Preview of Award 1036600 - Annual Project Report
Cover
Federal Agency and Organization Element to Which Report
is Submitted:
4900
Federal Grant or Other Identifying Number Assigned by
Agency:
1036600
Project Title:
Center of Forest Ecosystem Assessment
(CFEA)
PD/PI Name:
Yong Wang, Principal Investigator
Zachary Senwo, Co-Principal Investigator
Wubishet Tadesse, Co-Principal Investigator
Submitting Official (if other than PD\PI):
Yong Wang
Principal Investigator
Submission Date:
07/30/2013
Recipient Organization:
Alabama A&M University
Project/Grant Period:
10/01/2010 - 09/30/2015
Reporting Period:
10/01/2012 - 09/30/2013
Signature of Submitting Official (signature shall be
submitted in accordance with agency specific instructions)
Yong Wang
Accomplishments
* What are the major goals of the project?
Sub-project I: Forest Community Responses and Dynamics (FC)
Comp. 1.1 – Forest vegetation responses to prescribed burning and thinning and effects of wildlife browsing
and microclimate.
Obj. 1.1.1: Determine the effects of the burning and thinning treatments from 5 to 10 years after treatment on the change
in woody (including overstory and regeneration) and herbaceous vegetation composition, growth, competitive status,
richness, cover, and diversity; Obj. 1.1.2: Determine the effect of forest edge direction on vegetation dynamics and
competitive status; Obj. 1.1.3: Quantify the effect of deer browsing on tree regeneration; Obj.1.1.4: Use the information
from objectives 1-3 to develop guidelines for achieving the desired vegetation composition and structure; Some of our
additional research investigates the relationship between tree diversity and forest aboveground biomass (AGB)
productivity. More specifically, we also will (1) investigate the relationship between diversity indices, stand stocking, and
AGB forest productivity; (2) examine the effects of the covarying stand-level and environmental-level variables on the
species diversity-AGB relationships; (3) examine the effect of species functional groups identity (shade intolerant or
tolerant, conifer or hardwood, etc.) and dominant species on AGB production
Comp. 1.2 – Response of avian and herpetofaunal communities to anthropogenic disturbances in forested
landscapes.
Obj.1.2.1: Determine the relationship between microhabitat complexity and animal community structure; Obj.1.2.2:
Determine the effect of forest disturbances upon resources availability for animals: (1) determine the relationship
between microhabitat complexity and community structure; (2) determine the effect of forest disturbances upon
resources availability for animals; (3) assess the reproductive success of selected animal species.
Comp. 1.3 – Genetic Diversity and dynamics of oaks and pool breeding amphibians.
Obj.1.3.1: Determine the genetic variation existing within and among red oak species using combinations of polymorphic
noncoding region of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA); Obj.1.3.2: Detect variation in single nucleotide polymorphisms among
individual and within individuals of different oak species; Obj.1.3.3: Construct phylogenetic tree based on information
obtained from Objectives 1 and 2 above; Obj.1.3.4: Construct cDNA libraries from different tissues and species and use
the results for gene, SSR discovery, and SNP discoveries; Obj.1.3.5: Investigate the forest disturbance effect on
population genetic makeup of vernal pool breeding amphibians.
Sub-project II: Forest Ecosystem Function and Process (FE)
Comp. 2.1 – Soil microbial biodiversity of Bankhead National Forest ecosystems.
Obj. 2.1.1: Study the microbial diversity in a managed forest ecosystem, evaluate the potential for lignocellulose
degradation and metal bioaccumulation by white rot fungi; Obj. 2.1.2: Inventory WRF diversity, their molecular
phylogenetic profiles/biomass-degrading enzymatic potentials in support of our bioenergy program initiatives.
Comp. 2.2 – Phosphorus ( P ) transformation.
To understanding the long-term effects of forest disturbances on soil phosphorus forms and evaluates phosphorus
availability in soils as affected by disturbances. Obj. 2.2.1: Investigate heat-induced changes in inorganic P forms in
forest soils; Obj. 2.2.2: Study the effects of burning on transformation of amorphous Fe and Al oxide and its effect on
inorganic P retention and release over time (Findings to be presented in year 3 through 4); Obj. 2.2.3: Study the
changes in soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) as affected by heat induced treatments (This objective will be carried
out in the 3-4 year of the project); Obj. 2.2.4: Investigate the composition of charred organic material (black C) deposited
during burning treatments and explore the possibility of P retention/release on the formation of black C (Findings to be
presented in year 5).
Comp. 2.3 – Carbon sequestration and energy flux balance in disturbed forest ecosystems.
To investigate carbon sequestration and to improve our understanding of the role forests play in global greenhouse gas
emissions and carbon sequestration. Obj. 2.3.1: Examine C sequestration and energy flux balance and model C flux in
disturbed forest ecosystems; Obj. 2.3.2: Improve our understanding of the role of forests in global C sequestration
(Findings to be presented in year 3 through 4).
Comp. 2.4 – Clay Mineral Changes and Organic Matter Interaction Patterns in a Forest Ecosystem.
To investigate the long-term effects of prescribed burning on soil clay mineral-organic interaction patterns. Obj. 2.4.1:
Investigate the soil clay mineral transformation pathways and mechanisms of highly weathered soils that are managed
with prescribed burning; Obj. 2.4.2: Investigate the long-term effects of prescribed burning on soil clay mineral-organic
interaction patterns.
Sub-project III: Coupled Dynamics of Humans and Landscapes (CD)
Comp. 3.1 – Assessing the impact of watershed level forest management on hydrological processes, forest
structure, and carbon stocks
Obj. 3.1.1: Assess carbon stock through modeling of forest communities and improve forest vegetation mapping; Obj.
3.1.2: Develop geospatial-based virtual forest landscape using 3D visualization applications as a communication and
decision making tool; Obj. 3.1.3: Study the long-term hydrologic store/flux process in the BNF; Obj. 3.1.4: To increase
the number of trained professionals, especially African Americans, engaged in research, teaching, and the management
of renewable natural resources.
Comp. 3.2 – Land use strategies and forest land cover changes influence on the provision of ecological goods
and services
Obj. 3.2.1: Extend the land cover change geodatabase for 1950-2010 for BNF and BB region and characterize the
general trends of landscape changes in the study areas (R. Fraser, X. Chen, W. Tadesse, and D. Lemke); Obj. 3.2.2:
Determine the effects of landowner strategies on the patterns of land cover types change, and landscape fragmentation
and consolidation (R. Fraser, X. Chen, W. Tadesse); Obj. 3.2.3: Identify the relationships between forest landscape
structure and major ecological functions (X. Chen, R. Fraser, E. Summers, W. Tadesse, and B. Gyawali)
Comp. 3.3 – Environmental and aesthetics Impacts of outdoor recreation and woody biomass harvesting on
forest ecosystem
Obj. 3.3.1: Explore relationship between visitors’ perceptions of resource conditions and actual resource conditions at
the BNF; Obj. 3.3.2: Evaluate and monitor the environmental and ecological impacts of outdoor recreation activities at
BNF; Obj. 3.3.3: Monitor quantitatively timber and biomass harvesting activities at BNF; Obj. 3.3.4 – Assess harvesting
environmental and ecological impacts of on soil surface and compaction, residual vegetation, and hydrologic processes
at the BNF.
* What was accomplished under these goals (you must provide information for at least one of the 4
categories below)?
Major Activities:
The multi-disciplinary team at the Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment
(CFEA) continues to coordinate most of its research efforts at a common site and
on integrated issues related to the forest ecosystem. Our research is based on the
concept that characteristics of an ecosystem are determined by several relatively
independent "external state factors" (global climate, geology, time, etc.) and by
interactive controls (regional climate, disturbance regime, human activities, etc.)
that both effect, and are affected by, ecosystem processes. Although humans exist
and operate within ecosystems, our cumulative effects can be large enough to
influence external state factors such as climate and precise enough to manipulate
interactive controls such as disturbance regime. The research teams of the three
thrust areas of CFEA have been continuing their effort of collaborative research in
the Bankhead National Forest (BNF), a part of the upland hardwood forests of the
Southern Cumberland Plateau. Each research team at CFEA has been examining
components of the forest ecosystem. The emphasis of the research is focused on
sustaining short and long-term forest health and restoration of native upland forest
communities. In order to deal with the different levels of a forest community,
including the human dimension, we created three sub-projects, each with several
specialized components. This allows us to explore the complex issues involved from
an integrated perspective, and to find long-term ecological/silvicultural solutions that
are appropriate for a complex system.
See attachment for Major Activities.
Specific Objectives:
SUB-PROJECT I
Component 1.1: The specific objectives are outlined in the previous section about
project goals.
Component 1.2:
1. Continue the field data collection for the wildlife include birds and herpetofauna
2. Perform data analysis
3. Present results at professional conferences
4. Publish data in peer reviewed professional journals
5. Use opportunities to train undergraduate and graduate students
Component 1.3:
1. Detect genetic variation among the four red oak species
2. Identify microsatellite polymorphisms within individuals and among species
3. Construct phylogenetic tree of the species based on detected genetic variations
SUB-PROJECT II
Component 2.1:
1. Study microbial and community diversity in response to forest management
treatments
2. Inventory WRF diversity, their molecular phylogenetic profiles and biomassdegrading enzymatic potentials in support of our bioenergy program initiatives
Component 2.2:
1. Investigation of heat-induced changes in inorganic phosphorus forms in forest
soils using phosphorus fractionation methods.
2. Study the effects of burning on transformation of amorphous Fe and Al oxide
and its effect on inorganic phosphorus retention and release over time.
Component 2.3:
1. To investigate the effects of thinning and burning forest management practices
on soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 greenhouse gas fluxes in the Bankhead National
Forest.
2. To measure and document soil C sequestration under thinning and burning
forest management practices in the Bankhead National Forest.
3. To relate soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 greenhouse gas fluxes and C sequestration
to soil temperature and soil moisture environmental properties in the Bankhead
National Forest.
Component 2.4:
1. Investigate the soil clay mineral transformation pathways and mechanisms of
highly weathered soils that are managed with prescribed burning.
2. Investigate the long-term effects of prescribed burning on soil clay mineralorganic interaction patterns.
SUB-PROJECT III
Component 3.1:
1. The objectives of this goal include developing multi-scale models of current
biomass, develop regeneration scenario based on future management options.
