Protected Areas
Forests and marshes provide critical habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and other protected areas are attempting to protect, manage, and in some cases, restore our forests and marshes, many of which provide critical habitat for declining, threatened, or endangered species, in addition to providing recreational opportunities across the U.S. These natural communities are being degraded by a variety of anthropogenic forces, including habitat destruction due to urbanization or conversion to agriculture, and the effects of invasive species, introduced diseases, and environmental contaminants. Maintaining healthy forests and marshes is important if we are to continue to provide valuable habitat for many of our native species.
Bats in Forests Managed for Wildlife
Within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), forest managers may prescribe variable retention silvicultural treatments within bottomland hardwood forests on public lands to improve forest conditions (i.e., structural heterogeneity, species composition, and senescence) for priority wildlife species. This is referred to as wildlife-forestry silviculture. However, concerns have been voiced regarding loss of available cavities for wildlife use if hollow trees are removed or become inaccessible due to management. Of particular concern are bat species and their occurrence and use of forests subjected to wildlife-forestry silviculture.
Our nation’s forests serve many purposes including source of timber, habitat for wildlife, and a place for people to recreate. Our scientists seek to understand how forests can serve all these functions by answering such questions as, “How do forests managed for timber harvest and bird habitat affect the bat populations of the forest?” and “How can hiking trails be designed to minimize impacts on the forest?” and “How do deer populations and their management affect native vegetation?”
Forest Structure Resulting from ‘Wildlife Forestry Silviculture’
Management of bottomland forests using wildlife forestry silviculture is being undertaken to achieve desired forest conditions for priority silvicolous wildlife, such as Louisiana black bear, migratory birds, and resident game species. Wildlife forestry management results in forests that have more open canopies and increased understory vegetation yet exhibit heterogeneous structure with retained dominant trees and cavities. Creating these conditions on recently reforested sites and maintaining these conditions in mature forests, without undesirable shifts shade-tolerant tree species composition are management concerns.
Conservation of Rare Vegetation Communities of the Atlantic Coastal Barrier Islands
A synthesis of the role of disturbance, in all of its manifestations, on the establishment and development of the American Holly forest is required to guide future conservation measures. Because many forest fragments have already endured >30 years of chronic deer herbivory, a legitimate question of how much more impact by deer can be tolerated and still conserve the essential type and character of the maritime forest remains unanswered.
Vegetation Studies in National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Other Protected Areas
Forests and marshes provide critical habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and other protected areas are attempting to protect, manage, and in some cases, restore our forests and marshes, many of which provide critical habitat for declining, threatened, or endangered species, in addition to providing recreational opportunities across the U.S. These natural communities are being degraded by a variety of anthropogenic forces, including habitat destruction due to urbanization or conversion to agriculture, and the effects of invasive species, introduced diseases, and environmental contaminants. Maintaining healthy forests and marshes is important if we are to continue to provide valuable habitat for many of our native species.
Bats in Forests Managed for Wildlife
Within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), forest managers may prescribe variable retention silvicultural treatments within bottomland hardwood forests on public lands to improve forest conditions (i.e., structural heterogeneity, species composition, and senescence) for priority wildlife species. This is referred to as wildlife-forestry silviculture. However, concerns have been voiced regarding loss of available cavities for wildlife use if hollow trees are removed or become inaccessible due to management. Of particular concern are bat species and their occurrence and use of forests subjected to wildlife-forestry silviculture.