Life Sciences Commons^™

Waas, Glonass, And Gps Accuracy, Yanli Zhang, Daniel Unger, I-Kuai Hung, David Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Gps Effectiveness For Natural Resource Professionals: Integrating Undergraduate Students In The Decision-Making Process, Daniel Unger, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang, David Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) degree at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) attend an intensive 6-week residential hands-on instruction in applied field methods. For students pursuing the BSF degree knowing the exact location of a forestland is crucial to the understanding and proper management of any related natural resource. The intensive 6-week instruction includes teaching how to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to accurately record the spatial location of an earth’s surface feature. After receiving hands-on instructions during the summer of 2014, students were taken to the field to collect real-world locations. Students …

Bullish On Forestry Careers, Steven H. Bullard, Thomas J. Straka

Faculty Publications

During the next decade, baby boomer-aged foresters, those born from 1946 to 1964, will be retiring in large numbers. This retirement trend is true for all sectors of forestry employment, from state and federal agencies to private firms and industries.

Forestry employers in both public and private sectors are clamoring for more graduates, as well as for more diverse graduates, from forestry degree programs. With looming retirements and industry growth, employers can project the number of positions opening, and they are aware that U.S. forestry schools are not producing sufficient graduates to fill the positions.

A Test Of The Mean Distance Method For Forest Regeneration Assessment, Daniel Unger, Jeremy P. Stovall, Brian P. Oswald, David Kulhavy, I-Kuai Hung

Faculty Publications

A new distance-based estimator for forest regeneration assessment, the mean distance method, was developed by combining ideas and techniques from the wandering quarter method, T-square sampling and the random pairs method. The performance of the mean distance method was compared to conventional 4.05 square meter plot sampling through simulation analysis on 405 square meter blocks of a field surveyed clumped distribution and a computer generated random distribution at different levels of density of 100, 50 and 25%. The mean distance method accurately estimated density on the random populations but the mean distance method estimates were more variable than those of …

Accuracy Assessment Of Land Cover Maps Of Forests Within An Urban And Rural Environment, Daniel Unger, I-Kuai Hung, David L. Kulhavy

Faculty Publications

Land cover maps of forests within an urban and rural environment derived from high spatial resolution multispectral data (QuickBird) and medium spatial resolution multispectral data (Landsat ETM+ and SPOJ 4) were compared to ascertain whether increased spatial resolution increases map accuracy of forests and whether map accuracy varies across land cover classification schemes. It is commonly assumed that increased spatial resolution would probably increase land cover map accuracy regardless of land cover classification methodology. This study assessed whether that assumption is correct within a rural and an urban environment. Map accuracy for modified National Land Cover Data (NLCD) 2001 Level …

Quantifying Natural Resources Using Field-Based Instruction And Hands-On Applications, Daniel Unger, David Kulhavy, I-Kuai Hung, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) degree at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) attend an intensive 6-week residential hands-on instruction in applied field methods. For students pursuing the BSF degree knowing the exact location, length, or area of a forestland is crucial to the understanding and proper management of any related natural resource. The intensive 6-week instruction includes teaching how to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to accurately record the true spatial location of an earth’s surface feature. After receiving hands-on instructions during the summer of 2013, students were taken to the field to …

Using Google Earth For Forest Management, Yanli Zhang, Jeremy P. Stovall

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Winter Movements Of Louisiana Pine Snakes (Pituophis Ruthveni) In Texas And Louisiana, Josh B. Pierce, D. Craig Rudolph, Shirley J. Burgdorf, Richard R. Schaefer, Richard N. Conner, John G. Himes, C. Mike Duran, Laurence M. Hardy, Robert R. Fleet

Faculty Publications

Despite concerns that the Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni) has been extirpated from large portions of its historic range, only a limited number of studies on their movement patterns have been published. Winter movement patterns are of particular interest since it has been hypothesized that impacts of management practices would be reduced during the winter. Using radiotelemetry, we determined winter movement patterns of Louisiana Pine Snakes (11 males, 8 females) in 5 study areas (2 in Louisiana and 3 in Texas). Movements during winter (November–February) were greatly curtailed compared to the remainder of the year; however, snakes occasionally undertook substantial …

Producing “Society-Ready” Foresters: A Research-Based Process To Revise The Bachelor Of Science In Forestry Curriculum At Stephen F. Austin State University, Steven H. Bullard, Pat Stephens Williams, Theresa Coble, Dean W. Coble, Ray Darville, Laurie Rogers

