Forest Sciences Commons^™

Water Quality Management In The Runkle Woods, Krystal Demarco, Donavon Mishler-Laporte, Cassie Dunn, Parneet Dhillon, Reagan Hardyman

Runkle Woods Symposia

This project addresses the growing issue of salt pollution in Wright State Woods, with a specific focus on sodium chloride runoff from deicing agents. Elevated salt levels, stemming from university parking lots and surrounding infrastructure, have been linked to soil degradation, vegetation stress, and aquatic habitat damage. By analyzing salt flow patterns and assessing ecological impacts, including EPA-reported chloride violations, the team identified critical areas of concern such as Outfall #2. Proposed mitigation strategies include the use of salt-tolerant tree species, alternative deicers (e.g., acetate- or carbohydrate-based), physical barriers, and expanded retention ponds and filter dams.

Invertebrates As Indicators Of Water Quality In The Runkle Woods, Dillynn Blevins, Bhavishya Ratnavelu, Lauren Stetz, Corey Walls

Runkle Woods Symposia

This project investigates water quality and aquatic invertebrate habitat health in the Wright State Woods, aiming to assess current conditions and implement targeted conservation strategies. Using indicators such as dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentrations, and the presence of sensitive macroinvertebrates (e.g., mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies), the team evaluates stream health. Data collection follows established protocols, including EPT indexing and seasonal surveys. Conservation recommendations include stream aeration maintenance, removal of non-native vegetation, soil inoculation, and the construction of rain gardens and green roofs to reduce runoff.

An Accessible Trail For The Runkle Woods, Sarah Bingham, Terri Dozier, Logan Huber, Nicole Owino, Nathan Shafer

Runkle Woods Symposia

This presentation outlines a student-led initiative to enhance a pre-existing trail in the Runkle Woods with educational conservation projects and signage. The project aims to increase accessibility and student engagement with Wright State’s natural areas. Three key conservation efforts are highlighted along the trail: prairie restoration to support native biodiversity and pollinators, erosion and runoff mitigation using native vegetation and riff-raff, and bat conservation through habitat preservation and installation of artificial roosts. The project emphasizes experiential learning, sustainability, and community involvement in environmental stewardship.

Management Of The Invasive Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii), Mesa Grine, Daniel Hazelett, Cassie Healy, Padma Deepika Kandregula

Runkle Woods Symposia

This presentation addresses the ecological threat posed by invasive honeysuckle in the Runkle Woods on Wright State's campus. Originally from Europe and Asia, honeysuckle aggressively outcompetes native flora due to its rapid growth, shade tolerance, and allelopathic properties. The students observed widespread honeysuckle in both new and old growth forest areas, with greater density in younger regions. Ineffective control methods—such as cutting without herbicide—often worsen infestations. Drawing on a regional study, the students propose a targeted management plan involving cutting and herbicide application, stem injection for larger plants, and reintroducing native species like spicebush. Their strategy aims to reduce honeysuckle …

Old Growth In The Runkle Woods, Madeline Greene, Lindsay Smith, Matt Tyren, Leif Walters

Runkle Woods Symposia

In this conservation proposal, Wright State students focus on protecting the old growth areas of Runkle Woods—a rare and ecologically significant habitat in the Eastern United States, where only about 1% of such forests remain. Home to trees over 200 years old and critical species like endangered bats and white oaks, this 100-acre area faces threats from invasive species, deer overpopulation, littering, and urban runoff. Currently, only 15 acres are legally protected. The students propose expanding the easement, involving experts and graduate students in ongoing research and stewardship, and increasing public engagement through educational walks and increased and updated signage. …

Up In Smoke: Indigenous Techniques To Combat Climate Change And Increase Biodiversity, Brad Kerry

Runkle Woods Symposia

Brad Kerry explores how Indigenous land management practices—particularly the use of prescribed fire—can be reintroduced to restore the Runkle Woods to its pre-colonial ecological state. Drawing on archaeological evidence, historical tree surveys, and ecological data, the presentation highlights how periodic, low-intensity fires historically maintained the forest’s biodiversity, promoted fire-adapted species like oak and hickory, and suppressed invasive plants. Kerry advocates for carefully planned, small-scale burns to combat "mesophication"—a shift toward shade-tolerant, fire-averse species—while increasing forest resilience to drought, invasive species, and climate change. The presentation underscores the ecological benefits of fire and outlines practical considerations for reintroducing controlled burns as …