Train student and increase human resources in areas for forest management,
environmental remote sensing and geospatial analysis.
2. The goal of this objective is utilize computer visualization as a tool for analyzing
as well as communicating results of different BNF management practices.
3. The primary objectives of this goal is twofold, first at a small scale to assess
the direct impact of forest management (burning and thinning) or lack of
management on hydrological processes, and secondly assess the larger scale
basin level through modeling and running scenario.
Component 3.2:
1. The primary objective of this goal was to determine at what level (pixel,
cadastral polygon, or land cover polygons) it was appropriate to analyze forest
fragmentation over time.
2. To determine the effects of landowner strategies on the patterns of land cover
types change, and landscape fragmentation and consolidation.
3. The specific objectives of this goal include collecting data of air quality (such as
aerosol, CO2, SO2, NO2) at forest and urban areas by field monitoring and
remote sensing methods. After comparison, the contribution of forest on air
quality will be inferred.
Significant Results:
Maintaining or enhancing the oak (Quercus spp.) component in upland hardwood
forests of the Cumberland Plateau and associated highlands has been a goal for
generations. We have learned that appropriate prescriptions are site-specific, and
driven by the concurrent response of the oak and its competitors. Changes in cover
and light are transient and will alter vegetation response, including seedling
recruitment. Two prescriptions have been touted to create the desired understory
conditions to promote oak, including enhanced light and reduced numbers of
competitive stems: the use of an herbicide to deaden mid-story non-oak species,
and prescribed fire. Both prescriptions have challenges in their application.
Following the first treatment (thinning, burning or a combination), the oak and red
maple both responded. Thinning alone increased the SPA of oak in all the larger
size classes, and after four growing seasons there were 80 SPA of oak 3 to- 4.5
feet tall. Four growing seasons after just a single prescribed burn, oak seedlings
increased by 300 SPA in the 2 to- 3 foot height class; this increase was only 63
SPA when stands received two burns. Thinning alone also increased oak that was 3
to- 4.5 feet tall (by 20 SPA to 80 SPA total), while there was a decline of 10 SPA
following one burn and a gain of only 2 SPA in this size class after two burns.
However, in concert with the increase in oak reproduction, red maple seedlings also
increased in response to the thinning and burning. Red maple seedlings were lost
from the less than one foot height class following each burn. The main effect of
thinning was significant for duff, 10-hour, 1-hour, and bark immediately after thinning.
Compared to controls, thinning increased duff (+4.3 and +5.7 tons acre-1 for 50
feet2 acre-1 and 75 feet2 acre-1 , respectively), 1-hour (+0.2 tons acre-1 for both
thinning treatments), 10-hour (+1.6 and +1.4 tons acre-1 for 50 feet2 acre-1 and 75
feet2 acre-1, respectively), and bark loads (+0.4 and +0.3 tons acre-1 for 50 feet2
acre-1 and 75 feet2 acre-1, respectively).
Pre-treatment captures varied widely for both amphibians and reptiles among the
stands designated for management, which was likely due to forest structural
changes caused by tree mortality resulting from southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus
frontalis) infestations. Within each amphibian and reptile species assemblage, we
observed species-specific associations with specific treatments and environmental
characteristics. In regards to individual species responses, eastern fence lizards
(Sceloporus undulatus) increased in thin-with-burn treatments and green anoles
(Anolis carolinensis) tended to increase in all thinned stands. Northern black racers
(Coluber constrictor) increased in thin-only plots primarily during the second posttreatment year. Mississippi slimy salamander (Plethodon mississippi) captures
tended to decrease in all treatment stands throughout the study period, which may
been due to either drier environmental conditions during post-treatment sampling or
natural population cycling. Pool-breeding amphibian captures were more likely
related to the hydroperiod of aquatic breeding environments within 290 m of survey
locations rather than forest treatments. Our results illustrate that forest restoration
through tree thinning can positively influence certain reptile species with limited
impacts on amphibians in upland, pine-dominated forests of northern Alabama.
A number of primers produced positive results for each species: 3 primers for RedSpotted Newt, 10 primers for Spotted Salamander, and 6 primers for Southern
Leopard Frog. PCR followed by gel electrophoresis and band/size extraction will
continue until early June. The results of screening the SSR primers developed from
northern red oak in 4 other species revealed that most of the primer pairs produced
amplification products of the expected size in the majority of the species tested. In
10 out of the 30 primers all species had amplification products of the expected size
from the locations. There was a case where 5 primer pairs did not amplify on any of
the species and was eliminated from further studies. Since 25 samples per species
were tested, information about the level of polymorphism was assessed. Based on
the cluster analysis using the primers, there is a close relationship between the
northern red oak and the shumard oak as well as the black oak. The tree indicates
that the northern red oak, shumard oak and black oak may be homologous to that
of the southern red oak species. Further analysis will be conducted to explain this
phenomenon.
DNA was slightly higher in soils that were burned without thinning and then
increased when it was slightly thinned; however in 2012, the control had a lowest
amount of DNA than the control of 2011. Additionally, there was higher quantity in
heavy thin with a 3 year burn and light thin with a 3 year burn. Results indicate that
the treatment area which included a heavy thin and a 3 year burn had the least
acidic pH and produced more microbial activity, in turn produced more microbial
biomass C. Water soluble and bicarbonate extractable labile P forms were present
in very low amounts in these soils, ranging from 0.18-18.4 mg/kg and 1.2-2.8 mg/kg
for water soluble and bicarbonate-P, respectively. Water extractable-P was
significantly higher in soils from Treatment 6 (thin to 50% basal area and 3 year
burn) in all depths relative to soils from control sites. In addition, in surface soils (010 cm and 10-20 cm) from treatments 4 (thin to 50% basal area and no burn),
treatment 5 (thin to 25% basal area, no burn), and treatment 7 (thin to 25% basal
area, 3 year burn) contained significantly higher water soluble-P than control soils.
Significantly higher labile bicarbonate-P content was also found in surface soils from
Treatment 6 relative to control soils.
Forests contain a large amount of carbon (C) stored as tree biomass (above and
below ground), detritus and soil organic material. The aboveground tree biomass is
the most rapid change component in this forest C pool. Thus, management of forest
resources can influence the net C exchange with the atmosphere by changing the
amount of C stored, particularly in landscapes dominated by forests, such as southeastern United States. Our work focuses on the influence of prescribed burning and
thinning on total live aboveground tree (TLAT) biomass in the William B. Bankhead
National Forest, Alabama. We implemented a large-scale study that involved a
factorial arrangement of three levels of thinning (heavy thin to 11 m2 ha-1 basal area;
light thin to 15 m2 ha-1 basal area; and no thin) and three prescribed fire intervals
(no fire, 3-year return, 9-year return). Biomass was assessed among treatments
using allometric equations related to tree species and diameter. Pre-treatment
stands ranged from 117 to 137 Mg ha-1 TLAT biomass. Overall burning showed no
significant influence on TLAT biomass. All but one treatment (light thin, no burn) had
a higher rate of TLAT biomass gain post-treatment than the control. Control had an
average yearly TLAT biomass gain of four percent per year, with the thinned
treatments having averages ranging from five percent to seven percent per year. Our
results provided a first step for reliable and accurate measurement of biomass
potential, which is increasingly important, particularly for sustainable forest
management, monitoring global climate change and forest productivity.
See attachment for more Significant Results.
Key outcomes or
Other achievements:
SUB-PROJECT I
Component 1.1: (1) Entered data from the new plots on Bankhead National Forest
and analyzed FIA data from Alabama; (2) Presented the results at STEM day 2012,
Alabama A&M University, and at the EPSCOR meeting in Montgomery, Alabama;
(3) Presented at Ecological Society of America (ESA) conference in Portland,
Oregon in 2012; (4) We still have not been able to establish the plots for the
browsing exclosure part of study. Finding areas where the forest has been cut in the
manner proposed has proven more time consuming than anticipated. The national
forest did not carry out the type of cuts that we intended to utilize, so we have been
contacting landowners who would be willing to let us install the fences on their
properties.
Component 1.2: The project was conducted as planned. We published three peer
reviewed manuscripts for this particular component. Five graduate students have
been involved directly related to this component. Three new graduate students were
recently recruited and will start to work on the projects as their thesis research in
the fall 2013. Two graduate students were awarded 2012 Alabama EPSCOR
graduate fellowships. Two other graduate students each received two awards from
Alabama Ornithological Society and Birmingham Audubon Society for conducting
their thesis research work. We have met all the goals established.
Component 1.3: A number of primers produced distinctive polymorphic regions,
visualize on a 2% agarose 1X TBE buffer gel under UV light. Three primers yielded
tight reproducible bands for Red-Spotted Newt, 10 primers for Spotted Salamander,
and 6 primers for Southern Leopard Frog. PCR followed by gel electrophoresis and
band/size extraction will continue until early June. Preliminary data results were
presented at MANRRS National Conference in Sacramento, CA in March 2013 and
at STEM day 2012 and 2013, Alabama A&M University.
SUB-PROJECT II
Component 2.1: The findings from the assessment of the impact of prescribed
burning and thinning on microbial communities and their metabolic capacities in
these soils will help in proposing better or alternative management strategies of the
forest ecosystem. The results demonstrate the potential of white rot fungi collected
from the forest in the degradation of plant biomass, and thus their possible use in
biofuel production or feedstock treatment. The results also demonstrate the need to
further investigate the bioaccumulation of Hg by fungi, as four fungi species,
Metschnik owia sp., Gerronema strombodes, Boletus sp., and Amanita
alboverrucosa had Hg levels above the EPA acceptable level of 0.3 ppm.
Component 2.2: ​
Our findings indicate that the soils in this area in general have P
deficiency since majority of P is in a fixed form bound to Fe/Al oxides. Certain
burning and thinning treatments have some significant effects on increasing water
soluble P, labile P, and Fe/Al oxide bound P in this ecosystem. Burning alone does
not have any significant impact on changing distribution of P forms in the soils.
Component 2.3: Nothing to report.
Component 2.4: Nothing to report.
