ANNUAL REPORT: June 1, 2008 – May 31, 2009
(i.e., Summer 2008, AY 2008-2009)
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST BIOLOGY
SUNY-ESF
NAME
William F. Porter
Summer 2008
I. INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES
1. Regular Course Offerings
Course
No.
Title
SUMMER:
FALL:
SPRING:
Academic Year 2008 -2009
Credit
No.
Students
Hrs.
No. of Lab.
Sections
420
513
493
693
Internship
Adirondack Forest Ecology*
Wildlife Habitats/Populations
Wildlife Habitats/Populations
0
2
4
4
0
10
45
3
0
2
2
1
484
684
Winter Mammalian Ecology
Winter Mammalian Ecology
2
2
19
2
1
1
2. Non-Scheduled Course Offerings (e.g., 496, 899, 999)
Course
No.
Title
496
496
496
496
498
498
796
796
796
797
797
797
797
898
899
899
899
999
999
999
Intro Philosophy of Science**
Ecophenomenology(Fall)**
Ecophenomenology (Spring)**
Winter Ecology
Undergrad Research Problems
Undergrad Research Problems
Ecophenomenology (Fall)**
Ecophenomenology (Spring)**
Adirondack Park Science & Policy
Wildlife Seminar
Environmental Impact/Dualist World**
Environmental & Social Justice**
Ecophenomenology
Professional Experience
MS Thesis (Fall)
MS Thesis (Spring)
MS Thesis (Summer)
PhD Dissertation (Fall)
PhD Dissertation (Spring)
PhD Dissertation (Summer)
No.
Credit
Students Hrs.
1
7
8
16
1
2
2
6
3
3
6
2
0
5
5
0
2
2
0
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
0
1-9
1-10
0
9
1
0
_____________
*Dual listing with FOR 513
**Instructor was Marianne Patinelli-Dubay, but I am listed as instructor of record.
3. Continuing Education and Extension (Short courses, workshops, etc.)
None
4. Guest Lecture Activities
None
II. STUDENT ADVISING AND COUNSELING
A. Number of undergraduates for whom you are the student’s official advisor is 27 and unofficial advisor is ~12.
B. Graduate Students - (Name, degree sought, starting date, month & year; if a degree was completed, please give
date and full citation for the thesis or dissertation).
MAJOR PROFESSOR
Zysik, Jonathan
MS
Entered Sept 2002
Amy Dechen Quinn
PhD
Entered July 2003
Frank DeSantis
MS
Entered Sept 2004
David Williams
PhD
Entered Sept 2005
Matthew Smith
MS
Entered May 2007
Megan Skrip
MS
Entered May 2007
Kevin Jablonski*
MS
Entered Sept 2007
Brigham Whitman
MS
Entered Aug 2008
Abigail Larkin**
MS
Entered Aug 2008
*Co-Major with S. McNulty
**Co-Major with C. Beier
Theses Completed:
None
CO-MAJOR PROFESSOR
Jablonski, Kevin – with Stacy McNulty
Larkin, Abigail – with Colin Beier
MEMBER, STEERING COMMITTEE (other than those listed above)
Shannon Dodge
Christine Boser
Catherine Haase
Robin Holevinski
CHAIRMAN OR READER ON THESIS EXAMS, ETC.
Thomas Buchholz, Doctoral Defense, FNRM
Ouro Koumai, Masters Defense, ERFEG
III. RESEARCH COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY
A. Departmental Research (unsupported, boot-legged; title - % time spent)
1. Assessing the impact of spatial scale on measures of biotic integrity in Adirondack Park (Anne Woods
thesis); 3%
2. Landscape and habitat characteristics of moose-vehicle accidents in Maine (Zachary Danks thesis); 3%
3. Influence of residential communities on surrounding wilderness in the Adirondacks (Elizabeth Dowling
thesis) 3%
B.1. Grant-supported Research (source, subject, amount - total award and current year, award period starting
and ending dates; list graduate research assistants supported by each grant)
Montrakis, G., W. Porter, B. Zuckerberg and C. Beier. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. Using LIDAR to assess the roles of climate and land-cover change as drivers of
biodiversity. $709,682, $230,124, 9/1/09 – 8/31/12.
