Digital Commons Network^™

Bryophyte Assemblages On American Hornbeam (Carpinus Caroliniana) And The Surrounding Arboreal Communities Within The Forest Of East Texas, Cassey Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The bryophytes, the non-vascular plants, include the mosses (Bryophyta with approximately 13,000 species), the liverworts (Marchantiophyta with approximately 5,000 species), and the hornworts (Anthocerotophyta with approximately 150 species). Initial observations indicated that the midstory tree Carpinus caroliniana Walter (American hornbeam) has a bryophyte composition with an unusually high diversity of leafy liverworts. Voucher samples were taken from the four intercardinal directions (Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast) from six Carpinus trees and their nearest neighbor that was neither Pinus nor another Carpinus at each of six sites across East Texas. Percent coverage, species richness, Shannon’s diversity and Pielou’s evenness were computed. …

Demographics, Experiences, And Management Preferences Of Backcountry Campers In Yellowstone National Park, Ryan P. Grisham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A questionnaire was distributed to backcountry campers in Yellowstone National Park for the summer of 2016. Upon registering for a backcountry camping permit, park rangers asked if campers would like to participate in the survey, which included questions regarding demographics and opinions on visitor experiences and management policies. Participants provided their names and email address and were sent a link to the questionnaire about two weeks after their trip. The survey was a partial replication of a study by Tim Oosterhous conducted in 1999 and results for both years were analyzed and compared to identify any changes in backcountry use …

Characterization Of Sites For Native Herbaceous Understory Restoration In West Gulf Coast Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Savannas, Brooke Mccalip

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas were once dominant in East Texas and parts of western and central Louisiana. Native understory species have since been removed or reduced by exotic plants that were introduced and from the reduction in the frequency of both wild and prescribed fires. A diverse layer of understory species can still be seen today, but not often in the historical savanna setting that is desirable in longleaf pine ecosystems. This project aimed to identify site characteristics associated with longleaf ecosystems that support a dense, herbaceous understory with little to no midstory cover.

A total of …

Breeding Bird Response To Post Oak Savanna Restoration Seven Years Post Management In Eastern Texas, Courtney Mcinnerney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oak savannas were once an abundant vegetation type in the Midwestern United States that have now declined to <1% of their original distribution. Historically, natural disturbances such as periodic fire and grazing maintained oak savannas, but these have been reduced or eliminated, resulting in woody encroachment and subsequent habitat loss and degradation. In 2009-10, a baseline, pre-restoration study was completed to determine vegetation characteristics, breeding bird abundances, nest success, and nest site selection at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (GEWMA) in eastern Texas. The results showed a lack of savanna vegetation structure on degraded sites and few savanna or grassland obligate bird species. The goal of this study was to determine how breeding birds of oak savanna vegetation types in eastern Texas respond to restoration effects 7 years after initial management. Post-restoration surveys completed in 2016-17 showed a change in avian assemblages from a more woodland dominated community to grassland/savanna community. The presence and breeding of savanna obligate species dickcissel (Spiza americana) and lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) indicates that the restoration was successful. The presence of savanna species can be linked to the herbaceous vegetation that was restored to more closely resemble historic oak savanna structure and can quantify the success of restoration efforts.

Characterization Of Sites For Native Herbaceous Understory Restoration In West Gulf Coast Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palustris) Savannas, Brooke Mccalip

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savannas were once dominant in East Texas and parts of western and central Louisiana. Native understory species have since been removed or reduced by exotic plants that were introduced and from the reduction in the frequency of both wild and prescribed fires. A diverse layer of understory species can still be seen today, but not often in the historical savanna setting that is desirable in longleaf pine ecosystems. This project aimed to identify site characteristics associated with longleaf ecosystems that support a dense, herbaceous understory with little to no midstory cover.

A total of …

Challenges And Solutions For National Park Service Civil War Sites Working With African American Communities, Rolonda Teal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this project were to determine the ways in which National Park Service (NPS) sites with a Civil War component are connecting or not with African American visitors and non-visitors. In order to meet the overarching objectives, two approaches were used which consisted of direct contact with the NPS sites and administering a site-specific questionnaire. Multiple attempts were made to contact 81 national parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, and other type park designations. Of the 81 sites, 55 national park units responded to an eight plus two sub-question questionnaire. Interpreters at each site were asked about interpretive programming …

Initial Assessment Of Canopy Fuel Factors In Forested Areas Of The Netherlands, Alan Hibler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The changing climate in the Netherlands has created the need to better understand how the forested communities and their structures will be affected by fire and to better estimate the impact of those fires. This study is part of a continuing collaboration between the Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture and the Instittut Fysieke Veiligheid to assess fuel loads in the Netherlands to develop and improve models to estimate fire behavior. Data to estimate canopy bulk density for modelling canopy fire behavior were collected in the Netherlands for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), …

A New Site Index Model For Intensively Managed Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda) Plantations In The West Gulf Coastal Plain, Kynda Reed Trim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is the most important commercial species in the southern United States and as such, foresters must choose the most appropriate silvicultural prescriptions to maintain or improve the site quality of plantations and natural forests. Choosing the most appropriate silvicultural prescriptions can further increase the site quality of plantations or natural forests. The quality of a forest site can be estimated by several means, however, the most commonly used method is site index (SI). To date, there is no available SI model for intensively managed loblolly pine plantations in the Western Gulf Coastal Plain. To fill …