Protecting Glen Helen With A Conservation Easement, Nick Boutis

Runkle Woods Symposia

Part 2 of the "Protecting Glen Helen with a Conservation Easement" presentation. This presentation offers an overview of Glen Helen, a 1,125-acre private nature preserve in Yellow Springs, Ohio, detailing its ecological significance, educational mission, and recent conservation efforts. Nick Boutis describes the preserve’s history, from ancient Indigenous use to its development as a resort and eventual donation to Antioch College. The focus centers on the complex, multi-year collaboration that led to establishing a permanent conservation easement, which now protects the land from development and subdivision. The presentation also highlights Glen Helen’s ongoing stewardship work, including habitat restoration, environmental education, …

Tecumseh Land Trust: Land Trusts And Land Preservation, Michele Burns

Runkle Woods Symposia

Part 1 of the "Protecting Glen Helen with a Conservation Easement" presentation. Michele Burns introduces the concept of land trusts—nonprofit organizations that protect various types of land, particularly through conservation easements, which are legally binding agreements that restrict development and preserve land forever. She explaines how Tecumseh Land Trust, founded in 1990, operates in southwest Ohio to protect farmland and natural areas without owning land directly and their work in protecting the Glen Helen preservation.

Opening Remarks, Volker Bahn

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Volker Bahn welcomes everyone to the 2024 Runkle Woods Symposium. This year's symposium is held in collaboration with the REACH Native American Heritage Festival. The event began with a land acknowledgement written by Shane Creepingbear in collaboration with Chief Ben Barns and other, recognizing the Indigenouse peoples whose lands we occupy and emphasizing our reponsbility to protect and restore the natrual word.

Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) At Croft State Park In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Jonathan J. Storm, Amelia R. Scollon, Melissa A. Storm, Briget C. Doyle

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Avian Communities Monitored Along A Successional Chronosequence In Bottomland Hardwood Forests In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Eamonn Alasdair Thurmond

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley have been extensively reduced due to agriculture conversion and altered hydrology. Remnant forests have undergone further degradation from sources such as a lack of forest management, invasive species, and reduced regeneration of oaks (Quercus spp.). Recent restoration efforts of bottomland hardwood forests have focused on implementing wildlife forestry practices that prioritize restoring wildlife habitat while retaining profitable timber harvests. In this study I surveyed bird communities in bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley along a successional chronosequence. Birds were sampled using automated recording units over 10 days …

Fostering Effective And Sustainable Scientific Collaboration And Knowledge Exchange: A Workshop-Based Approach To Establish A National Ecological Observatory Network (Neon) Domain-Specific User Group, Alison Donnelly, Ankur R. Desai, Katherine A. Heckman, Lucas E. Nave, Michael J. Cramer, Marie Faust, Peter Weishampel, Caleb Slemmons, Christian G. Andresen, Edward Ayres, Stacy Cotey, Kathryn M. Docherty, Joshua Hatzis, Kathryn Hofmeister, Jalene M. Lamontagne, John Lenters, Noah R. Lottig, Amy Marcarelli, Jessica Miesel, Jason Riddle, Meghan Salmon-Tumas, Mike D. Sanclements, Subash Sapkota, Mark D. Schwartz, Puja Sharma, Ojaswee Shrestha, Geoffrey Vincent, Angela Waupochick, Ting Zheng, Ye Zhiwei

Michigan Tech Publications

The decision to establish a network of researchers centers on identifying shared research goals. Ecologically specific regions, such as the USA’s National Ecological Observatory Network’s (NEON’s) eco-climatic domains, are ideal locations by which to assemble researchers with a diverse range of expertise but focused on the same set of ecological challenges. The recently established Great Lakes User Group (GLUG) is NEON’s first domain specific ensemble of researchers, whose goal is to address scientific and technical issues specific to the Great Lakes Domain 5 (D05) by using NEON data to enable advancement of ecosystem science. Here, we report on GLUG’s kick …

Influences Of Sex, Morph, And Weather On Roosting Distributions In Overwintering White-Throated Sparrows (_Zonotrichia Albicollis_), Rebecca Stephens

Honors Theses

Habitat choice influences survival by affecting access to resources, shelter from predators, mating opportunities, and numerous other costs and benefits. As such, habitat conservation is crucial, especially for migratory songbirds which are declining primarily due to habitat destruction. White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are a well-studied migratory songbird, but little is known about their roosting behaviors or how those behaviors are affected by sex, color morph, or weather. To determine this, we tracked White-throated Sparrows to their roosts, determined core home ranges, and analyzed the average distances of roost sites to the home range centroids according to these factors. …