SUB-PROJECT III
Component 3.1:
3.1.1 - The key outcomes for this goal are limited to small scale at this stage, over
the next year this will be extrapolated out to stands and forest making the boarder
impact of this research very relevant to forest management and production.
3.1.2 - The key outcomes for this goal are limited to small scale at this stage, over
the next year this will be extrapolated out to stands and forest making the boarder
impact of this research very relevant to forest management and production.
3.1.3 - There are no key outcomes to report this year.
Component 3.2:
3.2.1 - The approach for detecting land cover change at a multi-count level would be
more fruitful if the analyses were conducted at the pixel level with landowner and/or
major land cover polygons. This approach would allow us to compare land
conversion, re-conversion, and fragmentation by landowner type/objectives.
3.2.2 - The probability of using the land for recreational purposes is positively
correlated with household size and size of the property, and negatively correlated
with income and land ownership status. Recreation, intrinsic value and income
generation being primary reasons for owning land; the lack of farming activity and
land (and more specifically timber) management plans combined with good relations
with agencies and universities explain these landowners’ continued interest in
recreation and ecotourism services. The social and economic characteristics of
landowners significantly affect the patterns of land use.
3.2.3 - There are no key outcomes to report this year.
* What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
SUB-PROJECT I
Field trip/workshop to Mt. Saint Helens during the 2012 annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Field trip/workshop to Wind River Research Forest during the 2012 annual meeting of the Ecological Society of
America
Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon, August 5-10, 2012.
EPSCoR meeting, Alabama and Tuskegee University, Science and Technology open house conference 5-6 April
2013 in Montgomery, Alabama
Additional graduate student training through the courses (1) Applied Forest Ecology and (2) Advances in Ecological
Modeling and Research
One-on-one work with mentor four times a week, approximately 1.5 hours per meeting
Training undergraduate students and interns in recognizing plant species and carrying out vegetation measurements
during field data collection
Graduate students had weekly discussion meeting to communicate their research projects, proposal, current
progress, and development in the field.
Trained high school students through EnviroMentor program for research experience
Developed projects for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program
Trained two students for 2013 REU program
Trained undergraduates students through the intern program for hands-on field research
Developed two new courses for study abroad programs
Developed a program with partners in Brazil for student international and research experience training.
Conducted a field trip tour of the research sites at Bankhead National Forest for the participants of the Southern
Leadership Tour, which included forestry profession leaders from academia (deans, chairs, directors), industry,
extension, federal/state agencies (station directors, state foresters , etc.) from all over the southern US and
elsewhere. The goal was to discuss important forestry and related natural resource issues, including the opportunity
to develop effective strategies through partnerships and collaborations to address important problems.
First Aid / CPR / AED certification training.
Master’s student, Rashidah Farid, participated in the REU-CHINA program in Nanjing, China May 27th-July6th. She
served as a research mentor to undergraduate students. Ms. Farid assisted students in developing summer
research goals and concept- based understanding of molecular biology techniques. Her responsible also included an
independent research project studying anthocyanin gene expression in peach flowers.
Ms. Farid has also served as a supervisor and mentor to two undergraduate students of AAMU. Her responsibilities
included designing an independent research project for Calvin Means, Biology major. While working with Ms. Farid,
Mr. Means developed basic laboratory skills, wildlife identification, and molecular techniques. Ms. Meseret Sima,
civil engineering major, also was supervised by Ms. Farid. Ms. Sima was responsible for the daily maintenance of
laborarty equipment. Ms. Sima also assisted with field sampling, tissue prep, and DNA extraction. Both Mr. Means
and Ms. Sima were seniors and have since graduated in May 2013.
Ms. Farid was also selected to participate in the South African PhD Project, under the financial support of AAAS.
She represented her university in Cape Town, SA in September 2012. She contributed her prospective in a forum
designed to address issues of social demographics that affect minorities presences in PhD programs in South
Africa. Ms. Farid also served as a university recruiter for graduate studies programs.
Ms. Farid is also a member of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), a
professional development non-profit organization. She has served as the local chapter Business Manager. She has
also taught workshops on resume writing, professional dress and mock interviewing. Ms. Farid also attended the
MANRRS National Conference in Sacramento, CA in March 2013. There, she presented her thesis research in the
Graduate Research Poster and attended several networking and professional development workshops.
SUB-PROJECT II
Training was provided for two undergraduate students (Tangelia Hatch and Antionette Fowlkes) in the Environmental
Science Program at Alabama A&M University. These students were trained to perform sample preparations, soil
extractions, and other basic laboratory procedures. A Ph.D student was also trained on the project. There are two
master students currently working on the project. Results have been presented at the Soil Science Society of
America Annual Meeting held at Cincinnati, Ohio in October 2012, and the annual STEM (Science Technology
Engineering and Mathematics) day 2013 held at A&M University on April 12th 2013.
Training was provided for an undergraduate student in the Forestry Program at Alabama A&M University. Student
was trained to perform sample preparations, soil extractions, and other basic laboratory procedures.
Co-PI. (Dr. Thilini Ranatunga) attended the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting held at Cincinnati, Ohio
in October 2012.
Undergraduate student Justin Jacobs was trained on field soil sampling and worked on the project for fall 2013
semester. Other graduate students, and in particular the graduate student on the sub project has been trained on
soil description and sampling techniques.
SUB-PROJECT III
Dr Lemke was mentored by Dr Tadesse and other Co-PI in developing her teaching and research through course
development, with an integrative research component, assistance in developing proposals.
Bobby Riley, graduate student on CFEA assistantship, was mentored by Dr Lemke and Dr Tadesse. With weekly
meeting to facilitate research progress and develop independent learning strategies.
Amber Bartley, undergraduate work study student, was mentored by Dr Lemke, in the application of GIS technology
and professional development.
Six (three graduate and three undergraduate) students were engaged in forest hydrology research, with site visits,
data collection and data analysis.
Eight graduate students were mentored in geospatial analysis with three poster presentations developed for
presentation later this year. Modeling avian species distribution in the Bankhead National Forest; Modeling soil
moisture index on the Cumberland Plateau; Influence of land use on the number of freshwater fish species
expatriation in Alabama.
Dr. Maribel Mojica-Howell was mentored by Drs Fraser and Christian on social survey data analyses and developing
a social survey based a conceptual model of the potential participants. She had the opportunity to teach a couple of
natural resources economics classes and tutor students who were having difficulties. She also assisted in
preparation a proposal to a philanthropic organization. The latter two opportunities were first time experiences.
Dr. Tilak Shestra, an expert in photogrammetry and remote sensing was mentored by Drs. Tadesse and Lemke in
developing GIS techniques appropriate for the geo-statistical analyses of NDVIA and landcover data.
Two undergraduate students (Mathias Wallace and Sylvia Staples) were taught and given opportunities to digitize
and geo-reference aerial photographs of the Center’s study area.
* How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
SUB-PROJECT I
Component 1.1: We disseminated the results through published abstracts, as well as oral and poster presentations at
one national, one regional, and local conference: Ecological Society of America, EPSCOR meeting, and STEM Day,
respectively. Stakeholders interested the management of the national forest are apprised of our findings during field
days. Communication of results with them is also carried out during the monthly meetings of the Bankhead Liaison
Panel.
We hosted a group of USDA Forest Service personnel from the Southern Research Station and Region 8, along with
University faculty, chairs and deans, on a field tour of research sites on the Bankhead National Forest. Participants
included the Research Station Director and the Regional Forester, along with seven Deans and/or Department Chairs
from Society of American Foresters Accredited Universities. Tour topics included assessment of flora and fauna in
response to forest dynamics, climate change research, coupled projects that included water and soil components, and
student development activities.
Component 1.2: The results have been disseminated through (1) peer-reviewed manuscripts in professional journals
(such as Forestry Sciences and Forest Ecology and Management), (2) technical report/proceedings of the USDA Forest
Service, (3) regional, national and international professional conferences by posters, presentations, and personal
communications, (4) direct interactions with forest managers such as personnel at Bankhead National Forest, Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and landowners, (5) research collaborations with USDA such as
scientists at Southern Research Station of US Forest Service, (6) recruitment information, (7) international collaborators
in China and Brazil, (8) course materials for demonstration and exercises.
Component 1.3:
Ms. Farid's and Mr. Desta's preliminary research has been disseminated through presentations, including three research
posters at multiple conferences. Additionally, several abstracts were published in conference proceedings.
SUB-PROJECT II
Nothing to report.
SUB-PROJECT III
Dissemination has included scientific publicationS (listed in the relevant section) and community outreach events
including:
Lawrence County Agricultural Day
Lawrence county is the primary county were our field sites is, and the agricultural day gave us the opportunities to
interact with students and their parents to discuss the value of our research, the implication to their area and discuss
the role of environmental science and resources managers and encourage high school students to think about this as a
career option.
National Invasive Species Awareness Week on the Flint River (Mar 3–8, 2013)
Flint River Conservation Association Public Meeting Presentation by Dr. Lemke on Invasive Plants of the Southeastern
Forests: Implications of Climate Change
Cub Scout Outreach (BSA)
Dr Lemke worked with a local Cub Scout troop to build their knowledge of forest ecosystems and importance of forest
management to the long term sustainability of our communities.
Presentations at the Professional Agricultural Workers Conference, Tuskegee University, Al Dec 4-6, 2012
* What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
SUB-PROJECT I
Component 1.1:
Carry out additional data analysis
Publish preliminary results
Recruit a new graduate student to focus on the several aspects of the vegetation research that have not been fully
developed at present
Present preliminary findings at one or more national conferences
Component 1.2:
Continue the field data collection for wildlife and habitat
Continue the data analysis and summarize the results collected so far
Develop and publish peer-reviewed manuscripts
Graduate 2-3 graduate students during the next academic year
Recruit 2-3 new graduate students to continue the research projects of graduated students.
Continue the collaboration with partners
Seek leverage funds by developing and submitting proposals for scholarships and research grants.
Seek collaboration opportunities to support the current projects and develop new projects
Continue the outreach and dissemination activities through multiple approaches such conference presentations,
workshops, website, student reports, etc.
Component 1.3:
We plan to include DNA quantification, primer screening, PCR amplification, data collection and analysis during the next
reporting period. Microsatellite primers of northern red oak will be used to produce amplification products of the
expected size in the other red oak species. Microsatellite loci repeats will be amplified with the primers. These loci will
be analyzed on the basis of their observed heterozygosity and conservation between oak species. Also during the next
reporting period Rashidah Farid will complete her thesis based on data collected.