Faculty Publications

“Society-ready” foresters are capable of dealing effectively with the complex economic, ecological, and social issues involving forestry in the 21st century. To assess the knowledge areas, skill sets, abilities, and behaviors needed by society-ready, entry-level foresters today, we surveyed 800 forestry employers and forestry alumni from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), and we also conducted focus group sessions with a total of 58 forestry employers. Important areas of knowledge on emerging issues for society-ready Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) graduates included climate change, water availability and quality, and dealing with invasive plants, pathogens, and insects. However, the skill …

Using Infrared-Triggered Cameras To Monitor Activity Of Forest Carnivores, Matthew E. Symmank, Christopher E. Comer, James C. Kroll

Faculty Publications

The activity patterns of 4 forest predator species were monitored, using infrared-triggered cameras, within a 1318-ha study area in East Texas. We recorded 161 photographic capture events in 1925 trap-nights over 17 weeks. Photographic capture events included 18 Lynx rufus (Bobcat), 109 Procyon lotor (Raccoon), 21 Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum), and 13 Canis latrans (Coyote). We developed an easily replicated method of measuring time on a percent scale to compare activity data over several months, accounting for changes in sunrise and sunset times. Bobcat activity was 38.9% crepuscular and 22.1% diurnal. The activity of the other 3 species was mostly …

Roosts Of Rafinesque’S Big-Eared Bats And Southeastern Myotis In East Texas (Abstract), Leigh A. Struemke, Christopher E. Comer, Warren C. Conway

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Artificial Nests Identify Possible Nest Predators Of Eastern Wild Turkeys (Abstract Only), Warren C. Conway, Christopher E. Comer

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Validating One-On-One Gps Instruction Methodology For Natural Resource Area Assessments Using Forestry Undergraduate Students, Daniel R. Unger

Faculty Publications

Undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) attend an intensive 6-week residential hands-on instruction in applied field methods. The intensive 6-week instruction includes learning how to use the Global Positioning System (GPS) with a Garmin eTrex HCx GPS unit to accurately calculate area. Students were instructed how to assess the accuracy of their GPS collected waypoints by calculating the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) comparing their GPS collected area measurements with instructor on-screen digitized area. Student’s average area RMSE between digitized and GPS derived area was 0.015 hectares, whereas instructor’s …

University-Based Forestry Research And "The Little Red Hen", Steven H. Bullard

Faculty Publications

Universities have three basic mission areas: service, teaching, and research. Through the service mission, many forest landowners participate in forestry extension programs and use university-based out reach materials and resources. Many forest landowners also recognize the teaching mission of universities by interacting regularly with forestry professionals who were trained through academic programs accredited by the Society of American Foresters. These two mission areas, service and teaching, have been and continue to be relevant to millions of forest landowners across the nation.

But what about university-based forestry research? As a forestry dean and as current president of the National Association of …

Measuring Tree Height Using Pictometry Hyperspatial Imagery, Daniel Unger, David Kulhavy, Matthew A. Wade, I-Kuai Hung

Faculty Publications

Trees within Nacogdoches, Texas were measured for height using Pictometry hyperspatial imagery at 4 inch spatial resolution. Trees measured included baldcypress located on LaNana Creek as part of a hybrid analysis study. Baldcypress, Taxodiumdistichum, was planted along La Nana Creek, Nacogdoches, Texas, for erosion control and as a test bank for growth of the species genotypes. Each tree was located with GPS and entered into the GIS data base in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University. Actual tree height, measured using a height pole in 0.1 inch increments, was compared to …

Instream Woody Debris And Riparian Forest Characteristics In The Sabine River, Texas, Matthew W. Mcbroom, Michael Ringer, Yanli Zhang

Faculty Publications

We examined instream large woody debris (LWD) dynamics on the Sabine River, TX. All wood >10 cm in diameter and >2 m long was measured on four river meanders (meander wavelengths) below the dam on Toledo Bend Reservoir. We determined LWD species, degree of decay, bank orientation, jam association, and stage contact. We also measured riparian vegetation characteristics on each meander. LWD volumes were significantly greater at the site immediately below Toledo Bend Dam, due to the relatively steeper channel gradient and higher rates of channel erosion. Based on mass balance estimates, between 11 and 21% of total annual recruitment …