Porter, W. National Wild Turkey Federation. Regional strategies for harvest management based on
landscape-scale habitat and weather effects on wild turkey populations, $73,716, 3/1/09 – 12/31/11.
Porter, W. NYS Chapter – National Wild Turkey Federation. Regional strategies for harvest management
based on landscape-scale habitat and weather effects on wild turkey populations, $5,000, 3/1/09 –
12/31/11.
Porter, W. and S. McNulty. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Application of
GIS to resource inventory for unit management planning, $507,794, $103,897, 6/1/03 – 8/31/09, Steve
Signell, Senior Research Support Specialist.
Porter, W., S. McNulty and A. Dechen. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, A
risk assessment of a chronic wasting disease outbreak in New York, $1,008,190, $162,755, 8/1/05 –
12/31/08, Amy Dechen and David Williams.
Porter, W. F and A. C. Dechen. USDI – Geological Survey. Risk assessment of chronic wasting disease
outbreak in New York. $31,517, 6/1/07 – 9/30/08
Porter, W. USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service/McIntire Stennis. A risk
assessment for the spread of chronic wasting disease in the Adirondack Park, $100,659, $22,899, 10/1/06
– 5/31/09, Matthew Smith.
Porter, W. New York Department of Environmental Conservation. Fall and winter survival of ruffed
grouse in different landscapes of New York. $168,103, $84,050, 7/1/07 – 6/30/10, Megan Skrip
Porter, W. G. Cox and A. Woods. University of Vermont Northeastern State Cooperative Research.
Survey of public priorities as a guide for future sustainable investment strategies. $40,545, 8/1/07 –
7/31/08.
At Adirondack Ecological Center
Canon, G., R. Quinn, W. Porter and P. Hai. USDA – Environmental Protection Smart Growth Grant
Program. Business Planning for the Northern Forest Institute at the Adirondack Ecological Center.
$50,000, $50,000, 7/1/08 – 6/30/08.
Martens, J., W. Porter and P. Hai. Empire State Development Corporation, Masten House and Northern
Forest Conservation Education Institute. $1,000,000, $1,000,000, 6/1/07 – 6/1/12.
Porter, W. and J. Farrell. US Dept of Housing and Urban Development. Acquisition, renovation and
struction of facilities in the North Country for Economic Development and Improvement. $347,935,
$347,935, 6/1/04 – 1/22/09.
Porter, W., P. Hai and S. McNulty. National Science Foundation High speed Internet installation at the
Adirondack Ecological Center. $154,700, $154,700, 9/1/08 – 8/31/09
Porter, W. and P. Hai. New York State Construction Fund. Renovation of the Carriage House
Teleconference and Distance Learning Center. $2,500,000, $2,500,000, 7/1/08 – 6/30/13.
Porter, W. and P. Hai. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Northern Forest
Conservation Education and Leadership Training. $125,000, $125,000, 7/1/08 – 6/30/09
Porter, W. and P. Hai Town of Newcomb. Infrastructure Development at Huntington Wildlife Forest.
$91,000, $91,000, 5/1/09 – 1/31/11.
Porter, W. R. Quinn and P. Hai. Town of Newcomb Development of Infrastructure and Expansion of
Programs at the Adirondack Ecological Center. $159,000, $159,000, 5/1/09 – 1/31/11.
B.2. Research Proposals pending (as in B.1., above)
Im, Jungho, C. Beier, M. Dovciak, and W. Porter. National Science Foundation. Characterizing
Adirondack Forest ecosystems under changing climate conditions. $436,992.
Porter, W. Regional strategies for wild turkey harvest and habitat management based on a unified model.
$126,054, 1/1/09 – 12/31/12.
IV. PUBLICATIONS (Full bibliographic citation, i.e., do not use "with Jones," or "Jones, et al."; please list only
publications published, in press, or actually submitted --- do not list manuscripts in preparation).
Book
Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson and R. S. Whaley. 2009. The great experiment in conservation:
voices from the Adirondack Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY. 622 pp.