SUB-PROJECT II
Component 2.1: During the next reporting period, we plan to send samples for sequence analysis and continue
statistical analysis of the results. Also, additional DNA extractions, Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR), and sequence
analysis will be completed on the samples taken this fall. We will complete amylase, cellulase, xylanase and chitinase
activities analysis, and perform statistical analysis on generated data.
Component 2.2: During the next reporting period soil analysis will be completed for the soils collected from Treatment
sites in September, 2012 to meet the objectives described in the project.
Findings from the study will be presented at the Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting.
Component 2.3:
1. Soil sampling for greenhouse gas analyses will be continued.
2. Data processing on collected and analyzed samples will be accomplished.
3. Data summarization and reporting will be accomplished
4. Graduate student/student intern will be hired to facilitate accomplishing the given objectives
Component 2.4:
1. The soil mineral fractionation into different aggregate fractions will continue
2. Total C analyses on the bulk samples and each isolated fraction will be done
3. Mineralogical analysis with XRD will be carried out
SUB-PROJECT III
Component 3.1:
1. Assess carbon stock through modeling of forest communities and improve forest vegetation mapping: by the end of
2013 stand level modeling will be completed and regeneration models assessed, by mid 2014 scenario modeling of
stand level carbon stock will be developed.
2. Study the long-term hydrologic store/flux process in the BNF: By the end of August 2013 all equipment will be
installed and by mid 2014 first stage of analysis will be completed at the watershed level.
3. Increase the number of trained professionals, especially African Americans, engaged in research, teaching, and the
management of renewable natural resources: One graduate student will be recruited to work on either hydrology or
biomass component. During the next year two undergraduate students will be involved in forest hydrology research.
Component 3.2:
1. Conduct field work in survey of landowners’ management objectives.
2. Expand the land cover analyses to a multi-counties region.
3. Integrate the landowner responses with the field observations and landowner responses to question on management
strategies.
Supporting Files
Filename
Description
Uploaded By
Uploaded On
CFEA Major Activities 072913.pdf
Major activities
Yong Wang
07/29/2013
CFEA Significant Results_072913.pdf
Significant results
Yong Wang
07/29/2013
Participant summary.pdf
Participant summary
Yong Wang
07/30/2013
Products
Journals
Dey, D.C.; Gardiner, E.S.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Kabrick, J.M.; Jacobs, D.F. (2012). Underplanting to sustain future
stocking of oak (Quercus) in temperate deciduous forests. NEW FORESTS. 43 (5-6), 955-978.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 1573-5095
Grayson, S.F.; Buckley, D.S.; Henning, J.G.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Gottschalk, K.W.; Loftis, D.L. (2012). Understory light
regimes following silvicultural treatments in central hardwood forests in Kentucky, USA. FOREST ECOLOGY AND
MANAGEMENT. 279 66-76.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 0378-1127
Arthur, M.A.; Alexander, H.D.; Dey, D.C.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Loftis, D.L. (2012). Refining the Oak-Fire Hypothesis for
Management of Oak-Dominated Forests of the Eastern United States. JOURNAL OF FORESTRY. 110 (5), 257-266.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 0022-1201
Lemke, D.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Tazisong, I.; Wang, Y; Brown, J. (2012). Invasion of a mined landscape: what habitat
characteristics are influencing the occurrence of invasive plants?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINING,
RECLAMATION AND ENVIRONMENT. 26 (3), 185-198.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 1748-0949
Cantrell, A.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Greenberg, C. (2013). Short term response of herpetofauna to oak regeneration
treatments on the Mid-Cumberland Plateau of Southern Tennessee. FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT. 295
239-247.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.01.027
Sutton, W.B.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Steen, D.A. (2013). Amphibian and reptile responses to thinning and
prescribed burning in mixed pine-hardwood forests of northwestern Alabama, USA. FOREST ECOLOGY AND
MANAGEMENT. 295 213-227.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2012.12.047
Bradley, B; Terry, R.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2012). SAF Involvement in Managing Trust’s Lands Connects Woodworkers with
Logs from Unique Trees. THE FORESTRY SOURCE. 17 (7), 9.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = No
Williams, J.R.; Dimov, L.D. (2013). Effect of high-intensity directed fire in different seasons on survival and sprouting of
royal paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa (thunb.) steud.). FORESTRY IDEAS. 19 (2), 1-14.
Status = ACCEPTED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 1314-3905
Sutton, W.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Steen, D.A. (2013). Lizard microhabitat and microclimate relationships in
south-eastern pine-hardwood forests managed with prescribed burning and thinning. FOREST SCIENCE. 59 (4), 12.
Status = ACCEPTED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 0015-749X
Wang, Y.; Xu, J.; Carpenter, J.P.; Zhang, Z.; Zheng, G. (2012). Information-theoretic model selection affects home-range
estimation and habitat preference inference: a case study of male Reeves’s Pheasants Syrmaticus reevesii. IBIS. 154
273-284.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; DOI: 10.1111/j.1474919X.2012.01214.x
Wang, Y.; Zhang, Z.;Zheng, G.;Li, J.; Xu, J.; Ma, Z.; Biancucci, A.L. (2012). Ornithological research: past twenty years
and future perspectives in China. BIODIVERSITY SCIENCES. 20 (2), 119-137.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 10050094
Li, J.; Lv, L.; Wang, Y.; Xi, B.; Zhang, Z. (2012). Breeding biology of two sympatric Aegithalos tits with helpers at the
nest. JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. 153 (2), 273-283.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = Yes ; ISSN: 2193-7206
Books
Wang, Y.; Gardner, L.; Moss, E. (2012). Proceedings of the 2012 China Research Experiences for Undergraduates
(REU) and Graduate Program at Alabama A&M University The Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment. Alabama
A&M University, Normal, AL.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = No
Book Chapters
Wang, Y. (2012). Migration and Navigation. Ornithology 2nd ed.. G. Zheng. Beijing Normal University Publishing Group.
Beijing, China. 252.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes ; Peer Reviewed = No ; ISBN: 9787303147410.
Thesis/Dissertations
Fritz Akuo Ntoko, Zachary N. Senwo (advisor). SOIL MICROBIAL DIVERSITY OF A MANAGED FOREST
ECOSYSTEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LIGNOCELLULOSE DEGRADATION AND METAL BIOACCUMULATION
BY WHITE ROT FUNGI. (187 pp). (2013). Alabama A&M University.
Acknowledgment of Federal Support = Yes
Conference Papers and Presentations
Ojha S.K.; Dimov L.D. (2012). Relationships between tree diversity and aboveground biomass in some hardwood forests
of Alabama (oral presentation). 97th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Oregon Convention Center,
Portland, Oregon.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Ojha S.K.; Dimov L.D. (2013). Species Characteristics, Diversity, and Above Ground Productivity in Young Natural
Forests of the Eastern United States (poster presentation). Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(EPSCoR) and Tuskegee University, Science and Technology Open House Conference. Montgomery, Alabama.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Howard, K.; Dimov, L.D.; Leggett, Z.; Sucre, E.; Weninegar, L.L. (2012). Organic matter removal in loblolly pine (Pinus
taeda L.) plantations increased ground layer diversity 16 years after treatment (oral presentation). 97th Annual Meeting
of the Ecological Society of America. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Messenger, K.; Wang, Y. (2013). Determining areas of high biodiversity and habitats of concern for the herpetofauna of
China (abstract). Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting. Charleston, WV.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Wang, Y.; Senwo, Z.; Chen, X.; Moss, E.; Gardner, L. (2013). Sowing the seeds for future globally competent scientists
in agricultural and related sciences: research and cultural experience for undergraduate and graduate students in China
(oral presentation; abstract). 17th Biennial Research Symposium for the Association of 1890 Research Directors,
Inc.. Hyatt Regency Riverfront, Jacksonville, FL.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Senwo, Z.N.; Bonsi, C.K.; Wang, Y.; Ankumah, R. (2013). Global Partnerships in Agriculture, Renewable Energy,
Natural Resources, and Sustainable Environment (oral presentation). 17th Biennial Research Symposium for the
Association of 1890 Research Directors, Inc.. Hyatt Regency Riverfront, Jacksonville, FL..