Dynamics Of Soil Microbial Communities Involved In Carbon Cycling Along Three Successional Forests In Southern China, Minghui Hu, Shuyidan Zhou, Xin Xiong, Xuan Wang, Yu Sun, Ze Meng, Dafeng Hui, Jianling Li, Deqiang Zhang, Qi Deng

Biology Faculty Research

Dynamics of plant communities during forest succession have been received great attention in the past decades, yet information about soil microbial communities that are involved in carbon cycling remains limited. Here we investigated soil microbial community composition and carbohydrate degradation potential using metagenomic analysis and examined their influencing factors in three successional subtropical forests in southern China. Results showed that the abundances of soil bacteria and fungi increased (p ≤ 0.05 for both) with forest succession in relation to both soil and litter characteristics, whereas the bacterial diversity did not change (p > 0.05) and the fungal diversity of Shannon-Wiener index …

Environmental Biology Masters Capstone, Antonio Gonzalez-Pita

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Human wildlife interactions (HWI) pose a complex challenge for wildlife managers. Human encroachment into wildlife habitat and the growing number of outdoor recreationists are increasing the frequency of contact and conflict, especially in regions such as the Front Range of Colorado. Geographic information systems (GIS), which use a combination of remote sensing and environmental survey data, allow for predictive spatial analyses of where human wildlife interactions are likely to occur. I used publicly reported observations of moose to create spatial predictive maps in a species distribution model framework. Slope and elevation were shown to be the strongest predictors of HWI, …

Effects Of Climate Change On Seed Germination May Contribute To Habitat Homogenization In Freshwater Forested Wetlands, Kori Carr, Xavier Ozowara, Taylor M. Sloey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Climate changes in temperate regions are expected to result in warmer, shorter winters in temperate latitudes. These changes may have consequences for germination of plant species that require a period of physiological dormancy. The effect of cold duration on seed germination has been investigated in a number of plant taxa, but has not been well studied in wetland and bottomland forest tree species, an ecosystem that is threatened by habitat homogenization. Our work sought to test the role of changing winter temperatures on seed germination in specialist (Nyssa aquatica and Taxodium distichum) and generalist (Acer rubrum and Liquidambar styraciflua) tree …

Automatic Detection Of Birds In Images Acquired With Remotely Piloted Aircraft For Managing Wildlife Strikes To Civil Aircraft, Maurycio Rodrigues Oviedo, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D., Jose Cabrera, Cole A. Mcnall, Raymond Ayres, Ricardo Luís Barbosa, Rodrigo Gallis

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wildlife strikes represent a significant threat to aviation safety and economics, as evidenced by notable incidents such as the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges this growing concern, as evidenced by its report on Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2019.To address the need for improved risk management, airports conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA), a laborious process typically relying on visual identification by Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists (QAWB). However, technological advancements, such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and machine learning (ML), offer promising solutions to …

Environmental Implications Of Modern Food Production: An Analysis For The Conscious Consumer, Jessica T. Coming

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores the pathways by which agriculture affects the environment and determines which foods have the greatest climate, water, and land impacts. Agricultural effects on the environment are extensive, from loss of habitat and declines in regional biodiversity to disruption of global nutrient cycles and climate change. Global food production accounts for 26-34% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, makes up 38-46% of habitable land, and is responsible for 70% of freshwater extraction. The effect of agriculture on the environment is most significantly dictated by what type of food is being produced. Animal-based food products consistently have the highest …

Quantifying The Ecological Effects Of Salix Fragilis On Riparian Habitat In Kittitas County, Washington, Landon Shaffer

All Master's Theses

Invasive species threaten plant community structure and function globally. Riparian areas, the zone near streams where water influences vegetation, are especially sensitive to invasive species colonization, suffering large-scale shifts in community composition. Salix fragilis (crack willow) is a nonnative riparian species abundant in the lower elevation tributaries of central Washington. Some speculate whether this willow should be listed as invasive in Washington, despite a lack of regional supporting evidence. I studied riparian communities dominated by either S. fragilis or native species in the Kittitas Valley and measured biodiversity, quantified differences in solar attenuation, and compared leaf decomposition rates to learn …

Pcb Remediation In Transitional Floodplain Forests Along The Housatonic River, Soleil Laurin

Scripps Senior Theses

Human development affects natural environments in more ways than climate change, from the introduction of nonnative species and deforestation to pollution and urbanization. This is a case study examining the effects of PCB remediation on transitional floodplain forest along the Housatonic River in Western Massachusetts. The Housatonic River had previously been contaminated with PCBs and portions had been remediated. This study aims to determine the effects this remediation had on transitional floodplain forests, as well as provide a preliminary biodiversity assessment for sites that are planned to be remediated of PCBs by the Environmental Protection Agency. The study was carried …