A. Refereed Publications
Erickson, J. D., G. L. Cox, A. M. Woods and W. F. Porter. 2009 . Strategies in bio-regional
development: public opinion and public representation. Pages 393-403 In Porter, W. F., J. D.
Erickson and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in conservation: voices from the Adirondack
Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Erickson, J. D., W. F. Porter and R. S. Whaley. 2009. The Adirondack experiment to a full
world. Pages 517-535 In Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in
conservation: voices from the Adirondack Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Porter, W. F. 2009. Wildlife exploitation in the Adirondacks: From beavers to biodiversity. Pages
87-95 In Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in conservation:
voices from the Adirondack Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Porter, W. F. and R. S. Whaley. 2009. Public and private land-use regulation of the Adirondack
Park. Pages 227-242 In Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in
conservation: voices from the Adirondack Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Porter, W. F. 2009. Forestry in the Adirondacks: an economy built on a handful of species. Pages
102-113 In Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in conservation:
voices from the Adirondack Park. Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Porter, W. F. 2009. A dark spot in a sea of lights. Pages 3-18 In Porter, W. F., J. D. Erickson
and R. S. Whaley, The great experiment in conservation: voices from the Adirondack Park.
Syracuse University Press. Syracuse, NY.
Signell, S., S. McNulty, B. Zuckerberg, and W. Porter. 2008. Development of an Adirondack
ecosystems model and its implications for public forest preserve management. Adirondack
Journal of Environmental Studies 15:13-17.
Zuckerberg, B. W. Porter, and K. Corwin. 2009. The consistency and stability of abundanceoccupancy relationships in large-scale dynamics. Journal of Animal Ecology. 78:172-181.
Zuckerberg, B., A. M. Woods and W. F. Porter. 2009. Poleward shifts in breeding birds in New
York State. Global Change Biology. In Press
B. Non-refereed Publications
Porter, W. and B. Zuckerberg. 2008. Long-term Responses of Breeding Birds to Habitat Loss and
Fragmentation. Final Report to the NYS Biodiversity Research Initiative. 66pp.
Porter, W. 2008. Adirondack Research Consortium – President’s Message. Adirondack Journal of
Environmental Studies. In press.
Porer, W. and E. Dowling-Danks. 2008. Assessment of residential development impact on the
integrity of small mammal communities in New York. Final Report to the NYS Biodiversity
Research Initiative. 82 pp.
C. Papers Presented at Science Meetings (give title, date, occasion, and location)
Dechen Quinn, A.C., D.M. Williams, and W.F. Porter. Evaluation of habitat use and availability
among GPS collared deer in central New York: Implications for disease spread. Presented at the
2008 Annual Wildlife Society Conference in Miami, FL. November 2008.
Dechen, A.C., D.M. Williams, and W.F. Porter. Habitat use among GPS-collared white-tailed deer
in Central New York: Evaluating the parameters that influence the spread of chronic wasting
disease. Presented at the 2008 Annual Wildlife Disease Conference in Edmonton, Alberta. August
2008.
Dechen, A.C., D.M. Williams, and W.F. Porter. Habitat use among GPS-collared white-tailed deer:
implications for disease spread. Presented at the 2008 Northeast Natural History Conference in
Albany, NY. April 2008.
Dechen, A.C., D.M. Williams, and W.F. Porter. Habitat use among GPS-collared white-tailed deer
in central NY: Implications for disease management. Invited speaker for Animal Movements in
Heterogeneous Landscapes symposium at 2008 US-IALE conference in Madison, WI. April 2008.
Dowling-Danks, E. and W. Porter. Assessment of the impacts of residential development on small
mammal communities in the Adirondacks. Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society, Miami, FL.
September 10, 2008.
Porter, W. J. Erickson and R. Whaley. Voices from the Adirondacks. Adirondack Research
Consortium Conference, Lake Placid, NY. May 19, 2009.
Williams, D. M., A.C. Dechen, and W.F. Porter. Impact of GPS location error on detected scales of
animal movement. Invited speaker for Animal Movements in Heterogeneous Landscapes
symposium at 2008 US-IALE conference in Madison, WI. April 2008.
