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Ecology And Management Of Raccoons Within An Intensively Managed Forest In The Central Appalachians, Sheldon F. Owen
Ecology And Management Of Raccoons Within An Intensively Managed Forest In The Central Appalachians, Sheldon F. Owen
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The raccoon (Procyon lotor), a generalist meso-predator, is commonly found throughout the eastern United States. Many researchers have examined the ecology and spatial requirements of raccoons in agricultural and wetland areas of the mid-western and southeastern United States. However, no studies have quantitatively examined raccoon habits in the forested central Appalachians and their response to forest management. During the fall of 2000 through the spring of 2003, I monitored the spatial movements and den site selection of raccoons within an intensively managed forest.;I investigated the occurrence of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) in raccoons (Procyon lotor) within my study area. I …
Population Level Dynamics Of Grasshopper Sparrow Populations Breeding On Reclaimed Mountaintop Mines In West Virginia, Frank K. Ammer
Population Level Dynamics Of Grasshopper Sparrow Populations Breeding On Reclaimed Mountaintop Mines In West Virginia, Frank K. Ammer
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
During 2001 and 2002, I surveyed three mountaintop mining/valley fill (MTMVF) complexes in southern West Virginia to determine vegetation characteristics important to nest site selection and to estimate nest success for Grasshopper Sparrow populations inhabiting these complexes. I also performed genetic analyses to assess overall population structure, mating system, parentage, kinship, and gender of individuals comprising these populations. A total of 415 grasshopper sparrows were captured and systematic searches of study plots produced 75 active nests. Nest survival for 2001--2002 breeding season (33%) is comparable to survival rates previously reported in the literature. Nest survival rates decreased with increased reclamation …
Impacts On Terrestrial And Streamside Herpetofauna By Mountaintop Removal Mining In Southern West Virginia, Jennifer Mravintz Williams
Impacts On Terrestrial And Streamside Herpetofauna By Mountaintop Removal Mining In Southern West Virginia, Jennifer Mravintz Williams
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Mountaintop removal mining, a mining technique used in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and nearby states, converts mature forests to grassland and shrub-pole habitats. I sampled terrestrial herpetofauna using drift fences with pitfalls and funnel traps from 2000--2002 to evaluate habitat use of unmined native habitat (intact forest), mined habitat (reclaimed grassland, reclaimed shrub-pole habitat, and fragmented forest), and early successional off-mine habitats that were created by other types of disturbance and were structurally similar to reclaimed grasslands and reclaimed shrubpole habitats. I searched transects in valley fill and reference streams from 2001--2002 to evaluate impacts of valley fill …
Fungi Associated With Northern Red Oak (Quercus Rubra ) Acorns, Dawn M. Washington
Fungi Associated With Northern Red Oak (Quercus Rubra ) Acorns, Dawn M. Washington
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Poor regeneration of northern red oak is widespread in the central hardwood region. A two-part study was conducted to determine what fungi are associated with and cause cotyledon discoloration of northern red oak acorns. The field study determined that simulated small mammal notching, surface sowing, time, and site all play a significant role in the amount of cotyledon discoloration in acorns as well as the number of acorns with discoloration. However, germination rate was only affected by site and surface sowing, while seedling vigor ratings were actually higher when acorns had discolored cotyledons. The five species of fungi isolated most …
Censusing And Modeling The Dynamics Of A Population Of Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis L.) Using Remote Sensing, W. Robert Lamar
Censusing And Modeling The Dynamics Of A Population Of Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis L.) Using Remote Sensing, W. Robert Lamar
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
A population of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis L.) was censused from the ground using traditional field methods and from the air using large scale, high-resolution, aerial imagery in the early spring of 1997, 1998 and 1999. A manual crown survey map of the population, prepared from aerial imagery, was compared to a traditional field census. Over 60% of the individuals measured on the ground were not detected in the aerial census. Tree size, crown density and crown position all played roles in determining a crown's visibility from the air. Nearly all large, upper canopy hemlocks were visible in the aerial …
Cerulean Warbler Relative Abundance And Frequency Of Occurrence Relative To Large-Scale Edge, Scott B. Bosworth
Cerulean Warbler Relative Abundance And Frequency Of Occurrence Relative To Large-Scale Edge, Scott B. Bosworth
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Cerulean Warblers (Dendroica cerulea) were studied in southwestern West Virginia where the coal mining technique of mountaintop mining/valley fill (MTMVF) continues to perforate large contiguous tracts of deciduous forest. My study objectives were to (1) quantify abundance and probability of occurrence of Cerulean Warblers relative to distance from large-scale edge (defined as reclaimed MTMVF sites) and (2) relate habitat structure and landscape characteristics to the species' probability of occurrence. Cerulean Warbler abundance increased significantly (P < 0.10) with distance from reclaimed mine edge. However, percent occurrence relative to distance from mine edge was not significant, suggesting a degree of tolerance to the large-scale edge created by MTMVF. Abundance was significantly greater on ridges than bottomlands. Percent occurrence did not differ among the three slope positions but followed a trend similar to abundance. Consequently, disturbances such as MTMVF in which ridges are removed may have a greater impact on populations compared to other sources of fragmentation where ridges are not disturbed. Other habitat structure analyses suggest good indicators of Cerulean Warbler presence are the more productive sites on northwest to east facing slopes and low sapling density. Similarly, Cerulean Warbler abundance was positively associated with more productive sites and snag density. Important landscape characteristics positively associated with abundance were large blocks of mature deciduous forest and low edge density. Mountaintop mining/valley fill alters the spatial configuration of forested habitats in southwestern West Virginia, thus creating less suitable habitat and edge effects that negatively affect Cerulean Warbler abundance, occurrence, and distribution in the reclaimed mine landscape.