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Cantrell, A.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Avian and herpetofaunal response to forest management practices in
the William B. Bank head National Forest (poster presentation). 2013 Annual Meeting of the Alabama Chapter of The
Wildlife Society. Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Senwo, Z.; Bukenya, J.; Wang, Y.; Bonsi, C.; Ankumah, R.; Bonsi, E.; Bolden-Tiller, O.; Doamekpor, P.; Zabawa,
R. (2012). Strengthening faculty and students global competence and experiential learning in agriculture, natural
resource management and conservation (oral presentation). USDA NIFA PD Conference and Workshop. Huntsville, AL.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Wang, Y. (2012). Data Analysis for Ornithologists (invited work shop guest speak er). 13th Congress of the China
Ornithological Society. Beijing, China.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = No
Wang, Y.; Senwo, Z.; Chen, X. (2012). Strengthening International Competence of the Faculty and Students at Alabama
A&M University through Education and Research Collaboration with China. USDA NIFA PD Conference and
Workshop. Huntsville, AL.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Arthur, M; Alexander, H.; Dey, D.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). The Oak -Fire Hypothesis (oral presentation). International
Association of Wildland Fires: 4th Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference. Raleigh, NC.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Dimov, L.; Ward, K.; Brown, G.; Christian; C., Lawson, D. (2012). Increasing diversity in the field of forestry and forest
ecology through academic support and job opportunities (oral presentation). 97th Annual Meeting of the Ecological
Society of America. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Summers, E., Chen, X. (2012). Forest ecological services on air quality (oral presentation). 97th Annual Meeting of the
Ecological Society of America. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Chen X. (2012). Will increasing human population result in decrease forest area? (oral presentation). 97th Annual
Meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Farid, R.; Soliman, K.; Wang, Y. (2013). Long-term impacts of forest disturbance on amphibian populations genetic
diversity (poster presentation). Association of Southeastern Biologists Annual Meeting. Embassy Suites Hotel,
Charleston, West Virginia.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Stringer, B.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Forest Canopy Manipulation and Breeding Bird Responses: Treatmentand Temporal Dependent Patterns (poster presentation). Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
Program, Tuskegee University Science and Technology Open House. Montgomery, Alabama.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Christian, C.; Mojica-Howell, M.N.; Fraser, R. (2012). A Logit Analysis of the Factors Influencing African-American
Landowners’ Use of their Land for Recreation (oral presentation). 70th Professional Agricultural Workers
Conference. Tuskegee, Alabama.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Edwards, R.; De Freitas, K.; Scheffers, S.; Laing, T.; Roberts, R.; Demetro, A.; Singh, D.; Bernard, C.; Fraser, R.;
Lacey, J. (2012). Application of a Village Resource Development Planning Toolk it from the Kanuk u Mountains
Communities in Guyana to Black Landowner Forest Resource Management Planning in Alabama. 70th Professional
Agricultural Workers Conference. Tuskegee, Alabama.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Mojica-Howell, M.N., Christian, C.; Fraser, R. (2013). An Analysis of the Determinants of African-American Land Use
Decisions in Alabama Black Belt Region (oral presentation). Southern Rural Sociological Association Annual
Meeting. Orlando, Florida.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Farid, R.; Soliman, K.; Wang, Y. (2013). Long-term Impacts of Forest Disturbance on Amphibian Populations Genetic
Diversity (poster presentation). Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science (MANRRS), National
Society Annual Conference. Sacramento, CA.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Farid, R.; Soliman, K.; Wang, Y. (2013). Long-term Impacts of Forest Disturbance on Amphibian Populations Genetic
Diversity (poster presentation). 90th Annual Meeting of the Alabama Academy of Science. Samford University,
Birmingham, Alabama.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Kukla, J.; Xu, L; Soliman, K. (2013). Gene cloning and identification of the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in Camellia
chek iangoleosa (poster presentation). The Plant & Animal Genome XXI (PAG XXI) Conference. Town and Country Hotel,
San Diego, CA.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Other Publications
Schweitzer, C.J.; Janzen, G. (2012). The application of single-tree selection compared to diameter-limit cutting in an
upland oak -hick ory forest on the Cumberland Plateau in Jack son County, Alabama. In Butnor, J.R., ed. 2012.
Proceedings, 16th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2011; February 15-17, 2011, Charleston, South Carolina.
e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station:
290-299.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Cantrell, A.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Greenberg, C. (2012). Herpetofaunal and small mammal response to oak regenerating silviculture practices in the mid-Cumberland Plateau of Southern Tennessee. In Butnor, J.R., ed. 2012.
Proceedings, 16th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2011; February 15-17, 2011, Charleston, South Carolina.
e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station:
47-52.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Pinchot, C. C.; Schlarbaum, S.E.; Franklin, J.A.; Buckley, D.S.; Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Saxon, A.M.; Hebard,
F.V. (2012). Early results of a chestnut planting in Eastern Kentuck y illustrate reintroduction challenge. In Butnor, J.R.,
ed. 2012. Proceedings, 16th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2011; February 15-17, 2011, Charleston, South
Carolina. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-156. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern
Research Station: 250-256.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Dey, D.C.; Brissette, J.C.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Guldin, J.M. (2012). Silviculture of Forests in the Eastern United States.
In: LaFayette, Russell; Brooks, Maureen T.; Potyondy, John P.; Audin, Lisa; Krieger, Suzanne L.; Trettin, Carl C. Eds.
2012. Cumulative watershed effects of fuel management in the Eastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-161.
Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 7-40.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Schweitzer, C.J. (2012). Research in the Cumberland Plateau. CFEA Newsletter, Vol. 2 Issue 1.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Schweitzer, C.J.; Clark, S.C. (2012). Prescribed Fire and Thinning Impacts on Fine Fuels at the William B. Bank head
National Forest, Alabama. In: Dey, D.C.; Stambaugh, M.C.; Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J., eds. 2012. Proceedings of
the 4th Fires in eastern Oak Forests Conference, 2011, May 17-19; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-102.
Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Pg. 257-258.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Schweitzer, C.J.; Clark, S.C. (2012). Prescribed Fire and Thinning Impacts on Fine Fuels at the William B. Bank head
National Forest, Alabama. In: Dey, D.C.; Stambaugh, M.C.; Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J., eds. 2012. Proceedings of
the 4th Fires in eastern Oak Forests Conference, 2011, May 17-19; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-102.
Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Pg. 257-258.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Clark, S.C.; Franzreb, K.E.; Greenberg, C.H.; Keyser, T.; Loeb, S.C.; Loftis, D.; McNab, W.H.; O’Keefe, J.M.;
Schweitzer, C.J.; Spetich, M. (2012). Researching Effects of Prescribed Fire in Hardwood Forests. In: Dey, D.C.;
Stambaugh, M.C.; Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J., eds. 2012. Proceedings of the 4th Fires in Eastern Oak Forests
Conference, 2011, May 17-19; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-102. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. Pg. 270-271.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Dey, D.C.; Stambaugh, M.C.; Clark, S.L.; Schweitzer, C.J., eds. (2012). Proceedings of the 4th Fire in Eastern Oak
Forests Conference. 2011 May 17-19; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-102. Newtown Square, PA: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 292 p.
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Clark, S.L.; Schlarbaum, S.E.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Graded northern red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings have better
growth five years after planting in a shelterwood harvest. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X.
Proceedings, 17th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#.
Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts
page 45.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Conner, P.T.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Influence of Three Management Prescriptions to Above-Ground
Carbon and Subsequent Impacts to Herpetofauna and Small Mammal Habitat and Populations in an Upland Hardwood
Forest on the Cumberland Plateau. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X. Proceedings, 17th Biennial
Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts page 33.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Owiti, D.; Tazisong, I.; Senwo, Z. (2013). The Effects of Forest Management Practices on the Community Structure of
Chemolithotrophs in the Bank head National Forest (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M
University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Jackson, J.; Moss, E.M. (2013). The Effects of Forest Management Practices on the Community Structure of
Chemolithotrophs in the Bank head National Forest (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M
University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Stringer, B.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C. (2013). Forest Canopy Manipulation and Breeding Bird Responses: Treatmentand Temporal Dependent Patterns (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL,
April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Farid, R.; Soliman, K. (2013). Long-term Impacts of Forest Disturbance on Amphibian Populations Genetic Diversity
(poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Connor, P.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Influences of Shelterwood Prescriptions to Above Ground Carbon
Storage and Herpetofaunal and Small Mammal Communities (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th
Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama
A&M University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
McCray, N.; Moss, E.M.; Fan, B.; Xia, Y. (2013). Determining Plant Growth Promoting Effect of Potential PGPR (plant
growth promoting rhizobacteria) Strains (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University,
Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Ntoko, F.; Senwo, Z. (2013). Soil Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Function of a Northern Alabama Forest
Ecosystem (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Summers, E.; Wang, Y. (2013). Avian Response to Thinning and Burning Prescriptions in the Bank head National
Forest (poster presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM Day) Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Ohja, S.; Dimov, L.D. (2013). A Community Analysis of Natural Hardwood Forest Vegetation of Alabama (poster
presentation). Alabama A&M University’s 7th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM Day)
Conference. Arthur J. Bond Hall, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL, April 12, 2013.
Status = OTHER; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Conner, P.T.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Influence of Three Management Prescriptions to Above-Ground
Carbon and Subsequent Impacts to Herpetofauna and Small Mammal Habitat and Populations in an Upland Hardwood
Forest on the Cumberland Plateau. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X. Proceedings, 17th Biennial
Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts page 33.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
De Steven, D.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Hughes, S.C.; Stanturf, J.A. (2013). Reforesting agricultural lands in the Mississippi
Alluvial Valley: effects on silvicultural methods on understory plant diversity. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K.
eds. 201X. Proceedings of the 17th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA.
Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ####. Book of abstracts page 47.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Dey, D.C.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Considering fire damage to hardwoods in sustaining oak forests using prescribed
burning. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X. Proceedings of the 17th Biennial Southern Silvicultural
Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts page 18.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Lemke, D.; Schweitzer, C.J.; Tadesse, W.; Wang, Y. (2013). Assessing how forest management influences biomass
changes in the Bank head National Forest, Alabama. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X. Proceedings
of the 17th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#.
Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts
page 29.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Schweitzer, C.J.; Dey, D.C. (2013). The conundrum of creating understory light conditions conducive to promoting oak
regeneration: midstory herbicide treatment versus prescribed fire. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X.
Proceedings of the 17th Biennial Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech.
Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of
abstracts page 13.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Stringer, B.K.; Wang, Y.; Schweitzer, C.J. (2013). Forest canopy manipulation and breeding bird responses: treatmentand temporal-dependent patterns. In: Holley, G..; Haywood, D., Connor, K. eds. 201X. Proceedings of the 17th Biennial
Southern Silvicultural Conference; 2013 March 5-7, 2013; Shreveport, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-#. Asheville, NC: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: ##-##. Book of abstracts page 34.
Status = AWAITING_PUBLICATION; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Lemke, D.; Coulston, J.W.; Hulme, P.; Patterson, C.; Brown, J.A. (2012). Invasive potential of invasive plants in the
forest of the southern region, United States. In: Morin, R.S.; Liknes, G.C., eds. Moving from Status to Trends: Forest
Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium 2012; 2012 December 4-6; Baltimore, MD. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105.
Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. [CD-ROM]: 278-282..
Status = PUBLISHED; Acknowledgement of Federal Support = Yes
Technologies or Techniques
Nothing to report.
Patents
Nothing to report.
Inventions
Nothing to report.
Licenses
Nothing to report.
Websites
Title:
Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment
URL:
http://www.aamu.edu/academics/alns/bes/centers/pages/cfeaintro.aspx
Description:
This is the homepage for CFEA. Contained within are links to other pages with
information on the Center, the people within the Center, and activities that the
Center are involved in. Annual Reports are linked, as well as newsletters.
Title:
REU China Student Webpages
URL:
http://myspace.aamu.edu/users/sha.li/reu/reu2013/reu2013.htm
Description:
This site that houses the REU student webpages. Each page contains their
research and cultural papers, and information on their home institutions and selves.
There is another website for REU China that provides information to participants and
links to these pages.