Williams, D. A Dechen Quinn and W. Porter. Impact of GPS error on detected scales of animal
movement. Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society, Miami, FL. September 10, 2008.
Zuckerberg, B. and W. Porter. Long-term thresholds in responses of breeding birds to a changing
landscape. Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society, Miami, FL. September 12, 2008.
Zuckerberg, B and W. F. Porter. Long-term responses of breeding birds to habitat loss and
fragmentation. New York State Biodiversity Research Institute, Biology and Conservation Lecture
Series, Albany, NY. April 22, 2009.
D. Public Service Presentations (lectures, seminars, etc. to and for the public; give group or occasion,
date(s), and attendance)
Dechen Quinn, A.C, W.F. Porter. Movement patterns and habitat use among GPS-collared whitetailed deer in Central New York: Evaluating the parameters that influence the spread of chronic
wasting disease. Presented at SUNY-Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY. November 2008 (invited
symposium speaker).
Dechen Quinn, A.C., D.J. Quinn. Wildlife ecology: an occupational odyssey. Presented to Rutland
City Intermediate School, Rutland, VT. March, 2009 (invited speaker).
V. PUBLIC SERVICE
A. Funded Service (include consulting activities)
1. Government Agencies (Federal, State, Local):
None
2. Industrial and Commercial Groups, etc.
None
B. Unfunded Service to Governmental Agencies, Public Interest Groups, etc.
National Park Service, Haleakala National Park, Hawaii
VI. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A. Professional Honors and Awards (for teaching, research, outreach, etc.)
None
B. 1. Activities in Professional Organizations (Offices held, service as chairman, member, participant or
consultant)
President, Adirondack Research Consortium
2. Professional Society Membership
Adirondack Research Consortium
American Society of Mammalogists
Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks
Ecological Society of America
National Wild Turkey Federation
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Wildlife Society
3. Other Professional Activities
a. Editorial activity
Journal(s)
Responsibility
Adirondack Journal of Environmental Science
Editorial Board
Other (books, symposia, etc.)
Syracuse University Press – Porter, Erickson and Whaley. The Great Experiment in
Conservation: Voices from the Adirondacks, 2009, 622 pp.
b. Reviewer
Journal(s)
Journal of Wildlife Management
Wildlife Biology
Environmental Management
Wilson Ornithological Bulletin
SE Assoc Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Agency
No. of manuscripts
2
1
1
1
1
No. of proposals
National Science Foundation
1
Other
Syracuse University Press book review
1
c. Participation (workshops, symposia, etc.)
Name of workshop, etc.
Date
Place
Nielsen, C. and W. Porter. Symposium: Deer ecology and management in developed
landscapes (11 papers presented). Annual Conference of the Wildlife Society, Miami,
FL. September 11, 2008.
C. Further Education/Re-training Undertaken, Leaves, Workshops, etc.
None
D. Foreign Travel (Where, When, Purpose)
None
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES (include committee participation)
A. Department-level
Coordinator, R. T. King Award
Member, Graduate Committee
B. College-level
Director, Adirondack Ecological Center
Director, Roosevelt Wild Life Station
Search Committee, ESF Vice President for Administration
C. University-wide, including Research Foundation
None
VIII. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THIS
REPORTING PERIOD, ESPECIALLY THOSE MOST NOTEWORTHY AND RELATIVE TO THE
COLLEGE’S AND DEPARTMENT’S MISSION. A paragraph on each of the following would be very
helpful: this past year, what have you done for our students, department/college, and self professionally?
Accomplishments for our students: Teaching programs expanded with an increase in the credit-hours
for EFB 484 Winter Mammalian Ecology to make this more comprehensive field course offering in
the spring semester. While the enrollment was expanded to 20 students, there was still a waiting list
to get into the course. We also experimented with new courses focused on philosophy and wilderness
management in the Adirondack Park with good response. The latter course was a joint offering with
the University of Vermont that brought 24 ESF and UVM students together for two 3-day weekend
retreats in the Adirondacks.
Accomplishments for the department and College: Our work with climate change and songbird
communities resulted in two papers published or accepted for publication in top-caliber journals:
abundance-occupancy work in Journal of Animal Ecology, and poleward shifts of the bird community
in Global Change Biology. The latter is among the high-impact journals of contemporary science.
