Forest Biology Commons^™

Endangered Bats In The Runkle Woods, Volker Bahn

Runkle Woods Symposia

Since 2019, Dr. Volker Bahn’s lab has been monitoring bat populations in the Runkle Woods and nearby sites, using acoustic detectors to track species presence and activity over time. With bats representing about 20% of all mammal species globally, their ecological role—particularly in insect control—is vital. The presentation highlights the diversity of local bat species, with 10 of Ohio's 11 expected species documented, ranging from the abundant big brown and red bats to the federally endangered Indiana and northern long-eared bats. Dr. Bahn discusses patterns in bat activity across years, potential drivers such as precipitation, and the concerning declines in …

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.

Chinese Tallow Long-Term Impact On Stand Dynamics In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Vegetation Management, Nicklaus R. Langlois

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) is an invasive tree known to have negative impacts on bottomland hardwood forests. Chinese tallow is proficient in reproducing and surviving in bottomland hardwood forests because it is more flood and shade tolerant than most native trees. The long-term effectiveness of Chinese tallow control is an important topic to research as only a few long-term studies of Chinese tallow control have been conducted. A 10-year re-measurement of 22 paired plots installed in 2012 on the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank near Diboll, Texas following herbicide treatments examined Chinese tallow and native tree stand structure. Each …

Living Dead Forests: Assessing Detrital Services In Puget Sound Pseudotsuga Menziesii Ecosystems, Forrest Becker

Capstone Collection

Coarse woody debris (CWD), the detrital result of down wood recruitment, contributes to wildlife habitat, nutrient cycling, morphological processes like soil formation, and each forest’s sense of place but if undermanaged can fuel wildfires or obstruct stakeholder use. Despite its ubiquity in Puget Sound Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests in Washington, USA, few studies quantify the exact ecosystem services which down wood provides. This study seeks to understand how forest managers can estimate the ecosystem services of down wood and how human communities perceive down wood management between community, public, and private Douglas fir (P. menziesii) …

I’M A Forest, Not A Saltmarsh, Captain: Carbon And Sap Flow Dynamics In Coastal Forested Wetlands Of The Southeastern United States, Chris Shipway

All Theses

Coastal forested wetlands are identified as some of the highest-priority ecosystems for climate change mitigation. Here, we present two studies conducted in these unique ecosystems.

The first assessed changes in aboveground vegetative C stocks along the estuarine-riverine gradients of the Winyah Bay in South Carolina and the Savannah River in Georgia, using a space-for-time substitution to increase understanding of the impacts to upper estuarine forested wetlands from relative sea level rise. Standing C stocks on the Savannah River averaged 183.6 Mg C ha^-1, while sites on the Winyah system averaged 162.3 Mg C ha^-1. The largest …

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 …

Effects Of Treated Effluent Discharge On Tree Water Use And Growth In A Cypress Swamp., Devin Schexnayder

LSU Master's Theses

Inundated baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) trees generally respond to secondarily-treated and disinfected municipal effluent additions with increased growth rates and reduced mortality. Yet, the effects of effluent additions on the water-use and functional traits of inundated mature baldcypress are poorly understood. Because increased tree growth is associated with increased water use, effluent additions may affect the water budget in coastal swamps by increasing water uptake from the rhizosphere due to increased tree transpiration. I used sap flux density (f_d) measurements to assess water-use traits and tree-level daily transpiration (E) in seven mature inundated baldcypress trees that had …

Vascular Epiphyte Population Dynamics Within Human-Modified Landscapes Of Guadalupe, Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panamá, Lucine Tashjian

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants non-parasitically, and globally, epiphytes compose a very large and diverse group. They are especially abundant and species-rich in the tropics- particularly, in tropical montane forest ecosystems. Human population growth in the tropics, however, has resulted in significant declines in forest cover with land being converted largely for agricultural purposes. Studies on epiphytes have traditionally been undertaken in pristine, undisturbed forest ecosystems, yet terrestrial land conversion has increased the need to understand the value of human-modified ecosystems for epiphytic populations and biodiversity conservation. This study sought to understand the relationship between human modification …

An Ecological Analysis Of The Elevational Gradient Effect On Mushroom Community Diversity Near Andasibe, Madagascar, Zoe Garver

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The effect of elevational gradients on biodiversity has been widely studied in the field of ecology (Rahbek, 1995). The evidence supports a trend for highest biodiversity at mid latitudes and decreasing biodiversity as elevation increases (Rahbek, 1997; Grytnes, 2003; Hariharan and Buckley, 2022). This effect has primarily been explained by variation of temperatures and resource availability at different elevations. However, the effect that elevation plays on fungal communities is relatively underrepresented in the literature (Dahlberg, 2001). This study analyzes changes in mushroom diversity across an elevational gradient in Mitsinjo Reserve and Analamazaotra National Park found in Madagascar. Using the Braun-Blanquet …

Animal Conservation In St. Louis, Kate O'Sullivan

Undergraduate Research Symposium

St. Louis has a multitude of organizations involved in the natural sciences. But how many of them actually contribute towards animal conservation? The St. Louis Zoo is an organization that focuses a lot of its effort on presentation, so how does that impact the funds that go towards actually saving the animals? I plan to dive into the different animal-based organizations in St. Louis and its surrounding areas, as well as discuss the positives and negatives of each organization. Furthermore, I will provide examples from several sources that I have been reviewing all year to support my claims. I plan …

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, …

Biology And Ecology Of Neonectria Magnoliae And Neonectria Punicea, Two Understudied Neonectria Species In West Virginia, Hannah Marie Petronek

