Transcript Guest Speaker Joy O`keefe: Ecosystem Management in the Nantahala

An Ecosystem Management
Approach to Riparian Zones
Joy O’Keefe
Clemson University
Ecosystem Management
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Promotes sustainability of ecological processes
Recognizes ecosystems are dynamic and
complex
Considers future economic, social, ecological
factors
Necessitates cooperation across boundaries
Requires accurate complex data and tools
Integrates research and management
Ecosystem Management
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Adaptive management necessary to deal
with uncertainty and new data
No more stand-level management  now
landscape-level
Shift from single species to ecosystem
approach, but consider keystone species
Riparian Zones
“land near streams and rivers”
unique characteristics and functions
But, as a land manager, how do you define
and manage a riparian zone?
Riparian Zone Functions
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filter sediments, nutrients
stabilize stream banks
energy source for
aquatic systems
provide shade
moist habitat
travel route
economic, social, recreational uses
Impacts on Riparian Zones
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Intensive land use
Changes in
disturbance (e.g.
lack of fire)
Pollution
Introduction of
exotic pests (e.g.
hemlock adelgid)
Multidisciplinary Approach
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Research riparian zone structure & function
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Management Options
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vegetation, wildlife, nutrients, sediments, CWD,
water quality, keystone spp., ecosystem services
timber harvest buffers, rhododendron control,
fire, fertilization, planting
Evaluation
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Riparian zones responses: structure, function,
and ecosystem services
Bats: Tools to Study Function
For bats, riparian zones provide foraging,
drinking, and roosting habitat, and serve
as flight corridors
Again, how do you define and
manage riparian zones for bats?
Definition and management strategies will vary:
 geographically
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seasonally
by stream size
by bat species
by function
1st or 2nd Order Streams ??
5th of Higher Order Streams ??
Rivers ??
Riparian Management
Instream
management
Instream structure
Prey availability
Clutter
Streamside vegetation
community composition
Streamside
management
Streamside buffers
Roost site
availability and
characteristics
Water
From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004
Instream Structure
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Maintain water quality by controlling
pollution and sediment input
Maintain bank trees for stability
Encourage retention of coarse woody
debris
Use indicator species presence as
monitoring tools
Riparian Management
Instream
management
Instream structure
Prey availability
Clutter
Streamside vegetation
community composition
Streamside
management
Streamside buffers
Roost site
availability and
characteristics
Water
From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004
Streamside Vegetation and
Community Composition
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Retain trees that function as shade trees
(e.g. hemlock) or roosts (e.g. birch)
Control rhododendron
Leave standing dead trees (potential
roosts)
Pest control (e.g. hemlock wooly adelgid)
Burn and/or thin to reduce clutter and
control community composition
Riparian Management
Instream
management
Instream structure
Prey availability
Clutter
Streamside vegetation
community composition
Streamside
management
Streamside buffers
Roost site
availability and
characteristics
Water
From Hayes and Loeb presentation, Bats and Forests Symposium, 2004
Streamside Buffers
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Identify optimal width:
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To maximize timber harvest
Varies with topography and stream order
Depends on function to be maintained:
Retention of roosts
 Sheltered flight corridor
 Suitable prey base (by diversity and abundance)
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Tools to Study Bats
Acoustic Sampling
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Activity levels
Species presence
Temporal patterns
Spatial patterns
Capture/Radio Telemetry
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Species presence
Roost habitat
Foraging habitat
Temporal patterns
Spatial patterns
Acoustic Sampling
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Allows simultaneous sampling in a variety
of habitats
Record calls of free-flying bats within 50 ft
radius of microphone
System can be left
unattended for several
days
Anabat II detectors,
CF Storage ZCAIMs
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Detectors record calls
from 20:30 to 6:30 each
night
Calls stored on flash card
Examine calls with
Analook software
Identify species with
discriminant function
model
Determine activity by
habitat using call count
Primary Experimental Design
Four treatments
3 Anabats per trtmnt
To be harvested
No harvest
Control
0 ft
Secondary Experiment
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Simultaneous acoustic
surveys in multiple
habitats for
comparison
Two watersheds
7 – 10 July 2004 (an
active time for bats in
the mountains)
Presence by Habitat Type
Habitat Type
(number of nights sampled)
Small
Stream
Medium
Stream
Large
Stream
Small
Pond
Interior
Forest
Gated,
Grassy
Road
Open,
Gravel
Road
Wildlife
Opening
(n = 4)
(n = 6)
(n = 5)
(n = 2)
(n = 4)
(n = 6)
(n = 6)
(n = 6)
EPFU
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LABO
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LACI
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Species
MYLE
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MYLU
MYSE
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PISU
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Medium Streams (< 1%)
Activity by Habitat Type
Small Streams (<1 %)
Wildlife Openings (12%)
< 1%
Open Gravel Road (11%)
< 1%
Large Streams
(66%) Road (10%)
Gated Grassy
10%
Medium
Streams
(< 1%)
Interior
Forest
(< 1%)
Small Streams (<1 %)
11%
Pond (< 1%)
Wildlife Openings (12%)
Open Gravel Road (11%)
12%
66%
Gated Grassy Road (10%)
Interior Forest (< 1%)
Pond (< 1%)
< 1%
< 1%
Large Streams (66%)
Medium Streams (< 1%)
Small Streams (<1 %)
Activity varied by habitat type (p=0.002)
Wildlife Openings (12%)
Open Gravel Road (11%)
Capture
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Mistnet over roads, streams, and ponds
Survey as often as possible!
Collect data on individual bats
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species, sex, age, weight, forearm length,
reproductive state, and band #
Select some captures for radio telemetry
Radio Telemetry
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Attach transmitters to
bats that roost in foliage
(eastern red bat and
eastern pipistrelle)
and crevices/bark
(northern bats, smallfooted bats, big brown
bats)
Radio Telemetry
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Track bats to roost trees daily
Radio Telemetry
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Collect data on roosts and random trees
Brief Telemetry Results
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Eastern red bat (foliage)
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Eastern pipistrelle (foliage)
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Hickory, oak, birch, sourwood trees
Not restricted to riparian zone or to one stand
type/age
Birch and oak trees very close to small stream
Northern bat (crevice/bark)
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Large hardwood snags in older stand on upland site