Other Products
Nothing to report.
Participants
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) funding
What individuals have worked on the project?
Name
Most Senior Project Role
Nearest Person Month
Worked
Heather Howell
Graduate Student (research assistant)
6
Fritz Ntoko
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Jonjala Jackson
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Loutrina T Staley
Graduate Student (research assistant)
10
Zhen Wang
Co-Investigator
1
Changhu Lu
Co-Investigator
1
Mingshi Li
Co-Investigator
1
Tongmin Yin
Co-Investigator
1
Gete Bekele
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Maribel MojicaHowell
Consultant
6
Anil Archarya
Faculty
1
Rory Fraser
Faculty
1
Jacob Drucker
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Gilda Naka
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Maya Rudolph
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Michael Knotts
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Melissa Dellatorre
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
James Petty
Technician
6
Douglas Washington
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Christian White
Graduate Student (research assistant)
1
Yinusa Omidiran
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Luben Dimov
Faculty
3
Khairy Soliman
Co-Investigator
12
Irenus Tazisong
Co-Investigator
3
Elica Moss
Faculty
1
Monday Mbila
Faculty
3
Ermson Nyakatawa
Co-Investigator
3
Thilini Ranatunga
Faculty
3
Xiongwen Chen
Faculty
3
Mezeret Wagaw
Consultant
2
Colmore Christian
Faculty
3
Kozma Naka
Faculty
1
Andrew Cantrell
Technician
12
Mila Sangalang
Other Professional
12
Dana Virone
Consultant
2
Shelley Baltar
Technician
12
Stephanie Whitaker
Technician
6
Tilak Shestha
Consultant
6
Emily Summers
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Fetun Desta
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Santosh Ojha
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Angela Reedy
Graduate Student (research assistant)
8
Dessy Owiti
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Bobby Riley
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Johnathan Hill
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Brandie Stringer
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Padraic Connor
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Timothy Baldwin
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Eric Margeneau
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Richard Borthwick
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Jason Harris
Undergraduate Student
9
Meseret Sima
Undergraduate Student
5
Naramena McCray
Undergraduate Student
9
Camelia Forte
Undergraduate Student
9
Rogercias Denish
Undergraduate Student
1
Kefyalew Zergaw
Undergraduate Student
2
Matthew Breedwell
Undergraduate Student
7
Jahmal Maye
Undergraduate Student
3
Joshua Franks
Undergraduate Student
3
Amber Bartley
Undergraduate Student
4
Bahjah Anderson
Undergraduate Student
4
Jazzalyn Smith
Undergraduate Student
2
Monique Miller
Undergraduate Student
9
Nick Sharp
Technician
3
Lucy Rucker
Technician
3
Kenneth Loonam
Technician
3
Curt Barnes
Technician
3
Terran Lewis
Technician
3
Mercedes Bartkovich
Technician
3
Marissa Adams
Technician
3
Storm Lewis
Technician
3
Jeremy Conant
Technician
3
Adair McNear
Technician
3
Heather LePage
Technician
3
Erica Rutherford
Technician
3
Dana Bradley
Technician
3
Callie Schweitzer
Co-Investigator
4
Ryan Sisk
Technician
8
Nancy Bastin
Other Professional
2
Daniel Dey
Co-Investigator
1
Justin Hart
Co-Investigator
2
Christopher Laliberte
Graduate Student (research assistant)
2
Stacy Clark
Co-Investigator
1
Abreeotta Williams
Graduate Student (research assistant)
4
Sarah Springthorpe
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Justin Waraniak
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Kevin Messenger
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Jianqiang Li
Postdoctoral (scholar, fellow or other postdoctoral
position)
12
Jack Lee
Graduate Student (research assistant)
2
Tangelia Hatch
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
9
Christopher Griffith
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
2
Antionette Fowlkes
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
Participant
9
Yinfeng Xie
Co-Investigator
1
Fei Wang
Co-Investigator
1
Ye Tian
Co-Investigator
1
William Stone
Faculty
2
Dawn Lemke
Faculty
12
Dejun Hao
Co-Investigator
1
Justin Jacobs
Undergraduate Student
9
Malinda Gilmore
Faculty
2
Lisa M Gardner
Other Professional
12
Shengzuo Fang
Co-Investigator
1
Rashidah Farid
Graduate Student (research assistant)
12
Yulong Ding
Co-Investigator
2
Zhuo Chen
Other
1
Matthew Zirbel
Technician
8
Yinlang Zhang
Faculty
1
Yong Wang
PD/PI
3
Wubishet Tadesse
Co PD/PI
2
Zachary Senwo
Co PD/PI
3
What other organizations have been involved as partners?
Name
Location
AL Agricultural Land Grant Association
Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Montgomery, Alabama
Anton de Kom University, Suriname (AdK)
Paramaribo, Suriname
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Bankhead Education Foundation
Double Springs, Alabama
Bankhead National Forest Citizen Liaison
Double Springs, Alabama
Beijing Forestry University
Beijing, China
Beijing Normal University
Beijing, China
Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB)
Birmingham, AL
Canterbury University
Christchurch, New Zealand
City of Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
Conservation International - Guyana
Guyana
Dongzhai National Nature Reserve
Henan, China ​
Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Epes, AL
Guiana Shield Initiative
Guyana
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Beijing, China
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY
Lincoln University
Lincoln University, New Zealand
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS
N. AL Center for Educational Excellence
Huntsville, Alabama
Nanjing Forestry University
Nanjing, China
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA
Northwest A&F University
Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China
Office of Surface Mining
Jasper, AL
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Shanghai Landscape Gardening Research In
Shanghai, China
Stevenson Land Company
Scottsboro, AL
The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee, AL
US Army Engineer R and D Center
Champaign, Illinois
USDA Forest Service - Bankhead National Forest
Double Springs, Alabama
USDA-Forest Service Northern Research Station
Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
USDA-Forest Service Southern Research Station
Asheville, North Carolina
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus
Fairbanks, AK
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
West Texas A&M University
Canyon, TX
Have other collaborators or contacts been involved? N
Impacts
What is the impact on the development of the principal discipline(s) of the project?
Over the last year, CFEA worked to continue building upon the research of the previous seven years, not only on the
original disciples but also some new areas such as air and water quality, forest fragmentation, harvesting impacts, forest
site mapping and classification, invasive plants, outdoor recreation, and forest management impacts on animal
communities that were not included during the first phase of the CFEA. In addition to research, our focus ensured that
our research activities were relevant and reached those in and outside the science community. We contributed directly
to disciplines within our research disciplines and continued to secure external funds to develop additional areas of
research related to forest management impacts on forest ecosystems in northern Alabama.
Our work on vegetation dynamics will improve forest management at the ecosystem level. It will allow us to better
predict the effects of forest management actions and of autogenic processes on the changes in plant cover, richness,
diversity, and other vegetation attributes of importance to the proper functioning of the ecosystem. Our research
concerning the relationship between forest diversity and its productivity (in terms of above ground woody biomass) may
have important implications for the selection of the number of species to be regenerated and maintained over time in a
forest stand. Our analysis of data from the FIA database so far revealed that at least for plots in Alabama, the number
of tree species in a forest stand is positively correlated with aboveground biomass. Similar relationship was found
between forest diversity and aboveground biomass. We found that this relationship is observed for all studied levels of
species richness and for all levels of relative density that we examined.
Management of forest resources can influence the net C exchange with the atmosphere by changing the amount of C
stored, particularly in landscapes dominated by forests, such as south-eastern United States. Our work focuses on the
influence of prescribed burning and thinning on total live aboveground tree (TLAT) biomass in the William B. Bankhead
National Forest, Alabama. For the thinned stands, the increase in average tree biomass was more substantial
suggesting the thinning had some selection towards removing smaller trees. Increased growing space also increased
the recruitment of new stems, but only for the hardwoods. Moderate thinning resulted in the highest carbon storage rate
and that the lowest carbon storage was found in untreated stands. The sustainability of this short-term gain will be
impacted by the age, diameter and species distribution of the residual trees, which may or may not continue to respond
over time. Maintaining and enhancing diverse systems with various species, sizes and functional groups are keys to
resiliency to future disturbances, including climate change.
Our biodiversity related research works, particularly those related to wildlife animal species, have greatly enhanced our
understanding of life history of these organisms, and their responses to the human disturbance, particularly forest
management related practices. We have observed species-specific associations with specific treatments and
environmental characteristics. Our results illustrate that forest restoration through tree thinning can positively influence
certain reptile species with limited impacts on amphibians in upland, pine-dominated forests of northern Alabama.
Forest ecosystems are undergoing accelerated changes due to natural and anthropogenic causes. The widespread
adoption of forest management technique such as burning and logging alter not only the highly efficient nutrientconserving mechanisms that characterize the forest, but also the patterns of Phosphorus (P) and soil organic matter
(SOM) cycling within the ecosystem. Considering the role of forest ecosystems on global biogeochemical cycles,
elemental transformation is primary in predicting nutrients availability for a healthy environment, as well as air, surface
and ground water quality. Burning in forest significantly depletes SOM and thus may reset P which is primary released
from primary minerals to be released from the burned and decomposed biomass. Management activities for forest
restoration may have a significant long term effects on nutrients and SOM dynamics as well as on soil properties. Our
studies have been examining how such forest management practices affect soil C mineralization, CO2 emission and C
sequestration, nutrients cycling, and mineralogical behavior in the Bankhead National Forest, in addition to their
potential impact on global climate change. Forest management practices that make use of forest burning and logging for
maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem traditionally fail to consider the implications of such practices to soil quality with
respect to nutrient cycling and availability. Our research is elucidating basic biochemical, physical, and mineralogical
processes that control nutrient cycling dynamics in response to management approaches that affect forest
ecosystems. The potential of white rot fungi collected from the forest in the degradation of plant biomass, and thus their
possible use in biofuel production or feedstock treatment. This study has provided information on effect of forest
management practices on phosphorus availability and distribution in a forest ecosystem.