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The family Nectriaceae includes numerous phytopathogenic fungi that cause canker diseases on both angiosperm and conifer hosts worldwide. Numerous Neonectria spp. cause cankers on hardwoods and conifers in North America, but their roles in contributing to tree decline and mortality outside of beech bark disease are largely understudied. One such pathogen, Neonectria magnoliae, causes perennial cankers on two native hosts in central Appalachia: Fraser magnolia (Magnolia fraseri) and tulip-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). We also recently confirmed N. magnoliae from non-native star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) in West Virginia. Both native hosts occur in the central …

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 …

Movement Behavior And Metapopulation Connectivity Of Stream Salamanders In Response To Disturbance Events, Kathryn M. Greene

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Metapopulations are shaped by the dispersal between populations in a landscape. Disturbance events can disrupt this connectivity resulting in local population extinction. For my dissertation, I used a combination of empirical and theoretical techniques to examine dispersal in response to disturbance and assessed it’s population-level consequences. My research used capture-mark-recapture sampling techniques to evaluate stream salamander movement in response to (1) a supraseasonal drought and (2) mountaintop-removal-mining (MTR) and valley-filling (VF) and (3) agent-based simulation modeling to evaluate population extinction risk in response to varying dispersal and mortality rates.

First, I evaluated the effects of a supraseasonal drought, a severe …

Leaf To Canopy Functional Resilience: Plant Physiological And Carbon Cycling Stability Following Disturbances, Lisa T. Haber

Theses and Dissertations

Ecological disturbances impact core ecosystem functions, including production and biogeochemical cycling, by precipitating changes in biodiversity, physical environmental variables, vegetation structure, and functional trait distributions. As disturbance patterns intensify and abruptly transition to novel regimes under global change, future trajectories of ecosystem functions, including carbon (C) uptake and storage, are uncertain. A more complete understanding of the mechanisms underpinning ecosystem stability (or ability to return to baseline functioning) following disturbance is needed to forecast future C cycling.

Replicated ecosystem-scale disturbance experiments, particularly when coupled with modeling, are required to rigorously test hypothesized trajectories of ecosystem structural and functional change following …

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 …

Germination Trends Of American Chaffseed, Schwalbea Americana L., And Factors Affecting First-Year Seedling Development, Trenton Miller

All Theses

Following centuries of exploitation and fire suppression, longleaf pine systems are now the focus of many conservation efforts. Efforts to restore populations of Schwalbea americana L. in longleaf pine savannas have been met with frustratingly low recruitment. While past studies have briefly quantified germination rates for Schwalbea, there have not been any studies yet that truly investigate this plant’s germination requirements. Additionally, there has been little research into characterizing the parasitic relationship between Schwalbea and its various host species. We conducted a germination study in a growth chamber that investigated Schwalbea’s germination rate and time to germinates as …

Variation Of Carbon Stock Of Boca Del Drago Mangrove Forests Based On Salinity And Seaward Proximity, Fiona Wyrtzen

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Mangrove forests, at the intersection of land and sea, are considered one of the most important marine environments for their variety of ecosystem services and their ability to sequester large amounts of carbon in their biomass and adjacent soils. With a changing climate, many of the abiotic and biotic factors influencing mangroves will begin to shift, potentially impacting resilience, growth capacity, and distribution of mangroves worldwide. This study aimed to examine the influence of changing salinity on the carbon stock capacity for Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa forests, and the distribution of biomass in each species relative to salinity in …

A Four-Pronged Approach To Addressing A Wild Pig Invasion In A Bottomland And Upland Forested Landscape, Tyler Scott Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Among exotic species that are capable of invading, establishing, and reaching pest status, few pose the range of impacts to biotic (e.g., competition with native species, predation, herbivory, introduction of other exotics) and abiotic (e.g., soil, hydrology) ecosystem components that can be attributed to the wild pig (Sus scrofa). Despite the presence of wild pigs throughout the southeastern United States for centuries, new invasions continue to occur in previously uninhabited and often under-investigated landscapes, including bottomland and upland forests. The recent invasion of the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (hereafter, NNWR) in east-central Mississippi represents an …

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 …

Influence Of Abiotic Drivers And Plant Community Interactions On Bald Cypress (Taxodium Distichum) Seedlings: Implications For Restoration, Victoria Ellis

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Forested freshwater wetlands are valuable ecosystems that provide habitat for numerous species, sequester carbon, and act as sinks for excess water and nutrients. Historically, these ecosystems have been heavily degraded by anthropogenic activities leading to loss of ecosystem services and a desire to restore freshwater forested wetland habitat. Thus, science-backed approaches for the restoration of freshwater forested wetlands are necessary to ensure restoration goals are met. This body of research employed the Stress Gradient Hypothesis to test whether a multi-species planting approach using Juncus effusus (L.) (soft rush) could facilitate the survival of Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. (bald cypress) seedlings …

Do Species Matter? Examining The Niche Of White Ash (Fraxinus Americana L.) And Estimating Potential Subcanopy Effects Of Its Loss In North-Temperate Forests, Elizabeth Anne Studer

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

To understand the downstream consequences of the extinction of a species, we must understand its role in an ecosystem. With the impending extirpation of ash (Fraxinus spp.) due to the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), understanding the role of ash trees is critical to predicting whether its loss will precipitate further species declines and/or ecosystem functions. We evaluated whether subcanopy microbial, invertebrate, and floral communities under four tree species (white ash, American beech, yellow birch, sugar maple) and on two soil hydropedological types (Bh podzol and Typical podzol) varied in species richness, composition, and functional traits in a factorial …