These publications led directly to a successful proposal to the NASA for a new study of the dynamics
of land cover, especially shrub communities using new LIDAR remote sensing technology. Significant
accomplishments at the Adirondack Ecological Center are reported elsewhere but work in the Adirondacks also
included the first of a two-year term as President of the Board of Directors of the Adirondack Research
Consortium. This is a not-for-profit organization with a mission of providing better information for better
decision making in the Adirondacks. An annual conference of scientists, students, government and business
leaders, and NGOs is central to the organization and this year’s conference saw a large ESF presence from EFB,
FNRM and LA, as well as AEC. In addition, we began an initiative to establish a $3 - 5 million competition
funded through NYSERDA to focus on energy in the Adirondacks. Several members of EFB participated in the
scoping. Finally, it was a privilege to serve as master of ceremonies in honoring Dudley Raynal for his 30 years
of contributions to the Adirondacks.
Accomplishments in professional growth: The most significant accomplishment for the past year was
completion of a book, The Great Experiment in Conservation: Voices from the Adirondacks. This represents
the final product from my 2005 sabbatical. The establishment of the Adirondack Park created an
unprecedented blend of human communities within wild lands and makes it one of the greatest case
studies in conservation and development in U.S. history. This project has been especially valuable to
me because it deepened by understanding of the Adirondacks and expanded my interest in the
interface between ecology, and economics and policy. In the longer term, I expect it will enhance our
abilities to be more effective with the science we do.
IX. A. FUTURE PLANS, AMBITIONS, AND POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR YOUR OWN
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE PROGRAM IN
ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOREST BIOLOGY (brief summary)
In the upcoming year I will be refocusing my programs in research, teaching and administration. Publication of
much of the research that was completed over the past two years will be a major goal with particular attention to
findings arising from our work with chronic wasting disease. This body of work represents some of the best
coming out of my program. Research thrusts will follow the avenues in evaluating biotic integrity, climate
change and movement behavior, and will emphasize cross-disciplinary explorations. These will be built around
more doctoral students and fewer Masters students. In teaching, I will be placing greater emphasis on my
regular course offerings and reducing my investment in experimental courses. More time will be devoted to
building an outreach teaching program using our Adirondack book. Finally, administrative duties at the
Adirondack Ecological Center will demand a greater share of my time because of the growth in the complexity
of the programs and the need for mentoring of new staff, fund-raising and attention to coordinating Physical
Plant activities.
B. PROJECTED ACTIVITIES FOR NEXT YEAR.
1. Summer 2009
a. Course(s) to be offered
EFB/FOR 513 – Adirondack Forest Ecology and Management
b. Proposed research activity
Initiation of analysis for ruffed grouse project
Completion of thesis – M. Smith
Submission of manuscripts: moose – Z. Danks, birds – B. Zuckerberg, deer/disease –
A. Dechen Quinn and D. Williams; small mammals – E. Dowling-Danks
c. University, professional society, and public service
Work as Director of Adirondack Ecological Center includes
Renovation of kitchen and refurnishing dining room
Renovation of Huntington Lodge
Installation of wireless Internet
Planning for renovation of Stone Garage/Carriage House
Continuation of development campaign
Service as President of the Adirondack Research Consortium
2. Fall Semester 2009
a. Course(s) to be offered
EFB 493/693 – Management of Wildlife Habitats and Populations
b. Proposed research activity
Submission of manuscript on wetlands (w/ A. Diggory and D. Leopold)
Submission of manuscripts from deer research (w/ J. Organ; A. Dechen Quinn, D. Williams)
c. University, Professional society, and public service
Director of AEC
Service as President of the Adirondack Research Consortium
3. Spring Semester 2007
a. Course(s) to be offered
EFB 484/684 – Winter Mammalian Ecology
EFB 797 – Wildlife Seminar
b. Proposed research activity
Submission of manuscripts from deer research (w/ J. Organ; A. Dechen Quinn, D. Williams)
c. University, Professional society, and public service
Director of AEC
Service President of the Adirondack Research Consortium –
annual meeting