Some components of our research have addressed one of the emerging themes in the global research-human
dimensions of natural resources management by utilizing the indicators of socioeconomic and landscape disturbances
in relation to the socioeconomic development of the Alabama's Black Belt. This research presented an innovative
spatial, data-based approach to understanding the relationship between economic development and disturbances in the
demographic and natural base such as changes in different types of land covers. The exploration of the spatial aspects
of the disturbances in social, economic and landscape change is an innovative one. The study provided interesting
results on objectives, grounded squarely in the human dimensions of natural resources literature, the use of the
longitudinal data, and the importance of examining the three themes at the Census Block Group (CBG) level. The use of
satellite images and sub-county units is an innovative methodological approach that goes beyond the previous research
effort in the west-central Black Belt region of Alabama. Some of the methodological limitations of previous studies in
natural resource dependency were addressed in our research. Previous studies have not adequately addressed the
issues of rural restructuring, spatial arrangement of landscape, and the role of endogeneity. The findings of this research
will add to the spatial-temporal explanations of how the communities have responded to the disturbances in
demographic and landscape attributes. The integration of the social and landscape science, economics, spatial
dynamics theories and the application of a spatial analytical framework for analyzing cross-temporal primary, and
secondary data is useful for understanding the evolving pattern of human-environment relationships in the resourcedependent communities.
Long-term ecological studies require a synergy between different disciplines, as ecosystems are affected by multiple
environmental variables, both natural and anthropogenic. We have been working to strengthen this synergistic approach
through strong collaborations between/among subprojects. For examples, we have been addressing invasive species
issue by collection of team members from all subproject areas and address the question using a comprehensive
approach by examine various component in the system and by collaborating with external partners.
What is the impact on other disciplines?
We have added or collaborated to work on some new disciplines such as air and water quality, forest fragmentation,
harvesting impacts, forest site mapping invasive species, wildlife molecular, wild fungi, environmental impact, etc. The
knowledge gained to date about vegetation dynamics and the data we are collecting in subsequent growing seasons will
strengthen the ability to manage the forest at the ecosystem level. Historically, human development forced people to
focus on the sustainable production of wood as it used to be the main source of heating and energy. But as society has
advanced, the importance of the multiple uses of forest resources has emerged and so has our understanding of the
importance of biodiversity. The interconnectedness among organisms and between them and their environments has
required us to recognize ecosystem-based management is most appropriate. Our study is one of very few in the country
that is positioned to answer ecosystem level responses to common silvicultural treatments. Most other studies focus on
limited components of the ecosystem, e.g., only vegetation or only avian community. Studies integrate the response of
multiple communities, but none have done this to the same extent as in our study. Our study examines the response of
the woody and herbaceous vegetation, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals, soil micro-fauna, and soil chemistry
to disturbance. Our work also provides the means to quantitatively estimate the impact of silvicultural operations on
plant succession and on the change in plant cover, richness, diversity, and other vegetation characteristics of
importance to ecosystem functioning. These results will enable us to design and use more effective treatments in our
effort to restore the native vegetation and with it, the birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other organisms that once occupied
these sites before they were converted to pasture and pine plantations.
Our findings have wider implications than the field of plant ecology. The vegetation dynamics following thinning, burning
and combinations of the two treatments, as well as the vegetation dynamics within a growing season, has implications
for the dynamics of other organisms that depend 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, as well as
the proportion of the different species and life forms that are present on the site. Altering these forest ecosystem
attributes is bound to impact 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 sun reaching the forest floor and the amount of exposed bare soil. These changes
influence the soil chemistry, flora, and fauna, as well as soil erosion and the hydrology in the treated stands. The faunal
studies, like all other research efforts in CFEA, have contributed to the other disciplines by connecting their findings with
the findings of other field research efforts. This interdisciplinary approach has inherent benefits since each discipline can
make substantial contributions to other disciplines and overall synergistic comprehension of disciplines as well as
related phenomena. For example, wildlife research benefits soil science and forestry because of the ecological
connectedness to their data; thus our results are their results, in an ecological context. For example, the wild fungi
study will assist the bioenergy discipline to utilize various fungi species to improve biofuel production.
We found that the shelterwood treatment had the least canopy cover and greatest amount of light at the forest floor
relative to oak shelterwood or control. These changes were the main drivers for increasing the complexity of forest
vegetation within the stands. Amphibian and reptile species richness was higher in the shelterwood stands than in oakshelterwood or control. Reptile diversity was higher in the shelterwood treatment than controls. No negative responses
for herpetofaunal abundance, richness, or diversity were detected in either treatment. These findings will provide forest
resource managers and private forest land owners with better knowledge for conserving herpetofaunal species when
implementing these oak regeneration methods in upland hardwood forests of the Cumberland Plateau.
A research initiative for the Center is examining factors that lead to the establishment of invasive species at mined sites
in northern Alabama, funded through the U.S. Office of Surface Mining. Surface mining has disturbed over 2.4 million
hectares of terrestrial habitat in the United States since 1930. The disturbances caused by surface mining include land
transformation and ecosystem alteration. This leads to the interruption and change of energy flow, food webs,
biodiversity, successional patterns, and biogeochemical cycling. Though law requires restoration back to equal or higher
value, this has predominantly focused only on soil and hydrological characteristics. We have been assessing the impact
of reclamation on the abundance and composition of invasive plants in the southern Cumberland Plateau and Mountain
Region (CPMR). We have been using innovative methods for identifying and assessing invasive plants. We are
identifying areas of success and concern that will allow resource use efficacy in field assessment; we are also
identifying areas of concern and areas that require further management consideration. In 2012 we initiated a study of
temporal and habitat related diversity at reclaimed surface mines. We are studying the avian response to reclaimed
surface mines to answer the following questions: what are avian species diversity, richness, and relative abundance at
the reclaimed mines; how do avian composition and abundance vary by vegetation type and composition changes
spatially; how do avian composition and abundance change through time after vegetation restoration and how does it
relate to vegetation succession; and, how do adjacent habitat types and environmental conditions affect the avian
community? We will model the relationship between habitat and avian community structures using statistical geospatial
methods.
It is worth noting that we have expanded contributions by adding faculty members from other disciplines such as
engineering, chemistry and computer sciences. These faculty members are playing important roles in collaborative
research projects such as for modeling ecosystem dynamics. These faculty members will use CREST-CFEA projects
in their teaching activities, which will magnify the impact of CFEA to other disciplines. We also have submitted several
joint proposals to enhance our collaborations. These activities will enable us to further our understanding of the deeper
ecological patterns and processes explaining the dynamics of competition, predation, regeneration, migration, and other
areas of forest ecology and related disciplines.
CFEA is also engaging other resource management agencies such as Huntsville Land Trust and Alabama State
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and private landowners. We are applying the knowledge we have
gained from our research to assist resource managers with technical help and on-the-ground implementations.
What is the impact on the development of human resources?
One of the primary objectives of the Center is to increase the number of trained professionals, especially AfricanAmericans, engaged in research, teaching, and management of renewable natural resources. Our success in this area
has been substantial, through integrating both graduate and undergraduate students in all aspects of the research. After
graduation these students are well equipped to lead in research, management, and teaching fields and in state and
federal agencies, private consulting, and industrial forestry. CFEA has provided numerous opportunities to enhance the
technical skills and professional training of faculty, staff, and both graduate and undergraduate students. One such
example is our seminar series, in which world renowned scientist not only give a lunch time seminar but also spend
time, one on one, with students and faculty discussing their research. We also have focused professional development
that has included geospatial workshops giving Faculty, graduate students, and professional conservation partners
opportunity to strengthen analytical skills. One of our strongest tools for human resource development is attended local,
regional, national and international conferences, and workshops. All center participants are not only given the
opportunity but are encouraged to attend, to share their research and learn from others. The center has been enhancing
its safty training and have organized Field Safety Training and American Heart Association First Aid / CPR / AED
Training to students and faculty.
Though many of our graduate students have received assistantships through the CFEA CREST project, many students
have also received other grants, scholarships, and assistantships through other programs. For examples, three CFEA
students were awarded Alabama EPSCOR Graduate Fellowships, 2 students received research grants from two
professional societies, and several students received travel awards to present at professional meetings and
conferences.
One of the key goals of the Center has been to educate future natural resource scientists, especially students from
groups currently under-represented in science and technology fields. Often by college students have identified there
areas of interested thus one of the strategies that CFEA has adopted to achieve this goal is to form partnerships with
neighboring high schools and other educational organizations in a program called 'EnvironMentors'. This program is
being carried out in collaboration with the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE) and Johnson High
School (JHS). The EnvironMentors Chapter continues to initiate a pipeline for attracting and training underrepresented
minority students from nearby high schools to attend AAMU, and help in providing opportunities for minorities to be
involved in science and environmental studies. EnvironMentors Chapter fits into the overall goal of AAMU by contributing
to the development of future leaders in the environmental sciences discipline. This program serves as a vehicle in
addressing some of the major environmental issues of our time at the high school level. Such environmental problems
include but are not limited to the buildup of greenhouse gases and global warming, water quality issues, as well as
issues of sustainability in agricultural and environmental management. Today's major global environmental issues are
yet to be adequately introduced at the high school level to start preparing students for future leadership in those areas.
Eight students participated in the 2012-2013 academic year. Among those students three were selected (Akeeta
Barnaby, Michaela Guzman, and Queena Merrimon) to participate at the EnvironMentors National Fair in Washington,
DC. This summer we also conducted five weeks GIS workshop for area high school students. The workshop was
intended to explore a wide variety of topics related to using GIS and Remote Sensing as integral components of solving
environmental issues. Four of EnvironMentors program participants were selected to attend this workshop.
Center faculty have been continually providing formal mentorship, through professional societies such as the Ecological
Society of America (ESA), for underrepresented undergraduate students at all annual meetings, which have involved
introducing the mentee to researchers in the field of interest of the student and helping them with networking, providing
advice on future options for graduate work and funding, helping the student navigate the many different sessions,
attending together, discussing, and critiquing presentations, among others. Our faculty also serve as the ESA Diversity
Program’s faculty advisor at the Alabama A&M University campus where the local student chapter helps inform students
from other majors about educational, internship, and work-related opportunities in the field of forestry and ecology. One
of our undergraduate students, Sylvia Staples, applied for and earned two travel awards from the ESA to attend a field
trip at an NSF LTER site as well as the leadership meetings. The center has promoted and supported students to
participate and present at professional meetings and conference. Many our students have recieved award for their work.