Global Demand For Certified Hardwood Products As Determined From A Survey Of Hardwood Exporters, Ellen E. Hrabovsky
Global Demand For Certified Hardwood Products As Determined From A Survey Of Hardwood Exporters, Ellen E. Hrabovsky
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
United States hardwood exporters were surveyed to determine the current international markets for certified hardwood products (CHWP) and to document the experiences of hardwood exporters concerning CHWP and certification. There was a 42% response rate to the 265 mailed surveys. Twenty six percent of exporting companies received requests for CHWP. These requests represented <5% of the companies total export business. The experiences of the responding exporters parallels that reported in previously published studies. Willingness to pay a premium is low. Over half of the exporters indicated that customers will not pay any premium. Chain of custody issues are a major problem and the supply of certified hardwood lumber is small. Only large companies owning their own forests have no problem with certification, chain-of-custody documentation or supply. The markets remain predominantly niche markets centered in northern Europe. China is emerging as a major market for primary CHWP.
Raptor Assemblage, Abundance, Nesting Ecology, And Habitat Characteristics Under Intensive Forest Management In The Central Appalachian Mountains, Rebecca D. M. Smith
Raptor Assemblage, Abundance, Nesting Ecology, And Habitat Characteristics Under Intensive Forest Management In The Central Appalachian Mountains, Rebecca D. M. Smith
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Raptor abundance and diversity were examined in three treatments (20-, 40-, and 80-yr harvest rotations) on an industrial forest in the central Appalachian Mountains. I conducted diurnal broadcast surveys, compared nocturnal survey protocols, examined habitat characteristics at two spatial scales (564 m and 1000 m buffers), and described nesting ecology (including prey composition) of 3 species of diurnal raptors. I detected 17 species and found no significant differences in abundance among treatment for all raptors. Forest-dwelling species were detected more often than edge-dwelling species and Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) was the most abundant species. Using a Barred Owl vocalization survey …
Production And Cost Analysis Of Two Harvesting Systems In Central Appalachia, Charles Robert Long
Production And Cost Analysis Of Two Harvesting Systems In Central Appalachia, Charles Robert Long
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Cost and productivity are major factors when considering which type of harvesting system to operate. Observations were conducted on manual and mechanized harvesting operations in central Appalachian hardwood forest sites in order to obtain time study data. Production and cost analysis were conducted on the harvesting system data in order to compare the two systems. Chainsaw felling productivity was 363.4 ft3/PMH (2180.4 bdft/PMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.08/ft3 ({dollar}0.013/bdft). Cable skidding productivity was 289.4 ft3/PMH (1736.4 bdft/PMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.28/ft 3 ({dollar}0.05/bdft). Manual harvesting system productivity was 181.7 ft 3/SMH (1090.2 bdft/SMH) and unit cost was {dollar}0.36/ft3 ({dollar}0.06/bdft). …
Soil Compaction Caused By Timber Harvesting In Central Appalachian Hardwood Forests, Mark W. Jones
Soil Compaction Caused By Timber Harvesting In Central Appalachian Hardwood Forests, Mark W. Jones
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
Two commonly used harvesting systems in central Appalachia were examined to determine the amount of soil compaction associated with each harvest type. A manual system of chainsaw and cable skidder, along with a mechanized system consisting of feller-buncher and grapple skidder were monitored in two central Appalachian hardwood forest sites. Examinations of soil bulk density (lbs/ft 3) were made pre-harvest and post-harvest for each harvest unit. Observations were conducted along the skid roads in conjunction to distance from the landing. Sample points were also taken systematically through each harvest site. The physical condition was recorded using a nuclear density probe. …
Wildlife Use And Habitat Quality Of Back Channel Areas Associated With Islands On The Ohio River, West Virginia, Andrew Karl Zadnik
Wildlife Use And Habitat Quality Of Back Channel Areas Associated With Islands On The Ohio River, West Virginia, Andrew Karl Zadnik
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports
The islands and associated back channels on the Ohio River have long been thought to provide important habitat characteristics for riparian wildlife. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated this importance. As pressure continues to develop back channel areas for commercial and residential use, quantitative information is vital for natural resource managers to justify conserving these areas for wildlife. The goals of my study were to quantify wildlife use of back and main channels relative to waterbirds, anurans, turtles, and riparian furbearing mammals, and to evaluate the habitat quality of back and main channels through the use of habitat suitability index …