Quantifying The Influences Of Abiotic And Biotic Factors On Post-Fire Vegetation In The Southwestern Us, Joseph Lafayette Crockett

Biology ETDs

The ongoing warming associated with climate change is increasing the flammability of southwestern US dry forests. As larger fractions of the landscape are impacted by high-severity fire, the potential exists for forests to convert to non-forest. Given that the forested area in the southwestern US is an important contributor of ecosystem services, quantifying limitations to vegetation establishment is critical to informing post-fire recovery efforts and understanding how ongoing climate change will limit seedling establishment in the future. To that end, this dissertation focuses on post-fire vegetation recovery of southwestern forests. First, I report on the influence of precipitation and topography …

National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certification: A Collaboration With Fairborn?, Alexis Knick, Amanda Taylor

Runkle Woods Symposia

Mandy Taylor and Alexis Knick from the Fairborn Environmental Advisory Board discuss their mission to draft environmental sustainability and resilience plans and how Wright State can help contribute and partner with their mission.

Keynote Address: Seasonal Changes In The Avian Community Of The Wright State Woods, Jeffrey L. Peters

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Jeffrey Peters is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Wright State University. He earned his B.S. in Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. For his M.S. in Applied Ecology and Conservation Biology at Frostburg State University in Maryland, Dr. Peters used DNA analyses to examine mating strategies in a species of duck, the Gadwall. Continuing his genetics research, he studied geographic variation in ducks for his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Dr. Peters continued this work at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, as a post-doctoral researcher, and at Wright State University. During his career, …

The Insult Of Road Salt, Rebecca N. Tuttle, Benson Sparkman, Landon Shackleford, Audrey E. Mcgowin

Runkle Woods Symposia

Wright State students Abby Tuttle, Benson Sparkman, and Landon Shackleford present their undergraduate research on the high chloride levels in the Wright State Woods, it's soil and water, caused by the use of winter road salt.

Pawpaws: Ohio’S State Fruit, Don Cipollini

Runkle Woods Symposia

Dr. Don Cipollini presents his episode on Pawpaws from his show The Naturalist followed by a Q&A.

Dr. Cipollini takes us on a walk through the Wright State University Woods and his own backyard to talk about Ohio's state fruit, the Pawpaw and the trees that grow it. He discusses how to grow pawpaw, the biology of the tree, and how you can use and eat the fruit it produces.

Economics Of Conservation And The Application To The Runkle Woods, Indigenous American Cultural Student Association, Brad Kerry, Eliza Hendrix, Mateo Bush, Ryan Diza

Runkle Woods Symposia

Student Eliza Hendrix presents a brief history of local Native American culture to give context to Adjunct Professor Brad Kerry's portion of the presentation focusing on conservation through an economic lens.

Welcome, Audrey E. Mcgowin

Runkle Woods Symposia

The introduction to the 6th Annual Runkle Woods Symposium given by Audrey McGowin.

Woods Symposium 2023 Program, Wright State University

Runkle Woods Symposia

The program for the 6th annual Wright State University Runkle Woods Symposium that took place on November 17, 2023

The Impact Of Soil Disturbance On Soil Bacterial Community Composition, Marie A. Rodriguez, Mark Peach, Timothy D. Trott

Research in Biology

Soil bacterial communities are an important part of terrestrial ecosystems due to their roles in biogeochemical cycling processes. Consequently, understanding how soil disturbance affects the soil bacterial diversity is vital to understanding the entire ecosystem. In this study we examined the effects of soil disturbance (by mining) on the soil bacterial community composition from three sites on Bauxite Ridge in Southeast Tennessee compared to three undisturbed sites in a nearby location. The soil bacterial community was analyzed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing of total DNA extracted from the soil samples collected from each of the six sites. Characterization of the …

Evidence Of Competitive Release Following Overstory Mortality In A Semi-Arid Piñon-Juniper Woodland, Corrie D. Gonzalez

Biology ETDs

Extreme temperatures and severe drought events have led to widespread tree mortality worldwide. In semi-arid regions of the Southwest United States, these events pose a significant threat to piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands. We studied the effects of piñon and juniper mortality on the growth and physiology of existing saplings in PJ woodlands by analyzing water status, photosynthetic activity, and tissue chemistry to gain insights into these impacts. Juniper saplings exhibited improved water status and water use efficiency in response to overstory mortality, whereas piñon saplings did not. Additionally, both piñon and juniper saplings exhibited increased photosynthetic rates, increased photosynthetic capacity, and …