CFEA is also active collaborate for annual AAMU Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics conference.
Most our students have presened at this conference.
One of the major initiatives of the Center has been to enhance its international collaboration in research and education.
With the support from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and NSF Research Experience of
Undergraduates, the Center has been strengthening AAMU's capacity and capability to develop globally competent
students and faculty through collaborative partnerships with universities and research organizations in China, in the field
of agricultural and environmental sciences. During 2012 grant period, eight undergraduate students from six different
institutions across USA including AAMU, four AAMU graduate students, and five faculty and staff participated the
program. The program started with a three day orientation to prepare for international travel. Once arrived at China,
students and faculty took language, cultural, and history classes at NFU. Each student was then paired with mentors of
graduate students and faculty of NFU and AAMU with similar research interest to conduct a research project. These
research projects include a diverse topics such as “Urbanization Effect on Birds,” “Effects of Forest Thinning on Soil
Microbial Diversity,” “Spatial Dynamics of Air Quality in the Jiangsu Province of China,” and “Anthocyanin Pathway Gene
Expression of Peach Flowers.” Students learned to design research, collect data, operating research equipment,
analyses data, and prepare report.
During the 2012-2013, a total of 123 people have been involved with CFEA activities including 26 graduate students, 26
undergraduate students, and 8 high school students.
What is the impact on physical resources that form infrastructure?
A portion of our facility and equipment maintenance, purchases, and repairs were supported through CREST-CFEA
funds, and are available for use by other researchers in other disciplines within the University. Several additional work
trucks have been purchased with leveraged funds and are being shared with CFEA researchers, including a new 4x4
field truck and one van. New computers are currently being ordered through leveraged funds to updating the GIS
teaching lab. 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. For example,
the acquisition of gene expressing arrays, RT-PCR and high throughput DNA sequencing equipment by the University
has great enhance our capability of conducting molecular and genetic related research in several fields such as
vegetation, animal wildlife, and soil micro-organisms.
What is the impact on institutional resources that form infrastructure?
New statistical analysis (SAS), ARC-GIS, and other software packages have been purchased with leveraged funding and
provided by the university, which allows all students at AAMU to use. Through center funding and program, the faculty
and students are becoming expert in the field of forest ecosystem and related fields, and they have been providing
human capitals for AAMU to develop research programs and enhance teaching components.
What is the impact on information resources that form infrastructure?
CFEA maintains a couple of website: one for the CFEA and other for the REU program. These websites have been
updated periodically. The Center webpage provides information on the project, participants, activities, and outcomes. It
also contains information for current and prospective students, a calendar, and resources for field going students and
technicians, as well as links to outside resources. The project's experimental design and implementation is also
contained within the webpages, so that other researchers with similar research goals and objectives can emulate our
methods and protocols. We plan to continuously update this website to make it a major portal for communication within
the Center and to the public. The REU website provides comprehensive information about the program, mentor, research
projects, and application related materials. It also has the webpages developed each of the past participants, these
webpages have information about their research experience, research paper, cultural report, photos, PowerPoint
presentations. These websites greatly facilitate the information dissemination and applying our programs by new
students. Center also have developed different proceedings, brochures, newsletters, etc. to disseminate the information
related to center and academic programs.
What is the impact on technology transfer?
In spring of 2013, CFEA collaborated and lead the Southern Leadership Tour. This biannual tour involved natural
resource leaders from industry, government, NGO's, state forestry organizations, and universities to discuss and plan for
regional forest research and management needs. The Southern Leadership Tour provides a forum for regional leaders to
identify new challenges and opportunities, develop new partnerships and ways to work together more effectively, and
learn about key issues each group is facing. The 2013 Southern Leadership Tour was held at the historic Monte Sano
Lodge in Huntsville, Alabama and focused on developing opportunities in challenging economic times, including setting
priorities, reaching new stakeholders, and developing future leaders. During the field tour, the team visited the research
sites of AAMU CREST-CFEA at William B. Bankhead National Forest in northwestern Alabama, where the focus was
on restoration management of southern pine and upland hardwood forests and associated research, as well as some of
the issues and challenges faced by the agencies, institutions and various stakeholders associated with the forest.
As human populations increase and our demand for resources grows, management of forest resources is increasingly in
need of precise forest management plans that have originated from long-term studies on tree and forest responses to a
variety of management plans, as well as short- and long-term effects on ecosystems and watersheds. The response of
various forest components to forest management has received much attention because of their interrelationships and
dependence. One of the major strengths of our Center is its close relationship and collaboration with USDA Forest
Service, the agency tasked with managing the public forests in many of our study areas. Research results will be
available immediately to resource managers, forest landowners, and concerned groups. These groups are looking for
ways to implement management plans that meet their goals and objectives in an ecologically sustainable and cost
effective manner. The findings of CFEA research will provide several different burning and thinning regimes, which will
allow landowners and managers more options in implementing management activities that are more sensitive to the
environment.
What is the impact on society beyond science and technology?
We 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 Liaison
Panel is one of the best forums available for us to communicate our research findings to the interested community. We
have also hosted several on campus activities to engage students within the university and local area high schools. The
activities include the annual STEM Day and an educational visit by the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB)
Young Water Ambassadors, which is also a good recruiting activity. Off-campus activities have also included the
BWWB Young Water Ambassadors as well as community workshops.
In addition to forest research, research in the Black-belt region continues to educate minority landowners and provide
empirical data that can influence public policy for the resource-dependent communities, as well as insight into the
socioeconomic developmental strategies of rural communities. For example, we found that forest growth trends were not
evenly distributed and did not show a consistent pattern in all areas within the west-central Black Belt region of
Alabama, which raises some interesting questions about natural resource-based economic development. Classification
maps showed that forest growth occurred in certain geographic areas (such as in and around industrial or corporate
lands, outskirts of major highways, industrial zones, etc). Such unique pattern of resource concentration or expansion
may relate to the existing resource distribution policy at the county or state level. These findings provide much needed
information to policy makers and administers for making natural resource and economic development decisions and
strategic planning.
We have established a medium for information sharing and technology transfer that provides an outlet for the people with
varied and vested interests in the Bankhead National Forest. Our Center continues to provide valuable input into the
Bankhead Management Plan through active participation in the BNF Liaison Panel meetings and in hosting and cohosting a variety of educational activities geared towards landowners. These outreach activities educate the public about
the fast changing natural resources and environment-related issues that society is facing, and also helps to raise public
awareness of the importance of protecting these resources for future generations. We also advise the environmental
group Wild South on various aspects of upland hardwood forest restoration methods and goals. In addition, the Center's
teams continue to participate in outreach activities, from Earth Day to the Landowner Education and Assistance
programs.
Continuation of this research is important so that the long term impact of forest disturbance can be better understood to
help facilitate precise natural resource management decisions. Our findings will encourage greater participation by user
groups in the decision and policy making process, especially on federal lands. We also provide a forum for common
ground discussions between landowners and resource managers to better interact with concerned groups that may be
opposed to forest management practices. Development of brochures, pamphlets, and presentations materials to
disseminate at landowner and concern group field day and state wide meetings provide resource managers with real
world solutions based on sound science to better manage all natural resources for future generations. In collaborating
with the Bankhead Liaison Panel, we have established a medium for information sharing and technology transfer that
provide a much needed outlet for the people with varied interest in the Bankhead National Forest. This group continues
to provide valuable input into the Bankhead Management Plan and continues to provide full support of the establishment
of the Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment.
The Center's teams continue to participate in outreach activities, from Earth Day to the Landowner Education and
Assistance programs. We also advised the environmental group Wild South on various aspects of upland hardwood
forest restoration methods and goals. These outreach activities educate the public about the fast changing natural
resources and environment-related issues that society is facing, and also helps to raise public awareness of the
importance of protecting these resources for future generations. The Center has been working with the USDA Forest
Service and The Natural Conservancy (TNC) to establish the Bankhead Center for Research and Education (BCRE)
within Bankhead National Forest. BCRE is a proposed multi-use facility designed for forestry and natural resource
management field research, educational and outreach activities, including lodging for faculty, staff and students working
remotely in the vicinity of Bankhead National Forest. CFEA personnel has conducted Naturalist Hikes for the Huntsville
Land Trust on Huntsville Land Trust properties for the general public. These hikes helped to increase public awareness
of the high biodiversity in northern Alabama and increase the local appreciation of these properties
The Center for Forest Ecosystem Assessment continues to graduate students, the majority of whom are minorities, and
primarily African American. As the Center continues to grow, more minorities will become aware of the career
opportunities in non-medical scientific disciplines, be attracted to the type of work that we do, and increase our success
through our graduates. 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 and importance of ecological research and education by an
increasing segment of our society is likely to gain greater political and economic support for environmental quality and
ecological research in the future.
Changes
Changes in approach and reason for change
SUB-PROJECT III
Preliminary work on an individual county instead of a multi-counties study. Lessons learned in this process should
improve performance in the next phase of analyses (Component 2 – Objective 2.2)
Actual or Anticipated problems or delays and actions or plans to resolve them
SUB-PROJECT I
Component 1.1: The deer exclosure portion of the study has been substantially delayed, because the treatments where
the exclosures were to be installed (on the edges of patch clearcuts on the Bankhead National Forest) were not carried
out as planned in the proposal. A large amount of trees were left on site, which reduced the edge effect that was an
integral part of the proposed work. We have been contacting private landowners in the neighboring counties who have
recently carried out patch clear cutting. To date we have not been able to obtain permission to install the fenced
exclosures and to keep them on site for the period of time that we need. We continue our work in this regard and hope
to find willing landowners soon.
SUB-PROJECT III
1. We have had some unexpected delays in the hydrology component of this project. Due to equipment installation,
permitting was required through the USFS. This process took much longer than expected (nearly two years),
permits were issued as of May and this component of the research can now proceed.
2. Efforts on this project were delayed because of the time required to recruit replacement personnel, there were
problem with finding appropriate data, hardware, and software for analyses, and fiscal problems were created by the
federal budget woes. Most of these problems were addressed.
Changes that have a significant impact on expenditures
Nothing to report.
Significant changes in use or care of human subjects
Nothing to report.
Significant changes in use or care of vertebrate animals
Nothing to report.
Significant changes in use or care of biohazards
Nothing to report.